At Dusk
The sun was setting.
Burning clouds stretched across the sky, and the afterglow bathed the earth and sea in a warm, golden light.
An elderly man, the "flower-like old man," sat motionless on the back of a massive whale, as if asleep, quietly fishing. The scene was one of solitude and beauty—a lone fisherman on a whale drifting through the endless sea.
At some point, the old man stirred, finishing his day.
No—fishermen never really finish their work. If the fish don't bite, they have to go to the market.
"Laboon, get some fish for dinner!" Crocus called.
"Giao~!"
Laboon, a whale as large as an island, thrashed its tail violently. Instantly, dozens of fish—big and small—were flung into the air and landed on the whale's back. Crocus picked a few plump fish, smiling as he prepared to head home.
Then Crocus frowned, turning sharply toward the open sea.
A small black dot was appearing on the horizon. Crocus, who had been stationed at Twin Point for decades, had seen countless pirates head into the Grand Line, but very few ever returned to their starting point like this.
As the dot grew clearer, Crocus's old yellow eyes widened in disbelief.
He recognized it. The ship. The flag.
That's… Fairy Tail.
They had set out from East Blue five months ago. In that short time, the guild had risen to fame, becoming the "Fifth Emperor" of the seas.
Crocus remembered the promise he had made with Fairy Tail—to bring the Rumba Pirates back.
Now… Fairy Tail was returning.
The Rumba Pirates were coming home.
He felt it deep in his heart: it would not be long.
Soon, Fairy Tail dragged a large bamboo raft into Twin Point.
"Yo, old man! We meet again!" Sugisawa Yuuto called from the bow.
"Laboon, Grandpa Crocus, we're back!" Juvia waved excitedly.
"Wow! That's the whale Laboon! It's huge—like an island!" Wendy, Xiao Lulu, Vivi, and the other girls gasped in amazement.
Crocus laughed suddenly, joy erupting from him.
"Hahaha!"
Laboon responded with a joyful "Giao! Giao! Giao!"
"Laboon, we've fulfilled our promise, and you've kept yours. No pointless collisions with Red Clay 020 Mainland!" Nami said, smiling brightly.
Laboon responded again, confirming its agreement.
"President Sugisawa Yuuto… you… you…" Crocus said, rubbing his hands nervously, his eyes sweeping over the guild.
Then he noticed the massive bamboo raft trailing Fairy Tail.
"Hey hey hey!"
"Hello~"
Titan Cassie and Oimo greeted him warmly. Crocus nodded politely, but his expression grew tense.
Where was the old captain of the Rumba Pirates?
If any of them survived, they would now be in their seventies or eighties. Could it be…?
Crocus's heart sank. Perhaps the Rumba Pirates had been wiped out, and Fairy Tail had only found evidence of their end.
"Well, don't jump to conclusions. The result will exceed your expectations!" Sugisawa Yuuto said mysteriously.
Clap!
Mirajane clapped her hands.
When… when… when…
On the bell tower, Erza rang the golden bell three times.
Then a tightly wrapped figure appeared on the deck, facing the setting sun. Its long shadow stretched across the boards, and all eyes turned toward it.
"Yo Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho!"
"Yo Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho!"
Binks' Wine! The magnetic a cappella echoed with the violin, filling Cape Twins. Fifty years of waiting, of staying together, of promises… all captured in this song.
Listening to the melody, both the old man and the whale were drawn into memories long past. Laboon, we will come back! After a week's journey around the world, we will find you!
Somewhere, familiar voices reached them—returning, finally.
Then, the music shifted. Brook's violin solo ended.
Nami placed a sound shell on the mast, pressing the broadcast button.
"Everyone, let's sing together for the last time!"
"Okay, this is our final chorus!"
"Brook, there's hope for us, but also for you!"
"If you can truly be resurrected, bring this last chorus back to Cape Twins, to Laboon!"
"Then, let's begin!"
Yo ho ho ho ho, yo ho ho ho ho ho
Yo ho ho ho ho, yo ho ho ho ho ho
The ensemble was messy but joyful. Gradually, the music softened, instruments falling silent one by one. Only the piano remained, and then even that faded into tears.
Crocus, atop the whale, was stunned. This was the final dance of the Rumba Pirates—fifty years ago, in their last moments, they had left this song for their little friend at Gemini Point.
"Yo Ho Ho Ho… Yo Ho Ho…"
Brook played his violin at the bow of Fairy Tail, facing Laboon. He tried to sing, but his voice choked, tears streaming from beneath his mask.
"Giao~"
Laboon's enormous eyes glistened with tears, recognizing the human before it—Brook, the one it had waited for all these years.
"You… are you Brook?" Crocus asked, his voice trembling.
"Yes… Crocus… I'm Brook, of the Rumba Pirates!" Brook choked out.
