We're All Bones When We Die

In the Kingdom of Esperia, young Princess Shuri (age 14) stands tall with a massive sword resting on her shoulder. Narration boxes recount: '...UNTIL FIVE PRINCES OF NEARBY KINGDOMS HAD ASKED FOR HER HAND IN MARRIAGE.' and '...TALES OF HER BEAUTY HAD SPREAD... BY THE TIME THE PRINCESS OF ESPERIA WAS 14 YEARS OF AGE...'. Flashback panels show princes collapsing in defeat with cries of 'WHOA!!', 'I YIELD!!', 'WE'RE SO SORRY!!!', and 'YOU'RE SO WEAK!!!'. Shuri declares, '...OR MEN WHO CAN'T PLAY MUSIC!!' and 'I DON'T LIKE WEAK MEN...'. A shocked man yells 'MUSIC ?!!'. A sign identifies 'KINGDOM OF ESPERIA PRINCESS SHURI (AGE 14)'.

Princess Shuri, now older, smiles and says '...I'M A LOT STRONGER NOW...'. Brook stands beside her in his battle convoy uniform. She continues, 'WELL... I SURE DID! ♡ YOU LIKE STRONG WOMEN, DON'T YOU, BROOK?' and 'I HEAR YOU DEFEATED ALL THE PRINCES IN COMBAT, PRINCESS SHURI?'. Shuri blushes with hearts, replying 'I SUPPOSE YOU ARE. ...AND I'M A LOT CUTER. ♡'. Brook protests 'STOP THAT. IT'S UNDIGNIFIED.' and 'OH, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO TALK LIKE PAPA?!'. Shuri teases 'AND I BET MY CHEST WILL FILL OUT IN THE FUTURE TOO. ♡' while reaching toward him. Brook panics 'WHO'S UNDIGNIFIED NOW?!' and 'AHH, BEAUTEOUS LADIES! ♡ MIGHT I HAVE A GAUDER AT YOUR GARTERS? A PEEK AT YOUR PANTIES?'. A sign reads 'KINGDOM OF ESPERIA BATTLE CONVOY, COMMANDER BROOK (AGE 27)'.

Brook and Shuri perform together on a balcony overlooking the kingdom. Brook sings 'WE'RE ALL BONES IN THE END! ♪', 'COWS AND FROGS AND SLAVES AND KINGS. ♪', 'WE'RE ALL BONES WHEN WE DIE! ♪', '...SLAVES AND KINGS. ♪', and 'OHHH, COWS AND FROGS AND...'. Shuri joins with 'THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO SAY! ♪' and 'YEAH!!'. In a close-up, Brook strums his guitar with 'YO HO HO! ♪' and 'HA HA HA HA HA HA!'. Shuri laughs 'I LOVE ALL YOUR SONGS, BROOK!!'. She tells him 'IF I HADN'T MET YOUR FATHER... YES, I OWE HIM EVERYTHING.' and '...I'D BE NOTHIN' BUT BONES BY NOW♪♪♪'. Brook replies 'YOU REALLY LOVE PAPA, DON'T YOU, BROOK?' and 'YES, HIS MAJESTY SAID THE SAME THING!'. Shuri adds 'AND MAMA TOO, OF COURSE.'.

Young Brook, age eleven, peers excitedly through the bars of his cage labeled BROOK (AGE 11) at a music school. Inside, children play real instruments while he exclaims, "REAL INSTRUMENTS!! THEY SOUND SO PRETTY." A girl with a violin and other students practice as Brook grins, "HEH HEH! THEY'RE SO LUCKY..." Suddenly adults spot him and shout, "HEY!! YOU'RE SCARING ALL THE STUDENTS!!" "THE SHAME OF THE COUNTRY." "EW, WHAT A STENCH..." Brook flees in panic, "WAAAAH!! I'M SORRY!!" as townsfolk chase him with brooms. In a trash dump he sings to himself, "HOW AM I EVEN ALIIIVE? J EATING TOADS SO I CAN THRIVE! J ...WE'RE ALL STARVING AND SKIN AND BONES! J DAD AND MOM AND LITTLE BRO...J ONE DAY, WE'LL GET TO PLAY REAL MUSIIIIIC! J LET'S BLAME THE KING! J WE NEED A NEW KING! J" while a horned creature growls nearby.

