A few months after the Straw Hats set off from the twin capes, we got word by paper that they'd disappeared.
Gwen: "Crocus..."
Crocus: "Is something wrong, Gwen?"
I showed him the headline and he read it.
Crocus: "Oh no... I'm sorry, kiddo."
He wrapped me in a hug as I bit my trembling lip.
Gwen: "So stupid... I thought they'd be different..."
Crocus: "It hasn't given us many details. Maybe they'll be alright."
Gwen: "I thought the same thing about my crew..."
He stroked my head as he knelt down to my level.
Crocus: "Listen to me, Gwen, this is important. Let's keep this news between us. Don't tell your brother."
I wiped my eyes with a sniffle.
Gwen: "You're right. Laboon can't handle any more heartbreak. We tell him, and he'll just start hitting his head again."
Crocus: "That's right."
Gwen: "Come to think of it... *sob* I don't know if I can handle any more heartbreak!"
Crocus pulled me back into a hug as I cried into his shoulder.
A little over 2 YEARS after meeting Luffy's Crew... Gwen's Age: Biologically 11, Chronologically 68
I was sat outside with my violin and paper, writing sheet music.
Gwen: "~~Bone to be wild, Hmm Hmm Mm-Mm-Mmm~~"
Laboon stared at me curiously.
Gwen: "You like that, buddy?"
I smiled as he nodded.
Gwen: "It's a song I keep hearing over the radio. I've been trying to write violin chords for it so I can learn to play it for you. This guy's been doing a music tour all over."
He tilted his head, intriguingly.
Gwen: "Hey that reminds me! The finale concert of his tour's happening in Sabaodey next week. You wanna listen with me?"
He splashed and chirped enthusiastically.
Gwen: "Hahaha, okay. I'll remember. They call him Soul King. You're gonna love him, he sounds really cool! I wish we could be there to see in person. But at least we can listen over the radio."
Crocus noticed Laboon and I were in a good mood.
Crocus: "What're you up to, Gwen?"
Gwen: "I'm writing violin chords for a song from the radio."
Crocus: "That Soul King guy you've been obsessed for these past few months?"
Gwen: "Uh-huh! He's so cool, and his music is fun and groovy!"
I grinned and stood up, grabbing his hand and jumping up and down excitedly.
Gwen: "Hey, Crocus! Laboon and I are gonna listen to his final concert next week. Will you listen with us?"
Crocus: "I don't know..."
Gwen: "Pleeeeaase~"
Laboon cooed pleadingly at him too, until he laughed and gave in.
Crocus: "Alright, alright, if you insist."
Gwen: "Yes!"
A week went by quickly and the Soul King World Tour finale was broadcasting. I dragged Crocus outside so the three of us could listen together.
Gwen: "Come on, come on, come on! Hurry, Crocus, or you're gonna miss it!!"
Crocus: "Slow down, Gwen, we're not gonna miss it!"
Laboon was waiting for us with clear excitement in his eyes.
Gwen: "You ready, buddy?"
He chirped as I hurried to get the radio ready. After some time of suspenseful waiting...
Crowd: "SOUL KING! SOUL KING! SOUL KING!"
Crocus laughed as I began chanting with them and Laboon was chirping along too.
Gwen & Crowd: "SOUL KING! SOUL KING! SOUL KING! SOUL KING! SOUL KING!"
The tap of drumsticks and a guitar riff started playing, the crowd was going wild.
Gwen: "Ahaha! It's starting!"
Soul King: "COME ON BAAABAYYY~ I love you down to my...!"
Gwen & Crowd: "BONES!"
Our excitement peaked as he began singing.
Soul King: "~~Bone to be wild~~"
Gwen & Crowd: "~~Bone to be wild~~"
Soul King: "~~Bone to be wild~~"
Gwen & Crowd: "~~Bone to be wild~~"
Soul King: "Bone..."
Gwen & Crowd: "Bone!"
Soul King: "Bone...!"
Gwen & Crowd: "Bone!"
Soul King: "Bone!"
Gwen & Crowd: "Bone!"
Soul King: "BONE!"
Gwen & Crowd: "Bone!"
