Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece

To The Grand Line

Luffy and the crew kept sailing toward the grand line after their small skirmish with the marines at Louge town. On their journey, they accidentally entered the calm belt a place where the ocean tides are silent. They were bounced from one place to the other by seakings that made Momoo look like a small fish. After that, they met a small girl by the name of Apis who told them that she wanted to go to her home. the straw hats took her there only to enter a weird adventure where they had to save the girl's dragon friend from being killed so a corrupt marine can eat him. finally, once they were finished. They continued sailing to the grand line in hopes of achieving their dreams.

Currently, Luffy was hopping up and down on the rails of the ship as he observed the entrance of the grand line come closer and closer. It was called the reverse mountain; a path that ship uses to enter the grand line to sail through it. Luffy chuckled happily, "I can't believe it. we finally made it to the entrance. We're one step closer to our dreams."

The boy hopped onto Merry's ship head. He then noticed that the light from the lighthouse at the entrance of the grand line went out causing him to panic, "Nami, what happened? Where did the light go? and isn't that the guiding light that everyone uses to enter the grand line?"

Nami, who wearing a jacket to protect her from the rain, walked onto the deck sighing, "Well, it's to be expected given that the lighthouse is the only one here at the entrance of the grand line." She looked up and smiled to herself, "Besides, I'm the navigator so in times like these I shine, so calm down, I know what I'm doing?" the girl then walked away to grab a compass.

Luffy now hugged the head of the ship saying, "Wow, you're really amazing Nami. You're the best navigator anyone can ask for." The girl stopped and smiled a little as she looked back and lost her color. She ran and grabbed Luffy slamming him into the deck in front of her.

The boy groaned as Nami yelled at him, "You idiot, don't you have a sense of self-preservation? If it got slippery enough, you would've died when you fell into the sea. Don't ever go up there again with a weather like that." she turned before turning back adding, "Got it?"

The boy nodded, "Yeah, as long as you don't take my spot." He was punched on the head as Nami walked away mumbling about never showing interest in his so called spot.

The boy rubbed his head as Robin stood above him with a very unimpressed look, "Hey, Robin. How's your day?"

The girl frowned as she clenched her fist and gently smacked him on the head. She shook her head and said, "Be please be careful Luffy. The weather is bad, and you can fall if it becomes slippery enough, and I don't want that." the boy replied with two thumbs up.

Nami was talking to herself about the rumors being true. She then yelled, "Everyone, come inside to talk about the grand line." Luffy and Robin then entered the kitchen where Nami followed them. The girl then slammed the map of the grand line, "Listen, guys, the entrance to the grand line is a mountain."

Everyone except Luffy and Robin was shocked as Usopp's jaw dropped to the ground with the boy asked out loud, "What? A mountain? How does that work?"

The girl sighed, "Look, I know that's something that it's hard to believe; I didn't believe it myself at first, but when I looked at the map and then the lighthouse, they all pointed to Reverse mountain which is located right on the red line." Usopp then looked at Luffy and Robin, "Did you two know about this?" they both nodded.

Usopp screamed, "Why didn't you tell us? We could've found a way instead of crashing into a goddamn mountain." The boy was silenced by a disembodied hand flicking his nose making him squeak in fear.

Nami silently thanked Robin as she carried on, "No, we won't crash into a mountain. There's a waterway according to the map." She said as she placed a finger on the map showing the entrance. This didn't help Usopp at all, if anything it made him even more nervous.

The boy asked, "How do we use the waterway anyway? How does a ship even go up a mountain? Is that even possible to begin with? Because all this sounds crazy."

Robin replied, "Crazy or not, it's our only way there. Plus, who doesn't want a life-threatening adventure every once in a while?" this made Usopp slam his head back into the ground as he protested her words saying that he wasn't insane like her and Luffy.

Sanji slammed his foot on Usopp's head for yelling at Robin before adding, "I believe it. it's not the first time I see ships go upside a mountain." This little comment went ignored.

