This is my first One Piece fanfic, and I have concer-wait second One Piece Fanfic, but the very first fanfic I have made implementing a character completely own by me. The anime's so long to write, but I love it to death...I also love cartoons, and thus...it gives me an idea after watching Toon World in Yu-Gi-Oh, and the Mask, and an assortment of Looney Tune cartoons. I...feel I will bring all but backlash and critiques of One Piece writers better than me so, idk by all means. The only characters I own is Autumn, Emi, and Topper, everyone else belongs to Eiichro Oda. Enjoy.
It's clear that after the events that transpired during the Franky House, an explosion was heard. That such explosion was wide enough to hear from all throughout Water 7. Especially...throughout the Shopping District. Everyone was at a commotion as to what was that, or where that explosion came from. Even a certain red-haired hooded girl heard the explosion. She soon, came to notice a commotion from the crowd nearby her.
"What was that?" A man asks.
"Fireworks, mommy?" A child asks.
"In this time of day, don't be silly, Timothy." The child's daughter assured him. A man soon piped up.
"Actually, it sounds like it's coming out from the Franky House." The man suggested. Soon Emi looked in confusion as many of the crowd grumbled at the very remark of 'Franky House.'
"Those miscreants again? What trouble could those inconsiderate reprobates possibly be up to, at this hour?" A woman asks as many of the townspeople agreed with her. Emi soon lowered her head, pondering...could it JUST be the Franky Family.
"This ain't good...she...she can't be...THERE can she? I can't narrow it down to just Autumn, and odds are it COULD just be the Franky Family making a mess of things, like they always do. Still, I...can't leave that possibility out...can it?" Emi ponders to herself.
"I've gotta check it out." Emi says to herself, outloud as she soon made her travel to the Franky House. She of course knows the way, despite the long travel. However...it seems she's caught some undivided attention.
"Hmmm..." the Gentleman Artis says as he, unbeknownst to everyone around him, lowered his arm to the ground. His fingers seem to be dripping...a black substance. He seems to be producing something from that black substance...a strange...small, blobby creature...with bright green eyes.
"Follow her." Merlin says as the tiny creature salutes, as it crawls beneath the ground...as if it was a shadow. Miss Goldenweek watches it crawl away in intrigue.
"What is it?" She asks.
"You'll find out, soon enough." The Gentleman Artist says. His face ever so unreadable due to his mask.
Meanwhile back on Scrap Island
"Should we go after Franky?" Sanji spoke up as Zoro tired his bandanna back on his hand.
"And start looking where?" Zoro retorted.
"Oh man...looks like these idiots really didn't know where he took the money." Sanji says as he and Zoro turned to the Franky House...well...what's left of it, at least...there really isn't much left, considering the entire house has been amounted to nothing more than a pile of wood scraps and a sea of unconscious Franky Family bodies. As Sanji and Zoro were just in front of the trash heap, Luffy was standing on top of the heap, towering everyone. Autumn however, was helping Chopper tend to Usopp's wounds. Much has happened here.
"And if we do find him, IF he spent it, then there's no getting it back." Sanji reminded.
"So...Chopper is it, what's all this talk about money anyway? Why the heck were those loons tryin' to make a deal with you guys on it?" Autumn asks Topper as she and the Hammerling gave Chopper the necessities to help heal Usopp...despite the fact that he has everything.
"As I recalled, the Franky Family beat up Usopp for the 200 million beri we had. Usopp felt responsible for losing the money, so he went off on his own to fight the Franky Family. In the end...he lost." Chopper sighed looking to Usopp.
"Soooo...what was that money for?" Autumn asks.
"That money was going to be used for our ship: The Going Merry...but...still...I'm not sure what will even happen to the Merry..." Chopper says in sadness.
"Oh?" Autumn asks.
"The last thing we've been told...was that the Merry can't sail anymore...the ship's keel's been too damaged, and the we wouldn't be able to sail anymore...unless we get a new ship..." Chopper says with tears flowing in his eyes.
"Have ya made that decision whether or not you're getting a new ship yet?" Autumn asks as Chopper dried the tears.
"Not yet. It's up to Luffy." Chopper says putting on the finishing touches to the treatment.
"A stretcher. Do you have a stretcher in there, Autumn?" Chopper asks the cream kitten.
"Anything, Hammerling?" Autumn asks.
"..." The Hammerling says nodding his head no as both Chopper and Autumn sighed.
"It'll be fine." Chopper says as he rose up from the ground and turned to Zoro and Sanji.
"OKAY THE FIRST AID TREATMENT IS ALL DONE! WE'LL NEED TO TAKE HIM BACK ON A STRETCHER, SO I COULD USE SOME HELP OVER HERE!" He announced as Zoro and Sanji turned to him.
"Hanging around here won't do any good. Let's get back to the ship for now. We've left Nami there all by herself and Robin's still missing." Sanji says to Zoro as he hopped off the piece of scrap."The ship's a problem too." Sanji reminded.
"Yeah." Zoro says walking to the shore.
"HEY LUFFY!" Sanji called out as Luffy...spoke not a single word while atop the monument. He soon...finally spoke up as he faced the afternoon sun.
"I've made a decision...about the ship." Luffy simply says as Sanji looked in confusion.
"It's time to part ways with the Merry. We'll say goodbye to her here." Luffy announced. Sanji spoke not a word. It's clear the decision was made.
This Ain't Gonna Be Good...A Big Fight Under the Moon!
"Woweeeeeeeee~" Autumn sings as she and the others were approaching the so called Merry, a large ship with a goat shaped figurehead, smiling as if it hasn't a care in the world. Sunset was approaching as the five made their way to the ship, as Zoro and Sanji pulled the stretcher that Autumn took out from her Hammerspace, carrying the bruised and bloodied long nose.
"HEY, NAMI!" Sanji yelled out. A familiar face was seen approaching the ship railing. It was the scarlet-haired girl that accompanied Luffy and Usopp earlier. She seems to be overjoyed, as she quickly left the railing and took out the wooden plank.
"How is he?" Nami asks as Zoro and Sanji pulled the stretcher to the boardwalk, rolling it up to the ship.
"He's unconscious, barely breathing...but I was able to give him the proper care. Right now, he needs some rest. Send him to his cabin, alright?" Chopper asks.
"Right." Zoro and Sanji says in unison. Nami soon narrowed her eyes as Chopper and Luffy made walked up to the ship.
"Did you make the Franky Family pay?" The scarlet haired girl asks coldly.
"Yeah. We couldn't find Franky though." Chopper replied. Nami simply sighed. She soon looked in confusion as Autumn was making her way to the ship.
"Hold up, HOLD UP, what is SHE doing here?" Nami asks as she pointed to the blonde anthropomorphic cartoon kitten.
"D'aww, now what did I ever do to you, ma'am?" Autumn asks sweetly as can be, as she simply placed her gloved hands behind her back as she met with the deck of the ship.
"YOU'RE THE ONE THAT ALMOST BURNED OUR MONEY REMEMBER?!" Nami yelled out, dawning teeth as sharp as a shark's, making Autumn's fur shake.
"Hoo boy...you don't seem quite happy with me." Autumn says nervously.
"YA THINK!?" Nami yelled out.
"Chopper, you tend to Usopp, but leave the door open. I have an announcement I need to make." Luffy says in a serious tone. Chopper nodded his head as he climbed the stars and went into Usopp's room, leaving the door opened.
"What is it, Luffy?" Nami asks.
"Today, I've made my decision, about the ship," Luffy announced as Autumn, Zoro, and Nami perked up. Sanji however, already knew what he was gonna say. "We've had a good run with her, but...it's clear that this has to be done...we have to say our goodbyes to her, soon." Luffy announced. Sanji, and Zoro spoke not a word.
"W-what? Luffy, after all that we've been through with the Merry, we're just g-" Nami pleaded in annoyance, but was soon stopped by the Straw Hat dawning boy.
"I've made up my mind, Nami. You've heard what the Shipwrights said, didn't you?" Luffy retorted.
"Of course...but, why listen to t-" Nami asks but was once again interrupted by Luffy.
"Because, Nami...it's clear they know more about ships than we do. I...I didn't want to say goodbye to the Merry at first either, but if we have any choice of surviving the next island...our only hope...is to say our goodbyes to the Merry...and get a new ship" Luffy explained.
"I mean...I'm no ship expert myself, but...I mean...if some professionals know more about the ships, I would do as they say, and all that." Autumn says leaning on the railing.
"What's the problem with the ship again?" Sanji asks.
"The Keel. That long nosed shipwright says it's the backbone of the ship, the main structure. If it's broken, then it's over." Zoro explains.
"So...we're just gonna get a new ship? I-It wouldn't feel the same...I don't know..." Nami sighs.
"Well, we COULD make it feel the same. I mean...this kinda seems like an opportunity to get the things we want." Sanji says smoking a cigar.
"Still. The problem with that now, is the money." Zoro replies.
"The money? You still didn't get it?" Nami asks.
"No. Those idiots didn't have it. Their boss, Franky still has the money, and he wasn't there. Odds are he went out and spent it all. On top of that, we don't even know where he would go to spend it all. And waiting there wouldn't solve a thing." Sanji explains.
"In short, you guys are uh...in a lose-lose situation." Autumn replies.
"Yeah..." Zoro sighs.
"Well, money or not, when he comes back, I'm still gonna kick his ass for what he and those bastards did to Usopp." Luffy pledged.
"So it seems our top priority is on the Franky Family, Usopp, and the Ship." Nami pipes up.
"And Robin." Sanji pipes up.
"Robin?" Nami asks.
"Yeah. She got separated from Chopper, and we couldn't find her, ever since. We've looked around the whole city, but she just...disappeared." Sanji says as she soon turned to Luffy. "Hey, Luffy, you're said you were jumping around like that long noised Shipwreck guy. Any idea if you saw Robin on your way down?" He asks the Straw Hat dawning boy. To his dismay, Luffy nodded his head no.
"Nope, didn't see her." He replied. Sanji sighed in exasperation.
"Great...it's getting dark, and she's still not around. This day sucked." Sanji says taking out a cigarette and made a blow as a puff of smoke blissfully left his mouth. Autumn soon looked up to see Chopper making his way out of the room.
"HEEEEY! USOPP'S FINALLY AWAKE, YOU GUYS!" Chopper announced.
"ALRIGHT, THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR!" Luffy cheered.
"Heh, that's one less thing to worry about." Nami sighed in relief. Immediately, Luffy stretched to the railing to Usopp's room, as everyone minus Sanji walked there, to Autumn's notice.
"Mew?" Autumn asks tilting her head as Sanji looks to the scenic view of Water 7. Blowing out a puff of smoke, it was clear that something was concerning the blonde haired youth.
"Robin's still not back yet...?" Sanji says to himself, as Autumn caught an earful. She soon perched herself on top of Sanji's soldier, as the cook looked at her in annoyance.
"Pfffffff, cheer up, will ya, curly brow? I'm sure whatsherface'll show up eventually. Maybe overnight, if anything. We'll worry about all that later, right now we've got a patient who needs a smiley, smiley, hehe" Autumn says giving Sanji a great big smile. Sanji simply sighs.
"There's allot on my mind, here, cat. Allot on everyone's mind. Not sure if a 'smiley smiley' is the best thing we need, right now." Sanji says putting her down gently, as he walked up to regroup with the others.
"Eh, I'm sure their lil' dilemma will pull through eventually." Autumn says as she regrouped with the others, seeing the bruised and battered long nose. He's alive, that's for sure...and sure is a relief.
"Y'know, I oughta punch you for scaring us like that." She heard Nami say. The little kitten soon realize the bruised patient was not only covered in bandages from head to toe, but he was shaking, and the light was basically shadowing his eyes.
"No kidding, though it looks like you've taken enough punches, if you ask me. What were you thinking, taking those guys on alone?" Sanji pipes up.
"You can't just run off and fight whoever you want." Zoro says sternly.
"Ohhhhhh, that's a good one, coming from you." Sanji says sarcastically as Luffy chuckles. Soon, the kitten's ears perked up, the long nose...or...Usopp was about to speak.
