Alright I'm sorry, but we're having a bit of a time skip with very little explanation. But I am really excited for the real Enies Lobby, so we're gonna start just before the Straw Hats get there. I think. I dunno, I'm reading from the manga and it's hard to tell when stuff happens just by the chapter titles. But hopefully we're close! Oh, and yes, Usopp (Sogeking, whatever) and Sanji are now reunited with the Straw Hats. They got there.... somehow..... Don't hate me!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'

"THE KING OF SNIPER ISLAND?!"

"...That's me. I'm Usopp's friend! I've come to your aid as per his request."

I can't help but stare, jaw dropped slightly, as my captain and my doctor gape at the man who is obviously Usopp. He's wearing the most ridiculous painted mask that he must have picked up in Water 7, and a red cape is wrapped around his shoulders. If his bandaged nose sticking out the front of the mask or his goggles, fitted through holes above his eyes, didn't tell you it's really our ex-sniper, then the familiar brown overalls really should.

Admittedly, I was asleep when "Sogeking" and Sanji reappeared. Sanji woke me up with his proclamations of love for Nami, and I nearly burned a hold through his chest out of pure frustration. But Zoro  (grudgingly) held me back, and Sanji told us about being aboard the Puffing Tom. 

The main point: Neither of them was able to bring Robin with them, and Franky is still there. 

The Franky Family is currently very depressed.

My captain, on the other hand....

"A..... A HERO!! I knew he was a hero when I saw his cape!" Luffy exclaims, like the little boy he is. He's totally fangirling right now. "So cool! This is my first hero sighting!!"

"Oh!" Chopper squeaks, in much the same manner as Luffy, with sparkles dancing around his shocked face. "So wearing a cape means he's a hero?! SO COOL~~!"

"YES! Cape equals hero!"

"Really?!"

Even this aggravated at my crew's naivety, I dissolve into a smile, watching them. I'm really just glad Usopp's alright, though he does seem to be suffering from split personalities. I saw him muttering to himself before Luffy caught his attention, switching between the obviously manly (yet somewhat discouraging) Sogeking and the normal, squirrely Usopp. 

It was... freaky to watch.

I lean back against the train's wall as Luffy asks where Usopp got to, and Chopper gets around to asking where Sniper Island is, and Sogeking responds with something along the lines of "In your.... heart...."

My eye twitches in response.

Thank Kami, Sani breaks into the idiot-fest.

"Nami-san...."

"What is it, Sanji?" she asks over her shoulder. He lifts the cigarette from his mouth  and crosses his arms, his gaze sliding over each of us.

"Hey! The rest of you idiots--excluding sweet Raya-chan of course!--you listen too.... Before we go in and rescue Robin, you all need to know this...."

He describes to us the conversation he had with Robin on the Sea Train, and I feel bitter tears prick the back of my eyes. I really miss her...

"And that's the whole story," Sanji finishes. "Robin has some horrific past that the CP9 is using to blackmail her. I didn't say all of this as an excuse for my failure.... I just wanted to point out that Robin may not willingly leave with us once we get to her."

"I DON'T CARE!!" I jump at Luffy's battle-cry of a shout. He's thrown his fist skyward, the most war-like expression on his face, with Chopper mimicking his actions to some degree. "I WON'T FORGIVE THEM!!"

"Woo!!!" Chopper cheers.

 "ROBIN, THAT STUPID--"

"Shut up!!" Nami knocks Luffy over the head with her fist, effectively halting his very misguided bellow. As a result though, he whirls on her, fisted hands trembling at his sides.

"Well it's true!" he shouts. "We tried to rescue her but she refused to go!"

"That's because she's worried about our safety!"

"She should worry about her own safety! If we don't do anything, Robin might die! She doesn't wanna die, so we have to save her!"

Nami visibly deflates as Luffy stalks off, huffing as he flexes his arm, readying himself for battle. "That's true," she starts in a weary breath, "but...."

"Forget it." Zoro shakes his head at her, a warning look in his eyes. Nothing threatening. Really, this is as supportive as he usually gets around most others. "We were already gonna rescue her anyways."

