Italics indicate thinking

Bold is for attacks

Steve's POV

I feel like I got hit by a ton of bricks.

I opened my eyes and saw that the entire island had been demolished, but everyone appeared to be okay.

"I feel great!" Luffy cheered.

"Really because I feel like I just got pounded into the dirt." I told him.

"Perhaps he was hurt so bad he's delusional?" Robing suggested.

"Where's Zoro?" Rose asked.

I looked around and saw one of us was still missing. She got up and followed Sanji to try and find him.

"Are you feeling alright?" Robin asked.

"My legs are killing me but I'll make it."

Where the hell did that warlord go?

An earsplitting scream rang out.

I know that scream…

"What is it now?" I yelled getting up.

I climbed the pile of rubble and I saw it. Rose was having a panic attack and Sanji was stunned into shock. Zoro was just standing there, covered in blood, dirt, and cuts.

He looks like he just went to hell and back.

"What is it?" Lil asked.

"Don't come up here!" I yelled at her.

I saw Robin shoe Lil off and give me a look "Is it that bad."

"I've never seen a person live after looking like that…Just go get Chopper."

I can't believe he's even breathing.

The Next Day

We took some time to relax while Chopper tended to Zoro. It took Chopper a lot of time to finish up and then reassure Rose that Zoro was going to be okay.

"How is he?" I asked.

"This was the first time I'd seen so many wounds of Zoro." Chopper said "This time was serious…he almost died. Something happened after we got knocked out."

"I know, but what."

"I find it hard to believe that Kuma would just leave." Robin said.

"Something just isn't adding up." I said.

"If you're wondering what happened" "We saw it all!"

"We can tell you what happened." The Risky Brothers explained.

"Come with me!" Sanji said dragging them off.

Just what happened when I was asleep?

Robin waved me over to the corner "Do you want to know?"

"Just do it." I mumbled.

"The Warlord used his ability to expel Luffy's pain." The one explained.

"One drop was enough to make the swordsman scream in pain."

That's why Luffy's so full of energy and Zoro's almost a husk.

"Okay well let's go tell strawhat!"

"Hold it!" Sanji yelled "He didn't do it for the thanks…If Luffy finds out Zoro almost died to save him how do you think he'd feel. Just keep your traps shut…everyone's okay, that's all that matters."

"Dumbass…" I mumbled biting my lip.

"Are you alright?"

"He saved him…I should have done that…not him."

"I can't tell if you're angry or upset." Robin said putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Maybe both." I laughed "I'm always looking out for Luffy…I just…I don't know…It feels like I'm never strong enough to protect anyone."

"It'll be fine. You protected me didn't you?" Robin said as I hugged her "They're both fine so you have nothing to be upset about."

"You're right…Everyone's okay, that's all that matters."

"Let's Eat!" Luffy yelled.

"Come on let's get your mind off them."

We sat down and ate, talked, and relaxed. Brook started playing the piano that was in the room to add to the atmosphere.

"Papa come dance with me." Lil said grabbing my shirt.

"Alright hang on." I said getting up.

I followed Lil out onto the floor and she grabbed my hands and we swayed back and forth. It's kinda hard to dance when your partner barely reaches your waist.

"This is fun." Lil said.

"Are you having a good time?" I asked.

"Yeah." she said "I really like it here!"

Sometime I wonder…was it smart for me to take Lil with us. She's so young, and she can barely fight. I worry about her and Robin so much.

"Something wrong Papa?" Lil said.

"No sweetie just thinking." I smiled.

"Do you mind if I cut in?" Robin said.

"I guess." Lil pouted.

Robin took my hand and I placed my arm around her waist.

"This is nice." I said spinning her around.

"Try not to step on my feet." She smirked.

The two of us danced around the room, I did manage to avoid stepping on Robin.

"Look at the two for them." I heard someone say "They look so graceful."

I extended my arm and Robin went out and spun back in. The music slowed and I pulled Robin closer to me.

"Getting a little aggressive." She said slyly.

"Says to woman who asked me to sleep in her bed the other night."

Robin blushed "Don't get any ideas."

"I don't know what you're talking about?" I said sliding my hands a little lower before Robin went and moved them back.

I could hear the people around us whispering, if they weren't talking about how well we danced it was about how much older Robin looked compared to me. I just tuned them out. Robin was Robin, and age was just a number.

