Luffy x Neko!Reader Warm

Chapter 43: Goodbye, Merry Go

You stood on the deck of the Merry Go with your crew, stunned by the appearance of the ship. Just when you needed her, she'd been there. You didn't know how or why, but she was here. Your ship had saved you.

Luffy was shaking with a mix of fatigue and relief as he pressed up against you, holding your hands in his and gently licking your ears. You wrapped your tail around his thigh, purring.

You'd gotten Robin and escaped from Eines Lobby. You'd done what was seen as impossible. But then, could you really expect anything less from the future Pirate King?

The ship let out a loud groan and you looked down worriedly. Merry Go was a wreck. How much longer until she just... Fell apart?

Not long at all as it turns out. You felt the shudder that rippled through the ship and jumped out of Luffy's arms, changing to a cat and throwing him onto your back when the ship gave a loud crack! and split straight down the middle.

The front, where you stood, tipped downward and you braced your paws to keep yourself from slipping. Your mind raced. How long could you swim through the ocean with Luffy's added weight? How long could he even hold on?

Turns out, those weren't questions you needed the answer to, because shouts and yells drew your attention at the ship that was sailing to the wreck of yours. The whole of Galley-La rushed to help you, and you broke into a purr at the sight of them.

They came closer and you made out the figure of Mayor Iceberg. You could hear the exclamations of the Galley-La crew as they looked at your broken ship.

"What the-?"

"Look at their ship?!"

"How could it just fall apart all of a sudden?"

"It's not sudden at all!" Sanji spat. "It's only natural. Merry had already been declared to never to sail again."

Luffy whimpered and his hands fisted in your fur. "Ice-guy! Merry is in trouble! Do something! Please! She's not just a ship! Merry is our comrade who's been with us for a long time! It was the Merry Go that rescued us just now!"

"Then it's time to let her rest." Iceberg's calm voice silenced Luffy. "I've already done all I can..." Iceberg looked out at your poor ship, your Merry Go. "Right now," he said, "I'm looking at a miracle. The miracle of a ship that has gone far beyond its limits. I've been a shipwright for many years... But I've never seen a pirate ship as incredible as this one. It lived a splendid life."

"I get it..." Luffy's voice was heavy with grief. You turned your head to touch your muzzle to his leg before padding carefully forward, off the Merry and onto a small rowboat the Galley-La company had sent.

But before you left, there was one thing left to do.

With a torch in his hand, Luffy faced the Merry Go one last time. "Ready everyone?" A murmur of assent came from the rest of your crew. "Merry... The sea floor is dark and lonely... So we're going to see you off!" Luffy reached out and touched the flames to Merry's hull, watching as the wood caught. "Maybe it's a good thing Usopp's not here. He couldn't stand this."

The flames crackled and popped, licking its way along the Merry Go, destroying what was left of your beloved ship. "You carried us for a long time. Thank you Merry Go. I only wish you could've seen my babies, too."

You stepped closer to Luffy, changing to human and hooking his arm with yours. You wrapped your tail around his thigh again. Then you heard a soft voice.

"I'm sorry."

Your head jerked towards the Merry Go, engulfed in flames now, ears twitching as you heard her final words.

"I wanted to carry you even farther. I'm sorry. I wanted to have adventures with you forever... But I..."

"WE'RE THE ONES WHO SHOULD SAY WE'RE SORRY, MERRY!" Luffy's sweet voice cracked with tears. "I'm no good at steering, so I ran you into icebergs! And I ripped your sails! And Zolo and Sanji are stupid, so they broke all kinds of stuff! Usopp would fix you up every time, but he stinks at it! We're the ones who are sorry!"

"Even so... I was happy."

You didn't try to hold back your tears, crying along with Luffy.

"Thank you... For caring about me... I was truly happy."

"MERRYYYYYY!!!"

Luffy's grief stricken wail was joined by your own as your hearts broke for the ship that become your home.