"It's really you… Brook, you're back. Fifty years… Laboon has waited fifty years for you!" Crocus cried.
"I'm sorry, Laboon… I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting!" Brook sobbed.
"Giao-giao!" Laboon's tears fell in heavy drops.
Brook hesitated. "I… I can't show myself to Laboon—it'll frighten him!"
"Giao~" Laboon urged him.
"Believe in the bond you share with Laboon. No matter what you become, he will never dislike you," Nami said firmly.
"Robin, do it."
Robin nodded, activating her Flower-Flower Fruit ability, removing all of Brook's disguises.
"Brook, your body…" Crocus murmured.
"Don't look! The only thing left of me now is this afro!" Brook exclaimed.
"Giao-giao-giao!" Laboon cheered.
"Laboon is so happy!" Marianne said.
"Mr. Brook, Laboon is saying welcome back to you!" Wendy added.
Brook, just bones and afro, wept bitterly.
That night, Gemini Cape came alive with music and laughter. The long-deserted place was filled with singing and dancing.
Crocus no longer needed to prepare simple fish dishes—gourmet delicacies from Pukki were laid out, a feast for his senses.
"Hahaha! Today is perfect! Fairy Tail, you are the greatest guild!" Crocus laughed. Truly, it was the happiest day of his life—since Roger's crew disbanded over twenty years ago.
"Fairy Tail… maybe you can change this hopeless world," he said drunkenly.
"Let's not think too grand. We just want freedom on the seas," Sugisawa Yuuto said, smiling lightly. And to achieve that, anyone who stood in their way—be it the Four Emperors or the World Government—would be struck down with a single punch.
The raucous celebration lasted until morning.
"Here's the receipt for the commission, Mr. Crocus. The agreement between you and Laboon is officially complete!" Mirajane announced.
"Really… thank you so much!" Brook threw himself at Sugisawa Yuuto's feet in gratitude.
"I've said it before, Fairy Tail doesn't care about thanks. This was Laboon's commission," Sugisawa Yuuto said lightly.
"Brook, you and Mr. Crocus will stay with Laboon. He's waited fifty years—you must repay him. At least sing for him every day!" Nami, Vivi, and the others laughed.
"Yes!" Brook nodded solemnly.
"Goodbye, then!"
Under Crocus, Brook, and Laboon's watchful eyes, Fairy Tail sailed away.
In the near future, Twin Point would not just be home to a legendary whale, but to a singing skeleton as well.
The mission to find the Rumba Pirates was complete.
Yet the guild level hadn't increased—progress remained at 99%. Obsessive-compulsive, almost. But Sugisawa Yuuto didn't mind. That last one percent would be filled soon.
At the upgraded speed of Fairy Tail, less than a day later, they arrived at Whiskey Peak. The magnetic field activated, showing the direction of the next island.
Another day, another adventure.
The ancient, wild Little Garden came into view—the Primordial Island.
"I can feel it!"
"Me too!" The two silly titans, Cassie and Oimo, stood together.
"Captain… he's there!"
"The Isle of Primordial smells of adventure!" Vivi's eyes sparkled.
"Then let's start exploring!" Nami said, high-spirited.
"Oh!" Wendy echoed.
"Wait… where's the president?" Juvia suddenly asked, looking around, then vanished.
Rumble rumble~
The central volcano erupted, spewing fiery red magma. Earth-shaking footsteps reverberated across the island, sending dinosaurs fleeing in terror.
But the true rulers of this island were not the dinosaurs—they were two titans.
"Gugagagaga, Brogy! The volcano's erupting again! Time for our duel! Still don't give up?" Dorry bellowed, his long beard flowing, clad in warrior armor and a helmet.
"Gabbababa! Dorry, I've been waiting! Our 68,324th duel will be mine!" Brogy, the red ghost, smiled confidently as he strode forward.
The two giants approached, calm and confident as old friends, until…
A surge of power exploded around them. The ancient creatures trembled, sensing the rising fighting intent.
"goo"
"Gababa Baba"
The titans' fists collided, but suddenly… another massive footstep shook the ground.
The leader of the largest Brachiosaurus charged, plowing through trees and dinosaurs alike.
Dorry and Brogy instinctively turned, astonished. In the past century, these creatures had avoided their duels, but today…
Before they could react, a blurry shadow streaked over the Brachiosaurus leader.
Boom! Boom!
Two dull impacts echoed. The titans' fists were stopped mid-swing by an incredible force. The ground cracked beneath them.
Under that power, both titans were thrown upside down, crushing a section of primeval forest.
"The strongest warriors of the Giants… and this is the captain of the Giant Pirates? Disappointing!" Sugisawa Yuuto grinned.
"Show me your strongest moves!!!"