Zoro wondered, "Can't we use something else? I mean can't we go south? We'd still enter the grand line. Plus, we'd avoid the risk of becoming dead."

Luffy appeared beside him protesting as Nami yelled, "Did you forget what happened to us last time?" the man tilted his head as he wondered what she was talking about before remembering what she meant and shivered.

Usopp's voice shook, "Guys, the storm is gone." Everyone stood up with pale faces as they went out. Robin and Nami slumped into depression, "We're stuck into the clam belt once again."

Suddenly, the entire ship shook as the ship raised into the air. The men at this point had faces of pure horror as Nami and Robin clung to the mast of the ship with Robin saying, "At least, this way I can say that I died a very interesting death, and not just on the bed."

Luffy then looked down and gasped in fear, "The ship is on the head of a huge seaking." This made Nami's soul leave her mouth. The girl began to wonder if this was going to be her end.

Luffy then noticed the seaking beginning to sneeze, and said, "Brace yourselves." He then tied everyone to the mast as Sanji yelled, "I don't want to die hugging you. Get off me, you shitty gum…" he didn't get to finish that as the sneeze blasted them from the clam belt to reverse mountain in one go.

Nami then slid down as she asked with fear in her voice as the rain hit her face, "Is the nightmare over? Please tell me that it's over. My soul can't take it anymore."

Robin smiled, "I believe so since if we were still there we'd be either smashed into million pieces by huge seakings, or boiling in the stomach acid of a hungry beast." This made both Nami and Usopp shiver as the orange-haired girl yelled, "Stop giving me such vivid nightmares. I want to sleep." She shook her head and asked, "Now, does anyone want to use any alternative route?"

Zoro shook his head as Usopp said, "I'll go up the mountain. I'll go up the mountain. I don't want to die in the stomach of seakings." Sanji looked at him and sighed.

Nami then sat and explained what was going to happen. She explained that reverse mountain has waterways from all seas. Each waterway has a strong current that drives a ship up the waterway. At the top, all currents will merge together, and take the ship to the grand line."

The girl rubbed her head, "Reverse mountain is a winter island, so the currents on the edges go to the bottom of the sea…" Luffy cut her off, "So we have one chance, and if we mess up, we'd end at the bottom of the sea." Nami looked at him for a moment before shaking her shock and nodding her head.

Zoro sighed, "A ship going upside a mountain. I find this hard to believe, but I guess there's no other choice we have." Sanji who was standing beside him shook his head.

The blond man took a gulf of his cigarette and let out some smoke, "Well, this is the grand line. It is told that a lot of things that defy the rules of physics exist there, so this seems ordinary if you ask me." Zoro eyed him as he added, "That's assuming that we make it in the first place. It is said that half of the people who try to enter the grand line end up dead."

Luffy yelled, "Look at that, it's the magic mountain that Ms. Olivia taught me about." Robin smiled fondly remembering how her mother tried to simplify things as much as possible so that Luffy would understand them. Nami, on the other hand, felt a bit insulted that he called it a magic mountain considering how he can understand somewhat how it works.

Usopp on the other hand trembled, "Is that it? it seems so scary."

In front of them was a huge rock wall that extended for miles into the sky, so much that you couldn't see its top due to the clouds.

Everyone was in shock, but Luffy yelled, "Usopp, Sanji, go hold the rudder so we don't end up as fish food today." The duo didn't need to be told further as they raced inside the kitchen, and caught the rudder beginning to stair it.

Nami stood shocked at the majestic sight as Zoro used the binoculars to locate the entrance of the mountain, he mouthed out, "I can't believe this. There's an actual waterway all up the mountain." He saw through the binoculars a waterway which its entrance was covered by huge square arcs. "The entrance is here. The ocean water is really going up the mountain."

Robin brought out a small notebook and began to sketch reverse mountain, "I can't believe this. This place is so beautiful. No wonder my mom went out on a voyage." Nami from the side sweat-dropped as she wondered if this was the right time to take a sketch of the mountain.

