!IMPORTANT NOTE, READ BEFORE PROCEEDING!

This story is a sequel/alternate path to Visit to the Gallery. I recommend reading that one before starting this one. Here's the link if you need it:
/s/10691515/1/Visit-to-the-Gallery

SINCE this is an alternate path, some things have been altered from the first story:

- No items were exchanged among the crew EXCEPT that Sanji gave Nami his lighter at one point.

- The crew did not go through the orange and aqua rooms at the end.

Also, please note that this is rated M for mild mental and physical torture.

At last, it will all come to an end! Despite the possessed artwork attacking them, losing many rose petals, and Sanji briefly being driven insane, the Strawhat pirates have reached their final destination, their ticket to the real world: The mural Fabricated World. Everyone but Nami and Sanji is through. But as these two prepare to enter the painting, familiar voices call their attention away . . .

"Come on, Sanji-kun," Nami said, turning away from the image of Bellemère and Zeff. "Let's go."

She paused in lifting a leg to step through, lowered it, and turned. "Sanji-kun?"

Sanji was slowly walking towards the image of Zeff, who grinned encouragingly and held out his arms.

"If I go . . . with him . . ." Sanji muttered as if in a trance.

"Sanji-kun, come on, we don't have time for this!" Nami exclaimed, exasperated.

"There you go, little eggplant," Zeff said. "Everyone else is just around the way! They can't wait to see you again!"

Nami hurried forward and seized Sanji's shoulders. "Sanji-kun—!"

"Nami-san."

Nami froze, drawing back. Sanji sounded almost like he had in the short time before . . . before the doll room.

"Go on," Sanji said, still facing away. "Go on . . . ahead. I promise I'll catch up later."

"That's what you said before," Nami whispered. "But you never caught up with us."

Sanji was silent. The image of Bellemère had vanished without Nami's notice, but the image of Zeff was moving towards Sanji. He stopped directly in front of him and it was the three of them—Nami, Sanji, and the vision—in front of Fabricated World.

"Hey, what's going on?" Luffy called from the other side. "What are you guys looking at? Nami? Sanji?"

"Come on, little eggplant, don't make me wait," the image of Zeff insisted, taking Sanji's hand in his own. Sanji did not resist.

"Keep my lighter for me until I catch up, Nami-san," he said quietly. "I promise, I will catch up. I just . . ." he hung his head. "I need to . . ."

"Sanji-kun—! No, don't—!"

Nami reached out a desperate hand, but her friends, becoming impatient, reached through themselves and grabbed her, there were too many hands for her to stop them—and as she was dragged through the painting, the image of Zeff flickered and vanished before her eyes, Sanji was following nothing—

"NO!"

The eight Strawhats met at the top of the stairs with smiles and waves.

"So . . ." Luffy scratched the back of his neck. "I guess I'm bored. Should we go?"

"How long has it been, anyway?" Franky muttered, glancing out the window. "Feels like hours, but the sun's barely moved . . ."

"I kinda feel like . . . I'm missing something," Usopp said, absently patting himself all over in vain search. "Is it just me?"

"No, I do, too," Robin said, a bit troubled. "But . . . I can't think of what it could be."

"Maybe we're just hungry?" Luffy suggested, bouncing on his feet.

Zoro nodded as his stomach grumbled. "I could go for some grub."

"Speaking of which, whose turn is it to cook tonight?" Nami asked, glancing around.

"I believe it's mine," Brook said cheerfully. "Though I'm sure my food can't be very good, seeing as I have no tongue to taste it with!"

"Oh, you're not that bad," Usopp said reassuringly.

"Can I have cotton candy tonight?" Chopper asked hopefully.

"I'll get you some later," Robin promised.

Nami's brow furrowed and she looked around. "Are . . . is everyone here?"

The others glanced around, doing quick headcounts.

"Yeah, why?" Luffy asked curiously.

Nami shook her head. "I thought . . . well, never mind."

She looked around and spotted an artwork hanging nearby. Frowning again, she left the group to get a better look.

"Nami?" Robin said as she and the others followed her.

Nami had stopped in front of a portrait. It depicted a sleeping man, sitting with one knee up to his chest and the other bent on the ground in front of him. His hair was blond, sleek, and combed over his left eye. For some reason, the eyebrow above his right eye curled up into a spiral on the outside. His suit was something one might wear to a dinner party. He was surrounded by rose vines, covered in blooming blue roses, one of which seemed to blossom from his breast pocket. Despite being beautiful, the image brought a twinge of sadness to mind.

