Isaac Newton in One Piece

Isaac handed the empty bowl back to Kieran with a nod of thanks. "That was good. You've got some skill, Kieran."

Kieran merely shrugged, his yellow eyes glancing toward his mother. "It's just basic stuff. Enough to keep her going."

Nolan stood, brushing off his hands. "I'll need to check her condition more closely if I'm going to help. Maybe we can figure something out for the others in the village too."

Kieran gave a small nod, his expression unreadable. "I'll take you to what supplies we've got. It's not much."

As they turned toward the crude shelter where Kieran's mother rested, Isaac stretched and glanced at the rest of the village. The broken-down buildings and lifeless streets called to his curiosity. "I'm going to look around," he said. "See if there's anything we missed on the way in."

Nolan nodded without looking back. "Be careful. Don't touch anything suspicious—last thing we need is you catching something."

Isaac smirked faintly. "I'll keep that in mind, doctor."

As Kieran led Nolan toward the supplies, Isaac set off in the opposite direction. The village seemed even more desolate now that he was alone, the silence broken only by the faint creak of wooden beams swaying in the wind. He passed a row of houses, their doors hanging open and their interiors dark. He made a mental note to avoid going inside—there was no telling what might be lurking in the shadows.

After wandering for a few minutes, he found himself at the edge of a small square. A dried-up fountain stood in the center, its surface covered in cracked stone and creeping moss. Nearby, a worn-out sign swung lazily in the breeze, the faded letters barely legible.

Market Square.

Isaac stepped closer, his sharp eyes scanning the abandoned stalls. Most were empty, save for a few rotten fruits and broken jars. But one stall at the far end caught his attention. It was slightly more intact, with a few dusty bottles lined neatly in a row.

Curious, Isaac approached. The labels on the bottles were too faded to read, but one of them contained a strange, dark liquid that shimmered faintly when he tilted it. He frowned, unsure if it was medicine, poison, or something else entirely.

"Wonder what this is…" he muttered, setting the bottle down carefully.

His attention shifted to a crate partially hidden under a tattered tarp. He pulled it out, brushing off the dust, and pried it open. Inside were several small jars filled with what looked like dried herbs. Most were unfamiliar, but one caught his eye—a deep red flower, preserved perfectly in the jar.

Before he could examine it further, a sound behind him made him pause. He turned quickly, his hand instinctively moving to his side where he carried a makeshift blade Nolan had fashioned for him.

But it was just a child, no older than six, standing a few feet away. The child's face was pale and gaunt, their clothes torn and too large for their small frame. They stared at Isaac with wide, hollow eyes, clutching a dirty cloth doll.

"Are you… here to help?" the child asked in a faint voice.

Isaac crouched down, softening his expression. "We're trying. What's your name?"

"Emmy," the child whispered, her voice barely audible.

Isaac glanced at the doll in her arms, then back at her. "Do you know what happened here, Emmy?"

She nodded slowly. "Everyone got sick. Mama said it was the water, but… we don't have anywhere else to go."

Isaac's stomach tightened. "The water, huh?" He looked back at the fountain, its cracked surface now seeming far more ominous. "Where do you get your water from now?"

"From the well," Emmy said, pointing toward a building in the distance. "But it smells bad too."

Isaac stood, his mind racing. If the water was contaminated, it could explain the plague. He looked down at Emmy. "Stay here, okay? I'll be right back."

The child nodded, clutching her doll tightly.

Isaac made his way toward the well, the faint smell of rot growing stronger with each step. By the time he reached it, he could barely suppress a grimace. The well was covered with a crude wooden lid, but the stench leaking from it was overpowering.

Lifting the lid carefully, he peered inside. The water was murky, with strange, dark shapes floating near the surface. His stomach turned as he realized what they were—animal carcasses, decomposing in the water.

"That explains a lot," he muttered, replacing the lid quickly.

He turned back toward the shelter, his pace quickening. Nolan and Kieran needed to know about this—and if they could find a way to purify the water, they might just have a chance at saving the village.

Isaac rushed back toward the shelter where Nolan and Kieran were working. He found them crouched over a small wooden table, Kieran sorting through some dried herbs while Nolan examined Kieran's mother's condition.

Nolan glanced up as Isaac entered, his sharp eyes narrowing. "What's wrong?"

Isaac took a moment to catch his breath, then gestured toward the village. "It's the water. The well's contaminated. There are animal carcasses rotting in it."

Kieran froze, his hand clutching a sprig of herbs. "The well?" he echoed, his voice trembling slightly. "That's all we've been drinking since the river dried up."

Nolan cursed under his breath, standing quickly. "That explains why everyone's sick. We'll need to treat their symptoms first, but if they keep drinking that water, it won't matter what we do."

Isaac nodded. "I figured as much. Is there anything we can use to clean it? Or find a new source of water?"

Kieran looked down at the herbs scattered across the table, his yellow eyes dark with thought. "We don't have enough supplies to purify the whole well. But… there's an old riverbed to the north. If we can clear it, we might be able to redirect the flow back to the village."

Nolan crossed his arms, considering. "That's a big task, but it's doable. First, we'll need to figure out how far the river's been blocked and what's causing it."

Isaac glanced at Kieran. "You know the area better than we do. Can you show us?"

Kieran hesitated, glancing back at his mother. She was resting on the cot, her face pale and drenched with sweat. After a moment, he nodded. "She'll be fine for now. Let's go."

The three of them left the shelter, moving quickly through the village. Isaac noticed more sick villagers as they passed—some lying in the streets, others peering weakly from the shadows of their homes. The sight hardened his resolve.

They reached the northern edge of the village, where a dry, cracked riverbed snaked its way through the landscape. Kieran led the way, his footsteps steady despite the uneven ground.

