The Ship of Nightmares
The mist rolled in like a wall, swallowing the horizon. Heaven's Embrace glided forward, its dragon-woman figurehead glowing faintly in the gloom. Even with the runes lighting their way, the fog felt alive — a creeping thing that clung to the hull.
Nami hugged her arms. "I don't like this."
Bell-mère smirked. "You think this is bad? I've sailed through storms that could snap a battleship."
Nojiko glanced at Vegito, who stood at the bow with an amused glint in his eyes. "You're enjoying this."
"It's a haunted island," Vegito said with a grin. "It's supposed to be creepy."
First Contact — The Gentleman Skeleton
They saw the lantern first — a faint orange glow weaving through the fog ahead. Then came the voice, faint but clear, singing a jaunty tune that didn't match the eerie atmosphere.
A tall shadow stepped into view, cane tapping on the deck of a small, ramshackle boat. The fog parted just enough to reveal… a walking skeleton in a tattered suit and afro.
"Yohohoho! May I come aboard?" the skeleton called cheerfully. "And may I also see your—"
Vegito raised a hand. "Finish that sentence and you're going overboard."
The skeleton froze. "…Ah. A pity. My name is Brook, by the way."
The Offer
Brook explained his situation between jokes — the Revive-Revive Fruit, his missing shadow, and the island ruled by a warlord named Gecko Moria.
When Brook mentioned Laboon, Vegito's grin widened. "Small world. We've got your old friend on board. He's waiting for you."
Brook's jaw literally dropped. "Y-you have… Laboon?!"
"He's in my ship's storage dimension," Vegito said. "You get your shadow back, you can see him."
Brook straightened, a fire in his empty sockets. "Then let us set sail for my shadow!"
Thriller Bark
The fog thinned enough to reveal the silhouette — an island-sized ship with jagged towers, chains thicker than trees, and a gaping maw of a gate. Even Heaven's Embrace seemed small beside it.
"Looks like Halloween threw up on a battleship," Bell-mère muttered.
The crew disembarked onto the cracked courtyard, mist curling around their ankles. Shapes moved in the gloom — zombies, some staggering, others leaping with unnatural speed.
Kuina drew her blade. "Finally, a warm-up."
Perona's Entrance
A pale girl in a frilly Gothic Lolita dress floated into view, parasol over her shoulder, three ghostly figures bobbing at her side. Her smirk was pure mischief.
"You're not supposed to be here," she said. "So I'll just make you miserable!"
Her ghosts shot forward — only to stop midair as Vegito caught them between two fingers like they were soap bubbles.
"Huh," he said. "Cute."
Perona blinked. "They're supposed to drain your will!"
"Lady," Vegito said, "I'm a Saiyan. We don't do giving up."
Cindry's Awakening
In another wing of the mansion, the crew stumbled upon a tall, beautiful woman with green hair and lifeless eyes, moving like a puppet.
Robin's brow furrowed. "She's… dead. But not."
Vegito's eyes softened. "Not for long."
With a touch, his ki flared, washing over Cindry. Her eyes widened, color returning to her cheeks. She stumbled, then looked around in confusion.
"…I'm alive?"
"Welcome back," Vegito said with a smile. "Name's Vegito. You're free now."
Cindry looked at him, then at the crew, and for the first time in decades… she smiled.
The Fight with Moria
Deep in the castle, Gecko Moria awaited — massive, hulking, his laugh echoing off the stone. "Kishishishi! You've come for your friend's shadow? Then you'll have to fight me!"
Vegito didn't answer with words. He was across the room in an instant, fist slamming into Moria's gut hard enough to launch him through two walls and into the courtyard outside.
The shadow came free from its prison, streaking back to Brook.
Brook's Song
On the deck of Heaven's Embrace, Brook's shadow merged with his body. He took a deep breath — his first full one in years — and laughed.
"Laboon," he said softly.
Vegito opened the storage dimension, and the massive whale's joyful cry shook the air. Brook leapt onto his old friend's head, laughing and crying at once.
The crew watched in silence, some smiling, others blinking back tears.
Perona's Decision
Later, as they prepared to leave, Perona drifted down from a balcony.
"…You're leaving?" she asked, not quite meeting Vegito's eyes.
"Yeah. Want to come?" he asked simply.
She blinked, startled. "…You'd take me? Just like that?"
"Only if you want to," he said. "No strings."
Her lips quirked into a small smile. "…Fine. But only because I hate this place."
[Crew Roster Updated]
Vegito (Captain)
Bell-mère (Crew Mother / Fighter)
Nami (Navigator)
Nojiko (Support Fighter)
Kaya (Doctor – Heal-Heal Fruit User)
Kuina (Swordswoman)
Reiju (Combat Medic / Poison Specialist)
Nico Robin (Archaeologist / Poneglyph Reader)
Vivi (Princess of Alabasta)
Zala (Miss Doublefinger – Martial Artist)
Mikita (Miss Valentine – Aerial Combat, Slow-Slow Fruit)
Kalifa (Martial Artist – Bubble-Bubble Fruit)
Brook (Musician / Swordsman)
Perona (Ghost Princess)
Victoria Cindry (Revived – Combat Maid)
Next Destination: A fateful meeting with Ace… and news that will shake the seas.