Soul King: "Bone bone BONE~~!!!"
The crowd cheered. Crocus laughed as Laboon and I danced and sang along with him.
Gwen & Soul King: "~~I need a lot of muscle cause the ladies love my hussle, babaayyy! It's no mystery, just rock with me... AND YOU'LL SEE THAT I'M THE KIIIIIINNGG!!~~"
Soul King: "Today is a reunion! An anniversary! And a CELEBRAYTION!!!"
Gwen: "Ooo~ I wonder what that means."
I turned to Crocus, and he was staring at the radio suspiciously.
Gwen: "What's wrong?"
Crocus: "Nothing really... I just think... this Soul King's voice is a little familiar."
Gwen: "Haha, how so?"
Crocus: "Ahh, don't listen to me. You two just have fun."
I laughed and Laboon and I danced and sang to the rest of the song.
Soul King: "THANK YOUUU!! THANK YOU EVERYBODYYY!!"
The crowd went wild! Laboon splashed and I jumped around in excitement. Crocus laughed too, happy to see us having so much fun.
Gwen: "WOOOO!! HAHAHA!"
Soul King: "I'd like to take this opportunity to say that this performance was dedicated... to my best friends... Gwen! Laboon!"
I froze and my eyes widened, thinking I was hearing things. But Crocus and Laboon were reacting the same way.
Brook: "YOHOHOHOHO! I hope you two are listening! Please just wait a little longer, and I'll be home soon!"
Gwen: "... Brook?"
Brook: "THANK YOU FOR COMING OUUTT!!"
Radio Message: "--Soul King Brook will return shortly--"
Gwen: "... Brook?"
The radio went quiet, and I fell to my knees, breaking into a sob.
Crocus: "Gwen!"
He knelt down next to me in concern, his hands on my shoulders.
Gwen: "Brook... Our Brook- he's... he's alive..."
Crocus: "Hey, are you okay?"
I looked up at him with tears streaming from my eyes, but I was smiling.
Gwen: "Heh, I'm... I'm better than okay!"
I wrapped my arms around him, laughing.
Gwen: "Ahahaha! I told you... I told you there was still hope, ehehe! Didn't I tell him, Laboon?!"
Laboon was in shock with tears in his eyes too.
Crocus: "Well I'll be damned... Guess I'll go wash my mouth out."
We laughed and I turned to Laboon who was still just staring and crying.
Gwen: "Brook... Laboon, it's our Brook! Do you know what this means?!"
I ran over and hugged my brother.
Gwen: "It means we were right! And Brook's coming back for us!"
He whimpered.
Gwen: "Captain Yorki and the rest of the crew...? I don't know... But hey! Brook's thinking about us! That means that...whatever happened... they didn't abandon us!"
He cooed, understandable still a little unbelieving.
Gwen: "I know, buddy, I know. All these years of waiting... pain and anger... When all we wanted was our family back. It's been so long, I... I didn't even recognise his voice... but Soul King is Brook! And he said he's coming home! Did you hear him say that?"
I giggled as he nodded against me.
Gwen: "Yeheheah!"
Gwen: "You watch it too, Brook. Then I'll know... we'll all be looking the same way."
Brook: "I promise I will. It'll be our special sunset."
Gwen: "We'll just keep watching the sunset until then... okay?"
I laughed as he lifted me up and down against his nose. Suddenly, the radio came back on and we could hear the crowd.
Crowd: "ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!" "Take it easy, no pushing!" "One more song, Soul King! We're waiting for you!" "ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!"
The chanting turned into cheers and we grinned to hear Brook's voice again.
Brook: "Those cheers could bring a dead man back from his grave, baby!
He played a long note that slowly silenced the crowd.
Brook: "Now listen, friends. I'm afraid I've got something a bit heavy to share with you today."
The crowd murmured.
Brook: "After this show, I-"
Gunfire! And the sound of running footsteps and the crowd panicking.
Marine Captain: "This is the Marines! Nobody move!"
Gwen: "Damn concert crashers!"
