Hello~! Long time no see, I suppose! I've been meaning to update lately, but I've been busy with this, that and the other so a few things fell by the way side! But here I am, again! I hope you all enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it! If you do, be sure to let me know! Without further ado, here you go!

They've gathered their things, they've left their temporary home, and they're ready to sail again. The crew makes their way to scrap island, and rather than find Franky waiting for them they find Iceburg instead. The man is standing in front of a ship covered by a huge tarp. Iceburg tells them that in place of Franky, he's going to be revealing the ship that was built for them. "This ship is truely incredible," Iceburg, tells them. He grips the edge of the tarp tightly. "When I saw the blue-prints, I was amazed! It can, without a doubt, sail any sea! With a ship like this reaching the end of the world isn't just a dream!"

"Hurry, hurry!" Luffy says, bouncing up and down.

"This is Franky's message to you, Straw Hat!" He yanks the tarp off, revealing a magnificent ship. "If you're to be King of the Pirates...board this ship fit for the King of the Jungle!" Everything about the ship was simply amazing. It was at least twice as big as the Merry, and, if what Franky said was true, created from wood capable of taking quite a bit of punishment. Everyone on the crew seemed to find exactly what they were looking for in a ship, in this ship. All in all, none of them has a single complaint about it.

"Oi, Ice Pops! Where's Franky? We'd like to thank him!"

"Aah...well, it seems like he has no intention of meeting you guys again." Luffy cocks his head in confusion. "Straw Hat, you're planning to ask him to be your shipwright, aren't you?"

"Yeah! I've decided that he's going to be our shipwright!"

"He seems to be aware of that."

"So, he doesn't want to, then?"

"Just the opposite!" Iceburg laughs. "In fact, he's not sure that he could turn you down if you asked. That's why he went and hid...but his honest wish is to set sail with you guys. That he's entrusted this dream ship he's been planning for so long to you guys is proof of that. Honestly, he's just being stubborn if you ask me. But...if you truly intend to take him with you...then do whatever it takes!" Upon hearing his words, Luffy nods in understanding.

"Alright! Let's go...!"

Luffy, Sanji and Zoro have been gone for only a few minutes but the ruckus that's kicking off in the city can only be the result of fighting with Franky. Things come to a head, so to speak, when Franky himself suddenly comes crashing down several meters away from the ship. Except for his shirt, he's naked as the day he was born. Luffy drops out of the sky seconds later, landing on the railing of the ship with the cyborg's swim-suit clutched on his hand. The red head pinches the bridge of his nose, brow furrowing. "That's...far more of Franky than I have ever wanted, or needed to see," mutters Run.

In the distance, a group of Water 7 citizens shout at the man to put some pants on. Franky ignores them completely, shoving his sunglasses up calmly. "Oi, Straw Hat," Franky calls. "How about giving me my swimsuit back?"

"Sure," Luffy agrees. "After you join our crew."

"Huh. You really think I'll join just because you stole my swimsuit?" Franky surprises them all by suddenly striking a pose, arms held over his head in his signature style. Clearly, the man has absolutely no shame in regards to his nudity. "Nothing should phase a man! He should always be comfortable and resourceful in his own skin! Like a lion that stands against any challenger!"

"Haaah...gimme us a break, Franky!" Run shouts back. "There are kids in that crowd!"

"Waah! I totally underestimated him!" Luffy cries. "What a strong-willed guy!" Nami smacks him in the back of the head, claiming he's nothing being willful just a pervert.

"If it's alright to be a little rough, I can help," Robin tells them.

"Well...Ice Pops did say we would have to use force to pursuade him. So, I guess it's alright." Robin smiles a bit in response and crosses her arms in front of her calmly.

"Dos Fleurs." The red head narrows his eyes in response, a bad feeling settling in his gut as if by instinct. She's not...there's no way she would do that, right? She absolutely wouldn't do that to someone, right? "Grab!" Franky's eyes look as if they're going to pop right out of his head as she squeezes some very tender areas. Luffy, Run; every man within eye shot, actually, feels a shudder race through them as if sympathizing with him.

