Famine and Pestilence appeared directly in front of the stunned Maro.

There were tears streaming down her confused eyes, as she stared at the duo.

"What...?" Maro stammered in confusion, unable to believe what she had just witnessed transpire. The Queen wiped her eyes

Famine did not spare a word, merely gazing at the Angel and Demon that were coming to.

"See? They're completely fine," Pestilence said, crossing their arms.

"It's good to be careful," Famine replied, verifying that they truly were fine.

The virus rolled their eyes and said, "Are we done here? We still need to wrap up our business."

Famine nodded. "Almost. I just need one more person to visit. They should be the most affected by this."

Pestilence sighed. "They should already know you're alive. I went through the trouble of hacking and restarting all the broadcasts... but alright," they conceded.

"Wait."

The duo paused at that and gazed at Maro.

"Who are you?" Maro asked, a stern frown on her face as she wiped her tears.

She couldn't explain anything going on right now. Maro had been in the throes of a mental breakdown before Kaori had hesitantly brought her attention back to the screen.

Angel and Demon had both fainted, the shock of the situation being too much for them so they hadn't seen the stream come back to life.

It was there that Maro saw something that was cause for extreme concern...

This person right here. The person posing as her Master.

"Maro," Famine greeted.

"Stop acting like this is normal!" Maro scowled, tears drying up. "What is this?! What's going on? Is this the virus?! Explain now!"

"M-Maro...?" Akemi called out in confusion, sniffing periodically as she gazed at the queen.

"All of you stand back!" Maro ordered, eyes lasering onto Rosan.

Everyone jumped at the tone of her voice. It was rare for Maro to take such a tone and they looked at what was happening with wide eyes.

Famine shut his eyes and sighed softly as he watched them all back away. "It does hurt when you throw such doubt on me," he said quietly.

"Well forgive me if I'm a little doubtful," Maro pushed, summoning her club. "But nothing is what I'm used to. Is that the virus?" she asked again.

Pestilence scowled at her. "And if I am?" they asked.

Maro's eyes narrowed. "Then I have a duty to uphold. Master told me about you… and he said on the off chance that he's incapacitated, then I have to be the one deal with you."

There was a grim determination in Maro's eyes.

"That's not necessary, Maro," Famine said softly. "I don't want to fight you."

Maro closed her eyes. "I don't want to fight you either, Master. But… right now you're not the person I'd proudly call my father. Somethings wrong with you."

"…" Famine closed his eyes as a sad frown crossed his face. "Pe-chan, you can stay out of this. Don't interfere."

Pestilence crossed their arms.

Famine would be pissed at them if they killed anyone here and Pestilence's whole style was based on destruction.

"Be fast," they muttered a little nervously. Like it or not, Famine wasn't fresh and Maro was not that much weaker than Rosan.

Famine nodded softly.

"M-Master?" Angel whispered in confusion, shuddering as a sob erected from her body. At the sight of her older brother, she launched herself up and tried to rush him, only for a hand to hold her firmly in place.

"That's not him Angel," Maro said, looking every bit the Queen she was. There was no joking, no goofing around… the Dokkaebi was utterly serious.

Angel looked confused, sniffing as Maro gently held her back. As she saw the completely serious look in Maro's eyes, the redhead went stiff.

Then she gazed back at Famine with a distressed expression.

"What's going on?" Demon wiped his eyes and gazed at his older brother with a distraught gaze.

"You guys didn't see it... but Master's been corrupted by the virus," Maro said softly. "Don't get close to him. I'm going to get him back."

"...The virus?" Aiko said slowly.

"What's the virus?" Akemi asked in concern.

Maro glared at the neutral Pestilence. "Them."

Pestilence shot them a mocking smile.

Famine carefully avoided their eyes and turned on a heel. "Come then. I wouldn't want anyone innocent to get caught in the crossfire."

Maro said nothing, trailing after him with a grave expression.

She didn't know what happened to Master, but Maro couldn't… she couldn't lose him.

She would never accept that. Whoever this impostor was, would see the full fury of Queen Maro of Celadon.

Maro kept her eyes trained on the man the entire time, even as he guided her to a battlefield outside of the castle and away from her civilians.

This was where her and Rosan fought in Celadon if they wanted to cut loose a bit. Fighting in the castle proved too risky.

Maro clenched her fist at that. This man... he was corrupted but he was also considerate. She was so confused. She didn't know this person but he still felt like her Master.

The trip had been completely silent. Not even the people following after them said anything, too caught up in the nervous airs of seeing how rigid and serious their Queen was.

The two stood across from each other, neither looking happy with the situation.

"I love Famine so I'll give him whatever he wants… but if any of you interfere in this match, you won't like the outcome," Pestilence warned them, standing a healthy distance away from their group.

"...Who are you?" Demon asked quietly, hiccuping slightly.

"Your daddy," Pestilence replied cheekily.

The virus raised a brow, as a blonde stepped in front of Demon.

"Don't listen to her, Demon," Mikita said strongly. "I... I don't know what's going on but I'll keep you safe."

Demon shuddered and nodded, glancing in uncertainty at what was taking place.

"Why... why do you look like our mom?" Angel asked hesitantly.

"Because Famine has a mommy fetish," Pestilence shrugged helplessly.

"Don't talk to them, Angel," Kaori said fiercely, stepping in front of the redhead.

Pestilence merely looked amused, as Maro's soldiers stared them down. "If not for Famine, I'd have already made you regret stepping up to me. What can you weak little soldiers do to me?" they asked.

"Stay away from them," Maro snarled warningly, clenching her club.

"Or what?" Pestilence crooned, sneering at the Queen without a hint of fear on their features.

Maro whirled, eyes blazing with fury as she vanished from her spot.

Pestilence's eyes widened as the Queen snarled down at her, orange iris burning a hole into her.

As she held her arm up to swing, she found that she was unable to.

"There's no need for that," Famine said softly, holding back the Queen's arm with a neutral expression. "The fight is between the two of us."

"Tell her to stay away from them," Maro demanded.

Pestilence rolled their eyes and moved even further away.

"Satisfied?" they crooned, conjuring an all black throne and taking a seat.

"Is that what Master has been dealing with all these years?" Angel thought in sorrow, tears surging up once more.

She thought she knew everything about him but... but realizing that his biggest issue to date was something she had no clue about...

It hurt.

Maro sneered at Pestilence and marched back to the battlefield, turning their gaze towards Famine next.

The two stared at each other, before rocketing off at once.

----------------------------------------

Maro's (who was still in human form) eyes sharpened dangerously as she conjured blue flames, launching them towards Rosan with intent to end this quickly.

Famine grunted, summoning a wall of ice that was quickly consumed by Maro's mystical fire. The redhead held out a hand and fired a wave of white fire that clashed with the next salvo.

He spread his white wings and launched himself into the sky, only to grunt as Maro vanished from his line of sight.

Famine discarded it being an illusion swiftly as his senses went haywire behind him.

Maro snarled behind him, Daisy poised to smash into him but much to her surprise, Rosan didn't attempt to defend himself physically, simply floating away from the swing, white lightning coating him.

She wouldn't let that deter her at all, vanishing from her spot again and appearing directly in his path.

Famine anticipated it, whirling around even before she appeared.

Maro effortlessly ignored the sparks surging across her body, only twitching minutely and she gripped her club, before bashing it onto Famine's midsection.

Famine applied armament right before the attack connected, grunting as he was sent plummeting.

She watched with wild eyes as he rocketed towards the floor and sought to push her advantage.

"No Ram, Raid Suit not properly protecting him... and just getting out of a war. This is my best chance at beating him," she thought predatorily, flames coating Daisy.

As Famine was launched downwards, he saw Maro launching towards him with purpose.

Right as he connected to the floor he palmed it, making the ground surge.

Maro saw the ground erupt, launching towards her with a purpose and she grunted, evading each and every one with expertise.

To her annoyance though, the grounds stayed erected, looming over her in the shape of snake like pillars.

Famine immediately closed the distance between the two and Maro felt the encroaching pressure pressing on her shoulders.

But she would not be deterred.

