"Hold on, you know him?" Eret stared. "That's crazy! How is that possible?"
"It was when we passed through into the Grand Line at the Two Capes," Ragnar explained. "That giant whale was blocking the entrance."
"When we road down from Reverse Mountain, we thought was a giant wall in the way; imagine our surprise when we discovered it was a giant whale blocking the entrance," said Hiccup.
"That was utterly terrifying; I really thought we were going to smash into him," said Fishlegs.
"Especially considering that our rudder was damaged," Toothless added.
"So, how did you stop in time before he collided with him?" Chopper asked.
"That was thanks to the insane plan of our mischievous twins," said Hiccup looking at them, who just grinned. "They decided to fire cannon at close range into the whale's body. Amazingly was able to slow us down just enough before we collided with it."
"There's no need to thank us," said Tuffnut.
"But if it weren't for us, we would have been smashed to pieces," Ruffnut smiled proudly.
"True, but it was also thanks to you that it ended up swallowing us whole," Ragnar reminded them.
"What? The whale ate you guys?" Chopper blinked.
"These two muttonheads, for it was a smart idea to insult the whale," Fishlegs explained.
"In all the chaos, I was thrown overboard, and I feared the worst when he closed his mouth," said Hiccup.
"And this is the same Laboon as Skull's?" Heather asked.
"It has to be; there was an old lighthouse keeper that lived inside his gut and told us about the whale," said Ragnar.
"What?" Chopper stared.
"His name was Crocus, and he was a bit eccentric," said Hiccup.
"That's putting it mildly," said Snotlout. "He painted a mural inside its stomach to make it look like the sky."
"It was a little shocking, not to mention confusing," said Fishlegs.
"I am not sure I believe any of this," Eret blinked. "So you're saying that this crazy lighthouse keeper went inside a giant whale's stomach and painted the sky inside him."
"Not only did he went inside him, he took care of him and treated his wounds," Ragnar continued.
"What is a lighthouse guy know about wounds?" Eret asked.
"Plenty they have medical experience," said Fishlegs. "He was apparently the doctor for a pirate crew at one time."
"He holed out several sections inside of Laboon, including building a canal in him," Hiccup added.
"You're joking," said Eret.
"I'm serious; he created a number of exits. That's how I was able to get inside," said Hiccup. "I was busy flying around trying to think of a way to get inside when I saw this hatch. When I got inside, I saw a number of corridors that no doubt allowed easy access for Crocus to tend Laboon's injuries from the inside."
"Wow, but how did the whale gets so hurt that he needed a doctor to treat him? What happened?" Chopper asked.
"It was at the Red Line," said Ragnar. "Grief drove him to keep bashing his head against the divine wall. The grief abandonment, he spent 50 years waiting for his friends there believing they would return for him after their long voyage."
"When we finally got outside, the whale Crocus told us the story," said Hiccup. "Laboon was originally from the West Blue and somehow got separated from his pod—"
"Huh?" said the twins confused.
"His parents," said Hiccup. "Anyway, he seemed to become very attached to a pirate crew, and it kept following them around; he even went with them when they went over Reverse Mountain. The state of the Twin Capes, for a little while, believed the Grand Line was too dangerous for such a young whale."
Ragnar nodded. "They asked Crocus to look after him, and they promised Laboon that they would return, but of course, they never did. At first, we thought it was because the Grand Line was so dangerous; after all, 50 years ago was virtually uncharted, making those waters far more dangerous than they are today."
"Crocus then discovered that they had abandoned their journey at some point," said Hiccup. "He tried to tell Laboon that they weren't coming back, but he just refused to believe him. From that point on, he began hitting his head on the Red Line, trying to bring it down, giving him some nasty scars."
"But they didn't abandon him; they died," said Chopper.
"Maybe some left the crew," said Snotlout.
"We still don't know the whole story, but it is clear that is what happened," said Hiccup. "However, even I could tell that Laboon's injuries were getting worse and worse every time he hit his head on that massive stone wall."
"So what did you do?" Chopper asked.
"I merely flew up to him and spoke with my heart, and I was able to finally calm him down," said Hiccup. "I merely told him that they wouldn't want him to hurt himself over them, and I promise that I would find his friends as was promising that I would return for him."
"So you went face-to-face with the biggest whale in the world and more or less ordered him to stop," Eret blinked.
Hiccup shrugged. "It did the trick; he stopped bashing his head against the wall and is right now waiting for his friends to finally return."
"It's an incredible story, talk about true friends," said Fishlegs. "He kept his promise to know more than half a century."
