"Chirp, chirp!"
Barn raised an eyebrow, tilted his head slightly, and spoke.
"We're here..."
Laboon had grown considerably larger. Perhaps finding companions had finally eased the burden in his heart. He was much bigger than he had been in the original story, already nearly the size of a fully grown Island Whale.
Laboon carried Barn, Leonard, and Fitz to the base of World's fortress.
Laboon let out a call, and Fitz descended from the sky to land on Barn's head.
Barn smiled and stroked Fitz, who was now the size of an eagle, then leaped onto the still-unfinished fortress.
Leonard also jumped lightly onto the fortress.
"Laboon, wait for me a little while."
Barn turned toward Laboon in the sea, while Fitz chirped a few times.
Laboon snorted, then dove beneath the surface.
Barn pressed his foot against the ground, feeling it out.
"Hmm?"
Leonard crouched down and touched the ground, then spoke.
"Steel?"
From Leonard's words, Barn knew they weren't on land. They were probably aboard World's massive fortress ship, the Grosser.
"So, where should we go to find World?"
Barn stroked Fitz's wing as he muttered to himself.
Just then, heavy footsteps approached.
"Who are you?"
It was an enormous Fish-Man, with blue skin and a huge pair of black sunglasses. His tight little vest did little to give him a gentlemanly air. Perhaps the massive spiked club in his hand exposed his vicious nature, making even his somewhat cute face look menacing.
"An Odin, huh."
Clearly, the enormous fellow hadn't particularly caught Leonard's attention.
Leonard casually pulled a cigarette pack from his coat and tapped it against his hand, then caught a cigarette between his lips. He spun his lighter stylishly around his hand before lighting the cigarette with a crisp click. His movements were smooth and