Little Garden
Brooks' adventure was one of simple nature. Travel to Little Garden, attempt to recruit two living legends named Drogy and Broggy, and travel to Water 7. Though he did not take into account that there were going to be other people on the island...well not people more so beings.
The first thing him and Bentham noticed were the other ship, anchored several miles away from them. The ship flew a pirate flag that he could not make out.
Regardless, Brook and Bentham pressed on.
For such massive giants, they were really hard to find.
"Director, movement around us." Bentham noticed the rustling of leaves all around them, maybe three locations.
"I've noticed." Brook stood up immediately drawing his blade. "Whoever you are, present yourself immediately for a lighter repercussion."
More rustling of the leaves occurred though nothing stepped out. Brook looked at Bentham who understood and got up immediately himself.
"If you wish to engage, then we are happy to comply." Brook began to walk towards the noise, but instead of finding people, he found a baby dinosaur, one bigger than himself. It had caught itself tangled in some vines. "Ah little one, let me assist you." Brook took his blade and swung it against the vines. "Go now creature, rejoin your family."
The creature gave him a happy coo before running back to its family.
"Impressive skeleton san." A creature emerged from the guise of darkness. A polar bear mink with stylish sunglasses greated him. He had a cutlass on his back and he was a cool looking dude.
"Hands up, this doesn't need to get ugly." Bentham got behind the polar bear mink, with a knife on his throat.
"You're right, it doesn't need to." Now another mink appeared beside Bentham, holding his hands in front of the blade which was held in the throat of the polar bear. This mink was a lion mink with thin, stylish shades, and he looked like he meant business.
"Everyone relax, we don't need all of this hostility . Who are you and what are you doing in Little Garden?" This time it was a bigger, Feline Mink, spotted like a jaguar. He seemed to be their leader, and he too emitted a powerful presence about him.
"We are members of the Strawhat Pirates, and we are here to locate two warring giants. And you are? What are you doing here?" Brook returned the question, answering their question should calm everyone's nerves.
"First let's all drop our weapons." Brook nodded his head in agreement and Bentham dropped his knife. He then jumped by his commander's side and warrily looked at the new arrival.
...
The group now moved closer, sitting across a hot fire while they warily looked at one another.
"I am Pedro, and these are my companions, Zepo, and Pekons. The rest of our crew are in our ship. We are called the Nox Expedition Party. But unfortunately the world government has called us the Nox Pirates." Pedro scratched the back of his head at this. Zepo was the Polar Bear Mink while Pekoms was a mighty lion mink.
"Pleasure to meet you, I am Brook, and this is Bentham. Say what were you fellows going out to explore? Being an expedition party." Brook put a pot on the heart of the fire, heating up some water for some drinks.
"Poneglyphs." Pedro and crew joined the camp of Brook and they started discussing their adventures. "We had a lead for one here but it turned out to be empty...it is like that sometimes."
"Why Poneglyphs?" Brook made tea for everyone and started distribution. "I heard that they were rare, but to actively seek them must be a heavy task."
"Yeah it is and most of the time the leads we get are empty, like here in Little Garden. And well I met a great man years ago, one of which inspired me to go on my own adventure. He told me about the true history of the world and I wanted knowledge. But the world government decided that our adventure is too dangerous...so we are now reluctantly the Nox Pirates." Funny how tea could influence one to tell their story. Though Brook knew to be careful and he inspected every single one of the present members of the Nox Pirates. How so? He looked into their soul and they were all generally good people. Brook was now at ease in the presence of the new arrivals which made Bentham relax a little.
"Hmm I see. Well there is something that I want to ask you all." Brook stated to which the group paid close attention. "Have you heard of a pirate named Mugiwara?" By now his tale should reach all corners of the Blues.
"Ah yes, the ruthless pirate captain that has claimed nations such as Alabasta and Dressrosa into his fold. Very questionable man if you ask me. He also destroyed many buildings in Sabaody. But I did read an article by Big News Morgans, he is worth a billion beri." Although he was talking, he felt that Bentham was staring at him with some animosity. "Ah, is everything okay?" Pedro asked.
"Captain Mugiwara is a great man, he made me into a better person, and so are my other friends!" Bentham exclaimed although Pedro raised his hands realizing that he was in the presence of the members of Mugiwara's pirate crew. He mentally slapped himself as earlier Brook did say that he was a member of the Strawhats.
