LW: 'Sigh' you all know what's coming, here's the final chapter of the arc, enjoy.
Rubber King and Mirror Master - One last adventure, Merry's farewell tour
Bridge of Hesitation
"Super!" Franky shouts as he flings a marine back onto the ship she came from (probably) "Are we sure these guys are captains, they're kind of weak?" he grumbles
"Eh, rank doesn't always mean strength, I knocked out a captain with one punch back in the East Blue… God that guy was a dumbass" Kaos sighs, ducking under a Strong Right and stabbing another marine in the gut "But yeah, very few of these people would give us even a fraction of the trouble Smoker would, even the handful of Devil Fruit users they brought with them"
"I know we shouldn't complain about easy fights, but…"
"It sucks and it boring, we know" Alvida snaps her mace turning one captain's head to paste
Nitoryu: Taka Nami
Another handful of marines are thrown back by the force of Zoro's swings, though after everything he was starting to tire, even if these guys were pretty weak they were chipping away at the whole crew. Didn't help that Sanji had disappeared and Usopp was having a moment.
"LUFFY!" Usopp bellows, the Sogeking mask finally coming off "What the hell are you doing? Get Up Luffy!"
In the tower
The noise draws his attention and Luffy turns his head, eyes widen slightly when he sees a familiar long nosed sniper "Usopp?" he wheezes "I, didn't know, you were here too"
"Don't get the wrong idea, I just came here to save Robin alright?" Usopp shouts, seeing Luffy had noticed him "I didn't come here to see you or your stupid face ok?" [It's not like you're my friend or anything bbbb- baka!] he then turns his attention to Lucci, now standing tall after having a minute to recover "Hey you, CP9 boss cat, I know you can hear me! From here on out I'm your opponent, come and get some" Usopp declares, though the leopard barely gives him a side glance "Yeah you heard me, you're not laying a hand on Robin, I'm a world renowned warrior of the sea, a man with over 8,000 men under his command, I am the Great Captain Usopp!" Lucci continues to stare "I've sailed up and down the Grand Line, I've destroyed countless islands, you think a kitty cat like you can stand against me?"
Oh crap…
Lucci's body tenses before he turns, slowly walking over to the edge of the tower, murder in his eyes which locked onto Usopp's.
"Hey, get back here. Ignore him your fight is with me" Luffy tries to yell, but it comes out more like a whisper shout
Lucci stops and chuckles "You're already done I have no more reason to stay, but I'll let you live a little longer. I'm going to go up there, kill every last pirate I see, then come down here and end you, that way you'll die covered in the blood of those you were too weak to save"
"Come on scaredy cat, I'm right here!"
"Idiot. Shut up, he'll kill you" Luffy calls up to Usopp
"No you shut up, what can you do about it lying on the ground at death's door? Someone has to save Robin and the others if you're not going to" Usopp counters, Luffy's jaw clenches in anger, at Usopp, Lucci, but also himself
"Pigeon bastard's mine, I'm going to kick his ass for what he's done, stealing Robin, hurting my family" Luffy growls, his body trying and failing to pull itself back to it's feet
"Then get up, prove me wrong, show him and everyone here…. Why you're the captain, and why you will be the KING!"
"Are you done yet kid?" Lucci asks, growing bored of this display "I've got a lot of killing still to do today" he chuckles, then stops when he hears the voice behind him
"You're right Usopp" Luffy says tiredly, but once more mostly standing and with Gear 2nd still going strong, somehow "I can't die here, there's too much I promised we'd do. Too many people are counting on me"
"Luffy" the sniper whimpers, happy tears leaking out as he sees that it worked, now he just has to hope Luffy can actually beat the cat bastard "Finish him, then we can finally leave this place forever!"
"I'LL WIN THIS NO MATTER WHAT!" Luffy screams, the steam actually getting stronger and thicker as it billows off his body
"I'm surprised you can stand, your willpower is truly extraordinary"
"I'm never giving up, you hear me Lucci? Until I beat you, I won't drop again" he declares, Lucci responding by bulking up again
Life Return: Release
"These games end now. You're teetering over the edge, I can end this with a single blow" he boasts "And don't worry about your friends. After I end you, you'll all be reunited in Hell in no time"
The half leopard leaps and tries to do as promised, end it in a single blow only for Luffy's punches to block his, both jump back before charging arms swinging fast enough both fighters were a blur of limbs, neither side giving even an inch...at first. As both continued to brawl Luffy was slowly being pushed back.