Luffy noticed that the ship was slowly veering off course, "Guys, be careful the ship is moving off course. We're about to smash into the mountain." The two men in the kitchen grabbed the steering wheel and tried to turn it around. Robin added some hands to help them, but a snap was heard as Sanji and Usopp both went to the ground.

Everyone looked with fear in their eyes as Nami cried, "Don't tell me that they broke the rudder." She looked and saw one of the square arcs in front of them, "We're about to die."

Luffy ran as he looked at Robin, "Grab, Robin." The girl nodded as many arms sprouted from the deck grabbing Luffy's legs. The boy jumped from the ship as he inhaled air, "Gum-Gum…" his body then inflated, "Balloon"

The ship then crashed into Luffy who was squished between it and the arc. This caused the ship to bounce right back into course as the boy deflated with Robin pulling him back into the ship. The girl kissed him, "Good thinking, Luffy."

Nami yelled, "We made it. and it's all thanks to you, Luffy" she then hugged the rubber boy causing jealousy to come from Robin who coughed. This caused the orange-haired girl to blush as she backed away, "Sorry, I got caught inside the moment."

The black-haired girl shook her head as she walked to Luffy and said, "Here's the beginning of our journey. I'll make sure to write it, so we can tell our children and grandchildren about it." the boy blushed as he looked away.

Everyone was now cheering as the ship reached the top, and diverted its way, and began to head downwards as the crew looked ahead as Luffy said, "I can see the grand line up ahead."

Luffy looked ahead and smiled, "I can't believe it. only a few more moments, and my journey to become pirate king begins. I going to enter the greatest sea in the world." He jumped around saying, "Full speed ahead." Robin only giggled in excitement.

Suddenly, a huge sound emitted, "BUOOOOOOOHHHHHHH"

Zoro looked around with an uninterested look, "Uhh, is it only me, or did you all hear this sound?"

Luffy laughed as he pumped his fist, "Who cares? This is so amazing."

Nami replied to him, "Don't worry, Zoro. This is most likely the wind. The grand line is full of them. They can make all sorts of sounds that are odd." Zoro nodded his head, but not fully convinced that it was just the wind. It sounded too animalistic if you asked him.

Robin silently agreed with Zoro that the sound was odd, but she was sure that she heard it from somewhere else before. It was like…

She cut from her thoughts when another sound similar to the one from before echoed throughout the entire place. Usopp then used his goggles, "Nami?" the girl looked at him, "Do your maps tell you that there should be something down there?"

Sanji elaborated further, "There's a mountain down there, Nami-swan."

Nami blinked in shock. All of her maps never mentioned a mountain down there. Nami shook her head, "A mountain? Impossible! The only thing that should be down there is the twin capes and then we enter the open sea." She then looked and saw something huge covered by mist causing her color to fade from her face as another howl occurred.

Luffy was now intrigued at what was down there wondering if he can ask him to join the crew. The mist cleared and they were all greeted by a horrifying sight. Down at the base of Reverse mountain, a whale of humongous size was wailing into the sky. It had pitch-black skin. Its teeth were larger than the ship itself by many times, even its eyes were larger than the ship. but the most prominent feature was its head which was full of scars

Usopp yelled in fear, "What should we do? This thing is enormous. There's no way around it."

Luffy asked, "I think we should fight it." he was flicked by Robin, "Luffy, even you know better than to fight that. it's an island whale. These things are mother nature's weapons."

Sanji said, "What the heck can we do? It's like a brick wall. I'm not even sure it even sees us given how huge and large it is. We should try to sneak our way around it."

Nami quietly asked, "Island whales?" she shook her head as Zoro said, "Guys, I saw an opening beside the whale. We should turn portside before we become squished and sent to the bottom of the ocean." Everyone nodded as Usopp went to help Zoro.

Luffy then exclaimed, "I have an idea." he then ran away with Robin following to make sure he doesn't cause any problems or kill them for that matter. He was crafty sometimes, but the key word here was SOMETIMES.

In the kitchen, the guys were desperately trying to turn the ship left, but the rudder wasn't budging.

