Hello everyone, here is the next chapter!

This isn't a crazy chapter like the previous one was, much more calm

Hope you enjoy

Read and relax

Whitebeard walked with everyone towards where The Keepers were, and they found out the man's name was Eric, and as they walked, Ace did ask if he could make the gun again, to which Eric sighed. "I don't know. I need some rare materials." That had Ace nod. "We can see if we can help each other, keep The Keepers on their toes. They suck." Eric nodded. "Why are you mad at them?" Ace hummed. "They just tried to kill me, and they didn't let me say goodbye to anyone as they lied." Eric nodded. "But at least you're not dead or lost someone you care about…" Ace looked at Eric. "I don't know how you feel at all, but now, if you want justice for your son, join us and make sure The Keepers know they made a mistake and switch them out." Eric nodded and said he would help them.

Benn then looked at Ace. "Who will we switch them out with?" Ace hummed. "There is always someone ready, but this time, we will be more with them, check in on them, and make sure they don't do this. They killed an innocent child, just because he was smart and strong. I will not let that slide." Everyone nodded as they agreed.

They then got to the house again and they got inside with some force, and found a room where The Keepers from before sat, but it also had a lot of other people there, all having on some sort of white robes, some where more gray, but it seemed the more white it was, the higher you were. The older one spoke. "Why did you bring him here! He is the enemy!" Ace hummed. "He is not. Right now, you are the enemy." He could see apprehension on the older one's face, when Ace spoke to everyone. "Who knew your precious Keepers killed an innocent child? And why? It was a bright child, with bright ideas." Everyone looked at each other, before the older one spoke. "It was for the greater good!"

Ace shook his head. "No, it was not. All this would have been avoided if you just spoke with them, they had no plans to destroy the world. And yet, you created this mess. Who else votes to have The Keepers switch out?" And Ace held up his hand, which Benn soon followed and all of them did the same, before almost everyone in the room, beside 3 Keepers, the younger one also holding his hand up. It seemed to anger those who didn't hold their hands up, and Ace spoke. "It is decided. I will let you handle this, and we will come back and keep a hand here, and we will speak like civilized people every week. No more killing innocent children just because they are bright." Everyone nodded, beside the 3 Keepers who didn't hold their hands up.

Eric then spoke. "This is all we will do? Make them switch out?" Ace hummed. "No, when they are switched out, they are killed. It is how it is done. It is humane, which I do disagree on right now, but they will handle it." Eric nodded and looked at the 3 Keepers. "You should all die suffering, but I am not evil like you." Then Eric turned around and left, heading out and they did soon follow, leaving those in the room to do this. When they were out, Ace asked what Eric would do, to which he said he would keep an eye out on the Keepers, and if Ace could help him make another gun, he would appreciate it, and Ace said he would. And should Eric need anything, to contact Ace and he would do his best to help. That was good.

Then they went back to the boat and Thatch asked what the Hell The Keepers were and what that thing with Erebus was. Ace hummed. "The Keepers are people who promised to keep the world safe. Not us, the world. Which they have done okay up until now, or so I hope. I feel this isn't the only incident. And my fruit, as far as I know, is still connected to my ancestors who had it, and it is possible to awaken them and use them for their own needs. And the most powerful ones with my powers are Erebus, for now. I will try and surpass him, got a few tips from watching him fight." They all nodded. "So this is good? I mean, we're good now? No more death rays?" Ace hummed. "For now, yes. Also," Ace looked at Trevor. "I want my popsicle now." Trevor chuckled and went and got one, which seemed to make Ace happy. Whitebeard was just glad everything was okay again.

Shanks and his crew then stayed with them for a day, and when they had dinner, it seemed the smell attracted Thatch, and Benn said it was a dish he had been thought a while ago, and then showed him his recipe book, and Thatch took it in and said he found some amazing new ones he would try to make, as they seemed very good and not like things they had had before. So when dinner was, the next week, Whitebeard sat by a table in the galley, dinner soon, and Thatch had said he was making a new dish, which sounded interesting. He had made a lot of new ones the last week, or ones he used to with a twist. When the food came out, Thatch and his chefs bringing it out, everyone seemed amazed, beside Ace, who seemed to be in a bad mood now and moved to stand up, which had Trevor speak. "Sit down." Ace looked at Trevor with a hurt expression, before he said something in another language he didn't get, and Trevor responded in the same one it seemed like, before it was a full blown argument in another language. Based on the gestures Ace made, he felt this was about the food. Ace was also almost screaming, which he hadn't seen before. What was wrong?

