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Brook’s always had the same dream. He’d wake up on a ship that sails on an endless blue sea. The weather was always the same on the boat: Cloudless. While the sun did move in the dream, and there were sunrises and sunsets, there was never a cloud in the sky. It was a little harder to tell when it was night time though, with only a moon and no stars in the sky, but he concluded that there were never any clouds in the sky.

While growing up, Brook’s always heard about what other people’s dreams were like. About how they’re always different and how they could never seem to remember it clearly when they woke up. He could always remember everything that happens in his dreams. Sometimes he even wondered if he was actually asleep and dreaming about all of this. That the people and the stars and the lands he visited were fabrications of a bared and lonely mind. He never dwelled on this possibility for long.

Sometimes he wondered if it was actually a nightmare. Sure, he never woke up in a cold sweat but it left an impact. It made him hate being alone. The large ship, a strangely decorated Carrack, was his alone to make noise in, to make it feel lived in. Such a cheerful-looking ship, and yet it felt so devoid of life. Sometimes after a hard day, the silence was nice but most of the time… well.

He eventually came to a breaking point. There had to be something that could make it feel less lonely on the Ship. That is how he found his passion for music. One time when he was working into the night learning the violin, he found out that anything he fell asleep holding was brought onto the Ship with him. He just needed to be holding it again before he fell asleep on the boat to bring it back.

This never did work with anything that was on the ship originally. The eternally stocked freezer and pantry could never be used to feed others outside this dream of his. The weapons and maps were unable to be seen by those that could check them. Even the medicine and first aid supplies were trapped on board, unable to aid anyone but him.

The only thing that he found that could explain why was that some of the books in the library were meant to be published in the future. Yet even then that was wrong. He had found matching books for ones in the ship and the world full of people.

Brook’s days on the Ship were often spent wandering around; maybe he would read something in the large library or swim in the pool he found under the deck. After he learned of music, he started to practice his music on the Ship; he filled the atmosphere with his music and made it feel less lonely. Somehow, the Ship became a little more colourful too, as if it enjoyed the presence of music on its decks.

With not much else to do, he ended up practising it a lot on the Ship. Most had thought his natural talent was the larger cause of his skill but they didn’t know it was actually mostly his hard work on the Ship. Other people spend a third of their life asleep, he spent that unused third creating music.

Although when he learned how to fence he made sure to practice that on the Ship too. He grew to be quick with his blade. The seas were a dangerous beauty to travel, and he knew that his life could hinge on this skill.

When he left his task force for the life of a pirate he still dreamt of the Ship. It became his constant in life. Almost unchanging except for when the faceless child that once cared for him as a child on the ship disappeared as he learned to take care of himself. He wished he could remember their face.

With all the change that came in his life, he could always expect to fall asleep and wake up on the Ship. When they had to leave Laboon behind, he still had the crew and the Ship was still there. When Captain Yorki had to leave with some of the crew, the rest of the crew and the Ship were still there. When the rest of the crew died leaving him alone to finish the song, he still fell asleep and awoke on the Ship. When his soul returned and re-entered what was left of his body, he could still fall asleep and wake up on the Ship.

Brook grew to love it when he could fall asleep. The cloudless sky was a welcome reprieve from the constant, pressing fog. The fact that there was an empty book he could write in to record his time with the Rumbar Pirates. The fact that he had stored most of his precious items in there such as pictures, logbooks, musical instruments, but not the tone dial that held his crew’s last song, however. He kept that safe in his skull, with him at all times.

Brook was always alone on the Ship. And he had honestly believed that he would be the only person to be on there. He was proven wrong two years in his isolation in the Florian Triangle. He had recently eaten one of the tangerines growing on the unaging tangerine trees on the Ship when he heard something he never thought he would hear on the Ship.

A newborn baby crying. Another living person.

He rushed as fast as he could to the grassy deck, wondering what was going on, and saw him; a male Fishman baby, crying out and wrapped tightly in a blue blanket.

To say the least, Brook was shocked, not only because of his race but the fact that he was here. Another loud cry from the nameless baby shook him from his paralysis and he carefully picked up the baby. The baby stopped crying and stared up at Brook. Happy gurgles came from the baby as he smiled up at Brook, unafraid of his skeletal appearance. And Brook, even without lips to smile, smiled back.

He wasn’t alone anymore.

He now had another reason to want to sleep more. The baby he found was named Jimbei helped to give him the one thing he craved for the last two years, company and change.

He was probably the best birthday present Brook could have asked for at that point, even though Jimbei arrived a day early.

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So far the only good human Jimbei had met was Brook. Although he's not sure that he qualifies as human anymore since he is now just a skeleton. He also didn't like pirates. But Brook was once one so he knew they're not all bad, just like he knew that it's the same with humans in general.

Jimbei's not sure what this dream world was nor was he sure that it was real, but he chose to believe that it was. It's nice to see what was like above the ocean though he was sure it's not actually so empty and endless. He knows there'll be islands peeking out of the ocean, stars bright in a dark sky, creatures different from those underwater, and many different people up there. Though he was certain that nothing up there would be as weird as Brook.

He disagreed with him. Saying that there were some weirder things out there, but he wasn't the one having a conversation with a living skeleton with an afro who is a talented musician and swordsman that wanted to look at women's underwear. What could be weirder than that?

That's not to say that Jimbei thought Brook was wrong or an abomination. The skeleton had raised him in the dream world since the day he was born. He was pretty much a father to him. They only lacked any sort of blood – he could hear “skull joke” at the thought – relation. He was a part of his family, and even though he was only nine years old, he would do his best to make things easier for Brook.

It seemed so wrong for such a cheerful old man to be condemned to such a fate. Alone except in his dreams. Alone except for Jimbei.

He had taken on the burden of keeping Brook's loneliness away as much as he could. Even at the expense of being called lazy. He worked on learning Fishman Karate from where ever he could so he could one day protect his outcast ‘family’. Because he knew from the other kids in the Fishman District that a human wouldn’t be welcomed but he wanted Brook to be here too. He’d show them how wrong they were.

So he’d exhaust himself by training on the Ship with the Endless Sea as a perfect training ground. All when he could be making friends and enjoying his childhood like Brook wanted him to.

Others have tried to take advantage of Jimbei in his drive to improve life for his family. So far, none have managed to do so. The greedy bastards wanted things he would either never or couldn’t give. They were nice enough to let him practice his Karate on them, though. He didn't hurt them too badly, he didn't want Brook to worry by garnering too much unwanted attention.

He knew he was the only living contact Brook had. His pirate crew was dead and he was stuck in the Florian Triangle unable to escape for the last twelve years. He knew that Brook made himself stay awake too much in the dream world just to be reassured that he wasn't alone. Brook greatly feared being alone, and the fact was that in his reality, he was completely alone with no hope of rescue.

Except for him. But he was stuck on Fishman Island, a child with no hope of getting out and up to save his father from his own living hell. It’ll be years before he can achieve this.

Jimbei didn't want to leave Brook alone, but he couldn’t stay as long as Brook did. He didn't know what could happen during the time he was away. Brook may seem very happy but he knew that loneliness was still there, he had only healed it a bit.

If only there were more people here, several people who wouldn't mind staying with Brook. It's not that he didn't want to spend time with Brook, he just wished there were others for Brook to spend time with too. Even a baby would help.

A baby's cries demanded attention.

After seriously questioning the world and coincidences, he finally went to find the source of the cries that stopped soon after they started. Brook had most likely already found the baby.

On his way to meet the new addition, Jimbei couldn't help but feel a little curious and a bit excited. What would the baby be? Gender, species, whereabouts, what they'll be like. Who wouldn't? And by age, he'd probably be seen as a big brother. Jimbei can only hope he'll be as good a big brother to his new sibling as Brother Ti is to him.

He's a bit nervous too. He doesn't know if they're going to be born in an environment that looks down on Fishman, he doesn't want to be looked at like that by his family. And it’s not like he’d just stop being able to dream.

He was met with the sight of Brook playing with a blue-haired, human, baby boy that was lying on his lap. They both looked at him when the sound of a door closing announced his presence.

After being beckoned over and getting introduced to Franky, Jimbei's nerves calmed down. It helped that Franky was doing some ridiculous pose. The sight was both too adorable and too hilarious to not be calmed down.

Maybe he should stop worrying so much, the unnecessary stress would stop him from enjoying things like this.

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Franky’s never known which world was a dream and which world was real. And to be honest he doesn’t want to find out. He loves the life he lives with Brook and Jimbei, the fun-loving skeleton who raised him in the Endless Sea and the serious Fishman who was a cool older brother, and he doesn’t particularly like the life he’s living on that boat with his parents. He doesn’t want to listen to all the facts that suggest that his life on the Endless Sea is a dream.

He loves the old skeleton he occasionally calls Grampa, though he was more like a dad, the one that gave him his preferred name, Franky, and is raising him on the Endless Sea. He loves the stories Brook would tell, the ones based on his old adventures with his pirate crew that died nineteen years ago. He loves the songs Brook sang him and enjoyed learning the ukulele and making up songs with him. He enjoys making things in the workshop on the Ship.

He loves the worry-wort Fishman that lets him call big brother, the one who taught him so much and made his life easier in any way he can. He loves to watch him move and shoot water, he liked that Jimbei took the time with him to teach him some stuff about aiming and accuracy, even though he was always pretty busy for some reason, even on the boat he seemed to be constantly doing something. Most often training. He wants to spend more time with him, he feels as though he doesn’t get to spend enough time with him.

He didn’t want to accept that his life on the Endless Sea was a dream and knew he couldn’t call his life on the boat with his parents false, so he settled for believing they are both real.

When he was sent away by his parents, he fell asleep quickly so he could get Brook and Jimbei to comfort him. And they did, Brook swearing to always be there for him and singing a song for him and Jimbei holding him in his big arms, he got a sudden desire to have big arms himself from that. He woke up on the shore of a junk island with the boat his parents were on sailing away and he built a working cannon out of the scraps and fired at them, only clipping them and resolving to possibly practice his aim on the Endless Sea with Jimbei’s help, there were cannons on that ship, right? He was found by a Fishman called Tom who wanted to take him in as an apprentice.

Franky grew to love his life with Tom as a Ship Builder; he appreciated the fact that they called him Franky at his request, he loved learning his new craft and showing his blueprints to Brook and Tom and getting praise, he loved bickering with Iceberg, he liked being cared for by Kokoro and spending time with Yokozuna. He quickly found his dream: to build and sail on his dream ship, a ship that will sail all around the Grand Line and survive. He hoped that he would also find and have Brook and Jimbei sail with him on the ship.