"T-this wouldn't of happened if I wasn't strong like you guys..." Usopp says, as tears began flowing his eyes. "I-I'm sorry! T-this is all my fault! I'm so ashamed of myself!" Usopp cried out as he leaped out of the bed and suddenly grabbed on to Zoro's leg.
"What the hell?" Zoro says in surprise.
"I knew how important that money was, and I jus-j-" The rest of what Usopp was saying was covered up through either his crying, or Zoro trying to pull him off his leg.
"H-I know you're sorry, but you don't have to get all 'touchy feely' on me!" Zoro yelled out as Autumn chuckled.
"Sometimes touchy feely is the best feely!" Autumn says blissfully as she leaned on the ship's wall, crossing her arms as she took from the bed a stray magazine. She simply began reading it as the conversation transpired.
"WELL NOT TO ME, DAMMIT!" Zoro yells out as Luffy simply chuckles through this whole ordeal.
"But all the trouble I went through! What about the Merry?!" Usopp cried out.
"Take it easy! You shouldn't be out of bed yet..." Chopper pleaded.
"C'mon calm down...stop your whining and listen to the Doctor..." Nami intervened. Soon, the crying began to soften, and Usopp finally lets go of Zoro's leg. Through his pain, he returned back to his bed as he looked at Luffy in hope.
"So...is there...a chance we might get our money back, after all?" Usopp asks.
"Well...maybe. We won't know until that Franky guy shows up." Luffy replies casually. Usopp lowers his head in defeat. His tone, even lowered in defeat.
"I see...I'm sorry..." Usopp says in hurt.
"Hey, even if we can't get the rest back, we still have 100 million Berries left over! Don't worry!" Luffy assures as he gives out his hearty laugh. Nami however glared at the straw hat dawning boy.
"YEAH, BUT HE LOST TWICE THAT MUCH!" Nami reminded.
"Nami..." Chopper warned in concern. She soon sighed in realization.
"Right...sorry, Usopp." Nami apologized. Soon, while everyone was continuing, Autumn, soon turned to the catalog just resting on the table. She took a seat and read through the pages. It seems like a magazine for Ships.
"No...it's fine. But...more importantly, is Merry gonna be OK?" Usopp asks in a worried tone. However...the moment he asks that...silence emanates the room.
"I mean, can we get her repaired with the money we have left?" Still silence.
"Ohhh...boy..." Autumn silently says as she nervously shrunk behind the magazine, and continued her reading. Usopp, however...he's continued his pleading.
"W-we're lucky we have these awesome Shipwrights to work on her, b-but I know things are gonna get rough out there...so I want her to be stronger than ever before." Usopp pledged...oh boy oh boy...the atmosphere is not that great.
"We need more than a few touch ups on her, so...do you think those guys will still do a good job if we only have 100 million to pay with? You talked to them about it right?" Usopp asks Luffy.
"Uh...yeah...but we aren't having them repair it. We've decided to get a new ship instead." Luffy replied. Usopp however, gasped in surprise as Luffy continued.
"I know we should've asked you first, but we didn't have much of a choice, either way, I've made up my mind. The Going Merry has taken good care of us, but it looks like our journey with her has to end here." Luffy explained. Autumn's eyes poked up from the magazine to see that...Usopp doesn't seem to be taking this news well. On top of that, neither are the rest of the group.
"Even I...know this ain't gonna be good..." Autumn whispered as she shrunk even farther behind the catalog, but Luffy immediately snatched it up from her gloved hands.
"I NEED TO HIDE, SIR!" Autumn yelled out.
"Anyway, Ice Pops gave us this awesome ship catalog to flip through. There's all kinds of different ships we can pick from, in here and if we decide to shop here for a used model, we can go bigger than the Merry and still keep our budget at 100 million." Luffy says in excitement.
"Wait...just stop." Usopp suddenly says as Luffy stops. A chuckle was heard.
"I get it Luffy, but the joke's gone on long enough, OK? See? Chopper doesn't know you're kidding. Look how upset you're making him, heh...geez Captain, you should know better than to treat your crew like that." Usopp chuckles...still silence emanates the room. "C'mon Nami...back me up here..." The long nose pleaded...but still...silence. At that point, Autumn decided to hide below the table in concern.
