Author's Note: Usopp is my favorite character in One Piece. His negativity, cowardice, weaknesses... They're relatable and I can't help but see myself in him. But this idea of being spiteful towards his absent father rather than admiring him had been swimming in my head for some time. I couldn't really picture him being that way, though, so I decided to write a story where his sister did that for him.

The Archer

SUMMARY: The father leaves to be a pirate. The mother withers away in bed. The brother is gone from a fall. All there is left is the solemn sister with her bow and arrows. AU where Usopp's twin sister is the Straw Hats sniper instead.

Chapter 1: This is the start

"I'm sorry, Banchina," Dr. Moors said, bowing his head. "I… I'm afraid there's nothing else that I can do."

Adalina's stomach twisted painfully at that. She stared anxiously at her mother who lied pale and withdrawn from underneath her covers. Once the woman had been cheerful and lively, and now she lied bedridden due to her sickly state. Her mother still smiled as often as she had before, but her smiles appeared so weary nowadays. It was as if she was mustering up the last of her energy to grant them a parting gift.

The thought of losing her mother frightened Adalina. She had always known that her mother's illness had been severely impairing her health, but the reality of her inevitable death had never struck her as hard as it had these past couple of days. Without her there to be her warm shelter and comfort, Adalina felt lost and lonely.

"No, it's quite alright." Her mother opened her eyes. There were heavy dark circles around her eyes, yet her eyes remained bright. "It can't be helped, but I'm grateful for all that you could do…"

"Regardless," Dr. Moors sighed.

Dr. Moors was an elderly man with a mild yet grizzly face. Adalina hadn't known him that well until he had started taking care of her mother. From there, she had gotten to know the kind doctor, and knew for certain that he was sorrowful that he couldn't do more for her mother.

Adalina herself wished that there was more that could be done. A small dark part of her thought that, despite the doctor's best efforts, perhaps he had been incompetent to truly aid her mother. Had he been better, then her mother wouldn't be wasting away inside the house. Had there been another doctor more capable, then her mother wouldn't leave them alone in this world.

Adalina's fingers curled into the fabric of her skirt as she grimaced. She felt tears peek out at the corners of her eyes.

"Ada." Adalina lifted her head, meeting her mother's gaze. The woman smiled. "Ada, I'm sorry about this, but it seems that I'll be leaving you and your brother behind."

Adalina pursed her lips to prevent herself from sobbing outright. She nodded.

"Ah, you're such a smart girl, so you would have known… And you're a strong girl. Be sure to take care of your brother, okay?"

She sniffled. "O-okay…"

"Pirates!" The doors burst open, revealing a panting Usopp. "Pirates are here!"

"Now hold on, Usopp—" the doctor began, but he was cut short when Usopp ran past him and the nurse. He stood next to the stool that Adalina was sitting, proudly presenting himself before their mother.

"Mom, it's gonna be alright!" Usopp declared, his grin wide and beaming. "Dad finally came home. He's going to take us away!"

"Oh, Usopp," their mother said with a humored smile. "You and your imagination…"

"B-but it's true!" Usopp's jollity crumbled. His eyes began to brim with tears, yet he carried on. "Once you recover, he'll take us out to the sea and we'll have adventures together."

"Your father won't be coming back," she sighed. "Even so… I'm glad I married him."

There was almost a wistful note in her trailed voice. Adalina couldn't understand it. How could their mother continue to love someone who willingly left her and their children behind? Especially during her last moments. Never mind their mother's stories of how she urged her husband to settle on his hard decision between staying with his family or achieving his lifelong dream. If they truly mattered, wouldn't he have visited them already?

Usopp didn't let it go. Since he couldn't convince their mother of their father's arrival, he told her about him finding a legendary medicine that could cure all diseases. Adalina felt herself getting angry. At times like this, why would he keep pushing these stupid lies onto their mother? The woman already knew that Usopp was being ridiculous, so why couldn't Usopp get the hint?

"Usopp," Adalina growled warningly.

"It's true," he persisted through the tears and snot. "It's true. I would know b-because I'm the son of a pirate!"

"Then make sure you grow up to be like him. Strong and brave…" Their mother closed her eyes and whispered, "Because there is nothing more than I want than to have my children reaching for their own dreams… Just like…their father…"

Adalina snapped out of her anger as she lunged out of her seat. "Mom?" she said, gripping onto the covers and shaking the woman. "Mom? Mom!"

"Mom?" Usopp cried alongside her. "Please! Wake up!"

It was a bright and sunny day when their mother passed away, yet it felt like a dark and cold night.