Base of Reverse Mountain
"Captain we're going way too fast, we're gonna crash," shouted several crew members hysterically.
Thinking fast Luffy turned to Usopp. "Usopp I need you fire the bow cannon just like we did before to sail up the mountain. Nami, when Usopp fires I want you to steer the ship around...whatever the hell that is."
"On it captain," and with that both Usopp and Nami set about their tasks. Luffy's idea bore fruit, firing the cannon did provide enough stopping power to slow the ship slightly which was enough for Nami to be able to steer the ship around the small mountain.
"What on earth is that thing? It wasn't here the last time." Gin asked nobody in particular and not truly expecting any kind of factual response.
As the Merry sailed around the giant mass the entire crew stared at it only to scream when an eye suddenly opened and looked straight at them. The crew's screaming garnered a reaction from the mass as a chasm opened vertically drawing in water and therefore pulling the Merry into it.
"It's a mouth...its a goddamn mouth. Look over there those aren't rocks they're teeth." Usopp pointed out to which several crew members looked closer and saw that Usopp was indeed correct.
"You know it kinda looks like a whale." Johnny pointed out as he scratched his head in confusion.
"Does it matter what it is we're about to be bloody eaten! Luffy do something!" Nami screeched, she knew the Grand Line would be dangerous but she never expected to be eaten within moments of arriving.
"And what do you want me to huh?"
"I don't know just do something, use your lightning thingy and zap it or something?"
"What so when it sinks into the sea dead it can take us with it?" Luffy retorted angrily his frustration at the situation mounting rapidly.
Unfortunately the Strawhats never had an opportunity to take any action to save themselves from the grisly fate of being eaten by a giant whale as they passed between two of the whale's teeth and it closed it's mouth trapping them in complete darkness. Then just like on their journey up reverse mountain they felt the shop beneath them shift slightly as they were pulled along a current.
The next few moment were tense, unable to see anything in the pitch darkness they were helpless to do anything as the ship careered along some form of set path through the whale. Luffy would later admit that if it had been under better circumstances than the ride would have been thrilling, however not knowing whether they would live or die meant that the ride was just plain terrifying.
Eventually they emerged from the darkness of the tunnel and into what, at first glance, seemed to be the open ocean. "Are we back outside?" Alvida asked with one eyebrow arched delicately. The crew examined their surroundings however it was Usopp, with his keen eyes, that spotted several discrepancies that put paid to that theory.
"No we can't be, look up at the sky nothing's moving, the clouds and birds are completely still. I think...I think they're painted on? Plus the sea's green."
The other straw hats began taking note of the various things Usopp had pointed out and a few began to worry about where they had ended up.
"Do you think this is the whales stomach, I mean it did swallow us didn't it?" Sanji asked between drags on his cigarette, his one visible eyebrow raised as he concentrated on his surroundings.
"You ever heard of a whale having a sky painted in it's stomach?" Zoro asked snidley. Luffy couldn't help but huff slightly in exasperation at the way those two bicker and fought like an old married couple. He genuinely didn't know whether they did it as a bit of banter between them, they truly didn't like each other or if it was just unresolved sexual tension. Mentally shrugging when he realised he didn't actually care which it was as long as it didn't affect the running of his ship Luffy returned to scanning the surroundings.
"Hey look over there!" Alvida yelled from the bow of the ship everyone moving to join her. "It's some kinda island I think."
Everyone grabbed all the oars they could manage and began the slow process of attempting to row the ship towards the small island. When they got closer they noticed that on the small island was a well made hut, it looked like a small holiday home that a senior citizen may own.
Just as the Strawhats were about discuss what their next move should be the door to the hut swung open and a fairly tall and well built but very old man walked out wearing a bright shirt, shorts and sandals. However the oddest thing about his appearance was the flower that seemed to be in bloom around his head.
The old man slowly and carefully walked towards a lawn chair in front of his house never once taking his eyes of the Strawhats, his piercing gaze fixed on them with intensity the likes of which they had never seen. The intensity vanished instantly however when he reached his chair as he then ignored the pirates as he took out his paper and casually began to read.
"Hey old man are you making light of us, we've got cannons over here you know and we ain't afraid to use 'em." Sanji growled loudly at the strange old man.
When Sanji spoke the old man instantly turned his gaze back on them, the intensity of his stare returning wholeheartedly. He spoke after a moment a dark and threatening voice, "Do that any someone is going to die."
The straw hats believed this to be a threat and so readied themselves for a fight, everyone's hands inching towards their weapons. "Oh yeah and whose that going to be," scoffed Sanji.
"Me of course."
The old man's words set off Sanji who made to jump over the side of the ship to attack him. Usopp and Yozuku immediately grabbed hold of Sanji and tackled him to the ground where they restrained him and despite being pinned to the deck of the ship Sanji still struggled impotently. "Bastard's messing with me!" Sanji screamed from his position on the deck.
"Hey old timer who are you anyway?" Zoro asked. Once again the old man stared at the Straw Hat pirates with incredible intensity and without so much as blinking, once more setting the Straw Hats on edge.
"Were you brought up or dragged up as a child? Don't you know it's rude to ask someone their name without giving yours first."
Suitably chastised Zoro suddenly became embarrassed at having forgotten his manners. "Ah yeah, my name's Z-"
"My name's Crocus and I'm the lighthouse keeper for the lighthouse at the entrance to the Grand Line, I'm seventy one years old and I'm a Gemini."
It was Zoro's turn to become enraged at the old man's words and just like Sanji previously he made to attack the old man. With Usopp and Yozuku still pinning Sanji to the deck of the ship it fell to Gin and Johnny to stop Zoro in his tracks. Just like with Sanji, Zoro was pinned to the deck with Gin pinning his back and shoulders and Johnny sitting on his legs while he tried in vain to throw them off.
"Any chance you can tell us where we are?" Luffy asked after a fighting off a slight smirk at Zoro and Sanji's unfortunate positions.
"I would've thought that was obvious. You were swallowed weren't you?" At his question the Straw Hats all nodded mutely. "Then you should have worked out that you're in a whale's stomach," the old man said scoffing.
"And since when does a whale's stomach have a sky painted on it?" Alvida asked as she pointed to artificial sky.
"I get bored," Crocus said simply with a shrug.
Nami and Alvida both peered over the side of the Merry to see that the water they were floating on was green. "We need to leave now!" Alvida said urgently and the worry in her voice caused every head on the Merry to snap towards her. "That's not water we're floating on, we're inside a whale's stomach it's got to be stomach acid."
A thought suddenly occurred to Nami. If the old weirdo got himself in here and has gone to the effort of painting the inside of the whale's stomach then he must have given himself a way out. "Hey Crocus is there a way out of here?" Nami said as she voiced her line of thought.
"Two but I highly doubt you want to take one of them," Crocus said with a smirk before jerking a thumb over his shoulder. "Other exit is back over there."
"So wait...you actually live in here," said Usopp his brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you some kinda weirdo whale hermit?" Usopp's question once more caused Crocus to stare with such intensity it was as if he was peering into the soul, only this time his gaze was fixed on Usopp and Usopp alone.
"Would...would you stop that," try as he might Usopp was unable to stop the tiny tremor in his voice.
"Kids today just don't appreciate a running gag."
The entire cavern like stomach suddenly shook violently causing the Merry to lurch dangerously. The Straw Hats fought to maintain their balance on the rocking ship while looking about the stomach to find the cause of the shaking.
"Dammit he's at it again," and without another word Crocus jumped off his small island and into the stomach acid swimming beneath the surface.
"Old fool's gone mental!" Nami shouted as she held onto the guardrail of the Merry for dear life as the stomach was still quaking causing the Merry to continue to lurch over the turbulent waves of stomach acid.
"We should leave...like right now!" Usopp shouted to Luffy.
"What's the point? It's not like leaving is gonna do us any good." At the looks of disbelief on the faces of his crew Luffy explained his conclusion. "We're inside a whale, that's underwater, so if we leave..."
"We'll still be underwater," finished Nami looking horrorstruck at the catch twenty two situation they were now, they can't leave without dying and if they stay in the stomach too long they're going to die.