Maro swung Daisy that Famine ducked under, retaliating with an elbow that Maro sidestepped.

She was forced backwards as the pillars came to life once again and all the while, Rosan continued pressuring her.

The Queen snarled in annoyance as the snake pillars cut off her avenue of counter every time she saw an opening. Famine was using them to keep her totally occupied.

It was frustrating.

Maro scowled and vanished immediately, watching as the pillars focused on her once more and lunged to her position.

"Annoying. He understands how weakened he actually is," she thought, watching as Famine remained completely stationary.

The redhead held out a hand and Maro hissed as a flurry of shrapnel like ice flew towards her.

Her observation flared wildly and she leapt to the right, knowing she'd be more safe there.

As she landed, she immediately transformed into her full Zoan and smashed Daisy against the pillar there, breaking it completely.

Her observation flared once more and the Dokkaebi watched as Rosan soared above her.

She prepared for an attack but instead, he began darting through the sky, tapping every piece of broken stone and converting it to ice with Modification.

"He's fighting less like Master and more like Mod-chan," Maro scowled in fury.

As the sky dotted with the ice, Maro huffed and summoned an inferno of blue fire. She launched it upwards but the pillars made themselves known again, as two of them flew in the path of the fire.

"How is he doing that? Controlling the ground while being in the sky?" Maro wondered, narrowing her eyes.

It was then that she saw little black patches, similar to the black markings in his hair.

Maro's eyes widened and she summoned a new surge of flames, before washing over the entire battlefield with them.

Famine grunted as his connection to the ground was suddenly cut.

He didn't flinch as Maro appeared directly across from him.

"You're somehow using the virus to connect to the ground, allowing you to touch more things," Maro snarled in annoyance, club raised high.

"I'm surprised you noticed," Famine replied, holding out a hand and blowing her away.

Before Maro could recover, she was forced to avoid the army of ice rushing her.

They flew through the sky like shurikens and Maro hissed in annoyance, vanishing from her spot in a burst of flame.

"That won't work," Famine said softly, allowing the remaining ice to fly behind him, knowing that Maro was going to do such a thing again.

But to his surprise, the ice merely passed through her body.

"Oh yeah?" Maro snarled violently, appearing directly in front of him. "You're brains working too slow."

With that, she smashed Daisy onto him.

"Famine!" Pestilence shouted in worry.

They knew he was too tired! He didn't suddenly come out fresh because the other Rosan was gone! This was still the same body that got a hole blasted through it!

Famine rocketed through the air at ridiculous speeds, getting gasps of disbelief to ring out as he crashed onto the ground with a thunderous noise.

Maro sneered, landing on the floor after him.

She didn't say anything, staring at the body with a deathly gaze.

Famine sighed, blood spilling from his head as his body screamed in protest.

The Philosopher's Stone still wasn't even close to recharged either.

"Are you okay?" Pestilence asked him.

Famine said nothing and took a deep breath.

That's right, he was Pe-chan's only ally so if he disappeared, they were as good as dead.

He could not let that happen.

"Sorry, Maro. I really didn't want to hurt you," Famine said softly, black spreading through his body like a disease. It darkened his hair even further and he stood up, purple eyes shifting to red.

Maro's orange iris watched cautiously as he stood up, injuries not healing on his body.

Almost as if sensing a shift, Maro transformed into her hybrid form, just in time to leap away from a giant white claw.

She watched with wide eyes as a snarling wolf lunged at her.

"What...?" she called in confusion, unable to detect its intent with observation.

She yelped in surprise as another wolf crashed into her from behind, tackling her to the floor.

Maro snarled furiously as it bit her right side. The icy cold bite made her narrow her eyes and she howled in fury, erupted in blue flames, making the wolves leap backwards.

The realistic wolves only looked like that because of Modification... but they were really made of ice. Maro watched as they prowled the scene, keeping a safe distance from her but never removing their red eyes.

"Rosan's element is fire... but mine is ice," Famine said softly, as a pure white horse formed next to him. "While he may have just discovered how to use ice... I've always known how."

Maro scowled as the wolves lunged at her, launching herself into the air to avoid them, only to yelp as an icy white bird crashed into her, blocking her vision.

The pure white blue jay wasn't alone. More and more of the birds, that Rosan based his bird spies on, crashed into Maro and continued impairing her.

Before she could erupt in flames, a foot crashed against the right side of her head, sending her careening to the floor.

Her observation began going haywire once more and despite having her vision clouded, the Dokkaebi vanished from her spot, ignoring the crashing noise of what was probably Famine slamming a limb there.

The moment she appeared again, she heard a distorted neigh and a body slammed into her.

Maro, more annoyed then hurt, let out a frustrated snarl and erupted into more flames, burning the birds and getting them off of her.

When she opened her eyes, Maro was met by an army of creatures, staring down at her.

The most notable, was the giant dragon looming over them.

"Conquest," Famine intoned softly, floating stationary as an eastern dragon curled around him.

"Ice and Modification... terrifying combination," Maro thought grimly.

Famine didn't fight similar to Mod or Rosan. He sought to overwhelm in a different way. These ice constructs... powered by his mastery over Modification.

Whereas Rosan was a one man army, Famine could create that army.

The pure white dragon roared, opening its mouth and shooting out a pure beam of ice.

Maro leapt away from the ice, fire burning all around as she attempted to ward off the constructs.

Unfortunately, they seemed moderately resistant to fire.

"I can use fire as well," Famine reminded, pure white flames forming on his fingertips. "It stands to reason my creations would have some resistance."

"Shut up!" Maro snarled, honing in on him. She dashed towards him, still in hybrid form, and counted on her cloak of fire to protect her.

As she closed the distance, jumping in the air to do so, the western dragon made its presence known and smashed her back towards the ground with a giant claw.

At the same time, the fire burning at the tips of his fingers grew in intensity, while the serpentine dragon curled around his hand until it reached his fingers, opening its mouth once more.

In unison, the two of them fired off their blast, white fire and white ice surging forward with crushing intent.

Maro tried to avoid it, but she lost her breath as the pure white horse leapt forward, crashing its hooves onto her sternum.

Famine watched as his attack struck true, fingers still outstretched as a snow white bird landed atop it.

He floated there, just eyeing the dust with the unnerving red gaze on a painted black canvas.

The redhead was unsurprised to see a bleeding Maro standing up and glaring at him.

There were burn marks on her Raid Suit, speaking to the power behind his attack and he watched as the hybrid zoan dusted herself off.

Maro clutched her ribs and glared harshly at the army she was up against.

She took a deep breath and finally, fished out a familiar looking ball.

Then, she dropped it in her mouth and crunched it.

Famine didn't even get to register the fact that Maro slimmed down slightly, before a flash of blue appeared directly in front of him.

He leaned back slightly in surprise, barely avoiding the swipe of the slim club.

Maro, who had blue hair tied with a headband, pushed out a burst of explosive flame that adjusted her height above Famine and swung downwards, colliding with the head of the easter dragon.

She huffed, teleporting a short distance as Famine sent a surge of white fire her way and immediately went invisible, confusing the western dragon greatly.

Famine would not be deterred. He summoned his flames once more and turned to a direction, swiping them sideways and sending a wave of flames towards the location.

Maro appeared and transformed again, transforming into a hulking and huge form of her Dokkaebi, all while her white hair grew to ludicrous lengths. Her club transformed into a shield and she blocked the flames.

A wolf rushed her, only to yelp as her hand lurched out and grabbed its maw.

With an exertion of strength, she crushed its face and tossed it away.

As she was surrounded once more by the creatures, Maro tensed her fist and slammed both onto the ground.

All around her, the earth shook as pillars of blue flames erupted like volcanos, crashing into every grounded creature it could get its hand on.

But Maro wasn't yet finished.

She took a deep breath and her white hair remained, as she transformed back into her human form. She grabbed Daisy, now in the form of a wooden wand and waved it once.

The pillars of flame froze, before Maro ripped them out of the ground and crushed them into a ball.

Mage was her strongest offensive form when it came to actual application. Next to Ninja, it was her most overwhelming transformation.

As the balls of fire surrounded Maro, floating around her witch hat she glared upwards.

