"Stupid dumbass pirates!"

The violent sound of a bone breaking was music to her ears, as she violently stomped on this one's midsection.

All around her, the battered and broken bodies of the crew she just got in a fight with lie there and she huffed in disgust.

Some were shredded, both by her wind and claws, others were burnt and many were choking on their own spittle or screaming in agony as the poison really began to take effect.

Hmph. Deserved for daring to attack her while she was trying to enjoy a bath.

These damn idiots... they had greatly damaged her ship! What was wrong with them?!

"Who's going to answer for this?!"

The body underneath her groaned in agony and she huffed, realizing that she let her anger get the best of her.

Well, no matter. A ship this filled with people, was bound to have a plethora of supplies and that would certainly include things to repair a ship.

"I'll be permanently borrowing everything you own, not that you have a problem with that," she sniffed, idly moving her soaked long hair to the back of her head.

At the very least, the battle had done a good job in drying her off but still...

16 year old Iris D. Raisa, tightened the towel around her frame and huffed as her scales vanished off her frame, making way for bronze skin.

"A woman can't even enjoy a bath these days without being interrupted. You'd think the sea life would be better than at home but it might as well be the same!" she scowled.

The princess wasted no time raiding the ship for all it had, all while wrapped only in a towel. As she flew back and forth with the supplies, she gained a clear idea of what to do.

Unfortunately in her rage, she had destroyed the pirates ship to a very intense degree and even now, it was sinking more and more.

Her ship was still fixable. It would take some time, but she could eventually repair and set sail once more...

So she would just bring it to an island and repair it. Should be pretty easy.

Logically she should probably just fly back to the Grand Line and get a new ship... but she was having fun in the New World! This fight had actually made her break a sweat...

Though, none of them could pierce her scales so she remained unharmed.

Raisa grinned cockily at the win. If she remembered, this crew had been quite notable as well and even they stood no chance against her!

It always did feel intoxicating to assert her superiority over others and traveling these seas was even more fun!

There was a freedom to it that Raisa had never felt. She didn't feel the stifling gaze of her parents, nor did she feel the resentful gaze of her siblings...

No, she was just alone and free and she loved that...

Well, she hated being alone more than anything but for now it was fine!

Pfft... and Grandma Gloriosa said she'd need a navigator! Yeah right! Raisa could do it all!

"Thank you for your supplies," Raisa sneered at the ship after plundering them for all they had. "Here, a reward from your new Queen."

She flicked her hair and turned her back to them and at the same time, a giant gust of razor sharp winds began shredding the ship.

"Filthy assholes," she muttered under her breath, putting on a pair of long pants and a long sleeved crop top. "Now I have to take another bath... After I find an island to park the ship."

...She was going to have to lift the ship wasn't she.

A huge burst of flames collided with the already heavy winds destroying the ship, before the huffing Raisa lifted the ship, transforming into her full Zoan to transport it.

The princess, who was now in a foul mood, flew away from the fiery blaze she caused, muttering obscenities under her breath the entire time.

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

It took Raisa about 2 hours to find an island and she had to try very very hard to not break her ship even further parking it on the land.

She transformed back into her human form and glanced at the ship in annoyance.

Who knew how long it was going to take to fix this?

Raisa wasn't even aware of how to fix a ship... she could do very basic repairs but this looked a lot more than simple.

The princess shook her head violently.

Mother and Father would love to hear that she was in need of assistance and Raisa would die before she made it appear of so.

She was better than them. No one was like Raisa... no one was like her.

"That's why your brother and sister hate you."

Raisa sucked in a breath and banished those heinous thoughts before her observation went haywire.

Eyes narrowed, the foul tempered Queen whirled around, eyes transforming into slits.

"State your purpose now before I burn you to cinders," she warned.

The person, a man, raised his brow and put his hands into the air with an amused smile.

"Kahaha! You know... it's rude to intrude on a person's space and then treat him like the intruder," the man said dryly, golden eyes flickering over to the ship briefly.

Raisa scowled, ignoring the flush on her cheeks at the truth of his words.

"That doesn't change what I said. What do you want?" she demanded.

He was sweaty and his breath was slightly uneven. Upon closer inspection, Raisa deduced that he had been doing some type of physical labor...

"Nothing in particular," he replied easily. "I was training when I saw a giant figure approaching. That giant figure then turned into a sassy girl who began grilling me without even introducing herself."

Raisa scoffed and rolled her eyes. "It's proper to give your name first. I'll consider giving you mine depending on my mood."

The black haired man gazed at her, sharp and golden eyes mildly interested.

"Rocks D. Cutter. Nice to meetcha," he said easily.

D? This man had the D initial like her?

Raisa grunted and turned away from him, not giving a damn that they had matching middle names. "Do not worry about me. I will have this fixed in no time at all, then I'll be gone."

Cutter laughed slightly at that. "Do you even know how to repair a ship?" he asked curiously.

She whirled on him with a glare. "Do not patronize me. I don't recall saying we could continue this conversation," she warned with narrowed eyes.

Cutter stared at her glowing purple eyes with curiosity, wondering if she were about to activate an ability of sorts before holding his arms out placatingly.

"No ones patronizing you here," he informed her. "Fixing a ship is hard work and you're in the New World alone. It'll take you a long time and I have nothing better to do."

"I don't need your help," Raisa denied. "I don't need anyone's help. I'll be fine just alone."

Cutter peered at her, expression shifting into something more contemplative.

"I don't like liars. I especially don't like liars who lie to themselves," Cutter said calmly.

Raisa froze and then a fierce scowl made its way to her face.

"You're accusing me of being a liar? If you knew what I was capable of, you'd watch your tongue," she snarled, clenching her fist and turning towards him.

He looked calm but Raisa knew it was merely artificial. None could hide from her eyes.

To anyone else, they would have seen a calm man... but to Raisa she saw someone trying so very hard to restrain themselves, even placing a mask on to do so.

This man had a lot of gall to call Raisa of all people a liar. Raisa was the one who called out people on their lies.

"You claim to be fine alone but it doesn't look like that to me," Cutter said truthfully. "You managed to convince yourself that but... I don't think that's what you actually want."

"We've spoken for 5 minutes! What do you think I could possibly want?" Raisa scowled furiously, set on taking her ship and finding another island.

"How about a friend?" Cutter tried slowly.

Raisa snorted disbelievingly. "A friend?"

Her? Raisa? Next in line to inherit the throne of her island? She needed a friend?

Raisa did not need a friend. Not anymore.

"Everyone needs at least one friend," Cutter said with a wistful expression.

Raisa's body lurched at that and she gazed at this Cutter with a guarded expression.

"My brother was my best friend you know? The only friend I had. I was a weak kid growing up. Easy to pick on," he admitted.

"How sad," Raisa said, utterly unmoved. "My older brother hates me because I'm better than him and I was born a girl. I don't suffer the same things you do."

Maybe if Oren had been born a girl... her parents wouldn't have treated him so harshly. It was exceedingly rare for the Iris to give birth to boys and Oren had been their first.

Raisa shook her head harshly.

That wasn't her fault. She could not be blamed for that.

"Sorry to hear that you and your brother don't have a good relationship. Having a reliable older brother helps a lot," Cutter said genuinely. "My older brother was nothing like me. He was a real charismatic guy and I'm not."

"...Was?" Raisa asked, unable to hide her curiosity.

For a moment, Raisa saw a glimpse past that mask Cutter had carefully crafted and what she saw, left her stunned.

Pure, unbridled hatred. Raisa, someone who was so intune with the emotions of people, nearly took a step back as she was swept up by the torrent of malice that this man radiated...

But it disappeared in an instant and she could only gaze warily at the strange man.

"Yeah he's dead now," Cutter said eventually. "I watched him die. Was too weak to do a damn thing, that's why I'm here training."

"..." Raisa didn't quite know what to say.

She had never felt weak. Raisa had always felt strong. She was strong. Her parents made sure she knew she was, her siblings hated her for it...

She had no friends because of it...

"Would you... assist me in repairing my ship?" she said lamely, not knowing what to say. Raisa was fairly sheltered growing up and most of her casual conversations had been derived from this trip.

She had met many people while traveling through the oceans but knowing the correct thing to say alluded her still.

But to her slight relief, Cutter just stared at her and broke out into a laugh.

"Kahaha! Sure thing, Red. I can help out. I've repaired my ships quite a bit over the years," he said eventually, flashing her a crooked smile.

Raisa nodded before pausing. "Red? Why are you calling me Red?"

"Because that's the color of your hair," Cutter said easily.

She scowled in annoyance. "Raisa. Call me Raisa. That is my name so use it or else."

"Raisa..." Cutter tested the name on his lips. "That's a nice name," he said eventually.

"Of course it is. It's my name after all," she sniffed. "Now come assist me. The damages look extensive."

"Sure thing, Raisa. Here, let me run a quick inspection."

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

Rosan, unlike everyone else, was completely at ease with the situation currently taking place.

Actually, you could say he even found the whole thing kind of funny.

The only one who seemed remotely as unaffected by the situation, was Ram herself. She was watching the whole thing with an almost curious gaze.

Rosan even felt her excitement at the ensuing drama. His daughter had been reading far too much books for her own good.

At least she read more than romance.

While Ram was on one end of the spectrum... the same could not be said about his mother. Right now, Rosan was almost being overwhelmed by Mod's emotions. She was stewing with rage, anxiety and nervousness. It washed over him in a torrent and the emotionally unstable Rosan had to do everything to not let it overwhelm him.

Surprisingly, it wasn't too difficult. His errant emotions were bad but honestly, ever since being accepted by the Straw Hats... Rosan found them more tolerable. Maybe the positive emotions were balancing out with his negative ones.

They were still completely uncontrollable though. That was gonna need some work.

"Mod-chan, be calm. You're panicking," Rosan instructed gently.

Ram put a hand on the wide eyed Mod and the woman let out the breath she didn't know she had been holding.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to overwhelm you, it's just…"

"You're nervous," Rosan finished her train of thought idly.

Both Mod and Raisa flinched at his voice, but for Raisa it was infinitely worse.

She was forced to hold the gaze of her heterochromatic son and it was turning her dizzy, drinking in every little detail about him in person.

The way his spiky hair jutted downward, the way his head was slightly tilted in curiosity, the way his eyes shone sporadically, shifting constantly in intensity...

Raisa distantly realized that she had never felt such a way before and it was flooring her.

Her? Nervous? Raisa hadn't… she hadn't ever felt nervous before and yet here this man was, telling her like he was sure of it, that she was nervous.

"What is… State your purpose. What are you doing on Wisteria?" Raisa asked eventually, trying to calm down her errant emotions at seeing her son in the flesh.

This was surreal. Never in her life, did Raisa think she was ever going to see her son. But here he was, standing a few feet away from her with those bright eyes that were a different color and a knowing smirk on his face.

He was beautiful... Raisa couldn't take her eyes off of him and as she once more made eye contact with the redhead, his smirk seemed to widen slightly.

"My purpose?" Rosan mused, humming as he contemplated that question.

Kami, his voice was so deep and that humming sounded so pleasant…

What was Raisa to do, when the source of her recent obsession was staring at her right now? What was she supposed to do, now that the son who had plagued her mind for years was in front of her?

"I have no purpose here," Rosan said truthfully, shrugging his shoulders.

"...What?" Raisa couldn't help but mutter in confusion. "Then... why are you... how are you here? How... do you even know where here is?"

Rosan raised a brow at the unsure tone. "I didn't come here of my own volition. I didn't even know where I was until Oren told me."

The redhead inclined his head towards Oren at the end of that statement.

"S-So how did you end up here?" Dalia asked hesitantly, looking back and forth between mother and son.

Did Rosan even realize? Did he have an inkling that he was currently talking to his mother? He had to have a clue... right? Those two looked the exact same!

If he really did know then... why was he so at ease with the situation? Dalia had frequently called him her nephew and they clarified it when they introduced themselves... but he just had a small smirk on his face as he practically made Raisa (RAISA OF ALL PEOPLE!) squirm in place.

Rosan's piercing gaze landed on Dalia and he tilted his head in a manner that reminded Dalia of Raisa herself.

"Bartholomew Kuma."

Rosan was not the one who said that.

Raisa was staring at the giant paw shaped imprint on her ground with wide eyes.

"You were sent here by Bartholomew Kuma," she stated.

Rosan scowled at the reminder. He had no clue what Kuma's deal with him was but that asshole was pushing it.

"Yeah, I was," he said truthfully.

