Encounter with Laboon

3rd person POV

The storm around them was relentless, but it was nothing compared to the raging anticipation building among the crew. Every strike of lightning illuminated their destination: the towering Reverse Mountain, a natural marvel that defied logic as its currents flowed uphill.

The Going Merry creaked and groaned under the pressure, but Nami's hands remained firm on the helm, her eyes narrowed in focus. Haku stood nearby, watching the waters with sharp eyes, his breath visible in the cold spray as his Snow-Snow Fruit abilities responded to his rising tension.

"I knew the Grand Line was gonna be crazy, but this is on a whole new level! We haven't even entered it yet!" Nojiko shouted from beside him, her usual calm replaced by a mix of excitement and concern. Her hand reached for Haku's arm, steadying herself as the ship lurched again.

Usopp was already screaming. "Why do we have to go up a mountain? This is nuts! We're going to die!"

Zoro, leaning casually against the railing despite the storm, raised an eyebrow at the mountain's impossible incline. "What's the big deal? Can't we just go around or something? South seems fine."

Nami shot him a glare, exasperated. "You can't just go south! The Grand Line doesn't work like that!"

"She's right," Haku added, his voice calm despite the chaos. "The currents only flow through Reverse Mountain to enter the Grand Line. This is our only way."

Luffy, perched at the bow of the ship, seemed unfazed by the danger. His wide grin never faltered, even as thunder cracked above them. "We're gonna do it! Just hold on!"

As the Going Merry surged toward the base of Reverse Mountain, the storm suddenly cut off, as if some unseen force had flicked a switch. The ship drifted forward into eerily still waters. The violent wind and rain ceased, leaving only a dense, unnatural silence.

Nojiko's brow furrowed. "Why did it stop?"

Sanji, leaning against the railing and lighting a cigarette, glanced around warily. "This doesn't feel right."

Haku and Nami's eyes widened with realization. "We're in the Calm Belt…"x2

Nojiko tilted her head. "The Calm Belt? Sounds peaceful enough."

Nami shook her head, her face deadly serious. "It's anything but. There's no wind, no currents... but it's where the Sea Kings live. We need to get out of here now."

Chibi, perched up on Haku's head, suddenly shot up. Staring into the calm sea, she started ominously chirping the 'Jaws' theme track, "Dun dan. Dun dan. Dun dan Dun dan Dun dan". Hearing that, Haku couldn't help but mutter, "Shit...".

It didn't take long for the water beneath the ship to begin to ripple. Shadows, long and serpentine, moved beneath them, and suddenly, the sea exploded as massive, monstrous heads rose from the depths.

"Sea Kings!" Nami screamed, her fear evident. "We need to row back—NOW!"

The crew sprang into action, with Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji grabbing the oars and paddling furiously, their faces set in determination. Even Usopp, despite his terror, joined in. Haku stood ready at the edge of the ship, snow swirling around his hands as he prepared to defend the crew. Nojiko clutched a rope to steady herself, her wide eyes taking in the terrifying creatures rising from the depths.

One of the Sea Kings let out a deafening roar, its massive head towering above them. Usopp screamed, "I don't want to die! We're gonna get eaten!"

"Not today," Haku said quietly, his eyes narrowing. He raised his hand, and a barrier of snow formed between the ship and the advancing Sea King, swirling faster and faster until it created a blinding white shield.

"Keep rowing!" Haku urged, his voice calm but forceful.

Luffy, grinning, called back, "We're almost there! Don't let up!"

With a collective effort, the crew managed to row back into the storm. The Sea Kings, thwarted by Haku's barrier, let out frustrated bellows, their enormous tails slapping the water as they sank back into the depths.

The crew collapsed in exhaustion, breathing heavily as the storm embraced them once again. Nami gripped the helm with white knuckles, her gaze set on the rapidly approaching Reverse Mountain.

"We've got another challenge ahead," she warned. "This current will take us up the mountain, but if we're not careful, we'll smash against the rocks."

Haku glanced at the towering mountain before them, feeling the rush of icy air and the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He caught Nojiko's eye, and she gave him a small, reassuring smile. "We've come this far. No way we're backing out now."

"Hell yeah!" Luffy added, jumping to his feet with a massive grin. "Let's do it!"

