Summary:
Brook commits to the Straw Hat Pirates and becomes their ninth member while the crew goes about their business in the Thriller Bark and continues on their journey.
Brook told Monkey D. Luffy that he was truly glad to be alive despite the trials he had experienced since his revival over 50 years ago. Brook asked if Luffy’s original invitation to join the Straw Hat Pirates was still open, and Luffy accepted him as part of the crew. All of the straw pirates were shocked by this, except for Roronoa Zoro, who was sleeping, and Nico Robin, who knew that Luffy would accept him no matter what, but welcomed him into the crew anyway. Brook fully introduced himself and revealed himself to be a wanted pirate, with a bounty of 33,000,000 Beli, although it is highly unlikely that the marines would identify him from the bones.
Two days later, Usopp and Franky made a grave for the dead Rumbar Pirates. Brook is glad that his comrades finally have a place to rest, especially since the soil in Thriller Bark comes from their native West Blue; The Thousand Sunny wasn’t big enough to hold their remains anyway. He then spent some time playing the violin when Zoro arrived. Zoro then placed the broken Yubashiri in the grave and joined Brook in his mourning. Zoro and Brook finally had a chance to get to know each other; Zoro teasingly pitied the skeleton, saying that he was now part of the crazy crew.
Finally, the Straw Hats were ready to leave. Lola told everyone she wished they could party just a little longer. Franky told her that the Thriller Bark’s Association could use Brook’s boat, on which he had repaired the rudder and sails. Lola asks Franky to marry her, but he politely declines, saying she’s “too cool” to work out. Lola then gave Nami a Vivre card that shows the way to her mother, a pirate in the New World.
Luffy pulled out a piece of paper he had been given by his brother, Portgas D. Ace, which also turned out to be a Vivre Card. To their surprise, Ace’s card was burning and shrinking, a sign that Ace’s life was in danger. As Luffy and his crew sailed away, three huge and mysterious figures appeared in the mist, looking through the Thriller Bark. The victims decided to set sail the next day.
Nami asked Luffy if it was okay to sail knowing that Ace might be in danger. Brook said he didn’t mind the detour, while others like Franky expressed interest in taking Brook directly to Laboon. Believing that Ace could get out of trouble on his own, Luffy decided to head forward rather than go save him. He says Ace doesn’t like looking weak and wanted to face him in the New World at full strength as an opponent. The Straw Hats share another toast to Brook as Zoro was asleep during the first one and take the Coup de Burst as a jump start to their next adventure.