Chapter 18: Brook's Alive.

"Ahhh..."

As the Going Merry rushed down with tremendous force, Nami and Usopp clutched the railing, their hearts pounding in their chests.

"It's too fast!"

They stared ahead at the misty canal, unable to see what lay beyond the thick fog.

Luffy, perched on the sheephead figure of the Going Merry, pressed down his Straw Hat with a wild grin. "Let's go, Going Merry! Grand Line, here we come!"

Shirogai smiled calmly and glanced at the anxious Nami beside him. "Don't worry. As long as I'm here, nothing will happen to you."

Something about Shirogai's voice immediately soothed Nami's nerves. Despite herself, she relaxed.

Shirogai was dependable. That was the feeling he had given her since joining the crew.

Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji were undoubtedly strong, but their chaotic personalities made them feel less trustworthy. In contrast, Shirogai's steady presence was like an anchor.

Suddenly, the Going Merry pierced through the mist, and everyone gasped.

"Huh? There's a wall up ahead!"

At the end of the canal, instead of the open sea of the Grand Line, a towering black wall blocked their path.

"Why is there a wall at the end of the canal?!"

Nami's face went pale.

"This is bad! We're going to crash!"

At the current speed, the Going Merry would collide in less than two minutes, and a crash at this velocity would shatter the ship and doom everyone aboard.

"Relax," Shirogai said softly, standing at the bow with his arms crossed. His eyes narrowed at the looming shape ahead. "That's no wall. That's a whale."

Everyone froze.

"A whale?"

"The world's largest island whale," Shirogai clarified. "That's Laboon."

The crew stared in disbelief.

"A whale that size? Could it be... a Sea King?" Usopp muttered, trembling.

They remembered the terrifying Sea Kings from days ago. If not for Shirogai transforming into black smoke and lifting the entire ship to safety, they would've been devoured.

Luffy's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Let's be friends with it!"

Nami smacked the back of his head. "Luffy! We're about to die and you want to make friends?! What goes on in that head of yours?!"

"Nami, calm down. We're fine."

Shirogai raised a hand, his body dissolving into thick black smoke that enveloped the Going Merry like a cocoon.

The crew felt a slight lift as the ship rose into the air.

"What's happening?!"

From within the smoke, Shirogai's voice echoed, "[Luffy, open the sails. The Going Merry is ready to fly.]"

"Ahahaha! The Going Merry is flying!" Luffy cheered, launching himself to the mast and pulling the sails wide.

Suspended in the sky by Shirogai's smoke, the Going Merry glided over the massive whale, bypassing it effortlessly before landing gently in the waters behind it.

The smoke receded and Shirogai reformed at the bow.

He stared at the enormous whale ahead, noting the heavy scars on its head.

He closed his eyes, reached out with his ability, and whispered mentally using the power of the Whisper-Whisper Fruit:

"[Laboon, can you hear me?]"

A soft, childish voice echoed back in Shirogai's mind, filled with confusion.

"[You... Who are you?]"

Laboon turned slowly, its colossal eye locking onto the ship. It seemed startled that someone could understand it.

"[How do you know my name? I don't know you.]"

Shirogai gazed up at the wounded creature. Though massive, Laboon was still a child by island whale standards—barely eight in human years.

He spoke gently. "[Not only do I know your name... I also know the Rumbar Pirates. They told me about you.]"

A deep, resonant cry shook the sea.

"[You met them?! Where are they?! They promised they'd return! They promised they'd come back for me!]"

...

"Is Shirogai talking to the whale using his Devil Fruit?" Usopp whispered, watching curiously from the deck.

Everyone stared in silence, unsure what was being communicated.

...

Shirogai hesitated, then took a breath and spoke the truth.

"[I'm sorry, Laboon. Some of them were struck by a plague and had to leave the Grand Line. The rest... they were attacked in the Devil's Triangle. Almost all of them are gone.]"

"[No! You're lying! They said they'd return! They wouldn't die! They promised me!]"

Tears poured from Laboon's eyes, each drop creating massive ripples across the sea.

Memories of laughter, music, and warmth with the Rumbar Pirates flashed in Laboon's mind.

"Chew... chew…"

"What's wrong with this little one?"

"Must've gotten separated from its pod…"

"Captain Yorki! Let's sing for it—show it the Rumbar Pirates' charm!"

"Yeah! Let's make it smile!"

The song that once soothed Laboon's heart echoed again:

Yohohoho, Yohohoho...

Binks' Sake, I'll bring it to you…

...

"Laboon, wait for us!"

"Just two or three years and we'll be back!"

"We promise! We'll sail the Grand Line and return!"

...

"Wait for us!"

...

"[You're lying...]" Laboon cried. "[They promised to take me on an adventure. They promised… They wouldn't lie to me!]"

Its sorrowful wail echoed across the sea, sending shockwaves through the air.

The crew winced as their ears rang from the powerful roar.

Nami: "This whale's gone berserk!"

Usopp: "We're doomed!"

Zoro: "I'll cut it down if it attacks."

Luffy: "Oi! Whale! Why are you crying?!"

Sanji: "Let's not stick around, this is looking dangerous!"

Shirogai ignored the panic around him. He closed his eyes and spoke once more through the Whisper-Whisper Fruit:

"[Laboon. Calm down. Brook is still alive.]"

...

The sobbing ceased.

Laboon's trembling body stilled. It stared at Shirogai, eyes glistening.

"[Really...? Brook... he's alive? They... they said they would come back...]"

Shirogai didn't flinch. "[He's alive. And one day, you'll see him again. You have to believe in that promise. Because he still does.]"

Tears welled in Laboon's eyes again—this time, not from sorrow, but hope.

A promise still waiting to be fulfilled.

__

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