66 Chapter 2

Everyone stared at the old derelict ship as it slowly drew closer and came to the side of the Sunny. Usopp, Nami, and Chopper were freaking out at the creepy voice continued to gently sing. Markus was the only one with a smile on his face. Brook was probably one of the characters he remembered and liked the most. The living skeleton was just so over the top with weird jokes and a perverted streak that made him smile when thinking about it.

As the two ships pulled closer they eventually drew side by side. The whole crew looked up in shock at a skeleton standing at the wall of the old ship and singing, "Go and deliver... Binks' sake..."

As the crew froze and stared at the skeleton, Markus got his first real-life look at Brook. Brook didn't really have any features to describe as he was just a human skeleton. At the moment all that could be seen was his skull, with a thick afro, and his boney hand holding a steaming cup of tea. The only thing to really describe Brook was the nice, if dated and tattered, purple suit he wore with a matching purple top that sat on his huge afro as well as the lighter purple cane hanging on his arm. If he had one distinctive feature about his 'face' it would be the crack on his skull that somewhat resembled the Greek letter for 'Omega'.

As the derelict ship continued to sail past the Sunny, Luffy's turned around to look at the rest of the crew with stars in his eyes. It didn't take knowledge of the canon story for anyone to know exactly what Luffy wanted to do right now. Luffy wanted to go over to the ship and meet the skeleton and nothing in the world would dissuade him from his decision. In order to decide who would go with him to keep him from doing something stupid, Zoro produced a bundle of sticks for the rest of the crew to draw from.

Markus cheated and made sure to draw one of the sticks that would let him join Luffy. By fate or providence, Nami ended up drawing the other one. Together, the three of them used one of the small rowboats on their ship to row over to the derelict ship to check it out. Markus and Luffy were both excited while Nami was in tears and shivering. Markus just pat her back to comfort her. He could reveal everything but he thought it was more fun this way. Besides, Nami was kind of cute when she was panicking.

After arriving at the ship containing Brook, they all started to climb up old rigging hanging from the side. Nami complained the entire time but no one with her had any intention of stopping. As they got close to the top, a skull covered in a thick afro with a seemingly small tophat on it peeked over the side of the ship at them. Nami froze for a moment before screaming.

Luffy quickly finished climbing onto the ship while Markus helped Nami. When all three of them were on board, Nami hid behind Markus as they all got their first look at the skeleton in front of them. Markus and Luffy smiled while Nami shivered behind them. The skeleton stood tall and proud as he held a cup of tea in his left hand and used his right to pick up the top hat on his head, "How do you do?!! Yohohoho! Pardon my earlier behavior!! I met eyes with you before, yet could give no greeting! Yohohoho!!"

It was clear that Brook was extremely excited to meet living people. Markus could feel his excitement and joy through his Observation Haki, but at the same time, he could sense loneliness and sadness. That was to be expected given Brook's history and current situation. Brook tipped his hat to his three guests and continued, "What a surprise!! It's been decades, perhaps, since I've met a living person!! All you see is ghost ship after ghost ship around these parts. So scary!!"

Markus could spend all day rebutting about a skeleton being afraid of ghost ships but he held his peace as Luffy excitedly pointed at Brook, "Look!! He's talking!! The skeleton with an afro is talking!!"

Luffy was clearly as excited as Brook was at their meeting. Brook set his hat back on his head and turned it to face Nami, "My, my! What a lovely young woman over there! BEAUTIFUL! I've never set eyes on such a beauty! 'Cause skeletons don't have eyes! Yohohoho!!"

Nami waved her hands and looked flustered as Brook got a bit closer to her. When he spoke his voice deepened a bit and took on a serious tone, "Perhaps you'd be so kind at to show me your panties?"

Brook's question led to an expected response from Nami. She gave him a swift kick to the head while shouting, "As if I would show you!!"

While Brook collapsed to the deck of the ship, Markus couldn't help admiring Brook. Brook was one of the few perverts to exist in the world and even more so, an open pervert. Though, Markus thought there might be more to it. Nami had clearly been nervous and scared since she saw Brook for the first time. Markus suspected that Brook had used his perverted nature to swap Nami's fear for anger to help her calm down and cope with his condition. Or... Markus could just be overthinking it and Brook really only wanted a peek at her panties.

As Brook hit the deck he 'complained', "I felt that down to my bones!! Just right down to my skeleton!!"

Nami, still pissed, screamed, "SHUT UP!!"

Markus joined Luffy in laughing at the absurdity of the situation. Though Luffy quickly sobered up and asked a vitally important question of Brook, "Do you poop?"

Brook quickly and unnaturally rose back to his feet, "Indeed, I do poop."

So. Many. Questions. As well as a little weird concern. Markus didn't but in though as Luffy stood in front of Brook with his hands on his hips, "Become my nakama!"

Nami's eyes widened as she began to freak out again but before she could say anything, Brook nodded, "Sure."

