Chapter 26: chapter 21
I'm sorry for the 2 week absence
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OR GIVING POWER STONE
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The Going Merry surged forward, its bow cutting through the roaring waves as the storm howled around them. Lightning illuminated the sky in jagged streaks, and the crew braced themselves against the ship's lurching motion.
Luffy stood at the front, his straw hat clinging to his head despite the whipping wind. "Hey, look!" he shouted, pointing ahead with excitement. "I see it!"
Everyone turned their gaze forward, eyes widening as the colossal red wall of the Red Line came into view. Its sheer size dwarfed anything they'd ever seen, towering above the clouds like an impenetrable barrier.
"I can't see the top!" Usopp exclaimed, gripping the railing tightly as he leaned forward. "It just keeps going and going!"
The waves grew more ferocious as they approached, crashing against the ship and spraying everyone with seawater. Nami wiped her face and shouted, "There's a crack in the wall! Look!"
Following her finger, they spotted a massive fissure in the Red Line, from which a powerful current surged upward. The water appeared to defy gravity, flowing directly up the mountain like a natural waterspout.
"It's a river!" Goku said, eyes sparkling with wonder. "It's going up the mountain!"
"Head for it!" Nami yelled, gripping the helm as she turned the ship toward the current.
The Going Merry tilted sharply, its nose lifting as it was pulled into the upward stream. The force of the water launched the ship upward at a dizzying speed. Everyone held on for dear life as the ship climbed higher and higher, the storm clouds giving way to a breathtaking view of the sky.
"We're going up!" Goku cheered, his voice filled with awe.
The crew erupted into shouts and laughter, overwhelmed by the thrill of the moment. Above them, the sky opened up into a serene, golden glow, with the sunlight breaking through the storm.
"Look at that!" Sanji said as he gazed at the stunning scenery around them. The vast sea of clouds spread out in every direction,
But their joy was short-lived as the ship reached the peak of the current. Suddenly, the Going Merry began to plunge downward, the roaring sound of water growing louder as they hurtled into a dense mist.
"We're going too fast!" Usopp screamed, clutching onto the mast.
The ship careened downward, picking up speed as the mist thickened. The crew squinted into the fog, trying to see what lay ahead. Suddenly, a massive black silhouette emerged from the haze.
"What is that?!" Zoro shouted, gripping the railing.
"It's huge!" Goku said, squinting at the shadowy figure.
Nami's eyes widened in alarm. "It's a whale!" she screamed, pointing at the enormous shape directly in their path.
The crew froze as the colossal creature came into focus—a massive whale, its obsidian body towering over the sea like a living mountain.
"Brace yourselves!" Nami yelled, spinning the wheel frantically to try and avoid the impending collision. The crew scrambled, panic surging through them as the whale's massive form loomed closer and closer.
"Go left!" Zoro shouted, his voice barely audible over the roaring waves.
"We can't! The rudder's broken!" Usopp yelled back, panic evident in his eyes.
Luffy's eyes lit up with determination. "I've got an idea!" he declared, dashing toward the ship's bow.
Meanwhile, Goku, Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp strained against the unresponsive rudder, trying in vain to steer the ship.
Suddenly, the front cannon fired, the recoil halting their forward motion just as the mast collided with the whale's massive body, causing it to collapse onto the deck.
The whale's enormous eye regarded the tiny ship curiously.
"We need to get out of here!" Sanji urged, glancing nervously at the colossal creature.
Luffy stood his ground, anger flashing in his eyes. "You think you can destroy my special seat? Take this!" He stretched his arm back and delivered a powerful punch to the whale's eye.
"You dumbass!" the crew yelled in unison, while Goku couldn't help but chuckle at Luffy's audacity.
Luffy, undeterred, shouted, "There's a lot more of that coming!"
Zoro and Sanji promptly smacked him on the head. "Shut up before you get us killed!" they scolded.
The whale let out a deafening roar, its massive mouth opening wide as it began to inhale, creating a powerful suction that drew the ship toward its gaping maw.
Thinking quickly, Luffy stretched his arm and grabbed onto one of the whale's teeth, anchoring himself.
Goku yelled for his Flying Nimbus and soared into the air, watching in horror as the Going Merry was pulled into the whale's throat.