Back near the boat
Thunderbolt Tempo
"Please, tell me they've nearly run out of goons to throw at us" a panting Nami pleads, getting an frown from Robin and a tired shrug from Kaya
"You're doing great, we'll look after you racoon-dog, the kid and miss blue here while you help the others clean up" Kokoro suggests/ half orders, ignoring Choppers whines about being a reindeer and feeling useless, which Vivi tries to comfort him about, Artemis pouting over being just called 'the kid'.
"She has a point, if we go up there we'll see just how many are still remaining, as well as finish the job quicker" Robin muses
On the main bridge
"Hey guys, this one just turned into balls" Frankys shouts, his guard up as he's pelted with the marine's cannon ball sized parts
"You can't stand up to my Berry Berry fruit, it's berry deadly, haha" the goon laughs, until...
Boom Fist
"You deserved that for the pun alone" Victor huffs, punching the head and causing it to fly into one of the battleships "You hanging in their Franky?"
"I'm still Super, got enough cola in the tank to keep fighting for a bit longer" the cyborg assures him, giving the thumbs up and a grin.
"See what I meant, even the Devil fruit users aren't too much of a problem for us, speaking of… Zoro the one behind you with the veil is a paramecia type" Kaos calls, getting a nod from the swordsman
Trente Fleur: Clutch
"The cavalry has arrived" Alvida says with a chuckle, the group in front of her dropping with a painful snap to reveal Robin, Nami and Kaya, the smooth woman noticing she was using regular rather than syrup bullets
"Does that mean we get a break now?" Valentina asks jokingly, still sitting on the marine she'd tackled at 1,000kg.
"You're Roronoa Zoro, correct?" The veiled marine asks
"Yeah, who's asking?" Zoro mumbles through his sword
"The man who's going to kill you" he declares, before running at the swordsman
Zoro rolls his eyes "Really, you think you can beat a swordsman barehanded? You captains really are braindead aren't you" he swung with Yubishiri, only for the blade to crumble when the marine caught it "What?"
"I am Shu, eater of the Sabi Sabi no mi, making me a Rust man. Your swords are useless against me" the now named Shu gloats
"Paramecia, you couldn't have given me more information, like the fact he can disintegrate metal objects via rust?" Zoro shouts
"Hey, I can only tell if someone has one, and their general type due to feeling" Kaos argues, getting defensive "do you really think I'd have let you fight someone like that if I knew what he could actually do? Speaking of, any volunteers?"
"Not me, I don't want to know if he can rust my parts even through the skin" Franky understandably 'Not it's himself immediately
Firebird Star
"Thanks Usopp, could have used it like 2 minutes ago but better late than never" Zoro nods to the sniper before sheathing his swords
"Everyone's a critic" the long nose sighs
In the tower
Lucci zips through the air, dodging strikes before trying to return one of his own
Jet Pistol
Only to be unbalanced when one of Luffy's attacks glances off his ribs, he wavered but managed to land within striking distance of Luffy, preparing his ultimate strike, he even thought to wrap his tail around Luffy's waist as it was unlikely even in his current condition the rubber boy was just going to let himself get hit with one of these a 3rd time
Sai Dai Rin: ROKUOGAN
Luffy's mouth practically erupted the amount of blood he hacked up, the shockwave even causing damage to the wall behind him never mind what nasty shit it did to his body. Releasing his grip on the boy, Lucci was surprised he was still standing after that attack, but given how much his body swayed and his face seemed to be pretty vacant, he started to move away, he had other targets to take out. Until he noticed, he didn't hear the body drop, turning his head he say Luffy was still standing, tall and defiant… and it pissed him off
"Why won't you just die!" Lucci roars, just as Luffy makes his last stand
GUM GUM…
Tekkai
...JET GATLING
ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA
Luffy's punches were imperceptible even to someone with Rob Lucci's heightened senses, but the impact sure wasn't, even with his Tekkai active Jet Gatling punched through it like it wasn't even there, slamming him up against the wall until neither the leopard or the wall could take any more hits and he was thrown through it, landing unconscious on one of the battleships. His opponent beaten, Luffy finally fell, Gear 2nd dissipating from his body as he lay there, on the verge of passing out.