The placard beneath read—

"Forgotten Portrait," Brook read aloud.

"Why would Guacamole paint a guy like this?" Luffy mused, tilting his head and staring at the painting as if it would tell him.

"Better question: Why did he paint the eyebrow that way?" Zoro muttered, raising his own.

"I wonder if he's sleeping, or . . ." Robin murmured.

"Don't say things like that!" Usopp hissed. He turned back to the portrait. "But, y'know . . . I feel kinda . . . what's the word? Sorrowful . . ."

"You could've just said 'sad,'" Franky said, examining the portrait. "But . . . I see what you mean . . ."

"Nami?" Chopper whispered, glancing up. "Are you okay?"

Nami's eyes were glued to the painting.

"Those roses," she murmured, one hand brushing hair behind her ear. "I swear I've . . ."

"Nami?" Robin said gently. "Maybe we should get back to the ship for an early dinner. How does that sound?"

Nami nodded, but her eyes did not leave the painting.

"Y'know," Zoro said as the group turned away, heading to the stairs, "you'd think that with all the time we've been sailing, we would've gotten a cook to join by now . . ."

"Next island," Luffy said firmly as they started down the stairs.

"You always say that," Usopp muttered.

"But I mean it this time."

Robin, at the rear of the group, turned to see Nami still staring at the portrait.

"Nami!"

Nami jumped and looked over. "Right, sorry," she said, hurrying after her. She cast one last look back at the painting as they went.

"Great dinner, Brook," Luffy said cheerfully, setting down his plate and burping.

"Thank you, Luffy-san," Brook said as he sat with the others to start on his own portion. "I only wish I could taste it myself, though I have no tongue to do so!"

"Yeah, it's as good as . . ." Usopp frowned. "Usual . . . ?"

The others looked at him curiously, noticing his hesitation.

"Brook?" Usopp said slowly, frowning deeply. "When was the last time you cooked?"

Brook opened his mouth, but paused in taking a breath (though he had no lungs).

"That's odd," he remarked at last. "I don't quite recall."

"Well, you must've done it at some point," Zoro reasoned. "I mean, don't we all take turns doing . . . it . . . ?"

He frowned. "Wait, when did I last cook?"

Robin looked around, distinctly troubled. "I can't remember when I . . . can anyone else—?"

The others slowly shook their heads.

"B-But—we've gotta—I mean, we must've—what does Nami's food taste like?" Usopp asked quickly.

"Even I can't remember," Nami murmured. "The last time I remember cooking . . . is back in the East Blue, before . . ."

She trailed off, staring at the table in confusion. "Before . . . ?"

"What's going on?" Chopper whispered.

Luffy frowned. "Okay, so . . . we all know, or we think we do, that everyone's been taking turns making meals and stuff. But no one remembers cooking and no one remembers what anyone else's food tastes like . . . right?"

The others nodded in unison.

"I got it," Luffy said. "It's a mystery."

He returned to his food. Usopp smacked him. "This isn't the kind of mystery that gets better with eating!"

"But I'm hungry," Luffy whined. "Can't we finish dinner and then solve the mystery?"

"Sounds good to me," Zoro said, going back to his food as well.

The others held troubled looks, but of course they could not argue with Luffy when it came to food, so they, too, returned to their meals.

Luffy gathered everyone out on the lawn in a circle. They looked at him expectantly and he took a deep breath.

"Mysteries make my head hurt," he said abruptly. "Robin, Chopper, you guys take over."

Franky, Usopp, Zoro, and Nami hit him.

"You're not even going to try?!" Nami snapped.

"Luffy, come on," Usopp groaned.

"It's fine," Robin said. "Let's retrace our steps today. We all woke up and had breakfast, didn't we? Who made breakfast?"

The others shrugged as one.

"I can't remember, either," Robin admitted. "We had lunch shortly before docking . . ."

"I can't remember eating today," Franky interrupted. "But we must've eaten before now, otherwise we would've been super hungry, right?"

Luffy nodded. "I don't remember eating, either, but we had to've eaten something!"

"Then what did we eat?" Zoro demanded.

"I don't know!" Luffy exclaimed. "I can't remember! Ugh, my head hurts!"

"You think your head hurts? My hair's about to fall out!" Usopp cried.

"ENOUGH!"

All argument ceased so suddenly it was as if everyone's mouths had been sewn shut. Nami was standing, very upset.

"I'm going to take a walk," she muttered, turning away. "If anyone wants to join me, that's fine. I don't know anything, but my head's going to explode if I stay here, so I'll see you in a bit."

