Epilogue

One Piece © Oda

Blizzard © Me

Sunset.

The Straw Hats, as well as Schneider and Buzz, had been resting for a quite a while after the day's events. When they had found Schneider's ship, they knew it was time for them to say their farewells.

"Dammit, Buzz," Schneider cursed as he petted Buzz, who was in his hybrid form. "Look at you, doing something as reckless as that!"

Whimper! Buzz whined.

"But you know, sir," said Brook, "you look surprisingly healthier, now, don't you?"

"Yeah, I know," Schneider agreed. "It's kind of odd how I just stopped coughing up blood, like that, huh?"

"Now that you mention it, mister," said Chopper as he reached into his pocket, "this came out of your mouth earlier when you ran out of the sick bay."

SHING! Chopper revealed the object to be a twisted fork.

Schneider gasped.

"Hey!" he said. "I remember now!"

Flashback

Schneider was eating a big heaping plate of noodles with two forks. However, when he grabbed a bottle of cheap wine, he didn't realize that he had his eyes closed, and that when he ate the noodles, he accidentally ate the fork that was in his right hand, as well!

"That's the fork I thought I lost when I was eating spaghetti last week!"

Flashback end

"It looks like it caused the bleeding when it got lodged in your throat," said Chopper.

"What?" Schneider questioned. "That's it? BA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!"

"You should've known that, old man," Usopp muttered.

"Good grief," said Nami. "Just how carefree can these guys be, anyway? They act like that, even after the mess we've just been through."

"That's fine, isn't it?" asked Robin. "After all, our captain did get his hat back."

"True," agreed Nami. "Not just that, but he's back to his old self, again." She rested her head in the palm of her hand, remembering the kiss that Luffy gave her after she had repaired his hat.

"Even so," said Franky, who sat on the bench in front of the steering wheel, "who would've thought that a dog could turn into an eagle after eating a Devil Fruit?"

"The Bird-Bird Fruit; Eagle Model, I believe it's called," said Robin.

FWAP! FWAP! The sound of beating wings is heard. Buzz, in his eagle form, rose up from the deck with Schneider on his back. The two flew to their ship and landed on the upper deck.

They looked up the Thousand Sunny's figurehead, where Luffy, whose hat was resting back on its rightful place, and Blizzard are resting.

"Straw Hat!" Schneider called.

"Hmm?" Luffy hummed as he and Blizzard lifted their heads up.

"Sorry to have bothered you," said Schneider.

"What?" Luffy asked. "You guys are leaving, already?"

"Yep," Schneider answered. "I'm thinking about giving pirating another try with Buzz, over here. Right, Buzz?"

Ruff! Buzz barked, having gone back to his dog form, wagging his tail happily.

"If we meet again," said Schneider, "don't expect us to go easy on you, you hear?"

"Yeah!" Luffy said. "We'll take you on, anytime! Right, Blizzard?"

Woof! Blizzard barked in agreement.

Schneider grinned before he walked to the helm.

"See ya around," he said.

Buzz was about to follow, but then…

ARF! Blizzard barked at him.

Buzz looked up to the wolf-dog, who gave a toothy smirk, which he returned.

"Buzz!" Schneider called. "What are you waiting for? Let's go!"

RUFF! Buzz barked before he ran off after him.

The sails were unfurled, and soon, Schneider and Buzz were ready to set sail.

"Ready to go, Buzz?" asked Schneider.

Arf! Buzz barked.

And so, Schneider and Buzz sailed off, together, but not before giving these final parting words.

"Straw Hat!" Schneider called.

"Hmm?" Luffy hummed, questioningly.

"You take good care of that hat of yours!"

ARROOOOOOOOOO~! Buzz howled.

A pause.

Then, Luffy grinned and chuckled.

"You bet I will!" he said.

THE END

Well, that's the end!

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