The next morning everyone is gathered on the deck all surrounding the masterpiece Franky made as Zoros final resting place. On one side of the sleek glossy wood: Roronoa Zoro is beautifully carved into the side and on the other side was the Straw Hats skull. The lid of the boat/casket was sitting off to the side, giving everyone one last time to say goodbye. Everyone took note of the Beautiful intricate designs carved into the lid, the designs looked like swords woven together.
"I think we should get started" says Luffy.
"Is it okay if I start us off?" Nami asks quietly. Luffy nods.
Nami steps close to the casket and places a seed on Zoros chest. "Let the light guide your way. Hold your memory as you go. And every road you take will always lead you home." She says and steps back.
Usopp steps forward, placing his original slingshot in the casket. " I've seen fire. I've seen rain. I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end. I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend. But I always thought that I'd see you again." He says and takes a step back.
Next up was Sanji. Taking a step toward the casket, he places his very first knife with a small book about All Blue in the casket. "I don't like good-byes so let's just say see you soon." he whispers and steps back.
"My thoughts will echo your name until I see you again" He thinks to himself.
Chopper steps forward slowly and gently places the Rumble Ball into the casket "I wanted to see him again to say goodbye the way that I wanted. Then i realized if I got my way, I'd never say goodbye." He says, stepping back. Trying hard to stifle a sob.
Robin stepped around chopper and placed a rolled up sheet of paper next to Sanjis book. "We are born in one day. We die in one day. We can change in one day. Anything can happen in just one day." She says silently, as she steps back.
Next Franky stepped forward. He thought about putting something in the casket, but he'd already put a piece of himself in their, he built Zoros resting place. He pulls a small paper from his shirt pocket and starts reading off of it "It has been said 'time heals all wounds' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone." He says, refolding the paper and putting back into his shirt pocket.
Brook glides forward and pulls open the top of his head. He pulls out a tiny milky white square and places it into the casket. He clears his throat, and laughs to himself "I don't exactly have a throat to clear anymore. Yohohoho" He thinks to himself.
"There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the Messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love." He says and steps back.
"Luffy, as Captain, you get to say any final words if you wish" Says Brook.
Luffy wobbles forward, almost in a trance. Robin steps forward and hands his a little note. The words she helped him write down so he wouldn't forget what he wanted to say. He leans over and places a small strand of straw from his hat into the casket.
Looking down, he reads from the paper "You never said goodbye. I'm guessing it's because it wouldn't have been the kind of goodbye that effortlessly rolls off your tongue - instead, it would have been the kind that catches and chokes in the back of your throat and tastes like sadness and regret - the kind that aches as if all those butterflies that were fluttering around inside you just died all at once - the kind of goodbye you should never say to someone you care about" He clears his throat and wipes his eyes. "I guess that's why you never said goodbye."
Luffy stepped back as everyone else circled around the lid and lifted it together to place it gently over top of the casket. Hooking it to the ropes the crew slowly lowered Zoro down into the ocean.
They all lined up on the railing to watch the little ship/casket drift off, and they continued to watch, late into the night, long after Zoro was out of sight.
Once again Sanji was the first to disappear, followed by Chopper and then Usopp. While everyone else stayed behind and let their tears mix with the sea.
YOU ARE READING
Lost Crew
FanfictionHow long has it been since the Straw Hats lost one of their own? He died and everyone knows it but him. His bond is so strong that his spirit can't leave them. Everyone is blaming themselves, but Sanji is blaming himself the hardest. Maybe he could'...