Then, Maro teleported from her spot.

Famine expected it. He fired a ball of ice towards the fireball shooting from his left and had his dragon cut off her exit, but she merely teleported again, forcing him to whirl right where she appeared.

Maro launched two more fireballs, aiming her wand like a conductor. They flew towards him and he grunted, extending his hand and summoning a wall of ice that it collided against.

An explosion of steam formed, leaving him completely obscure.

The temporary block of vision made him miss Maro teleporting yet again, this time appearing directly in front of him.

Famine grunted as he erected another wall to block the fireballs but to his genuine surprise, they collided with it... and phased right through.

Maro snarled violently, the tip of her want glowing as she conjured a prison of flames around Famine and the eastern dragon.

"Sorry, Master. I can't pull my punches," she apologized, tensing the complete circular flames and launching it towards the floor.

The noise was thunderous, as the flame prison exploded in a great blaze.

Maro huffed, dodging the furious western dragon and placing a wand against its maw.

It howled as flames suddenly engulfed its entire body, the flames spreading like wildfire.

Maro panted softly, as the effects of the rumble ball wore off and she stared at the floor.

She floated downwards and banished her flames, eyes narrowed in a mixture of sterness and concern.

Famine's body lie there and Maro heard gasps of concern from Angel and Akemi.

She wouldn't lie and say she felt good about this. Maro never wanted to hurt Rosan so badly, especially when his body had already been through so much.

How he could even still move was wondrous to her—

Maro froze as Famine's body made cracking noises but it wasn't the sound of bone repairing itself...

No it was the sound of glass breaking.

She watched in disbelief as Famine's body completely shattered, transforming into ice.

"But... what?" Maro said in disbelief.

"Black Snow."

Maro's wide eyes snapped open and she looked upward.

There, standing in the mouth of the burning dragon, Famine stared down at her.

All around him, white dots began forming and the man sighed sadly.

Then, the dots began forming until they formed a truly massive construct of ice... that looked more akin to a meteor.

"Avalanche."

Maro attempted to teleport away but her attention was taken away, as a furious and giant bear burst out of the ground and wrapped its arms around her.

She struggled weakly but the sound of flight caught her attention and she stared into the merciless red eyes of Famine.

"I'm sorry," was all he said.

With that, he locked her limbs to her sides in a block of ice and vanished, right as the ice crashed into her location.

Maro spat out blood as she was crushed to the floor, eyes rolling to the back of her head as the attack connected squarely with her.

Then, the ice exploded.

Screams of horror rang out as Famine landed on the ground.

Before him, Maro lie there, completely defeated.

"I'm not as strong as Rosan, so I have to fight differently," Famine said softly, serpentine dragon curling around his body once more. "The Famine you successfully struck just now, was just an ice construct... but I know you have Observation so I waited until the perfect moment to swap places with him."

"I'm sorry. It's an underhanded way of fighting... but as I am right now, I cannot meet any of you head to head," he apologized.

"I will do whatever it takes to save the ones I love... even if it means attacking someone else I love. I hope you understand."

----------------------------------------

"MARO!" Angel screamed in distress, rushing her immediately and grabbing the bleeding Queen. "Demon come quick! She's hurt!"

Demon snapped out of his stunned daze, ignoring the way his chest screamed at witnessing Maro and Rosan fighting.

He rushed over to his injured little sister, flinching as he ran past Famine.

Famine said nothing as Angel stared at him, genuine terror in her eyes. His little sister cradled her wife, all while maintaining eye contact with him.

He noticed the tears falling but said nothing, red eyes shifting back to purple as his hair lightened back to blood red.

He wanted to open his mouth but a hand grabbed him.

"We verified their state," Pestilence said, materializing next to him. They sent him a pointed look and he nodded hesitantly.

"Wait!" Aiko shouted, stepping up in disbelief.

Everyone else had been completely silenced at the sight of Maro's defeat.

"Are you really fine with this, Rosan?!" she asked. "Is this really fine with you? The Rosan I know would never hurt his family like this!" she barked furiously, pointing at Maro's prone body.

"...You don't understand... no one understands," he said softly.

"Don't understand what?!" Aiko snarled. "I don't understand why you're beating the hell out of the little girl you found and raised! Could you explain that to me?!"

"I didn't want to fight her," Famine said. "I insisted multiple times that we don't have to fight but she still chose this..."

"Because something's wrong with you!" Aiko shouted. "Do you think this is normal, Rosan?! I don't even recognize you right now! You're walking around with some lady who's terrorizing us and you just dropped a fucking meteor on your practical daughter! Do you think you're in the right here?!"

Famine turned away at that. "It... doesn't matter. I'm going to fix everything."

"Fix... everything?!" Aiko whispered. "FIX EVERYTHING?! LOOK AROUND YOU ROSAN!" she shrieked.

"We just watched you, DIE! We watched you die!" She snarled, slamming a finger against his chest and ignoring the pain.

Famine saw tears in her eyes as she scowled furiously at him.

"We just watched you die... and you come here and pick fights? What's wrong with you?" she whispered, clearly distraught.

"Your brother and sister... they cried and cried because they thought they lost you... and now they're staring at you like you just tried to kill someone they love because you did," Aiko hissed.

Famine flinched back, expression wavering slightly but Aiko was too furious.

"I watched you build up that little girl into this beautiful queen she is and now you're hurting her this badly? Just who are you because Rosan would never attempt to hurt Maro like this."

"..." Famine said nothing and Pestilence snarled, eyes pulsing madly.

"Be grateful," they hissed. "If you were anyone else, you'd be a raving lunatic at my hands."

Aiko flinched back at the hateful glare and Maro's soldiers leapt forward.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Don't... don't fight them," Maro rasped. "There's no point."

They shuddered at her defeated tone and Angel let out a weak sob, holding her wife tightly.

Pestilence's eyes narrowed. "We're done here, Famine. C'mon."

The black haired man nodded softly and they promptly vanished.

"What's… what's going on?" Akemi asked in shock, hating the way her gut curled. It was a terrible feeling... one that kept clawing away and weakening her by the second.

She had never seen Maro and Rosan attack each other with such grimness. In fact, she couldn't even recognize that man.

"I'm sorry guys! I'm not strong enough! I couldn't save Master," Maro sobbed as she broke completely.

The queen let out a terrible wail, body shuddering as grief coursed through her body.

Angel teared up at the heartbroken look on Maro's face and exchanged a fierce kiss with her.

"It's okay honey. You tried your best… I don't know what's going on but Master will be fine," she reassured, tears flowing herself as the overwhelming emotions forced themselves out.

There was just so much going on… Angel didn't know what was going on.

Demon sniffed, wiping the tears from his eyes as Mikita and Zala both comforted him to the best of their abilities.

"C'mon Maro… let's get you checked up," Demon mumbled, watching as Angel lifted up the wailing Queen.

He felt his tears welling up again and collapsed on his knees, letting out a sob as the events of today caught up to him.

The soldiers of Celadon could only watch in despair, as their three leaders broke down.

They bit their lips, unable to muster up anything that could soothe them.

Aiko bit her lip as well.

She stared at the spot Rosan had just been at, before glancing at the almost inconsolable state of her sister. She maintained a tough facade but she knew she wouldn't be able to maintain it for long... because the leaders of Celadon were practically her little siblings and she couldn't stand to see them in such a dreadful state.

"C'mon soldiers," her voice cracked, as she tried to put on a strong front. "Let's put them all somewhere comfortable."

Zala frowned and pulled the ruler of Fregate into a hug, lifting the shorter woman up. "You too, Aiko. I'll bring you somewhere private."

Aiko shuddered at that and shut her eyes, allowing the tall woman to carry her away.

The soldiers could only hope that whatever problem Rosan was going through, was solved by him because they couldn't stand to see their rulers in this state.

They weren't sure what was going to happen to their beloved leaders, if something truly did happen to him. It would be disastrous.

----------------------------------------

"Not gonna go to Robin?" Pestilence asked curiously.

"...No," Famine told them, sitting in the room Aiko tended to reserve for him when he opted to sleep at Fregate.