"She grabbed them!"

"You're going to crush them!" Chopper screams.

"That just isn't right," Run mutters, wincing slightly himself. Franky collapses onto the ground, thrashing about in pain.

"Oi, Robin!" Luffy shouts. "I want him to still be a man when he joins!"

"If you're telling us, pirates, to back off a treasure right in front of us, then you need to provide a good reason," Robin tells the man, ignoring his cries of pain. "Right?" Franky's pain tolerance is nothing to sneeze at apparently, as he seems to overcome the pain enough to face them.

"I-I already told you," Franky begins, grunting briefly in pain. "I want to stay on the island. I appreciate you guys. I really can't thank you enough, in fact! I want to go with you and lend a hand but there's something I still have to do here! That's why I gave you the ship as a gift! But I'm no longer a shipwright, and this is the last ship I'll ever build! It is a dream ship!"

"No, it isn't, Franky," Iceburg says. "At least not yet. Everything that you've been doing here is nothing but atonement. You're holding onto the regret that Tom was taken because of you. But on that same day, Tom forgave you and tried to guide you. You brought all those punks from the back-streets together, you called yourself a bounty-hunter and protected the city from looters...you did all of that to protect the city that Tom loved as your way of atoning for it.

"That's not why I did all of that!"

"You gave up building ships, something that you loved. You've suppressed your true self all this time. Are you going to continue living the rest of your life like this? Even if Tom forgives you, even if I forgive you...you just can't let it go. But isn't it about time...that you forgave yourself, Franky? Isn't it time for you to live your own dream?" A bag suddenly comes flying towards Franky, and lands right in front of him. The Franky Family screams that inside is everything that he'll need for his trip.

Rather than accept it, he suddenly falls onto his back thrashing wildly from the pain. "R-Robin, go easy on him!" Luffy whines. "You're going to turn him into a woman!" Robin chuckles a lowers her hands, but Franky continues his squirming on the ground. "Can't you...huh? You're not doing anything?"

"I only squeezed once," Robin assures him. "Just the first time. He's very sly to use it as an excuse to cry." Suddenly, Zoro and Sanji burst through the crowd and start sprinting towards the ship.

"Huh? Zoro! Sanji!"

"We've got trouble!" Sanji screams.

"It's your grandpa!" Zoro adds. "He's come back! He's at the opposite shore! He's come back to capture us!"

"Huh?!" Luffy grunts. "I thought he said he wasn't going to try to catch us?!"

"How should we know?! Just set the sail and lets- Franky?! Why don't you have your swimsuit on, yet?!" Luffy throws Franky's swimsuit back to him with a huge grin.

"Let's go, Franky! Come on board my ship!" Franky actually grins in response.

"Don't be so hasty, Straw Hat," Franky retorts. "Don't forget that you guys are ametures who could only manage a few patch jobs. It's be a pity for such a beautiful ship to now have a proper shipwright on board to take care of her, ya know. I really don't have much choice but to help you lot out. So, I, Franky, will be your shipwright!" Saying that, he grabs his bag and leaps on board the ship. They weight anchor, set sail and begin drifting away from the scrap island. Even so, Nami and Chopper are worried. "Oi, Straw Hat, are you sure you don't have to wait for one more person?"

"I did wait. I tried to keep at least one person in our room at Galley-La so that it wouldn't ever be empty...

- - Several Day's Earlier - -

"Eh? Usopp is coming back?" Luffy demands, smiling broadly. Sanji nods in the affirmative, telling them that he'd spotted their former sharp-shooter down by the sea shore practicing how he planned to rejoin the crew. "Really?! So he really does want to come back, after all! Then, let's go get him!" Naturally, Nami, Chopper and Luffy are all for this, and immediately make for the door. Before they can reach it, however, Run slams his palm down on the table hard enough to make everyone jump slightly in surprise.

