Chapter Text
What a beautiful place the world is. It’s something that I have always admired, the beauty of the world. The way it spins continuously no matter how wild the events on its surface become, no matter how happy and brilliant the people living there are, no matter how dour and sad they are, the world keeps going. A constant in a place of wild occurrences.
A place where wonders and terrors of all kinds can occur all at the same time in different places, or right next to one another. Or even in the same moment. What a curious thing the world is.
The world had become so dark to me when my crew died all those years ago, unable to follow through on the promise we swore to protect and keep. We died doing what we loved, what we found solace in during such a dark time that we knew was going to be our end. The music carried my soul for so many years it felt like I was reliving those last minutes with them every time I heard it.
But that was the funny thing about that, I never felt sad about it being over. Or maybe I did, and my memory is slipping away from me again. How could I know? I don’t even have a brain to remember things with! YOHOHOHOho…hoho.
Humor is my safety, seeing anyone crack a smile at my horrible horrible jokes or puns is something that would warm my heart if I still had one in my chest. Everyone has a safety mechanism, whether it be a healthy one or not. That’s something I learned during my time with the Straw Hats. My second and last crew that I will have been on. I don’t have the guts to join another crew, literally! YOHOHOHo
But if someone more charming than my captain Luffy comes along, then who would I be to tell that person no?
Afterall, I never thought the world could be darker when my daring captain became lost to this world. I knew his soul, his bright, bright soul. But I watched as it was snuffed out, like a candle beneath a cup. Like a cigarette being put out…
I sit at the edge of a cliff that overlooks the vastness of the seas before me, a part of the redline that I found to be abandoned. How long ago, I am not sure. I cannot fully recall how I even climbed atop this massive mountain myself, but what else is there for me to do when I have watched my whole world collapse around me twice with no way of stopping it.
A cup of tea that I discarded is behind me, sitting daintily on its platter next to my cane. It makes me recall all those times Sanji delivered tea to the ladies of the ship…it was an honor to be included in the delivery when he had his good days. Even more so when he got his hands on my favorite brews, it was a miracle how he remembered the tastes of every crew member.
I admire him for that. How he put aside his own personal strife with each member, particularly the swordsman- their rivalry was quite the sight I must say! But they were such close friends despite that. I enjoyed watching them spar every day or two, it seemed odd at first but after seeing them fight side by side in battle, it was clear they did it to get a knack for one another’s style in order to compliment it. And my, oh my. They complimented each other so nicely every time.
It was an honor to fight beside them as often as I did. Exchanging sword fighting and wielding tips with Zoro was very thrilling and informational. Since the two of us fought so differently, with such different blades- including the number of blades we used- it was rather neat to exchange notes with one another.
Though he was quiet, he became quite the conversationalist when I asked him the right questions. He was such a passionate soul…it only makes me recall seeing the passion in his eyes die out along with his fiery soul. Right alongside Sanji’s, they never could best one another, even in death. How dare one of them outlive the other, anyway.
They were the best of friends, brothers maybe, or perhaps a couple! No matter what their relationship to one another was, it was hard for anyone to ignore the deep bond of companionship they shared.
I can’t bear to imagine a world where one is left without the other.
Thankfully, I don’t have to. As the both of them are buried in the sea along with the rest of the crew. I should know, I sent them all off myself.
Not saying I killed them! I would never. I simply wished them off on a farewell, burning a dinghy as they lay lifeless in it. Watching from the shore as they sank beneath the sea.
One, by one.
I wished them off with a lullaby, playing my violin with all the power my soul could muster.
I stayed strong through it all, until I lost Sunny.
That, I think, was when it all hit me that everyone was gone.
I don’t know how I cried, how tears stained these dry old bones of mine. But it happened, and they wouldn’t stop for days and days. I cried, and cried. For what else was I alive for?
All of their dreams had come true.
Nami charted a map of the whole world, we traveled across the seas time and time again to make sure she had every island in its place. She even published her map at a price to some bidders, scamming them of their money as she did. Her treasure stash was monstrous.
In turn, Franky got to see his pride and joy the Thousand Sunny travel across the world, sailing end to end without fail. The improvements that he made to her constantly were astounding, making her a power house even on her own.