"We're safe now" he says to himself, before expanding his chest as much as was comfortable right now before yelling "WE'RE ALL GOING BACK, TOGETHER! ROBIN"
Robin smiles through her tears while Alvida sniffles, trying to keep a level head "Damn idiot, don't scare us like that" she grouses, getting a low chuckle from Kaos behind her
"You heard the captain, sounds like a strategic retreat is next on the agenda!"
"Wait a go straw hat" came a far off voice, catching everyone's attention
"Shut up moron they'll hear us"
"Who cares, we want him to know!"
"Seems someone nabbed themselves a Den Den" Valentina hums
"Wait a go Big Bro!" Franky gasps, could it really?
"Stop it, they still think we're dead remember, you're gonna blow it" came a gruff rebuttal, the Straw Hats realising who it was even if the marines were still mostly confused
"They survived, somehow" Vivi smiles from the ship, an imoblie Chopper resting on her lap.
"Too late. Anyway, the giants took most of the blast but thanks to the fact Galley La ropes don't break we're ok, so are Sodom, Gamora and Yokozuna" Kiwi explains
"That's good" the reindeer cries, getting a no and a laugh from Kokoro
"Knew those bastards were stubborn, serves them well in a situation like this" the mermaid cackles
"Exactly. Don't worry about us Big Bro, we've got a plan to get ourselves out of here, you just worry about getting yourself out alive" Zambei transmits, causing Franky to burst into tears
"I wasn't worried, not one bit. Bwaaaaa!"
"Cry later, survive now Franky. Nother Paramecia dead ahead" Kaos shouts, Franky snapping out of it in time to block… a wheel?
"Damn it, guys, I got a weird one, and I don't just mean the headgear" the cyborg calls "Fuck it, I'll just beat you all till I make a path to the ship
Strong Right
Thunderbolt Tempo
Oni Giri
36 calibre phoenix
Rinke Fleur
Breeze breath bomb
Butō: Renjin
Unfortunately there was one flaw with their current plan: Luffy was too heavily injured and worn out from his fight with Lucci to make his way to the bridge, never mind the former escort ship, even Usopp's encouragement wasn't doing much good.
"Come on Luffy, we're surrounded by water and battleships, if we stay any longer we'll all be blown to bits! Please just move!" the sniper shouts, seeing Luffy's body twitch and shudder, but actual movement seemed to be alluding him "Guys we have a problem, Luffy can't move! What do we do?"
"Get over her Usopp, we'll grab him on the way past" Nami shouts, all but one ignoring her "Hey wait…"
Shimmer
"Idiot" the red head groans as Kaos zips past Usopp and over to the pillar "Ignore the dumbass, get moving now!"
"FIRE"
BOOM WHOOOSH
Everyone stops, frozen in shock as the battleships bombard their escape ship… but more importantly
"Vivi!"
"Chopper!"
"Artemis!"
"Kokoro!"
"Fuck, now we're screwed in every direction. That ship was the only way out, now what do we do?" Zoro growls
"Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Came a shout/bellow from the smoke, revealed to be Sanji, carrying Kokoro with Vivi's arms around his neck, meanwhile Artemis was running close behind with Chopper on her back like a rucksack, Chimney and her rabbit not far behind "We made it, out of my way!" Sanji shouts, kicking some gaping marines out of the way as he ran towards the others
"Thank goodness you're all ok" Nami cheers, smiling as Artemis is yanked off her feet by Robin, the artist nearly getting suffocated in her chest.
"I've just found you I don't want to lose you any time soon" she whispers holding her tight
"I take back all the bad things I was thinking for you ditching up cook" Alvida says as she takes Vivi off his shoulders, holding the now blushing princess in a bridal carry "Though an explaination would still be nice"
"Sorry, there was something I needed to do" Sanji explains while trying to catch his breath "Didn't expect things to get this bad though, given they want to take Robin alive I mean"
"Yeah, I think they realised that wasn't actually possible so are going to just bomb us all to hell" Kaya guesses, taking Chopper off the ground where he fell and stitching him to her back.
She was proven right when the cannons began to fire on the Straw Hats/ remains of the bridge, hurrying them away from the docking area an closer to the already destroyed section Luffy and Kaos were on the other side of.
