This is the 2nd chapter. I don't own the series of One Piece.
Promise Between Men! Luffy and Laboon's Vow!
Inside of Laboon's stomach
After the Straw Hat pirates dealt the two agents that Ventus were very familiar with, they reach to Crocus' ship to listen of his story about Laboon in order to get answers as to why the Island Whale is here on the Grand Line and why is he waiting for the band of pirates for 50 years.
"All who have seen Laboon ask the same questions: why does he continually strike his body against the Red Line? Why does he keep howling at Reverse Mountain?" Crocus told them. "Listen closely, and I will reveal to you Laboon's tragic story."
The Straw Hat pirates then listen to Crocus about Laboon's 50 year past. Crocus begin to remember for 50 long years in the Reverse Mountain, remembered the time that he met a band of pirates who made it to the Grand Line along with the baby Island Whale named, Laboon.
"One fine sunny day, while I was fulfilling my duties as a lighthouse keeper, some good-natured pirates came down Reverse Mountain. They were followed by a baby whale, spry and chipper, whom I assume come to know as the one and only, Laboon." Crocus told them, remembered of how he first met Laboon and made friends with those band of pirates. "He's an Island Whale, one of the largest in the world. They are a rare species found only in the West Blue. Laboon have developed a bond with the pirates, traveling with them for much of their journey, but knowing the dangers of the Grand Line, the pirates chose to leave Laboon behind in the West Blue, but the stubborn little whale found them anyway. There's a general rule Island Whale are social animals and travel together in family groups. I suspect that Laboon had somehow come to feel that those pirates were his family. The wear and tear on the pirate ship was quite severe, so they stayed here for several months. In that time, I too was able to forge a close relationship with them. Thus, when the day of their departure finally arrived..."
Crocus remembered when the captain ask him a favor, it's to watch over Laboon while they're gone. He told him he'll be gone for a few years, when his crew have finished their voyage from around the world, they'll return with Laboon. Of course, the baby Island Whale wanted to go with them, but Crocus and the captain told him to stay because they don't want him to get killed. But Laboon has been waited for them for 50 long years and he's still have waited for them.
"That was 50 long years ago." Crocus finished his explanation.
"50 years?" Sanji repeats shockingly.
"So Laboon's been waiting all this time for his friends to return?" Usopp asked.
"No wonder he's upset, that kind of wait would drive anyone crazy." Nami said, earned a nod from Crocus.
Few minutes later, the Straw Hat pirates got off of Crocus' ship and sailed their way towards the exit, which the medical doctor came along to help them get out of Laboon since he knows the inside of the Island Whale more than they do.
"This is some canal." Zoro complimented.
"It's no wonder how Laboon is still alive for 50 years like this in his body." Ventus stated.
"I suppose you're responsible for this?" Sanji questions.
"Just a doctor's playful mind." Crocus answered, reading the newspaper.
"Doctor?" Usopp repeated curiously.
"That's right, legally certified." Crocus answered. "I also rent a clinic on the Cape, once upon a time. Before that, I served as a ship's doctor."
"Really? That's great, then join us, we need a doctor." Luffy offered with a big grin on his face, though his suggestion isn't a bad idea but Crocus says otherwise.
"Don't be ridiculous! I no longer have that kind of energy." Crocus refused as he climbs up the ladder. "Exploring the seas is a young man's burden."
"What kind of a doctor hallows out the inside of a whale?" Sanji asks.
"Maybe it's part of a treatment." Nami guessed.
"The girl is right." Crocus agrees, walking towards the wheel for the gates. "With the creature of this size, it's virtually impossible to treat it from the outside. Therefore, I devised a more drastic solution. Here's the exit."
Reverse Mountain, Twin Capes
Crocus then turn the wheel, open the gates to the outside as he and the Straw Hat pirates sailed out of Laboon. Luffy laughed with a smile on his face as he spoke.
"THE SKY!" Luffy shouts, pumping his fists up.
Ms. Wednesday opened her eyes when she saw the Straw Hat pirates were looking at the view of the sea. She got up while getting Mr. 9 woke up.
"What is it?" Mr. 9 whispered with a question, leaving Ms. Wednesday shushed him when they saw the Straw Hat pirates distracted as they take the opportunity to leave.
"Don't you think 50 years is a bit extreme?" Usopp questions. "Those pirates sure know how to test someone's patience."
"Idiot, don't you get it? This is the Grand Line, his friends are dead." Sanji points out, smoking his cigarette. "That whale can wait forever, they won't be back."
"Sad to say, but that's probably true." Nami agrees. "Back in the day when those guys traveled the Grand Line, it was an uncharted sea. A thousand times more treacherous than it is now."
"And is just shows how dangerous the Grand Line is." Anna added.
"Why you all being so pessimistic?! You don't know that they're dead!?" Usopp exclaims, snapped when he rush towards his crew. "They can still come back for him! Come on, have some sympathy, will you!? I thought it was very touching! I mean a whale is still believing a promise his friends despite all these years?! That's a true bond! Right, pops?"
"Indeed." Crocus agreed, adjusting his glasses. "But the lesson here is reality is cruel. Laboon's cohorts aren't dead, the truth is they abandoned their quest. I learn that they turn tail and left the Grand Line."
"I don't believe it! I mean, why abandon him like that?!" Usopp demands in disbelief, looking at Laboon.
"You say they ran away from the Grand Line. Do you know if they made it through the Calm Belt alive?" Nami questions.
"I can't claim to know exactly what became of them." Crocus told her. "But I doubt they'll ever come back here again. Seasons, weather, currents, wind direction, on the Grand Line these elements seem to defy the very laws of nature. Common sense is useless and the terror of that fact can be quite overwhelming."
"So if I get this straight ,what you're saying is these pirates were a bunch of cowards who cared more about saving their own asses than keeping a promise to a friend?" Sanji asked seriously. Luffy and Ventus were looking at the Island Whale, leaving the young Dragoon given him a sympathy look.
"Why would anyone abandoned such a loyal creature?!" Usopp asked with anger. "Just look at him! It's cruelty on a grand scale!"
"But if you known all this, why haven't you told him?" Nami asks sadly. "Laboon could obviously communicate with you. He seems to understand humans quite well for a whale."
"I did tell him, down to the most miserable detail." Crocus explains, remembered when he told Laboon that his friends is not coming back. Even the bond he shared with those pirates are real, but they're not coming back which Laboon won't listen to what he told him and won't accept that his friends aren't coming back. "That was the day that Laboon began to howl at Reverse Mountain. Soon after, he started slamming his body against the Red Line. It's as if he believes that wall is what keeps his friends away and by breaking it, he can clear the path for their return."
'Must be hard for him. He waited for his friends for so long, even though Crocus is trying to reason with him.' Ventus thought sadly.
"I admire his dedication." Sanji said, puffing the smoke.
"He never gave up on them." Usopp added.
"He refuses to believe me, because then he'd have to admit that it's over." Crocus explains. "And that terrifies him more than anything, there's no way for him to back to the West Blue. So, what we have is a paradox of tragic proportions. Laboon is a lost soul dying to live with his friends, but won't stop killing himself to reach them."
Ventus and Anna couldn't help but feel sad for Laboon, even they had their fair share for tragic proportions.
"Tragedy. Still for all the grief those pirates put him through, they did the same to you by saddling with their burden." Sanji points out, puffing out the smoke. "I mean, you've done enough for Laboon. What about you?"
"The scars on his hide are deep, those in his hearts are even deeper. He need someone to tend his wounds and I'm all he's got." Crocus told him. "For years, he's battered himself while I've patched him up. A strange friendship, but it works."
'Both Ventus and Laboon are alike, they both have the tragic history and they need someone to watch over. Laboon have been waiting for the pirates for 50 years and still waiting, but he kept beating himself at the Reverse Mountain while Crocus tend his wounds, such a heavy burden and quite an unorthodox friendship. Ventus on the other hand, he lost his parents for only 11 years and it still hurts him the most. Luffy and the others have heard his backstory and they're doing everything they can to cheer him up, which it's something that he needs and I'm glad that he had friends.' Anna mentally thought with a sad smile on her face.
At that moment, they heard a scream as they turn to the source, seeing Luffy running towards Laboon while carrying the main mast.
"What the hell is that idiot up to?" Sanji questions with annoyance.
"You gotta watch him every second!" Zoro muttered with a scowl.
"We've been watching him and look what happens." Sanji told him.
"He's climbing on Laboon." Anna stated, seeing that Luffy is holding the main mast, leaving her shocked.
"Gum-Gum: Flower Arrangement" Luffy then slammed the main mast down to Laboon's new wound.
"You think he's aware that that's our mast?" Zoro asked calmly.
"And now it's on top of a whale." Sanji said calmly.
"Why'd he do that?" Usopp asked calmly, yet annoyed. "HEY LUFFY! STOP TEARING UP THE SHIP!"
A moment later, it was enough to get Laboon very angry as he starts going on a rampage.
"YOU ASS!? LUFFY STOP!?" The Straw Hat pirates yelled at the IDIOT, SIMPLE-MINDED, BRAINLESS captain with white eyes and shark-like teeth. Crocus look at the scene with his mouth wide open in shock. Laboon is trying to shake Luffy off along with the mast, he then leap out of the water as he slams his head down to the ground, forcing the rubber captain to let go while sent him flying.
"THE BOY!? HE'S DEAD!" Crocus yelled with dread.
"Oh don't worry, it'll take way more than that to kill Luffy!" Nami assures with annoyance.
Laboon is starting to howl with pure rage as he charges after Luffy, about to ram him with his, but Luffy manage to dodge when he leap in mid-air. However, Laboon swatted him with his tail, knocking him down to the ground when the rubber captain quickly dodges his attack while punching the Island Whale's eye in retaliation. Laboon then rams Luffy towards the lighthouse.
"What is he think he's doing?" Usopp asks in confusion.
"Something reckless, obviously." Anna points out.
Luffy recovers quickly as he punches Laboon, causing the Island Whale to retaliate with his headbutt, sending the rubber captain towards the lighthouse again.
"You want to let us in on your plan before you kill yourself?!" Zoro yelled with a question.
Luffy only gives a silent respond as Laboon was about to ram him once more.
"It's a draw." Luffy quickly announced, making Laboon stop in his tracks as the brawl is over as he stood up while placing his straw hat on his head with a smirk on his face. "I'm stronger than I look, but I have a feeling you knew that. I can always tell when someone's itching to fight. Well if you want to battle, I'll gladly give you one. You're shipmates use to spar with you, didn't they and you miss it? Well I rival anything they threw at you. Tell you what, after me and my friends travel to the Grand Line, we'll come back and find you. And then you better be ready for a rematch."
With Luffy convince the Island Whale, tears were forming in Laboon's eyes. It's not from the pain, it's from Luffy's words. The rest of the Straw Hat pirates and Crocus were smiling at his reason for starting his fight in the first place. Laboon then wailed softly to the sky, telling him 'thank you'.
Few hours later after Luffy's speech and patching up his wound, the rubber captain was busy painting while Usopp, Anna, and Ventus were repairing the main mast. Sanji and Nami are on the upper deck and Zoro was sleeping on the lower deck, as usual. Luffy was able to finish it, but his painting is terrible.
"Consider this as a symbol of my promise to come do battle with you. Of course it's a rush paint job, so you'll have to careful and avoid hitting your head or you'll rub it off, understand?" Luffy told him with a smirk, leaving Laboon wailed with an understanding. "Good whale."
Ventus, Anna, and Usopp were getting some materials for repairing the main mast, which Luffy pulls it out. However, the young Dragoon still haven't given the Log Pose to Nami.
'I'll give it to her once I've finished helping Usopp and Anna fix the Going Merry.' Ventus mentally thought, hoping that it would help before Nami found out about how to navigate in this ocean current, considering the fact that she'll kill him with her inhuman strength.
"Where are they?" Usopp questions, notice the two agents are gone.
"Where are who?" Nami asks with confusion before realizing who he meant. "Oh, you mean those two weirdos? I guess they escaped, must've happen when we were distracted by Laboon. I wonder who they were?"
"Who knows? All I know is that those two are bad news. Don't ask, I just do." Ventus told her, half-lied.
While outside of the ship, Mr. 9 and Ms. Wednesday were able to get out of the ship, seeing that the Straw hat pirates are still working on the main mast while trying to fix the figurehead.
"Ms. Wednesday, what are we going to do now?" Mr. 9 questions with worry, leaving Ms. Wednesday groan as she turn her head to him.
"First, put some distance between us and these morons. Then, we report to the boss. Our time for completing this mission has long since run out." Ms. Wednesday explains seriously.
"I can hear the others now, they're probably calling us 'traitors'." Mr. 9 said.
"I know, but without our weapons, we have no choice but to back to the office and start over." Ms. Wednesday told him.
"And this time, no one will stop us." Mr. 9 added with a smirk, but tried to get something out of his green jacket. He then starts panicking as he look through his jacket again.
"What is it?" Ms. Wednesday inquires.
"It's...gone..." Mr. 9 told her with teary eyes, leaving Ms. Wednesday shocked.
While back at the Going Merry, Ventus saw something on the floor and picked it up, recognize that item which it happens to be a Log Pose.
'Mr. 9 and Ms. Wednesday must've dropped it and forgot to retrieve it.' Ventus thought, knowing that his two Log Poses were in the pocket dimension pouch.
"How could you have lost the Log Pose?!" Ms. Wednesday shouts.
"I don't know! I must've dropped it somewhere!" Mr. 9 whines, looking through the binoculars when he saw Ventus grab hold of the Log Pose. "But we're not going anywhere without it!"
"How awful!" Ms. Wednesday exclaims when she heard Mr. 9 gasp with fright.
"No! This can't be happening!?" Mr. 9 shouts with fright, notice something up in the sky.
Both Mr. 9 and Ms. Wednesday the two animals are heading towards them while the otter taps the seashells and the vulture carries the present that has a bomb inside.
The one on top is a brown-furred otter with white fur around his snout. He wore a long-sleeved, light blue jumpsuit with purple polka dots, and black sunglasses.
The other flying is a large, black-feathered vulture with white feathers toward the neck. Her skin is pink, and her beak is a light yellow. She wore a yellow aviator cap dotted with red flowers and black goggles.
"It's...The Unluckies!?" Mr. 9 shouts, leaving the two agents frightened since they know full well of those two being brutal to the Baroque Works agents and they'll kill them if they either don't get the mission finished or on time.
"We're out of time!?" Ms. Wednesday added with fear.
"Mr. 13!"
"Ms. Friday!"
Both Mr. 9 and Ms. Wednesday are trying to reason with the Unluckies, but it's too late, Mr. 13 ignites the fuse as Ms. Friday throws the bomb at the two, making an explosion which it's loud enough for Ventus to hear that sound because of his dragon hearing.
"Hey Ventus! What's wrong?" Usopp asks, earned his attention.
"It's nothing. Thought I heard something." Ventus told him, half-lied again while placing the Log Pose on his pocket.
"Well, it won't help us for fixing the Going Merry, ya know!" Usopp shouts with white eyes and shark-like teeth.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming." Ventus told him with a sigh, walking towards the main mast as he, Anna, and Usopp begin fixing the mast. Nami stretched her arms out up on the cliff as she looks through the map while placing the compass next to the map, trying to work on a plan for the Grand Line journey. Sanji head towards the food storage, opens the door when he sees the Bluefin Elephant Tuna which he's gonna try cooking it. Usopp wasn't too happy because of Luffy breaking the main mast out of recklessness.
"Gee, that's my life! Luffy breaks it then I put it back together..." Usopp muttered with white eyes and shark-like teeth as he turned his head to Zoro. "HEY, GET OFF YOUR LAZY BUTT AND GIVE US A HAND! THE SHIP ISN'T GONNA FIX ITSELF, YA KNOW!?"
"Even so, you sure know how to do a patch job." Ventus praise the liar, hoping to calm him down.
"Yeah, but still a shipwright's work can do better than mine." Usopp points out. "I don't know why Luffy didn't even bother to get one before we came here."
"If we're lucky, we might find one and recruit one here in the Grand Line." Anna told him.
"I hope so." Usopp agrees.
A second later, they heard a scream coming from Nami which it's not loud enough for waking up Zoro. Luffy felt annoyed while Sanji, Usopp, Anna, and Ventus went to the navigator to see what's wrong.
"Do you mind? Keep it down." Luffy shouts with annoyance, turned his head to her.
"Is there some problem, my dearest Nami?" Sanji asks, went goo-goo eyes when he rushed up at the cliff while carrying the well-cooked fish. "If it's food you're worried about, say no more."
"Someone say food?" Usopp asks with a grunt, climb up the cliff while Ventus placed Anna on the cliff as he lands on the ground.
"You idiots! The compass is broken!" Nami told them. "The needle just spins, it won't stop."
Sanji, Luffy, and Usopp look at the compass that keeps on spinning like crazy. Ventus knew that the compass Nami still holds is pretty useless on the Grand Line.
"Huh yeah, you're right." Sanji agrees.
"I don't know about you, but I'm getting dizzy." Usopp said, missing the point.
"Whoa, this is cool." Luffy added with a grin.
Ventus was about to say something, but Crocus beat him to it.
"It is sadly apparent that none of you possess a slightest knowledge about how things work here." Crocus said. "Did you all come here to die?"
"Ha, great spread." Luffy said with his mouth watery, looking at the food.
"It's for everyone." Sanji told him with a scoff.
"There is nothing wrong with your compass. The Grand Line has little regard for the rules of the sea." Crocus explains. "Common sense are useless in this place."
"The needle, why does it spins?" Nami questions.
"Because we are surrounded by a powerful magnetic field." Crocus explains again. "The islands here are riddled with magnetic minerals which cause all sorts of abnormalities. Also, the winds and currents lack constancy in that patterns. As a navigator, I'm sure you can appreciate this dilemma."
"Basically, if we don't have a way to travel nor tell the directions, then we're done for." Anna told him, earned a nod from Crocus.
"I wouldn't say that. You need a Log Pose to get to the island quicker." Ventus told them, earned their attention. "Also, the Log Pose can get you there safely, it can record levels of magnetism. Without it like Anna said, we're done for. The Log Pose looks like this."
Ventus then took the Log Pose out of his pocket, showing it to his crew.
"What your friend says is true." Crocus said. "Only a fool cording disaster would attempt to travel the Grand Line without one."
"Understood, excuse me for a sec." Nami said, taking the Log pose from his hand as the young Dragoon gets ready for the impact. "Say, Ventus..."
"Y-yes?" Ventus asked, brace himself for the impact.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOU HAD ONE OF THOSE LOG THINGS?! AND IF YOU KNEW THIS WHOLE TIME, WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US IN THE FIRST PLACE?!" Nami yelled at him with white eyes and shark-like teeth, punching Ventus in the face as he crash down to the ground, about to beat him which the young Dragoon was able to stop her just in time.
"I found it on the deck when those two idiots dropped it." Ventus answered, tried to reason with her. "Also, I was planning to buy one from Loguetown and give the information to you when we get to the Grand Line."
"Nami calm down, he had a reason." Anna assures her, pulling Nami away from him so she won't kill him.
"Oh, I see." Nami said simply, leaving the ranger to let go of her. "Huh, but there isn't a dial face on this thing."
"It doesn't need one." Ventus told her, stood up. "It's a special brand of magnetism that runs through the Grand Line islands. Complete with it's own set of rules that makes possible to go around. It records the magnetism between two islands, you can chart a route from one to the other."
"How do you know about this?" Sanji questions.
"I heard it from the other pirates during my travels. And it's best that we take care of it, otherwise it'll break easily." Ventus told them.
"I see." Nami said.
"You know so much for you age." Crocus compliments the young Dragoon. "Even though you only heard this from the group of pirates."
"Well, I have to learn to be resourceful and I've only been to the Grand Line once during my travels." Ventus told him. "Plus, I use to travel with Freya and Sir Fratley to the Grand Line during training."
"Hmm. And I'd say they trained you well." Crocus nods with a smile. "And it's a good choice for joining with pirates."
"I'll say." Usopp agreed. "If we didn't recruit him when we did, there's no way we'll survive on the Grand Line."
"Ventus has been a big help to us, especially for trying to keep some idiots in line." Sanji added, impressed of his resourcefulness.
"Then it's settled." Luffy muffled, still eating the tuna. "Ventus, you're our Quartermaster!"
"You do realize it's not polite to talk with you mouthful, right?" Ventus asked with deadpan expression on his face.
"But I'm hungry." Luffy complains, eating.
"Anyway, what he mean to say is that, he's given you position as a Quartermaster." Anna explains.
"What?! Why?" Ventus questions, shocked.
"You know much more about the Grand Line than us." Nami answered. "It can be of help to us."
"Not that much. Just a bit." Ventus points out.
"I'm captain and I say you're our Quartermaster!" Luffy stated.
"You should give up, Ventus." Usopp told him with a sigh.
"You need a position for this crew, like Anna." Nami points out.
"Guess it can't be helped." Ventus said with a sigh of defeat. "And with Zoro napping, someone has to take his place."
"That's the spirit." Anna said with a smile.
Now then." Crocus spoke up. "Since Ventus explained the rules to go around with the Log Pose, it's time that I'll explain further details. The Log Pose method is really the only choice. Since the magnetism here presents huge problems for conventional navigation. As it turns out, the Reverse Mountain is a great starting point. It produces seven levels of magnetism, but it doesn't matter which one you choose to start with. Eventually, all of them will pull against each other and form one route, and the island at the end of that route...is Raftel. The last and most mysterious in the Grand Line, it's very existence was confirmed by the King of the Pirates, the only known person to have traveled the Grand Line in its entirety."
"Raftel." Nami mumbled.
"That's it! That must be where the One Piece is hidden!" Usopp exclaimed excitedly.
"That's the most prominent theory." Crocus responds. "But no one's been able to set foot on Raftel island ever since."
"Don't worry, we'll know soon enough." Luffy said, chewing the fish bones. Crocus then turned his head to Ventus as he spoke.
"Oh! And by the way...Ventus, was it?" Crocus questions.
"Yeah, what is it?" Ventus asks.
"Are you a Dragoon by any chance?" Crocus asks, making Ventus widen his eyes.
"How did you know?!" Ventus exclaims with shock.
"Then it's just as I thought. I was told by Fratley to give an attire and a weapon to you, let me go and get it." Crocus told him as he head towards the clinic.
Few seconds later, Crocus brought out the Bozjan attire and a Black Willow Spear, leaving the Straw Hat pirates stunned.
"Is that what I think it is?" Ventus questions, gasped.
"That's the Bozjan armor." Anna nods.
"Whoa! Really?!" Usopp asked.
"No way!" Nami exclaimed.
"This armor and a weapon is from Ishgard. How did you get a hold of it?" Anna questions.
"I told you, Fratley give it to me in case Ventus is here on the Twin Capes." Crocus explains. "However, since that's the case, this armor and a spear now belongs to you."
"Try it on." Nami told him.
Ventus then went inside of the clinic for some privacy while getting change and take the old clothes out so Anna get fix it due to his partial transformation. When he finished getting his new clothes on, the young Dragoon showed the new attire to his crew.
He now wore a black cap with silver cross around it on his head, greyish-brown leather trench-coat with white shirt underneath, leather pauldrons with fur-line, leather strap on his left shoulder with golden emblem on the center, and greyish-golden accents, leather vambraces with steel on the forearms, tan cuffs with leather straps, black gloves, black breeches, black leather boots with white accents.
