Don’t You Dare!
What Usopp did was disrespectful to Luffy and the crew. To assume that Luffy is such a shallow character that he would throw him away just because of a disagreement means Usopp thought so little of Luffy. Sure, his actions came from low self-esteem, but that doesn't justify them.
And honestly, I believe he was too lenient in handling the situation. Usopp had to be reminded of his place and that his actions have consequences—not just for himself but for the crew as a whole. Since I didn't like that scene, in the fanfiction I am writing, I wanted to change it.
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--xLOVEx--
Coby sighed, walking toward Usopp with measured steps. "This fight is over."
Usopp glared at Coby, his anger boiling over. "I'm not like you guys. You're all strong—"
Before Usopp could finish his sentence, Coby moved, landing a swift kick to Usopp's mouth. The impact sent Usopp crashing to the ground, blood seeping from his lips.
"Coby!" Nami exclaimed in shock, while Luffy clenched his fists, gritting his teeth.
Coby looked down at Usopp, his expression stern. "Don't you fucking dare undermine the effort everyone has put into their skills. Don't you fucking dare underestimate the crew's spirit. I will accept anything else you throw at us, but not this."
Usopp struggled to get up, his body shaking, but Coby continued, his tone harsh. "Zoro trains every second he's not sleeping, fighting, or drinking. Luffy's gone through hells you can't even imagine, yet he gets into fights at every opportunity. Chopper constantly researches his Devil Fruit to do his best with what fate dealt him. Nami always sharpens her mind to use her weapon more effectively…"
From the ship, Sanji, still soaked from being knocked into the sea earlier, shouted, "Hey, what about me?"
Coby ignored him, keeping his focus on Usopp. "I told you about Observation Haki, how to train it, how to develop it. I told you about what your strong suit is, but you didn't put in any effort. You're always the first to escape from an enemy. That's fine by me—I don't care if you're a fighter or not, and neither does Luffy. But don't you fucking dare say you're less fortunate without putting in equal effort."
Usopp lay on the ground, his body trembling with pain and frustration. Coby's words cut deep, but he couldn't deny the truth in them. He had always been the one to hang back, to rely on his inventions and tricks rather than physical strength or combat skills. But hearing it put so bluntly, especially from someone he considered a friend, hurt more than any physical blow.
Coby stepped back, his eyes still locked on Usopp. "You're not weak because you don't have powers like the rest of us, Usopp. You're weak because you choose to be. You're always running from your potential, always making excuses. We have all seen it, but we have never pushed you because we accepted you as you are. But if you're going to talk about strength and fairness, then you better be ready to back it up."
Usopp slowly pushed himself up, wiping the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. He stared at Coby, his eyes filled with anger, shame, and determination. Despite the pain and the harsh words, Usopp refused to back down. He gritted his teeth, trying to find his footing in the situation.
Coby didn't turn his back on Usopp. Instead, he stepped aside, glancing at Luffy. The captain, who had been watching the entire exchange, nodded slightly. The decision weighed heavily on him, but he knew what needed to be done.
"We will leave Merry behind," Luffy said, his voice steady. "She was the greatest ship, but from here on, we need a stronger vessel that won't suffer in the New World."
Luffy then looked directly at Usopp. There was pain in his eyes, but also a deep sense of resolution. "You can have Merry," he said, his words clear.
The declaration hung in the air, heavy with finality. Usopp's eyes widened as he processed Luffy's words. He opened his mouth to argue, but no sound came out. The truth hit him harder than any punch—Luffy was serious. The Merry, the ship that had carried them through so many adventures, was no longer fit to continue with them.
Luffy turned away as soon as the words left his mouth, unable to face Usopp any longer. As he did, a few tears slipped from his eyes, falling to the ground unnoticed. He clenched his fists, fighting to keep his emotions in check, but the weight of the decision was crushing.
The rest of the crew remained silent, the atmosphere tense and thick with unspoken words. They had all grown attached to the Merry, and the thought of leaving her behind was unbearable. But they knew Luffy was right. The Merry couldn't take them any further, and they needed to be strong enough to move forward.
In the dead of night, no one on the ship was asleep. They all lay on their backs, deep in thought. The weight of the day's events hung heavily over the crew, the silence of the night broken only by the occasional creak of the ship. Meanwhile, Coby had already left the ship quietly, making his way across the rooftops of Water 7, his eyes locked on the Galley-La Company building.
He positioned himself on a nearby roof, hidden in the shadows as he observed the area. The city was eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves or distant footsteps. Soon, he noticed shadows moving below—figures silently slipping through the streets, their movements swift and precise.
Recognizing the approach of the CP-9 agents, Coby narrowed his eyes and activated his copied abilities. "Ojo Fleur," he muttered softly, and a single pink eye sprouted beneath Robin's cloak, discreetly positioned where it wouldn't be noticed. "Oreja Fleur," he added, and a small ear formed next to the eye, allowing him to hear as well as see.
From his vantage point, Coby watched through the eye as Robin, accompanied by the CP-9 agents, made her way toward Iceburg's office. Blueno, the large man with the Door Door Fruit, led the group, creating a door out of thin air in the wall. The group passed through effortlessly, entering Iceburg's office undetected.
Inside Iceburg's office, the room was dimly lit, with only a small lamp illuminating his desk. Iceburg was still awake, going over some documents. His expression shifted from mild annoyance to shock as the intruders appeared out of nowhere. The CP-9 agents were masked, their identities concealed.
Coby, watching through his sprouted eye and ear, immediately called up the system to scan Blueno's ability.
[Skill Scan initiated on 'Blueno'. Analysis in progress…]
Robin was the only one without a mask, standing among the agents. The tension in the room was thick as she pulled out a pistol, her expression cold and distant.
Iceburg's eyes widened in disbelief. "Nico Robin…"
Without a word, Robin raised the pistol and fired, the bullet hitting Iceburg on shoulder. The impact sent him crashing back into his chair, a shocked expression frozen on his face as blood began to spread across his shirt. He gasped, trying to speak, but the words wouldn't come.
Coby watched through his sprouted eye, his expression tightening as he took in the scene. The cold efficiency with which Robin had acted was disturbing, but he knew she was doing it for the crew.
The masked agents moved swiftly, surrounding Iceburg as he struggled to stay conscious. One of them, with long limbs, stepped forward and began searching through the papers on Iceburg's desk. He worked quickly, flipping through documents and tossing aside anything that didn't seem relevant.
Meanwhile, Blueno kept his eyes on Robin. "Good work, boss. We've secured the target."
Robin said nothing, her face emotionless as she tucked the pistol back under her cloak. She turned away from Iceburg, not sparing him another glance.
The long-limbed agent, rummaging through the documents, paused and glanced at Robin. "We didn't find what we were looking for. We need to leave, boss," he said.
Robin, still facing away from Iceburg, gave a brief nod. The masked agents began to move swiftly, exiting the office as silently as they had entered.
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