A/N: Hello Everyone! No I am not dead but I sure feel like it. 11 page assignments, 7 Video assignments, 12 research papers, and about 5 quizzes in a single week tends to leave someone with very little breathing room. I know I share these plights of mine a lot and most of you, or more likely all of you, don't really give a shit but hopefully you can still understand why it took so long to upload this chapter.

Anyway as you'll inevitably see many changes are on the way with there being far more things working in the Straw Hats favor this time around but of course that also means I have to make things harder for them later on. So for those of you who may worry that this fanfiction takes to the level of trashy power fantasy isekai don't worry I'm not letting the Straw Hat's get out Alabasta unscathed. Aside from that mini rant, enjoy the chapter and feel free to leave comments with suggestions or ideas you believe may be interesting to implement or influence the story. I do read the comments, I just don't address them as either there isn't much to address or I just take their words to heart and see how I can make it work in the story later on.

THE TWIN CAPES

'Amari

There were going to be a lot of unexpected experiences on the journey to make their dreams reality. All the Straw Hats knew that, the day they had met their Captain. That did not stop each and everyone of them, except for Luffy who was snickering to himself as he witnessed their reactions, from having their collective jaws straight up slam into the ground the moment they saw that the way into the Grand Line was in fact a stream going against the laws of gravity. Even Nami, who was the one to explain how they were getting in was left gobsmacked.

"I shouldn't be surprised…I really shouldn't." Nami just stared at the logically impossible spectacle before her with a very conflicted expression. "My husband is an East Blue rookie who's strong enough to spar with some of the top fighters in the world. My husband is also a wolf-human courtesy of a devil fruit. My husband…is enjoying my exasperation over all of this far too much." If Nami had been aiming for Luffy's cackling to cease with her glare she was severely disappointed as if anything, the glare only caused the wolfman to laugh even harder.

Zoro, who'd recovered the fastest, turned to Nami who was just about ready to strangle their captain with a deadpan expression. "So…Nami quick question."

"What do you want, Zoro?" Nami grounded out through her gritting teeth as she wound up a punch to send straight into the laughing wolfman who was hunched over still giggling his ass off over the fact that Sanji and Usopp still hadn't gotten their jaws off the Merry's deck. "I'm kind of busy at the moment. Specifically, I plan on turning Luffy black and blue!"

"You think you can do that after we're not heading straight for the Red Line's side?" Pointing his thumb behind him, Zoro retained his deadpan expression and tone while Usopp finally got his jaw off the ground only to start screaming at the top of his lungs in panic while Sanji tensed up before running straight to the rudder.

"I got time to-Wait what?!" The first mate's words registered in the navigator's mind just in time for her to quickly spring into action and the threat of his crew actually dying finally got Luffy off his ass and straight back into a state of seriousness. "Usopp fold the sails and lock them in! Zoro, you go and help Sanji get us back on track! 37 degrees to the right stat! Luffy…" Hearing his name being called the wolfman turned to his wife with an inquisitive look. "...I don't suppose you could break us in?"

Luffy just stared at her with a half-lidded gaze that just screamed, 'You're kidding me, right?'

"Ugh. With how stupid you're abilities I thought it was worth a shot. Anyway just stay at the forefront and in case we come close to hitting the rocks try pushing the Merry away from it. You can definitely accomplish that." Nami was not disappointed this time.

"Like I was a ballooned up rubber idiot." Luffy snorted at the imagery of himself being a bouncy rubbery happy go lucky dumbass. "That won't be hard. Wanna see it now actually?" Without waiting for a reply, or rather Luffy took the way she stiffened and was about ready to scream as the reply, the wolfman leaped to the side of the Merry and, placing himself in between the Merry and the side of the entrance to the Grand Line, Luffy gently pushed the Going Merry away from what would have been instant catastrophe and right back on track…which unfortunately meant that the ship straight up zoomed with the current leaving the wolfman to hold on the side of the Red Line lest he fall and be taken by the waves. "That was not part of the plan. Moonwalk."

Running on air, literally, Luffy raced up the mountain to catch up to his crew, two of whom had run to the back of the Going Merry to see if he'd at least got back on or was hanging on for dear life. "Damn it! A bastard like that won't go down that easily!" Zoro growled in frustration as he looked down the ship's backside only to find no Luffy there or any sign of him elsewhere. The wolfman, who'd seen the opportunity to be an asshole, having rushed past the Merry to end up on the Tangerine Farm Nami had set up after the events in Cocoyashi Village, smiled down cheekily at his first mate and…well first mate.

'Are you only now realizing how awkward that sounds? Seriously, just now?'

'Shut up douchebag.'

While the vice captain, 'Happy?', was still keeping an eye out for him, his navigator had ended up just standing on the edge. Frozen stiff like a statue…Nami slowly turned towards her tangerine grove where she found Luffy smiling down on them. For a moment she seemed relieved but the feeling only remained in her eyes for a few moments before her left eye began twitching and a tick mark pulsed on her temple. The chilling aura of heartstopping, bone rattling rage had even the infamous pirate hunter Roronoa Zoro freezing like a deer caught in a trap made by three very insatiable carnivorous brothers. The fact that the aura wasn't even targeted at him made it all the more terrifying for the former bounty hunter who, when their eyes met, could only say one thing to his pale as snow Captain. "It was an honor to serve under you, Captain." Zoro said with a salute, ignoring the betrayed expression on his Captain's face as well as the accusation of being a coward.

Before the navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates could pummel her captain for his very insensitive and overall horrible sense of humor, she and every other Straw Hat present found themselves clutching their ears in pain as the sudden…Roar? Cry?

'God I haven't even gotten the blessing yet and it's already killing me!'

Whatever it was, it was loud and thus it was very, very painful. When it came to an end, the three ran back to the front of the ship where the navigator could only curse to every deity she knew of as what appeared to be a massive island lay smackdab in the middle of the current leading the Merry into the Grand Line. "This wasn't in the map or any of the information given by the people back in Loguetown! How does nobody remember there being an island here?!"

"Because it isn't an island…" Luffy was filled with dread as he realized just what he was looking at…and what would have to be done in order to keep Merry from crashing into the damn thing! "Nami you can hit me later but for now I've gotta do something really stupid!"

"Stupider than what you've already been doing in this chapter?!" The navigator cried only to be met by the resounding screams of Zoro, Usopp, and even Sanji, though the last one had the littlest amount of bite in his reprimanding.

"We have a bigger issue at the moment, Nami!/This isn't the time to do that!/Don't tempt fate Nami-chan!"

Disregarding his crewmates plight, Luffy decided to just rip the band-aid off now and let them know exactly what they were heading towards. "Fantasies about strangling me later! For now? Focus on trying to slow the ship down before we end up crashing right into that whale!"

The other Straw Hats froze momentarily as their brains processed what their captain had just said, and with another ear-splitting cry from the whale, they sprung into action.

"Usopp, Sanji get to the helm and start swerving! It'll be a bumpy ride but it'll give Luffy time to do whatever he has planned!" The cook and the sniper nodded and ran to the rudder. "Zoro…I can't believe I'm saying this, any chance you could-"

"Cut the whale in half?" Zoro turned to face the whale who was still fast approaching with a grimace. "Considering it's practically the size of a galleon, I can't."

"Any ideas on how to slow the ship down?" Nami asked, practically begging the swordsman to come up with something. In the past few minutes alone, the Going Merry had almost crashed into a cliff face, Luffy had almost been left behind, and now the ship was about to crash into a random whale who decided to let out another cry! The worst part of this whole situation was there wasn't anywhere to pass by the whale without running the risk of getting sandwiched by it and the damn cliff side! "Would you please shut the hell up you-Oh god the whale's swimming towards us as well?!"

Snapping his head back to the whale, Zoro found that the beast was, in fact, swimming against the current and thus…heading right towards them. "Luffy! Whatever you're planning, do it…NOW!" As the massive creature's shadow loomed over them all, Usopp passed out in the process with foams bubbling from his mouth in fright, another loud sound had their ears ringing. Instead of a whale however, it was the roar of cannonfire…wait a minute. "Did-Did you just shoot the-"

BWOOOOOOGH!

If the Straw hats thought the whale had been loud before they were severely mistaken. Evidently a cry out of pain was louder than whatever the previous cries had been made for. "Fucking slimy, barnacle infested, ugly ass, fish biscuits! What the hell were you thinking?!" The knockback from the cannonfire had slowed the Merry down significantly considering Luffy had all but emptied the bag of gunpowder to increase the power of the explosion. Unfortunately that also meant the whale who had likely zero idea that they were there before was now very much aware of them, and very much ticked off.

Now Luffy would have responded but there were two things that had both him and the crew tongue tied at that moment. The first being the rather…unique choice of words the navigator had used to express her anger. Considering they were all connected to aquatic creatures the crew had a pretty good idea who or what had inspired it. The second thing that had the crew speechless was the fact that the sky could no longer be seen. Particularly because of where they had ended up going as a result of the massive whale crying out in pain, leaving his mouth wide open, and the current still pushing the Merry down the Red Line…straight into the beast's mouth.

"Well…this bites."