The Ship that sailed the Endless Sea, the one in which he grew up, was his dream ship. He wanted to bridge the gap between his two lives and prove they are both real by building the Ship in the other world and finding Brook and Jimbei.

He had to wait though, he still knew barely enough to blueprint the Ship, let alone build it. He also wanted to build the ship from that Adam Tree wood that Tom told him about. The toughest wood in the world, the wood he used to build his best ship. He wanted it to live a long time, after all, the Ship was practically a part of the family.

Eventually, Franky asked Brook if the Ship had a name, to which the answer was it had none. Brook decided to let Franky decide on a name for the Ship, but no matter how hard he tried Franky just couldn’t give it a name he honestly thought would be perfect. But he was determined to give it a name and even went to Tom for some help. Kokoro and Yokozuna even tried helping but none of the names was good enough.

Iceberg eventually came up with the perfect name. A name Franky honestly thought was perfect for her, not that he’d ever tell him that: The Thousand Sunny. Brook loved the name, though he had laughed when he was first told the name, simply because of the fact that it was always sunny in the Endless Sea. Franky and Jimbei laughed when they were told that.

Franky loves his family. He loves Brook, his grandfather/father figure that was always there for him, the one he said his real first word too, and took his first steps in front of. He loves Jimbei, his older brother figure that tried for him, the one that even while busy managed to create some time for him and was teaching him how to hit targets better.

He loves Tom, his mentor/father figure that took him in, the one who is teaching him to be a shipwright, and helped introduce him to his dream. He loves Kokoro, the motherly presence in his life that bugs him to wear pants as well instead of just speedos, the one who put food in his stomach and helped him make Father’s Day presents for Brook and Tom. He admittedly loves Iceberg, the other older brother figure that always helped him, the one he showed his first blueprint to for approval and bickered within some sense of sibling rivalry.

Franky didn’t want to lose any of his family. He vowed to protect and love all of them.

So when the newest member arrived on the grassy deck of the Sunny as he had five years, ten months and twenty-eight days ago, Brook was counting, he vowed to find her and sail with her along with Brook and Jimbei on the Thousand Sunny. Wrapped in a purple blanket and embroidered with her name: Nico Robin.

Franky loves Robin, his little sister regardless of blood; the one that wakes him up on the Thousand Sunny at random times, making it look like he’s got narcolepsy, and looks up at him like he’s special.

He’ll do whatever it takes to protect her and keep her happy. Even wear pants if she asks. Girls in the waking world don’t seem to like his lack of pants.

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Robin constantly feared that Paradise will disappear one day. To one day fall asleep on Ohara and wake up back on Ohara without visiting Paradise. She also feared that it wasn’t real. She’d been told repeatedly by the people on Ohara that it was just a strange dream. Even by the professors in the Tree of Knowledge. Franky says it’s real though and he would never lie to her. He hasn’t lied to her yet anyway.

Her family in Paradise means everything to her. They’ve never lied to her, never hated her, and never looked down on her. They always tell her the truth, always love her, and always are there for her. She didn’t want to do anything to change that. She loves her eccentric blue-haired brother, her busy Fishman uncle and she loves her joking skeleton father.

She had originally feared that Brook, Jimbei and Franky would fear her and call her a demon if she showed them her Devil Fruit powers, but then she realised Brook had eaten one himself and is now a skeleton. So she told them, and unlike most of those on Ohara, they actually accepted her straight away. The only negative reaction from them was Franky getting depressed that they were more super than him. Robin was sure he only did that to make her laugh, and she did. It cheered her up a lot but made her fear what if Paradise was false or if it’ll one day disappear more.

Paradise was filled with the people she loved most in the world; Franky, who looked after her like a big brother and made her laugh, Jimbei, another brother but also sometimes a bit of a father and made sure she was happy even though he was busy, and Brook, who helped raise them all and taught her to read. As much as she loved her mother and wanted to see her again, she loved her other family more. The Thousand Sunny, the ship she has grown up on, is her safe haven from the other world and her true home.

No matter the amount of hate and fear she had to endure in the other world she could always go to sleep and talk to Brook about it. He had always liked the fact that she would wake him up on the Sunny, he said he loved being with them. She knew he wasn’t lying, she knew he didn’t like being stuck in the Florian Triangle.

Robin liked that they trusted her. When Franky was twelve, some marines had come to arrest his mentor for building the Pirate King’s ship, the Oro Jackson. Tom has managed to evade being executed for ten years by telling them about his idea of a Floating Sea Train. Franky tells her how they are going; some of the things that happen were quite funny, though she didn’t like seeing him wake on the Sunny covered in bandages. She didn’t like him being hurt.

When she made her first friend, a giant called Saul, she told them all about him and his weird laugh. They were happy for her but Franky did cry and exclaim that his "little sister is growing up". He keeps denying that he was crying though. Franky always makes her laugh.

When her birthday rolled around she spent her usual birthday party with Brook, Jimbei and Franky, getting the next book of Brook’s adventures, a book of Fishman Island’s history and a satchel that Franky made for her as presents. She also got a surprise party from the Professors at the Tree of Knowledge. They made her a fully-fledged Archaeologist and she couldn’t wait till night so she could tell her family all about it.

Unfortunately for her, not a week later her life in the other world had turned for the worse. First, Saul had to leave, and then her mother came back but was followed by marines who used a Buster Call to burn Ohara to the ground. They killed everyone, Saul, her mother, the professors and the innocent people who had tormented her. But one of them left her alive. The man had saved her and sent her away on a little boat guided by a frozen sea. She cried herself to sleep on that boat; Brook, Jimbei and Franky were there for her in Paradise, comfort and reassurance waiting with them.

She grew determined to solve the mystery of the Lost Century, to fulfil the dreams of her mother and the professors. She spent the next year running, her bounty of seventy-nine million Beri made her known across the world. Franky showed her the poster and told her the story the public had been told. It helped reassure her fear of Paradise being false, now she just feared if she could no longer reach it. She lived a hard life in her living hell, but she always had something to look forward to at the end of the day.

Going to sleep.

Franky, Jimbei and Brook are always there for her, comforting her after a particularly hard day, and filling her days on the Sunny with music and laughter. Letting her feel happy and carefree, if only for a while.

Robin wanted nothing more than to lie and cheat her way to Water Seven, or even Fishman Island, but she held herself back. If Franky or Jimbei were to be seen with her they could become wanted themselves. She couldn’t bear to let the few people she had left be put in danger because of her. Besides, she wasn’t strong enough to last in the Grand Line long, especially not alone.

She’s still in the West Blue, all the facts Brook told her about sailing ends up coming in hand more than once. Franky is often at hand to help her work through fixing any damage to whatever ship she's on. Jimbei, although unable to teach her how to swim since she ate her Devil Fruit, insisted on teaching her hand to hand combat. It wasn't Fishman Karate, because as much as he wished to teach them, Brook was a swordsman and she was a wanted scholar from the West Blue. It wouldn't make sense they knew it, and thus they couldn't learn it.

Franky probably could, but he never asked and so Jimbei never pushed. She wondered if Franky even knew he could ask. Since he was actually being raised by a Fishman and a hidden Mermaid in the other world, no one would question it too much. 

She loved her family so much, she love her Paradise so much. She will do anything if it would keep her family safe. Even give her life.

But just after her ninth birthday and seven days before Franky’s, she had more family to give her life for.

Sanji was the third son of the Vinsmoke Family, a family of assassins of the highest calibre that rule the Underworld and once ruled the North Blue. She didn’t want her new baby brother to grow up to be a heartless assassin like she was slowly becoming, but she couldn’t do anything about it.

But that doesn’t stop her from influencing Sanji while they’re in Paradise.

He seems to like the bedtime stories about princes. It’s adorable really, as soon as he could walk, he would always drag the book with him everywhere for her to read to him. It's good that he seemed to pick up that books don't go in the water, since like Franky, Jimbei taught him to swim almost before he could walk. Robin's sure he must have read some stories about babies being drowned. 

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Sanji honestly loves his family on the Sunny more than his other one. Robin teaches him things, Franky showers him with his love, Jimbei makes sure he’s happy, and Brook takes better care of him. He still feels affection for his blood family, but it’s definitely the love he feels for his bond family.

Maybe if he ever met his mother, he could feel different, but he hasn’t met her and the only mother he has is Robin. But he’s not even a year old yet, he doesn’t really know how to dislike or hate people yet.

He loves the time he spends on the Sunny, where he has a family that’s willing to play with him. He loves the stories Robin tells him, especially the ones with princes in them. He loves the toys Franky makes him, whether they are soft and made of cloth or hard and made of wood and metal. He loves watching the interesting things Jimbei can do, even though Jimbei refuses to teach him until he’s bigger. He loves the songs and lullabies Brook sings to him, even though they make him go to sleep and spend time with his blood family until he falls asleep again. They never sing him lullabies or read him stories so it’s harder to fall asleep there.

He decides to repay his bond family by not being a problem child to them. He made sure to only bother them when he was hungry or when his diaper became uncomfortable. When he started crawling he made sure not to worry them too much by staying in sight of at least one of them at all times. Usually, it was Brook even though he had no eyes since he was always there. Unless they were playing hide and seek. He ended up practising a lot when he could and got really good at it but Robin always seems to find him quickly no matter where he tries to hide.

He liked to practice his hiding and sneaking with his blood family. His brothers could now only find him with luck and his sister had to always try hard to find him. The identical-looking servants never succeeded. His father could always find him straight away; it was like he had a homing beacon as Franky had described on him or something. He decided that it may have been parent instinct or something that let him always know where his kids are, so he wasn’t too bothered by it.

One thing Sanji really wanted to learn quickly was how to talk. He really wanted to be able to talk with his bond family without playing charades. He was a smart baby and he knew what the words mean and he could understand them when they talked, but he wanted them to be able to understand him better too.

His efforts led him able to form some gibberish similar to words. ‘Oog’ was food, ‘eep’ was sleep, and ‘Ob’ was up. Vigorous shaking of the head usually occurred when he said ‘eep’ though, so they thought it meant no for the longest time. Truth be told, he didn’t want any of those words to be his real ‘first word’. He wanted to say one of their names as the first, but he didn’t know which one he should say.

