Even on his deathbed, Kozuki Oden clung to the belief that someone from the future would liberate Wano. He didn't trust his own strength when he returned to his homeland, refused help from Roger's crew, and wouldn't even beg Whitebeard's pirates for aid!
Even a bonehead like Straw Hat Luffy knows wars mean casualties and allies are crucial. Yet Oden caved when Orochi held a few civilians hostage, humiliating himself with five years of naked dancing!
What kind of logic was rattling around in that man's skull?
A Conqueror's Haki awakener, a man who'd sailed the seas, battled titans, and reached Laugh Tale—Oden was no weakling!
If he'd refused Roger and Whitebeard out of pride, fine. A warrior's dignity could justify that. But to throw it all away, groveling for five years over a handful of lives? Where'd that dignity scamper off to?
Five years. How many five-year stretches does a man get in life?
Sacrificing a few to save the many—isn't that the brutal truth of war?
Because of Oden's choices, Wano plunged into over two decades of darkness. His family shattered, his legacy tarnished. Poor Toki, who crossed 800 years to marry what she thought was a heroic legend, ended up with a dancing fool who couldn't protect his wife or kids.
In the end, Toki burned herself out—literally—using the Time-Time Fruit to fling that lecherous brat Momonosuke and a few retainers 20 years into the future.
She perished in flames, reduced to ash. Did anyone even bother to gather her remains? Did anyone remember that pitiful woman?
Her role seemed to be nothing more than birthing two heirs for the Kozuki clan, then fading away. Ten years with Oden: four spent raising kids, one alone while he gallivanted with Roger, five watching him prance naked in the Flower Capital's streets. Then, when he challenged Kaido and failed, she went up in smoke.
What kind of love kept her going? How could she stand by, unmoved, as her husband danced for five years, then willingly die?
Why not leap 20 years forward with Momonosuke, Kin'emon, Raizo, Kanjuro, and Kikunojo? Was there no "ticket" left for her? Did she choose to die for Oden's sake, or was she just a plot device, killed off for cheap tears? After all, that old geezer Oda once said mothers are the antithesis of adventure—most don't survive his pen.
In the One Piece world, mothers are either dead or barely get a cameo, their faces hidden in the shadows.
Nami's foster mom Bell-mère, Sanji's mother, Usopp's mom, Robin's mother Olvia, Ace's mom Rouge, Doflamingo's mom, Shirahoshi's mom Otohime, Rebecca's mom Scarlett...
...
"If this world's got some grand fate written in the stars, then I'm gonna shatter it!" Brook muttered, his voice dripping with defiance. "Even Sun God Nika got taken out 800 years ago, didn't he?
"The moment I set foot in this world, anyone standing in my way became my enemy—World Government, Marines, even Nika himself! I don't care who's born or what their destinies are. To me, there's only enemies and those loyal to me!"
Brook stormed out of the director's office, leaping to the canopy of the Tree of Knowledge. Perched atop its branches, he gazed over the sprawling land and sea, his grumbling carried away by the wind.
"Trash belongs in the bin. Nika's been dead for 800 years, yet he left behind all these prophecies and destinies, carved into the Poneglyphs! Even Sea King Poseidon Shirahoshi and Uranus's birth dates were set in stone. "
The more Brook thought, the darker his gaze grew. Nika's Rubber-Rubber Fruit—no, the Mythical Zoan: Nika Fruit—had a mind of its own, dodging the World Government's grasp. Only certain people, like D-clan member Straw Hat Luffy, could awaken it.
Brook refused to dance to Nika's tune or follow some 800-year-old script. Losers like Nika should become fuel for his power, a stepping stone to Brook's dominion over the world!
...
Whether Toki was handpicked by Nika 800 years ago to birth Momonosuke—the so-called chosen one, destined to command Zunesha—mattered little. Sweet or not, Brook would pluck that fruit from the tree to quench his thirst!
He'd stop Momonosuke's birth, snuff out the "child of destiny" before it began.
Next, he'd snatch the Rubber-Rubber Fruit from CP9, lock it in a Seastone chest for eternity, or feed it to one of his heirs, awakened or not.
Breaking this rotten 800-year prophecy was the goal. With Poseidon Shirahoshi and Pluton—hidden in Wano's ancient ruins—in his grasp, Brook would wield two Ancient Weapons. Add a crew of Emperor-level pirates, and he'd have the clout to challenge the World Government head-on.
Or he could go further. Any promising Marine he couldn't sway? He'd crush them in their cradle!
Akainu, Kizaru, Aokiji... If these brats weren't from Navy and wouldn't bend to him, they'd never grow up. He'd snuff them out—or wipe their memories!
...
Brook lingered atop the Tree of Knowledge, thoughts swirling until the sun dipped below the horizon and the moon climbed high.
Tonight, the sky was a velvet shroud, stars faint against a massive, radiant full moon. Brook's Soul Reaper emerged, basking in the eerie moonlight, as if it could cleanse his very soul.
Suddenly, his Soul Reaper bowed to the moon, a gesture so uncanny it sent chills down Brook's spine—figuratively, of course, since he was all bones!
Moon Worship?!
Did his Fruit have a mind of its own?!
"What the hell?!" Brook yelped, his voice cracking. "Fruit, don't you dare pull a Rubber-Rubber Fruit and turn out to be some Mythical Zoan: Nika Fruit wannabe! I don't need a sentient Devil Fruit!"
Brook tore his gaze from the moon, yanking his Soul Reaper back into himself. He bolted, too spooked to linger, terrified his spectral self might flash him a creepy grin.
...
Scrambling down from the Tree of Knowledge's crown, Brook forgot his second mount, Hera, and plummeted.
BOOM! A crater formed where he landed. He sprang out, startling nearby scholars.
Catching their stares, Brook forced himself to cool down, adopting his signature aloof swagger. He strolled toward the Golden Ark, exuding icy calm.
Inside, he groaned. Was I just freaking myself out? Now that he'd snapped out of it, he felt a bit foolish. He should've studied the phenomenon instead of running like a scared skeleton! What spooked him so bad?
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+240 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg