Disclaimer: Godzilla and One Piece are the sole properties of Toho Co. LTD and Eiichiro Oda respectively. KP360 claims no ownership of anything save for any OCs, abilities, and locations.
Water 7 opening: Inferno by 9mm Parabellum Bullet (Berserk 2016 op)
Dusk begins to fall, and even a city like Water 7 begins to rest. In a city full of ship builders, it was time to go get some rest and prepare for another day of hard work.
For a group of pirates however, they aren't able to rest just yet.
"Usopp… how are you feeling?" Nami inquired.
The sniper looked like he got ran over by a freight train. His entire body was covered in bandages and most of his body was still sore. However, he put on the bravest face he could and faced his crew, all whom of which are watching him with concern.
"Now I know what all the guys we faced feel like after you've beat them up, hehe." The sniper groaned "It was my fault, I should've have been more careful."
"Don't think about it too much, no one here blames you for anything." Zoro mumbled.
"For now, just get lots of rest. Take it easy your wounds could still open up!" Chopper instructed.
"I know, and I'm sorry. I was charged with keeping the money safe but I lost it all." Usopp sighed "Maybe we should go talk to Iceburg-ossan tomorrow, see if he could still repair Merry with just 100 million beri?"
An uncomfortable silence filled the room when he said that, causing the sniper to look confused.
"Was it something I said?"
"Usopp," Gian sighed before pulling up a chair "you should sit for this."
"Guys? What's the matter?"
"Usopp," Luffy forced himself to say it; all of them have been dreading this moment "We decided to get a new ship. Ice-ossan is right, she can't sail anymore."
There was a pause when he said that, before Usopp gave a few uncomfortable laughs.
"H-hey now, that's really funny!" he stammered "This isn't because I lost the 200 million now, is it?"
Luffy said nothing, only beginning to flip through a ship catalogue. Everyone else had a pretty forlorn expression as well.
"Luffy don't say things like that!" realization began to set in as he saw that his captain might not be joking "If this is punishment don't make it be about that!"
"That's not the point Usopp!" Luffy gritted.
"THEN DON'T SAY POINTLESS CRAP LIKE THAT! IF MONEY IS AN ISSUE THEN WE'LL JUST GO TO A SHIPYARD THAT'S CHEAPER!" Usopp snapped.
"THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE MONEY!" voices were being raised, the tension in the room was heating rapidly and it kept rising.
"THEN HOW COULD YOU EVEN SUGGEST GIVING MERRY UP?!"
"Usopp, please! Don't exert yourself too hard!" Chopper pleaded. Meanwhile, Gian and Zoro were also holding Luffy back, trying to calm him down.
"DIDN'T YOU SAY MERRY IS A PRECIOUS NAKAMA?! THEN WHY ARE YOU REPLACING HER?!" Usopp shouted, rage slowly began to build up.
"BECAUSE MERRY IS GOING TO DIE!" Luffy finally snapped, tears beginning to prick the edge of his eyes. Usopp finally paused in shock.
"I…I wouldn't be making this decision if it wasn't for that…!"
"W-Where did you hear that from?"
"All of them… every carpenter in that shipyard!" Luffy said through tears "Merry's been with us for this long, but she can't go any further!"
"THAT'S BULLSHIT!" Usopp screamed "How can you trust the words of a few people you just met?! Merry has been our precious Nakama for so long yet you're just going to replace her? IS SHE JUST A TOOL TO YOU?"
The two young men were toe to toe now, neither were backing down. Even with all the urging from the others, it would only continue to boil.
"Usopp, Luffy…" Gian tried to coax "This isn't something that can be solved by getting worked up!"
"NO! I'M NOT ALLOWING MERRY TO DIE, I CAN FIX HER JUST LIKE I'VE DONE ALL THE TIME!"
"YOU'RE NOT A SHIPWRIGHT, USOPP!" Luffy shouted "THERE'S NOT MUCH MORE YOU CAN DO!"
"Luffy, please calm down!" Nami pleaded.
"SO JUST BECAUSE A FEW PEOPLE TOLD YOU SOMETHING YOU'D ABANDON YOUR SHIP?! YOU CHOSE TO SIDE WITH A FEW SALESPEOPLE OVER YOUR OWN CREW?!" Usopp's emotions were boiling over "THE LUFFY I KNOW WOULD NEVER LEAVE HIS FRIENDS BEHIND!"
"Usopp…you're going a bit too far here…!" Sanji warned.
"I THOUGHT YOU WERE A RESPECTABLE CAPTAIN! I NEVER WOULD'VE THOUGHT YOU'D BE SOMEONE SO DESPICABLE!"
"But Luffy at first was-"
"SHUT UP, NAMI! I'VE ALREADY MADE MY DECISION." Luffy had a mask of anger over his face. "We're getting a new ship, that's final!"
"NEVER! I'M NEVER GOING TO LEAVE MERRY BEHIND!"
"Guys! You're not going to solve anything by just arguing meaninglessly!" Zoro snapped.
"I'm never abandoning a friend… even if there seems like there's no hope!" Usopp seethed "I won't continue like that!"
"Even if she's a friend, a person and a ship are two different things!" Luffy shot back.
"NO! YOU KNOW MERRY IS ALIVE IN THERE TOO! YOU ALL DO!" Usopp snarled "YOU CLAIM TO CARE FOR HER, YET REALLY YOU'RE ALL HAPPY TO GET RID OF HER?!"
"DON'T YOU DARE SAY THAT!" and before anyone can act Luffy tackled Usopp to the ground "DON'T SAY THAT YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT'S SUFFERING RIGHT NOW! NONE OF US WANTS TO GET RID OF HER!"
