Usopp went down the street, clutching the letter in hand, and slipped in among the crowds and the carriages and the occasional bicycle, all moving in the direction of the castle to join the masquerade ball. Many folk already wore masks (some full-face like Usopp's, some only covering the top half), but some had yet to put one on. The sun had already sunk below the horizon, and the street was lit by street lamps and torches.

Though Usopp stayed silent as he walked, he was quite tense underneath his disguise, and his thoughts raced a mile a minute. Nami could use magic? Magic was real? How would going to the ball benefit them both? Would he be able to meet Sanji? Surely someone would recognize him with his nose sticking out like a sore thumb?

Before he knew it, he was standing at the foot of the castle's front stairs, and the man was holding out his hand impatiently for the invitation. Usopp hastily handed over the letter and cautiously went up the stairs, slowly entering through the doors.

The room before him was a sight to behold. A murmur of conversation echoed off the ceiling, from which hung a gorgeous glass chandelier. People filled the floor, many at the buffet table serving themselves food and drink, many mingling in clusters. A band played in the corner, and to Usopp's surprise, he spotted Brook playing along with his violin.

At the far end of the room were two thrones; only one was occupied, and it was by King Sanji himself. He had parted his hair down the center for the occasion, revealing asymmetrical curly eyebrows. Next to him stood a woman with fallow skin and dark, silken hair. The guards Ace, Sabo, and Luffy stood nearby, each eyeing the celebration (and the buffet table) hopefully.

Usopp eyed Sanji a moment more, but it looked as though he would not join the party just yet, so he instead mixed himself in with the crowd. He began making a beeline for the buffet table, wondering if he could bring some food back home, but his path was abruptly blocked by someone.

"Oh, pardon me!" he and the person exclaimed at the same time. The person turned to him with a nervous smile, her eyes decorated with a pretty mask and her long blue hair pulled into a bun; a choker covered her neck. Over chestnut skin, she wore a pale gold gown with an open front, a wide bodice, and long, ruffled, open sleeves.

"I am very sorry," she said again. She eyed Usopp, and her eyes widened, taking in his appearance. "You are . . . this is . . . ?"

Usopp cleared his throat. "I'm sorry?"

The girl hesitated. "I . . . no, it's nothing. Forgive me."

She hurried away into the crowd. Usopp frowned and turned back to the buffet table, this time reaching it. He took an aqueous martini and a small ceviche, and when he turned away, he came face-to-face with someone familiar.

"Koala!" he exclaimed.

She smiled. "Hello." For the occasion, she wore a feathered domino mask and a red dress ending just above her knees, straps hanging from her shoulders and pretty frills decorating the outfit.

"Do I know you?" she added.

Usopp's eyebrows shot up. "She was right," he muttered to himself. He cleared his throat. "Er . . . I'm afraid not."

"But you knew my name . . . did someone tell you?"

"I have telepathic abilities," Usopp said in a hushed voice.

Koala giggled. "Is that so? Well, Mr. Psychic, what's your name?"

Usopp cleared his throat. "I'm afraid my identity must remain a secret," he said, swishing his cape around.

"Really? Well, that's too bad." Koala tilted her head. "I do wonder, though . . . you seem to remind me of someone I know, but I can't think of who or why . . . I guess it's not important." She glanced in the direction of Sanji. "I don't suppose you know when King Sanji and his guards will be joining the dance?"

"So they will be joining!" Usopp exclaimed in relief. "And uh, no, sorry."

Koala eyed him in amusement.

"Well, I hope you have fun, Mr. Psychic," she said, turning away with a wave.

"Uh, yeah," Usopp said, too late. "You too."

He wandered amongst the crowd, nibbling on his food. When he made his way past the buffet table again, he quietly stuffed some food into his pockets.

A while passed, and he found two very familiar figures: A large man in big blue robe, wearing a full-face mask not unlike Usopp's; and a much shorter figure with a long pink skirt, a ruffled pink shirt, a pink top hat, and a full-face mask.

"Franky!" Usopp exclaimed. "Chopper! Hey, you guys are here!"

Franky and Chopper glanced at each other.

"Have we met?" Franky asked, lifting his mask to better peer at Usopp with suspicion.

"I like your outfit," Chopper said in wonder, staring up at Usopp with shining eyes.