As the whale's mouth began to close, Goku swooped down, grabbed Luffy, and whisked him away to the top of the whale's head, narrowly escaping the creature's jaws.
"That was close," Goku remarked, setting Luffy down gently.
Luffy clenched his fists, worry etched on his face. "But the others... they're still inside!"
Goku nodded, determination in his eyes. "Then let's find a way to get them out."
But the whale began to submerge, Luffy looked shocked. "Hey, what's going on?!" he yelled,
Goku, scanning their surroundings, pointed at a hatch embedded in the whale. "Hey, look! Over there! Let's check it out!"
Without hesitation, Luffy ran toward the hatch and flung it open. Both he and Goku leaped down, landing with a thud in what appeared to be a long hallway illuminated by artificial lights.
"What kind of whale has hallways and lights?" Goku muttered, scratching his head.
Luffy grinned. "I dunno, but let's explore!"
The hallway shook violently as the whale shifted, causing Goku and Luffy to stumble. "Whoa! This whale's moving!" Goku exclaimed as they both started running to keep their balance.
As they sprinted, the floor tilted suddenly, causing them to slide uncontrollably. They screamed in unison, "AHHHH!"
At the same time, two figures appeared in their path: one girl with blue hair and the other with orange hair, the number 9 written on their
face, and a crown. The two groups collided with a loud crash.
"What the—?!" the blue-haired figure exclaimed before they were all sent tumbling through a pair of swinging doors.
The crew stared in disbelief, Luffy, Goku, and the two strangers splashed into the green sea inside the whale's stomach. Acting quickly, Goku grabbed Luffy and the two strangers, using his strength to bring them back onto the deck of the Going Merry.
Dripping wet, Goku scratched his head and looked around. "Hey, guys… are we dead?"
Nami crossed her arms and sighed. "No, Goku. We're inside the whale's stomach. And apparently, there's an island here."
Zoro, standing with his sword ready, pointed to the two strangers sprawled out on the deck. "Alright, who are you two?"
The blue-haired woman sat up first, brushing her wet hair out of her face. "I'm Miss Wednesday, and this is Mr. 9," she said, gesturing to the man beside her.
"We're just here on a mission!" Mr. 9 said, glaring at the crew.
Suddenly, a loud voice echoed from a nearby platform. "You two! I told you I won't let you harm Laboon! Leave at once!"
Luffy tilted his head. "Who's Laboon?"
Before anyone could answer, Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday jumped to their feet, glaring at the old man on the platform. "You can't stop us!" Miss Wednesday shouted. "We've got a job to do, and Laboon's getting a new blowhole!"
The two pulled out rocket launchers, aiming them at the walls of the whale's stomach.
"What are you doing?!" Nami yelled in alarm.
As they fired, the old man leaped in front of the rockets to protect the whale. The blast knocked him into the water.
"Hey!" Goku shouted, his anger flaring. He extended his Power Pole and, with a single swift motion, knocked both Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday unconscious. They crumpled to the deck as Goku stood over them, his eyes blazing.
"You don't just hurt people and a whale for no reason," Goku said firmly, gripping his Power Pole. "Now, someone tell me what's going on here!"
The old man climbed out of the green water and returned to his small island. Usopp tied up the unconscious Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday with rope, making sure they wouldn't cause any more trouble. The crew followed the old man onto the island, curious about what was happening.
Sitting down, the old man sighed deeply. "Thank you for stopping those two. They're just thugs looking for whale meat. If they caught Laboon, they could feed an entire island for two or three years. But they don't want it to feed anyone—they're just greedy."
"Laboon?" Nami asked, raising an eyebrow.
The old man nodded solemnly. "Yes, Laboon. He's the whale you're inside right now. An island whale, one of the largest creatures in the world. There's a reason why he keeps bashing his head against Reverse Mountain."
Luffy tilted his head. "Why does he do that?"
The old man's face grew somber as he explained. "Laboon has the heart of a human. Fifty years ago, he befriended a pirate crew that sailed into the Grand Line. He was just a young whale back then, and he played with them every day. But when the time came for the pirates to leave, they promised they'd come back for him. They told him to wait."
The crew listened intently as the old man continued, his voice heavy with sadness.