"Bartholomew Kuma? The Warlord?" Oren asked in concern. "Why would he send you here?"

"Ask him," Rosan sneered. "He's been terrorizing me for a bit. No clue what his deal is but clearly he knows about my relations with this island."

Rosan frowned deeply. Was his crew okay? He had been the first one sent away and Rayleigh had been holding back Kizaru…

No they were fine… but just in case he needed to go check up on them —

"A pirate."

Rosan paused at that, curiosity making its way to his face as he gazed at Raisa.

She was staring at him sternly and he raised a brow at the scowl on her face.

"Of all the things… you chose to become a pirate," Raisa stressed, unable to resist mentioning it.

Mod's eyes narrowed dangerously at the tone Raisa was taking, already willing to take over Rosan's body and make good on her vow to destroy this woman.

"Yeah, I did. What about it?" Rosan asked in return, a little confused by her confusion.

That seemed to further incense the Queen and she began glaring at her child.

"You have the beauty, the skills, the drive… and you wasted it all on becoming a pirate. Just what were you thinking, Iris D. Rosan?" She asked incredulously, clenching her fist at the reminder.

Rosan's gaze darkened.

Dalia and Oren became increasingly nervous.

"First things first," Rosan said coldly. "I'm fucking sick and tired of people getting my name wrong. You of all people should know that I don't go by Iris. My name is and always will be Portgas D. Rosan. Get that right or else," he stressed with a sneer.

Raisa reeled back slightly.

"Portgas?" she whispered to herself, unable to ignore the stabbing feeling at hearing him disavowing his birth name.

"Next," Rosan said nonplussed, glaring at her with a frown. "You don't get to condemn any decision I've made in my life, Raisa. I became a pirate because my family, my real family, saw something in me that I never saw. I don't give a fuck whether you approve of that or not. Do you think I consider youmy mother? Why the hell do I care about your opinion of me?"

Dalia winced at that. Guess he really did know she was his mother... but he didn't claim her at all. This was bound to go extremely south because despite everything, Rosan was at the forefront of Raisa's mind and considering how hostile the situation was getting.

Oren sighed. Raisa was in no place to judge Rosan's decisions... but she still cared for him. If that were the case... she shouldn't have abandoned him in the first place. He understood where she was coming from, but it was still a dumb decision.

Do you think I consider you my mother?

Raisa froze as soon as Rosan said those words.

That's right… for all intents and purposes, Raisa and Rosan were strangers. Why was she so hung up on what he was doing? She was the one who abandoned him… it wasn't his fault that she couldn't bare to raise him properly…

Yes, Raisa was not Rosan's mother…

So why was she so fucking pissed to hear that?!

"Not your mother?!" Raisa said incredulously, taking a step forward with a wrath that was swiftly growing. "The 9 months I spent alone nursing you in my belly says otherwise, Iris D. Rosan," she hissed.

Rosan's red brow shot up at that. "9 months? Are you out of your fucking mind?!" He asked, just as incredulously. "Do you think 9 months even remotely compares to all the years we've not known each other, dumbass?! I'm 24 years old right now and this is the first time I've ever even heard your voice but you have the gall to call yourself my mother?"

Who the hell did she think she was? Was Raisa a goddamn moron? Rosan thought the whole thing was funny before, but now he was getting annoyed.

"You went out of your way to abandon me. You left me in a forest alone when I was just born. I don't know a fucking thing about you! In what world do you think I would ever consider you my mother?" Rosan asked genuinely, looking his birth mother in her eyes.

Red and purple clashed with just purple, as Raisa's eyes began glowing brighter in her fury.

On the contrary, Rosan's gaze was becoming more and more dim.

"This is getting really bad," Dalia whispered to Oren, an intense look of worry on her face as she watched mother and son begin arguing.

"It's not really our place to interfere. We just have to make sure it doesn't go from bad to worse," Oren whispered back, frowning at the conversation taking place.

Ram looked a little concerned and gazed at Auntie in confusion.

"Aren't you going to stop this?" She asked.

Mod bit her lip.

She should stop this… Rosan had more things to worry about like verifying the status of his crew… but she wanted to see this. She wanted to see Rosan tear into Raisa so badly. It was so selfish of her but... but Mod needed this.

So she shook her head in denial.

Ram frowned but nodded.

Raisa was full on scowling now as she looked Rosan directly in the eyes. "No matter what you may think, no matter what thoughts you have, you are my child and I will call you by the name you were born with. You have no idea what I had to go through!"

"Of course I have no idea, you abandoned me you fucking idiot!" Rosan snarled.

"What did you just say to me?!" Raisa growled in return. "Watch your mouth when you speak to me. I will not tolerate any disrespect, especially from my son."

Who did he think he was?! Rosan was the one that she birthed and she'd be damned if he disrespected her!

Rosan snorted in her face, finally realizing why this unreasonable woman was acting the way she was.

Raisa heard the snort and her anger began flaring.

Was this just funny to him? What about this was so damn funny?

"I see now," he said calmly, rolling his eyes as he peered at her with those glowing eyes.

"You see?" Raisa scowled.

"Of course, nothing avoids my eyes," he said matter of factly, gazing through her.

Just from what he had heard and seen so far…

"Part of you can't deal with the fact that you abandoned me, right?" Rosan asked knowingly, eyes glinting in amusement.

Wasn't that a thought. Based on the memory he'd seen, he knew she was conflicted but Rosan had no idea that even now, she was interested in him.

"Despite everything, you're still obsessed with me huh? You're just like everyone else aren't you," Rosan stated in amusement.

Raisa idly wondered if this was how people felt when they were facing her… the ability to so effortlessly read someone… she had never been subjected to such a thing.

Of course her son would be the first to subject her to it.

"That's not true," Raisa denied on instinct, refusing to be weak in front of him.

"A lie. Guess I didn't get that from you. I'm a pretty honest person."

Raisa clenched her fist at the surety of his statement and saw red at the last one.

So he could even detect lies like she could…

Those bright eyes, the eyes that used to be the same shade of purple as hers, now had one burning red eye that reminded her of all the violence her son was known for.

Those same glowing eyes looked at her knowingly. As if they knew everything about her, as if they knew her deepest insecurities.

People weren't supposed to look at her like that. Raisa was the one who looked at people like that.

W-Why was he looking at her like he knew?! HOW DID HE KNOW?! WHY WAS HE DECONSTRUCTING HER DOWN WITH JUST HIS GAZE?

"And so what if a part of me does care about you?!" she cracked, not used to someone putting such pressure on her. Raisa wasn't used to anyone speaking to her like this. She wasn't used to being on the backfoot.

She wasn't used to speaking to her son...

"Is it so unreasonable that a part of me cares about the son I gave birth to?!" she asked, feeling herself break in a way she wasn't used to.

Rosan said nothing as she fully closed the distance between them, a frantic look in the normally composed woman's eyes. He glanced at her with a tilted head, noting her abnormally sharp fangs, her silky smooth hair and the way she refused to take her eyes off his person.

Dalia and Oren watched their sister crack with wide eyes mere minutes into speaking with her son. Their cold and calculated sister, the one who was composed for nearly everything... looked like their spunky little sister in that moment.

They had no idea she thought about Rosan… that much. Raisa scarcely mentioned Rosan around them… but just meeting him had thrown her completely out of sorts?

This was surreal… To know that he had such an effect on her... it was stunning to see and even more shocking to witness.

Raisa had completely unraveled in the face of her son. The way he spoke, their nearly identical appearance, how confident he was in his assessment of her...

He was looking completely through her in a way that Raisa wasn't able to handle and this was the result... her cracking under the slightest bit of pressure from him.

"How do you think I felt knowing my first child, the one who I wanted nothing more than to birth, was the result of the man I trusted most in the world, betraying all my trust and raping me?!" Raisa shrieked in fury.

Mod's eyes widened in horror at that.

Rosan's expression never shifted.

"I've never had anyone I could call an ally or a friend. I never had someone I could trust unconditionally, my brother and sister alienated me for all my life no matter what I tried!" she shouted, clutching her chest as a hurt expression crossed her features.

Dalia and Oren withered at that, expression turning downcast at what they submitted Raisa too.

They would never be able to forgive themselves, for subjecting Raisa to what she had been subjected to. They had been bitter and upset and they had lashed out on her for being talented... no matter how many times she tried to mend their fracturing relationship.

And now that they wanted to mend it... Raisa had no interest in doing the same.

"My mother and father expected everything out of me. I was their heir first and their daughter second. Why would anyone want that?! In my eyes, I was being forsaken by my siblings for something that they didn't actually want!" Raisa panted, glaring at them now.

The two said nothing, merely bowing their heads as her anger washed over them.

"But I finally thought I met someone who I could actually trust. Someone I could talk to like a normal person and who didn't have any expectations for me… Cutter was my only friend and I thought I could finally rely on someone... but can you believe that he had expectations for me too in the worst possible way?" Raisa whispered in distraught.

"Attacked, raped, island left in ruins and pregnant… all by myself. My siblings left without a word, my parents killed by his hand... and my best friend betraying me for his sick and twisted revenge," Raisa said, teeth beginning to sharpen dramatically at what she had endured.

The woman felt the air around her getting heavier, as she began shuddering in genuine rage. "You don't know what I went through! Nobody knows what I went through and nobody cares and I accepted that. I was only 18 years old when all this happened to me, barely an adult by my islands standards but I accepted that I'd have to do everything alone," Raisa said, shutting her slit eyes.

"Oh Raisa," Dalia sobbed, curling into herself as anguish began coursing through her.

"I was in no state to take sole control of my island and raise you… not to mention if Cutter ever came back… he'd…"

The Queen clenched her fist, revealing more than she ever had in the past 25 years.

"The half of me that loved you wanted nothing more than to raise you… but the other half of me resented your entire existence. I couldn't… I couldn't raise you in a way that I found acceptable so I gave you up," she admitted quietly.

"I already accepted that my punishment for abandoning you was this eternal loneliness I've known since birth, I accepted that my naivety cost me everything, I accepted that you would find someone who could raise you better than I ever could…"

Raisa gazed up at him, glowing purple eyes shining brightly in contrast to his.

"But no matter what I do, I can never escape from you. After all these years, the most interest people have shown in me, was because of you. You're the Red Devil, prodigious spawn of two incredibly dangerous people. You're the Rosan who was found by the wife of the Pirate King. You're the Iris, whose heart has been captured by the Devil of Ohara…"

Raisa shut her eyes again.

"And I'm forced to be reminded all of this came to be because of one decision I made. My punishment isn't this forced loneliness, my true punishment… is being forced to think of the son who hates me over and over again. The son who's upended my life over and over again… the ultimate culmination of the heartbreaking betrayal I suffered… you."

"I…" Mod was speechless, gazing at the panting Raisa with wide eyes. The last thing the Devil Fruit ever expected was... was that.

She was... raped by her best friend? Her best friend killed her parents?

Raisa panted, clutching her dress and cursing herself at slipping up so much. She took deep breaths to try and steady herself, and when that failed, she shut her eyes and tried again.

She was not prepared to spill her heart out, she was prepared for battle but the moment she realized that it was her son who had shown up… she felt the ice cold wall she set up tremble.

In the face of her son, Raisa really was nothing but a pathetic mother who couldn't come to terms with her own decision.

Kuma you stupid son of a bitc —

"Hate?"

Raisa froze at that and gazed up at the source of that hauntingly calm voice.

Rosan was staring down at her with an expressionless gaze. The glow in his gaze was practically gone and he looked down at her with something she couldn't quite identify.

The redhead tilted his head and Raisa was starkly reminded of his bounty poster as he peered through her.

"What you just said… my heart goes out for you, it must have been hard. My life was hard too," Rosan said truthfully. "But you're sorely mistaken. I don't hate you."

Everyone froze at that.

"You… don't?" Raisa said in confusion.

"Rosan's about to say something he probably shouldn't," Mod thought instinctively, clenching her fists in anticipation.

The redhead shook his head. "I hate a lot of things but you are not one of them. Why would I hate you?" he asked.

Mod closed her eyes.

Yup.

Raisa, Dalia and Oren froze completely at his heartless tone.

"I've had to deal with far more problems in my life, to bother thinking about what the hell my birth mother was up to. Do you honestly think, that even once I thought about wishing you didn't abandon me? I'm too satisfied with my family to think about the birth mother who gave me up hours after my birth. To me, you may as well have never existed and nothing in my life would change at all. This meeting means nothing to me."

