Simple Replacement, Merry/Everyone

[kotszok.livejournal.com]

Title: Simple Replacement
Rating: G
Word Count: 169
Pairing: MerryxEveryone, nakamaship ;_;... and surprise?
Topic: Second Best


First off, my excuses. I'm not a fanficcer (I'm a limericker... but first and foremost a fanartist XD), but seeing the topic gave me an idea that wouldn't go away. But it was just a scrap of an idea, and I'm not too hot at writing anyway. So I just built a wobbly construction around the core idea. I was gonna go over it with ptps who kindly offered her help, but.. hell, I'll just leave it plain and simple. I just wanted to share the idea, I'm not expecting much of it anyway. ^^

After their last goodbyes with Merry, it seemed like a logical, albeit slightly treasonous, idea to get a new ship. And so they did, after much debating on Usopp's part, haggling on Nami's and over-enthusiasm on Luffy's.

The ship won their hearts immediately. Merry still lingered in their thoughts like a restless ghost, but each one of the crew knew they had to move on. Fantastic adventures awaited them, enemies to be fought and exciting things to see. Their new friend proved to be quite daring, braving the biggest storms and going head to head with dangers that lay ahead, all for the people it had decided to protect the moment they stepped foot on her board.

And yet nobody was truly happy. A similar thought invaded the mind of each pirate; never giving them rest, gnawing away at every waking moment. As it turned out, nobody could truly let go.

The new ship felt it, and when it was sure nobody would be there to notice, it wept.

Comments

[gipped.livejournal.com]

I-I really like this. ;; ♥ It's sad, and I love how the title actually conflicts with it. Replacing something as precious as nakama isn't possible, and I can seem them (or at least Usopp) never really letting go. I feel for the the new ship (One Piece has to be one of the only fandoms you can sympathize with and/or love what're supposed to be inanimate objects), and the last line , just, total win. Memory.

[orange-smaug.livejournal.com]

Why can everyone in this damn fandom draw and write? Watch me be supremely jealous, then love all over this anyway, 'cause Merryyyyyyyyyy ;_;. I'll try to love you just as much, New Ship (even if I probably won't >.>), and I hope you're just as dorky looking as Merry was T_T.

[jadeprince.livejournal.com]

You know, when I saw this topic, this is exactly the thought I had. Second best? Oh... That's the new ship.

;_; I hope it actually goes more happily than this.

[lady-karasu.livejournal.com]

I had something very similar floating about in my head; very nice work with it- the feel really came across. (I feel bad for their new ship... last line worked well to that end. ^_~)

[alita-b-angel.livejournal.com]

AWWWWW.

I have a feeling though, the next arc will be the building/finding a new ship arc and Oda will make the new ship SPECIAL but not in a way that would bastardize Merry's memory. I don't HOW but he WILL.

Or maybe it would go exactly like this, and the new ship would be lack lustre and sad and the crew will never quite attach themselves as much, leading to an never ending wreckage and replacement cycle because no one would ever hold up to that first love, that first ship.

...

*thinks of happier sailing days before water 7 in montage mode*

[denimjo.livejournal.com]

Or maybe it would go exactly like this, and the new ship would be lack lustre and sad and the crew will never quite attach themselves as much, leading to an never ending wreckage and replacement cycle because no one would ever hold up to that first love, that first ship.

At first I thought that too, but after I thought about it for a while, I couldn't really picture any of the crew being so needlessly harsh (intentionally or not) on a new ship, especially since Luffy made a point to mention how rough they were with her sometimes. Also, consider the fact that they're probably going to be taking on a shipwright as a new crewmate who I'm certain will not tolerate that sort of behavior.

[yuki-kokoro.livejournal.com]

...;_;

I think the simple language and straightforward explanation worked well for this, mainly because... that's just how it happened. Their love for Merry doesn't need to be glorified, we know how strong it was and here it is proved in a different way. Unable to let go even when they want to.

The poor new ship... ;_; So earnest, and it's obviously such a great ship...

[sherrymarie.livejournal.com]

This is such a great take on the topic, and very very moving. That poor second ship has a lot to live up to. =(

Damn Oda for making me weepy over a ship.

[geuna.livejournal.com]

T__T Poor new ship, that's so sad... though it does make me wonder, what kind of new ship will they get? It would have to be small, because that's what made Merry so great. Merry's size and weight were perfect for flying and being flung around. ^_^' I kinda hope their new ship will have a differently, less helpful personality. More so a troublemaker, you know? But still gets the job done!

But ship can ever really take Merry's place...

[sweetmoons.livejournal.com]

I wish Merry's spirit could move to their new ship ;_;
Beautifully done.

[dethorats]

You nicely captured all the pain of this past story arc and the current topic. Augh, how hard is it going to be? Even if the new ship is NOTHING like Merry, it's still their second ship. Great, albeit sad, work.