"It's been fifty years, and those pirates never returned. Every day, Laboon waits for them, hoping to see them again. And every day, he slams his head against the Red Line, trying to break through to find them. He's hurting himself because he refuses to give up on that promise."
Nami's eyes widened in disbelief. "Fifty years? That's heartbreaking…"
Zoro crossed his arms and frowned. "So he's been waiting all this time for people who might not even be alive anymore."
Luffy clenched his fists, his expression unreadable as he stared at the ground. Goku's tail twitched, and he looked back at the massive walls of Laboon's stomach.
"That's so sad…" Usopp muttered, looking down at the tied-up pair they had stopped.
The old man sighed again. "That's why I protect Laboon. He's a kind soul, even if his body is massive."
As the old man, Crocus, opened the gate within Laboon's stomach, the crew got back onto the Going Merry and started sailing through the canal. At the far end, another gate opened, leading them back out to the open sea.
Crocus stood at the edge of his island and waved. "Thank you again!"
As the ship drifted away, Usopp sighed. "That's so sad... Laboon waiting all those years."
Suddenly, Luffy grabbed onto the mast and yelled, "I've got an idea!" Before anyone could stop him, he ran and stabbed the mast directly into Laboon's head, causing the whale to roar and thrash violently.
"Luffy, you idiot! What are you doing?!" Nami screamed, holding onto the railing as the ship rocked uncontrollably.
Laboon continued to thrash, knocking Luffy into the water. Everyone gasped in shock, watching as their captain plunged into the ocean. Before they could react, a figure rushed out of nowhere, diving into the water with lightning speed.
The figure grabbed Luffy and leapt out, landing gracefully on the ground in front of the crew. "Laboon, stop!" the man shouted, his voice authoritative yet calm.
Everyone stared in astonishment. The man was tall, muscular, and dressed in a green gi with a red sash tied around his waist. A green headband adorned his forehead
Crocus groaned, clearly exasperated. "Tien! Took you long enough! You said you'd stay here and help, not lounge around being lazy!"
Another figure emerged from the lighthouse—a small, pale person with red cheeks and a concerned expression. "Tien, is everything okay?"
The man, Tien, turned to him and nodded. "Yeah, Chiaotzu. Everything's fine now."
Before anyone could process what was happening, Goku's eyes widened, and he yelled, "Tien, buddy! It's you!"
Calling for Nimbus, Goku flew off the ship and landed in front of Tien, pulling him into a tight hug.
Tien smiled faintly and patted Goku on the back. "Yeah, Goku. It's been a while."
The crew looked on, still reeling from the sudden series of events. "You know this guy?" Zoro asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course!" Goku said, grinning from ear to ear. "Tien's one of my old sparring partners! We go way back!"
Luffy stood and looked at the tall man, scratching his head. "Who are you?"
The man looked down at him and replied calmly, "My name is Tien Shinhan. Goku and I go way back."
Laboon roared again, thrashing prompting Luffy to turn toward the whale. He yelled, "Hey, whale! It's a draw! Our fight isn't over! After me and my crew travel the Grand Line, we'll come back and have a rematch!"
Laboon let out a loud, happy noise, calming down as Luffy walked up to its massive head. He pulled out a crude paintbrush and drew a terrible version of the Straw Hat Jolly Roger on Laboon's face. "There! Now you'll remember me!"
The crew walked over, gathering near the ground as Sanji asked, "Hey, Goku, who's this guy?"
Goku grinned. "Well, a long time ago, Tien came to me super angry and wanted a fight. We ended up having a really good battle!"
Tien laughed, folding his arms. "Yeah, back then, Goku and I came from rival schools. He was trained by Master Roshi of the Turtle Hermit School, and I was from the Crane School. My master brought me to their island, and I fought one of Roshi's students and beat him. But when Goku stepped up, things changed. He taught me that fighting isn't just about strength."
Goku smiled warmly. "It's true! Tien's one of the toughest guys I've ever fought. But why are you here, Tien?"
Tien sighed, his expression softening. "After Chiaotzu and I had a falling out with our master, we left the Crane School. We built a small ship to travel the Grand Line, but when we tried to pass through Reverse Mountain, the ship broke. We ended up flying the rest of the way down, but we couldn't leave without a Log Pose. Crocus let us stay until someone with a ship and a Log Pose could help us out."