She leapt off the ship and strode away on the island.

"I'll go with her," Robin murmured.

Nami whipped around. "Who—? Oh, Robin."

Robin fell into step with her, smiling sympathetically. "I'm sorry we made you upset."

Nami sighed. "I just . . . I don't know what's going on. Why can't we remember . . . ?"

"I know as much as you," Robin murmured. The sun was sinking as they walked into a patch of trees.

Not far in, a single pink rose sprouted near a trunk. Nami paused and glanced at it, smiling.

Robin looked down and smiled fondly, kneeling and reaching out a hand.

"Chopper should be more caref—"

She and Nami stiffened just as her hand was about to brush the flower. Their smiles vanished, replaced by confusion. Robin withdrew her hand as if it had been burned and stared at the rose.

"Robin," Nami whispered. "What . . . ?"

"What . . . was I saying?" Robin murmured, putting a hand to her temple. "Something about . . . Chopper . . . ?" she shook her head. "I can't remember . . ."

"Let's go back," Nami said, eyeing the innocent pink rose.

Robin nodded and stood. They turned around and went back the way they'd came.

"There were roses in that painting," Nami murmured.

Robin glanced at her. Nami was staring at the ground.

"The Forgotten Portrait," Nami said. "That man was surrounded by . . . blue roses."

"So he was," Robin said. "What of it?"

"I don't know."

Two days later

"Again?"

Nami glanced back at Zoro, resting on deck, as she was about to leave the ship. She nodded.

"Honestly, so what if we can't remember who's been cooking what around here?" he said, shifting where he sat. "We know it's been happening, so let's just move on. Besides, what does that dumb painting have to do it?"

"I don't know," Nami snapped, temper flaring. "There's just—something about it . . ."

Zoro sighed. "You know, staring at that cook won't—"

He stopped, furrowing his brow. Nami was frozen, staring at him oddly.

"What . . . did I just say?" he murmured. "Nami, what did I just say?"

"I don't remember," Nami whispered, more confused than ever. "I'm—I'm going back to the gallery."

"You know, staring at that painting won't change anything," he called, but he was ignored; Nami left the ship, heading straight for the art gallery.

Nami stood yet again in front of Forgotten Portrait, staring at its subject.

"Who are you?" she whispered. "Did Guertena base you on a real person?"

She brushed her fingers against the frame.

"Why are you forgotten? What's your name?"

Soon she sighed, holding her hand close to her chest. With one last look at the painting, she turned around and jumped when she found herself face-to-face with Luffy.

"You're here again," he said.

She nodded.

"I don't get it. What's so great about this place?"

"I don't know," Nami said. "But . . . that painting, there's something about it that . . . just look at it!"

Luffy stepped towards the painting and studied it. A shadow of something passed across his features.

"I see," he murmured. "But . . ."

"I know," Nami whispered. "I don't get it, either."

"Oh, I came to get you," Luffy said, turning around. "It's your turn to cook and we're getting hungry. Come on!"

Nami sighed and followed him to the stairs, pausing for a moment to read a sign posted near the flight.

A notice to all visitors: There is a strict ban on fire-starting implements in the gallery. We request that you report the use of any matches, lighters, or the like. Should the use of such implements be reported,

Nami did not read past that, her eyes travelling across the first part over and over.

"Matches, lighters, or the like," she murmured. "Lighters . . . lighters . . . ?"

"Nami?" Luffy called from the bottom. "You okay?"

She ignored him and felt her clothes, searching. At last she felt a hard lump beneath her shirt, which she hadn't bothered to change for a few days. She reached inside and pulled something out.

It was a silver lighter.

She frowned and opened the lid, flicking the wheel. A bright flame sprung up and Nami stared at it, entranced.

"Nami?" Luffy said, coming up the stairs now. He leaned over her shoulder. "Huh? Where'd you get that?"

"Paintings . . ." she whispered. "Shouldn't . . . wiggle . . . their tongues."

"Huh?"

Nami fell to her knees, dropping the lighter to the floor, where it snapped shut, extinguishing the flame. She clutched her head, closing her eyes in a sudden flood of pain.

