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.
With a sudden yawning, we now turn to another's point of view. Course...the point of view seems to be upside down, but the setting...of course is taking place in...what appears to be a fancy bedroom of some sort. The camera soon views to a familiar set of pacman eyes...as he sees all clearly through his monocle...a top hat...resting on the desk of the fancy bedroom.
"I daresay...the last thing I recall was being flung away by that brute of a 'gentleman...' what the Devil am I doing here? In someone's bedroom, of all places?" It's the thoughts of our old friend, Topper. The door soon creaks, making Topper stiffen in fear, as he stood where he was. A man in an orange suit with familiar blue hair entered the room...it was...
"Mr. Iceberg...the Water 7 Mayor, what what? Could it be that he picked me up? Could it be that I was flung to his doorstep? Peculiar...most peculiar..." Topper says in thought. What peeks his curiosity even more was that next to him...appears to be a wanted poster...the poster had a picture of a child.
"I've the right make concerns to this...but I shall ignore them...let me see..." Topper says in his thoughts as he read the wanted poster.
"Wanted: Dead or Alive, Nico Robin...a 79 million beri bounty...or what I suppose...considering the amount has been crossed out. Curious...what could Iceberg...possibly want with someone like her?" Topper ponders as he watched Iceberg walk back and fourth through the room.
"Mwell...the Straw Hats huh..." Iceberg says to himself as he looked out the window. A misty night...a night like this and yet...it seems off to him...
"I have a bad feeling about tonight...I wonder what it is..." Iceberg says to himself. Topper only looks at him in confusion.
"I daresay this man is a maniac...of course, zaniness isn't too far from the tree...still...speaking of zaniness...my only hope is that Autumn is safe..." Topper sighs.
At the Ship
Though this are most unsettling in the town, it's much worse upon the so called Going Merry. The night is drawing near, and there's not a moment too soon...until Usopp returns to Scrap Isle...to challenge Luffy to fight for the ship. Tension has been high ever since the fight. For starters, Nami approached Luffy while he was asleep, pleading to forget all that has happened.
"WHAT'S WITH YOU!? Would you stop this nonsense, already?" Nami yelled out. Luffy didn't speak a word. He only just blissfully rested on the hammock...clearly with allot on his mind. Nami however, won't budge.
"Usopp just got worked up because things were moving too fast, right? That's no reason to fight your own friend, especially not when he's hurt! If you give it some time, I'm sure the both of you will see how silly this is!" Nami explained. Luffy however, glared back at her for a single second, before closing his eyes again.
"We've gone too far to turn back now." Was all that Luffy says.
"That's not true! There's nothing stopping you from apologizing, and talking it over to him, one more time!" Nami retorted back. Since...at first...but then Luffy spoke up again.
"Like I said...no turning back." He echoed.
"And why not?" Nami demanded.
"Usopp is willing to risk his life to fight me, he's more than just angry. Besides, if just talking it over was enough to make things right, we wouldn't have come to this in the first place." Luffy explained. He soon turned away from Nami.
"That's all I have to say, so goodnight." Luffy simply says. Nami...she was baffled.
"Luffy..." She says hopelessly.
That...was just one of many problems that transpired on this ship. Another thing to point out is that...it seems another fight is already happening down in the kitchen with Sanji and Zoro.
"Think about it! You said the Franky Family came here this afternoon, right?" Sanji asks.
"Yeah? So? What are you trying to say?" Zoro retorted defensively.
"If you hadn't let them off so easy, they wouldn't of run off with the money in the first place. It's YOUR fault those guys attacked Usopp! He's just freaking out because he feels guilty!" Sanji speculated.
"HEY, DON'T GO BLAMING ME FOR NOT KICKING THEIR ASSES HARD ENOUGH! YOU WERE THE ONE WHO RAN OFF TO GO SHOPPING!" Zoro objected.
"WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO COOK IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY FOOD?!" Sanji retorted.
"Both of you shut up!" Nami intervened making the two stop immediately as she closed the ship door, with her head lowered. "There's been enough fighting already." She says hatefully. "Whatever happened...it's over now." She simply says.