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Wait, you guys can fly?!"
Tien chuckled. "Yeah, it's one of the secret techniques of the Crane School."
Goku scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I've been trying to learn how to fly too, but I still can't get the hang of it yet."
Luffy crossed his arms and grinned. "Well, if you guys can fly, why don't you just join us? It'd be fun to have someone who can fly"
Chiaotzu peeked out from behind Tien, looking intrigued, while Tien raised an eyebrow at the suggestion.
"He's Chiaotzu, my best friend," Tien said, motioning toward the small, pale figure beside him.
"Hey, Tien, do you still have your third eye?" Goku asked with a teasing grin.
Tien's face flushed as he quickly reached out and clamped Goku's mouth shut. "Shhh! Be quiet!" he hissed.
Luffy's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Wait, you've got a third eye? Let me see! Let me see!"
Tien rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Sorry, but I can't just show it like that."
Luffy grinned even wider. "You definitely have to join our crew now!"
Tien shook his head firmly. "Sorry, but I've got my own dreams. One day, I'd like to form my own crew."
"Come on! It'd be fun!" Luffy persisted.
Nami cut in before the argument could escalate. "Hey, Tien, you mentioned something about a pose earlier?"
Tien nodded. "Normal compasses don't work in the Grand Line. They just spin out of control because of the unique magnetic fields of the islands here. You'll need a Log Pose, a special compass that locks onto the magnetic signature of an island and guides you to the next."
Nami quickly pulled out her own compass and saw it spinning wildly. She paled. "We're screwed!"
From behind, Crocus appeared and explained, "You'll need a Log Pose. It's the only tool that can guide you through the Grand Line."
Luffy suddenly held out a strange compass. "Does it look like this?"
Crocus's eyes widened. "Yes, that's it!"
Nami snatched the Log Pose from Luffy's hand and smacked him on the head. "Why didn't you tell us you had this?!"
Luffy rubbed his head. "I just found it on the ground! Those two weirdos probably dropped it."
Crocus chuckled and added, "The Log Pose is your only choice for navigation here. Reverse Mountain is a good starting place because it leads to seven different routes. Each one has its own unique magnetic path, but eventually, they all converge at one destination: Laugh Tale."
Luffy grinned confidently, he declared, "That's where I'll find the One Piece and become the King of the Pirates!"
Tien crossed his arms and looked at Luffy. "Hey you're the Captain, right? Can you give me and Chiaotzu a ride to the next island? We've been stuck here for a while."
Luffy nodded without hesitation. "Sure, but joining my crew is always an option too!"
Before Luffy could say more, Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday, now untied but still looking nervous, stepped forward. Miss Wednesday clasped her hands together pleadingly. "Could you please take us with you to Whiskey Peak? It's our home."
Nami raised an eyebrow. "Asking for a ride is a bit much after you tried to kill Laboon."
Miss Wednesday looked desperate. "Please, we can't explain why, but going home is the only thing we want. If we could, we'd tell you everything, but... our organization is strict. We're begging you!"
Mr. 9 added, bowing his head, "We promise not to cause any trouble. Just let us get to Whiskey Peak."
Tien frowned and looked at Luffy. "I wouldn't trust them, Luffy. They're hiding too much."
But Luffy just smiled. "Sure, you can come along!"
Usopp's jaw dropped. "What?! Why should we trust these guys?"
Luffy turned to him and shrugged. "It's fine! I've got a good feeling about it."
Crocus watched the exchange with a small smile. "Choose your route carefully. The Grand Line isn't kind to hesitation."
Luffy laughed. "We'll figure it out as we go! Let's get going, then!"
As everyone boarded the Going Merry and prepared to set sail, Luffy turned back to the massive whale. "Laboon, get ready for our next fight! I'll come back stronger, and we'll have an even better match!"
Laboon let out a joyful sound, his massive body causing waves that rocked the ship as it sailed away toward the horizon. The Grand Line awaited.
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Word count 3146
Sorry I haven't posted in 2 weeks I've been doing so much schoolwork but Christmas break is here so I'll post every day
I low-key forgot to write tien and the crane school going to Roshi island but tomorrow I'm going to write the whole flashback