WinterRose61 - Whitebeard really didn't think things through, he old, took the easy solution. Good thing we got his sons to talk sense into him!
Leilasecrets - Yes! Stand up to Pops! Proof the old man wrong!
After having convinced their captain to let Ace stay for now and when everyone was sober once more, the good news of course having started a party instantly, the commanders had wanted to start a meeting together regarding a plan of action.
However, before they could even start, did all commanders get bombarded with ideas from their division on how to help Ace. So instead of instantly starting up a meeting, it was decided to wait a few days and use these days as time a time to brainstorm and gather ideas.
An un countable amount of ideas were flowing in and making rounds, some more plausible than others, but all appreciated. To be able to keep up with it though, Haruta thought of an 'idea box'.
One big box was placed in the mess hall, it was essentially a big mailbox. On top of it was also a stack of papers and some pens. Someone had drawn Ace on the front of the box too, or well everyone thinks it was supposed to be Ace... Everyone's got their own thing they good at... It's the thought of the drawing that counts!
But yes, this box was Ace's idea box. Everyone who had a thought of how to help Ace, no matter your position in the crew, no matter if it's 100% thought through, no matter how difficult materials are to attain,... you can write it down and slip the paper inside.
While Whitebeard had been against Ace staying in the beginning, the current situation warmed his heart and he felt proud of every single member in his crew, his sons and daughters. It was really a wonderful sight to see, there was always someone at the box writing something down. Members of different divisions, that normally aren't even in much contact with each other, were now seen together, small groups formed on deck and in the hallway to discuss their thoughts and finetune ideas, before they all went together to write it down and submit the ideas.
When the box was full at the end of the week, the commanders decided that it was time to check the results and sequentially gave an announcement at breakfast that they will remove the box after dinner and will be having a meeting the next morning.
While the box was just about full in the morning, by evening it overflowing. The commanders knew it would be a lot of work to sort through, but it brought a smile to their faces to see all the efforts put into gathering solutions.
Now, one week since Pops has allowed for Ace to stay, all under the condition that we find a way for him to be on his own before we reach enemy territory, the commanders were starting their meeting. Or well, they were going to have a meeting eventually, but first it was sorting through all the ideas. They had made some smaller boxes to sort the papers in, from impossible to possible, with some more different options in between, differentiation between if they had the items they needed onboard or not and if not, where they attainable, ... Seeing the amount to sort thought, it would probably take them until lunch-time, even when they were with 15 to go through it.
While they were going through everything, Ace was left with the Spades. It was the newest crew that they had recruited into their ranks. The captain with bright blue hair had stood out among the other rookies from the very beginning, but he had certainly caught their attention when he came before the world's strongest man, not to take his head like most others, but to ask him for stories about his life and adventures, wanting to use them for his own book. It had stunned even the commanders, a rookie searching out their captain just to plop down in front of the man while taking out a notepad and pen. That Pops had adopted them that very moment wasn't even a surprise anymore and they have been onboard ever since, and for some reason Ace really liked them. Even their cat, or well lynx actually, was in Ace's good books and the lynx could often be seen sneaking into the infirmary to nap together with the merman. Marco was pretty sure the lynx has tried to eat Ace his tail multiple times, but Ace laughs it off every single time before hugging the 'Big Meow Meow' ... As long as they're happy, and Ace's tail doesn't get eaten for reals, it's all good...
As expected, it had taken them until an hour after lunch to finish sorting, since they were almost done, they had decided to finish it before going for lunch themselves, only Thatch leaving earlier to help with lunch-preparations. After lunch they would check in on their divisions before finally starting the real meeting and discussions.
Even this had actually taken a while, so long that they had decided to try out the solutions the next day, it haven gotten too late after the meeting to start. So here we are, all the commanders were standing on the deck, and Ace was sitting on a cushion that they had taken out for him, surrounded by different Items.
Marco had a notepad and was going through all the items, checking stuff on a list before eventually nodding to himself and turning to face Ace, only to also see a group far larger than some moments prior surrounding the mer... Not his problem...