It took him an entire month before he decided what to say first: Family. He wasn’t saying a name but he knew that this word would include all of them. His blood family believed his first word was food.

He made sure he was pointing at all of them when he said family to his bond family on the first of November. He didn’t want any of them to feel left out. He remembered Franky throwing a mini party for his learning to speak. Robin’s happy and knowing smile made Sanji wonder if there really wasn’t anything she didn’t know, other than what happened during the Lost Century of course. Maybe she wanted to know what happened then because it’s the only thing she doesn’t know, and then she’ll know everything.

Sanji definitely loved his bond family more than his blood family. Franky is a funnier and more caring brother than both of his big brothers, Robin is a nicer, smarter sister than Reiju, Jimbei is a way more caring and nicer father than his, and Brook is a way better parent overall when compared to his own. Unless it’s being mysterious and serious, his parents are better at that than Brook. His mum’s the biggest mystery. Maybe he should go on an adventure and find out more about her.

He’s never told his blood family about his bond family and he never will, he didn’t know why but he could feel as though it wouldn’t end well. He wants to tell his bond family about his blood family though, but because of his inability to talk he hasn’t yet. He’s sure Robin knows already. He just knows.

Though he is a little worried about how Brook, Jimbei and Franky will take it, he found out that his family is famous in the underworld and that they are assassins. Well, not him and his siblings yet but he’s sure he’ll be taught to be one when he’s old enough.

It scares him. He’s sure that if he could have nightmares he would be having some over his future career. He doesn’t want to be an assassin and kill people, he wants to be a prince who’ll rescue the princess.

While Sanji may only be eight months old, he is perceptive. He isn’t a genius, but he is smart and he can already read people. It makes his blood family believe he’ll be a prodigy, reading people is a must in their line of work.

So when the eleventh of November came, he knew it was a surprise to Brook, Jimbei, Franky and Robin to get another family member so soon after he came. It took Jimbei nearly forty-two years to appear, it took Franky nearly ten years to appear, it took nearly six years for Robin to arrive, and it took over nine years for him to arrive. It hadn’t even been a year yet, only eight months and nine days in fact by Robin’s and Brook’s count.

Roronoa Zoro is apparently an orphan already, Robin recognised the signs that he is currently in an orphanage, but that made Sanji feel both jealous and sorry for him. While Zoro would never have to deal with the family identity problem as he had, he would be all alone in the other world.

Sanji resolved to make him feel like he had everything he needed here, even though the others would fulfil that wish anyway.

Zoro had a funny reaction to being touched. He always scowled and managed to knock his hand away whenever Sanji tried to pat his funny feeling head, though he scowled harder and tried to hit him back whenever Sanji actually managed to successfully pat his head. He still hasn’t hit his head yet.

Sanji gets the feeling Zoro will be a better younger brother than Yonji, even though they both have green hair.

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Zoro already had a family, he didn’t want to have another. He was determined to only have one family. He quickly found out from Robin that happy babies are usually the ones to get picked up first, and so he made sure to always frown when people come looking to adopt. Ignoring the fact that Sanji always says that he looks funny when he frowns. He didn’t look funny damn it!

By the time he was six months old, he still wasn’t adopted and his age meant he would now be one of the best choices to be adopted out since he was already potty trained somehow but still hadn’t taken his first words or taken his first steps. He was going to have to try harder to not be adopted for a while, just until he grows up a bit more, then he’ll be able to relax a bit. Maybe he should try to break his new habit of taking a lot of naps. Nah, he likes annoying Sanji back in the Sunny.

Zoro loves his family. He didn’t like it when Sanji tried to pat his head, Franky’s antics are pretty tiring, there are times when Robin scared the hell out of him, Jimbei doesn’t spend much time with him outside of swimming lessons, and he didn’t enjoy Brook’s skull jokes anymore, but he still loves them.

Just as Sanji still loved his cold family, Robin still loved her mother even after her absence, and Franky still secretly loved Iceberg even though he annoys him. He didn’t have a second family to shove all his annoyance and dislike onto like the others. He only had one. If one could count a living musical skeleton as a grandfather, a very busy Fishman as a father,  an eccentric apprentice shipwright as a dad, a scary criminal archaeologist as a mum, and a curly-browed annoyance as a brother.

So what if Franky and Robin are apparently too young to be his parents, Robin is mature enough for both of them and Jimbei's the right age. He’s pretty sure he’s more mature than his brother too. Sanji may be, admittedly, smarter than him, for now, but he’s more mature. There are only about eight months different in their ages… and nine days. It’s still pretty close!

So far Zoro has been getting through the ‘best time to be adopted’ stage pretty well. It’s been three weeks and he’s just now getting a reputation as a cranky baby that sleeps most of the day and stays awake most of the night. No one has shown any desire to adopt him just yet. He’s quite happy because of it. Not that he shows that.

Something that annoys Zoro a lot is that Sanji is so far ahead of him. He can hide really well, he can talk, he understands things easier, he’s starting to walk already, and he’s always winning in all the games they play. The only game he can somewhat win at is ‘pat the head’, and that’s by stopping Sanji pat his head, he still hasn’t pat Sanji’s head back though. He wants to be equal with Sanji, to be able to stand next to him, possibly in front of him. There’s a reason he’s able to act like a cranky baby, and that’s by thinking how far behind he is compared to his brother.

Sometimes Zoro wonders what life would be like if he couldn’t dream. Cranky for a different reason, that’s for sure. But would he have been adopted? He doesn’t really think so, but he definitely would turn out different. He wouldn’t have Brook to teach him to smile more and to not frown too much, Jimbei to teach him about honour and responsibility, he wouldn’t have Franky to one day meet in Water Seven, which is in the Grand Line, a deadly place he’ll have to grow really strong to enter, he wouldn’t have Robin to one day protect from the Marines and be willing to be a criminal for, and he wouldn’t have Sanji to push him to one day be as strong as him.

Zoro’s a mature baby, he already knows the weight of the situations he plans to put himself in even though everything suggests he shouldn't be able to. He doesn’t know what he’ll use to fight yet though. It’ll be different from what Sanji’s fighting style will be, that’s for sure, and he seems to like martial arts from the way he sees him watching Jimbei practice Fishman Karate. The sword he sees Brook using looks appealing, maybe he’ll be a swordsman. No, he’ll be the World’s Greatest Swordsman, then he’ll be able to protect everyone and he’ll be better than Sanji. Maybe he can ask Brook to teach him some things.

Wait, he can’t talk yet, nor can he walk or wield a sword. Okay, grow up first, then get lessons from Brook. He’ll also need a sword for himself, actually maybe more than one, if he wields more swords then he’ll be more deadly, right? If there's one thing he's learned from Robin and her many limbs is that more is always better.

Crying could be heard to Zoro’s left and the thumping of ten feet of different sizes drew closer. It couldn’t be another person, could it? It’s only been six months and twenty-two days since he appeared. If someone were to have appeared then they’ll be closer in age to him than he is to Sanji! When Zoro looked at the source of the crying, he saw a ginger-haired baby wrapped in pink. A girl?

He quickly found her name, Nami. He also found out she has an already painful punch. How can a newborn baby already have such a strong punch?

Zoro resolved to start training in any way he can already so his sister won’t overtake him. If she was stronger than him, how can he protect her? How could he fulfil his dream of being the World’s Greatest Swordsman and be able to protect everyone if he’s weak?

He looked at the wall and crawled over. He needs to start getting stronger. Using the wall, he pulls himself up so that he’s standing. The door opened and his family came in, he’ll show them he’s strong, he’ll walk before Sanji did.

He fell over many times but he soldiered on, even with bloody knees and a sore bottom. He eventually fell next to Nami.

He’ll protect them all, the ones already here and the ones to come. He’ll protect his whole family.

Zoro only has one family, sure they may annoy the hell out of him at times and they're sure to annoy him in the future, but they are his only family.

He’ll protect them all. He’ll give up everything, his dream, his life, even this dream reality, so he can protect them. They’re all he has.

Chapter Text

Nami didn’t have the best childhood in that nightmare world. She watched all the villagers besides herself and Nojiko get slaughtered, and had to starve there and hide from the pirates that invaded for a while before rescue came. The dream world was different. She watched her family live and take care of her, feeding her more food to help prevent her starvation, not that it really worked. She couldn’t even bring food into the nightmare world, so that was no help.

They flinched whenever they heard her stomach rumble, sadness and worry became apparent in their eyes when it was particularly loud. They all ended up finding different things to deal with their helplessness in her situation, some good things came out of it too, like Sanji finding his love for cooking.

Sanji had taken to cooking her some food and always carried some with him in the dream world, ready for when she needed some food. Zoro had taken to training harder whenever he heard it, cursing his helplessness under his breath where he thought she couldn’t hear him. Robin had taken to carrying her around everywhere, so she didn’t have to spend so much energy and starve slower. Franky had taken to working himself to the bone on the Sea Train so he can have more time to Blueprint the Sunny, he’s started saving up too. Adam’s Tree wood is apparently really expensive. Jimbei was stressed beyond belief, no matter what he tried he couldn’t deal with the fact that she was slowly dying and he couldn’t do anything to help. Brook took the situation the worst though. He already had to live through the deaths of his family before, he didn’t want to watch them die again.

Nami was scared too. She didn’t want to die so soon. How could she go to the dream world if she died here? How would everyone react if she died? She didn’t want to put them through that pain.

So when Bell-mere and the marines finally arrived, just for that moment she didn’t care that they were responsible for causing Robin so much pain. She was saved. Her family didn’t have to watch her die.

Nami didn’t really get what was happening when she realised she, Nojiko and Bell-mere started living together. It took Zoro telling her what had happened when she told everyone about it. She was adopted along with Nojiko by Bell-mere. She realised by herself that Bell-mere had left the marines to raise them though. She may not really like marines, but she supposed that Bell-mere was alright. It probably helped that they were growing tangerines, her favourite food, and they managed to get a lot of them.

Nami wondered if she could somehow bring some of the trees with her when she goes to Water Seven, there were tangerine trees on the Sunny after all. It wouldn’t be the Sunny if it didn’t have the trees.

She was quick to realise they were poor, the quality of the clothes, the amount of food they had, and the number of nice things Bell-mere buys for them. She doesn’t really mind though, Sanji was getting better at cooking and the others all gave her some things. Even Zoro may act tough but he was really just a big softie. To everyone apart of their family at least, she’s sure he’ll never drop his act for anyone outside of the family. Jimbei is also spending more time with everyone, the shock of her nearly dying making him realise how little time he spends with them.

