Going Merry is going merry on the sea for the second day after leaving Syrup Village.
The newly dubbed Straw-Hat Pirates with their new flag, courtesy of Usopp, were all going about their day.
Zoro was asleep, leaning against the main mast.
Nami was drawing another map, sipping tea.
Buggy and Usopp became surprisingly fast friends, after they found out about each other's love for jokes and tinkering with inventions.
Luffy was sitting at 'his spot' on top of Merry's head, watching the horizon.
And Aden was about to do something interesting...or stupid.
"Hey Zoro!" said Aden as he approached the swordsman.
"Huh!?" *pop* " What?" Zoro woke up.
"I might need your help with something. I had an idea, but it IS risky and i need some...let's say 'assurance'." Aden explained.
"What could you possibly want to do, that would need my help?" Zoro asked incredulously.
"Well, you see.. I always hated the weakness to water that comes with eating a Devil Fruit. So, i decided i want to find a way to eliminate that weakness. Or at least lessen it. And what better way to do that, than exposure training." explained Aden.
"What!? You want to just throw yourself into the sea!?" exclaimed Zoro in disbelief.
"Wait what? Have you completely lost your mind!?" shouted Buggy suddenly, after overhearing Aden's idea.
"I agree with the clown. This is stupid." agreed Zoro.
"Guys! If he wants to try, i say let him. He has been pushing boundaries ever since we were kids. It's actually the reason i do the same. But i'll admit, this is a stretch even for you, brother." said Luffy after walking closer.
"I am very well aware of the risks, thank you. But i have a few ideas i wanna try, and i just need someone to pull me out of the water, if and when it fails."
said Aden calmly.
"Okay, fine. So how do you wanna do this? Because i am not jumping in after you every time you nearly drown." asked Zoro after some consideration.
"I'll tie a rope around myself. I'll leave it some slack so that i have time to try my ideas. Once the rope gets taut, give it ten seconds and pull me out. Easy." Aden said with a grin.
"*sigh* ...Okay. Let's do it."
.
After dozens of attempts, where Aden ended up soaked, and nearly drowning, he still could not handle the water.
So he decided, that direct exposure would not yield results, at least for now. Luckily, he had another idea.
"Okay, here goes. Focus. Make a layer of air around yourself. Concentrate it so that it makes a bubble around you, not letting the water touch you. If this works, i might be able to slowly develop resistance to water. However complete immunity is impossible. But a strong enough Devil Fruit user can resist water for a bit. At least in theory....Getting sidetracked..FOCUS!...Layer of air. Just over the skin. Hold it steady...Now, jump!" is what ran through Aden's mind in a few seconds.
His body became covered in a shimmering layer of compressed air. It almost seemed like it was reflecting or bending light in some spots.
Seeing he had a steady grasp of the idea, Aden once again jumped in the water.
The moment he was under water, he felt the effects of the sea. Yet the shimmering barrier held up. He was weakened but not to the extent he would normally be. With a grunt of effort, he tried to swim towards the surface.
And while it was slow, he was making progress. With a final stroke, and running out of breath, he finally managed to break the surface. Taking a deep breath, and threading water as fast as he could just to remain above the surface, he began to laugh.
"BREEZHIHIHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Yes! I did it!" Aden shouted happily.
Zoro and the others who heard the laugh were simply gobsmacked. Seeing a Devil Fruit user actually swim was so surreal, that Buggy and Usopp slapped each other, just to see if they were dreaming.
Luffy was completely at a loss for words. He knew his brother was strong, but overcoming the weakness to water, even if just a little bit, was something he never thought possible.
However, the excitement was short lived.
"Hahahaha! *gulp* gurgle* cough* help...!" Aden shouted in panic as his bubble dissipated and he started to go back under.
Zoro pulled the rope, making Aden look like a freshly caught fish.
.
Laying on the deck, trying to catch his breath, Aden had a satisfied look on his face.
"Well...That worked." he said happily.
"Are you serious? You almost drowned, ya idiot!" shouted Buggy.
"Maybe...But i swam for a few seconds. Now i just need to continue practicing. Then falling into the sea will no longer be a death sentence." Aden replied with a grin.
"He's insane. He is utterly mad." stated Nami with what could only be described as surrendered expression.
"Yeah kinda..." Luffy chimed in "But he will do it. He set his mind on it after all." he finished with a grin.
.
It was late afternoon, and the sun began to set on the horizon, when a splash followed by a cheer sounded around Merry.
Aden has managed to get aboard on his own for the first time after training the entire day. As for Zoro, he got a work-out as well. Pulling a Devil Fruit user out of the water is no easy task, since they normally sink like a hammer. It is like the sea itself is trying to swallow them.
