NOVEL NEXT Chapter 125: Fate
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This one is a sad, but for me, important chapter. I couldn't skip the moment I cried for a ship. The whole chapter revolves around this single event, so if you're not a fan of dramatic chapters, feel free to skip it. But I hope you choose to share this memory with me.
Farewell, Merry!
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As the Merry soared through the sky, the warships faded from view, unable to keep up. The Buster Call had been evaded, and Enies Lobby was now just a distant memory.
Robin stepped to the center of the ship, her eyes soft as she glanced around at her crewmates. They were battered and bruised, but alive. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she spoke quietly, her words simple but packed with heavy emotions. "Thank you, everyone."
Luffy, sitting against the mast with his trademark grin, chuckled. "Shishishi, it was nothing!" he said, as if they hadn't just faced impossible odds.
The rest of the crew smiled back at her, a moment of relief washing over them now that the fight was behind them. Nami wasted no time rushing forward to hug Robin tightly, her arms wrapping around her in a warm embrace. "We did it!" Nami said, her voice filled with joy.
Robin returned the hug, her heart full, though her face remained calm. The bond they shared was deeper than words could express.
As the Going Merry sailed onward, the island of Enies Lobby and the destruction of the Buster Call faded into the distance. They had left the chaos behind, and for a while, the sea was calm. After some time, the crew spotted a ship ahead on the horizon. It was large, proudly flying the Galley-La flag.
"Hey, it's Galley-La!" Franky shouted from the helm, pointing at the approaching vessel.
The others gathered at the bow to get a better look, curiosity replacing the tension of the earlier battle. As the ship grew closer, Coby quietly made his way to the figurehead of the Merry. He placed his hand on the wood, running his fingers gently over the ship's surface.
"You won't give up, will you?" Coby muttered, half to himself, half to the Merry. There was no reply. Merry had carried them this far, pushing through incredible odds with sheer willpower. In the original story, Merry had done the impossible one last time, but Coby had made sure Merry stayed unharmed along the way. Still, he knew deep down that something wasn't right.
Suddenly, something unexpected happened. A voice spoke in Coby's mind, gentle and familiar, like an old friend. "You were always good to me, Kai."
Coby froze, his eyes widening in shock. Nobody had called him that name since his previous life. How was this even possible? "Merry?" he whispered, trying to comprehend what was happening.
"I know you wanted to protect me," the voice continued. "But like people, ships have a fate. Mine ends here, at this point. I wished I could carry you further, but even though not in this vessel, I will always be with you."
Before Coby could respond, something shifted. The Merry, which had been moving steadily through the water, suddenly stopped. It wasn't a dramatic breakdown—no hull cracking, no sails tearing. It was as if the ship itself had decided it was time. The wind blew, but Merry didn't move. The waves lapped against the sides of the hull, but the ship remained still, as if it was frozen in time.
The crew, sensing the change, gathered around the deck, confusion and worry spreading across their faces.
"What's going on?" Nami asked, her eyes darting between the ship and the sea.
"Merry isn't moving," Franky muttered, his brow furrowed as he checked the helm.
Coby didn't say anything at first, still processing what Merry had told him. After a long pause, he turned to the others. "Merry... Merry's journey ends here."
The crew fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in. They all knew this day would come, but none of them were prepared for it.
Nami's eyes filled with tears as she placed a hand on the railing. "We can't just leave her here," she whispered, her voice trembling.
"Merry…" Chopper sniffled, his small body shaking with emotion as he realized what was happening. "You… you saved us so many times."
Sogeking was openly weeping. He collapsed onto his knees, pounding the deck with his fists as tears streamed down his face. "Merry! You were the best ship! You can't leave us now!"
Even Franky, who had only been with the crew for a short time, bowed his head in respect. "She was always more than just a ship," he muttered, wiping at his eyes with the back of his hand.
Luffy, his usual grin gone, knelt down beside the figurehead. He placed a hand on the wood, his eyes sad but understanding. "You did your best, Merry," he said softly. "Thank you for everything."
The air was thick with emotion as the crew stood together in silence, their hearts heavy. Merry had carried them through countless battles, storms, and adventures, but now, it was time to say goodbye.
As they prepared to move forward, the Galley-La ship pulled up alongside them. Onboard, Iceburg stood at the helm. "I thought you might need a lift," he called out.