Seeing as Aiko and Akemi weren't here, Famine would remain here to finish up his business.

"Why?" Pestilence mused. "She's calling you after all."

He said nothing. "Would... would that really be a smart idea?" he asked hesitantly, looking unsure of himself.

Pestilence sighed. "Probably not."

"...Pe-chan. Why does everyone hate me?"

Pestilence froze at that.

"Not a single person wanted to see me," Famine said softly, glancing at their hands. "All of them feared me… all of them want me gone… if even Robin wants that, I'm not sure how I'll be able to react."

Pestilence frowned sadly.

They wrapped an arm around his neck and sat on his lap, gazing at him directly in the eyes.

"You have to understand… you're not the same as that thief. They don't know your story… they don't know the hell you were put through."

"That's... true," Famine said softly.

"Even if they did, didn't I tell you? As long as you have me, there's nothing to worry about. You won't be alone and after all this is over, you'll be free," they reassured softly.

Famine remained silent but nodded, clutching them tightly as he sought reassurance.

"You're right… okay. I'm going to go talk to Robin then," he said. "I just want to see."

Pestilence nodded. "Alone, right?"

The redhead nodded, nursing his heavy injuries with a tired expression. "After all this is over, I'll sleep, okay?"

"You'll be getting an earful first. You've been too reckless today," Pestilence said, waving him off.

He nodded, before his eyes glowed and he vanished.

----------------------------------------

Robin could tell something was wrong the moment she laid eyes on the redhead.

But despite that, she didn't act as reckless as the rest of her family.

"I'm glad you're alive, Rosan," Robin said carefully, staring at the black canvas that was Rosan's sclera.

She was a mess to be honest. Robin was not in the state to do anything but... but right now she needed to think about the bigger picture.

"Robin," Famine said carefully. "You don't need to speak to me like I'm a time bomb. Say what you wish to say. No matter what, I will carry out what I plan on doing."

Robin sighed, hiding the trembling in her body as she replayed all the memories in her head.

"But will you be happy, Rosan?" she asked eventually. "Can you truly risk losing all your loved ones?"

"...I've already lost them," Famine said softly. "The moment they all rejected my existence... no the moment Pe-chan was condemned to death, this was the only path I could take."

So this... was a Rosan who loved Pestilence?

"Even you left me, Robin."

Robin froze at that, shuddering slightly as she was thrown for a loop. "Me...?" she asked quietly.

Famine sighed. "All of this began with you, Robin. The reason for my existence... the reason for Rosan's... it all starts with you. You are the catalyst and even though you promised, you left me," he said flatly.

Robin shut her eyes at that. "You're not being fair Rosan. Just because we're in a relationship, doesn't give you the right to throw such hurtful words at me."

"Stop that. I know you don't see me as Rosan," Famine replied softly. "Just because I'm not him, doesn't mean I don't have all the innate qualities he has."

He watched her with those eyes that could always see more than he let on.

"You say that... but your words truly do hurt. I regret our separation even more than you do, Famine," Robin said finally, turning away from him with a shake of her head. "But regardless. Your trick won't work."

Famine tilted his head. "My trick?"

"Yes, your trick," she said flatly. "You pretend like you're a different person, but you're Rosan until the end. You think I'll allow you to push me away so easily?"

Famine paused at that.

Robin shook her head. "You want to make me hate you so that you can do what you plan on doing with no regret... but I won't make it so easy for you. I already said I won't turn my back on you no matter what... so do what you plan on doing knowing that eventually you'll come back to look me in my eyes."

The redhead faltered at that, staring at her with slightly wide eyes.

Then, he shook his head.

"Liar," he whispered.

Robin stared at him with piercing eyes, before placing a hand on his cheek. "You and I both know that you can detect lies. Who's the real liar here?" she asked knowingly.

Famine jolted out of her grasp and shook his head again, harsher this time.

Without another word, he vanished.

Robin watched him go and instantly sagged down, tired tears forming in her eyes.

She didn't know what was going on. In the first place, Robin hadn't even recovered from the sight of Rosan getting his midsection burned.

Robin wasn't in the right headspace to fix anything. She didn't know what to do at all. She just wanted to fall asleep in Rosan's arms but she couldn't because Rosan was nowhere to be seen.

Yet even despite that... she was left with the task of trying to speak to the Rosan who was not her Rosan...

The Rosan who reminded her of little Rosan. Beneath that somber and mature air... Robin could see it all.

How could she not try to help after that?

"You're so selfish," Robin said to herself. "Just the most selfish boyfriend in the world."

A palm rested gently on her shoulder and she saw the concerned Koala staring at her.

"I know I'm no substitute... but I'm not having the best time either," Koala muttered. "How about you just vent to me until... all this is settled?"

Robin said nothing for a long while before something broke.

"His heart is so big and he's so caring... that he just wants to keep everyone he loves happy and content. But he goes to almost any extent to achieve it, even at the cost of his own health. I love that about him but... a small part of me wishes he was more selfish," she confessed quietly.

Robin felt terrible feeling like this but Rosan was her best friend and boyfriend. Couldn't she be a little selfish when it came to him?

"I know Robin. It must be hard," Koala whispered.

His heart was always so big... but just like Robin at Water 7, Rosan had a hard time seeing how his actions might affect others in the long run.

She hoped he was okay... Robin hoped whatever happened, he'd be okay.

----------------------------------------

"How'd it go?" Pestilence asked curiously.

"...Not like I expected," Famine admitted with a grunt. "But it doesn't matter."

They nodded curiously. "Alright, it's time then."

The two made sure to lie on the bed and shut their eyes, instantly falling asleep.

----------------------------------------

"I can't say I'm surprised about this turn of events."

Mod looked at the duo with furrowed brows, a firm expression on her face.

There were no tears in her eyes anymore. She was no longer crying.

There was just resolve. Resolve to fix this issue.

She had been blocked off from seeing the outside world due to Rosan here and that had verified something to her.

This was Rosan in some capacity. He was the only one with more authority than her when it came to his body.

However, Rosan had still given her quite a lot of control... which was probably why this Rosan couldn't just outright seal her away.

No if he wanted full authority back, he had to go through the safety measures to achieve that.

Aka... fighting her. Mod was the firewall preventing these two from having complete control of this body...

And she would not give it up to them.

Rosan trusted her to deal with Pestilence, so that's what she'd do…

"Pestilence… all I wanted was for us to all get along," Mod said softly. "I thought that since Rosan gave me a new lease at life, you deserved the same…"

"And I got it," Pestilence interrupted. "I have Famine right here. He's all I need and you know what that means? It means you're in the way Modification."

Mod said nothing for a long while. "And what of you Famine? Is this truly what you want?" she asked carefully, peering at him with those knowing red eyes.

She didn't have to have Rosan's immense emotional intelligence, nor his keen eye. Her son would never be able to hide his desires from her.

Famine stared at her. "You left me Mod. Left me all alone."

Mod flinched slightly. "I didn't leave you, Rosan. I would never leave you," she said softly.

"Yet you didn't even know who I was," he replied quietly. "I was all alone... you were going to leave me all alone but Pe-chan saved me."

Mod's expression cracked slightly. "I didn't know, Rosan!" she exclaimed. "Even now, I don't know! I'm so confused! I don't know who you are! I don't know where Rosan is and I don't know what's going on!"

Famine glared at her. "It doesn't matter that you didn't know! You're supposed to know because you refused to let me know! You kept shielding me and forcing me to rely on you... how did you ever expect me to fend for myself when you disappeared."

"And not only that... you never even once planned on telling me about Pe-chan. You never wanted me to find out about them... so I was just supposed to suffer alone," he said coldly.

She wavered at that. Famine was saying all the things she had expected Rosan to say if he had his emotions.

"I'm sorry, Rosan. I thought you were just so young... I didn't expect you to be getting attacked even at that age," she whispered. "I thought I had more time to nurture you properly."

Famine stared coldly at her. "Mom thought that too and she died right before my eyes. You knew that and yet you still followed in her footsteps like a fool."

