The Merry's deck gleams in the morning light as Luffy sits cross-legged on his special seat, watching his nakama with keen interest.
Zoro and Sanji clash again, their movements are faster and more precise than they were in the original timeline. Faint traces of black shimmer on Zoro's arms as he blocks Sanji's kick, while wisps of observation Haki guide Sanji's movements
"Oi, marimo! Your armament's getting better," Sanji acknowledges mid-kick "Still not as good as mine though!"
"Heh, keep dreaming love-cook," Zoro parries with a controlled swing "I can sense your kicks coming from a mile away now."
Luffy's grin widens as he notices the subtle improvements - Zoro's more economical movements, and Sanji's sharper reflexes.
"Shishishi! They're growing stronger faster this time," he mutters to himself.
Nami looks up from her maps, watching the sparring match with knowing eyes
"I don't know when I'll learn it, with little training I do," she says softly, a hint of uncertainty in her voice
"Shishishi! It'll come when it comes," Luffy laughed, feeling the familiar warmth of his own Haki flowing through him. His control improved daily, though he kept most of his progress to himself. "The important thing is getting stronger!"
Later, the crew gathered as Nami spread out her chart, worry evident on her face.
"From what I gathered in Loguetown, there's something strange about entering the Grand Line," she explained. "The sailors I talked to mentioned currents that flow upward, up a mountain. It sounds crazy, but..."
"Up a mountain?" Usopp's jaw dropped. "That's impossible!"
"This is the Grand Line," Nami replied, trying to sound confident despite her uncertainty. "We need to be ready for anything."
"The merchants in Loguetown said we need to aim for a specific channel," Nami continued, pointing at her rough sketches. "Miss it, and the ship could be destroyed against the Red Line."
Luffy's grin widened, memories of his first journey flooding back. "Don't worry! We'll make it!"
Usopp shouted "G-GUYS! I SAW THE LIGHTHOUSE,"
As soon as they heard Usopp, they all went to the deck to check. Once Nami saw the light from very far away, an excited smile was crossed on her face.
"Light Of Guidance?" Sanji questioned.
"Yes, it means that the Grand Line entrance was just ahead of that light". Nami explained
"Don't you think entering the Grand Line in this kind of weather is a bit dangerous" Usopp, who just went down from the crow nest, said with uncertainty,
Suddenly, an idea popped up inside Sanji's head, so he told everyone to wait while he rushed toward somewhere. Soon the cook came back with a big barrel on his shoulder. They all looked at Sanji curiously except luffy who looked excited, waiting for the cook to explain.
"What are you trying to do, Sanji-kun?" Nami asked.
"As we're close to the Grand Line, so let's have a celebration"
Sanji then placed the barrel down on the wooden floor. He then put his foot down on the top of the barrel while shouting.
"TO FIND ALL BLUE!" Sanji smiled.
Luffy then moved up right next to Sanji and copied the cook's previous action.
"TO BECOME THE PIRATE KING!" Luffy grinned
The others soon followed.
"TO BE THE GREATEST SWORDSMAN!" Zoro said.
"TO DRAW THE WORLD'S MAP!" Nami's turn
"T-TO BECOME THE BR-BRAVEST WARRIOR O-OF THE SEA!" Usopp stuttered
"OFF TO GRAND LINE WE GO!" They all shouted excitedly, a smile was seen on each of their faces as they broke the barrel, letting the water inside the barrel splash out.
Luffy once again witnessed his crew declaring their dreams. This time The captain had promised himself he would protect them and their dreams.
The celebration's energy barely had time to settle before the weather began to change. The clear sky that had blessed their ceremony darkened rapidly as if the Grand Line itself was welcoming them with its infamous unpredictability.
"GUYS! THE RED LINE IS HERE!" Luffy's excited shout echoed across the deck.
True to its name, the Red Line was a crimson mountain range that separated the East and South Blue. The peak of the mountain stretched high above the clouds, the peak was what they were after.
However, what truly captures their attention is the water itself - defying all natural laws as it flows upward along the mountain's face.
"What the fuck?!" Nami whispers, her maps temporarily forgotten as she stares in disbelief
Zoro's jaw dropped. For the first time in years, his stoic mask cracked, revealing wide, unblinking eyes as he stared at the impossible sight. The upward current, defying all logic, seemed to steal the breath from his lungs.
Usopp clutches the railing, his knees shaking "It's so freaking huge!" he gasps, voice trembling.
Luffy scrambled back to his perch on the figurehead, his eyes gleaming with manic energy. The Going Merry, obedient to the strange current, began her ascent. A low chuckle rumbled in Luffy's chest, escalating into a series of snorts and finally erupting into unrestrained laughter. He bounced on his feet, his rubbery body vibrating with pure, unadulterated joy.
