Mugiwara no Kazoku

Chapter 10

Home: Going Merry and Thousand Sunny

A/N: So MissDilemma pointed out in a review that a ship is a very important Nakama, and I'm actually very upset that I forgot about it. So, this chapter is written in memory of the Going Merry, and in honor of the Thousand Sunny, both truly loyal homes. The story was written to 'Goodnight' by Evanescence... which may account for the style, actually...

She wasn't meant to be a pirate ship, but that most definitely didn't stop her. The Going Merry endured much more then a leisurely small cruise ship should have, or could have, for that matter. She bore a great responsibility to the family she carried on her back, within her walls. It began with four, the swordsman, the captain, the navigator, and of course the sniper, given as a gift for saving her home town from vicious pirates.

Then came the cook, from whose home she was stolen to travel to an island where her navigator was being tormented by a horrid Fishman. When liberated, she was reunited with her crew, family which she housed, and they set off once again toward their destination: The Grand line. She survived Reverse Mountain, the felling of her figurehead by the unintentional head of the whale, Laboon, and of course the repair that followed. She adopted a princess into her walls, guiding her safely home. She traveled through the body of a giant Goldfish, propelled by enormous giants toward their next location. She cut through waters to save the life of her sick navigator, finding her doctor in the frigid waters of Drum Island.

Then to Alabasta, to leave her princess guest and pet duck, taking her family safely away from this place to escape the hungry hands of the Marines searching for their bounties. The damage she'd sustained was repaired by those she protected, an obvious sign that the love she felt for them was returned in full. The newest addition, her archeologist, led her up to Sky Island, leaving her atop the alter in the white Sea, damaged.

But she wouldn't give up yet, and it was her own spirit that repaired her to ensure the safe travel back to the Blue Sea Below, because Merry knew they couldn't go on without her. Even through the damaging fall, she led her family onward, for she was their home. They depended on her, and it was at Water Seven, when she finally accepted that she could no longer go on, even if her captain and best friend, the sniper, refused to admit it.

But her job wouldn't be completed until she saved her crew from Enies Lobby, repaired by Iceburg upon her own request, she went to the battle zone, back to the sea of adventures again, she came to take them home. She refused to die without her family beside her, and it was upon her return to Water Seven that tey finally accepted her fate. It was with tears and apologies that the Going Merry accepted her viking funeral, and Luffy's forgiveness allowed her to pass peacefully.

The Thousand Sunny would listen to these stories as told by Usopp, tall tales that she believed whole-heartedly and giving the Lion ship drive and purpose. Sunny would carry her pirates through the seas in Merry's place, travel to the ends of the world, keep these pirates, her family now, safe from danger through everything. As soon as she was reunited with them all, she promises herself that she will never lose them again. That they will never lose each other again. Because a ship isn't a home without it's family.

And the Thousand Sunny refuses to be anything but a home for the Strawhat Pirates, just like the Going Merry before her.

A/N:Well... this was a different writing style, wasn't it? Not quite what I expected when I started writing it, but I hope you all like it! The legacy is passed on to the Sunny :] Don't forget to review! Now, this story is REALLY complete for now!