Jinbe got to watch as the fishmen were accepted widely across the seas, his people finally seen as people too and welcomed island to island. Attaining positions of power and healing his wounded spirit.
Usopp became a brave warrior of the sea. The bravest, even. He never lost his fearful nature, but he learned to keep pushing through it every time it raged inside him. He was given honor from the island of Elbaf, going on to best even his father at sniping skills.
Chopper found and documented ways to cure every disease known to the world, he had even successfully made a cure-all medicine somehow. An accomplishment that will be spoken of for centuries to come.
Sanji found the All Blue! The land of myths and legends was real indeed, he cried so many tears of joy when he saw all the different fish from different seas swimming together beneath the waves. But he said not to tell a word of that to anyone…I’m sure he won’t mind
Zoro bested Mihawk in a duel, taking his title as the greatest swordsman in the world. He too, cried tears of joy, but he also said not to tell anyone or he’d cut me to bits…He’ll mind less, but it will be okay I’m sure.
Robin reunited with the giant who had saved her when she was a little girl, introducing him to our whole crew with the brightest smile I had ever seen on her. She translated all of the poneglyphs and uncovered the history of the void century. Sadly, she never got around to telling me that story, I would have liked to hear it. I just know it was truly tragic.
I was reunited with Laboon! I couldn’t believe my eyes that he was still alive and waiting for me and my old crew all those years, luckily I didn’t have to since I don’t have any eyes! YOHOHOHO! Yoho…ho…
Last of all, and certainly not the least of us. Our beloved captain Monkey D. Luffy became the pirate king!! It was a journey to accomplish, but nobody but him could have pulled it off. After all, he shines brighter than the sun even on a bad day, nobody can overshadow a King like that. He even accomplished his dream. As absurd as it had been, I wasn’t even sure he could pull it off. But that youngster did it, in all his magnificent and childlike glory.
He even returned his Straw Hat to Red-Haired Shanks, his first mentor and idol back when he was but a young child. Much to the sadness of the great pirate, the Red-Haired man looked both at ease and saddened by the return of his hat.
I told myself to visit him one day, and ask him about his story.
Our adventures never ceased even after accomplishing our dreams and goals. When the crewmembers from the East Blue made their dreams reality, we all made a group trip to return to their home sea to give hellos to their families and towns.
We made a decision to visit all of the places that they had been before, to be sure every member of our crew got to see the islands of the stories.
It was a pleasure to meet the people on Dawn, a rather surprising experience to see the people who raised Luffy are simultaneously as crazy as him but also much, much calmer.
Makino for instance, was an absolute sweetheart. All of us decided that we should never get on her bad side, simply out of fear of seeing the dear woman frown our way.
Dadan and the bandits were a whole different experience. The orange haired riot herself easily reminded me of Nami and her attitude, but more subdued and aged. Her words didn’t match up with her expressions, as she invited us all inside to have a feast.
We got stories of all kinds about Luffy’s childhood, mainly from the bandits that spoke of the ball of horror that our captain had been, and us remarking how he still most definitely was that ball of horror and impulsiveness.
I remember Dadan pulling Luffy aside midway through the feast and embracing him, speaking words I couldn’t hear from this distance. Robin had placed a hand on my shoulder and given me a smile, and I knew from that alone that it would be fine. Not that I doubted my captain, but hearing the stoic woman sob uncontrollably into his shoulder, I was worried she wouldn’t be.
I don’t recall the rest of the night, nor the morning after. But we did visit Syrup village next, and we all got to meet Usopp’s beloved Kaya. She was such a lovely lass, Kaya. She and Chopper exchanged medicinal notes and other doctor things, and we all got to meet the three kids that were under Captain Usopp’s wings all those years ago.
It was a beautiful meeting, the kids had grown so much and said they wanted to set sail just like Usopp had, and the proud face he made was something truly awe inspiring. Franky cried so many tears at these reunions, and who was I not to join him?
We had another grand meal with Kaya and the kids there, a party to celebrate the crew’s accomplishments.
It was the leaving that had us all in utter pieces. Usopp said he wanted to remain on Syrup with Kaya, live the rest of his life beside her and take a break from the sea.
That goodbye was difficult, to say the least.
Next on our tour we went to Cocoyashi village to visit Nami’s family and people. They were ecstatic to see her back in one piece. The mayor treated us to yet another feast and party, much to Luffy’s delight.