"Wow." Nami said with awe.
"So, how do I look?" Ventus asks with a small smile.
"You look very handsome, Ventus." Anna answered with a compliment.
"Yeah, you look great." Nami agrees.
"Not bad." Sanji said.
"Yeah, you look amazing." Usopp told him.
"Yeah, amazing." Luffy said, feeling satisfied for his fill. "Well I'm satisfied, you guys ready to go?"
They looked all the way and saw empty plates, which made Sanji really furious due to Luffy's ravenous appetite.
"I TOLD YOU, THAT WAS FOR ALL OF US!?" Sanji shouts with bulging eyes and shark-like teeth.
"He...even ate the bones!" Usopp added, also with his eyes bulging at the plates.
"Guess I'm gonna have to fix your clothes after getting it washed." Anna suggests, looking at the back of the black jumpsuit and a blue tunic which it has tears because of the dragon wings he sprouts out.
"I can help." Ventus offered, making Anna happy of his suggestion.
"We have to take special care of this, it's the key to finding the greatest treasure of all time." Nami said to herself with a smile, looking at the Log Pose on her left wrist.
"YOU GREEDY BOTTOMLESS PIT! YOU ATE THE MEAL I MADE FOR NAMI AND ANNA! WELL I HOPE LEFT ROOM...FOR YOUR DESSERT!?" Sanji yelled as he kicked Luffy in the stomach, sent him flying when the Log Pose cracked and broke. Nami was all left in shock with dread, which Ventus still had two Log Poses inside of his dimensional pouch. Despite what those two did, Nami is really angry.
Luffy stood up with a grunt, complaining about why he got hit.
"You never think of anyone, but yourself-"
"Sanji." Nami called his name.
"Yes~?" Sanji said with a smile.
'He doesn't realize what he did, does he?' Ventus and Anna mentally asks with a sweat drop, knew that Sanji is dense.
"BOTH OF YOU GET OF MY SIGHT BEFORE I WRING YOUR NECKS!?" Nami yelled, kicked both Luffy and Nami into the sea.
"Okay, so correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the Log Pose work better when it's not broken?!" Usopp asked with his eyes bulging and shark-like teeth.
"Oh no, our Log Pose is ruined..."
"Um guys, I thought I told you I have one on me. Well, two actually." Ventus mentioned, earned Nami and Usopp's attention as they looked at him with tears in their eyes.
"Ventus..." Nami spoke up happily, crying.
"You're too reliable as our Quartermaster..." Usopp added, crying. "Why can't you be our Captain instead of Luffy?"
Ventus was too speechless at this awkward scene, didn't know how he cheered them up. Probably because Nami and Usopp are happy that he came prepared than Luffy.
"I will give you my own as well." Crocus said with a smile, earned their attention. "As a thank you for helping Laboon."
With that, Laboon came out of the sea, spat Luffy, Sanji, and the two agents onto the shore, saving them. The two panted heavily as he spoke.
"Good, I'm not dead." Luffy groans, notice Mr. 9 and Ms. Wednesday are next to them. Sanji stood up as he spoke.
"Hello dear lady, allow me to help you to your feet." Sanji said politely, helping Ms. Wednesday up while the walk towards the lighthouse. Mr. 9 stood up as he spoke.
"We need a favor." Mr. 9 said, earned their attention.
Few minutes later after Mr. 9 and Ms. Wednesday explains, Luffy spoke.
"Whiskey Peak? Huh, that's a funny name." Luffy said.
"So, what is it?" Usopp questions.
"That's where we live! Um, sir." Mr. 9 told him, on his knees.
"How are you stranded? Where's your ship?" Nami asks.
"Well, it was destroyed." Ms. Wednesday replied, also on her knees.
"Asking for a ride is pushing it, Mr. 9. Especially after you tried to kill a whale." Nami told him with a smirk, close to his face.
"What's with the wardrobe? What are you suppose to be?" Usopp asks suspiciously.