The long-haired man questions the boy about his homemade violin, "THAT'S A VIOLIN? IT'S MY VIOLIN. AND...IS THAT...?" The boy replies, "I MADE IT OUT OF A GLASS BOTTLE AND SOME WIRE. DOESN'T IT SOUND NICE?" The man asks, "DID YOU MAKE THEM UP? THESE ARE TERRIBLE LYRICS..." The boy answers, "UH, SURE... WAY TO BE CREATIVE." The man bursts into laughter, "YO HO HO! I GUESS I'LL CALL YOU 'BRO' INSTEAD!" The boy is surprised, "WOW, YOU LOOK SO MUCH OLDER!! YO HO HO HO HO!!" The man admits, "BUT I'M NOT THAT OLD. I'M ONLY 21!! HA HA HA, MAYBE I AM." They continue talking as the boy offers, "ARE YOU A FAN OF MINE, OLD MAN? YOU CAME HERE BEFORE, RIGHT?" Later the boy explains his secret ingredient, "I STEAL IT FROM THE NAVY SHIPS THAT COME TO PORT EVERY NOW AND THEN! IT MAKES EVERYTHING YOU PUT IN TASTE LIKE CURRY!!" and the man cooks, "HERE, BRO, I'LL COOK YOU A MEAL AS A SIGN OF FRIENDSHIP!!"

The long-haired man eats a fancy meal while a woman in a dress stands beside him. A flashback shows the boy serving soup and explaining, "SHE GRADUATED TOP OF THE CLASS FROM ENOA ACADEMY... YOUR HIGHNESS, THIS IS THE DAUGHTER OF THE CEFRAN ZAIBATSU. ...HARVESTED FROM THE EURO PENINSULA AND COOKED IN RED WINE... THE SOUP DU JOUR IS DOLLAR ABALONE..." The man looks disgusted. Back in the present the boy asks, "WHAT'S UP, BRO? IT'S SO GOOD, IT MADE YOU TEAR UP?" The man replies, "OH... RIGHT... HUH...?" The boy offers to sing, "WHAT?! YOU WANT TO PAY ME? DON'T BOTHER, BRO!! WE'VE EACH GOT OUR TROUBLES, DON'T WE?! HANG ON, BRO, I'LL SING YOU A SONG NOW! I'M GLAD YOU LIKE IT SO MUCH!! YO HO HO HO! SO GOOD, IT MAKES YOU SHIVER, HUH?!" The man suddenly transforms with a massive explosion of power.

The long-haired man plays a wild tune on a flute-like instrument while the boy laughs joyfully with his violin. They fish together from a boat, the boy holding up bottles of liquor. At the harbor the man warns, "LOAD THE MERCHANT SHIP WITH INSTRUMENTS!! BE VERY CAREFUL, THEY'RE FRAGILE! IT'S A NAVAL ESCORT SHIP!!" A sign reads "ONE DAY, CELLO ESPERIA PORT." Later the man confronts the boy, "WHERE'S THE POWDER THE GANGSTERS TOLD YOU TO CARRY?! WHERE'D YOU HIDE IT?! DON'T LIE TO ME, YOU LITTLE MULE." The boy looks terrified, "I DUNNO WHAT YOU MEAN... YOU GOT THE WRONG GUY. KOFF, KOFF!!" as a massive "DOOM!!" impact strikes.

In a dim warehouse, armed men surround a singing skeleton. Brook continues his melody despite the threats. "EITHER WAY, HE'S SEEN OUR FACES." "IT'LL BE OVER IN A MOMENT IF I KEEP SINGING..." "STOP SINGING !!!" one man yells. "WE'RE ALL BONES WHEN WE DIE! ♪" "COWS AND FROGS AND SLAVES AND KINGS! ♪" Brook sings on. The gang leader shouts, "WE PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THAT STUFF, AND YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GIVE IT TO US!! AND INSTEAD, WHAT DO WE FIND?! CURRY POWDER!!" Another warns, "WE GOTTA KILL HIM AFTER THE GANG!!" Brook replies calmly, "SO LONG, STRAY DOGS... SO LONG, BRO..." Suddenly a massive impact shakes the building. "BROOOOOK!!!" A horned figure stands amid the chaos as men react in shock. "HUH ?!!" one cries. Brook's voice echoes again, "WE'RE ALL BONES WHEN WE DIE! ♪" Prince Reuven appears furious, "PRINCE REUVEN?!!" A subordinate stammers, "B-BRO?!" The impact lands with "DOOM!!" as Reuven pants heavily, "HUFF, HUFF!!"