Mod felt her heart twist at that and she bit back the tears that were forming. "I just wanted what was best for you, Rosan. Rouge raised you so well so I thought—"

"She died when I was 4. She's the reason this mess started," he interrupted, shutting her down. "She's a damn liar. She looked me in my eyes and lied... and then she died."

Mod shuddered at that, gazing at the redhead with wide eyes.

"I was raised by a liar. A liar who kickstarted this spiraling descent," Famine said, fangs bared as anger crossed his features. "And then there's you. You're not a liar but you're just as bad as her because you hide things from me over and over again and you never plan on revealing them. I put my trust in all of you... but none of you EVER trusted me."

Mod stepped back at that, eyes wide and wavering.

Was this... what Rosan thought deep down? It was, wasn't it? That was why Rosan had stopped telling her things in the past 10 years... that's why he admitted to almost losing all his respect for her.

It hurt to hear all those things aloud... it was like speaking to the Rosan who had unleashed all the dissatisfaction that had been buried underneath his river of love.

"I'm not perfect. None of us are," Mod said firmly, wiping the tears. "Rosan of all people knows that no one is perfect... and yet he still forgave me for practically betraying his trust."

It hurt... but that didn't matter. It was a mother's job to care for her children, even when they were in their rebellious phase.

No matter the hurtful things they said... Mod would always be there for her children and this was her son.

"I won't let you have my son's body. You may be Rosan... but you're being guided down the incorrect path," Mod said firmly.

"I'll be the one to correct that and when you finally step back onto the right path, mother will be there waiting with her arms open. Because even if you become the worst person in the world, I'll be there for you."

The woman said nothing else, immediately vanishing from her spot.

Pestilence only had a moment to react, before a punch of all things landed on their cheek, launching them across the air.

The virus yelped in pain at the hellish strength behind the blow, righting themself with wild eyes, before glaring hatefully at Mod.

"I'll make you regret turning your back on me, Mod," Pestilence snarled.

"I apologize for that Pestilence. It was foolish of me... but there are more things for me to worry about then making amends with you at the moment," Mod said softly, purple sparks lighting across her skin.

Mod leapt back with her enhanced speed, avoiding the precise swing from Famine and glowed purple.

A rush of lightning shot out of her hand, careening towards the man and Famine flapped once, before flying away.

She didn't have access to Ram... her power had been reduced by a bit without the girl but that was okay because Mod had access to everything else Rosan had learned.

Famine summoned a wall of ice that blocked the brutal stream of purple flames, before he summoned an army of ice structures once more.

"My unique ability is kind of useless in here," Pestilence muttered, wiping the blood from their mouth as black miasma began rolling off of her.

"Does that truly matter?" Famine asked softly. "She cannot defeat us."

Pestilence grinned wildly, eyes pulsing with madness. "I love your confidence~!"

With that, Pestilence cackled madly and let their black miasma fly free.

"White Plague!" they shouted.

The black chaotic energy consumed everyone of Famine's constructs, painting the snow white creatures black and causing them to grow even more feral and faster in nature.

Mod took a deep breath and steeled herself. She stomped the floor and broke off a piece of the forest's floor, grasping it and transforming it into a lance.

The first thing to reach her was the painted wolves and Mod scowled, lunging forward with the long reaching lance.

The first was unable to close the distance, already getting speared through the mouth by the weapon.

A black inky fluid flew everywhere and she watched as it melted the ground of the mindscapes... but Mod was not deterred, ripping the weapon out and glowing purple with electricity.

"Livewire," she muttered, stabbing the floor with her lance and letting loose a heavy stream of the purple lightning.

She released the lance but the damage was done. The weapon was glowing with the immense amount of electricity, acting as the conductor and the lightning spread all across the floor.

The grounded creatures yelped, seizing up as they were immediately captured by the surging floor.

Pestilence and Famine leapt off the ground, white wings growing from the redhead's back as an inky western dragon flew under the white haired woman.

A familiar serpentine dragon looped around Famine, drenched in Pestilence's corrosive energy and it let out a distorted roar, black spittle flying out.

Famine looked unbothered, red eyes peering at Mod the entire time.

Pestilence grinned wildly, red eyes pulsing maniacally as they watched Mod deal with the grounded creatures.

"Don't bother summoning grounded," they muttered shortly.

"Noted," he said, air freezing around him as flying creatures made their presence known. In the rain of the mindscape, it was dreadfully easy.

Unfortunately, the rain of the mindscape didn't only benefit them.

Mod didn't even let the birds, bugs and bats take in their surroundings. Her eyes glowed brilliantly and she shot a hand into the sky.

A streak of electricity rushed out of the raised hand, rushing high into the sky and Mod's cold eyes latched onto them.

"Emp: Storm!" she shouted.

A thunderstorm formed immediately and rapid bolts of lighting began crashing. The entire sky lit up with the unnaturally colored electricity, riddling the structures created by Famine mercilessly.

Pestilence scowled in annoyance, summoning the black miasma and transforming it into something solid, holding it above their head as a shield. "Seems like she already has an answer for them," they muttered.

"I see," Famine mused. "Very well then."

The air froze around him once more, before forming into a pure white scythe and he grasped it with a single hand.

At the same time, the black miasma formed onto Pestilence's hands, transforming into dangerous sharp and giant claws.

They rushed her at once, storm hampering them greatly but Famine weathered it well in their stead, summoning a shield of white electricity that protected them both.

Mod saw their approach, lightning strikes crashing around her and she narrowed her eyes, black wings sprouting from her back as she flew away from the duo.

Famine's eyes narrowed and he upped his speed, rocketing past Pestilence to immediately close the distance.

He abruptly halted his flight as an inferno of purple flames launched towards him, forcing the redhead to fly out of its path.

By the time the flame dissipated, Mod was nowhere to be seen.

Famine's eyes narrowed, only to glow in rage as Pestilence let out a cry of pain.

He whirled around and saw purple sparks roiling off the virus, Mod behind her with a cruel glint in her eyes.

"You are the weak link," she said assuredly, eyes glowing with fury. "That's why you manipulated Rosan onto your side. To even the balance."

Pestilence snarled and swiped with their claws, meeting nothing as Mod ducked under the wild swing.

Mod retaliated with a swing of her leg, flexibly arcing it through the air from her crouched position and planting the foot directly onto Pestilence's face.

A spurt of blood was released from Pestilence's nose and they skidded back, clutching the appendage with a furious glare.

More black miasma solidified around their body and Pestilence growled ferociously.

They launched themselves at Mod, swiping wildly with their claws as the woman weaved through each one.

"Pe-chan, step back!" Famine shouted. "She's goading you in!"

Pestilence almost ignored the order but they listened just in time to leap back.

They watched with wide eyes as Mod exploded in purple electricity, the burst nearly catching and putting them out of the battle right then and there.

That snapped the virus out of their hazy rage and they leapt to Famine's side, reassessing the clinical Mod.

Right now this wasn't a Mod that could be pushed around. Every move she made was going for the kill... and she was approaching it in the most logical manner appropriate.

When it came to logic, Mod was undefeated in this body.

Famine's eyes narrowed slightly and he stamped the electrical ground.

Mod immediately took flight, avoiding the pillars of spiky ice surging from them. Her movement did not stop there however, as the substance on Pestilence exploding, black ropes lunging after her.

The woman flew threw the air, avoiding the tendrils to the best of her abilities as they tried to grab and wrap around her.

Unfortunately, all of them were inhabitants of the same body so Mod's lightning would never have full effect onto the duo over there. It was only good for keeping the constructs at bay...

But much like how the constructs were somewhat resistant to Maro's fire, so too were they somewhat resistant to Famine's lightning.

Mod let out a yelp of surprise, as a darting bird suddenly crashed into her.

The inky black bird began pecking furiously and Mod hissed in pain as the black splotches began burning her. If not for the fact that this was the mindscape, she'd be in far more trouble...

But that mattered little with who her opponents were.

The black tendrils wrapped around her legs and lifted her, causing Mod's struggles to renew. She let out a cry as they tightened around and burned her but it turned into a cough as she was dragged into a punch.

Mod felt the breath leave her at the impact, staring into the somber gaze of Famine.