His voice was measured, even and neutral, not a hint of emotion to them as he spoke his mind.

Raisa took a single step back at that, emotions surging as he spoke. Her eyes were wide and she began trembling, feeling as her heart began the agonizing process of constricting.

Rosan was merciless.

"I have so many people in my life that I'd gladly call mother… I have so many amazing people who have kept me sane. I've been broken and my family has been rebuilding me… and you weren't apart of that. Do you honestly think I care about you at all?" Rosan asked curiously.

Those glowing eyes of his lost their shine and Raisa was forced to stare into the abyss, trapped in Rosan's endless gaze. She began trembling even harder, hand flying to her chest and breath becoming even more uneven.

"You didn't have to explain anything to me. There is no need to justify your actions, because I don't care. Would you care if a stranger suddenly approached you and began telling their life story?" Rosan asked genuinely.

Raisa's breathing got harder as Rosan spoke, taking yet another step back as she identified the gaze her redhead son was regarding her with.

Unfamiliarity. To him, Raisa truly was just a stranger and that realization did something terrible to her.

"How could I ever hate someone who I've hardly ever thought of? Could you answer that question for me, Queen Raisa?" Rosan asked softly, tilting his head at her.

…

…

…

"Holy shit," Dalia sobbed softly, heart panging as she saw the utter heartbreak on Raisa's face.

Rosan was… he was so ruthless…

Saying all that after she spilled her heart? That was just… Raisa looked like someone had just destroyed her entire view of life... and Dalia never expected her sister to look like that.

Oren frowned deeply at that, left reeling at the entire events. Even he couldn't stop the tears from flowing down his eyes. This whole thing was just so awful and he wished it had never come to this. So many things could have been different if...

What could he even say? This wasn't anything he could add his two cents too. He understood both sides perfectly…

Raisa thought the heartbreak at Cutter's hand was the worst feeling she had ever experienced... but this pain was something she couldn't even fathom. The pain of being disowned by the one you birthed... Raisa felt like screaming in agony.

Her hand idly clutched her chest as Rosan's words reverberated through her head over and over again.

It felt like she were being squeezed at all angles but why? Why did she feel like this? What was the meaning of this...? She had been the one who abandoned him... it was her decision. Now he was standing her and as a result of her decisions, he didn't care about her at all.

Ah… she knew why it hurt so much… it's because deep down, she realized that abandoning Rosan was the wrong choice.

Now that he was here forsaking her, she knew that she never should have abandoned him. It was a foolish decision and one not made of sound mind... she had abandoned him directly after birth for goodness sakes...

Deep down, she had always regret the decision to leave him back there. Raisa had fought an internal battle with herself all 9 months of being pregnant with him… and she came to the wrong decision.

He was well within his rights to say the things he said. Raisa was a stranger to Portgas D. Rosan. She should just apologize for acting so out of turn and bid him farewell…

But unfortunately, Raisa was a Queen and that meant she was terrible at truly expressing herself.

Cutter had said the exact same thing to her.

Rosan watched as Raisa's features contorted into one of rage, that beautiful face glaring up at him with raw fury in her eyes and his hackles began rising in warning.

He felt a thrum of excitement course through him, as before his very eyes, she began to transform.

Red scales replaced skin, as a violent and long tail burst from her body. She began growing ludicrously and to finish off, wings burst from her arms, combining along the limbs and leaving her sharp claws free.

"Ah, so this is why I'm so in love with Dragons," Rosan thought idly, gazing at Raisa with an impressed eye.

"So that's how she brought you to Baterilla," Mod said in realization, simply shaking her head at Rosan's words.

She'd be lying if she didn't say she was satisfied at what he said. It filled her with a visceral pleasure (and guilt) to hear what her son had to say.

Hate was something many people knew how to deal with... but the opposite of love, was indifference and no one truly knew how to deal with that.

For a group as emotional as the Iris, Rosan's indifference must have been whiplash inducing... and the results were right here.

"What Devil Fruit is that?" Ram asked, whistling at the sight of her birth grandma towering over them.

She was only a little smaller than Ragnarok! That was nuts!

The ring had always enjoyed Rosan's more toxic speeches. She was as much of a sadist as he was and it filled her with a malicious glee at seeing Rosan unleash his words onto someone.

Now they even got a fight out of it!

"That's the Ryu Ryu no mi, Model: Wyvern," Rosan answered, jumping out of the way of the swift claw that attempted to crash into his position.

Raisa snarled, glaring down at Rosan with fury in her eyes. The gigantic red Wyvern bared its fangs at her son and a competitive urge to display his dominance began swiftly overtaking Rosan.

"I'm going to teach you a lesson in respect," Raisa growled, glaring at Rosan.

Rosan actually grinned, as the wings of Ragnarok burst from his back.

"Fine fine. I know someone who wants to beat the shit out of you anyways so I guess this'll make her happy," he acquiesced.

"I know you're talking about me but please be careful. From what we gathered, Raisa should be formidable," Mod mentioned.

"Time to find out just how formidable she is," Rosan said, a wild gleam in his eyes.

Dalia and Oren watched in shock as not only did Raisa transform into her full Zoan, Rosan followed suit. The two dragons dominated the air they were in, both vying for supremacy and they looked at the two

Their nephew's scales were obsidian black, red lines coursing through his body like visible veins and he was even bigger than Raisa was!

"RAOGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Rosan roared as he took to the sky, announcing his presence to the world as he always did.

He looked every bit as intimidating as Raisa did and without hesitation both the dragons took to the skies.

Raisa glared at her son, growing even more pissed at the fact that he really was a Dragon just like she was and chased after him immediately.

At once, mother and son opened their mouths and let loose a hellish amount of flames that crashed right into each other.

The citizens of Wisteria could only watch in horror, as their Queen faced off against an unknown threat.

While it was almost a mythical sight to see, many people were informed of their all powerful Queen's transformation into a Wyvern. It was almost unheard of to see her in her full transformation because Queen Raisa quite frankly, didn't need it.

So it was a justifiably terrifying sight to see her in her full zoan form, while facing off with an equally as massive dragon. The citizens all screamed in horror at seeing the two dragons snarl at each other, before they opened their mouths and unleashed a terrifying bout of flames.

"Everyone! Head to the designated safe zones! Queen Raisa has entered her full Zoan! I repeat, Queen Raisa has entered her full Zoan! Head to all safe spots in an orderly fashion! Failure to comply will lead to apprehension after this state of emergency is over!"

The guards wasted no time ordering evacuation, knowing that they'd merely get in the way of Raisa if they went to help. When Raisa was in action, their job was to evacuate first and then see if she needed backup... and considering she was fighting another gargantuan dragon, it was in their best interest to stay out of her way.

Red flames clashed with purple, as an enormous explosion ensued following the attacks colliding.

Raisa wasted no time rushing Rosan, soaring over to the massive dragon and crashing into him.

Claws, teeth and tails crashed as the two snarled at each other, trying to overpower each other like two apex predators meeting in the wild. They were constantly vying for supremacy, clawing at each other with violent and animalistic fury.

"Raisa! Rosan! Please stop this madness!" Dalia shouted to deaf ears, eyes wide as she watched them go at it with no regards for the others safety.

Oren grunted, scales covering his body as he turned towards the city. "We can't stop those two Dalia, let's just control the damage."

She frowned in distraught and gazed at the violence taking place, before scales covered her skin and she joined her older brother.

"You know nothing about me, yet here you are… practically a spitting image of me!" Raisa snarled.

"It is pretty fun how similar we are. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree but I'd never abandon my children. I'm not that much of a failure," Rosan growled right back.

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW I FELT!" Raisa howled.

The queen roared in fury and at the same time, shot out an enormous gust of wind.

Rosan's eyes widened and he retaliated with his own gust of wind, grunting in displeasure at seeing Raisa's winds overpowering his.

The cutting winds slammed into his hard scales and to his surprise, they actually managed to pierce it, drawing his blood.

Had Rosan ever bled while in Ragnarok?

Raisa was strong.

That thought filled Rosan with far too much excitement.

Raisa watched as the dragon's snarling maw formed into a grin, right before he exploded in electricity.

She swiftly applied armament to herself but couldn't bite back the grunt of pain as the lightning coursed through her body.

Fire, wind and lightning? What the hell was her son?

Raisa snarled in annoyance and continued lashing out at him, scowling as he met her blow for blow with no intent to back down.

She lunged, poisonous fangs poised to latch onto the dragon's neck but the creature merely rumbled in amusement and opened its mouth.

Her observation flared wildly and she swiftly aborted her course of action as her draconic son opened his mouth and fired a beam at her.

It made a shrieking noise as it flew directly past her and Raisa gazed at the beam with wide eyes.

Such mastery of his flames... to condense and speed it up to the point where it may as well have been a laser...

Raisa was enable to ponder the thought more, because a razor sharp tail crashed to her sides.

The queen hissed as it dug into her scales and she glared furiously at Rosan.

Rosan grunted as the razor sharp winds made their presence known once again, cutting into him with no remorse. Unlike his winds, these did not use blunt force... they were truly sharp...

He didn't know too much about Wyverns, but he did know that they possessed poisonous abilities that varied in intensity... they were quite dangerous...

How fun! They were both dragons but they specialized in different things!

As the winds continued to cut into him, Rosan flew higher into the air and aimed downwards at Raisa.

"ANNIHILATION!" the dragon roared.

The Wyvern watched with wide eyes, as her son ignored all the cuts littering his body and opened his mouth to shoot out a gargantuan amount of those unnaturally red flames.

Worst of all, the flames were fueled by her winds, growing into something truly terrifying...

And it was careening towards her island.

Raisa's eyes widened and she remembered how Cutter had done the exact same thing... how he had used the citizens of her island to weaken her. His total disregard for the amount of damage he was causing, as he launched himself at her with that wild grin that she had never seen on his face...

The woman braced herself and dove directly into the flames, covering herself in purple flames as well and colliding with the fire.

Rosan gazed a confused look at that, watching as Raisa rushed into the attack.

Why did she do that?

It only took him a moment before he realized why she had done so and he scowled.

Not cool, he didn't want his opponents to take attacks in order to protect something else. Cheap shots like that took the enjoyment out of the fights! Rosan was only willing to fight that cheap when his family's lives were on the line but it was just him here so that was a no go!

A mostly unharmed Raisa huffed, glaring furiously at Rosan, only for that to turn into confusion as the redhead flew further away from her.

"What are you doing?" she growled, taking chase immediately after her son.

Rosan snorted. "I don't want you worrying about protecting your island. I have no interest in killing innocents anyways."

The Wyvern froze, stunned at that revelation.

Then, she only got angrier.

Raisa roared in rage and rushed him and the giant dragons resumed their assault anew.

"You think you can say all these perfect things?!" Raisa snarled, attempting to dig into him with her teeth.

Rosan grunted, lashing out with his claws and forcing her mouth open. His claws lit up with electricity, but a tail crashed and dislodged him from her body.

"Perfect things?" Rosan asked incredulously. "I live the way I choose to live. I'm not doing this for anyone else but myself and the people I love. Don't project your insecurities onto me, Raisa."

There was murder in her gaze and she rushed him again.

Lightning, fire and wind were thrown about as the two clawed at each other with violent gleams. Despite the extreme physicality of it all, Raisa was growing frustrated because she wasn't making proper headway.

This wasn't working, she needed more speed.

Raisa suddenly flew away from her estranged son and Rosan let her, interest in his eyes as she shrunk back to her original height.

Her scales remained, as did her wings, tails and claws but everything of her human form returned.

Rosan's eyes glinted, injuries healing up as he watched her transform into her hybrid form.

Hybrid? It was well known that Hybrid forms were the strongest Zoan forms so now Rosan was really in for a fight.

Much like Raisa, Rosan reverted back into his human form, keeping just his wings out. He idly transformed Ram into a set of gloves, noting that Raisa didn't use weapons and had his raid suit activated, donning a simple kimono.

Rosan flapped his wings idly, as he stared across the floating Raisa with a curious eye. He was gauging her for her next move, while preparing his own.

Her fighting style was... not quite easy to get a gauge on. Currently, she was fighting while extremely emotional and as a Dragon, there wasn't much technical things to do. Rosan did know that she was far more willing to use her tail than he was and it was mostly in a stabbing motion as well.

Also her claws, they were seeped in poison...

"How… do you only have your wings out?" Raisa asked in confusion, purple eyes narrowed.

