Mechanic's Choice

Chapter 5

Ussop pov

It’s been a few weeks since Aria came on board. She has gotten so much better since then, she has started to smile more often and helps me with my inventions and gives me helpful tips! She has agreed to become a member of the crew and tonight were throwing a party in celebration, though some days I do see her at the front of the ship just staring out at the sea. Her wings have healed up but Chopper had to amputate her right hand because it was completely broken and it would have caused her more pain. It upsets me and Sanji to see her like that, but Chopper said that memories like that won’t just fade away quickly and that we just have to keep her happy so she doesn’t have to remember that pain. Today I finished my gift for Aria and will give it to her at tonight’s party.

Aria’s Pov

I’ve been on the ship with everyone for a couple of weeks. I am still learning how to do things without my right hand it was so damaged that chopper told me it would be better if I just let him amputate it. So here I am helping with the smaller things and trying to forget… Never mind best not to dwell on that. I did accept Luffy’s invitation to join his crew though so tonight were all going to celebrate!

Time Skip ~~

“Alrighty everyone before Luffy and Zoro start a drinking competition let’s get Aria her gifts!” Nami said as she walked over to me holding a large wrapped box.

“Oh no you don’t ha-“I was cut off by everyone cheering and practically burying me in gifts. “Well okay then,” I said laughing at their eagerness. I picked up Nami’s gift and set in on my lap.

 Luffy was jumping up and down with excitement, “Come on Aria! Open it, open it!”

I tore off the wrapping and pulled out a beautifully hand crafted black bow with intricate swirled designs going all throughout the steel. I jumped up and hug Nami while tears of happiness streamed down my face. “Thank you so much Nami! It’s beautiful!” I sat down and chopper came up to me with a sparkling green gift bag. I opened it and pulled out a black and silver messenger bag along with some different bags of herbal remedies. “Thank you so much chopper it’s gorgeous.” Chopper blushed madly and hid behind Nami all the while he kept mumbling under his breath about how compliments didn’t make him happy. I just smiled and continued opening gifts. Sanji got me a silk green dancer’s outfit, where he got that I’ll never know. Luffy got me a new tool set and a huge chunk of meat which he proceeded to take and eat. Zoro got me a dark green cloak, and robin got me some new sketchbooks. I grabbed the last gift, Ussop’s and started to open it.

“Wait you have to close your eyes and hold out your arms,” he said. I was confused but did as he asked. I didn’t feel anything at first and then I felt a sharp pinch on what the stump at the bottom of my wrist. “Okay now you can open your eyes,” Ussop said. I opened my eyes and saw that he had attached a delicate metal hand to my wrist. “Are you okay Aria?” He looked down at me worriedly, I hadn’t noticed that I had started crying.

“Yes I’m fine Ussop, it’s just that I’m…I’m so happy. Thank you so much.” I started to shake and sob from my joy. Is worried look softened and he smiled down at me.

“Well that’s good to know, now let’s make sure it moves and I’ll tune it so that it moves correctly.” He said gripping the metal hand and making small adjustments to the strap that held it into place. I felt a small tingling sensation as I slowly moved the fingers up and down. As I started closing it into a fist a felt a pinch and my whole arm flinched in pain. Ussop looked worried and called chopper over to make sure nothing was damaged.

Chopper came over and prodded the skin around the contraption, “She’ll be fine it’s just a slight nerve pinch from her wrist being used. Give it some time to strengthen up and you won’t have that issue anymore.” He looked up at me happily smiling away. “Now Aria what do you say to having a drinking contest? I just nodded as he and Ussop dragged me away to the party.