Chapter 13
Burden
"What are you thinking!? Nothing good can possibly come out of this stupid fight!"
Maxwell was in the male quarters of the Going Merry. He never slept in here so it was odd to see Max sitting there on the couch with his fingers tips pressed together. The mage didn't know where they all slept, just that there was a vacancy. He jest sat there, eyes vacant, with a staff leaning against his shoulder.
Nami was inside yelling at Luffy, "Why must two good friends fight each other!?" The captain was laying in one of the hammocks, devoid of his usual happy-go-lucky attitude. "We can still talk about this! We just need to calm down! Usopp only said that stuff because he lost his head for a moment!"
Luffy looked at Nami, before lowering the brim of his straw hat, "...What's done is done. Right?" Usopp left the crew. He was going to fight Luffy in a duel.
"No! Just apologize to him!" Nami yelled back, "We can solve this issue by talking it out!"
Luffy didn't move from under his hat, "...Complain all you want. There's no turning back. Usopp is not so stupid as to give up his life just for an argument... If there was another way, it wouldn't have ended up like this. Go and chill off if you understand!"
"...Luffy..." Nami could scarcely believe he captains words. How could Luffy be so adamant on letting this duel go on? They were friends.
She looked over at Maxwell wondering if he had an opinion. When he noticed Nami looking at him, all he did was shrug and look away. He wasn't going to weigh in on this. Not with Nami around.
Disgusted, she stomped out of the men's quarters leaving the two of them alone.
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"...You know you don't have to sit in here right?"
It was Luffy who broke the silence. He hadn't moved, he didn't left his hat. He just spoke, acknowledging Maxwell was in the room.
"I know..." the mage replied, "But stewing alone, blaming yourself for what happened, doesn't help anyone."
Luffy didn't have a reply to that. And he didn't know if Maxwell was talking about him or himself.
"...What happened at the shipyards?" Maxwell decided to ask, "This fight is about more than just the Merry not being repaired. What happened?"
Luffy shifted in his hammock, sitting, hunched over with his hands in his lap. It's been a while since it was just the two of them. Max still remembered when it was just him and Luffy, and all they had was a small rowboat. He had been Luffy's first friend since becoming a pirate. Those were the wackier times. Spiel, the island, Alvida. The mage put up with Luffy though. Even if it drove him crazy. They always made sure they could survive. They trusted each other. But this? This was an entirely new situation.
"...They questioned whether or not I deserved to be a captain," Luffy finally admitted.
"When they first told me the Merry could not be repaired, I wanted to deny it. I felt just like Usopp did, and I didn't want to let her go. They had no idea what we had been through with her. I tried arguing with them. Suggesting all they could do to fix her. But, they had an explanation for each one of them, and I couldn't deny their reasoning. So when I blurted out I didn't want a new ship, Ice Pops said we can then all sink with her. He a was cool old man, but he questioned whether or not I was a captain..."
"...I bet going after the Franky Family helped cool your head," Maxwell guessed at his captain's mind. He was his first-mate after all, "Maker knows it quelled mine. I hate the fact that we were losing the Merry. I... We are indebted to her..."
Maxwell empathized with Luffy. It was still hard to consider leaving the Going Merry. Both men had started practically with nothing. Maxwell by circumstance, Luffy by choice. They had to rely on luck and circumstance sailing the East Blue. But sure enough, their crew grew bigger, and bigger, and it was such an amazing feeling when they finally owned their own ship. Maxwell had even amazed himself when he tried energizing the rigging. They could sail without a worry or care, without relying on hard to reach places.
"...I want us to achieve our dreams. Ya'know?" Luffy spoke up. Maxwell looked over at Luffy. He had lost himself in his own thoughts and Luffy unintentionally snapped him out of it.
"Back when we all smashed the barrel at Reverse Mountain. Sanji, finding All-Blue. Nami making a map. Zoro becoming the Greatest Swordsman in the world..."
Maxwell's own dream was becoming the Greatest Sorcerer this world had ever known. When he discovered he could produce the glyphs, Maxwell thought that maybe he could finally be more than just a mage. He could finally become his own man. He wouldn't worry about what the world thought of him, just prove he was worthy of existing. And if he was going to be a pirate, well, he should at least make his own mark on the world.
"But we can't do that, if we can't sail. And we can't do that if we're all dead. So, I had to make the hard decision..." Luffy looked away as if to avoid Maxwell's gaze. It was his guilt that was weighing heavily on him.
"...And then Usopp questioned your character, and thus, your leadership upon the Merry. And a captain's orders are absolute," Maxwell concluded. Had you asked Maxwell 5 years ago, that he would be following a teenager, that could stretch his own limbs, to help him become the Pirate King, he would have call you crazy. But here Maxwell was, in a different world, being a pirate with a crazy-ass ocean.
