Chapter 3: Whale In Twin Capes

While on their way to the Grand Line on a stormy day, Nami informed them they need to cross over a mountain with a ship. The rest of the crew confused a little, how a ship crossing over a mountain. "the mountain is called Reverse Mountain, they're located between the Grand Lines. Once we crossed through Twin Capes, the entrance and exit from the mountain, we should be able to find an island there" Yuna said.

"hee~ Yuna-san really knows the Grand Line very well, huh?" Sanji impressed.

"I've crossed there a few times after all" Yuna smiled.

While in the middle conversation, the sky starts to clear up. Everyone went outside to check the weather, it worries Nami because it was supposed to be storming all the way to the mountain.

Yuna widened her eyes and panicked "this is bad!" she said.

The crew was confused and asked why it's bad. Yuna said that they're in a nest of sea monsters. Everyone turned pale and panic as the ship started shaking vigorously.

They looked under their ship and turns out they're on top of a Neptunian's head. Around them are more sea monsters appeared. The crew needs to find a way out from there. But the Neptunian underneath them suddenly started sneezing as the ship threw back to the stormy sea which is where they were supposed to be.

Yuna explained that the place is called Calm Belt, where Neptunians live. Calm Belt area located on both sides of the stormy sea to the Grand Line. That's why they must not go outside to the other side of a stormy sea.

"not so calm of a place… I think I peed myself" cried Usopp, who's laying on the floor right now. Shaking in fear.

The crew finally arrived at the Twin Capes and reach the entrance, Nami said that they need to go to the strong current that'll lead them to the top of the mountain. It was so tall that it reaches the sky. It was hard to balance the ship on a strong current but once they over the top they went straight down toward the end of the mountain. But Sanji warned Nami that he spotted another mountain up ahead.

"a mountain? That's not right. It should be open sea once we pass the twin capes" she said.

Yuna could hear something from up ahead, she warned Nami something blocking their way. The crew panicked and need to stop the ship from the fast current before they're hitting whatever was in front of them. Zoro spotted a small path just in the corner. He tried to move the ship but the current was too strong as he struggled to move the ship.

While everyone struggling to find a way, Yuna trying to figure out a plan to save everyone in a calm manner in a heated situation. 'I remember the Navigator from the Marines there's a giant creature at the end of the mountain, but I never crossed one. Could it be—' she looked up to the tall object in front of her. When the path is clear and they could see what's up ahead, it wasn't another mountain right up ahead… a giant black whale facing up toward the sky is blocking their way.

"hey! I've got an idea!" Luffy starts to run inside.

Yuna still hasn't moved from her spot and crossed her arms, trying to figure out how to pass through 'I could kill the whale right away, but will my power affected the others? I must find a way—'

All of the sudden, a sound of canon has been shot. It was Luffy who did it when the ship was just a few meters away from the whale. It did help to slow down the ship, but the ship still moving forward until—

CRACK

A sound of something cracked could be heard, it was Marry's head fell because it hits the whale "MY SPECIAL SEAT?!!" Luffy cried when he saw Marry's head right in front of him.

It was silent for a moment, but the whale still isn't moving from the spot. It seems like it didn't notice the cannonball was hitting it. The crew tried to get away through the small path as fast as possible while the whale hasn't noticed them as well. Luffy came out and glared at the whale's eyes "listen, you! That was my special seat—"

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO IT?!!" he shouted as he punched the whale's eyes with his Gum-Gum no mi (Rubber-Rubber Fruit).

"YOU IDIOT--!!!" the crew cries.

"oh dear" Yuna didn't expect Luffy would punch it in the way, she always knew Luffy has always been reckless but still.

Right before Luffy challenged the whale, Zoro and Usopp kicked him so he'd shut up.

The whale tilted its head and opened its mouth as the water starts entering. The ship also got carried into the whale's stomach. When it calmed down, the crew looked outside the ship. What they saw makes their jaw dropped. They thought they're supposed to be inside the whale's gut, but all they see a blue sky and a small island with a little house in the middle of the ocean.

All of the sudden, a giant squid appeared and attacked them. Right before Yuna, Zoro, and Sanji killed the squid, some spears went through the squid first and killed it before them. They saw the spears came from the little island right in front of them. "it looks like somebody lives here" said Zoro.

Yuna looked around the ship "Luffy's not here" she said.

"WHAT?!!" Nami and Usopp shout.

then Yuna pointed that someone is coming out from the house. Everyone turned to see an old man with a literally flower-shaped-like-hair walking forward. The crew thought the old man must have been pretty strong to catch the giant squid-like it was nothing. They did stare at each other until someone said a word. But the old man chooses not to say a word and sits down casually on his chair instead "say something, dammit!!" scold Sanji.