I smile as Nami nods, face softening into a sort of relaxed, relieved grin, though nervous sweat still beads on her forehead. I push away from the wall and sling an arm around her neck, catching her off guard. "Don't worry so much," I grin at her. "Robin's resourceful! When we raise hell, she'll know what to do, I'm sure. After all, she is a Straw Hat."

Nami looks at me, eyes wide, and I brighten my smile. She sighs a bit and shakes her head. "Sometimes I think Luffy's unyeilding optimism is rubbing off on you...." she says, offering me her own illuminating grin. 

I shrug. "Better than Usopp's depressing-ness, I suppose," I counter.

She wrinkles her nose and sighs again. It makes me laugh.

"Oi, you guys!" Paulie calls, waving a hand to get our attention. Nami and I look up to see he's seated on the floor on the opposite end of the train car, a hastily drawn yet oddly detailed map spread in front of him. "Come over here and take a look at this..."

All of us-- Straw Hats, Sogeking (he's yet to give up the guise, so I might as well go along with it), Franky Family and Galley-La--crowd around Paulie. Some remain standing, like Zoro and Sogeking, others take the couches, but most sit on the floor to better see Paulie's map. I plop down between him and Luffy and peer curiously at the hand-drawn map. He's labeled it as well. Hmm, we're a lot closer to the island than I though we were....

"I've been here once before for railroad maintenance," Paulie explains, nodding at the two-dimmensional version of Enies Lobby. Faint smoke curls from the cigar clamped between his teeth, simultaneously making me feel both nostalgic and irriated. Smoke and fire..... I kinda miss Smokey, to be honest, but my lungs still ache from running through Iceburg's blazing mansion....

"I drew this based on what I could remember. This is what Enies Lobby looks like." He points to the small building drawn at the back of the place, what he's maked as Judicial Tower. The building sits on an island seperate from the rest, alone at the egde of a circular waterfall that I imagine drops down into the pits of Hell. "The Gate of Justice is right behind this island, and the only path to it is through the Judicial Tower."

"Eh, Paulie?" I interrupt, nudging his arm with my elbow. He raises an inquiring brow at me. "What's with the waterfall? I mean, how are we gonna get past it?"

"A bridge," he replies. "A bridge connects the Judicial Tower to the rest of Enies Lobby."

"Ah.... alright then."

He goes on with his explanation/planning. "Anyhow, it's a straight path from the main gate to the Gate of Justice. If we can't get to Robin and Franky before they reach the end of that path we fail!"

I visibly flinch at how positively certain he sounds. I warm hand tugs at mine, making me look over at Luffy's grinning face. He blinks open his closed eyes and and I smile slightly. There's that energetic determination I've come to know and love. I squeeze Luffy's hand, telling him I'm alright, and we both go back to watching Paulie as he talks.

"Even if we all charge into the island," he says seriously, hard eyes flickering over each of our faces, meeting our eyes, wide in rapt attention, "the only ones that'll have any chance against CP9.... are you guys! I've seen how strong you guys are on the way here. So, you guys should wait for five minutes at the beach. Then, charge in with Rocket Man, right through the gates and into the island itself!"

Luffy nods, hand at his chin in a thoughtful gesture. Though I suspect the only thing he's got on his mind is how he's going to kick everyone's assess...

"Before that," Zambai, a member of the Franky Family whose name I've only recently learned, says, "the rest of us will go in there, open up the main gate and the front gate to make way for Rocket Man!! No matter how many of us die, don't stop, just charge right through!!"

I swallow nervously, as quietly as I can manage. Alright, possibly I dismissed Vivi's fears a little too easily. Having people die for you is not something I've ever really wanted to have happen to me.

"There are only sixty of us," Zambai goes on, "but there may be two to three thousand enemies. Straw Hats!! You guys should avoid any unnecessary fights, and just focus on the CP9!!"

"Yeah!!" Luffy agrees. "I got it!!"

"Hey guys."

I jump; I forgot Kokoro was here too. Dammit. She's on the loudspeaker, still in the control room, but her voice sounds as though she's right next to me. Creepy. "Come take a look at the sky behind Enies Lobby!"

Furrowing my brows, I scramble to my feet and press my face to the nearest window. My jaw drops as I catch a glimpse of what's ahead. "What sky....?" I murmur, completely awe-struck. 

