Chapter 18
Life Goes On
"Hey! …Guys! Are you guys alive!? Hello!?"
There was a collective moan from everyone as they started to get up. Everybody was either hurt, or waking up in odd positions. Maxwell wasn't any different. He felt several pointed stones jutting in his stomach, yet he didn't want to move. His body felt heavy, and his muscles still ached from all the exertion.
"He must have thought that attack killed us all and left… HAHA! TAKE THAT BEAR GUY! WE'RE STILL ALIVE!" Maxwell realized it was that pink haired woman, Lola, who was cheering and waking them up. The mage honestly didn't care, he honestly wanted to go back to sleep…
"WOOHOO!" Maxwell froze as he realized he had just heard Luffy's voice. "Man, that was a great nap!"
Maxwell rolled over and looked at where Luffy had been laying previously. Only, Maxwell had found his captain standing, on a piece of rubble. He hadn't taken the bandages off, but Luffy was acting like he had never been injured in the first place!
"Hey, hey, hey! How can that be?" Franky eyed Luffy. The rest of them felt like crap, and the one who was supposed to be comatose was wide-eyed and bushy-tailed!? "What happened to you!?"
"Look! My body feels so light!" Luffy started hopping onto each foot while clapping in the air. "I wonder why?"
"EH!?" Chopper couldn't make sense of it.
"You're lying! There's no way you can be so fine after all that!" Usopp protested. He had been nearly been crushed, twice, by that undead giant, Oars. He felt like death warmed over, and Luffy had looked worse! So how could he be standing like a spry jackrabbit!?
"I wonder if he took so much damage that it had the opposite effect…" Robin rubbed her chin.
Most of the crew was awake at this point, having survived Kuma's— "Kuma!"
Maxwell looked over at Sanji, who was awake beside him. Zoro had knocked them both out by overloading their nervous systems. Jabbing them both with the ends of his katanas. And he had probably sacrificed himself to save Luffy!
"There's no way he could be fine," Sanji grumbled. "…Where did that bastard go? It can't be…!" Sanji was worried. Though Maxwell didn't comment on it.
"We have to find him…!" the mage grunted as he pushed himself onto his feet. Maxwell had no idea how long they've all been asleep, and Zoro could have been taken off the island for all they knew!
So, Maxwell and Sanji started walking, hoping to find their wayward swordsman. Sanji was no longer shaking to keep upright, but he wasn't running either. Maxwell felt rather feeble at that moment. His limbs felt like skin and bone, and he didn't have his staff to lean on as he walked.
Thankfully, they didn't have to go far.
"There he is…!" In a clearing on the edge of the forest stood Zoro. His back was turned to them, and he appeared to have his arms crossed.
"Why the hell did you knock me out…!?" Sanji demanded. Both he and Maxwell had been willing to sacrifice their lives when Kuma could have just killed all of them. Though Sanji wouldn't have let Maxwell sacrifice himself either, Zoro had took away that option when he knocked them both out. And Zoro didn't answer him.
"Hey!" The chef refused to be ignored. "Where's that Warlord—!?" Sanji's words died in his mouth as he realized what state he was in.
"ZORO!" Maxwell hobbled over to Zoro, immediately thinking about how best to treat him. The swordsman was bleeding all over, from head to toe. Many of his wounds had reopened, and his clothes were in tatters. Yet, Zoro stood there with his arms crossed with a grim sort of satisfaction.
"…There's so much blood…!" Sanji gasped. The surrounding rubble and debris was literally soaked in it! "Hey… Hey! Are you alive!?" Sanji pointed at the swordsman. Ironically Sanji was able to reach Zoro first before Maxwell. "Where is he!? What happened here!?"
"…Nothing," Zoro croaked out. Maxwell was amazed he was still even awake! "Nothing at all…!"
"BULLSHIT!" The chef and the mage yell at the swordsman. Kuma had done something to him while they were all asleep! However, Zoro didn't answer any of their questions as he began to wobble. Zoro just fell into their arms as he finally fell unconscious.
…
…
…
…The next day.
It had taken quite a bit of organization to set up camp. After they had all the introductions out of the way, Maxwell and Chopper checked over the wounded as they took up residence in the base of Thriller Bark's mast. Everyone who was awake and able cleared out the hall, so they could all recuperate.