"All is well, the world is not fair to pirates. But regardless of your preconception of our Captain, I wish to convince you to reconsider. Captain Mugiwara is the greatest man I have ever met, he amassed a Grand Armada under him, all of which follow him in admiration rather than fear. He has a way of inspiring even those with no motivation, especially pirates who have lost their way." He then looked directly into Pedro's eyes. Despite his hollow skeleton eyes, Pedro could feel his resolve. "Mark my word, Monkey D. Luffy will be the King of Pirates!" Pedro could tell that Brook was very passionate about his pirate captain. If this man was so great, he wanted to meet him.
"Alright Brook, you've sold me, I wish to meet this man." Pedro said, then he looked at Zepo and Pekoms.
"I agree, I wish to meet this man."
"So do I."
"Sure but first we must locate two giants. We were sent on a mission to find them."
"Oh you mean Dorry and Brogy?" Pekoms pointed at a far off direction. "We met them yesterday with cool blocks but they have been fighting for 90 years!"
"If you want to meet them we can bring you to them at sunrise."
"That would be great thank you."
And with that the group set up camp and went to rest for the night.
...
Brook kept awake, for being a skeleton, he did not need as much rest as a normal human would. He didn't need to rest his muscles or worry about anything but his skeleton. Just thinking about his anatomy made him feel weird, maybe he'll get a good doctor to explain his phenomena.
He heard murmuring outside his tent and he decided to eavesdrop.
Brook closed his eyes and focused. His soul suddenly escaped from his body floating in the air. He then glided to where the conversation was occurring and found Pedro and Pekoms talking to one another.
"How do you know?!" Pekoms was frustrated, that much was obvious. Brook floated a bit closer, what was it they were talking about.
"Just trust me on this Pekoms, this Mugiwara sounds like the real deal. We can continue our expedition under his protection."
"Then we'll really be pirates if we join them!"
"We are already dubbed as pirates, we are going to eventually bounty over our heads, what more reason should you want from me?"
"What about our people in Zou?" Pekoms asked, an excellent point.
"Hey guys, you could both wake up an entire village with your yelling." Zepo joined the group, yawning as he had just woken up.
"Sorry Zepo, just knock some sense into Pedro." Pekoms argued.
"Yeah Pedro, I think it's the right call. Being under the umbrella of one as powerful as Mugiwara will help our mission in finding the Poneglyphs, learning the true history." To Zepo's words, Pedro beamed up and Pekoms looked dejected.
"But Pekoms is also right, by agreeing to this life, we have to really become pirates."
"It is for the right reasons." Pedro argued, believing that Mugiwara is their way to gathering the poneglyphs.
"I get it, I do, but how about our people? By joining them we would be in service of Mugiwara. What if our people will need help we won't just be able to leave and return to Zou?"
Brook had heard enough, returning into his body and swiftly rejoining the conversation that he was eavesdropping on.
"You'll be able to go. In fact more likely than not, Captain Mugiwara will back you up if trouble ever occurs in your land."
They were astonished at his arrival.
"How long have you been listening?" Pekoms did not feel his presence at all which was a bit scary.
"Long enough." Brook just really wanted to ease their worries but now he was stuck. What else could he say to them. Pedro decided to speak up for his group, not wanting any trouble.
"We'll meet him but there's no guarantee. The rest of our mink party will return to our homeland to bolster our defenses as joining the Strawhats will of course provide us the tools we need for our search?"
"Yes and even better, one of our queens can decipher them, the poneglyphs that is."
"Read the lost history!? Impossible, all the scholars that could died from sickness in Ohara..." To this the three minks were very interested.
"You'll see."
...
Sunrise finally arrived and it was time to meet the two giants. Pekoms led the way while Zepo and Bentham discussed their life stories. Pedro and Brook talked about Gol D Roger and how Brook remembered him as a rookie while he was still with the rumbar pirates.
Though something interrupted their rather peaceful encounter.
A loud eruption of the island's volcano covered the entire island, once it blew, it was followed by an earthquake. Wait, no it can't be an earthquake, this was more of footsteps as the group bounced at the rhythm of footsteps. Then like a thundering boom in the air, two objects clashed in a loud clang and Brook immediately smiled.