"No," Zoro tells them firmly. "Hell, no, as a matter of fact. No one is going to get him."

"Huh? What do you mean? He wants to come back!"

"Whatever happens, don't assume a subservient attitude towards him, Luffy. I'm not going to accept him back until he apologizes."

"Hey!" Nami begins. "Who are you to decide-"

"Shut up, Nami," Run interrupts her bluntly, looking up from his coffee slowly. "Above all things, a Captain must first command respect. If a crew doesn't respect their Captain, then they'll fall apart under pressure. If Usopp can't wrap his head around that simple concept, then it's better if he never comes back. Allowing Usopp to come back simply because that's what he wants is the same as allowing him to walk all over you, Luffy."

"We can give him a good talking to once he comes back but-"

"No," Zoro says again. "It's good that he wants to come back...but if he tries to beat around the bush and not take any responsibility for his actions then we'll leave him behind on this island." Sanji heaves a heavy sigh and nods in the affirmative.

"Unfortunately, I have to agree with them on this," Sanji announces.

"There's no way any of us can hope to trust a man who would leave the crew on a childish impulse," Run says. "If the first words out of Usopp's mouth are a heart-felt apology, then that's good. Forgive and forget, right? But if he tries to make excuses...there's no place for him in the crew, anymore..."

- - Present Day - -

Luffy breaks out into a fake laughter. "I waited for him all this time but he didn't come," Luffy continues his fake laughter. "This is his answer, I guess. I'm sure...I'm sure that he'll have a fun life. He probably won't stop being a pirate so I'm sure we'll meet him on the sea somewhere!" Though Luffy says that and continues laughing, they can tell that he isn't being serious. Cannonballs suddenly strike the sea around them, causing the ship to pitch and yaw on the waves.

"Shit!" Franky exclaims. "It's the Navy! They found us!"

"Grandpa?!"

"Oi, Luffy!" echos a voice through a loud speaker. "Can you hear me?! It's Grandpa! If you can hear me, say something!"

"Gramps, what are you doing?!" Luffy grips the railing of the ship, staring at the man and his ship in the distance. They Navy ship sails quickly in their direction, intending to intercept them before they can get away. "You said that you weren't going to capture us!"

"Aah, well, a lot of things have happened! Sorry, but I've gotta send you to the bottom of the sea! I'm not doing this as an apology or something, but I'm going to fight all of you by myself!" One of the Marines on the ship approaches Garp, and hands the man a cannonball. "Meteor...Fist!" The cannonball sails by them, striking the shore and exploding.

"He threw that with is bare hands!" Sanji exclaims.

"He threw that faster than a cannon fires one!" Zoro adds, drawing two swords. "It's not like he's chucking a baseball or something!"

"We've gotta go now!" Run bellows, moving to the stern of the ship with Robin, Luffy, Zoro, Sanji and Franky. "We don't have a choice!" The ship turns away from the shore, making for open sea while they deflect cannonballs away from their new ship.

"He's here!" Chopper suddenly cries, running to the stern with the others. In the distance, they watch as he runs towards the shore. He spews excuses the whole time he's running, calling out for them. But none of them respond. They need to hear some simple words. "He's calling!"

"Is he?" Luffy asks.

"Can't hear a thing."

"Is that the wind?"

"GUYS! I'M SORRY!" They all look to the shore at the man. "I'm sorry for being bullheaded! Please, let me come back!" Luffy wastes no time in stretching an arm out towards the shore. Usopp grabs his hand, and yanks him back to the ship. As soon as he's safely on board, Franky calls for them to furl the sails. Deciding to take his advice, they quickly do this. As soon as it done, Zoro and Run drop back down to the deck below.

"Sure this is a good idea?" Zoro questions them.

"Have a little faith in the ship," Franky assures him.

"Well, whatever your planning, how about you do it now," Run retorts.

"Not yet. We still haven't named the ship, yet."

"Haaah...really? You think now is a good time?"