The Going Merry hit the base of Reverse Mountain, and the crew's collective breath caught in their throats as the ship shot up the side of the mountain. The current was fierce, the water rushing beneath them with terrifying speed, pulling them upward with relentless force.

Zoro gripped the railing, his calm demeanour unchanged. "Well, at least it's a ride. Let's not fall off and die."

The ship jolted suddenly. A loud crack echoed through the storm as the rudder snapped under the strain, sending the Going Merry veering off course.

"The rudder's broken!" Nami shouted in panic.

Luffy, always ready for action, stretched his arm toward the side of the mountain, grabbing onto the rocky cliff face. His muscles strained as he used his incredible strength to keep the ship from crashing into the rocks. "I've got it!" he yelled, his voice filled with determination.

The crew watched in awe as Luffy held the ship steady, defying logic with his sheer willpower. Even Haku, usually calm and composed, couldn't help but be impressed. He flicked his wrist, forming a thin layer of snow along the ship's side to help stabilise it as they reached the peak.

As the Going Merry crested the top of Reverse Mountain, the waters began to carry them down the other side. Relief washed over the crew, but their respite was brief.

The mist that clung to the mountains slowly swallowed them, and their loud voices gradually quieted. Luffy, still laughing, looked around as Zoro's ears perked up, hearing something odd.

"Oi, did you hear that?" Zoro asked, his eyes narrowing.

Nami dismissed him with a wave of her hand, "It's just the wind."

Sanji, standing at the helm, narrowed his eyes at something in the distance. "No, it's not. Look—there's a mountain!"

Nami's eyes widened as the fog lifted, revealing something much worse. "That's not a mountain... it's a whale!" she shouted, her voice filled with panic.

The crew's collective gasp filled the air. A massive, immovable whale blocked their path, looming impossibly tall. They were heading straight for it, and at their speed, a crash seemed inevitable.

"Usopp, steer us away!" Zoro shouted as he sprinted towards the helm.

"Uh… About that…" Usopp stammered, "The helm's still broken!"

The panic quickly set in as Zoro, Usopp, and Sanji all struggled to force the helm to move.

Meanwhile, below deck, Luffy was struck with a "brilliant" idea, running towards the cannon. He grinned to himself as he loaded it. "This'll stop us for sure!"

Above, Nojiko clung to the railing, her eyes glued to the monstrous whale. "Are we really going to crash into that thing?"

In the midst of the chaos, Haku stood at the ship's edge, utterly calm. He pulled out a chair made of hardened snow and sat down, his hands resting on his knees while Chibi settled on his shoulder. The small sparrow chirped softly, its head tilting in curiosity at the sight of the giant whale.

"Oi, what are you doing!?" Nojiko rushed over to him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "We're about to crash!"

Haku smiled serenely. "It's alright. This will be over soon."

Nojiko blinked at him, torn between panic and irritation. "Are you... watching this like it's a show?!"

"More like a performance," Haku mused. He petted Chibi gently, the bird mimicking the sound of the approaching crash with a loud "BOOM."

Before Nojiko could respond, a thunderous cannon blast erupted from below. Luffy's grin could be heard from the cannon port, "Did we stop?"

The ship slowed, but it still collided head-on with the whale. The figurehead of the Going Merry took the brunt of the hit, and Luffy's jaw dropped when he saw the damage.

"My seat!" Luffy yelled, furious that his special spot was destroyed.

Despite the crash, the whale remained motionless, completely unfazed.

Zoro, not one to waste time, shouted, "Move! While it's not attacking!"

As they began to row past the whale, Luffy, still angry, jumped up and, in an impulsive fit, punched the whale in its eye. "Take that, you big dummy!"

Haku leaned back slightly, his calm demeanour unshaken, though his eyes followed the scene with mild curiosity.

"Uh, Luffy...?" Sanji said, sweat beading down his temple. "Maybe don't poke the giant whale?"

The whale finally reacted, its large eye focusing on them as it started to suck in water, pulling the entire ship toward its massive mouth. Usopp's terrified scream echoed through the air as everyone scrambled to hold on.

Luffy, determined not to be left behind, grabbed onto the whale's tooth just as the rest of the crew, including the Going Merry, was swallowed whole.

"I told you it'd be fine," Haku said with a small chuckle, creating a small sheet of snow beneath his feet to avoid slipping into the whale's mouth as the suction pulled them in.

Nojiko, now fully convinced Haku had lost it, stared at him in disbelief. "You're not even slightly concerned?"