"Alright-yoi, everything we have onboard at this very moment has been gathered. Ace, we've made a list of, what we, the commanders, think are the most plausible idea's that could work right now. Some may seem more plausible than others, but it's also just to test some things out and to see your range of motion."
Marco was sure the mer was oblivious to what most was on deck, but either way he was happily nodding along, very excited about everything and hopefully able to find a way to stay.
There were some ideas of the merman just pulling himself forward, but those were already tossed aside and scratched out. When Ace had left the infirmary, they had put Ace down a few times, not meaning to leave him behind but just to take something a small bit away, but the merman would often try to follow them by pulling himself forward. It was quickly noted that this wasn't ideal, on smooth surfaces it could be used, but on anything else it would hurt the merman's tail.
The hard wood would scratch off his scales and he had even gotten splinters a few times. This was also another reason as to why he was carried literally everywhere, even if it was only a meter away. They had decided to put the idea on the list with some notes, to have the info nearby, but they were not going to try it again, they already knew the results.
Returning the smile that the mer was sprouting, the first division commanders continued. "Then, the first thing on the list is crutches." A very reasonable idea that was seen a lot in the idea box, if we, as a human, had a leg in cast or simply hurt it, you got crutches, so it wasn't a bad idea at all.
Crutches
Even with the first thoughts of it being a good idea, them using it themselves often. It was quickly discovered that if you only have one 'leg', one tail, to balance on, and one that isn't even meant to stand on, holding your balance while moving the crutches forward to take you next 'step', was nearly impossible to do.
It had already taken a while to get Ace upright on his tail, and to keep him upright with the crutches before they could even try to take a step. They actually should have known from this already that moving forward wouldn't have gone as easy as they had thought...
But hey, everyone wanted to find a solution as fast as possible and prayed for everything to work so can you blame them for continuing to try it either way? But yes, the moment Ace lifted one of the crutches, was also the moment he was falling down, torse and head heading straight to the deck. A nearby member that had helped Ace upright was only barely fast enough to throw himself under the merman and so, with his body, catching the biggest part of the fall, leaving the merman unhurt. If only a little sad the first idea didn't work. The one that had broken the fall was send to the infirmary, he wasn't hurt a lot, but just to be sure he got some lotion as to not get too many bruises. And Marco didn't glare at said person, he did not, he was not jealous at all that someone that was not him had been squeezed between the merman's naked torso and the deck, nope nope nope, absolutely not... He'll be sure to save Ace next time...
This idea was then also completely crossed of the list... A bad start sadly but it doesn't matter, they have a lot of other ideas.
Walker
Next was a walker. The infirmary had a few walkers, they had one with small wheels under it, making it possible to move forward by pushing. And with breaks at the handles, you could stop it from sliding away when you don't want to move. It was perfect for Ace because he doesn't need to lift it to move like the crutches and thus didn't need to balance as much on his tail. It all seemed to go well for a moment, Ace 'standing' in between the handles and pushing it forward and successfully stopping it a little away with the breaks, now he only had to move forward himself to get in between the handles again and repeat the process.
Only... that second step is where it all went wrong. Keeping a broader part of his tail on the deck, Ace then lifted his tailfin, ready to use it push off of the deck to move forward, only to, when his tail reached the floor, go straight through it...
Woodchips flew into the air, fluttering down on the stunned onlookers like snow. The deck is made of Adams wood, how did he go though it so easily?
While everyone was staring at the hole, Ace was already positioning himself to try again, not seeing anything wrong with having slammed a whole into the floorboards. "... Ace t(r)y again."
"ACE N-"
BAM
"Ah... no work?" the mer looked up confused with yet another hole behind him. The poor deck now has two holes, each one big enough for even Jozu to fall into...
"...I am putting this idea-option as a 'no'-yoi..." Ace did move forward, even with going literally through the floor, don't get it wrong, it gave him enough momentum to go forward but... let's just say the carpenters were already crying after this short trial. So the walker was quickly taken away from the merman, who for some reason seemed to be enjoying the whole thing even while confused.
