"Wooaahhh." A small reindeer cried as he laid over the sweating sniper. "I'm sorry Usopp! I'm sorry!" he cried. "I couldn't be a better doctor! I couldn't find the sakura trees in bloom when we needed them! Don't die Usopp! Don't die!" Chopper cried.

"Oi Chopper." Luffy stated from where he sat on the chair. "It's not ever yet, Usopp is still breathing." He pointed out.

"This one was close though! Usopp nearly died, this temperature, it's so high, he could collapse any moment!" Chopper told.

Luffy had just witnessed Usopp having a spasm, and Chopper quickly find the right syrring to stuff in Usopp's arm, that had finally caused Usopp to relax, and apparently saved his life.. for now. And now it was the reindeers turn to give in. "Usopp." Chopper cried with his face down in the wet blanket.

Slowly, a shaking dark hand reached up, and then laid on top of choppers shoulders, Chopper looked up, and saw Usopp's fever dominated face, and his squinted eyes. "Chopper.." Usopp spoke harshly. "Luffy.."

"Right here!" Luffy exclaimed at ones by the snipers side, holding his shoulder.

"I'm the one who's sorry!" Usopp cried. "I'm sorry I couldn't be stronger! I'm sorry I ended up becoming such a bother after-all, I'm so sorry about all of this!" he cried, and cried.

"No no Usopp! It's not your fault!" Luffy stated embracing the sniper. "You helped me so much, I owe you my life many times over, even if you don't realise it, aligato Usopp, Thank you for being such a good friend!" he told, as he also cried, tears streaming down his eyes. "But.. Usopp.. I DON'T WANT TO LOOSE ANOTHER BROTHER!" he cried.

"Luffy.." Usopp breathed.

"What? What?" Luffy asked.

"Get me out of here.." Usopp asked. "PLEASE!"

"You want fresh air?" Luffy asked. "Chopper what do you say?" he asked concerned.

"I need him under observation! We can't!" Chopper exclaimed. "Wait till tomorrow!" he begged.

"No.. it has to be now." Usopp told, with tears streaming down his eyes. "Please, please let me out-side, just a little."

"All-right." Luffy nodded, then easily picked up the sniper in his arms. "Just a little bit."

As Luffy emerged from the infirmary, all the straw-hats turned towards him, and wide-eyed looking at the sniper in his arms, breathing those raspy breaths, solemnly Luffy walked towards the railing, and then just stood there, with the sniper in his arms.

Vaguely Usopp managed to open his eye, and was met by the sight of a sinking sun, painting the sky and waves oranges, the clouds took on a darker purple colour.

A sunset in the new world.. it was rather breath taking.

And suddenly, more tears ran down Usopp's eyes as he laid in Luffys arms.

Quietly the rest of the straw-hats gathered around them.. all of them was there, as they looked at the sunset.

"Strange isn't it?" Brook asked. "This wonder, happens every-day, yet it's so rare we take the time to take it in."

Lightly Nami laid a hand on Usopp's shoulder, as she looked at the sniper, biting her lip.

Zoro merely looked out at the sunset, standing side by side with Sanji, Franky had been kind enough to put Chopper on his shoulder where he could see probably, Robin leaned against the railing.

"E..every-one." Usopp gasped. "I'm so glad I know you, I'm so glad that I'm a straw-hat, that.. that I got to be here." He told. "I'm so glad we made it here together."

"Shut up you idiot, we know." Luffy responded, tears running down his own eyes. "Just hurry up and get better so we can get even further."

As the sun sank, the sky were painted in more colours, dark blue, rosy red, golden yellow.. soon a little shining star appeared, and then a second one, together the straw-hats witnessed it all, standing together in a tight group, and then, Usopp started to cough, and struggle in Luffys arms. "No.. no…" Usopp murmered.

"Usopp?" Luffy asked.

"It's the fever." Chopper told. "He is having delusions, hurry, put him back to bed, cool him down!"

"HAI!" Luffy exclaimed, and ran back into the infirmary, as quick as he could, with the struggling Sniper in his arms.


All the straw-hats had taken place in the infirmary, no-body seemed like they intended to leave that night, at all, they had all understood what was happening, and there was no way Usopp would be alone in this room, any-time soon.

"Usopp.." Luffy whispered as he held his friends hand, trying to keep back his own tears. "Come on, make it through this. You are way stronger than this Usopp, way stronger. I've seen it!" he told, wiping the tears away from his eyes. "Back at Syrup, don't you remember Usopp? You stood up to an entire pirate gang, you knew you had no chance of winning, but you did it any-way. It was the same when you challenged me, when you fought in Alabasta. You always fight, because you are so god damn strong!" he told. "Usopp can I tell you a secret?" he asked with tears down his eyes. "Some-times… I get scarred to." He whispered. "Scarred that I wont make it back, that one of you get seriously hurt, you know what happens then?" he asked. "It's hard when Zoro and Sanji don't ever get scared, so I think.. what would Usopp do, when he is terrified? And you know what the answer is?" he asked. "Usopp might be shitting his pants, but he'll be fighting any-way." He told laying across the blanket crying. "When is a person brave Usopp? Is it when he never shows fear.. Yasopp told me, true bravery is when you face up to the thing that terrifies you the most, and defies it.. that's you Usopp, you're every-thing he said, he'll be so proud of you when he sees you, cause he needs to! You two need to meet! You can't do this! I need you here by my side! Not just want you, I need you Usopp! I need you to fight dammit! FIGHT THIS!" then suddenly, Luffy felt some-thing, looking wide-eyed at his hand, Luffy realised, Usopp was sqeeshing his hand tight, while his face retrieved in a grimace, pearls of sweat dropping from his forehead. "Come on Usopp." Luffy whispered. "Be the hero I know you are."