"Oh, uh...I know, but this wouldn't be happening if it wasn't for him." Sanji replied. Soon, everyone turned as the door creaked open again. Another head lowered down in sorrow as the group watched Chopper slowly walk in.
"Oh, hey, you're back. You were going after Usopp, weren't you?" Zoro pipes up.
"Even if he was still mad, I still wanted to treat his wounds, but he turned me away..." Chopper explains with such hurt in his voice, as he plopped hopelessly to the ground.
"He found a place to stay...so at least he can get some rest, but do you know what he said to me...?" Chopper asks, as he rose his head up...and tears were suddenly starting to blind his eyesight.
"H-he said we weren't friends now...and that I should leave him alone and go back to the ship..." Chopper says amidst his sobbing. With a sigh, Nami soon spoke up as she sat down on a crate, in disappointment.
"Just this morning we were all happy, and now what? We lost Usopp, Robin's still missing, I feel like...if we don't do something...this whole crew is gonna fall apart..." Nami simply says in forlorn. The entire room stayed silent...knowing that it was clear that she was right. Soon, Sanji broke the silence as he looked around.
"Where's the cat? On top of that, what do we do with her?" Sanji asks. Zoro gave out a hearty tsk.
"Really? The crew might disband, and you're thinking about that stupid cat?" Zoro retorted.
"I'm worried about her too. She didn't really deserve to see all of that. She hardly even knew us, let alone the situation. She probably scampered off because of all of this...I wouldn't blame her." Nami explains as she lowered her head in disappointment.
"N-no. She's *sniff-sniff* up on the Crow's nest." Chopper responded. Nami looks at the reindeer in confusion.
"The crow's nest? What's she doing on top of there?" Nami asks.
Which leads to the third of our dilemma. Poor, poor, Autumn. It seems her mind is cramming with so many things at once. Who are these people, why are they making so much of a fuss because of a ship? If the ship can't be fixed scrap it, right? It seems like a hunk of wood. Autumn was simply pondering...pondering...as she looked at the Jolly Roger in front of her. Skull and crossbones with a straw hat atop its skull, as the flag flaps and flaps to the wind.
"There's something about you, huh?" Autumn asks the flag.
"I mean...no one would just...throw their life away over a crummy, damaged, ship. So...there has to be something special that those guys see...but I don't." Autumn says as she lowered her cream head, and her ears slumped
"Not...so sure a balloon could help out in this screwy situation." Autumn sighs.
CLANK!
Soon her ears perked up. A noise was her as she looked around in confusion.
"Meow?" Autumn asks. She looked down to the deck. Strangely...she doesn't see anyone on deck...everyone must still be inside. She shrugged the sound off and continued looking at the flag. It was probably a sound inside. She couldn't quite discern it anyway.
CLANK!
Her ears perked up again. This time...she could actually determine the sound of...wood...pounding? She took another look down...and she doesn't see anyone, once more. She even looked to the figurehead...there's nothing. So what could be the s-
CLANK!
There it is again.
"Hello? Anyone out there? Uh...look not really a good time to be banging against a plank ya know!" Autumn yelled out...but there was still no response. Whoever's out there...only continued to bang the wood.
CLANK!
And yet...there's no one in sight...
"If only...I could set sail...one last time..." A voice laments, A high-pitched voice...says in sorrow. Autumn's ears perked up once more. She was looking frantically for the voice, but there was just...nowhere in sight. Unless...she keeps her eye on the ship's figurehead, as she tilts her head in confusion.
"I know that I've gone zany...but is mentally insane apart of the job description? Because uh...f-for a minute there...I'm thinking it's the Ship's talking to me..." Autumn says to herself. However, nothing was heard from again. Nothing but the howling winds.
The blonde cat soon looked at her gloved hands. She soon thought up an idea. An idea that she's not sure if it could work.
"I wonder..." The anthropomorphic kitten says as she took off one of her gloves. She simply gave the crow's nest pole a light touch. She soon put her glove back on and waited. Waited to see if anything would happen at a simple touch.
Unfortunately...nothing happened. Her ears drooped down in disappointment.