After a minute of them arguing, Ace said something in the other language and left, seeming upset. Trevor moved a hand to his face. "Thatch, I mean this the best way possible, but where the fuck did you get this recipe?" Thatch blinked. "I read it in a book Benn had, why? What's wrong with it." Trevor sighed. "It is a dish Azuruko made, Ace is not ready for this so suddenly, he hasn't seen, even less tasted it, since he was alive." That had them nod, getting it. Ace was still very much grieving his late mentor. Marco then got up and headed after Ace, which seemed to calm Trevor a bit down, before he looked at Thatch. "Just, you didn't do anything wrong, but did you get any other recipe? Just, Ace isn't ready for this." Thatch blinked and said he had a few more, which had Trevor ask for their names, and when Thatch told, Trevor said to not make the second one, as it would cause the same reaction like this. Which had Thatch nod. He seemed to get it.

Izou then spoke. "I had a hope after doing the ritual on that island that he would be better…" Trevor hummed. "He is. He just got mad. Not sad. I know it might not seem like much, but that's a huge step forward. This is going the right direction." That was good to know. They didn't see Ace for a small bit, before he came out and he did say to Thatch he wasn't mad at him, he just didn't expect it and was caught a bit off guard. Thatch did say it was okay and that he didn't mean to upset Ace, and it seemed they worked through it, which was good.

Then the days went on, and the next week, Ace one day was… well, we seemed very happy, and no one knew why, it was when they were preparing lunch that Thatch looked at the others. "Can we all agree Ace has seemed…" Haruta finished it. "Happy today?" Thatch nodded. "Yeah, like very much so." They all nodded as it was true and Marco had to agree, Ace had seemed very happy the times he had seen him today. And no one really knew why and they settled that he maybe just was happy today.

-x-

Whitebeard sat in the galley as lunch would soon start, the clock being noon, when Ace came inside and gave a laugh. "Oh my God!" He said with a smile and Ace had been very happy today, and as he was close, he spoke again. "Today has been great, and I didn't know why I have been so happy today, and I just asked Trevor what he put in his lemonade I have been drinking, like does it have happy pills? When he said 'no, but it has a fuck ton of vodka'." Ace laughed. "I am happy since I am fucking drunk! It is noon and I am drunk! Today rules!" Thatch blinked. "That is not worrisome at all." Ace chuckled. "You have to agree, when you are just that perfect amount of tipsy, nothing can bring you down."

Thatch blinked, before he nodded. "That is true. So, you're very happy since you are that perfect amount of tipsy?" Ace nodded. "I am." Thatch blinked. "Huh, good for you." Ace nodded and took a sip of his glass that most likely had the lemonade. "Yes, good for me."Then the day went on and Ace was very happy this day, which did throw some off, but Thatch spread the news it was since he was that perfect place of being tipsy and not drunk, which everyone seemed to accept, which was good.

It was the next week, when they docked, that Ace hummed and looked at Izou as he held out a key. "Izou, could you do me a favor and watch over this key? It is to a chest in the meeting room, just watch over it while I need to do something." Izou blinked. "Why do I need to watch over it? Is it dangerous?" Ace shook his head. "Not at all, not dangerous at all, I just need someone to have it on them, and I will be around. The one who needs it might come by when I am away. It is some valuables they need." Izou nodded and took the key. "Okay, I can do that. Who needs it?" Ace hummed. "You will know." Izou nodded and put the key in his pocket.

Then the day went on and some did speak about the chest, wondering what was in it and a few asked Izou to check, but Izou said no, it wasn't for them. And after some hours, when it was soon dinner, Ace hummed as he looked at Izou. "Izou, just, to make sure. Where is the key I gave you for safe keeping?" Izou blinked and moved a hand to his pocket, before his eyes widened as he went to the other pocket, and still found none. "It is gone!" Ace chuckled. "Don't panic, please don't. Just needed to make sure. Now excuse me." And Ace went towards the meeting room, and opened the door, and he looked inside to see a young woman there, blinking at them as she was fiddling with the chest. But as she was now caught, she threw something on the ground, a smoke bomb, before she ran. But the smoke bomb didn't seem to face Ace as he ran after, running to the side and over the railing and he got the woman jumped out the window to escape.