Everybody scavenged what they could. Thriller Bark was essentially a ruin now. Much of the gilding and decor had been buried with the destruction of the castle. However, they didn't care about excavating the tower. Everyone either moved stones or made make-shift furniture out of the debris.
Oddly enough, most of the food and valuables on Thriller Bark had been discovered on the Thousand Sunny. Apparently, Perona had tried to cut all ties with Moria after her defeat to Maxwell and Usopp. Shad had ordered her underlings to take everything and load up the Sunny. This included all the treasure they've taken over the years, and the entire gully. The only reason their ship was still at the dock was because of Kuma. Perona had tried to pick a fight with him when he appeared, and she was thusly banished… Nobody knows where she went. And even then, nobody was sure they wanted to know where Kuma sent her.
Luffy, Sanji, Usopp, and Franky had gone over to retrieve the pantry for this afternoon's feast. Sanji was in charge of course. He planned on cooking an entire buffet for tonight's menu. And Luffy wasn't allowed anything beyond cheese and crackers until then.
They were going to have a victory party. It was something of a tradition at this point among the Straw-Hat crew. Moria had been defeated, the Thriller Bark Victims' Association could finally bask in the sun, and the Moria Pirates were nowhere to be found. Plus, Kuma seemed to have spared them all. Everybody took that as a win, even if they had been steamrolled.
"We brought what you asked for." "Chopper!" Franky and Luffy yelled as they entered the hall. Both of them were carrying mountain sized sacks above their heads, containing the food and supplies for tonight.
"Ah! Thank you!" Chopper answered them as he looked up. They had also brought Chopper's entire medical cabinet, full of creams, oils, and powders. He and Maxwell had just finished changing Zoro's bandages.
"How's his condition?" their SUPER cyborg asked. Chopper and Maxwell had Zoro laid over a slab of rock and mortar, as a sort of makeshift hospital bed. A curtain had been used as bedsheet, underneath, and another had been folded up to act as a pillow.
"I've never seen Zoro take this much damage before," Chopper replied. "His life was seriously in danger…!" His entire torso had been wrapped up in bandages, along with his forehead. They had graciously left Zoro his pants on, even if they were in tatters. Maxwell and Chopper feared any blanket they laid upon him would smother his lungs and agitate his muscles.
"We've sutured him up as best we could. Most of his muscles are so tense we've had to massage them several times just to get them to work with us…" Maxwell then frowned, "And of course my magic is shot, so until my man settles down, we have to let Zoro recover naturally until he wakes up."
Chopper sighed, "I wonder if something happened when we were knocked out…"
"It's hard to imagine that man left things the way they were," Robin mused. Kuma had posed an intimidating figure, and there wasn't much they could do against him.
"Luffy being unusually healthy is strange, too." Usopp looked back at Luffy as he rubbed his chin. Luffy had taken on the wills of a hundred men, and then had to push himself in order to defeat Moria.
"I don't understand it either. Shishishishi!" Luffy laughed as he set the sack down. They had figured out that they'd all been knocked out for approximately 24 hours. The last time Luffy fought that hard, he'd been out unconscious for 3 days. So his miraculous recovery was an oddity if there ever was one.
Maxwell didn't say a word.
"What happened, you ask!?"
The Risky Brothers raised their hand and and posed like a pair of spotlights.
"The truth is, I saw it!" "I saw it too! From beginning to end!" "We'll tell you what happened at that time—!"
"Come with me." Sanji grabbed both Risuichi and Nirisu by the necks and dragged them out of the hall.
"What!? Hey—!" "What the hell man!"
"Hm? Sanji?" Luffy and Usopp thought it was rather odd, seeing Sanji drag out the Risky Brothers like that.
Again, Maxwell didn't say a word. Both he and Sanji already knew what happened.
The advantage to having spirits as familiars was that they could spy on nearly any event in the physical world. Salem had stayed awake after Zoro knocked his crewmates out. Mordred and Minieve were too drained to observe, but Zoro had watched everything.
