Yue grinned, watching the spiral island with towering walls and huge waterfalls and rivers instead of roads this was Water 7, a shipbuilders dream island and filled with the best shipwrights on the Grand Line. some people at the lower docks were helpful in directing Nami with the best place to dock as a pirate ship. Robin was explaining that a lot of their business came from pirates, and the shipwrights were really strong as well so pirates did not cause trouble here.

As Usopp tied Merry to the dock Nami was quick to split everyone into groups. Zoro was the first to volunteer to stay behind and watch Merry. Sanji, Chopper and Robin were given some Beris to go shopping for supplies and Luffy Usopp and Nami were going to hit the bank and get their treasure changed to cash before checking out the shipwrights old Granny Kokuro had suggested them.

Yue hopped onto Nami's shoulder, choosing to go with them and see what the professionals say, but she had a feeling that it was not going to be good. Ever since Sky Island she had been able to see Merry's ghost, which she had guessed was a cat thing that she could do, though Chopper seemed to be able to sense when she was near but not see her directly. The small child ghost usually wore a bright yellow raincoat and red boots, curly blonde hair with a white ribbon had seemed so sad these last few days, but still she smiled.

Yue glanced over Nami's shoulder to see her waving goodbye, with that large smile that looked so much like Luffy's.

The bank visit went just as Yue thought, Nami was greedy as always but was happy to harass the bank teller into giving her a lot of cash for the bags of gold. Yue mostly enjoyed the walk around the lively city, it was filled with canals instead of roads, and people got around by little boats pulled by small sea dragons. Luffy was quick to run around with his boat and getting all the different food from stalls along the water.

Safely away from the edges of the boats, Yue stuck close to Nami. Lots of people also were dressed up in costumes and huge masks, there was some sort of festival taking place.

The dock that Granny Kokuro had directed them to was located on the highest level of the city. Gally-la Shipping Company was the best on the island according to her, and was run by the mayor of the Island, Iceberg.

The docks were an interesting place to people watch, and the shipwrights were all sorts of different people. Iceberg wasn't too happy about the letter from Granny Kokuro, but his secretary convinced him to have someone take a look at Merry. All of the shipwrights were cheerful and open, but Yue couldn't help but get her hackles raised when one man approached them with a wooden beam on his shoulder. He had a small white dove that sat on his shoulder. It was just something feline about the man that caused Yue to feel territorial, but she was careful only Nami had noticed her change in posture, so she ran her fingers through Yue's fur as she talked with Iceberg about the city.

When Iceberg's shipwright returned from inspecting Merry it was not good news. Her keel was broken and not repairable. The most important part of the ship, that kept everything together. Yue's heart sank as he explained the reasons and deductions of his inspection. Luffy was also very quiet as Nami tried to argue. Usopp had run off somewhere in the shipyard, Yue wished he was here to listen to the news, the man was explaining it so clearly… but Usopp would be so heartbroken, he was so close with the ship. Yue knew the story of his sweetheart who had given them the ship when he left his home island.

Merry had been with us through so much already in the nearly a year since Yue had joined the crew, and the stories of adventures of the months in the East Blue.

Iceberg was offering them a good deal on a new ship, with all the beri we had. But it was Luffy who thanked him for checking, but he wanted to talk with the whole crew first.

They were about to head back to the ship, and find Usopp when Luffy noticed that two of the briefcases that held their money was suspiciously light.

Nami screamed when she opened them to find the money missing, and the cases were older than the ones the bank had given the group. And with Usopp nowhere in sight they had no idea where the money had gone.

With Iceberg busy with some other visitors, Nami turned to Pauly. A different shipwright that helped explain about Merry's situation, he asked around the dock and apparently they had seen Usopp get dragged away by some members of the Franky Family, a group of scavengers and thieves the focused on Pirates.

Luffy and Nami quickly split up when the got the address for the Franky Family base. Yue stuck with Nami to keep an eye on the rest of the money, 500 million beri is enough to have any thief try their luck.

The two actually ran into Usopp on their way back to the ship, he was beaten black and blue lying in the middle of a street. Yue jumped off Nami's shoulders and ran to her crewmate.

"Yue …. Nami…." Usopp Cried "i-i'm sorry…. They took the money…. We were going to fix Merry!"

Yue's heart started to break all over again, as Nami propped the injured sniper against a brick wall.

"Stay here Usopp. We'll fix this. I'll get Chopper! Yue, stay with him"

Nami ran off, leaving Yue with Usopp who was still crying, snot and tears mixing with the blood of his wounds.

Someone needs to tell him about Merry

"I need to get the money back. It's for getting Merry fixed." Stubborn Usopp tried to get to his feet, swaying as he gripped the wall for support.