The crew exchanged glances, unsure of what to do. Coby, still standing by the figurehead, glanced at Merry one last time. The ship had spoken to him—said its goodbye. It wasn't going to move anymore.
With a deep breath, Coby stepped back. "We have to let her go."
Nami nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks as she wiped her face. "Yeah… We'll always remember her."
The crew stood silently in the small boats, drifting parallel to the Going Merry. Luffy stood at the front, holding a torch, his face set in a somber expression. Coby and the others were behind him, their faces grim but resolved. This was it—their final goodbye to the ship that had carried them through so many adventures. No one wanted Merry to sink or drift away without a proper farewell. She deserved more.
Luffy's hand tightened around the torch, the flames flickering in the breeze as they danced across the surface. The water lapped gently against the side of the Merry, the ship now motionless in the calm sea. Even the waves seemed to understand the gravity of the moment, as if nature itself had decided to offer a moment of peace.
The crew exchanged quiet glances, their hearts heavy. Nami wiped at her eyes, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over. Sogeking sniffled audibly behind his mask. Chopper stood beside him, his small body shaking as he tried to stay strong, but the emotion of the moment was too much. Zoro stood silently, his head bowed, while Sanji took a long drag from his cigarette, his face hidden in the shadows.
Luffy's gaze remained fixed on the Merry, his hand hovering over the edge of the boat as if he was waiting for the ship to speak one last time. He didn't want to do this, but he knew he had to. Slowly, he stepped forward, raising the torch high above his head.
"Thank you, Merry," Luffy said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. Then, without further hesitation, he threw the torch onto the deck.
The flames caught instantly, licking across the wooden surface with a soft crackle. The fire spread quickly, engulfing the Merry's deck in a bright orange glow. The crew watched in silence, their faces illuminated by the growing fire as it consumed their beloved ship. Suddenly, snows started to fall.
The flames climbed higher, wrapping around the sails and curling along the hull. The wood crackled and groaned as it began to give way under the heat, but the Merry didn't drift. She stayed perfectly still, as if waiting for the crew to watch until the very end.
Nami broke down, the tears spilling freely down her cheeks. She buried her face in her hands, unable to hold it in any longer. Others joined her, their shoulders shaking as he sobbed openly.
As the flames slowly consumed the Merry, the crackling of the fire filled the silence. The crew stood there, watching the ship they loved burn, each of them lost in the memories they shared on her deck. Then, as if summoned by their grief, Merry's voice echoed softly through the flames.
"I'm sorry," Merry spoke, her voice trembling with emotion. "I wanted to carry you just a little further. I'm sorry... I wanted to go on more adventures with you. But I…"
Luffy, who had been holding it together up until now, finally broke. Tears streamed down his face, and his voice cracked as he shouted, "We're the ones who are sorry, Merry! We were never careful with you! Even though Coby protected you, we never got a shipwright until it was too late! We didn't take good care of you... we weren't good enough."
Merry's voice, though weak, was full of warmth as she responded. "But I was happy. Thank you for taking such good care of me. I was really... happy."
The final words lingered in the air, wrapping around the crew like a blanket of sorrow and love. They could feel Merry's gratitude, her joy in having been a part of their journey, and her acceptance of the end.
Luffy, his body trembling as the reality of the situation hit him like a wave. "Merry…" he whispered, his voice barely audible.
The fire continued to spread, the flames licking higher into the sky as the crew watched, powerless to stop it. The wood began to crack and collapse, the once-strong frame of the ship now succumbing to the heat.
Merry's ashes floated into the sky, glowing faintly as they turned into snow, drifting down over the crew. The light snowfall dusted their heads and shoulders as they climbed aboard the Galley-La ship, which awaited them just beyond the edge of the wreckage. There was no fanfare, no celebration. This was the end of the Going Merry—her final farewell, the greatest ship the Straw Hats had ever known.
The crew, silent and somber, stepped aboard the Galley-La ship one by one. Luffy was the last to board, his eyes lingering on the pile of glowing embers that had once been their beloved ship. His fingers gripped the railing as he stared into the flames, tears still glistening in his eyes. Nami reached out, gently touching his arm, and after a moment, Luffy turned and joined the others.
Iceburg, standing at the helm, nodded to the crew but didn't say a word. He knew there was nothing that could be said to ease the pain of their loss. Without a sound, he guided the ship away from the glowing remains of the Going Merry and back toward Water 7.
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