"IF THAT'S THE TRUTH YOU'D NEVER SUGGEST GIVING HER UP!"
"IF YOU DON'T LIKE HOW I DO THING THEN YOU CAN JUST LEAV-!"
And the argument stopped, not because of the impact, but from Sanji kicking Luffy across the room.
"LUFFY! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING?!" the cook shouted "YOU DON'T JUST GO AND SAY THINGS LIKE THAT SO CASUALLY!"
"I-I I didn't mean it-"
"No, no more of that!" Gian snarled, Atom Splitter's hilt tapping the ground forcefully for attention "Both of you cool it, NOW!"
"Usopp… I-"
"No…" Usopp panted, his eyes narrowed "that's just how you really feel, isn't it?"
"Usopp, don't say anything else stupid!" Gian warned.
"I get it, you'd abandon crewmates that are no longer useful to you, but I'll let you know here and now that I won't leave this ship behind!"
Usopp, no one has said that!" Sanji pleaded.
"I'm serious, it's something that's bothered me for a while now. While with you guys, I see all of you growing, but I always get in the way! Today just proves that yet again, I'm just someone who guards money and I can't even do that right! I'll just hold you all back, and you don't need a weak crewmate like me!"
"Luffy, you're going to become Pirate King one day, but I'm not that ambitious. Even as I joined the crew I couldn't hold a candle to all of you. But I will say this: if you're so intent on leaving Merry behind then there's no reason for us to sail together anymore!"
"Usopp, where are you going?!"
"Don't do anything rash Usopp!"
"Oi, come back!"
But the Sniper ignored all this as he limped off the ship, his eyes only looking forward. It was clear, their minds have both been made up now.
"Sorry for causing you so much trouble all this time." He muttered, continuing to walk away, before pausing.
"But know this, Luffy. I know you're the captain of this ship, and Merry belongs to you, so I'm doing one last thing!"
"Usopp…no…" Gian whispered hoarsely.
"LUFFY! I CHALLENGE YOU TO A DUEL! IF I WIN, THEN I GET THE GOING MERRY!"
"Usopp! It doesn't have to be like this!" Nami shouted.
"Ten o clock, I'll be back then! Then, we'll go our separate paths after I get her."
And Usopp left, and for everybody, he left a massive hole in their spirits that only continued to grow.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS WRONG WITH YOU?!" Nami shouted a few hours later as Luffy laid in his bed "HOW COULD YOU LET IT GET TO THAT POINT!"
"It's too late for anything now," was all Luffy said "Usopp already set his mind to it."
"This is ridiculous, you're both friends! Why should friends fight each other over something like this…! If you guys just talked it over for a bit longer…"
"Like I said, it's just not possible." Luffy muttered as he turned away, his hat over his eyes. Nami only sighed, until she heard more yelling outside. Zoro and Sanji were snapping at each other now, each letting their own tensions boil over.
"You said that the Franky Family came at noon didn't you?" the cook growled "Why didn't you put them out of commission then?! Usopp wouldn't have been attacked then! He wouldn't have felt as if he was dragging us down!"
"And while I was doing that where were you?!" Zoro shot back "If you'd hadn't been shopping you could've solved this before anything came out of it!"
"Both of you just stop!" Nami snapped "Everything happened already, there's no point blaming each other." She sighed before looking at an open door.
"…Gian's not taking this well is he?"
"No, he's been sitting outside for almost an hour now. We even told him he couldn't have known about this when he tripped into the water, but he feels responsible nonetheless." Zoro sighed.
Nami tentatively looked out, spying the Kaiju-Zoan user looking out towards to sea. She went over and tried to comfort him, but he hardly acknowledged her.
"Gian, you're not-"
"-I'm the first mate, y'know?" Nami hardly ever saw Gian cry before, but looking at him now she could see that his eyes were red "I'm supposed to look out for everyone, try to ease the captain's load?" his grip tightened on the railing, putting more cracks into the wood "One mistake, one slip, it lead to this."
"Gian…"
"If only I had been a bit more forceful!" he gritted "I should've been the one to carry those suitcases, but Usopp, he looked so proud when he saw that he could help…!"
The navigator could do nothing except lay a comforting hand on his shoulders, herself shedding a few tears. The two then saw Chopper climbing back onto the ship, the look on his face threatening to crack.
"I was worried about Usopp's injuries, so I found him in the city…" tears began to flow as he recalled "H-He said that since we aren't crewmates anymore, I should just run back to the ship…!"
Gian wiped his tears away roughly "I'm going to my room, keep an eye out for Robin, I haven't heard anything about her for the entire day."
And as the designated time slowly crept closer, the Straw Hats could only think of one thing:
Right here, right now, this crew is broken.
Later:
"It's 10 o Clock, none of you come off this ship." Was all Luffy said when he went down "Usopp will be here any time now."
"So this is it, they're really going to do this?" Nami winced, her heart clenching anxiously.
Zoro sighed "This isn't something we can stop even if we want to. Usopp won't let anyone talk it out with him at this point, and neither will Luffy."
Noise up in the Crow's Nest alerted the group: Gian had went up there around 10, saying that the noise is going to affect his sleep and he wants no part of it. Everyone knows however that he still felt guilty on this whole matter, believing that his carelessness now led to two of his closest friends to conflict. Chopper turned and saw that Gian had come down, though he clearly did not feel like being there.
"Has it begun?"
"No, Usopp hasn't come yet…" Chopper mumbled.
"…Nakama shouldn't fight." Gian sighed "None of us want to see this, even Merry would be hurt if she knew about this."