Suddenly, a huge explosion sound was heard.

Nami, Zoro, Usopp, and Sanji cried in shock and fear, "He used the cannon against the whale."

Down with Luffy, he smiling as he felt the ship slow down, "Well, I told you my idea would work, didn't I?" Robin smiled slightly as sweat was still falling down her face from fear. Her boyfriend had crazy ideas, but this one against all odds worked out well, and they weren't dead so that was something.

Back outside, the ship was slowing down from the force of the blast that caused it to be sent backward. Finally, it came to a screeching halt as it smashed into the whale, but at the cost of destroying Luffy's special seat. Nami slumped forward with a haunted look on her face, "I thought I was about… to die right now."

Luffy entered the main deck with Robin as he saw his special seat destroyed causing him to get angry.

Meanwhile, the guys were all staring at the whale as they noticed that the blast also caused the whale to move a bit opening more space to escape. Zoro said, "I think we should capitalize on this chance to run away from it. Come on."

Usopp began to exclaim about how the beast didn't feel anything, but Sanji smacked him telling him to focus on what's important right now. The guys began to row the boat away from the whale as it let out an ear-piercing sound causing all of them to yell out in pain.

Luffy walked calmly toward the front of the ship as Robin said, "Luffy, please don't do anything rash."

Nami noticed him and wondered what he was planning to do. She was about to get her answer.

Luffy looked at the whale, and yelled, "Hey, you jerk." The whale didn't acknowledge him as the boy yelled, "You destroyed my…" he then punched the huge thing in its eyes causing the entire crew to panic, "…special seat."

The whale's huge eye looked at the Merry, as all the occupants yelled in distress, "It saw us."

Luffy stood there as Robin held the crew back from murdering him, "What? Want to go for another round? Come on, let's duke it out, you huge moron." This caused both Usopp and Zoro to bypass Robin and kick him in the head telling him to be quiet.

Robin sighed as she grabbed Luffy and began to shake his head. Something she learned to do all those years when she was frustrated with him. the girl asked in silent frustration, "What in the world possessed you to do that, Luffy?" Both of them didn't notice the whale open its huge mouth.

"This was extremely reckless, and it could have killed everyone including just us." She stopped before asking, "What did we take about controlling your instincts."

Usopp tapped Robin on the shoulder, "Guys, the whale…"

Luffy defended himself, "well, he started it…."

"Luffy, he's a whale. Sure, island whales are smarter than any other whales out there, but still…" she crossed her arms and pouted, "I'm sad with you now."

The boy panicked as he told her, "No, I'm sorry. Don't be angry with me. I won't do it again, I promise." Both didn't notice the whale beginning to suck the ship in its mouth. The girl looked at him from the sides of her eyes, "Promise?"

The boy nodded as the girl smiled, "Ok, you're forgiven." Both of them were grabbed by Nami who yelled at them, "Get out of your lovey-dovey moment. We're about to become mincemeat." Both of them noticed that the whale has sucked the ship into its mouth and closed it.

They joined everyone in screaming as everyone was being sucked down the whale's throat. Nami yelled, "I'm too young and beautiful to be digested. I don't want to become seafood for an oversized whale."

Sanji jumped to her saying, "Don't worry, Nami-swan. I will protect you." The man tried to hug her, but she kicked him away from her telling him to think better and faster.

They all then felt the whale move as Robin said, "The whale must have gone underwater. We don't know how much till it goes to the surface again. We need to be ready to escape."

Nami then asked, "How do we exit it in the first place?" Robin looked away as the girl got the message. Luffy then yelled, "We have to get out at any cost. We need to have more adventures."

He was then smacked by Usopp, "Shut up, idiot. We're here because of you." The boy blinked as he said, "Right, I'm really sorry. I was only angry."

Usopp smacked his forehead as he asked, "How's that supposed to help us?" the ship then splashed into somewhere. They looked around and they noticed that they were sky and birds. The boy blinked, "Are we outside?"