"I am a King!" Mr. 9 quickly answered which it's a lie.
"You're lying." Nami said with annoyance and a tick mark on her head, pulling his cheek.
"No, please." Mr. 9 begs.
"We can't say!" Ms. Wednesday admits.
"She's right!" Mr. 9 agrees. "You to believe us, our only motive here is getting home! We tell you everything if we could, it's just that..."
"Mystery is our companies motto!" Ms. Wednesday finished his sentence.
"You see, we have to be mysterious. It's sort of a rule." Mr. 9 explains.
"We have confidence in your character. Can't you give us a same courtesy?" Ms. Wednesday pleads.
"Please, we're begging you! Show some mercy!" Mr. 9 pleads also.
"Don't do it." Crocus warns the Straw hat pirates. "These two fools are dishonest to the core, they can't be trusted."
"He's right, they're trying to kill Laboon." Anna added seriously. "And they are working with something shady."
"Listen, I should mention that our Log Pose was broken and we don't have another. So, still want to ride with us?" Nami asks, half-lied which made the two agents furious.
"WHAT?! YOU BROKE IT! THAT WAS MINE! THOSE AREN'T CHEAP, YA KNOW?!" Mr. 9 snapped.
"YOU'RE STUCK HERE TOO?! HOW LONG WERE YOU GONNA MAKE US BEG BEFORE YOU BOTHER TO TELL US?!" Ms. Wednesday added and summarized, also snapped.
"Oh sorry. I forgot, Crocus gave us his Log Pose. And our reliable Quartermaster just told us that he bought two before we got here." Nami added with an evil smirk, tricked the two as they went back on their knees when they heard the information.
"Please, have pity on us." Mr. 9 begs with his face pale, leaving Nami stick her tongue. 'That lousy bitch, she tricked us!'
"It's fine, you can ride with us." Luffy told them, earned their attention. "You said your home is Whiskey Peak? Let's go there."
"Why?! These two are obviously some pretty shady characters! Why would we take them anywhere?!" Usopp asked seriously.
"It's fine. Don't sweat the small stuff, we'll be alright." Luffy said simply.
"Choose your route carefully. Once you head out from here, you'll committed to that course." Crocus advised him.
"He's right, the only place we decide our course from is here at the starting point." Ventus added.
"That's okay. If we don't like it, we'll try a different route next time." Luffy assures with a smile.
"I see." Crocus said with a smile.
Ventus then sighed with defeat once more, feeling that there's no way to try and reason with him. But still, he don't regret himself when they start their journey, even if they refuse their request. Though, the two agents tried to kill Laboon.
"Okay, it's time we get going." Luffy suggests. "Now that me and Laboon have an understanding, I can with a clear conscious."
"Just who on earth do you think you are anyway?" Ms. Wednesday asks curiously.
"What's that? Me?" Luffy asks, turned his head to the two. "Oh I'm the man who'll be the King of the Pirates."
Though it's his dream and he'll do anything to achieve that. The two agents look at each other surprisingly, but smirked evilly which they've got a plan. As soon as the sun is setting, the Straw hat pirates are getting ready to leave. However, Zoro is still sleeping, no surprise there since he was able to sleep so long he miss the whole explanation and the recent event.
"Should be good to go." Crocus said. "The Log Pose has plenty of time store a route. The needle should be pointing in the same direction as the map."
"It's pointing directly at Whiskey Peak." Nami nods with a smile.
"See ya, pops. Thanks again for the Log Pose, take care." Luffy shouts.
"Have a safe trip, my boy." Crocus shouts back.
"I'm off Laboon!" Luffy told the Island Whale. "Be ready to fight when I get back."
Laboon give the rubber captain a wailing.
"Next stop, Whiskey Peak!" Luffy said with a big grin. "Ready gang? Let's set sail!"
With that, the Straw Hat pirates set sail towards their destination, Whiskey Peak, but little did they know, the two agents are plotting against the Straw Hats which the island is where the other agents might be waiting for them.
That's it for the 2nd chapter of the second volume. Sorry about the delay.