Going Merry— After the Shabby Marines Futile "Attack"
The strawhats sat in somewhat of a circle with Nami at its center. A map spread out in front of her.
"We're getting closer. We've almost made it to the Grand Line and it looks like the only way into it is here," Nami starts, eyes focused on the map, she points at a mountain. "through reverse mountain."
"What a pain, there's gotta be some way around that thing." Zoro complains, arms behind his head and legs crossed.
Fuwako stares at the map silently like everyone else, nestled atop Luffy's head. Who somehow despite the bird now being 60 centimeters tall (24 in) and with a weight of 30 kilograms (65 lbs).
Or in other words, comically large compared to his head, the strawhat boy still carried the bird perched on his head like it was nothing.
"There's not, from what the geezer told me. That's the only way to enter." Sanji argues.
"Well, how come?" Usopp questions.
"Cuz it's really dangerous."
"Yeah, but how come!"
"I told you everything I know! Geeze!"
"See the reason—" Nami interrupts the two's bicker only to be interrupted herself.
"Hey! I got an idea! Why don't we sail straight into it!" Luffy exclaims excitedly making Fuwako chirp in agreement with equal excitement.
"Py! Pyu! Pyuu!"
—Yeah! Yeah! Let's! It sounds funner!
"Are you really that clueless?! And Fuwako don't agree with him!!" Nami yells angrily at the two. To which Fuwako chirps lowly like a sulking child.
"That way sounds a lot funner! Plus it'd just feel way better to just dive right into it y'know?" Luffy grins widely as he speaks. Fuwako chirping in agreement like a mini cheerleader, wings flapping rapidly.
"Ugh! Talking to you drives me completely insane!" Nami sighs exasperated.
"First off, we need to stop at an island. Time to pick up some meat! Meat! Meat!"
"PYU! Pyuuu!!"
—YEAH! Meaaat!!
Nami points at a spot on the map, causing Luffy to lean over. "There's a famous city on this island. Known as Loguetown."
"Loguetown…why is it famous? They got delicious meat?" Luffy questions, Fuwako chirps the tone questioning as well. As if supporting Luffy's question.
"I'm pretty sure I've heard of it before. It's the city of the beginning and the end." Zoro answers, staring into the sky.
"It's the town where the old King of the Pirates. Gold Roger, was both born and killed." Nami explains. Causing a brief silence to fall on the crew.
"That's where the King of the Pirates died…"
"Well?"
"Yeah, let's do it. This was the man who had the One Piece. Everything the world has to offer. I need to see where he was born and executed."
And with that, the crew set off towards the town of the beginning and the end.
Towards Loguetown.
The journey towards the island was pretty peaceful. Or well as peaceful as a journey with the strawhats could be.
The crew spent their two day journey in routine. Wake up, raise the anchor, pull down the sails and eat breakfast. Throughout the day they'd clean or get distracted by Luffy's addiction to playing tag, fish or in Fuwako's case, nap.
The bird's bandages had finally been removed and their feathers had regrown, but excessive movement still caused strain on their injuries. Though not as much as before.
Through the day the crew would bicker, almost get blown up by Usopp's experiments, and many other things.
True peace.
So without much delay, they docked in Loguetown.
And now, the crew stood in front of a large hanging sign with the town's name on it.
"WOOHOOO!! This is gonna be so fun!"
"Pyu! Pyu!" Fuwako chirps excitedly hopping in place from talon to talon, wings fluttering and feathers puffing up, clearly happy of being free from the restraints the humans called bandages.
—Yeah! Yeah! So much fun!
"Every pirate headed to the Grand Line stops here to resupply, it has everything could possibly need." Nami explains.
"Pyuu! Py-Py?!"
—Awesome! So they got fish?!
"If that's the case the I'm gonna go on a shopping spree! I bet they have all sorts of stuff here!" Usopp says with a grin, already imagining what he could find.
"I'll be able to stock up on some fresh produce. And fresh women." Sanji smirks at the thought of pretty ladies.
"You think there'd be a sword smith around here?" Zoro asks a hand on his chin.
"I thought you were broke, are you gonna steal a sword?" Nami smirks as she speaks in a smug tone at the swordsman who simply scratches his cheek and avoids her gaze.
"Well I'm gonna find out where they kill people!" Luffy blurts out as he starts running away. "I gotta see where the King of the Pirates was executed!" He says excitedly as he rushes away.
"Wait! We gotta pick a meeting place!" Usopp yells out after him, but the captain is too far gone to hear any of it. "Aaah, that's not good." He groans arms wrapping behind his head.
