Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday had been brought to the deck and shackled. By now, Laboon's wailings had quieted down.
"Looks like the whale's calmed down," Nami said.
Zoro nodded. "Good, now we address these two."
Lithos, Merone, Ferros, and Ariala were inspecting Miss Wednesday more closely.
"Johnny, Yosaku, take Mr. 9 here down to the brig. We'll speak with Miss Wednesday more directly." Merone said.
"We have a brig?" Luffy asked.
"Haddalam built this ship with everything we might need," Usopp explained. "I just never thought we'd actually use the brig. It only has one cell."
"Who's Haddalam?" Nami asked.
"Kaya's butler, remember?" Usopp explained. "What, you thought Merry was his only name?"
"Most of us weren't here for that," Bella said.
"But seriously? His full name is Merry Haddalam?" Zoro asked. "What, was he raised on nursery rhymes?"
"Can we focus on our prisoners here? Let's get Mister 9 to the brig already." Hsiao said.
Mr. 9 whimpered as the much stronger Johnny and Yosaku hauled him off. Once they were gone, the Children of Whitebeard turned to Miss Wednesday before Ferros smirked.
"We thought it was you, Vivi. Been almost ten years since we last saw each other."
Miss Wednesday's eyes widened in recognition as Lithos took off his mask and Ferros removed his goggles to give her better looks at their faces.
"Lithos?! Merone?! Ferros?! Ariala?!" She gasped. "Oh crap, there goes my two-year infiltration plan..."
She shifted personalities so quickly that everyone was stunned, especially with the waterworks the now reidentified Vivi was leaking.
"Well this is a new twist I didn't expect," Crocus said as he came on deck.
"Good lord! When did you get here?" Double-D yelped.
"Just moments ago," Crocus said before turning to Vivi. "And you, young lady, are clearly not the thug I originally took you for."
Vivi sighed in resignation. "Yeah, that was all an act. If I didn't pretend to be as criminal as the others they never would have accepted me."
"So these two have infiltrated Laboon before?" Luffy asked.
Crocus nodded. "They came here numerous times trying to hunt Laboon for his meat."
"Funny, for a while there we thought you were trying the same thing," Sanji said.
"Hardly. Laboon and I have been friends too long for that. Though I couldn't blame most people for trying." Crocus said. "A whale as big as Laboon could feed an entire island for at least two or three years."
"That's an understatement. The last time Daddy and his fleet successfully hunted an Island Whale, we had enough meat to share with three whole archipelagos for two years. And Laboon here is clearly a baby." Ariala said.
"YOU MEAN THEY CAN GET BIGGER?!" Usopp, Eddy, Bella, and Choi all exclaimed in alarm.
"They're called Island Whales for a reason. Whole pods of them swimming together have been mistaken for moving archipelagos. They're normally native to the West Blue." Crocus said.
"I remember seeing an Island Whale as a little girl!" Hsiao chimed in. "It was freakin' huge!"
"But Island Whales are heavy breeders. So hunting them isn't exactly illegal." N'Doul noted.
"True, but there's a reason why I won't let anyone hunt Laboon. The same reason he keeps hitting himself on the Red Line and howling towards Reverse Mountain." Crocus said. "Laboon may be a whale, but he has a human heart. And that heart has been devotedly waiting for a certain pirate group to return, even after fifty years..."
He sat down and began the story.
"On that day, I was doing my usual duty as keeper of the Twin Capes Lighthouse. A group of good-natured pirates called the Rumbar Pirates had just entered the Grand Line through Reverse Mountain. With them was a small whale that had apparently been following them."
"And that was Laboon, right?" Lithos asked.
"That it was. He had been traveling with the Rumbar Pirates all the time, almost like their pet. But they were well aware of how dangerous the Grand Line is and didn't want to risk him coming along, since he was just an infant. But his instinct to follow a pod was too strong, and I believe he may have even thought of himself as part of the crew." Crocus said. "Regardless, the crew's ship was broken and so they had to stay for a few months to get it repaired. I got to know them as friends during that time. Especially their Captain Calico Yorki and First Mate Humming Brook."
The old man's face then turned sad as he got to the painful part of the story.
