Chapter 11
When Things Go From Bad...
"...Heat Lance, hailstorm, Luffy breaking it, Chopper breaking it, vandals... Damn, we really did do a number on the mast. No wonder it broke..." Maxwell was looking up, counting every misfortune on the Going Merry's mast. She had 3 main wounds on that wooden pillar, each wrapped around in an iron plate, and covered in a layer of planks surrounding the base. At least the sail was only a little singed... Maxwell made sure to write that down as well.
After their little encounter with the Franky Family, Maxwell made sure that they actually left before resuming his damage report. They didn't seem very strong, but there was a reason that a warrior/mage duo was so effective. They didn't stand a chance. Receiving a one-two knockout by both him and Zoro did seem a little bit like overkill, but Maxwell won't lose any sleep over it.
Zoro just went back to taking a nap after their encounter. He was up sitting against the rails on the prow deck. The Franky Family had apparently interrupted his nap. He could have handled it, but he appreciated the help anyways. They just had to be careful who came by during their stay.
And speaking of which, Maxwell stopped writing when he heard the skid of gravel nearby. Someone else had just arrived in their little peninsula.
"Ahoy there!" the newcomer called out to Maxwell. The mage had walked over to port to see who it was, "My name is Kaku. I'm one of the carpenters of the Galley-La Company. I came here to appraise your ship."
"...You work for a man named Iceberg?" Maxwell asked the supposed shipwright. He looked more upstanding than those Franky thugs, but Maxwell wanted to be cautious all the same.
Kaku nodded, "Your friends came by with a Letter of Recommendation from Miss Kokoro. The kid with the straw hat, the red-head, and the guy that kind of looks like me."
Usopp and this Kaku kinda did look alike. They both shared a pinocchio like nose. Only Kaku's was rectangular and looked like a timber beam.
Maxwell sighed in relief, "You met Luffy and the others then... Come aboard! Let me get you the ladder."
"No need," Kaku jumped right onto the rails, "Thanks for letting me aboard."
"Thanks for coming," Maxwell presents his hand to shake, "The name's Maxwell. My other crewmate, Zoro, is aboard. I hope you don't mind him sleeping while you work."
"Not at all," Kaku smiles as he shakes the had, "We've seen all types of people at the Galley-La Company. Sleeping pirates aren't new. It's no problem. Now, if you would excuse me..." Maxwell gestured a hand to the ship, letting the shipwright do his work.
Zoro did noticed someone had come aboard. He wasn't a deep sleeper like Max. But didn't think much of it, the guy was familiar... Then he realized it was a case of mistaken identity, "HOLD ON A MINUTE! WHO ARE YOU!?" It was not Usopp.
"Zoro!" said Maxwell, beside the shipwright, "This is Kaku. He'll be inspecting our ship for repairs. Now put that katana away!"
The swordsman frowned at the mage. More strangers seemed to keep coming aboard, but he trusted the word of his fellow crewmate, "Alright, but no funny business. We already had to deal with one bunch of hooligans already."
"You got it," Kaku simply nodded. Maxwell then escorted Kaku around the ship, pointing out the obvious damage and letting the shipwright do his own observations.
According to Maxwell's list: There were a total of 17 holes in the haul, (Size varying). 3 breaks in the mast. 11 scorch marks among the 3 decks. And of course, the breaks in the Merry's figurehead and the front of the haul. The wood and timber's were apparently fairly worn as well. This was the culmination of all the various encounters they've had with marines, cultists, pirates, and other duplicitous outlaws. Not to mention the weather.
...
...
...
"...Are you serious?"
Both Maxwell and Zoro looked at Kaku in shock.
Kaku looked both men straight in the eye. He had just finished his assessment of the Going Merry, "I'm a carpenter. I don't lie about this. Sigh... I'll inform your friends about your ship's status... And, for what it's worth, I am sorry I had to be the one too have told you... Till we meet again."
The Galley-La employee tipped his hat, left the ship, and jumped off into the distance. That only left the two Strawhats to stand in silence.
...
...
...
"Merry... You really—?"
"DON'T! Say. It..." Maxwell shushed the swordsman. The mage was shaking at what they had just been told, "...I'll ask her myself."
Maxwell then sat down to meditate, and enter the Fade.
O O O
"MERRY!"
Maxwell trekked across a barren rock formation, floating in the Fade.
"MERRY!"
Of course everything was a various shad of green.
He had the find Merry's klabautermann. It was the only way to confirm the shipwright's words.