Everyone felt confused, and it wasn't long before Ace returned with the young woman, who now that he got a close look couldn't be older than 14, and she looked confused. When they were out on deck, Ace hummed. "Now, I will update everyone." And Ace looked at Izou. "The key was a test, to see if this little thief would manage to pickpocket you and get to the meeting room unseen from us, which she did." The young woman hummed. "What can I say? I am amazing." Ace nodded. "A very skilled thief. Now, give it back." The young woman sighed, before she held out a small pouch to Izou. "Sorry, I also took this, I needed the money." Izou blinked and checked his pockets, before he looked at the young woman. "How!" Ace hummed. "Very skilled thief. This is Lora." Lora moved a hand as a wave. "Hello! Sorry I snuck on and stole. Well, I am not that sorry, but meh." Ace hummed. "You are very skilled, you were hard to spot." She had to be, Whitebeard had no idea about her even.

Izou looked at Ace. "What now?" Ace hummed. "Lora will come with me, and she will train to become an even better thief, maybe even an informant." Lora looked at Ace. "What if I want to be an assassin?" Ace hummed. "We will cross that bridge when we get there." Hartua spoke. "What! She is like 14!" Lora huffed. "Hey! I am 16!" Ace hummed. "It is easy. Either she continues like she has and might lose a hand or her head when she robs the wrong person, or she joins me. She will be safer with me." Lora looked at Ace. "I want to kill someone!" Ace hummed. "No, you will not. Not yet. Why would a thief want to kill someone?" Lora shrugged. "I dunno." Ace shook his head. "You are a bit rash. Do me a favor, go all out on a man called Daisuke, make him regret being born." Lora hummed and nodded. "That I can do. I can be annoying." Trevor hummed. "Well, you're 16, they are annoying as Hell at that age."

Lora hummed. "It is a gift." Ace chuckled. "Good," And Ace held out his hand. "Ready to go?" Lora nodded and took Ace's hand and they were gone in black smoke. He hoped Lora would be okay, but he had a feeling she would be, and he hoped to see her again maybe.

-x-

Marco stood in his room, just needing to check something in his paperwork before he headed out. They now were up North and no Devil Fruits worked, but it was going fine for now. It was when Marco was about to head out that Ace came in and Ace looked a bit off, so Marco moved a hand to Ace's. "Are you okay, yoi? You've seemed a bit… tense." Ace gave a breath, moving a hand to his face. "I just, I know we are in the middle of the ocean, nothing close by, and no Devil Fruit works, but…" Marco felt something was wrong. "But what?" Ace sighed. "I just feel like I could use a… meeting. But there is none… We are nowhere near an island, and I can't just teleport to one…" Marco felt so bad for Ace and moved a hand to his. "Why do you need one? Has something happened, yoi?" Ace shook his head. "No, I just, I don't know. I would like to just share and hear that others also have issues, not just me. But there is no meeting close by." Marco felt this might be bad, but he didn't know what to do.

He spent some time with Ace, making sure he felt a bit better at least, before he went and found Trevor, and when Trevor asked what was up, probably seeing Marco looked troubled, Marco shared what Ace had said, which had Trevor shake his head a bit. "Of course, he needs a meeting now, when we are nowhere close to one and he can't use his powers. Fuck!" Marco felt this could be very bad, when Trevor seemed to get an idea. "I may have a temporary solution." Marco nodded, he felt they needed one. "Which is?" Trevor nodded a bit. "I don't want anyone to feel forced to do this, but how about we hold an AA meeting? I mean, everyone has their problems, and maybe it would be enough?" Marco nodded, that might work. "But who should we invite?" Trevor hummed. "We should just ask around and see who wants to join, everyone is welcome." Marco nodded, this sounded good. Trevor said to then meet them in the meeting room in an hour, and to bring Ace, Trevor would go around and ask people to join, and it sounded good.

When it had almost been an hour, he went and got Ace, heading to the meeting room, Marco telling some people wanted to speak with him. Ace nodded and went, and when they got there, he saw they had moved the table and created a circle with the chairs in the room, just like at an AA meeting, and Ace blinked. "What is this?" Trevor, who was there, hummed. "A meeting. An AA meeting! Or maybe 'we have random shit and issues going on we would like to share' meeting." Ace blinked. "I'm not sure this is a good idea." Trevor looked at Ace. "Give it a chance!" Ace nodded and did, moving to sit down on a chair, and Marco looked at everyone, glad to see many had turned up. It was some commanders, people from divisions, even a few nurses, and Bay. They were maybe 25 people with him and Ace.