She hastily reached out and grabbed Famine's arm, before opening her mouth.

The cough she let out at the breath leaving her, was replaced by a roar, as purple flames rushed out of her mouth and crashed into the redhead.

But it didn't stop there, so intense were the flames, that they incinerated the tendrils grasping her as well.

Mod was released, panting slightly as she clutched her midsection.

She knew that attack wasn't going to do a lot to Famine because he had used the ice dragon around his body to shield him, giving him enough time to don the scales of Ragnarok.

The Devil Fruit was proven correct as the flames were banished.

Famine grunted in pain, burns marking his skin where most people would be reduced to ash. The construct protecting him was nowhere to be seen, completely destroyed by Mod's Annihilation attack.

"Despite everything I said, I really don't like seeing the pain on your face," Famine whispered, ice encasing his body to dull the burns.

"I won't stop," Mod said resolutely. "Not until I figure out what happened to Rosan. Not until I stop you from making the biggest mistake of your life."

"I see," Famine said softly. "Very well then."

Mod didn't know what that meant but she suddenly summoned a wall to block the approaching inky fist.

The wall only lessened the impact, but the fist broke through regardless and crashed against the blocking Mod with crushing force.

Pestilence sneered as Mod flew through the air, before the woman landed on the ground. She tumbled repeatedly before a tail sprouted and jammed into the ground, halting her.

Mod panted, bruises all over. Her vision blurred slightly and she noted that her thunderstorm had stopped.

She leapt back as a spike of ice sprouted from beneath her, tearing her dress due to clipping her and the woman stumbled backwards as a claw attempted to smash her to the ground.

Pestilence was not deterred, leaping forward to close the distance and causing Mod to be put on the defensive.

Mod ducked under a swipe of black claws, only to grunt in pain as the inky black substance spiked out and lengthened, cutting into her despite the initial attack missing.

Pestilence was going to push their advantage, only for the sharp black tail to slap against their face, causing blood to spurt as she was crushed to the floor.

Mod was relentless, wrapping the tail around Pestilence's neck and squeezing.

Pestilence let out a raspy gasp at that, clutching at the appendage with one hand.

Mod exploded in electricity, shocking Pestilence greatly.

The virus howled in pain, before they outstretched their hand, gut punching Mod with a liquid-solid tendril in the shape of a bar.

Mod hunched over at the attack but persisted, electricity holding strong as she attempted to squeeze the life out of Pestilence.

It was not to be however, as a wolf lunged and clamped her leg.

She attempted to ignore it to the best of her abilities, up until another wolf clamped her other leg, while a final wolf crashed into her back.

Mod cried out, loosening her grip enough for Pestilence to break free.

With no regards for the wolves biting Mod, the furious virus backhanded her with a giant hand.

Before she could right herself, she was gripped tightly, bones creaking as the black hand gripped her with crushing force.

"Annoying bitch," Pestilence snarled violently, hoisting her up and slamming her down.

Mod saw stars at the first slam, but that turned into seeing splotches in her vision as the second came... and then the third and finally after the fourth, she was launched away with disdain.

"Give up, Mod. You can't win," Famine said, watching as she shakily pushed herself up, arms slipping and causing her to crash back down. "I don't want to hurt you anymore."

The Devil Fruit panted harshly, blinking rapidly as blood spilled down her head.

Despite that though, she pushed herself up, crying out as her body protested.

"I'll never give up. I'm the one who caused this mess… so I'll be the one who fixes it," Mod said eventually. "I won't let you have your way... Pestilence."

Pestilence scoffed and walked up to the practically defenseless woman, staring down at their former partner.

"You could join us you know," they offered. "Despite everything, I still have a love for you just like how you still had love for me. Why don't you just stop resisting and join us?"

"So I can be your trophy?" Mod countered harshly, spitting out blood as she clutched her ribs. "No thank you. My loyalties lie with the person who sees me as a person, not a whore," she spat.

Pestilence sighed and shook their head. "I never understood why people remained stubborn when facing death. I'm not gonna kill you or anything... but wouldn't you rather be free than imprisoned?" they asked curiously.

Mod glared at her, blood blocking her vision slightly. "It's not about whether I'm free or not. So long as I have something to fight for... I will always fight for it. As long as Rosan's in trouble, I will be there to save him. I am my son's keeper," she said resolutely.

Famine listened to her words and shut his eyes. "I'm your son too you know," he replied quietly.

Mod shook her head. "If you were truly my son... we would never have gotten to this point," she said softly, coughing more blood.

"...I see," Famine said simply, turning away from her.

"Last chance, Mod," Pestilence warned.

"...Pestilence," Mod said softly. "Go fuck yourself."

...

Pestilence clenched their jaw in annoyance at that.

"Wrong answer. Foolish to the end... you truly are his mother alright," Pestilence sneered, raising their claws up high to pierce Mod.

"A shame. You really would have been such fine eye candy."

The virus swung down, intent on impaling her and getting sweet revenge… but she was unable to because of the strong grip grabbing their arm.

Then, the virus let out a wheeze of pain, as a punch crashed against their sternum, launching them away from Mod.

"Pe-chan!" Famine shouted in surprise, eyes widening in confusion before he was summarily kicked in the face.

The redhead was launched back, catching himself and feeling his disbelief growing.

Mod, whose eyes were shut, slowly opened them in confusion at the short scuffle.

What she saw, brought a fresh surge of tears through her eyes and Mod let out a strangled sob of disbelief.

"Two on one is a bit unfair don't you think…"

Rosan's eyes blazed in fury, sharp teeth bared as he smashed a foot into Pestilence's side, causing the virus to get sent flying backwards.

"...Especially when the person you're fucking ganging up on is my mother!" he snarled furiously, genuine rage in his eyes at hearing the pained sobs of Mod.

Pestilence gasped in agony, as they were launched backwards, halting their flight as they were caught out of midair.

"Are you okay?" Famine asked gently, rubbing the spot they were kicked at gently as a scowl of fury formed on his face.

"I'm fine," Pestilence replied, pushing themself up in disbelief. "But how is he here?!" they shouted.

Rosan sneered and turned towards Mod.

The Devil Fruit was looking at him with wide eyes, tears spilling up as her bloody lips wobbled.

Seeing her like this... the redhead immediately hoisted and engulfed the woman in a deep and heavy hug.

"I'm sorry for being late, Mod-chan," Rosan said in that voice of his, squeezing her gently as regret laced his tone. "You got all hurt because you were defending me."

"I-I had to!" Mod stammered, feeling her emotions well up at hearing his voice again. "This was the mess I caused a-and I knew you were still out there."

"I'm glad you never gave up. I knew I could rely on you... To the end, you fought for me. Thank you for giving me time, mom."

Mod sniffed. "Of course, son. I'd do it all a million times if I had to..."

Mod couldn't hold it back and let out a sharp wail, tears spilling as she furiously hugged her son. She gripped him with all her might and placed a flurry of kisses all over his face, smothering the redhead in love and relief.

"R-Rosan!" she sobbed, threatening to sag in his hold. "I thought… I-I thought you were. W-When I saw what happened I just —"

Another sob ripped through her body and Rosan's gaze softened drastically, taking one eye of his enemies to gaze at his mother.

"I thought I was done for too," he said truthfully, tucking her protectively into his frame as he gently kissed her bloodied head.

"I'll explain what happened to me soon… but first things first…"

Mod sniffed and nodded, a fierce expression on her face as she stepped back and turned towards the nervous Pestilence and furious Famine.

"You," Famine snarled, eyes lit in fury.

"Me," Rosan replied easily, eyes smoldering with rage.

"Pestilence. I tried. I really did," Rosan said, red flames licking his injured body. "I tried to forgive you because that's what Mod-chan would have wanted me to do. That's what Meiko would have wanted me to do."

Famine flinched at that name.

"I offered to let bygones be bygones. You saved this body... and I thought maybe it was possible to coexist with you," Rosan said truthfully.

His expression darkened. "And then your head got too big for you. Now, I'm going to rip you to shreds. Limb from limb, bone to bone. I'm going to skin you until nothing remains," he promised, flashing his incredibly sharp teeth.