Wheelchair
The next thing they had to try was a wheelchair. The nurses had already warned them that they needed to modify it somehow, cause obviously, there was nowhere for the tail to rest and the leg rests of human legs are useless to Ace.
The carpenters had taken the time to modify one of the older wheelchairs and make additions to it. Right now it may be uncomfortable, but if this worked, they would make Ace a better one and would make it fully personalised to his size.
Putting the brakes on of the wheelchair, Marco lifted Ace up and placed the merman in the chair before stepping back. Fossa came up next and explained to Ace what they had added and how he needed to get it all ready before moving.
It had been discussed that it was important for Ace to try and do a lot himself even if it was still the testing fase, because if he couldn't do it alone, the whole 'self-sufficient' thing would be useless.
That Marco lifted him in... well... we can do help little okay! And we can teach him to lift himself into it from his bed or whatever too later on...
Ace had nodded all throughout the explanation and Fossa took a step backwards to stand with the others.
First Ace put on a belt around his waist, clicking it in place and fastening it so he wouldn't slip off the seat, ensuring that Ace couldn't fall. Next, Ace pushed forward a small lever at the side of the chair, and with it, a plank had appeared from the underside of the wheelchair, it successfully lifting Ace his tail off of the ground.
Ace had then wanted to go for the brakes, but Fossa stopped before he could.
"Wait Ace, can you try and wiggle your tail for a moment?"
With a hum Ace did as asked and wiggled the appendage.
"Ah, as expected" the carpenter noted, raising a hand to his chin and seemed to think about the situation before him.
Ace his tail fin had fallen off the plank and was now slightly touching the floor. If Ace would move, it could result in it catching on the weel of the chair and ripping. And no one wanted this to happen of course. Before people started sighing at another fail, Fossa was down on his knees and checking everything.
"Can I touch and move your tail around a bit, Ace?" Getting a nod from the merman, Fossa lifted the tail up and placed it back on the plank before trying to move the fins a bit, being careful of Ace his reactions, he didn't know how fragile the fins were and if handling them hurt. But the merman didn't even really seem to notice which was good.
"Hmm, okay this could work."
"Can you fix something for it?" the 4th division commander suddenly asked hopeful. For now this wheelchair seemed to be the best option they had had, and also their last easy option they had on hand.
"Yea, I can just add some sort of barriers around the bottom that can keep the tailfin contained and keep them from falling to the floor. The fin may get smooshed together a bit, but Ace doesn't really seem to mind it laying like this either, so we should be good."
The chef let out a sigh of relief and wiped of imaginary sweat, "Thank goodness, I thought it would be another lost cause."
"Ace-yoi, is that okay? It doesn't damage your tail if the end gets bended like this?"
At Marco's questions, the merman looked down at his tail for the first time since Fossa had rearranged it. He leaned back after a moment and shook his head. "Is okay, no da-damage"
"Okay, good-yoi. Then for now let's just test it out like this and be mindful of the tail. If anyone sees it falling off, yell-out. And Ace, you stop immediately if someone yells. Everyone understood?"
Receiving positive answers everywhere, Fossa made sure to place the full tailfin on the plank before getting out of the way "Alright Ace, you should be good, try and roll."
Ace beamed at that, he had seen this wheelchair before in his stay in the infirmary and had wanted to try it ever since, so this was his chance! His reaction immediately received some laughs from the onlookers, the merman was enjoying this, which was good. Releasing the breaks, the merman put his hands onto the wheels and - ….. "hahhahahahha"
Ah, there he goes, of course Ace couldn't have just tried a small push. No, the merman was now zooming forward while seeming to be having the best time of his life, laughing at the wind blowing through his hair. Not even caring that the ship's deck-length, while big, had an end...
Don't worry though, Marco by now knew the merman and was prepared. Before the merman could hit the railing, said merman that still hadn't even noticed yet that he was close to a head-on collision, Marco stopped the wheelchair by grabbing it with his talons. Having taken off in his hybrid form the moment Ace had pushed off. He looked down at the smiling merman "you really go all out don't you-yoi?"
"AGAIN...YOI!"