"I guess my powers work when it's...small things. I mean...I'm not sure if it's manageable to make a ship physically talk. I was thinking...that voice could give me some answers..." Autumn simply says to herself in disappointment.
Soon, her thoughts were interrupted when her ears perked up again, hearing the creak of the ship door opening. She looked down to see all the Straw Hats making their way out the deck. Luffy jumping off the ship. It could only mean one thing...
"About 10 already? Longnose is about to make an appearance on stage soon..." Autumn sighs. Soon, the clanking sound ceased...as if it wasn't even there. Soon, Luffy leaped off the ship and stood tall on the beach as he turned back to his crew once more.
"Listen up, I don't want any of you leaving the ship. You got that?" Luffy called out as he soon turned to the crow's nest. "That means you too, Autumn." Luffy demanded as Autumn soon looked down to the Straw Hat dawning boy with an unreadable face.
"Meow..." Autumn meows worriedly, as she and the rest of the crew can hear footsteps in the dead silence. Immediately they know who's footsteps those are.
"Look..." Nami says pointing to the shadow in the distance.
"PLEASE DON'T FIIIIIIGHT!" Chopper cried out in terror. Appearing through the fog came Usopp, the long nosed man who's still completely bruised and battered up from his run-in with the Franky Family.
"You've gotta love the guy's ambition..." Autumn says to herself. "Getting walloped by the Franky Family, yet he wants to fight here and now? He's somethin' else..." Autumn mused as the wind was blowing through the cold, dense, atmosphere.
Autumn doesn't quite know the bond these guys had...but it's clear that it's unmatched. The bond between longnose, and the ship...everyone can only look at Luffy and Usopp...while the two men only glared at each other. Luffy has...an unpredictable look, but it's clear to Autumn that deep down, Luffy probably doesn't want this fight either.
"So you didn't lose your nerve after all. No matter how this battle ends, you can't regret it. This is exactly what you've asked for." Luffy called out to Usopp.
"That's perfect. Don't go easy on me, I won't be the underdog this time. In fact, I've already figured out a way to defeat you." Usopp says sternly, clearly in a much serious tone.
"S-shouldn't we stop this? Usopp's injuries are pretty bad..." Chopper says in hoping that the crew would listen to him...but that doesn't seem to be the case.
"If you can't stand to watch, then go inside." Zoro says bluntly as the wind only continued to blow. Chopper can only watch this show in worry, while Autumn...in both worry AND intrigue.
"Make no mistake," Usopp continues. "I'm not like any opponent you've faced before. We've been friends for a long time. I know all your powers, all of your strengths, and all of your weaknesses." Usopp explains as Luffy only looked in silence. Longnose however, wasn't done.
"But there's something you don't know about me...I...HAVE 8,000 MEN BY MY SIDE! IF YOU DON'T SURRENDER NOW, I'LL ORDER THEM TO ATTACK!" Usopp yelled out threateningly as Luffy still only glared at him.
"WHAAAAAT?! WHY DIDN'T HE TELL ME?!" Chopper yelled out.
"Seriously just go inside." Zoro says in frustration.
"8,000 MEN?! OH, I'M DEFINITELY ROUTING FOR THIS MAN NOW!" Autumn cheers as she suddenly took out popcorn and oh so suddenly on a recliner.
"OK HOW ABOUT YOU GO INSIDE WITH HIM?!" Zoro yelled out in frustration.
"IF YOU'RE GONNA FIGHT, THEN AT LEAST TAKE IT SERIOUSLY!" Luffy yelled out in annoyance.
"UUUUUUUUSOP VOODOO!" Usopp yelled out as Luffy only looked at him in confusion. "YOU HAVE RAZOR SHARP NEEDLES! STUCK BEHIND YOUR TEETH!" Usopp yelled out as if some spell was made.
"AHHHHHH!" Chopper squeaked
"OHHHHHH!" Autumn winced.
"IT HURTS JUST TO IMAGINE THAT!" Both of them yelled out in unison.
"For God's sake the both of you just go inside." Zoro sighed in frustration. Luffy soon had enough.