Pestilence shuddered at that, only for a figure to step in front of them.

"You aren't laying a hand on them," Famine snarled, eyes boiling.

Rosan stared at the person with his face, properly gauging them for the first time. "And who the fuck is this supposed to be?" he asked with a confused expression. "Making a copy of me? Did you really think that was going to stop me?"

"Copy...?" Famine whispered in quiet rage. "I'm not a copy, you thief," he hissed, temperature dropping around him.

"Thief...?" Rosan raised a brow again.

Mod tugged him slightly. "I... I don't know how Rosan. I thought Pestilence got to you first and fully corrupted but seeing you here now... I think you two are both Rosan. He... reminds me of you when you had no emotions a bit," she said slowly.

The redhead pursed his lips at that and gauged the man, noting those pure white wings on his back.

Wait... pure white?

Rosan's eyes widened in realization.

Oh... Oh! That's why it had been so impossible to open the castle!

"Mod-chan… do you remember all those years ago, when Luffy said a big piece of me is missing?" he asked her randomly.

Mod nodded in confusion, before her eyes widened in realization. "You mean he was talking about him?!" she asked in disbelief.

"I don't know how Luffy knew but yeah. I think this is what he meant," the redhead nodded, raking a hand through his air.

So that's what the castle was housing. It was holding another piece of him… and judging by those pure white wings…

"This might be where all my innocence went... that explains why my shift didn't seem abnormal to me despite feeling like it should," the redhead informed her. "I think this is my light half."

"Does that mean... you're the dark half?" Mod asked, shock set on her features.

So that's why his wings were pitch black… That's why Rosan had become so cruel.

That's why he grew to hate Robin so irrationally, there had been no love to balance out how hurt he was!

"It all makes so much sense!" Mod exclaimed, turning wide eyes towards Famine. "But then... then why does he act like this? If he's your innocence, not even Pestilence's influence should have changed him."

Rosan was mulling that over as well, until a keyword stuck out to him.

Thief.

"Ah, I get it," Rosan sighed, locking eyes onto Famine.

"What is it?" Mod asked.

The duo of Pestilence and Famine just watched, preparing for the next course of action.

"Mod-chan, what was the castle housing?" Rosan asked.

Mod's brows furrowed. "Your emotions."

He nodded. "But my emotions aren't just some ball of energy. Something had to house them."

"Yes... it was likely Famine housing all of them," she replied. Despite the situation, Mod did love bouncing things like this between the two.

"Right... but am I still emotionless?" Rosan asked curiously.

Mod immediately shook her head. "No... in fact you have nearly all... your... emotions," she replied slowly, realization dawning on her face.

"So what does this Famine have?" Rosan asked finally.

"Your emotions... they can't be in two places at once," Mod muttered. "So if I had to guess, when one gains, another loses. That would mean, that as you lost chains and gained your emotions back..."

"I lost them," Famine finished coldly.

Pestilence snarled. "You selfish asshole, discarding all those crushing emotions at your convenience and only taking them back when you feel like it," they growled in genuine hatred.

"You have no idea what Famine has gone through. You forced him into that castle, forced him to store your emotions and now you think you can just take them away whenever you want?!"

Rosan hummed at that. "I see now. We cannot exist at the same time," he said finally. "Because if we both exist, one of us are doomed to suffer."

"Exactly," Famine said, air solidifying around him as he grabbed the frozen blade out of midair. "And if I cease to exist, you will do whatever you want with Pe-chan. I cannot allow that to happen. I will fight you with all I have and regain what was rightfully mine."

Mod bit her lip at that, mind racing at the revelations.

"What are we going to do?" she asked turning towards her son, feeling so much more confident at seeing his fearless visage.

"What to do? We're gonna beat the shit outta them of course," Rosan promised.

Mod jolted at that, eyes wide.

"Light half this, thief that… they hurt you," he said darkly, red flames surging from his body as he tenderly held her cheek. "I won't let them get away with that. Just follow my lead, Mod-chan. We'll deal with the complicated stuff after."

This was why… this was why Mod would forever be eternally loyal to Rosan. Nothing would ever make her change her allegiance.

Rosan was hers and she was his.

"Okay!" Mod said, eyes glowing brightly as a fierce and cocky grin made its way to her face. "We'll figure out the complicated stuff later. For now, let's show them a glimpse of our teamwork!"

Rosan's grin matched hers and he locked his eyes onto both his opponents.

"Famine was it?" Rosan called. "Fitting. A person doomed to have things taken from them, until they are left starving. You have never felt fulfilled... that name truly does suit you."

The redhead's eyes flashed violently. "But I am War. I'll show you exactly why my title suits me."

Famine's anger grew at that, sculptures forming around him. "War you say... very well then, War. I will give you an army to fight against."

Rosan grinned cockily, unbothered by that. He simply slammed a fist against his palm challengingly.

"There's a reason I'm the one who took control of our body. You're too weak to handle the world that I've braved all these years. Now come. Be a good little brother and accept what's coming your way."

----------------------------------------

Bonus!

----------------------------------------

"So your siblings hate you?"

Raisa scowled at that, hammering away at her ship with more force than necessary, not that she realized.

A hand grasped hers and Raisa whirled around, baring her fangs at Cutter.

"Don't touch me," she hissed.

Cutter sighed at her prickly attitude, used to it by now. If she wasn't in a sour mood, she was sleeping and even then she was probably still in a sour mood.

"Hey, calm down Red—"

"I told you that my name is Raisa!" the princess barked in annoyance. "You're supposed to be helping me fix this ship, not prying into my fucking life!"

The black haired man held his hand up in a gesture of surrender. "I am helping you fix the ship. You were smashing the hammer too hard on it. Anymore and you would have damaged it instead of fixed it"

Raisa blinked at that, turning towards the spot she had been hitting and noting that it was looking close to splintering completely.

"..." Raisa ignored the way her face warmed and slammed the hammer on the floor.

"I'll be right back. I don't have time to deal with your bullshit," she scowled, transforming into her hybrid form to fly off.

She was not going to destroy that ship. Raisa knew what she was doing. She was a princess... she merely hit it with the best force necessary to speed up the process.

It was all calculated. Raisa never messed up.

"Raisa," Cutter called out.

The princess paused in frustration.

"What do you want?" Raisa bit out, turning to glare at the man who annoyed her to no end.

"You realize how completely unreasonable you act, right?"

She froze and realized Cutter wasn't smiling anymore. He was just looking at her with a disappointed frown.

"I don't know what your deal is but I didn't sign up to be a punching bag," Cutter told her calmly, crossing his arms. "I'm just on an isolated island, all by my lonesome, training. If you're really hellbent on acting like this, then you should probably leave. That would be the best for both of us. I'm sure you understand the basics enough to fix the ship on your own."

Raisa shuddered at that, eyes wide at his words. She felt a weird knot in her belly at that, not liking the feeling whatsoever.

"Wait..." Raisa mumbled, not expecting such things to be said to her. "You can't say that..."

She was a princess. Raisa didn't get rejected. Whatever Raisa wanted, she got. Such was her right as a princess. And if Raisa's status as a princess wasn't enough to deem her worthy, then her status as a fighter surely would.

Because Raisa was not only a princess. Raisa was a warrior.

The redhead ran things on both ends, through politics and might. If her words did not help, then her claws certainly would.

So how dare this random man try and talk to her like this?! How dare he look down on her? Who did this commoner think he was?!

"How dare you speak to me like that?!" she snarled, landing back on the floor immediately and glaring up at him.

Cutter was tall, an imposing 6'8 compared to her 5'11.

But Raisa would never allow herself to cowed by such measly physical traits.

She pressed a sharp nail against the man's chest, knowing she could poke a hole into him if she so wished. "Show me some respect! The nerve of you to speak to me like I'm trash! Do not lump me in with anyone else you may have spoken to!"

Cutter rolled his eyes, completely nonplussed by her attitude. "I'm speaking to you like a human being, Raisa. Learn to be a little more humble. You can't expect people to let you talk to them any type of way."

Raisa scowled. "I can speak to anyone I want in anyway I fucking feel like! What are they going to do about it?!"

