Chapter 50: Bad news

Dialogue "sample"

Thoughts 'sample'

Author notes -sample-

Disclaimer: One piece and all of its characters belong to Eiichiro Oda.

Chapter 50: Bad news

"Are you sure it was her?" Asked Chopper.

After telling Chopper that Robin had left to take care of some things, we ran into Sanji, who claimed to have seen Robin walking along with some masked man.

"Of course, I'm sure it was her. I would never mistake one of my three Goddesses for someone else." Sanji claimed with a straight face.

"Please stop calling us that…" Begged Vivi.

"She didn't tell you what business she had?" Asked Sanji, ignoring her plea.

"I didn't ask, she is a grown woman." Said Vivi.

"mmm, I have a bad feeling about this. Let's go back to the Merry for now, maybe she will go back there." Said Sanji with a hit of worry in his voice.

—-------------------------------------------------

Back at the ship, we found Zoro alone. He explained to us what the carpenter said.

"This can't be…the Merry can't be fixed?" Said Sanji with disbelief.

"What are we going to do?" Asked Chopper.

"Let's wait and see what the Captain and others have to say. It's the only thing we can do for now." Suggested Vivi.

"What about Robin?." Wondered Sanji.

"We can only wait." Repeated Vivi.

"Sigh…the Merry is broken…Robin is missing…this day is becoming really troublesome." Said Zoro.

—----------------------------------------------

A while later, they heard someone approach.

"Oi!!"

Sanji gasped. "Guys!, its Nami!, she is back." Said Sanji with excitement.

"Why is she alone?" Chopper pointed out.

"I hope those two did not make trouble in the city. We have enough issues already." Zoro could no help but hope.

Nami explained what happened to them and how Usopp got robbed by some bounty hunters from the Franky family.

They all decided to go back to the city and look for Usopp and the stolen money while Nami and Vivi stood at the ship.

"I'm glad you stayed here too, Vivi. I feel much safer now." Said Nami, who still looked quite nervous.

Vivi looked in the direction they left. She knew what has going to happen and didn't do anything to prevent it. The guilt felt like someone stabbed a knife in her gut and then twisted the blade.

'But if I go with them…if I see what they did to Usopp…I can't trust myself to not kill a few of Franky's family members in a fit of rage. If that happens…then everything will be different from now on…and it will be for the worst. No Franky, no Sunny, and without the bounty hunters' assistance we may not even succeed in rescuing Robin… too risky…I am sorry, Usopp.'

"Vivi?." Said Nami with a worried face.

"Sorry, Nami… it's just. I hope that Usopp is fine."

Nami nodded.

"They will be back in no time. After they smash those guys!" She rose her guns in the air.

"Yes, they'll…." Vivi had just noticed then. "Nami since when do you have guns?"

—----------------------------------------------------------

After Luffy and the others came back, the mood was very solemn. Chopper bandaged all of Usopp's wounds and let him rest while everyone waited.

"Usopp is awake!" The chopper came running to the deck a while later.

"Really? that's great!" Exclaimed Luffy.

Sanji looked outside. It was already getting dark.

"Robin still hasn't come back…"

They all went inside to check on Usopp.

"I'm sorry everyone! I lost our money." Usopp cried while holding Zoros's leg.

"Oi!, calm down....and let go!" Said Zoro.

"Usopp, stay in bed, you haven't recovered yet!" Chopper cried.

After that, Luffy explained to Usopp what happened with Franky's family. They beat everyone up and destroyed their house but Franky had already taken the money and left.

"So, in the end…we still don't have it." Usopp looked depressed.

"We don't know yet, we are waiting for that Franky to come back." Said Luffy.

"I see…"

Vivi stood up and approached Usopp with an angry face.

"Uh…Vivi?" Usopp said hesitantly.

"Do you know what you did wrong today?" She asked with a cold tone.

"Yes…I count protect our money…and.."

She grabbed him by the collar.

"Are you an idiot?!"

"Vivi!" They were all shocked.

"Vivi, let him go. He is still hurt." Cried Chopper.

"What are you talking about? I already said I was sorry for losing the-"

Vivi interrupted him.

"I'm not talking about the money!. I'm talking about you!."

"What?." Said Usopp with a confused expression.

Vivi let him go and sighed.

"Look…no one is going to blame you for losing the money against those guys. There were a lot of them and they overpowered you. But, then you made the stupid decision of going after them ALONE!. Do you have any idea how lucky you are to be alive?."

Usopp then realized what she was angry about.

"Ah…."

"She is no wrong, you know? Most bounty hunters prefer to turn in just the heads. It's easier to transport than a living pirate and the reward is the same. You are lucky those guys weren't bloothirsty or interested in your head." Said Zoro.

"Don't do something like that again, Usopp. We are crewmates, you don't fight alone." Said Vivi.

Usopp lowered his face, feeling embarrassed.

"Sorry."

"Well said, Vivi." Luffy chuckled.

—----------------------------------------------

After a few more minutes of talking, came the topic that no one wanted to talk about.

"Now that we only have one hundred million left…will that be enough to fix the Merry?" Asked Usopp.

"No, we won't be fixing the Merry. I have decided to get a new ship. Most of the second-hand ships we can get with one hundred million are bigger than the Merry." Luffy pulled out a catalog.

"What are you talking about, Luffy? Is this because we don't have enough money?. Is it because I lost the money that we now don't have enough?" Asked Usopp, fearing the worst.

"No, it's not the money." Denied Luffy.

"Then what is it? Tell me!, don't worry about my feelings." Yelled Usopp.

"It has nothing to do with money!"

"Then why are you talking about something stupid like getting a new ship!" Usopp demanded.

"Oi, you two calm down," said Zoro.

"Im not calming down when He is saying those things!" Usopp pointed at Luffy.

"Usopp, we only decided that because we had no other choice." Explained Nami.

"Stop moving so much in your condition!." Begged Chopper.

Then, Luffy went ahead and said it.

"The Merry is going to die!"