The night draped itself over the village like a velvet curtain. Gentle waves whispered against the distant shore, their rhythm soft as a lullaby. A warm breeze carried the scent of roasted fish, fresh bread, and fruit wine, winding between the houses like an invisible guest joining the celebration.
Lanterns hung in the trees, casting golden pools of light over the gathering crowd. Children ran barefoot over the cobbled paths, laughing and twirling with fireflies that blinked and danced like living sparks. Tables overflowed with food and drink, and villagers raised their mugs in cheer, clinking them together in celebration and relief.
It was a party born of victory and healing—a night when sorrow had finally loosened its grip.
In the center of it all, a great bonfire crackled merrily, embers leaping skyward like tiny shooting stars. The flames painted everyone in warm hues of orange and gold. Laughter echoed in every direction—pure, unburdened, alive.
Each of the Straw Hats were enjoying themselves in their own way. Usopp was surrounded by children and some naive adults, dramatically recounting a tale about how he once defeated a giant with a single punch.
Zoro was locked in a drinking contest with the village elders. When they inevitably collapsed face-first onto the floor, Zoro calmly stabbed his sword into the ground and leaned on it with a jug in one hand, a solemn look on his face.
Nami, meanwhile, was playfully dodging some inebriated villagers. If one looked closely, they'd notice her hands stuffed with wallets, clearly having liberated them during the festivities.
Luffy was practically glued to the banquet table, devouring what Lyra could only describe as manga meat. His stomach bulged one moment and was flat the next, like a bottomless pit.
As for Lyra, she looked oddly out of place amidst the vibrancy. Reclining on her floating pillow, she swirled a cup of wine, lost in thought.
"Great Sage, you there?"
(• I'll always be here when you need me, Lyra •)
She smiled softly. In this strange new world, that voice in her mind was her closest friend.
"Hey Great Sage... stop calling me 'host.' It makes you sound so distant. Just call me Lyra from now on."
(• ...Ok, Lyra •)
Her smile widened. But the moment didn't last.
(• Detected: Lyra is experiencing mental stress. Suggested action: share your thoughts •)
Lyra exhaled slowly, her voice low.
"You're going to have to put up with me whining for a bit, okay? When I first woke up on that beach, I didn't believe any of this was real. But then I saw my reflection... touched my face. And I knew—I've really been reincarnated. I have an immortal body. A chance at my dreams. I should be happy. Right?"
She paused.
"But... I miss Earth. I miss my family. They always loved me, even when I felt like life was boring and meaningless. I keep wondering how they're doing. If they're okay. I feel so... guilty for leaving them."
(• Lyra... I don't know everything about you, but from what I've observed—you hide behind jokes and smiles when you're scared. That's okay. It's okay to cry. It's okay to feel lost. You've been thrown into an entirely new world with nothing to lean on. Anyone would be scared. •)
She blinked, surprised. Then the tears came, soft and silent. She buried her face in her pillow.
A voice from the crowd pulled her back.
"Hey! Music girl! You promised us a performance!"
She looked up just in time to see a villager dragging a dusty old piano onto a makeshift stage. Her eyes widened.
Wiping her tears, she slapped both cheeks with her palms, red marks appearing on her flawless face. She smiled.
"Thanks, Great Sage. I've decided. I'm going to pour everything into this one song. My longing. My fear. My joy."
With a deep breath, she dismissed Chastifol back into the system space and floated toward the stage. Eyes followed her—villagers and pirates alike. No one spoke. Even the bonfire seemed to quiet.
Zoro stopped drinking. Usopp stopped bragging. Nami stopped stealing. Luffy stopped eating. Even Sanji stirred awake, despite his soggy state.
Lyra reached the piano. She brushed away the dust with delicate fingers. For a long moment, she just stared at the keys.
Then, with calm determination, she pressed the first note.
It echoed into the night like a bell marking the start of something new.
A soft melody spread through the crowd, light as a breeze but deep with emotion. All eyes were locked on the girl on the stage.
Slowly, she parted her cherry-red lips.