It was yet another honor to meet Nojiko, the one who dealt with Nami’s thieving shenanigans ever since the beginning.
I could see the decision in Nami’s eyes before she even voiced it. She wanted to stay there too. But she also wanted to stay with Luffy to see everyone else off and visit the rest of their people. After a long conversation and yelling from her, she returned to the Sunny to continue the rest of our journey.
I got to meet Red-Leg Zeff, Sanji’s mentor and father figure. The meal at the Baratie was one of the best I’ve had, despite having no taste buds anymore. The love that was put into that meal was palpable. I could easily tell that Sanji had gained his knowledge from this place. A beautiful thing to see the beginning of the crew’s great chef.
Patty and Carne were wonderful people too, they were very fond of how far Sanji had come in life. You could tell by the way they insulted him strangely enough. I’ll never understand the ways of the chef.
Sanji continued with us after that, and the hole that Usopp left felt even more unbearable than before. Knowing he was just a day away by boat. But I knew he was happy there. He had his adventure, it just hurt to know the chapter with us had ended for him.
One day I’ll come back, we’ll come back, to check on him. I told myself.
I know he stayed back to make sure the East blue was protected without us all there, I’m sure he did. As much as all of them wanted to say that there wouldn’t be anyone coming in our wake to attack their home islands, they knew it was true. Usopp just realized that and acted upon it. Afterall, it’s what a brave warrior would do, protect his homeland with all he has.
Let his friends leave him behind again, as I heard happened back in the grandline before my arrival.
It still caused an aching in my bony heart.
So with that we crossed back into the grandline, over reverse mountain courtesy of Luffy’s insistence. It was truly something, and made me remember my very first time crossing over it. With the Rumbar Pirates. Oh how times change, yet it still gave me chills. Or it would have, if I had any skin!
We met with Laboon once again, I don’t know why he stuck around the red line like he did. Maybe he was waiting for our return again, because he continued following us as we went to Drum Island to see Dr. Kureha.
A lovely lady indeed. Rather intimidating, but she was a kind soul. She was even older than me! Which was quite a startle, considering I am all bones and she still has all of her flesh! It tugged at my heartstrings that she had what I didn’t. Despite our similar age. It brought a horrible feeling shivering through me, horrible thoughts that I have had before but now meeting someone that was what I wished I could be deep down have emerged more fully.
I just want to feel the cold bite at my skin again, I just want to feel the frosty air brush over my face or creep at my fingertips. The pain lets you know that you still live, as the cold slowly freezes your own body heat.
I wish that the stagnant feeling in my bones would let out a breath, that I could breathe in through my lungs one more time, feel the goosebumps on my skin at the cold or a beautiful melody, the taste of the saltwater on my tongue and the smell in my nose. The feeling of being alive, all of its pain and beauty, I wish I could experience it all again. The feeling of closing my eyes to rest after a long and tiring day of working at sea, letting my vision fade out as I fall into slumber…the feeling of a smile on my face when I’m happy, the pain after smiling for too long or straining my brows as I concentrate over something. The sting on my fingers and arms after playing the violin for long periods or immediately after a fight. The sensation of rain on my skin. Even the sting of a splinter as it sticks into my hand on a bad part of the deck.
What an awful downside of being dead, you lose all the experiences in life that you take for granted. The experiences that make you truly feel.
I didn’t want to ruin the mood of the party that the townspeople threw for us all, but she approached me during the party and broached the conversation without me having to say much.
I told her my grievances, and she explained to me that I wasn’t feeling any of that due to my loss of nerves across my body- err, my bones.
Then…I believe we somehow got to the topic of adventuring and the state of the world. I couldn’t help but notice she spoke as if she knew her end was coming, or that something was going to happen. I asked her this; “What will you do now, that Chopper has become so great and you have nothing to search for or cure?”
She told me that no matter the cure he found, people would still find a way to need her. But that someone would step into her position so she could get a break. She said it much snarkier, but her wording got away from me.
We sat on a snow capped rock as we watched the party from afar, Jinbei came over to join us for a little bit, and laughed when I was summoned to rejoin the fray to play some music by our captain’s request.
She lingered on that rock for a while, speaking with Jinbei, before vanishing. I think she retreated back to her castle. Jinbei simply gave me a somber look when I asked, and I pressed no further.