"How do we keep getting caught in shit like this?" Nami screams as the group continue to just about outrun the destruction
"How are they allowed to bomb their own guys?" Vivi wonders aloud
"It's possible sociopathic tendencies are highly valued among any marines sent for Buster Call Duty, either that or their idea of justice sees loss during something like this, while trying to kill pirates as acceptable losses" Robin replies, at least trying to come up with an answer, until the straw hats were together at last, but pinned and surrounded on the remaining column of the bridge
"Well, as last stands go, I can think of worse" Victor hums, loading his guns
"And I couldn't ask for a better group to go down with" Valentina adds, trying to raise some spirits
"All ships, prepare to open fire on the first column" was heard from one of the battleships
"1st column… but thats" Nami gasps
"Where Luffy and Kaos are, yeah" Zoro nods "Really hope mirror eyes can keep the captain alive till someone comes up with a plan here"
"Can't he just Shimmer back?" Kaya asks, getting a shake of the head from Artemis
"Given the damage he did to Blueno's hand when he tried to grab him, Papa's Shimmer is more than just a high speed technique like CP9's Soru" the artist guesses, then sighs
On the 1st column
"You did it Luffy, nice work" Kaos smiles, one mirrored by his captain before he pulls the body onto his back
"Looks like you took some damage, that arm gonna be any good to you today?" Luffy half jokes, before Hebi's barbed wires wrapped around his waist and torso to keep him secure
"Look who's talking, damn steamed jumping bean, who's idea was it to fight a cat while on speed?"
"Shishishi, it was actually kind of awesome, did you see Gear 3rd?" Luffy asked
"Yeah, seems you turned GumGum Balloon into an entire subset of attacks" Kaos teases
"All ships, prepare to open fire on the first column" was heard from one of the battleships
"Oh fuck off" the researcher sighs, then swallows heavily as the cannons aim directly for them
"Any plans?" Luffy asks tiredly "Besides getting blown up or me getting shredded?"
"I'm trying Lu, this isn't exactly what I thought was going to happen" he sighs then stops "Can you hear that?"
Luffy blinks "I think so, it's like a whisper and a song?" he asks "Look below"
"All ships commence firing one Straw Hat Luffy and Mirror Master Kaos in 5…"
"Jump in the sea!" Both snap out of their haze as they hear Usopp's shout
"4"
"The Sea, you need to get off the platform and jump into the sea!"
"He does remember both of us ate Devil fruits right?" Luffy asks
"3"
"Honestly, at this point suicide is looking pretty nice, lets me flip these guys off on the way down by stealing the kill" Kaos replies, only half jokingly "You ok going down with me Cap?"
"2"
"We've had a good run, let's not let the marines end it for us. Don't forget to smile though Shishishi"
"1"
"Oh there she is, clever girl" Kaos chuckles
"Jeronimoh!"
"To the Sea!"
Soru
"That's the signal, everyone follow them!" Usopp calls before jumping himself "To the sea!"
"To the sea!"
"It's been a nice run, but to the sea we return"
Fūton: Reppūshō
"To the sea!" Artemis cheers, leaping with Robin and laughing on the way down
"They're jumping off the bridge" one marine gasps
"There's no way they could survive in these waters, those Straw Hats are completely out of their minds" another scoffs
They weren't… well maybe some of them were, but there was another reason the straw hats all jumped.
'Let's go back everyone' a soft, sweet voice whispers in their ears
"Fire"
BOOM
'Back to the seas of adventure' the Going Merry coos, as her passengers/friends all landed relatively safely on the deck 'I came to get you'
"Anyone else glad Kaya ate that fruit when we got it?" Valentina asks once everyone was accounted for "Otherwise most of us would have had to aim for the water… a bad move for like half the crew"
"Always happy to help" she chuckles
"We're on the Merry!" Chopper cries, fidgeting weakly as he balls his eyes out
"You came to get us girl" Usopp whimpers, caressing the mast
"But how, I saw the ship fall into the sea myself" FRanky wonders aloud "Those CP9 bastards sent her falling when they grabbed us"
"More importantly, who sailed it here, it's the Grand Line she couldn't have just bobbed over, especially not in time to reach us" Nami adds
"Less thinking more escaping, there are like 8 battleships pointed at us" Zoro shouts, while Kaos was separating himself and Luffy, the rubber boy dropping onto the deck, then moved to joining Vivi on Alvida's lap
"You alright Luffy?" Vivi asks in concern
"I think I'll be fine, my body's just too weak to do much actual moving around" he sighs "Nami, Valentina, let's get a move on, Robin has been rescued and the crew has been reunited. Away!"