"…forget it. Somebody's going to die" warn the old man.

"…!! Oh yeah? And who would that be?"

"me"

"listen, you--!!!" Sanji becomes more annoyed.

But then Zoro stepped in tried to talk to the old man, but he told the crew to introduce themselves first before asking the question "my name is Crocus. I'm the keeper of the Twin Capes lighthouse. I'm 71, a Gemini, and my blood type is AB" he introduced himself.

"I'M GONNA CHOP HIM UP!!" Zoro turns to get annoyed by the useless introduction.

"there there, Mr. Swordsman" Yuna patted Zoro's back.

Crocus warned them that they're really are in the whale's stomach, now they're worried that they'll get digested first before they could find a way out. "the exit's over there" Crocus pointed at a large door floating on the surface nearby. They're surprised to find an exit door in a whale's stomach.

"if you look closely the sky is not actually real. It's painted" Yuna said.

"it's a hobby of mine" said Crocus.

"What on earth are you up to?!!" Usopp shouted.

"forget him. There's the exit. Let's get out of here" Zoro pulled Usopp away.

Strangely, they could feel the ship shaking and the sea waving strangely. When the sea is waving, they could see what's actually underneath Crocus's island. There's a metal around them covering the ground "so this isn't water, it's stomach acid" Yuna warn. Usopp panicked that the ship will be dissolved if they stay too long. What caused inside shaking rapidly is the whale is ramming its head on the mountain wall. The crew thought Crocus is trying to kill the whale from inside. They feel pity for the whale, but they don't have any obligation to save it as well.

While the crew trying to get their ship to the door's entrance, they saw Crocus went inside the water and went somewhere. When the ship almost reached the door, they saw some people jumping out from the smaller version of the door attached in the middle. "oh my, Luffy?" Yuna spotted Luffy.

"yo, Yuna!" Luffy greets "save me" he said before fell into the stomach acid.

After a while, the whales finally calmed down. Unfortunately, the ship couldn't reach the door because of the strong waves. But they did save Luffy from drowning, and two unknown men and women. The crew asked who they are, but it seems they're hesitating.

Crocus came back and shouted that they'll never have Laboon the whale as long as he lives. The mysterious duo starts aiming their weapons toward the whale's stomach but Crocus uses his body to take the hit. Now they realize that Crocus is trying to protect the whale. When the mysterious duo tried to launch their attacks again, Luffy hit them on the head to make them stop. So they tied them up and bring them to Crocus island, so his wounds could get treated there.

Yuna use her power to heal Crocus and he is amazed by it. Crocus told everyone that the mysterious duo is from the nearby village to after Laboon's flesh so they could use it to feed their village for 2-3 years. They won't tell their real names, but they go by codenames. Mr. 9 and Mrs. Wednesday. The reason why Crocus is pounding its head on the mountain wall is calling its friends. The whale was waiting for them to come back and Crocus is there to protect it "but then… that was 50 years ago" he said.

Everyone is shocked how many years Laboon has been waiting and still think they'll come back someday. Then Crocus lead the way out to the lighthouse at the Twin Capes. He told them he was once a ship's doctor and runs a clinic. But since he was too old, all he could do now is taking care of Laboon.

The ship is finally out from the whale's stomach thanks to Crocus. Zoro asked what they should do with the mysterious duo, Luffy told him just to throw them away from the ship. Thus Zoro kicked them to the sea. Even after being thrown away, they still won't tell their real identity. Instead, they threatened them about an organization that'll take revenge on them. After that, both of them swam away.

Everyone decided to take a rest near the lighthouse and talk about Laboon's past. Laboon was waiting for his pirate friends for 50 years, and they thought they'll probably dead right now because Crocus told them that they probably fled somewhere from the Grand Line. "on these seas, nothing is ever normal. Weak hearts soon succumb to fear on the Grand Line" he warns.

"…such a tragic story. Those pirates are surely dead by now. Even if they are alive, they'll never come back" everyone turned to Yuna as she crossed her arms and turned to Crocus "you know all of this, have you told the whale?"

"I have, but he won't just listen"

Every time Crocus tried to tell him about his friends, he just won't accept the fact that they're gone. So that is when the whale starts waiting at the end of Twin Capes.

Yuna start to remember back when she was in the Marines, she found her dead pigeon pet on the ground. Her eyes widened as she froze and stare at it. Sakazuki came and told her that 'there's no need to have felt toward any kind of animal, that bird job was only to deliver mails' he said. So Yuna buried the bird under the tree. Even though she only knows for 3 months, for a moment she was feeling a little joy by playing and feeding them. She clenched her first together and tried to hold in her tears.

