Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece, that right belongs to Eiichiro Oda.

A/N: Sorry to keep you waiting, this chapter isn't that much longer than my other chapters but I have tested doing different things in there such as a change in PoV and speaking at one point. Also, it's a split chapter, got more than one part. It's the first in the pre-canon arc too.

Big thanks to yggdrasil001, thylas, and starelight for Reviewing, to BlueFlamedTeddyBear, Demongirl808, Miha rockwai, Shem Jaaws, Shikiola, 1eyedowl, Bubble MaKeRr, ChaosHunter21, Jewel Princess1992, and northwind132 for Favouriting, and to BlueFlamedTeddyBear, Jesse S. , LuffySmileyFace, Miha rockwai, Shem Jaaws, Shikiola, azmuthcreator, , xXChild-Of-DemonXx, 1eyedowl, Bubble MaKeRr, and ChaosHunter21 for Following. Here's the chapter.

Chapter 10-Jimbei's Inner Struggle Part 1

Brook raised the sails and forbade everyone from going into the Crow's Nest long ago for a reason. There was a Pirate skull and crossbones on the sails, and the black flag along with the most dangerous stuff found on the ship in the Crow's Nest, such as the massive weights that could easily crush them.

He didn't want any of them to feel obliged to become pirates because of it. Jimbei is a soldier, Franky has a bright future, Robin didn't really get a choice, Sanji wanted to be something else, Zoro was an unknown, Nami hated most pirates because of her near death experience, Usopp's dad was one so it was his choice, Luffy's Grandfather wanted him to be a Marine and Chopper was learning to be a doctor, Zoro was already being used as a test dummy to help him along.

They didn't have to be Pirates like him.

He knows that they would though, and not just because of the fact that they have a flag, but because of Robin. They are all willing to become criminals just so they can spend time with Robin in the Other World. Still, he knows the skull and crossbones would raise a protest. They'd accuse Luffy of doing a prank.

They had all made themselves some Pirate Flags as a challenge and the ones on the ship are exactly like Luffy's, with Usopp's help of course, Luffy was an admittedly terrible drawer, not that he'd tell the hyper boy. He pitied anyone who might one day have to live with it.

He still didn't know where Luffy managed to get the idea of a straw hat. Maybe he saw the mark on the sails somehow and copied it? No, Luffy would have drawn attention to it. But how?

Brook felt something tug at his pant leg, and looked down to see Chopper standing there awkwardly. He really was a tiny thing. Brook was nearly nine feet tall and Chopper was barely a foot tall, but this wasn't the place to ponder on things such as the flag or heights, which should be left back on the rotting ship; he had people here to be with.

"Jimbei's acting strange, Brook. Do you know what's wrong with him?" Chopper sounded both worried and slightly fearful. He was genuinely worried for Jimbei but he was afraid it was because of him.

Rage filled Brook as he remembered waking up to see the youngest family member so injured. If he wasn't stuck he'd have gone straight to Drum Island so he could punish those who hurt him and left so many scars on the poor boy. He knew all the others would want to do the same.

Humming, Brook picked Chopper up and put him in his lap, Chopper only just ate his devil fruit a week ago and he still wasn't a year old yet. They really needed to help Chopper get over his fear of being rejected and pushed away.

He thought back onto the reason Jimbei was getting a bit distant. Apparently, Fishman Island's Queen, who he was told was called Otohime, was collecting signatures for Fishman Island to join with the surface world, and Jimbei didn't know which side to take. But what was important right now was for Chopper to know it wasn't because of him, at least, not completely. Then he'd need to make it known to Jimbei that he was distancing himself again.

Something moved in the corner of his sight. He turned and saw Sanji staring at Chopper worriedly. Suddenly, his eyes hardened and he took off before Brook could mention anything. He hoped the boy wasn't going to do anything rash.

