Keeping a Promise

They tied up Ms. Wednesday and Mr. Nine to the tree on Crocus' island-boat.

Now Crocus was helping the Straw Hats to the exit.

"This whale is an Island Whale from the West Blue. It is the largest species of whale in the world. His name is Labooon," Crocus explained, "These people are hooligans from a town close to here. They think that by killing Laboon, they would have meat that will feed their village for two to three years. But I won't let them."

"How come he hits his head on the Red Line?" Usopp asked.

"And why doe he cry like he does?" Nami asked.

Crocus sighed.

"It happened fifty years ago. One day, while I was taking care of the lighthouse, a group of pirates came to Reverse Mountain from the West Blue with a whale. They stayed at Twin Capes for two to three months while I repaired their ship, and we became friends," Crocus replied, "Those pirates always played with Laboon. But when they reached the Grand Line, they realized that the journey would be dangerous, and decided to leave Laboon."

…Flashback…

The captain was saying good bye to Laboon who was the size of a young killer whale back then.

"Laboon, the Grand Line is too dangerous for a baby whale like yourself. That's why I need to stay with Crocus," the captain said.

Laboon cried.

"Don't cry Laboon! It won't be forever. We'll come back in two to three years to see you again after we're done exploring the Grand Line," the captain said.

Laboon continued to cry.

A pirate with long limbs and the biggest aphro holding a violin cried as he played his violin.

"I'll miss playing my songs to you, Laboon! Take this song as my way of saying good bye!" the man cried.

"Nice song, Brook. It really was," the captain said as he turned to Crocus, "Take good care of Laboon, Crocus."

"I will! Good luck my friends!" Crocus said.

The pirates sailed away.

Laboon tried to follow, but was told to stop.

…End of Flashback…

"That was fifty years ago. Laboon has a gift in understanding humans and having good long term memory. And because of it, Laboon cries to the sky," Crocus explained, "He still believes that his friends are still alive."

…

They were now in the Tunnel heading out.

Apparently the rest of the big doors on the other side was under the river, which was why that the walk way, which were sever dozen yards above the river, was leveled with the small door on one side, but on the other side, their was a platform to from the door to the acid.

It was also cause of this, that when the big doors open, the river and the stomach acid level out with each other.

"This water way is very good," Usopp commented.

"He has a big hole inside his body, but he's still alive. How is that?" Nami asked.

"It was my funny idea to treat Laboon from the inside since he has grown so big. I use to be a ship doctor," Crocus explained as they reached another set of doors.

"A doctor? Can you join my crew?" Luffy asked.

"Don't be stupid. I'm not as strong as I use to be," Crocus replied as he got onto the walk way to opened the doors, "I'm especially not strong enough to be on a crew of with someone that can use Haki."

"How do you know we can use Haki?" Nami asked.

"Well, I didn't know about the rest of you, but I felt that haki one of you released on these hooligans," Crocus said, "The crew I worked for had a Haki User, and cause of it, I developped a sense to Haki, you could say."

"But you can't use Haki?" Luffy asked.

"No, and I choose not to," Crocus replied.

Crocus opened the doors slowly and the river way and the ocean outside level each other until the doors were fully open.

Once outside, the straw hats untied Ms. Wednesday and Mr. Nine and kicked them into the ocean.

Well, except for Sanji, who decided he 'liked' Ms. Wednesday.

However, they left a strange wristwatch like contraction with a bowl over the center with a string connecting a needle to the top.

Luffy found it and picked it up.

"What is this?" Luffy asked.

"Is it a good idea to let those two get away?" Nami asked.

"If we hold them here, they will send new guys to replace them," Crocus replied.

…

Everyone docked their ships and rested at a table near the light house.

"You said it been fifty years since those pirates left Laboon. Do you have an idea what happened to them?" Usopp asked.

"Isn't it obvious? This is the Grand Line, they're probably dead," Sanji responded.

"Or they were ship wrecked somewhere," Gin said.

"Either way, they won't be coming back," Zoro agreed.

"How can you guys say that?" Usopp asked.

"I hate to tell all of you this, but the truth is crueler than that," Cronus responded, "Truth is that they deserted the Grand Line a long time ago."