When we woke the next day she was nowhere to be found, Chopper was in great distress trying to find her. I had a gut feeling what had happened, or what she was doing, before we went looking. So did my captain, we shared a look of understanding, but he still followed beside Chopper for a while to ensure he wasn’t alone through this.
I will always look up to the man my captain was and became.
He sent everyone back to the Sunny, and we all held a small memorial for the Doctor. I played a farewell song, and watched as the subtle pink hue of the Doctor’s soul coat the island in a soothing blanket.
She may have been a cranky old woman, but her heart was true. That part of her was clear to me.
With heavy hearts we continued forth towards Alabasta, and the mood lifted exponentially. I could tell they truly loved the princess, though they had seen her at a distance a few months before when Luffy achieved his title.
I had not fully met the princess of Alabasta, but from the good words that Sanji, Nami and Luffy were talking very loudly about, I couldn’t wait to meet her. Luffy also talked about some strange animals he had taken under his wing, and he made them sound so exciting that I too, was ecstatic to meet those little guys!
When we arrived on the shores of the sandy country, we met the little Kung-Fu Dugongs that Luffy adored, and he happily spent a good while interacting and playing with them. Chopper followed suit soon after, and the rest of us stood back and laughed as they played together.
A heartwarming scene, if I had ever seen one.
It wasn’t even an hour after we arrived and set anchor that people of Alabasta came over to greet us. The Princess leading the charge, alongside her father and some of the other members of the royal household if I had to guess.
The princess was even more lovely than described! She was a pleasure to speak with, truly. Her and Robin seemed to have a bit of scary tension between them, but with one very large tackle from our captain they both seemed to loosen up. I believe, at the feast, our archaeologist went to speak with the princess aside. Likely to resolve whatever had gone on between the two, I am not fully aware of what went on before my presence here.
I made a note to ask her later about it. I always loved hearing Robin’s stories, she was an excellent storyteller when she wanted to be.
Then, thinking about that made me wish Usopp didn’t stay behind. It was odd how quickly a hole could be filled then reopened in grief. I didn’t know at the time, but it was only going to get worse as time went forth. The hole getting wider and the grief growing brighter, heavier.
But I digress, this is no time for that. I was just talking about the feast that was thrown for us! It was lucky that we had to travel days to get to each island, coup-de-burst or not. I’m not sure any of us could survive so much food consumption in such short amounts of time! Aside from the Captain, of course. He’s always the exception when it comes to food! What a guy Luffy was.
The party went on for days, there was so much happening. I’m almost certain there was even a festival that was thrown further into the town. Honestly, if I had memory loss anywhere it would be this party. It feels like a blur in my memory.
I remember having to go find Zoro in the middle of the night before we left port, for some reason Luffy wanted to leave before everyone woke up. I wasn’t going to question it, but it was very odd.
I found him on a roof that had no roof access stairs or ways to get up to it…needless to say I was yet again impressed by our swordsman’s skills at finding himself in peculiar situations. How he gets lost so easily.
If I didn’t know better I would say that he just shut his mind off when he had to walk just about anywhere. But since I know him, he simply wanders when he thinks too hard. It kicks in too during high stress situations! And when in cities…he also just has a direction problem. I swear, that swordsman could not walk south if it looked him right in the face!
Ah, I’ve gotten away from myself. We continued off on the journey through the night, much to the Princess’ dismay I’m sure…well, I thought she was going to be distraught, until I noticed she had joined us onboard the Sunny.
She had joined us for a little adventure, under the minor inconvenient title of being captured by our crew. Even then, she had chosen an alias to go by while she traveled with us through a bit of the grandline…Ms. Wednesday. Now, I’m not judging by any means, but that was quite a name to choose.
I received context from Robin about some former organization- Baroque Works- that had been trying to take over Alabasta kingdom under aliases similar to days of the week or holidays.
Apparently Robin had also been a part of this organization under the alias Ms. All-Sunday, which was…also a choice. But who was I to judge, I’m just some bag of bones!
Anyway, we made our way out to an island called Jaya, where Luffy and Chopper very excitedly showed us around as they told us all of these wild stories. Many of them were retellings of events Usopp had told me, Franky, and Jinbei around the dining table or before he went to sleep, but I did not stop them from retelling them. It was a very clearly exciting event they had experienced there, Nami and Sanji jumped in excitedly too every so often. Throughout the hyper active attitude, Robin and Zoro made spare comments to the four of us who hadn’t been through the sky island adventure.
