With A Yo Ho Ho
AN: These first few chapters will be known as the Old Romance Dawn arc. It'll end by Chapter 5.
After that we'll have the God Valley arc. I will be taking a few liberties with bounties in this chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece. It is owned and written by Eiichiro Oda.
-8 Years Before God Valley-
-Paradise-
-Goont Island-
It had been 3 years since Brook had returned from the future. He had mostly stayed in Paradise, except for one particular venture into the New World.
He had risen in fame gradually, not like the speed the Rocks Pirates had risen by. Either way, many pirates had wanted to join his crew, however to his dismay none of them had been musicians. After a while, pirates started attacking his crew repeatedly, hoping to usurp his fame. However, Brook had trained Benny and Laboon, and Benny had adapted quickly, even gaining a bounty for himself eventually.
In addition, he had trained his strength in order to be able to defend himself in the future, which culminated in unlocking his Haki about a year after he had returned. By now he had developed both forms to a level he had deemed acceptable. Brook had also trained his crewmates in an attempt to get them stronger as well, but they hadn't quite gotten the hang of it yet.
He took another look at the bounty posters on the notice board on the Rumba.
'Dead Bones' Brook—133 million berries
'Ship Demolisher' Laboon—85 million berries
'Killer Sax' Benny—55 million berries
One part of his bounty poster was funny. Instead of saying 'WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE' like the rest, it simply read 'WANTED AS IS'. Brook was pretty sure this was to ward away any confusion over his status. Yorki had agreed, and made several jokes about it.
(The day after Benny had received his first bounty, 25 million, and epithet, he had asked why it was this. Benny replied that he used his saxophone to whack people with. When Brook asked why it didn't break, Benny had muttered something vague about Seastone.)
As he stood on the Rumba, there was a mighty shout from the Big Benny. As Brook jumped over to their ship, he found out why. There had been a chest floating in the ocean, and Benny had retrieved it and opened it to find a Devil Fruit.
"Captain! Do you think Benny should eat it or not?" a speculative crewmate asked.
"Alright, listen up!" Brook shouted, and the loud din quieted. "We shall have a new policy regarding Devil Fruits. Whoever finds it, can do whatever they want with it. Eat it, sell it, whatever. In accordance to this, it is Benny's choice whether he wants to eat it or not."
Benny was still for a moment, then he suddenly ate the fruit, retching at the taste.
Everybody cheered, and waited for something to happen. Nothing happened immediately, so they decided it couldn't be a Zoan. Benny decided to try and transform into an element, but nothing happened either. Giving up, Benny took a step forward… and disappeared. For about a quarter of a second. Then he reappeared at the other end of the ship.
There was silence, then…
"How did you that?"
"You were so fast!"
"I didn't even see you!"
"So, how did it taste?"
Benny was heavily surprised by this outcome. "I reckon I might have eaten the Speed-Speed fruit or something.
Yorki materialised and added, "Well, at least you won't be late to any meetings anymore." He laughed, remembering all the times Benny had been late to crew meetings. To the side, the Rumbars played a peculiar tune.
Brook suddenly shouted, "Land ho! We're approaching Goont Island. The Pose'll need three days to set, so more than enough for Benny to learn to use his Devil Fruit."
The crew cheered and prepared to dock the two ships.
After dealing with a couple reckless bounty hunters, the New Rumbar Pirates made their way to the far side of Melifor Town, the largest town on Goont Island. They had already bought supplies and were now testing Benny's fruit.
Which was being showcased by Benny running circles around everybody present, literally.
"Hey, Benny! Play us a tune!"
Obliging, Benny pulled out his saxophone while still running. Playing a song, he realised it was playing much too fast for anyone but him to comprehend. Slowing it down, he realised that he himself had actually slowed down to walking pace.
"Yohohohoho! Benny, I reckon you've found a good fruit!"
"Agreed, Brook. I could just dash up to our foes and give 'em the 'Good Ol' Benny Song!'"