"And to think we met one of Laboon's friends by complete coincidence," said Toothless.
"I only wish now we have been paying attention to Skull's story," said Ruffnut.
"Yeah, we could have told them that we knew Laboon and that he still waiting for him," Tuffnut nodded.
"Man, to think that skeleton has been alone for 50 years, I'm surprised he hasn't driven himself crazy," said Snotlout.
"I wonder what that skeleton is doing right now," said Toothless as he looked back towards the island.
Skull was still fighting Ryuma, and it looked as if the two of them were evenly matched.
"I won't deny that you've gotten stronger over these past five years, but so have I!" Ryuma admitted swinging his sword.
Skull barely had time to lean back to avoid the blade.
"And remember, I already know every move you're going to make!" Ryuma reminded him and plunged his sword towards him.
He moved so fast that Skull was unable to dodge, and it struck him in the hip. The blow the force was powerful enough to send him flying backwards into the wall behind him.
Ryuma laughed. "For someone who claims to have a reason for living, you sure are quick to throw your life away. You should have done yourself a favour and stood down the moment you challenged me."
"Shut up!" Skull snapped as he rose to his feet.
He then charged at him once more, and the two of them began to clash, but Ryuma was stronger and faster than him.
'Laboon, I wonder, old friend, after all these years, do you still remember me?' Skull wondered as he clashed with Ryuma. 'When I think of how alone you must have felt, it breaks my heart in two.'
Ryuma then managed to stab him in the chest directly where his heart would have been. Unfortunately, a skeleton, he had no internal organs, so the blow was not as deadly as it would have been if he was flesh and blood.
'Although, I don't suppose I have a heart any more.'
Skull then continued to clash with Ryuma, trying to get the upper hand, but nothing he did worked. Ryuma then managed to plunge Katana into his empty right eye socket, causing the bones to chip and crack.
'The Grand Line is so fearsome, believe me. I tried as hard as I could to bring them back to you, but all of our friends have passed away.'
Skull quickly jumped back, exhausted, and looked at his reflection in his sword. 'Not only have I lost my friends… my face… my body… my shadow… everything I once was. If we were to meet again, you probably wouldn't even recognise me. How could you with me looking like this?'
He then picked himself up, and Ryuma quickly jumped at him, but he was able to block the attack just in time. The two of them then clashed and looked at one another in the eyes, not that either of them had ice, to begin with.
Ryuma then plunged his sword down towards him, and he quickly blocked it. They then pulled away from one another and once again began to clash swords, but Skull was soon overpowered and fell to the floor. He then quickly rolled his head to avoid getting skewered by the Katana and quickly swung his sword to give them enough time to get back up onto his feet.
Skull was completely worn out, and Ryuma didn't look tired in the slightest, but he was not going to give up. His only advantage was that Ryuma couldn't kill him, or else he would kill himself, but if he was knocked out cold like before, then he doubted that he would get a third chance at reclaiming his shadow.
'I don't have anything left, not a single reminder of my old self,' he said as Ryuma charged at him once more. 'But I still have my music; I played every day, and I know that you enjoyed hearing me play.'
He began thinking back to 50 years ago when he was playing his violin to Laboon, who seemed to enjoy it.
"Hahaha, he really does like your music, Skull," said one of his crewmates. "I mean, is dancing to the rhythm and everything."
"And it sounds like he's singing as well!"
'I must defeat him and regain my shadow so that I can see you once again,' said Skull.
He then yelled as he charged, but Ryuma was able to avoid his blade and then plunged his sword right through his spine.
'I'm coming, Laboon, just as I promised. I hope you're still waiting… waiting for me. I promise that I would return, no matter what.'
He then collapsed.
Back on the Night Fury, Eret was crying his eyes out after hearing the full story of Laboon.
"I have never heard such an emotional story like that one," he said.
Hiccup rose to his feet. "I admit I was considering whether to ask him to join our crew, but now my mind is set on it. I trust there are no objections?"
"I've got no problems," said Heather.
"I want him to join the crew too, no question," said Fishlegs.
"Complete and total approval!" Eret cried.
"Same here you!" Chopper cried.
"I've got no problems with it," said Snotlout.
"Same here," said Ragnar.
"Us too!" said the twins.
"With that decided, I think it's best we get started because we have a lot to get back," said Toothless.
Hiccup nodded. "All right, crew, it's time to get serious! Prepare for the counter-attack! Where going to put Breakneck Bog in a watery grave!"
"Yeah!" everyone cheered.