Seeing the insides of an animal was a very different experience from seeing the insides of an animal. Though that should have gone without saying because, well I mean, who's ever been able to see the insides of an animal while actually being inside of one! Oh and you know, alive and well. People have probably been able to see a similar view…when they were being eaten alive and, assuming they were still conscious, so pumped full of adrenaline that they struggle till the end.

It was inner monologues like these that left Luffy wondering just how skewed his childhood had been that he was able to take in being eaten by a massive whale as if it was as much of an inconvenience as making a mistake in one of Makino's etiquette exams. Hell, even slip ups in his older sister's exams left him with more anxiety than he was now in this situation. Anxiety was on high levels amongst his crew who were running around the ship on Nami's orders. Zoro and Sanji steering the ship on the navigator's orders lest the Merry end up being veering out of control and Usopp helping her keep an eye out for any debris that may end up damaging the ship.

'Well there is something that could damage the ship. Though it's more likely going to end up our-Oh?' Luffy's musings were cut short when he felt the presence of a relatively powerful individual roaming the beast's stomach. Walking to the front of the ship Luffy concentrated on spreading his range of observation while his crew did their best to keep their ship afloat. Nami had noticed the disappearance of his immaturity and tensed wondering why it had gone so abruptly.

Expanding her own range of observation, Nami felt the presence of a strong individual deeper into the whale's digestive tract as well but she snapped her head upwards taking note of two more individuals. Substantially weaker but one of them was also…God where to even begin? "Luffy what-"

"Confliction, anguish, rage, regret…fear. If you can pick up on emotions as well then your talents lean more towards observation haki than I thought." Luffy glanced at his wife from the corner of his eyes without turning away from the light they were fast approaching. "We'll deal with them later. For now,...Welcome to the Stomach."

In a word? Pungent. The combination of stale air, digestive juices and partially digested meals did not make for a pleasant experience for any of the Straw Hats. Unlike their captain however, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp and Nami were practically gagging and wheezing as if they'd just gone through a whole pack of cigarettes in one go. Even the resident chain smoker of the Straw Hats couldn't stomach that without a reaction. The disgust wasn't present for long though, on account of the fact that Usopp blurted out the absurd.

"W-We're back outside!" The marksman screamed as he looked to the 'skies' which were filled with clouds, birds, and even a part of the 'sea' that returned to blue. "Was the whale just some sort of illusion? Or…" Usopp paled considerably before whimpering out, "Are we…dead?"

"Pfff-Shishishishishi! SHISHISHISHISHISHISHI!" Luffy couldn't help but laugh at his marksman's deduction. Oh where to even begin addressing just how dumb the conclusion Usopp came up with, the fact the the birds were actually-

"Usopp you do realize the birds aren't moving right? Even the clouds are stationary." Nami rolled her eyes in exasperation as Luffy returned to his assholey self. Honestly, of all the ways to begin their adventure on the Grand Line, having to deal with Luffy being in the mood to be the biggest douche was definitely getting on her nerves. She loved him and had found his douchiness amusing and endearing but only when it was directed at their enemies…or at the very least in appropriate situations. "Mind explaining why you've been such an ass today?"

"Still riding that high from being able to screw over Alvida and Big Nose back on Loguetown?" Sanji's guess was on the money as Luffy ended up laughing harder, probably recalling how the captain of the Buggy Pirates was still twitching with smoke coming out of his mouth even as he was hauled off by the marines. Sadly, Alvida, with the help of her newly acquired powers, managed to slip away from the scene along with a significant number of Buggy's crew to boot. Moving to light his cigar, Sanji paused when he noticed Zoro tensing and reaching for his swords. Cursing himself for letting his passive observation deactivate, Sanji quickly turned it back on but alas he was too late.

WOOSH!

Bursting through the water's surface came a Great King Squid! The cephalopod, easily twice as large as the Going Merry itself, approached the Straw Hats, its massive tentacles wiggling around imposingly. The squid seemed to revel in the screams coming from the ship. Yes! Fear me! Fear me, pathetic tengu! The squid appeared to be loving the horror he was inducing in the one sai- wait one sailor?

Blinking in confusion, the Great King Squid's erratically wiggling tentacles slowed as it actually paid attention to the crew for once and, with the exception of the tengu who was openly screaming and the busty orange haired lady who looked like she was frozen in fear, although her half lidded gaze seemed more akin to the reaction of someone who'd seen something very underwhelming, the other three men on the ship looked at him…Hungrily?!

"Hey Ero-cook, I once heard that wild catfish are better than farmed ones. Not only because of their taste but their size." Drawing his three blades, Zoro eyed the massive squid hungrily. It wasn't octopus but that didn't mean it wouldn't be similarly tasty. "That hold true for squid?"

Taking a drag out of his cigarette, Sanji responded cooly as he appraised the latest ingredient to catch his eye. "Surprised a musclehead like you actually knows something about food, shitty marimo. Yes, squid, like catfish, are best wild." A predatory glint gleamed in the cook's eye that had the squid backing away from the ship nervously. "A squid like this could also help keep our food stocks fuller for a lot longer. Grilled squid would also go really well as another dish to have with that Elephant BlueFin Tuna from Loguetown."

'Oh dear Lord Kraken below, what horror have I found myself in front of?!' Nami was guessing that thoughts along those lines were what was going on in the now terrified looking cephalopod. The navigator mused that Luffy's salivating waterfall probably put the poor bastard even more on edge. Disgusting as her husband's display was, she was going to give him a pass on this transgression. He wasn't the only one drooling over it after all, she just had the decency and dignity to calm herself and wipe away the evidence of her own daydreaming of having that squid on a plate.

"Huh? Wait…I hear something." Usopp's sudden commentary drew the Straw Hat's attention away from their lunch, yes they were still in a whale's stomach but when you gotta eat, you gotta eat. "I hear…is that a gun? No wait, the clicks from the mechanism…a harpoon?"

"Good guess, kid." A gruff voice voiced out before the boom of a harpoon cannon made the crew's ears ring as the squid suddenly found itself skewered by, you guessed it! A harpoon! And who shot that harpoon? Well the answer came when the light of life burned away from the Great King Squid's eyes and its body slumped while being dragged ashore an island that-

"How did we not notice that until now?" Zoro voiced out the question that was all running around the crew's mind. There was an island in a whale's stomach. An island that looked like it was situated in the tropics complete with a coconut tree, a house with a roof made of straw and handmade wooden furniture. The inhabitant of the home on the island was currently dragging the massive squid like it weighed nothing, glaring at the Straw Hats all the while. "And what's with the flower? Old man? Old Flower-Man? …Is that a-"

"Hmmm?!" Zoro's musing was brought to an end when the old man, old flower man?

'Hang on a minute…isn't that-Oh shit!' Luffy's surprise and subsequent idolizing eyes went unnoticed by both his crew and the man who he'd recognized from his father's tales about his time on Gol D. Roger's ship.

The old man was dressed in a pink shirt with a yellow and green striped shirt with purple circles in the yellow, as well as blueish-gray shorts and sandals intensified his glare towards them. The grunt had caused Usopp to tense behind Sanji, the marksman shivering slightly while observing the old man for any sudden moves. Without another word the old man moved. He walked slowly to the side of the island, never once breaking eye contact with the Straw Hats who glared back with equal intensity although some were a bit more nervous than others, and one who was just grinning excitedly at the old man, unfazed by the glare in the slightest. The tension caused by the staredown between the old flower man and the Straw Hat pirates was so thick you could cut through it. Then the old man stopped in front of a beach chair and without a shred of hesitation…he sat down and opened the day's newspaper.

"Say something you shitty geezer!" Sanji roared, figurative flames blazing to life around him. From behind the members of his crew, Luffy slapped his hands over his mouth lest he earn even more ire from his wife because of his amusement over the old man's sense of humor. In response to Sanji's outburst, the old man looked up from his paper with an even tenser glare prompting Usopp to open his mouth.

"W-we aren't afraid to fight, you hear me old man! We got cannons a-and I got a bow and arrow and I know how to use it!" Usopp's feeble attempts at putting on a brave face only elicited sweat drops from Nami and Zoro and snickering from Luffy. Shifting his focus to the Usopp, the old man focused his smoldering intensity on the marksman.

5 beats, 1…2…3…4…5, "You better not, kid, otherwise…someone's gonna die." The ominous and zero bullshit delivery of the threat caused Nami to step back and Usopp to, well let's just say even if the Pirate Empress was miles away, she'd managed to use her abilities on someone out of fear instead of lust.

"Oh? Just who exactly is going to die, old man?" It shouldn't have been possible but the intensity cranked up even higher in the staredown between Sanji and the elder. 5 more beats and then,

"Me." The man said with the same utmost seriousness he had when warning Usopp.

"You?!" Sheesh was it getting hot in here or what? "You think you're a funny old man?! I'll tear you a-"

"Alright, alright cool it, ya pervy cook. Let me handle this." Zoro coughed into his fist before approaching the front of the Merry to speak to the elder with his best go at a polite smile. "Ya mind telling us who you are and what exactly this place is, old man?"

"Hmmm?!"

'This old man has got this shtick down pat so well it's practically become an art form….'

'Tell me about it…'

'...It's hilarious!'

'It really is! Shishishishishi!'

'Grahaurhaurhaurhaur!'

Whilst the inner banter between Luffy and the wolf took place, 5 beats went by which meant, "When asking someone a question, isn't it proper manners to give your own name?"