"W-wait...don't tell me...does that mean we don't have enough for the repairs? IT'S BECAUSE I LOST THE 200 MILLION! ISN'T IT?! AND NOW WE CAN'T AFFORD TO WORK ON THE MERRY, IS THAT WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT?!" Usopp yells out. "AFTER ALL, A FIRST CLASS SHIPYARD IS GONNA COST ALLOT, RIGHT?!" Usopp yells as he stood up to get up in Luffy's face. The straw hat, dawning boy closed the catalog.
"Would you stop and listen to me?" Luffy says trying to get the long nose to calm down.
"What is it? TELL ME! DON'T TRY TO SUGARCOAT IT!" Usopp demanded.
"I'M NOT, OK!? I DON'T EVEN CARE THAT YOU LOST THE MONEY, THAT'S OVER NOW!" Luffy yelled out.
"IF THAT'S HOW YOU FEEL, THEN WHAT'S ALL THIS CRAP ABOUT BUYING A NEW SHIP?!" Usopp yelled out.
"Both of you, stop it!" Zoro intervened as Luffy and Usopp only glared at each other. "Fighting isn't going to help, just calm down for a sec." Zoro explains. But it seems Usopp is more heated at this than Luffy himself.
"I don't see what I'm doing wrong, he's the one saying all of this dumb stuff!" Usopp retorted.
"I know how you feel, but you shouldn't get worked up, right now." Nami pipes up.
"Listen to Nami, Usopp, if you don't get any rest, you're not gonna get better!" Chopper pleads.
"WHO CARES ABOUT ME?! How can you just sit here, when he's making jokes about getting a new ship?!" Usopp yells out as he and Luffy only glared at each other.
"I'M NOT JOKING ABOUT ANYTHING! THIS WAS A HARD DECISION FOR ME, TOO!" Luffy yelled out.
"OH YEAH, I FEEL REALLY SORRY ABOUT YOU!" Usopp yells sarcastically as he snatches away the catalog and slamming it to the ground. "ALREADY WINDOW SHOPPING FOR A NEW TOY!" Usopp yells out.
"Y-you tryin' to start a fight with me?" Luffy demanded.
"I DON'T NEED YOUR PITY, GOT IT?! If you're telling me that it doesn't matter that I lost the money, THEN WHY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT BUYING A NEW SHIP!? JUST SPIT IT OUT! IF WE CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIRS BECAUSE I SCREWED UP, THEN TELL ME! DON'T SHOW ME SOME CATALOG AND CHANGE THE SUBJECT! I WANNA KNOW THE TRUTH!" Usopp demanded as Luffy was growing, becoming angrier and angrier.
"...Gulp..." Autumn says meekly.
"The merry...can't be...FIXED!" Luffy yelled out. The words 'Thick' ...it cuts through...like a knife. Even Autumn's ears perked up as she suddenly heard something...somewhere.
"Is it me, or did I hear waves splashing on a cliff?" Autumn asks herself. She soon heeded attention to Usopp. Shocked...stunned...basically frozen at this news. It definitely cut HIM like a knife the same as the atmosphere.
"What...w-w-what...did you say?" Usopp asks meekly as Luffy clenched his fists.
"Don't make me repeat myself. I told you...the Merry can't be repaired anymore...n-no matter what we do...we can't...fix her...otherwise, I wouldn't say something like that." Luffy explains. Autumn can hear Luffy's heart practically crackling within each word of his sentence. Usopp on the other hand, fell down on his knees with a thud. Soon...he narrowed his eyes...Usopp was not done.
"YOU MEAN THIS SHIP?! THE SHIP WE'RE SAILING RIGHT NOW?! BROKEN?!" Usopp yelled out slamming the floor boards.
"That's right. It's only a matter of time before she sinks." Luffy warns.
"What are you talking about, Luffy...that's nuts." Usopp says silently. It's clear he's having a hard time accepting the facts...even though Autumn doesn't know the facts.
"No, I'm serious. The shipwrights took a look at the Merry themselves. They said she wouldn't even hold out till the next island." Luffy explained as Autumn heard a growl coming from Usopp.
"And it's settled? That's it? A bunch of sailors scrap your ship and you don't even ask any questions?" Usopp demanded.