"YOU'VE GOT PRICKLY SPIKES UNDER YOUR FING-huh?" Usopp yelled out but soon realized that the time for talk was over as Luffy soon began charging to him, with his fist at the ready.
"Gum-Gum...PISTOL!" Luffy says preparing his attack, but soon stopped abruptly, as he looked in fear at his pal. Soon, everyone as plain as can be, can see that Usopp soon fell to his knees, coughing up red...and allot of it. Everyone looked in shock, even Luffy.
"What happened?!" Nami cries out in surprise.
"AHHHHH! USOPP PLEASE DON'T DIE!" Chopper screamed in terror as Autumn can only cover her mouth in fear. Sanji and Zoro also looked in surprise as well...however, though it looks like Usopp was bleeding out...he wasn't...
"Special Attack: Ketchup Star." Usopp growls as Luffy looked in confusion. We can only guess that Usopp spat out ketchup, and not blood, all to make it some sort of ruse. "Pity for your enemy? Isn't that a big arrogant?" The longnosed man growled. Luffy also growled about to send a fist to Usopp's face. Until...
"FLASH DIAL!" Usopp yells out taking out a conch like...mechanism. The moment Luffy's fist thrusts orward, was the moment a sudden piercing bright light emanated out of the conch, blinding Luffy.
"Now, Special Attack: EGG STAR!" Usopp, taking his advantage, leaped back and soon pelted Luffy with some eggs, sniping them through a small, bright green slingshot. Autumn only licked her lips seeing Luffy being covered by the egg yolk.
"Again, AGAIN, AGAIN!" Usopp cries out pelting more and more eggs to Luffy.
"GAHHH, IT STINKS, THEY'RE ROTTEN!" Luffy cries out in disgust.
"Hey, there's no use crying over rotten eggs, THEY STILL SEEM YUMMY~" Autumn muses in delight. Luffy however, has had enough with the longnose's games.
"DAMMIT, WOULD YOU STOP MESSING AROUND, ALREADY?!" Luffy demanded.
"You think this is a joke, huh? Cause I'm dead serious." Usopp retorted.
"Oh, yeah?" Luffy challenged.
"That's right, THIS IS THE WAY I FIGHT!" Usopp yells out broadly as he took something out from his little pouch. Autumn can't quite make heads or tails as to what Usopp brought from his bag.
"CAREFUL, THAT GAPING MOUTH OF YOURS IS GONNA GET BURNED!" Usopp yelled out. Before anyone could even blink, he slingshots...something into Luffy's mouth, dead on. Autumn soon...noticed Luffy glowing...bright red?
"Special Attack: Tabasco Star!" Usopp cried out.
"HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!" Luffy yelled out, as the crew looked in awe, when suddenly a great flame blasted out from Luffy's mouth.
"Muy caliente..." Autumn muses.
"I wouldn't jump around, if I were you, CAUSE THE WHOLE BATTLEFIELD IS CALTROP HELL!" Usopp yells out, when to everyone's surprise, the whole area was suddenly covered with tiny little caltrops. Unfortunate for Luffy, as he was just in the midst of falling to the ground in relief, he slammed back-first with a whole bunch of caltrops, no doubt pin-cushioned on his back.
"OWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!" Luffy cries out in pain. The crew can only looked in concern, this time for BOTH Luffy and Usopp. Only they understand what's going on.
"He's controlling the fight." Chopper implied. Soon, Usopp stood tall with his small slingshot at hand, as he looked to the fallen Captain, in determination.
"LISTEN LUFFY: YOU CAN PITY ME IF YOU WANT, BUT I'M GONNA BEAT YOU AND TAKE THE MERRY WITH ME! AND I DON'T CARE WHAT IT TAKES!" Usopp demands in determination. Once again, everyone looks in awe...yep...this fight's happening.
"Usopp..." Nami simply says in worry. Soon, narrowing his eyes, Luffy got up from the ground, but before he could even make his move...