"Of course! Do you really want to depart on an unnamed ship?" Luffy immediately began picking random names, much to Usopp's irritation and almost everyone else's amusement. "Actually, the shipwrights came up with a name all of their own if you're interested. The Thousand Sunny."

"Yeah!" Luffy cheers. "I like it! The Thousand Sunny!"

"It's decided, then," Run adds. "Now, Franky, do you want to do whatever it was you were planning?"

"Fine, fine," Franky mutters. "You'd all better take one last look at Water 7! Because in a second, it's going to be completely out of sight!" Luffy laughs and jumps up onto the railing of the Sunny to face off with Garp and the Marines chasing them.

"Grandpa!" Luffy bellows. "And Coby and...I was glad I got to see you after such a long time! We're gonna run away with all our might now!" Rather than just let them go, Garp pulls out a gigantic ball and chain...which he promptly throws at them.

"Here we go! Coup de...Burst!" They go sailing out from under the iron ball, actually lifting off the sea and into the sky. Franky appears back on the deck, approaching them with a smile. "It consumes three barrels of cola to let us fly a single kilometer. There's nothing the Merry could do that the Sunny can't. If this ship breaks down, I'll fix it perfectly! The Sunny will carry on the Merry's brave spirit! From now on, rely on me for this ships repairs and weapons!" After they were safely away from the Navy, they decided it was time for a party.

"Alright! Let's have a toast! To Robin and Usopp who came back to us...and our new friend Franky...and to our new ship, The Thousand Sunny! Cheers...!"

And so, with Water 7 left firmly behind them they could do nothing but turn their minds towards Fishman island, their next destination. Several days pass slowly, with the crew enjoying the features of the Sunny to it's fullest. Luffy, Usopp and Chopper spend a great deal of time catching fish to throw in the tank while Franky had disappeared below deck. Run spends most of his time training, attempting to strengthen his legs so he can use Shave more freely. When he's not doing that, he finds himself holed up in the library with Robin.

What had started off as a playful game of chess had turned into a great number of sound defeats on Run's part. Now, again, he finds himself on the losing end of only a minutes long game. Even so, his determination is great, and so his answer is simply to do all he can to prolong the game. Robin giggles lightly as he moves his Knight, one of his few remaining pieces. "You're trying to make me work for it," Robin tells him, promptly moving a piece and taking his.

"I'm just playing hard to get," Run teases, staring at the board. After several long moments he reaches forward and knocks over his king. "Not hard enough, though. I lose." Robin giggles again while Run slumps back in his chair, defeated.

"Care to play again?" The red head grins and nods firmly in response.

"I'm gonna win at least one of our games. I don't care how many times we have to play." A loud commotion from the deck outside gives them pause, and Run stands with a sigh. "Guess that'll have to wait. Let's see what's going on." Robin stands and follows him out onto the deck of the Sunny. Usopp, Luffy and Chopper dance their way towards a large barrel with a black and red flag sticking out of the top of it. 'Offer to the Sea God' is emblazoned on the flag.

"Treasure! Tresure! A treasure of silver and gold!" they cheer.

"Not quite!" Nami says, stepping out onto the deck. "That barrel contains booze and rations."

"How would you know if we haven't cracked it open, yet?" Luffy counters.

"It called a drifting barrel. Someone made an offering to the god of the sea in the hopes of a safe voyage. It's meant to be a gift to a god."

"Well, we picked it up," Zoro announces, approaching the barrel at the same time as Run. "So, let's drink the booze ourselves."

"I've heard that these things are usually filled with some good stuff," Run adds. "It'd be a waste to throw it back over-board." Everyone is all for it, gathering around the barrel while Run deftly unties the knots holding the lid on the barrel. He's barely moved the lid before a loud explosion sounds. He jerks back, raising a hand to shield his face as a flare streaks skyward.

"What was that?" Nami asks, looking up as the red light slowly fades.

"A flare," Robin mutters. "I hope that was just a prank but...but someone may have been waiting for it. We may be being targeted now." Usopp and Chopper begin to panic as a result of this, and the little reindeer runs around the deck looking around for any incoming ships. Robin approaches the red head while this is going on. "Are you alright?"