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star..."
As those words rang out, a hush fell.
A dome of gentle darkness enveloped the crowd. Fireflies danced within, casting dim golden glows. Before panic could take root—
"How I wonder what you are!"
A single, massive star appeared in the illusionary sky. It shone with a haunting beauty. Inside it, scenes of a bustling world flickered—skyscrapers, city streets, people dressed in strange clothes. Only the Straw Hats noticed how wistful Lyra's voice sounded.
"Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky..."
More stars flared to life. Each carried a vision: a tower reaching endlessly into the sky, a guild hall with tons of people fighting with smiles on their faces, a strange blue creature in a mystical forest, a city bathed in twilight. Yet none outshone that first star.
"When the blazing sun is gone, When he nothing shines upon..."
Each crew member suddenly became silent.
Zoro, still holding his jug mid-swig, blinked. His brows drew together. He wasn't a man of sentiment, but something about the tone... the feeling behind it... stirred something in his chest. He slowly lowered his drink, as if afraid to interrupt.
Nami stood among the crowd, clutching a satchel full of "souvenirs." Her hand slowly loosened its grip, and her smile faded—not out of boredom, but from something deeper. That melody... it pulled at memories she'd locked away: Belle-mère humming while brushing her hair, the smell of tangerines and stew. Her eyes welled up without her permission.
Usopp leaned forward, mouth slightly agape. His bravado dissolved like mist in sunlight. He could feel his father's silhouette—brave, distant, inspiring—standing behind him once more. For a moment, the child within him stood tall, proud to dream.
Sanji, despite the still-wet suit and aching ribs, pushed himself upright. His bruises throbbed, but he didn't care. He could almost hear Zeff's voice, rough but proud, praising him for a perfect soufflé. The memory brought both pain and warmth—and for a second, he forgot the world around him.
Luffy didn't blink. He didn't eat. He didn't laugh. For once, his smile was small. He looked up at the illusions in the stars, then to Lyra. He saw not just a strange fairy with wings and music—but a crewmate in spirit. Someone carrying a whole world of pain behind her smile, just like the rest of them. A quiet whisper tugged at the edge of his heart:
She's like us.
"Then you show your little light, Twinkle, twinkle, all the night."
The tempo picked up. Stars began spinning in playful arcs, mimicking shooting stars. Children laughed and reached for them. Adults stood in wonder.
Lyra stood now, having kicked away the stool. Her fingers danced across the keys with fierce joy, tears falling but her smile shining bright.
"In the dark blue sky you keep, Often through my curtains peep..."
Each Straw Hat quietly clutched their memories.
"For you never shut your eye, Till the sun is in the sky."
As she reached the final verse, the stars receded—one by one—until only the original star remained.
"As your bright and tiny spark Lights the traveler in the dark... Though I know not what you are, Twinkle, twinkle, little star."
The star shimmered—then faded, like a final goodbye.
On a small island, under a fake sky and before a crowd of 54 people, the greatest musician of countless worlds shared her first performance.
A song of longing, sadness, love, and hope.
And in that moment, she wasn't a fairy queen, a system host, or a reincarnated soul.
She was just Lyra.
Then—soft clapping. One villager. Then two. Then all at once, an eruption of applause, laughter, and tears. But among the Straw Hats, none moved for a long moment. They were still caught in the afterglow of something real, something shared.
Luffy's voice broke through at last—soft but certain.
"Lyra... join my crew."
Everyone turned.
Lyra blinked, stunned. She opened her mouth—then closed it. The warmth of the crowd, the offer hanging in the air, her heart thundering in her chest.
Lyra put on a brilliant smile. "Nope, not yet. I mean—do you even have a spa? Or a fairy garden? What gave you the audacity to invite a Fairy Queen without the essentials?"
The Straw Hat crew burst out laughing, joined by the villagers. Sure, they were a little disappointed they couldn't bring Lyra along—yet. But there were always chances in the future.
And if there was one thing they knew for sure, it was this:
Luffy never gave up.