Chapter Text
"My grandmother told me that music is the voice of the soul. It brings everyone together, bringing harmony and mirth to the world.
A long time ago, my grandmother knew a man who lived and breathed music.
He hummed as he walked, tapping his cane along the street. This man couldn't see but my grandmother told me that the man didn't need his eyes because he listened. Every sound around him painted a picture in rich detail. His songs spoke to a person’s heart, resonating with everyone who listened.
One day, the man vanished and the music followed after him.
That's why the island doesn't sing anymore. It's because the blind man, with his cane and violin, carried the music along and gave it life.
But the man left and the music died.
My grandmother told me that this island was once the center of music. Melodies rolled off the crescent hills, drums reverberated through the air and the ocean quivered with joy.
But the music doesn't play like it used to.
My grandmother still thinks the music will be return. One day, when the moon is high, the island's song would come from the waves of the ocean and be sung."
~~~*~~~
Brook stood with his violin in hand but he could not play a single note. Not a single word left his throat. What was there to sing about? The sea created her own song with the waves lapping against the side of the ship as it drifted aimlessly through the ocean. The lack of noise made Brook restless but he couldn’t create anything to fill the void.
He could not stay here. He’s wasted too much time already. Laboon was waiting for him. He had to leave the mist. No. He couldn’t without his shadow. How could he forget? His shadow held captive in a corpse of a strong Wano swordsman and keeping Brook trapped in the shadows of the fog. A swordsman Brook couldn’t overcome but he couldn’t give up. He couldn't let this stop him from carrying the will of his crew.
Not like he had a choice. Brook was at the mercy of the currents, helplessly hoping for signs of the floating island ship to appear. How he wished there was something he could do to change his course. His devil fruit could revive a man despite him lacking the vital organs needed to survive but could not give him the ability to be free.
The oppressive mist thickened, leaving him in a state of complete isolation. He could barely see the figurehead which looked distorted into a horned devil. Like a mockery of their first ship and her doomed voyage to the West Blue. Every breath felt taxing with the mist sitting heavy in his ribcage. Brook needed to do something. Anything. His dress shoes clacked against the floorboards as he traveled to one side of the ship. Reaching the end of his domain, Brook spun around on his heel and returned from where he came. Brook twisted his wrist and watched as the fog slipped between his boney fingers, catching glimpses of colors in the mist. Only the sea knew when he would be able to retrieve his shadow. Until then, he had to keep himself busy. He couldn’t sing, (which he could do despite lacking vocal cords, who would have guessed) but there was plenty to do. Wander the galley, lounge on the stern, avoid mirrors…
Search for his crew.
Was there anyone left to find? The coffins were practically full. Brook searched the ship but what if a crewmate had drawn his final breaths alone in quiet corner of the hull?
Once thought Brook knew the ship like the back of his hand but, after death, he could only see it as an endless maze. It would be simpler if he could close his eyes and rely on his other senses. He could sing without vocal cords but one needed eyelids to blink. It was disorientating at times. Regardless, he had to stay occupied. He’s been staring for so long he was seeing colors glimmer in the fog.
The fog was so thick than he couldn’t see his shoes, but he knew how many steps it would take to the stairs. Putting a little urgency in his step, Brook made his way to the lower deck. He must have missed counted because he reached the stairs sooner than he expect, sending him tumbling down with a yelp. His face smacked right into grass.
Laughter filled his ears, “Sleep when you’re dead, Brook!”
Brook breath hitched when he recognized the voice. That was Mawaritosuki. Brook dragged his face out of the grass. Gone was the broken and dreary ghost ship adrift in dark and endless fog, replaced by a field of grass that led down to the open ocean. The sky was clear and bright blue, not a single cloud blocked the sun shining down on the Rumbar Pirates as they partied loudly and proudly under the shade of a single tree.
Mawaritosuki was sitting on a swing hung from the branches, playing a few cords of Black Napkin with a grin. He held up his drink. “Are you going to sleep through the entire party?”
Brook let out a shaky breath and blinked away the tears from his eyes as he watched Laboon breach the surface of the ocean with a happy trill. The ship, the attack, his death, the fog, it was all a dream. Pressing his hands into the ground, Brook pushed himself up. He tilted his head back to savor the warmth of the sun before addressing Mawaritosuki, “You’ll wake the dead with that tune.”