Nami shook her head, "I really doubt that." she said looking down at the green sea under them. She heard from Arlong that there was some weird stuff in the grand line, but this seems a little bit much out there… especially since they were still at the entrance of the grand line.

"Does anyone have any rational explanation for this, because I sure don't have any?" Zoro asked.

Luffy replied, "Maybe it's a magic whale." The man looked at him wanting to facepalm, but how many times he was proven wrong by the boy, he nodded his head.

"I'm sure we were swallowed by the whale, so how did we end up here?" Sanji said, "Did we die, or are we dreaming?"

Luffy then said, "That doesn't matter. First and foremost," everyone looked at Luffy, "We need to fix my special seat." This made Usopp, Zoro, and Sanji punch him while Robin shook her head at his silly attitude.

The ship sailed forward as Robin asked Nami, "Perhaps, we're inside the whale. And someone painted it like this…" she then noticed something, "And is that an island in the middle of the whale?" everyone looked and sure enough there was an island.

They didn't think too much about it as suddenly a huge squid popped from the green water as attacked the ship causing everyone to go into defensive mode. Suddenly, it was speared through its head three times and fell into the water.

Luffy then said, "Seems that someone is living here inside the whale." His eye sparkled as he said, "That's so cool. I wish I can live here inside a whale."

He was punched by Nami who scolded him, "We don't know what's happening here."

Zoro said, "Look, someone is coming out onto the same island." Usopp asked if they can shoot him, but Robin refused as she said that they shouldn't jump the gun yet.

They looked at the island, and they saw a man standing there as he quietly said, "A ship. I never thought I'd see something like this here." He posed for a moment before adding, "At least not in one piece that is."

The person who was in front of them was an old man with his hair shaped in a flower-like pattern. This caused Sanji to say, "Is he a flower?"

Zoro replied, "I don't think so…" he was silenced by Luffy slamming his face into the railings as he said, "Hey, flower man, do you know where we are? And can you join my crew?"

Sanji replied, "Looking at him, I don't that he's a flower." Usopp wondered what was wrong with the old man given that he didn't speak anything since they came here.

Zoro kicked Luffy away from him as he glared at the boy, "Don't do that ever again, or I'll flay you. Got it?" he warned with his sword pressed against his sword against Luffy's neck. The rubber boy laughed as he apologized to Zoro who sighed.

Robin then asked herself, "Did he save us, or was he just fishing and we were at the other end of winning." She shook her head trying to find a reasonable explanation for what was happening.

Sanji then yelled, "Hey, old man. Can you tell us what's happening here? And how to get out of here?" the man merely stared back at Sanji with an intense look. The man then slowly walked and plopped inside a chair.

This caused Sanji to yell in anger, "What the heck? Talk to us, you creepy geezer."

The man merely scowled at them as Usopp panicked, "Hey, if you want a fight, we have a cannon and we aren't afraid to use it." the man stared at Usopp scaring him.

He finally answered, "Don't do that or someone might die." This caused tension to skyrocket as the fighters of the crew got ready while Usopp and Nami hugged each other in fear.

Sanji asked him carefully, "Oh yeah, and who's going to die if we fought?"

The man replied, "I'm the one going to die." This made Sanji yell in frustration, "You"

Zoro grabbed his shoulder, "Clam down swirly brow, don't give into your anger." The blond man scoffed as he walked away from the front of the ship as Zoro stood, "I'm sorry for this, but can you tell us…"

The man cut him off, "I know that if you want something from someone you introduce yourself as common courtesy." The man then looked back at his newspaper.

Zoro's eyebrows twitched, but he smiled, "Well, that's my bad. You see I'm Rorona Zo…" he was cut off by the man saying, "My name is Crocus. I'm the light keeper of the twin capes. I'm 71 years old. My blood type is AB. My zodiac is the Gemini…" the man continued to talk about himself not noticing the anger that began to appear on Zoro's face.

Zoro took out his sword and yelled, "What? Can I kill him now?" Sanji grabbed him telling him to calm down. The man continued to stare at them unnerving everyone.

