The last demon in the One Piece world

Chapter 121: The Going Merry's last voyage

Sitting on the railings-- a place Yushiro often finds himself on-- he was looking out into the sea, waves clashing into their ship.

His arms were crossed as he was trying to ignore the desperate yells of Chopper and Luffy.

They were both looking for Usopp, who had disappeared in thin air.

He let out a sight and tried to some out again, not wanting to be reminded of Usopp.

He perked up at something from the corner of his eye, his eyes narrowing.
"Oi!!", he hollered to the rest of the crew. "A ship's coming ahead!"

"It's the Galley-La Company's Ship....!"

Screams and cheers were heard from the incoming ship.
"WUOHHH! IT'S THE STRAW HATS!!"

"THEY'RE ALIVE!"

"YOU'RE SAFE!!"

"Amazing! You guys set out to sea during the Aqua Laguna... It's UNBELIEVABLE!"

"And you guys made it back alive from Enies Lobby!!"

At the front of it all was the president of the company. Even if he was injured, he stood proud along his men.

"ICE-OSSAN!"

Franky only smiled at the sight of his best friend. "Idiotburg...."

Iceburg looked at the ship with a smile. "What a bunch of outrageous guys.... They really managed to get back everything from the World Government...!!"

The sound of something splintering from underneath the crew's ship was heard.

Merry-chan literally split in half.

Yushiro quickly jumped from the railings, catching Chopper and Chimney in one hand and Luffy in the other.

Sogeking gasped. "MERRYYY!!"

"Hey, what's going on all of a sudden?! Merry is...!!"

"....This is not all of a sudden...!", Sanji spoke up. "This is expected!"

Luffy glanced over with wide eyes. "Eh?"

Sanji sat up and turned to Luffy. "They did say that Merry couldn't go any further. You haven't forgotten that , have you?"

Luffy's face fell at that, his hands fidgeting with his hat. "--But...!", his head snapped up towards Iceburg.
"OSSAAAAN!! WE'VE GOT TROUBLE! Merry's in danger! Please do something!! Guys...! This is perfect timing! You're all shipwrights, right?! Please!! Please do something !! She's a Nakama who had travelled with us all this time!! And just now... SHE SAVED US JUST NOW!"

"Luffy....", Yushiro muttered with a sad face, not liking hearing Luffy's desperate and sad voice.

Iceburg was quiet as he debated the next words that would come out of his mouth. "... Then let her sleep already...!!", he closed his eyes solemnly. "We've done all we possibly can.", his face paled as he seemed to remember something. "I'm... Seeing a miracle right now... A miracle from a ship that had reached its limit long ago..."

Luffy listened with bated breath.

"I've been a shipwright for many years, yet i've never seen such an amaizing pirate ship.", Iceburg have a small nod of gratitude . "It lived a very admirable life."

It was quiet and everyone was waiting for Luffy to speak up.

Luffy closed his eyes and ran his fingers along the rails one last time. "I understand."

~~××~~

"Then are you guys ready?"

Everyone had left the ship to stand on a smaller boat just a few yards out.

"Yeah."

"When you are."

"Mhn "

Luffy held a lit torch. "Merry. The bottom of the sea is dark and lonely. We'll see you off here!", he held it onto the small crack that split the entire ship in half, allowing the Flames to grow from the core. "Maybe it's for the best that Usopp.... Isn't around.... There's no way he could endure.... This....."

Zoro hummed at that. "And what do you say to that?"

"He'll be all right.", Sogeking replied quietly. "A time of seperation has come. When men part ways.... Tears should not be shed. He's fully prepared for this moment."

The crew watched the Flames grow and grow, devouring the ship. "It was devastating sight to watch. The Flames reached so high that their Jolly Roger began to fall from the crew's nest.

"Thank you for carrying us all this time.... Merry."

Just as the smoke reached the sky, snow slowly began to fall.

Yushiro blinked as a snowflake on his nose.

He jumped as the mast of the ship fell-- tilting the entire ship to its side.

They could only watch her sink in the pile of Flames.

"I'm sorry."

Everyone blinked.

"Eh?", Luffy exclaimed slowly.

"I wanted to carry you just a little but further..... I'm sorry. I wanted to go on more adventures with you.... But I...

"We 're the ones who have to apologize Merry!!", Luffy cried out. "I'M NOT GOOD AT NAVIGATING, AND CRASHED YOU INTO AN ICEBERG!", his eyes overflowed with tears. "I EVEN BROKE THE SAILS SOMETIMES! YUSHIRO IS ALSO SUPER STRONG ,SO HE ACCIDENTALLY BROKE THINGS TOO! ZORO AND SANJI ARE IDIOTS, SO THEY BROKE MANY THINGS TOO!"

"USOPP TRIED TO FIX YOU EVERY TIME, BUT HE'S NOT GOOD AT IT EITHER!", Luffy tried his best to give a smile, but it came out broken due to his sobbing. "--WE'RE SORRY!!"

"But I was Happy."

Within the Flames, Merry looked to almost be at peace, smoking at her family.

"Thank you for taking care of me until now. I was really happy."

"MERRYYYYYYYYYYY--!!!"