The next morning, while villagers were helping prep the Going Merry for departure, Brynlee called for an emergency meeting for the crew in Arlong Park – it was still the safest location on the entire island, after all. They were generously granted access to the conference room, and Brynlee felt a bit of nervosity peek its head as all of her crewmates settled down around her – with Zoro lying on the cot they'd set up for him.

"So? Why are we here?" he asked, obviously a bit annoyed at being dragged out of bed this early – and probably nursing a bit of a hangover, too.

"Because when we first met, I promised Luffy I would tell you guys my secret once we reached Cocoyashi. So, here we are."

"Ooh, mystery back stuff!" gasped Luffy, clapping his hands.

Nami groaned, and Sanji shot him a glare. "Don't be so insensitive!"

"Sanji, it's fine. It's about time you learned the truth, too."

Saved for Nami, no one else in this room knew. She did consider telling Sanji before, but there never had been a proper opportunity for it, nor was the Baratie entirely safe. And when they trained, she didn't want her wings to get in the way, so she kept them wrapped and hidden. Time passed, there was never a good time for it, and she eventually decided to simply wait until this particular day came.

"Well… here goes, I suppose."

Without further ado, Brynlee pulled off her cloak. Then, before anyone could comment on the unexpected mass of black feathers tied on her back, she quickly undid the straps, which fell to the floor as her wings sprang free. She rolled her shoulders a bit, the familiar ache in her back making her groan a bit as she stretched and tried to shake off the numbness spreading along the bones of her wings.

"… you have wings!?" Gasped Luffy, stars in his eyes. "That's so cool!"

"D- Devil Fruit?" suggested Usopp, obviously mildly terrified.

She snorted. "If only. At least then I'd be able to hide them better."

"Bryn…" murmured Sanji, obviously unsure of what to make of this.

"Truth is, I was born with them. In fact, all of my people are – it's one of our more definitive traits, let's say. So… hello, I'm Lucky D. Brynlee, second-to-last Lunarian alive. Nice to properly meet you guys."

"Second-to-last?" echoed Zoro, mildly troubled. "Then what you told Koby that time—"

"A very long time ago, my people were known as Gods, in the Grand line. We are innately very powerful… but that power, that strength, led regular humans to fear us, and the World Government to envy us. Ultimately, they decided that our existence, which they couldn't control, was too great a threat to the Justice they claimed to support, and… well, they basically wiped us out."

"What!?"

"That's crazy!"

Nami averted her eyes, her fists clenching a bit. The first time she'd heard that story, she'd been absolutely horrified. Today, she was still saddened, but mostly angry.

"I don't… know the details. It all happened long before I was born," admitted Brynlee. "I know that most of our people were killed, and the few remaining were either sold as slaves or used for experiments. Very few managed to escape altogether. The World Government put a great price on their head, so Lunarians quickly became hunted for their sole existence. As time passed, less and less of us remained… And, as of today, only I and one other are left – at least, as far as I'm aware."

"Only two people… of an entire race?" repeated Usopp, distinctly pale. "Of a race supposed to be Gods!?"

"Such is the Justice of the World Government," scoffed Brynlee, crossing her arms over her chest. "They've got a number of genocides to their name – ours might be the first, but it certainly wasn't the last. But with everything I've just said… Luffy, I need you to seriously think this through." He tilted his head, obviously confused. "You invited me to join your crew without knowing all this… I didn't mean to lie, and I'm sorry for it, but if the World Government gets wind of my existence, they'll send their strongest after us – after our crew. My existence alone puts yours at risk. So, I swear I'll try to hide it for as long as I can, but are you—"

"Ugh, you're talking too much. It doesn't matter – the World Government will already be after our heads since we're pirates," huffed Luffy, crossing his arms over his chest. "Let them come! I'll beat them all up! You already agreed to be a part of my crew, so now you're mine and nothing's gonna change that!"

Surprised, Brynlee then laughed a bit. "Alright. None of us are strong enough right now, but I have faith. Let's just make sure not to tell people outside the crew, though."

"Got it!"

She then glanced to the others, who still appeared rather troubled by what she'd just revealed. After all, while none of them held the marine corps and the World Government in their heart, none actually expected them to be so… cruel.

"I'm okay," she stated firmly, startling the others out of their thoughts. "I never… I was lucky enough to never be caught, so I never had to deal with the corps' cruelty first-hand. And I don't remember my parents either – never met them, as far as I'm aware – so it's not like I lost something really important to me. And yeah, being hunted just for being born kind of sucks, but at least it led me here, to you guys, so it's not all bad, right?"

"Bryn… Just because you don't know what you've lost doesn't mean you can't suffer from it," reasoned gently Nami, going to give her a tight hug. "And I believe you when you say you're okay. But never ever fear telling us if you're not, okay? We're your crew, now – it's all of us or nothing."

"And we'll do everything in our power to ensure your secret never gets out," added firmly Sanji, offering her a reassuring smile. "Thank you, for trusting us with this."

"Do- do not worry! The Great Captain Usopp will protect you! Why, I am known as a God myself—"

"Just shut up and stop shaking already," grunted Zoro. He then glanced back to Brynlee. "You said there's another one, right? Do you want to find them?"

Surprised by the question, she then shook her head. "Not right now. Even if wanted to, he's located in the New World – the second half of the Grand Line. As we are now, we'd die long before reaching that guy."

"Well one day we're gonna be strong enough, and you'll get to meet him!" replied Luffy, grinning from ear to ear. "Captain's promise!"

Surprised yet again, Brynlee then smiled. "I'll look forward to it, then."

Alright, so the cat's out of the bag at last!

No, she'd never told Sanji before. Not for a lack of trying, but there was just never a good or right time for it. Keep in mind that Brynlee has kept her wings hidden for almost her entire life! The only place that was safe enough for her to let them out was in Arlong Park and, even there, she needed to be careful not to wander too far. There are other villages than Cocoyashi on these islands, the marines still sent new recruits or random check-up squads from time to time, and merchants docked there every so often.

But now, with all of that being said... En route, for the next leg of the journey: Loguetown!