Mawaritosuki gasped in offense as his brother slapped him in the shoulder. A loud and boisterous laugh overtook the melody at that remark. Brook knew it was Yorki immediately. His captain sat with the crew, leaning against the ship’s doctor. Brook saw his confident smile and black cowboy hat, covering his blonde hair. Brook frowned. That wasn’t quite right. Yorki’s hat was a lighter color, certainly and his hair was a brown? Maybe it should be longer.
Like melting wax, Yorki’s features changed to fit Brook’s thoughts until they blended together as a muddy swirl. A pit formed deep in Brook’s stomach as his crewmates’ features blurry into darkness. Dread built up as the world around him greyed and darkened. Laboon was nothing more than a droplet of water in the ocean until Brook could not distinguish him from the waves. Brook took a shaky breath. He had to acknowledge it.
The melted face of Yorki spoke, “Why the long face, Brook?”
“I…” Brook gulped and forced him to admit, “I don’t know what you look like.”
With his revelation Brook watched as his crew faded into black silhouettes has the colors washed out from his surroundings. His vision faded into darkness as the echoes of his crew singing drifted from him. He was left alone, fingers tangled in the grass, as the fog crept back in.
He wasn’t alone for long. There was a presence beside him, breathing softly. Brook inhaled a familiar dusty fragrance of wood and lacquer. Brook took a moment to compose himself, sitting up a little straighter. “Little Moon.”
She spoke in a warbled voice, stuck between a young girl’s and a woman’s. “I can’t hear it.”
Brook grinded his teeth together out of nervousness. “What can’t you hear?”
“The island.” She replied in mourning. “It’s silent.”
Brook’s bones rattled as she let out a scream that haunted him since his youth. Brook screamed in return, leaping into the air. He fell right into two burly arms. His vision returned, allowing him to stare at Zoro’s equally startled face.
“Brook? What the hell?”
Brook took in all of Zoro’s features the short green hair which likened to moss growing on a rock or the slight fatigue under his eyes from restless nights training while still recovering from their ordeal on Thriller Bark. From his jawline to the scars slashed into his shins, the details Brook could see were a stark contrast to the muddle imagery of his crew. Brook focused on everything in his presence, pushing out the echoes of his past. He wasn’t trapped in the Florian Triangle any longer. He had his shadow and he had a new crew. He was going to travel the world, help Luffy become king of the pirates and return to Laboon.
Zoro’s confused expression twisted into mild annoyance signal to Brook that he had probably stared too long without speaking up. “Pardon me. I would apologize for the extra weight but I’m nothing but bones, Yoho!”
Zoro grimaced when Brook’s boney elbow into his injuries. “Knock it off.” Brook yelped when he was dumped on the grass. “Who were you talking to?”
“Oh, that’s embarrassing to say, but no one. Just passing the time and old habits are hard to break.”
The swordsman gabe a huff, “i don’t really care if you’re talking to yourself.”
“Oh, yes, umm," Humming nervously, Brook spoke again, "What are you doing? It must be Chopper’s shift by now.”
“I decided to take over. The little man needs his sleep," said Zoro. Brook couldn’t fault his logic even if Zoro was the cause. Chopper had several sleepless nights watching over him since their encounter with the tyrant warlord. He monitored Zoro’s condition intently, mindful of any complications. Zoro hasn’t made it easy, having a single-minded determinedness to train. Brook admired both his crewmates’ tenacity from afar.
They stood at the railing in silence. Zoro squinted into the fog and frowned. “You can’t see anything through this crap.”
“I was uncertain if we had even left the Florian Triangle.” Brook remarked.
Zoro glanced at Brook. “It’s been over a week.”
“Has it already been that long?” Brook mused. He honestly thought it had just been a day or two. His sense of time was seriously skewed, it could certain become a detriment if he was unable to remain present. “How unfortunate we ran into such terrible weather after leaving.”
Zoro watched hues of color flicker in the distance. “Looks familiar. I wonder if we’ve sailed through this fog before.”
“… That isn’t how fog works, Mr. Zoro. But do you think the lights mean something? Fog normally doesn’t do that, right?” It’s been a long time since Brook’s been a part of the world and the Grandline has unique weather but he was pretty sure that the fog wasn’t typical.
“Your guess is as good as mine.” Zoro grunted and sighed, scratching his head. “We should probably just get Nami… on second thought, she’ll probably charge us beris for waking her up early for something stupid like colored fog. We’ll wake them up if there’s trouble.”
