43:the merry returns

After the crew jumped off the bridge they all started to laugh as they landed next to the Going Merry! Alex, Luffy, Chopper and Robin were dragged onto the ship by Granny Koroko and the crew celebrated that the merry was here. Robin started to cry and thanked everyone for coming for her, causing most of them to laugh and tell her it was no worry. Chopper finally gaining movement again tried to treat Alex's neck but she waved him off saying to do it once they escape.

As the marines started to fire at their ship, it was like their own ships rebelled against the act by shifting the cannons at each other and crashing into each other. The marines started to panic as their ships were destroyed and sanji explained that it was caused by the whirlpools of water current due to the gates of justice closing, leaving the crew shocked he was able to think of that.

Zoro memtioms it was to early to celebrate as the currents affect them as well, causing them to slightly panic until nami yelled at them to shut up.

"There was no sea that the Merry couldn't cross with us on board!"

Leaving the rest inspired and excited as she started to give orders to them. As they sailed the crew protected the ship from cannon shots as Nami and chopper worried about getting them away. Luffy dragged himself with his head until he was at the back of the ship with the rest while claiming to want to fight as well, this caused Zoro and Sanji to stretch him out on a sheet and catch the incoming cannonballs before flinging them back.

The crew managed to leave the Navy behind in the currents with only a few behind them still, including the one with spandam on it yelling about how useless the navy was for being unable to catch her. Robin walked to the back of the ship and used her devil fruit to break multiple bones inside his body and probably killing him for what she did to her, Alex high fived her for that.

Franky went to the back if the ship and used coup de burst to send the Merry flying forward and Usopp sent a giant smoke bomb making it impossible for the Marines to see where they are, allowing the Merry to escape from them easily. Granny Koroko placed luffy on top of Merry's head like usual as the crew gathered at the front of the ship, and celebrated their successful rescue. Alex finally allowed Chopper to treat her neck ss she was starting to feel light headed and they were out of danger for the time being.

"There you go. You will end up with a scar as the cut was quite deep but it should heal quickly as long as you keep using the ointment i gave you and keep it bandaged for awhile."

"Thanks chopper"

Alex then made her way to her tree and promptly laid down gazing at the clouds. Usopp put his mask back on causing Chopper and Luffy to start searching the ship for Usopp and ignoring Sogeking who was in front of them, causing the rest to sweat drop at them. The crew them started talking about who it was that brought the merry to them as they couldn't find anybody on board, this caused Alex, Usopp and Luffy to believe it was the merry itself. They believed so because it was the only thing they could think of and they both had experience with the spirit of the ship at some point or another, while the rest didn't and therefore didn't believe them.

Luffy spotted a ship in the distance so the crew got ready for a fight until they recognized it as a galley-la ship, so they started to yell out to them in greeting including iceberg who came despite his injuries. As they neared the ship the Merry had the front end break off, surprising the crew until sanji said

"All of a sudden? Isn't this just natural? It was declared that the Merry could no longer sail."

Luffy then rushed towards iceberg and asked him to do something about it as she was their friend and they needed to help her, but he just said

"Then let her...rest now. I've already done everything i could."

He explained how he found it even more damaged after Aqua Laguna and was about to leave it when he heard it telling him, that it wanted to sail just one more time! He then repaired the ship to the best of his abilities before leaving the ship as another wave was coming. He watched as the wave took the Merry out to sea and it set sail, so he decided to follow it.

"I'm watching a miracle right now...A miracle of a ship that has long passed its limits...I've been a shipwright for many years, but i've never seen a pirate ship this incredible. It's lived a splendid life."-Iceberg

"Okay"

Luffy said so quietly they had trouble hearing him. The crew then boarded a small skiff and sent the merry off in a blaze of fire, and watched her sink while thanking her for being there for them. As they watched her burn it started to snow and the crew stood while remembering all the adventures they have had on the Merry.