"That's the Gates of Justice....!" Kokoro announces with her cackle.

And my crewmates proceed to freak out. 

The Gates of Justice (such an ironic name, really) are huge! And when I say huge, I mean.... well, big. Really, really, really big. So high clouds scuttle past them, so high they block the blue sky beyond. They look like they're built practically out of thin air, painted with the symbol of the World Government. 

"The gate over there never completely opens," Kokoro says. "It only opens a little bit to let criminals through. On the other side of the gate, there's a windless area, like the Calm Belts on the two sides of the Grand Line. Giant Sea Kings live there. It's impossible to sail past it with a normal ship. I don't know how they do it, but only the Marines know how to pass it. In other words.... it's just as the pirate girl said...."

Based on Nami's suddenly alert expression, I'd wager she's talking about our lovely navigator, and not me.

"If you wanna rescue the folks who've been arrested... you gotta do it beore they pass through the gate!! There's no time for chitchat!"

"Let's stick to the plan!! We'll go in first!" Zambia bellows, raising a fist in excitement as Paulie and the others join him on his feet. But.... we have a slight problem....

"Hey, aren't you two in our group?" Zoro asks, sweat dropping as he points two fingers at Nami and Sogeking, who are conviently stashed among the non-Straw Hats. Groaning in frustration, I drag the two of them back to our side, despite their whiny protests.

As I drop beside Sanji, who is still sitting calmly on the only couch in this car, Chooper, looking slightly less than frantic, asks, "Um... where's Luffy?"

Nami, after pouting at me, looks around, raising a suspicious brow. "Huh? He was here a second ago..."

I open my mouth to suggest he took a trip to the can (he eats so much, I always wonder how he isn't constantly in the bathroom), when a very unsettling call sounds from the roof of the train, where I know a bunch of Franky Family members are gathered.

"Ah! It's Straw Hat!!"

"Shit, Luffy...." I mumble, smacking a hand to my forehead as the others chorus a frantic shout. I thought my captain couldn't be any more of a baka after the disaster with the whole Davy Back Fight thing. But noooo, he has to go and do something completely reckless and idiotic! I don't know what he's done yet, but there's no way it's good.

I once again press up to the window, trying to see up on the roof. But my eyes don't wander anywhere near the train as I spot Luffy catapulting himself onto the high black fence surrounding the waters of Enies Lobby, possibly one of the most dangerous islands in the whole flipping Grand Line for pirates such as ourselves. 

"Baka," I sigh in resignation. 

"What's his problem?!" I hear Paulie shout, having caught sight of my captain as well. "He just left on his own!!"

"Did he even listen to the battle plan?!" Ah, that particular voice would be Zambai. He has a right to worry about that. 

"I'd say no," I say over my shoulder, shrugging apologetically at the shrieking Franky Family representative. "Cap'n has a bit of a one-track mind, you see. When it isn't focused on food, it's focused on fighting, basically. Like how Zoro is when he isn't guzzling sake."

And cue the very irritated scowl from said Swordsman, and the triumphant chuckle from a pervy cook.

I smile cheekily at Zoro, fingers raised in a hopefully placating peace sign. "Merely speaking the facts, dear Swordsman," I say, still smiling. "Never said it was a bad thing!"

He gives me a look (which I choose to ignore) before turning to Paulie and his hysterical new best friend. "To wait five minutes isn't possible for him," he says calmly, adding on to my own explanation. 

A wave crashes against the window behind me, and I realize the Franky Family and their giant Yagura of theirs have started for the gates into Enies Lobby. That means it'll be our turn relatively soon. I sigh quietly, fingering Honoo while I take a moment to think. We'll be up against those CP9 again, and I barely escaped with my friends last time... 

No. I won't think like that. I can't have doubt if I'm going to succeed. My nakama won't be doubting themselves now, they'll be thinking of having Robin back with us. I smile softly. Having Robin back.... I can't think of anything better at the moment. 

"How're your wounds?" Blinking, I zone back into the world this little train car inhabits, and look up at Zoro. He's talking to Sogeking, apparently. 

"It's not a problem," he replies. "Because I'm Sogeking."

