I do not own anything within this fanfiction and any names used are purely coincidental with those of the One Piece anime. All rights go to the creators and editors of the One Piece universe and to its writer Eiichiro Oda.
I swear, I'll find my way back. Even if it takes me another fifty years, I'll find my way back home.
...
A large banquet was held after the Straw Hat's battle with Moria and Oars to celebrate teir vistory and getting their shadows back. Using the supplies that Perona had loaded on the Thousand Sunny, Sanji cooked up delicious food which was accompanied by wine and sake. They partied for a while, with Luffy asking many questions of Rebecca when he could.
"Hey, Rebecca, right?" Luffy started.
"Indeed. That is my name."
"How did you become part of Brook's crew? I've been meaning to ask how you survived. Did you share Brook's devil fruit? Do you know how to play instruments too? How old are you? Will you join my cr-" He was cut off with a strong kick to the face from Sanji.
"Not a chance, Luffy." Sanji interjected.
Indulging him, Rebecca answered all of Luffy's questions at once. "Well, to tell you the truth, I met Brook purely by coincidence. That dumb idiot tried to wake me up and I head butted him, knocking him out, then I ran into him, then he asked if he could see my panties to which I confused the hell out of him and then joined his crew. No, I didn't share his fruit, I ate my own. I know how to play the viola, I'm not telling you that, and no thanks."
Hearing Bink's Sake being played "Okay, okay! Dance with us!" Luffy shouted in happy excitement, pulling Rebecca to her feet.
"I don't dance though."
"That's ok, neither do we." Usopp replied, a huge grin across his face as he climbed onto the table, pulling her skeletal arm to join them. Linking their arms over each other's shoulders, Luffy and Usopp did a kind of half cabaret, kicking their feet in the air. Making her staff disappear, she joined in the festivities. Kicking her own legs in the air, he jeans struggled to stay on, slipping little by little down her now bony hips. After half the song, she proceeded to cast Spectral Levitation spells on Sanji and Chopper as well as unveiling a new spell.
I was hoping to save this for another time, but I guess now is as good a time as any.
"Star struck!" she yelled. The room grew dark and then light again, lit by the light of many small globes of light that danced around the room. They got brighter and dimmer, making the room into an endless array of disco lights. As they danced the day away, many of the Rolling Pirates got drunk, collapsing in drunken stupors one by one. Brook had taken out the tone dial, activating it and playing along as the whole company had sang along to the Rumbar Pirates last song.
When people forgot about her being there, she went to sit by Zoro's unconscious form. Though there was no conversation to be had, Rebecca talked to his unconscious form.
"In terms of selflessness, courage and unwavering will, I would say there is no one of higher esteem than you, Zoro. Sacrificing yourself over and over again for the good of the crew and of the captain, even if he is an idiot, is something I never had the chance to do. If I had, we never would have met." She said looking off in Luffy's direction as he was tossed in the air by the Rolling Pirates who were still standing. She continued "I need you to do me a favour. I know, in my heart, that I may not be the only one from my world who was sent here. If you find someone who knows me by name, I need you to give them this." In her hand was an unpolished ruby stone with a silver chain that had been threaded through a small hole in its uneven surface. Folding it into the crevice of his hand, she touched his hair once with her bony hand, leaving him alone as she returned to the party. An ear disappeared from the back of her new black hoodie with purples sleeves, which she had acquired from Nami as a gift. Though she didn't see it, Robin sat in the corner smiling to herself.
"Hey, what were you saying to Zoro just now? You do know he's comatose, right?" Sanji asked, lighting a cigarette.
"Nothing to concern yourself with. I have a hunch is all."
"O...k?" was all he replied before walking off to dance with the rest of the crew. Grabbing some food from one of the tables, she sat down next to Robin, helping herself to stilton and broccoli soup with some garlic bread on the side.
"What was it that you entrusted to Zoro, may I ask?" Robin asked. Before taking the next gulp of her soup from the spoon, she stopped.
"You saw that, huh?" Rebecca asked, slightly embarrassed.
"I heard every word. Hehe" Robin giggled with a small, sly smile.
"Please don't tell anyone. At least not yet, plez." She said, scratching her temple with one bony finger like anime characters do when they attempt to act blissfully ignorant.
"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. But in return, you have to tell me something personal about yourself."
"What?! Awww, but..." Rebecca started before being given a cold stare of disappointment. She took a moment to think over if she wanted Robin's wrath upon her.
"Ummmm...ok. I guess I could tell you." She decided to skip the spoon and downed the bowl of soup. "I have the biggest crush on Brook, have done since I met him."
"Well that was kind of obvious. But I guess it's a secret nonetheless." Robin replied, leaning her head on her hand with a smile on her face.
"Well to the oblivious idiots over there, it's about as obvious as personal boundaries." Rebecca replied, crossing her bony arms as she watched them dance the day away.
(The next morning)
"Well, it was a pleasure to meet you all. It's a shame you can't stay longer." Rebecca said, seeing them off at the harbour.
"That's nice. Join my crew." Luffy said, plainly.
"What part of having two skeletons aboard seems sane to you?!" Sanji kicked the back of Luffy's head, the latter feeling nothing at all.