Kuma had been moved by all their devotion, and chose not to take Luffy back to Marine HQ. However, in exchange for sparing Luffy life, Zoro had to take on all the pain and suffering Luffy had experienced in the past 24 hours. Kuma had apparently 'repelled' all the pain and exhaustion out of Luffy into a giant bubble Zoro had to touch. Kuma had then thrown a fraction of what Zoro had to experience as a warning, and it was enough to have the swordsman reeling back onto the ground. However, Zoro had only demanded that they move somewhere else so he could take on the rest. Kuma left, and Zoro plunged his arms into the massive bubble…
Naturally, none the crew could be allowed to know this.
Maxwell and Sanji were in agreement. If Luffy knew one of his subordinates had willingly sacrificed himself, and took in all of his injuries, their captain wouldn't be able to forgive himself. Plus, Maxwell and Sanji felt enough guilt for Zoro's sacrifice. If the rest of the crew found out about this, morale would be at a whole time low.
So, they would remain silent for now. Neither the chef nor the mage would ever speak of this again. And they fully intended Zoro to take apart in this vow as well, until they all became stronger. No one else can know!
…Yet, evidently, the Risky Brothers had seen the whole thing. Hopefully, Sanji could prevent them from spreading the tale…
Maxwell watched as the cook came back, and they shared a nod. The Risky's would remain silent. No one else would know.
"I see," Robin then spoke, having a hand up to her ear.
…Maybe Maxwell had spoken too soon.
"Hey! You two!" Luffy waved as the Risky Brothers walked back in. "Didn't you guys say you knew what happened earlier? What did you see?"
"Don't asked such an unrefined question," Nirisu scowled.
"Everyone is safe." Risuichi gave them all a thumbs-up, "That's all that matters." Then the two brothers walked away. Although, they were muttering under their breath…
"…Were they just trying to act cool, just now?" Maxwell asked. And Robin just laughed at his question.
O O O
"LET'S EAT!"
A few hours later, the party was in full swing. Sanji had cooked up a variety of dishes including fish, lamb, beef, pizza, lobster, pork, desert— "MMM~!" and it was all delicious.
"I've never had such deliciously cooked food like this before!" "To be frank, we haven't eaten like this in years!" "I'M SO GLAD WE'RE ALIVE"
"I've made lots!" Sanji called out. "Just don't leave any leftovers!"
Everybody had dug in the feast with gusto. Stuffing their cheeks with various foods and chugging all the booze they brought to drink.
"I'm able to eat cook-san's cooking again! My taste buds are leaping—they're dancing with unrestrained joy!" Maxwell heard Brook call out. "—Oh, but I don't have any taste buds, do I?Yohohohoho—"
"WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP AND EAT ALREADY!" Franky barked at the skeleton. The others around their table just found it hilarious.
"Ah, excuse me." Brook then unleash an earth shattering burp as he sat down, "I really did stuff myself yesterday and today. I think I might be getting a little fat… Or should I say, 'BIG BONED!' Yohohohoho—!"
"Can't you make any other kinds of jokes, dammit!" Franky tried to yell at Brook, but even he couldn't stop himself from laughing.
"GYHAHAHA! THIS SKELETON IS THE BEST!" "How is he even moving!?" "WHO CARES!"
Brook and Franky then jumped onto their table and started dancing while singing, "DINNER~! DINNER~!" Franky was shaking his spandex covered booty, while Brook twirled around into various poses.
Nami sighed as she watched everybody lost their dignity.
"They haven't even had a toast yet, and it's already become a party," Chopper swallowed a piece chicken.
Nami was hanging out with Chopper and Maxwell as it was quieter around the designated medical space. Chopper was having steak, chicken, and a severing of mashed potatoes while he and Maxwell watched over Zoro. Max was actually enjoying a few ribs of lamb with beans and carrots, and the mage had a glass of wine in his hand.
Chopper then looked down at Zoro, "He won't even open his eyes with this kind of noise."
Nami leaned into her own hand, "He's always been the toughest man…"
"I wouldn't worry too much, Chopper," Salem piped up from his grimoire. "We're ensuring he's dreaming about a feast in the Fade… With an absurd amount of alcohol. Don't worry, he'll be fine."
Maxwell's grimoire, hilt, and crystal skull were all set up with a couple of plates around them. Mordred, Mineive, and Salem were feasting of all the merriment the party was causing. They didn't actually need the physical food. It was symbolic, given their ethereal nature. Thought and feeling were always mad manifest in the Fade. Thus, they were able to take part in the party.