Can anyone blame me for sweat dropping just now?

Kokoro's voice crackles to life on the speaker system again. "In four minutes, the Sea Train, Rocket Man, will.... charge in!!"

Oh this should be fun.

"You shouldn't be up here."

"Care to explain why, Swordsman?"

"It's dangerous."

"Oh please, that's a load of--"

"Raya."

I blink in surprise, tilting my head to look Zoro in the eye. He sighs, sliding a hand down his face. "You're a Devil Fruit user," he says. "You're on top of an out of control Sea Train, surrounded by water. And I don't really feel like taking a dive to save your ass."

I look around, raising a brow at the whipping winds and crashing waves all around me. The sea is dark, gray and cold, vicious and unwelcoming. It definitely doesn't look like something I want to embrace. Even the giant frog, Yokozuna (the same one who got sent flying by the Puffing Tom), seems wary of my being up here with Zoro. 

To be perfectly honest, I'm split on how to feel right now.

Part of me finds it cute that Zoro would worry about me. That same part of me is very excited that he cares so much, and also deathly afraid of mentioning anything of the former to him.

Another part thinks he's overreacting, something that Zoro never does. That same part is shocked.

A final part is simply aggravated that he thinks I could fall off so easily. Then again, I do have a very unfortunate history of going overboard at the most inopportune moments. 

Quite the battle of wills we have going on at the moment.

"How about this," I finally suggest. "If I do happen to take an unintentional swan dive, you call Sanji. I'm sure he'll be more than happy to assisst me."

His scowl in unsurprising. "You enjoy pissing me off, don't you?" he asks lowly.

I pause to consider. When I first met him, I thought getting him all riled up was the greatest passtime ever invented. Since getting to know him, it's become less and less enjoyable, though each instance still makes me crack a self-satisfied grin. I bite my lip in thought. "Somewhat. I somewhat enjoy pissing you off."

"Go inside, Raya."

"Well then," I huff indignantly. 

"Haven't we discussed how much of a baka you are?" he asks, looking at me from the corner of his sharp eyes. "You'll fall."

Not a possibility, it seems, but a certainty.

"So save all of us the trouble and go down before this train crashes into the island. It wouldn't do to have anyone worrying over you while we're supposed to be focused on fighting our way through this place. I know you don't want to be deadweight, Raya, and you know that will happen if you're knocked unconscious from falling into the water."

"Which means I have to go inside or I'll risk holding everyone back." I sigh, nodding, and get to my feet. Already, I feel how unsteady I am. One wrong step, and I'll tumble into the writhing waves. Perhaps Mom's stubborness is showing again. "You're infuriatingly smart, you know that, Marimo?"

"You're infuriatingly stubborn, Aka."

With a final eye-twitch and a half-ass snarl, I turn away to begin my descent back into the confines of the runaway Sea Train. But I stop before I reach the hatch that leads back inside. Not just because of Kokoro'a announcement that we'll be heading into the island soon, or her insistence that Zoro be the one to destroy the iron gate that's standing in our way. These are two things I knew when I followed him up here some time ago. What stops me is a sudden thought.

"Hey, Zoro...."

He glances at me over his shoulder, Wado held loosely in his hand. He cocks a brow. "What's wrong?"

"....We'll get her back, right?"

He seems slightly surprised by the question, blinking in response. Likely he wasn't expecting me to be the one to ask. Too stubborn to doubt our success, I suppose. 

"It all depends on her," he says after a short pause. "We'll do what we have to to break through this place's defenses and reach her. But in the end, it all comes down to what she decides. Are we worth her risking the World Government's wrath by going back on a deal? Is our crew the place she really wants to be? Does she want to give up running once and for all?"

My fists clench, my mood suddenly apprehensive. These are questions I haven't ever considered. Since finding out that Robin risked everything to save us, I didn't wonder over whether she'd rather give up on her desperate lifestyle all together. Even if giving in means giving up her life, is it still more appealing than living a life with the entirety of the World Government hunting her to the ends of the Grand Line?

"It's her decision," he repeats solemnly. "We'll know the outcome of all this when we finally catch up to her. Until then, I won't count out any possibilities." He turns slightly, enough so that our eyes can meet. 