It would be nice to have more money though. When she gets older she’s going to be rich and she’ll share her fortune with her family, if they have money, they’ll be able to get everything they need along with everything she wants.

After Nami became eight months and four weeks old and started talking and walking, she wondered when the next person will arrive. After all, she, Zoro and Sanji all appeared within nine months of each other, the next person could appear at any time. 

She still doesn’t really know why she ignored the sound of a baby crying on the first of April, maybe because it was April Fools’ Day, a holiday in which people lie to each other for whatever reason. She heard of the holiday from Robin.

It took an entire minute of crying until she finally got fed up and went to see what was causing such a racquet. That’s when she stumbled across an already olive-skinned baby boy with black curly hair and a long nose. If he lies a lot she won’t be surprised.

Usopp was an easily frightened baby. His crying grew considerable louder when Brook and Jimbei had entered his sight. She saw Zoro tighten his grip on his sticks, and Franky brings out a soft Armadillo doll with a hardened back. Usopp managed to quieten down after being comforted with the doll. He looks weird wrapping it around himself. 

Nami giggled at the sight, a small baby using a doll twice the size of him as a shield to ward off Brook and Jimbei was really funny. She knows she saw Zoro, Jimbei and Robin smile at him with teeth, the fact that Sanji, Franky and Brook also smiled is irrelevant.

She is curious about how the toy is not crushing him, the hard stuff where the Armadillos hard shell thing is supposed to be is probably really heavy, and that’s not including the fabric parts.

There are two things for certain though, and that’s that she has a new brother and she has to get more money to pay for him too.

Nami wonders if there’s going to be any more people appearing on the Sunny, when she looked around earlier she saw there was enough bedding for ten people. Unless there’s more in the crow’s nest, Brook won’t let anyone climb up there.

She briefly wonders if he’s actually hiding his treasure up there or something before Usopp starts rolling away fast.

Why does she get a terrible feeling that things will get a lot worse when Usopp learns to run?

Chapter Text

Usopp wasn’t really sure what to think of the scary people he had to spend most of his time with. They weren’t too bad but there was no doubt they were scary and weird. Not like his nice, caring, beautiful Mum, his strong, brave Dad, and the cool, fun-loving red-haired man that recently left with his dad. They still haven’t returned yet.

Brook was a skeleton, what about that didn’t scare people, but he told funny jokes and he played nice music.

Jimbei was a Fishman, and he looked like an Oni to boot, but he did make sure he was happy, even leaving his eyesight if he wanted but Usopp was sure he kept him in his sight.

Franky was weird, he walked around in underwear all the time, but he made him his favourite toy, Hercules, and showed him really cool stuff.

Robin was downright scary, her comments freaked him out, but she did read him some stories and teach him a few interesting things like how babies can sense emotions or something.

Sanji was freaky, he saw that kick Sanji launched at Zoro, but he did try his best to make Usopp some good food he could eat, and it was always tasty.

Zoro was frightening, that scowl always made him both terrified and sad, like he was responsible for Zoro’s bad mood, but Zoro said straight to him that he promised to protect him, he made him feel safe too.

Nami was normal until he saw her down Sanji and Zoro with one punch each, someone who could take out the monster duo with one fist wasn’t normal, but she did look out for him and she did give him his toy slingshot.

Usopp was scared of them, but he did also like them. They were all pretty cool once he got to know them. He also knew some really funny things about them, like how Sanji had a funny reaction to women and wanted to be a prince. He once called himself Mr Prince but then he got into a fight with Zoro after he insulted him. If Usopp wasn’t a baby he wouldn’t be able to sense the joy the two got out of it.

He still thinks they need a better way of showing their brotherliness. He didn’t like being scared so much. Zoro always used two sticks, one in each hand, to fight and Sanji used mainly kicks, his hands were only used to balance. If Robin didn’t make that one comment about Sanji possibly damaging his hands in a way that could stop him from cooking within Usopp’s hearing range, he knew he wouldn’t get why. Sanji loved cooking and he loved getting complimented on it, even Usopp could see that.

One thing Usopp wanted more than anything was to have a sibling he was as close to as Zoro and Sanji were to each other. He didn’t want to fight with them or be rivals but he wanted that weird mental link and understanding.

Usopp even went as far as wishing on everything that helps wishes come true. He wanted someone he could get on really well with.

He had started wishing when he was a month old, four days had passed and he was beginning to lose hope, surely his wish would have been granted by now if it were to be granted at all? He decided to hold on for another day, until the fifth of May, if his wish wasn’t answered it probably wasn’t ever. And who’s to say anyone else will even appear?

When he woke up on the Sunny next to a crying baby, Usopp knew his wish was answered. He immediately hugged the baby, even letting go of Hercules to do so. He finally got a sibling he can be close to!

He quickly looked around on his sibling's red blanket to find the name. It took him a while but he finally found it with his sibling laughing the entire time. Monkey D. Luffy. He also became sure his sibling was a boy, he’d checked to make sure.

Luffy had a pretty big smile and a funny laugh that was almost like Robin's. He wasn’t likely to scare Usopp in any way like the others did. But if Luffy were to become a monster like Zoro and Sanji, the least Usopp could do would be to grow strong and brave himself, like his Dad. A brave Warrior of the Seas!

Zoro ruined the moment by waking up. It was midnight here, what was he doing awake? At least Usopp had a good reason, Luffy woke him up. What reason could Zoro have?

Zoro just glanced at him, and then stared at Luffy who was now giggling and squirming. Usopp was left wondering what  Zoro would do, and he just quickly looked around the room before climbing into the crib with them, pulling them close and falling back to sleep. It seemed that Jungle Gym Franky had built for them all to play on was useful.

Luffy laughed and fell asleep too, leaving Usopp to wonder why he thought everyone on this ship was scary.

Chapter Text

Luffy didn’t get why Usopp was scared of their family when they were younger. They were all really cool and nice! Even Nami with her painful punch that hurt as much as Grandpa’s ‘Fist of Love’. He thought they were all cool for different reasons of course; some were really obvious things too.

Brook because he played music, Binks’ Brew is his favourite; he loved singing along to it once he could speak. He is also a skeleton with an afro that told really funny jokes. He could also wake him up in the middle of the night and he’d be happy to talk to him. Not to mention all his stories of when he was a pirate were really cool.

Jimbei was really strong and cool; he could shoot water and do those weird punches. He was also Fishman and looked really fearsome with his scar and tusks. He always makes sure to spend time with him too, even though he has a lot of stuff to do being a soldier in Neptune’s army. He did teach him how to punch too, not the awesome ones, just normal ones.

Franky threw really fun parties and made really cool stuff that could run on cola; he said he has made something really super that he’ll show off when the last person arrives and becomes old enough. That made Luffy really impatient for the next and last person to appear; he really wanted to see the super thing!

Robin was really smart and knew nearly everything, except about the dream world and what happened in the void century thing, Sanji told him that’s why she wants to know, she also made funny comments that always seemed to freak the others out. She could also tell a lot about something’s past just from looking at it. Not the Sunny though, somehow it didn’t have a past yet. He knew it was because Franky hadn’t built it yet. He didn’t point it out because he knew she could be scary though. She can get Franky to wear pants after all.

Sanji made him really yummy food, and it would be whatever he wanted as long as they had the stuff to make it and he had to make sure it was all eaten. He didn’t mind, he always ate all of it anyway. The food made him once say that Sanji was his favourite sibling but he learned quickly not to get favourites because of Zoro. He can get really jealous, it was funny!

Zoro always let him sleep next to him, he let him play with all his things too, not his swords though, even if they were only sticks. Zoro had no problem whacking him in the head with them. He and Sanji always get into fights, it could be about anything, but they were slowly getting better at fighting because of the constant fights. He wanted to be stronger than them though, he wants to be able to protect them too.

Nami was both funny and scary; her eyes could turn into Beri symbols at the mention of it and her teeth could become like sharks if she was angry, it’s always scary when she does it. She could also change the weather of what it’s like in the dream world. One day he wished there was snow and then Nami said some things he doesn’t really remember but then it started snowing!

Usopp was his playmate, he could tell really good stories and could lie their way out of Sanji’s wrath when they took some food out of the kitchen. Luffy knew he couldn’t lie to save his life so he was lucky Usopp was willing to brave his fears for him. Most of the time anyway, Nami and Robin were scary when mad!

Christmas Eve had arrived, and Nami had made sure it was snowing lightly on the Sunny. Luffy had already made all his presents for them and as nighttime was approaching put them all under the trees of Nami’s Tangerine Grove with all the others.

He really wanted the last family member to arrive already; he knew there was only one to come since there was only one more bed that was yet to be claimed. A thump behind him caused him to look behind him.

A baby reindeer was staring at him with its limbs spread out underneath it. A staring competition commenced for a long while before Luffy’s eyes were starting to ache, and the baby reindeer’s eyes were starting to become unfocused as well. The victor was going to be decided soon.

A blink. A cheer. Luffy had won. The clapping was unexpected though.

Turns out the rest of his family came to see what was taking him so long. They witnessed most of the staring competition. He didn’t mind though, he asked if Franky could finally show them the cool thing he had made but he said no because they couldn’t be sure the baby reindeer was going to be the last and he wasn’t old enough to really remember later anyway.

Luffy wasn’t really happy with that though but he then asked how long it would take the reindeer to grow up. Robin was too busy in thought while patting the reindeer to answer him.

When he finally managed to shake her out of it he didn’t get what he asked for. Well, he found out that the reindeer is a boy and that Robin has decided to name him Tony Tony Chopper, something about a book too.

Luffy wasn’t really that grumpy about not being told how long it was going to take. He was actually really happy and that made itself apparent on his face when it split into a big grin and he went and hugged the very fluffy Chopper.

Now not only was their family complete, but he was no longer the youngest. He wanted to be a pirate like Brook was with everyone here and he wanted to be the Captain! He couldn’t be the captain if he was the youngest, they’d never listen to him!

Chapter Text

When he was only a reindeer, Chopper didn’t completely realise how important his other family was to him. They accepted him as their family even though they weren’t even of the same species. His herd forced him to walk behind them because of his blue nose, his family walked alongside him.