Marine Captain: "This is one of the last living members of the Rumbar Pirates! The Humming Swordsman Brook, presumed dead until now with a bounty of 33 million! And this 'Gwen' you speak of is the Eternal Child, am I right? She's the user of the Age Age fruit and has been missing for over 50 years!"
I shuddered at this marine mentioning our past and talking about me too.
Gwen: "Oh shit..."
Marine Captain: "Despite his skeletal state, our reports indicate that Soul King is this pirate! In addition to his previous crimes, we have further information that indicates he's now working for Straw Hat Luffy!"
Gwen: "Luffy...? STRAW HAT FOUND HIM!"
Marine Captain: "Soul King Brook, or rather Humming Swordsman Brook, you're under arrest for piracy!"
I got mad. I wanted to help him!
Crocus: "Gwen, he's on the other side of the world. There's nothing you can do, please settle down."
I took a breath. He was right. Besides, Brook always taught me to never underestimate my family. So I won't. Meanwhile, the crowd was getting upset.
Crowd: "No, it can't be true." "I feel like my whole life is a lie." "He was a pirate all along?" "No wait, Straw Hat Luffy's been missing for years now."
Brook: "It's true... I am a pirate..."
We could just about hear disappointed murmurs from the crowd.
Brook: "Please, friends. Allow me to give you a brief explanation... A little over 50 years ago, I died along with my old crew, the Rumbar Pirates..."
I fell to my knees, staring at the radio.
Gwen: "They've been dead...? All this time...?"
With tears streaming from my eyes, we continued listening.
Brook: "But I'm going to use this second life I've been given to aid my new captain in his dream! And then... I'm going to go home to my children... who we left behind all those years ago. NOTHING and I say NOTHING will stop me from doing so!"
Gwen: "Brook..."
Laboon cooed, teary eyed, missing our best friend. When suddenly, we heard a new voice.
Brook's Manager: "It's been a good run, Brook. But it's over."
Brook: "Your betrayal's not exactly a surprise, Mr Manager"
Manager: "You're the one to blame! Telling me you're gonna retire right after the show... How could you do this to me?! A pity, but it seems like I would have been better keeping you in that cage after all. We we're gonna be rich, but now our company's ruined! You're nothing but a filthy traitor!"
I clenched my fist as I heard the click of a pistol.
Manager: "If my life's going to hell, I'm taking you with me!"
Brook: "Like I said... nothing will stop me now. Not you, not the marines."
Marine Captain: "Put the guitar down NOW! Hands in the air, pirate! There's no escape!"
Brook: "Members of the band... my lovely chorus... this will be my final song. Will you share it with me?"
They stuttered, nervously. I didn't need to be there to know a lot of guns were pointed at them right now.
Brook: "Have no fear. My music has more than soul, it has true power!"
Laboon and I smiled, knowing this was just like him.
Manager: "Are you insane? You think anyone's gonna let you play another song?"
Brook: "You might not see it this way. But I'm grateful for the time we spent together. Thank you for these past two years. And thank you for bringing me here. My crew and I have rather tragic memories of this place. We lost an important battle here last time. But we're ready to start anew."
That's right. If Luffy found him, he must've joined his crew. I didn't mind. I was just happy to know he and the straw hats were still alive.
Brook: "I'm the musician of the crew. I may possess some strengths as a swordsman, but my job is to make our journey more fun. I've heard the stories. They think people are foolish enough to believe that Straw hat is dead! Well, you listen to me, HE'S NOT! Straw Hat Luffy is out there, ALIVE AND KICKING! YOU CAN TELL THE WORLD! And while you're at it... TELL THEM HE'S GOING TO BE THE KING OF THE PIRATES SOMEDAY TOO!!!"
I was grinning ear to ear, I could help but laugh as Laboon chirped happily behind me.
Brook: "Yeah baby, he's coming back soon and when he sets sail, I wanna send him off SOUL KING STYLE!!"
Gwen: "Luffy and his crew are alive. Brook is alive! Haha! This keeps getting better!"
Brook: "DO YOU LOVE ME DOWN TO MY BONES?!!"
Gwen & Crowd: "YEEEEAAAHHHHH!!!"
Brook: "I'll dedicate this one to my crew. My soul will sing to you one last time!! YEEEAAAHHH!!"
