One Piece Songshot- Go the Distance

Night on the Thousand Sunny. The air is still and so are the waves and all the crew are asleep say for one. Usopp has watch tonight and though he's done it many times it's still just as boring as ever as most of his nights have had little to offer for the silence. As the sniper quietely patrols the deck rubbing his arms to stay warm, he stops to look out at the sea, the full moon bathing the Sunny in its glow. The sight of it is truly peaceful and somewhat moving as Usopp feels his mind wander, thinking about his home island, Kaya, Pepper, Carrot and Onion and the stories he hopes to tell them when he sees them again. The man himself hasn't stopped to think about it, but a fair few of his tall tales he used to tell Kaya aren't so impossible anymore such as hsi classic about the giant goldfish. Thinking about the epic exit from Little Garden leads him to think about his idols Brogy and Dorry and in turn his goal of seeing Elbaf where he hopes to learn from the greatest warriors of the sea and thus achieve his dream. Just how far or near is he from going the distance? Usopp takes another look at the night sky before he feels a song building up inside him as he softly begins to sing.

"I have often dreamed of a far off place~!
Where a hero's welcome would be waiting for me~!
Where the crowds will cheer when they see my face~!
And a voice keeps saying, this is where I'm meant to be~!"

Usopp quietly draws his slingshot and shoots a lead star whcih skims across the silent water and disappears. He decides the shootign isn't very entertaining as he goes back to fantasising himself being welcomed back to his village as his old friends praise him and Kaya embraces him. Though he quickly returns to reality as he knows he's still a ways from making that tall tale true.

"I'll be there someday, I can go the distance~!
I will find my way if I can be strong~!
I know every mile, will be worth my while~!
When I go the distance, I'll be right where I belong~!"

As Usopp casually strolls across the deck as he sings, he begins the climb the rigging up to the top of the mast until he's standing on top of the mast to get a vaster look at the view.

"Down an unknown road to embrace my fate~!
Though that road may wander, it will lead me to you~!
And a thousand years would be worth the wait~!
It might take a lifetime but somehow I'll see it through~!"

Little does he realise his singing has gradually been getting louder and this causes Robin to awaken. She takes a look outside and is surprised to see Usopp standing atop the mast singing to himself. The archaeologist feels a smile cross her face from the sniper's wonderful singing, but it doesn't seem fare for her to be his only audience. With a cross of her hands, Robin wakes up the rest of the crew who come to join her with mixed expressions for her having woken them up. But when they see Usopp walking across the mast with his hands outstretched, still unaware of his friends watching him, they too as well begin to smile from his song.

"And I won't look back, I can go the distance~!
And I'll stay on track, no, I won't accept defeat~!
It's an uphill slope but I won't lose hope~!
'Til I go the distance, and my journey is complete~!"

Luffy grins at his sniper while he puts his arm around Nami's shoulder who has her eyes closed taking in every lyric of Usopp's song with a blissful smile. Zoro does the same with Robin as he pulls her close to his side and gives ehr a thankful smile, no longer grumpy from having his sleep deprived. Sanji casually lights a smoke as he watches Usopp with a smirk, metally applauding him. Chopper is beaming with admiration as he sits atop Blizzard's head who is also smiling as he enjoys the music whilst Franky is fighting the urge to cheer, but knows he shouldn't until the song is over. Aika is giddy with joy and she hops up and down with her hands on her mouth, eager to join in on the singing but not wanting to disturb Usopp as Kumi nuzzles up beside her never taking her eyes of the sniper. As for Brook, the skeleton actually begins to strum his guitar in tune with Usopp's voice but the sniper is so lost in his song he doesn't even notice as his voice grows stronger.

"But to look beyond the glory is the hardest part~!
For a hero's strength is measured by his heart~!"

Luffy smiles and proudly nods his head at Usopp's words of wisdom as the sniper holds his hand against his heart.

"Like a shooting star, I will go the distance~!
I will search the world, I will face its harms~!
I don't care how far, I can go the distance~!
'Til I find my hero's welcome, waiting in your arms~!"

And then, almost by fate, as Usopp waves his hand across the sky a flurry of shooting stars rain across the heavens as he does so. The rest fo the Straw Hats silently gasp at the sight of nature itself adding to their sniper's song as they all watch the marvel with awe. Satsified, Usopp begins to descend the rigging, still singing and still completely oblivious to his friends presence.

"I will search the world, I will face its harms~!
'Til I find my hero's welcome, waiting in your arms~!"

His voice now softer than before and his eyes closed, Usopp turns around with his arms open wide as he sings the last lyric. With the song over he finally opens his eyes and jumps when he sees the crew standing before him with smiles and grins on their faces. Usopp chuckles, slightly embarrassed from being caught until Aika suddenly jumps into his open arms with a thankful hug for the song while the others appluad him to which he grins with pride.

The End