He loved his family, Robin told him about the word they always used when describing what they were since they weren’t a herd. He knew they were outcasts too. Brook is a lonely skeleton, Jimbei is a human accepting Fishman, Franky never wear pants (unless Robin asked him too), Robin is a ‘demon’ and is being chased by the government, Sanji is a compassionate to-be assassin that rather would be a prince, Zoro is an orphan that beats up anyone in his way and trains like crazy, Nami is a poor kleptomaniac that has already had an encounter with death, Usopp is a liar that isn’t really liked by his village because of his pranks, and Luffy…

Luffy had a family he barely sees and doesn’t really hang out with people his age. But he sure as hell made life on the Sunny more vibrant. He got told by Jimbei and Brook that Luffy really managed to liven the place up or something. Chopper mostly just repeats what he hears cause he doesn’t really know what it means.

Still, if they mean Luffy was fun then they were right. It would be better if Luffy would stop trying to ride him. He’s not that strong yet!

At least he only mentioned eating him once. Although Luffy froze right after and has since resolutely denied the possibility.

Being an official animal, unable to ever talk or communicate properly with them left Chopper with a little bit of a depression. He didn’t even understand them too at times, so it was worse. He sometimes admittedly cried himself to sleep just because he was so different to them. He was smarter than the average reindeer, but that intelligence didn’t matter since they didn’t understand each other most of the time.

It’s why he had no worries when he realised he ate the Human-Human Fruit and became able to achieve what humans could even though he knew he was going to be forced out of his herd. He went to sleep as soon as he was out of sight and out of any potential danger. He could talk to them. Falling asleep took so long.

When Chopper woke up there it was dark, close to dawn though, so he decided to use the little patience he had left to find a place to hide and wait there, near the kitchen. He waited even after Sanji woke up and started breakfast, even when Zoro came in and set the table for them.

He waited until everyone was there and Luffy had asked where he was, and then he came barrelling into Luffy, tears blurring his vision as he shouted words they all could understand.

Chopper couldn’t really remember what happened afterwards but he remembered there were lots of hugs, cheering and that there was a party. He was also sure there were many tears shed.

When he awoke on Drum, he was filled with confidence that the humans in the village would also accept him.

How utterly wrong he was.

He was chased away and hurt badly; he didn’t know what he did wrong. They called him a monster, but it seemed to mean something different than he was used to. Usopp said the Sanji and Zoro were monsters and that Luffy would most likely be one when he grew up a bit more.

Monsters weren’t someone you chase away. They were the protectors, right?

Maybe the villagers were just calling for their own monster to defend them. Maybe he just had to prove to the villagers he was a monster, a monster like his family.

When another human had shown up just as Chopper was going to fall back to sleep, he wasn’t sure if he would attack him. If this was the monster protecting the human village. The others hut him, without a good reason to. He tried to get away. But was stopped as he saw the man strip and promise to never hurt him.

This really must be a monster, he was being like Franky and his disregard for clothes.

He let himself get cared for by the doctor and become enamoured with medicine. Monsters are someone who protects, he knows that. He can’t protect everyone like Luffy, Zoro and Sanji would be able to when they grow up, but he can look after them if he learns to be a doctor.

Those three got hurt a lot anyway so they were going to need it. Now he just has to convince Dr Hiluluk to teach him.

Chapter Text

When Brook first appeared in the Dream about seventy years ago, he remained alone. He remained alone for about forty years. Jimbei’s appearance was a blessing. Franky’s and Robin’s too.

Sanji heralded what was without a doubt the most chaotic years of his life, but he wouldn’t have had them any other way.

Sanji, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Luffy, and even the deer who Luffy insisted was called Chopper – apparently, Robin said so but she had no recollection of doing so – all appeared within five years. Before anyone of them learned to properly walk and talk, another appeared.

Jimbei was a blessing, not just for appearing and ending his solitude, but for coming alone and being old enough to help when Franky ended up appearing. Even with Jimbei returning to his previously irresponsible sleep schedule and Franky coming on the rare times he was free from learning and helping Tom with his very limited number of helpers. Five babies and a deer were almost too much for them.

Three men groaned on the deck, defeated by mere children as a young teen girl walked by, effortlessly carrying the victors. Brook was certain Jimbei would never secretly bemoan Robin’s swim-less fate as a Devil Fruit when those countless limbs and eyes made her the captain of the ship the rare times she could sleep and be on board.

“Robin sis, you are my favourite sister.” Franky groaned, played out by Luffy’s endless energy. Brook would like to know his parents and see where he gets it from. At barely three years old, he ran the ship in Robin’s absence. Inspiring his siblings into mischief and play.

“So Nami is our daughter then?” Robin smiled at them, too much mischief but also longing in her eyes. She turned to the children, Zoro and Sanji clinging to her legs, Usopp and Nami in her multiple arms, and even Luffy hanging off her back with Chopper nudging open a door for them. “You all don’t mind me being your Mum, do you?”

Luffy was immediately agreeing and Usopp and Nami exchanged a glance before nodding too. Sanji just clung tighter to her leg, barely remembering to keep his legs moving so she wouldn’t have to pick him up with each step. Zoro pouted for a bit, adorable enough that Brook was almost tempted to forgive him for all the wacks he gave his bones with that practice sword he one day picked up then never let go of, before muttering something.

“Hmm, what was that Zoro? I thought a swordsman never mumbles; they’re proud, ever loud, and declare their words with their chest out proud.” Franky stuttered in embarrassment as his words were spoken by another.

Brook just feels pride and love. The only swordsman on the Thousand Sunny was him – as it will be until Zoro becomes older. Sanji was also learning alongside him, but every day he looked at the blades in his hands with more venom than a just six-year-old should possess. At least Zoro’s presence seemed to be making him feel better about holding them.

Zoro spoke up, louder but maybe not as loud as a swordsman of Robin’s and Franky’s description would.

“I already thought you were our Mum.” He said.

Arms sprouted out of Robin’s leg to hug him.

“That means Franky is dad and Jimbei is dad! And Brook is Grandpa? Ehh?” Luffy almost let go of Robin to rub his confused head, but more arms sprouted to keep him attached and clinging on like a monkey.

“Brook is Brook, Franky is Franky, Robin is Robin, and I am Jimbei. There’s no need to confuse us with others you know by those names.” Jimbei said, looking unfairly poised for having been lying in a heap after having entertained Usopp’s young imagination and Nami’s stubbornness and short temper that was much like his own in his youth.

Jimbei didn’t like to talk about his temper much, but Brook was determined to remind him and have him experience it through Nami. Brook may be Jimbei’s father but he’s young at heart! Although, he doesn’t have a heart anymore, skull joke!

Franky took to swimming easily, Robin was doing fairly well until she ate her Devil Fruit and no longer could be submerged without being drained of energy. Jimbei has frankly no idea how well Brook could swim before he ate his Devil Fruit, but either way, he wasn’t old enough to teach his own father this necessary skill.

Jimbei knew sailing would call to them, after living half their life in a Dream that was constantly at sea, they’d want to see how similar it would be in the other world. He knew they would feel this way because that feeling called to him.

Franky sailed at sea with his pirate parents until they abandoned him on Water 7. Robin now sailed the sea, travelling alone or recently partnering up with unsavoury types that they all knew would backstab her if she didn’t backstab them first. Brook, like he was now, was a soldier, a knight, before he went to sea and became a pirate.

It’d hit them one day. One day, these children, even the baby deer he’d wager, would want to go to sea.

And when that day came, Jimbei knew they’d need to be able to swim. In a world covered by ocean, it seemed idiotic for anyone to neglect this skill.

Although Jimbei now knew that perhaps some didn’t learn to swim because they were just that bad at it.

He could have accepted it from Chopper. As he was a deer, he wouldn’t have the ability to coordinate himself enough to swim. No, it was Luffy, the one most attracted to the sea and the adventures it could offer him, that was truly helpless.

Jimbei could admit he felt tempted to give up, to let Luffy forever be horrendous at swimming. But he couldn’t even keep himself afloat! He just kept sinking, like an anchor or Robin!

He did not need the extra stress, Luffy would learn to swim even if it took Jimbei’s whole life!

Nascent and exhausted, Sunny smiled and pitied Jimbei’s plight. She knew better than anyone that Luffy would never swim. Like Robin and also with Chopper, some would never learn to swim. Appearing on her deck just messed with the possibility that they ever could have.

She was so glad that everyone from her crew, the ones that travelled on her deck, were finally on it again and for the first time ever. Now… now she could rest and wait to be born.

Chapter Text

Pirates were vile, the scourge of the sea. They invaded islands, killing, playing, and stealing from the people that lived there so peacefully before. They rendered children like Nami orphans and stole husbands from wives, albeit in a typically different way from Usopp’s parents. When Brook became a Pirate, he joined Yorki whose dream was to bring a smile to every child’s face.

However, Brook was all too aware that Yorki and the Rumbar Pirates were an exception, not the rule. Even separated from the wider world except for Franky’s newspapers, he knew this had not changed after he had become stranded in the Florian Triangle.

Could Brook even be considered a pirate anymore? He wasn’t free, that’s for certain, but he’s had nine children to whom he could put a smile on.

Brook raised the sails and forbade everyone from going into the crow’s nest for a reason. A place that was impossible for a baby or toddler to enter, the height a dangerous possibility all on its own. In such an endless sea, the Thousand Sunny didn’t need her sails. The Jolly Roger he grew up under, the one on her sails and the black flag, along with the most dangerous stuff found on the ship, such as the massive weights that could easily crush them, were all sequestered away.

He didn’t want any of them to feel obliged to become pirates because of it. Not like he subconsciously was and end up as he had. Jimbei is a soldier, Franky has a bright future as a shipwright, Robin didn’t really get a choice, but she is such an accomplished scholar and archaeologist already.

Sanji seemed drawn to the kitchen, even though no one would let the six-year-old into the kitchen any time soon. Zoro was determined to be a swordsman like him but that didn’t require becoming a pirate. Nami hated most pirates because of her near-death experiences as a baby and some well-meaning propaganda her former marine adoptive mother told her. Usopp’s dad was a pirate, so Brook could admit it was his choice, but he knew he may not get it. Luffy’s Grandfather wanted him to be a Marine and according to the newspapers, was quite a high ranking one himself. Chopper was learning to be a doctor, everyone accepting their fate as test dummies and Brook his as an example of the human skeleton. Even when he was all bones, he couldn’t escape the attention of a doctor!

None of them had to be Pirates like him. None of them had to turn out like him. None of them had to become trapped like him.