In panic, Zepo noticed the smile on Brooks' face. "What the hell are you happy about, we're about to die on this damned island."
"I have located them." Brook disappeared in a wake of cold air. He dashed through the large thick forest and as he cleared it, he found them. The two massive giants caused the commotion as they engaged in a heated battle. Brook observed, watching as the giants clashed in epic fashion. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, each strike matched by the last.
But what were they fighting about? Brook rubbed his chin and continued to watch.
After some time, he decided to look into the stem of their battle, without interrupting their fight. He sat on the ground, the group finally catching up to him.
"Shs, shs, he's about to go into soul form." Bentham stated and everyone watched as Brook's soul escaped from his body, it then floated its way to the battling giants.
"What is going on right now?" Pekoms and Zepo were physically freaked out, who wouldn't? A skeleton man just released green spirit from his body and it casually floated towards the giants.
"You've worked on your swing there, Dorry?"
"Aye, you've taken my advice in using your back foot for leverage I see Brogy?" A thundering laugh ensued causing the air to tremble violently. As the two giants engaged in battle, clashing sword to axe, Brook sneakily went through their body, phasing through their soul and locating the cause of their 90 year old battle.
"Gabababa" The thundering laugh of Brogy the giant filled the air as he carried a massive seaking over his shoulder. He set it on the ground next to the massive bonfire. He sat across from his buddy and they laughed about their catch.
"Gegyagyagyagya" Dorry also had a massive seaking and the two just laughed and chatted about their day.
The sun was just setting as the two giants continued to drink to their successful day.
"Hey mister." A little girl happened to stumble into their camp and was now looking at the two massive sea kings.
"Yes little girl?" Dorry looked down at the little girl, curious as to what she wanted.
"Which seaking is bigger?" Ask the little girl causing a 90 year dispute between the two giants. Who's seaking was bigger?
'Seriously...', Brook was shot out of their soul and found himself floating around them. Dorry noticed the specter in the air and thought it was a bat or something. So he swatted with his massive sword although the blade only phased through Brook's soul form.
"Who are you spirit!" Commanded Brogy who now looked in the general direction of Brook's soul form.
"At ease my giant friends." Brook's real body did a peculiar thing as it floated toward his soul form. It then bonded with his soul and he was now within his skeletal body. He was in eye level with the two massive giants, his feet emitting cold air to keep him afloat. Bentham witnessed this and noted that this was a new power. The trio of minks watched in amazement as the Fifth Commander bravely stared into the face of two towering giants. "I am merely here to deliver a proposal."
"Is that so? What is this proposal skeleton man?" Dorry asked, his eyes narrowing in annoyance for Brook's interruption.
"I have come to propose a position, within the crew of the future king of pirates." To this, the two giants looked at one another and burst out laughing. They did not stop for a good minute before looking back at the skeleton.
"Do tell what this pirate king is? The one man to rule them all?" Dorry ribbed Brogy.
"Is he the man who gathered all the treasure in the world?" Added Brogy.
"I understand your concern, this was all new to me also not too long ago, I understand that you have been isolated on this island for nine decades. But there was a pirate king, a man named Gol D. Roger but he has since been executed for defying the world government. Now a new golden age of piracy was revolutionized from his death. And in this revolution, my Captain, Monkey D. Luffy will ascend to the title of Pirate King."
"This king of your will not ascend to the title as this is not a possible feat even with your Gol D. Roger tales!" Dorry swung his massive blade at Brook. The giant was angry at such a ridiculous notion and did not want to hear anymore. He wanted to shut down the skeleton from speaking anymore.
Though, to the shock of everyone but Betham, Brook had withdrawn his blade, clashing with the giant's blade. He did not move an inch, still floating in the air, looking directly into the eyes of the giant who swung his blade.
"Trust me, my Captain will be king." The force of the swing could level mountains, and yet Brook stopped it mid air without even moving an inch.
"Skeleton, you are interesting. You have gotten my attention but that still does not change the fact that per the rule of Elbaf, me and Brogy must battle till one of us best the other in combat. As disagreements in our homeland are settled in this manner."
"Then how about I settle your dispute once and for all." Brook stepped several steps back, seemingly walking on air. He then swung his blade through the air, a green spectral force shot out of his swing and went through the giants. Suddenly the projection of their soul escaped from their gigantic bodies.
