Inside Dock No. 1, the air was heavy with salt and tension.
A strange stillness clung to the vast interior of the dock. The sound of waves outside seemed muffled, as if even the sea held its breath. Workers paused in their tasks, subtly glancing toward the Straw Hats, sensing the weight of the moment without knowing the details. Even the gulls perched along the rafters were quiet, as though the fate of a ship demanded silence.
"What? The Going Merry is already repaired?"
Luffy's eyes lit up as he looked at Kaku, grinning from ear to ear.
"Thanks, four-sided-nose Usopp!"
"…"
For a heartbeat, Kaku simply stared at him—almost pitying, almost amused. Luffy's innocence felt so out of place in the cavernous dock, where the scent of sawdust and iron spoke of hard truths and broken vessels. Even Kalifa paused in her writing, her eyes flicking toward the Captain with mild disbelief.
Kaku exhaled, shooting a helpless glance at the overly excited Captain before turning toward Nami's serious expression.
"Is your Captain always this inattentive to what others say?" he muttered dryly.
Nami frowned. "You mean…the Going Merry is completely beyond repair?"
Kaku nodded, his voice calm but heavy. "Yes. I regret having to tell you this, but as a professional shipwright, lying about the ship's condition would go against both conscience and craftsmanship."
Nami's shoulders stiffened. Though she already feared the truth, hearing it spoken aloud carved a sharp ache through her chest. The Merry had been their shelter, their tiny miracle. To lose her…it felt like losing a piece of their heart.
He sat down on a wooden beam, sunlight catching the edges of his hat. "I'm sorry, but your ship can no longer set sail. I suggest you start building a new one."
"…"
The silence was thick enough to drown in. Luffy's smile slowly faded, replaced by a blank heaviness. His fingers tightened around the brim of his hat, the cheerful spirit that usually radiated from him shrinking into a tight knot of confusion. Even Zoro, leaning quietly against a nearby pillar, glanced over with a rare expression—one that wasn't indifference.
Rob Lucci watched silently from nearby, Hattori the pigeon perched on his shoulder. His sharp eyes swept across Luffy and Nami, observing their shock.
Are these two really the companions of the Fifth Emperor?
His gaze lingered on Luffy. The man's aura was bright, unrefined—nothing like the calm, hidden power of Shirogai Yamikuro.
Even so, a faint flicker of curiosity stirred behind Lucci's stoic mask. Strength could take many forms; even fools could surprise the world. Yet in this moment, Luffy's despair only affirmed Lucci's conclusions.
Straw Hat Luffy. Recently set sail, like the Fifth Emperor Shirogai. Took down the Warlord Crocodile and earned a 100 million Berry bounty… yet still, trash.
He suppressed a smirk. This one's strong, but nothing compared to Shirogai's pressure. That man… he's something else.
---
"What did you just say?! The Going Merry can't be repaired?"
Sweat dripped down Luffy's forehead as he shouted, disbelief clouding his voice. "Aren't you guys the best shipwrights around? We're not short on money! Whatever it costs, we'll pay it—just fix her!"
His voice cracked. The desperation in it wasn't the kind that came from fear of danger—it was the kind born from refusing to lose something irreplaceable. Even the shipwrights nearby paused, exchanging somber glances. They'd seen this countless times: owners clinging to dying ships like loved ones. But rarely did it cut so deep.
"At this point," Kaku interrupted firmly, "it's not about money."
He looked straight at Luffy. "Your ship's keel is completely destroyed. Even if we patched her up, she'd fall apart the moment she left port."
"The keel's broken?"
A stern voice spoke up behind them.
Everyone turned to see Iceberg, Kalifa, Barry, and Shirogai approaching.
Luffy's face brightened instantly. "Shirogai!"
"Shirogai!" Nami echoed, though her tone carried quiet worry.
The footsteps of the arriving group echoed across the dock, grounding the moment in a sharp, inescapable reality. Shirogai's presence alone shifted the atmosphere—confident, calm, undeniable. Even Iceberg's expression softened a degree, as if the man's arrival offered steadiness in a turbulent moment.
Was the Merry truly beyond saving?
Barry stepped up beside Kaku, his expression grim. "Kid, if the keel's gone, there's no saving it. The keel's the ship's backbone—the base every other piece rests on. It's the first thing laid when building a ship, followed by the stem, sternpost, and frames. If that foundation's broken… the ship's done for."
The explanation hung in the air like a funeral toll. Nami's breath hitched; Chopper's ears drooped; even Sanji's cigarette paused halfway to his lips.
Luffy's mind went blank. Then, suddenly, he blurted out, "Then just pull out the keel and put in a new one!"
"Even a god couldn't do something like that."
