Memory Seahorse

The Memory Seahorse hopped laboriously toward the village, its tail already a little worn.

"Once my ability gets stronger, I'm going to control someone and make them carry me around all day. I never want to hop again."

The Memory Seahorse was on the verge of tears. It was still too young, still growing by devouring memories, and couldn't control a human yet.

At last, it reached the village. Most of the people were already asleep, making it much easier to devour their memories.

The Memory Seahorse quietly approached a house. Even from outside the window, it could draw memories from the sleeping humans. Strands of glowing, colorful memories floated toward its mouth.

Tasty, but these humans' memories were too ordinary. They still didn't taste the way it had imagined. It could only eat its fill and grow slowly. Who knew how long it would take to devour enough memories to become a flying Millennium Dragon?

Brook had already activated Life Detection and was waiting for the monster to appear. After circling the village, he spotted the sneaky pink Memory Seahorse. It was even smaller than he'd expected.

"Does it taste good?"

Brook asked the little seahorse, which was completely focused on eating.

The Memory Seahorse gave a serious nod, but then it suddenly turned around and saw a human over two meters tall. His icy blue gaze seemed to radiate a chill, frightening it so badly that it scrambled and hopped toward its lair.

But the little seahorse's hopping speed was truly pitiful. Brook walked over, picked it up, and examined it with curiosity.

"I didn't expect you to be so small. You're not grown up yet, are you? You can understand me, right? From now on, you're coming with me. I'll take you to eat even more powerful and delicious memories!"

Brook stared at the pink seahorse with its special ability. He couldn't help wanting to raise it; it would probably be quite useful in the future.

Feeling the icy chill from this strange man's hand, the Memory Seahorse quickly nodded. If it refused, would he squeeze it to death on the spot? I'm still a baby! I've only been devouring memories for less than a month.

Brook was pleased with the Memory Seahorse's attitude and hung it on his shoulder. It immediately curled its tail around his clothes to keep itself from falling.

"These villagers' memories are too ordinary. They won't help you grow much. I'll take you out to sea and let you eat pirates' memories instead."

Brook's words made the Memory Seahorse nod frantically, as if it had just latched onto a rich patron.

Shakky was curious when Captain Brook returned from his outing with a pink seahorse.

"So this is the monster that eats memories?"

"It's going to be our companion from now on." Brook introduced it, letting them get acquainted and learn about one another's abilities.

"Memory Seahorse, don't you dare go after your companions!" Brook warned the seahorse that could devour memories.

"How amazing. I never knew there was a creature like this," Antonio exclaimed.

"You're one to talk. You're a Devil Fruit User who can communicate with Den Den Mushi," Shakky said, envious and a little exasperated.

"Shakky, what kind of Devil Fruit would you like in the future?" With his foreknowledge of the story, Brook figured he ought to be able to get his hands on a Devil Fruit that would otherwise have belonged to someone else. By then, he'd have a bit of power and influence himself.

"I want a Devil Fruit that lets me run fast. Then I'll be able to protect myself!" Shakky thought for 0.01 seconds before answering.

"I understand. If I can, I'll find the Rumble-Rumble Fruit for you. It's a top-tier Logia Devil Fruit, with incredible speed and destructive power!"

Brook wanted to visit Sky Island to look for the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. He wondered if it had already reincarnated on Birka Island.

"Captain, you're not joking, are you? That's a Logia Devil Fruit! You'd really give it to me? Even if you would, there's no way you could find it. You're just making things up!"

Shakky knew it was impossible, but she was still moved by Brook's idea and his earnest attitude.

"All right, get some rest. We'll set out again tomorrow!"

The next day.

After resting up, Brook and the others set out early in the morning. Their pirate ship sailed out of the harbor, and the Memory Seahorse went to sea aboard a ship for the first time.

"Shakky, Antonio, you both need to train your martial arts too. You can't afford to be weak."

As an information hunter, Shakky had a solid foundation and the potential to become a powerful woman. She was already strong enough to take on a Navy lieutenant. Antonio, on the other hand, was quite weak. Why hadn't the Den Den Mushi Devil Fruit greatly enhanced his physical abilities? Instead, it had strengthened his ability to communicate with Den Den Mushi.

"Understood, Captain Brook. I won't hold you back!"

Antonio had nearly been sold into slavery, and he now understood that this world was ruled by strength. Without powerful combat abilities, it was all too easy to end up in chains.

"Captain, we've corrected our course toward Water 7. We just need to keep sailing in the direction of the Eternal Pose."

Shakky checked the Eternal Pose on her wrist and spoke with confidence.

The sky was clear and bright. The pirate ship sailed with the sea breeze as Brook began developing his Revive-Revive Fruit, while Shakky and Antonio started their physical training.

The pink Memory Seahorse watched the sea, hoping pirates would appear. Captain Brook had said that if they took down pirates, it would get to devour plenty of exciting memories.

"Haha! Captain, those old shipwrights never expected us to sail out on our new ship, then double back and rob them too!"

A pirate officer laughed. It seemed they'd made quite a haul by robbing the shipyard that had built their new ship.

"The Navy calls us the most vicious pirate crew now."

The captain of the Smokescreen Pirates, Smog Yimi, was a Smog Devil Fruit User who could release great clouds of knockout smoke and take down his opponents without breaking a sweat. He was a despicable pirate with a bounty of 150 million Beli, and one of this year's Supernovas.

"Those shipwrights had the nerve to take our money. If I didn't rob them, how could I live up to my title as the most vicious pirate? Smog-ha-ha!"

"Captain, there's a pirate ship ahead. It doesn't seem to be flying a flag!" the lookout reported to Yimi, speaking loudly through his spyglass.

"Which little pirate crew is that? There don't seem to be many of them. Are they pirates who escaped from somewhere? Let's go rob them!"

Even a tiny bit of money was worth taking. Since it would be easy enough to deal with them, Yimi made his decision and quickly gave the order.

Meanwhile, Brook and the others had spotted the big, new ship. They could also see the pirates' flag.

"Captain Brook, this is bad. That's Smog Yimi, with a bounty of 150 million Beli. Do you think you can beat him? If not, we should get out of here!"

Shakky knew just how despicable and cruel the Smokescreen Pirates were. Few of their opponents survived, and the Smog Devil Fruit was a real pain to deal with.

"It's fine. I'm not afraid of poisonous smoke!"

Brook's revived Underworld Body wasn't affected by smoke that acted on the physical body. He was practically immune to most toxins, except for highly corrosive poisons.

_(You provided "One Piece: Hell Brook" by Great God Great Karma Fire.)_