A/N: Quick note about this and the next acts: Brook obviously was not there so he is working off logs and stories from the crew, so there are some things, especially Robin's motivations, that will be different. She's not exactly the type to open up, even to someone like Brook, who I imagine is a great listener. And some things will be cut for length and practical reasons. Like the yagaras and giants or Zoro cutting the train car in half.

All that being said, I hope you like it as much as the Gotham audience.

Chapter 24 -Act 5 - Water 7

"He definitely took liberties with that one," Nami commented to Robin and Catwoman. "He made it sound so simple, and left out how many times we almost died."

"Wait, that's the dumbed down version?" Nightwing said from down the row. He leaned forward to look at the thieves in disbelief and exchange a look with Batman.

Batman shook his head in amazement. Catwoman leaned against his arm, her shoulders shaking with mirth.

"I can't believe he left out our snake friend," Chopper said sadly. "He was really nice when he didn't have Luffy rampaging in his stomach."

Everyone who heard the reindeer turned to stare at the small creature.

Luffy laughed. "Oh, yeah, the mystery cave. It took forever to get out. I missed most of the fight because of it."

Before anyone could comment, the curtain rose again. It was pretty impressive how quickly they were able to change scenes considering they never had a chance to rehearse. Either Brook was an incredible motivator or they were scared of Joker's reaction if they messed up, or both.

Franky had gone all out on this set, building a replica of the outside of the Franky house to stand for Water 7. In the front row, Ussop squirmed uncomfortably and Sanji glared daggers at the shipwright.

Nami threw something at the cyborg. "Really? You couldn't build something else from the city?"

Franky shrugged his enormous shoulders. "It's Supah!" he said unapologetically.

"Wait, is he skipping the Davy back fight?" Ussop asked. "What about the afro?"

Nami groaned. "Shut up about that stupid afro. It's dumb."

"Never underestimate the power of an afro," Sanji said.

Brook strummed his guitar as he lamented the damage the beloved Going Merry had sustained.

" A pirate's ship fills many needs,

Transport, weapon, home,

Without it, there'd be no historic deeds

But a ship is not like a man

Who heals and grows stronger,

And a ship with a broken kneel can sail no longer.

Actress Nami came out on stage, with Ussop and Luffy behind her.

"This man is a notorious pirate, worth 100 million beris. So don't you dare cheat us. We need the money to repair the Going Merry!"

"Woohoo! Three hundred million beris will definitely save our ship!" cheered Luffy.

Brook strummed on an acoustic guitar, a sad melody that seemed to weigh on the audience. "But it was not meant to be. Not only was the ship beyond repair, but there was dark forces at work in the city of water. A family of thugs stole our heroes' money, driving a wedge between friends, while the vile government blackmailed our lovely archaeologist to betray her new crew."

The actors for Luffy and Ussop stepped out on a cleared stage. The Strawhats in the audience held their breath. None of them had expected Brook to tell this part and it was bringing back some bad memories.

"The Franky Family stole our money!" Ussop yelled from his side of the stage. "I'm sorry I let you down, but we have enough left to fix our ship right?"

"No, Ussop. I decided we have to say good bye. We'll find a new ship, a stronger one," Luffy answered gravely.

"So you just abandon your friends when their weak? Maybe you should abandon me too! I never fit in with you monsters anyway," Ussop shouted, his voice wavering with emotion.

"Ussop, please."

"No, if you want to leave the Merry, you have to leave me too. I'll fight you for her!" Ussop stepped forward and took a swing at Luffy. The actors took the very real hit but stood his ground while "Ussop" hit him three more times.

Luffy finally punched Ussop in the gut. "There was no way you could defeat me. You knew that." He looked up, like he was fighting back tears. "Do what you want with the Going Merry. We'll get a new ship and keep moving forward." He reached up to place his straw hat on his head, covering his eyes and walked off stage.

The inner curtains came down, hiding the fallen Ussop. A heavy silence fell over the theater and Brook stepped out.