Everybody visibly cringed, remembering the last time Benny had played the 'Good Ol' Benny Song!' within 50 metres of them. Even through the earplugs, their eardrums had nearly completely shattered. (Though Brook had no ears, yohohoho!) And the less said about their foes, the better.
While Benny was testing frequencies and speeds wild enough to make dogs run for their lives, Brook noticed Laboon hurtling towards them at the nearby coast. Running to him, he asked, "Laboon, what is it?"
Laboon responded with a few unhappy whines as well as a bellow that he and Laboon used as a code on the New Rumbar Pirates to mean 'Danger'.
On high alert, he returned to his crew, telling them something was going on in the town.
What Brook saw was most decidedly not good.
It was the Rocks Pirates. Thankfully, it didn't look like their main ship. Unfortunately, it was still flying their flag. Panicking as he tried to figure out who it was, he raced into the town with Benny with the crew following and Laboon racing back to the ship.
If it was Newgate (not Whitebeard, he corrected), he was okay. If it was Kaido or Shiki, he was in for a tough fight, but doable, due to Kaido's relative inexperience (as he was merely a cabin brat), and Shiki's ego. If it was actually Rocks, he might as well start running. As he ran and thought, he knew he was forgetting someone.
He remembered who it was just as he passed the donut shop.
The future Yonko, and future Queen of Totto Land, who he had met and stole from before, Charlotte Linlin.
A MEMBER OF THE ROCKS PIRATES
CHARLOTTE LINLIN
BOUNTY: 650 MILLION BERRIES
Currently, she was inside the donut shop watching a certain red-haired small toddler eat donuts while the owner was lying motionless on the floor and an employee was huddling in the corner. Brook grabbed Benny and silently walked inside.
Upon seeing Brook, Linlin began grinning (only slightly maniacally) and walked over to him.
"Hello, Brook. Long time no see, huh? You too, Benny. Why aren't you in the New World with the rest of us?"
If Brook was visibly unnerved, he did not show it. "Yes, Linlin, it has been a while. Why aren't you in the New World with the others? Is it because of him?"
Linlin scoffed. "Partially. I need somewhere to put the children. This should do." She then suddenly scowled. "You touch them and I wi-"
Brook held up his hands and agreed, "Understood, don't injure the kids. We're only going to be here for about three days so our Pose can set. Come on Benny, out of the donut shop. Oh actually, excuse me Linlin, may I please se-"
Benny could only watch as Brook was easily punched straight out of the ex-donut shop. Ex, as the entirety of its stock had been eaten by the small child that was now grinning contently.
"I can see my Haki still needs work, anyways good to see you Linlin, and…"
"Katakuri. Don't ask where the others are."
As Linlin walked away with Katakuri, Brook visibly breathed a sigh of relief. He could not believe the same person that was a terrifying Yonko could have a cordial side. Though, that may be because of that time they visited the New World.
The employee from earlier walked over to the owner, and checked for a pulse. "He's dead." the employee grimly confirmed. He walked over to Brook, and asked, "How do you know that fiend?"
Absentmindedly, the employee pulled out and strummed a guitar.
Yorki materialised, and quickly asked Brook, "Is she far away enough?" in an uncharacteristically low voice. The employee showed no reaction and continued strumming his guitar. After Brook checked with his Observation and nodded in the affirmative, Yorki continued, "We met her and her crew during an… unpleasant venture to the New World."
"You see, one year ago, we decided we had spent quite a long time in Paradise. So we decided to visit the New World. It's weather is not only many times more treacherous than in Paradise, it is also famously the playground of the infamous crew, the Rocks Pirates.
So as you can see, we were on high guard as we entered. After five days, we happened to find a large treasure hidden on an island. However, it happened to belong to the notorious one they call the 'Embodiment of Greed', John."
—Flashback—
A MEMBER OF THE ROCKS PIRATES
JOHN
BOUNTY: 430 MILLION BERRIES
John was furious. "What are you doing by my treasure! Get the hell out of my sight before I vaporise you! No, I'll eviscerate you!" Drawing his sword, he grinned and rushed to Brook. His sword glinted black before it clashed with Soul Solid.
