Hello everyone, here is another one shot, this is from amnesia
This is a scrapped scene, or scenes, if Ace had lost more than just a piece of his foot. This was an idea I had, but was taken out of the original story as it seemed a bit too much, but I wanted to share what I have. The parts in bold are from the original chapter and is not changed
Hope you enjoy
Read and relax
The man gave a defeated sound. "You are no longer mad at Ace, right? You no longer believe he knows what he did, or even if he did it?" Marco gave a nod. "Yes, yoi." The man nodded, before he looked towards a door. "Ace, please come here." He half yelled. So, he had been right, Ace was here. After a few second, footsteps could be heard, before the door opened and Ace carefully came inside, looking a bit unsure at them. "It's fine." Started the man. "It was a misunderstanding. Now, do you remember any of them?" Ace looked at them, giving each a look, before he looked back at the man, shaking his head. "Okay." Started the man. "Could you show them your back?" Marco blinked, not sure where this would lead. Ace gave a hesitant nod, before he turned around, slowly lifting his shirt up.
And when they could see his back, Marco felt shocked and horrified. He heard Izou give out a gasp, Haruta moving her hands to her mouth, and Thatch looking utterly horrified. Ace's back was a mass of scars. Scars from wounds, slashed, burn marks, and more. What was once a tattoo he wore proudly, was gone. What Ace had cherished was gone. The only thing left was few, small patches of the previous purple sections.
At the bottom left of all the scars, was a burn mark, a brand. The brand of the ones who had attack their family, 3 months ago. From those they had believed Ace sold them out too. They had taken Ace too. And they had done this. It was a huge shock. They had thought Ace had betrayed them, but he hadn't. Lord knows what he had gone through.
When Ace pulled his shirt down, he looked at the pink haired man. "Who are they, Azuruko?" Marco now realised they hadn't gotten the man's name before now. He felt he had heard it before. The man, Azuruko, gave a sigh. "Someone who knows you. Why don't you come sit down." Ace gave a nod and sat down in a sofa chair, legs up with him. He remembers Ace doing around them when he first arrived upon their ship. A defense mechanism when he felt unsure of himself, or others. He looked at Azuruko. "I know them?" Azuruko gave a hum. "You did. They know you. They are pirates, and you had their mark on your back, meaning you were with them."
Ace blinked, before frowning. "I was a pirate?" Azuruko gave a nod, before doing a motion towards them, making Ace look at them. "Yes," Started Marco. "You had your own crew at first, before you joined us. You were happy, as far as we could tell. Then you disappeared." Ace gave a small nod. "That maybe makes sense? I mean," Ace moved a hand to his tattoo. "If I was a pirate on my own, maybe no one taught me how to write, and that's why I've spelled my name wrong?" Marco frowned, before realisation hit him.
Ace didn't remember his deceased brother. Ace didn't remember Sabo.
Ace had told them about Sabo a bit after joining them, wanting to put a stop to everyone mocking him for the misspell his own name. It made this all the more true. He would never joke about Sabo, or his tribute to his memory. Ace really had lost his memory. Before he could speak, Azuruko spoke. "I now see there is more to it than that. I am sure you all want to tell him what, but I would like you not too. It would be better for him to remember himself. I hope he can get his memory back." They all nodded, understanding that.
Azuruko then looked at Ace. "By the way, did you put the supplies where they should go?" Ace gave a nod. "Yes. I placed the milk in the fridge, the bread and meat in the walk in, the spice… spice…" Ace frowned, before looking lost and unfocused, before looking back at Azuruko. "What was I saying?" Azuruko gave a smile. "Spice, where did you put it?" Ace frowned. "Spice? I don't know. Didn't we need more?" What? Azuruko shook his head. "No." Ace just gave a small "Oh." Before shaking his head a bit, moving a hand to it and eyes closing.