He knows that they would want to be pirates though, and not just because of the fact that they have a flag, but because of Robin, because of him. They are all willing to become criminals so they can spend time with Robin in the other world. They are all willing to be criminals because they know it wouldn’t make them automatically evil. Pirates aren’t evil, they knew. Bad people just chose to be pirate.

Still, he knows if he were to bring out the skull and crossbones for the first time since Jimbei’s arrival there would be a protest. They’d accuse Luffy of doing a prank.

They all made themselves some Pirate Flags as a challenge and the ones on the ship are exactly like Luffy’s, with Usopp’s help of course, Luffy was an admittedly terrible drawer, not that he’d tell the hyper boy. He pitied anyone who might one day have to live with it. Although, he was only three, so he had time to improve.

He still didn’t know where Luffy managed to get the idea of a straw hat. His first thought was that maybe he saw the mark on the sails somehow and copied it. No, Luffy would have drawn attention to it if had made that discovery. But how?

Somehow, Brook thought someone was laughing at him while he pondered this. He thought he stopped hallucinating decades ago after Jimbei came and stayed. Did he relapse?

Brook felt something tug at his pant leg and looked down to see Chopper standing there awkwardly. This wasn’t the place to ponder on things, which should be left back on the rotting ship; he had people here to be with.

“Jimbei’s acting strange, Brook. Do you know what’s wrong with him?” Chopper sounded both worried and slightly fearful. He was genuinely worried for Jimbei but he was afraid it was because of him. They really needed to help Chopper get over his fear of being rejected.

Humming, Brook picked Chopper up and put him in his lap, Chopper only just ate his devil fruit a week ago and he still wasn’t a year old yet. A big part of him wished he could somehow get out of the Florian Triangle and run all the way to Drum Island just to attack those that hurt their youngest family member. He knew all the others would want to do the same.

He thought back onto the reason Jimbei was getting a bit distant. Apparently, Fishman Island’s Queen was collecting signatures for Fishman Island to join with the surface world, and Jimbei didn’t know which side to take. But what was important right now was for Chopper to know it wasn’t because of him, at least, not completely.

Jimbei felt guilty about distancing himself from them again, even unknowingly. If Sanji hadn’t asked why he was making Chopper worried, he wouldn’t have even realised he was doing it. He didn’t want them to worry, most of them are children and the rest already have enough on their plates to worry about. 

The reason why he was distancing himself was simple: if he perceived them, and only them, as what human were like, then he'd sign it. There were no questions about it. His family were good people. 

But humans weren't good to his family. 

He didn’t know which side to choose. Whether he should sign the petition or not. Jimbei didn’t know how he felt about humans. Arlong was certainly of the thought process in which they were horrible monsters. After what happened to Chopper, the discrimination he faced for being different, and Robin, for the hate and fear the difference her Devil Fruit gave her, he knew humans weren't kind to those who were different. But then he remembered his family and how they responded to each other's differences. 

How after growing up with a skeleton, a woman who could sprout limbs on any surface, a man who was truly super bizarre, a reindeer who later became part human, and a D, they were so accepting. How after growing up with a Fishman, they didn't fear other Fishmen and Merfolk. 

And that's what this petition could do. Make it so that humans would grow up with those who were once seen as so different and below them and therefore see them as normal instead. They wouldn't fear them and heck, - and he knew this morbid thought was partially because of Robin's comments - Slavery may not see them as precious as they were, mostly safe on the Sea Floor, and stop hunting them so much. 

But if Fishman Island was on the surface, it would be so much easier for slavers to grab them. To steal children from their parents, to take mermaids from their homes and put them in fish bowls for the rich. It would be so much easier for Fishman Island to be raided and pillaged by slavers, pirates, and human nobles. 

The fact that Jimbei had to choose a side was the worst bit. He knew it was because it would also impact his family on the Sunny. Especially Robin, who would come because he told her there was a Poneglyph on Fishman Island. He told her all he knew about it too, just some things he found out about it during his time as a soldier in Neptune’s Army.

He didn’t know if he wanted Fishman Island to rise to the surface. A large part of him wanted it simply because it would be easier to find his family on the Sunny, he could even go get Brook out of his isolation and see Franky on a regular basis until he finishes the sea train.

But that small part of him that was somehow more convincing knew that it would be better for Fishman Island to stay on the sea floor, his family on the Sunny weren’t a good example of the majority of humans. He always knew this, especially after Robin and Chopper. They would look down on them, they’d fear them, and they won’t be able to coexist peacefully together. Especially since the fear and hate both races held for each other would be taught to the younger generation. 

It would be a long time before Fishmen and Merpeople could traverse the islands on the surface and not be looked at with fear. 

Jimbei wanted to choose a side. Yet he also didn’t. So he went as far as getting the opinions of those close to him on Fishman Island and got mixed results. He even went as far as tracking down Tom’s brother and was about to ask him his opinion when he needed a tie breaker when he was called away before he could.

He decided that yes, he was going to choose but he wasn’t going to for a while. He needed more proof. He’d have to meet humans himself then judge them and decide his answer. He needed to comfort Chopper and convince him that he wasn’t thinking badly of him first, his family’s wellbeing was more important than a simple yes or no question.

Even after a year passed, he still hadn’t decided, but he was even closer to his family than before and he hadn’t, purposely or accidentally, distanced himself from them again. He was even there and paying attention when Chopper first started doing his weird dances after being complimented.

The rest of his family appreciated the fact that he was finally being a closer part of the family. And he certainly did too.

Chapter Text

Jimbei doesn’t hate all pirates, but he can’t deny that he hates the majority of them. After what they did to Fishman Island before Whitebeard came and what they did to Nami, there was no way he could not help but hate them. But he doesn’t hate some of them. Whitebeard saved Fishman Island and Brook used to be a pirate.

That’s probably why when his big brother Tiger came back from freeing all the slaves on Mariejois he left the army and joined him as a pirate. Tiger wasn’t going to be a typical pirate, even if the Navy would no doubt paint him as such. He’s become a pirate and asking others to be pirates with him to save their once enslaved brethren.

Jimbei couldn’t help but join him.

He received the sun brand on his chest to help hide the slaves and apologized to Nami for being what she fears. Although he hopes she’ll grow to not fear and hate all pirates because of it. The stories of the Rumbar Pirates Brook raised him on were always looked back on fondly. He’s not as much as a storyteller as his father and siblings, let alone like Usopp is growing to be, but he hopes he can tell them – tell Brook – the stories of his adventures on the sea.

Luffy was quite excited for the future stories, although he always brought up that he’d better sail with them later after they grew up and could sail too. To save Brook from the Florian Triangle and protect Robin from those who would hunt her. To sail on Sunny after Franky built her, because no one else would know how special she is and no one else should man her helm but Jimbei.

Jimbei couldn’t help but be excited to sail with humans who would accept him. Humans who would sail to Fishman Island with him and not take advantage of its inhabitants. A group of humans that those from Fishman Island wouldn’t fear or hate.

To meet under the same sun and no one views anyone else as a monster due to species.

It’s just a dream, but Jimbei can’t help but cling to it.

As time passed by and he sailed the seas above, it hurt to always be viewed with fear by humans at the few islands they docked at. When children looked at him and their eyes filled with fear and tears, when all he could see when he looked at them were the children he helped raised when he slept.

It should have made him regret his dream, but it only ever made him want to fight for it even more. However, he knew being a pirate wouldn’t really help. Both Fishmen and Pirates were feared. Together, he knew it’d be rare for any human to look at him without fear, for any child to not cry at the sight of him.

But Jimbei didn’t regret becoming a pirate. He was able to hurt the marines who put a bounty on Robin’s head when she was only eight years old and was able to attack other pirates who were like the ones who nearly killed Nami.

If only pirates weren’t synonymous with evil. Jimbei once thought. He never thought further on it. Being a Pirate made things harder for Queen Otohime with the World Government, but that didn’t mean she’d want them to stop being pirates. Not when she knew why they all wore a sun brand.

While Marines were seen as good and Pirates as bad, there should be no denying that there were evil Marines and good Pirates. However, it meant Jimbei didn’t know who was good and who was bad. It really wasn’t as simple as who flew what flag.

He started asking where his opponents, marines and pirates, were from to see if there was any trend to see where was good and where was bad. Then he got an answer that threw him into a blind fury that even Arlong asked him to get out of.

The answer of where he was from wasn’t what caused the anger, but the answer to what he asked afterwards. The marine was from Drum Island, a part of the village that Chopper was attacked by, and he called the little reindeer a monster.

Just because Chopper didn’t know the common meaning of the word didn’t mean he hadn’t heard the fear, disgust and hate they directed at him when they drove him out. This marine was one of the ones who hurt his family!

Even when he was unconscious he still attacked him. Even when Arlong told him to stop he kept hitting him. Even when Brother Tiger himself ordered him to stop he kept beating him. It took the combined effort of the crew to keep him from killing him.

No one is allowed to hurt his family. No one.

The crew was wary of him for a good while afterwards, even Arlong. He was worried that his family on the Sunny would feel the same if he told them, but that didn’t stop him from telling them. Hiding things meant he’d grow distant. If he were distant, he’d be hurting them anyway.

Chopper had apologized to him, saying it was because of him that he did it. That was true, but there was no need for him to apologise and Jimbei told him so. Usopp was scared of him for only a minute afterwards but came around so suddenly it was like he was never scared at all. Luffy, Zoro and Sanji agreed that the guy deserved it, the flames of anger burning in their eyes. Nami and Robin told him not to worry about it much, similar flames burning lower but just as hot in their eyes. Franky just nodded and said it was what he would have done. Brook told him that his crew would come around eventually, and to stop asking where people were from.

And Brook was right, his crew did come around, and he made sure to stop asking. It was probably for the best if he didn’t. He already got a bounty of 78,000,000 Beli, less than Robin’s but more than he probably would have got if he didn’t know that man was from Drum and that he had called Chopper a monster. That man lost the use of his legs and was forced to retire because of him; he was apparently quite high in the chain of command.

But still, there was something he didn’t really get. It is legal to own Slaves but to free them is a crime? With that alone, he would be questioning why Queen Otohime would still tell them to love humans. But he is reminded of why she’d tell them to love them every night. Brook, Franky, Robin, Sanji, Zoro, Usopp and Luffy are all (technically, in Brook’s case) humans and he did love them.

The people in Water Seven seemed to be treating Tom and Kokoro good. At least that’s what Franky says so he knows there is a chance that fish-men, mermaids and mermen can live in peace with humans.