Usopp gulped and took a step back. "Um . . . no, we haven't met," he mumbled to Franky. "Sorry. My mistake."

"You called us by name," Franky said, eyes narrowing.

"I'm psychic."

"You are?!" Chopper exclaimed, taking off his mask. "That's amazing! Who are you?!"

Usopp coughed. "My identity cannot be revealed, young Chopper . . ."

"A secret agent?!"

"Now see here," Franky said, placing a massive hand on Usopp's shoulder. "You're mighty suspicious, and you remind me of someone I know, but I can't for the life of me think who it might be. So are you going to tell us who you are, or do we have to take this outside?" He eyed Usopp a moment more. "Where are your ears? Were you in an accident?"

Usopp gulped. "I . . . I promised I wouldn't tell anyone my name," he mumbled. "And don't worry about the ear thing. I'm sorry . . ."

"Franky, he's a secret agent," Chopper exclaimed, pulling Franky's arm down from Usopp's shoulder. "He's gotta stay undercover!"

Franky glanced at Chopper and reluctantly backed away from Usopp. "Fine," he grumbled. "But if you try anything, Mr. Suspicious—"

"I haven't done anything!" Usopp protested.

"Franky, let's get more food," Chopper insisted. "Bye, cool guy!"

He pulled Franky away, giving Usopp a chance to duck back into the crowds. Usopp spotted Zoro hanging out near the buffet table and decided to avoid another confrontation.

But . . . it was rather lonely, being treated like a stranger by such close friends.

Time flew by, and it was only three hours to midnight when Sanji stood from his throne.

"Everything's going so well," he remarked to the woman next to him. He glanced at Ace sleeping against the wall and decided not to comment.

"Indeed," the woman murmured, smoothing out her suit. "Our young charge seems to be having fun, as well."

Sanji smiled. "How wonderful. I'm about ready to join in, myself."

"Your guards are, too."

"Oh, of course, I won't make them stay back." Sanji stretched and eyed the crowd. "You know, Robin . . . I do hope Usopp came tonight."

Robin smiled. "The painter you're so fond of?"

Sanji looked to the ceiling. "What do you mean by 'fond?'"

"You know what I mean, Sire."

Sanji smiled. "Well, guilty as charged." He tapped Luffy's and Sabo's shoulders. "Hey, you two, we're joining in. Go on."

They grinned and hurried into the crowd without a word. Sanji followed close behind, and people parted for him when they realized he was coming.

It didn't take Usopp long to notice him, but, wary of his royal presence, he hung back shyly, keeping behind other visitors. He noticed that while Sanji politely greeted everyone he came across, especially women, he seemed to be looking for someone in particular.

Who could it be?

Usopp kept out of the way while Sanji mingled with the crowd, occasionally offering a dance to a pretty lady, though it never lasted long. During this time, Usopp spotted Luffy hounding the buffet table, and Sabo and Koala finding each other—Sabo offered a dance, and Koala pretended to think about it before accepting.

At last, not long after the clock chimed eleven times, Sanji spotted Usopp.

He approached him after only a moment's hesitation, and Usopp froze in place.

"Pardon me," Sanji said. "Do I know you from somewhere, sir?"

"I don't believe so, Your Majesty," Usopp said, swallowing nervously.

"Really." Sanji raised an eyebrow. "You remind me of someone . . . I can't think of who, but . . ."

He placed a hand to his chin, staring at Usopp thoughtfully.

He doesn't know who you are, you're practically invisible,

Usopp extended a hand as the band struck up a slow song. "May I have this dance?"

Sanji glanced down, glanced back up—and smiled.

"Well, why not?"

He accepted Usopp's hand and pulled him in, beginning to spin slowly across the floor. People parted like the Red Sea, and soon a decent space was cleared in the floor for the main attraction.

"Haven't you ever danced before?" Sanji whispered.

"But of course," Usopp murmured. "I have danced with royal families in the finest kingdoms all around the world. I'm renowned for it."

"Oh, is that so?" Sanji murmured, smiling.

"Perhaps I'm out of touch."

"Perhaps you are. No better time to regain it, Gene Kelly."

Usopp was aware all eyes were on them. As they spun and twirled, he spotted Franky, eyeing them suspiciously, and Chopper, staring with wonder-filled eyes; there were Koala and Sabo, murmuring something to each other; there was Brook, still playing along with the band; there was Ace, woken up at last and joining Luffy at the buffet table; there was Zoro, watching the two dancers with faint disinterest; and there was Sanji, Sanji, right in front of him, practically glowing in the light of the chandelier.