Azuruko sighed. "It's okay Ace, just relax." Ace nodded, before he blinked as he looked a bit unsure. "Also… my leg hurts a bit." Marco didn't really know what that meant, what could the man do with that? Azuruko however, seemed to have an understanding look as he nodded. "That's true. You still have the reserve one on, right?" Reserve what? Ace however, nodded. "Yeah, and it's starting to hurt." Azuruko hummed. "I think your new one should be done. The joint should have set with the new redwood and woodstain. Let me get it." Marco still had no idea what the two were talking about, but the pink-haired man got up and headed out of the room. And as the man did, Ace also stood up and headed to a sort of bar chair, his feet on the ground as they were straight. Marco had a feeling something was up. "Why does your leg hurt, Ace, yoi?" Ace sent a look at them, before he shrugged, moving to slip his boot off. "This leg doesn't have the same support, so it hurts after some hours; i've probably moved a lot around the house." Marco frowned. Ace had just been out in the town walking, why didn't he say that? Not that it would explain why that had Ace's leg hurt, or how the support was different. Maybe he meant the shoes? Not that it made much sense as he could just take them off.
But when the shoe was off, Ace moved down to take his sock off, Marco felt all his words left him, his vocabulary just gone. When the sock was off, it wasn't a foot that was visible, but wood, a sort of wooden foot without toes. And when Ace lifted his pant leg, Marco wasn't sure if he could muster a sentence that was coherent for the next hour. The wood went all the way up to half his thigh, obviously being a prosthesis. Marco still hoped it wasn't that, that it was some weird sock, or just something. But then Ace opened a sort of straps, before his hands moved to take the wooden prosthesis off, just a stump left by Ace's thigh. Ace had lost his leg. Ace had almost lost his entire leg. Kent had just lost it from under his knee, but Ace had lost his entire leg. Why hadn't this been mentioned?! Marco would have liked to know this, just as Ace had lost the mark on his back, but his leg as well? That was just horrible. He could hear some muffled words from the others, not sure if it was muffled since they spoke muffled, or because his ears were ringing.
Azuruko then came through a door, another prosthetic leg in his hand, seeming to also be out of wood. The man did send a look at them, before giving a small frown, before moving to help Ace put it on, and looking at the kid. "Try it out. Just to be sure it works. I need a chat with our guests." Ace frowned at that, looking at them, and Marco quickly looked away, sure his face was constricted in shock, and he could see the others were shocked, Haruta having turned her head around and a hand over her mouth, almost tears in her eyes; Izou looking shocked and horrified, and Thatch looked pale as a sheet. Marco knew well Thatch and some others had said Ace would deserve to lose his leg, as Kent has. An eye for an eye as it was called, since it was Ace's fault. But, it clearly wasn't, Ace hadn't sold them out, and yet, he lost more than Kent, much more. Not only his leg, but his family mark as well. He could see this weighing down on the chef, as he had even joked about it, to lighten mood for Kent, that they had all the cleavers necessary to do the deed. And here they saw Ace, who had been a victim of the hands to the same ones that had attacked their family, no memory, no family mark, and no leg. And they had thought all those months Ace had been to blame, and he wasn't. Marco already dreaded telling this to Pops, telling this to anyone.
He then heard some movement, before he heard Ace walking away, knowing it was him based on the one footstep that had a wooden clang to it. When he heard a door open and close, he heard Azuruko move back to his chair. "Why does this have you so shocked? This couldn't be a new development." Marco looked at Azuruko, feeling shocked as the man just said that, but Marco still hadn't found his voice, but Izou had thankfully. "What?! What the hell do you mean?! We saw him 3 months ago! He damn well didn't miss one fucking leg!" Well, Izou was upset, which wasn't a surprise. But it wasn't good. Marco took a breath, trying to gather himself. "What do you mean not a new development, yoi? We didn't know about this." Azuruko frowned. "I find that odd. When I found him, almost 2 months ago, he didn't have the leg, and there was no wound. It doesn't seem like something he acquired not long ago, as it would take a long time to heal. That, and he seemed well adapted to the prosthesis." Marco blinked, searching through his brain for an answer, for a reason, just for something to make sense of this.