The response caught Zoro off guard who had the decency to look sheepish for a moment-

'I didn't know he could look like that.'

'Yeah…it's weird.'

'Totally.'

"Point taken, that was my mistake. Sorry." Straightening back up Zoro rectified his mistake, "My name is Roronoa-"

Only for the ol' flower man to start talking over him. "My name is Crocus. I'm the lighthouse keeper of the Twin Capes. I'm 71 and a Gemini. Oh and my blood type is AB."

"I will rip you into shreds you senile, chunky piece of shit! Shreds! You hear me?!" Both Sanji and Usopp had to hold Zoro back, mostly Usopp since Sanji was honestly fine with siccing Zoro on the shitty geezer, while Nami sighed in exasperation wondering why there was another asshole-centric comedian running around. The resident asshole-centric comedian stopped trying to keep it in and cackled over just how well the old man had pushed both Sanji and Zoro's buttons.

"Honestly, barging into my private resort and then running your mouth like a mafia grunt. Tch! The nerve of you youngsters these days." The old flower man, Crocus grumbled. Completely ignoring Zoro's blatant rage being directed straight at him. "And as for what exactly this place is? You should already know if ya got in here shouldn't ya?"

Nami paled considerably as the ramifications of where they were hit her full force. "Sir Crocus, as amusing as your sense of humor is for my husband-" The navigator gestured in exasperation to a wolfman having trouble breathing as he smashed his fist against the deck damn near close to pissing himself in laughter. "This ship is very important to us and we'd rather not lose it by digestion inside a ludicrously massive whale's stomach."

"Hm-"

"The sooner we get out of here, the sooner my cook, the finest there is, can make us all a great lunch. During which, we'll talk shop." Crocus raised a brow at Luffy's interruption and suggestion while Sanji smirked at the praise only to frown when he realized who he'd be serving along with the crew. "Former Doctor of the Roger Pirates."

You could hear it if a pin had dropped in the silence that followed. No longer was Crocus watching the Straw Hats, most of whom looking like they'd just been zapped by lightning, with a comically intense glare but a gaze of surprise accompanied with the subte parting of his mouth as his paper slipped out of his hands.

"Shanks talked about you a lot when he came to my village." Luffy said, taking off his precious hat to present it before Crocus. The old doctor's eyes widened even further when he realized just who had come to his resort. With a flash of a smirk the old man's intense glaring before talking routine came back full force causing the wolfman to blink before an excited grin made its way to his face…which quickly turned to horror when Crocus finally spoke once more.

"Well well, if it isn't the Anchor himself! You know, you look pretty cocky for someone who once shat himself senseless after eating-"

"Peter piper picked a pile of pickled pucking peckers!" Luffy cut off whatever else Crocus had to say with a very intense blush on his face and crewmates who all turned to each other slowly… and then Luffy found himself gagged by Nami, tied in ropes by Usopp, and kept seated by Sanji and Zoro who stood by his sides. "Mmph?! Mmmummummumuuuu!"

'A mutiny? Grahaurhaurhaurhaur!'

'Shut up you bastard!'

'Never! Grahaurhaurhaurhaurhaur!'

"So Crocus-san, before my husband so rudely interrupted you were sharing some…" Nami paused and mused with exaggeration as she hummed thoughtfully, "leverage?"

'NO! PLEASE CROCUS-SAN DON'T SAY ANYTHING!'

'SAY EVERYTHING! GRAHAURHAURHAUR!'

"A chance to get some dirt on Luffy? We may never get a chance like this again!" Usopp excitedly sat by Crocus's seat on the grass like a kid waiting for Grandpa's story time.

'Shanks I swear to God I'm going to kick your ass when I see you again!' Luffy turned to Sanji giving the cook his best rendition of puppy eyes. The blonde man was unfazed.

Sanji puffed out a few smoke rings before throwing his own two cents in, "Considering the kind of jokes you were pulling earlier, I say we let Crocus talk."

'Son of a-' Snapping his attention to Zoro, Luffy trusted his vice captain, his first crewmate would have his back. The three sword style practitioner glanced at his captain with a blank expression.

Closing his eyes, Zoro said sagely, "A man must own up to his mistakes, Captain. Or in other words…" All traces of old man-like wisdom faded when the swordsman's face broke into a cheeky grin. "Karma's a bitch."

'Traitor!' "MmmphmmHMMM!" Luffy screamed through the gag with righteous fury ignited by his crew's 'mutiny'.

'Grahaurhaurhaurhaurhaurhaur!'

'Will you shut up already, you overgrown, flea-riddled, mangy, putrid ass smelling, skag sucking, retarded mutt!'

'NEVER! GRAHAURHAURHAURHAUR!'

"So one day, after raiding a ship that had come from the South Blue, Shanks and his crew came across these special kinds of peppers indiginous only to a town where those pirates had pillaged from." Crocus began his tale of the Red Hair Pirates' encounter with the spicy green devil whose name even brought Sanji to shivers. No ingredient should ever go to waste but the blonde chef would be lying if he said he ever enjoyed working with that particular spice. The tough as nails Zoro noticed the cook's queasiness and was keen on taking a shot at him for shying away from vegetables but Nami cut in, asking if the spice in question was in fact the Sili De Los Muertos. Crocus's confirmation had Zoro keeping his lips sealed as he joined Sanji in looking a tad green. "Back on track, sorry for tangent, Shanks to that there pepper back to a little town in the East Blue known as Fuusha Village, this vicious little critters hometown." The old Roger Pirate gestured to Luffy who had summoned the power he'd found ridiculous so many times in the past. Vengeful white eyes burning in fury and while they couldn't see it the Straw Hat crew and Crocus had no doubts that underneath that gag, the wolfman's teeth had become those of sharks.

"This greenhorn was quite the manic, insatiable ball of energy apparently. Even had a gift for stealing food from others plates in the time it took to blink!" Old Crocus was smiling widely now, gone was his anger at the world, too old for this crud expression. Now the face of a cheeky proud grandpa grinning happily at his grandkids rested on his face. "Shanks was quite, no scratch that, is an immature man-child with the humor of evil prankster brats and the mental maturity of a six year old!"

"Achooo!" A redhead rubbed his itchy nose with a frown. "Someone's talking smack about me." The man glared off to the distance, first towards the Twin Capes, then to Sabaody, before finally resting on where he last heard Whitebeard was sailing.

"Probably for your mental immaturity." A rotund man with dark red goggles offered while munching on a Melon Turkey leg.

"Yeah proba-Oi! Say that to my face Lucky Roo I d-"

"Some perfectly sane, absolute man of men is dissing you for your mental immaturity and they are one hundred percent justified." Lucky Roo deadpanned whilst never once stopping his chewing on the Melon Turkey leg.

Silence descended upon the crew as the captain's eyes were shadowed by his scarlet locks. Recognizing where things were most likely headed the Vice Captain and first mate of the Red Haired Pirates sighed heavily and raised his hand with three fingers up, then two, then 1, then…Shanks ran off leaving a trail of dust in his wake.

Lucky Roo was stunned silent for a moment watching the dust trail his captain left behind as was the rest of his crew, except for Benn who, despite himself, smirked and rolled his eyes with brotherly affection noticing what the rest of the crew hadn't. "Well that was anti-climac…MY FOOD!"

Lucky Roo's Melon Turkey leg remained where it was…but the rest of the rotund man's food wasn't!

"MUTINY! I DECLARE MUTINY!" Lucky Roo cried out as he raced away to chase after his Captain's rapidly disappearing figure across the horizon. For a man so large, Lucky Roo was faster than any creature of that physique had any right to be.

A collection of sweat drops spread across the crew and the greenhorn Rockstar himself, turned to Benn with a questioning look that the Vice Captain waved off. This wasn't a real mutiny, it was frankly nothing more than proof that both Shanks and Lucky Roo were of similar mental ages.

"And thats how this little rascal made his adoptive older sister's bar ground zero for the most nose shriveling, stink bomb to ever exist." Crocus finished his tarnishing tale with a smirk as his eyes were glued to the wolfman who looked like his brother had just died in his arms. His back bent backwards to an uncomfortable degree, his eyes devoid of his iris and pupils as he faced the painted sky on the ceiling of the whale's stomach. The navigator who'd been giggling along with the story from her husband's childhood now observed him with a concerned frown.

"I think you broke him." Nami commented as Sanji and Zoro blinked, snapping out of their amusement so they could also see their captain in his…crippled state? Usopp, who'd noticed the earliest, brought out his hammer and walked towards his captain to nudge the man for any reactions. The resulting reaction was Luffy tilting backwards before falling forwards planting his face into the dirt. "Yeah, you definitely-" Nami's concern was wiped clean from her face as did the amusement from Crocus's as the two looked up just in time to see a small door get blasted of it's hinges…Actually screw the small door and the explosion for a second, "What the hell?! How long have those massive steel doors been there?!"

"Since installed them after I set up shop here in Laboon's stomach so I'd have a quicker way inject the sedatives into him…which should be wearing off in about-"

"Get ready for trouble old man!" A woman's voice called from the smoke, her slim silhouette accompanied with that of a bazooka's on her shoulder, and a scrawny figure by her side.

"And make it double, you old geezer!" The man said in a nasally voice as his orange hair that ended in upwards curls became visible. The woman's light blue hair held up in a high ponytail appeared as well.

