Chapter 67: Going Merry

Chapter 67: Going Merry



The Going Merry set about on its way. Pepperjack the shipwright went about doing an inspection of the damage, clicking his tongue with annoyance often and complained. "You guys are almost as rough on your ship as Foxy is on his..."

Old man Wacko began singing a song.

"When the course is laid and the anchor's weighed

A sailor's blood begins racing

With our hearts unbound and our flag unfurled

We're on our way and off to see the world!" He sang.

"I've never heard this one before, have any of you?" Usopp asked. The others shook their heads.

A little while later, Pepperjack came up from below deck with a complicated look.

"I have some bad news, Captain." He said.

The others could tell this wasn't a minor problem from his face and tone.

"What's wrong?" Luffy asked.

"The keel of the Going Merry has sustained heavy damage. I can do a patch job that will get us to Water 7, but it's inevitable that she's going to sink." Pepperjack explained grimly.

"T-that's not true, you're lying to us! I bet you're still loyal to Foxy, aren't you?!" Usopp shouted enraged.

"We've been traveling with the Going Merry all this time, we're going to fix her no matter what!" Luffy was adamant.

"You don't have to believe me. Water 7 has the best shipwrights in the world, so if anyone could fix a broken keel, it's them. Still I doubt even they can do it." Pepperjack stately plainly.

"Ah! Cherry, you could repair the Merry's keel with your devil fruit, couldn't you? Like you did with the barrel boat?" Nami asked.

Cherry looked at the other Straw Hats silently for a moment, seeing the desperation in their eyes. "I'm sure that I can."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Sighs of relief came from them all.

"However, you're all missing the big picture." Cherry stamped out their hope.

"What do you mean?" Usopp asked, clearly offended.

"The Going Merry is an old ship, and she was built for sailing the East Blue, the tamest of all the oceans. She just isn't cut out for sailing the Grand Line. If you insist on doing so, it will only be a matter of time before you send her to a watery grave." Cherry explained.

Cherry's words stabbed directly at their hearts. Even Usopp who was almost steaming with anger at the notion of leaving the Going Merry behind, could not refute her. After all, hadn't the Going Merry almost sunk after only coming this far? The journey would only get more treacherous the further they went.

"Merry doesn't want to hold you back. Or worse, drag you down to the bottom of the ocean alongside her." Cabernet said, running her hand along a railing.

islands!" She explained.

They talked about the sea train some more, it's destinations, as well as how the frog Yokojina was constantly damaging the train with his foolhardiness.

They told Granny Kokoro they were going to Water 7 for a new ship and hopefully a more permanent shipwright to join their crew. Pepperjack had expressed that he'd like to retire from his sailing days, after all, and where better to do it than the home of the Galley La

Company?

"By the way, Kokoro, I have a question that might be a bit rude." Cherry said.

"Go ahead and ask, I'm as thick skinned as they come, N-gagaga!" Kokoro laughed.

"What's up with your body?" Cherry rubbed her chin with scholarly interest.

"What the hell, Cherry?! That's more than a 'bit' rude!" Nami said.

"No, not like that." Cherry assured she wasn't judging her. "I mean to say that you're clearly not a devil fruit user, but it seems like your body can transform in some manner?"

"So that's what you mean! You're quite the perceptive one aren't-cha?! N-gagaga!" Kokoro said. "You're right, I'm a mermaid you see. I can change my legs into my tail and vice versa." Sanji had one of his dreams shattered into little pieces instantly.

"I see! You're the first mermaid I've met! I didn't know they could change their tails into legs." Cherry nodded with a friendly smile, quite satisfied with the rare find.

"Well, only older mermaids are able to do so. The younger mermaids have just their tails." Kokoro said, guzzling more rum.

"Since you're going to Water 7, and as thanks for the food and good company, I'll give you this map of Water 7 and my written recommendation. Just give the recommendation to Iceberg, he's an old drinking buddy of mine, so he'll get you sorted out! N-gagaga!" She handed over some papers.

"""Thanks for the help!"""The Straw Hats thanked her.

"Sure thing, let's go drinking some time! N-gagaga!" Kokoro and Chimney waved goodbye.

"Yeah, there's no way I'm going drinking with her. I get into enough trouble by myself when

I'm drunk." Chery joked as they sailed away.

"Really? I didn't have you figured as a bad drunk." Robin said.

"Hehe, well the last time I got wasted, I woke up in a princess' bed and had spent every Beri to my name to have Cabernet built. So I guess it isn't all bad." Cherry said.

For some reason Robin felt that she couldn't let Cherry get drunk no matter what, though she

couldn't quite pinpoint why.

Sanji recovered from his despair somewhat after hearing that. "...Nice..."

"We'll reach Water 7 soon, so I'll have a look at this map... Hm, I see. IT'S USELESS!" Nami shouted, throwing the crudely drawn map on the ground.

"You'll find your way well enough, Miss Navigator. It's your specialty." Robin assured her.