unluckytaise

[unluckytaise]

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One piece  | Canon Divergence 

CW: Character death | Angst

Male Reader | One shot

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Contrary to popular belief, Ussop wasn't the weakest. Sure, he's cowardly and shook in anything that could potentially pose as danger, but he has his moments. He once shoot the world governments flag and set it on fire when his captain told him to. He can stand side by side with the other members of the crew and defeat his enemies.

Ussop wasn't the weakest straw hat pirate. Do you know who deserves that title? It's [M/N].

[M/N] is the weakest. Always the damsel in distress. Somehow, someway, he'll always find himself in the enemies mercy.

He was captured by a sophisticated man in black fur coat known as Crocodile during their time in Alabasta and was used as a lure to cage his crewmates along with a smoking marine captain. He also manage to land himself in the palms of the god of lightning—and no it wasn't Thor son of Odin (he's the god of thunder)—it was Enel the tyrant ruler of the sky people.

A worthless captive. Again, and again, and again.

A reoccurring theme, and without fail his friends would always come and save him.

They never complained. They never even brought up the topic of his weakness. After every fight, his friends would celebrate with a hearty feast. Dragging him in the center to dance and drink until they're drunk, even though they knew each time they did he would always refuse.

He would watch from the sides, sipping from his own beverage with eyes full of longing. Sure, he was safe. Sure, they manage to save the day. However, [M/N] crave for something more. He wants to stand beside them and fight. Gain matching bruises and scars that he would laugh at together with them.

Every night alone with his thoughts he would always wonder, what does the crew see in him that he doesn't? For his friends to save him whenever he's in danger even if they don't need to, only made him want to be better.

He wants to stand on equal grounds, but that's impossible since he's only human. Average, and boring human.

Yes they have humans in his crew, but they're no ordinary.

Nami is a genius when it comes to navigation and using the weather at her disposal. She's also a sly and cunning thief that the straw hats sometimes benefit from. While [M/N] is anything but a sly, cunning, and a genius navigator.

Zoro has the strength of a thousand gorillas, while he maybe dumb as a rock, he's brilliant when it comes to crossing swords with his opponents. Again, [M/N] is not Zoro.

Ussop is a tactical wiz, a tinker, and an excellent sniper. [M/N] is not.

Sanji, a magnificent cook blessed with legs that could—and will—kick anyone he finds irritating straight to the moon. [M/N] is not.

Chopper, a reindeer gifted with that of an intelligence of a human and a heart of gold, also possess the capabilities of an amazing doctor. [M/N] is not.

Robin, an archeology prodigy, quick-witted and has unquenchable thirst for knowledge. [M/N] is not.

Frankly, a cyborg that has an imagination of a child, with his huge metal arms he can make even a heap of rubbish into any weapon for his crew's disposal. [M/N] is not.

Brook, a pile of bones with entertaining and nonending antics and gags that would always get a reaction from everybody, most especially his friends. Not to mention he's an incredible musician. Again, [M/N] is not.

Last but not the least, [M/N] is not Luffy. Someone who can ease those who are the most troubled with his presence alone. A kind, simple minded boy who would risk anything for his friends life.

[M/N] is not them, and can never be them no matter how hard he tries. He's nothing but a foolish, weak, useless nobody. And it hurts so bad seeing them put their life on the line of threat to save him.

Shackles heavier than sea prism stone weigh him down, keeping him from ever experiencing true freedom. He couldn't laugh with his heart, he couldn't smile without it being fake to reassure his friends that he's fine. He couldn't, since somewhere in his mind there would be something sinister whispering that if he become a little more burdensome than he already is, he will get abandoned.

[M/N] fears it. He feared the day where he would once again get taken and his crew would no longer save him for they had enough. They had enough of him. Even though he knew they would never, he couldn't take the risk.

That's why here he is, standing in front of Gekko Moria who's clutching his big fat stomach as he laugh, while [M/N] remain unmoving and stoic—almost like a hollow doll after he asked, "Does the offer still stands?"

Offer? What offer you might be wondering.

Power, of course.

Gekko Moria offered [M/N] power with the help of his devil fruit and [M/N]—after rejecting it the first time the seven warlord proposed it—inquired if it's still available. Maybe that's exactly the reason why the vampire was currently dying of laughter, or maybe he's just batshit crazy.

During the straw hats rampage in his ship, Moria was able to get his humongous claws on the weakest member of the straw hat pirates in hopes of getting the upper hand. It was a mistake, since the crew came barging in without noticed and beat him to the ground. However, during their time together—Moria who found the little helpless human in his grasp a little entertaining than he's supposed to, tried to mess with him by making a deal.

Moria would give him power—a shadow taken from a man stronger than a million men—if and only if, [M/N] would leave the straw-hat pirates.

With [M/N] standing in front of him, Moria couldn't help but burst into a fit of laughter. Yes it was petty, but he feel like somehow he got his revenge from straw-hat Luffy by taking a precious crewmate of his.

And so, [M/N] got his power.

✦༝ ┉┉┉┉┉ ⋆ (⚓) ⋆ ┉┉┉┉┉ ༝✦

Before going to Gekko Moria, he tried a more...righteous path. Getting a break away from the crew was hard, especially if he had lied about the reason of his departure.

But [M/N] persisted, he left even when his friends were against it. His desire to be a part of their world and to join them in their adventures, despite the dangers it offers without holding them back was more than enough to keep him going.

He sailed alone in the vast and dangerous waters, searching islands after islands for a mentor. He would beg, and beg—grovel to the grounds with his forehead pressed on the filthy dirt. Shame and pride tossed out of the window, yet every time he did, he would always get rejected. Amongst them were the future mentors of his crewmates. Still, Hawkeye Mihawk rejected him and so did Silvers Riley.