Jimbei felt guilty about distancing himself from them again, even unknowingly. If Sanji hadn't asked why he was making Chopper worried, he wouldn't have even realised he was doing it. He didn't want them to worry. As Luffy once said, he was supposed to be the one to worry about everything for everyone. But then again he had said that he needed to let the others worry about things with him too. He still didn't know where Luffy got all these words of wisdom from.

He didn't know which side to choose, to sign the petition or to not, Jimbei didn't know how he felt about humans. His family on the Sunny made him think they weren't bad even when Arlong had thought they were horrible monsters. But after what happened to Chopper, he didn't know anymore. They seemed like the monsters Arlong made them out to be but then he just looked at Sanji and Zoro bickering, Luffy and Usopp running away from Nami's wrath, and Chopper being read to by Robin, and suddenly he just didn't know anymore.

The fact that Jimbei felt he had to choose a side was the worst bit. He knew it was because it would also impact his family on the Sunny. Especially Robin, who would come because he told her there was a Poneglyph on Fishman Island. He told her all he knew about it too, just somethings he found out about it during his time as a soldier in Neptune's Army.

He didn't know if he wanted Fishman Island to rise to the surface. A large part of him wanted it simply because it would be easier to find his family on the Sunny, he could even go get Brook out of his isolation and see Franky on a regular basis until he finishes the sea train. Franky made it quite clear that after Tom's name had been cleared he'd finally get to work on the Thousand Sunny and her Blueprints. Some form of motivation Jimbei supposed.

But that small part of him that was somehow more convincing knew that it would be better for Fishman Island to stay on the sea floor, his family on the Sunny weren't a good example of the majority humans. After what happened to Chopper he realised this. They would look down on them, they'd fear them, they won't be able to coexist peacefully together especially since the fear and hated both races held for each other would always be taught to the younger generation.

He knew it was his presence that stopped all of his family from inheriting that fear and hate, and if Brook had any of those feelings they were most likely washed away by raising him.

Jimbei wanted to choose a side. Yet he also didn't. So he went as far as getting the opinions of those close to him on Fishman Island and got mixed results. He even went as far as tracking down Tom's brother who was still on Fishman island and was about to ask him his opinion when he needed a tie breaker when he was called away before he could.

He decided that yes, he was going to choose but he wasn't going to for a while. He needed more proof; he'd have to meet humans himself then judge them and decide his answer. But first he needed to comfort Chopper and convince him that he wasn't thinking badly of him, his family's wellbeing was more important that a life-changing yes or no question.

Even after a year passed, he still hadn't decided, but he was even closer to his family than before and he hadn't, purposely or accidentally, distanced himself from them again. He was even there and paying attention when Chopper first started doing his weird dances after being complemented. Everyone at least smiled at the sight, though most laughed. It was really adorable, especially when Luffy and Usopp joined in.

The rest of his family appreciated the fact that he was finally being a closer part of the family. And he certainly did too.

He hoped he would never have to be alienated from them again.

Coming Up Next: Jimbei's Inner Struggles Part 2

Just starting the pre-canon arc that's expected to end between chapter 40 and chapter 50. Man this is going to be long.

Responses to Reviews:

yggdrasil001: I can always count on you to review, can't I? ;D I hoped they would be, and you're welcome. Sorry about this not being that long, I promise the next one will be even longer, Fisher Tiger will be there and Jimbei becomes a pirate after all. I will always answer all the reviews I get for many reasons, and I'll make sure to definitely answer all of yours. We've got Brook's reaction to the flag, now we have to wait and see what the other's reactions will be. I've got myself a timeline and I'm wirtting what happens there, if you want I'll put it up in the next chapter down here. Sorry about the slower updates.

thylas: I found it both sad and cute, I can't believe I made Chopper depressed. Thank you, I worked hard on it. :) It's alright, and sorry, she'll be there eventually. I wonder how she'll react to seeing Chopper, Robin, Franky, and Brook?

starelight: Thank you! It means a lot to me, and I hope your not disappointed with how I'm writing beyond now.