Youandtheroseareintertwinedknowtheweightoflife
THELIARSROOM
TheLadyinRed
Whentherosewiltssotoowillyourotaway
Orangeroseyellowrose
Redrosegreenrose
TheLadyinBlue
Bloodeverywhereithurtsithurts
Movingpaintings
Rosepetals
Ballsofpaint
Headlessstatues
Dollsdollsdolls
Mannequinheads
Pinkrosepurplerose
Paintingsmovingtoomanypaintingsithurts
Cyanroseblackrose
Witheredrose
Bluerose
Blueroseinbreastpocket
Witheredbluerose
Healthybluerose
Lightercigarettessmoking
Suitladiesman
Blondhair
Curlyeyebrow
Shamelessflirt
Stupidcook
Cook
Heisacook
Heisourcook
Heisourfriend
Hisnameis

"Sanji."

"What?" Luffy said, kneeling by Nami. "Hey, Nami, are you okay? Do you need Chopper?"

"Sanji-kun," she whispered. "Oh, god, Sanji-kun!"

"No, his name's Chopper," Luffy said patiently.

Nami stared at him. "I—Luffy—"

She seized the lighter, stood, and strode back to the portrait of the sleeping man—of Sanji, their own Sanji.

"What happened?" she said, clenching the lighter close with a white-knuckled grip. "Why are you like this?"

"Nami, you need to stop talking to the painting now," Luffy said seriously, approaching her. "Let's go back, you don't have to make dinner if you're not up to—"

"We're going to get you back," Nami said, ignoring him. "Wait just a little longer, Sanji-kun."

She turned on her heel and ran down the stairs. Luffy shrugged and followed.

"I've remembered everything."

The Strawhats stared at Nami. Everyone stood around the lawn where she'd called an emergency meeting.

"You have?" Usopp said. "That's great! Can you make dinner first and then explain? We're getting hungry—"

"I'm not making dinner," Nami snapped. "I'm not the cook."

"Technically we're all 'the cook,'" Zoro pointed out.

"No, we are not," Nami said. "I don't know how or why, but our memories have been messed with. We don't remember who's cooked what because none of us have been cooking."

"So who has?" Chopper asked.

"Sanji-kun."

A moment of silence.

"That name again," Luffy said. "That's what you were calling the portrait, wasn't it?"

"What, talking to the painting now?" Zoro muttered. "Staring at it every hour was bad enough, but—"

"Shut up," Nami snapped. She ran her fingers through her hair. "I don't get it at all. How can we all have just . . . forgotten him?"

She looked up. "Don't you guys remember who took care of Mr. 2 Bon Clay back in Alabasta?"

"No one did," Usopp said in surprise. "He surrendered and even gave me back my goggles."

"Who—?" Franky muttered.

"A swan," Zoro murmured.

"Zoro," Nami said, "who do you fight with every day?"

Zoro frowned. "What do you mean? Pretty much all of you for one reason or another." He glanced at Luffy and Usopp. "These two keep tripping over me when I'm trying to nap."

"Well, if you wouldn't nap in the middle of the deck—" Usopp muttered.

"What happened at the Baratie?" Nami asked, turning to Luffy.

"Well, I had to work there for a bit, Zoro got to fight that Warlord, and then I beat up Krieg," Luffy said. "Then before we left to get you, I asked if anyone wanted to join but they all said no." He sighed. "I wish we'd kidnapped one of them or something, we could really use a cook—"

"You're wrong," Nami said, her voice breaking. "You're wrong! Someone did join us! Sanji-kun did! He's been with us ever since then! His cooking's the best this side of the Grand Line, he's a stupid womanizer, he's a self-sacrificial moron, and he's our friend!"

Tears filled her eyes and spilled over suddenly. Luffy's hands clenched and Robin and Chopper looked worried while the others stepped back awkwardly.

"But now he's stuck in that awful place!" Nami cried. "Because he's a goddamn liar, he said he'd catch up and he never did, he fell for a hallucination and now he's a painting!" A half-laugh burst through her sobs. "At least now I know why his painting's called Forgotten Portrait! None of you remember him!"

"Nami . . . Nami, calm down," Usopp said, patting her shoulder. "It's been a long few days, why don't you go lie down and—"

"Don't tell me to lie down!" she yelled, glaring. Usopp flinched and hid behind Zoro. "You don't even remember how many times Sanji-kun's saved your ass! He got himself hit by lightning twice for us!"

Usopp stared at her nervously. Luffy's expression was unreadable as he watched Nami.

"But it doesn't matter if none of you remember him," Nami said, fresh tears welling up. "Because he's going to get out even if I have to go back there alone and find him myself. And maybe once I do, then you'll all remember our cook!"

"Go back there?" Robin asked.

Nami nodded. "We . . . have to go back," she whispered. "To the dark gallery."