"Hey Chopper!" Luffy came over carrying a barrel.
"Luffy!" Chopper was curious why Luffy came over. Maxwell however, blanched at what might have gone through their captain's head.
"This is Zoro's share! Shishishi!" Luffy then picked the barrel back up, and held it over Zoro's face to pour. "Alright Zoro, bottoms up!"
"HE CAN'T DRINK THAT!" Nami wacked the rubber-man upside the head.
"Yeouch!" Luffy flinched back, "What!? Zoro loves booze. So drinking a bunch of it will make him feel better!"
"WHAT KIND OF MEDICAL SCIENCE IS THAT!?" Chopper balked at Luffy's reasoning.
"…Ok, then how about meat?" Luffy asked. "I'm willing to share…" but Maxwell didn't think Luffy had convinced himself of that either. Meat has always Luffy's go-too solution for a quick recovery. And despite all conventional logic, it worked, more times than not.
"Luffy, your solution requires Zoro to be actively awake… Even if it would help." It was a sad day when Maxwell realized Luffy wasn't exactly wrong about Zoro. Still, the mage had to reason with his captain, reasonably. "Let him rest for now. Your thoughts are enough."
The chords of piano keys then began to vibrate, and Luffy looked over to see Brook sitting at a piano. "…Oh, there was a piano in this room?"
He was playing the kind of tune you'd find in a saloon, reflecting to festive yet humble celebration going around. Sanji went up to talk to him, but Maxwell was more distracted by the somba dancing Franky and Usopp were doing together.
The tune then changed to a rather upbeat number. A rather bouncy tune… "Yohohoho~ Yo-hoho-ho~ "Yohohoho~ Yo-hoho-ho~" Maxwell actually found himself nodding to the accompaniment. It was no Andraste's Mabari, but he found he liked the song.
"…You go have fun. I'll keep watch." Max had seen Chopper staring at Franky and Usopp. He wanted to join in and dance with all of their friends.
"…Thank's Max!" Chopper then grabbed a pair of chopsticks and jumped onto the table.
Robin then sat down with him and Nami. "Binks' Brew… I was wondering why this song felt so nostalgic…" They had heard it a few times being around the the skeleton.
"Is it a classic?" Maxwell asked while taking another sip of wine.
"In a way," Robin answered. "It's a very old song. There are a number of versions to Binks' Brew, allowing the song to be played for all occasions. But the rhythm and the lyrics have generally stayed the same. Pirates actually used the sing this all the time."
"Hm…" The song was actually familiar now that he thought about it. He heard an echo of this song back at the Twin Capes, when they were leaving Laboon and Mr. Crocus. This song must have been very dear to Brook and Laboon.
Risuichi and Old Man Spoil actually joined the boys on stage. They were dancing around, much like Brook had, and Risuichi was actually spinning Usopp around. Chopper was doing his chopstick-nose trick while holding a basket scoop. And Franky was all doing his SUPPER pose while having a drum steak in his mouth.
Maxwell then realized the point of dancing like that was to actually be funny. If you can make others laugh while making a fool of yourself, you can make others smile as they ate.
Lola then walked around and handed Nami a mug of beer. Maxwell wasn't sure why, but Nami and Lola were rather chummy with each other, despite their brief interaction. Maybe it was something she said on the Sunny? She did go with them to get the supplies…
The tempo began to slow, and Maxwell realized Brook was actually talking to Luffy. Their captain laid on the end of the piano lid, kicking his feet absentmindedly. Looks like Luffy was working on recruitment…
The music than ground to a halt, and Maxwell realized Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp were all talking to Brook now. "I see…! So he's doing so well…!" The skeleton was actually in tears despite not having any tear ducts. They must have been talking about Laboon.
Brook's boney fingers hovered over the keys for a moment. The skeleton seemed to be deep in thought over what he had just heard. He's been in isolation for so long, perhaps Brook was reliving the memories of the past 50 years.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Franky called out, "Play some more, Brook!"
"Yeah! I'm dancing with chopsticks in my nose!" yelled Chopper.
"Yohoho, please wait a moment." Brook replied. Then he reached up to the top of his afro and OPENED HIS SKULL LIKE A HINGED TEAPOT!
