Two Dreams, One Adventure

Skeletons and Explosions

Everyone froze, but Luffy couldn't lie, so he was telling the truth. "Neh, what if it's a ghost?! It's creepy singing." They all waited in silence and heard the singing as well. Luffy had been telling the truth for sure.

Usopp and Chopper hid behind him. "Yohohoho~" the eerie voice sang. It echoed through the empty waters and space. Then the source of both the singing and the wood came into view. The fog was so thick it was hard to see until it was right there, but a huge ship came into view. It really was massive. "Ghost ship!" everyone screamed, some in terror, others in surprise or awe. Only two were in awe, Luffy the only happy one.

And it was clear the source of the singing was from it. "AHH! IT CAME OUT!" the three weakest members shrieked, hugging one another. Chopper ordered Luffy to come near them.

Zoro pointed out that people weren't afraid of Luffy unless he scared them away. If it was a ghost, why would it care about Luffy being scary? "B-B-But... no! Luffy, scare it off!" Luffy refused, wanting to see what it was. What if it was a talking skeleton? "That's not it, it has to be some sort of demon! Don't listen to its song, it'll curse you!"

Sanji said perhaps Luffy could befriend it then. Once Luffy stopped considering himself a demon when they discovered the red stone after the whale, it became fine to joke about. Luffy ran to the railing, wanting to see what was making the noise. A ghost ship with creepy singing... it definitely wasn't a human! Or at least, a regular one.

"On this ship... is there someone sailing on it?" Robin asked darkly.

"Hmph, if it's an enemy, I'll just cut it down." Luffy told him he had to wear his bandana with it. Nami demanded to know why he was so calm. "Because it's cool! I wanna go on it!"

"There's definitely something on it," Sanji said in a low voice. Then they saw the source of the singing. It really was a talking skeleton! He sang a song Luffy recognized from Shanks' crew. Bink's Sake. He was sipping tea. They were in shock and horror. Besides Luffy. When he started to rocket himself over, Franky grabbed his arm, pulling him back.

"Are you crazy?!"

"But! It's a talking! Skeleton! I'm definitely gonna go see it!" Luffy said predictably. Zoro said he couldn't go on his own. They should draw straws. See who was going to go with him. "I can go by myself." Everyone disagreed, so they drew straws, and Sanji and Nami were the ones to accompany him, much to Nami's horror.

She cried as they climbed the rope net hanging over the side of the severely damaged ship housing the skeleton. It was the only one he could hear on the ship. And did he mention the thing had an afro?! Amazing! How could a skeleton have hair? Sanji swore to protect Nami as they climbed over the side of the ship.

"This could be a treasure ship, and the skeleton is guarding it, Nami!" Luffy said brightly, grinning as they climbed. She didn't agree with this.

"Can you smell it?"

"Smells like mold!"

"Ah, it's moldy?! No!" Nami shouted, tears down his cheeks. Maybe it was the whole ship that smelled like mold, though. It was old and damaged badly, after all. They didn't make it to the deck before the skeleton looked over the side. Nami shrieked and Luffy grinned. They were sure now, it was the source of the singing and could actually move. But how?! Amazing!

Luffy thought it would be awesome to have a skeleton on his crew. Then they'd have a mystery creature, a talking reindeer, a cyborg and a walking, talking skeleton. That would be amazing, his crew would be so unique and diverse. Who would the final tenth member be? What kind of thing, what kind of person? What if they got a pet? Then they could have more. And Chopper could talk to it, too.