Chapter Text
Zoro had his sword out, blocking the strike on instinct alone. “I thought you were asleep!”
“Who the hell are you?” And what were they doing on Merry? She was injured and didn’t need scum gumming up the deck.
“Who we are?” They laughed. “Pirate Hunter Zoro: we’re bounty hunters! Kids cry when they see us: we’re the Franky Family: the 60 million bounty on your head is ours! Then we’ll hide in the ship and ambush the rest! We’re gonna be rich!” At least they were straight forward about it, but they thought they were lucky? He scoffed, stopping them in their tracks.
“More like unlucky.” They were barely worth the effort, but he’d been worked up since Aojiki appeared and upset Robin so badly. Zoro groaned, leaning back as he closed his eyes again.
“Excuse me.” Zoro opened an eye. Oh, it was just-that wasn’t Usopp! “It’s worn down pretty badly. We probably have to replace the mast.”
“OI! Who the hell are you?!”
“Sorry, did I wake you up?” Why did he sound so old? “My name is Kaku, a shipwright of Water 7: someone named Luffy asked me to investigate his ship. Is this it to verify?”
“Yeah. This is Going Merry. She’s in rough shape, but she’s important.” Kaku frowned.
“Sorry to say, but we simply won’t be able to fix your ship. Your keel is severely damaged. Your ship won’t be able to go any further.” Zoro stared at him, blinking slowly. She…wouldn’t?
“Are you serious?” He whispered, pressing a hand against his forehead and resting his hand on Kiuna’s sword.
“I’m a carpenter, I don’t lie.” He charged off, Zoro resting his hand on Merry’s figurehead.
“Going Merry, you really can’t go any further?” Should they have been more careful? Zoro didn’t see how they could have been. It wasn’t like any of them knew how to fix ships. He groaned, covering his eyes. She was their ship! He didn’t want another ship, she was the one who brought them this far, who got them through so much safely. Who saw them through Arlong Park, Loguetown, Drum Kingdom, Alabasta, Jaya, Skypiea…He didn’t want a new ship, he wanted Merry to be with them forever…He took a deep breath, closing his eyes. Despite his feelings, he had to look at the facts. If the world’s best shipwrights said as much, Merry couldn’t be fixed. They would need a new ship. He gently ran his hand along her banister, her siding. It was rough. He knew she wasn’t good shape. He’d known that since around when they left Alabasta. But he never expected it to be…well, fatal. Or at least, fatal damage for a sailing ship. He rested his forehead against her ruined mast. “I’m sorry, Merry. We should have been as protective as you as you were of us.” He let his hand slide to his side, other hand rubbing his neck. He couldn’t afford to be overemotional when everyone else was going to be just as devastated by the news. Luffy and Usopp would probably take it the worst. Nami was pragmatic in most situations, so once they explained why, she would be understanding, if upset. Sanji…Zoro couldn’t say how the cook would take it. The last crewmember they had almost lost was Nami when she was so sick, and Sanji certainly hadn’t handled that well at all. Time would tell for him, but for the sake of their captain and sniper, Zoro had to stay level-headed.
“Hey, marimo!” Think of the devil and he shall come, Zoro thought sourly. And Sanji certainly was a devil. Zoro raised a hand to signal he’d heard, eyes raking over Merry to see if there was some faint hope that the shipwright’s diagnosis was wrong. “Is Robin back?” Robin? He scowled. Of course the love-cook was looking for the lady.
“She’s with Chopper.” He stated flatly, looking over at Sanji-Chopper? “Oi, Chopper. I thought she was with you. Where’s Robin?” He looked glum.
“I-I don’t know. I was hoping she’d come back to the ship, but Sanji saw her with some masked guy, but she disappeared, and-”
“Slow down.” Zoro stated, rubbing his head. “…More bad news.”
“More?” Sanji pressed, shifting his hips slightly. Zoro looked away, scowling.
“…Luffy sent a carpenter down here. Kaku. He said Merry can’t be fixed.” Sanji and Chopper’s eyes widened.
“You…you can’t be serious, Zoro.” Sanji half-whispered. Actual name, not a good sign. Zoro nodded somberly.
“Something about her keel being damaged.”
“That’s what the shipwright said?” Zoro nodded. “Merry…”
“B-but we have a bunch of money, right?”
“Money can’t fix everything.” Sanji half-snapped, hands shaking as he took a drag from his cigarette. Okay, he was dealing with this better than Zoro expected, at least.
“W-why?” Chopper sniffled. Zoro shrugged.
“I don’t know. Wonder what Luffy and them decided.” It really was just up to their captain, but Nami would at least encourage him to think before saying something stupid. Sanji took a deep breath.
“Are you sure he wasn’t exaggerating?” Zoro bit back the instinctive retort: now wasn’t the time for his temper to flare. “She looks as good as always. Didn’t she make it all the way from East Blue with us?” Zoro mumbled,
“That’s probably why she’s broke. People get stronger with time, but for a ship…damage just stacks up.” Sanji shook his head.
“I can’t accept it, but…” Zoro rubbed Chopper’s head as he was trying not to cry. “Merry is broken, Robin is missing. This day’s brought nothing but trouble, hasn’t it?” Zoro almost replied-
“EVERYONE!” Nami? Why did she sound panicked and right pissed? And why was she alone? Sanji shouted,
“Nami, where are Luffy and Usopp?! Did something happen?!” She shouted,
“Usopp’s in critical condition: he was attacked by a gang called the Franky Family: they stole 200 million of our berries!” Chopper’s eyes widened, Zoro grasping Kuina’s sword. “Where’s Robin?” Zoro snapped,
“They’ll regret touching him. Robin’s missing.” Nami nodded, Sanji putting out his cigarette with a scowl.
“I’ll stay here and wait for her. I’ll be in the way if I come. I’ll protect Merry and the rest of the money. Be careful: they seem tough!” Sanji led the way, Zoros’s scowl deepening as they found Usopp’s blood, but no Usopp. Oh, no. He’d gone to get the money back alone, hadn’t he? Oh, Luffy. And their captain had fallen right into the water, Sanji jumping in. Zoro wasn’t too proud to admit it, but Sanji was the better swimmer of the two of them. Chopper asked, looking up and puzzled,
“Where did you jump from?”
“I was trying to fly down like that carpenter guy and find Usopp-he’s kidnapped!” Zoro raised a hand to calm and quiet Luffy.
“We know. We’re going to beat their asses. Usopp got beat up and the money was stolen.” Sanji’s eyes widened.
“Did he feel responsible and go to get it back alone?” Luffy’s eyes widened, and they hurried off, Chopper following the smell of blood and oil.