Silence fell between the two of them as they watched the colors flickered. Eventually Zoro moved to the grass with the training weights to start his strengthening exercises. For some reason, he remained on the deck instead of going back to the nest. Brook appreciated Zoro staying on the deck, the movement anchored him to this moment, keeping him from drifting back to the past. He pulled out the thermos Sanji gave him to carry tea. He poured out a cup while reflecting on his life of isolation in the fog. When time blurred together for him, it was hard to pick apart. He thought of his crew, his comrades, his family, his teacher.
Brook felt immense relief when the ship exited the fog, the sun just peeking out from the horizon. The door opened and Brook thought it was Sanji, on his way to make breakfast. Instead it was Nami, drowsy and bundled up in a thick comforter. She stood on the upper deck, eyes barely open as she felt the wind on her face. She frowned, brow scrunching up in confusion as her eyes slowly widened to alertness. “The air feels different. Where are we?”
“You’re the navigator.” Zoro grunted between swings. “You tell me.”
Nami scanned the horizon and frowned when she saw an island ahead of them but there was no sign of the Redline. She took a look at the log pose and immediately knew something was wrong. Despite the needle holding steady, the needle was not pointing towards the island. Panic settled in her stomach when she saw the colored fog. “Oh crap! Everyone wake up! NOW!”
The crew emerged from the dorms in various states of wakefulness as Nami rushed around, trying to get her bearings.
“What’s going on, Nami?” Usopp asked with a yawn causing his passenger, Chopper, to mimic him before smushing his face back into Usopp’s shoulder.
“Zoro got us lost!” Nami said, rushing inside to grab her charts. She rolled them out on the railing.
“How is this my fault?” Zoro grumbled.
Luffy rushed to Nami's side, nearly tipping over the railing as he exclaimed. “An island! Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!”
“No! What if we go and the log pose resets!?” Nami exclaimed.
“Adventure!” he cheered.
“Danger!” she countered.
While Nami and Luffy argued about the island, Brook stared at the island with his hollow eyes. He traced his finger through the air, matching with the outline of the mountains. “I know that island.”
Nami glanced up at him, surprised. “You do?”
How could Brook forget? “That’s Crescent Luna. It’s the island where I grew up.”
“Didn’t you say you’re from the West Blue?” Franky asked.
“You’re correct.”
The cyborg frowned. “I’m no navigator but wouldn’t that mean…”
“Shut up! I’m working.” Nami said, not bothering to look up from where she was bent over the maps, studying them carefully. She looked at her log pose again. When she went to bed, they were set on a southeast heading, going straight to Sabaody. Judging by the rising sun, they were heading north. Nami rummaged through her bag and pulled out a standard compass, she hadn’t needed it since entering the Grandline. Now it confirmed her suspicion. Nami looked to the island before them, knowing the log pose should be pointing to it but it stayed faithfully facing the north, like there was a greater magnetic pull to the north that trumped the nearest magnetic field.
Nami didn’t like how normalcy left her worried. “We’re not on the Grandline anymore.”
“You can’t just leave the Grandline, unless you go through the Calm Belt.” Franky reasoned.
“A sea king could have swallowed us while we were asleep.” Robin remarked casually.
Usopp grimaced. “Don’t want to think about it.”
“How could this have happen?” Nami asked, utterly confused. “You don’t just sail out of the Grandline unknowingly.”
“Maybe it has to do with the Rainbow Mist behind us.” Sanji said, pointing over his shoulder. The perplexed expression remained until Nami’s eyes landed on the fog behind them. Everyone stared at the rainbow dripping mist as realization and panic set in.
“Please tell me we didn’t sail through that!” Nami exclaimed.
“Um… we did.” Brook admitted. “Forgive me, I’m unfamiliar with a rainbow mist.” Brook said.
“The Rainbow Mist is one of the mysteries of the Grandline. We’ve encountered it once before, there was a ship graveyard in this weird pocket dimension. Time and space were really weird. We met a bunch of kids who got trapped there for over fifty years but to them it only felt like a few hours.” Usopp explained.
Chopper side-eyed Usopp with suspicion. “That has to be a lie.”
“But it’s true!” Usopp exclaimed, jostling Chopper slightly with his wild gestures.
“We’re lucky we didn’t die.” Robin remarked.
Nami turned to the crew. “We have to go back.”
“Booo!” was Luffy immediate reply. “There’s an island right there and we’re not even going to explore it?!”
