One Piece (Love Story) [Part Two]

Chapter Two Hundred and Forty Eight [Rewritten]

-Chapter Two Hundred and Forty-Eight-

"Go!" we cheered.

"To the sea!" Robin, Kokoro, and Chimney cheered as well. I felt laughter bubble up in my throat as the tears in my eyes began to finally fall upon seeing the Going Merry patiently waiting for us below.

"Fire!" the man over the intercom shouted as the ships shot at the now-empty column.

"Even all banged up, she still looks as beautiful as ever..." I breathed as I looked over the ship. Despite the many dents and rough patches to be found, she still looked the same as she always had.

"Everyone! Get on board the Merry!" Usopp sobbed.

"Let's go back, everyone—back to the seas of adventure" a soft delicate voice softly beckoned, one that was sweet like honey and nothing more than a whisper that was nearly impossible to hear to the point that I almost thought I had imagined it.

"Merry!" Luffy brightened upon seeing the ship as we crashed into the water. Quickly bursting through the surface, I swam my way towards the rope ladder that was conveniently left down and hastily climbed aboard Merry's familiar deck. Sputtering, I coughed up any water that I might have accidentally swallowed as I hit my chest and leaned back against the railing. Lifting my head, I soon chuckled upon seeing Zoro's face as he carried Chimney and Gonbe over his shoulders.

"What's going on, Sanji? Something wrong?" Nami curiously asked, watching as the blond wandered the ship in confusion.

"Not wrong, just strange..." Sanji lightly frowned as he gave the deck of the ship another quick glance around. "The rope ladder got dropped down, but it doesn't look like anyone's here" he noted.

"What?" Nami tilted her head.

"Yeah, that does sound strange," I agreed, "but I think the real question is, how did the Merry get here in the first place?" I asked, watching as the two exchanged glances. Neither one had an answer to my question as they simply shrugged their shoulders before becoming lost in thought themselves as they pondered over how the Merry had gotten here.

"Merry!" Usopp gasped the second he was thrown on board as Franky pulled himself up onto the ship.

"Seriously, can't you swim on your own, brother?" the blue-haired man grumbled.

"Alrighty, up you go—hope you enjoyed the ride" Kokoro grinned as she threw Luffy, Robin, and Chopper up toward the ship.

"Robin, yoo-hoo!" Sanji cooed, quick to wave his arms around as his eyes turned into nothing more than mere hearts. "Leap into my arms, darling!" he swooned...only to be disappointed as Franky had been the one to catch the older woman instead. Quickly moving, I caught Chopper before he could hit the deck and gently cradled him in my arms as I mindfully placed him down. It seems Luffy was the only one to have a rough landing as he hit the deck with no one there to catch him.

"We're on the Merry? We're back on the Merry!" Chopper cried as he flopped around. "I love you, Merry! I love you so much—thank you!" he sobbed.

"I'm sure she loves you just as much back" I softly smiled as gently patted the deck.

"Merry! My sweet Merry is still alive!" Usopp wailed as he hugged the ship's mast. "I don't understand, how did she make it here? I don't know!" he hiccuped, not understanding or caring how the ship had made her way here.

"I wish...I wish I could give you a hug, Merry!" Chopper sniffed. "But I can't move!"

"Here..." I murmured, moving him around as I moved him onto his stomach—turning his head on its side so he could still breathe—and shifted his arms so that it looked like he was hugging the deck of the ship.