And indeed, it would seem as the soul of Merry could feel the pain the crew felt, as flowing down her figure head were streams of water.
It was about another 2 minutes when a figure appeared on the horizon, the crew braced themselves; despite being heavily injured, Usopp held his head high as he faced down his former captain.
"So, you actually came?" Luffy finally said after a pause "Fine, but just remember: you're the one that wanted this duel, so don't regret anything you do."
"Fine by me." Usopp glared "I've already made a strategy on how to defeat you! I've been with you for a long time now, don't compare me to those that don't know how you fight!"
"Usopp sounds too serious about this…" Gian muttered "Could it be that he actually has a plan?"
"Gian, are you sure you're in the right mindset to watch this thing play out?" Sanji asked. The Kaiju-Zoan user closed his eyes before sighing.
"It's fine. They've already made their decision, nothing we can do more about it now."
"I hope his injuries won't get worse." Chopper prayed.
Back in the clearing, Usopp's glare hardened.
"Luffy, I bet you want to surrender already! Know that I have 8000 followers with me! If you don't want to taste defeat just give up now!" this harmless lie, once bringing people together, is now the catalyst to tear them apart.
"I already know you've got no one with you Usopp!" Luffy shouted "That lie won't work twice!"
"That's it…" Gian shook his head "There's no doubt about it that this battle is set in stone…" If even the normally immature Luffy overlooked this, then there's no way they can stop the fight.
"Gomo Gomu no-!" Luffy made the first move and dashed forward, but Usopp already set his plan in motion. Doubling over in a fit of coughing, Luffy was shocked to see blood seep out of the sniper's mouth.
"HE REALLY IS TOO HURT!" Chopper cried out, prompting similar gasps in the others, with Gian almost leaping off the ship to try and put a stop to things. Honor be damned, there was no way Usopp can continue in the state he's in. But they soon saw what really is about to happen.
Concern for his crewmate overtook logic, Luffy immediately halted his attack, which proved to be his mistake. Usopp looked at him dead in the eye.
"Hehe, are you really showing concern for a foe? This isn't like you…" Usopp grinned, the "blood" nothing more than ketchup "Now you're in range, try this Flash Dial on for size!"
Luffy's vision was instantly obscured by a blinding flash of light, causing him to swing wildly. Apparently Usopp had taken more than a fair share of Dials from Skypiea, and down here their power really shone through.
"It's not over yet! Tamago Boshi!" something cold and wet pelted Luffy as he could feel liquid stream down his head and heard something shatter. The blur in his eyes were still evident, and it wasn't until-
"BLEAUGH! IT'S SMELLS! THESE ARE ROTTEN EGGS!" the captain yelled before wiping the egg away from his eyes "Damn you! Fight seriously!"
"THIS IS HOW I FIGHT! AND YOU SHOULDN'T OPEN YOUR BIG MOUTH UP! HISSATSU: TABASCO BOSHI!"
"AHHHH!IT BURNS!" a normal expression when you just got a hot pepper pellet shot into your mouth, Luffy thrashed around, slowly losing his footing. Usopp smirked, he's got him exactly where he wants him.
"Oi Luffy, you should watch your step. Every place beneath your feet, is already a Caltrop Hell!"
Falling onto sharp spines is never pleasant, and Luffy found that out soon as he screamed in pain as the barbs pierced his skin. Usopp had laid them out while he was still blinded by the Flash Dial, this was a fight where everything was on the line!
"I'LL DEFEAT YOU LUFFY, I'LL GET MERRY FROM YOU!"
Back on the ship, the crew continued watching, each time a blow hit a bit more of their heart ripped away. How much they want to stop this, but they already know it was too late for that.
"Arrggh! *hack* It smells and it burns…!" Luffy growled, struggling to wipe away all the goop Usopp's previous attacks left behind. By then, Usopp was already on his next move.
"Now, you don't want to cut any slack here! Every move I use is specifically made to beat you!" Usopp shouted before winding back another shot "Hissatsu: Shuriken Ryusei-Gun!"
Luffy was forced to dodge a flurry of bladed stars spinning towards him, some cutting into his skin. He landed a distance away, finally about to retaliate, only to find Usopp smiling.
"Right where I want you… I don't know if you noticed, but while your smell was blocked I've been leaving a little surprise for you!"
Luffy gasped, now that his nose is unblocked he definitely smelled the new odor. He looked to see another Dial lying a few steps ahead of him, constantly spewing out smoke.
"That Breath Dial has done its job, it's prepared for me to use this! Sorry Luffy, this isn't anything personal! Hissatsu: Kayaku Boshi!"
Normally a harmless explosive, if not an annoyance, within the gas the spark became an inferno. Luffy was engulfed by the explosion, to the horror of the rest of the crew.
"Usopp… he's controlling the entire battlefield!" Chopper exclaimed.
"He really wants to win, no, he needs to win." Gian realized "This is more than just a battle between former friends."
The explosion knocked Luffy onto his back, but he soon got up. Dashing towards Usopp again, his fist cocked back ready to deliver a strike.
"I knew that wasn't enough to keep you down, it's what makes you, you of course!" Usopp stated as he loaded another shot "Hissatsu: Sakuretsu Saboten Boshi!"
"Gomu Gomu no… Pistol!"
Luffy's fist smacked into the small pellet, where he was rewarded with a painful barrage of spines. As Usopp loaded more shots, Luffy dashed in a different direction before throwing another punch, this one striking Usopp in the cheek and knocking him down. This time, Luffy had no intention to hesitate, both hands thrown back to deliver a devastating strike.