And then something that might make sense hit him. "His fruit, yoi. He heals well, he can cauterize it." Azuruko frowned. "Fruit? A devil fruit? I had no idea Ace had one." Marco blinked, not sure if his brain could take much more shock now. "He has the Mera Mera no Mi. He's made of fire, yoi." Azuruko hummed. "I had no idea. But Ace has no idea either. The only reason we know his name is because of the tattoo on his arm. He has no signs of having a devil fruit, and it must be locked in his subconscious as well; he isn't warm, as I would guess he would be." Marco nodded. "Yeah, he's usually warm. Water sizzled on him, yoi." Azuruko hummed. "Makes sense. His fruit is not active, as he has no idea about it. The reason he is so adapted with the prosthesis, might be since because of the memory loss too; the only thing he knows are the prosthetics." Marco nodded, before he frowned, remembering something. "Wait, yoi. The memory, Ace was standing, yoi. On the rocks." Azuruko nodded. "Yes. He had pants on, reaching down to his heels. I didn't even know he was lacking a leg until I was lifting him. He did have a sort of makeshift prosthesis, however, it was just some metal, barely able to walk with, but it worked. Half fitted around his thigh." Marco didn't know what to do right now, just thinking on how he needed to tell this to Pops.
Azuruko gave a sigh. "I get that he was with your crew, and I know you act like a family. I'm sorry to say Ace remembers nothing of it. But, I think, and hope, he will. He wants to remember himself." That was good. But, he had no idea how to make it possible. "We are leaving in a couple days at the most, yoi. I mean, we have places to be and can't be in one place too long." They were pirates, wanted ones. If they stayed, they would be an easy target. Azuruko gave a hum. "Not to be rude, but I can not allow Ace go with you, as he has no idea who you are, and the fact you accused him of betrayal. I am sure the rest of your crew believes this as well." Marco sighed, hand going to his face. He was right. Marco had no idea what to do.
"I have an idea, though." Continued Azuruko. "How about you go back, explain to your captain what happened, tell the crew, and come back tomorrow and I'll join you with Ace? To see how it goes. And, where are you heading? I would not pass up a trip to Sabaody Archipelago." That sounded like a plan. "Will you join us?" Azuruko nodded. "If I can, yes. For Ace, it would be good. Whatever happened to him, was not painless. I can help relieve it if it comes back, or if it's overwhelming. Take away the worst of the memories along with the emotional and psychological trauma injured." That sounded like a good plan. "We will go back and speak to Pops, yoi. We, at least I, will come tomorrow and tell you how it went, and what Pops thinks." The man nodded. "Or, I can come tomorrow, before noon. Easier for Ace." That was better. It sounded the best plan given the situation. Now, Marco just needs to find a way to tell all of this to Pops. That they had been wrong. That Ace was a victim too. He had been captured. That might be why the rest were let off.
They bid goodbye to Azuruko, who gave them the picture, saying he had more, before following them to the door, closing it behind them. When they got out of the house, Marco moved his hand to his face, trying to think of the easiest and least painful way to explain this. He heard Thatch give a gasp. "H-how? How could we be so wrong? So quick to turn our back on him?!" Marco had no answer. "Let's go update Pops. Don't tell anyone else, yoi." Marco didn't want to cause a buzz. He knew many were mad at Ace, but it was all wrong. They didn't speak more until they got to the boat, where Marco asked to speak to Pops in private. "Why, son? Didn't shopping for supplies go well?" Marco sighed. "Just, please, Pops." That made the man frown, looking worried. Marco just didn't know how to tell him.
When they got to the captain's room, Marco gave a loud sigh, hand on his face, Pops looking at him worriedly. "What is it, Marco?" Marco took a breath, before he spoke. "We were wrong, about Ace." Pops frowned. "What?" Marco knew Pops didn't like to be reminded about Ace's supposed betrayal. "Ace, he didn't betray us. He was captured as well. His mark on his back is gone. Just scars left. They even branded him." Marco took his hand away from his face, looking at Pops, who was looking shocked. "But, why did he never tell us? Try to contact us? It's been 3 months." Lord, Marco felt like saying they were wrong was hard, but telling Ace didn't remember anything was harder. "I don't know if they did it to try and kill him, or if they planned this, but they really banged his head up. He doesn't remember anything. He doesn't remember us, himself, the family. He doesn't remember Sabo."