"What? Then they would have gone through the Calm Belt!" Nami responded.

"I'm not sure, but I do have sources across the Grand Line that informed me that the ship they were on left the Grand Line," Cronus responded.

"Did they all leave the Grand Line?" Gin asked.

"I don't know. Why does that matter?" Cronus asked.

"I don't know. Just a thought," Gin responded.

"Well it doesn't matter if all of them left or not. Those that did most likely will never come back again! You have to be a fool to do that after experiencing the fear of the Grand Line," Crocus responded.

"But we have someone that has been here," Luffy said.

"What?" Crocus asked.

Gin slapped Luffy's mouth shut.

"It's nothing," Gin responded.

"So wait! This whale has been abandoned for fifty years! That's cruel!" Usopp yelled.

"Didn't you tell him?" Nami asked.

"I did, but Laboon wouldn't listen. He just kept waiting. He even started slamming his head into the Red Line cause of it," Crocus explained, "Waiting for his friends is all he have left."

Luffy was picking his nose while trying to understand the situation.

"Laboon's home is in the West Blue, on the other side of the Red Line. That means he can't go back there anymore. So, those people are his only hope and his everything," Crocus explained.

"But weren't you betrayed too? Why are you still taking care of that whale?" Sanji asked.

"I don't know. I guess no matter where I go, I'm still connected to Laboon and I can't escape it," Crocus replied, "But if he keeps hitting his head on the Red Line, he'll eventually die, and I can't let it happen like that."

"Yeah!" Luffy yelled.

Everyone turned to see that Luffy was carrying a familiar mast and was running toward Laboon.

"What is that idiot doing?" Sanji asked as Luffy started climbing up the whale with the mast.

"I have no clue," Zoro responded, "You can't keep your eyes off him for one minute."

"How is he able to carry a mast to a ship?" Gin asked.

"I don't know. One time he tore off a helm to a ship, but I thought that was because he was hypnotized," Nami responded.

"Isn't that the mast to our ship?" Usopp asked.

Sure enough, it was the mast to the Going Merry, and Luffy used it to slam one end to the open wound on Laboon's snout.

"BO!" Laboon cried louder than ever before.

Laboon started shaking around as Luffy kept hold of the mast.

"What is that idiot doing?" everyone yelled.

Laboon slammed his snout into the shore, which just dug the mast deeper into it's wound.

Now Laboon was crying and shaking worse than before.

Luffy stretched his arm back.

"Gum-Gum Pistol!" Luffy yelled as he swinged his arm forward for a punch.

Luffy punched Laboon into the eye.

Laboon was really angry now, as he head slam Luffy into the ground.

Laboon moved back and was ready to strike again.

"We're even now!" Luffy yelled.

This stopped Laboon cold.

"Even without Haki, I'm pretty good, right?" Luffy asked.

Laboon was shock.

"One of your old friends must of knew how to use Haki. That's why when I hit you with a Haki Powered Gum-Gum Pistol you tried to swallow us instead of running or start listening to my commands like most animals do," Luffy responded, "The next time we meet, we'll have to fight again, and maybe when that comes, I'll be the greatest Haki-User known."

Laboon started tearing up.

"Laboon! Your friends are maybe gone, but I'm still here! I'm still alive! And I don't plan to die or leave the Grand Line until I become King of the Pirates and the greatest Haki-User known," Luffy said, "We will come back to Twin Capes again! You and me will fight again! But that won't happen if you keep smashing your head to death. So how about it? You stop smashing your head to the Red Line, and I will come back to fight you!"

Everyone smiled hearing it, as they finally understood what Luffy was trying to do.

"BO!" Laboon cried in agreement.

"Then it's a deal," Luffy responded.

A/N: Yeah, I know, the Haki thing was a pathetic excuse, and it would of been better if Luffy just use Haki against Laboon, but I want to keep him unpredictable with his plan.

Also, I did reveal Brook back when he was alive in the flashback. After revealing Sabo and Ace early than in One Piece had it, I thought I should do the same with Brook during Crocus' flashback. Although, mentioning the aphro was probably proof enough it was Brook.