Still, Jimbei didn’t really get why he was here with Arlong getting scolded, it made him feel as though he was a child again and Brook had found him trying to go into the crow’s nest.

“I told you not to kill any humans.”

It seemed unfair. They are after Tiger’s head and the humans try to kill all of them but they weren’t allowed to kill them? They would get a bit bloodthirsty; he told his captain so and was told if they kill they lose. He also didn’t want to become what Tiger said they would. He knew it wasn’t human in general, and if so he wouldn’t truly mind as long as it wasn’t one from Drum, but a different human that Tiger almost seemed afraid of.

As Tiger told them not to avenge themselves, he wondered how it would have gone down if he knew he was avenging a family member. He wasn’t too sure; he didn’t have as good an imagination as Usopp after all.

But Jimbei could recognise that innocents could suffer because of their deeds. He didn’t want to put stress on the royal guards he was friends with back on Fishman Island. He knows that stress is bad for you; Chopper gave him enough lectures for it to sink in. Robin truly didn’t help by forcing Franky’s company on him to force him to relax.

The fact that it continues to work mystifies him to this day. Franky isn’t what one would call a calming individual.

When Arlong started raving about making an example, he couldn’t help but remember what happened to Nami, what the World Government did to Ohara. For a baby to almost die because of the greed and bloodlust of others, for an entire island to be drowned in lava… they didn’t have to be Fishmen or Merpeople for Jimbei to be horrified by what came out of Arlong’s mouth.

He couldn’t stop himself when he lashed out and punched Arlong just hard enough that his face would slam into the ground. Arlong was still a brother of his after all – one of the battlefields, a crewmate, unlike Franky, but still a brother of sorts like Tiger Fisher. He would never kill nor badly injure him without a real good reason.

When Jimbei found Tiger drinking late at night he wished he could have comforted him better. He didn’t really get what he meant when he said the thing he feared most was the demon inside of him. Tiger wasn’t bad; he didn’t see how he could be. But he then accounted it to possibly relate to when he lost his cool, it was the best possible solution.

After he and Tiger got their bounty, he realised that they faced more enemies. Some were bounty hunters and others were pirates that wanted to make a name for themselves. They all failed to say the least.

When Luffy asked to see his bounty poster, he showed him Tiger’s as well. The other came to see when he asked too.

He remembered a party being thrown, and Luffy complaining that it wasn’t as high as it should be. He remembered having to put Zoro to sleep early because he somehow found some sake. Brook had left for a while to hide it so Zoro wouldn’t find it again; he seemed to like it, unfortunately. He suspected that Brook put it in the crow’s nest. No one was allowed in there, not even him.

He admittedly was curious about what it was like up there, and what Brook hides in there. He asked once when he was younger and was told that that was where he stored all the dangerous stuff, like the four-ton weight that was already in there. That was also the reason why that room had the dangerous stuff stored in it, Brook couldn’t exactly get it out of there. (He could hear Brook making some sort of Skull joke about the fact he literally had no muscle on his bones, so how could he lift it anyway.) When Zoro gets older he suspects that he’d love to have a go with those.

When a little eleven-year-old girl, Koala, who used to be a slave was taken onto their ship to be returned to her home island, he was often saddled with looking after her. No one on board the ship had children and even Arlong having a little sister he raised didn’t translate to him being able to take care of a human child.

When they saw he was great with human kids, the responsibility was instantly his. He both liked and disliked this responsibility. Koala looked like Nami, and the thought of what happened to Koala happening to Nami hurt and enraged him more than anything else ever could. That constant smile was so heartbreaking, especially compared to Luffy’s genuine constant laughter and grins.

Still, she was a lot easier to look after than Nami, let alone Luffy. The little guy made life on the Sunny a lot more exciting but damn. He appreciated that Brook liked to be on the Sunny so much a lot more because of him. He was a little devil even without Usopp helping him. Although he could do with Brook stop fostering Nami onto him so much. He got it, he had – evidently still has – a temper, just like Nami. He needn’t keep rubbing it in his face!

Jimbei originally thought it was a bit funny when Arlong panicked about having her on board, though he could barely keep himself restrained when Arlong hit her and she started cleaning out of instinct, constantly apologizing. His anger at the celestial dragons grew larger when she uttered those words.

“I won’t cry no matter what. So please don’t kill me.”

He asked if she was afraid of them, and she said she was. That forced, lifeless smile never left her face. Koala said she gathered her courage to come on this ship just so she could see her mother again. She finally looked up at him when she stated that if she stopped working Jimbei would kill her. Aladdin thankfully told him why she said that because that is what happens to slaves if they stop working.

Getting her out of her shell was a difficult task, and he wished it didn’t take having to be branded again to help, but he could accept it. A sun brand would be safer for her in the future than the Dragon’s foot.

Tiger came and took her to his cabin, before he could wonder what was going on in there, Koala’s loud scream rang out. Incapable of not thinking of Nami at that moment, it took a few crewmates to recognise and hold him down before he’d rush into Tiger’s room and get to Koala. It was necessary to help her, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.

The brand on his chest, the pain he once felt when it was put there, ached in sympathy.

Koala had passed out during the process but after she was bandaged up and woke up, she apologized again and asked us not to kill her. Jimbei never hated the marines and the Celestial Dragons more at that moment. And apparently, Tiger had snapped.

“Cry if you want to cry! We’re not like those idiotic Celestial Dragons!!” Tiger pulled out a gun. “Look!” He threw it over the side of the boat. “We will never kill anybody!” Koala was still grinning as Tiger turned away. “Let’s go, men!! We’re taking her back to her home!!” Tears ran down her face and snot dribbled from her nose, but Koala wasn’t showing her constant grin. She finally realised she was free, that she wasn’t going to be killed, and she was going to finally see her mother again.

Jimbei let her cry on his shoulder as he wondered how he was going to tell his family on the Sunny everything that happened today. Hopefully, they won’t be jealous. Although if Robin teases him about parenthood again, he won’t accept being responsible for his actions.

Chapter Text

As cool as it was that Jimbei was a pirate and everything, Luffy couldn’t help but feel as though he wasn’t good enough. He wanted to be a pirate, he wanted to be free, and he wanted his family on the Sunny to be his crew. It’s something he’s always known, even before he knew what pirates were.

So when Jimbei said he had a different captain he just… felt his age. Which is weird cause that’s what old people are supposed to do, not him! He just turned seven, that’s not old at all. He also couldn’t help but feel like somehow Jimbei would stop coming to the Dream World.

It was just a fear. He knew it wasn’t true because Jimbei loved them all, but that didn’t erase it. He never feared that one of his family would not be a part of Sunny’s crew in the future, but now Jimbei was sailing without them.

Again, annoying cause it doesn’t make sense. Robin’s sailing without them, Brook’s technically sailing and not one of them is on his ship, but Jimbei sailing with the Sun Pirates and suddenly Luffy can’t think properly anymore. Luffy knows he’s not abandoning them, but that doesn’t shut his mind up!

It’s not like when Jimbei came and told them about Koala, he was jealous. He didn’t mind! Jimbei was just being really cool like Nami’s Mum, taking care of a kid not her own. But then he supposes Nami and Nojiko became her kids, so she probably doesn’t fit the point he was trying to make. No one was jealous like Jimbei feared they’d be. In fact, Nami who was a bit uncomfortable about pirates looked like the sun cause she had a revelation (Robin and Chopper like using long words, and Luffy likes learning with them and the rest of his siblings because they make it fun!).

Apparently, Nami didn’t know she’d be free to do good things like saving kids. Luffy thought Nami was smart, but apparently, she could be dumb sometimes. Not that he shouldn’t mention it aloud. He’s reminded that her punches really hurt.

Still, now that Luffy knows it wouldn’t make Nami uncomfortable to talk about Pirates, he could talk about Shanks, the pirate who has been visiting his village.

The first time he met them he was hanging out with Makino in her bar. They came in and order that sake drink that Zoro said was really good, not that Brook’s ever allowed him to have any again, and started talking loudly to one another. A red haired man wearing a straw hat was sitting at the counter next to a man with the word ‘YASOPP’ on it and had wavy, dirty blond hair. Luffy didn’t think before he spoke.

“Are you Usopp’s dad?”

The chatter stopped and they all looked at him. Yasopp had a large grin on his face as he nodded and asked how he knew his son.

“He’s my brother; he sails with me on the Thousand Sunny when we fall asleep.”

The pirate crew, since Usopp said his dad was a pirate that means they had to be one, looked at him strangely. Only Yasopp didn’t. In fact, he smiled wider, and then he laughed and slapped his back.

“You must be Luffy, in the letter I got from him he talked about this other family he had when he dreamed that he asked me to look for. He talked about you the most.”

They started talking about quite a lot of different things, though Luffy was mostly interested in their stories. When he told them so, the red haired man with the black scars on his face, who introduced himself as Shanks, took control of the conversation and told him about a few of their adventures.

Luffy really liked all of them, they were funny and cool. They also knew Binks’ Brew and sung it, they were surprised when he joined in and he told them Brook loved that song and so did he. He didn’t really give them a proper answer.

When he fell asleep that night, he was really excited to tell them about meeting Yasopp, Usopp’s dad, and how he knew about them from the letter he got from Usopp. His brother had been really anxious about whether or not his dad had got his letter. But Nami would get scary and sad anytime someone mentioned pirates so he had to wait before he could tell anyone.

Now that Nami was okay with pirates, Luffy spoke up about how he met Shanks and Yasopp. Usopp was strangely silent after the mention of his dad for a while. It must be weird to hear about a dad you’re related to.

Franky and Jimbei say he has another dad, but he’s a mystery to Luffy. If Usopp wants to know about his dad that’s fine, but Luffy doesn’t really care about a guy he’s never met. He’s got Jimbei and Franky for dads after all!

Usopp couldn’t believe his ears. Not only had his dad actually got his letter, but Luffy met him. That was proof enough that they could meet in real life. He asked all about what his dad was like since he could barely remember him. The only thing he really remembered about him was that he was really strong and brave and he wanted to become a brave warrior of the sea like him.

Sometimes he’s not sure how he remembered that last part, but Jimbei is also a brave warrior of the sea and Franky can be considered one as well, even if he doesn’t sail as much as his other two dads. It felt weird knowing so much about two of his three dads, and so he really wanted to know more about Yasopp. Now he knew he was one of the best shots out there, and that he worked under Red-Haired Shanks as his sniper.