Pops looked at him with a frown. "How do you know?" Marco took a breath, explaining that they had met Ace, and Azuruko, and the event which preceded it. How he had shown his memories of Ace and how Ace had acted. When he had explained, he showed the picture to Pops. "Azuruko gave us this. It's the scar from the surgery. To know how it heals, yoi." The man gave a sigh to it, looking to believe him. Which was good. "This man, Azuruko. Did he have pink hair, red eyes, pale skin, and white clothes?" Marco frowned, before saying "yes", making Pops move a hand to his head. "I know of him. He's a 'mind healer'. A devil fruit. He wouldn't lie to us. I would trust this man." Marco nodded. He thought the name had sounded familiar, perhaps someone had mentioned him before, maybe even Pops.
Marco took a breath, also needing to say the other thing. "Also, I don't know how to say it, yoi. But… Ace has one leg." Whitebeard blinked. "What?" Marco took a breath. "Ace has one leg, yoi. He uses a prosthesis on the other. From his thigh and down." Marco could see Pops taking that information in, looking troubled. "What did Azuruko say about it?" Marco didn't know how to respond for a second. "He thought we knew. It didn't look new, his powers must have healed it, yoi. But, he doesn't even remember his devil fruit, he's not even warm. ...Thatch took it hard." Whitebeard sighed, a hand moving to his face. "I can imagine, all the things he has said. I'll talk with him." Marco nodded. "Yeah, he needs that. Hell, I need that. Ace has one leg." Whitebeard took a breath, moving a hand to Marco's leg. "Don't worry, Marco. Things will be fine. Why don't you stay for a small bit before we tell everyone?" That sounded like a good idea for Marco, who nodded. He really needed that.
-x-
As they ate, they didn't speak about anything special. Ace was interested in the food, there being a lot of things he said he hadn't seen or tasted before- which he had before he went missing, but didn't remember. It was nice to see Ace had the same preferences as he had had before. He ate a bit… calmer and slower, but that was it. They didn't have bad time, so it was good to see too. It was just nice being around Ace again. He liked it.
After a bit of time, Whitebeard saw Ace looking towards Kent when he tripped, needing to catch himself a bit to not fall, which he didn't, but it made some sound in the almost empty galley. Kent was still getting used to having half a leg less, him being the one with a bad injury three months ago. He was doing well, having started using a prosthetic leg a month ago. "Is your leg hurting?" Kent looked at Ace, who spoke, giving a nod. The captain didn't know if Kent blamed Ace or not still, even though they had explained all this about Ace. "Yeah," Started Kent, "I'm getting used to a prosthesis." Ace blinked at the other.
"Oh! You should ask Azuruko. He has these amazing prosthetics. Much better than anything else." Kent blinked. "W-what?" Whitebeard didn't know what to do. He hadn't told everyone about the missing leg, not sure how as it was enough with the mark being gone. Ace smiled. "Azuruko has amazing prosthetics. Even bends at the knee and ankle." That was actually amazing, the one Kent had was just a wooden leg. Kent also looked amazed. "Where did he get that?" Azuruko hummed. "I make them. I know my way around the human body, as well as woodwork. Ace, why don't you show him how it works? Better than explaining." This was the part the captain dreaded. Kent, as well as many others, looked confused. Ace however, smiled as he turned around in his seat. "Sure!" As Ace was turned around, he moved to take his boot off, before the sock, and the captain could see Kent's face morphing into shock. "Y-you have a prosthesis?" Ace blinked, looking at Kent. "Yeah." Kent blinked. "H-how much?" Ace tilted his head a bit, seeming confused, before he perked up. "Oh! Eh, up to around here? Yeah, here." As Ace spoke, he moved his hands to his thigh, about halfway between the knee and hip. Kent's had lost his leg from his shin and down. It must be much harder not having a knee. Kent blinked, seeming speechless for a second. "Y-you don't have the knee? How does that work?" Ace shrugged. "Good prosthetic. See."