Luffy then jumped, "Hey old man, tell us where we are. I don't have time for your games. Shouldn't you be helping people anyway?"

Crocus looked at him, "I won't help anyone like you."

This caused Luffy to yell in anger like Sanji and Zoro, "Let me at him. I'm so angry right now."

The man talked, "You all came here to my private resort and caused all types of annoying noises. And finally, you're talking to me with that kind of attitude. And where do you think you are? A stomach of a mouse. Look, it's the stomach of a whale."

Usopp shuddered as Nami cried silently, "I don't want to become whale food. I'm too young and beautiful." The girl was brought out of her crying as Crocus coughed to grab their attention.

"If you want an exit, you should you behind you." They all looked behind them, and there was a huge iron door that had an exit sign painted above it. they all sweat-dropped as Robin said, "We should've noticed that from the beginning."

Robin then took a closer look at everything, and said, "And it also seems that the sky is painted onto the stomach of the whale." Everyone looked at her, "Look, everything in the sky is still and it's not moving. so it is like I said earlier" They all looked and she was right.

She then asked, "But this prompts a greater question; why is he living inside a whale in the first place?" everyone was intrigued by her words wondering the same thing.

Crocus replied, "It's warmer in here. Ad Plus, the painting is just a pass time hobby, and it makes the place homelier." Usopp tried to argue, but Zoro grabbed him telling him to leave it as they found their way out, but suddenly everything began to shake.

Crocus frowned as everything shook around them. Usopp then pointed out that the island that Crocus was on was nothing, but an iron ship. This made everyone panic given that the ship might begin to slowly dissolve away leading to their death in the long run.

Robin asked Crocus, "Crocus, what's happening? Why is everything shaking so violently?"

He replied, "This whale is bashing its head against the red line." Everyone was shocked, but then Robin said, "The scars on his head are from him bashing his head, right?"

Usopp was confused, but Nami explained, "You see the whale we saw had huge scars on his head. I thought it might have been from fights, but it appears that the scars are from something else add to that the wailing to the sky. I can say without any doubt that this whale is suffering, and needs help."

On the outside, the whale was bashing its head against the red line.

Nami then said, "This means that the man is trying to kill it from the inside…" he was silenced by a hand blooming on her mouth as Robin said, "It couldn't be any further from the truth. If he wanted to kill it, he would've done it already."

Usopp then said, "Then why is he hiding here, and why is the whale bashing its head on the red line." Robin shrugged as Zoro told them that they should hurry before the acid does serious damage to the ship with Sanji agreeing with him.

In another section of the whale, two people opened a door leading to a series of corridors that runs throughout the whale. One of them was a woman with blue hair, and the other was a man with orange hair wearing a crown. The man said, "we managed to enter the whale successfully. Our mission is to kill the old geezer, Ms. Wednesday."

The woman nodded her head as the man added, "This mission is for the sake of grabbing this whale to our town, so they don't starve to death."

They then began to walk deeper inside the whale trying their best to keep steady as the entire place was being shaken around with the whale banging its head against everything.

Back with the crew, they were all panicking as the slamming motion was driving them away from the exit. Usopp yelled, "What the heck are you doing, old man?" everyone looked and saw that the old geezer jumped into the stomach acid much to everyone's shock.

The man himself began to swim inside the acid trying to reach the exit to go somewhere.

The doors at the top of the exit opened, and the people from earlier entered the area, they said, "Where's the old man? We're here to…" a sudden slamming motion caused them to lose their balance and fall directly into the acid. Luckily, the crew fished them out before any damage was done, though they were passed out from fear.

Crocus himself ignored everything as he made his way to a room with a huge needle. He then injected something into the whale causing it to calm done, "This should stop him for a bit."

The whale suddenly began to slow, as Crocus sighed in relief, "This needle was filled with sedatives." He then said, "Your skin has become so tough that I needed to build this contraption so I can calm you down, Laboon. This wall separates the world's oceans, so I need you to stop or you'll die, my old friend." Once the whale fully stopped, the man headed back to where he came from.