A while later Fuwako laid on the Merry, the crew had once more left the behind with the excuse of keeping watch.
"PYUUU!!"
—THIS ISN'T FAAIIR!!
Fuwako screeched dramatically, flopping onto their back wings flapping uselessly.
Fuwako's tantrum didn't last long though.
They rolled, flapped, whined, and kicked their feet in the air like a thrown-aside toddler… and yet the Merry remained noticeably silent and empty. The distant sounds of Loguetown's bustle drifted over the docks, voices, footsteps, seagulls, vendors shouting about prices and fish.
Fish…
Fuwako paused mid-flail. Their pupils expanded like a cat.
Fish.
The scent whipped past on the breeze — salty, fresh, oily, perfect.
"Pyu…"
—Perfection calls me…
Fuwako hopped upright, feathers shaking off the dramatic meltdown as if it had never happened. They scurried up to the railing, talons click-click-clicking, eyes wide and gleaming.
People were everywhere. Boats coming in and out. Crates filled with treasures. But more importantly…
Stalls. Full. Of. Fish.
Their entire body leaned over the edge, hypnotized. A single droplet of drool slid dangerously off their beak.
…Right before the front of their mind screamed: YOU WERE LEFT BEHIND.
The clouds above answered their frustration, small dark tufts gathering like a sulking sky. Wind circled beneath their wings, mirroring the emotion building in their chest.
"PYUUU!!"
—I SHOULD BE OUT THERE!!
But before the explosive tantrum could reach its peak—
"Hey there, kiddo~"
A familiar voice purred behind them. Fuwako froze, turning their head only enough to peek.
Sanji stood in the kitchen doorway, dish towel over his shoulder, eyes soft and amused.
"You didn't really think I'd leave you alone without supervision, did you?" the cook chuckled, stepping onto the deck with a small wooden crate in hand.
Fuwako perked up instantly, hopping toward him with hopeful squeaks.
"Pyu? Pyu?!"
—Fish? Do you have fish?!
Sanji set the crate down and lifted the lid. Inside were several silvery mackerel, their scales gleaming like tiny mirrors.
"I thought I'd restock before heading into town," he explained, kneeling down to their level. "And since you're stuck babysitting the ship… I figured the least I could do is bring lunch to you."
Fuwako's tail smacked the deck like a drum of pure excitement.
Sanji reached in and tossed a fish into the air—
SNATCH!
Fuwako inhaled it. No chewing, no hesitation. Just instant consumption.
The cook's eyes widened. "…Okay, I'm gonna need to fillet the next ones or you'll choke yourself dead."
Fuwako puffed their chest in pride.
"Pyuuu!"
—That was delicious! More!
Sanji laughed, patting their head gently between their growing crest feathers.
"Well, aren't you a bottomless pit."
Fuwako nuzzled into his hand—brief, shy gratitude—before snatching another fish piece the moment it was offered. The dark little clouds fizzled apart overhead, sunlight warming the deck again.
"Alright, I'm gonna continue grocery shopping," Sanji eventually said as he stood, brushing off his pants. "Keep watch, alright? No getting into trouble."
Fuwako chirped confidently.
"Py! Pyu!"
—You can count on me!
Sanji paused at the top of the ladder. "Oh— and if Luffy comes back with a death sentence already, scream loud enough that I can hear you from wherever I am."
What's a 'death sentence'?
Fuwako had no idea. But if it concerned Luffy doing something stupid, the odds were high.
They gave a determined salute anyway.
"Pyu!"
—Aye-aye!
Sanji chuckled and jogged into the lively street, disappearing into the crowd.
Fuwako stood proudly at the railing, chest puffed to full intimidation size.
Left behind? Yes.
Babysitter? Technically.
But also—
Protector of the Merry.
Guardian of fish.
…Who would absolutely go insane again if left alone too long.
The sound of thunder purred faintly in the distant clouds. The breeze stirred their feathers.
But upon closer inspection…the wind also carried over the smell of smoke.
Yet something was off about that smoke.
It wasn't fire.
It wasn't cigarettes.
It was strangely…human.
Something told Fuwako their stay in Loguetown, although brief, would be filled with adventure.
And the dino-bird couldn't wait.
TO BE CONTINUED…
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Heya! Trying out a new format for my messages! How was the chapter? How y'all liking the story so far? And if you have any suggestions let me know! I know it's really slow rn but I promise it'll get better soon!
Happy reading!