Immediately after Brook agreed to be Luffy's nakama, the group of four returned to the Sunny to introduce Brook to the rest of the crew. As soon as they boarded the Sunny, Brook lifted his tophat once again and introduced himself, "Yohohoho!! A cheerful greeting!! Hello everyone! How do you do? Seems like my ship and I caused some trouble. I'm 'dead bones' Brook! Nice to meet you!!"

Everyone but Robin screamed, "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS GUY!"

Meanwhile, Robin looked on silently while Nami hung her head. Luffy and Markus just had smiles on their faces. Chopper held a silver cross out in his hooves to 'ward off' Brook. Usopp wore a cape, for some reason, along with a garland of garlic around his neck and a gold cross in his hands. The antics of the two were ignored while Brook scooted closer to Robin, "Oh, hello young lady! Could you let me see your panties?"

Nami pulled off one of her boots and whipped it right at Brook's head, "Stop that you perverted skeleton!!"

Markus watched as Zoro yelled at Luffy and Luffy told him that Brook was their new nakama. Unable to yell at Luffy, Zoro turned to Nami and Markus, "Why do you think you went with him?! You were supposed to stop Luffy from running wild!!"

Nami hung her head, "I'm ashamed."

Markus just grinned and asked, "Think you could have done better?"

Hearing Markus, Zoro also hung his head. He knew it was impossible to stop Luffy when he wanted to do something and blaming the two of them wouldn't change anything. They ended up moving to the kitchen slash dining room to continue their conversation. Brook was full of compliments for the room and the Sunny which made Franky happy since it was his 'ship of dreams'. Markus could feel just how happy Brook was at this moment, it even began to overshadow his sadness a bit. Brook, still as excited and energetic as ever, spoke, "It would be nice if we could start eating. It's been decades since I've had a proper meal... Every day I've been living with this pain. As though the skin of my belly and my back were stuck together! But of course, I don't have skin on my belly, or my back! Yohohoho!! Skull joke!"

Luffy was laughing and clapping while Markus chuckled, everyone else had a deadpan expression. Brook and Luffy started getting rowdy shouting for their dinner. Those two really got along instantly. Pissed, Sanji yelled from the kitchen, "SHUT UP AND WAIT QUIETLY!! I'm making it! Just drink your milk in the meantime!"

The two loudmouth people quieted down. Luffy looked at Brook, "By the way Koroporoku..."

Brook interjected, "I'm Brook. Uhm... I don't know your name yet."

"I'm Luffy. By the way, what on earth are you?"

Zoro shouted, "DO YOU TWO EVEN KNOW EACH OTHER?!"

Before they could talk more, Sanji served food to everyone. The dining table became lively as everyone started to eat. Markus complimented Sanji on the food. The food he could buy from his system shop was pretty good and at least restaurant quality but the food Sanji served was several notches better. The table was as loud as ever and Luffy was happily stuffing his face.

When all the food was seated, everyone was in a better mood and less depressed from the foggy atmosphere of the Florian Triangle. Markus glanced in a certain direction before focusing back on Brook as he began the explain how he became a living skeleton. Brook was once a pirate traveling the Grand Line who had eaten the Yomi Yomi no Mi. It was a special Devil Fruit that didn't activate or give any special abilities but one, it would revive someone after they had died giving them a second life.

Brook and his crew had been attacked by strong pirates and all perished. After that, his Devil Fruit activated and brought his soul back from the netherworld. Due to the foggy conditions of the Florian Triangle, it took him over a year to find his body to revive, leaving nothing but a pearly white skeleton for him to inhabit. Everyone agreed that only something as unreasonable as a Devil Fruit could do something like make a living skeleton.

Usopp wasn't convinced, "So, are you a ghost or not?! Even if you were a human, you don't look like one at all!"

Brook looked afraid, "But I strongly dislike ghosts! If I happen to see one, I'll scream!!"

Nami pulled out a mirror, "Have you seen yourself in a mirror?!"

Brook screamed a flailed around, "Take away that mirror!!"

Usopp, who was next to Brook, noticed that Brook didn't have a reflection. Luffy thought that was awesome while Chopper started to panic thinking that Brook was a vampire. Usopp also pointed out that Brook had no shadow. Brook sighed, "I'll tell you everything now. It has been a long time since I began drifting on this sea. Being a skeleton and not having a shadow are two completely different things."

Everyone was silent and paid close attention to Brook as he brooded, "To be continued next chapter."

After getting yelled at, Brook continued his story. He told them about how his shadow had been stolen. He could no longer live in the world of light as entering sunlight would obliterate him instantly. Despite his shitty life so far, he was still really happy at the moment, "Today is a wonderful day! I was able to find somebody! I've been Reaaaaaaaally lonely! Lonely and afraid! So much that I wanted to die!! I've lived for a long time! People are a delight! You're my delight! If I had tears, I could cry with happiness!" He faced Luffy, "You invited me to be your nakama. I'm really glad! But the truth is, I should decline. My body cannot live under the sun. Right now, I am protected because of the fog of this sea. Even if I left with you, it would just be a matter of time before my body disappeared. I have to get my shadow back. I have to wait for that miracle day! Yohohohoho!"