"Get ready, guys! This will be your once-in-a-lifetime experience", Luffy said while holding his hat, ready for the impact.
"What do you mean by that?!" Usopp asked while grabbing the mast.
"This will be a long way up" Zoro grinned while standing on the deck to Luffy's right.
"A very long way up," Sanji said, putting a hand in front of his forehead, trying to see further.
"Why is everyone so calm about this?!" Nami asked while holding onto the rail in front of her room.
"We're going to sink if we hit the mountain" Usopp stated fearfully.
"It should be fun". Luffy smiled.
Once the words left his mouth, the Going Merry made contact with the current that was running up to the mountain.
Usopp and Nami were so scared that their souls might even come out of their bodies, while Sanji and Luffy were enjoying the remarkable scenery before them. Soon they were met with cloud and mist, once Merry nearly reached the top.
"Shishishi! Just like in my memories!" Luffy grinned, bouncing with excitement as he watched his crew experience this for the first time. The knowledge in his head made him appreciate their wide-eyed reactions even more.
Soon they were met with a stunning view of the top of the mountain. The cloud was stretched out to each side, a beautiful rainbow was created by the four up-currents. They also noticed how the air had become thinner than they were used to, even Merry had started to turn into ice because of the low temperature from up here. However, it wasn't their most concerned problem. The pressing issue was the fact that they were now falling to the fifth current, the only down-current.
Despite being scared shitless, Nami and Usopp decided to enjoy this moment along with the rest of the crew, since this wasn't an everyday thing, plus there was no going back now. They then all screamed excitedly once Merry started to head down at high speed. As soon as they were close, Sanji suddenly noticed something from far away.
"Hey, there's a mountain ahead!" Sanji said.
"What?! It's not supposed to be there!" Nami exclaimed.
Luffy stood calmly on Merry's figurehead, his hat shadowing his eyes. He knew exactly what needed to be done - both to save the ship and to help an old friend who'd been waiting far too long.
"Everyone," he called out, his voice carrying a certainty that made his crew pause. "Trust me on this one."
The whale's enormous eye, larger than their entire ship, slowly turned to look at them...
The whale's massive eye fixed upon them, ancient and filled with pain, Luffy remembered all too well. Fifty years of waiting, of ramming his head against the Red Line in desperate hope.
"Luffy, do something!" Nami cried as they hurtled toward Laboon's scarred hide.
"Shishishi! Leave it to me!" In one fluid motion, Luffy launched himself from Merry's head, drawing back his fist. He knew exactly where to aim.
"GOMU GOMU NO..." His arm stretched back as the others watched in shock. "PISTOL!"
His fist connected with Laboon's hide - not hard enough to hurt the whale, but enough to get his attention. The massive creature let out a low, mournful sound that shook the very air around them.
"Did... did our captain just punch a whale?" Usopp whispered in disbelief.
"That idiot's going to get us all killed!" Nami groaned, but her hands were steady on the wheel as she guided Merry away from a direct collision.
Laboon's eye swiveled to focus on Luffy, who had landed back on the ship. For a moment, whale and pirate regarded each other - one ancient and weary, the other young and Hopeful.
"Hey!" Luffy called out, his voice carrying across the waves. "Want to hear a good song?"
The whale's expression didn't change, but something in his posture shifted slightly. Luffy could almost feel the decades of loneliness radiating from the massive creature.
"Brook's not here yet," Luffy muttered under his breath, too quiet for the others to hear. "But I promise you won't have to wait much longer, Laboon."
"What's he doing?" Sanji asked, cigarette forgotten between his lips as he watched their captain face down the enormous whale.
Zoro's expression was thoughtful as he observed Luffy. "Whatever it is... he seems to know what he's doing."
The tension in the air was thick as Laboon continued to study them. One wrong move and the whale could easily destroy their ship with a single motion...
"Oi, Laboon!" Luffy called out again, his voice carrying both authority and warmth. "Fighting the Red Line won't bring them back. But I've got a better idea!"
The whale's eye widened slightly at being addressed by name. The others exchanged confused glances.
"How does he know the whale's name?" Nami whispered.
Before anyone could respond, Luffy continued, "Let's fight! If I win, you have to stop hurting yourself and wait for me instead!"
"HE'S CHALLENGING A WHALE TO A FIGHT?!" The crew shouted in unified disbelief.
Laboon's massive form shifted a low rumble emanating from deep within him. Whether in acceptance or anger, none but Luffy could tell.
"But first..." Luffy's expression grew serious. "Oi, old man! I know you're in there!"