"That's enough." Luffy says bluntly.
"I understand that these guys know what they're talking about, but...this is just wrong! DON'T GIVE UP ON THE MERRY!" Usopp declared as he continued.
"WHAT ABOUT ALL OUR ADVENTURES WE'VE GONE THROUGH TOGETHER?! WHAT ABOUT ALL THE BATTLES WE FOUGHT?! She's our friend, SHE'S ONE OF US! ARE YOU GONNA ABANDON HER WITHOUT EVEN A SECOND THOUGHT?! After all we've been through, is THAT how little you think of the Merry, Luffy?" Usopp roared out as tears began to slowly flow down.
"I know you're upset, Usopp...but you need to calm down..." Chopper pleaded once more as Usopp regained his composure.
"I'm sorry, but no...I-I'm not backing down until we've settled this..." Usopp says weakly.
"Usopp please..." Nami pleaded. Luffy, however, wasn't taking this.
"What, so you know better than the Shipwrights? If we had someone on the crew who knew this stuff, then we wouldn't of asked them in the first place." Luffy retorted.
"Then forget them. We don't need those guys telling us what to do. I'll repair the Merry, myself, just like before. We've made it this far, so there's no reason we can't go on that way." Usopp says as he painfully tried to move in to try to fix the ship.
"Mew...mew...mew...this...isn't gonna be good..." Autumn says to herself.
"Here...I'll get started right now. C'mon guys, help me out..." Usopp pleaded.
"That's not gonna work." Sanji says sternly.
"Y-you're right...we're out of lumber right...I better go buy some at the Shipyard. We've got allot of work to do..." Usopp says as he determinedly tried to make his way to the door...despite all his bruises and injuries. Luffy...once again wasn't having it.
"If it's uh...all the same to you, I'm uhhhh...sure I have some lumber in my uh...hammerspace, heheh?" Autumn pipes up nervously. Luffy, soon glared at her.
"Don't encourage him." Luffy growled, making Autumn sweat, through her fur. Not much has gotten to her, but fear...all it took was one glare from Luffy...to instill fear on the kitten.
"Hehe! Uhh...pardon me, I'll uhhh...go back below the table, sorry for offering!" Autumn says nervously.
"What the hell are you...doing, Luffy? If...she says she has lumber, then she has lumber! We need all the lumber if we're gonna f-" Usopp retorted, but it was clear that Luffy just doesn't have the patience anymore.
"YOU'RE NOT A SHIPWRIGHT, USOPP!" Luffy yelled out.
"Luffy, that's enough!" Nami retorted.
"Yeah, you're right, I know! BUT SO WHAT?! I DON'T SEE WHY YOU HAVE TO BE SO HUNG UP ON WHAT A STUPID SHIPWRIGHT SAYS!" Usopp retorted as he slammed the catalog on the floor with his injured hand.
"IF THEY KNEW WHAT SHE'S GONE THROUGH, THEY WOULDN'T GIVE UP ON THE MERRY SO EASILY! THEY JUST WANT YOUR MONEY!" Usopp yelled out as tears once again flew down his eyes.
"Usopp..." Nami says gently.
"The Merry's our ship, so it's our job to take care of her without someone else butting in! I'm not giving up...I WON'T LET THEM TAKE THE MERRY AWAY FROM ME!" Usopp cried out to the heavens as silence once again cuts through the atmosphere like a knife.
"This is stupid! You got fooled by a bunch of salesman trying to pawn off a used boat! The Luffy I knew wouldn't give in to a sales pitch from a total stranger! He'd believe in the strength of the Merry and the strength of his crew! But here you are, acting like you know everything AND IGNORING YOUR FRIENDS!" Usopp yelled out as he soon snatched Luffy's collar and pulled him in.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT'S THE KIND OF CAPTAIN YOU'VE TURNED OUT TO BE! I THOUGHT YOU WERE BETTER THAN THAT!" The long nose yelled out as Luffy growled.
"You're not being fair, Usopp! Luffy felt t-" Nami started but was soon interrupted by her Captain.
