One Piece: The Saiyan Pirate

Chapter 57: The Journey Ahead

The Going Merry was now safely docked at Twin Capes, nestled at the base of the towering Red Line cliffs, after their daring escape from inside Laboon, the massive whale. The Straw Hats found themselves gathered in the humble abode of Crocus, the elderly man who had built an unusual sanctuary inside Laboon. His home was a simple setup at the cliff's edge, providing a close view of the whale that had become such a mystery to the crew.

As they settled into the cozy, sea-salt-scented cabin, the crew couldn't help but let their curiosity get the best of them. Usopp, leaning forward, asked, "So, Crocus… why'd you build all that inside a whale?"

Crocus chuckled, scratching his head, "Sometimes, a man needs a vacation, even on the Grand Line. I'm also a doctor, so living inside Laboon made it easier to keep an eye on his health and administer medicine as needed. But the whole setup has a purpose much deeper than that."

Nami raised an eyebrow, "Deeper? What could make a man stay inside a whale for so long?"

Crocus's expression softened, and he took a deep breath, almost as if he were preparing to tell a story he'd held onto for decades. "It's a long tale… one about a whale from the West Blue and a promise that spans fifty years."

The room fell silent as Crocus began to speak, his voice weighed down with the passage of time.

"Many years ago, a group of pirates called the Rumbar Pirates sailed into these waters, led by a joyful, music-loving crew. They came from the West Blue, bringing along a little whale that had started following their ship from the North Blue. They named him Laboon. He was small, cheerful, and attached himself to their crew as they ventured into the Grand Line."

Usopp leaned in, listening intently, "So, he just followed them like that?"

Crocus nodded, a fondness in his eyes as he remembered. "They'd grown so attached to him, Laboon became part of their family. But when they reached Twin Capes, they knew the Grand Line would be too dangerous for him. They didn't want to risk his life in the harsh seas ahead, so they decided to leave him here with me, promising to return after they conquered the Grand Line."

The Straw Hats sat quietly, feeling the weight of the story sink in. Goku's face was neutral, though something flickered in his eyes as he listened. "And they just… left him? This whole time?" he muttered.

Crocus nodded solemnly, "They promised they would return. Laboon didn't understand at the time. He waited… and he's still waiting. Every day, he slams himself against the Red Line, hoping to break through and find them again."

Nami shook her head, her eyes glistening, "That's… so sad. Poor Laboon."

Goku, however, rolled his eyes slightly. "Sounds like the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Those pirates probably forgot about him long ago, or they're dead. Why would they just leave him behind if they really cared?"

Nami's face turned red as she glared at Goku. "You don't know anything about loyalty or hope, do you? Laboon's waiting because he believes in them. It's not stupid—it's… tragic."

Goku shrugged, "Maybe. But it doesn't make sense to wait around like that if he doesn't know what really happened to them. That's just… cruel."

The room grew tense, but Crocus interrupted, his voice calm, "Goku's not wrong about one thing—time has passed. It's been fifty years since the Rumbar Pirates left Laboon here."

A stunned silence fell over the room. Nami's jaw dropped, and Usopp's eyes widened as he tried to comprehend the reality. "Fifty years?"

Zoro nodded, taking in the harsh truth. "The Grand Line's no playground. They're probably long gone. And maybe Goku's right—it doesn't make sense to keep holding onto that kind of hope."

"But," Crocus added, "I wasn't sure myself. I once joined a crew about 22 years ago, searching for them. I even told Laboon that they had left the Grand Line, but no matter what I said, he kept ramming into the wall."

Sanji scowled, crossing his arms. "This whole story's messed up. It's one thing for people to make promises, but making an innocent whale suffer for that long…"

At that moment, Goku's gaze shifted to the two strangers lying tied up on the ground: Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday. With a glance at Crocus, Goku asked, "So… what do you want to do with them?"

Before Crocus could respond, Miss Wednesday's eyes fluttered open, and she glared up at the group. "Listen up, you lot. Don't worry yourselves over us. We'll leave the whale alone… for now. But it's a precious resource—our village needs the meat to survive."

Beside her, Mr. 9 stirred, echoing her defiance, "Yeah, we're going back to Whiskey Peak. Just leave us be, and we'll be on our way."

Ignoring Mr. 9, Goku knelt beside Miss Wednesday, studying her with an intense, unreadable expression. Her confidence wavered under his scrutinizing gaze, and she glanced away uncomfortably, feeling the weight of his stare. Even Nami shifted slightly, wondering what was going through Goku's mind.

But for Goku, it was something deeper. This pull he felt toward Miss Wednesday was familiar—an unexplainable draw, like he'd felt with Nami, almost as if they were connected by a force beyond his control. In that moment, flashes of past experiences filled his mind—every time he'd found himself compelled to act, even when he didn't care. Saving Crocus. Defending Laboon. And now, his curiosity toward this strange young woman.

It all felt… orchestrated, as if someone—or something—was guiding him, making him a passenger in his own story. He didn't understand why, but it gnawed at him, hinting that he was following a script he hadn't chosen.

Breaking from his thoughts, Crocus cleared his throat, "They've agreed to leave Laboon alone. That's good enough for me, as long as they keep their word."

Reluctantly, Goku nodded but didn't break eye contact with Miss Wednesday. Her defiance softened, and she looked away, almost flustered. He rose to his feet, turning to Nami, "Get the Log Pose."

Gin, always observant, asked, "What's the plan?"

Goku pointed to the two tied-up figures. "We're taking them back to Whiskey Peak."

Nami huffed in annoyance, crossing her arms. "Why do we need to help these jerks? They just tried to kill Laboon!"

Goku shrugged, his tone nonchalant, "Because they're part of something bigger. I can feel it. Might as well see where this leads."

Crocus looked on in surprise, eyebrows raised. "You know about the Log Pose already?"

Goku nodded, though his knowledge was limited. "I know it's what you need to move from island to island. Beyond that, I don't know much."

Crocus took the chance to explain, "The Grand Line's a maze of magnetic fields, with each island having its own. The Log Pose will direct you to the next island in sequence, leading eventually to the end of all paths—Laugh Tale. At Twin Capes, you choose your path and follow it to the end."

The Straw Hats listened, both awed and intrigued by the mechanics of the Grand Line. Goku's eyes narrowed, as if assessing the simplicity of it all. "So, Laugh Tale… is that where the One Piece is?"

Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday exchanged glances, surprised by his direct question. Crocus smiled knowingly but didn't confirm anything. "If it exists, then yes—Laugh Tale would be where it is."

Just then, Nami approached, strapping the Log Pose to her wrist, and gestured toward the ship. "Alright, we're set. Ready to go?"

Goku turned to Miss Wednesday, his face calm but intense as he held her gaze. "Show us the way to Whiskey Peak."

She blushed slightly, trying to conceal the mix of admiration and fear she felt for him after witnessing his strength back in Laboon's belly. With a small nod, she agreed, "Fine… we'll show you."

As the Going Merry prepared to set sail, Goku looked out over the vast, mysterious waters of the Grand Line. The promise of adventure lay ahead, and with the Log Pose to guide them, they were ready to face whatever this treacherous sea had in store. Their first journey on the Grand Line had begun—and with it, the tales they would tell would only grow wilder. The mystery of the One Piece, the allure of Laugh Tale, and the story behind Goku's own pull toward fate… all awaited them on the open sea.

And as they sailed, a question hung in the air, lingering in each crew member's mind: what was it that drew Goku toward these strange encounters, guiding him through this world of pirates?

[A/N: Read 15-20 chapters ahead available on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]