“Who knows when the Rainbow Mist will disappear?” Nami said furiously before taking a deep breath, “Think about it, Luffy. If the mist disappears, we’ll be stranded in the West Blue and we will have lost all the progress we made in the Grandline. We were about to reach the Redline. Other rival crews will get further ahead than us. Would you be alright if that happened?”
Luffy humming was the only indication he was giving it any kind of thought.
“Wait.” All eyes turned to Brook expectantly but the next words felt caught in his throat. He took a breath, if he had skin, he was sure his palms would be sweating. Robin was correct. Who knows when the Rainbow Mist would evaporate and if they didn’t go back before that happened, they would be stuck in the West Blue. All the progress the crew had made up until meeting Brook would be lost. Yet when the crew spoke of leaving, a sensation of his intestines twisting coiled in his gut. This idea was so nauseating but he could not let a single word slip pass his teeth. These young pirates risked their own freedom to aid him, they gave him back his shadow, and they gave him hope and a future. How could he explain his selfish desire?
“Is everything alright, Brook?” Robin asked with a patient smile, like she already knew what he wanted to say. How vexing.
Brook swallowed the stone in his throat and spoke up, “I have only recently joined the crew and it would be improper to ask for personal requests, but I would very much like to visit my island before we return to the Grandline.”
“Okay,” said Luffy.
His eagerness made Brook’s unsteady conviction falter. “Are you sure? What if the Rainbow Mist disappears while we’re on the island?”
“So what if it does?”
“You were half way through the Grandline!” Brook said, frantically.
“We’ll have more time to adventure together.” Luffy leaned back with a smile.
“Sailing back in the Blues would give us a break from all that Grandline nonsense.” Usopp reasoned, taking a seat on the swing where Brook’s figment of Mawaritosuki sat the night before.
Robin chuckled under her breath. “You forget that the West Blue is infamous for mafia. One of the leading causes of death is that people go ‘swimming with the fishes.’”
“Eeep!”
Chopper brightened as he joined the conversation. “If we get stuck and have to travel through the Grandline again, we could visit Drum Island and Dr. Kurenha!”
Nami smiled. “Maybe we could see Vivi.”
“Oh, sweet Vivi-chan!” Sanji exclaimed.
“That’s if we end up on the same path.” Zoro pointed out to which both Sanji and Nami glared at him to shut up and stop spoiling their dreams.
Luffy’s eyes shinned with excitement. “Sounds like fun to me.”
“I appreciate everyone is trying to look on the bright side but there are equally as many dangers to encounter.” Brook reasoned.
“It’s like you’re trying to convince us not to go after asking to go.” Sanji observed, lighting a cigarette.
Brook considered this for a moment, walking over to the railing to stare at Crescent Luna. “Perhaps, a part of me hesitates. It’s been over fifty years. Most of my associates will be either dead or believe me to be dead. I wonder… if there’s anyone left for me to return.”
“Would you regret it?” Brook turned back to see Luffy staring at him. The sharp and focus glint in his eyes froze Brook in place.
He thought over it carefully. Would he regret it? The manner he left his island had left him with a few regrets but, back then, he planned to go back one day to resolve them. Then the fateful encounter with enemy pirates occurred and fifty years past. Would there be anyone left to apologize to? Likely there was no one. Brook would have to live with his choices but perhaps there was a chance for a little closure.
“There is a place I would like to visit, to pay my respects.” Brook gripped his bony fists tightly, straightening his posture like the gentlemen he was raised to be, “Captain, permission to go ashore.”
Luffy’s face stretched wide to accommodate his smile. “Duh, let’s go! NAMI!!!”
Nami huffed, waving her hand. “I get it, I’ll adjust our course. But! If we get stuck in the West Blue, I’m adding it to your debt.”
Brook cocked his head in confusion, contemplative over his unreliable memory. “Debt? I don’t recall a…”
“Don’t say anything, she’ll just add more.” Zoro warned him.
Luffy turned his grin towards his navigator, “Okay! But if that happens, we can just sail through the Calm Ocean.”
Reaching out, Nami grabbed him by his cheeks and pinched. “Not for all the beris in the world!”
The conversation ended as the Strawhat Pirates split up for their morning tasks, preparing for their eventual land fall. Brook remained at the railing to watch the island slowly approach. In hindsight, it was like watching water boil but Crescent Luna kept a tight hold on his heart. He listened for the sounds of music to reach his non-existent ears but only heard the winds. Brook covered his eyes to block his sight and focus on listening but all he could hear was his new boisterous crew.
