Chapter 118: Dead Bones
"Granny Kokoro loved to tell stories about this place", Franky spoke to the assembled crew down from the helms deck. "These waters, we have entered, are part of an area infamous for mysterious disappearances. Pirates, marines, merchants and mercenaries sail in, but no one leaves the Florian Triangle alive". Usopp and Chopper visibly gulped as they immediately started climbing the rigging towards the crowd nest.
"If there really are ghost ships out here", the sniper yelled behind him, "then I'm gonna look out for them so we can actively avoid them". Chopper glanced out over the see, holding a spyglass up to his eyes with his hooves, and his reindeer nose twitched as he felt the air pressure fro the top of the mast. "Hard to port! There's a large rocky outcrop", the doctor yelled. Below at the helm, Franky frantically spin the wheel in the correct direction before yelling out, "that was coral reef you idiots! You didn't need to be up high to warm me about it!" Taking his cue to add further nervousness to the already jumpy sniper and doctor, Zoro remarked "you do know that destroying a reef is just as bad as disrespecting the gods", he stated. "Also, it's said that the souls of those who perished I think Florian Triangle attack themselves to reefs as a way of keeping a fixed position. And the more reefs you see the more deaths that occurred in those seas".
"Cut it out", Vivi's voice split the teasing and frightened squeaks from the crows nest. "Usopp remember your goal. To become a brave warrior of the sea, think about meeting your father in the New World someday". Taking several deep breaths, Usopp calmed himself down. "You're right Vivi. My father is the best sniper in 'Red Haired' Shanks' crew! I won't belittle his name or my own by giving into f-f-fear... what the hell is that!"
Almost immediately the entire crew was on deck and staring out starboard at a gigantic wrecked galleon class warship, covered bow to stern in algae, cobwebs and grime. "Alright," Nami sighed, "back to business", thinking that the shock was now over, "we're stuck in the Florian Triangle, and we don't know how to get out. There are numerous ghost ships, like this one, floating around and we can't see the wood for the trees. What the bloody hell do we do now!" Luffy remained pensive as he stared up at the wrecked once great warship, "I want to explore that ship", he exclaimed pointing outwards to the neighbouring vessel. However, the moment that both Sanji and Nami open led their mouthes to rebuke their captain, a low somber voice drifted through the still air and hit each of their eardrums:
"Yohohoho yohoho-ho~ Yohohoho yohoho-ho ~ ... Gather up all of the crew ~
It's time to ship out Bink's brew ~
Staring up at the ruined ship, the straw hats all took in the most terrifyingly unexpected sight imaginable, for standing against the rotten and falling apart railing stood a singing skeleton dressed in a black trousers, a white shirt and bow tie, back jacket, too hat and carrying a cane. "Yohohoho yohoho-ho ~". And as suddenly as it had appeared the ruined warship started drifting off again, back into the dull grey fog. "Luffy, this is a bad idea," Nami warned, preemptively arguing against her boyfriends yet unsaid, plan. "Relax," Luffy waved off, placing a kiss to Nami's cheek. "Worst case scenario is we fight a skeleton... which should be interesting if nothing else". "Well I ain't going!" Usopp and Chopper jointly yelled.
"I'll join you, Captain," Robin offered. "The ship is definitely old, and from a precursory glance I'd say... from Solana". "I'll go as well", Zoro added, "I want to see how a skeleton fights". Also, amongst the assembled boarding party, was Suki, despite protests from Vivi and Robin, "I. Am. Going!" The youngster glared, not backing down, "I have to stand up to my fears". Luffy frowned yet walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, in a show of support for her goal, "okay. If you're sure". Luffy then raised his hand in front of him making a swirling black portal, and another onboard the other, ruined ship, and one by one ; Luffy, Robin, Zoro and Suki stepped through and onto the deck of the ruined warship.
The skeleton stood at eight feet, and was dressed in a ragged and torn suit, top hat upon his unruly black afro and holding a cane, and as the four straw hats emerge they noticed that he was holding a cup of tea. Eye sockets clearly on all four of them. "It's even cooler up close!" Luffy guffawed, whilst being held back by Robin's devil fruit created "ocho manos". The atmosphere only got weirder form there onwards, beginning with the skeletons stating plainly; "I would rather not be called an 'it'. This one would prefer to be a 'he'".
Suki recoiled instantly backing into Robin, and inadvertently breaking her hold on her devil fruit, allowing Luffy to rush forwards unencumbered. "Wow! A talking, singing skeleton! Do you poop?" The captain asked grinning, and still grinning despite being whacked over the head by Zoro, aghast and mortified. "We've got about a million questions to ask before we get to that!" Taking a sip of tea, the skeleton sighed before uttering, "oh yes. I poop", to which Luffy laughed, and Zoro drew elucidator as a warning to stop this conversation now. The skeleton then performed a complete 180 degree character spin, as his eye sockets landed straight on Robin, with Suki hiding behind her. "Oh my, two such beautiful women. If it isn't too much trouble... would you be so kind as to show me your panties?"
"No." Even as Robin narrowed her eyes and tersely answered, and as she protectively stood I front of Suki, Zoro cut a sword strike from Elucidator aimed directly at the skeleton. "Yohohoho!" The skull laughed as it flew from its body right into Suki's hands. "Ahahaha!" Suki practically hurled herself backwards to get away from the decapitated talking skull, only to be pulled into a hug by Robin.
"Dear me, I thought you were going to kill me. Not that I can be killed since I'm already dead! Yohohoho! Skull joke!" The skull answered, as the body knelt down picked up its head and returned it upon its shoulders, making the onlookers flinch. "You're really funny! Join my crew boney", Luffy opined. "What the hell Luffy! You can't just decide a crew mate based on something as trivial as humour!" Zoro retorted. "Sure," the creature answered, ignoring Zoro's indignant protests or Robins soothing of Suki. And with a genuine smile now plastered on the skeletons face, he announced "my name is Brook. And I would be delighted to join your crew".
"What the Hell is that?!" Sanji erupted, darting forwards and standing in front of Nami and Vivi. "Demon... get back heathen! I'm wearing garlic", Usopp yelled brandishing a crucifix and a strand of garlic bulbs in each hand. Chopper was standing behind the sniper, as now was Suki, as soon as they she had seen Usopp's getup. "He's our newest crew mate", Luffy responded, resulting in Nami and Sanji punching the captain to the ground. "What a beautiful ship!" the Brook marvelled. "This ship is truly a work of expert craftsmanship. Is this deck real grass?" Franky immediately bounded over, soaking up praise and appreciation, like a sponge. "Sure is!" The shipwright boasted. "This is the Thousand Sunny, the superbest ship I've ever built". "Brilliant, and who do we have here..." Brook eyed Nami and Vivi. "If it isn't an inconvenience, could you be so kind as to...show me your panties?" The question was met with a "dark shot" from Luffy and a "concassé" from Sanji, sending Brook sprawling across the deck.
"Watch it Bones! I may have invited you onboard the Sunny to join my crew, but that didn't mean I wouldn't stand by whilst you hit on my girlfriend!" Sanji sneered as he turned o his feet and walked off towards the kitchen. "Fine, we'll invite the thing for diner. Come on."