Markus stopped focusing on Brook as he seemed to be looking through the walls of the ship at something in the distance. The only person to notice him was Robin. She gave him a complicated look and wondered what was going on. She didn't need to wait long before everyone was screaming as a ghost came through the wall and appeared in front of everyone. The ship shook for a moment as everyone heard a loud crashing sound.

Brook, followed by everyone else, ran out of the dining room to check the situation outside. The first thing everyone noticed was a humungous gate that looked like a mouth with teeth. They'd been 'swallowed'. In the opposite direction was a floating island with a creepy mansion sticking up from the center of it. Brook explained that the barrel they found that fired a flare had marked them as prey. He looked at the mansion, "This is the 'Ghost Island' that wanders through the sea, THRILLER BARK!"

Nami looked at her log pose, it wasn't pointing to Thriller Bark and maintained the heading for Fishman Island. The island of Thriller Bark would have no effect on a log pose since it was an island from the West Blue. Brook seemed happy as he said, "Today really is a lucky day! Not only did I get to meet people and eat a wonderful meal but my heart's desire is also fulfilled!"

Brook leaped from the upper deck to land on the figurehead of the Sunny, "Please try to break through the back of the gate and escape! Do not even think about lowering your anchor at this island! I'm so glad that I met you today and could eat delicious food. I'll never forget you! If it is fated we'll meet again on some other sea!"

As Luffy tried to object, Brook leaped off of the figurehead and into the sea. The crew was surprised by his action since he would immediately sink in the sea and drown due to his Devil Fruit. A moment later they were all shocked as they saw Brook running on the sea. Thanks to his excessively light yet still strong body, he could do a lot of inhuman things.

The crew discussed how to escape but the moment they saw the wide smile on Luffy's face, they knew they were doomed to stay on this island for another adventure.

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New Quest!

Ghostbuster!

Welcome to Thriller Bark! A land of ghosts and ghoulies straight from people's nightmares! On this island, a true nightmare hides awaiting its revival. Show the nightmare monsters whose boss.

Objective 1: Defeat the zombies!

Objective 2: Defeat any of the 'Mysterious Four'.

Objective 3: Defeat Gecko Moria.

Objective 4: Prevent the revival of Oars or defeat Oars.

Objective 5: Ensure Brook's shadow is returned to him.

Failure Conditions: Death, Death of a crewmember, Failure to recruit Brooks

Rewards:

Objective 1: Bonus experience based on the number of zombies defeated.

Objective 2: Random Skill Upgrade Token

Objective 3: Reward TBD.

Objective 4: Skill Book: King Punch.

Objective 5: Improved relationship with Brook, Reduced cooldown of Second Life.

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Markus looked over his quest and smiled. There wasn't anything on it that he didn't already plan to do, except maybe defeating some zombies. Almost all of the zombies were nothing more than weak fodder than anyone on the crew could pummel with ease. There were only a couple of strong zombies worth fighting. If he remembered right, one of them should be a samurai, but that one belonged to Zoro, he was the swordsman after all!

The group talked about their situation while Markus considered how to proceed. He wanted to fight Oars so he wasn't going to prevent Luffy's shadow from being stolen. Though he would also need to make sure that his shadow wasn't stolen instead. It wouldn't be a joke if Oars was given his shadow.

While he was thinking the crew grew extremely excited as Franky revealed a surprise from the soldier dock system, a steam paddle ship, the Mini-Merry. Markus smiled at the small boat. As Nami, Usopp, and Chopper excitedly drove the little steamboat around, Markus stopped paying attention to them and paid more attention to their visitor.

Markus left the crew as they praised Franky and moved to the interior of the ship. There was an uninvited guest and knowing that one of his goals for coming to this island was already here just made Markus happy. He moved swiftly towards the controls for the anchor. When he arrived in the control room there wasn't anyone there, at least not that could be seen with the naked eye. Within the room, there were two people. The first was obviously Markus and the second was the invisible Absalom!

Absalom possessed the Suke Suke no Mi, which allowed him to be invisible to sight and to make other objects he was touching invisible. However, the ability had its share of flaws. It couldn't mask scent or sound and with his Observation Haki, it was a piece of cake for Markus to locate the invisible Absalom.

Absalom was surprised that someone had come to the room he was in but didn't think much of it. He figured it was a coincidence and didn't mind it, confident in his stealth... until Markus's arm snapped up and grabbed him by the throat. Absalom was so shocked that his invisibility failed and revealed him to Markus. Absalom wore nice clothing, a long black coat, a white button-up shirt, and nice blue pants. With his long blonde hair and nice clothing, he might have been a good looking man once upon a time. However, his face was marred. His nose and mouth had been replaced with the muzzle of a lion.

Absalom struggled in Markus's grip while growling. Before he could say or do anything annoying, Markus electrocuted him to knock him unconscious. A couple of million volts was enough to paralyze and knock out just about anyone, Absalom was no exception. Markus looked at the limp man in his hand and smiled. The Suke Suke no Mi was going to be his. Maybe he should give it to Sanji?

...

Maybe not.