"What is this?" Brogy asked as he looked at a spectral image of himself.
"Your soul." Brook then let their soul speak to truly reveal their innermost feeling.
"I do not remember our dispute and yet I have to battle as it is Elbaf's laws. I wish to return to the sea and return to an adventure with my best friend." Words from the soul of Dorry which caused the real Brogy to look at Dorry with tears in his eyes.
"What are we fighting about again? I can't really remember. Regardless I wish this was over so we can travel around the world again. Oh well, the laws of Elbaf are absolute, I must fight my best friend." This time it was Brogy's projection that spoke. And to those words, the spectral soul form disappeared in thin air and both giants burst into tears, hugging each other in the manliest way possible.
Brook descended next to the minks and Bentham. The trio had a blank look on their face.
"Well done Director." Bentham complemented Brook while he twirled in delight. Then the giants finished their reunification and looked down at Brook and his party. The minks waving up at their giant friends.
"Alright skeleton man, we'll meet this Strawhat Captain of yours but if the time comes that we do decide to join him, who will be the captain amongst us?" Dorry asked.
"It should be me." Broggy said jokingly, punching Dorry in the forearm. The impact caused trees to rustle violently.
"Actually, Captain Luffy has already decided who will be heading your division."
"Oh who might that be?"
"Whoever it is, he must defeat me before I become subordinate to him."
"You'll know soon enough." Brook replied with a smile. Luckily they did not have to battle the giants or it would have taken weeks before they could set out to Water 7
...
And to this, the end of the Little Garden saga is finally upon us. Well not quite as how would the giants travel with the Fifth Division.
On the shore of Little Garden, a massive, giant ship housing one particular giant arrived, waving at the people on the shore.
Dorry and Brogy looked at each other and figured now who their supposed Captain would be. "That Brat?!" They exclaimed at the same time.
While this was occurring, Pedro took the time to advise the rest of the expedition party to return to Zou. Inform them of their plan, and know that they will be okay.
A laughing hyena mink took the lead of the minks aboard the Nox Expedition Party and set course back to Zou.
Now it was truly the end of Little Garden Saga.
Water 7 Present Time
"Ah Katakuri, it's been awhile."
"How are you Brook?"
"I am well, though I hope they have enough wood for our new recruits."
"What do you mean?" Then a massive shadow from a massive person was cast over them. Katakuri looked up and finally understood what Brook meant. "Ah."
"Hey Brook where do you want us to go again?" Another set of new figures arrive. There were several of them and they looked like business.
"Ah Captain wants to meet you guys. Here let's go." Brook led the way. "See you around Katakuri."
"So how's interacting with the other Strawhats so far?" Brook joined the trio of Minks who were getting acclimated to the people of the Grand Armada.
"They are amazing." Pedro commented, adjusting his hat to block the sunlight which glared over his eyes.
"Interesting bunch you got here, But when are we going to meet the one who reads Poneglyphs." Was Zepo's answer. They weren't there to mingle as they were not really sure if they really wanted to stay.
"Relax Zepo, we have time. It's not like we can freely sail the seas anyway, our pal Pedro just got a bounty of 382,000,000 beris." Pekoms added while showing everyone his crisp new bounty.
"Impressive, my bounty is measly 33,000,000 Beri." Brook found the Captain's tent and went in, leaving the trio for a moment. He then returned to deliver some bad news. "Looks like he retired for the time being, we'll catch him at a different time." Brook knew where his Captain went and did not press on. The Captain needed to have some rest as well.
"Hmm it has been sometime since our initial introduction. We really need to sit down with your captain." Pedro stated, when they arrived, they met him, impressed by his outstanding stature and aura, and ever since they haven't had a chance to talk with him. "Though it is a bit chaotic right now, we understand."
"Thank Pedro. Well, do enjoy yourself, I'll keep in touch." Brook said with a smile before leaving the trio. Once he left them, he found another set of trio, the giants which were assisting in constructing their own ships.
Dorry and Brogy who challenge for headship in the Giant Pirates. Hajrudin was twice the junior of the two former Giant Pirate Captain, but he was definitely the most powerful of the bunch. Their dispute for leadership, settled in the open sea, with Hajrudin coming out on top. Though they both lost to a younger giant, that is by giant standard, Hajrudin is the captain of the Giant Pirates.