"MERRY! COME OUT OF HIDING YOU LITTLE SCAMP! THIS IS NO TIME TO BE PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK! THIS IS SERIOUS! MERRY—!"
Maxwell then saw the spirit of the Going Merry standing in the middle of the little plateau they were on.
"Merry! Thank the Maker!" The bearded mage walked toward the ship fairy, "I was beginning to get worried. You..." Maxwell then noticed he wasn't getting any closer. He was walking, but the Fade seemed to shift as if he were just walking in a tunnel, keeping himself and Merry at a distance.
"Merry..."
The klabautermann wasn't looking at him.
"Merry, come on... This isn't funny...!"
She was the one controlling the environment here.
"...No..."
And then Kaku's words struck him in the gut.
"No, no, no, no...! Merry, tell me it ain't true. Tell me he's lying! Please! He can't—! You can't be...!
...
...
...
The klabautermann had tears rolling down her cheeks as she turned to see him.
"...I'm sorry."
She could not sail any further.
The Going Merry could not be fixed.
This was her last stop.
O O O
Maxwell sat on the deck of the Going Merry, leaning up against the rails. The mage wanted to scream. He wanted to rage. He wanted to hex, blast, and curse, every opponent they had ever come across. But Maxwell knew it wouldn't do any good. There was no changing it, The Going Merry couldn't be fixed.
Maxwell sat there scowling as he took another sip from his cup. He had a bottle of wine out beside him. The wine tasted like shit of course, to much sediment wasn't filtered out, but he had purposely chosen this bottle for the taste. Maxwell loved his wine, but had seen enough men become pathetic sops when deep in their cups.
No, the taste was a reminder that he couldn't live in a dream. Every mage back in Thedas knew that. Intoxication, hallucination, none of them were a solution. For all his self-pity, he still had to deal with reality. And that reality can be harsh.
...Still, he had hoped he would never have had to lose friend again. Maxwell had lost enough people back in Thedas.
He took another sip, "Ugh, disgusting..."
"You're serious...!?" "That's what the carpenter said."
Maxwell looked over to where Zoro was. The swordsman had let him had his space after storming off from his trance. They both now knew the answer... But apparently Sanji and Chopper had just got back. Though, Maxwell wondered where Robin was. Didn't she go out with Chopper earlier? Why was he with Sanji?
"...Might as well join them."
Chopper looked at Zoro stunned, "They can't repair it? Even if we pay them? ...Why did it end up like this?"
"I don't know," Zoro sat with his hands behind his head, "I wonder what Luffy and the others decided... Those three probably came up with a good answer at the shipyard already.
Sanji frowned for a moment before saying, "Are you sure he wasn't just exaggerating? Just look! The ship looks as good as—"
"The keel is broken," said Maxwell as he climbed the steps. Both flinched as Sanji and Chopper turned towards the first-mate, "There is no repairing it. The real damage stared in Jaya, when the Bellamy crew thrashed our ship. Then our journey to Skypiea; The knock-up stream weakened the ship's integrity, while the giant shrimp made it vulnerable. Then there is the weather of the Grand Line to consider. There is no fixing this ship, guys... And Merry confirmed it." Every shipmate winced at the mage's admission, "...We were apparently lucky to have made it this far... Even with my magic."
"Max..." Sanji looked at the mage with something that seemed like concern, "Are... Are you going to be alright...?"
"...No," Maxwell shook his head, "But it's something I'm going to have to accept."
Maxwell had been the one mostly responsible for steering the ship. He made sure to follow Nami's directions as they sailed. His powers ensured they had a smooth journey. Now all of that was over. Max was responsible for the ship, no matter what you told him. It had saved his life after all.
Sanji turned away with frustration. He lit up a cigarette, furiously clicking at the lighter, "...I wonder what Usopp thinks when he hears this..."
"But I like Merry very much!" said Chopper. His little outburst had spoken what was on all their minds.
"...We all do," Zoro admitted, "But there is no way to save it..."
Sanji decided to look out to the city, "Merry is broken... Robin is missing... And no word back from Nami yet... This whole afternoon is just filled with trouble."
Maxwell decided to walk up beside the chef, "...What happened with Robin?"
Sanji let out a breath of smoke, "I don't know... She was with Chopper when she disappeared. Chopper went into a bookstore down at the showing district, and Robin didn't follow him in. I thought I saw her earlier, but she disappeared before I could catch her attention. I only found Chopper by chance...