"You know Luffy, if there's one thing I've learned about this world, it's that you people take pride in what you do. Whether it's a simple carpenter or the most villainous rogue..." Maxwell stood up as if resolving himself for what came next, "Whether your good at it or not, you take pride. But it is this very same pride that is causing a schism between you and Usopp."
Maxwell looked at Luffy, "Usopp takes pride in the Merry. And your right, Usopp isn't dumb enough to risk his life over an argument. But his pride is shattered, and he can't afford to let the Merry go. You know this... And I will tell you, frankly, you really should have been more tactful about telling him we need a new ship!" Honestly the whole conversation should have been held tomorrow, where they could have had some rest, "But, I'm not going to scold you for it."
Maxwell then sighed, "I'll follow you through thick and thin, Luffy. But I can hear her crying. The Merry is crying... We are dealing with possibly two crewmates going awol, and we are all testing our patients after all the shit that went down after Skypiea." The Davy Back Fight, Aokiji, and now the Franky Family. The captain only seemed to grimace more as he heard Maxwell's warning, "You have to choose between what you think the best decision is and your own pride, Luffy. You've seen it done with Vivi, but some choices can damn you. Even when you look for the best outcome. You'll have to make a choice and live with your decision..."
Maxwell then turned away, facing the door, "We all depend on you, Luffy. You know this. It goes without saying... I just hope you won't live to regret it."
He then left the room, leaving Luffy alone with his thoughts.
O O O
Maxwell didn't know if the waiting time felt too long or too short. Just that it was agony.
He was sitting in the kitchen with everyone else as they awaited that final hour. Zoro and Sanji were halfway between sitting still and killing each other. Maxwell had no doubt they had tried arguing earlier, but it was probably Nami or Chopper who had interrupted them. Nami wasn't speaking to him. That was fair. He didn't help her try to dissuade Luffy from fighting. And he only sighed as everyone watched him come in.
Chopper was having the worst time though. The little guy's eyes were still puffy from crying. He had tried going after Usopp to finish his part of the treatment. Usopp refused the treatment, told Chopper to go back, and that their was nothing between them anymore. It must have been... No, it was heart wrenching.
No one really spoke as they waited. They just listened as the clock finally turned 10:00.
"It's 10! Usopp is coming!" Chopper yelled.
Everyone walked outside to watched the mist filled peninsula. It was foggy tonight. A little windy. The fog only ever came up to your ankles, but with the wind blowing, it might as well have been tidal waves.
Luffy stood outside, waiting on the shore, "Don't come down, all of you!" He had his arms crossed. This was between him and Usopp, the crew knew that.
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"He's here!" Nami spotted him walking out of the mists.
"USOPP!" Chopper certainly didn't disobey, but he was still worried about his and Maxwell medical treatment on the sniper.
Usopp planted himself like a tree. It was time for the duel.
"You look determined," said Luffy, "But I hope you don't regret your decision later! ...This is what you want!"
"Stop pretending and just come get me! I came prepared! And I know just how to beat you!" Usopp didn't gloat. This wasn't a joke.
"Don't think that I am the same as your previous opponents who knew nothing about you, Luffy! I've been with you for a long time and... I know you inside out!"
"Can't we stop them!?" Chopper looked between Maxwell and Zoro, "Usopp is still hurt really bad!"
Maxwell didn't have the heart to respond. He could feel the Merry's dread welling up inside the Fade. So Zoro answered for him, "Go inside if you can't watch."
"Don't be too surprised when I tell you this, Luffy, but... I HAVE 8000 FOLLOWERS WAITING FOR MY SIGNAL! SURRENDER NOW IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DIE!"
...Maxwell facepalmed, "Maker damn it..." Even when they were facing each other like mortal enemies, Usopp still wanted to say fibs!?
"OH MY GOD!? 8000 PEOPLE!?" And why did Chopper have to fall for it, of all people!?
Zoro eyed the furry little doctor, "You should go inside."
"I'M PRETTY SURE YOU'RE JUST LYING USOPP!" Luffy yelled back at the liar.
"THEN EAT USOPP SPELL!" He raised his arms to proclaim his intentions. "GIGANTIC RAZOR BLADES BETWEEN EACH AND EVERY TOOTH IN YOUR MOUTH!"
"GYAAA~!" "Go inside already!"
"Gomu-Gumo no—!" "Uh...! *Geho!*"
Luffy was about charge Usopp with a rubberized punch when Usopp suddenly coughed up blood. He had fallen to the ground!
"Usopp!" "WAAAH! SEE! SEE! SEE! I TOLD YOU HE'S HURT PRETTY BAD!"