"Miss-ack what in the world?!" Whatever continuation the two had for their bit was interrupted by the cries of the whale, Laboon, and the abrupt earthquake that shook all those inside his belly. While the normal humans within the whale's innards covered their ears with a grimace, the Straw Hats who had received their marks from their Captain fell to their knees in agony. The Captain himself? Well his over exaggerated passing out from having one of his most embarrassing childhood memories revealed became an actual fainting as foam began bubbling out of his mouth. Crocus noticed Luffy's state and cursed, not that anyone could actually tell what he said over the whale but no one says good things with that kind of expression, before jumping into action. How a man could dive into an ocean of digestive juices, swim his way over to a ladder and disappear into the doorway the bluenette and orangette came from in a mere 30 seconds was the question going through the Straw Hats' heads.

"Damn it, Laboon. You keep this up any further and you'll be sinking to depths in just a few more months!" In a room of reinforced steel, Crocus hefted a massive syringe filled with 'guaranteed to knock out even Whitebeard' dosage of sedatives. "Take another nap you little bastard."

The sedatives worked their magic quickly and soon Laboon was back to being in a more passive and calm mood. Nodding in satisfaction, Crocus took at the monitor observed as Laboon's form began rising to the surface of seas. Crocus let out a loud sigh before hardening his expression as his gaze shifted to the monitor showcasing where the Straw Hats were currently facing against the two troublemakers who'd been nothing but a thorn at his side the past few weeks. "Maybe those runts can deal with these-Hmmmm?!"

Crocus's eyes nearly bugged out of his skull when he bore witness to what the blonde cook had just done.

Keeping a hand clutched over his still ringing head, Luffy sat up and glared at the two newcomers by the blasted door. A woman with light blue hair held up in a high ponytail, darker chocolate eyes than that of his wife's, and even paler skin. Her choice of fashion was…strange and more than a little revealing with that low cut sleeveless shirt sure but it was nothing compared to the jackass standing next to her. A scrawny twig of a man with orange hair, narrow black eyes, wore a cheap plastic crown upon his head, a dark green dress onesie that just screamed tacky, and black dress shoes. The man was honestly not of much interest, his voice just screamed "I am nothing more than a small fry grunt following orders from my terrifying superior!"

"The woman on the other hand…her voice wasn't as bland. No, her voice was filled with all the emotions of the main heroine in a romance tragedy set between two star crossed lovers from opposing families of two warring kingdoms. It was full of such raw emotion that-"

"Didn't peg you for someone who had a thing for romance novels, captain." Luffy blinked a few times before turning to Sanji who had turned to him with a raised brow and an amused smirk. "So aside from shitting yourself and making your sister's bar uninhabitable, you also have a thing for-"

"Make fun of Luffy's hobbies later ero-cook. Let's deal with these schmucks first." Zoro growled as he turned to Sanji who just turned to Zoro with a heated glare.

"One schmuck and one fair maiden, shitty marimo. Get your facts right for our guest and her pet." The cook puffed out a few smoke rings while walking towards the seat where Crocus once sat but the female blunette now occupied as the tick mark appeared not only on Zoro's temple but the orange haired man's as well.

"I am not her pet!" The man complained from his spot, chained to the main mast of the ship. "I am Mister 9 of-Wait. When did you guys get on the platform?"

The Straw Hats, even the Going Merry somehow, Mr. 9 and the bluenette all found themselves speechless and bug-eyed when they realized that Mr. 9 was chained against the mast of the Merry and the 'fair maiden' as Sanji referred to her, was seated on Corcus's beach chair being served a beverage by said cook. "Fresh Tropical Fruit blend madame?" The woman wordlessly accepted the beverage from Sanji after weighing her options. Either she accepts it and enjoys the kindness being shown to her or end up like Mr. 9 without ever realizing what happened.

Zoro, Nami, and Usopp slowly turned from Sanji to Luffy with the same question silently being asked. The wolfman turned to them in turn with a contemplating look…before shrugging and simply saying, "A wizard never shares their secrets."

"That was no magic trick!" The three roared out in protest.

"I said wizard not magician." Luffy deadpanned. The words slowly turned in the three Straw Hats' heads. A wizard…not a magician. Wait a minute.

"You have no idea either do you?" Nami facepalmed when Luffy gave her a thumbs up with a straight face. "Ugh, whatever. We have bigger issues than Sanji's, thank you, unexplainable ability to pull off shit like that." Nami paused briefly to thank the cook for the beverage he'd silently brought her. "Im guessing those doors are out way out so if you're actually in the mood to stop being an ass, I'd really appreciate it if you went and got Crocus before the Merry-"

"The Gates will be opened when we reach the surface, girl." Crocus's voice cut off Nami's from his position by the small doorway. The man's focus wasn't on the navigator though, instead it was on Mr. 9 and the bluenette who grit their teeth upon seeing the old man there. "As for you two bastards…I believe I made myself clear in the past. No one kills Laboon while I'm here! You understand me?!"

Mr. 9 sneered, "Ha! An old geezer like you stands no chance against us! We will have this whale, you hear me! Our whale hunt will not come to an end!"

"Besides, this whale has its days numbered doesn't it?" The woman added though with a little less enthusiasm as her partner, almost as if she wasn't really wholly on board with killing the whale. "If it's on a suicide path why not just let us take it? At least then it would have some use rather than just rotting in the seabed after succumbing to its continuous but fruitless headsmashing against the Red Line."

Crocus was silent over the woman's rather solid argument but only because she was clearly ignorant of the reasons behind the headbutting of Laboon. "You believe Laboon doesn't have a reason for doing this? He's just smashing and scarring his face for fun?"

"It would appear that there's more to the seemingly mindless, insane practice than I'd previously believed." The woman replied with a much different attitude now. Luffy noted how she seemed to be more regal and respectful in her posture as well. "If you would be so kind as to elaborate on just what that reason is…My partner and I will leave the wha-ahem, Laboon alone and find something else to hunt for our town to consume."

Mr. 9 was left stunned for a moment but he then scowled, "Miss Wednesday!" Zoro raised an eyebrow to the woman's name. He hadn't considered much when he heard Mr. 9's name but coupled with the woman's? This was tickling something in the back of his mind. "We were explicitly ordered to-"

"Mr. 9, in the time it took to blink you found yourself tied to the mast of these pirates' ship. Do you really believe there's any way we are walking out of here intact if we continue on our mission?" Mr. 9 found himself on the receiving end of a very frigid glare on a very much pissed off woman. The eccentric man was pretty close to shitting himself in fear when he realized the blonde cook was also giving him a death glare. Miss Wednesday turned away from the scrawny guy and back to Crocus, "Apologies. My partner is not as flexible, or sensible, as I am."

Crocus regarded Mss Wednesday for a few more moments before shrugging, "Eh, if it'll get you two rascals out of our hairs why not." The old doctor glanced at Luffy thoughtfully before continuing. "And maybe you and your crew could do what I couldn't Anchor. Shanks or any of his Red Hair pirates mention why I joined the Roger Pirates in the first place?"

Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday froze when the old doctor outright stated his affiliations with not only the legendary pirate king but the one of the Emperor of the Seas as well. The two then snapped their wide eyes over to Luffy shook his head as he replied with, "Dad didn't go into too much detail. Just said you were looking for people you met a few years prior."

"D-Dad?! Your father is-'' Miss Wednesday was left an unintelligible mess. Before her stood the 'son' of an Emperor of the Sea, one of the rulers of the New World…And she could see the resemblance. "You…you have his smile."

Luffy snickered, "Shishishishi! Benn always said our grins were uncannily similar." Whilst the bluenette seemed to be very much thankful of the fact that she'd stopped both herself and her partner from being reduced to dust, the captain turned back to Crocus. "So what's the deal with the whale, Flower Geezer?"

Crocus narrowed his eyes at the name which would likely stick before he cleared his throat for a moment, taking a seat over the edge of the platform as he began his tale. "It all started around 50 years ago…"

FLASHBACK

A younger man he was in those days, still 21 years of age, Crocus met a pirate crew who'd come to take their shot at achieving what no one had accomplished before. Conquering the Grand Line. Unlike their many colleagues in the profession of piracy however, these pirates? The Rumbar Pirates? They were as good-natured as could be. Hailing from the West Blue, the pirate crew was led by a man known as 'Calico' Yorki. A carefree and light-hearded man who typically wore a green captain's vest, white slacks, an orange sash, and brown cowboy boots to go along with his white cowboy hat.

Conquering the Grand Line was their mission, yes, but it wasn't what they focused on as they sailed the seas. No, their focus was tied to the prerequisites to joining the Rumbar Pirates itself. A love for music and bringing smiles to the children of the world. Not a very pirate like goal but while they were good natured and friendly they still couldn't care less for rules and function. Freedom is what they desire and freedom is what they set out to see for. Entering the Grand Line, their ship was damaged and this is when the Rumbar Pirates and their little buddy Laboon met the future Roger Pirate, Crocus.

Crocus found himself becoming quick friends with all the Rumbar Pirates, Yorki and his afro headed, violin-playing Vice Captain, being his closest friends. Laboon the playful little island whale that he was also had a special place in the old lighthouse keeper's heart. For months the Rumbar Pirates remained on the Twin Capes, fixing their ship and partying with Crocus but all like all parties, it eventually came to an end. The ship was restored and thus their adventure was set to continue. Crocus wasn't the only one who was going to be left on the Twin Capes however.