Prince Reuven glares as a voice urges, "YOUR HIGHNESS, YOU HAVE TO SET YOUR PERSONAL GRUDGE ASIDE!! THE WORLD GOVERNMENT IS BEHIND THE NAVY!!" Reuven mutters, "PRINCE ...?" and "HUH ...?" A woman with long hair embraces him tightly. "HUGG!!" she cries. "I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'D DO WITH MYSELF IF YOU'D DIED!! I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE ALL RIGHT, BROOK!!" Reuven looks confused. Outside, the battle rages. "LOOK WHAT THESE GUYS DID TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!!" Reuven roars. "DON'T TRY TO STOP ME!! I'LL DO THIS MYSELF!!!" He charges forward. "THE BATTLE CONVOY WILL HANDLE THE REST! STEP BACK, YOUR HIGHNESS!!" A subordinate warns, "HEY, WAIT! THAT'S ESPERIA'S BATTLE CONVOY!!!" Reuven declares, "YOU'RE TRASH!!" Later, he reflects, "THEN... HE REALLY IS JUST A KID WHO LOVES CURRY POWDER?!" A subordinate reports, "...AND THE MULE WHO WAS TRANSPORTING THEIR DRUGS... PRINCE REUVEN, WE'VE CAUGHT THE MOULON FAMILY..."

The confrontation intensifies. A subordinate pleads, "HEY! STOP! WE'RE NAVY!!" Another insists, "I'LL FIGHT AT YOUR SIDE!!" Candelle smiles, "I AM YOUR TRUSTED BLADE, HIGHNESS..." Reuven growls, "NO, YOU'RE NOT!!" and "...THEN THE WORLD'S TRULY COMING TO END! RIGHT, CANDELLE? IF THE GOVERNMENT IS BACKING THIS SCUM..." Candelle stands ready with her weapon. Reuven unleashes a furious attack, shattering the surroundings with "DADA DADA DOOM!!" as debris flies. Candelle fights alongside him. In the aftermath, townsfolk cheer, "SHE'S SAVED THE KINGDOM FROM PERIL! ♡" "LADY CANDELLE'S DONE IT AGAIN!!" A subordinate asks, "HEY, DID YOU HEAR?!" while the horned creature looks stunned.

At Esperia Palace, Brook wakes up. "BLINK.." A subordinate checks on him. "ARE YOU AWAKE NOW, BROOK?!" Candelle stands before Prince Reuven. "I AM NOT ANGRY AT YOU, PRINCE REUVEN." Brook mumbles, "YOU'RE A PRINCE, BRO...?" "YEAH, YEAH. HEY, BROOK!" Reuven replies. Candelle continues, "...THAT YOU BE MORE MINDFUL OF YOUR ROYAL POSITION... I'M SIMPLY ASKING..." Reuven admits, "UH, LISTEN ... ...I JUST HAD TOO MUCH FUN HANGING AROUND YOU TO RUIN THE GOOD TIMES. I'M SORRY I DIDN'T TELL YOU. I WASN'T GOING TO HIDE IT..." Candelle warns, "...WE WENT INTO A PANIC EVERY TIME PRINCE REUVEN WENT MISSING... ALSO, DON'T YOU DARE TELL ANYONE ABOUT STEALING THAT CURRY POWDER!!" A sign reads "KINGDOM OF ESPERIA BATTLE CONVOY, COMMANDER CANDELLE" as the scene settles.

A smiling blonde woman gently taps the head of a small curly-haired musician, saying, "I NEVER WOULD HAVE GUESSED HE WAS PASSING THE TIME WITH SUCH AN ADORABLE LITTLE FRIEND." The little musician reacts with shock, hearts floating up and a "BLOOSH!" sound effect bursting around him. A fierce horned warrior grins widely and shouts, "GIVE HIM A ROOM IN THE BARRACKS AND SOME REAL INSTRUMENTS TO PLAY... ...AND MAKE IT SO HE CAN ATTEND SCHOOL!! THIS GUY'S MY FAVORITE MUSICIAN!!" Other voices chime in around him: "MORE IMPORTANTLY, LISTEN UP!" "IGNORE HIM." "NAH, HE'S FINE..." "OH! I'M SORRY!! I DIDN'T KNOW YOUR WOUNDS WERE SO DEEP!!" Behind them rises a grand domed palace in Esperia. The curly-haired musician is later shown being carried away, dripping with sweat, as the horned warrior continues, "I LOVE THIS GUY!! IF WE KEEP HIM AROUND... ...LIFE IN THE PALACE IS GONNA BE WAY MORE FUN!!!" A silhouetted figure raises both arms dramatically, declaring, "WE'VE GOT A NEW STAR IN ESPERIA!!" The musician stares in confusion, muttering, "HUH...?" The page ends with "To be continued!"