"In fact, we grew so close that Yorki asked me a favor before they left. He wanted me to take care of Laboon. He expected it to only be for two or three years. The Rumbar Pirates wanted to be the first crew ever to circumnavigate the world. Yorki and Brook both tried to convince Laboon to stay behind, but the child had a hard time understanding the dangers. Eventually, they managed to find a way to leave him behind, heartbreaking though it was. You see the Rumbar Pirates loved music, and Laboon was always following the sound of it. So for this one time, they stopped playing hoping it would convince Laboon to ignore them."
Crocus sighed, a lone tear slipping down his cheek.
"Yorki was convinced they'd be back in three years. But three turned into ten, and ten turned into fifty. By now I can only assume that the entire crew has passed. I've seen many ships enter the Twin Capes over the decades. Only half of them I get to see a second time."
Ed burst into tears loudly and the Straw Hats realized he wasn't the only one as Vivi had joined him in crying.
"POOR LABOON!"
"I can't believe we were doing something so cruel! He was just waiting for his friends to come home! I feel like such an awful girl!"
"There, there..." Hsiao awkwardly said, patting Vivi on the back as Ed hugged Eddy and Double-D tightly.
With the doors open, Crocus helped the crew navigate the Merry out of Laboon's stomach through a metal-lined canal.
"I gotta say this is some amazing stuff. It's surprising that Laboon's still alive with this hole in his body." Zoro said.
"Well I'm not just a lighthouse keeper, I also happen to be a doctor with a minor PhD in veterinary medicine. In fact I used to run a clinic on the cape. And before that, I was a ship's doctor." Crocus explained.
"Our crew needs a doctor. How about joining us?" Luffy offered.
"Indeed. While I know my way around medicine, I wouldn't call myself a full-fledged doctor myself." Double-D added.
"I'll have to pass, I don't have the energy of my youth. Thirty years ago I definitely would have taken you up on that offer, but not anymore." Crocus said. "Besides, I need to stay here and make sure Laboon doesn't kill himself ramming against the Red Line."
"Well, that's fair. We'll have to search elsewhere for a doctor then." Sonson agreed.
"So you built all this to treat Laboon from the inside," Delphia realized.
"I had to. He's too big to treat from the outside." Crocus said.
He headed to the outer doors and opened them to let the Merry sail out. With the acid giving way to water, Ariala finally dispelled his wind platform to let the Merry float naturally.
"Still though, fifty years waiting. That's well before Gold Roger's time." Romaz said. "The Grand Line would have been completely uncharted."
"It is possible that at least one of them survived. Brook had eaten a Devil Fruit but didn't seem to get any powers from it. It wasn't a dud either, we confirmed he lost his ability to swim." Crocus noted. "After he described it, I realized it was a Devil Fruit that would resurrect him from death once. But after fifty years, he's either died a second time or been trapped somewhere and can't get back easily. That's why, no matter how much pain Laboon is in, I've never once tried to convince him that his friends aren't coming back. Because for all I know, they will."
"Is the Grand Line really that chaotic?" Nami asked.
"Common sense is useless here in the Grand Line. Seasons, weather, currents, wind direction, they're all random." Crocus replied. "Weaker minds get taken over in an instant, to the point that they risk sailing through the Calm Belt just to escape it."
"Do you think that could have happened with the Rumbar Pirates?" Sanji asked.
"Unlikely. Every time I tell this story, the crew I tell it to mention how they've never heard of where the Rumbar Pirates are. I eventually began to realize that they hadn't been scared off. Which left only one other possibility." Crocus said. "Besides, they all loved Laboon. Even if they did flee to the Calm Belt, at the very least they would have circled back around and returned to this place to retrieve him."
He wiped his eyes as he felt a tear.
"Laboon... When he heard that his friends were not returning he couldn't believe it and started ramming the Red Line with everything he had. Even when I tried to tell him they would come back, he still kept at it. He wanted so badly to be reunited with them. And it's not like he can return to the West Blue from here. So the idea that his friends might return is his only hope. But if he keeps ramming the Red Line like this... It's only going to lead to his death."
Luffy stood up. "Guys, I need a battering ram."