"No.." Usopp whispered. "I wont.."

Luffy blinked. "Usopp?" he asked as he held Usopp's hand tight.

The rest of the straw-hats as well looked wide-eyed at the sniper, Chopper stood ready, shaking lightly as he swallowed.

Usopp's head turned left and right as he hissed. "Get away from me!" he hissed waving his arms in bewilderment. "You are not going to take me!"

"USOPP!" Luffy shouted, and then Usopp's eyes opened wide.

But they didn't look normal at all, they looked glazed and distant, like he was seeing, but nothing there was in the room. "Luffy, Luffy where are you?" he asked turning around, completely missing that Luffy was right next to him. "ANY-BODY!"

"USOPP!" Nami called from where she was, right beside Luffy. "We're right here!"

"I'm right here." Luffy told squeezing his hand.

"Mom?" Usopp asked.

"NO!" Luffy shouted. "I'm Luffy! And I'm right here."

"Shit Sniper! Your mom is dead, you're not!" Sanji exclaimed, from where he stood up looking at the scene.

"Look it's mom!" Usopp smiled. "Mom! And Merry! Merry is waiting for me can you believe it!?"

"NO DON'T GO TO THEM!" Multiple straw-hats shouted. Desperately so.

"Stay here with me! I need you here on my ship!" Luffy exclaimed.

"Luffy.." Usopp whispered.

"I know you want to go see her, I get that!" Luffy told. "There's… there's people I like to see to, but it's not like you to take the easy way out. Not really." He told.

"Mom.." Usopp then sniffed, as tears ran down is closed eyes. "I'm sorry.. I'm sorry mom, I can't.. not yet.. NO YOU WONT TAKE ME!" he shouted and then turned in his bed. "NO KURO! Don't come any closer! DON'T NOOO!" then he grabbed Luffys arms, burying his nails into Luffys flesh, as his eyes looked out in the room, clearly not seeing what Luffy saw, Usopp was seeing some-thing else entirely, some-thing invisble no one else could see. "He-Help me! It's taking me!"

"Who?" Luffy asked. "What is trying to take you!?"

"NO I'M NOT READY TO GO!" Usopp shouted. "ARGHH! PERONA! Monsters.. i'm scared." He told, and still his eyes was not singing, his hands so tight in Luffys flesh that they had actually drawn blood. "Wheres does all those monsters come from.. I.. I can't seem them.. why are they staying in the shadow.. Luffy, what do they want with me!?"

But Luffy's face looked stern and resolute. "Hang on to me Usopp." He asked sternly. "Hang on, and fight! You don't let the monsters take you, you fight them!" he hissed.

And Usopp screamed, in what sounded like sheer agony and pain. "ARRGHHHHHH!"

There was pain, all Usopp felt was pain! A foggy voice in the back-ground yelling. "Step aside, give me room!" a childish voice, which Usopp knew, but he couldn't focus as the voice seemed to get further away, behind the cotton.

All he saw were just.. shadows, in the corners of his eye, eyes glowing red back at him.

A crushing sound against his ears, a plug in his throat that stopped him from breathing.. it was to much, to much for Usopp, he couldn't fight it any-more.

Desperately Usopp reached out a hand. "Help me!" he begged. "Some-one help me! I can't breath!"

A loud pain erupted from his chest, and Usopp was emerged in pain as he drowned.. drowned away.. and then stop…. From one moment to the other, it all merely stopped.

Instead, Usopp felt himself floating, peacefully.. gently.. it was, very nice.

"Usopp.."

Usopp looked up, it was all dark around him, it was like a little dark cocoon he was inside of, a thick blanket around him, that warmed him and kept him down.. And then, a light.

Usopp squinted his eyes, due to the dark, the light seemed so bright, finally Usopp managed to see, and saw a figure hovering in front of him.

A figure that seemed to be made out of light, some-how it looked like a child, some-how a candle light.. it had called Usopp's name in a childish voice.

"Wait.. I know you." Usopp swallowed. "You're.."

The little figure put its head askew.

"Merry.." Usopp breathed.

The figure swallowed. "Ha.. Hallo.." she spoke quietly.

"Merry.." Usopp breathed astounded. "You're here! How?" he asked looking wide-eyed at the ships spirit in front of him.

Sadly Merry looked at Usopp. "I'm right where I belong, as a ships spirit, you're the one whom is out of place." She told a little sadly. "Neither here or there really.."