"SPECIAL ATTACK: PEPPER STAR!" Usopp yelled out. As a small bag was suddenly flung to Luffy's line of sight, completely covering him in pepper, making him sneeze, and lower to the ground. On top of that, blinded, he continues to step on the caltrops scattered all over the field, putting him at a MAJOR disadvantage as Usopp watches Luffy coughing, sneezing, and wincing in pain.
"Like I said, I know you, so I know which attacks are gonna work the best!" Usopp says. Luffy soon dug his fingertips in the ground to prevent himself from falling on any more caltrops. The crew could now only hear Luffy, heavily breathing and sneezing.
"Dammit!" Luffy growled. "This stuff reeks...my mouth is burning...AND IT HURTS" he complains raising his head up showing tears and snot rolling down the angry man's face.
"I'm not gonna give you an inch, you hear me?" Usopp called out as Autumn can make out...a strange chain of stars in Usopp's left hand. Usopp soon called out his next move.
"SPECIAL ATTACK: SHURIKEN SHOOTING STAR!" Usopp called out to the group and Luffy's surprise, suddenly came a wave of Shurikens...or throwing stars hurdling towards Luffy at the speed of light. Quickly, Luffy dodged them, while also being cautious at the caltrops on the ground.
Another wave of throwing stars came blasting out of Usopp's slingshot, as Luffy, quickly and tiredly dodged them as fast as he could. Backed behind a rock, he quickly dodged as a lone Shuriken almost struct the boy's neck. Usopp however won't give up the star show as another wave blasted towards Luffy, but the man simply dodged. Soon, the wave of stars...stopped, as both Luffy and Usopp pant in exhaust.
Suddenly...something's taking Autumn in confusion. Out of nowhere a random...fog appears to be surrounding the straw-hat dawning boy. Soon, Luffy took notice of it...however, it wasn't fog...it was...
"Smoke?" Luffy asks, as he soon turned back and noticed a small conch, blasting out the stuff, clouding the area Luffy is standing in.
"I'm using a Breath Dial." Usopp says gaining Luffy's attention. The longnose continued. "You didn't notice the smell because of the rotten eggs. Now, you're completely surrounded by gas!" Usopp yells out, taking both Luffy...and EVERYONE on the crew by surprise.
"G-gas?" Sanji says in fear.
"Don't tell me..." Nami says in horror.
"Sorry!" Usopp says as he soon shoots something out. Autumn put two in two together, after realizing that the pellet Usopp slingshots...was glowing at a bright color.
"And I thought I was the crazy one! HE'S GONNA...!?" Autumn cried out as her dotted eyes bulged out of her sockets in surprise. Everyone knows what's going to happen next...and they fear it.
"FLAME STAAAAAAAAR!" Usopp yelled out as the pellet was soon coming close to Luffy. In contact...
BOOOOOOOM!
The entire battlefield, was suddenly brighten with an explosion, big and MIGHTY for all Water 7 to see! The nighttime...it almost felt like sunset, as the entire area glowed a bright orange amidst the explosion. The explosion was so mighty enough, that it even created a massive wave slamming down, rocking the Merry and everyone in it. Nami and Robin cried out as the Merry was being rocked at great mast.
"That's gotta sting!" Zoro winced as he tries to see through the orange.
"AHHHHHH-OOOF!" Autumn cried out, as she soon fell flat on the ground of the deck.
"I'm ok!" She muffled giving a gloved thumbs up. Soon, the great explosion dissipated, the orange reverted back into the blue of night...and the only thing left in its place...was a great bustle of smoke, clouding the entire battlefield.
"LUFFY! USOPP!" Nami yelled out in worry. Only silence was heard...as the entire battlefield was blinding everyone due to the smoke. Water splashing calmly down the ship's hull. Silence...now emanates amidst the group, as Autumn soon unstuck herself only seeing a billow of smoke for curtains. She soon noticed something...the Ship's figurehead...water was drying down on the figurehead's eyes after the splash. It's...almost as if it shows the figurehead...crying...
"So...that's how you're gonna get to me huh...Merry?" Autumn simply says...as a few tears ran down her pristine white face.
"I can't take this anymore..." Nami says almost as if she was shaking.