How did they find Hajrudin? Well the Captain easily swayed the roaming giant to join at the news of reforming the giant pirates. And he immediately set course and found them in Little Garden. Amazing what a letter can do.
Regardless, Brook left the Giant Pirates of his own accord and went to the dock where his ship was situated, where he found Bentham, happily helping hammer some nails on their ship with his own fist.
"Director! How goes it?" Bentham greated Brook with a massive grin, striking one of his signature poses.
"Well Bentham, now how is our ship coming along?" Brook looked over the floor plan and found that it was as he would like it to be.
"Our Grandest Show pirate ship is as you request it director, complete with a grand stage on the belly for entertaining the crew, preparation room, and of course, a massive inventory of hundreds of different instruments."
"Excellent, excellent." Brook admired his Grandest Show pirate ship, it was really coming along as he wanted.
Brook saw Mihawk, sitting on a lawn chair, his eyes closed as he enjoyed the fresh air. He then said goodbye to Bentham for the meantime and joined Mihawk, sitting down on a lawn chair right next to him.
"Brook." Greated Mihawk.
"Mihawk." Responded Brook as he settled on his position. "How are the children?"
"They are doing well." Then a brief pause, Mihawk knew what was coming.
"You checked on the young swordsman didn't you?" Brook was the one who saw a fresh wound across his left arm, the same young swordsman was the one to inflict it. This was all the way back in the East Blue.
"I did." Mihawk once again paused. "His friend died, she...took her own life. He's devastated, wanted to come with me but I told him not yet, he needs to be stronger."
"Cold of you isn't it?"
"It's better this way. He swore the next time we meet, he will be able to get my respect." Mihawk then rubbed his temple.
"He has it already doesn't he?"
"Yeah." And the duo enjoyed what's left of the sunlight, just sitting on the lawn chair and doing nothing.
Marineford
"You have got to be shitting me!" Sengoku, angrier than he's ever been, slammed a stack of bounty posters across his table. "You mean to tell me that Mugiwara gathered this massive force from right under our nose!"
"I'm telling you Fleet Admiral, we have to eliminate him." Sengoku was joined in his office by Admiral Akainu. "We have to cut off his legs, before he can truly run."
"What is going on with these damned pirates. First Big Mom trying to start a war, then damned super rookies emerging all over the place and now Mugiwara making a case for emperor of the seas!"
"I'll deal with it." Admiral Akainu offered. "I'll kill the brat."
"We can't move yet, not without the blessing of the Gorosei. And from what I hear, Red Haired proposed some interesting information that directed their attention away from Mugiwara."
"Fuck the Gorosei, let me go and deal absolute justice! Z would agree with me if he wasn't on his mission." Akainu exclaimed, his body turning into part magma from his outburst. "What information did Red Haired provide that is bigger than this fucken super rookie!"
"He provided valuable information that the marines need to address with urgency. Which in turn diverted our resources to these things."
"Well what is it?" Asked Akainu.
"He gave the Gorosei information..."
"What is this about?" Admiral Kuzan entered the office, his attire was ripped into pieces. He had just returned from his climactic battle with one, Charlotte Linlin.
"Admiral Kuzan, you've seen better days." Admiral Akainu addressed the ice user. Kizaru hang back outside as he was told to wait. He had to follow his superiors orders or he was going to be demoted again.
"Half the unit you gave me is dead… but she left after the seventh day, got bored of toying with us she said..."
"Fuck..." The Fleet Admiral stated. "...we can't make a move on Big Mom, her influence is too vast and we would have to focus 60% of our resources to engage her in battle. This would open the door for the other emperors such as Whitebeard and Kaido to make a play for Raftel."
"Finish what you were saying Sengoku, what did he give the Gorosei?" Akainu demanded, not only at seeing Kuzan, but at Sengoku not finishing his statement.
"He gave the Gorosei information on..."
Even Akainu and Kuzan could not believe what they were hearing. Impossible.
Onigashima
Tears flowed freely through the eyes of a massive monster. "Joker!" A massive beast of a man sat drinking barrels of sake. He was mourning the loss of one of his business partners.