Rosan snorted. "I'm not one to tell people information about myself. I have a lot of secrets that I can't let out. You'll have to take me out on a date first. Bring flowers, I'm sure you should at least know what my favorite are," he stated smugly.

"I cannot understate how infuriating you are."

Raisa let out a noise that sounded fairly feral in nature and rushed him once more, wings on her arm spreading to help her close the distance. The wind began gathering around her and she propelled herself forward at even greater speeds.

"Fast," Rosan thought with wide eyes, blocking a punch with his forearm coated in Armament.

Much to his surprise, Raisa's own haki overpowered his own and Rosan stared in appreciation at his bruised and slightly shredded arm with fascinated eyes.

"I think she's stronger than me," Rosan said idly. It was a thought he had since they had fought in their dragon forms but here in her hybrid, Rosan could see just how strong she actually was.

"I don't think it's by a small amount either," Mod stated in disbelief.

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"So she really is strong!" Ram beamed in excitement.

Raisa's guilt at injuring her son so greatly... vanished in favor shock, as the bruise on Rosan's arm instantly vanished, looking as good as new.

What…?

She wasn't able to dwell on the oddity because the redhead was already on the move.

Sparks danced across his body and his raid suit immediately cloaked him, as he instantly closed the distance and began exchanging furious blows.

Rosan was like a tsunami. He was powerful and relentless, attacking Raisa with all manners of attack…

But Raisa was like water. She calmly retaliated when Rosan left himself open, weaving in attacks with her smooth dodges…

The two redheads were dancers, putting on an incredible performance as their difference in fighting styles clashed with each other.

Rosan huffed, exploding in electricity that weathered the biting winds that Raisa manipulated with expert precision and lunged at her.

Her observation flared and she calmly leaned back from the fist... only for her eyes to widen as it suddenly exploded with concussive force.

"So you do have Observation too," Rosan noted, glancing at his smoking gloves with an amused glint.

"Haha! Observation doesn't work when I attack independently from Father!" Ram laughed psychotically, explosions rocking off her hands in a rather unhinged manner.

The Queen scowled at Rosan, completely unaffected by that attack. "You'll need more than that to pierce my scales," she warned.

Rosan grinned mockingly. "Aww, is my dear mother giving me advice? Seems like you aren't completely worthless!" he crooned.

"I AM NOT WORTHLESS!" Raisa howled in rage, renewing her assault anew.

Rosan placed both arms above his head as a tail smashed into them, strong enough for him to feel even through his raid suit.

She was panting at him now, purple eyes having a black slit and glowing brightly.

"My island was in complete ruin! My mother and father weren't even able to properly guide me as Queen before they were struck down. I had to figure out all on my own how to fix my island and I had to do it WHILE I WAS PREGNANT!" she roared.

Rosan grabbed her sharp tail and began spinning her rapidly, launching her away. Before she could fly too far, her tail wrapped around his neck and he grunted in surprise as Raisa pulled him towards her, landing a punch directly to his cheek.

"I was already in such a weakened state. I felt utterly helpless! My people were suffering! I was mourning all I lost! It felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders and it felt like the weight of the world was in my belly!" Raisa ranted.

Rosan exploded in electricity, forcing her to release him but the male redhead wouldn't let her off that easy. He grabbed the tail that was flying back to her body and yanked, forcing Raisa to fly to his location.

He was poised to deliver a brutal headbutt and to his shock (and delight), Raisa met him head on. The two collided violently, making a cracking noise but neither came out of it injured.

Raisa huffed, licking the blood off her lips absentmindedly as she glared at her son. "I was lost and I didn't know what to do! My first year as queen, and already my people had lost so much trust in me! Do you know how it feels to rule a country where you aren't trusted?!"

She thrust out her hand and a torrent of massive winds formed, colliding directly with Rosan's own heavy winds.

"And all the while, I had to hide that I was pregnant with you! The assassination attempts were already out of hand! Imagine if they knew I was pregnant with you?!"

"So what?" Rosan barked back finally. "I don't give a damn! Didn't I already tell you that your justifications mean nothing to me?!"

"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN IF THEY MEAN NOTHING TO YOU! THEY MEAN SOMETHING TO ME!" Raisa shrieked in a moment of true rage.

Now that her figurative wall had broken, all of Raisa's anger had flooded into the world and it even gave Rosan some pause.

"Do you know how it feels to be overjoyed at the fact that you're finally having a child... but then the poisonous voice of your assaulter reminds you over and over again that this child is the product of him taking advantage of you?!"

"I would have loved you with all my heart," Raisa whispered in despair. "My parents raised me and my siblings terribly so I wanted to prove to them that nurturing and love was a better way to go about things... but then I met your father and I trusted him and he tricked me. HE TRICKED ME AND HE BETRAYED ME!"

Rosan held out a palm and shot out a massive orb that collided with the queen's purple fire.

"BUT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT ANY OF THAT AND WHY SHOULD YOU?!" Raisa roared again, closing the distance and ensuing close combat quarters.

Despite how the woman was clearly having a mental breakdown, her fighting style was still as fluid as ever. It was a testament to how skilled she was at fighting because Rosan was very sure she was on autopilot.

"She's hysterical," Mod noted with a frown.

"Why should you care about the mother who abandoned you? You shouldn't give a fuck what I have to say!"

Rosan grabbed the arm she swung at him and spun her around, aiming a palm at her back and blasting the Queen away.

"So then why are you attacking me so furiously?" Rosan asked with a raised brow, launching himself at her with a renewed gusto.

"BECAUSE I STILL LOVE YOU! ARE YOU HAPPY?!" Raisa shrieked.

Rosan immediately stopped his flight and launched himself backwards, as poison was shot out of Raisa. The wave of purple toxins nearly hit him, but instead fell uselessly to the water...

The redhead watched with impressed eyes as after a few seconds, numerous dead fish began floating towards the top.

"So she can use her poison as a projectile too... and it's extremely corrosive and effective."

"Goodness, she is a monster. Just how powerful is she really?"

"Strong enough where if she were taking this completely serious, I'd be in a lot of trouble," Rosan grunted.

Raisa didn't even seem to notice him anymore, just lost in her own head.

"In this world... I've always been alone and I thought at the very least, I wouldn't be alone with my child," she whispered. "I thought to myself, "my child will always love me, my child will always need me, my child can't betray me," and that gave me hope..."

She gazed at him with broken eyes. "But my first child was one conceived from betrayal... I'm the one who made him not need me and I'm the one who gave you up... I willingly gave up all of that and plunged myself into eternal loneliness..."

"So why?! Why is it that your words still affect me? Why is it that I feel so hurt when you rightfully disowned me? Why is it that now that we're fighting I see both myself and that DAMN BASTARD IN YOU?!"

Rosan calmly diverted a wild swing from the feral woman, before grabbing her other arm, straining a bit at the strength.

Raisa's gaze whitened and a small tremor shot through her body at the action of Rosan holding her arms. The tremor began increasing in strength and she shuddered, before instinctively lashing out with her vicious tail.

Rosan grunted and watched as it slashed across his chest, effortlessly piercing his durable outfit and drawing blood.

"Poison?" He asked curiously, ignoring the searing burn as the poison invaded his system.

"I'm focusing all attention onto it, don't worry."

Raisa stopped at that, guilt wracking her body.

Despite everything... Rosan was not Cutter. With his hands clasping her own like this... ensuring that she couldn't get away... the Queen had less than pleasant memories.

"Wait… hold on. My venom is deadly. Let me apply the antidote to you," she said immediately.

She hadn't intended to poison him… lashing out with her tail had been an instinctive response but her tail carried a far more potent poison than any other part of her body.

Rosan tilted his head at her and released the woman.

"You're strange, Raisa. You attack me first, have a mental break down... poison me and now you've recovered from the mental breakdown and are offering me the antidote? Do you actually know what you want? You seem incredibly indecisive," He pondered curiously.

No, Raisa didn't know what she wanted. Raisa hadn't known what she wanted for years now… Raisa never knew what she wanted.

Rosan rolled his eyes and showed her his chest. "There's no need for an antidote. It does hurt like a bitch though."

She frowned deeply at the injury she caused him, but went white as before her very eyes, Rosan's skin began patching itself together like it had not been shredded in the first place. The skin of his midsection looked good as new and the only sign that something had happened to it, was the steam...

"Kahahaha! See? Good as new," Rosan said with a sardonic grin, eyes gleaming excitedly.

He laughed just like Cutter.

Raisa looked at her son's arms with stunned eyes.

What…

"What are you…?" Raisa asked softly, shock coursing through her system enough to temporarily pacify her.

"I'm better," Rosan said easily. "Now let's continue the fight. This is fun. I think I've got your style figured out," he stated, transforming Ram into a set of gauntlets this time.

Fun.

For Raisa, this was the dreaded meeting with her son that she abandoned. A meeting that she never actually thought she'd be submitted to.

To Rosan this was fun. There was no baggage on him like there was on her. He didn't know her at all... why should there be? A child should not bear the sins of their parents and her son was the perfect example of that because he didn't know a damn thing about either of his parents and he didn't care.

No, all he cared about was getting a good fight. He obviously delighted in battle in a way that wasn't similar to her or Cutter.

No his love of battle, was all him… just like everything else she didn't know about him.

Rosan wasn't her or Cutter's son. Much like he had always been saying... he was Portgas D. Rosan. He just happened to share the same blood as them.

They were strangers. Complete and utter strangers.

Raisa sagged at that, all her anger draining.

"What am I even doing?" She thought in defeat.

"You're right… we're strangers. I don't know anything about you. I don't know your favorite food, your favorite color… yet here I am acting like I do. Here I am, making a complete embarrassment of myself over something that I willingly caused," Raisa said quietly, voice hard to hear over the howling winds.

Rosan's eager smile vanished, replaced with a frown instead.

"Just… go," the queen said softly. "You have more things to concern yourself with. As queen of Wisteria, I would like to offer my apologies for attacking you. It was unbefitting of me, especially when you had already proven you were not a hostile threat."

"..." Rosan said nothing, just gazing at her with those mesmerizing eyes of his.

"If you'll excuse me... I'd like to retreat to my room and handle this embarrassment on my own," she muttered.

This was all just a waste of time. Raisa was a waste of time and a shame to her throne. They should have just let Oren be king. Raisa wasn't someone who could handle the burden after all. It was good that no one was like her because she was worthless exactly like Rosan said she was.

Attacking her son for her own transgressions, basically summed up her life. Throughout all of this, Rosan had been completely innocent. She started the argument, she refused to accept that he didn't view her as his mother... she escalated the situation.

Raisa was such a fuckup.

She was so pathetic. No wonder she got rap —

Two strong arms wrapped around Raisa's frame and she felt herself freeze up completely.

"You ruined a good fight by being so pitiful. Of all the time to gain your reason, it's when I was really getting into it," Rosan sighed morosely, hugging the woman with a disappointed expression.

Raisa was stunned, taking in everything about her son in that instant. From his strong arms, to his flowery scent, to the way his heart pounded so strongly in his chest…

"You don't know what you want, you're terrible at expressing yourself… you're a hot mess, aren't you? Were you really thinking that you deserved to get raped? Are you stupid?" Rosan asked rhetorically.

"I... you could tell?" Raisa asked quietly, trembling slightly.

"Of course and I'm going to tell you right now, no matter the problems we might have, I don't think you deserve what happened to you at all. I think only scum of the world deserve the level of pain you and I have been through... and I don't think you're scum," he replied truthfully.

"I... I don't?" Raisa began trembling even harder at that, not detecting the lie in his voice.

"R-Rosan?" Mod asked in disbelief, not understanding what he was doing.

Rosan said nothing for a moment and sighed.

"I can't help but think, that we really are too similar and… that story affected me more than I'd like to admit," he admitted with a frown.

Getting betrayed by the person you trusted most in the world… well Rosan once thought Robin betrayed him and that had broken him in a way that had started his downward spiral into becoming emotionless.

Rosan was someone who thought traitors were the most dangerous thing to his existence, because traitors always hurt a person the most…

And it showed here. Raisa had built a wall almost exactly like he had and once it broke down, she was just frantically grabbing at everything to stay afloat. It had made his heart pang, watching her desperately try to grasp at anything... and that pang had only strengthened as she gave up and exiled herself back to loneliness.

That... could have been him. If Rosan didn't have anyone in his family to guide him... he could have been just like this.

It was a terrible and dark future and he could see that now... so he'd be damn if he was the sole reason he sent someone who he didn't hate (if he did hate you, loneliness was the least of your worries), spiraling down that exact same path.

