With a Yo Ho Ho
Chapter 2
AN: Thanks for all the reviews and etc.
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece. It is owned and written by Eiichiro Oda.
Breathing in the salty air, Brook could say it truly was good to be back. True, it was going to take half a lifetime for the Straw Hats to arrive, but he could mess around until then. Like how he was currently in a conversation with a very stunned Crocus who was having trouble understanding both his crew's misfortune and…
"I'm sorry, is my hearing okay? Because it's telling me that you're saying you're from the DAMN FUTURE!"
"Yes, I'm afraid it's true. I am from a terrible, terrible future." Brook hesitantly admitted.
(Flashes of what had happened attacked his mind and he shook his head not again never again)
"Well in that case I have officially reached the peak of the weirdness of this damn Grand Line. Devil Fruits this, crazy weather that, what's next? Willpower allowing you to override the wills of others?" Crocus near-shouted.
Brook did not want to confirm Crocus's suspicions. Ignoring this, he turned to Laboon, now the size of a small caravel, and asked, "Well, Laboon, you seem large enough to defend yourself now. Do you want to join my crew?" Laboon's response was a happy bellow as he jumped out of the water several times. He was a little sad that the skeleton's crew was gone though.
"Stop ignoring me!" Ah yes, Crocus was still there.
"Crocus, there is one thing I have still not mentioned to you. Through extensive usage of the Revive-Revive Fruit, I have become a spirit medium, partially reviving others in addition to myself." As he finished his sentence, Yorki materialised and greeted, "Hey ol' buddy Crocus! How's the lighthouse watching going?"
Crocus was silent. Then he sat down, poured some water for himself, took a sip, and finally said, "Why hello to you too Yorki, I am doing fine. How is life in the afterlife?" In the ocean, Laboon happily bellowed his euphoria at seeing the former captain.
Yorki belted out a loud laugh before seeing Laboon, and glaring at Brook. "Hey, you seem to have forgotten something. Ahem, the Tone Dial?"
Brook pulled out said Dial, and allowed the Rumbar Pirates to appear. He then told Laboon, "Hey Laboon, me and the crew have a surprise for you. They may be dead, but from time to time I can help them appear in this world. We have a performance for you."
He clicked his Dial, then sat down at his piano.
"Yo ho ho ho, yo ho ho ho,
Yo ho ho ho, yo ho ho ho.
Yo ho ho ho, yo ho ho ho,
Yo ho ho ho, yo ho ho ho."
Laboon was ecstatic at hearing his favourite song, and started cooing to the beat enthusiastically.
"Gather up all of the crew, it's time to ship out Bink's Brew.
Sea wind blows, to where, who knows? The waves will be our guide.
O'er across the ocean's tide, rays of sunshine far and wide.
Birds, they sing of cheerful things, in circles passing by.
Bid farewell to weaver's town, say so long to port renowned.
Sing a song, it won't be long, before we're casting off.
Cross the gold and silver seas, a salty spray puts us at ease.
Day and night, to our delight, the voyage never ends!"
Crocus had put aside his frustration and was listening to the music contently.
"Gather up all of the crew, it's time to ship out Bink's Brew.
Pirates we, eternally, are challenging the sea.
With the waves to rest our heads, ship beneath us as our beds.
Hoisted high upon the mast, our Jolly Roger flies.
Somewhere in the endless sky, stormy winds are blowing by.
Waves are dancing, evening comes, it's time to sound the drums!
But steady men, and never fear, tomorrow's skies are always clear.
So pound your feet and clap your hands till sunny days return!"
Brook didn't care what anyone said, he would never get over playing this brilliant song.
"Gather up all of the crew, it's time to ship out Bink's brew.
Wave goodbye, but don't you cry, our memories remain.
Our days are but a passing dream, everlasting though they seem.
Beneath the moon, we'll meet again, the wind's our lullaby!"
Brook shot a knowing smile to Laboon.
"So gather up all of the crew, it's time to ship our Bink's brew.
Sing a song and play along for all the oceans wide.
After all is said and done, you'll end up a skeleton.
So spread your tale from dawn till dusk upon these foamy seas!"
Everybody cheered loudly as they rounded out the rest of the song.
Brook spent the rough part of a month staying with Crocus and Laboon, and training both himself and them in combat. For Laboon it was because Laboon was his new First Mate, but his reasoning for Crocus was supposedly to "help defend himself."
After the month, he once again set sail on the Rumba, this time in search of a new tangible crew. He renamed his crew the New Rumbar Pirates in honour of their name. Brook took out the Log Pose Crocus had locked on the Twin Capes and made his way out to open sea with Laboon.
(Brook had asked Crocus where the Pose came from, and Crocus said he made them for a living. Apparently he had sold many by this point.)
"Yohohoho Laboon, we're going to need a full crew now. I think we sho-"
Brook was interrupted by a large explosion on the island in front of him. He could see several people running about screaming for some odd reason. Sighing, he turned the boat to see what appeared to a typical pirate raid on a village.
