Chapter 2

Laboon

The Strawhats join Crocus on his vacation spot as he explains what's going on. They were still in the whale's stomach but it seems to have calmed down.

"This whale is an Island Whale, normally found in the West Blue. It's the largest species of whale in the world and this one's name is Laboon."

He then gestures to their 'guests' tied in ropes, "These two rogues are from a nearby island. Their goal is to hunt Laboon, because the meat from Laboon can feed their island for 2-3 years. But I won't allow that."

"As for why Laboon keeps on bashing his head against the Red Line, and bellows while facing Reverse Mountain...," Crocus sighs, "There's a reason for that too."

"Long ago, while I was minding my business as a lighthouse keeper, a certain group of friendly pirates came down Reverse Mountain. And following their ship was a little baby whale. That whale was Laboon. It seems that Laboon had accompanied their journey in the West Blue, but fearing that the Grand Line was too dangerous, they left him behind or so they thought. Normally, Island Whales are known to swim together in pods, but to Laboon, those pirates were his pod members."

"Their ship was damaged when they arrived so they stayed here for several months to fix it. I became quite good friends with them during their stay," Crocus smiles think back about his time with them. "And so, on the day of their departure, their captain asked me, 'Could you take care of Laboon for 2-3 years? Once we've sailed around the world, we'll come back for him no matter what.' Understanding their intent, Laboon patiently waited for them here."

"So that's why he keeps on bellowing and bashing himself against the Red Line...," says Nami.

"That's right... And it's been over 50 years since then... He still believes his friends will come back..."

Maxwell couldn't help but frown at that. He couldn't imagine why'd they leave such an animal behind. Surely it could have grown up with them and learn to tow? Maxwell thought back to the Sea Kings though. If the Calm Belt covered both sides of the Grand Line, Laboon might have been defenceless then.

The old man sighs, catching Maxwell's attention, "Anyways... Tow my little island here, and I'll help you get out."

"Sure! Thanks a lot gramps!" Luffy gets off the palm tree he's been climbing. He was listening in but the tree was interesting for some reason.

Sure enough, they find a rope long enough to to tie to the tree and start sailing through the exit. The tunnel was a patchwork of steel and rivets. Industrial lights lit their way.

"This is some cannel," comments Nami, "I'm amazed you've managed to dig out such a big hole and live inside here. Is this another one of your ways of having a good time?"

"It's a hobby of mine. Don't get the wrong idea. I may not look like much but I am a real doctor. I even use to run a clinic at the Cape a long ago. I've even got a few years as a ship's doctor under my belt too.

Luffy looks over from wear his special seat was still broken, "A doctor? Really!? Then why don't you join my crew!"

"Stop talking nonsense," They had reached a second door indicating the end of the tunnel. Crocus climbs up a ladder to reach the mechanism, "I'm too old to be doing reckless things, unlike you youths."

Nami leans on the rail watching him, "So you're a doctor, huh... And you're living inside of a whale?"

"That's right. With a whale this big, it's impossible to properly treat it from the outside," Crocus turns a gear near the hinges. "I'll open the gate now."

Maxwell looks up as he hears the grinding of gears from inside the doors. The floodgates open and soon the Going Merry is officially free. Luffy cheers at the bow, "Alright! We're out! I can see the real sky at last!"

"What should we do with these two?" asks Luffy. The two whalers they had caught were still bound in ropes.

"Just throw them over somewhere around here," replies Crocus. Maxwell snorts, he really shouldn't have but the two weren't exactly welcome. None the less, Zoro cuts their ropes and throws them into the sea. They both panic, as the cold water wakes them up

"UBAGH! Where are we!?" "Is this stomach acid!?"

They eventually right themselves with sea water dipping off them. "No, we appear to be in a real ocean, Ms. Wednesday.

Ms Wednesday frowns at the caravel, "We must've been knocked out by those pirates Mr. 9!"

Luffy walks back onto the deck and looks over, "So... who are you guys again?"

"Shut up! It's none of your business!"

"No wait, Ms. Wednesday. Perhaps it is their business. As long as they're pirates, that is," Mr. 9 slyly looks up at the crew.

"True indeed, Mr. 9. Our organization may have some use for you. Prepare yourselves!"

*Snap. BOOM.*

An Immolate spell fires off just in front of them so they could watch the blast. They duo flinch and then look around to see where the blast had came from. They freeze when see Maxwell glaring down at them. Neither had forgotten who had captured them either.

...

...

...

"Then we bid you good day until next time, you hillbilly pirates!" "And heed this Crocus! That whale shall be ours for the taking soon enough!"

The two swim off trying to get away as soon as possible. They're word we're a bluff, and Maxwell smirks at the retreating whalers. He notices Sanji sighing lonely at apparent Ms. Wednesday.

Nami looks over at Crocus, "Are you sure about just letting them go? They'll be sure to come back for the whale again, you know."

"Even if I didn't let them go, there'll be other rogues who'll come to take their places."

Maxwell looks out as Mr. 9 and Ms Wednesday disappear out of sight. He had a feeling they'll see them again.

Soon enough, the Strawhats are gathered in and around a stone picnic table. They were relaxing outside of one of the lighthouses on the Twin Capes. The crew also saw Laboon, roused from his drug induced nap. He was bobbing in the water, still towering above them, but the whales sights were still on Reverse Mountain.

