A Bird's Journey - A One Piece Fan Fiction About Soul King Brook (Hiatus)

Prologue: The Unlikely Beginning

After a year and a half of training to become the next ruler of this country it still didn't feel like me or my brother Derek belonged. My mother hated our guts especially mine for whatever reason I have yet to discover. My father was usually distant but praised me when I did something he liked. As for my brother he wasn't my brother by blood just we had been abandoned in the woods together since the day we were born 4 years ago. My name I prefer to go by is Sparhawk like the bird. Anyway this island is so cold if you're not careful then it's possible to freeze to death, so most people don't sleep too often if at all. Any on with the story.

On the way back from having a snowball fight with Derek deep in the woods we were racing back to the castle the fastest way we knew. The reason was there were nobles coming to visit from another island in the West Blue and we had left without telling anybody. We had also lost track of the time. As we were rushing by one of the main paths through the trees I saw the nobles that were heading for the castle and saw a skinny, really curly haired boy not much bigger than us with a collar on his neck. I stopped. This boy intrigued me with his curly hair. I had only ever heard about curly hair never actually seeing it before.

With Derek behind me I walked up to them and gave my name before asking who the boy was. The fat man decorated with many jewels said I was rather rude and that the boy was his slave and said he'd make the 2 of us ones too if we didn't get out of the way. I apologized winked at the boy before going back to the woods making it a bit ahead of the carriage and throwing snowballs from a couple different angles with Derek without hitting the boy. Then we ran back to the castle again as the noble was shaking his fist and yelling in anger.

Back at the castle we got changed to host the guests. We were a bit late to the proceedings because we also got scolded by the Captain of the guards who we just called Cap. We snuck in and I made my way to sit next to my parents as Derek acted as my shadow from a safe distance (since he was in training to be my retainer) just as the noble was introduced. He was introduced as Lord Iroh. Making sure he looked courteous and well off he had brought a gift of a bejeweled sword to show his wealth. He had the boy present it. The king looked at me and nodded to tell me to go get the sword in thanks.

I looked at the boy and smiled said to the noble, "We graciously accept this gift." Lord Iroh looked at me intensely and said it was a trifle thing. Not to worry about it. Things soon wrapped up quickly and dinner was served. After finishing eating I went up to the noble and asked politely if I could speak with the boy.

He spoke in a hushed tone, "I don't know what you're up to you little brat but you won't get away with insulting me like you did earlier." Then just about to slap the boy he yelled "Such an insolent disrespectful child. You don't know you're place you filthy peasant!" Clearly trying to upset me I stepped in the way and took the blow. The entire room was shocked.

I got up and told him, "No living thing should be treated like they weren't worth anything. That respect was earned not expected due to a person's station." Which further angered him and he was about to strike again the king walked over and grabbed his hand. He said, "My daughter has sounder judgment than you and she's 4." Then proceeded to ask what my intentions were from there. I simply stated that I wanted the boy to be my companion.

They worked something out so that the boy would stay and Lord Iroh never returned to darken our door. I then asked my father if myself, Derek and the boy could be excused. We were and we went to my room. We took off the boy's chains and properly introduced ourselves. Turned out he was 2 and his name was Brook. All he had ever known was working for Lord Iroh. He didn't know what his purpose was. I told him that I would be starting to learn how to fight better soon on top of all my lessons and Derek was an excellent fighter already but still learning. So when he would be our friend and usually be with one or both of us. He could learn what he wanted to as well.

Brook was rather terrified at the thought of it all and started freaking out. I went up to him and slapped him and said he was being crazy and hugged him tight to showed I cared. He eventually calmed down and said he had a love of music but wasn't too good at it. I said that is perfect he could learn to be a musician. Brook was confused but went with it. All the while Derek was amused in the corner as things unfolded.

So our different studies continued, Brook learning music, Derek fighting and etiquette, and myself just about everything for a couple years. Brook had started to take basic sword technique in the last six months as well. The three of us had also become quite inseparable. Me and Derek were always getting into trouble and Brook trying to talk us out of it when we had free time. I always took the blame though. What we soon found out something that would change everything.

Since the queen, my mother hated me so much she used to beat me with a whip every so often. This time after I was bandaged up she told me the reason she hated me and Derek so much. She said that I had 12 older brothers who had fled days before I was born under threat of death if I was born a girl. And she couldn't bear to look at me because she loved them so. She also couldn't understand how i could call an abomination like Derek my brother. So she said that if I didn't leave she didn't know what she'd do next time she saw me.

I ran and found the boys and said we have to leave now and that my mother was the wrong kind of crazy. We packed up what we could; food, money, some basic medical supplies, water, some small weapons, and clothing. We were able to sneak out one of the secret passageways no one else knew about and made it a to port. Just as we were boarding a ship when the castle guards came to take us back alive at any cost.

Derek and Brook shared a look and Brook got me on the ship while Derek was fighting the guards off saying he'd catch up as soon as he could. Brook paid the Captain of the ship what money we had grabbed to set sail. When we were some distance from the port we saw Derek go down. I almost jumped ship. A few of the crew stopped me saying there wasn't anything I could do for him now.

When we were far enough away they let me free. I started yelling before Brook grabbed me and hugged me to calm me down. It calmed me down slightly. Then he started singing a silly song that we had made up and had me laughing. So I was only kinda worried about Derek, but knew from experience that even injured he could take care of himself.

We then were sailing with the crew for about a week trying to figure out how we were going to find my biological brothers. Suddenly there was cannonfire along the starboard side. I grabbed a couple of scimtars (short slightly curved swords) we had brought and Brook grabbed a longsword off one of the sleeping crew members. He was having some trouble with the weight but managed. We snuck up on deck to see what the ruckus was and there stood a man with long blond hair wearing a long black and red coat. He turned around and locked his deep purple eyes on us.