As Ace was down, Trevor raised his hand. "Imma start. Hi, I'm Trevor. I am a former addict." Everyone said 'Hi, Trevor', before Trevor hummed. "I am much better now, and I don't use it now. I drink, but not get outright drunk all the time. I got amazing friends and a girlfriend and coworkers. But still, there is this looming feeling at times, a small voice whispering 'do it, go take drugs again', but it is bearable. It is louder when I am stressed or sad, but I know I have people to support me. And I am scared that if I do use, they will be disappointed in me. And I am not ready for that. That's all I have to say right now." Everyone clapped a bit, just like an AA meeting.

Claus then lifted his hand, before he said. "Hi, I'm Claus, I am the one responsible for the Den Dens and communication." Everyone said hi, before Claus spoke on. "I feel at times the responsibility is very huge, as at times, serious calls come in, or half calls come in, but I love my job. I love my family. But I am always scared to disappoint them. What if I miss a code or call? It hasn't happened yet, but I am always scared of it. I do have help, which is great, but I am always scared to mess it up. That's what I have to say." Everyone clapped, and Marco could see Ace seeming interested.

Namur then held his hand up. "Namur, Commander of the 8th Division." Everyone said hi, and Namur spoke on. "Being a fishman in this world is tough, people at times just hate you to hate you, and it's awful, because everyone has those judging looks at times, and you know you're not welcome. I have the best family there is, which helps me with this, and I know everyone will support me. But some days, those judgemental looks still hurt, and I know it is nothing wrong with me, but still, it can hurt. But I know I have the best support system there is. That's it for me right now." Everyone clapped again, a few a bit more slow than others as they hadn't realized this. He felt this would be good, and not only for Ace.

Jensen then held up his hand. "I am Jensen, I am in the second division." Everyone said hi, and Jensen spoke. "I don't have much responsibility, and I am not complaining. I sometimes have issues with tasks as I overthink them and then panic for nothing. I wish I could handle it. But I don't, and I feel guilty at times for not carrying my weight, but Pops say I do enough, which helps. But some days, I wish I could help more out. I know I can't carry everything, but at times, I wish I could. I wish I was stronger, both mentally and physically." Marco had no idea about this, and it seemed like Ace didn't either. Jensen then clapped his hands a bit. "That's it for me now." Everyone clapped again.

Before anyone could speak up, Ace chuckled a bit, which had everyone look at him, and Ace held a hand out. "That sounded bad." Ace looked at Jensen. "I am not laughing at you. I just… you all did this for me? Because this is amazing, and just… perfect. Just what I needed." Everyone smiled and looked glad at that, before Ace nodded. "So why not throw my hat in the game. My name is Ace, I am the second commander and a previous user." Everyone said hi, then Ace spoke. "I have used a lot, and I'm not going to go into more details about that. And just like Trevor said, there is this whisper always, but at times, it is yelling. Yelling at you to use again, and you just can't shut it out. And you just feel… alone. I know I am not, but you just feel it. I have amazing people around me. I do, and they are awesome. And I know it will hurt them if I relapse. So I go to meetings, I try and cope in other ways. I drink, but I try not to drink too much. Which at times is hard and I pass out drunk, but at least I am not using. And I miss the feeling at times. Just the feeling of feeling calm, mind shut off, like you're floating on a cloud. But then you always crash, and the next dose needs to be higher. Then higher, then the good feeling is gone. And you know you're fucked. You can't help yourself anymore and need help. but you're too ashamed to seek help, and hope, desperately, that someone will notice. But at times, they don't before it is too late. And you always hope you will never be there again, and I hope I never will, but I also know I can't promise it, so I won't. And I don't feel like I will relapse, I just feel like I need to share and hear that I am not the only one with issues. Might make me an asshole, but it makes me not feel alone, and that is what I need at times, to know I am not the only one struggling. Not just with relapsing, but with normal issues. Which is why I need meetings. To know I am not alone in the world. That's what i have to say." Everyone clapped, and Marco was glad this was going well.

Claudia then held her hand up. "My name is Claudia, I am a nurse." Everyone said hi and Claudia continued. "I am also a previous user." That had everyone blink, as they had no idea, even Bay seemed shocked, which meant she didn't know. Claudia spoke on. "I stopped using 14 years ago, and for those who remember, I joined 9 years ago. When you use, you lose a part of yourself. You're not yourself. And you find yourself in situations you have no clue how you got in. Shootings, drug deals, break-ins, robbery to get more money to use. What made me realize I had gone too far was when I woke up one day, my 'friend' beside me, dead, as she had choked on her own puke as she fell asleep on her back. I say 'friend' as she was a bad influence, got me to using and do bad stuff." Marco had no idea about this, and Bay looked shocked as well.