"To think it's been waiting for 50 years... Does it still believe it's friends will really return? Those pirates sure are taking a long time..." Luffy was reclined on an outcrop of shore rock, looking up at how huge Laboon was.

Sanji looks over from the table, "You idiot, this is the Grand Line. They promised they'd be back in 2-3 years, yet they're still not back after 50. The answer is obvious. They're long dead by now. They won't come back no matter how long that whale waits."

Usopp slams his fist on the table, "Why do you have to go and say such cold things! You can't say that for sure! They might still come back!"

Usopp looks over at Maxwell, "Hey Max can't you bring out a crystal ball, do some hocus locus, and tell us where they are?"

Maxwell pinches the bridge of his nose, "Okay, first of all, I don't know where you might think I need a crystal ball but scrying doesn't work like that. Secondly, I don't have any of the materials to inducting such a ritual. And thirdly, the spells I do know can only find one thing at a time. Who knows what happened to them! I can't just wave my staff in the air and chant, 'I demand to know where Laboon's friend are!'"

"The truth is far more cruel," Crocus interrupts their conversation. "Those fellows left already. Left from the Grand Line that is... I heard from a reliable source."

"W-What!?" "—So they just left the whale behind!? But that would mean they left the Grand Line through the Calm Belt...!"

"Yes," Crocus nods. "That is why I do not know whether they survived or not. But even if they did survive, they would never dare return here again..."

"A place where the seasons, climate, currents, and winds could not be any more chaotic... A place where common sense fails to uphold... That place is this sea, the Grand Line, and it rules with fear over the faint-hearted."

Sanji smothers his cigarette, "So basically, those cowards were more concerned about their lives than keeping a promise, and thus left the Grand Lind never to return again..."

"So they just left the whale behind!?" Usopp yelled, outraged. "Even though the whale never doubted them and has been waiting here for over 50 years... How could they be so cruel!?"

Nami looks at Crocus wide-eyed, "If that's the case, then why haven't you tried telling the whale the truth? This whale can understand human words right!?"

"Okay hold on how can—" Maxwell suddenly thinks back to the pandashark, back when they were with Johnny and Yosaku. "—Nevermind."

Crocus sighs, "I have. I've told him the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. But he refuses to listen. Whenever I try to tell him, Laboon will just bellow out at the mountain and drown out my words. And he's been doing that for years. Ever since I first told him, Laboon has been bellowing at Reverse Mountain and bashing his head against the Red Line. It's as if he's stubbornly asserting that his friends are beyond the wall and that they'll return someday... I've tried telling the truth many more times since then but Laboon refuses to accept the truth."

"What a whale... He still keeps on waiting even after being betrayed..." "Even though there's no point in waiting anymore."

"That's exactly it... It's because he'll lose all reason that he refuses to listen. He's afraid of losing the meaning behind his waiting above all else." Everyone looks at Laboon in silence. It was a cruel fate to be left behind like this. "This whale's home is back in West Blue, which is on the other side of the Red Line. It's too late for him to go back. That's why his only hope are the very friends he came along with in the first place."

Sanji glances at the old man, "You know, as much as I feel sorry for this whale and all, you've also been betrayed by them if you think about it. So why don't you just leave the whale be already?"

"...Look at the scars on his head. If he continues to recklessly bash his head against the wall, he'll definitely die. We've had an odd relationship but he's still my companion that I've lived with for over 50 years. I can't just stand by and watch him die..."

"UOOOHHHHH!"

"Huh?" Everyone looks to see where the yelling is coming from. They could see Luffy running up Laboon. Maxwell does a back take and looks back at where Luffy was previously sitting.

"What's that idiot up to now?" "Take your eyes off he for one second and—" "Maybe he likes climbing things?"

They all take not of what he's carrying.

"Hey, is that a mast?" "Yeah, I think it's our ship's..." "Yup, it's our main mast alright."

Maxwell looks over at the ship then back at Luffy. He had planted the mast into one of the whale's wounds, "Oh crap."

*BUOOOHHH!*

"WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING!?" They all yell at Luffy's new standard for stupidity. He had broken their ship, ran up a whale, and purposely stabbed an open wound on Laboon's head. It was thrashing around in pain, causing waves to crash against the cliffs. Worse, Laboon was gearing up towards them.

"It's coming this way!" "AAAGH!" "He's gonna crash down here!"

Laboon swings his head to dislodge the mast on the cliffs, and notices Luffy back on the ground. Their captain had picked a fight and they all had to stay back. Crocus tried to interfere but Nami held him back, knowing they'd end up in the crossfire.

One particular blow swings Luffy into the lighthouse near the crew. "Luffy! Just what the hell are you doing!?" demands Zoro.

*BUOOOHHHH!*

"IT'S A TIE!" Luffy calls out, making everyone, even Laboon pause. "I'm pretty tough, eh?"

Laboon settles down and stares at the lighthouse for Luffy, "Our fight has yet to be settled, so we must fight each other again! Your old friends may be dead, but I'm your new rival! And once my crew sails around the Grand Line, we'll be sure to come back here to see you again." Everyone sees the tears starting to fall from Laboon's eyes, "And we'll duke it out again!"

*BUOOOHHHHH!*

Everyone smiles as Laboon seems to accept this promise. His old friends may be gone, but now he had something new to look forward to.

Luffy looks over at the lighthouse keeper, "Hey flower guy, do you have a giant brush and any paint around here?"