I hereby conclude this round!
Both entries were awesome! Serrende's story put a twist on the canon setting, adding an unexpected character into a known crew and situation. I like how it deviated from the original work yet stayed true to the timeline in every other aspect.
But nevertheless, I have decided that the winning piece for this round will be
jadekitty777's creative AU featuring Merry and Sunny! The fable-style story was very sweet and touching. The presentation of Merry and Sunny as real animals was a very interesting touch. The result was a lovely story that fit very well into the limited word count.
So, congratulations,
jadekitty777! Your turn! :D