"You're a broken mess of a person, Iris D. Raisa... and you've been bottling it up for 25 years… Take it from someone who's also a broken mess of a person… it's always good to have someone to rely on and that remains no different for royalty. Even royalty is capable of having depression," Rosan said quietly.

Mod's eyes softened at that.

Rosan was… such an amazing person. He was such a precious soul and even despite everything... he could find it in himself to be empathetic with a person.

He had always been good at peering through a person's soul. It's why he had managed to break down all of Robin's barriers after all.

She had... depression? Raisa was depressed?

"I'm depressed?" she asked quietly.

"You know, people can sometimes get depressed after giving birth," Rosan informed her, noting the way she was sinking further into his body.

The effects of childbirth had been something Rosan extensively researched... after the events of what happened with Rouge. He was also hellbent on making sure Meiko (Robin now) didn't suffer any type of complications.

He would be fully prepared... so he learned a lot about pregnancy and the aftereffects... and considering how emotional his lineage was... Raisa had likely been suffering from the rapid mood swings of being pregnant and then birth had made her further irrational.

That didn't excuse her for her actions, but it helped explain why she was like this.

Raisa shuddered at that, not understanding why... why he was explaining her terrible actions. "Why… why are you saying these things to me… I abandoned you… I left you in a forest… why are you still saying such… why are you so forgiving?!"

Rosan snorted aloud. "I'm not forgiving at all. I'm the most vengeful person on the planet… but I have nothing to forgive from you. In fact, I'm happy you abandoned me because it allowed me to meet the people I know and love today," he said truthfully.

He wouldn't have known Mod-chan, Mom, Robin, Meiko, Maro, Luffy… Ace… the list went on and on.

If anything, he was thankful that Raisa left him in that forest. Things were rocky… but Rosan would never trade this life if it meant missing out on the people he had met and he was sure he'd never have met them if he was being raised by her.

That's why he was helping her right now. Because those same people had helped revive his bleeding and empathetic heart that related too much to this woman who had been suffering just as he had.

They really were mother and son huh?

"I won't compare how much trauma we have... but we've both suffered in our own way and I'm doing okay. You have no one to trust, no one to rely on, you've just been going with the motions for 25 years… that's not living," Rosan said softly.

Raisa began shaking, tears forming in her eyes. She noted that shuddering in Rosan's strong grasp… shuddering in the hold of the son who she had only ever hugged once in her life... back when he was just a baby.

The same son who she had proclaimed to hate in the heat of her emotions...

"You think, I deserve to… y-you think I deserve to live?" she asked quietly, so quietly.

The male redhead hummed at the slight vibrations on his chest and nodded. "You've practically been dead this entire time. Take it from someone who's done the same, you can stop punishing yourself with the sting of loneliness. If you're anything like me, being alone is the same as submitting yourself to hell on earth," Rosan told her.

"A-And even after everything I've done… you think I deserve to rely on someone?" Raisa stammered.

"Only if that's what you want. You don't gotta rely on anyone. I just find it easier for me when I share my load with someone else," Rosan said easily, feeling a warm pulse as he thought of his family.

Raisa let out a shaky breath. In an impossibly rare moment of vulnerability, one that she had only ever shared with Cutter, Raisa asked, "Can the person I rely on… can that be you?"

Rosan tilted his head at that, peering at the woman looking up at him with glistening eyes.

Well, she did look like him. It stood to reason that she was also adorable.

"If that's really what you want, then I won't say no... but I think you missed when I called myself a broken mess too though. I rely on someone way more stable, like my girlfriend. She's a real rock that can weather my insanity well," he said fondly.

"...Can I please hug you back?" Raisa whimpered, clutching the front of his shirt desperately.

That made Rosan laugh. "Kahaha! Feel free, I've been told I'm a pretty good hugger."

Raisa began sniffing and hesitantly raised her arms, before slowly wrapping it around Rosan's frame.

The moment Rosan tightened his hug and tucked her into his frame, Raisa felt the wall she built up for 25 years, crumble into nothing. In the face of her son, Raisa felt like a small child again.

The Queen let loose a sharp wail and began sobbing into Rosan's frame.

"I-I'm so sorry, Rosan! I'm so sorry for everything I did to you! I'm sorry for being such a terrible mother! I'm sorry I let that man rule my decisions so much! I-I'm sorry!" Raisa sobbed, hot tears spilling out of her eyes as she clutched Rosan like her life depended on it.

"Maybe I should be my own therapist," Rosan thought idly, rubbing the woman's back.

"Don't worry about it. I'm not mad at you. I've never been mad at you," he said truthfully.

That was Mod-chan.

Mod flushed red at that.

Raisa whimpered in his safe hold and just allowed the tears she had been holding back for so long to fall. She completely soaked his outfit with her backed up tears, just holding him for dear life.

She couldn't believe her son ended up being such an amazing person...

For him to stand here, in the face of his worthless mother and say the things he had said… Raisa was so foolish to ever give up this incredible boy but he still managed to remain incredible.

Raisa doubted he'd end up this good under her tutelage…

Rosan gazed down at the woman soaking his outfit with a curious expression.

When he told her to rely on someone, he wasn't really expecting her to choose him but he should have guessed.

She still saw him as her son after all... and people were very in love with holding his attention.

Truly, whether they reconciled or not didn't matter to Rosan… he meant it when he said he didn't really care about their relationship.

But because he didn't care, because he wasn't angry at Raisa… his empathetic soul began sympathizing with her because damn... they really were quite similar.

That empathy only increased as their fight stretched on. She couldn't properly express herself so she resorted to attacking him and despite how calm her attacks were, there was a frantic rush to them.

Not to mention how she just kept speaking... she knew that she was in the wrong but she couldn't properly come to terms with it.

She was practically his opposite in that regard. Rosan may have been overwhelming and wild when he fought, but he knew every course of action he was going to take, so it was far more controlled then the person thought.

Besides… he was trying to be a better person and Robin did say she wanted to know more about his family.

What better way than to speak to the one who birthed him? Though, Robin probably didn't have too high of an opinion of Raisa. No one in his family did.

Shit… Robin. He really needed to go see Robin. She must be worried sick for him and he was worried sick for her… for all of them.

"Feel better?" Rosan asked softly, noticing her sobs die down.

Raisa didn't trust her words and just nodded, still shuddering in his frame.

Better was a gross underestimation of how Raisa felt. She hadn't felt this light since she was a 16 year old girl with the first taste of freedom on the sea.

"I… thank you, Rosan," Raisa said truthfully, clutching him as tightly as possible. "You had no reason to help me… you saw how your words were affecting me and instead of making me feel worse you… you helped me. You helped me for reasons I will never be able to fully understand."

Rosan sighed. "Yeah… my words can be very effective… and kicking a woman who got raped while she's already down, is a bit heartless even for me. I'm a momma's boy after all."

Mod couldn't stop the smile at that last sentence, flushing red as Ram shot her a smug grin.

"You need to be more honest with yourself, Raisa," Rosan said truthfully, noting how powerful her grip was.

Getting out of it would probably be very hard. Just how strong was Raisa?

"I know but… I'm afraid of being honest with myself because of… how much I've failed. It's difficult to acknowledge all my failures, so I covered my ears and ran away from it," she whispered in admittance.

Rosan snorted.

Like mother like son he supposed. They were both cowards at the end of the day who ran away from their respective issues.

"Well now you know better. I punished myself for years too for something I did, but despite that I was forgiven in a heartbeat… so I'll pass on that goodwill to you. Consider all our past problems abolished," he said easily, floating towards the floor.

Raisa felt like she could begin crying again and she had already ruined her son's outfit... so she simply nodded...

That failed however and her tears just spilled onto the amused redhead.

As Rosan landed on the floor, he was immediately met with both Oren and Dalia, who were gazing at the two with palpable worry.

That worry turned into wide eyes and dropped jaws, as they saw their cold and detached sister, Iris D. Raisa, clutching onto Rosan like he were a lifeline.

The two had been in their respective forms, ensuring that no damage made it to Wisteria but it was not necessary because Rosan flew away mid battle, bringing the battle away from their home...

Afterwards, they had properly made sure evacuations were followed in an orderly fashion, guiding them with their giant bodies and causing the chaos to settle.

With nothing better to do, they had waited back where they first came... which brought them to the sight of Raisa clutching Rosan like a lifeline, head buried into the crook of the visibly amused redhead's neck.

"W-Wha," Dalia stammered, wiping her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things.

Nope, Raisa was still hugging Rosan, periodically sniffing as the male redhead calmly pat her back.

"Is she crying?!" Oren thought in shock. He hadn't seen Raisa cry since back when they were children being trained by their parents!

Their sister was quite in control of her emotions all the time! After deciding that she could only do so much on her end when dealing with her siblings... she had closed herself off and appeared as an infallible wall to everyone.

When that happened, Oren had felt guilt for what they had subjected her too. Their sister had finally given up on them and he had been too much of a coward to try to amend their relationship...

Kami she had no reason to ever forgive them.

"Hey," Rosan greeted them easily, unmindful of Raisa's antics and just allowing her to hold him.

"H-Hi?" Dalia stammered in confusion.

"Are you two done fighting…?" Oren asked slowly.

Their nephew hummed and craned his head slightly. "Are we done fighting, Raisa?" he asked in some amusement.

"Mhm," Raisa mumbled, not even thinking of moving from her spot.

He was very comfortable. She wasn't even going to think about ruining this by fighting him again.

Rosan snorted as she tried to burrow even deeper into him. Raisa was as clingy as him and Mod-chan.

"What… happened up there?" Oren asked in genuine confusion, gazing at his middle sister with wide eyes.

Raisa wasn't… acting like Raisa at all. He had never in his life seen her so willingly hug someone but she was holding Rosan like he would disappear at any given moment.

"We fought a bit then I talked her into being more honest with herself. She's been living a very difficult life," Rosan said easily. "She's been dealing with a lot and I helped get her on the right path. Right, Raisa?"

"Mhm," she mumbled again.

"Y-You... helped her?" Dalia asked hopefully, gazing at her sister and nephew with wide eyes.

Did he... did he really manage to pull Raisa out of her self imposed misery?

Dalia was... she was okay if Raisa never forgave her but at the very least, she just wanted her sister to be happy because she didn't remember the last time she was...

"Has she ever hugged any of you guys like this?" Rosan asked with a raised brow, beckoning towards his birth mother with an amused smirk.

"No. We didn't know she liked hugs," Oren answered truthfully, frowning at that detail.

"There's your answer," the redhead chuckled. "I'm sure she'd tell you herself but she doesn't want to speak right now. She's a little embarrassed."

"I'm not embarrassed," Raisa denied immediately.

Rosan pat her head. "Don't bother lying. I can tell."

That was annoying. Raisa didn't like that someone else could detect lies.. but she supposed it was fine if it were Rosan.

"Fine," she grumbled in defeat.

Dalia felt tears forming at just how… at ease Raisa suddenly felt and she let out a happy sob.

"We thought you guys were going to destroy everything!" Dalia cried, jumping into the hug with a happy grin.

Rosan simply shook his head and snagged his short aunt out of mid air, getting an excited squeal out of her. "If I were trying to destroy everything, you'd know. I just wanted to get a glimpse into Raisa's head is all."

"He brought the fight away from the island on purpose so he could avoid hurting them," Raisa defended, refusing to look away from her soon.

"Your tickling my neck," Rosan mentioned with a small chuckle. Everytime she spoke, her lips would brush against him because she refused to let him go.

It tickled.

"Sorry but... I don't wanna move," Raisa said truthfully.

The redhead rolled his eyes. "You're a brat. I get too many things from you."

"Are you a brat as well?" Raisa asked, wanting to know anything and everything about him.

Dalia's mouth opened in shock at how she didn't even deny being a brat. It was utterly surreal to see Raisa of all people, tamed by her son. It was light and day!

"My girlfriend calls me a brat all the time," Rosan said fondly.

"Nico Robin?" Raisa asked curiously.

The sight of her son lighting up warmed Raisa's heart extremely.

"Yeah. She's my best friend and my girlfriend and I love her very much," Rosan smiled. "But... she's also extremely protective of me so she doesn't have a high opinion of you."

Raisa frowned at that. "I'd like to meet and apologize to anyone that has any grievances with me then..." she said softly.

Rosan gazed at her, an unknown glint in his eyes. "Don't regret that decision. A lot of people are very overprotective of me."

