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

Part 15: The Odd Encounter

3 years later... Brook's Point of View...
About 6 months ago I left home alone joining the Rumbar Pirates crew. It bothered me about the circumstances of Sparhawk's death. I told the kids that I just didn't believe their mother/aunt was dead and they'd be left in their uncle's care for the time being.

She must of washed up on a shore somewhere. I really couldn't shake the feeling she was alive. Luckily I found a good bunch of men who love music like me. Even though I'm traveling to find my wife I'll follow my captain's orders. I do miss my children dearly but I know they're in good hands.

We were running short on supplies when we come across a pirate crew known as the Cutthroat Pirates. A crew that had started up just about 2 and 1/2 years ago. The crew consisted of a few fishmen which isn't too common around these parts and the rest were humans.

We were weak from near starvation because we hadn't been able to catch fish lately. So we weren't that good at fighting back when they boarded. Their captain called for parley because he say how weak we were. He jumped on deck with 2 young ones in his arms like it was nothing. I then got a good look at him.

Their captain was a well built man, had a short blonde beard that covered the lower half of his face, wore an eye patch over his one eye covering most of a scar there, and a scar circling his entire neck. He wore a red bandana on his head, a lose black shirt, a pair of black gloves, and two swords at his hip. The eye that was uncovered though seemed for a minute might be a dark purple for a second but it must have been my mind playing tricks on me because it turned out to be a dark blue.

"Men let's show these men some hospitality and share some food with them until we get their food and ours restocked at the nearest island. They seem to need it more than we do." Cutthroat said. "You men can call me Sparrow. Like the bird. It's what I go by. I prefer it a lot more than Cutthroat."

"Honestly, not what I expected from someone with scars and a name like that." Yorki was a little suspicious at first. "What do you want in return?" Yorki asked him.

"You are the Rumbar Pirates, no? How about we bring the food and drink you bring the music until we part ways? Don't always believe a person's epithet given by the Navy. I help those that need it. I only got the name Cutthroat because of my cut throat. So what do you say?" Sparrow asked.

"I believe we have a deal Sparrow." Yorki replied. "Brook you want to play that song I love?"

"Aie, aie Captain Yorki sir!" I replied with a sing-song voice. The rest of our musicians soon joined in. Soon everyone was singing.

We stopped for a bit to eat the continued with even the 2 kids dancing on their feet. Mind you with the help of Sparrow, whom they seemed extremely close to.

It was nightfall now and mostly everyone was asleep. Sparrow had just tucked the 2 kids in his quarters. He noticed I was still awake and hopped over letting what few crew members of his that were awake handle the ship.

Then he walked over to me leaned against the railing and asked, "Do you want to talk?"

I told him, "Alright."

He commented, "The stars look amazing tonight. They remind me of something. I simply can't remember what they remind me of." He also said, "You seem pretty familiar too but I'm not sure why."

"It's probably not the hair. Most of the crew will tease me about it. But there is something about you too but I can't place it. Maybe the eyes I thought at one point." I replied.

"Well, maybe we used to know each other when we were younger or we were just meant to meet. Whatever the case it was a pleasure to meet you. We'll be to the island by morning. I'll be up for a while yet if you want to talk more but make sure to get some sleep. The rest of my crew will be in bed soon. I usually get teased I'm a night hawk or an owl." He said. "Besides I kinda like your hair." He started heading back to his ship.

"Hold on a second." I said. "Did you ever have any siblings or anything like that?"

"Except for the past few years I have no memories of who I was before. A young man named Newgate saved me from death though." He replied. "Anything else? Someone has to man my ship the rest of the night."

"That's everything for now I guess." I answered. "The stars are beautiful tonight. Goodnight though. I guess we'll talk tomorrow then."

"Alright. Goodnight sweet dreams good sir." He said before I went off to bed.

The next morning...
We finally make it to the island and both ships stock up on supplies. Then we have one more party before we part ways. Most of us were still hesitant to trust the fishman but we treated them kindly because that's how they treated us earlier.

"Safe travels and hope we meet again someday." Sparrow yelled as they sailed away.

7 months later...
We're sailing along and we hear something crying out from the water. When we went to check what it was it was a small whale. I ask Yorki if we could sing him a song to cheer the little guy up after we all agreed he was cute. He came back the next day and we named him Laboon. From there on out he'd follow us around and help us out if one of us fell in the ocean. In return we'd sing songs, protect him from things bigger than him, and just have fun with him. He even followed us to the grandline despite our warnings.

When we parted ways with him and Crocus, the Lighthouse Keeper at the Twin Capes, it was a sad day, but we promised we'd be back as soon as we could. It made me start thinking how lonely Merlin and Magpie were without either me or Sparhawk there. It's been almost 4 years since I've seen the 2 of them. Jay probably misses us too. Even if he won't admit it.

As a result I ask Yorki if I could leave the ship and head home because I dearly missed my children. He agreed and said as soon as we came to an island where I could get a ship willingly to take me. Sadly, before that could happen illness struck Captain Yorki and half the crew and I was nominated the new Captain once we sent Yorki and them off.

3 months later...
We were sailing along when we were forced by a convoy of ships, flying Germa flags, into the Florian Triangle. They had many skilled archers that shot at us with poison tipped arrows. Most of them staying out of reach of us and our canons. With our numbers halved and morals low it was hardly a wonder we were taken down.

After damaging our rudder and leaving the rest of us to die from the poison I suggested, "Why don't we sing one last song for Laboon? Hoping that my devil fruit will actually be useful for once?"

Everyone that was left held on as long as they could so we could record the Rumbar Pirates greatest and final performance for our friend Laboon. One by one we all succumbed to the poison leaving me to finish the last of the song on my own before I too fell victim to the poison.