Back with the crew, Nami noted that the whale has calmed down. Usopp then asked the million belli question, "Who are you, people? And what are you doing inside this whale in the first place?"

The man known as Mr. 9 said silently to his partner, "These people seem to be pirates."

The woman replied, "But they seem understanding. Maybe we can reach a deal with them."

Crocus returned as he looked at the two and said, "I won't allow you to hurt, Laboon."

Mr. 9 smirked as he and Ms. Wednesday lifted their weapons, "All we have to do is blow a hole in its…" he was silenced when he felt arms grabbing his body. He looked at his partner and she was in the same predicament.

The sound of feet walking grabbed his attention. he looked up to see a dark-haired girl with a very dark look on her face as she said, "There is no way in hell that I will allow to hurt this poor creature." She then tightened her grip on them till they passed out from fear once more. The girl smiled happily to herself, "That's much better."

A couple of minutes later, both of them were tied to the tree inside the artificial island as Crocus said, "These clowns have been bothering Laboon for a while now. They want to kill Laboon because his meat can feed their town for 2 to 3 years."

Robin nodded her head, "He's an island whale. One of the biggest species of whale. I still remember them from the west blue, but what is he doing here?"

The old man explained Laboon's backstory, how he was separated from his pod, how he befriended a group of friendly pirates, how he sailed with them, how he was too young to travel with them into the grand line so he was entrusted to Crocus, how the pirates went and disappeared into thin air, how Laboon ever since was sad, how he bashes his head against the red line hoping to destroy it to see his long lost friends.

The man then finished, "It's been 50 years since they left and Laboon still believes that one day they might return. I tried to explain to him, but he refuses to believe me."

He then proceeded to guide them to the waterway which will help them exit the whale. Luffy said, "That's some waterway, old man. I'm amazed that you build this and live inside here too."

The man chuckled, "This is nothing much. It's just a hobby that I do during my pastime. I have a real job after all. I used to have a clinic here to help people entering the grand line."

Luffy smiled, "Really? You're a doctor. Join my crew. I really need one since I'm a walking biohazard." Robin gently flicked in his ear telling him not to say that again which caused him to snicker. The man shook his head.

The man then walked up and climbed the ladder leading to a lever as he said, "Don't be crazy. I'm too old for this. You need to find someone with fresh blood."

The man opened the door and the ship sailed outside. They then dumped both the blue-haired and orange-haired strangers off their ship once they were outside. The crew sailed to the cape twins and rested there for a lunch break before carrying on with their journey.

Once there they sat as Sanji said, "50 years, huh? That whale sure has high expectations."

Luffy said, "I wonder what's taking them so long. I mean that should've been back by now."

Sanji then chastised him, "Idiot, this is the grand line we're talking about. They said that they'd be back in 2 to 3 years, but they've been gone for 5 decades. It's clear that they are dead."

Usopp began to argue with Sanji telling him to show more compassion to the whale, but Crocus said, "Sometimes the truth is hard to believe, but there's a reason for that." the man then explained that there is a chance that the crew left the grand line altogether leaving Laboon here alone all, and that's why he was so set on destroying the red line.

Sanji was amazed by the story, but he pointed out that if the crew did leave the grand line then in essence they betrayed him too. wondering why the man was still taking care of the whale to this day.

The man explained that the scars on Laboon's head are due to the constant attempts to break the red line, and if he continues on that he might die. He added that Laboon is his only companion, so he can't just leave him to die.

Luffy who heard the man's explanation went to grab the ship's mast, but Robin caught onto him and pulled his ear as she said, "Is there a reason why you're planning to destroy part of the ship?"

The boy replied with a whimper, "I want to help Laboon feel happy again. I was planning on something and I need the mast for it."

The girl let go and said, "Leave the mast and use a boulder, Luffy." The boy thought about it and nodded. He then went and carved out a huge rock. The boy jumped into the air and smashed the rock into Laboon's head.

The whale replied by wailing in pain before smashing the boy into the red line.