Robin smiles seeing everyone working together again, how could she throw this away? "Everyone, thank you for doing this, for thinking me worth saving" she says, jumping when she gets a surprise jab in the kidney
"Mom, don't be dumb that's Uncle Luffy's job. The straw hats are a family, they were always going to come get you"
Kaos nods, giving a slightly wheezing laugh "She's right, you don't just leave the crew, and we especially won't let someone be forced to leave. You thought the best choice was to get away, when the real best option, is for us to stick together, we work best as a group" he says, getting nods from quite a few of the straw hats
"Besides, nobody else actually wants to work with Kaos, you can't just abandon your fellow Demon Twin" Zoro teases, getting a head slap from a bloomed hand in response.
'ALL SHIPS, PREPARE TO FIRE!"
'Shit!'
"Anyone got any ideas, at this range they can't possibly miss us" Franky asks
Only miss they did, some cannons even managing to hit other battleships, while others started to drift towards and even into each other
"Um, what just happened?" Usopp asks in confusion
"Maybe the universe is giving us a win?" Chopper guesses
"Or the Gates are closing" Kaos responds, pointing right behind them "That thing screws with the currents something aweful, or at least it does while closed"
"So is that why those whirlpools disappeared?" Luffy asked, remembering seeing some before being directed to the underground tunnel
"Pretty much, yeah"
"You're welcome by the way" Sanji says with a smug grin on his face "I thought we were going to need more than just luck and the captain's stubbornness to get out of this alive"
"You're some kind of genius!" Chopper cheers
"That's so cool, now's our chance to escape while they're all panicking" Luffy adds grinning.
"Kiss ass later, escape now, Nami, I presume you can navigate through this" Zoro asks
"And if you can't … do it anyway" Kaos adds, as they didn't exactly have much too lose at this point.
"Yeah, yeah don't get in my face. I can get us through, I just need you guys to hold off any attacks while I find us a safe path" the navigator explains
"Ay ay Navigator Nami" Robin says chuckling to herself
"Yara yara daze" Nami sighs, before her and Chopper head to the controls, the others taking positions around the ship to deflect any cannon fire
Triple Firebird star
36 Calibre Phoenix
"That's the best I can do, being down a sword means I can't do a full 108 phoenix" Zoro grumbles to himself
"Don't worry, we'll find you another one when we're not in imminent danger" Vivi assures him from the seats her and Luffy had been left on
"We'll find you the best sword ever!" Luffy whisper shouts
Collier Shoot
Mirror Gate
Bark BOOM
"Lasoo seems to have joined the party too" the researcher laughs, the bazooka dog barks and wags his tail, before spitting another bomb at the pursuing battleships
Honeysuckle shooter
Raiton: Raiga
Raiton: Raikiri
"Static Dial works" Valentina cheers grinning to Usopp and flashing a thumbs up, wearing a purple glove on her left hand
Katon: Endan
Nose Fancy Cannon
Trente Fleur: Barricade
"We don't want 'em, have them back!" Franky shouts, tossing the cannonballs Robin manages to catch with her blooms
"Chopper, helm hard to port, I've found our escape route" Nami orders, the reindeer nods and follows the command, wager to help after being useless in the last battle.
"We're almost at the end, get ready Franky!"
"You got it Miss Navigator, watch this kids, it's about to get super wild" the cyborg says, getting into position on the back of the Merry "Also, this might bang up your ship a little, so apologies in advance" he adds before pulling out his connector pipe
Coup De Vent
"We're flying, someone find that parachute squid" Chopper yells
"We're going to be fine Chopper, it's more a bounce than a drop, at the very least we're not going to need extra help stopping" Kaos assures the reindeer
"Lanky's right, I wouldn't have done that if I didn't think we were going to survive the attempt" Franky explains, flashing a grin and a thumbs up.
Soon enough they Merry returned to the water, skipping a couple times like a skimming stone but besides that no complaints and the Straw Hats were going to be home free, though Robin and Luffy were both curious about the frigid glare Kaos sent to the island as it faded from view.
"Luffy, even if you didn't have a Devil fruit this would be stupid, especially given your current condition" the researcher sighs as with Kokoro and Franky's help Luffy was draped over Merry's lamb figurehead.