Lithos didn't ask questions, he simply created a giant stone pillar that Luffy then picked up and slammed it right into a fresh wound on Laboon's head.
"What was that for?!" Bella exclaimed.
"The only other choice was the Merry's mast, and we kinda need our ship in good condition going forward."
"That's not what I was asking!"
Laboon suddenly bellowed out in pain and started thrashing around. He wound up crashing into the cape, sending Luffy flying into the Red Line.
"Alright, fight time!" Ferros grinned as he, Lithos, Merone, and Ariala jumped into the fray.
"What are they thinking?!" Crocus demanded.
"Don't worry!" Nami called out. "Crushing them can't kill them!"
The five all were actively fighting Laboon as the Straw Hats watched the spectacle. After a few exchanges, Luffy grinned as he stopped.
"It's a draw!"
"Awww and we were just getting started!" Ferros complained.
Laboon stopped his charge in confusion.
"You wanna defeat us now, right? But right now we're not at a level where any of us can win. So we'll need to have a rematch." Luffy said. "Now you have a new reason to wait, the chance to fight a rival. Once we circle around the Grand Line, I'll fight you once more. That okay?"
Laboon's eyes started to tear up as he realized what Luffy was doing. Crocus couldn't help but smile as Laboon let out a more joyful bellow. Ariala smiled, then proceeded to paint the Straw Hats' Jolly Roger on Laboon's forehead.
"There we have it, Laboon. A symbol of the promise you made. But that means you can't go removing it by hitting your head against the mountain, okay?"
Crocus chuckled. "Thanks for this. Now Laboon won't wind up killing himself."
"Okay, a few things we need to discuss now that we're officially in the Grand Line," Merone said. "First off, Usopp. I know this ship was a gift from Kaya and you're kinda attached, but we need to face facts. A caravel just can't get us through the entire Grand Line. At the very least we need to get her overhauled into something stronger."
"He's absolutely right," Crocus agreed as he joined everyone on deck. "I'm impressed a ship this small was even able to survive the entrance. Most days I see the wreckage of ships that wound up crashing on either side of Reverse Mountain's strong currents."
Usopp looked sad but reluctantly nodded.
"Okay. But only so long as we don't lose what makes Merry special."
"Okay, second." Merone began before blasting a bullet of water into the sky, causing an otter and a vulture to drop onto the deck unconscious.
"What the heck?" Bella said.
"These guys have been eyeing our ship the entire time. And I think they were specifically keeping an eye on Vivi and that Mr. 9 guy." Ferros explained.
"Yeah, these two are called the Unluckies. The otter is Mr. 13 and the vulture is Miss Friday." Vivi explained. "Come to think of it, me and Mr. 9 were supposed to report back by now. Everyone's afraid of them because they drop bombs on whoever doesn't report in on time. The boss is a real stickler for schedule."
"Let's have them thrown in the brig as well. Maybe have Sanji threaten them occasionally with his cooking knives." Choi suggested.
The two animals were tied up by Johnny and dragged below deck.
"Next item for discussion; How we're navigating the Grand Line," Lithos said.
"Oh that's easy," Nami said. "I made sure to bring... Our... WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH THE COMPASS?!"
Indeed, the compass needle was spinning out of control.
"Compasses are useless here in the Grand Line. Every island has its own unique magnetic field that prevents a normal compass from recognizing true north." Crocus explained.
Sanji came out with lunch and the crew got to enjoy the elephant tuna. Kuishi felt extreme bliss from the flavor.
"It's like the nectar of the Gods!"
Lithos cleared his throat. "As I was saying, we can't rely on compasses out here. As Crocus said, the islands all have an individual magnetic field due to heavy mineral deposits. But luckily, there's an alternative."
He got out the Log Pose set he bought from Loguetown.
"I see you came here prepared," Crocus noted.
Merone gave a small smirk. "We're natives of the Grand Line. That means we know all about how to navigate it."
"Now listen up. The Log Pose is a special compass that can record magnetism. You'll notice it has no dial face. Instead, it works by recording the magnetism of two islands pulling against each other." Lithos explained. "As we get to each island in turn, we can use the Log Pose to find the route to the next island. The set I bought also has several Eternal Poses for the various ports throughout the Grand Line, in case we need to stop for supplies."