"What do you think about helping that village out, Laboon?" Upon hearing an affirmative whine, he sailed towards the island. Upon closer inspection Brook could actually two different pirate flags on the ships there. One was a crudely drawn goat skull jolly roger, while the other had the crossbones replaced by saxophones. It appeared the former were attacking while the latter were resupplying.
As he departed the boat, he drew his sword and began slashing at what he would call the 'Goat Pirates' while Laboon started ramming into parts of their ship.
However, a large beefy man with goat-like horns showed up and froze in shock. "You idiots! How are you all losing to just one perso…" his words were cut off as he realised Brook was a skeleton. "Never mind! I shall punish you after I rid of this fool."
Turning to Brook, he shouted, "How dare you attack my crew and ship! I'll have you know I'm known as Gary 'the Goat' and I'm worth 23 million berries! Get out of my way if you want to live!"
Brook's response was a flourish of his own, 33 million bounty poster.
Spluttering, Gary responded, "B-B-Bounties don't mean anything! They're just a measure of threat! I'm stronger than you!" His words appeared to restore his confidence, and he revealed his Devil Fruit by turning into his Goat hybrid form.
"I ate the Goat-Goat Fruit! I can turn into a Goat. These horns have killed hundreds who were unlucky enough to be in their path. You stand no chance, sk-skeleton!" he shouted.
Gary then charged at Brook, whose only response was to draw his sword and swipe once. The Goat's horns were cut off.
"GAH! My horns! You'll pay for this!" Gary shouted as he morphed back to a human and drew a sword. Brook responded by walking right past him.
"Three-Verse Humming: Arrow Notch Slash."
Showers of blood erupted on Gary's skin. Groaning, Gary realised his mistake in challenging Brook and limped out of the town and into a nearby forest.
By the docks, Laboon had finished his demolition of the Goat Pirates' ship and was waiting by the Rumba.
Brook spoke to him, "I reckon we've done a good job here Laboon. I'm going to go purchase some supplies, so wait here for me. Be back soon!"
As he carried the last of his supplies back to the Rumba, a young man wearing a bowler hat who couldn't be older than 20 walked up to him.
The young man started, "My name is Benny, captain of the Sax Pirates. We were restocking at this village when the Goat Pirates came and tried to steal a treasure we had just found, as well as raid the village. That's when you saved us. I would be willing to give you something as a token of my appreciation."
Brook thought for a bit: 'I should ask him to join my crew. However, he already is the captain of one. Hang on, I have an idea.'
"Benny, I don't need to accept anything, but I do have one request."
"What is it?"
"Join my crew, the New Rumbar Pirates. You can stay with your own crew, you can just operate as like a subdivision of my crew. What do you think?"
Benny looked thoughtful, then smiled. "I'd be happy to accept your offer."
Brook laughed. "Yohohoho, that's good! After all, I currently only have two members of my crew. My first mate is by the docks right now."
Benny gasped, but then straightened himself. "Good thing we've got plenty of people specialising in all kinds of things. I've got 14 crewmates other than myself. Who is your First Mate anyway?"
They had walked to the docks by this point, and Brook called, "Hey, Laboon! I've found some people to join my crew!"
Benny wondered, "So your First Mate's name is Laboon, huh? Which one is h-" He was cut off when he saw the caravel-sized whale move close to the docks.
"Yep, this is Laboon! He's an Island Whale and my First Mate!"
In shock, Benny simply responded, "I'll go and tell my crew about the new arrangements then."
A few days later, the two ships Rumba and Big Benny sailed out of the docks. Brook had learned that Benny was an avid shipwright, and had built his boat himself. He also learned that Benny didn't quite have a bounty yet, and had come to the Grand Line to explore and sightsee.
He had told Benny that he had come for mostly the same reasons, adding that he also just wanted to move freely throughout the oceans.
A News Coo flew onto the deck with a newspaper and Brook paid and took it. Flipping through, he scanned through, noting the rise of the increasingly infamous Rocks Pirates, and some reports of a small time crew known as the Roger Pirates, until he reached the bounty poster section.
He noted two new ones:
'Dead Bones' Brook, worth 53 million berries;
'Ship Demolisher' Laboon, worth 15 million berries.
To say the least, he was rather pleased with the new bounties. When Benny asked him why, he responded with:
"Well, bounties are like a way of keeping score among pirates. Who's more famous than who, who's better than who. Some people take it to the absolute extreme and only calculate strength through bounties."
As the two ships continued sailing to wherever the Log Pose would take them, Brook felt a feeling of contentment.
'Well, this truly is the life.'
Of course the Grand Line heard him and immediately threw a hail-dagger storm on him.
-11 Years Before the God Valley Incident-
AN: So, that's chapter 2. I reckon it turned out pretty good, and longer than I hoped too, so that's a bonus. Please review and favourite, all that sort of stuff.
Sorry for the lack of Yorki in the second half of the chapter.
Let me know your opinions on my OC Benny. I needed to introduce him so I can fill in some gaps in Brook's crew. Aside from him, there will only be two other slightly important other OCs, and they'll be introduced in the next two chapters.