'hey, are you alright?' a boy's voice called from behind

But Yuna shakes her head and tried not to remember much, she taught herself not to get to attached so she won't become weak. Suddenly, Luffy's loud voice could be heard from the whale. Everyone looked at him climbing on top of the whale's head while brings… the ship's mast. With all might, he stabbed the mast right on the whale's newest open wound. And of course, the whale starts screaming in pain and smacked Luffy on the ground.

Both Laboon and Luffy start fighting each other until the whale threw Luffy toward the lighthouse. Luffy panted heavily and get up "IT'S A DRAW!!" he shouted to Laboon. The whale gives a confused look, including the others.

Luffy told him that after he circles around the Grand Line, he'll come back and have a match with him again. So he could wait for them instead and having a rematch with Luffy.

Laboon starts tearing up and crying out loud. For once more he felt what it calls a rivalry friendship and 's thought Luffy and his crew are friends. So Luffy painted the Straw Hat's logo on Laboon's forehead like the mark of their friendship and a promise. It looks like Crocus is also pleased by their action. He turned to Yuna who's watching Luffy painting on Laboon "young miss over there, can we have a talk for a moment?" he asked.

"of course, Crocus-san. What is it?"

"the power you have when you healed me, are you perhaps a devil-fruit user?"

"yes, I am. Why you ask?"

"what devil fruit is it? And May I ask when did you receive it?" Crocus asked with a serious expression.

"…I was 10 when Sa--… an old friend gave it to me. My devil fruit is Tori-Tori no Mo, Model: Angel"

"a Mythical Zoan, I see—" Crocus went silent for a moment "…if only you were at that time, you could have saved him"

"him…?"

"though you weren't even born yet so there's nothing we can do about that" Crocus chuckled "sorry, I was just talking about an old friend as well"

"that special power is very dangerous to be used out in the open, lots of people will do anything to get it into their hands. I bet you could do more than just healing, correct? I suggest staying low as possible, not letting your power be exposed so much would be wise"

"I understood" Yuna nodded and smiled "thank you for worrying over me, Crocus-san"

Crocus smiled back "you looked like you're quite strong. With a power like that… use it to protect your friends, will ya?"

He looked at the crew and looked as well. Yuna stares at them for a moment "…with every last of me"

When the crew planning their journey, Nami starts screaming. Everyone checked on her and asked what happened. She said her compass is broken. Yuna checked on Nami's compass "this compass… it's not broken. Where's your log pose?" she asked. But it seems Nami doesn't know what kind of item that is. Crocus explained if they wanted to go to the next island they will need to use a special compass called log pose. This compass is made to read magnetic fields in Grand Line. This compass has a unique shape.

"you mean like this?" Luffy pulled out an watch and showed it to him while eating the food made by Sanji earlier.

"Yeah, like that" Yuna and Crocus said at the same time "just entering the Grand Line already hard enough. Without log pose, navigation will be impossible" Crocus adds.

"I see. But wait the second— WHERE'D YOU GET THAT?!!" Nami suddenly punched Luffy in the face.

"those strange people dropped it when they left" Luffy explained as he tried to rub the pain where Nami punched him.

Nami inspected the log pose and tried to learn how to use it. Crocus explained that to go to the next island they need to record the magnetic field in the current island to go to the next one. Either which route they choose, it will always go to the last island "Raftel… in all of the history, only one pirate crew that able land there, the King of Pirate crew" Crocus said.

"is that where it is?! ONE PIECE?!" Usopp excitedly said.

"perhaps. No other legend as it tempting, yet no one has reached the island"

"you mean… until we get there!" Luffy smiled "awright, let's go! I'm done eating!" he burps after finishing the whole meal by himself.

"you ate the whole thing?!" Sanji was shocked.

"gosh! He even eats the bones?!!" Usopp is more shocked.

"you didn't know? Luffy could eat 10 times than normal people could eat" Yuna explains.

"Amazing!!" Usopp gaped.

"you stretchy-crap-jerk! I made that for Yuna and Nami. I wanted them TO HAVE THE BEST OF IT!!!" Sanji kicked Luffy away.

But Luffy accidentally destroyed the log pose on Nami's wrist because of being kicked by Sanji. Nami froze by the broken log pose. "Oh dear" Yuna watches in a worried expression. Out of frustration, Nami kicked Luffy and Sanji into the sea.

Luckily, Crocus gave his log pose to them so they could continue their journey. Yuna taught Nami how to use it properly. Then Luffy and Sanji have returned to the shore, but strangely there are more people coming out with them as well. It was the mysterious duo from earlier.