Haku smiled. "We'll be just fine."

As the crew screamed while being swallowed, Haku simply lifted Chibi into his lap, the bird mimicking a triumphant melody as if enjoying the thrill of the situation. 

Inside the whale, the crew found themselves on what looked like a small island surrounded by green waters and a clear blue sky above. Everyone stared, dumbfounded.

"This is inside a whale?!" Nami shrieked.

Usopp collapsed onto the deck of the ship, groaning, "We're going to be digested!"

Sanji narrowed his eyes at the strange setup. "Something's off. This doesn't look like a whale's stomach."

Suddenly, a giant squid popped out of the water, startling everyone—everyone except Haku, who merely raised an eyebrow in amusement. A harpoon shot through the squid's head, dropping the creature dead in the water.

Haku leaned in, watching with mild curiosity. "Quite the hospitality," he commented dryly.

A man emerged from the small house on the island, pulling the squid's corpse onto land. He said nothing as he sat down with a newspaper in hand, completely ignoring the Straw Hats.

Sanji, feeling his temper rise, yelled, "Oi, old man! Say something!"

The man, Crocus, glanced at them, raising an eyebrow. "Something."

Sanji twitched in frustration as Usopp jumped up and dramatically declared, "We'll fight you if we have to!"

Crocus simply replied, "Someone might die."

"W-wait, who's gonna die?" Usopp stammered.

"I will," Crocus said nonchalantly, returning to his paper.

Zoro pinched the bridge of his nose. "This guy..."

Nami looked ready to snap. "What is going on here?!"

As the crew tried to piece things together, Haku stood back with Nojiko, both observing the ridiculousness of the situation. Nojiko couldn't help but chuckle. "He's kind of like a grumpy grandpa, isn't he?"

Haku gave her a soft smile. "He's... interesting."

Crocus finally introduced himself after a few dramatic pauses, telling the crew his name, age, blood type, and even his astrological sign. The Straw Hats groaned collectively as Haku chuckled softly.

------

As the rest of the Straw Hat crew tended to their ship, Haku found himself watching Crocus from the side of the whale's stomach. The old man was back in his chair, calmly flipping through the newspaper, a rare serenity on his face after the chaos that had just occurred. Haku's mind churned, the urge to act on a hunch too strong to ignore.

Seeing an opportunity, Haku quietly approached the old man. "Crocus, do you mind if we talk for a moment? Just the two of us?"

Crocus raised an eyebrow but didn't look up from his paper. "Talk, huh? Haven't we talked enough for one day, boy?"

Haku smiled, the faintest trace of amusement playing on his face beneath his mask. "I'm not here to argue or cause trouble. I just thought… we could exchange information. You know, for old times' sake." He added that last part with a glint of knowing in his voice, hinting at something deeper.

Crocus finally looked up from his paper, narrowing his eyes at Haku. "Information? And what do you know about 'old times,' exactly?"

Leaning casually against the metal railing of the whale's interior, Haku lowered his voice. "Gol D. Roger's crew… the Pirate King. You were his ship's doctor, weren't you?"

Crocus froze for just a moment, his hand tightening around the edge of the newspaper. The calm air between them shifted ever so slightly, but then the old man sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"And what of it? You're not the first to guess that, though not many know."

Haku nodded. "I'm not here to bring up the past unnecessarily, but I was hoping… maybe we could make a trade. You have knowledge of the Grand Line that few could ever imagine. Medical notes, records of medicinal herbs, poisons, remedies from places people barely know exist. In return, I'll give you something that might bring a smile to your face."

Crocus gave him a skeptical look. "And what exactly do you have that could be worth such information? You don't seem like the bragging type."

Taking a slow breath, Haku continued, "It's about someone you once met, on your journey with Roger. Brook—the musician. You could say he's a skeleton-man now."

The name made Crocus's eyes widen, though he quickly hid his surprise. "Brook? What do you know about him? And do you mean by 'skeleton-man'."

"He's still alive," Haku said simply, watching as Crocus's sceptical look began to falter. " The Rambar Pirates had an accident in the Florian Triangle, resulting in the whole crew dying. But Brook, be it his luck or misfortune, ate the Revive-Revive fruit, which brought his soul back after death. However upon revival, he got lost, and after a year of searching, Brook's soul found the Rumbar Pirates' ship and his body, which had decomposed to bones. That's where the 'skeleton-man' moniker comes from. He's been wandering the seas of the Grand Line, alive and well. Fifty years... but he's still out there. Still waiting to fulfill a promise to Laboon."