The chef shook his head, "She with someone though. I swear I saw some guy in a mask... But there were people wearing masks all over the city. We don't know where she is."
Maxwell sighed, "Great..." Now they had two problems to deal with.
"Everyone!"
...Wait a sec, that was Nami's voice!
"Eh?" Chopper ran up to the railing, "Nami's back!" She was running towards them across the peninsula.
"Huh?" Sanji turned in surprise to see her. But why was she alone, with a single briefcase? Sanji waved his arm, "Nami! Did something happen!?"
"Usopp's in trouble!" Nami yelled up to the ship. She was panting as she explained, "He was abducted earlier, we didn't even realized we were robbed until it was too late! Usopp got beaten up for it! I found him on the streets not far from here! I couldn't risk moving him though. Please, you have to help him!" Chopper already rushed to get his medicine bag.
"Of course!" Sanji exclamed. He already jumped over the railing onto the peninsula, "Where did you see him last?"
Zoro had grabbed his katanas, jumping down to join him, "Nami! Who was it!?"
"I don't know!" Nami handed Sanji a map, "They were a bunch of weirdos called the Franky Family!"
Maxwell stopped dead in his tracks, "Franky Family!?" Those were the thugs that attacked them earlier! The mage immediately grabbed the staff he used earlier. Thankfully e left it above deck, "Nami! Stay here and guard the ship! See if Robin comes back! We'll head over to Usopp!"
"Right!"
Thus the four men went to town. Hoping for the best, expecting the worse, and off to find their friend.
O O O
"Stop! Stop!" Sanji pulled on the reins of the yagura bull they were riding. The yagura bulls looked like aquatic horses. They had fin like limbs, fish like tails, a sail rather than a mane on their neck, and they were the primary mode of transportation across the Water 7 canals. The Strawhats had made sure to rent the largest carriage a bull could muster. They needed it to take their friend back to the ship.
Only, Usopp wasn't on the street Nami had told them.
"Didn't Nami say that Usopp was somewhere around here!?" Sanji had exited the boat and looked around the canal for any sign of the injured sniper.
"USOPP!" Chopper tried calling out to their friend.
"Are you sure we're in the right place?" Maxwell immediately whack Zoro on the head for that question, "Ow!"
"You are the last person I want to hear that from!" The mage waved his finger in front of Zoro.
"Wait..." Chopper looked down at the cobblestone, "Look! Blood!"
"Did he go on his own!?" Sanji looked at the street seeing the trail lead on.
Zoro immediately grimaced as he connecting the dots, "...No way... He went there!?" Usopp had gone after the Franky Family. The same people who had just robbed and left him to rot.
"Aaaaaaaahhhhhh!"
Maxwell then looked up to see Luffy falling from the sky. The rubber-man captain just bounced off a house, onto the street, and into the canal.
...
...
...
"Help!"
Maxwell couldn't help but sigh, "Maker dammit Luffy..."
Sanji dived in and fished his captain out of the water, "What the hell were you thinking!? Where did you jump down from!?"
Luffy coughed as he tried to get seawater out of his lungs, "I tried to fly down like the carpenter guy and find Usopp..." Their captain then looked up suddenly remembering the emergency, "Ah! That's right! Usopp disappeared! He was kidnapped along with the money—"
"We know, come on!" Sanji beckoned to Luffy. Zoro and Chopper were already walking down the street, "We're going to their place right now. Usopp got beaten up and the money got stolen... It's possible he felt responsible and went after them."
And so, with Luffy in tow, the five men followed the blood trail towards the Franky Family hideout. Earlier, Nami had pointed out where it was on the map. It was a direct line from the street where they were to their hideout. And the blood trail followed the exact same route.
O O O
Soon enough, they entered an undeveloped beach where the city line ended. There, they find Usopp.
...
...
...
"...Chopper, is he still breathing?" asked Luffy.
Both Chopper and Maxwell had knelt down beside their fallen comrade. He was beaten up, badly. He was battered, bruised, and bleeding all over his body. There didn't seem to be any knife wounds. They had only beaten him up, adding onto the beating they had already given him. Probably even thrown him outside. Usopp's nose was crooked, but there were tears running down his face. "He's unconscious, but he's alive..."
Maxwell and Chopper made sure to stabilize him first. They wouldn't stay there long.
"Wait here a little bit Usopp," Luffy cracked his knuckles. Sanji lit another cigarette. Zoro donned his bandana. Chopper transformed into his Human-Point. And Maxwell's foci glowed and rose around him. Each crew member seething with rage, "We're going to blow that stupid house away."