"Smart thinking. A single Log Pose and multiple Eternal Poses are needed to safely navigate the Grand Line. It's the only thing you can depend on." Crocus said. "You start the journey at one of seven islands connected magnetically to Reverse Mountain. Then as you move from island to island, the paths will start to converge. Eventually, you'll reach the end route and the island of-"
"Laugh Tale. The resting place of the One Piece." Ferros said.
"Really? I could have sworn the island's name was Raftel."
"That's a common misconception. Daddy confirmed the island is named Laugh Tale." Ariala clarified.
"Ah, I see. But regardless, Laugh Tale is the last point on the Grand Line. Only one man has ever been confirmed to reach the island. And that is Gold Roger, the King of the Pirates." Crocus said.
"Actually, Dad reached the island as well, but Roger got the treasure first," Merone said.
Crocus laughed. "I thought your faces looked familiar. You're Newgate's kids, aren't you?"
Ferros grinned. "So you knew him? Was this before or after he founded the Whitebeard Pirate fleet?"
"So he's a Captain himself now, is he?. I remember when he was the Quartermaster to one of the most notorious pirates of the time before the Great Pirate Era. Well, if he's your father, then I might as well confirm that the One Piece is found on Laugh Tale." Crocus said. "I won't tell you all its secrets, but I will give you this piece of advice. Find an archaeologist skilled enough to translate ancient text. With someone like that on your crew, you'll have a chance at reaching Laugh Tale."
He handed Nami a second Log Pose.
"It's always best to keep a spare or two on hand. A Log Pose can be very fragile, and keeping it from breaking can be difficult while sailing the Grand Line. The Eternal Poses are much more durable, so you can use them to buy another Log Pose at a port if one of yours breaks."
"I have one as well. Though it's actually in Mr. 9's possession." Vivi said.
"Not anymore," Yosaku said, pulling out the Log Pose. "I confiscated it when we threw him in the brig. Along with those weapons you have."
Luffy nodded. "Okay. Now we just have to choose a starting point."
"Actually, it might be best to start at Whiskey Peak. That's where we were supposed to report." Vivi suggested.
"We do have an Eternal Pose for that island. It would certainly help to start at a port city and go from there." Double-D noted.
"Just one question; Who are you supposed to be infiltrating?" Nami asked.
"That's meant to be a secret. If I told you guys, it would paint a huge target on your back." Vivi said.
Luffy grinned. "You don't have to worry about us. I'm the man who will be King of the Pirates. And my crew here is among the best."
With the Log Pose now recorded in Whiskey Peak's direction, Nami carefully placed it and the Eternal Pose together to watch them both.
"Have a safe trip! Hopefully, I really will be seeing you a second time!" Crocus said.
"You may not see us for a while, but you will be hearing from us." Grahambel said. "Bella, activate that little dial on the side of my shell."
"This one?" Bella asked.
Crocus then heard his own Transponder Snail going off with a peculiar ring.
"Don don don don!"
Grahambel grinned. "Get ready people of the world! From this point on, Grahambel of the Straw Hat Pirates is broadcasting via Livestream Transponder! Welcome to SHJ, Straw Hat Journeys! Bringing you all the coverage of the Straw Hat Pirates' journey to find the One Piece! We'll be going over the crew's day-to-day, play-by-plays on all our fights, and epic journeys across the Grand Line's biggest mystery islands. And it's all brought to you by me, the communications officer of the Straw Hats."
All across the East Blue people were shocked by the sudden announcement.
"Captain, if you don't mind, let's give a big send-off for our first broadcast!" Grahambel said.
Luffy nodded. "Okay then! Let's set sail for Whiskey Peak!"
Crocus smiled as he saw the Going Merry sail into the sunset.
"They may just be the pirates we've been waiting for all this time. That man Luffy... I couldn't help but see a bit of Roger in his eyes." He chuckled. "Are you watching his journey now, Roger? I get the feeling he'll be the one to duplicate your feat. The one to find the One Piece once again."
Not much was different from the version in Ash & Rubber. Sorry if you all were expecting something more exciting.