Raisa shuddered at that for some reason.

"Raisa?" Oren said softly.

"Mmm?" Raisa mumbled as her form of acknowledgement.

Oren sighed deeply. "I didn't understand the full picture and I probably still don't... but I'm seriously sorry for being such a terrible older brother to you. We... won't ever be able to make it up to you and you might not believe it... but even if you don't ever forgive us..."

"But we're just happy that you found someone that makes you less alone!" Dalia beamed, sniffing happily as she squeezed her older sister. "We don't deserve to be forgiven after what we put you through, but I'm so glad you're just happy! You've never deserved to suffer!"

Raisa froze at that and let out a quiet breath.

"I... forgive you two," she said eventually.

Both Oren and Dalia froze at that. "R-Really?" Dalia asked tentatively.

Raisa nodded softly. "I've barely done anything yet Rosan was able to forgive me... you two are doing so much to prove you want to make it up. I'd be nothing more than an asshole if I continued to push you guys away."

"That's..." Oren said, glancing at his nephew with a stunned eye.

"I guess all that family therapy turned me into a good one myself. Look at me fixing all these issues," he chuckled.

"Here I was just trying to get a good fight and now here we are. But I guess that makes sense. People become most honest when they're pumped up on adrenaline… or about to die."

Oren sweatdropped. His nephew was a pretty scary person.

Dalia giggled. Her nephew was such a scary person!

"But man, to think you could transform into a dragon too…" Oren chuckled to himself. "I guess it really does run in the family."

Rosan raised a brow at that. "Runs in the family? Are you guys able to turn into dragons too?"

Dalia lit up at that and got out of the group hug.

"Yep!" she chirped happily. "Look look! Look at me!"

Rosan watched in interest and even Raisa craned her head slightly as both Oren and Dalia began transforming.

Scales began covering the both of them, as they both began growing to ludicrous size.

Blue scales covered Dalia as she lengthened dramatically, losing her limbs, as she became more and more serpentine in nature.

Gold scales covered Oren as he gained an extra set of legs, losing his arms and becoming quadrupedal.

"I see now why you're so obsessed with Dragons… it runs in your family," Mod laughed disbelievingly.

"Ta da! Aren't I pretty?!" Dalia rumbled, sharp fangs on full display as the serpent grinned down at them in a rather intimidating display.

Despite Dalia's short stature, none of that reflected in the Wyrm she transformed into. It was smaller than what Rosan and her siblings could transform into, but she had them all beat in terms of length. It was quite a sight to see.

"The Iris love their reptiles… not really sure why," Oren rumbled deeply, golden eyes peering down at them.

He was as big as everyone else was, though without wings he appeared smaller than both Raisa and Rosan. The Drake rumbled and the earth shook a bit at that, causing Rosan to peer at the ground.

So all three siblings had the Ryu Ryu no Mi but for different models...

"A Wyrm, a Drake and a Wyvern," Rosan mused in visible interest.

"We like reptiles due to our Kuja lineage," Raisa mumbled. "Seeing as we didn't have our own snakes to train, we compensated."

"And we decided on Mythical Zoans as our solution," Rosan laughed.

"Right?! We're so smart!" Dalia gushed, ducking her head and rumbling in joy as Rosan pat her gently.

Well that explained why his thought process was always… peculiar. Rosan probably would have come to the exact same solution. If you can't control a reptile, might as well become one.

How fascinating. He was very similar to his relatives.

"So you ate the Ryu Ryu no Mi too, right?!" Dalia asked, transforming back to normal as she skipped up to Rosan.

Rosan blinked. "No, I didn't."

Raisa blinked in confusion at that because Rosan was not lying.

"What do you mean you didn't? Is that not what you transformed into?" Raisa asked in confusion, wondering if her eyes had been playing tricks.

No, Raisa hadn't been that hysterical. Her son was definitely a dragon.

"Yeah, I can transform into a dragon… but I didn't eat a Mythical Zoan," Rosan said easily.

The siblings only looked more stunned at that.

"What?" they all asked in disbelief.

Rosan opened his mouth, before suddenly shutting it as a somewhat concerned look crossed his face.

"It's best if I show you," he said slowly, delicately removing Raisa from his hold.

Raisa was a little put off by that but she had hugged him long enough…

It just didn't feel like enough to her. She wanted to hug him again.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yes. I must speak my mind."

"Alright. Say whatever you want. I won't stop you or object any decision you make."

Rosan raked a hand through his hair and closed his eyes.

Raisa, Oren and Dalia's expressions of confusion melted away, replaced by shock as Rosan began changing yet again in front of their eyes…

But he wasn't transforming into a dragon… no he was transforming… into another person?!

He lost many inches of his height, as his downward spikes lengthened and smoothed over, turning a lustrous shade of purple, not unlike his and Raisa's eyes.

But what was most shocking… was the fact that he changed into a whole other gender.

"What...?" Oren gaped in shock, looking at the women in shock.

"She's stunning," Raisa gasped, gazing at the woman who just took over her son with wide eyes.

"She's so damn hot?!" Dalia's mouth opened, gazing at the beauty with blatant interest.

What just happened to Rosan?!

Mod opened her blood red eyes, making eye contact with the stunned Raisa and despite everything she saw… despite Rosan's decisions…

Mod was not Rosan. They had their similarities, they were one and the same... but they were two separate people...

And Mod hated Iris D. Raisa.

"Hello," Mod said coldly, raid cloak seamlessly transforming into her signature black dress. "My name is Modification, but you may call me Mod. I am Rosan's mother, a title you do not ever have the right to call yourself," she said bluntly.

Raisa shuddered horribly at the boiling rage in those red eyes that reminded her of their red hair.

"His… mother?" Raisa asked slowly, trying to wrap her head around what she just witnessed.

Did her son just transform into a young woman that referred to herself as his mother? This stunning young lady was Rosan's mother? But how... she looked younger than him.

What was happening? How did Rosan do that? An alter ego? Did his heavy emotions manifest into an entirely other person?

"That's correct, something you know nothing about!" Mod said furiously, eyes narrowed into something heinous.

Raisa flinched back at that.

"I..." she tried to say.

"You should be ashamed of yourself!" Mod barked, interrupting her immediately. "You heartless, evil bitch! How could you look that poor little newborn in his eyes and abandon him?!" she snarled, feeling all the rage and anger she felt at the mother mounting.

Raisa began shuddering at the raw visceral rage radiating off the woman.

"H-Hey wait. We don't have to get so mean," Dalia tried hesitantly, trying to placate the furious woman.

Mod shot her a pointed look and the woman stopped moving immediately. "My problems do not lie with neither you nor Oren, Dalia. My problems like with Iris D. Raisa, the person who mere moments after giving birth, decided to abandon her son in a forest. You will stand back and avoid interfering, or we will have a problem," she said gently, turning away from her and directing those furious red orbs onto the stunned Raisa.

Dalia wilted away from the scary girl, nodding hesitantly and going silent.

"I am Modification, Rosan's Devil Fruit, Rosan's mother and Rosan's keeper," Mod said strongly, glowering at Raisa with a fierce expression.

His… Devil Fruit? This woman was Rosan's Devil Fruit…?

"He may not have any issue with you but everyone who loves him does and I am the main one. Just because my son is such an amazing person, who's willing to let bygones be bygones, I am not."

Raisa went cold.

"Don't regret that decision. A lot of people are very overprotective of me."

So this was what Rosan meant by this... he was warning her of this Mod right here... and it was for good reason because Raisa didn't think she'd ever met anyone that hated her to the degree this girl did.

Mod glared at her, dress fluttering in time with her anger as her red orbs began glowing. "I watched you abandon an infant in a forest all by his lonesome and even after he cried and cried, you still left him alone!" she shouted.

Raisa wilted at that, averting her eyes.

"How do you… I didn't…" Raisa took a deep breath, caught off guard at someone recalling such a far away memory. "I waited for someone to approach him… I stayed up there until someone finally did… and when they both left, I finally did. I didn't... want anyone to make a connection to me so I thought this was the best course of action."

Mod scoffed. "You must be so proud of yourself! You must be so pleased that you abandoned your newborn child instead of just giving him to someone!" she said sarcastically, severe expression never vanishing.

Raisa frowned deeply at that. "He wasn't... I was going to make sure he stayed unharmed... I admit… my method was unorthodox but…"

"But what?!" Mod shrieked, temper flaring as she was forced to recall all her memories with Rosan. "You thought you were doing what was best for him? You thought you were helping?!"

Rosan hadn't forced Raisa to face her past… but this Modification was doing so with no remorse and she felt terrible.

What had she been thinking... why did she do that?

"You think punishing Rosan for the actions of someone else was the right way to handle things? Because of what his father did, you decided that he deserved to be left in a forest?! HOW WAS THAT THE RIGHT WAY TO HANDLE THINGS?! ARE YOU FUCKING STUPID?!" Mod roared, eyes pulsing madly, as lighting began sparking off of her.

"I've been taking care of my poor baby boy since he was only 4 years old. I protected him until he became strong, I was there when he cried, I nurtured and watched him grow. I will never ever regret anything I've done for him, but I won't sit here and delude myself into being happy with the circumstances just because I was lucky enough to meet him!"

Years of anger at Raisa's irresponsible actions had finally been unleashed and Mod would be damned if the woman didn't hear everything she had to say.

Raisa stepped back slightly, looking stricken at the words of the woman.

"I love Rosan, I will always love Rosan more than anything in this world but Rosan didn't deserve the life he was thrusted into and you're to blame! Since he was only 4, I've been doing my absolute best to make sure he's stable and it's your fault! MY LITTLE BOY WAS TORTURED AND IT'S YOUR FAULT!" Mod howled, eyes glowing brightly as she unwittingly began activating Modification.

Raisa felt a stab at seeing the tears forming in Mod's eyes. She looked down in defeat, before the damning last sentence finally registered to her and her head flung back up.

"Tortured...?" Raisa asked in genuine horror.

"Yes," Mod hissed venomously. "At 4 years old, he watched his mother die. At 9 years old the child you abandoned became a slave because of everything you passed onto him! AT JUST 9 YEARS OLD, YOUR SON MURDERED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AND DESTROYED AN ISLAND. 9! HE WAS 9!" Mod shrieked, slamming a fist into a tree and completely upheaving it.

Raisa reeled back as if she were physically struck, tears springing up in her eyes at the truth of Mod's words.

"At 9... years old? He was a slave?" Oren whispered in shock, holding his heart as a wave of pain washed over him.

"He lost his mom when... when he was 4?" Dalia sniffed, tears filling her big eyes.

"If I told you everything that happened to Rosan, you'd be sick to your stomach. It's too much to tell but you wouldn't know!" Mod snarled, clenching her firsts as the idea of striking Raisa became all the more tempting to her.

"I won't blame you two, Oren and Dalia. You likely didn't even know he existed... but Raisa, I will never forgive you."

The Queen shuddered at Mod's words, watching the beautiful woman glare at her.

"You don't know anything about what Rosan has gone through when you should. I don't care if you abandoning him allowed us to meet because you played a part in all the terrible things that happened to him!" she shouted.

"I don't care that you apologized, I don't care that you regret your actions… as long as I feel like you don't deserve forgiveness, I will never allow you to fully reconnect with Rosan. And trust me when I say, he won't disagree with my decision," Mod finished firmly.

A tense silence washed over the field as Mod glared at Raisa.

"If that's your resolve, then that's that," Rosan complied easily. At the end of the day, Mod-chan was his mother and if she truly wanted this, he wouldn't argue otherwise.

She was far more passionate about this than he was, so as her partner, he'd support her decisions.

"Damn Auntie," Ram said gently, not joking for once.

Dalia and Oren winced harshly at the words Mod had been using, gazing at the stricken Raisa with guilty, teary, eyes.

Mod panted after her rant, glaring heatedly at Raisa and wiping the tears that formed away.

Raisa wasn't there to comfort Rosan when Rouge died. Raisa wasn't there to protect the pregnant woman and her son. Raisa wasn't there when Rosan had gotten tortured at the tender age of 8.

Raisa wasn't there to help regulate Rosan's emotions. Raisa wasn't there when her son suffered such intense heartbreak at Meiko's death…

Raisa wasn't there and she would never forget that because Mod was there for all of that.

Mod was Rosan's keeper and she would forever take that role as seriously as possible.

Raisa felt the resolve in the woman, saw it in those blood red eyes of her… and because of that, she felt a true terror forming at the thought that she'd lose Rosan just after potentially getting him back.