With a snort, and a mental note to once more tell Ace the 'Yoi' wasn't something he needed to mimic Marco on from their speech lessons, Marco turned Ace around and positioned him. By coincidence, pure coincidence only, was the chair aimed at Thatch. Thatch had reminded Marco of 'that incident' earlier, maybe this would knock it out of that pompadour.
Leaning down on the railing, Marco watched everything unfold. Everyone cheering at Ace rolling around the deck, complimenting his speed and balance before realising the merman was coming straight towards them. Realising he hadn't used his brakes even when he was about to hit the railing before. Realising Marco had stopped him. Realising said commander was now watching them all from a spot far away... Realising the first commander had a smirk on his face...
Everyone quickly scattered from the oncoming projectile, only Thatch remained standing. Marco knew he wouldn't move away, he wouldn't let Ace hit the wall behind him. So Marco watched with satisfaction as Thatch took a wide stance and ... the merman hit Thatch dead-on, the guys around wincing at exactly where the merman's tail hit Thatch his body. There was really only one option where the tail could have gone, Thatch had a wide stance, Ace only had one appendage... not really anywhere else to go... A combined prayer from all the members went out to Thatch's now no longer future children, may this sacrifice not be in vain.
A minute later was Marco by Ace's side and was happily talking and complimenting the mer on how well the rolling around went, the merman being one big smile at the attention. Marco was also heard explaining how the brakes worked and how he could turn though, thankfully. Ace was once more nodding along to the explanation and was this time moving around in a smaller space, rolling forward, turning, stopping and repeat … All the while the cries and whimpers of a fallen soldier were fading away in the distance as the chef was carried of towards the kitchen for an icepack.
After a bit of practice, it was determined that the wheelchair was a good idea. It wasn't ideal, but it was something. What they had already expected, were of course the stairs, one can't do stairs with a wheelchair. So Ace wouldn't be able to get around everywhere on the ship. But with him sleeping with Marco in the commander's corridor, he could reach the other commander's rooms, the deck, the mess hall, navigation and some other small chambers, so they already counted this as a win.
One of the members had made a remark about their gangway used to get on and off the ship and when they made a small simulation of it on deck, they couldn't really pull it out in the middle of the sea, it was noticed that it was too steep for the wheelchair. As well as going up, as going down, was impossible. With how steep it was, Ace was the danger of tilting and falling in both directions. If someone held onto the wheelchair while it was on the gangway making the descendant or ascendant, it was possible though, so not that big off a loss, just something to think off.
The last thing that was something that they should have thought of before, but had slipped their minds, was that not all island are wheelchair friendly. Even ignoring establishments and such, not every island had a hard enough soil where the wheels could drive on. Making going onto some islands impossible.
But all in all, they were all happy with the results. This may not be the final solution they could bring before their Pops, but it was already one step forward.
Water ability
Everyone remember 'The incident'? Yes, the one we don't speak about? Sadly, we have to bring it up again. And even though Marco had the urge to strangle the one who put it in the idea-box, even he must admit that it could be a good idea.
With a sigh he turned around to Ace, who was by now sitting back on his cushion, eating some kind of snacks that a crewmember brought him, these people were always spoiling the merman.
"Ace."
"hmm."
Ah, there's some crumbs on his cheeck... cute..., no no no Marco concentrate!
"Mahko?"
Couching in his fist to try and hide his lack of attention to the idea-list he continued, some quiet giggles around him informed him he failed to hide it, but he ignored it "yes, ehm, Ace-yoi, you can control water, right?"
"Sea"
"... only the sea-water?" he received a nod in return, -huh, interesting-
"Okay, still, can you make a bubble like..." -Ah he got goosebumps just thinking of the accident, did he need to be here for this... yes he had too, he had to watch... cant' leave the merman alone with his feral brother... especially Thatch, the chef has been trying to win Ace's favor with snacks... Ah... there's giggle again... STUPID CONCENTRATION! WHY DO YOU LEAVE ME!?- "Okay ehm, yes-yoi, so ...….. can you make a bubble like how you did before. But only about the size of … Jozu."