Eventually we stopped dancing and I ended up talking to Luffy. Brook changed the song again and this time I recognized the tune.

"Dad used to sing this." I said.

"It was my favorite." Rose said "Mom used to sing me to sleep with it."

"Mom wasn't a very good singer so…" I shrugged.

"She wasn't?" Lil said.

"Don't fill her with lies. Mom had a wonderful voice."

"I don't remember Miss Lilly having a very good voice?" Luffy said.

"Old pirates used to sing this song." Brook said.

"Hey join our crew." Luffy said.

"Now that your shadows back it shouldn't be a problem." I said.

"About that…I made a promise that I must see through to its end."

"Oh that thing with Laboon right?" Luffy said "Yeah he already told me."

"Yes that is his name…"

"I didn't say anything before…but we met him." I said.

The music gradually started to slow down.

"That's why we were so impressed to hear that the person he was waiting for was you." Luffy said.

"You even remembered your promise. I'm sure that would make him really happy." I said.

"Hold on a moment…you really saw Laboon…he was still waiting…are you telling me the truth"

"Yep"

"We can back them up." Sanji and Usopp said.

"Is he still okay?!"

"Good for a whale." I shrugged.

"Did he grow?"

"He's as big as a mountain." Luffy said.

"He still lingers in my mind. I'm so happy."

I mean skeletons don't technically cry but something was coming out of Brook's eye…holes…

I smiled and so did Luffy.

"Why'd you stop playing?" Franky yelled.

"One moment." Brook said opening his skull.

"Ehh?!"

Brooke took out a shell and put in to the piano.

"A tone dial." Wyper said "You can record a sound and play it back with that."

"You have something in there?" Usopp asked.

"A song. It's the voice of my crewmates from when they were still alive, their final message for Laboon. They wanted to show him they were happy until the very end…would you mind if I played it?"

"I'd love to hear it." I said.

Brook pushed the apex and a tune began to play. Brook played that song and the whole room joined in. I took Robin's hand and asked her to dance once more. The two of us swayed back and forth as I hummed along with the tune.

But eventually the song did come to an end.

"This dial exists so I can bring it to Laboon. Every day was painful; I could see no light at the end of the tunnel. But you know…I'm so happy to be alive!"

It must be hard to be alone for so long…

"Would you mind if I joined you?" Brook asked.

"Sounds like a plan." Luffy and I said.

"Just like that?!"

"There you happy the musician you always ask for." I told Luffy.

"This is our musician!"

"One last thing." Brooke said placing a flyer on the table.

"A bounty?" Sanji said.

"I am also known a 'Humming' Brook with a bounty of 33,000,000"

"Wait so now I'm the only one without a bounty!" Lil yelled "At least Chopper's got 50!"

"You don't need one shrimp." Wyper told her.

"But Mama had one when she was eight!"

Robin shot Lil a look "And my life was torn apart because of it. You are fortunate to not have one. Consider it a blessing."

"Yes Mama."

"From this day forth I am in your service." Brook told us "I hope I can be of some use."

Days later

We got packed up and were all ready to set sail.

"Onward to Fishman Island!"

"Here take this." Lola said handing Nami a scrap of paper "This is my Mama's Vivre Card. Take care of that it may come in handy."

"What's a Vivre card?" Nami asked.

"They're made in the New World where I'm originally from, it's a piece of paper that can't be destroyed. You take some fingernails to a shop and they can make one for you. You can tear off a piece and give it to friend or family." She put the paper down and it started crawling away.

"It moved."

"The paper will go towards the owner. I'll sign this one so you can show it to Mama. If you ever get in trouble just follow this to Mama and she'll help you out."

"I think I have one of those." Luffy said.

"You mean that thing that Ace gave you." I said "could be one."

Luffy took off his hat and picked up the paper.

"I thought it was bigger…"

"Let me see that." Lola said "Who'd you say this belongs to?"

"My brother." Luffy said.

"I hate to tell you this but…this person's life is fading."

"What…"

"When a card burns it means the owner is dying."

Luffy didn't say anything and we got ready to leave. We said our goodbyes to those we had freed from Moria and departed.

"Luffy we can look into Ace's card if you want." I told him

"It's fine." Luffy said "He'd never forgive me for butting in on his fight."

"Alright."

AN

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Till next time.