"Gomu Gomu no Bazooka!"
His hands smashed into the sniper's chest, seeming pushing him backwards. It wasn't until Luffy saw that his blow had done no damage did he realize Usopp fooled him again.
"Heh, this dial I got just absorbed all the damage your attack did!" Usopp grinned as he held up yet another sea shell "Now, get a taste of it yourself! IMPACT!"
The Dial was leveled right at Luffy's face, and he felt as his own attack just got thrown back at him tenfold! This time, it seemed to actually do damage as Luffy's head was thrown back.
"RRAAAGGHHH! HOW'S THAT, DAMMIT!"
Of course, Usopp did not escape unscathed. The force of the Impact Dial, combined with his own frail body, had caused the bones in his arms to crack upon the impact. But he endured it, for as long as Merry was here, then he'd go through anything.
Even as Luffy once again staggered up, glare hard against his former best friend.
"It's coming…" Gian shut his eyes "This is the final blow…"
"No…" Nami choked out.
"Luffy…" Usopp gritted. Despite it all, there's no doubt that the history they had, the paths they've experienced together, the fun they've partaken in. None of that can just be forgotten, it'll be in his memory despite it all.
A memory that had to take a backseat as Luffy's fist planted itself into Usopp's stomach.
"GOMU GOMU NO PISTOL!"
And it was over, Usopp's vision blanked as he choked out one last pint of blood. Then he collapsed, his injuries and exhaustion finally taking its toll.
"USOPP!" Chopper cried out, beside him the others weren't faring much better.
"It's over…" Zoro stated grimly.
"You idiot…" Luffy panted, falling to his knees in front of his unconscious friend. His voice began to crack as all of his bottled up emotions finally burst through.
"YOU KNEW YOU COULDN'T WIN! WHY DID YOU FIGHT ME?!"
Lowering his hat over his eyes, the captain got up. He didn't look at anyone, nor did he look back as he walked back towards the crew.
"The Going Merry is yours now… do what you want with it…" Luffy mumbled "The rest of us are going to keep going. Goodbye Usopp, it was fun while it lasted."
"USOPP NO!" Chopper cried as he attempted to go patch up the sniper, only to be stopped by Sanji.
"Don't even think about going!" the cook ordered
"But- But his injuries were already serious, this fight just made it worse!" the reindeer shouted "Let me go! I'm going to tend to him!"
"Do you have any idea how horrible a man would feel, if he'd lost a duel then was shown pity?!" Sanji snapped "He already knew this could be an outcome, he wouldn't want anyone to comfort him."
"I DON'T CARE! I'M THE DOCTOR AND I'M GOING TO TREAT HIM!" Chopper bawled "I'LL-"
"ENOUGH!" the commanding voice of Gian sounded from the doorways leading to the cabins, enough to jolt Chopper from his duty. Sanji just sighed, the little deer was just too kind sometimes.
"No one… is stepping off this ship…" Gian rasped "Or did you forget Captain's Orders?"
"Gian…" tears ran down Choppers face as he was faced with reality "He's hurt…"
"And you'll only hurt him more." Gian shook his head, his own tears dripping onto the deck "Usopp is broken, in more than just body. He put everything on the line, and this outcome was one that had to happen."
"So please, just let him pick up what he has left. It'll be better than giving him something he already didn't need."
Luffy finally made it to the ship, eyes downcast as he reached up to adjust his straw hat. For an inexplicable reason, the garment he adorned with pride normally now felt it was crushing him.
"It's so heavy…" he muttered to no one in particular. His own tears finally caused his anguish to show.
"It's what a captain's duty is like." A response is given anyways. During this whole time, despite his own shaken feelings, Zoro's face had been stone. The responses he gave was similarly simple.
"Don't falter. If you do, who are we supposed to believe in?"
Thumping alerted everyone, as Gian finally returned to the deck. His eyes were bloodshot, and despite his best to stay calm, one could see that his own emotions began to seep through.
"We're leaving, pack your things." Was all he said "We will never be returning to this ship ever again."
Under the moonlight, the Straw Hats broke apart, each of them bearing different scars from the events of tonight. Though tears were shed, spirits were broken, all parties knew one thing:
Nothing, would ever be the same again.
Later:
The Straw Hats, minus Usopp, had checked into one of Water 7's inns for the night. One by one they've called it a night, though sleep was not on the minds of any of them.
Gian especially didn't seem keen on rest.
Standing on the balcony, he stared out over the city. The flame on his hand flickered on and off as he clenched his fist periodically, his other hand gripping the marble till cracks formed.
"All your fault."
The thought was conflicting, perhaps even untrue. But to him, it had been the exact reason that led to tonight.
"I was careless…" he gritted "I should've been more protective, I should've handled everything…"
"And you would rather they rely on you, rather than show that they can contribute themselves?"
Gian turned to see Zoro standing at the doorway, a bottle of sake in his hand with two cups. The swordsman walked up and stood beside him, also looking at the night.
"Thought you could use some of this, and I certainly didn't feel like drinking alone for once."
"Zoro, I don't drink, remember?"
Zoro shrugged "Just think it would help." Gian sighed.
"Wouldn't matter, I'm not in the mood for beverages anyway."
"You didn't answer my question. Would you rather everyone rely on you, or that they can show that they're able to fend for themselves?"
"That's not the point!" Gian sighed "I messed up that morning, I put myself out of commission when we weren't supposed to!" his head dropped down "If I had just been able to carry all the money myself, Usopp wouldn't have gotten into that mess!"