What was one to do, in the face of such perfection?

"What's your name, anyway?" Sanji murmured.

Usopp pretended not to hear.

"Hey, masked man? What're you called?"

"My name is . . . a secret," Usopp murmured, relieved Sanji would not know he was dancing with such a lowly man, but at the same time bitterly regretful he could not reveal himself.

"Whatever for?" Sanji frowned. "And where are your ears?"

BONG

Usopp froze, halting the dance abruptly.

BONG

"Oh, dear, it's midnight already," Sanji murmured.

"I have to go!"

"What?"

BONG

Usopp was already turning around and running, pushing past people with hasty apologies.

BONG

"Wait!" Sanji exclaimed, hurrying after him.

Usopp threw a glance back before turning again and running, determined to keep his promise, determined Sanji would not find him out.

BONG

He flew out the door and down the steps—

BONG

BONG

As he ran down the street, turning into a narrow alley, he felt the weight of his clothes begin to vanish.

BONG

He continued to run, stumbling as his ordinary clothes began to return.

BONG

BONG

BONG

At last, he slowed to a halt, shivering in the cold night's air.

BONG

His normal clothes had returned, the fine ones and mask gone without a trace, and upon feeling the sides of his head, he found that his ears were back, too. He checked his pockets and was relieved to find they still held the food he had snatched.

He stared in the direction of the castle longingly—but there was no going back there now. He had a promise to keep, and so did Nami.

When Usopp quietly pushed open the door, he kicked off his shoes and crept into the parlor, where he found Nami fast asleep on the couch. She must have fallen asleep, he thought, waiting for him; it was getting late, after all. Of course, he wasn't quite right about this, but he would learn this later.

He spotted something on the ground: That white rod Nami had used earlier . . . her magic wand. Usopp bent down and picked it up gingerly, as if it might explode, and carried it to the table, where he set it down gently.

"Nami," he whispered, reaching out and shaking her shoulder. "Nami, I'm back. Hey, wake up!"

Nami made a face and slowly opened her eyes. When she spotted Usopp, she jumped up and pressed herself against the back of the couch.

"Oh, it's just you," she said in relief, sliding back down. She brought her legs up, curling up against the armrest. "Tell me, how did it go?"

"It was amazing," Usopp exclaimed. He removed the food from his pockets and set it on the table. "That's for you, if you want—"

Nami gratefully took some. "Did you get a dance with the King?"

Usopp grinned. "I did! But . . . midnight came, and I had to leave. Got away just in time."

"Hm . . . that's too bad." Nami took another piece (she had finished off the first so quickly).

"And you were right, no one recognized me," Usopp continued. "Not even Franky or Chopper, or Koala—I didn't tell anyone who I was, I'm a man of my word!"

"I know you are."

Usopp cleared his throat. "Um, so, the dance was really great! But you have some explaining to do!"

Nami tensed as she finished off her second helping.

"I mean—I had no idea," Usopp continued. "Magic's real? And you can use it?!"

Nami gave him an odd look at this.

"That is . . . a relief, in some ways," she murmured. "I suppose you don't know about witches?"

"Nothing more than what's in stories."

"What you've heard is probably bunk, so I'll explain." Nami shifted on the couch, settling down. "Witch trials . . . they're awful things to live with."

"Witch trials?" Usopp said blankly. "But—the last witch trials were over a hundred years ago."

Nami smiled bitterly.

"How old are you?!"

"You don't ask a lady her age," Nami snapped. She folded her arms. "Listen. Witches—witches are born, not made—and they can be born to mortal parents. Not only this, but . . . they can only die by a very old age or by . . . a fire."

Usopp frowned. "You don't look old—"

Nami glared at him.

"Sorry, continue," he said meekly.

"If a witch faces something other than age or a fire which would kill a mortal . . ." Nami hesitated. "Their body vanishes, and reappears at some point in the future with the witch's wand. It could be the next day, or it could be a hundred years . . . what I'm saying is, at the time of those witch trials, I was in my second life."

"My head hurts."

"You can leave if—"

"I'm listening, I'm listening, I'll just process it later!"

