On the creaking deck of the ghost ship, Luffy, Nami, and Sanji stood frozen, staring at the skeletal figure before them.
Nami caught her breath. Her eyes widened and sweat trickled down her temple, and tears welled up as she instinctively stepped back. "A skeleton… it's really moving," she said.
Meanwhile, back on the Thousand Sunny, Usopp and Chopper peeked through their binoculars. They trembled.
"Evil spirits, begone," Usopp cried as he clutched a talisman he'd made from seaweed.
"Luffy… rest in peace," Chopper whimpered.
Back on the ghost ship, the skeleton raised a teacup. "Yohohoho! Nice to meet you," he said with a gentleman's bow. "I am Brook. Forgive my manners. I haven't had guests in decades," he added. He sipped his tea. "Ship after ship, they come and go. Always the same ghost ship. It's terrifying, really," he added.
Luffy pointed. Her eyes were sparkling. "He's talking! The afro-skeleton is talking!" he shouted.
Brook chuckled. He looked at Nami. "And what a stunning young lady," he said.
"No, not at all," Nami said quickly as she waved her hands.
"I have an eye for beauty," Brook said proudly. "Even if skeletons technically don't have eyes," he added. He leaned forward. "May I see your panties?" he asked.
Nami's foot shot up and cracked him across the skull. "As if," she snapped.
Brook spun midair and landed with a clatter. "My my, quite harsh," he said.
Nami crossed her arms. She thought what if Ben asked her that. She kicked Brook again. "Nope. Still not happening," she added.
Luffy burst out laughing. "Can you poop?" he asked.
Sanji groaned. "Seriously? That's your question?" he asked.
Brook nodded solemnly. "Yes, I can," Brook responded.
Sanji facepalmed. "There was absolutely no need to answer that," he replied. Sanji pointed to Brook. "You, how are you alive and how can you talk? You are just bones," he questioned. "Who are you?" What is this ship?" he asked.
Luffy stepped forward. "Never mind that," he said. "Join my crew," he stated.
"Sure why not," Brook responded as he took a sip from his tea.
Nami and Sanji were shocked.
Brook, Sanji, Luffy and Nami headed back to the Thousand Sunny. They stood in front of the entire crew.
Brook raised his hat. "How do you do?" Brook asked. There was a smile on his face. "I am afraid after travelling for a while, my ship ran into trouble," he added. "I am just Dead Bones Brook," he said. "It is a pleasure to meet you," he said.
"What the hell?" Zoro, Usopp, Chopper, Porche and Franky all asked.
Brook approached Porche. "My my what a beautiful," he said. "Can I see your panties?" he asked.
Porche kicked Brook. "No," she replied. "What a pervert," she remarked.
"He is," Nami agreed.
"Begone skeleton. You are not real, this is just a dream," Usopp said.
"Is this a dream?" Chopper asked as he closed his eyes and fell on his back.
Zoro approached Brook. "Luffy what the hell is this guy?" he asked.
"Is he not funny?" Luffy said with a smile on her face. "He is part of the crew now," he added.
"I don't care what he is, I won't let him," Zoro responded. He approached Nami and Sanji. "Why the hell did you let him," he added.
"Sorry," Nami and Sanji responded as they touched their heads.
"There is nothing to get worked about," Brook said. "Let's go inside and have dinner," he added.
"Who are you to decide that?" Sanji, Nami and Zoro asked. They all entered the kitchen.
"What a lovely room and kitchen," Brook said. "By the way, what is your name?" Brook asked.
"I am Luffy and how did you end up like that?" Luffy asked.
"You did not ask that?" Zoro asked as he looked shocked.
Brook sat calmly on the creaking deck, steam rising from his teacup as the crew gathered around him.
"Well," he began. "When I was alive, I ate the Yomi Yomi no Mi, the Revival Fruit. At first, I thought the only drawback was losing the ability to swim. But then… we were attacked. His tone darkened. "A powerful opponent came. Everyone died. I died. But because of the fruit, my soul returned from the underworld." He paused. "Only… I couldn't find my body. The fog was thick. By the time I did, it had decayed. What remained… was this skeleton," he said.
The crew fell silent.
"So that's how you became a skeleton," Franky said, blinking. "I didn't even know a Devil Fruit could bring someone back from the dead," he added.
"But even after revival, you still can't swim," Sanji added as he crossed his arms.
Usopp stepped forward, holding a wooden cross. "So… you're not a ghost?" he asked.
Brook chuckled. "Nope. I dislike ghosts myself," he responded.
Nami held up a mirror. "Have you ever looked at yourself in one?" she asked.
Brook leaned back. "No, not the mirrors," he shouted.
"Wait a sec…" Usopp said, squinting. "You don't have a reflection," he added.
"And no shadow either," Chopper added.
Everyone froze.
"Really?" Luffy exclaimed. "That's awesome!"
Zoro gripped his sword. "That's not normal," he remarked.
Brook calmly sipped his tea.
"Why are you so calm?" Sanji shouted.
"That's a different story," he responded. He set the cup down. "My shadow was stolen years ago," he added.
"Stolen?" Porche echoed.
Brook nodded. "Without my shadow, I no longer exist in the world of light. If sunlight touches me… I'll disintegrate," he said.
Luffy stepped forward and clenched his fist. "Then I'll get your shadow back. Just tell me who took it," he responded.
Brook smiled faintly. "You're kind. But I can't tell you." He looked down. "I don't know if I'll ever find him before my second life ends," he added.
"Is the enemy really that strong?" Franky asked.
"Can you at least tell us his name?" Nami pressed.
Brook shook his head. "I cannot. I'm sorry," he replied. Suddenly, Brook froze. His teacup slipped from his hand and shattered. "Ghost…" he whispered.
A pale, floating specter peeked from the wall. Its round eyes and eerie grin glowed faintly.
"What is that?" Chopper asked, trembling.
The crew rushed out and saw a massive wall looming ahead.
"What is that thing?" Porche asked.
Brook's voice trembled. "Did you… perhaps pick up a barrel recently?" he asked.
"Yes," Porche replied.
Brook's eyes widened. "It was a trap. A beacon for Thriller Bark, the Ghost Island."
"But the Log Pose isn't pointing to it," Nami said as she looked at her Log Pose.
Brook didn't wait. He leapt off the deck and sprinted across the water. His skeletal legs skimmed the surface like a skipping stone. "I cant let them or you be here," he said.
"He's running on water," Usopp shouted.
Luffy stepped forward.
"You're going after him?" Zoro asked.
Luffy nodded.