"And are you saying you see Usopp as so weak he can't even be trusted with a task?" Zoro stated.
"No!" Gian protested "But I'm the First Mate! I'm supposed to look out for everyone when Luffy is overwhelmed, I'm supposed to protect everyone when Luffy has his hands full!"
Zoro locked eyes with him "Is that what you see us as? People who need protection?"
"Zoro I-"
"We are in the same crew, we all have different goals, dreams and aspirations. We all have ways to handle things." He closed his eyes "And that includes dealing with the consequences."
"Usopp made his choice, from the moment he took the suitcases he put it on himself to be helpful. What transpired tonight was his own way of dealing with things, but it was his choice, just as it was his choice to take a load of your shoulders. You said it yourself that everything he did was to help those close to him, are you so afraid of the consequences that you'd deny him even of that?"
"He shouldn't have to face the consequences…" Gian seethed "That's what I'm here for, I'm supposed to shoulder the pain of everyone…"
"And what if you're not?" Zoro challenged "What if you and Luffy were cut off from us due to circumstance, then what do you expect us to do?" Gian had nothing to come back with and just stared numbly.
"If you make it so that everyone doesn't have to worry about a thing because you'll shoulder it all, then we'll only be more helpless if you can't help us." Zoro stated "And I'm damn sure that above everything else, Usopp wouldn't want you to see him as helpless."
Gian followed along, slowly realizing what Zoro had to say. It was true, he saw it himself that he should be the shield for the crew, when his own nakama were more than strong enough to shoulder it with him. His power, the Kaiju within him, he was afraid to sweep his friends into this world that he himself knew little of, but now he realized they didn't need to drag them with him, they would follow him regardless and it would've been their choice.
"Usopp, I shouldn't have been afraid for you. I know that you're always trying to prove yourself, and you aren't afraid of what will happen. Even after all that you've said tonight, I know that you're still with us."
"There, it seems like you're getting it." Zoro's lips curled into a small smile "You're the First Mate, you carry the crew when it's your turn, but we are more than able to carry it alongside you."
"When did you get so cheesy?" Gian shrugged, his casual personality starting to return.
"Heh, hearing that from you certainly means something." Zoro chuckled. Gian shook his head then looked back out towards the city.
"Sometimes I wonder, how things would be different if you were the First Mate instead of me. Would the things we've been though been dealt with differently?"
"Would it? I'd hardly see why it would." Zoro shrugged "Don't be looking for a successor now, I'm too used to seeing your ugly mug trying to keep things in order."
"Really? I meant it as a compliment and you throw that back at me?" Gian scoffed, but the talk was nice. He certainly could begin to understand why tonight went as it did. And if he learned anything, it was that they had to face things as they come. And that lead to Gian doing something he would've never done back on Solgell Island.
"Alright, here we go." He took a cup from Zoro and directed it at the bottle "Top me up."
Next day:
"Robin still isn't back yet?" Gian grimaced. Last night had been an up and down journey, but this morning everyone seemed to be having higher spirits. The thought of Usopp still remained in their minds, and deep down all of them miss him deeply, hoping that he's alright. He himself didn't sleep very well; none of the crew did, though with him it's partially attributed to the alcohol he was given last night. Zoro spent a good chunk of the morning lamenting how low his tolerance is.
"No, we haven't seen her yet." Chopper shook his head "She might not even know about everything…"
"Then this is getting a bit out of hand… it's not like her to just disappear for days on end…" Gian cast a worrying glance out towards the city "What is she up to?"
"It's only been a day, quit worrying so much?" Zoro tried to coax "Are you even at that level of your relationship yet?"
"…I'm going to ignore that…" Gian sighed, not failing to notice Sanji grumbling to himself when Zoro said the word "relationship."
"Seriously, I figured you'd make things official by this point." Zoro scoffed "I mean, pretty much since we've gotten back from Mu it's like you'd kill to spend time alone with her. Just admit it, you have it in for the woman."
Perhaps it was the mental exhaustion from the day before, or that he just decided there was no point hiding it anymore, but Gian couldn't help but have a small smile form on his lips.
"Ok, I admit it. Robin… is something else."
"Tch, we all know what that's code for." Zoro can't help but grin.
"Yeah, I don't know why, but she has something, it's like whenever I'm with her there's something only we can understand…! I mean in a way the Kaiju and the history she seeks are sort of interconnected, but it's like there are times when she can solve every problem I have, and I'm drawn to that."
"That's great Gian…!" Chopper offered a small smile "It's good to finally be true about your feelings!"
"Hmph! If he cares so much he'd be looking for her." Sanji snorted
"That's just it isn't it. I feel like this whole reveal would be better if the timing was different. So for now let's put that aside. That said, are you sure none of you gotten any news on her?"
"…No, I even kept watch all night to see if she went back to the Merry but she didn't turn up." Sanji said "She didn't even send a letter or anything."
"Robin, where are you?" Gian thought with growing anxiousness "We've just lost Usopp, I can't lose you too…!"
"Ok then, Sanji, Chopper, I'm going to ask you both to look for her." He explained again "Like Sanji said, I'd be volunteering to do so, but I've got more official First Mate Business to do right now. Robin is important to me, but so is the rest of the crew, and right now, the leader of the crew isn't exactly in the best shape." He glanced over to the railing on the farthest side of the inn's roof. Luffy had been sitting with his back towards everyone, clearly mulling through the events of yesterday.
"…I got it." Sanji affirmed "I was planning to look for her anyway. Come on Chopper."
"O-Of course!"
But before anyone can do anything, the door to the roof burst to reveal a panting Nami, eyes full of worry and surprise.