"You stay out of this! It was my call and I stand by it! There's NOTHING you can do!" Luffy yelled out as he continued. "We're getting a new ship, whether you like it or not! This is the END of the line for the Merry!" Luffy declared as Usopp pulled him in again.
"I'M NOT LEAVING HER HERE, I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY!" Usopp retorted. "I know you're always thinking about the future, BUT NOT EVERYONE ON THIS CREW IS LIKE THAT! I SEE THE MERRY AS ONE OF OUR FRIENDS, GOT IT?! AND I WON'T ABANDON HER WHEN SHE'S HURT!" The long nose declared.
"DON'T BE STUPID! JUST BECAUSE SHE'S A FRIEND, DOESN'T MEAN SHE'S A PERSON!" Luffy yelled out throwing Usopp to the ground.
"SHE IS TO ME, AND SHE STILL HAS THE STRENGTH TO LIVE! BUT YOU WON'T APPRECIATE THAT, BECAUSE ALL YOU THINK ABOUT IS GETTING A NEW SHIP! STOP BEING SO SELFISH AND THINK ABOUT YOUR CREW!" Usopp retorted.
"Alright, that's enough, both of you! Let's just calm down and settle this l-!" Sanji tried to intervene, but immediately Luffy oh so suddenly threw Usopp to the ground.
"WOULD YOU LISTEN TO YOURSELF?!" Luffy yelled out, taking everyone by surprise. Even, Autumn covered her mouth in surprise.
"LUFFY!" Nami yelled out in concern.
"DON'T ACT LIKE YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE TORN UP ABOUT THIS! WE ALL FEEL THE SAME WAY!" Luffy roared out.
"IF THAT WAS TRUE, THEN YOU WOULDN'T BE LOOKING FOR A NEW SHIP!" Usopp retorted.
"ALRIGHT, FINE IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WAY YOUR CAPTAIN DOES THINGS, THEN WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND GET OFF!" Luffy demanded, to which,
CRASH!
He was immediately sent flying to Autumn, thanks to Sanji's kick. Both Chopper and Nami were flabbergasted at what just transpired...but it seems to be the only way, for Luffy AND Usopp to see to reason...before things get...well uglier.
"Sanji!" Chopper says in surprise.
"I'm OK!" Autumn says looking in surprise at the crater just in front of her, as a pinch of cream fur fell from the right side of her face.
"This has gone on WAY too far. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU? If you don't watch it, you'll say things that you WON'T take back! SO CALM DOWN!" Sanji demanded, which is clear that it's towards both Luffy and Usopp. Autumn's ears flopped down in disappointment.
"I guess a balloon won't settle things...heh..." Autumn asks nervously. Soon, Luffy arose from the debris made when he was sent flying. He soon gave out a sigh.
"Yeah...sorry. I don't know what I was thinking..." Luffy says apologetically.
"You don't have to apologies..." Everyone heard Usopp say. "Cause that's how you really feel, isn't it?" Usopp says with such hatred in his tone. Luffy once again got angry.
"That's not TRUE!" Luffy denied as Usopp once again rose from the ground.
"Just get rid of your dead weight and move on, before it can slow you down. If you're gonna throw away the Merry, then you might as well throw me away too. Or better yet..." Usopp says as he all so suddenly pointed to Autumn, taking the kitten by surprise.
"Mew?" Autumn asks.
"You get two for two, don't you, Luffy? Not only will you replace the ship, but you replace me for her, is that right? You planned it from the start." Usopp hypothesized. "She doesn't look like a shipwright, but if anything, she'll be more competent than I ever would be." Usopp explains.
"I know you're pissed off, but don't say stupid crap like that!" Sanji retorted.
"No...I'm serious. I've been thinking about this for a while now." Usopp says as he began to explain.
"It isn't what it's like before. You guys are just too strong for me. I can't keep up anymore. I mean...look what happened today, you can't even trust me with your money. There's no point in keeping me around, if all I do is keep causing you trouble." Usopp explains as everyone was simply surprised. Autumn decided to speak up.
"Look...longnose, I know you're upset...and...I'm flattered you think of me as a replacement...but...I don't need to be on this crew of yours to know that...there's always a reason to bring people aboard a ship, weak, strong, there will always be room...I mean...aren't pirate crews supposed to be treated like...a family or something?" Autumn asks. Usopp simply shook his head no.
