Chapter 116: Bounties Galore! The Rise of The Thousand Sunny!

The Straw Hats spent three days on Water Seven, waiting for Franky to complete their new pirate ship. Moreover, as they waited, Luffy and Nami led the tributes to Iceberg, laying flowers at the town memorial to the martyred major, trying to maintain the dignity and decorum that the mayor had held in himself when they had first met him. Granny Kokoro had balled like a baby, and cried about the unfairness of outliving someone she had thought of as a son, which made Franky groan in both annoyance and embarrassment; as he too had grown up under Kokoro and Tom's care. So presumably her sentiment carried over to him as well.

There was also the matter of saying a final farewell to the gunboat Going Merry, something which no one was looking forward to, but thanks to the extra push from a letter from Helmeppo to Luffy; the crew found the courage to do so. And gave the Merry a funeral at sea, after Luffy took a piece of wood from the bench at the base of the mast and made it into a bokken, which Zoro began training Suki to use. Much to Nami and Vivi's dislike.

By the end of day three, the ship was complete and presented to the straw hats at the main entrance dock, where Luffy, Zoro and Nami had said goodbye to Helmeppo and Coby two days ago. Grabbing their stuff, they had saved from the Merry, Suki and Robin went up the gangway onto the deck of the new ship. To be welcomed by a still ardently refusing to put on trousers, Franky. "Welcome onboard the Lion Straw Hat Sun ship!" The shipwright beamed with pride as he pointed to the lion headed bow. "Ah Hell no!" Sanji yelled out. "That names gotta go! I ain't sailing around the world on a ship that sounds like it caters to the mentally infirm!" It was then that Luffy and Usopp bounded onto the ship, dashing around in complete awe and wonder at the size of the new ship. "Holy crap! It has an aquarium!" Usopp yelled from below deck, causing Suki and Chopper to descend into the hull. "Actually the kitchens not half bad," Sanji complimented. "But I still standby the need to change the name".

Franky, meanwhile, was basking in the appraisals he was receiving for the ship's "extremely comfortable" living quarters, "high functioning" medical bay and "unbelievable training room". Preening and glowing with pride and self satisfaction, Vivi had to smack Franky around the face a couple of times to get him to come back down to earth, and lower his ego.

"A feast! Let's have a feast!" Luffy cried out, joyfully backed up by Usopp, Chopper and Suki. Smiling, Sanji simple rolled his eyes and headed for the kitchen. Vivi returned for the living quarters carrying a picnic blanket, which she spread on the grassy deck for everyone to sit on, and moments later Zoro and Franky reappeared from below deck rolling barrels of sake and cola. Chopper sat in Robins lap, being fawned over by Suki; laying on her stomach, whilst jealously eyed by the south bird Pabu. "Foods up! Come and get it!" Sanji yelled from the kitchen's open porthole, "before Luffy devours it", Nami laughed playing with her boyfriends hair, as he grinned. Steak, mutton, lamb, squid. Seen, eaten, enjoyed and now basking in the stomachs of those lucky enough to have eaten them. The straw hats were lounging out on the deck enjoying the sunset, when gigantic footsteps began to rumble.

"Straw Hats!" Gerd yelled, panting. Holding out a newspaper, emblazoned with the words: 'Big News!' Pushing herself upright, Vivi walked over to the gangway and went down to collect the paper. "You're in the paper! Front page as well!"

World Economic Journal - Article by Johan Kunas Plo:

Woe and Despair! Government Declared Invalid by Rookies Invading, and Destroying, Enies Lobby

The Straw Hat pirates, led by Captain Monkey D Luffy, invaded and annihilated the Judicial Island, rescuing a captured comrade in a daring raid that left Cipher Pol 9 incapacitated, and it's Chief humiliated. A buster call that had been planned in response was called off due to it being 'irrelevant' as their was nothing to fire upon. In the wake of such a disaster, Marineford has issued a blanket order to all Navy bases to "destroy on sight" any pirate ship that attempts to make port anywhere in the Paradise Seas and Government controlled New World.

Moreover, the Sabaody Archipelago shall be henceforth placed under quarantine until a time that any and all dissenting pirates are captured or killed. To those readers who are not cognisant in the importance of pirate names, this paper has been given permission to divulge a harsh reality. Straw Hat Luffy is of the same bloodline as Kong the Gallant, Garp the Hero and former admiral; known as the Knight. His pedigree and his devil fruit ability far outweigh his rivals. If this captian and his crew make port in your areas immediately call for marine assistance. Piracy and Murder are crimes that cannot be excused. Even if the Monkey D family is extremely well respected.

Bounties - Straw Hat Pirates

'Straw Hat' Monkey D Luffy: 398 million berries

'Pirate Hunter' Roronoa Zoro: 180million berries

'Long Nose' Usopp: 80 million berries

'Renegade Princess' Nefertari Vivi: 90 million berries

'Cat Burglar' 'Monkey D' Nami: 80 million berries

'Devil Child' Nico Robin: 83 million berries

'Tony-Tony' Chopper: 100 berries

'Black Leg' Sanji: 150 million berries

'Marked' Suki: 5000 berries, (alive and unhurt)

'Cyborg' Franky: 90 million berries

As Vivi finished reading the paper, Luffy bounded forwards and grabbed his bounty poser holding it up proudly. "Nearly 400 million! I'm only a hundred away from Ace". "This is awesome!" Usopp grinned. "I wonder how much we're worth in total", he mused attempting to do addition on his fingers. "It's over six hundred million berries", Robin spoke casually. "At least Kaya now has a picture of you," Zoro smirked, elbowing Usopp in the ribs. "Why am I now 'Monkey D...' Nami?" The navigator questioned, before her face suddenly blooming into multiple shades of red, as the image of Garp; raising an eyebrow at her and Luffy before he had gone, re entered her mind.

"Crap! The government now knows our faces..." Usopp continued, fearfully. But was comforted by Sanji placing a bowl of ramen into his hands. "Eat", The chef uttered, before swooning at Vivi's feet. Robin and Zoro, on the other hand, had both noticed the absolute terror in Suki's eyes, her shaking form and the way she was staring at the single word describing her; 'Marked', had Robin kneel down beside the youngster and pull her into an embrace. "Whatever, your past is we're here for you. Always".

"The Thousand Sunny!" Luffy yelled, breaking the monotony. "That's the name of our new ship", he continued pulling one of the barrels of sake, standing upright and then placing his hand upon the wooden lid. "Upon Sunny, carrying on Merry's spirit; we shall explore the world, seek and gain fame and fortunes!" With timeless expressions of pure joy upon their faces, the others all loved forwards and placed their own hands down on the barrel lid. "To the Thousand Sunny!"