"Laboon, you stay here and wait for us, ok bud?" Yorki smiled down happily on the little island whale who whined in protest. Why couldn't it continue traveling with its friends? Its family? "You're still a kid, Laboon. 2 or 3 years more and we'll circle back to pick you up, all right? By then, nothing will faze you!" The island whale wasn't happy with being left behind but it could understand why it was so. "3 years goes by in a flash Laboon! Just hang around with Crocus and we'll be back before ya know it, bud!"

And so, standing on the edge of the docks, Crocus and Laboon watched as the Rumbar Pirates set sail into the distance. Not knowing that, that would be the last time they ever saw the music loving pirates ever again.

FLASHBACK

"That…that was 50 years ago." Crocus was bitter by the end of the story, Zoro noted, and the swordsman could tell why. Others on the crew were not so quick on the uptake though. Throughout the tale, Crocus had returned to his island and taken the Straw Hats through the large steel doors that had opened into a tunnel. Luffy made no comments during the tale and simply sat upon Merry's figurehead with his straw hat shadowing his eyes. A frown had settled on his features when they'd finished hearing about Laboon's family.

"Laboon has been waiting for those guys for 50 years?" Usopp commented in awe. Pirates who went around spreading the joy of music was a romanticized fantasy anywhere else but seeing as he was part of the Straw Hats…yeah Usopp could see them existing. He could also see himself getting along quite well with them. 'Wonder if they'd be interested in making ballads…'

Nami frowned and gave Usopp an unimpressed glance as she pondered over things. Specifically, how the story did nothing to explain the whale's behavior against the Red Line. If Laboon wanted to find his family, he was heading the complete opposite direction of where the Rumbar Pirates had headed. Unless they…Nami's stomach dropped, her eyes snapping over to Zoro who looked back at her with an emotionless gaze that spoke more than enough. "They sure are making Laboon wait though." Usopp offhandedly comments after they exited another pair of steel gates, ones that lead to the outside. "50 years is a heck of a lot longer than 3…"

Sanji took a hit of his cigarette before settling a glare on the marksman. "They're dead, jackass." The marksman and everyone else snapped to the blonde cook with emotions ranging from shock to anger and some with little to no emotions at all. "This is the Grand Line, remember? If they haven't made it back yet, then they're already dead."

Mr. 9 who'd been quiet throughout the tale now voiced his agreement with the cook. The eccentric man wasn't happy about being a captive but seeing as neither he nor his partner could do much else, he figured he might as well chime in on the discussion. "The Grand Line was an uncharted sea, far more devastating and chaotic than it is these days. While it's a bitter pill to swallow, your vice captain's definitely right."

"What are you talking about?!" Usopp was angry. Sure it was a real long wait but that didn't mean the Rumbar Pirates were dead. The sea was a large place and there could have been a number of reasons for them not making it back in time, not just death.

Miss Wednesday gave the long nosed man a pitying look, "Mr. Tengu,-"

"Who are you calling a tengu?!"

"While the Grand Line may be difficult to traverse and is home to many obstacles...50 years is just too long. The Rumbar Pirates, as delightful and good-natured as they seem, are likely no longer with us." Sanji looked to be on the verge of breaking out into a dance with hearts, probably in an attempt to break the somber mood, but the angry growling from Usopp made him shift his priorities a tad. Teammate or not, yelling at a woman was not acceptable, except during a storm or a very noisy situation.

"Didn't you get moved by the touching story?! Those guys will make it back! They'll get an ass whooping for taking their time but they'll be back!" Usopp's frustrations only mounted when everywhere he turned, he just found more and more looks of pity. Luffy and Zoro didn't even give him that, they just stared at him emotionlessly and Nami…Nami gave him the most pitying look of them all. "They'll make it back, won't they pops?!" Turning to Crocus, Usopp hoped to at least find back up from him but the old doctor's glare and deep scowl made it clear he'd be getting the exact opposite of what he was hoping for.

"The world isn't a fairytale kid." Crocus's bitterness left Usopp and the rest who'd commented thus far at a loss. "There aren't magical happy endings just because you were a good person and the last thing those Rumbar Pirates deserve is a good ending…not for what they've done to Laboon."

"P-Pops?"

Crocus sagged and his voice came out tired, "They left kid." Crocus turned to Usopp with a defeated look. The look of a man who'd given up, who'd lost more than anyone ever should. "They abandoned the Grand Line…and they're never coming back."

Nami grimaced, she normally loved whenever she was right, frankly everyone did, but this was one time she wished her hunch was wrong. "They left through the Calm Belt didn't they? Or at least tried to?"

"Yes. Yes they did." Crocus replied, taking a seat on his beach chair with a grunt. "I confirmed it through a reliable source…They fled the Grand Line…if they tried to come back it would have been difficult but-."

"But after 50 years…even taking into account the craziness of the Grand Line…sigh" Sanji puffed out a long stream of smoke with downcast eyes. Haunted eyes really. Luffy kept his gaze on his cook, noticing the…personal demons he seemed to be wrestling with. "If they haven't made it back here, and you haven't heard anything about them as well…Yeah they're long gone."

'Abandonment…' Whatever issues Sanji had, Luffy was willing to wager his arm that it was in some vein related to abandonment.

"So unable to deal with the challenge, these Rumbar Pirates just up and ran huh?" Zoro commented offhandedly, watching Laboon approach the Red Line again. "Leaving this poor bastard here…"

"They left him here for 50 years? They just abandoned him?" Usopp's horrified muttering was a stark contrast to the bluenette's response. The woman looked about ready to kill if the red face, gritting teeth, and trembling body were anything to go by. "But…that's not-"

"It doesn't matter to them. Pirates are all the same." The bluenette woman spat venomously. Her partner, Mr. 9 seemed inclined to agree but recalling where exactly they were, the man nervously began giving the woman panicked looks. The Straw Hats weren't really interested in dealing with them though, the acts of the Rumbar Pirates was far too disgusting for them to even consider getting into a confrontation with the odd pair of individuals who'd been whale hunting. "They make false promises, they toy with your hearts…" Nami's eyes widened briefly when she began feeling…pulses coming off the bluenette and Luffy was also observing Miss Wednesday with interest now. "They're nothing but scum."

"I told Laboon." Crocus said, gaining the youngsters' attention once more. "I told him about what those cowards had done..but he refused to accept it. Since the day I told him, he's been howling at the Red Line, charging against it, doing whatever he could think of just to get to the otherside or maybe get his calls to reach them.""

Mr. 9, who'd been relieved from his anxiousness when it was clear the pirates had no care for his partner's scathing words, found himself in a rather damp mood. A whale that had waited that long for its companions, who never gave up on them even after 50 long years…What a whale. The eccentric man could feel his heart twist, and he knew now that killing the whale…it wouldn't be right. So with a deep sigh, Mr. 9 opened his eyes…and noticed that the man with the straw hat was missing.

"Where'd your Captain go?" Mr. 9's question was responded to with a chorus of 'huh?'s and 'Luffy?'s. The old doctor meanwhile, suddenly seemed to pale as he stared at where the whale, Laboon had situated itself at. Though he was probably more pale over the fact that Luffy seemed to be even more impulsive and crazy than Shanks ever was. The others quickly turned to where Crocus was looking and while the whale hunters were left stunned and blinking incredulously, the Straw Hats collectively joined Crocus in paling white as a sheet seeing their captain standing on the air just above Laboon who'd stopped mid-howl at the incomprehensible sight before him.

"Luffy whatever you're planning don't-" Nami tried to scream for Luffy to not do anything crazy but just as the futility of such a task dawned on her, her husband suddenly disappeared…and a moment later Laboon was smacked to the side, a comet-like impact impression left on the side of its face!

"LUFFY WHAT THE FUCK?!" The Straw Hats, except for Zoro who just facepalmed, screamed with white eyes and shark teeth as they witnessed their captain not only deck a massive whale, but send it bouncing off like a skipping stone!

"WHAT THE HELL IS HE?!" Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday cried out as they both fell on their butts, well Miss Wednesday did since she wasn't tied to the mast, as they witnessed something that even by their logic as Grand Line natives just made no goddamn sense.

Crocus was silently gaping at the sight before him but before he could even join the angry screaming, Laboon sank beneath the waves, only to rush towards the wolfman at full speed...And the crazy bastard was grinning like he won the lottery! 'Oh God, Shanks, what did you teach this kid?!'

Laboon jumped out of the water and slammed directly into the floating Luffy who went down with the whale, the two of them crashing into the shore next to a lighthouse. It looked like Laboon would crash into the lighthouse as well but then, "He-HE'S STILL ALIVE?!" Mr. 9 cried out in shock only to be one upped by Miss Wednesday with her observation.

"SCREW THE FACT HE'S ALIVE!" The bluenette cried, getting on her feet and pointing at the figure hidden in the rapidly dissipating dust cloud, a figure that was lifting Laboon like the fully grown island whale was nothing! "HE'S HOISTING THAT THING LIKE IT'S A NOTHING MORE THAN A DUCKLING!"