As if on cue, a hatch on top of Laboon's head creaked open, revealing a familiar flower-headed figure.
"Who's making all this racket?" Crocus emerged, his expression stern as he surveyed the scene. "More troublemakers trying to enter the Grand Line?"
"Shishishi! We're not trouble!" Luffy grinned. "Well, maybe a little. But we're the good kind!"
Crocus raised an eyebrow, studying the strange crew before him. "You seem... different from the usual rookies. How did you know about this entrance? And how do you know Laboon's name?"
"That's because..." Luffy paused, choosing his words carefully. "I know about the promise those pirates made to him. About Brook and the others."
Both Crocus and Laboon went completely still at these words. The tension in the air grew thick enough to cut with a knife.
"What do you know about them?" Crocus asked, his voice carefully neutral but his eyes sharp with suspicion.
"I know they didn't abandon Laboon," Luffy stated firmly, meeting both Crocus's gaze and Laboon's massive eye. "And I know where one of them is. He's still trying to keep his promise."
A deep, mournful sound emerged from Laboon, making the Going Merry tremble...
The sound from Laboon grew louder, a mix of hope and pain that made everyone's hearts ache. Crocus gripped the railing, his knuckles white.
"Young man," he said slowly, "if you're lying about this..."
"I never lie about promises," Luffy interrupted, his voice carrying that rare serious tone his crew was starting to recognize. "Brook is alive. He's stuck in the Florian Triangle right now, but I'm going to find him and bring him back here."
Laboon's eye fixed on Luffy with an intensity that would have made most men quake. But Luffy just grinned back.
"That's why we're gonna make a new promise, okay?" Luffy declared, standing atop Laboon's massive head, his signature grin stretched wide. He paused, then, with a sudden, surprising movement, he ripped the Going Merry's main mast.
A collective gasp swept across the crew. Usopp's panicked scream, "WHAT IS HE DOING WITH OUR MAST?!" echoed across the water, his voice cracking with disbelief and horror. Nami's jaw dropped, her hand flying to her mouth. Zoro stared, his usual stoicism momentarily shattered. Even Sanji, usually unflappable, looked stunned.
Luffy, seemingly oblivious to the uproar, knelt beside the fallen mast, his expression suddenly serious. He gently stroked the splintered wood. "I'm sorry, Merry," he mumbled, his voice low and sincere. "I'm really, really sorry. But I need to make a new promise, and this is how I'll do it."
He looked up at his crew, his grin returning, though tinged with a newfound seriousness. "We're gonna get you fixed, Merry! In Alabasta! We'll find the best shipwright there is, and we'll make you better than ever!" His voice resonated with determination. "This time, no more shortcuts! We're gonna do it right!"
Luffy began painting crude shapes on Laboon's head, his tongue sticking out in concentration. The whale remained perfectly still as if understanding the significance of this moment.
"There!" Luffy stepped back to admire his handiwork - a crude version of the Straw Hat jolly roger sprawled across Laboon's scars. "This is our promise mark! You can't ram your head anymore because it'll ruin the painting!"
"That's... that's your big solution?" Nami facepalmed.
But Crocus's eyes had widened in understanding. After fifty years of watching Laboon hurt himself, perhaps this childish solution was exactly what was needed.
"Until I bring Brook back," Luffy declared, standing proud atop Laboon's head, "this mark means you're part of my crew! And I never abandon my crew!"
Laboon's next cry was different - lighter somehow, carrying a note of joy that Crocus hadn't heard in decades.
"Young man," Crocus called out, his voice rough with emotion, "do you have any idea what you're promising?"
"Yup!" Luffy's grin widened. "I'm promising to bring back his nakama. And I'm going to be King of the Pirates anyway, so it's no problem!"
The absolute conviction in his voice made even Crocus smile. Perhaps... perhaps this time would be different...
"But first," Luffy punched his palm, "we still need that fight! Can't make a proper promise without one!"
"OI OI!" His crew protested. "You're STILL going to fight the whale?!"
But Laboon's eye had sparked with interest, and before anyone could stop it, the massive whale rose, accepting Luffy's challenge.
What followed was possibly the strangest battle any of them had ever witnessed. Luffy bounced around like a rubber ball while Laboon tried to catch him with carefully measured movements - as if the whale understood it needed to hold back its true strength.
"They're... fighting..." Usopp muttered in disbelief.
"More like playing," Zoro observed with a knowing smirk.
After several minutes of this bizarre display, Luffy declared it a draw. "You're strong!" he announced to Laboon. "When we come back, let's have another match! And this time, you'll get to fight Brook too!"