That couldn't… but they just made…!

"Please."

Mod paused.

The look in Raisa's eyes were frantic and teary, as she immediately closed the distance between her and Mod.

Mod craned her neck to look at the taller woman, looking puzzled at the sheer terror in Raisa's tear streaked eyes.

"Please give me a chance to make things right!" Raisa pleaded, a rare desperation. "I'll do anything! I can't… I don't want to lose the small connection I've formed with him already!"

"…" Mod bit her lip and said nothing.

"I know I messed up… I'm a failure of a mother and I'm not even thinking of taking that role from you… but I want to make amends with him and I'll do anything to get that chance! Hurt me, beat me, t-torture me if you want but please! I don't want to lose this!"

Raisa, Queen Iris D. Raisa of Wisteria, bowed.

"Please… at least give me one chance to make things right… that's all I ask for. I don't know a thing about him… you're right, but I want to know who Portgas D. Rosan is," she said quietly, head touching the floor.

Dalia and Oren could only watch with wide eyes, as their proud and haughty sister bowed to someone else for probably the first time in her life.

This was surreal… she really was trying to… change for Rosan.

"Portgas D. Rosan," Mod thought to herself, biting her lip even harder.

"Please raise your head," Mod said softly, tone turning measured.

Raisa hesitantly looked up and glanced at the woman with her inverted colors.

"Stand up."

The Queen stood slowly at that, gazing unsuredly at the woman.

SMACK.

Her eyes widened and her head turned, as blood began pooling in her mouth at the hellish strength behind the woman's strength.

Mod stared at the woman, hand connected firmly on the woman's cheek as she held it there.

"I hate you," Mod said truthfully.

Raisa flinched back, gazing into the beautiful eyes of Rosan's violent mother.

"I hate you so much, Iris D. Raisa… but I love Rosan much more than I hate you and if there's one thing I want for him… it's to have people who love and care for him. Besides, Rosan's a mess with his emotions and you're one of the ones who can help him regulate him."

Mod took a deep breath.

"...I'm watching you. One mistake and I promise you will know what a mother's fury truly looks like," she warned.

Raisa paused at that, before a swell of relief coursed through her body.

"I'll do whatever it takes to earn his trust... and I'll do whatever it takes to earn yours," Raisa said quietly.

Mod resisted the urge to glare at her and instead allowed Rosan to take over.

He hummed at the exchange that just took place, idly transforming his outfit once more and gazing at the reserved Raisa.

She looked at him with a wounded expression and he sighed softly, merely opening his arms.

It took her no time at all to crash into him and he felt the sheer relief roll off of her.

"I need to go now. I have to make sure my crew is okay," he said bluntly.

Raisa's eyes widened in horror at that and she immediately clutched her fellow redhead.

"You're leaving already?"

She really tried to sound normal saying that but it came out far too pathetic for her liking.

"We were in the middle of a battle with a Warlord and an Admiral," Rosan grunted. "I need to make sure they're okay."

Raisa's grip on him tightened and horror coursed through her body.

"An Admiral?!" she hissed in worry. "You fought an Admiral?!"

Rosan's gaze darkened. "Yeah, that's why I need to check up on them. Kuma saved my life but I don't know if he did it with them."

Didn't he realize what he was saying?! Her son had fought an Admiral?! Why? For what reason?!

But above all… he was leaving already… Raisa didn't want him to leave yet but he… had his responsibilities.

"Will you visit?" she asked hesitantly.

"She's like a puppy," Rosan thought idly, gazing at his birth mother with a curious eye.

He idly began rummaging through his pocket until pulling out a small plush he just modified.

Raisa watched in confusion as Rosan's eyes began glowing and the toy suddenly grew in size, appearance changing all the while.

It took the shape of a redhead, with heterochromatic eyes that glowed despite being a plushie.

"I don't know where this island is, so just hold onto this and I'll visit when I can," Rosan said truthfully, handing the toy of himself over Raisa.

"…" Raisa said nothing as she tentatively grasped the toy.

This was the cutest thing she had ever seen in her life.

"I will keep it safe," she decided with a far too serious expression, tucking it into her dress and securing it.

The redhead nodded in amusement, before grunting as Raisa pulled him into a fierce hug.

"Please be careful," she muttered, sinking into his grasp one last time.

Rosan rolled his eyes and returned the hug. Relying on him had made Raisa do a complete 180… or maybe this was what she always wanted and was finally cutting loose.

"N-No fair! I wanna get hugged back too!" Dalia complained. "Hug me!" she demanded.

Raisa glowered at her but reluctantly released Rosan and allowed the redhead to pull Dalia into another hug.

"Keep going out there and kicking ass, nephew! I'm supporting you all the way!" Dalia beamed, looking up at him with those big blue eyes.

"You remind me of my little sister," Rosan replied easily, gauging her curly red hair with curious eyes.

She was like a nicer, more ditzy version of Angel.

"Sister?" Dalia pondered in wondrous curiosity.

Rosan nodded. "Her names Angel. You two would probably love each other. She looks just like me," he mentioned.

Raisa perked up at that. "Looks like you? How is that?"

"Modification," he replied effortlessly. "I have a little brother too named Demon. He looks like me with purple hair. He's very pretty," Rosan mentioned with a fond grin as he thought of his siblings.

"Actually, that reminds me..." he mused, stepping back slightly and flashing his ring to them.

"Is he married?" All three thought, hearts panging slightly at possibly missing such an important event.

But to their utter shock, the ring shuddered and shook, transforming into yet another human.

"Ta da!" Ram cheered, silver hair swinging as she immediately leapt on Rosan.

"Since you met Mod and I... it's only right you meet my daughter. This is Ram," he introduced, hugging her back easily and smiling in amusement as she rubbed her cheek against his own.

"I love when you call me your daughter, Father," Ram gushed, enjoying the way her heart warmed.

"D-Daughter?" Dalia stammered in confusion, looking at the tall and gorgeous woman with silver hair... who looked the exact same age as their nephew.

"She's technically 12 but yet. I created her," he mentioned.

"H-He's so bold?! Isn't he only 24?!" Dalia blushed red, gazing away from her perverted nephew with an embarrassed expression.

"Dumbass," Oren sighed at his idiot of a littlest sister. "I guess that's also your Devil Fruit? She was just a ring after all."

Rosan nodded, not sensing Dalia's growing thoughts on how he was a pervert. "Yeah. I made her a long time ago. She's my weapon too."

"The best weapon!" Ram beamed cockily, before glowering at Raisa.

Raisa flinched again at that, noting the woman's strange set of eyes.

"I don't like you! You make Auntie stressed and when Auntie is stressed, I get stressed because that means I can't bully her," Ram declared. "Watch your back! Auntie won't try to kill you but I will!"

Mod sweatdropped. She was currently stewing, slightly cursing herself for allowing the woman a chance but at least Ram always knew how to make her feel better.

Raisa gazed at her... granddaughter (?) with a conflicted expression, before bowing slightly.

"I'll work hard to gain your forgiveness too, Ram," she said softly.

"You better Granny!" she grinned.

Raisa twitched slightly at that. She supposed she was old enough to be considered a Grandma now but the fact that a woman who looked 24 was doing it, felt wrong on all levels.

Rosan let loose a slight chuckle at that, watching as Dalia approached Ram with a curious gaze.

"Wow, you're tall and hot as hell! I'm jealous," Dalia sighed, looking Ram up and down. "But your outfit is way too modest! Next time Rosan visits, we'll buy you some clothes!"

Ram squeaked in horror at that, looking at the demonic grin (it was completely normal) on Dalia's face. She shook her head rapidly and leapt right onto Rosan in ring form.

"I refuse! I won't go clothes shopping anymore! You can't make me demon!" she protested.

Dalia gazed in some confusion at that, tilting her head to the side a putting a finger to her chin in contemplation.

"She'll love it," the woman decided with a happy grin.

"You have my approval," Rosan snorted.

"FATHER! YOU FUCKING TRAITOR! I HATE YOU!"

"No you don't!"

"SHUT UP! I KNOW I DON'T!"

He laughed again and his gaze shifted to the oldest of the siblings.

Oren kind of reminded him of Demon. They were both level headed but Oren seemed far more... laidback? Demon wasn't very upfront and confrontational either, but with someone as authoritative as Angel being his twin, he had learned a thing or two.

There was also builds. Oren was built like a truck and Demon was built quite slender.

Oren caught his gaze and inclined his head, pulling Rosan into a one armed hug.

"It was awesome to finally meet you, Rosan! Please feel free to visit anytime… Dalia will be insufferable otherwise and I think Raisa misses you already and you aren't even gone," Oren chuckled knowingly.

"...When I have free time, I'll drop by. I visit these seas often so it won't be hard," Rosan muttered, returning the hug. "I just need to make sure everything is under control so on that note…"

The youngest one there inclined his head, before promptly vanishing from his spot.

The three blinked.

"What…?" they said in confusion.

Just what was Rosan capable of doing?

Ah, Raisa missed him already… she idly clutched the plush of her son and frowned.

She should go ensure her citizens that there was no threat and that she had handled it. They were probably in the safe zones.

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

A distressed Robin, could only feel tears resurging in her eyes as a familiar and warm presence appeared before her.

Rosan could only grab the woman leaping onto him and the surprise at the action made him stumble back a bit.

"Rosan," Robin breathed in such relief, he instinctively wrapped her in a tight hug.

They exchanged a fierce kiss as relief flooded through both their bodies and Rosan let out a relieved sigh.

"I'm so glad you're okay," they said in unison, melding further into the other.

"I knew you'd be fine… but a part of me worried when you didn't show up still," Robin whispered.

"I know, I'm sorry… I landed on a very funny island and I'll tell you all about it," he murmured, running a hand through her hair and letting out a genuine sigh of relief at seeing her perfectly fine, barring the fact she may have been suffering from slight panic.

She shuddered in his hold and tightened the grip, brows furrowing slightly at the fact that the redhead... smelt different.

It likely had something to do with the island he was on and Rosan would eventually tell her.

Rosan felt her tighten the grip and let out a relieved sigh, practically crushing her against him.

Robin was the World Goverment's #1 priority in their crew and the actions of Water 7 showed him that. so seeing her good and well must have meant his other crew was fine too.

But it seems like Rosan wasn't the only one who was sent to a rather funny island…

"Monkey D. Dragon… is there a particular reason you're in a room alone with my girlfriend?" Rosan asked dangerously, clutching Robin tightly against his frame.

Robin rolled her eyes at the unbelievable redhead.

"You know I only have eyes on you right?" Robin said in exasperation.

"Yeah but imagine how many people have eyes on you!" he retorted protectively.

She sighed with a small smile.

"Hello to you too, Rosan," Dragon greeted, nonplussed by the redhead's narrowed eyes. "It seems Kuma sent all of you to a certain location… though I wouldn't know the reasons why. I was surprised to see Nico Robin appear on our island... Kuma must trust you all quite a bit to reveal this location."

Robin sweatdropped deeply at that. "It's fine, Rosan. It wasn't just me and Dragon, Koala was here as well making sure I felt better because… I was under a lot of stress."

Rosan's heart panged at that and he immediately began fussing over Robin again.

"Are you alright? Anything hurt? Want a massage?" he asked rapidly.

"Mother hen Rosan is in full effect," Mod laughed, feeling her mood lighten at seeing those two.

She smiled at his affections and leaned into the touch.

"Yes I would," she said, sighing in relief as he immediately began giving her a massage.

"So Kuma sent you to the Revolutionaries?" Rosan muttered in surprise, rubbing her back easily.

Robin nodded. "When I gathered my bearings, I was here."

"She was panicking quite a bit and it took a lot to calm her down, but I managed to do it!"

Rosan turned towards the voice and raised a brow.

It was a very short girl, who was slim and curvaceous with shoulder length orange hair and large blue eyes.

"She's a cute one," Rosan said to Robin. "Koala?" he asked curiously.

Robin smiled slightly at the sight of Koala happily nodding with a flush due to being called cute.

"Rosan? Robin?! What are you two doing here?" Sabo asked incredulously, stepping into the room after being dragged here by Koala.

This was what she wanted to show him?! What happened? Last he spoke to them, they were sailing through the Florian Triangle! Why were they suddenly at Baltigo? Rosan didn't give him a Save Point...

"We got in a fight with Kuma and Admiral Kizaru," Rosan grunted.