Brook grimaced as the hoarder slashed furiously at him. As he channeled the chill of the underworld, he quickly parried each of John's attacks. Turning to face him, Brook quickly leapt backward and prepared an attack.
"Gavotte: Leap Forward." As he rushed forward, John groaned in pain but quickly turned to face Brook and leapt at him. Slicing many times, he managed to inflict several hits before Brook vanished from sight.
"Don't be silly. You think I don't know about Shave?" As John reached out with his Haki, he easily found Brook rushing around at admittedly fast speeds for a Shave. He easily prepared to face Brook's attack.
John was then hit by a bullet that his Armament Haki repelled. Annoyed, he turned to face the culprit but was kept busy by Brook rushing forward and freezing a good chunk of his left hand.
"You want a true battle? I'll give you one! Fiery Rush of Wealth!" John yelled as his sword glowed with gold fire and he rushed to Brook. Brook responded by lighting his own sword in blue, ice-cold flames that emanated chill instead of heat.
As the two ran past each other Brook and John slashed once each. Brook burst into flames while John recoiled at the deep cut on his front that was rapidly freezing. Brook quickly rolled around to nullify the flames, drinking milk afterwards. John, however, was less lucky. He was half-frozen, probably the only thing preventing him from dying from blood loss.
"You know, John, you've been the strongest fighter I've seen in a long time. I must congratulate you, as my heart nearly leaped out of my throat a few times during this fight." He straightened himself up and grinned. "Though I have no heart of course. Skull joke! Yohohohoho!"
John grimaced. "I suppose you'll take my treasure now. Still, it isn't all of it, of course. I've got all of it hidden in a wonderful location. After all, you have to if you own the largest treasure in the world! Gehehehehe!"
Brook was about to correct him, but then realised that the One Piece was still a myth at this time. Either way, he breathed a sigh of relief as he turned to leave.
"Oh would you look at that, the others are here." And promptly stopped and turned. Nearing the coast was, very clearly, the main ship of the Rocks Pirates. Standing on the figurehead and emanating Conqueror's Haki from what must be kilometres away was what looked like Xebec himself.
John grinned, and started limping to his rowboat. Brook promptly panicked. Hard. Attempting to sprint back to Benny and the others, he was suddenly stopped by a thunderbolt hitting directly where he was just standing.
"Oh, didn't I mention it?" John added. "I wasn't the only one on the island."
As Benny watched his captain run around John from up on a nearby hill, he quickly distracted the greedy pirate by shooting him with a pistol. It didn't do much, but it stopped him long enough for Brook to secure a victory.
Then the 500 million woman showed up to ruin their day.
Panicking, Benny feared for the worst, and hoped to all 23 gods that he knew that Brook would survive. Then he stopped.
"Benny, why aren't you worrying? asked Locky, one of the crew.
"Look at Brook." As he said that, Locky watched Brook manifest his soul and slice at the miniature cloud and sun around the tall woman's neck. To the woman's surprise, the cloud and sun were actually harmed by the attack.
As Benny and the others watched, Brook was not having too much trouble against Linlin, but it took noticeably more effort on Brook's part compared to his fight with John. Eventually, as the Rocks' ship grew nearer. Brook and Linlin appeared to stop and talk, which led to Brook seemingly walking away back to the Rumba and the Big Benny.
Benny and the others raced back down the hill, where Brook told them, "We need to go. Now." Benny agreed, as now Rocks' presence weighed on him like a 10kg weight.
"What about the treasure?" asked Skit.
"Forget the treasure, we need our lives first!" Brook looked exasperated as he prepared his own ship. "I may be able to beat John or Kaido and maybe Linlin or Shiki, but certainly not Newgate, and most definitely not Rocks." He finally unfurled the sail and sailed to an island they knew to have coating were heading back to Paradise.
"That's what happened when we went to the New World. During that entire event, Brook had told me to keep hidden as he didn't know if Armament Haki could damage me or not. But I saw the whole thing." Yorki finished.
The employee finished his song and stated, "So you're staying in Paradise until you're strong enough for the New World? I can agree with that sentiment." Saying that, he walked up to Brook and asked, "You did say in the paper that you only took musicians, right? Well allow me, David, to join your crew."