"Don't care it's my seat" Luffy says sticking out his tongue before turning his head and addressing the ship "You really came through for us girl, it was a shock but a good one. We'd have never made it off that island without you"
"Not to ruin the moment kid" Franky interrupts "but you all did some pretty major shit back there, the government aren't just going to let that slide, especially burning down their flag"
"Given they burnt down the entire island themselves, at least they have no proof we did it" Usopp tries to lighten the mood
"Why would that stop them? Most of Robin's life is proof that evidence isn't required, only an accusation"
"Besides, I don't really care what they think or do, I only came to the island and torched the flag because they took Robin, if they hadn't done that their stupid flag and island would both be unburnt" Luffy responds with an implied shrug, which was currently outside his range of movements "Also, thanks for helping Franky, we couldn't have done it without you"
"Uh, you're welcome there Straw Hat" Franky responds awkwardly, not expecting the thanks
"Point is, we did it. We got back Robin and are all safe and sound. To Victory!" Luffy cheers loudly
Later
"I've checked the ship top to bottom, and we're the only ones on it" Nami states, her as well as the people she's talking to ignoring Luffy's search for Usopp, as the coward had put back on his mask and that was enough to fool their captain
"That's weird, the Merry couldn't have sailed itself to Enise Lobby, and given the storm we had to go through to get here ourselves I doubt luck it just happened to end up here either" Sanji hums
"Plus there was the voice, calling us to the sea" Zoro adds
"Like the sirens of legend, only this time there was a ship to break our fall, rather than death by drowning" Robin says with a chuckle, the others sigh, seeing she's returned to her morbid humour
"Idiots, why didn't any of you listen, it was Merry's voice, she called to us, she saved our lives" Luffy argues, stopping his search to pitch in to the conversation
"Luffy, hun, I think if Merry could talk we'd have already known" Alvida counters, though she did like the idea, however impossible it may be
"True, but it was also what I was thinking" Nami admits
"That klabautermann thing, can it do something this big?" Robin asks Kaos, Franky and Kokoro, catching the others attention
"Unlikely, or they wouldn't be such an obscure legend. A ship that pilots itself, it's insane" the cyborg laughs
"But it is pretty much the only option we have left, so maybe it was her, Merry's helpful spirit, making sure we got back to safety" Kaos muses, smiling softly
"Hey guys, we got a ship incoming!" Victor calls from the crows nest
"Really, is it dangerous?" Usopp jumps to attention
"No, the sails say… Galley La. Looks like they came to see how we did" the bomberman chuckles.
"Damn, Ice for brains is with 'em, he must really like you punks" Franky whistles, seeing the blue haired man in the front of the group, in fact he was even smiling.
'Nico Robin survived, meaning they actually did it, they fought the World Government and not only survived, but managed to win' the mayor thinks, impressed above all else 'They lost it all, and then they got it all back'
Creeeeeeak
Spoke too soon there as just as the man was thinking that, Merry bounces a wave and the front supports finally gave way, the entire section pitching forward and away from the main body.
"What the, why's the ship falling apart all of a sudden?" Zoro shouts, the few on the front deck holding on tight
"Not sudden, just badly timed. Kaku did say Merry wouldn't make it to the next island, or she shouldn't have been able to. She made it to Enies Lobby in record time, rescued us and probably got a fair distance back to Water 7. Merry has been falling apart, possibly since Skypeia, what's happening now, is her finally reaching the limit, where she physically can't hold herself together any longer" Kaos explains, having jumped back when the front started creaking
"Icepops" Luffy yells jumping onto the Merry's head "You're here and you're all shipwrights, you can save Merry. Please, do anything you can, we can't let her die. Merry isn't just a ship she's part of the crew, she's one of the original 6 members" he begs "She's the only reason any of us are still alive after that, she came to save us and now you need to save her!"
Iceberg stares into angry, desperate eyes and sighs "She's fought hard for her crew, but it's time for you to let her stop and rest" he responds, the message draining the energy out of the entire crew, even Franky feeling sympathetic pain over the news "Besides, I already did everything I could, nothing more can be done to that ship"
Previously, on scrap island
"This is the straw hats ship" Iceberg notes as he steps closer to the broken vessel "Aqua Lagoona banged you up real good it seems" he says, then frowns as he checks the keel "No, this damage is much older than tonight"
'I want to sail' a gentle voice is heard 'I want to sail, one last time, with my friends'
Despite his better judgement Iceberg got to work, patching up the Merry as best he could, though he wasn't sure why he was putting so much energy into trying to repair a ship that was basically a dead man walking, he felt almost compelled. Plus a part of him felt right doing so, actually working on a ship like the old days rather than running the business side of the operation. He'd probably have gone at it all night, blissfully unaware, until some of his men found him, yelling about another tidal wave incoming. Sighing deeply, Iceberg decides he's done all he could and packs up, though the voice wafts through his mind as he gets off the island, nothing major or complicated, just a simple 'Thank you' before the waves crashes over her and carried the ship out to sea… she had a crew to get to after all.