"Well what are we going to do big bro Luffy?" Yozuku asked panicked as he was attempting to rip his hair out from his spot atop Sanji.
Luffy looked thoughtful for a moment before he sighed. "Not much we can do 'till the old guy comes back, he's bound to have a way to make the whale resurface." A few faces nodded at his words believing his plan to be their best chance of survival.
After what seemed like an eternity but in reality couldn't have been longer than ten minutes give or take a door opened above them startling the several of the Strawhats causing them to draw their weapons. Looking up at what had caused the sudden disturbance they saw two people. One was a fairly short teen with her blue hair tied back in a high ponytail wearing incredulously short shorts, a black and white striped top that looked almost hypnotic and a green fur trimmed coat. Her companion was a weedy looking teen wearing a green suit, that made him look a little bit like a leprechaun, and a crown.
Before anyone could take any action Crocus pulled himself out of the stomach acid and back onto his little island. As he was shaking himself dry of the stomach acid that still clung to him he noticed the Straw Hats were all looking at something above them, turning his gaze upwards he saw the intruders. "You two again! I've already told you, so long as I'm here you won't lay a finger on Laboon!"
Crocus' declaration only seemed to humor the intruders however as the blue haired teen let out a villainous laugh. "You're not getting in our way again old man, we've been ordered to bring this whale home with us and that's exactly what we're gonna do." Both intruders then whipped out, from seemingly thin air two large bazooka and fired at Crocus.
Crocus froze slightly at their act as thus far they had proven to be a nuisance, nothing more but now they were willing to kill. Crocus was saved from his impending doom by the quick actions of Usopp who upon seeing the intruders open fire whipped out two of his pistols and fired a single shot from each taking out the two small rockets.
Immediately after Usopp fired Luffy darted behind the two assailants as lightning before kicking them from the doorway as soon as he turned back. The two attackers flew from the force of Luffy's kick straight down onto the Merry.
When two intruders looked up to see where they had landed they saw the impassive faces of the Strawhats as they loomed over the two figures sprawled out on the deck. Not wanting to give them a chance to try anything again Nami had Gin tie up both intruders.
Luffy appeared on the deck of the Merry in a bright flash and looked down at the two restrained teens. While the boy looked unimpressive, and that was being as kind as he could, the girl was undoubtedly beautiful and so Luffy turned on the charm.
"My my my it's not everyday a goddess such as yourself falls onto my ship." Luffy said smiling as he looked her up and down. The combination of Luffy's compliment, his smile and the look he was giving her caused the blue haired teen to blush fiercely. Her blush made Luffy pause at the contradiction, 'her behaviour so far means she wants to be seen as villain, but she's so naive and innocent that she can't be a villain.'
"Thanks for that, those greedy shitstains have been trying to hunt Laboon for two years now."
Luffy just waved off Crocus' thanks. "How about you get us out of here old timer?"
"Follow me," he said simply and when he sat back down in his lawn chair he pulled a lever that none of the Straw Hats had noticed until that moment which caused a section of the stomach wall behind him begin to open up like a pair of doors. He threw a rope that he tied at one to a palm tree on his island before tossing the other end to the Merry. "Tie that to your ship and I'll tow you out."
With the doors now fully open the small island began moving towards the exit, pulling the Merry as it did so. The crew of the Merry could only look at their surroundings in amazement. "What on earth is all this?" Alvida asked as she voiced the question that had been on everyone's mind.
Crocus just chuckled slightly, looking around at his handiwork as he did so. "Call it a doctor's playful mind." He turned back to look at the Straw Hats and saw only confusion. "How could I possibly treat Laboon from the outside? Answer is I can't, so if I can't treat him from the outside then I have no choice but to do it from the inside."
"Makes sense," Luffy said sagely nodding as he did so.
"Like hell it does!" Nami retorted.
Crocus towed the Merry all the way through the exit tunnel bringing them out the side of Laboon. Luffy had everyone sail the Merry to the lighthouse so they could inspect the ship for any damage, they had been in that stomach acid for quite some time and the ship was only made of wood.