"Guys! Did you guys get the news? Iceburg was shot last night! He's in a coma right now!"
"WHAT?!" Gian gasped, and this made Luffy turn his head in surprise.
"Iceburg? Who is he Nami-san?" Sanji asked.
"Iceburg is the head of Galley-La Company, he was the one that told us about Merry yesterday, and he's also the mayor of Water 7!"
"Why would anyone want to assassinate such a major figure?" Zoro asked.
"Don't know, but I have a bad feeling about this…" Gian narrowed his eyes.
"I'm going." Luffy stood up for the first time before leaping off the roof "We have to see what's going on."
"I second that," Gian agreed "Luffy, wait up!"
"Wait for me!" Nami ran after the two.
The ride towards Dock 1 was strenuous, the mood in the city had completely changed. Iceburg, the beloved mayor of Water 7, was a respected figure by all. Who would do such a horrible thing?
"It's all over the newspapers!" Luffy realized "This is big!"
"And it's not just the news, look!" Gian pointed and they looked up to see a growing crowd in front of the doors to Dock 1, all concerned citizens worried for their mayor. The amount of boats lined up around the shipyard was growing by the minute.
"How are we going to get inside?" Nami wondered.
"It's not possible." A man riding beside them explained "The dock workers said they're only letting employees in right now, it's been like that all morning, and everyone here's trying to get whatever news there is."
"Just how big of an injury does he have?" Gian wondered, but that wasn't the strangest thing to happen that morning.
For the quick beat of music that sounded over the crowd soon drew their attention.
"Um, did one of you bring a boombox?" Gian arched a brow. But it was the crowd's reaction that drew his attention, a look of panic soon passed over the citizens of Water 7.
"W-What's he doing here?!"
"It's them!"
"Don't be afraid to ask for me! Come, just say my name!" a booming voice sounded over the crowd. The 3 Straw Hats looked up to see a large curtain draped over an archway, behind it were 3 silhouettes.
"Nobody asked for you!"
"It was you who attacked Iceburg-san wasn't it, you no good delinquent?!"
"OW! Who was the one that called for me?" the voice sounded again.
"Was it you, Straw Hat Luffy?"
And the curtain dropped with a shower of steam, revealing 3 erratic people, tapping to the beat. Two of them were young women, both having their hair styled into black squares, the two were Identical twins. But it was their leader that drew all the attention.
"That's a lot of pyrotechnics…" Gian noted.
"I'm the most Super guy of Water 7! The face of this town's Underworld! That's right, I! AM!-"
"WHY IS FRANKY HERE?!" the crowd around them erupted in shock.
Franky, the man who had been behind all of the Straw Hat's misfortunes, had finally revealed himself and he was quite the spectacle. Standing As tall as Gian is, his blue hair was styled in a large pompadour. A well-toned body was revealed for all to see, for he wore nothing more than a black speedo and a colorful Hawaiian shirt draped over his body, revealing his chest and abs. The three people struck a pose, one that had Franky put both of his gargantuan forearms together, and the two star-shaped tattoos on them combining to form one single blue star.
"Come on out Straw Hat! I know you're down there!" the criminal called out.
"Who's that pervert?" Luffy mused.
"Franky? Did he just say Franky?" Nami realized.
"HUH?! THAT'S HIM?!" Luffy yelled out.
"Well good…" Gian's voice lowered into a growl "We were just looking for him, and he served himself right to us…"
"Oi, Dummy!" Luffy shouted "I'm Luffy!"
The large man glared down "So you're the Monkey D. Luffy who went and ruined my house and beat up all my bros! You've really done it to piss me off, didn't you? I'll wring you out like a wet towel!"
"What did you do with our money?!" Nami demanded.
"Tch, you're still on about that?" Franky sneered "I've already spent every beri! You pirates sure don't know when to let something go!"
"You really think this was all about to money don't you?!" Gian roared "You know, we've been hoping to find you eventually, and now you've dropped yourself into our sights!"
"I could say the same myself, or at least I knew exactly where you'd be!" Franky shot back.
"I'M GOING TO KICK YOUR ASS!" Luffy snarled, Franky only scoffed and began an intake of air. It was at this point the three of them realized that the rest of the people had begun to flee in panic. The reason being that the large man's chest puffed out and moments later unleashed a gout of flames from his mouth. Luffy yelled out in surprise and forced their Yagura to avoid the flames, but when he focused again the man was already gone.
"Where did he go?!" the captain demanded.
Gian looked around "Did you guys see that? He just breathed fire!"
"He must have a Devil Fruit!" Nami thought "It's really-AH!" the boat was airbone, Franky burst from the water below as he flipped it with a single punch. Luffy managed to grab Nami before he and Gian landed on the docks.
"Wha-?! How can he be swimming?!" Nami gave a shocked gasp.
"Well that disproves the Devil Fruit theory." Gian grimaced
"OW! You really think I'm a Devil Fruit user?" Franky cracked "You guys sure are dumb!"
"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!" Luffy charged as his arm shot forwards, Franky simply grinned before throwing his own punch.
"Strong Right!"
To everyone's surprise, the arm literally detached itself, connected by a metal chain as the fist smashed into Luffy's chest, knocking him down onto the ground.
"What the-!" Luffy choked out as he hit the ground hard.
"Yeah, there's nothing Devil Fruit about that!" Gian rushed towards the man, only to have both hands caught by the blue haired thug. Franky is strong, his strength on par with his as they exerted their weight against each other.
"Damn… it's like I'm pushing against a wall of metal!" Gian gritted out.
"Well, you're half right about that, I'm a cyborg." Franky stated, Gian's eyes widened at that.