Suddenly, the pouring rain stated to fall, over Usopp's shoulders and hair. "What's this?" Usopp asked.

"Tears." Merry whispered, as the rain poured down, soaking both of them.

"Who's?" Usopp asked confused.

"Mine." Merry told. "Our Nakamas, yours.. this is the place between your world and the world of spirits, where I can look over you. It's where I life, things works differently here." She told in a swallow. "Emotions have physical impact, and forms this world, your emotions, your dreams, becomes my reality, your love, your sorrow. All of you whom takes care of me. you are this world." She told as she let down her hood, to reveal a child-like angelic face, her hair floated as that too seemed to be made of light, and from here eyes, came tears made out of light as well. Then exclaimed in a loud voice "DON'T GO PLEASE!" she begged. "I wont let you go!" she exclaimed grabbing Usopp's hand, holding it tight.

"Me..Merry." Usopp uttered confused looking at his hand, then up at Merry, with wide open eyes.

"You wouldn't let me go when I was supposed to die, so I won't let you go now!" Merry cried. "Don't you hear them? Our Nakamas?" she asked. "They are all calling out for you!"

Usopp blinked, and true enough, he heard voice.. yells, screams, in the far distant behind. "Urgh.." Usopp hissed as he grabbed his chest. "It hurts so bad! My chest! I can't breath!" he gasped.

"GOOD!" Merry exclaimed. "You're feeling your body!"

"Why does it hurt so much!?" Usopp exhaled, as a ton of feelings came back to him, emotions, feelings of hurt, lost. "ARGHHH!" Usopp hissed grabbing his head. "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS PAIN!? MAKE IT STOP! PLEASE!"

"No, don't push it away, embrace it!" Merry begged. "It's the pain of being alive!"

"It's unbearable!" Usopp gasped falling down to his knees. "I can't... can't!" and then the loud thunder run for his ears, all those voices, calling a name. "Usopp." All he wanted in that moment, was to make it all end, the things that exploided in his head, hurt his body, the inner and outer pain, it was all to much.

"Listen to me!" Merry spoke holding Usopp's face in her hands. "I've looked over you, ever since we left Syrup together! Because of you, I was allowed to be reborn and come back in a new body! You are the person, whom makes stories become reality! Whom never gives up and wins over impossible odds. You bring life to my world, without you, I cannot go on in the same way! Longnose I.." and then the corporal being that was the spirit of Merry, dragged Usopp in, forced him to bow over, to plant a kiss, right on his forehead, then held him close as Merry cried. "I always wanted to speak more to you like this.. it was only possible back then because I was the one dying.. but now this.. this isn't what I wanted.."

"So I am dying." Usopp swallowed, as he felt the sweat on his head, struggling in his pain. "The moment of death, is when the world of spirits and the world of living touch.. right?" he asked.

Merry cried as she held to Usopp, leaning her head into his chest. "No, no, no!" she cried. "You're not done yet! Go back! PLEASE!"

"Merry." Usopp whispered. "This is not what I wanted either.. I.. don't mind dying if it's for my dream, but.. Not like this.. Not like this." He hissed. "Merry I…" Usopp swallowed, then hissed.

Then Merry looked up at Usopp. "If you go beyond this point there's no coming back!" she told. "Tell me you don't want to go." She asked. "TELL ME! DON'T GIVE UP ON YOUR PAIN! TAKE IT! OWN IT! YOU DON'T WANT TO GO!"

"I.. I DON'T WANT TO GO!" Usopp cried, and felt the great pang in his heart, almost making him collaps again.

"SAY YOU WANT TO LIFE!" Merry shouted.

"I WANT TO LIFE!" Usopp shouted back, tears running down his eyes, and his eyes opened wide as the pain anew, consumed him, so many burdens, so many feelings, but instead of trying to make it stop, he opened himself up. "COME AT ME! SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT!" he yelled at his own pain, the pain every-one must feel, by merely being alive.

"THEN HOLD ON YOU IDIOT!" Merry shouted, before she grabbed Usopp, and kissed him on the lips, and rather harshly as tears ran down where her eyes supposed were, tears made out of pure light, they fell on Usopp, touched his skin, and then seemed to merge with him, like drops of acid, they burned into his skin, and filledhim with a heat, but, it was just another one of the pains he felt, just another thing to own! And as he took ownership of his pain, it seemed to dull down, it made Usopp fell stronger, more awake! For a good while Merry held on, dragged him closer and closer, and then in a surprise attack, that gave Usopp no time to prepaire himself, she let go and pushed Usopp backwards.

"WAh, waaaah!" Usopp wide-eyed waved his arms as he was tripping, and then he fell backwards, towards the big black void. As he looked up, he just managed to catch a glimps of Merry, whom whisked away a tear and then waved at him.

"Bye." She whispered.

And then Usopp felt himself falling, falling down into the endless dark, in a endless pit, reaching up, reaching for Merry and the light as he called out. "MERRYYYY!" but she was gone, and so was the light.. all there was now, was utter darkness and quiet.