"I'm sorry....I wanted to carry you even further. I'm sorry...I wanted to continue going on adventures with you forever. But i—"-Merry

"It's us who have to apologize Merry! I'm not good at steering...so i ran you into icebergs at times... There was a time i tore the sails, too. Zoro and Sanji are stupid, so they broke a;; sorts of things! Usopp would fix them each time, but he isn't good at it! So it's us who have to..."-luffy

"But i've been happy. Thank you bery much... for taking good care of me all this time. I really have been happy...because i had you!"-Merry

The crew was bawling at this point even the usually stoic Zoro and Sanji had tears in their eyes. After sending the Merry off the crew boarded the Galley-la ship amd they made their way back to Water Seven, where they went to dock one and the temporary Galley-La headquarters as well as icebergs residence, where they were given an area to themselves and they promptly fell asleep for the night.

The next day the crew split up to do their own things until Luffy woke up, so Alex decided to go shopping for more clothes as she was low on them originally and destroyed more of them since arriving at Water Seven. She picked out mostly the same as her current outfit such as t-shirts, cargo shorts, new boots, new chest bind, underwear, and some new clothes such as sweats, oversized hoodie with cat ears, and a couple female outfits such as dresses, skirts, leggings and shirts that are more feminine than her usual t-shirts.

After arriving back at their temporary place to stay she saw all their belongings were back, and before she could say anything Franky burst through the doors behind her.

"Yow! Are you guys super?! Everyone...isn't here, but that's okay. Listen! I've got something important to discuss with you. On an island where wars happen one after another...No matter if the islanders start a war where cannonballs fall incessantly, or if everyone dies and the town also dies and turns to ruins...this huge tree would continue to stand. No matter what happens, this tree will not fall. People once again nestle close to that tree and create a town... A country. Only a few trees like this exist in the world. The name given to the strongest of all trees is..."Adam" the treasure tree. Its wood appears on the black market on rare occasions. I wanted it... but it cost almost 200 million. So it was impossible for me to buy it. And then, there appeared pirates with a lot of money—in other words, you guys."-franky

"You jerk! You'd better not have bought something like that with our money!"-Sanji

"Just keep listening! A long time ago, i made the decision that i'd never again build a ship. But i wanted to catch up to the person who was my goal after all. The next thing i knew, i was drawing blueprints for a ship. My dream is... to use that treasure tree....to build one last ship... A dream ship that crosses any sea! I've already obtained this treasure tree. I've already got blueprints, too. I'm going to build this ship now. So...when it's completed...will you set sail on the ship i've built?!"

Franky yelled at them shocking them, as he was giving away the ship he built to them.

"Then...a-are you going yo give the ship to us?!"-Sanji

"That's right. Nothing would make me happier than for people i like to travel on my ship. Well, that, and it's kinda like you gave me the money for it, so... The Oro Jackson, the ship of Gol. D Roger, the only man who completed the round-the-world journey, was also built using this treasure tree. I swear... I'll build an incredible ship!"-Franky

"I guess it can't be helped, huh? Tom-san and you are both craftsmen after all."-Granny Koroko

"Yeah... Now... Now... I cam understand the feelings of Tom-san, who died with pride."-Franky

The crew then celebrated as they now have a new ship to travel with. Before they could celebrate to much the wall burst inwards

"So you guys are the Straw Hats?! O've got some guys who i want to have meet Monkey D. Luffy."

Alex saw his navy suit so she immediately charged him and kicked at his head with her black fire on her foot, before the kick could connect the navy guy grabbed her foot with a black hand and tossed her into the ground, causing her to spit blood. Alex quickly rolled away in case of a follow up attack and watched as the black receded from his hand, and tried to analyze what he did, as whatever the blackness was, it stopped her fire leaving him undamaged.

The guy then used soru to rush at luffy and Alex,who was almost next to him, was just barely able to get in front of him before he punched luffy causing her to be sent flying through the wall spitting out more blood, she quickly got back up amd rushed at the guy again but he managed to punch luffy before she could arrive.

"Wake up!"-navy dud

After the punch luffy woke up amd alex arrived in front pf the marine sending a round house hick at him again coated on fore amd analyses as his hand turned black as he grabbed her foot, before he pulled her towards him and punched her into the ground next to luffy. Alex almost passed out after that punch and was on her last legs as she stepped in front of luffy again, but before they could fight again(alex beatdown) luffy yelled out

"G-G-G-Grandpa!"

Leaving the crew shocked as the navy vice admiral who beat alex down was his Grandpa!