"Kaido, Big Mom attempted to enter Dressrosa in pursuit of Mugiwara, but the marines stopped her." Kaido's commanding calamity, King, was the one to report the information. Around Kaido were two other towering commanding figures, Queen and Jack.
"Kaido, let me deal with them!" Jack offered to which Queen gave him a drop kick.
"Shut up you fucken idiot, you don't have what it takes." Queen said, to which King nodded in agreement. The two calamities did not treat Jack well, not at all.
"Fuck you both!" Jack emitted haki, defying his two superiors. Although they were all brought to silence as they felt the emperor's haki coming from Kaido.
"All of you...shut the hell up. For tonight…." Kaido brought up his drink, finishing it in a few gulps. "...we mourn Joker." More tears escaped from him as he sounded like a wounded animal.
Jack stared daggers into King and Queen, to which the duo returned with a cocky grin. But Kaido wasn't finished.
"Tomorrow, send the flying six to kill one or two of Linlin's children. This will teach her to stay in her territory." To that the three calamities can agree to the plan. A massive smile on their individual faces.
Suddenly, Kaido transformed into a dragon, flying swiftly into the air. And just because he felt like it, he launched a powerful breath attack to an unsuspecting traveling ship, annihilating it in a single breath. "JOKER!" He continued to cry despite being a massive dragon, circling the sky, with crackles of thunderstorm along his scales.
On the depths of Onigashima, a young child watched as there father went on a rampage. They swore to themselves that as soon as they get out, they will enact their revenge...for they are Oden.
Moby Dick
"What do you mean by this Thatch!" Whitebeard was now hooked into several breathing assistance devices, a small army of nurses taking care of him. He was angry, angry beyond reason.
"Pop's you have got to relax, Marco's gonna be mad if he found out you elevated your blood pressure..." Thatch was apologetic, though he could not blame the outburst.
"After all I've done to Fishman Island! They chose to betray me and join with that damned Mugiwara!" Whitebeard started to cause crackle in the air, the sea around the Moby Dick began to shake violently.
"What the hell is going on?!" Marco flew from his ship all the way to the Moby Dick.
"I'm here pop's what's wrong?" Jozu jumped the distance and landed on the deck, addressing the anger that his father was emitting.
"Mugiwara has claimed the Sun Pirates into their rank...and now Fishman Island has raised Mugiwara's flag swearing allegiance to the Strawhats." It was Thatch who explained this to the rest of the crew. Causing a round of murmur to circulate.
"Pops it's okay, we're really not in the position to wage war with other pirate crews at the moment, not with your health. We can't have the world learning that the great Whitebeard is deathly sick." This was coming from Vista who arrived in a twirl of flower petals.
"I agree with Vista pops." This time it was Blamenco, the pocket wielding devil fruit user. "Not now."
"Come on pops, we should just lay low for now, we can gather our strength when you are healthy!" A chorus of agreement came from the rest of the commanders within Whitebeard pirates.
"No!" Whitebeard slammed his bisento on the deck of the Moby Dick. The force causes the clouds in the air to split right through the middle. "I must show that my power is absolute, that no cocky youngster will unseat me, nor let evil powers, such as Linlin and Kaido, gain confidence and start terrorizing my territories, pushing through my boundaries. I can't let that happen and I will make an example of Mugiwara." With all the years lost, succumbing to his sickness. Whitebeard had a lot of pent up anger within him. Anger against the world for being cruel with his lack. Little did he suspect, that it was caused by one of his 'sons'.
"Pop's what are you saying?"
"My sons, this is my command as your father!" A brief pause before declaring his intention. "We are waging war with the Strawhat Pirates!"
Marco, Thatch, Jozu, Vista and the rest of the commanders exchanged worried looks, but Whitebeard had a point. So with the war cry of their beloved Yonko, the Whitebeard pirate joined the warcry of the emperor.
Meanwhile in the background of the celebration, Marshal D. Teach had a massive smile on his face. What about? No one but they would know….
Then near Whitebeard, one of his most trusted children looked conflicted by this decision. He then faded into the crowd, not one noticed his disappearance, for everyone was distracted.
"My sons! We must now fight! Gather all our forces, call all our allies! We are going to find the Strawhats and bring the might of the Whitebeard pirates through their damned throats!"
To this the whitebeard pirates joined the father in exclaiming their support. Though some remain skeptical of the consequence of a war of this magnitude.