He knew Luffy wanted to be a pirate. It’s something that Usopp can’t remember Luffy not wanting to be. He wanted them all to be his crew too, with the Sunny as his ship. That’s why he fell into a little fear depression after Jimbei said he was with another pirate. Usopp knows about fear, but he also knows about courage. To keep going even when you’re terrified and your knees keep shaking.

It’s always nicer when you have someone with you, someone you know who will catch you and be with you. He promised that he would be Luffy’s Sniper after hearing about Yasopp. He started practising with his slingshot so he could be there for Luffy.

Luffy was his little brother after all, and it was a big brother’s job to look after his younger siblings and keep them happy. Though he can admit he did want to be captain, he’ll let Luffy take the role, he’d never say it but it’s a bit too scary for him. However, he can’t be sure that the others will just let Luffy be Captain so easily. Or that they’d be willing to be pirates in the first place.

Usopp knew Nami feared Pirates more than anything; the only exceptions were Brook and Robin, and now also Jimbei. He didn’t know how she felt about Yasopp’s and Shanks’ crew though, since Luffy was friends with them and one of them was his dad he knew she thought of them higher than other pirates out there.

They’d probably need to prove themselves good pirates to her somehow. Too many pirates are the bad sort of pirates that almost killed her. That poisoned and killed Brook’s crew, leaving him stranded in the Florian Triangle. That takes advantage of and then sells Robin out. That demeans and insults Jimbei and even would Chopper if they knew about him just because they’re different.

Still, at least Nami knows that Luffy, that any of them, would never be like that. At least, not to people who don’t prove they deserve it.

Zoro and Sanji had been sparring in the very early mornings. Unfortunately for them, Chopper had a good nose. Even if it were blue.

So he busted them by telling Robin and Nami. Robin’s disappointed stare and Nami’s fists were enough to make sure they at least grab Brook to oversee them and to always come visit Chopper afterwards.

After it delayed breakfast a second time and Luffy found out about it, the once secretive spars were forced to after breakfast and all the kids got to join in. Chopper is often the winner, but changing between forms and the massive size and bulk of his human form put him on a different tier from the rest.

Usopp stayed firmly at the bottom until he started bringing his slingshot. Invigorated by tales of his biological father, he started approaching fights differently.

By running away, climbing the rigging, and just generally staying out of the way of even Zoro’s training swords and Nami’s staff. Luffy could climb better though, and Sanji was the fastest runner except when Chopper was in his reindeer form. So even though he was now trying to get distance so he could pick them off, it didn’t always work.

It didn’t stop Usopp from being his favourite patient since he’d actually come to him for help, but then he kept complaining about his bedside manner and that position was quickly taken by Nami.

Jimbei is his favourite of his parents though, and Brook’s included with that because otherwise, he’d be alone.

One day though, he realised that the Red Haired Pirates would have a doctor. They had to have one, otherwise, they’d be dead idiots! So he wrote some questions he had in a book and sent it with Luffy to give to whoever the doctor was.

When the book came back, it wasn’t just the doctor who wrote in it. Yasopp had some tips for Usopp’s training. The navigator included some tips for Nami. Lucky Roo and another for Sanji with cooking, although Chopper didn’t know who was the cook or if they both were. Luffy had said Lucky Roo liked food so he was at least an enthusiast and kind of expert.

But Luffy likes food too and no one would let him cook so Sanji was rightfully cautious about it.

Shanks even threw in a few tips himself, mostly with some single style sabre sword style combat. That didn’t really fit Brook’s fencing style or Zoro’s dual wielding sword style, but Zoro red the advice anyways. Sanji had disarmed him of at least one of his swords multiple times, and Nami was quickly learning how to do the same with her staff.

Chopper felt a lot better with Zoro knowing both. He worried him the most, not even Luffy was as bad a patient as him! Although, Sanji did seem to always be the most injured.

Maybe he was actually more worried about his eldest brother instead, at least for now.

Chapter Text

Luffy didn’t like how Shanks and his crew always looked down on him. He wasn’t that strong yet but that’s why he wanted them to take him with them. How else was he going to get strong without Grampa’s help? He didn’t want to train with him, he was scary.

He figured out that Shanks wouldn’t take him unless he was tougher, so he grabbed a knife and headed to where they were docked. He’d prove he was tough, and then Shanks would take him along!

“I’ve had it with you guys! Now you’ll have to take me seriously!” He held his dagger high. “This is how tough I am!”

He shoved the knife underneath his left eye. It really hurt! Not that he said so or showed it. He had to get stitches to help heal it and it was going to scar but he didn’t mind. He chose under the left eye because Grampa had a scar around that eye and he was the toughest guy he knew.

After the Red-Haired Pirates patched Luffy up they went to Makino’s bar and they toasted to his courage. It cheered him up a bit. Though he didn’t like how Shanks still looked down on him and made fun of him. Juice and milk are nice drinks anyway, and the adults were strict after Zoro got into the sake that no one was allowed alcohol until they were much older.

He didn’t seem to believe that he could become a good pirate, just because he couldn’t swim that well. He was trying to get better damn it. He took lessons with the others on how to swim from Jimbei and Franky; they were both really good swimmers. Though Jimbei did seem to be slowly despairing at how he couldn’t even stay afloat by himself. Apparently, Robin was like that once.

Luffy really didn’t like how Shanks tricked him with the milk. Brook was a pirate and he drank tea, and tea had milk in it so it should have been fine. Besides, milk strengthened the bones and healed them quicker; Brook was proof enough of that.

Mr First Mate tried to comfort him but it didn’t really work. Luffy knew Shanks just wanted to make him look dumb. Shanks even admitted to it.

Being more serious, Luffy asked how much longer Shanks was going to be staying at the village, turns out that after two or three more trips they were going to leave for good. He then promised Shanks that he would learn to swim better by the time he leaves, so then he could go with them.

The faster he goes to sea, the sooner he could meet and save his family.

He finished his meal and saw it.

Inside of a chest was a purple round fruit with swirly patterns on it. Luffy didn’t really think before grabbing it and taking a bite of the disgusting fruit. It was in a treasure chest! Why did it taste so revolting? But he swallowed the bite and finished the fruit, after what happened to Nami, Sanji enforced that they were to not waste food no matter what.

A loud slam made him look to the doorway. Standing there were a bunch of men that, other than one of them, were all wearing the same thing. He always found that weird, if pirates were free then why did they all seem to wear uniforms? Shanks’ crew didn’t but even he said most crews did. He wasn’t going to make his crew have a uniform, they can keep their own style.

The only one not wearing the same outfit walked right up to the counter and announced who they were: Mountain Bandits. They then asked for some grog and Makino told them they were out. The guy wasn’t happy and a few things were said before Shanks offered them a bottle of unopened beer. Then it happened.

The mountain bandit broke the bottle of beer and spilled it all over Shanks. The guy was obviously angry, but that didn’t give him the right to do that to Shanks.

Luffy’s image of Shanks started to fracture as Shanks ignored the bandit and apologised to Makino about the mess. Why wasn’t he fighting back? He was strong! Much stronger than the rude bandit, he knew it! The bandit then broke more stuff and headed out calling Shanks a coward. Why wasn’t Shanks' crew doing anything? Laughing broke out and he snapped.

“You think it’s funny?!” The laughing stopped and they all looked at him. “He made you look like a weakling! Why didn’t you fight him?!” Luffy didn’t understand. “Sure they outnumbered you, and maybe they looked pretty tough but you’re all really strong too, but what kind of man lets himself be treated like that then laughs about it? You’re a disgrace to all pirates!” Didn’t he have any pride? Zoro always said pride was good.

Shanks just told him that he’d understand when he grows up, but Zoro was older and argh. He’s just getting madder thinking about it. So Luffy turned and started stomping away, saying he was going to find a real role model. Shanks had grabbed him and he felt his arm stretch as he kept going.

He stared in shock, everyone around him panicking and asking if he had eaten the fruit he just had for dessert. They said it was the Gum-Gum fruit and that it was a devil fruit that made the eater's body become like rubber. He wasn’t going to be able to swim again.

Just like Robin who couldn’t swim even before eating her Devil Fruit. Just like Brook and Chopper.

He reacted a lot differently than people thought he would. He yelled out in happiness and announced that he was just like Brook, Robin, and Chopper. He couldn’t wait to tell them he had eaten the fruit so he willed himself to fall asleep as fast as he could.

As he fell asleep, he heard several noises of alarm and someone grabbing him before he could land on the floor. Which would have woken him straight back up, whoops.

He awoke in the men’s quarters on the Sunny when suddenly a thought struck him.

“Chopper’s going to kill me.”

Maybe he shouldn’t have stabbed himself. At least not in an easily noticeable place such as his face. Luffy didn’t like getting lectured by his baby brother, it was worse when he brought Robin in. He knew that Robin had a soft spot for Chopper, she always gave the reindeer food but she never gave him any. He still had no idea where Robin and Sanji got all the food from, he asked once but Sanji had just stared at him. He doesn’t know if Sanji actually heard him.

Luffy was stuck in a mental debate before Zoro suddenly woke up. He seemed a little surprised that he was awake but went into his hammock anyway. The look on his face was all he needed to spill everything that happened. He even pulled his cheeks out to prove he ate a devil fruit.

He got a big bruise on the top of his head after he said he stabbed himself in the face. Zoro did not look happy to know that.

Five minutes later, he told everyone else what happened and he was being checked over by Chopper for both the stab on his face and the bruises on the top of his head. Apparently, Zoro was actually able to use the Armament Haki Jimbei was trying to teach them.

Inwardly, Chopper was slightly more relieved after finding out about Luffy’s Devil Fruit. He was reminded that not all monsters are bad ones, there are still good ones who protect others.

Still, while he was happy to find out that blunt forces now don’t hurt Luffy as much and he’s now immune to bullets, he wasn’t happy with how they found that out. He didn’t see why Luffy even let Usopp shoot him as a means of training.

Jimbei had learnt his lesson. Somehow, the Dream knew who would eventually eat Devil Fruits and made them incapable of swimming entirely. However, that didn’t mean he’d leave it alone and accept it!

Shanks… One day Jimbei will get his hands on him for subjecting Luffy to that swim-less fate.

Perhaps, had Brook never eaten a Devil Fruit, then Jimbei could have taught him how to swim his way to freedom. But then again, he had died and would have stayed dead had he not eaten the Revive-Revive Fruit.

Jimbei wouldn’t even begin to try and imagine what life would have been like without Brook.