"Nothing probably... but I guess that explains why you don't have friends," Cutter sighed.

Raisa's eyes went red in rage and she launched herself recklessly at Cutter. "You stupid son of a bitch! I'll show you why I have no friends!"

Cutter's eyes widened in surprise and he grunted as Raisa tackled him to the floor.

He felt a pulse of excitement at the immense strength she wielded.

"Do you have any idea what you're doing?" he asked, pushing her grabbing hands back.

"Getting ready to kill you! I have no friends because I am unmatched!" she snarled, purple eyes pulsing in time with her rage.

"I'm not gonna pull my punches, Red," he warned her one time only. "If it's a fight you want, then it's a fight you'll get."

"Good! I've been stressed and since you called yourself a punching bag, it's finally your time to prove me wrong!"

"AND MY NAME IS RAISA!"

----------------------------------------

Raisa and Cutter both panted, laying on the ground as bruises and cuts donned both their bodies.

"You're... not as worthless as I thought you were," Raisa admitted begrudgingly, feeling light at the thrilling and exciting battle.

"And you're a terrifying prodigy. You're only 16? Hard to believe." Cutter laughed disbelievingly, body thrumming from that.

"...The last person who couldn't believe I was 16 thought so for reasons that ended with me bisecting him... but yes. I am 16," Raisa admitted bitterly. "It's the reason my siblings hate me."

Cutter turned towards her at that. "Because you're talented?"

She nodded, refusing to let the sadness she felt show. "I was born exceptional... I always have been above my peers. At just the age of 6, I was capable of contending with my fathers guards. Once I ate my Devil Fruit, it was no longer a challenge for me."

Raisa scowled bitterly. "But my siblings were not the same as me. Neither were gifted at battle like I was. They weren't even capable of pushing the guards to break a sweat, like I could. My parents took note of that... I was given nearly all the attention that should have been split between the three of us."

It took Raisa awhile to realize how much they favored her. They had begun showing it to her at 5, when she was capable of comfortably defeating Oren in one on one combat despite his two year lead on her.

They had blamed Oren for being a man, even father because Father could not defeat Mother and Mother was the true ruler of that island. After all, it was unheard of for the Iris line to give birth to men. It did not help that Oren, while talented for his age, was unable to contend with his younger sister.

When Dalia had become eligible to battle, her parents had high hopes for Raisa's younger sister. Surely someone that was practically glued to the hip with their prodigy of a daughter, would show the same talents she had...

But Dalia didn't have that talent either. She was even weaker than Oren.

That was when her parents decided that Raisa would be the one to inherit the throne. That was when they decided to focus their attention onto just her.

She had been 7 when that happened. It was only at 9 did she realize her siblings were being neglected due to the attention Raisa was being showered in.

At the mere age of 9, Raisa took it upon herself to try and include her siblings into things. Due to her gifts and talents, her parents never truly had a problem when it was Raisa who wanted it...

She had always been nice to her siblings, but the princess had gone out of her way to try and make them feel loved.

Too bad it didn't do a damn thing at all. They still hated her until the end... Oren hadn't even said goodbye when he left two years ago.

Raisa doubted she'd even see her little sister when she arrived at Wisteria again.

"That's not your fault. You didn't ask for any of that," Cutter said suddenly.

Raisa jolted in surprise at that, staring at Cutter with wide eyes.

The man sighed and shook his head. "All of you are kids so none of you are to blame... but you're the only one who tried to make things right out of your entire family. You tried on your end but they refused... that's no longer your fault," he said reassuringly.

"...Really?" Raisa asked quietly, not believing what she was hearing.

Cutter chuckled and pat her head. "It's not on you anymore. You're a nice girl Raisa so your arms will always be open for them... so it's on them to mend your fractured relationship. You did your best but sometimes, you gotta let people walk on their own."

Raisa listened to his words and silently pondered them, feeling inexplicably warm.

"I'm... sorry for being such a bitch to you," she said eventually.

Cutter snorted and it broke out into abrupt laughter. "Kahahaha!"

Raisa felt a vein of annoyance form at that and snarled at him, smoke puffing out of her mouth warningly. "Stop laughing at me you damn bastard! I'm trying to make amends!"

Cutter kept laughing at her. "Sorry it's just... I didn't expect you to say that! You're a strange friend, Raisa!"

Raisa opened her mouth and shut it as she realized a smile was threatening to form.

"Friend?" she repeated.

He nodded. "Yeah, you clearly need a friend and I don't actually think anyone else would be able to deal with you, so I'll be your friend. You don't have to be so lonely anymore."

Raisa felt her chest tighten at that. "Friend..."

To her surprise, she felt tears welling up but she forced them down, lest Cutter think her a weakling.

Queen's weren't supposed to cry after all—

Raisa went still as she was pulled into a hug.

"It's okay to cry you know? I won't think any less of you," Cutter said patiently.

Raisa shuddered at that, before the floodgates opened and tears fell down her eyes. She cried silently, but the shudder of her body would not fool anyone.

"Thank you," she whispered, squeezing him.

Cutter pat her head gently. "Don't thank me. This is what friends do," he said bluntly.

----------------------------------------

Raisa looked at her repaired ship with a conflicted expression.

On one hand, she was proud because the ship looked perfectly fine... but on the other hand, it meant she had to leave.

Raisa wasn't sure she wanted to leave.

"Lot on your mind?" Cutter asked knowingly.

"Yeah," she said honestly, sounding far more casual than before. "It's a little bittersweet... I won't lie."

They had taken about 3 months to repair the ship completely and in that time, Raisa and Cutter had become quite close.

It felt good to have a friend. Raisa had never had one. Royalty did not need friends, they needed loyal subjects. That's what her parents hammered into her over and over again.

She had confided with him, they had trained with each other and Raisa had learned about a life that extended beyond being the inheritor of the throne.

It felt... nice. It was the best Raisa had felt in her entire life.

She was so glad to have met Cutter... which was why it hurt so much to say goodbye.

"Cutter I—" Raisa cut herself off abruptly.

She wanted Cutter to come with her but as much as she hated to admit this... Raisa just couldn't help him.

Raisa couldn't help that anger inside of him. She tried... she really did, but there was nothing she tried that stemmed that inferno inside of him that he hid so well.

Raisa wasn't emotionally intelligent enough to help Cutter. Being emotionally intelligent wasn't something one could learn... it was an innate gift.

Cutter was emotionally intelligent.

Raisa was not.

So she needed to say goodbye.

"Thanks for keeping me company. It's been a while since I had someone to talk to," Cutter grinned, patting her head.

Raisa shuddered, before she broke and pulled the man into a tight hug.

"Thank you for being my friend, Cutter," she murmured, shuddering slightly. "I... I appreciate it. I've never felt so happy so... thank you."

Cutter stared down at her, those gold eyes of his shining with an unknown emotion. Then, he smiled slightly.

"Of course, Red. Everyone needs a friend. Now that you know how to be a good one, go out there and make some more."

Raisa sniffed and squeezed him tightly again. "Let's meet each other again, alright?" she demanded, big purple eyes glaring at him.

Cutter noted that they were always glowing, regardless of if she were active or not. It made it look like she was always about to attack someone.

"Of course. I need to leave this place once in a while anyways," he said, releasing her.

Raisa nodded. "It's no good to have no friends," she scolded, floating up towards her ship. "You need to make some too!"

"Sure sure," he waved, golden eyes glinting in amusement.

Raisa grinned happily, wiping the slight tears. "Bye Cutter! Next time you see me, I'll kick your ass! I'll be the strongest around!"

"I look forward to it, prodigy," he announced.

She kept waving even as she left his line of sight and Cutter sighed, smile leaving his face.

It was nice to talk to someone once in a while. He hadn't spoken to anyone since he killed every inhabitant on this island.

Raisa... what a talented girl she was. She was a real monster with that Devil Fruit too.

"Back to training," Cutter grunted, turning away from the sea.

Roger wasn't going to just die by his lonesome. Raisa had been a great training partner over the months but he needed more.

A prodigy... Cutter wished he was a prodigy like Raisa was.

Life would have been far easier if so.