Ace then moved his pant leg up to above his knee, not so far the actual leg was visible, only the wooden prosthesis, before he moved his leg up, and amazingly, it did bend like a normal leg. Bending at the knee and ankle as Ace had said. That really was amazing, just extraordinary. Kent obviously thought it was too, blinking as he opened his mouth a few times. "Oh my God! That's-! Oh my God! That's amazing!" Ace nodded. "Yeah. Feels normal. Azuruko is amazing with it. This a new one though. I had another one, but the joint broke; I kicked a rock, or stumbled on it. This is better I think." Kent blinked. "It looks amazing." Azuruko chuckled. "If you want, I can make you one. I just need some measures." Kent blinked, gaze turning to Azuruko. "Y-you could?" Azuruko nodded. "Sure. I have a few with me, I like to have a few with me in case, as well as something to do and try to enhance it. How high would you need?" Kent blinked. "Erm. Up to about half my shin?" Azuruko hummed. "That's easy. I have one. It's worse when it's above the knee, that needs much more precision and time to make sure it fits; it's two joints. We can check after we eat?" Kent nodded. "Y-yeah. I would like that." Azuruko nodded, making Kent look glad, as he started to walk on, but halting when Ace spoke again, starting to take his sock on again. "Oh, also, I'm sorry about your leg, I hope whatever happened didn't hurt too much; you seem nice. And it gets easier. Just try and act normal. I still sometimes trip. Although, that is better with a good prosthesis, but it still happens." Kent blinked, before he gave a sort of sheepish smile. "Yeah, thanks." Ace smiled at Kent, before he turned back to the food, Kent heading on to his table. He could see his children, those who didn't know Ace was missing a leg were shocked to say the least, sending looks at him. He should have told them about it.
The day continued normally and when Ace headed away, probably to relax as evening had come and Ace was probably tired after this day. A lot has happened. But as Ace was gone, out of earshot, his children bombarded him with questions about Ace and his missing leg, asking if he knew, which he said he did. He didn't want them to find it out like they had, but it had happened. Everyone understood he must have lost it during his capture, and many felt bad for having joined in with Thatch about joking about taking Ace's leg, even laughing at it. And here they were, Ace with one leg. He tried to calm his children, saying they weren't to blame. When Azuruko came back, without Ace as he was relaxing for the day, probably already asleep, everyone asked him about the leg, which had him sigh. "I thought it was an old injury, as it never looked new, and he is adept in walking with the prosthesis. I now realise he has a devil fruit, the reason it looks so old is that he cauterized it. Please don't seem shocked when you're around Ace, he doesn't need pitying looks. Please act normal around him, and don't mention it."
Everyone nodded and accepted that. Whitebeard still had a feeling he would get many visits during this night, people needing to speak about this. They then sat up with Azuruko for a bit more, before they headed in for the night. And he was right in with that people would visit him during the night. The one who stayed the longest was Thatch, as he had been the one to joke the most about taking Ace's leg, and he felt horrible. But the talk they had seemed to help, and no one would hold it against the chef, they didn't know about this. Ace seemed to be fine now, even fine with having lost a leg, which was good in a way. It meant it would be easier for them to get to terms with this, since Ace didn't seem to have issues with this.
-x-
The last weeks had been calm, things going in a normal fashion. Everyone had come to terms with the fact Ace was lacking a leg, and Kent had gotten a prosthesis from Azuruko and he was doing better with that. He was also feeling bad, seeing how Ace had lost more than him, and the way everyone had tried to cheer him up. But he was handling it fine. But now, Ace had just gotten a flashback to his escape, which was harsh to see, to see how desperate Ace was, and how it had happened. But as the memory was over, Azuruko frowned more. "He's also remembering losing his leg." Marco wondered about it and was curious. "How did he lose it, yoi?" Azuruko gave a sigh, hands still on Ace's head with his eyes closed. "It's not an easy thing to handle, but I can show."