Only, it wasn't blood, "Certain Death: Ketchup Star!"
Luffy flinched as he realized he had been tricked. He still felt feelings of concern for Usopp. "It's foolish to pity your enemy and leave yourself vulnerable! FLASH DIAL!"
A bright light flashed like a flash grenade, blinding Luffy from the unexpected maneuver. Usopp took advantage of this, drawing his slingshot, "Certain Death! EGG STAR!" and pelted him with rotten eggs.
Luffy winced in disgust, "SO SMELLY! AH! How old are these things!?" He waved his arms down, like if he was trying to throw away the egg whites, and glared at Usopp, "This is stupid! Get serious already!"
"You think this is stupid!?" Usopp yelled back, "Soon you won't think so! This is... MY FIGHTING STYLE! By the way, don't open your mouth so wide! You may bet burned! Certain Death: TABASCO STAR!"
Usopp took advantage of Luffy's outrage, firing a pellet of his concentrated tabasco sauce. Maxwell had seen what that stuff can do to a man. Luffy face was so red, he literally breath fire—it was so spicy! "Also, when you're falling down, you should lout out beneath you! How do you like my Caltrop Hell!"
Maxwell winced as he saw Luffy fall back onto a minefield of spiky caltrops, "...Shit. He's getting Luffy good...!" Usopp really had prepared for tonight, didn't he?
"Luffy!" Usopp yelled at his former captain, "I'm going to beat you and get the Going Merry, and... I DON'T CARE HOW I DO IT!" Luffy stood up, trying to find a balance dealing with the spice, smell, and caltrops, "Didn't I tell you? I've prepared all my attacks just for you! You won't get a chance to breath!" Usopp took out a sting of ammo, "Ceratin Death: SHURIKEN SHOWER!"
Luffy had to dodge as a swarm of ninja stars hurdled towards him. He jumped, weaved, dancing through the barrage as to not get cut. But certainly was no picnic. When the shower was over Luffy was panting, crouching on his toes. He had to make he wasn't stepping on any caltrops as he dodged through that barrage.
But then Luffy noticed something, "Huh? Smoke!?" Something else was mixing with the mists. A sort of brownish vapour.
Usopp steadied his own breath, it was adrenaline that made him ignore his own bandages, "It's a Breeze Dial! I used the rotten eggs to stop you from smelling it... while I surround you with gas!
"Gas!" "He's going to—" "Shit—! LUFFY!"
"No hard feelings!" Usopp fired a pellet, "FLAME STAR!"
*KA-BOOM~!*
Maxwell shielded his eyes as the sudden blast of heat and light assaulted him. Usopp had ignited the gas around the peninsula. Maxwell had been expecting poison gas, not this! Some ruins, Maxwell had read about, had contained gas chambers meant trap and suffocate intruders. He didn't expect explosions! He could feel the shockwave roll over him as wind gusted from the epicentre.
"What an explosion!" Maxwell wasn't the only one who had to flinch from the blast. In fact, many of them had to hold on as the tide had washed them out. The only reason they hadn't gone farther was the anchor, down in the bay.
They looked up. Smoke billowed from the peninsula, obscuring any sight of the duel. "LUFFY! USOPP!" Nami cried out. They had no idea whether or not Usopp had been caught up in it too.
When the smoke finally cleared... Actually it hadn't cleared, but the wind allowed them glimpses of the two opponents. Maxwell could see Luffy lying on the ground. His straw hat had flown off a few feet away. Usopp had fallen against a rock, but he wasn't burnt like Luffy was.
"...Eugh...!" Maxwell winced as he heard Merry's tears echoing in the Fade. Luffy and Usopp had been such great friends as they journeyed together. Now they were hurting each other, and Merry felt responsible.
"I really don't like this." "LUFFY~! USOPP~!"
Usopp stumbled standing back up. His exhaustion was threatening to catch up with him, "Haa... Haa... I know you won't get... Haa... Knocked out so easily... LUFFY!" He reached into his bag off tricks, preparing ammo for when Luffy stood back up. The smoke still obscured his vision when it didn't the crew.
Then he saw a figure in the smoke.
"CERTAIN DEATH—" "GOMU-GOMU NO—" "EXPLOSIVE CACTUS STAR!" "GATTLING!"
Usopp fired into the barrage of punches Luffy was going to throw it him. Often when you looked, it seemed like a hoard of fists were coming right at you. But in reality, it was only two, going really fast. And one of them had to hit that slinger ball.
When it hit, the ball exploded into shower of thorns, piercing Luffy in places all over his front.
Usopp followed up, "TRIPLE FLAME STAR!" and fired three mor explosive pellet at the rubber-man. Luffy dodged to the side. Usopp kept on firing Flame Stars as he tried to land one of Luffy.