Cladia sighed. "And as I realized she was dead, I didn't see her. I saw myself in a couple of months, dead, half naked, bruised and with wounds from you picking at your skin, people being rough, you doing a lot of bad things to get money. I knew I needed out, but I had no one. But there was a place I knew I might get help, and went to the local church, where there was a priest who took me in , helped me. Got me sober, and it hurt so bad. Then I left my island as I needed away, everyone knew me. Claudia, the woman who was off her rails. Then I found an island who didn't judge me and took me in with open arms, before I relapsed, but now, I had people who helped me, and they teached me how to be a nurse, to keep myself busy if I felt the need, and to ask for help. Then I went away again to another island, working as a nurse, and I was very good with those who needed help with drug addictions, as I have been there myself. Then I traveled around, helping people who needed it, not judging. Then Pops found me, and I joined. And since then, I've loved it here. I've been moving around for a long while before I came here, and I know I am happy here. That's it for me." Everyone clapped, everyone also seeming shocked.

Bay then held her hand up. "Bay here, I am the doctor." Everyone said hi and Bay spoke. "I love my job and I love to help people. I know I can be rough and sound mean, but I always want the best for everyone. I know one man, who is the biggest asshole I know, who puts everyone down. And this is the man who happened to train me to be a doctor. And I have learned I am the one who stuck the most with him, because in reality, he was a sad man. I wanted to be like him at the start, he was so smart. But he was also lonely. Very lonely. And when I found this out, I wanted to be better than him. And so I have worked to get better than him. I know I can seem mean and tough, but I only want the best for everyone. I want people to know I would never judge them, and I am always available to speak with if anyone needs it. I want people to feel comfortable to come to me with their issues. I might seem rough, but I only care. That's it for me." And everyone clapped, Claudia giving a bit of a nod to her, and he had a feeling they would speak after this. This was good, and not only for Ace. This was good for everyone.

A bit over half an hour later, they were done and left the meeting room, everyone seeming in a better mood, even Ace, and before they left, Ace had said. "This was amazing and I can't believe you did this for me. This was amazing, thank you all." And everyone said it was nothing, and it was like a huge bonding moment for everyone. He would speak with Pops about this, to have this a regular thing. He felt this could be good for everyone. He would also have Bay in on this, as this could be good for everyone and he could need help share they would start this, having a sort of AA meeting, or what Trevor had called it, 'we have random shit and issues going on we would like to share', and who to try to make to come, as sometimes, the first step was the hardest.

When he got Bay and Pops together and mentioned this, Bay nodded first. "I think that would be wise, yes. We all learned something about each other. And maybe have more than one, one where there are no commanders, and one where everyone is welcomed? I would like to join every meeting. I am thinking of one without a commander so there is more freedom as some feel a bit unsure about bringing certain things up to commanders and to make it feel more free. What do you think, Pops?" Pops nodded. "I like this. And did it help Ace?" Marco nodded. "It really seemed like it did, yoi." Ace had seemed better since then.

Pops nodded and looked at them. "I like this, and we should do this. We should also inform people and I can announce it next time we have dinner. This sounds very smart." Marco was glad Pops felt that, and it was clear Bay did as well. When they were done and heading away, Marco looked at Bay. "Did you have a talk with Claudia, yoi?" Bay nodded. "I did, and she has really moved on and is very strong. I had no idea she was a previous user." Marco nodded. "I think no one knew, yoi. But I am glad she felt she could share." Bay nodded. "Same as I, and I am glad you thought of this." Marco chuckled. "It was Trevor's idea, I just helped him with it, yoi." Bay nodded. "I will thank him as well then." Marco nodded. "You should, yoi. But this might be a good thing to do now and then." Bay nodded. "I agree. I think this will be nice." Marco did as well as he nodded. This was a small thing they would do now and then and he hoped it would help everyone.

And that's the chapter! Hope you enjoyed

The next one will have more stuff in it I think

If you have any ideas, don't be afraid to share them!

I hope you enjoyed, and if you want to, I do love feedback, so don't be afraid to leave a review, or send a PM!

If you also want to, I have a Twitter/X account, my name is Azuruko, and I have a discord, my tag/username is just azuruko, as well as a server (Instant invite: discord . gg / 6hzMhbR) where everyone is welcomed! Updates is also posted there, both on discord and on twitter