Brook reached in and took out a conch shell, that he placed on the piano. They talked a bit more. Maxwell couldn't hear them, but he guessed it was a keepsake. Then Brook tapped on the appex of the shell.
The conch shell was actually a Tone Dial. And it began to play an orchestra. Another rendition of Binks' Brew.
"Hm? If it's this song, then let's all sing together!" Lola cheered.
"YEAH!" Everyone else was onboard with it. And the the song went some thing like this…
Yo-hohoho, yo hoho-ho~, Yo-hohoho, yo hoho-ho~
Yo-hohoho, yo hoho-ho~, Yo-hohoho, yo hoho-ho~
Brook played along with the tone dial, an additional piano to the strings, keys, and choir that blurted out of the tone dial.
Gather up all of the crew, it's time to ship out Bink's' brew.
Sea wind blows, to where, who knows? The wave will be our guide!
O'er across the ocean's ride. 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!
Yo-hohoho, yo hoho-ho~, Yo-hohoho, yo hoho-ho~
Yo-hohoho, yo hoho-ho~, Yo-hohoho, yo hoho-ho~
Everybody danced and sang along to the song. There was a kick line with Sanji, Luffy, Usopp, and Lola up on the table.
Gather up all of the crew, it's time to ship out Binks' brew.
Pirates, we eternally, are challenging the sea!
With the waves to rest our heads, ship beneath us for 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 'til sunny days return.
Yo-hohoho, yo hoho-ho~, Yo-hohoho, yo hoho-ho~
Yo-hohoho, yo hoho-ho~, Yo-hohoho, yo hoho-ho~
Franky actually tried to hype everyone up to sing long, and Chopper had gotten a pair of fans somehow.
Gather up all of the crew, it's time to ship out Binks' 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.
Gather up all of the crew, it's time to ship out Binks' 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 'til dusk upon these foamy seas!
Yo-hohoho, yo hoho-ho~, Yo-hohoho, yo hoho-ho~
Yo-hohoho, yo hoho-ho~, Yo-hohoho, yo hoho-ho~
It was a celebration of life. One they could all continue living. No monster to run from, no running in fear. Everyone could be themselves at last.
And while the choir and orchestra did eventually devolved into a piano solo, Brook played an uplifting harmony that offset the finale. A hopeful tone, that meant they would endure.
"Hey, skeleton!" "You're not going to sing anymore!? Come on, let's do one more!" "One more! Wahahahaha!"
Everybody was also rather drunk at this point. Lola and the others was either laughing, dancing, or trying to start up the song again. It had left everyone in a good mood!
Maxwell finally decided to walk over to Brook and join the conversation. "Yohohoho… Long ago, my nakama and I used to sing this song with lots of gusto. This recording was… the Rumbar Pirates' 'Last Great Number.' When I was alone, lost in that dark, dark sea of fog for 50 years… I thought of this song, countless times."
Brook caressed the dial, as if seeing his old crew within it. "All alone on my huge ship, this song… and only this song, made me feel like there was something else 'alive' other than myself… However, just today, I've now made up my mind. I will seal away this tone dial." Brook then reached up to his afro and pulled on his hair, opening his cranium once again. "SEAL~!"
"EEEEEH!? SO THAT REALLY DOES OPEN!?" Usopp and Sanji yelled in disbelief. They thought they had been imagining things when Brook first took out that shell. Of course, Luffy looked at it like it was the most amazing thing in the world.
"So, what will you do now, Brook?" Maxwell asked the skeleton.
"Well," Brook played a few notes on the piano, "I understand that Laboon is healthy and waiting for me… My shadow has also returned and I have escaped from that devilish sea. The singing voices of my crew, stored in this shell, aren't only for the sake of my reminiscing anymore! It's for the sake of delivering that song to Laboon!"
Brook looked down for a moment, even as Luffy rolled back onto the piano, "It was really hard, being alone for that long. I honestly thought of ending it all, more than once. But you know what? I…" The words got choked up in Brook's throat, but the skeleton threw back his head, "I'M SO GLAD TO BE ALIVE!"
Luffy just grinned, "Well of course you are."