That's when Luffy got a hit, "—PISTOL!" and punched Usopp right in the cheek.
Luffy wasn't going to let up either. He charged at Usopp, armed extending behind him. He fired, "GOMU-GOMU NO BAZOOKA—" but the two armed attack didn't hit like it should have.
Usopp had a shell in his palm, where it had blocked the bazooka, "It's a dial... Thanks for your impact.
Luffy hadn't recovered from losing his momentum yet, and Usopp closed in. He held the dial in his palm, stitched into his bandages. His arm was stretched out, in a "stop" motion, and he braced his bicep with the other. The dial was right in Luffy's face.
"IMPACT!"
*BOOM!*
The shell fired it's concussive force, throwing Luffy's head back, and breaking Usopp's arm. Luffy had blood coming out of his nose, and Usopp shuddered in pain. The Impact Dial was a two way street after all, and Usopp held his arm for dear life, "...TAKE THAT DAMMIT!"
Still, Luffy landed straight with the momentum. He backflipped onto his feet and skidded on the ground. Usopp looked at him with shock in surprise. He thought he had gotten with that shot, but no. Luffy just stood there panting as the two opponents stared each other down.
Usopp knew that was his last chance. He couldn't do anything else. The impact dial had effectively made his arm useless, and he could barely move as it was. His stomach churned with emotions. It fluctuated between anger, defiance, and acceptance. He couldn't win, but he couldn't surrender. Not now.
Luffy threw back an arm, letting it stretch. "Gomu-Gomu no...!" He knew this would be that last ending blow.
The captain thought about all the times they had together. When they first met him at Syrup Village. When he first painted their flag. When they first said that they were friends...
"BULLET!"
Luffy punched him right in the stomach.
"WAAAHHH~!" Maxwell could here the cries of the sobbing spirit. He had to close his own, lest he be overwhelmed by the tidal waves of aching sadness. What he couldn't see was the water dripping down the figure head. It was as if the wooden ship had tears in their eyes. And Maxwell still wrestled with his own feeling about the duel. This match was over.
Usopp fell to the ground, unconscious. His body couldn't keep up anymore.
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"It's decided then," Zoro kept his own expression, stone-faced.
Luffy fell to his knees as he looked at the defeated Usopp. He panted, staring at Usopp as he held his fist. Luffy won...
"...Stupid asshole...!" Luffy's voice trembled as he spoke up, "THERE'S NO WAY YOU COULD HAVE WON!"
It wasn't arrogance. It wasn't gloating. It was a terrible, regrettable fact. And they both knew it too, even before the fight began.
Maxwell jerked his head away. There was no point in looking on this further.
Nami held her hands to her faces as tears welled in her eyes, "I can't... take this...!"
"...Do whatever you want with the Merry." Luffy's words shot a chill up Maxwell's spine, "We'll get a new ship... And we'll go on to the seas ahead! ...Good bye... Usopp... It's been fun."
Shit... This was it the— "USOPP~!"
Chopper tried to jump ship, but was caught by Sanji, "Hey! Stop, Chopper!"
Chopper turned on him, "WHY!? HE WAS IN PIECES TO START WITH AND GOT BEATEN UP LIKE THAT!"
Sanj didn't let him go, "This is not just a fight or a game!"
"SO WHAT!?" Chopper turn into his Human-Point, trying to shake the chef off him, "I'M A DOCTOR! LET ME AT LEAST LOOK AT HIS WOUNDS!"
Sanji pinned him against the railings, "HE LOST A DUEL AND WAS THEN PITIED. THINK ANOUT HOW HE MUST FEEL RIGHT NOW!" The ship cook looked him right in the eye, "Think about how this kind of kindness pains the 'loser!'" Chopper began shaking in grief again, "He entered this fight knowing that this might happen!"
Luffy dragged his fight to a stop. Everyone looked at him, from the ship. His face unreadable under his straw hat.
"...It's heavy...!" Luffy's voice shook. Maxwell could barely hear it.
"That's what a captain is," Zoro spoke up to Luffy. Neither men looked at each other, but that was his burden, "Don't hesitate. If you can't be decisive, who else can we believe in?"
...Some choices can damn you. Even when you look for the best outcome. You'll have to make a choice and live with your decision... I just hope you won't live to regret it.
Maxwell's words echoed inside Luffy's head, as they resonated with Zoro's. He knew his crew was right, but that didn't make the feeling any lighter. Luffy damn well regretted it now, but he couldn't show that to them. He just gripped his brim and began to silently cry under his straw hat.
"...Let's clear the ship. We can't return to this ship ever again..."
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Goodbye, Merry...
...Goodbye, Usopp.