Crocus's mouth opened as if to deny it, but before he could, Haku pressed on. "I know it's hard to believe, but Brook is still trying to make his way back to Laboon. The promise they made—he hasn't forgotten."

The silence stretched between them, broken only by the distant, soft groans of the whale. Crocus finally closed his mouth and exhaled deeply, letting his hand fall to his lap. "That idiot... still alive after all these years."

Haku nodded. "I thought that might interest you. Now, what do you think? Is that enough for a fair trade? Some of your notes—maybe on medicinal herbs, poisons, or techniques from your travels? I'm particularly interested in non-lethal, paralytic, or sleep-inducing substances."

Crocus leaned forward in his chair, studying Haku intently. The old doctor's sharp eyes, despite their age, seemed to pierce through him. "You've got guts, kid, asking me for that in exchange for something that sounds so far-fetched. But…" He smiled, a warm, nostalgic expression flickering across his face. "I think I like you. And you know what? If what you say about Brook is true, it's more than worth a few old notes."

With a grunt, Crocus stood up and shuffled over to a nearby cabinet. He rummaged around for a few moments, muttering to himself, before pulling out a worn leather-bound book. "Here," he said, handing it to Haku. "This contains notes on some rare herbs, concoctions I made on the Grand Line, and a few poisons of the non-lethal variety. Be careful with them—some are nastier than they seem."

Haku accepted the book with a grateful nod. "Thank you, Crocus. I promise I won't misuse this knowledge."

Crocus waved him off. "Bah, you look like the type that's more about control than chaos. Just don't go getting yourself killed, alright?"

"Same goes for you, old man."

The two shared a brief, warm smile before the familiar rumble of Laboon's cries shook the air around them. Crocus's expression softened as he glanced upward. "That big guy's ramming again. Time for me to do my part." He moved toward the massive sedative needle that he used to calm the whale.

Haku stood back, watching Crocus work with a gentle fondness in his gaze. "He's lucky to have you, you know. Not many people would dedicate so much to a promise."

Crocus chuckled softly, preparing the needle with the steady hand of a man who'd done it a thousand times. "I've lived a long life, kid. Keeping promises like this is all I've got left. If I can help him, even a little, I'll do it until the day I die."

Haku stayed quiet for a moment, watching Crocus administer the sedative. As Laboon's pained cries gradually faded into calm, Haku spoke again, his tone softer. "Thank you, Crocus. For everything."

Crocus gave him one last look, his eyes tired but kind. "Take care of yourself, kid. And… tell that skeleton of yours not to keep Laboon waiting too long."

With a nod, Haku turned away, the weight of the exchange settling in. As he rejoined the others, he tucked the old man's notes safely into his coat, knowing they had been worth far more than simple information.

------

While all of this was happening, Luffy wandered through the winding tunnels of the whale, the echoes of his own footsteps bouncing off the walls, he scratched his head. The place was confusing—he wasn't used to being stuck inside a living creature. "Where's everybody?!"

His voice reverberated through the tunnel, only answered by the sound of Laboon's slow, rhythmic heartbeat. The tunnel sloped downward, and before he could steady himself, Luffy tumbled down, landing with a loud thud on the floor below. He groaned and sat up, shaking his head.

"Man, this place is like a giant water slide..." Luffy grinned for a moment, the idea amusing him, before remembering the task at hand. "Oh yeah, gotta find the crew!"

As he stood up and dusted himself off, he heard voices up ahead. He approached quietly—well, as quietly as Luffy could—and peeked around the corner. There stood two strange figures dressed in peculiar clothing, deep in conversation. One, a man with a crown and a small bazooka, was excitedly gesturing while the woman beside him, her bright blue hair whipping as she spoke, nodded along.

"We need to finish this mission," the man said, his voice sharp. "The town depends on this whale."

The woman, Miss Wednesday, crossed her arms. "We've come this far. No turning back now."

Luffy blinked, their words barely registering in his mind. He stepped out from the corner and stared blankly at them. "Hey, what are you guys talking about?"

Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday whipped around, startled. Mr. 9 pointed his bazooka at Luffy. "Who the hell are you?!"