"You're half machine? How is that possible?"
"Through modifications on my body of course!" Franky grinned before throwing another heavy punch, causing Gian to skid backwards, and then pointing his left arm at him "modifications like this one! Weapons Left!"
Multiple machine gun shots fired out rapidly, causing Gian to duck for cover as some of the bullets nicked his skin. It would've been cool any other time or on anyone else, but right now they were fighting the man who hurt Usopp, the cool factor was the last thing on their minds.
"Get em, Franky-Aniki!" the two girls with him cheered
"You two! Kick that pervert's ass!" Nami shouted as well
"You know 'Staw Hat', 'Beast Warrior', if you'd just accept the fact that you can't get your money back, we can all settle this peacefully! But you had to go and mess up my place and my followers, so now I'm going to enjoy putting you through the pain train!" the cyborg grinned.
"That's funny, we were thinking of the same thing!" Gian growled as blue fire began to swirl around him; he can't risk Partially Transforming within the city, too many people could be caught in the crossfire, but a little show of power couldn't hurt.
"You're made of metal, then that means you can melt! His teeth began to sharpen as small dorsal fins popped from his back "Try not to get too hot! Atom Ray!"
The usual thermonuclear ray shot out, pushing Franky backwards. Even his metal body would eventually perish in the heat if it went long enough. Hastily the cyborg dove out of the way before pointing his left arm, this time with his hand opening to form a rocket launcher. Another Weapons Left sent Gian flying in a big explosion. But his problems immediately resumed as Luffy jumped at him again and threw a kick, causing him to tumble.
"Gee, two against one and you're having this much trouble? How weak are you two?" Franky sneered.
"Don't mind me! I'm just here to dent your face, Luffy will be the one to exact judgement!" Gian shot back, finally deciding to hoist Atom Splitter off his shoulders and letting the blade crack the pavement. "Knew there was a good reason I decided to bring this with me this time."
"Gian," Luffy stated "Let's rip his metal face off!"
"Heh, you're free to try!" Franky taunted.
But nothing more would come from that fight, for out of the blue came a flying hammer that spun straight towards the Straw Hats. Gian and Luffy quickly jumped back, eyes wide in search of this new attacker.
The perpetrator were people they never expected.
"Galley-La?" Franky questioned "Why are they here?"
"Straw Hat!" Paulie was in the lead along with Kaku and Lucci, with two more tagging along. All were trying to hold in barely reigned in anger towards the pirates.
"What did you think was going to come out of that stunt of your?!"
"Oi! Galley-La! What are you doing trying to interrupt a man's fight?" Franky demanded.
"Really, you're causing this much destruction and you expect us not to do anything?" Kaku snorted.
"Yes, we deal with you after." One of the carpenters, a mountain of a man named Tilestone, glared at the cyborg, who gave an even more scathing look.
"Yes, but for now we have to deal with Straw Hat Luffy." Paulie sighed "You have a lot of nerve showing your face back here again, especially after what you've done!"
"What? What did I do?" Luffy shouted "We only came because we heard the news!"
"Wow, you guys messed with both my family and Galley-La?" Franky chortled "It's like you want to get driven out of town!"
"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!"
"Trying to play dumb now are you?" Paulie snarled "Well how about I make you remember!" and the foreman's ropes snake towards Luffy, only to be stopped by Gian's Atom Splitter and wrapping it around that instead.
"Hey! We're telling the truth!" Gian protested "We didn't do anything!"
Paulie didn't say anything except yank his rope back, causing Gian to try and pull back in hopes of holding onto his weapon. This ended up being futile, as the fifth foreman, Peeply Lulu, ended up firing a few shots towards the Kaiju-Zoan user, causing him to stumble. A final hammer smash from Tilestone caused him to crash into a pile of logs, the guandao separated from him.
"Atom Splitter!"
"What is going on?" Nami shouted "Why are the foreman of Dock 1 after us?"
"Knock it off! I haven't done anything!" Luffy protested as he tried to dodge the attacks, only for Lucci to practically materialize next to him and sent him flying with one single palmed strike.
"Had enough?" Paulie demanded "Maybe now you'll tell us why you and your crew tried to kill Iceburg-san last night!"
"WHAT?!" To onlookers, this could be nothing more than shocking.
"Last night…" Gian panted "What are you talking about…? This place is the last placed we'd be last night…!"
"We never did anything of the sort!" Luffy protested.
"Then why did Iceburg-san say otherwise when he woke up earlier?!" Paulie demanded "Why did he clearly remember that it was your crewmember Nico Robin that shot him?"
Gian heart fell into his chest.
"H-How-? That can't be possible! Robin would never-!"
"HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE HER?" Luffy shouted "YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT KIND OF PERSON SHE IS!"
"Are you calling Iceburg-san a liar?" Paulie snarled "I don't know if the reason you're in Water 7 in the first place is to assassinate Iceburg-san but rest assured we'll make sure you'll never harm him again!"
"THERE'S NO WAY ROBIN COULD'VE BEEN BEHIND WHAT HAPPENED!" Gian roared "She couldn't have! Not unless Iceburg directly wronged her!"
"Gian…" Nami whispered.
The foreman's eyes all narrowed.
"That…" Paulie seethed "was the wrong thing to say…"
"GET THEM!" and it was more than the workers of Dock 1 too. Iceburg was their beloved mayor, the figurehead of the city, looked up to by all. To think anyone would be cold hearted enough to try and kill him is rage-inducing. Soon a large mob had formed, all calling out for the 3 pirate's heads.