"Thanks but no thanks. I have a new course of my own to follow. Besides, Brook is no longer my Captain, I can let the wind take me wherever it wants to. Oh, that reminds me, do you feel burning near your head, Luffy?" Rebecca asked, curious since she knew it's meaning.
"How'd you..." Luffy was about to ask, stopping mid sentence as he lifted his hat and took out a very small sliver of burning paper. Looking at it, he looked at Rebecca.
"Hmmm...I see." Rebecca said, deep in thought.
Brook noticed the change in tone in Rebecca's voice.
You know what this means too, don't you. I've spent 50 years with you and I still don't understand the workings of your insane mind.
"Well, I'm off." She turned to pick up a satchel containing her belongings, turning it into black smoke as she stored it in her pocket dimension. Turning to Brook, she gave him a big bear hug, lifting him off the ground a little. Putting him down again, he returned her love with an embrace of his own, subtly sneaking her a small peck on the cheek. "I think 50 years was long enough for the both of us, Captain. Now we both have our own chance for adventure." Rebecca said, smiling up at Brook's face from her small height.
"Indeed. Where will you go first?" Brook asked.
"Skypiea is calling my name. I think that is where I shall start. I can fly there easily anyway." At her response, the remaining Straw Hats aside from Franky, Zoro and Brook reacted with surprised faces, though Zoro had been unconscious since before the party.
"How do you know that it even exists? Most people pass it off as a legend." Nami asked.
"If I told you the full version of that story, you'd never believe me. I have to go." She summoned her staff, her body already elevating off the ground to above their heads.
"Wait! What does this mean? Is Ace OK?" Shouted Luffy up to her as he gestured to the burning paper in his hand.
"That's a vivre card. Lola can tell you the rest" She nodded to the Rolling Pirate captain in gesture. "Goodbye everyone, I'll see you around Brook!" She waved until she had flown out of visual range. Increasing the speed and height of her flight, after several hours she broke the cloud layer. A large white expanse lay before her.
"Now then, Skypiea should be...this way." She said to herself as she flew off across the white sea. Finally she came across what looked like the entrance point to Skypeia. She felt a tickling sensation at the center of her bony face. Breathing in sharply, she sneezed.
Someone's talking about me. I wonder if it was Luffy. Wouldn't surprise me, I've only been gone less than a day.
As she was about to pass through the entry tunnel, she was stopped by the old toll woman.
"Hey there, you! You have to pay the toll if you want to get in." She shouted at Rebecca.
"Oh my, it seems I don't have any cash on me. Would a pile of gems that come to the value of the toll be enough?" Rebecca asked, a cunning plan in mind.
"Works for me." The toll woman replied. Waving her hand in a circle and then touching the ground where the woman stood, a heap of jewels as high as the old woman appeared, each of them a different colour of the rainbow. The toll woman's eyes grew wide with wonder.
"This will be more than enough. Feel free to wonder as you please. Follow the milky road and you'll reach Skypiea. Hesso!"
Nodding, Rebecca flew off in the direction of Skypiea and its floating island of dirt, Upper Yard. She landed in a sheltered woodland area. Realising what she looked like, she thought it best not to upset the Skypiean people, then realising the old woman hadn't reacted to her at all. Shrugging it off, she waved her hand her hands over her face, summoning an illusion of her own face from when she had been alive. Waving her hands over her whole body one limb at a time, she was satisfied with her work.
Now all I need to do is maintain my concentration and not fall asleep. Who knows what could happen if I do.
Picking up her staff that she had left on the ground, she floated above the city like no one would notice. Once people began to notice her, some began to point, others waved in greeting. Waving back and smiling a polite smile, she landed on the beach of Skypiea. Looking around, her stomach began growling.
I forgot how much energy this fruit uses. There's got to be something to eat around here.
She spotted a large green, almost pumpkin shaped fruit. Suddenly remembering when Luffy had attempted to eat this fruit, she turned it over.
Luffy hurt his jaw trying to bite this. If I cut it open here...
Her staff disappeared to be replaced with a small but sharp flip out knife. Cutting a mouth sized hole, she drank the juice from the fruit.
Though this is only fruit juice, it's filling my stomach much like food does.
Floating up to a tree to finish the rest, she enjoyed the shade they gave as a cool cover from the relentless sun.
"Excuse me. You up there." Someone said from beneath her. Cocking her head, she saw Conis and Pagaya, the young woman and her father who had helped Luffy when he had been here.
"Yes?" She asked, curious as to why they were saying hello to her.
"Hesso! We saw you flying in just now." Conis said, stating the obvious.
"Did you now. Pretty sure everyone else did too." Rebecca replied, her patience thinning as she wanted to finish the fruit.
"We were wondering if you would like a tour. It would be our privilege to show you around if you'd like." Pagaya replied.
Looking at them a moment thoughtfully, she shlurped down the rest of the green pumpkin juice. Jumping off the tree, she hit the ground with a soft thud. Realising she still had her knife out, she put it away before Conis and Pagaya had a chance to notice.
Hopefully they didn't see the black smoke.
"So, where do we start?"
Note from Author:
Hey guys, hope you enjoyed this latest chapter. Thought the pumpkin would give it a nice Halloween theme. I hope all of yours were spooky and fun. Hell, walking around the woods in the dark was perfect for me on October 31st. A good temptation of fate always gets my heart a pumpin'. Well, seeya.