One Piece: Dream of Immortality-Chapter 550: Band Practice

Cherry brought Franky back to the Flower Capital after they were done poking around Pluton.

It had been somewhat surprising to Cherry that the ancient weapon seemed to be purely technological in nature. Although she still didn't know exactly what power source it used, she was reasonably confident that it was of mundane origin, as opposed to the vital or celestial energy used in cultivating.

It was a shame really. She had hoped to find energy inscriptions different to the ones in devil fruit to broaden her horizons, but it had been a slim hope in any case.

Franky's muttering about how he might go about modifying the vessel to use cola power instead was amusing enough to distract her from the mild disappointment.

"All that looking around has me feeling antsy. I need to put my hands to some busy work," Franky said. "I'm going back to the Sunny, Cherry. I have some... ideas..."

"Nothing too crazy, I hope. Have fun," Cherry waved him off. "Be sure to return before sundown. They're wanting to throw a banquet for us, remember?"

"Uhuh," Franky agreed, though Cherry wasn't sure if he was still listening.

As for Cherry, she had a brand new project to work on during her free time. That is, finding her devil fruit's rhythm.

For that, she needed to find Brook.

"Stupid invisible skeleton..." Cherry grumbled, realizing that she was going to have to find him the old fashioned way. He had no vital energy for her to detect, nor did his own devil fruit.

"You called?" Brook asked.

Cherry literally jumped, her feet clearing Brook's afro by over a meter.

She narrowed her eyes at the skeletal musician as she landed. "You've been practising that, haven't you?"

"Yohoho~ ! I don't know what you mean," Brook denied.

"One of these days that's going to get your skull cracked open like an egg," Cherry warned.

"Unfortunately my skull contains no yolk, only jokes! Yohohoho~!" Brook laughed without fear.

"Nevermind that!" Cherry saw this was going nowhere. "I need your help."

"Oh?" Brook was intrigued.

Cherry nodded. "I need you to teach me about music."

"Aha, excellent! I have missed making music with others dearly! I am glad to have your participation from now on! Yohoho!" Brook practically glowed with excitement.

Cherry didn't dissuade him of the notion. She didn't mind playing songs with him every now and then in return for helping her with her own interests.

"Right, let's start with drums!" Cherry tried to match his enthusiasm, but fell a bit short.

"Percussion, hm?" Brook hummed. "Now that I consider it, that makes a great deal of sense. I imagine you are already accustomed to hitting things whilst keeping time."

Cherry hadn't thought about it like that either. Perhaps the steady beat of a hammer on steel was not so different from playing a drum?

...

"You aren't suited to this at all..." Brook said, and Cherry got the sense he was trying to be nice about it.

Learning how to read sheet music was easy, but somehow actually putting it into practice was eluding her. It was frustrating to say the least.

"Well, don't be disheartened, my student!" Brook reassured her. "Few people are prodigies in the arts. With some time and patience, you will steadily improve. In a year or two, you should even be good enough to play in public!"

Despite intending that to be encouraging, Cherry was offended by the idea that she would take so long. She decided then and there that she would attain Brook's approval before the week was out!

Cherry started beating the drums like they owed her money. It wasn't any closer to what she was meant to be playing, but it was louder! That was something!

"Oh, that's some good energy you got there! It's the most emotion you've shown yet! Keep it up!" Brook gave her a thumbs up and a toothy smile.

Well, the toothy smile might just be his face.

...

A banquet was just what Cherry needed.

Unfortunately, it seemed like learning music to the level that she needed was going to take more than an afternoon.

Maybe all those zither cultivators were actually on to something when they acted all high and mighty even in front of sword cultivators. It was a strange feeling to regret not paying them any attention in her last life. If she had, then she'd be in a much better position right now.

What was even worse was that she had had a perfect opportunity to dip her toes in when a rather famous zither cultivator came to her and asked her to make one of the instruments for her. Cherry had shot her down, and had been quite rude about it too.

'Damn, I used to be such a little bitch,' Cherry self reflected. 'I guess starting all over from the bottom is a bit of a blessing in disguise to curb my arrogance...'

Not that she wasn't still arrogant. That was somewhat of a permanent fixture for all cultivators, defying the will of the heavens and all that.

"Cherry!" a tiny girl barreled into her legs.

"Hello, Toko," Cherry patted the girl's head.

"Look at all the food!" Toko cried. "And everyone gets to eat it!"

Cherry nodded and took a seat next to Yasuie. "Are you still hanging in there, old man? Not about to kick the bucket in sheer relief, are you?"

"I've still got another half a century in me," Yasuie said, putting a tiny bite of plain white rice into his mouth.

"Eat more," Cherry piled an assortment of extravagant foodstuffs onto his plates. "You've starved long enough, I think. Learn to be a little selfish, you've earned it."

Yasuie still looked reluctant, so Toko took the opportunity to try and feed her father when it was usually the other way around.

Years of surrendering every scrap and morsel to others had made it feel almost wrong to eat his own fill. Fortunately he had a daughter who had no such qualms about making sure he was well fed.

The banquet hall was filled with raucous laughter and merry making. A few of the boys danced on the tables, but only after they were clear of food thanks to Sanji.

Robin had discussed something with Sukiyaki in hushed tones, which left the older man looking pensive and dour despite the bright atmosphere.

Brook played his guitar and sang songs, and even roped Cherry into the latter. Cherry even knew a few songs herself, although they were working songs sung by blacksmiths or miners.

All in all, it was a great party and a peaceful night. One that was much deserved after a well fought war.

At least it was until...

"Hey hey, Luffy!" Cherry threw an arm over his shoulder. "Let me hear that song of yours again! The one that went like... Dum Dut Da Da!"

"Song?" Chopper perked up, as did a few of the other Straw Hats. They hadn't seen, or heard, Luffy's awakening yet.

"It takes a lot out of me, though..." Luffy hesitated.

"You've got all the food in the food right here! Just do it, come on!" Cherry shook him a bit.

Robin eyed Cherry with a suspicious look. She hadn't been paying much attention to her lover this evening, so she hadn't noticed... how much she had to drink...

Uh oh.