"Please, let us talk to him!" Nami shouted "There has to be a misunderstanding!"
"You think we're going to let you anywhere near him? Dream on!" Kaku scoffed.
"All of Water 7 now knows what you've done, we'll hunt you down no matter where you go!" Paulie glowered.
Absolute mayhem broke out, with both the foreman and the citizens all out for blood. With no intention to fight back, Gian and Luffy were constantly trying to avoid a bombardment of weapons and gunfire.
"This is bad… they're not listening to us!" Nami gritted.
"Emotions are what they're basing their judgement on right now, we can't stay here." Gian replied.
"Please!" Luffy tried to persuade them one more time "Just let us talk to Ice-ossan!" but his call went ignored, and the attacks only increased in viciousness.
"Coup de Vent!"
Until they were saved by the most unlikely of sources. As a destructive blast of air ripped through the shipyard, shocking onlookers and carpenters alike, the Straw Hats caused a glimpse of Franky standing tall, his arms fused together in the form of an air pressure cannon.
"Listen here! I have beef with Straw Hat first! You Galley-La people better back off of my prey!"
Amidst the destruction, the trio took this time to make a retreat, one that wasn't unnoticed, through curses and promises of vengeance, they retreated onto a nearby roof.
"Those guys took Atom Splitter from me." Gian cursed.
"This doesn't make any sense!" Nami finally said after they caught their breath "Why would Robin ever do something like that!"
"Because she didn't!" Gian stated adamantly "There's clearly a plot going on! Iceburg must have known of her reputation, and is trying to hunt us all down and give us up to the World Government!"
"Gian… why do you think that?" Nami asked.
"Because I know her, and I know that, despite everything, Robin wouldn't warily kill a person for no reason. In theory they've never met! So there's no way Robin would even think about killing him unless there's an ulterior motive behind all this!"
"We're going to go talk to him." Luffy declared "Ice-ossan doesn't seem like a bad guy, I bet he'll clarify for us."
"He'd better, or else when I get to him he's going to wish those bullets killed him!" Gian growled "Who do these people think he is, trying to frame Robin like this?"
"No one bad mouths my girl in my presence," he decided "Not if they like their bones intact."
"Besides, it's not just what they accused her of" Gian explained "Something has been bothering me since we've got here. Think about it, literally everything we've done since yesterday has gone to shit! Either fate is messing with us, or there's something, or someone, in the dark messing with us. And I'm willing to bet they're targeting Robin too."
"Then we better go ask Iceburg now, and there isn't much time left!" Nami said.
"Why the sudden rush?" Luffy asked.
"There's a big storm coming, I can feel the changes in the air." Nami told them "But not just any storm, this is the kind that can flood entire cities, and it'll be here by nightfall!" it was clear also by the way the city is designed, being a city interlocked with canals, the alleyways and systems all show superior drainage design as well. Clearly, this storm is something that they are used to.
"Then we'd better get this done with." Gian declared.
A/N: Well, this chapter is a bit faster in the making, I'd hoped that we'd be able to get it done before the end of June! As you can see, not a lot of progression yet, but all this tension is heating up and coming to a close next chapter! I overall don't have much more to say other than aside from the next chapter of this, I'll also have an update for Monster's Log that will be shortly after this one. Look forward to that in the coming weeks. Until then we'll see ya!
G: Also this is chapter 69. Heh.
And I thought we were in the clear.
Responses to Reviews:
To Patricia Louise A. Pena:
G: It's one of those days.
And he'll get a nasty surprise soon.
To Darkmaster100000
G: Hey, you have like 100 open tabs on your phone and what's this? This Bites! Is on there!
I'm getting to it…
Well, I guess we all have our opinions, so there's that
To Boggie 445:
At this point Strong World is definitely coming up.
To bladeblaster:
If you reread chapter 67 then you'll see that he's already revealed.
To Matt:
I'm back
G: I PLAY POKEMON GO EVER-
*Gunshot
To Natalie Jarrett
Yeah, it wasn't the best but they managed to keep it a Godzilla film!
To StormMaster 567:
Dressrosa is still a ways off, so you'll see, as for Spandam's fate, it'll be pretty interesting.
To The 1 and Only Logan:
G: NOOOOO TONY-
Aw shit here we go again!
And I definitely encourage you to write your own! It's fun to see what people come up with!
To Kristopher B
G: "Hey KP360 It's been awhile since I left a review on your fanfic and-" This is ten pages. I can't read it.
There's a thing called paragraphs my friend.
But let me clarify something, I figured out the reason it might not be showing up for you on mobile. You keep searching for this story under the One Piece/Godzilla crossover section, and the reason you can't find it there is, well, get this:
I didn't list it as a crossover.
G: Sloppy.
Yeah, that was just left out when I started writing this monster, and I just never bother changing it. Not that it mattered because people still found it fine. So yeah, it's just listed as a regular One Piece story. If you search for it in that category you'll find it no problem, I managed to do it and so did plenty of other people.
G: And not to be rude at all, because we value all of our reviewers and we greatly appreciate you taking your time and reading this, but don't try to say you won't review something just because one of your questions didn't get answered. We appreciate you reviewing, but we're not going to be extorted like this. And honestly something as trivial as this, as you can see, was solved by just a bit of tinkering, and the fact that you're making a big deal out of nothing is honestly a bit disrespectful and hurtful. So yeah, I hope this time your problems are solved.
A bit heavy handed, but needed to be said.
That's it for this one, we'll see you again!
Leave a review and Gian-
G: you know what? I'm open to suggestions this time, why don't you all lovely readers give me something fun to do.
Torture him.