Seeing it as a sign, Iceberg had his men ready a ship, they were going after those pirates,
Back to regular time
"This is a miracle, and even that doesn't seem to fully encompass it. The lengths this ship went, far beyond her limits just to reunite with you all, it's legendary, beyond anything I've seen before. I've been a shipwright for over 20 years, but I've never seen a ship like yours, it's lived a wonderful life and now the only thing left is to give her a proper send off"
Luffy nods, understandably in serious captain mode as some call it "I understand now, it's what's best for the Merry"
A short time later
It was lucky Galley La came with a smaller vessel that could fit all the straw hats as they moved from the Merry to it, the mood somber but calm for the moment. They all took their last chance to see the Merry in her full glory, some wince at the amount of damage she's sustained over the course of their journeys, looking a lot worse off than on her.
"Everyone ready?" Luffy asks, before accepting the torch from Iceberg "Merry, I know the seafloor is a dark and lonely place, but don't worry, we're here to see you off, and make sure it's done right" he stretches out his arm, starting the fire in the newly formed crack in the front "I know you'd prefer he be here, but it's probably best Usopp isn't here to see this, he really wanted to find a way to keep you going and I'm sorry I couldn't find a way to do so"
"Are you ok Usopp?" Kaya asks
"I will be, but this IS for the best, everything has it's time and we all have to say goodbye at some point. Merry was just the first to go" the sniper says, sighing behind his mask, promising himself he'd be a man and not cry over a ship.
Despite how wet the wood was from the storm, and general sea faring the fire quickly overtook it, covering nearly every inch of the Merry in a manner of minutes, the Straw Hats, Galley La and Franky watch silently as Merry was given her 'Viking funeral'
"Thank you for going this far with us Merry, we won't forget you" Luffy says, hat covering his eyes.
In a mix of Grand Line randomness and a little pathetic fallacy, it actually began to snow as the Merry burned, the straw hats reminiscing on all the time they spent on that ship, the Merry had been their home since they joined the crew, kept them safe through thick and thin, she wouldn't be forgotten, ever.
'I'm sorry' Merry's voice was heard in their heads, pushing a few of the crew over the edge into full waterworks 'I wanted to carry us just a little bit further. I had so much fun, I wish our adventures never had to end, but this is mine. Thank you for letting me be part of this journey, and let me give back something you've all given me up to now'
The entire crew buckled, as they were filled to the brim with a feeling of love and care, even the most stoic were starting to tear up
"Damn smoke, it's getting in my eyes" Zoro grumbles, getting a watery chuckles from Sanji
"Shut up Zoro" he says flatly "Just admit you'll miss the Merry"
"Was there ever any doubt?" was his response
"MERRY!" Chopper screams, only Robin's blooms stopping the hysterical reindeer falling off the little boat they were all perched in.
"Merry, this wasn't your fault it was us, we should have taken better care of you. Usopp, and later Victor and Kaos tried but they weren't really good at it, and then there was me, Zoro, Sanji and Alvida wrecking things, you got hurt because of us, and we'll never be able to take that back!" Luffy shouts, now on his knees with tears streaming down his face, Vivi and Alvida wrapped around him and in equally somber states
'You did your best, all of you did and for that I'm glad. Our time together may have been short, but I wouldn't want it any other way. Make your dreams come true, I'll be watching', they felt one more gentle caress against their senses, before all went silent other than the crackle of burning wood.
"MERRY!" Luffy screams into the air, letting out all the pain and frustration inside him.
TBC
LW: One Piece, the only series that will make you cry over a ship. But it's true, Merry did a good job getting them through 76 chapters of adventure but she's reached her end. Goodbye little sheep, you did good :(
This marks the end of the Enise Lobby arc, hopefully tomorrow will be able to be a more lighthearted afair without feeling like mood whiplash. Here's hoping.