"What is with your obsession with ducks?" Mr. 9 questions seemingly out of the blue only to get slapped up the head. He probably deserved that one considering the fact that the captain of the crew that had captured him was still fighting the whale and the bastard didn't even look winded! Luffy was grinning and cackling like a maniac as he flung the massive whale back into the surf, bouncing on his feet while taunting the whale to give him his best shot. "This guy is crazy!"

"That guy is our captain." Nami cut in with a glare directed at Mr. 9 who appeared to be trying to lift his hands up in surrender. For some reason his instincts told him that the orange haired woman would dish out more pain than the blonde vice captain. Maybe she was the vice captain? "And if you think this is crazy?" Nami silently glared at the other orangette who squirmed under her intense gaze…which abruptly broke as she sagged and pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation. "This is a regular weekend for us."

Miss Wednesday turned to Nami, looking at the other woman like she was insane. "That is normal to you!" The bluenette cried as she pointed towards Luffy getting swatted into the lighthouse after his latest 'trade' with laboon. The orange haired woman's response, delivered not only in a deadpan manner but with emotionless eyes made the bluenette question her life decisions. It certainly didn't help that the rest of the crazy strong bastard's crew unanimously echoed her response.

"Yes, yes it is." Crocus was torn between busting out in laughter or groaning in despair as he recalled one other detail about Shank's protege and, for all intents and purposes, adopted son…He was related to Monkey D. Fucking Garp.

"IT'S A DRAW!" Luffy suddenly screamed from where he stood before the lighthouse, and by the shore's edge right in front of Laboon. The wolfman grinned ear to ear as he dusted off his straw hat. "Listen buddy, I'm strong, yeah?"

'Understatement of the year!' The Straw Hats, Miss Wednesday, Mr. 9 and Crocus all thought.

"You wanna beat me, yeah?" Laboon glared fiercely at Luffy, his determination blazing eyes gazing into Luffy's own battle crazed one. "Our fight ain't over! So we'll need to fight again, won't we? Your buddies may not have come back yet but I'll be here to throttle you forever. I'll be your rival, and so we'll definitely be busting heads again to see who's stronger. I'll sail the seas of the Grand Line myself, and when I find your friends I'll give 'em an ass whooping before doubling back to throwdown with you again." Laboon's eyes watered as the massive whale began to understand what the strange man with a Straw Hat was proposing, the humans on the side also going into varying degrees of emotions from feeling touched by Luffy's strangely effective way of getting through to Laboon, to genuine respect for the crazy bastard. Luffy grinned ear to ear and chuckled, "When I come back, let's fight again!"

Crocus smiled contentedly as Laboon howled to the skies in agreement. 'Of course the kid would be just as soft and good hearted as his grandfather and that red-haired brat,' Crocus' smile faltered however as he considered the rest of Luffy's words. Finding the Rumbar Pirates? Well, despite what he had said, Crocus wasn't able to 100% guarantee that the bastards had really up and left but considering it had been 50 years the likelihood of their survival was nonexistent as the blonde stated earlier. 'Still though….Haha, this is the man who aims to succeed your throne, Captain.' Crocus mused to himself as he recalled his late Captain in his prime. 'What was it that crazy old coot liked to say? Let's turn the world upside down?'

"All right." Luffy nodded happily to himself as he inspected his marksman's work. Honestly if the guy wasn't interested in being a pirate he wouldn't be too shabby as an artist. "Nice work, Usopp."

"Hehe, thanks Cap!" Usopp sheepishly scratched the back of his head, very much thankful for the headphones he'd actually remembered to put on this time as Laboon also voiced his approval of the Straw Hat's Jolly Roger being painted on his scared head. "You also don't think they up and left, Luffy?" Luffy grimaced slightly at that but thankfully, Usopp had been whispering and only he had caught the wolfman's brief flash of displeasure whilst Laboon seemed content with admiring the insignia painted on him.

"I don't believe they fled but as for them being alive after all this time? I doubt it." Luffy confessed back to Usopp with a somber expression, the young pirate captain sighing as Usopp returned to a depressed air all over again. "Hey, chin up mate. At the very least you, me and the rest of the guys can be there for the big guy, eh?" Luffy smiled as Usopp's mood lifted slightly and the marksman began packing his cleaning supplies back. Satisfied with his marksman no longer being down in the dumps, Luffy turned his attention to Laboon. "Until I get back and we throw down again, you are not, I repeat NOT going to do anything that would ruin that insignia you hear?!"

Laboon howled back happily in response to which Luffy laughed out happily. Joining Usopp in walking back to the Lighthouse where the rest of the Straw Hats, Crocus and the two 'guests' waited. Speaking of the guests. "Any thoughts on those two weirdos, Usopp?" Luffy had two reasons behind inquiring about Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9. First was that he wasn't sure what to make of them and was curious for Usopp's, and the rest of the crew's, input. Secondly, the wolfman wanted to see if Usopp was able to pick up on what Nami and he had from when Wednesday began losing her cool.

Usopp took a moment to organize his thoughts before answering his captain, "Well, like you said they're weirdos. The guy wasn't much of a threat either but the blue haired chick?"

'Oh? Has Usopp leveled up in Observation Haki?'

"She's definitely more of a threat. I can't tell exactly why but something about her just puts me on guard. I think it was worse when she was mumbling those things about pirates…" Usopp trailed off as he faced Luffy. "Is this a test?"

"Yep." Luffy replied blandly, offering his marksman a hand to board the Going Merry. The wolfman could hear Sanji and Zoro in the pantry, probably getting the food for lunch ready, and see Mr. 9 was down by the shore sitting with Nami and Miss Wednesday, a map on the table between the navigator and the guests. From above them Luffy could sense someone, make that two someones, observing them but as there was no killing intent being radiated off of them the wolfman decided to add them to another test later on. "You're definitely more perceptive than before. Notice anything else?"

Usopp accepted his captain's help in getting back on the ship before shrugging in response. "You mean aside from the vulture and the otter?" Luffy raised a brow and smirked at his marksman who grinned back cheekily. "Nothing much. How'd I do?"

Luffy tapped his chin in thought before snapping his fingers, "Considering you just got started a little less than a month ago, 7/10. Save for the flying rodents, everything else you perceived was more out of base instinct and intuition than haki. Context or at least a better understanding of why 'Wednesday'' Luffy made air quotes as he said the blue haired woman's name, "Was rubbing you off the wrong way would have come to you if your haki was progressing faster. The training is definitely helping since your instincts and intuition are the basis of Observation Haki but the latter still needs work."

"Gotcha. Haki ain't an easy thing to master huh?" Usopp grumbled, annoyed by his barely passing marks. Ain't nobody like hearing they failed at a test after all. Even if it was by Luffy's standards.

"Shishishi, you'll get there eventually Usopp. Frankly the progress you've all made is already incredible considering we've barely begun the journey, not to mention your shave technique ain't bad either. Just need to work on your stamina…well a lot actually." Memories of Usopp sleeping like a log the next few days and more often than not resting his legs made it clear that while Usopp had learned to do 'shave' it was a lot more taxing than it should have been. 'Then again this is a crash course to get them stronger in the least amount of time possible. They'll be able to trigger the techniques sooner but they'll still need to refine it so it actually gets to be as potent as it should be.'

While Usopp went down into the storage area, Luffy snapped his attention over to the mouthwatering cuisine Sanji had walked out the kitchen with, Zoro trailing behind carrying the rest of lunch. The wolfman was just about to regress in the evolutionary tree, as does the majority of his family when it comes to food, when he was suddenly hit with a rather curious conundrum. "Sanji…Didn't you just pull the food out of the pantry?"

The blonde chef paused in his stride momentarily before replying an affirmative to his captain, "Yeah…why?" Behind the cook, Zoro gave the blonde an incredulous look.

"You cooked all this in like 3 minutes at most. Even if you were trained by Zeff this ain't normal ya shitty-er…" The swordsman paused in his insults, after all calling Sanji a shitty cook when he just pulled something like this…well it just didn't fit right. Easy fix though since insulting Sanji by calling him a shitty cook wasn't the only one the swordsman had on speed dial. "Low standards, tramp seeking, penis-controlled, fuckwit."

"...You didn't finish calling me a shitty cook and as I have two ladies to serve, I'll just let this slide. For now." Saying his piece, the swirly eyebrowed man shot the swordsman a look promising that their spat wasn't over and then promptly continuing on his way to the lovely little lunch spot by the shore near the lighthouse. Zoro turned to Luffy who seemed a tad disappointed and shook his head believing he knew exactly what had his captain down in the dumps.

"The cook and I will spar later. You get your free fight club, don't wo-"

"Don't tell me you also didn't notice anything strange about our guests." Zoro paused by the ladder to turn back to his captain with a raised brow.

"You mean aside from the fact that the woman's hiding something and the guy is a pathetic twig who has to rely on her to get shit done?" Luffy wasn't sure what was more surprising at this point. The fact that Zoro had willingly put off his scuffle with Sanji to a later time, or that Zoro actually deduced what was strange about the guests after all, and to a better degree than Usopp for that matter. "Or is this about how they're probably tied to Baro-um…Baroke Twerks or something stupid like that."