Simply because he wasn't worthy. Nothing more, nothing less.

Not so surprising since he's not a swordsman, or someone who possess the will of D like a certain captain and vice captain of his. Even so, he hoped, that somehow they would accept even if it was out of pity—and with that little bit of hope gone, he felt empty, then he felt anger.

Indescribable anger.

He did everything. Everything he can think of! But it wasn't enough. Training and conditioning his body until he pass out isn't enough. Reading hundreds of hundreds of books, trying to cram every piece of information he can inside his brain isn't enough. Scouring throughout the lands and seas for anything that could help him—a devil fruit or a weapon—anything! Even a tiny pill isn't enough.

He wasn't enough.

The day he came back to the crew, they noticed he changed and it wasn't the good kind. He was a lot distant, tired, and quiet. A group of friends as bright as they are couldn't just stand idle by and watch their crewmate who came back from a sudden vacation destroy himself.

They tried making him laugh, they tried making him smile—even just a little bit. It worked for a while, until an opponent came, far stronger than their previous enemies.

For the first time [M/N]'s searched for power paid off. This time around, instead of them saving him, it was [M/N] who saved them. It was him who dealt the finishing blow. It was him who saved the day. He finally did it!

He felt euphoria for the first time. The damage and pain done to his body by the strength enchantment drugs for fishmen that he took when no one was watching was worth it when he saw his crew look at him with nothing but awe and pride.

They praise him, celebrate his very first fight with them. And for the first time he didn't refuse when they drag him towards the center of the feast, instead, he danced and drunk his heart away until day break.

[M/N] loved it.

Heart light, and mind finally at ease. For the first time he felt like he truly deserve to stand alongside them. Worthy of being called their crewmate.

He wished the day could've last a little longer, he wished he was able to be enough for them forever.

But that’s not how the story goes.

From that point on, it got worst and worst. Enemies started getting stronger and stronger, while the other straw-hat members were able to keep up—[M/N] couldn't.

[M/N] watched as his crewmate popped out of existence one after another with a single touch from one of the seven warlords known as the tyrant.

He went mad, he was useless, again. He didn't even realized he was screaming his lungs out, crying and pulling his hair out of his scalp. His efforts, his pain and suffering—It wasn't enough!

[M/N] needs to get stronger! Stronger! And stronger! Until finally his greed opened its maws and swallowed him whole. With a tap from a hand with paws in them, everything went black. That's what led him back to Gecko Moria.

✦༝ ┉┉┉┉┉ ⋆ (⚓) ⋆ ┉┉┉┉┉ ༝✦

How did this happened?

With power pumping inside his veins, it was hot—hotter than molten lava, but the dread building up inside his gut was ice cold, making him feel sick.

[M/N] stood across them. Across the people he wouldn't have expected of ever fighting in a life time.

It was his crew.

Rather, previous crew after he stray away from everything but the path to great power.

It wasn't really that surprising, considering [M/N] become one of the villains the heroes were suppose to slay to save the day. However, some of the said heroes were in the verge of crying, tears cling on the corner of their eyes but refuse to let them fall. Namely, the cowardly trio, while the others were either trying to hide it or had a stern expression.

But all share the feelings of distraught, disappointment, and betrayal.

Why does this have to happen?

The straw hats have to stop the bad guy, that's just what they do. For someone who's a pirate, they would do anything in their power to do what is right, and right now, they have to put a stop to [M/N]'s greed.

Greed that continue to fester and consume anything in its path. [M/N]'s lust for power blinded him, making him hurt those who surround him. Old, young, women, and men—it doesn't matter who they are or what they are—[M/N] showed them no mercy and used them as stepping stones to attain more, and more power.

Why did he need more power again?

Oh. That’s right.

He need the strength to protect his friends.

Yet he's currently engaged in a battle with said friends. Both sides not holding back their punches for they were desperate to win. For [M/N], he felt like this power he was able to gain wasn't enough, it still isn't enough, he needed more. While the straw hats crew just wanted to have their friend back.

He doesn't want to be a liability, he said he doesn't want to drag them down.

But now he was the one hurting them.

It was Chopper's cry that brought him back. The young doctor has always been a cry baby, and to see his very first group of friends fight each other was just too much. Chopper was like the younger brother of the crew, he was used to the laughter, smiles, and crazy antics, not the shouting, cursing, and violence.

So he cried. He covered his ears with his hooves like a kid and cried out [M/N]'s name.

The said man acknowledged him.

He woke up from his delusions, and the fog in his mind cleared up, but it was too late. It was just a little too late.

A sword covered in haki pierced his heart.

Zoro, who was exchanging blows with him drop the sword in his mouth as it was left gaping. Eyes widening and breath hitching when he finally process what just happened. [M/N] was supposed to block him, why did he suddenly stopped?!

Everyone froze, as their heart drop to their stomach.

Chopper tried patching him up, desperate not to lose him. Hooves shaking and movements clumsy as tears hinder his vision. He tried, he really tried.

While [M/N] lay on his captain's arms, surrounded by his crew. With a small but genuine smile, and a barely audible sorry. He realized a little too late that being weak isn't really a bad thing if it meant he could stay with the crew forever. Cold and tired, he closed his eyes, only for them not to open ever again.

This time they didn't hold back their tears. They cried. They screamed it wasn't fair. They begged the gods to bring him back, but no one listened. That day the crew won, yet lost an irreplaceable friend—and it hurt so bad.

The villain finally died, and the heroes were able to save the day, yet again.

But at what cost?