Brook was curious, and asked why. David responded, "Funny thing, I was once a pirate too. Had a bounty and everything under the name, 'Henry.' Then I got wrecked in the New World. I managed to disguise myself and use Mariejois to cross the Red Line. Then I found work here. I reckon it wouldn't be too bad of an idea if I went back."
Brook then wondered, "Just one question. What was your bounty?"
"90 million, though it's inactive. They presume that I'm dead."
"Well yohohoho David! You're officially a member of the New Rumbar Pirates!"
The crew, who had come in after Linlin left, all rejoiced.
("Why wasn't your bounty increased, after what happened then?" asked David. Brook responded, "Simple. The Marines never found out.)
After leaving Goont, now with navigator David at the helm of the Rumba, they were almost immediately attacked by pirates. Specifically, it seemed, it was a jeering crew called the Hand Pirates.
"Fear me, fear me! For I am the great 'All-Hand' Hamish!' I am one of the most feared pirates in all of Paradise: a Paradise Lord!"
CAPTAIN OF THE HAND PIRATES
'ALL HAND' HAMISH
BOUNTY: 220 MILLION BERRIES
"I've been seeking you for a while now, rookie! You are nothing compared to my might. My bounty is nearly twice yours!" Hamish shouted.
Suddenly, Brook sensed someone by his sword. Drawing it and turning, he saw a hand there, which he quickly cut into shreds. It simply disintegrated.
"It won't matter. For I have eaten the Hand-Hand Fruit! It allows me to spawn hands anywhere I can see! These hands will obey my every command, and even if you injure them, I take no damage! Handadadadadada!"
Brook noted the similarities to Robin's powers, before shaking himself. This would be easier than he thought, as he could just get Laboon to sink Hamish's ship. But for now…
"Oi David! You got any specialties?" he asked.
David smirked, and drew three revolvers from his pocket. Then three from another. Finally two from his trouser pockets. "Let's play a game! You're facing 'Gun-Luck Henry!' Fate will see if you get shot."
Facing Hamish's crew, he started juggling his eight revolvers simultaneously. He fired off six quick shots, then six more.
Fourteen of Hamish's crew were hit. "Idiots! You're all idiots! How were so many of you hit?" Hamish asked in disbelief. "Never mind! Kieran! Get him!"
Kieran smirked, and jumped at David, brandishing a large shield and a double-ended sword.
FIRST MATE OF THE HAND PIRATES
'DOUBLE-BLADE' KIERAN
BOUNTY: 105 MILLION BERRIES
However, Benny intercepted him and blocked with his seastone Saxophone. Rushing around him using his Devil Fruit, he managed to knock Kieran into a mast. Kieran snarled, and started spinning his sword. He rushed Benny while spinning his sword furiously but Benny was fast enough to simply dodge through the blades.
Benny grinned. "It's time for the one you've all been waiting for! THE GOOD OL' BENNY SONG!"
Grimacing, the New Rumbar Pirates hastily plugged their ears (or earholes, in Brook's case). Laboon quickly dived into the water as Benny played notes on such a high volume and frequency that the collective eardrums of the entirety of the Hand Pirates promptly exploded.
Hamish, who had used his powers to cover his ears, screamed in frustration. Wordlessly, he charged at Brook, making many more hands on himself, which picked up swords.
"TEN-SWORD STYLE! WHIRLWIND!" Hamish shouted furiously. His hands started quickly despawning and respawning on his body while slashing, giving the appearance of a whirlwind. Brook countered with a quick lunge between the slashes, which froze two of his swords and hands. Quickly kicking them to pieces, he took advantage of Hamish's confusion and quickly and precisely froze each of his legs and shoulders.
As Hamish tried to spawn hands to throw off the ice, which he did at some parts, Brook rushed past him, slashing all the while. Hamish parried, before throwing one of his swords at Brook. Brook quickly stated, "Prelude: To Iron." He stabbed at the sword quickly and it shattered.