Luffy made no comment on his swordsman's words for the first few seconds as he tried to recall if he'd heard anything recently about organizations that consisted of two words that start with B and T but finding that he was drawing a blank, the wolfman just shrugged. "Well both of those things are actually stuff I wanna discuss with you later. Though to be honest with me, did you notice any of this through haki or are you just running on gut feeling right now?"

Zoro grimaced slightly as he realized that Luffy was doing his impromptu tests again and unfortunately, "I…didn't have my observation haki up." The swordsman confessed with a bitter look. "If you're wondering how I came to those conclusions in the first place, well, while the girl is wearing a sweater from the way she moved and carried herself she definitely had some training while the guy just looked like a common low life thug in weird clothes. Definitely would have been 'high' in the pecking order of grunts but still a grunt nonetheless."

"As for them being from Barcode Trunks or whatever, I ran into a guy a few months back while I was still a bounty hunter. Apparently it's an organization where every employee goes by codenames, women get a specific event or holiday and guys get numbers. The lower the number the higher the ranking." Luffy took in his Vice Captain's words more seriously than Zoro expected he would. The swordsman honestly expected his captain would just listen to the information then shrug it off and say that they'd deal with it if they ever crossed that bridge but maybe there was something else to it as well. "They also answer to some super secret head honcho that none of them have even seen before called Mr. 0. After I took care of the guy, Mr. 7 I believe his code name was, I just went back to my journey. There something the crew and I should know about, captain?"

The wolfman seemed to be lost in thought as he didn't respond to his Vice Captain for quite a while. Zoro was going to ask Luffy what was on his mind but Sanji started calling for him. "Oi marimo! Time's ticking and the food isn't getting any fresher!" Zoro was prepared to shoutback to the cook, and more than likely insult him as well but Luffy interrupted him with a dismissive wave just as Usopp got out of the storage room.

"You and Usopp head on over and have lunch. I have a few things to take care of first." Zoro and Usopp nodded in acceptance of the order, the former with not a little amount of curiosity in his eyes, and headed towards the lighthouse. Alone on the Going Merry, Luffy scratched the back of his head with a deep sigh before addressing the two individuals behind him on the railing. "No offense but unless either of you can talk, I don't see how or why my father would have sent you to me." Turning to face them, Luffy found himself staring straight at a brown otter with a white fur snout dressed in a long-sleeved light blue jumpsuit with purple polka dots standing next to a vulture sporting an aviator cap with floral prints and a pair of goggles. The otter made no sign of surprise over being called out for his and his partner's presence and instead promptly brought out a whiteboard along with a marking pen and immediately started scribbling, presenting the board to the wolfman who read the text in a bored expression that quickly became one of surprise. The surprise didn't last for long however and soon the wolfman was sporting a grin that would have sent even Garp running for the hills to escape whatever batshit crazy scheme Luffy had just cooked up in his head. As it was, the otter and the vulture both shuddered and, in their animal speak, vehemently thanked their superior for taking them in instead of leaving them to become likely enemies, or more accurately dinner, for the man standing before them. "Shishishishi! I'm going to have to thank my old man for this in the future."

While Sanji went about preparing the table with Zoro and Usopp's help, Nami continued talking with Wednesday, the navigator dropped the honorific since it was a hassle to keep calling the other woman about the Grand Line's unpredictability as well many locations around Paradise. Now, many may be wondering why Miss Wednesday, a woman who clearly had issues with pirates if her earlier episode was anything to go by, was outright talking shop with a pirate. Short answer is that Luffy's strange yet compassionate way of getting to Laboon made her put the Straw Hats on a different category of pirates, the special, ehem weird, pirates who were out more for fun and adventure rather than death and destruction. Where was Mr. 9 during all this? Well he was also providing some of his own input on what he knew about some islands, unfortunately he wasn't as well informed as Miss Wednesday but the man also had his moments.

"And that is why you want to check your log pose every 5 minutes at the very least." Mr. 9 said sagely despite his eyes seemingly haunted as he relieved past memories. Wednesday wasn't any better with how her already pale complexion somehow became whiter…and a little green actually as she murmured under her breath. Something about random whirlpools forming only to be followed up by a sandstorm in the middle of the ocean. Nami wasn't sure how to take that latter phenomenon that really should not have been possible but considering who she slept with every night…Yeah no, passing the point of absurdity was a ship that sailed a long time ago. "Aside from that and the earlier islands you're likely to run into on the Grand Line…Well I guess if you can, avoid Alabasta." Wednesday flinched and her eyes briefly filled with rage before becoming emotionless. Nami had seen the slip in her mask and decided to file the incident as important before turning her attention back to Mr. 9. "The country's currently having a Civil War…No end in sight either so maybe best, if at all possible, that you stay clear of that kingdom."

"I see." Nami looked over the notes she'd been taking since she had sat down with the two guests and smiled with satisfaction. It wasn't a complete comprehensive guide but it was still invaluable information to have for their journey. Mentally, she thanked her father-in-law for giving her a heavy duty log pose back in Loguetown. Again. "Well, if that'll be it I believe lunch will be served soon. Want to join us?" Nami raised her hand up when two seemed like they were about to protest, "No offense, but neither of you look like you've eaten anything decent for days and our cook is very big on serving anyone and everyone in need so I advise you to just suck it up and accept the offer…Plus he is the adopted son of Zeff, owner and head chef of the Seafaring Restaurant, The Baratie."

The navigator smirked as all opposition crumbled and both Wednesday and Mr. 9 seemed to get lost in fantasies of enjoying gourmet food for once. Ever so briefly, Nami was tempted to charge them for the meals they were going to eat but decided against it. The information they so happily provided her would be enough. From the seas, Laboon resurfaced and howled at Crocus who stayed on the edge of the shore to talk to the whale. Seeing Laboon, the orange haired woman remembered a rather important detail about the two individuals in front of her. "Say…now that Laboon is off your hit list, what are you guys going to hunt for instead? You mentioned you needed to hunt Laboon since he'd be able to fill your town's bellies for a good while but since he's off the table?"

Snapping out of their day dreaming of food, Mr. 9 sighed and frowned in frustration. It need not be said explicitly that the whale was now no longer a target not only because it was basically under the protection of the Straw Hats but that Wednesday had no interest in killing it anymore, especially after hearing its tale. "Miss Wednesday and I will have to search elsewhere for a supply of food I suppose. Unfortunately, unlike Laboon, Sea Kings are vicious bastards who can't be killed so easily."

Nami snorted derisively at that, gaining her guests attention. "If a Sea King can cover it then my crew can supply you with that. For a price, of course." The navigator smiled cheekily as she rubbed two fingers against each other in the very universal motion that everyone associated with money. "Let's say…hmmm taking into account the difficulty of bagging a Laboon-sized Sea King and where you both said your town was…25 Million Beris." Both Wednesday and Mr. 9 blinked at the shockingly low price and neither were giving the navigator as respectful looks as they had been prior. "Now before you get it in your head that I'm an idiot or incompetent or just plain insane for offering such a discounted price to you, I want you to recall just who my Captain is." Nami let that little factoid stew in their heads for a minute before jabbing her finger behind her to Zoro. "Not to mention you haven't seen what our Vice Captain is capable of either."

Mr. 9 did a double take as he registered the navigator's words, "Wait the green haired swordsman is your Vice Captain?!"

Hearing his name, or more accurately most prominent feature, being called, Zoro walked over to Nami with an inquisitive look directed at the weirdos who would be joining them for lunch. "You bozos need something?" For his rudeness, Zoro got a half-hearted backhanded slap from Nami and an admonishing look, both of which the swordsman ignored without even flinching.

"I thought the blonde chef was your Vice Captain!" Mr. 9 blurted out much to Wednesday's dismay. Much was it to Wednesday's dismay as the woman had, in the few scant moments before her partner opened his mouth, deduced the can of worms that would be opened if they didn't change the topic right then and there. So it was that without missing a beat,

"Ha! Looks like I'm more fit for Vice Captain than you are, Marimo." Sanji's cocky smirk was wiped off his face when Zoro made a rather…descriptive comment about the cook's package. "You picking a fight, bladophiliac?!"

"Bring it, you opportunistic knob gobbler!"

"No one's explained that to me yet." A voice mused as it's owner calmly sliced several cuts of the Elephant Blue Fin Tuna, plating a generous portion for himself and then a few for his furry, or feathery, friends. "You two can deal with the animosity later during sparring. For now, come and enjoy the food before it leaves its most desirable state." The hidden message was not missed by Luffy's crew and when Wednesday and 9 blinked, it was as if the Straw Hats had been eating on the table family style from the very beginning.

"Please pass the salad, Zoro."

"Yeah sure."

"Hey Sanji, how'd you manage to cook this so quickly anyway?"

"If you stopped tinkering around so much and paid attention you might have learned how by now shitty tengu."

"Why do you all keep calling me a-"

Scribble~ Scribble~

"Hmm? Oh no worries good sir, the salad and the fish don't have any carbs so you're Keto streak will still be going-"

Whilst the Straw Hats took the sudden presence of the two critters in stride, Wednesday and 9 did not. "THE UNLUCKIES?!" Both the Otter and the Vulture, Mr. 13 and Miss Friday respectively, paused in enjoying their meals to give their 'superiors' a momentary glance followed by a wave with either paw or wing before returning to their meal. "Don't just wave hello and go back to eating like this is a regular sunday brunch!"