"I REALLY AM GLAD TO BE ALIVE!" The crowd went silent at Brook's sobbing. Yet they all stood and smiled for the skeleton. "I'VE HELD OUT FOR SO LONG, BUT THIS DAY HAS FINALLY COME!"
"Ah," Brook then stopped belting, as if he remembered something. Then he looked back at Luffy, "By the way, is that invitation to join your crew still open?"
"Yep. Welcome aboard."
"HE JOINED—!" "JUST LIKE THAT!?" "AAAAAHHHHH!" "Fufufufu!"
Well, suffice it to say, the reactions of the crew were various. Usopp and Sanji were incredulous at how easily he joined. Franky and Chopper were amazed he joined at all. And Nami's reaction was one of pure terror. Robin just laughed.
Maxwell just smiled. "Good. Now… Three cheers for Brook joining the Straw-Hat Pirates!"
The crew actually did one better. "WELCOME~ MR. MUSICIAN!" All the guys actually came around and started throwing Brook into the air, all the while screaming "BANZAI!"
"Our Dead-and-only-bones-left musician!" "BANZAI!" "Our long awaited musician!" "BANZAI!"
Maxwell just laughed at the crew's enthusiasm. They were able to throw Brook incredibly high.
"It's a good thing he's light too!" "YEAH! BECAUSE I'M ALL BONE!"
Maxwell thought the joke was a bit too literal, but Luffy found it funny. "HE'S SO FUNNY!"
"It looks like things are going to get lively around here then," Robin commented
Maxwell actually snorted at that joke. Robin seemed to be the master at morbid humour. Between her appreciation of the macabre and a literal skeleton joining their crew, it seemed like a real dead ringer.
"I get it…" Nami sighed. "But why did we have to pick up someone like him…?"
"I don't know what happened, but it all seems good Namizou!" Lola raised a mug to her new friend.
"We don't get it either, but CHEERS!" the Risky's and the others all raised their tankards together, and toasted to the happy occasion.
"Well, whatever. Thanks," Nami awkwardly waved a hand.
"45 DEGREES!"
"By Andraste…!" Maxwell shook his head even as he smiled. Brook stood himself rigged and leaned forward at the ankles. His skull clunked against the wall, and if you actually looked by the sides, Brook actually created a perfect half-square triangle. Everyone else burst out laughing at how ridiculous it was. But it was oddly funny!
"Good man," Mordred reverberated inside Maxwell's head, "Now we don't have to be bothered to preform magic tricks at dinner."
"Oh please," Minieve drawled, "You're actually jealous that someone else has stolen your act. We had one too many talking skulls as it was."
"I'm sorry, what was that?" Mordred responded like he handed heard her. "Someone is jealous for being an oversized glow stick up the ass?"
"Behave," Maxwell mentality commanded his familiars. Mordred and Mineive always liked to make snide comments to each other. Don't get him wrong, he was glad they were respondent again, but it still made him curious what the real Dorian and Vivienne were like.
"Ah! One more thing!" Brook then took out a piece of paper and slammed it on the ground, "Take a look at this!"
"A wanted poster!?" Sanji saw a man with round sunglass in the photo. It actually had Brook's hair, and showed the man smiling. "You have a bounty!?"
Brook knelt hold his sword cane to the side of his hip. Taking off his hat, Brook bowed his head, "Forgive me for not mentioning this earlier! In life, I was notoriously known as Dead Bones Brook! My nickname is 'Humming' Brook, and I have a bounty of 33,000,000 beli! Long ago, I was the convoy leader of a battle fleet to a small kingdom. Later, I became the captain of the Rumbar Pirates, where I was known as the Musician Swordsman. But, from this day forward, I pledge my life to Captain Straw-Hat Luffy! May I not be excess baggage to you!"
Luffy smiled at Brook's declaration. The entire crew had stood witness to Brook's pledge of allegiance.
"I shall wholeheartedly lend you my flesh and bones! …Though I seem to be nothing but bones! Yohohohoho!" Now Brook was a Straw-Hat Pirate.
Lola raised her mug, "ALRIGHT! ONE MORE TOAST FOR THE STRAW-HAT PIRATES!"
"KAMPAI!" Everybody cheered too Lola's toast. They had survived Thriller Bark and everyone was free to live under the sun. It was to new friendships, new alliances, and the continuation of being pirates.