"LUFFY! USOPP!" Chopper practically screams in fear.
"I'm no fool..." The others can hear Usopp saying, silently. "I know it'll take more than that to beat you." He says, as Autumn's ears perked up...hearing familiar footsteps. Luffy's footsteps.
"I know you, Luffy. You fight your all battles with ALL your strength, but I'm ready for any technique you got!" Usopp says readying his slingshot as Luffy's footsteps got closer. Soon Luffy's walking...suddenly turned into running.
"Special Attack:" Usopp says preparing for the worst.
"Gum-Gum...GATTLING!" Luffy called out blasting out of the smoke, thrusting his fists at all different directions. Usopp, however was prepared.
"Blasting...CACTUS STAR!" Usopp yelled out suddenly slinging a small spiky green ball. It soon got into contact with one of Luffy's fists.
BOOM!
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Luffy cried out suddenly flying back as millions of tiny spikes began covering the Straw-Hat- dawning boy. After Luffy gave out one cry of pain, Usopp took out three yellow pellets, and immediately slung them outta his slingshot.
"TRIPLE EXPLODING STAR!" He cried out as Luffy quickly dodged, as the three pellets let out three mini explosions.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
However, he wasn't done this time. Usopp sling, more, and more, and more and MORE exploding stars as more and more explosions blasted throughout the battlefield. Everyone is seeing it all as it blasts away the smoke cloud. Luffy was running for dear life, avoiding all the slingshots before they explode on contact.
"NOW, GUM-GUM PISTOL!" Luffy cried out extending his fist, sending it flying to Usopp, delivering a direct punch on the side of the face, making the longnose fall to the ground. Luffy, this time...has the upper hand.
"IT'S TIME TO PUT AN END TO THIS!" Luffy growled as he sent himself flying to Usopp. "NOW, GUM-GUM BAZOOKA!" Luffy cried out, but quickly stopped his attack the moment Usopp pulled a conch in front of him...a conch that's all too familiar to Luffy as he looked in surprise...unfortunately...it left the rubber man vulnerable for an attack...and this one won't be good.
"Recognize this?" Usopp says. "I'd bet that Bazooka would've hurt. LET'S FIND OUT!" Usopp yells out as he raced to Luffy's front placing the conch toward's Luffy as Luffy fell to it.
"IMPACT!" Usopp yelled out when Luffy soon fell to the conch, creating a devastating blow to Luffy's face...a VERY devastating blow enough for blood to come out from the boy. The crew looked in horror as Autumn looked in both confusion and horror.
"AHHHHHHH!" Chopper screams.
"WH-W-WHAT?! WHAT DID HE EVEN DO?!" Autumn cried out in confusion.
"He used an Impact Dial!" Nami cried out.
"GAHHHHHHHHHHHH!" That scream wasn't from Luffy. No, it came from Usopp as Autumn soon noticed he covered the arm of the Impact Dial in pain, as Luffy only flew back as blood spilled from his face. Usopp only growled as he rose from the ground.
"I WON'T LOSE TO YOUUUUU!" Usopp screams out to the high heavens, as he soon fell on his knees in pain, to his surprise however, Luffy soon slammed to the ground, on his feet so hard that even the pebbles before him flipped. Through his heavy breathing, he only glared...no, I wouldn't call it a glare, his eyes were shadowed, even so he stood high as Usopp, shrunken down, looked at Luffy in fear.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Luffy screams as he thrusts his fist back, sending it to a greatly far reach. It's clear that allot is on his mind...specifically...memories of his journeys with Usopp...but those memories...are mere memories now...
"GUM GUUUUUUUUUUUUUUM...!" Luffy screams out as the Nami and Chopper could only watch in fear, Zoro and Sanji...simply looking down, saying nothing...and Autumn...simply gazing...an...unreadable expression. It looks like...this is the end of this fight.
"BULLET!" Luffy screams out sending his fist forward at great speed, punching Usopp dead-on in the stomach, sending him a few steps back. The longnose's eyes were rolled back, and he coughed out blood.