Luffy tilted his head, unfazed. "I'm Luffy. What are you doing inside a whale?"

Miss Wednesday's eyes narrowed. "None of your business! We're here for an important mission."

"Oh," Luffy said simply, then punched them both in one swift motion. "You guys are annoying."

They crashed into the tunnel wall, unconscious before they could even fire a shot. Luffy wiped his hands, not even bothering to check on them. "Problem solved."

------

Meanwhile, back with the crew, they were still reeling from their encounter with Crocus, who had just revealed the tragic story of Laboon.

"So, you're telling us," Nami began, pacing back and forth, "this whale has been bashing his head against the Red Line for fifty years? Because he's waiting for pirates who'll never come back?"

Crocus nodded solemnly. "That's right. He made a promise to them, and he's been waiting ever since. No matter how hard he tries, he'll never break through the Red Line. But… he won't stop trying."

Zoro folded his arms, his face stern but his eyes showing a flicker of empathy. "That's... a lot of dedication for a whale."

Nojiko, standing beside Haku, was visibly shaken. She clutched her chest, her voice barely a whisper. "That's... heartbreaking."

Haku, normally composed, let his expression falter for the briefest of moments. "It is. But I have a feeling this isn't the end of Laboon's story."

Nojiko looked up at Haku, her eyes glistening. "You think there's hope?"

"There's always hope," Haku said softly. "As long as someone's waiting."

Sanji, leaning against the mast, lit a cigarette and blew out a cloud of smoke. "It's a sad story, but nothing in this world gets better by dwelling on the past. Laboon needs to move on, or he'll destroy himself."

"Yeah, but how do you tell that to a whale?" Usopp asked, scratching his head.

Before anyone could answer, a loud crash echoed through the room, and Luffy appeared, soaked from head to toe and wearing his usual grin. "I found you guys!"

"Luffy!" Nami cried. "Where have you been?!"

"Inside the whale, duh," Luffy said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I knocked out some weirdos on the way. They were talking about hurting Laboon."

"Wait, what?" Zoro raised an eyebrow. "Who did you knock out?"

"Some guy with a crown and a blue-haired lady. They were annoying," Luffy shrugged. "Anyway, I'm back!"

Crocus chuckled, shaking his head. "So you ran into Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday. They're a couple of nuisances from a nearby town. They think killing Laboon will solve their problems."

Luffy's grin faded, his eyes narrowing. "No way. We're gonna help him."

The crew fell silent, processing Luffy's declaration. There was something unshakable about his tone—something certain, like the promise he had just made was already written in stone.

Nojiko, her voice soft but determined, spoke up. "What do you have in mind, Luffy?"

Luffy looked up at Laboon, whose cries reverberated through the whale's belly, shaking the ground beneath them. "We'll give him a new promise—a real one. One he won't have to wait fifty years for."

Haku watched Luffy with a small smile, admiring the captain's resolve. There was something about Luffy that made impossible things seem possible. His simplicity had a way of cutting through the complexity of the world.

Zoro, standing tall and calm beside Luffy, nodded. "If you're making that promise, we'll back you up."

Sanji flicked away his cigarette. "We can't let a whale like that just keep suffering."

Even Usopp, his usual bravado giving way to sincerity, nodded. "Yeah, Luffy's right. We'll help him."

With that, Luffy sprinted toward Laboon's massive head, scaling it with ease. He stood proudly on top of the whale, shouting down. "Laboon! We'll meet again at the end of the Grand Line!"

Laboon, sensing the emotion in Luffy's voice, let out a deep bellow. The sound reverberated through the air, not of pain this time, but of hope.

Luffy grinned. "We'll fight when we meet again, okay?"

The crew watched, smiling softly as the weight of Luffy's promise seemed to lift Laboon's spirits. Even Crocus, who had watched over the whale for years, stood by with a rare, bittersweet smile.

Haku chuckled quietly. "A new promise for an old one... It suits you, Luffy."

As Laboon let out another contented bellow, the crew prepared to leave the whale's belly. But just before they left, Crocus turned to Luffy, his voice low but warm. "Thank you, Straw Hat. That whale's been waiting a long time."

Luffy waved him off. "Don't worry about it, old man. We'll meet him again."

As they sailed out of Laboon's stomach, Haku glanced back one last time, smiling to himself. It's good to have hope again.