Yue had no idea what to do, if Usopp went after the group now, it was too dangerous, and the money's not worth it. They could get a ship with the remaining half.

While Yue darted around Usopp's legs, trying to stop him. But nothing was working.

"Goddamn it Usopp. Stop!"

Tears sprang from Yue's eyes as he finally stopped and looked at her. The shock made him lose his balance and tumble to the ground, which Yue took the chance to change. Her Human form coming to mind, looking the same as when Usopp first spotted her in the kitchen when he thought she was a ghost. She couldn't hold the tears back and sat in front of him.

"Y-yue… you're a girl"

"I've always been a girl dumb-ass" Yue cried.

"Human! You're human!"

Yue nodded, her long hair falling into her face. "I ate a devil fruit, turned into a Cat and just prefer to stay that way. But Usopp you can't go after the Franky Family, let Luffy and the others deal with them. The money doesn't matter"

"I CAN'T! It's my fault. We won't be able to get Merry fixed."

"It's too late for Merry" Yue let the tears stain her cheeks. "I've been able to see Merry's ghost, but.. She's too damaged. I've known for a while… but the shipwrights confirmed it. Her keel is damaged, they said it's the most important part of the ship and can't be replaced. They said even if we rebuilt her from the beginning it wouldn't be the same ship, not the same wood or history" with a dry laugh Yue grinned "Merry is amazing, they were surprised that she had even survived this long."

"We can't just abandon her!"

Yue felt anger bubble in her stomach as Usopp started to get angry and defensive. She slapped him, no matter the cuts and bruises that were already showing.

"Don't you dare accuse us of abandoning her Usopp!"

He stopped mid rant, holding his throbbing cheek.

"Merry is Nakama, make no mistake about that. But she is also a ship, who's job on our crew is to take us safely through our adventure. I believe Merry absolutely wants to continue on with us, but she doesn't want to be what kills us. Do not make her our murder"

Usopp seemed to be struck silent as Yue finished her rant, and just then she could see a boat pull up to the street, and hear Chopper yell for Usopp, and for a doctor.

Yue turned back into a cat and sat on usopp's chest to make sure he wouldn't go anywhere just as Chopper and Sanji ran towards around the corner to them.


Usopp was knocked out thanks to some medication from Chopper as he did some quick first aid on the sidewalk. But the group was quiet as they got back to Merry, Chopper carried Usopp into the kitchen to rest, then Luffy led him, Sanji and Zoro to the Franky Family base.

Yue watched them walk with sure steps. She hopped they destroyed everything after hurting Usopp so much.

Yue sat on the kitchen counter, watching Merry look after Usopp. The small child fretting over the unconscious sniper as Nami nervously tapped her fingers on the table. The only one they were missing was Robin, who Sanji had said got separated from them while shopping in town. Yue hopped she'd be here soon. Once the boy's returned Yue was sure that Luffy was going to come to a decision.

Even in the calm waters against the dock, Yue and Nami could understand that Merry's creaking sounds were too loud to be normal when docked. The other sounds of creaking and groaning were now proof that she was overworked and barely keeping herself together.

It was well into the afternoon when they returned, not a scratch on them but their mood wasn't any better. Everyone gathered outside while Chopper went back to tending Usopp. Franky, the leader wasn't home, and had taken their money to shop.

The sun was starting to go down, no one brought up Merry's situation, that was until Chopper called everyone into the Kitchen.

Usopp was awake.


Yue sighed, the hotel room that the crew had booked with full of everything that had been on Merry; from Nami's trees, the huge amounts of books the Robin brought on board and everything from the kitchen plus more.

Everyone was quiet, a few also just out in town to think. Robin still hadn't turned up, and Usopp as well. After the flight he and Luffy had last night - which thankfully didn't come to blows, everyone was still nervous, Usopp wanted more time with Merry and though he promised to come by the hotel today no one had seen him.

Packing up Merry the night before was possibly one of the hardest things Yue has ever had to do, everyone was crying. And even the ghost of Merry had tears in her bright sea blue eyes as everyone passed by her without noticing. Then she stood on Luffy's spot and waved as everyone walked away. This was possibly the last time they would see her.

Nami had cried herself to sleep that night, with Yue cuddled in her arms. Now no one seemed to be in any hurry to talk to Iceberg-san again about a new ship, or even look through the book of products he sent with us. The hotel was getting a bit too stuffy, with luffy just sitting quietly in a chair, Sanji off to look for Robin and Zoro trying but failing to nap. So Yue took a chance to walk about town. Maybe sometime on her own would help clear her mind and hope everyone also gets some closure.