The words came from Hattori—the pigeon—but it was really Lucci's voice, his ventriloquism precise as ever.
He continued, "Replacing a keel is like telling a doctor to pull out a patient's spine and stick in a new one. It's impossible."
A hush fell over the group. Luffy stared at the ground, fists clenched so hard they trembled. The idea of letting go—of accepting something he didn't want—felt like swallowing fire.
Luffy clenched his fists. "Then build another ship exactly like the Going Merry!"
"Luffy, that's impossible too."
Shirogai stepped forward, his calm tone cutting through the rising tension. Placing a hand on Luffy's shoulder, he spoke softly, "Even two leaves that look identical don't have the same veins. Two twins might look alike, yet live completely different lives."
Nami watched them quietly, her heart twisting. Shirogai's voice had a grounding warmth to it—a compass guiding them through emotional fog. But it didn't ease the ache. The truth rarely did.
Luffy's voice cracked. "But Shirogai… they said the Merry can't be saved!"
"Logically speaking, they're right," Shirogai admitted. Then, his lips curved into a faint smile. "But just because they can't fix her doesn't mean I can't."
"Of course you can!!!"
Luffy and Nami spoke at once, eyes bright with sudden hope.
The shipwrights around them reacted with subtle disbelief. A few exchanged whispers. Iceberg narrowed his eyes—not dismissive, but intrigued. For Shirogai to make such a claim, he either held terrifying skill… or terrifying resolve.
Shirogai chuckled. "I can restore the Going Merry to her former condition. But think about this—do you really believe the Merry can still carry us all as we are now?"
Nami hesitated, falling silent.
Her memories flooded back—stormy nights, frantic repairs, the Merry shuddering under the strain of battles too big for her frame. The truth sat like a stone inside her chest.
As the crew's navigator, she had long noticed it—the Merry's speed lagged behind, her sails strained, and her old cannons were far too weak. The small schooner simply wasn't built for long voyages or major battles.
And with more crewmates joining, space had become suffocating. The girls could still manage, but the men were constantly cramped. Zoro, Sanji, and even Shirogai sometimes had to sleep on deck during night watch shifts.
If they added a new shipwright—as Luffy wanted—it would only get worse.
The idea of a new ship lingered between them like a fragile flame—hopeful yet painful. Change always hurt before it healed.
---
"No! I want the Going Merry!"
Luffy grabbed Shirogai's shoulders, desperation in his eyes. "You're our Vice-Captain, Shirogai! The Merry's carried us through so many dangers—we can't abandon her!"
His grip tightened, not in anger but in fear. Fear of losing something precious. Fear of moving on. The dock's vast emptiness made his trembling voice echo, magnifying every emotion he poured into those words.
Shirogai met his gaze calmly. "Of course you can save her, Captain, but you also have to think ahead. You can't always act on impulse."
He reached out and adjusted the Straw Hat on Luffy's head, his tone gentle. "Don't you still want other kinds of crewmates to join us?"
"Shipwright… musician…" Luffy mumbled under his breath, his anger softening into thought.
For a brief moment, a vision flickered in Luffy's mind—new laughter filling the ship, new adventures unfolding, the Straw Hats growing stronger, larger, freer. But the thought felt distant behind the ache of losing the Merry.
"Exactly," Shirogai said, smiling faintly. "But you can't have new crewmates living in cramped quarters, right?"
He stepped back, folding his arms. "Captain, you have two choices. One: repair the Going Merry and keep sailing her as she is. Two: build a new ship—one stronger, faster, better suited for our adventures."
After a pause, he added, "But I can also merge the Merry into that new ship. Use her materials as the foundation. That way, the Merry will live on—within our next vessel."
Even the seasoned shipwrights paused at that. It wasn't a common idea—but it wasn't impossible either. Iceberg's eyes narrowed further, now entirely focused.
Luffy's eyes widened. "So… the Merry won't leave us?"
Shirogai nodded, smiling. "You can think of it as an upgraded version—a brand-new Going Merry."
"But Usopp won't agree…" Nami said softly. "This ship was built by Merry, the butler from Syrup Village. It's tied to Usopp's home, to his memories. He won't want to let go."
A shadow crossed Shirogai's expression—understanding, sympathy, and something heavier. He knew the pain of memories woven into objects, of letting go even when it hurt.
"I'll talk to him!" Luffy said quickly, determination flaring in his eyes. "He's our crewmate. He'll understand!"
"No," Shirogai said calmly. "Leave that to me. This idea came from me, so I'll take whatever anger or resentment he has."
His voice was firm, his eyes steady.
Because for him, too—the Going Merry was more than a ship.
It was part of their journey, their story, and their bond as the Straw Hat crew.
And he wasn't about to let that bond break.
Not here.
Not now.
_______
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