"A fight between Nakama is never easy," he explained, not even bothering to strum his guitar. "And loss of their home is just as hard. But they could not rest because a darkness from the past had come after Nico Robin, devil child. See, she had been a wanted woman from young age because of her knowledge of the past and the government had finally caught up to her. They threatened to annihilate her new friends, who had given her back her life, her hope, her dream and only asked for her friendship in return. How could she risk their lives against such an unimaginable foe? And if that wasn't enough for our crew to face, the storm of the century is bearing down, bringing a tsunami of epic proportions. How will they survive?"

The curtain came up on the Strawhats facing off against CP9. They didn't look like the real thing, since Brook and Joker had to work with what they had, but the stand in Lucci at least had a stuffed bird on his shoulder and Kakku had a square nose taped to his face. Kalifa, originally a sexy secretary, was played by the same older lady who played Kureha during Drum Island, and Blueno was a guy with cow horns.

"Give Robin back!" Luffy yelled.

"Just try. She made her choice," Lucci shot back and when Luffy tried to hit him, he dodged and threw the other man across the stage. "Everyone on the train!" he ordered, as a small version of the sea train, pulled by ropes off stage, pulled up behind them. "And bring that thug, Franky. Our boss has questions for him."

In the audience, Franky crossed his arms with a loud clank. "I wish I had time to make an engine for the model," he griped.

"Only you would complain about something like that," Nami said, rolling her eyes. "Now quiet."

"We can't let them get away! We'll have to take another train," Luffy yelled.

"There isn't another sea train! And Aqua Lagoona, a giant wave, is coming!"

"I know of another train," said a new actress. She was actually one of the seamstresses working for the theater but when the Strawhats met her, they all said she needed to play Old Lady Kokoro. It was all in the hair and the bottle she kept sneaking a drink from. "But a warning, you're taking your life in your hands if you ride it. It's a runaway train."

A ragtag group came out and fell on their knees. "Please let us come with you! We have to save our Big Bro Franky. We're sorry we stole from you, but we'll make it up to you if only you let us come!"

Luffy shrugged. "Okay, if you can keep up!"

The orchestra picked up a slow chugging song, reminiscent of a train starting up. Franky shouted with excitement when the assembled Strawhats, minus Ussop and Robin started singing loudly.

" Chugga chugga, choo,

Puffing Tom, where are you?

Chugga chugga ching

Watch out for who I will bring!

Pirate who have lost a friend

And gangsters who need their Bro!

Chugga chugga, choo!

There's nothing the sea can do

To stop this crew.

Aqua Lagoona can't be stopped by guns or bombs,

But a bazooka and cannon will punch right through!"

The actors faced off against a towering wave. The Franky family fired their weapons at it but it didn't move. Then Luffy and Zoro stepped up.

"Three hundred pound cannon!" They shouted and knocked the wave over.

"Onward to rescue Robin!" Luffy shouted.

The curtain fell and everyone leapt to their feet, frankly disturbed by the cliff hanger. Even knowing that Robin would be saved, as evidenced by her presence in the audience, people were wondering how the Strawhats would pull this one off and what would happen with Ussop.

In the front, Sanji was fuming. "Mosshead got his moment, but he left out my princely efforts. I'm going to boil his bones."

A hand appeared to pat him on the back. "It was a good effort," Robin said from down the row. "If I had tried working with you instead of against you, we might have gotten away."

Ussop was crying, and trying to hide it while Chopper patted his shoulder. "Merry," he sobbed. "I miss her!"

Luffy nodded and stretched to pat his friend's shoulder too. "We all do."

One of the cast snuck out to call Ussop backstage. "Boss says we need you for the Sniper King Reveal."

Luffy tipped his head inquisitively. "Why are you singing for Sniper King?"

Ussop rubbed the back of his neck. "Um, well, you see, since he's obviously not here, someone needed to play him, and since he's my friend I said I'd do it. Yeah, that's right."

Chopper nodded seriously. "Of course. You will do him proud, Ussop."

Ussop laughed nervously, "Of course I will, cause I'm totally just his friend not because I'm Sniper King or anything."

He got up and followed the cast member backstage while the non-gullible Strawhats rolled their eyes and shook their heads. The heroes and rogues shared looks of confusion, but no one bothered to explain the inside joke.

Then the music started again and everyone turned their attention back to the show.