The hideout was certainly unique. It stood in plain sight, a hideous mesh off wood and metal. An obnoxious cross between a mansion, a castle, and a workshop. Three house like buildings made the base of the mansion. On the left, two iron claws stuck out like a sore thumb. They were attached to mechanical arms and stood in crooked positions out of the building. On the right was nothing too unusual. A windmill had been built beside it, and there was scaffolding built off a ways. But it was the central house that really took the cake.
There, the location's name has plagued above two massive doors, the Franky House. A pink star in a black circle hanging between them. Higher up, the building resembled a barrel, with two windows like the Franky Family goggles. And on top of that, a fish tail like tower, with another spire poking out of it. This held a giant crescent moon, as if daring anyone to come near if they had the courage.
And the Strawhat's were going to burn this place to the ground.
They could hear them inside. It sounded like they were having a party. No doubt enjoying all the spoils of their newfound wealth. Even with their friend outside, who had tried to get it back. The five men stood in front of the door, side by side. They were ready to blow the door down, when it suddenly opened.
There stood a member of the Franky Family. He was as tall as a troll, and looked just as confused as to why they were there. They hadn't knocked, the Frankies weren't expecting guests, the huge man was just about to step outside.
So Luffy gave them their greeting, and knocked him and the door down.
*CRASH!*
At least a hundred people where in the building. They all wore the goggles and armoured overalls, and were very surprised to see them. Some of them them had to get out of the way of their flying half-giant.
"What the hell!?" "Someone's there!" "Who is it!?
When the dust settled, they realized just who had come through their door.
"Ah... You're... Strawhat Luffy!" Maxwell recognized the guy from back on the Merry. The same thug with the fishnet leggings. He knew their bounties, and he knew just how dangerous they were.
"Wahahah!" Another troll sized human walked up, fitting on an iron gorget, "Are you here for the money? Look how many people we have!? You only have 5 little guys at that! I'll teach you a lesson, and then turn in your heads for the bounties!"
The giant man was apparently very arrogant, "So you're that softy long-nose's captain!? You must have a death wish to break in here with that level of strength! I'll even give you a free shot, shortie!"
Luffy had heard enough. If he wanted a free shot, he'll give it to him! "Gomu-Gomu no..."
Luffy shadow punched the air like he was doing his gatling technique, but he didn't hit the half-giant.
The Franky troll just drew an axe, "Eh? What's he doing?" and some of the Frank Family caught onto their giant friend's confidence.
"Wahahah! He's going to use his fists!" "Not even a canon can scratch that super armor!" "Haha! I'm going to laugh to death!"
The half giant just raised his axe with mirth, "That's enough, boy! Let me show you how to fight correctly!" What he didn't notice though was reddening steam coming off of Luffy.
And then the captain struck, "CANNON!"
The two handed strike punched through the giant's armor, at least a foot thick. A red blemish could be seen hole. And the Franky Family could only look in horror as their second half-giant fell, "AAAAAHHH! HE BROKE THROUGH THE SUPER ARMOR!"
The Strawhat's looked at there enemies, unconcerned. This unnerved some of the Franky Family.
"My God!" "What do we do!?" "H-h-hey! Let's talk this out peacefully... like gentlemen..."
The guy from the Merry had his friends duck, revealing the cannons behind them, "Die suckers! Fire!"
Zoro ran forward into the cannon fire, "Santoryu... Raven Hunt!" And thus sliced every cannonball in two. The Strawhat's proceded inside, unscathed, as the cannon shots went off around them.
Of course, the Franky Family was shocked, "Th-Those cannonballs are made out of iron!" And then Zoro cut a cannon down the middle, and collapsed from being unsupported, "Oh my God! Even the cannon...!"
"This is bad! These people are not normal!" "Quick! Escape through the back door!"
The thugs began to run, only to stop when a giant wall of ice erupted in front of them. "Who said you could leave?" Some of them looked back realizing it was Maxwell who had blocked their exit.
Sanji had wanted a piece of them too. The chef jumped into the air, using the cannon as a steppingstone, and landed in a handstand on top of one of the thugs head, "...You guys started this. You should have done your homework!"
"Party Table Kick Course!" Sanji then proceeded to kick every Franky Family thug in the vicinity. He spun like a pinwheel atop the man's head. The street gang couldn't go that way.
"Go through the windows!" One of them suggested, but they were only met by Chopper.