"This is great. I can swim. Well, kinda. An only for a bit, but still it's great progress." Aden spoke excitedly.
"Great...Will you still need my help later?" Zoro asked, slightly out of breath.
"Nah. I should have this from now on. I'll just have to be careful." replied Aden confidently.
"Alright. Just let me know if you do need help.
"Will do."
As Aden was drying himself off, he heard footsteps approaching.
"Why do you push so hard? What's the point?" asked Nami, with a lost look.
"Because i wanna be strong. I have to be. For my brother to accomplish his dream, he needs strong people on his side. If i don't step up, if i don't try my best, how can i ever look Luffy in the eyes again?" Aden answered seriously.
"That...Actually makes sense. But..What is 'your' dream? It cannot be simply helping Luffy accomplish his." Nami insisted.
"You're right. It's not. My dream is to see the world. To see different cultures, people. Eat all kinds of food... And to do so freely, i need power. Enough power, so that noone can stop me. And if i help Luffy become King of Pirates along the way?..Hah!...Well that's just a bonus." Aden rambled with passion in his voice.
This response was not what Nami expected.
She asked him that, just to test him. To see if she could truly trust him. She did not expect his answer. His response told her all she needed to know. She will place her trust in him. She knew she would soon be free of Arlong. She was sure of it. Anyone who is willing to go so far for his family, is someone deserving of her trust.
.
The next day, the crew was awoken by splashing water, and whooshing of air. Thinking they got caught in a storm, they stormed out to secure the ship.
Howevery seeing the clear sky and sun shining, they got confused.
Confusion, that only lasted a moment, a figure was launched from the water, shimmering in the sun. It flew over the ship back into the sea, where it seemed to behave like a torpedo of sorts. Trail of agitated water followed the figure as it zipped around the ship at impressive speeds.
Suddenly, the figure leapt out of the water and landed on the deck with a gust of wind.
The figure, now revealed to be Aden, took a deep breath and shook the water from his hair.
"Ahh.. Ahh. Pheww...That. Is. Awesome." Aden spoke between deep breaths.
"What the hell was that?!" shouted everyone.
"You call that being carefull, you airheaded moron!!??" shouted Zoro in disbelief.
"Oh, hi guys." Aden greeted as if nothing was weird.
"Bro! That is so cool!! How did you do that!?" shouted Luffy with sparkles in his eyes.
"Glad you asked, little bro." Aden grinned "Basically i just expanded upon what i did yesterday. I woke up a few hours ago, and decided to practice."Aden began explaining "To simplify. I covered myself with a layer of compressed air like last time, only i compressed some more air in my lungs as well. This not only allowed me to stay under for a longer time, it also allowed me to use the air as means of propulsion. By exploding the compressed air behind me in controlled bursts, i have achieved movement underwater. I can only do that for about 20 seconds before running out of air and needing to resurface. If i swim normally, i can stay in water for maybe five minutes. But that is pushing it. After that, the sea takes effect and i would sink." Aden finished his explenation, although he felt it went over most of their heads.
"Ehhh...What?" Luffy scratched his head in confusion.
"*sigh* Push air, go forward." Aden said with a facepalm.
"Oh! Got it!"
"Seriously!?" was everyone's thoughts.
"But, that makes no sense." said Buggy "Devil Fruit abilities can't be used under water. Not actively at least. I can remain in pieces even in water, i figured that out some time ago. But using the powers like you do should be impossible." he finished, holding his chin in thought.
"I homestly don't get it either." admitted Aden "It just works somehow. Maybe my Fruit is unique somehow?... I don't know." he finished as he scratched his head.
"Either way, it's incredible. You can just get out of the sea if you ever fall overboard." said Usopp.
"As long as i am aware of falling into the water, sure." Aden said with a chuckle.
"Bunch of madmen. Seriously." said Nami from the side, shaking her head, with Usopp nodding along.
"Get used to it, Little Thief."
"Hey, guys!" spoke Usopp suddenly "Is that a giant fish with a buidling on top of it?"
(I'm back, baby. Was sick for a bit. Still am as of writing this. But i lushed myself a little. Didn't want to keep you waiting for too long.
Hopefully it's an OK chapter.
BTW..I am aware that most, if not all of Aden's abilities make no sense. But i am trying to keep it semi-believable, for a person with total control of air to be able to do. Even if it is not scientifically accurate. But hey, it IS a fanfic right?
As always, i hope you enjoyed reading this.
This is not the Last you see of Omega.)