"Eesh, you whippersnappers are lou-Ooooh Sizzling Grilled Great King Squid!" Crocus's eyes lit up in glee as he spotted one of his favorite dishes on the table. The difference between the grumpy old man from earlier and the eager geezer now was shocking enough for even Luffy to give the old man a weird look before shrugging it off and continuing the meal.

"Words of advice to you two." Taking a moment to address the two dumbfounded individuals with a pitying look, Nami decided to get them at least a chance of being able to eat something before her husband completely wiped the table clean. No one knew how he did it, only that if they paused in eating for even a minute they'd soon find empty plates and a very satisfied Luffy. "Grab some of the food before Gluttony incarnate eats it all."

Wednesday opened her mouth to protest the strange turn of events further but the hand of her comrade on her shoulder gave her pause. Turning to Mr. 9 and seeing his tired, resigned expression, Wednesday sighed heavily before she and 9 took their seats on the table as well. Their solemn mood was not there for long however as the moment they took their first bite, the two were taken back to memories long repressed but memories held dear as well. Sanji was very familiar with the expression of people's faces whenever his food brought them back to happier times, simpler times and while the cook was very pleased with what he'd accomplished he was also a tad bitter deep down. Not that anyone noticed though. Anyone but the cook's captain that is.

Luffy narrowed his eyes at his chef for what felt like the millionth time since they'd met. 'So it's related to your life as a chef as well.'

Wednesday and 9's anxiety was quite obvious even to those not giving them deadpan expressions. The Unluckies, as the Otter and Vulture duo had been referred to as, had pointedly ignored the two of them for the entire duration of their stay on the Twin Capes thus far. 13 and Friday were spending more time back on the pirates' ship with the Captain of the Straw Hats rather than their colleagues.

"You guys okay? You've both been staring at the butterball turkey and sea rat like a ticking time bomb since lunch." Nami, finally having had enough of their jittering across the table from her, decided to just bite the bullet and call them out on their behavior. The navigator also pointedly ignored the indignant squawks and squeaks sent her way accompanied by the noise of furious scribbling and Luffy's snickering. "You also haven't said where we were dropping you off with a Sea King to substitute for Laboon."

Wednesday apologized to Nami wearily, still on guard as she kept the Unluckies in her peripherals, "Forgive us for the nervousness, it's just that…Well those two being somewhere usually means failed agents being killed off and seeing as we aren't anywhere close to achieving our mission…"

"Aside from that, the Unluckies being amiable with anyone is…Well it's certainly not a 'normal' sight." 9 added his own two cents on the matter with a slight shiver.

Nami raised a brow at their responses as her instincts began telling her that these two were probably not the kind individuals she wanted to tango with. For one, whatever organization they were a part of clearly had no qualms in killing their employees whenever it suited them and for another, the shit eating grin on her beloved's face as he stared at Wednesday was putting the navigator off more than just a little. She wasn't jealous over Luffy staring at the other woman, oh no. Nami had spent more than enough time with Luffy to know that whatever secret Wednesday had on her, it was juicy, thrilling, and more than likely insane enough to pique his interests.

"The Unluckies, as you refer to them, have just been giving me the directions to where to drop you two off as well as a good spot to try acquiring a Sea King on the way." Luffy explained as he jumped off the ship with Friday flying after him and 13 squatting on his shoulder with crossed arms and…Was the Otter trying to act like some Mafia boss riding his underling? "They've also informed me of your, shishi, circumstances 'amira."

Wednesday froze stiff like a log and her eyes snapped to the Unluckies in utter horror. Nami frowned at the display and turned to 9 in hopes of an answer only for the man to shrug in response, equally lost. "I don't even know what amira means, or what language it is for that matter."

Fed up with being kept out of the loop, Nami rounded on her captain with a dark look promising pain if she didn't get her answers. "Lufft what does-"

"It means by the end of this adventure we'll probably have enough beris for you to be able to swim in it."

Not missing a beat. "Zoro! Sanji! Usopp! I want the Going Merry ready to sail YESTERDAY!" A chorus of "Aye-aye…" with varying degrees of energy responded to the witch's orders. "Welcome aboard the Going Merry, Miss Wednesday, how may we be of service?"

Even Luffy sweatdropped over his wife's blatant change of tune as soon as money came into the picture.

'She is going to sell you out for millions if she ever gets the chance.'

'No she won't…Probably.'

'It's sad you can't actually deny the possibility'

Crocus who'd been content with just hanging around with Laboon, walked towards the Straw Hats with an inquisitive look as the hustle and bustle to get the ship ready caught his attention. "You whippersnappers are heading off already?"

"Yeah. Our first adventure on the Grand Line found us actually." Luffy gestured to the still frozen but more out of dumbfoundedness rather than horror now, Miss Wednesday. "So if you're done having your jaw planted on the table, we can head on to Whiskey Peak. I'm assuming you have a way to get there?"

Mr. 9 answered Luffy by bringing out an object resembling an hourglass but instead of containing sand, a compass arrow pointing in the distance lay within. "We have an eternal pose set for Whiskey Peak…What exactly do you have planned for my partner?"

The Unluckies glared daggers at Mr. 9 but despite the flincing and breaking out in a nervous sweat, the man was resolute in pinning a glare of his own on the pirate captain who looked nothing less than amused. "Nothing that concerns you, Mr. 9 but if you must know, let's just say that while we are pirates, for this venture? Just think of us as hired mercenaries. Now then, shall we 'amira?"

'Wednesday' silently stared at Luffy's outstretched hand, clearly conflicted on whether or not she could trust the strange Pirate Captain or not. Logic dictated that she flee, that this was all a ploy after that bastard found out there was a mole, her, in his wretched company, that this was just a long game the sick, sadistic psychopath had planned for her. Her heart and gut sang a different tune however. She knew a liar when she saw one, years in her home training to one day succeed the throne ensured she was competent in the battlefield of politics where words of lies and deceit, double meanings and the complexities of royalty reigned supreme. The young pirate captain was as insane as he was dastardly handsome…but he was no liar and if she was indeed found out then he was probably the best chance she had. "Yes, let's. I will be under your care sir?"

"Monkey D. Luffy. Just call me Luffy." The wolfman said with the same shit eating grin as the red haired emperor who visited Alabasta all those years ago. "Welcome aboard the ship, Princess Nefertari Vivi of Alabasta. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Crocus, Mr. 9, and the rest of the Straw Hate promptly bugged their eyes out as they were just informed of who exactly they were in the presence of…And then Nami redoubled her efforts in getting the Merry ready to sail. Their client was the princess of the Alabasta Kingdom. Yes the kingdom was in Civil War at the moment but it didn't take much thought that Luffy would probably do something about that as well which meant, "I'm going to be rich! Rich I tell you! Get your sorry asses moving now or I'll use you all as my test dummies!"

From the shore, Luffy, Vivi, Mr. 9, the Unluckies and Crocus sweatdropped as they saw the literal incarnation of Greed order the men of the Straw Hats, bar the captain, around. Vivi turned to Luffy with a pained expression, "She's not going to bill my kingdom too much is she?"

"I'll reign her in." Luffy promised before flashing the royal with a genuine smile. "Don't worry, princess. You won't regret hiring us for the job."

"I REGRET HIRING YOU FOR THE JOB!" Vivi wailed as she and Nami clung to each other in tears as the looming scythe of death came ever closer in the form of the absolute shit storm they found themselves in just an hour after leaving the twin capes. The Unluckies had directed them to an area where they could acquire Sea Kings all right. Just one problem, it was a pack of not only 20 meter long adults, but they were of the Swirl as well! Why was that an issue?

"I REGRET ACCEPTING THE JOB!" Nami cried out as another maelstrom appeared in the right in front of the Going Merry. "LUFFY DO SOMETHING!"

The wolfman had been silent as his crew, plus the passengers, panicked throughout the whole time they'd entered the Sea King's nest. The wolfman did not help his crew as they struggled to stay afloat by steering away from the Sea King generated maelstroms in favor of waiting for the perfect moment. Swirl Sea Kings were infamous for being able to create maelstroms but the true danger came from why they made them. It wasn't for sinking the ships, although that did tend to end the lives of their victims quite quickly, but rather for…momentum.

"GROAAAAAAAR" With a mighty roar, 5 Sea Kings burst from the ocean depths and into the air only to come crashing down on a single point, the Going Merry.

"WE'RE GONNA DIE!"

"I'M SORRY, I JUST UP AND LEFT DAD!"

"FORGIVE ME FOR NEVER CONFESSING MISS MONDAY!"

"I LOVE YOU, KAYA!"

"For God's sake, Luffy just do it already to shut them up!" Zoro, who'd been gritting his teeth the entire time, finally snapped at his Captain who had been doing something only the first mate of the Straw Hats had noticed since they caught sight of the Swirl Sea Kings. There is one more thing you need to know about this variety.

"MEAT!" Luffy leapt into the air with the gleam of a man who'd gone without food for months, with a salivating maw so slobbery it made even the Sea Kings snap out their focus in shock…and then fear when the silhouette of a very, very massive wolf appeared and looked down on them ravenously.

"Terry?" One of the Sea Kings growled out in their own unique language.

"Yeah, Jim?" Another Sea King, presumably Terry, answered.

"This bites."