Fortune seemed to be smiling on the Straw Hats however as the ship was undamaged from their sojourn into a whale's stomach. All throughout their inspection though the Straw Hats were treated to the mournful cries of Laboon as it stared at Reverse mountain, tears clearly visible in its eyes.
Wanting answers the Straw Hats made their way to the lighthouse where Crocus was sat at a patio table outside reading his newspaper. "Hey Crocus, so what's up with Laboon you never said?" Luffy questioned dropping into a seat next to Crocus.
Crocus let out a deep sigh. "You see those scars on Laboon's head?" Everyone looked over to Laboon who had the top part of his head poking out of the water and they saw the massive scars on it's head that ran incredibly deep. "Theyre from him bashing his head against Reverse Mountain."
"Why on earth would he do that?" Usopp asked incredulously.
"Because he thinks the mountain is all that keeping him from seeing his friends once more." The Straw Hats all shared a look of confusion at that but refrained from saying anything instead opting to let Crocus speak. "You see when Laboon is an Island whale from the West Blue and when he was just a baby he was separated from his herd. However he was saved by the Rumbar pirates and when they left the West Blue for the Grand Line Laboon followed them without them knowing. When they made it over reverse mountain they realised that Laboon had followed them, but it was too late to take him back. Their ship was also badly damaged and they had to spend a few months repairing their ship and in that time they played with Laboon, sang with him and treated him as part of the crew...part of their family."
A few of the Strawhats had a small smile on their face at what they were hearing. "When they left they knew they couldn't take Laboon with them, the Grand Line was just too dangerous so they left him here with me. Left him behind with a promise that when they had sailed the Grand Line they'd return for him. That was fifty years ago now."
"They've left him alone by himself for fifty years." Usopp demanded to know with righteous anger colouring his words.
"Don't be stupid," Nami said as she rolled her eyes. "This was fifty years ago, the Grand Line was still completely uncharted back then so it was a hundred times more dangerous than it is now. Those pirates probably died a long time ago," she finished sadly, her thoughts occupied by the emotional agony Laboon must have to go through every day.
"If only it were that simple. Those pirates didn't die on the Grand Line they fled, with their tails between their legs," disgust was clear in Crocus' voice as he spoke about the fate of the Rumbar pirates.
"Then why haven't you told Laboon, why are you letting him think that they're coming back for him?" Usopp demanded as he jumped to his feet his previous only having grown.
"I did!" Crocus slammed his hand down on the patio table in front of them in anger which caused Usopp to shrink back slightly in fear. "I've told him dozens of times but he won't listen. Laboon thinks his friends are just on the other side of the mountain and they can't get to him. That's why he constantly rams his head against the mountain, he's been trying for nearly fifty years to knock the mountain down so they can be reunited." Crocus finished sadly."
The Straw Hats minus their captain all looked a little sad at Laboon's tale, his mournful cries once more resounding through the air. While his crew looked sad Luffy looked both thoughtful and determined.
With his mind made up and being reasonably sure that his plan was a good idea he turned himself into lightning and teleported in front of Laboon lashing out with a haymaker to his scarred head and knocking Laboon back slightly. So as not to fall into the water he then teleported back onto land a short distance away from the lighthouse. Laboon after being attacked fixed his eyes on Luffy and seeing his attacker on land he lauched himself at Luffy aiming to squash Luffy between his had and Reverse Mountain.
Luffy jumped to side so as to avoid Laboon's lunge and when Laboon lunged a second time Luffy caught Laboon's head in his hands, stopping the whale in it's tracks as well as himself skidding backwards slightly. Pouring every last drop of strength he had into his arms Luffy was able to push Laboon's head to one side, the whole move reminiscent of a swordsman parrying a blade.
"It's a draw!" Luffy's announcement causing Laboon to freeze in his tracks. "I'm stronger than I look aren't I? But you already knew that didn't you?" Laboon answered Luffy's question with a high pitched groan. "You know I can always tell when someone's spoiling for a fight. Your friends they used to fight with you didn't they?"
Laboon let out a long mournful moan that spoke volumes. "I thought so. Here wait there I've got an idea." And with that Luffy flashed back to the Merry emerging a short while later holding several cans of paint. Despite Laboon's confusion at what Luffy was doing he held perfectly still just as Luffy had asked.