"Haaah...yeah," Run replies. "Good thing I wasn't leaning over it."

"Everyone! Take your positions!" Nami shouts, running up the stairs. "A storm will be here in five minutes!" They immediately get to work, and a huge thunder storm follows. The Sunny pitches and rolls on the massive waves, while lightning bolts streak the sky. "We're caught in a head wind! It's gonna blow us back!"

"Oi, does this ship really seem like that much of a push over?" Franky laughs. "Don't forget who built it!"

"Aah! That's right! Everyone! Take in the sails!" They scramble across the deck of the Sunny, quickly furling the sails under Nami's orders. Franky takes the helm with a huge grin, rotating one of the man dials and pulling a level quickly.

"Soldier Dock System, Channel Zero." On either side of the Sunny, a large paddle driven by a cola-powered engine, emerge. With incredible ease, the paddles begin pulling them forward, cutting through the wind and waves as if they aren't even there. They escape the storm with ease and find themselves in calmer, if far creepier, waters. Most of the crew stands at the edge of the Sunny, peering off towards the horizon hidden by the thick fog.

"It's broad daylight...but with all this fog and the clouds we can't even see the sun," Zoro complains.

"Do you think maybe we wandered into that sea?" Nami wonders, feeling slightly creeped out by the area. "Aah, I'm not ready for this!"

"Are we nearing Fishman Island?" Usopp asks.

"Haaah...not quite," Run retorts. "First we have to cross 'haunted' waters." Franky grins, and turns to face all of them.

"That's right," Franky agrees. "Don't let your guard down. From the looks of things, we're already in those infamous waters...the Florian Triangle! These are mysterious waters were ships and their crews disappear without a trace every year." Luffy bursts out into laughter.

"We're in haunted waters now!" laughs Luffy.

"What the hell?!" Usopp demands. "All of you knew about this?!" Chopper clings to the red head's legs, shaking from head to toe in fear.

"That Granny from Water 7 told us! There's living skeleton's here!" Sanji strikes a match, and lights a cigarette calmly.

"Would you knock it off," Sanji mutters. "Don't frighten him anymore than he is. Look...the Florian Triangle is a place where more than one-hundred ships go missing every year. They say there are ghost-ships still carrying the dead in these waters!" Usopp breaks into a panic, claiming he needs to prepare himself by covering himself in 'anti-evil' stuff. Chopper panics as well, at least until Run reaches down and places a hand on the little reindeers head.

"Relax," Run tells him. "It's nothing but supersition." Singing suddenly reaches their ears, and all heads turn left and right looking for the noise. The source of the signing, it turns out, comes from a large, and beaten ship which slowly sails in their direction. "...Although...I...have been wrong before..."

"GHOST SHIP!"

"Cover your ears!" Usopp demands. "It's an evil spirts sailor song! If you listen it'll drag you down with it!"

"Is someone aboard that ship?" Robin mutters in question, watching the galleon slowly pass. Run cracks his knuckles loudly, eyes narrowing to see through the thick fog. When he does see, however, causes him to cock his head slightly in confusion. Leaning against the railing of the large galleon...is a skeleton...a skeleton with an afro...that's singing. Everyone of the crew watches as the galleon passes, disappearing into the fog again. "Was that...?"

"It was a skeleton!" Luffy cries, eyes sparkling. "A skeleton was singing! It was a living skeleton!"

"Binks Sake," Run calls, staring in the direction it sailed. "I like that song."

"Run! Let's go! Let's go right now! It really was a living skeleton!" Luffy is raring to go, and so is almost the whole crew. The only one's who don't want to go are Nami, Chopper and Usopp. When they see that they're going to be left alone, Zoro decides that they'll draw straws to see who goes with him...

"Why," Nami complains. "Why is it me?!" Nami, Sanji and Run had drawn the short straws, so they were to accompany their Captain onto the ghost ship to meet the skeleton. Although, Run had every intention of going along with him regardless.

