Going Merry



The Going Merry is a caraval class ship that acted as the first main mode of transporation of the Straw Hat Pirates. It was designed by Merry and given by Kaya to the Straw Hats as a reward. Over time, the ship came to be loved by the crew as a home and as a friend, that it literally took a life of its own and became just as part of the crew as any them.

Appearence
It had a jib and a central steer rudder. The ship's armament consisted of four (4) cannons, one in the bow pointing forward, 2 near the stern pointing to either side, and one that was occasionally seen on deck at the stern - although they where rarely used, the Straw Hat Pirates usually preferring to run away or engage in hand to hand combat. After the Arlong arc, the Going Merry gained three tangerine trees from Belle-Mère's farm, a memento of Nami's home. As the series continued on, the ship recieved more and more damage and gained several metal patches to hold it together.

Statistics

 * Japanese Name: ゴーイングメリー号
 * Romanized Name: Gōingu Merī-gō ("gō" is a suffix to denote that the name belongs to a boat)
 * English Name: Going Merry; Merry Go
 * Affiliations: Straw Hat Pirates
 * Japanese VA:
 * First Appearence: Manga Chapter 41; Original Anime Episode 17; English Anime Episode 16
 * Last Appearence: Manga Chapter 430

East Blue Saga
The Going Merry carried the Straw Hats, then including Luffy Zoro Nami and the recently aquired Usopp and then later Sanji across the East Blue to islands and other locations such as Nami's home island, housing Arlong Park and to the the Baratie as well, they also stopped by Lougetown befor efinally entering the Grand Line through Reverse Mountain.

Grand Line
Once the Going Merry entered the Grand Line, it was shortly swallowed by an Island Whale named Laboon, after crashing into the whale's side, and knocking the Headpiece off. Consequently, it was Luffy's favorite seat on their voyage, making him angry. Luffy was not swallowed but rather followed a trap door in. Once they got out and found out about Log Poses, they helped Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday go back to their home island, Whiskey Peak. Soon after they were rushed into the Baroque Works Arc where the Merry sustained much damage. The Ship had to endure the freezing climate of Drum Island where another member, Tony Tony Chopper was picked up. Both [Usopp]] and Chopper would be invaluable, acting as the ship's repair crew until a proper shipwright could be found. Once the Baroque Works Saga was over, the ship entered another demension(Anime Only Filler) and then proceded to Sky Island where the ship fell from large heights many times. While in Skypeia, Merry took much damage, Sky Breeder Shura, a Skypeian Priest hade lit the Mast on fire. Chopper, to stop the ship from totally burning away, broke the mast off and threw it in the water.

Mysterious Spririt
While the entire crew is sleepingat their camp, Usopp gets up to go pee, where he sees a mysterious spirit repairing the ship. The Spirit looks at him and Smiles, and Usopp freaks out, thinking he has seen a Ghost. The Next Morning, the ship has been repaired, but it was not a quality job.

Recent Chapters
In recent chapters the Straw Hat Crew has gone to Water 7, a large city covering an entire island, renowned for it's shipwrights, even Pirates don't dare attack, at risk of not having their ships repaired, or losing the ability to buy a new one. Here the crew trades in their ancient gold artifacts, aquired from Skypeia into Belly, hoping to use their newly aquired 300,000 Belly to get the Going Merry repaired. However, one of the Shipwrights, Kaku, takes a look at their ship, explaining that a cricital part of their ship, the Keel, is broken, making the ship unrepairable. With this information they can abandon the Merry, and buy a new ship, or let the Merry sink on the way to the next island. The Crew, Luffy especially, agree that the ship isn't going to be able to take them any further. Usopp, who treasures the Merry, is the only one that disagrees. Luffy and Usopp battle that night for right to own the Going Merry, and Usopp, even though knowing Luffy very well, and attempting to counter his strategy, loses. However the rest of the crew takes their belongings off, and lets Usopp have the ship.

Eventually the CP9 are revealed, and Usopp, with Franky in Franky's private hidden ship workshop, is told that the Going Merry is a ship, who's job is to carry it's crew from one island to the next. if it can not carry it's crew to an island, it has failed it's duty, and will be happier to simply be dismantled at an island. Usopp explains to Franky that he saw a mysterious spirit, who Franky Reveals is a Klaubutermann. Usopp explains he knew all along that the ship couldn't go on any longer, but he couldn't let Miss Kaya's gift be destroyed so suddenly. Franky begins to dismantle the ship, with Usopp in protest. Suddenly, the members of Cipher Police 9 appear, and are looking for the Blueprints to Pluton. Kaku explains that even though he is a Traitor, he meant what he said when he did his evaluation of the Going Merry. Casting the Going Merry off to sea, it would remain there for the rest of the [Enies Lobby Arc|Enies Lobby]] arc, until the very end.

Suddenly, the Gonig Merry appears out of nowhere, the Gate of Justice closes, and the crew escape, meanwhile the Buster Call ships are stuck because of the whirlpools created. As soon as a Galley-La ship appears, the Going Merry breaks apart, and speaks to them. The Going Merry says goodbye, and the crew says their final farewells, as the ship is lit on fire and cremated.