They all clearly had a lifetime of adventures before they had even met me. It was awe-inspiring to hear truly, but even now, part of me feels as if I missed it.
Of course I know how pirate crews work, these old bones aren’t that dense, one crew member can never be on every adventure that the crew goes on. It simply doesn’t happen- everyone tends to be independent in their own way, often that way being they stay on the ship for some treks or they take leave for others. Instances like mine, I don’t join the story until the next page.
After Luffy and Nami tried to brainstorm a way to get back up to the sky island without the knock up stream, and Sanji and Franky gathered supplies in the village, we headed forth once more.
Our next destination was to be Water 7, but we ran into a marine vessel on our way there. I was prepared to attack, don't get me wrong, but I was also very curious what, or rather who, would approach us so casually without warning.
Unsurprisingly, Luffy knew immediately upon seeing a Marine with pink hair, and flung himself onto their vessel in the middle of a greeting that consisted of him shouting out the man’s name.
The rest of us watched with amusement, our captain never failed to be as eccentric as he was. I learned that this kid was the first that Luffy met on his adventures out at sea, and they both helped one another on the first push towards their dreams. Well, the pink haired gentleman, Koby, got more of a push than Luffy himself. Which was to be expected, my captain was never one to hesitate with his dreams.
They talked for a long while- Vivi joining in too, having known Koby as well- with the marines under Koby’s command lingering back on their ship with weapons on guard. Amusing, truly. But I could respect it at the very least.
They were all quite fascinated when Laboon made his presence known to everyone- well, fascinated is a strong word, I suppose shocked and astonished are better descriptors as all of the marines either ran like headless chickens before the massive whale, or froze like a stone statue sweating like they had just jumped from the sea.
That made me laugh so loudly, they were all quite a funny sight!
We set off once more, continuing to Water 7. Luffy reluctantly left Koby behind, with a promise to see one another again someday soon.
At Water 7, I was amazed by the beautiful architecture. The city itself was stunning in it’s own right, and even more so when Franky gave us a tour of the whole place.
He was antsy all throughout it, and I could easily see why when he reunited with his “Franky Family”
It filled me with a sort of pride watching him show off all of his new cool gadgets he implemented into his cyborg design on himself, and seeing that enthusiasm get matched by the members of his family made me know that he had a good life for him here.
The mayor came down from his roost to say hello to us all, along with a scruffy blonde man (I never did find out his name…) that was very offended by Nami’s attire- which I have to say I was very offended by myself, who was he to speak that way to her?
Sanji felt the same, he would have jumped at him if Nami hadn’t whacked the blonde man on the head first.
Safe to say, I very much enjoyed my time at Water 7. Jinbei had a lovely talk with Mayor Iceberg, so did Vivi if I remember correctly. Luffy even introduced me to a very lovely mermaid and a frog, and the mermaid’s…child? It was not clear what their relationship was. But they were all three very eccentric people as Luffy attracts to his company.
I found the city life at night to be truly fascinating to wander about.
We spent several days there, getting to know all sorts of people and exploring the city’s nooks and crannies, before we set sail once more.
The next destination was decided by me, and I did not want to revisit Thriller Bark. Much to Luffy’s dismay, but Sanji and Zoro understood my sentiment for whatever reason. Probably to do after our first visit, when Zoro came out of it barely alive.
I’m still curious as to what happened, but I will never know now. I was never meant to know.
So instead, we went to Sabaody to visit Rayleigh and Shakky.
It was lovely to see them again, a reunion I was never really sure was going to happen or not. A strange appearance we didn’t quite expect to see at the bar, was a fellow named…Bunny the Jester? Or perhaps it was Buster the Clown? Something exotic like that. He had a very red nose, and the rest of his got just as red when someone mentioned it.
I quite liked him, whoever he was- I think I recognized him as a former Emperor of the seas- he had been very fun to speak with.
Once our stay in Sabaody expired and the coating on our ship was finished, we set sail once more. Well, we began our descent. It felt too soon, as they all had. But thus was the way of the pirate.