"Haaah...you wanted to draw straws," Run retorts, climbing just a bit under here.

"Nami! Never fear!" Sanji screams. "I'll protect you no matter what!" They continue their climbing up the rotted rope ladder...stopping only briefly when they spy the same skeleton from earlier peering over the railing of the galleon down at them. Nami screams in response, and tries to climb down but the red head forces her up regardless. They climb over the railing onto the deck of the ship were the afro'd skeleton is waiting for them, a cup of tea in hand.

"Good day to you!" the skeleton says. "Yohoho! Sorry about earlier! Our eyes locked, but I wasn't able to give a proper greeting!" Nami stays hidden behind Sanji while they all stare at the talking skeleton. "It was quite the start! I haven't seen people of flesh for decades now! Every ship I happen across seems to be a ghost ship! Come with me! Feel free to come right on in! Let's enjoy a nice leisurely conversation!"

"Look! He's talking!" Luffy accuses, pointing at him. "It's a talking skeleton with an afro!"

"Hm? Oh, my!" He approaches a bit closer, looking towards Nami. "What a truely elegant lady! My eyes have scarcely beheld such a beautiful lady...that is if skeleton's HAD eyes! Yohoho!" Run actually chuckles a bit as his tasteless jokes. "Ahem...may I see your panties?" Nami responds by kicking him in the head, throwing him straight down to the deck while Luffy and Run laugh. "That made my bones rattle...especially because I'm a skeleton! Yohoho!" Luffy and Run laugh again, and watch as he stands.

"Say, do you poop?"

"There are a boat-load of questions we should ask before that!" Sanji screams.

"Yes, I poop," the skeleton tells them.

"Who cares?! More importantly, why are you alive and talking when you're just bones?!" Sanji fires off question after question at the skeleton, all of which seem to be fairly good. However, Luffy calls for him to be quiet and approaches closer.

"You...join my crew," Luffy demands.

"Sure," the skeleton replies...

"Hello, everyone! I shall be imposing upon you for a bit! I'm the dead and skeletonized Brook!" Brook announces, tipping his top hat to the crew gathered in front of them. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance!" Naturally, the rest of the crew is less than thrilled to have the undead wandering around on their ship. "My, my, they're rather harsh!" Luffy and Run laugh in response and watch as the skeleton approaches Robin. "Goodness, aren't you a lovely lady? May I see your panties?"

"My, he's certainly forward," Robin giggles, watching as Nami bounces a shoe off his head. "But I'm afraid I'll have to decline." Usopp suddenly begins inching forward, a large cross held in his hand. Brook takes a single step back in confusion.

"It's working, Usopp!" Chopper cheers.

"Begone, evil spirit!" screams Usopp. "This has to be a dream! There's no way a skeleton could walk, talk and sing!"

"Wait, evil spirit?!" shrieks Brook. "W-Where?! Is in my hair?! Don't let it in my hair!"

"Oi, Luffy!" Zoro demands. "What the hell is with this guy?!"

"Isn't he funny? I had him join the crew!" Luffy tells him matter-of-factly.

"No! I won't allow it! Didn't you guys go with him to prevent this very thing?!" Brook walks towards the door to the kitchen calmly, and then turns to face them.

"There's no need to get so worked up!" Brook laughs. "Come on! Let's go inside and have dinner!"

"That's no for you to decide!" Regardless, they all head inside and Sanji begins cooking dinner for them all immediately. Brook seems to be on cloud nine, enjoying the conversation and taking in the decor of the kitchen. Run sits close to Robin on a small bench away from the dining table.

"I'll assume he asked to see Nami's as well," Robin whispers into Run's ear, earning a chuckle and a nod.

"I'm curious as to whether or not that actually works," Run whispers back. "I'll have to try it some time."

"Mm, if it was you I might have done it..." She leans a bit closer, lips brushing against his ear. "...if I were wearing any." A single crimson brow arches, and a smirk slowly appears on his face.