Once Luffy was done he stood back on the rocky ledge to admire his artwork. The rest if the crew came to stand beside to see what he was looking so proud at only to come face to face with a horrendous facsimile of their Jolly Roger.
"There you go all done." Luffy announced proudly with his hands on his hips. "That's my pirate mark and from today it's also a symbol of my promise to you. I promise that we're gonna sail the entire Grand Line then come back to see you. Now don't go bashing your head otherwise the mark will come off. You hear me?"
The longer Luffy talked the more and more excited Laboon became until he was almost jumping out of the water in joy as tears of happiness gathered in his eyes.
Returning to Crocus Luffy flashed him a typical Luffy grin displaying every single one of his teeth as he did so. This caused Crocus to smile slightly as he saw a ghost of the past as his former captain Gol D. Roger had the exact same grin.
"There you go old timer Laboon won't be hurting himself from now on." He then turned to the rest of his crew. "We should probably get going we've only got another hour or two of daylight."
"Hold your horses brat, you got a log pose?"
Luffy turned to Nami, "Nami did you pick up a log pose back on Loguetown when you got all your charting supplies?"
"Errr yeah I did, the shop assistant was insistent on it. Not sure exactly how it works though."
Crocus then explained to Nami and Luffy exactly how a log pose worked as well as some of the pit falls that pirates usually fell into when first navigating the Grand Line. Gin who had been nearby was disappointed that such a simple piece of equipment was the reason that he and Don Krieg had wandered the Grand Line aimlessly for nearly two weeks before they were forced to flee.
"For what you've done for Laboon I want you to have this," said Crocus as he emerged once more from his lighthouse. "It's an eternal pose, unlike the log pose that resets at every Island the eternal pose will only ever point to one location."
"Well where does this point?" Nami questioned as she looked curiously at the eternal pose which looked very similar to a snow globe.
"A place called Drum Kingdom. I noticed you ain't got a ship's doctor and Drum Kingdom is world renowned for their doctors, if you want a doctor then you want one from there."
Nodding his thanks and shaking Crocus' hand Luffy motioned for everyone to board their ship. "Weigh anchor, Gin unfurl the sails, Nami you've got the log pose I want you to man the helm."
The crew scurried about completing the tasks or helping their fellow crew member to do so as Luffy looked on from his spot on the top deck in front of the helm. However as Luffy looked over his crew his gaze fell upon the two tied up figures in the middle of the deck.
"Oh yeah...I forgot about you two. Hhhhmmm so what am i gonna do with you?"
"We're from the nearby island of Whiskey Peak, if you were to return us I'm sure the mayor would be more than happy to pay a reward." Despite the fact that she was tied up and surrounded by pirates the blue haired girl still manged to maintain a haughty and condescending demeanor.
Luffy saw this as a chance to tease the girl and knock her off her high horse a little bit so slowly and deliberately Luffy walked down the steps to the main deck and stepped in front of her. Placing one finger under her chin so she was forced to look him straight in the eye he spoke. "And just how do you know the price I ask for will be paid?" Luffy's tone was light and carefree but neither of the two captives were fooled by it.
"I know they will, I'm sure they'll pay whatever you want," she said quickly and in Luffy's mind she sounded a bit desperate which told him that despite what she wanted people to believe she wasn't used to this kind of lifestyle.
"And just what happens if the price I ask is for you to spend a night and a day in my bed?" Luffy asked with a smirk which turned into a grin as he watched her face turn bright red. Luffy genuinely believed that he could feel the heat of her blush on his face from his distance of over a foot away.
Laughing slightly he just gave her a wink, a wink which only served to fuel her blush, before he turned to Nami and saw that she was grinding her teeth and steam was practically coming from her ears. Mentally shrugging believing that one of the crew must have upset her or something he asked where they where heading.
When Nami pointedly ignored him he tried again. "Oi Nami which Island are we heading to!" This time instead of simply asking he yelled the question at the top of his voice.
"Whiskey Peak!" Nami yelled back just as loud.
Luffy turned to the blue haired girl once more where he smiled and winked. "Looks like we're both in luck sweet cheeks."