Gwen: "Do it Brook."
Marine Captain: "The Show is Over! I said you're under arrest-!"
Crowd: "Would you shut up?!!" "It's his last song, let us hear it! Please! What harm could it do?!" "She's right! You can wait till the show is over, you bastards!"
I laughed as it sounded like the crowd started fighting the marines, giving Brook the uninterrupted opening he needed.
Brook: "Music is power, music is always on your side. 1, 2, 3, 4..."
The crowd went wild again!
Brook: "I call this one 'New World'!"
This was a new song I didn't know, so we just listened, unable to wipe our smiles off our faces.
Brook: "~~Oh Yeah! Take it home now! Some people may call my friend a weirdo. And it may be true that he started from zero. But even though he doesn't walk the straight and narrow, he's got a heart of gold just like a hero. Oh yeah! Come on baby!~~"
What I didn't notice was, while the song was playing, the News Coo arrived and Crocus received the paper.
Brook: "~~Men like him can't help themselves from dreaming. He gazes towards tomorrow, eyes are gleaming. But everyday your dream fights against reality, it seems: A struggle to be free! If I were alone, I might surrender... Weights too heavy for me... But when I hear him say "Yeah!", even I can believe! Today is the day! We'll bury all our sorrow. Time to raise the sails, they'll tell our tales through every tomorrow. Today is the day! We're aiming towards a new dawn. All our doubts are gone, let's move along. Cuz it's time to sail away!!~~"
Gwen & Brook: "~~For the New world!! For the New world!! For the New world, where our dreams will all come true!~~"
Crocus: "How did you...?"
Gwen: "I just... followed his lead!"
Brook: "~~Oh! So long!~~"
The song ended with the combined sound of explosions and gunshots, ending in fireworks that wowed the crowd.
Marine Captain: "What the?!!"
Again, I didn't need to be there to know what was going on. The smoke cleared, and Brook was gone.
Brook: "YOHOHOHOHOHO!!"
The radio went silent, and by the sound of his distant laugh, I knew he escaped.
Gwen: "Straw hat is alive, and Brook is part of his crew... Haha! I guess promises can be fulfilled!"
I turned to Laboon who was smiling with tears slipping into the sea. I stood up and ran to hug him. We were beyond happy to know our best friend was on his way back. I laughed as he cooed happily, nuzzling my tiny body.
Gwen: "I know, brother... Hahaha, I know!"
Crocus: "Gwen."
Gwen: "Hm?"
I turned to see him smiling, holding the newspaper out to me.
Crocus: "Look in here and share with your brother."
I took it and flipped through the pages until I saw it.
Gwen: "The poster for Soul King Brook's World Tour!"
The background was of a Skeleton with a very familiar large, puffball afro. Looking back at me from the page was Brook, our best friend on his second life.
Gwen: "Woah... Look, Laboon! He's a skeleton!"
Laboon smiled, happy to see him, but moaned a little, concerned about his condition.
Gwen: "It's alright, buddy. You don't have to be afraid...He's still Brook... And he's coming home!"
I giggled as Laboon nodded, understanding that he may look different, but he's still our best friend. I wiped my tears and hugged the poster close to my heart.
Gwen: "~~As the souls of the dead live for'er in my mind. As I live all the years that they left me behind. I'll stay on the shore but still gaze at the sea. I remember the fallen and they think of me. For our souls in the ocean together will be~~"
We can wait for you, Brook. Just a little longer, and we WILL sing together again.
Gwen: "~~I remember the fallen and they think of me... For our souls in the ocean together will be...~~"
Brook: "I promise we'll see each other again. I swear it on my life and the next, Yohohoho!"
JesseWaldock:"At the time of finishing this, the Egghead Arc has started, but I'm still atOnigashima. Point is, I just wanted you to know that I will be writing anotherchapter once I get to Brook and Laboon reuniting! However... IF something shouldhappen to Laboon or Brook, then I will make it better as soon as possible.Because I'm your fanfic mama, and my job is to give you the happy endings youdeserve. We'll all just have to wait and see. IN THE MEANTIME, please enjoyGwen's alternate ending/storyline!"