"Well, I've got a secret of my own...I'm not wearing panties, either." Robin laughs, her head falling against his shoulder. Normally, he'd take it as an invitation but...excusing themselves like this might raise a few eyebrows. Besides that, it would be best to remain close by, and clothed just in case something happens. Sanji finishes cooking dinner several minutes later, placing a huge number of dishes onto the table. Dinner goes by smoothly, or as smooth as it can with Brook attempting to swap plates with Robin on several occasions.

When they've finished eating, they decide it's time to ask Brook some questions. Naturally, they're curious as to HOW he's still walking and talking as nothing more than a skeleton. Brook explains to them that it's the result of eating the Revive-Revive Fruit. He and his crew were killed here in the Florian Triangle, and although he was spared death by the Devil Fruit, it took his soul so long to return to his body that when he'd finally found it, it was little more than a skeleton.

"So, why do you still have an afro?" Zoro questions him.

"I have very strong roots," Brook says matter-of-factly.

"So, you're not a ghost then?" Usopp asks, still holding a cross in front of him.

"N-No! Of course not! If I saw a ghost, I would definitely scream!"

"Not a ghost? Have you seen yourself?!" Nami demands, thrusting out a small mirror in his direction. Brook panics as a result while Usopp and Chopper peer into the mirror...and their eyes slowly begin to widen. "What is it?"

"He...He doesn't have a reflection!" accuses Usopp. "It's a Vampire! A-Actually! Now that I look...he doesn't have a shadow either!" The crew tenses, ready for a fight any moment while Brook simply takes a seat. "Oi! Don't act all calm!"

"Allow me to explain," begins Brook. "A certain man stole my shadow some years ago. After having it taken from me, I'm no longer able to exist in the world of light. I'm only alive now because we're drifting in these foggy waters. But...if I were to be exposed to sunlight, then for sure my body was be completely destroyed. Your shadow stands on the ground when you stand in the light. Since I've no shadow, my body cannot reflect light and so I cannot cast a reflection, either. Put simply...the light itself rejects my very existence."

"Haaah...your life...really sucks," Run retorts.

"Aah, but I've scraped by! Scraped down to the bone, actually! I am the dead and skeletonized Brook! Yohoho!" When he finally calms himself down he faces them all again. "I'm glad that I've lived long enough to meet such wonderful people! If only I could shed tears of joy! Asking me to join your crew made me so happy...but I'm afraid I must decline!"

"Huh? Why?!" whines Luffy.

"As I said, my shadow was stolen. I cannot live under the sunlight, and am currently protected by the fog of this sea. If I accompanied you, it would only be a matter of time before my body was destroyed. So, I will wait here until the day I've reclaimed my shadow!"

"Don't be like that! If you need your shadow back, then we'll get it back for you! So, who was the guy who stole it?"

"Truly, you are a generous man...but I cannot tell you. I could not ask someone I've only just met to die for me!"

"So, this guy is strong, then," Run asserts. "Just give us his name."

"I'm afraid my lips are sealed, so to speak. Honestly, I've no idea where he's even at. I'm not even sure if I'll see him again before my second life ends. But if our paths cross again, I've decided that I'll fight him no matter what and reclaim my shadow. Putting such things aside...allow me to repay you all with a song! I was a musician on my old crew!"

"Aaah! You're a musician! A skeleton musician!" Luffy laughs. "C'mon! Join my crew already!" Before he can even begin, the man suddenly starts trembling. "What's wrong?"

"G...G...Ghost! It's a ghost!" The ship begins to shake violently, and they all go running out onto the deck to see what's going on. "Look! They've blocked the path in front! It's...the back of the gate! Follow me!" Brook runs to the back of the Sunny, and they all stare out across the open sea in confusion. "By any chance...did you pick up a floating barrel?" Luffy nods in the affirmative. "I knew it! It was a trap. They've been after your ship ever since then!"

"Why is there an island there?!"

"It's the ghost island that wanders the seas...Thriller Bark...!"