I take a deliberate, deep breath, crossing my arms to keep them from trembling. "Thanks for being honest, Swordsman," I murmur sincerely. 

"Raya, whatever happens, don't lose your conviction." He narrows his eyes, willing me to listen, to absorb. "I said before that I'll remain neutral so that I don't hesitate in my actions. But you can do the same when you firmly believe in only one outcome. In your case, that's bringing Robin home. Don't waver, even if it means dragging Robin's ungrateful ass out of Enies Lobby. You'll only end up hurting yourself."

Despite everything, despite the waves crashing at the train's metal hull, despite the looming figure of Enies Lobby, despite how utterly bleak our odds are, my lips flicker into a soft smile. "I don't know why the others don't like to listen to your ideas, Zoro," I say, giving him a grateful closed eye smile. "You are, without a doubt, one of the smartest people I've ever met, Robin included. I think it has to do with your lack of emotion-driven decisions, why they think you aren't the person to ask for advice. But it really isn't a bad thing at times." 

He regards me silently, wind whipping at his short spiky hair, driving it back off his forehead, causing his zip-up yellow shirt to flutter out behind him. 

I just continue to grin. 

"I guess I should say thanks," he says at last.

"No need, Swordsman." I wvae my hand dismissively. "But as payment for my kind words, you aren't allowed to struggle."

"Wait, wh--"

He's caught off guard when I dive at him in a hug. There's a tense moment when I think he'll just throw me off and mutter about how crazy I am for caring about a hug when we've practically got a war to fight in a minute. But he doesn't. He awkwardly pats my back as I bury my face in his chest, seeking just a single moment of comfort before we descend into Hell. 

I realize Zoro and I have had more "moments" since coming to Water 7 then we've had in the entire time we've known each other, but I honestly just don't care. It doesn't have anything to do with the fact that we're together, I know. Nothing really changed in our relationship save a few kisses here and there. It just so happens we've been thrust into some of the most agonizing and heart-tearing moments one can experience since arriving at the beautiful city of water. 

In all honestly, I hope these "moments" of ours become less and less frequent, because they usually only occur when I'm terrified or on the verge of heartbreak. And while I do enjoy the feeling of being wrapped in Zoro's arms, I don't fancy the feelings that drive me into them.

"I mean it this time, Zoro," I murmur as I pull away. He returns my sharp gaze with ease. "Don't die. And for you, I guess that translates into don't lose. I know I said I don't care about a win or a loss, and I don't. But since you don't really distinguish between losing and dying, then I'm making you promise you'll win against whatever member of the CP9 you meet. Got it, Pirate Hunter?"

He smirks and places his heavy hand atop my head. "The same goes to you."

A decidedly unladylike grin curls my lips, and I see Zoro's smirk widen. "Oh believe me," I say, eyes glinting, "I don't plan on having a repeat of our last encounter. I've made up my mind, thanks to you. I have my one outcome. Whoever gets in the way of it.... won't be recognizable when I've finished with them."

And on that cheery note, I shake off Zoro's warm hand and hop back down to the train's interior, leaving him to deal with getting past Enies Lobby's first defence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm a really sappy writer, aren't I? Yes, I do believe I am. So many sappy ZoRaya moments, I swear! I'm sorry if anyone is sick of them, but they just happen when I write! Raya is, apparently, a very sappy girl! I meant for her to be very badass, but that sadly doesn't seem to be the case. Oh well. Too late now. 

Eh, it's fine. Perhaps I'll have less interaction with Zoro.... would that make her less sappy or more boring? Hmm, I'll have to think about that.

Oh, and I do believe I'm going to make an "Ask the OC's" book. Possibly. I dunno yet. But if I do, it will include the following OCs:

Flynn D. Raya

Dracule Katana

Scarlette Hayes

Ari Hayes

Violet Hayes

Winter Heartfilia

OH! And the next chappy is the fiftieth! Well, technically, it's the forty-ninth, since I have an Author's Note somewhere in there. But I dislike technicalities, so it will be the fiftieth. And I have a very interesting plot idea for it! I hope y'all like it when it's posted! (whenever that happens to be...)