After about half an hour of walking, they came to a massive pile of rocks and debris blocking the riverbed. The blockage stretched high above their heads, with tree roots and vegetation woven through the stones like a natural barricade.

"There," Kieran said, pointing. "That's the cause. A landslide must've blocked the river years ago."

Isaac frowned, examining the blockade. "That's not something we can clear by hand. We'll need tools—or a lot of brute force."

Nolan scratched his chin. "Or we could try a controlled explosion. If we can loosen the rocks in key places, the flow might clear the rest on its own."

Kieran's eyes widened. "Do you know how to do that?"

Nolan smirked faintly. "I've read about it. The question is whether we have the materials."

Isaac stepped closer to the blockade, his mind racing. "Wait. What if I used my powers instead?"

Both Nolan and Kieran turned to him, surprised.

Isaac pointed to the rocks. "If I manipulate the inertia of the debris, I might be able to make it move—break it apart without needing explosives. I've never tried something this big before, but it's worth a shot."

Nolan raised an eyebrow. "And if it doesn't work?"

Isaac shrugged. "Then we go back to your plan."

Kieran crossed his arms. "If you think you can do it, then go ahead. Just… don't get yourself killed."

Isaac nodded, stepping forward. He placed his hands on the largest boulder at the base of the pile and closed his eyes, focusing on the sensation of its mass. Slowly, he began to channel his energy, feeling the subtle shift of inertia as he pushed against the rock.

At first, nothing happened. The boulder was massive, and Isaac could feel the strain on his body as he tried to manipulate it. But then, with a sudden jolt, the rock began to move—slowly at first, then faster, as if an unseen force was propelling it forward.

The other rocks shifted in response, tumbling down the pile and creating a chain reaction. Within moments, the entire blockage began to collapse, the sound of crashing stones echoing through the valley.

Isaac stumbled back, breathing heavily, as water began to trickle through the newly cleared riverbed. The trickle grew into a steady stream, then a rushing flow, as the river was restored to its former path.

Kieran stared in awe. "You… you did it."

Nolan clapped Isaac on the back, grinning. "Not bad, genius. Not bad at all."

Isaac managed a tired smile. "Let's get back to the village. They're going to need clean water—and fast."

The three of them turned and began the trek back, their spirits lifted by the sight of the flowing river. For the first time since arriving on the island, Isaac felt a flicker of hope.

As they returned to the village, the atmosphere felt lighter despite the dire situation. The sound of rushing water reached their ears even from afar, and the villagers peeked out of their homes with cautious curiosity.

Isaac immediately took charge, standing on a wooden crate in the middle of the main street. His voice boomed with confidence. "Listen up, everyone! The river is flowing again. But that's not all—we're working on a cure for the illness spreading through this village. We need everyone to gather at the main square so we can distribute it as soon as it's ready!"

The sick and weary villagers shuffled closer, some supported by healthier neighbors or leaning on improvised walking sticks. The crowd wasn't large, but the desperation in their faces was evident.

Meanwhile, Nolan and Kieran sprinted back to the shelter. Once inside, Nolan set to work immediately, using the supplies they had scavenged earlier. The makeshift lab was chaotic—wooden bowls filled with crushed herbs, bubbling concoctions heating over small flames, and scribbled notes scattered across the table.

Kieran hovered nearby, nervously watching Nolan mix ingredients with precise movements. "Are you sure this will work?"

Nolan didn't look up. His hands moved quickly, grinding herbs into a fine powder. "The symptoms are consistent with waterborne bacterial infections. I've combined the herbs with antiseptic properties and some other ingredients that should alleviate fever and boost the immune system. It's not perfect, but it'll buy us time to fully heal them."

Kieran nodded, his worry slightly eased. He looked over at his mother, still resting on the cot, and clenched his fists. "Let me help."

Nolan gestured toward a pile of herbs. "Start grinding those. We'll need to make as much of this as we can."

Back outside, Isaac moved through the village, helping anyone who couldn't make it to the square on their own. He carried elderly villagers on his back, guided children by the hand, and shouted encouragement to those who faltered.

"You're almost there!" he called out to a coughing man leaning on his wife. "The cure's coming—just hold on a little longer!"

When Isaac finally returned to the square, he was drenched in sweat but smiling. Most of the villagers were seated on the ground, weak but hopeful. He climbed back onto the crate and addressed the crowd.

"My friends are making the cure as we speak," he announced. "It won't be long now. Just stay strong, and we'll get through this together."

The villagers murmured amongst themselves, their spirits lifting slightly.

Minutes later, Nolan and Kieran arrived, each carrying trays of small wooden bowls filled with the medicinal mixture. Nolan's face was calm and focused as he began distributing the bowls to the villagers.

"Drink it all," he instructed each person. "It might taste bad, but it'll help. Make sure everyone gets a dose."

Isaac joined in, helping pass out the bowls and encouraging the villagers to drink.

Kieran knelt by his mother, gently helping her sip the medicine. Tears welled in his eyes as he watched her weakly nod in thanks.

As the last of the medicine was distributed, the villagers settled in to rest. Isaac, Nolan, and Kieran finally had a moment to sit down together, exhaustion written all over their faces.

Nolan leaned back against a wall, wiping sweat from his brow. "We did it," he said quietly.

Isaac nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah. But this is just the beginning. They'll need clean water and better sanitation to prevent this from happening again."

Kieran looked at the two of them, gratitude shining in his yellow eyes. "You both saved this village. I… I don't know how to thank you."

Isaac waved him off. "Don't mention it. Just keep looking after your mom—and maybe think about joining us. You're one hell of a chef."

Kieran blinked in surprise, then grinned. "I'll think about it."