"You may think that...but no. That's not how a Pirate crew works. The strongest survive...am I right, LUFFY?" Usopp explains as he soon turns to the straw hat dawning boy in question. He still spoke not a word.
"You don't want weak people do you, Luffy? I know you can still become King of the Pirates one day. But as for me, I'm just lucky I was able to make it this far. Even back when we first met and I was gonna set off alone, you probably invited me on your ship out of pity." Usopp says.
"Longnose..." Autumn started, but was stopped by Usopp.
"No. There's no sense traveling together if we don't even have the same goal! So...cat...enjoy my position, if you want. I'm done." Usopp says making his way to the door.
"Hey, Usopp! Where are you going?!" Sanji demanded as the wind blew into Usopp's hair and the sunset shining down on the Longnose's face.
"Wherever I go, it's MY business. It has nothing to do with you, anymore. Sorry guys...I'm leaving the crew. This is goodbye!" Usopp declared as he soon walked out of the room, taking everyone minus Luffy and Zoro by surprised as the door slowly opened.
"USOPP WAIT!" Chopper, Nami, and Sanji yelled out in unison...but the moment they would reach out to him...the door closed right on their faces. They were gone...as Luffy, Zoro, and Autumn remained silent. Autumn simply slumped to the ground, with her ears drooping down. The rest...remained shocked.
"Usopp...why...?" Chopper says meekly.
"Oh no..." Nami says in worry, as she soon turned to Luffy...who only did nothing. He didn't even rise up from the ground.
"Hey, don't just sit there, Luffy! Who knows what he's gonna do out there! Go say something to him, STOP HIM, before it's too late!" Nami pleaded...but Luffy...spoke not a word.
"We've come too far together. We can't part ways like this...Usopp's not just a crew member, he's our friend, too, isn't he? GET UP AND STOP HIM!" Nami cried out once again. Luffy's almost as stiff and silent as a statue. Tears began to swell in Nami's eyes.
"Luffy...what's wrong...you're the Captain...aren't you?" Nami asks amidst her tears. She soon lowered her head in defeat.
"Fine...have it your way." She says harshly as she soon ran out the door alongside Chopper and Sanji as they all noticed Usopp walking away from the ship.
"USOPP, WAIT! IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY! COME BACK, WE CAN TALK!" Nami yelled out.
"YEAH! COME BACK!" Sanji yelled out as well.
"I WANT YOU TO STAY! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE US!" Chopper yelled out as he was crying, sobbing, pleading...soon, both Luffy and Zoro decide to regroup with the group on the railing...while Autumn, decides to lean on the wall, in disappointment.
"And...there it goes...so much for that 'smiley smiley' biz..." Autumn sighs. Her ears soon perked up as she soon heard Usopp's voice from outside.
"Luffy...I'm sorry I can't following you anymore...and I'm sorry I've been a pain, to the bitter end. I know that you're the Captain of this ship, so the Merry belongs to you...that's I want you to fight me, Monkey D. Luffy...I CHALLENGE YOU TO A DUEL!" Usopp soon announced. Autumn only looked in confusion.
"Meow? A...duel?" Autumn asks herself.
"W-Whoa...what are you saying?" Nami asks.
"At 10:00, tonight, I'll be back! So you better be ready for a fight, Captain! I can't stop you from destroying your own ship, but if I win, I'm taking the Merry and leaving! Either way, when we're done, the last bond between us will be broken!" Usopp challenged. Autumn soon looked to clearly see the anger in Luffy's face...and she doesn't even need eyes to see Usopp's anger. She...has only one thing to say about this duel.
"This...ain't gonna be good..." She says to herself.
My heart turns to mush every time I go through this arc. The one arc that puts so much on the Straw Hats, from the Merry, to Robin. Let us see who the winner is in this duel...yep, it ain't gonna be good, that's for sure. Anyway, a little bit more added to the Gentleman's powers...I think it'll be clear on his abilities soon enough. For now, I thank you for joining in, and I'll be open for suggestions...and well...this arc's got allot of feels.