Crocus approached the crew while Luffy continued chatting with Laboon. "That captain of yours... he's either completely insane or..."
"Both," Zoro supplied. "He's both."
"But he means what he says," Sanji added, lighting a cigarette. "When he makes a promise..."
"He keeps it," Nami finished. "No matter what."
Crocus studied them all carefully before nodding. "Then I'll tell you what you need to know about entering the Grand Line. But first..." He turned to Luffy. "You said Brook is in the Florian Triangle?"
"Yup! He's stuck there with his broken ship. But don't worry - we'll find him!"
"Then you'll need this," Crocus pulled out an old eternal pose. "It won't take you directly there, but it'll help guide you through the first part of Paradise."
"We don't need-" Nami started to say, but Luffy cut her off.
"Thanks, Flower-ossan! Shishishi! See, Laboon? It won't be long now!"
The whale's happy cry echoed across the Twin Capes as if the very ocean was celebrating this new promise...
"Now then," Crocus's expression turned serious as he led them into his lighthouse. "Since you already have a Log Pose, let's focus on how to sail this water."
He spread out a weathered map on the table. Nami touched the Log Pose on her wrist as she leaned in to study the route.
"Now that you've made it past Reverse Mountain," Crocus said, "you need to understand what lies ahead. The real challenges of the Grand Line are just beginning."
"The weather's already crazy," Nami noted, glancing at her Log Pose. "Nothing like the East Blue."
"Exactly. Each island has its magnetic field. That Log Pose is your lifeline - without it, you're as good as dead out there."
Luffy was still excited about their promise to Laboon. "When we come back after going around the Grand Line, Laboon will get to hear a whole new song!"
"First we need to survive getting there," Usopp muttered.
"Which reminds me," Crocus continued, "there are seven routes you can take from here. Your Log Pose will lock onto one of them."
"Seven different paths..." Nami mused, studying her Log Pose carefully.
"Each with its dangers," Crocus warned. "The Grand Line shows no mercy to the unprepared."
As they discussed routes and preparations, two soaking-wet figures suddenly climbed onto the cape - a man with a crown and a young woman with blue hair.
"P-please," the man shivered, "We're Mr.9 and Miss Wednesday. Could you give us a ride to Whiskey Peak?"
Luffy fought back a grin as he watched 'Miss Wednesday' try to act suspicious. Knowing her true identity made her attempts at being mysterious kind of funny.
"Who are these weirdos?" Usopp asked bluntly.
"We're frontier agents," Miss Wednesday explained, wringing water from her clothes. "Our mission failed and we lost our ship..."
"Suspicious," Zoro commented, hand resting on his swords.
Nami stepped forward. "And what's in it for us if we help?"
"We can pay you!" Mr.9 said quickly, both of them bowing deeply.
"Well then..." Nami grinned a glint of calculation in her eyes. "Welcome aboard!"
Crocus regarded them with a mixture of weariness and disdain. "You're here again," he grumbled. "And it's because of that straw hat kid that you couldn't even properly say goodbye to Laboon before you sank."
Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday flinched at the reminder, their faces betraying a mixture of shame and lingering fear. They remained silent, the memory of their near-death experience still fresh.
"Shishishi! The whale's our friend now!" Luffy declared cheerfully, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension. "No one's gonna hurt him!"
The night was filled with boisterous celebrations, the crew reveling in their reunion with Laboon and their successful (if slightly unorthodox) navigation of Reverse Mountain. New friendships were forged, and old bonds strengthened. The Going Merry patched up but still bearing the scars of their journey, felt alive with the energy of the crew.
As dawn broke, the Going Merry set sail into the Grand Line proper, the vast, unpredictable ocean stretching before them.
"Thanks for everything, old man! We'll be back, and when I'm Pirate King, Brook and I will celebrate with you, Laboon!" Luffy shouted, waving enthusiastically. "We'll bring Brook, I promise!"
Laboon breached the surface one last time, letting out a mighty cry.
Watching the Going Merry sail away, Crocus murmured, "I hope... I truly hope they're the pirates we've been waiting for all this time. But that man... Luffy, was it? He has an uncanny air about him, doesn't he, Roger?"
"That didn't go as planned..." Miss Wednesday muttered.
"Just stick to the plan," Mr. 9 replied quietly. "Once we reach Whiskey Peak, we'll..." His voice trailed off as he watched the Merry disappear. The thrill of the chase, and the promise of Whiskey Peak, sharpened his focus.
Luffy, oblivious to their concerns, grinned. A few bounty hunters? A warm-up. He was already picturing the adventures ahead, the thrill of Whiskey Peak, and the joyous reunion with Brook and Laboon.