Quickly recovering, Hamish tried to move over to Brook, but fell over due to the ice. Brook causally walked over with an open blade then sheathed it. Cuts erupted over Hamish's body.
"Looks like we're done here. Laboon!" he shouted.
Answering the call, Laboon resurfaced and rammed through the enemy ship, before pushing the Rumba and the Big Benny away quickly.
As they sailed away, David asked, "When do you reckon we go back to the New World, Captain?"
Brook hummed in thought. "We'll need to get more of a grasp on Haki first. We know the basics, but some of us don't quite know how to use it, so we'll need to get more proficient with them. Once we've done that, we can go on ahead."
-A few days later-
As Brook snored away in his bed, Yorki materialised and walked onto the deck. Seeing the News Coo before him, he pulled out the customary 100 berries and paid.
The News Coo chirped, dropped a paper and flew off into the rising sun.
Picking up the paper, he noted the 'Defeat of notorious pirate 'All-Hand' Hamish at the hands of 'Dead Bones' Brook.'
Flipping through (he still didn't know how he could interface with physical things) the paper, he noted Xebec being Xebec, and Roger's crew entering the Grand Line. Smiling as he thought of Brook's words of Roger becoming the Pirate King later, he flipped to the bounties section.
And promptly screamed loud enough to wake up half the crew.
'Dead Bones' Brook—333 million berries
'Ship Demolisher' Laboon—100 million berries
'Killer Sax' Benny—165 million berries
'Gun Luck' Henry—90 million berries (reinstated)
Though the last one was the one he screamed over.
'Apparition' Rumba—15 million berries
"My god, they think I'm a Kl-Klaubatermann, how could they?" Yorki muttered.
An awake David walked over to the grief-stricken Yorki and attempted to snap him out of it. "Hey, this isn't too bad. I mean, I don't have my identity either."
"Yeah, well, at least it was your choice."
"Then why don't you march up to a Marine base and give them a piece of your mind?"
Yorki seemed thoughtful for a second. Then he went to Brook's room and threw him out of bed. Everyone sweatdropped as the spirit yelled at the skeleton about David's plan. Then Yorki dematerialised and Brook wearily spluttered, "I'll be back in half an hour." Saying that, he jumped off the boat and started running on the water to a Marine base.
(When Brook returned forty minutes later with half a Buster Call on his tail, Benny shouted, "Did you go to Marineford or something?" Yorki grinned and Brook groaned.)
(Half a week later, Yorki's poster picture had changed to him standing proudly in the middle of Marineford on top of a pile of groaning Marines and at least one Rear Admiral. His name was changed back to 'Calico' Yorki and his bounty was now 150 million berries.)
("What did you even do in Marineford?" Yorki grinned maniacally in response and Brook shook in fear.)
-8 Years Before God Valley-
AN: And that's a wrap! Hope I didn't insult too many of you with these bounties. I'll change them if necessary. If you're wondering what happened at Marineford, let's just say it involved premature angry Armament Haki unlocking. Not permanently (that'll come later), but it was spur of the moment.
We're going to the New World next chapter!
Also, I'm going to post some details right here about bounties and such.
'Dead Bones' Brook: Bounty 333 million. Acts: Piracy, defying the World Government, clashing with a 'Paradise Lord' and triumphing, destruction of several naval bases.
'Ship Demolisher' Laboon: Bounty 100 million. Acts: Piracy, destruction of at least 45 marine ships, association with 'Dead Bones' Brook.
'Killer Sax' Benny: Bounty 165 million. Acts: Piracy, defying the World Government, spontaneous combustion of the eardrums of a Vice Admiral, destruction of several naval bases, association with 'Dead Bones' Brook.
'Gun Luck' Henry: Bounty 90 million. Acts: Piracy, defying the World Government, playing a version of 'North Blue Roulette' that has killed hundreds, association with 'Dead Bones' Brook.
'Calico' Yorki: Bounty 150 million. Acts: Piracy, defying the World Government, association with 'Dead Bones' Brook, defacing of a Rear Admiral and several hundred of Marines, publicly defacing Marineford.
See you guys next chapter!