"USOPP!" Chopper cried out as tears soon flooded down his and Nami's eyes...Sanji only looked in surprise and only both Zoro and Autumn only looked at the battlefield, with such unreadable expressions. Soon...Usopp fell to the ground...silence once again takes the battlefield.
"At least it's over now." Zoro says bluntly. Panting, Luffy soon fell to his knees, looking at the longnose's unconscious body. Autumn...can soon hear a silent growl coming from Luffy.
"You idiot..." Luffy growled...his voice shaking.
"You KNEW it would end like this! YOU KNEW YOU COULD NEVER BEAT ME!" He cried out as he could only heavily breathe...in pain...physically...and most likely emotionally. Soon...it was over. Luffy rose up from the ground...and only walked away.
"Longnose..." Autumn simply says, the anthropomorphic kitten had no idea what to do in such situations like this.
"W-Why did it have to end this way?" Nami only says through her tears.
"Do what you want with the Merry." Luffy simply says as he faces Usopp back, with his hat shadowing half his face. Usopp soon groggily moved in confusion. "I won't let anything hold us back. We're getting a new ship and sailing forward." Luffy groggily announced. To which...he walks away from Usopp...and to the Merry...with only one thing left to say.
"So long Usopp. It was fun...while it lasted." Luffy says back to the fallen man. As if one conflict was enough, another...arises. Autumn and Sanji soon takes notice of Chopper leaping off the railing and grabbing his medical equipment.
"Chopper, leave him alone!" Sanji yelled out before Chopper could leap off the railing and quickly grabbed him.
"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?! He was already hurt before the fight, if I don't help him, who knows what'll happen!" Chopper intervenes getting ready to leap off the ship, but quickly Sanji got a hold of him, before he could jump off.
"He isn't apart of our crew anymore!" Sanji retorted.
"SO WHAT?! I'M A DOCTOR! IT'S MY JOB TO TREAT HIM!" Chopper roared turning into his...muscular human form to break free of Sanji's grasp. He swung his arm to slam Sanji away, but the agile blonde dodged, leaped up and slammed Chopper to the railing, simply glaring at him.
"It's bad enough he lost the duel, if you pity him at a time like this, you'll end up hurting him more than ANY of those injuries." Sanji explains as Chopper only looked in shock.
"I'm sure you have good intentions, but all we can do now is give him dignity and defeat. He KNEW, that if he'd challenge Luffy to a duel, THIS is how it might end." Sanji explains. Soon, Luffy finally made his way to the Merry as everyone simply looked at him. Through his shadowed eyes...just like Chopper and Nami...tears...are falling down his eyes as well.
"It's too much..." He simply croaked. Zoro soon spoke up.
"This is what it means to be Captain. You can't down yourself. In times like these, if you lose your confidence, then who could we have faith in?" Zoro explains. Soon, as tears flooded Chopper's eyes, filled with grief...he followed his best course of action. He soon raced off the railing with his medical equipment. This time, Sanji didn't intervene.
"It's time to pack our things and go." Zoro says. Autumn soon slowly walked to the edge of the railing, looking to Luffy. No doubt even greater tears flowed down the shadowed eyes. She soon, then looked up to the figurehead of the Merry. Water is still flooded on the eyes...no doubt it's tears.
"You know as well as me, that tonight...we can never return to this ship again." Zoro says to everyone, while Autumn simply looked at the figurehead. It almost feels as if...the ship itself is crying too. Autumn...only has this to say as she soon smiled and pats on the figurehead.
"I think I'm starting to see it...what's so special about you...Merry." Autumn simply says.
Ya'll already know that there were so many heartfelt moments in this arc. You see it too, right? C'MON YOU SEE IT. Anyway, that's another chapter down. Revealed the whereabouts of Topper, and the heartfelt battle between Luffy vs Usopp. God I loved this arc to death, and no I'm not saying that because I started watching One Piece at the Davy Back Arc, how could one ever possibly think that? Anyway, hopefully another little lesson from Cheshire comes back next chapter, and...some more Straw Hat conflict...not inside the crew though, but ya'll know that. That's good enough for me, my dudes, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and if you've got any suggestions feel free to, with that I bid you adieu.