We ventured down to fishman island, reuniting with the people of the kingdom there and of the royal family. Another feast commenced, it felt bigger than the last (without the following festival of course).
I serenaded my heart out at the party, putting all of the strife I had collected into the music so it didn’t weigh on my shoulders any further. The crowd loved it, it felt almost like I was on tour all over again…but more personal. With my crew by my side.
We left Fishman Island a few days after the party, giving our farewells and leaving when the coating was finished on the Sunny once more.
Our path took us past Punk Hazard, where we explained our adventures there to Jinbei and Vivi, who were both intrigued to hear the details and looked utterly confused at the happenings we described.
Of course none of us were as grand of a storyteller as our Usopp, but we had to make do.
After that, we sailed to Dressrosa. I got to meet Princess Rebecca! What a lovely girl she was. Her and Viola, I believe her name was. It was fun to get our own retelling of the Dressrosa fight from the perspective of the princess, who couldn’t stop calling our captain “Lucy”, but nicknames were no problem anymore. I could not judge anyone for nicknames anymore, not with our captain being who he was.
Dressrosa was a beautiful country, the flowers and architecture were very different from Water 7 and other cities and islands we had visited, but it was incredibly eye-catching in its own stunning right. I made a note to return there again one day.
They threw us a feast, and we stayed for several days. Ultimately, just as with the other islands, we left.
We sailed past Big Mom’s old territory, not needing to stop and Luffy wanted to keep going to find where Zou had ended up in recent times. Sanji didn’t want to bring up the memories or events of that place, so nobody ended up discussing the stories involved. But Luffy did grumble about some giant bread man that was difficult for him to hit.
We sailed around for a while to try and locate the giant elephant, but to no avail. Pity, Jinbei and Vivi would have loved to visit that place. Chopper wanted to visit again as well, likely to visit Carrot and the others again. It would have been nice to see them all once more, but we promised ourselves to see them all again one day soon.
Alas, we never did accomplish that.
Our next destination was Wano, where we reunited with Momonosuke and the others. Another heartfelt reunion to add to the books.
The feast there was again, bigger than the last. We stayed there a bit longer than other places, getting our bearings together once more before we traveled to Elbaf.
But something happened before we left that I never had expected to;
Zoro asked Luffy to leave the crew to stay in Wano.
This left myself, and the rest of the crew in utter shambles. Our swordsman, Luffy’s right hand man, leaving to…teach?? He wanted to help the next generation of swordsmen gain their ground and footing, likely even traveling from place to place to instruct others along the way.
Even more to my surprise, but also completely to my expectations; Luffy accepted, he agreed.
After some confirmation, of course. But he did accept that he wanted to leave, and he took it in strides.
Even when Jinbei proposed to go alongside him to make sure he didn’t lose his way as he always did. Luffy took it in stride.
As a former captain myself, I can picture the state of mind that he was going through even then. It was painful when a crewmate took their leave. But he said they were always welcome to rejoin them, despite their journey coming to a close and being at its end.
I was going to miss them. But I swore to myself, I will find them and travel with them on their little adventure one day. I must.
After Wano we went to Elbaf. Broggy and Dorry were excellent people to meet once more, and I couldn’t help but grieve the fact that three of our crew couldn’t meet them again. Usopp especially. I know how much he loved those giants.
After Elbaf…Luffy took us to Laugh Tale
Had us all stand out on the deck
Smiled,
And said; “This is where our journey ends!”
.
.
.
In lieu of a very reasonable panic from us all present, our captain laughed his loud laugh, and told us that it wasn’t the end of the crew, but rather our journey together as one whole.
He was sending us off to whatever corner of the world we wished to go to, giving us freedom to choose our new future.
It was the most Luffy result I could imagine happening after such a grand trip we pulled.
So with that, the Straw Hats medley went off on our own. Nami took Vivi back to Alabasta, Chopper decided to go on a hospital tour to check that they all had the right medicines and resources across the seas, Sanji went off to begin his own restaurant, Franky and Robin went off together to visit the revolutionaries with the Sunny, me and Laboon went off for a little musical tour on the seas,
And Luffy went off on his own.
He didn’t say where he was going, but that did not worry me. He knew what he was doing, or what he was getting into. My captain could handle anything the world threw at him now.
…except, he couldn't, he didn’t.