"Oi..."
"Ace can"
Once again the merman started up some hand motions and with it appeared a bubble of water at the side of the ship. The bubble was slowly flying onto the deck and …. and flying towards... flying towards Marco!
"No, No, No, Ace, Stop, don't hit me with it!"
"But Mahko say like befo(r)e."
There was some muffled laughter and Marco was sure to figure out who laughed later.
"Yes-yoi, but I just meant the bubble part, not the splashing me with said bubble, okay?... Please... Just make it float in front of you."
"Ok" Without knowing why Marco had grown pale in a instant, the mer simple made the sphere float close to him, avoiding Marco this time.
"Good-yoi, now, can you go in it?"
"In? Ace in?"
"Yea, can you go in it, or make it go around yourself, but keep it floating."
"Hmmm" Making some more waving motions. The bubble moved and encased Ace' body. The mer didn't stop his hand motions, but he was still on the ground. It was already a first step. The merman got a look of concentration on his face, trying to lift the bubble, with himself in it. The bubble rose a few times, but Ace himself didn't leave the floor.
After a little while Ace brought some more water up from to sea to make the bubble bigger and tried again, this time successfully lifting himself up. Ace was now essentially 'swimming' in the air, or well, floating in a flying bubble of water.
"Mahko, Mahko, look! Ace did it!" Ace was beaming, proud of achieving what Marco had asked for!
"Haha good job Ace!"
Marco walked around the sphere for a bit, poking it here and there which made the merman laugh for some reason. Marco was trying to see if it would break with the impact, but it seemed to be holding for now.
"Alright-yoi, now, can you use the bubble to move around? Make it go in different directions and move with it."
He hadn't even finished the sentence yet or the merman was already moving around, seeming to be swimming through the air in his bubble.
After a stunned silence, everyone was cheering the merman on, this was it, look at him go! Nothing is holding him back now. He needs some seawater for it, but hell, they're pirates, if there's one thing they have enough of, it's seawater.
So Ace was now enjoying himself, swimming around the whole deck with ease, on purpose chasing pirates or making it seem like he would collide with someone, making them jump out of the way, before, at the right moment, switching directions himself and laughing at the person who had jumped.
It was all going very well, and everyone was already planning a party because they had found THE solution for the merman to be self-sufficient and move around on his own. That was until about 15 minutes later... At this time, the bubble seemed to be becoming a bit... unstable... the shape, while before it was nice and smooth, as smooth as moving water can be, it now seemed to be warped and had ripples going through it and … droplets were starting to fall down onto the deck.
Marco went to Ace his location where he was now floating in place "Ace-yoi, are you okay?" The merman looked towards the commander.
"Okay."
"Are you sure?" The mer looked a bit off too Marco.
"hmmm... Ace... Ace Tired"
The mer barely finished speaking when the whole bubble collapsed, Marco was only just fast enough to catch Ace before he hit the deck.
The deck had grown fully quiet, now looking once again at a drenched first division commander. Said commander had an unreadable look on his face while he held the now sleeping merman in his arms before making his way towards his sleeping quarter. Right before entering the ship, he looked back towards the deck, everyone swallowed and they couldn't help but nod in fear and agreeance at the commander's dark tone "Not a word of this-yoi".
On the list of ideas could later be read that yes, Ace using his water-ability was a plausible idea, but only for a short time and should be used for small transportations and emergencies. It works, but it makes Ace extremely tired, so definitely not something for daily use.
Next on the list was...
Ah yes, the next ones were a good idea, very good ideas even. And with the way Ace his own bubble had worked, they were pretty sure these ideas had a good chance of working out.
They didn't have the right equipment for it though, which was the big negative of these, and getting them... it seems they'll need to pull some favours.
Marco put the list aside and made way for their information storage, "now, how to find Neptune's and Rayleigh den den-mushi number..."
I want to publish another chapter of something in the weekend, but I don't know what. So, voting time! Let me know of what I've already made you would want an update of first, an extra chapter made, or even if you want something fully new in a specific serie (story)/theme!