"Rumble Ball..." Chopper chewed down on one of his super-drugs. The Rumble Balls were a tool he's been using for awhile. It allowed Chopper to go beyond the the usual three transformations a Zoan Devil Fruit allowed. Maxwell had just never seen it in combat before, "Horn-Point. Roseo Colonnade!"
The mutant reindeer charged at the Franky Family. He flung them around, collecting them in his horns as he threw them in the air.
"GYAAA!" 'Fishnets' just yelled in terror as some of his men stuck out of the ground like darts. He then turned to the Strawhat Pirates, raising his arms in front of him, "W-Wait! Let's talk about this... W-We don't have to resort to violence. All you want is the money, right? The 200 million we got from that pinocchio guy?"
The thug smiled nervously, "The truth is, that money isn't here anymore! Our boss, Franky, already took it and went shopping! He's probably already on his way in the sea train! It's a black market deal, so he didn't tell us. And we have no idea where he's going either! So, you see, no matter how much you wreck havoc... You can't get your 200 million back anymore—AAAAAH!" Luffy sent him flying with a punch.
"Ah! Zambai!" Oh, so that was his name.
"You yap too much," said Sanji, "Also... It's not about the money anymore..."
"That's right. You ticked us off," Zoro resounded.
"And now you have to pay the price..." Maxwell stood with Chopper as they stared at the Franky Family.
Luffy's muscles clenched in his hand, "We are going to pulverize you!"
They were justly terrified, "Pulverize!?"
One with a paintbrush like hairdo yelled back at them, "Idiot! Don't get scared! That's what we're supposed to say to them! Don't forget that we're scavengers and bounty hunters, we're the Franky Family!"
Another aimed a cannon at them, "Eat this! The Franky Family's Special: Anything Goes Shot Cannon!" and when they said anything, they really meant anything. It was a scattershot of weapons, food, cutlery, planets, rubber-snakes and a whole lot of other stuff.
Not that it mattered to them. Maxwell tapped the ground with his staff and cast an Elegant Defense spell. A more powerful version of barrier, a protective film of energy covered the Strawhats as they charged into the fray. Luffy, Sanji and Chopper dodged left, right, and over, while Zoro sliced anything in his way. Maxwell charged, turning to mist with a Frost Step, and with a Spirit Blade in his hand.
"Here they come! CHOP THEM INTO PIECES! They're only five people!"
Thus the Franky House devolved into an all out brawl. Luffy punched every thug that got close. Sanji kicked them into the air and across the room. Chopper had shifted into Arm-Point and was slapping through their armor. Some of the Frankies had thought to gang up on Zoro, but easily overpowered them. And Maxwell, well he was a human turret. Salem, Mordred, and Mineive hovered, revolving, around him firing arcane bolts at the thugs. All the while, Maxwell flung his own spells, spinning his staff in one hand, and slashing with magic in the other.
Who knew how long this would last?
O O O
Zoro, Maxwell, and Sanji stood around the destroyed remains of the Franky House. They promised they would pulverize them, and they did just that. Members of the Franky Family were strewn, unconscious, across the ruins. Burnt up wood, bent up metal, ashes, and soot littered the ground. Luffy stood on top of the giant crescent looking out at sea. Somehow it didn't get destroyed. Chopper had retreated back to Usopp to give him further treatment.
"Should we go after Franky?" asked Sanji. They had been busy trying extract any information out of the underlings, but no such luck.
Zoro shook his head, "Where would we go?"
"If this 'Franky' really took the sea train, he could be anywhere in the Grand Line by now..." Maxwell kicked away an offending piece of dirt.
"Damn it..." Sanji breath out some cigarette smoke, "These small fries really don't know where the money is... And we can only take care of Franky after he's finished shopping..."
Zoro eyed his friend Maxwell. Luffy didn't seem to be in a talking mood, "What now? Do we wait here? I don't think he'll be back anytime soon..."
Chopper yelled back to them, "Okay! I'm done! Come help lift him!"
Maxwell looked back at the little doctor, "*Sigh...* Let's head back. There's no point staying here."
Sanji threw his bud down and squashed it under his heel, "Right. Besides, Nami is alone on the ship, and Robin is nowhere to be found. The ship itself is breaking down too, so..." He looked up at where their captain was standing, "Hey Luffy!"
Luffy was quiet for a moment before speaking up, "The ship..."
This caught their attention. Sanji, Zoro, and Maxwell all looked up at him.
"I've decided... It's time to say goodbye to the Going Merry."