The laughter of Chopper and Luffy as they speculated what they would discover on Crescent Luna.
The sizzling of the fry pan as Sanji cooked their breakfast and verbally sparred with Zoro.
The rustle of paper as Nami sorted her maps and Robin leafed through books.
The klink of metal and rustle of leather as Franky and Usopp packed their gear.
Never would Brook believe that he would feel this strange mixture of excitement and foreboding with his home on the horizon. The longer he listened, a feeling of unease slowly settled in.
“What’s it like?”
Brook pulled his hand away and looked at his captain, sitting cross-legged on the railing beside him. “Well…”
“Wait, don’t tell me. I want to see for myself.” Luffy interrupted.
Brook teeth clacked shut and they sat in silence until Brook noticed the drool dripping down his captain’s chin. Luffy spoke up. “Got any good foods?”
Brook chuckled. “Plenty. If Mrs. Mrytle’s old shop is still in business, I’ll treat you to bosnas. Ah! I don’t have any money-”
“Bosnas?”
“Sausage in a bun with toppings. It’s quite delicious.”
Luffy licked his lips. "I can't wait."
Brook hummed in agreement but remained restless with the silence that followed. He spoke up again, “… I miss the music.” Luffy turned to stare at him but when he didn't speak up, Brook let the words flow, "Music holds a special place on Crescent Luna. How could it not? It was home to many musicians and instrument craftsmen. Oh, how the island sang with songs day and night. Some of my fondest memories was playing on the streets, others would join or start to dance. It felt like the island was alive whenever the music played. It was truly magical."
Brook glanced over at his captain whose eyes never drifted from him. Luffy, with a revertant tone, said, “I can’t wait.”
A while later, Nami joined Brook with charts of the West Blue, spreading them out before him. “I need your help. The only map I have with Crescent Luna doesn’t show much detail. Where should we make port?”
“There’s only one city on Crescent Luna, located here.” Brook pointed to the outer and larger crescent shaped land mass that cradled the smaller one. “The city, Kisum, rests at the foot of the mountains, at the shores of Sonia Lake. It’s a fresh and salt water lake which is connected to the ocean here.”
Nami nodded. “I see, makes sense to nestle the city between the landmass for the best defensive choice.”
“Yoho, you are correct. While we are not in the Grandline, there are plenty of dangers one can encounter. My island experienced a sixty year long war when I lived there.”
“That’s awful.”
“I’d feel better if I got a peek at you panties?” Brook asked politely. In return, he got a punch to the face which laid him out flat. “Yohoho,” he laughed weekly as Nami stormed off.
The morning mist hadn’t dissipated by the time they reached the island. With Nami intuition and Brook’s memory, they guided the Thousand Sunny to a cliff side. Franky carefully steered the ship closer while Usopp kept an eye out for rocks protruding from the water.
“Do we have to say open sesame or something?” Zoro asked.
“I thought we would have come across the gulch by now.” Brook admitted, carefully watching the cliff side for an indent. A sudden chill swept through the crew. Through the mist, the ravine appeared before their eyes like it just materialized.
“There!” Usopp called.
“Hang on,” Franky steered the ship and the Thousand Sunny was surround by rock as they navigated through. The passage was short and the crew soon found themselves exiting into an long lake, leaving the mist behind. To their right the land rose into rocky hills, covered in lush green trees. The other side boxed them in with tall menacing mountains.
“Beautiful just like Nami-swan and Robin-chawn.” Sanji awed in wonder.
“I never would have thought that you lived in such a geological beauty.” Robin mused. “Those mountains are quite large. Imagine the destructive force that must have created them. There even may have been a civilization before you that was completely wiped out. I wonder…”
“A little bit depressing, Robin.” Usopp said which caused Robin to giggle.
Brook wished that he could have skin to stretch into a smile to show his crew how happy he felt. He turned towards the tall mountains. As the morning mist cleared, it would become a wonderful time watching sunlight spread over the city at the base of the mountain. A feeling of unease came back with a vengeance when he realized that everything was quiet. As the sunlight peaked over Crescent Minor, illuminating countless white buildings at the shores of the lake, Brook’s mouth dropped open in shock. His cane sword clattered to the lawn as he stepped back.
The city was in ruin.