Luffy then jumped out and punched the whale in the eye. He then jumped into the air and kicked him in the head. The two began to exchange hits as everyone wondered what Luffy was getting at except Robin. Luffy was then sent flying toward the rocks.

Laboon was racing toward him when Luffy yelled, "It's a tie." The whale stopped for a moment looking at the boy. "I'm pretty tough, huh? We just had a small fight between us, but I can't continue it now. I'm going to the grand line and I will return so that we can have a rematch when I'm much stronger. Your old friends might be gone, but I'm still here so don't going dying on me till we have our rematch."

The whale looked at him, and tears began to fill its eyes as Luffy told him, "Wait for my return so we can have a second round."

Everyone looked and smiled. Crocus was especially happy since Laboon seemed to have calmed down, and from the looks of it, he won't continue bashing his head against the red line.

An hour later, Luffy stood there proudly with a brush as he finished drawing a twisted version of the strawhats jolly roger on Laboon's scars. The boy said, "Now, this is a pact between us, so don't go bashing your head against the wall or it will be destroyed." The whale nodded his head in acceptance.

After that, Sanji went to make food, and Zoro and Usopp just sat around, while Nami was trying to read the compass. The moment she looked at it, she yelled in fear.

Robin came to her and asked, "What's wrong, Nami? Did something bad happen?"

The girl panicked as she gave Robin the compass. Robin blinked before shrugging, taking the compass, and throwing it into the sea. She then gave Nami a small box. The girl opened the box and saw what looked like a small compass, but it only pointed north.

Nami yelled, "What's this and why did you throw the compass?"

Luffy popped out saying, "Well, you see, there's an anomalous electro-thingy that affects normal compasses, so you need…" he pointed at the compass in her hand, "…a log pose. It's like a special compass that catches the island's magnetic fields, and guides you to them." he looked at Robin asking her, "Did I say it right?" the girl nodded her head.

Nami looked at him briefly before standing up, going to the sea, putting her head in it, and from what both could tell screaming in it from frustration. Both looked at each as Sanji put the lunch and Luffy began to eat.

Nami then jumped and ran toward Luffy yelling, "How do you know about this?"

"Miss Olivia taught me that." the boy replied casually.

Nami looked at Robin, "Your mother is a miracle worker."

Robin laughed a little as they all dig in, but still had to protect their lunch from Luffy.

After lunch, Crocus explained to them how the grand line works. He explained that they are 7 paths that a log pose can attach to, and from that point forward, one has to go along that path. the man elaborated further that if one wanted to change the path, he has to start all over again. And only at the end of the path at the other end of the grand line will they find the island known as 'Raftel' where the one piece is present.

A while later, Ms. Wednesday and Mr.9 came back and begged the strawhats for a lift to their hometown Whiskey peak. Although everyone was against it Luffy expected it on the condition that they don't try to harm Laboon ever again to which both of them agreed. In reality, Luffy felt a bit guilty because he accidentally destroyed their log pose, which he took as a backup in case the one he bought from Louge Town was damaged, during his small fight with Laboon.

Nami then looked and said, "Look at this, it's pointing toward Whiskey Peak." Everyone jumped on the ship and began to sail away as the strawhats waved goodbye to Laboon and Crocus.

Robin meanwhile was looking at Ms. Wednesday as she asked no one in particular while looking at a newspaper, "I wonder why a princess is posing as a bounty hunter while her kingdom is in ruins." The newspaper in her hand was old, but the title was clear, 'Princess Vivi of Alabasta: Went Missing'

Author's notes:

Welcome back to a new chapter of my fanfic. In this chapter, we saw Luffy's crew entering the grand line, and meeting Laboon. We also saw the appearance of a certain princess in disguise. In the next chapter, it will handle the crew's newest adventure in Whiskey Peak and the introduction of a new stronger enemy.

As always please take care of yourselves, write a review telling us your opinion about the current chapter, and tell us which arc you're most excited for.

And finally, I hope you all enjoy reading my work, and see you next time with a brand new chapter.