Nami rolled her eyes. "As I was saying, my first life ended with a bad case of food poisoning. When I woke up, over fifty years had passed, and the witch trials had begun."

She shifted, clenching her hands. "I lived longer that time. I made good friends, other witches. We had to hide our magic from everyone else, but we practiced it in secret. Many innocents were burned, and few real witches. And—I don't know if it was chance, or someone found us out—one day, we all were discovered."

She gulped. "They burned Ms. Monday and her husband at the stake, and then they caught Ivankov and Perona and Duval . . . it was awful. Soon, Vivi and I were the only ones alive."

Usopp's eyes were wide, and he bit his tongue to save his questions.

"They caught us one day. Vivi was taken, and I—" Nami stared at the ground. "I won't pretend I was a hero. I just ran away. I didn't try to save her, they were chasing me—what could I do?"

She took a shaky breath. "I suppose dying was justice for that. I was chased right off the edge of a cliff, and I can only think she was burned at the stake."

Nami lifted up her shirt collar briefly to cover her face. When she lowered it, she'd composed herself somewhat.

"I woke up a few months ago behind this house," she said. She smiled faintly. "And that's when I met you."

Usopp blinked. "Wow. Oh my god. That explains so much. No wonder you were so freaked out when I talked to you."

"Good thing I did. I got a place to live, and you got an upgrade from a cardboard box to a house."

Usopp smiled. "Yeah. Uh, can I ask questions now?"

"By all means, go ahead," Nami said, stretching out and laying herself down on the couch with a yawn.

"How do you know modern stuff if you're from old times?"

"This house came with a lot of books," Nami said. "I read a lot while you were out, and I put stuff together from what you told me."

"Makes sense. Um, did you ever use magic recently before tonight?"

"I use it when I clean the house," Nami admitted. "It's faster than by hand."

Usopp's eyes widened. "No wonder you're so good!"

Nami smiled. "I'm good at many things. My turn to say something."

"Uh, okay. What is it?"

She hugged her shirt to her. "The reason I don't like going outside is . . . I don't like crowds, because of all that, and if someone found out I was a witch . . ."

"How could someone find out?" Usopp interrupted.

"They could figure it out if they saw my wand, or found me doing magic," Nami explained. "But other than that, the only ones who can sense a witch in the vicinity, or magic about, is another witch."

"Then what's the big deal?"

"Let me finish!" she snapped. "I know I can trust you, which is why I told you all this. Based on your reaction . . . witches aren't common knowledge, right?"

Usopp shrugged. "I'm pretty sure most people think magic is a crock," he said. "I dunno how they'd react if they met a witch, but if you didn't hurt anyone, I don't think they'd try to hurt you."

"That's a relief," Nami murmured, yawning. "So . . . about King Sanji . . ."

Usopp grinned. "He's great, isn't he?"

"Not that! I meant why I helped you in the first place!"

"Oh, yeah. You said it could benefit both of us?"

"Correct." Nami sighed. "Obviously, it would benefit you if you could marry him—" Usopp choked— "because you've got it bad, you're so obvious about it. And as for me . . . the thing is, the witch trials may have stopped, but I don't know if the law banning witches was ever removed."

Usopp clapped a fist into his open palm. "Oh!"

"Exactly. If you can, find out if the law's still in place, and if it is, see if you can't talk King Sanji into removing it."

"Okay. I get it." Usopp straightened himself where he sat. "But how am I supposed to do that?"

"Well, you'll have to keep meeting him, won't you?" Nami said matter-of-factly. "It gets you closer to marriage in the first place. He might keep visiting the bar—"

Usopp's eyes widened. "Huh?! No way!"

"Pardon?"

"I mean—even if he starts coming back again—he can't know it was me at the ball," Usopp mumbled. "There's no way he'd like me like this. He's the King."

"Then . . . you're saying you'd rather meet him in disguise?"

Usopp nodded. Nami turned so she lay on her back and stared at the ceiling.

"Okay," she said at last. "But only because this is good for both of us. I'll keep disguising you, and make sure to get out before the clothes vanish."

Usopp grinned, stood, hurried around the table, and seized Nami's hand in his own. "Thank you, thank you so much—!"

"Is tomorrow evening after your work okay?" she interrupted. "We can work out the details in the morning."

"Yeah, of course!"

"Alright. Now let go, I want to go sleep."