Azuruko then held his hand out and a sphere began to shine in his hand, before a picture was shown. It was an image of Ace lying strapped down to a table, a man close by his legs. "Now kid, tell us what we want to know." It was clear they wanted info, but Ace shook his head. "No, never! I will never tell you anything!" Ace was a perfect son and didn't tell, and Marco had a feeling he wouldn't like what came next. "Fine," Started the man close to Ace, moving to grab something, his hand coming up with a saw, moving it to Ace's thigh. "We just have to up the deal then." It was clear Ace was scared, but he still said he wouldn't tell anything. Just as the man was about to start sawing, starting the motion, he stopped. "Or you know what," Started the man. "This will take too long and you'll be out before I am done. Let's not do this with a saw." Marco felt a breath leave him, glad about it, before the man moved to grab something else, a mechanic saw. "We'll use this!" Said the man in a sadistic tone, before he moved to cut the leg off, Ace's back arching as he screamed in pain and agony. It lasted for almost a minute, before it was done, the leg parted from Ace's body, Ace still sobbing out in pain.
"Ready to talk now?" Asked the man, and Ace moved to spit in the man's face. Speaking between his sobs. "Never! Take whatever you want! I will never spill!" The man then started speaking, but it grew muffled as he did, the image going fuzzy, before it faded to black. Ace must have passed out. The image went black for some seconds, before Ace opened his eyes again, and this time, he was lying on the ground, seeming to be in a cell. As Ace got his bearings right, he looked down to his feet, moving to touch the open pant leg, lifting it up to see the tender stump, before Ace moved his leg to his chest, head down in his knee, a sob being let out. "Please come save me, guys. I can't take this much more." Whitebeard closed his eyes, feeling his heart ache. He was sure Ace was speaking about them, and he wished he knew Ace had been taken so they could have saved him from that hell. But he hadn't, instead, he believed Ace had betrayed them. He felt bad for doing that, for assuming. He needed to make this up to Ace, and he would do that by giving him a place to belong now, be there for him now.
-x-
Marco moved to his door when there was a knock, opening it to see Ace. "Ace, what brings you by?" Ace gave an unsure look. "I- I just didn't want to be alone or around everyone…" Marco nodded. "That's fine. Come in, yoi." Azuruko had left a week ago, and Ace probably missed the man. Ace moved over to the bed, sitting down. "Marco?" Marco hummed, making Ace continue. "I had my leg before, right?" Marco blinked, looking at Ace, who was lifting his fake leg onto the bed so he could sit cross legged. Should Marco tell the truth? He decided to check more around this. "Why do you ask? Did you have a dream or nightmare, yoi?" Marco knew Ace had those sometimes, and he usually came to him for comfort. Ace gave a half nod. "Sort of. I was on the beach with you guys, my shoes off, but I had two legs. I remember it since I felt the sand on my feet." Okay, so he had had a dream.
Marco sighed, before he nodded. "Yes, you had your leg when you were with us. You lost it while you were gone, yoi." Ace gave a conflicted look. "Why- why would someone take my leg?" Ace often forgot about his capture, not remembering it. Which was a bit good, as it was bad memories, but he had a feeling it also kept Ace from remembering other things. Marco took a breath, moving a hand to Ace's leg. "Someone took you to get information on us. They did it to torture you, yoi." He decided to be honest, to say the truth, and see how that goes. Ace gave a small nod, looking more conflicted. "Why- why don't I remember this?" Marco sighed again. "Because it's bad memories. Azuruko said you will remember it at times, you often have nightmares about it, yoi." Ace gave a small nod, before he looked up at him, having tears in his eyes. "I miss my leg. I know I don't remember much of it, but I didn't fall all the time, I didn't trip, I could feel things. I could feel the sand and grass." Marco nodded, moving to hug Ace. "I know Ace, I know. I'm sorry you lost it. But you're still here. You're alive. I'm glad you are, because you're my brother. Focus on that, yoi." Ace nodded, giving a sniffle.
Marco got this was hard for Ace, to have dreamt he had two legs and he probably missed it a lot when he had that dream. Marco couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose a leg, to only have one. Ace was good at using his prosthetic, but he still tripped now and then. He hoped Ace would remember more happy memories with them, without making him feel down. He hoped Ace would improve and get better, but knew it was a longshot. But he still hoped.
And that's the one shot, I hope you enjoyed
This was an idea that was scrapped in the making, as it would have been a bit too much for Ace to lose so much, but I wanted to share what I had on it and I hope it was okay to read
If you have any scenes you would like to see, don't be afraid to leave a comment, or send a PM
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