"I think he saved our lives," Robin murmured, noticing the redheads glower. "Kuma used the same move on you, that he used on me. I don't know what happened to the rest... but I was second to go," she mentioned.

Rosan's harsh expression vanished and he frowned instead.

"Dragon, Kuma was a revolutionary, right? What's his deal?" Rosan asked, turning towards the leader with a stern frown. "Not only did he separate us all, he extracted my memories for my crew to watch as well. He's attacked us twice now and never captured us."

Sabo's eyes widened. Kuma did what to Rosan?! Their former ally was mysterious on the worst of days but this was... why was he suddenly interested in the Straw Hats?

Dragon frowned at that. "Over the years, Kuma's motives have become more and more mysterious to us. We don't know what he's thinking anymore but the fact that he saved you all…"

"We haven't spoken to Kuma in a long time… I don't know why he'd suddenly express such an interest in you guys," Sabo mused, frowning at that.

He extracted Rosan's memories? Why? What interest did Kuma have in Rosan and Luffy?

Rosan scowled. "Well whatever his motives are, I don't know. After all, he sent you to the Revolutionaries… and he sent me to Wisteria."

Robin froze completely at that.

"Wisteria? Raisa's island?" Dragon asked suddenly.

Rosan nodded, peering at Dragon with a curious eye. "Yeah… we had quite the catch up," he muttered.

So that's why Dragon recognized him somewhat all those years ago. He was acquainted with Raisa...

That made sense.

"You met Raisa?" Robin asked in shock, wishing that she were there to see such a thing.

Rosan had met, Raisa? He had met his birth mother…? How did it go?

"It was… fine. We fought at first but turns out she's obsessed with me. Wants to reconnect and all that," he informed her, moving to her shoulders now.

Robin blinked at that, feeling the tension leave her shoulders. "You two made up? She's obsessed with you?"

He nodded in some amusement. "She reminds me of myself. Who woulda thought that I'd be similar to my birth mother… all she needed was a hug and now she loves me to death."

What a thought. Raisa was almost comically attached to him now.

Robin couldn't stop the giggle. "You know... the first time I hugged you first, I'm pretty sure you fully imprinted to me so that doesn't surprise me at all."

"Imprint is a nice way of putting it," Rosan laughed. "Do you remember your second birthday we celebrated?"

"The one where I kissed you on the cheek?" Robin asked fondly. After she had done that, Rosan had practically glued himself to her for the next month and did whatever she asked him to do with no complaints...

Huh, wow. Robin was extremely oblivious.

"That's where Rosan definitely fell in love. He was so ecstatic when you actually kissed him on the cheek first. You know he talked about it with me the entire night?"

Robin flushed slightly. "Did he really?" she asked, gazing at the grinning redhead.

Shouldn't he be embarrassed?! Why did he look so proud of himself?!

Rosan nodded triumphantly. "You were the first girl to kiss me that wasn't either of my moms! Of course I was happy!"

"He's such a dork," Sabo and Koala sweatdropped, gazing at the happy redhead.

Rosan called himself attractive all the time. It was strangely endearing to see how happy something so simple made him.

Robin sighed at his adorable antics. "You'll have to tell me more about your meeting with Raisa later… and I'd like to meet her as well. I have a few choice words to say," she muttered.

"I gave her a piece of my mind already and I encourage anyone to say whatever they want to her," Mod said with a firm frown, allowing Ram to massage her because of the stress.

Ram let out a small snort and just continued to gently rub Auntie's shoulders, getting a small sigh out of her.

"There's many things I have to say to her. Her actions were completely irresponsible to you and I'll let her know that I'm watching her," Robin said firmly.

"Have at it. She's holding herself accountable and wants to make it up to anyone who has a problem with her," Rosan replied fondly.

"That sounds more like the Raisa I know," Dragon said with a small grin. "She's been lying to herself all these years huh?"

Rosan nodded in agreement. "So you do know Raisa," he pointed out.

"You met your birth mother?" Sabo asked in surprise.

"His birth mother?" Koala asked in confusion.

"Queen Raisa of Wisteria in the South Blue. In terms of power, I doubt anyone in South Blue will be able to match her strength. Her island is difficult to navigate to as well so she's very rarely attacked," Dragon informed them.

Koala's mouth opened at that. Wow! Rosan's mom sounded really impressive!

Dragon turned towards Rosan. "We met a long time ago while she was traveling… she was a spitfire, but she was very kind. I was surprised that she abandoned you… but she was clearly more conflicted than she let off. She had a lot of baggage on her that she wanted to let off but it seems like she was unable too."

"Yeah that sounds like her," Rosan chuckled. "She's like a puppy now. She refused to let me go."

Robin couldn't help but smile in amusement at that, because Rosan was much the same.

Even now, he had yet to let her go. She experimentally tried to pull away and smiled knowingly as his grip tightened and he shot her a warning glare.

"I was just testing something, you tiger," she laughed.

"Stop that," he chastised, pulling her cheek slightly.

"So what will you do now?" she asked curiously.

Rosan frowned at the question.

The only other Save Point he had, was Luffy… he didn't know where anyone else in the crew was.

He did have that bird on Zoro though… it was still with him it felt like. His bird was incredibly far... so maybe somewhere still in the Grand Line?

"I think I'll go check up on Luffy. I want to verify what island he landed on and make sure he's alive," Rosan said after a moment.

"We're in a difficult situation. The crew is separated and it might be all over the ocean… You were in the South Blue, I was in the Grand Line… they could be anywhere and we have no good way of truly tracking them," Robin frowned in worry.

Rosan sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I'll figure something out… it's just hard. If anything we'll probably just have to meet up again on Sabaody," he muttered.

There was just no way he could find them all, even if he flew. There were just too many places to search...

Damn it and he had just about finished the next patch of their cubes. He should have just given it to them but he wanted to design it a bit more.

"Do you want to stay here and continue talking to Dragon? I know he was interested in speaking to you and he is an ally," Rosan whispered quietly to her.

Robin did want to continue speaking to Dragon. He was a well of knowledge but at the same time, she wanted to be with Rosan. She had already had the scare of her life when he vanished from her sight...

The Devil Child idly tightened her own grip on the redhead.

She really did not want to be far from him at the moment.

Rosan saw the slight distress on her features and sighed. Before he could reassure her, he paused as his cube began ringing.

Fishing it out, he saw that it was Angel calling him and the redhead frowned.

Angel?

"Angel? What's the matter?" Rosan asked softly.

"MASTER!" Maro shrieked.

"Maro? What's wrong? Is Angel okay?" He asked in concern.

"She's having a panic attack!"

Rosan went on high alert at that. "She what?!" he barked in concern, preparing to teleport over to her location immediately.

"That's not the problem right now! Master have you read the Newspaper?!" Maro urged.

Maro's voice was frantic and teary and whatever it was that had her so stressed, was very close to bringing her into a state of panic like Angel.

"The Newspaper? What's happening in the news?" Rosan asked in confusion.

There was a shuddering breath over the line as Maro tried (and failed) to compose herself.

"A-Ace has been captured by the World Government! He's scheduled to be executed at Marineford!"

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

Rosan felt like he was being dipped in ice cold water, as Maro's words washed over him.

No that wasn't right… Rosan felt like his very insides were being frozen solid.

"What did you just say?" Robin asked nervously, watching both Rosan and Sabo freeze completely at that information.

Angel let out a sharp wail of distress and they heard Demon's own frantic voice soothing her. The three rulers of Celadon were in a full state of distress and it was very quickly washing over the inhabitants of the room.

"A-Ace… he was captured and he's going to be publicly executed by the Marines! W-We have to stop them! We need to!" Maro explained, voice choked up as tears began spilling.

Ace was… going to be publicly executed?

What…?

"That's not… but?" Mod whispered, unable to believe what she was hearing. She began breathing heavily, red eyes going wide.

"He's what?!" Ram barked in disbelief, stopping everything she was doing. "There's no way he got captured! How the hell did he get captured?!"

Ace was… Ace was in grave danger.

Pestilence's eyes snapped open at that and a deep frown made its way to their face.

Rosan jumped as a hand touched his own and he gazed at the worried Robin with wild eyes.

At the same time, Sabo removed his hand from his head as Koala worriedly grabbed him.

"M-Master? Are you there?" Maro whimpered.

Rosan snapped out of that and his expression turned terrifyingly calm.

"Sorry Maro, I was thinking…" He muttered, eyes lit with fury. "Alright, I'll deal with it. Okay, I'll handle this. I'll save him. I'll save Ace."

Robin was nodding until she noticed something.

"I?" Robin whispered in disbelief. "Alone, Rosan? You plan on going alone?"

Much to her dread, Rosan nodded without any hesitation.

"Alone?" Maro asked in disbelief. "What do you mean alone? I'm coming with you!"

Robin nodded strongly. "You think you can do this alone?! That's madness Rosan!" she explained to the fuming redhead.

"You aren't coming, Robin," Rosan said firmly, wanting to turn away but refusing to be a coward to her. He looked her directly in her eyes and saw the raw desperation in her gaze as she realized, Rosan was planning on storming Marineford alone.

But much to her dread, Rosan was staring at her with those eyes that meant that he would not sway from this position no matter what she said.

"You can't go alone, Rosan! Please don't do this!" Robin pressed, clutching his outfit desperately.

Rosan clenched his fist. "Then I'll bring Luffy. He'll go regardless of what I say and even if I say no, he'll end up going. It'll be better for me to at least keep in eye on him in the case," he decided.

"But Master!" Maro shouted. "This isn't fair! I can't… I don't want to be useless… I want to help! I don't care if I'm Queen, I'll come!"

Rosan grit his teeth at that and shook his head as his stress began mounting. "No, you two can't come. I won't let you," he decided firmly.

Bringing either of them... no Rosan couldn't do that. He wouldn't...

Rosan felt a headache blooming from the stress, emotions beginning to flare irrationally.

Ace was going to get executed... Ace was going to die. His little brothers life was in danger.

His little brother was going to die.

Robin was stunned at his insistence. Never did she expect, for Rosan to not want to partner with her and it threw her for a loop.

This was... this was surreal...

"But why, Rosan? Why are you so set on keeping us out… I don't understand! I'm content to go along with all your plans but this is too much! We're partners, Rosan… I won't let you leave me behind!" Robin said firmly, set in her own stance.

"So you just want to die?!" Rosan suddenly shouted, eyes blazing as his stress peaked.

Robin froze and Maro went completely silent.

"Don't you understand, Robin?! Don't you understand who you are in the Government's eyes? You're one of the last pieces they need to get rid of to keep complete control of the world and they'll do anything to get rid of you!" Rosan snarled. "I won't... I can't let what happened at Water 7 happen again!"

Robin reeled back, stunned silent at the redhead raising his voice. Then she began shuddering.

"It's my fault," Robin thought in despair.

Even despite forgiving her for all her grievances... Rosan would still never forget what happened at Water 7 and it was all her fault.

Robin showed Rosan how large the target on her back was in the worst possible way and he was acting accordingly... but it hurt so much to know that this was her fault... and a small part of her was utterly wounded at how the roles had shifted and she was the one not being fully trusted now.

That was...

Rosan caught himself almost as soon as he exploded and took a shuddering breath.

Calm. Deep breaths. They were just concerned…

"Of all the members in our crew… you are the one with the largest target on your back, Robin," Rosan whispered. "The World Government want you… they want you so badly and I'd be a damn fool if I threw you into their waiting arms."

He gazed at her with a torn gaze. "Maro, Robin… You're not strong enough… I'm not strong enough… I can't bring you because I'll be worrying about you the entire time and I won't be able to focus… Please Robin, Maro… I'm begging you not to subject me to this," he pleaded, ducking his head.

Robin and Maro were stunned silent at that, not expecting such a raw response out of Rosan.

"Is it fine if I come then?" Sabo asked with a firm frown. "If I come, that should ease Robin and Maro's concerns right?"

Rosan mulled the question over and gazed at Robin.

The Devil Child saw his eyes, saw the way they begged her and knew exactly what he was talking about.

If Robin went with him… she'd attract so much attention to herself that Rosan wouldn't even be able to focus on saving Ace… he'd spend the entire time making sure no one would get her like on Water 7…

Because Robin wasn't strong enough. She was weak…

"Okay," Robin conceded quietly. "I'll stay here for now… just please be careful."

Rosan pulled her into a deep hug, noting that she was shivering and kissed her gently on the head. "I'm sorry," he said truthfully.

"...Please save Ace, Master," Maro said quietly. "I'll make sure things over here are stable."

"...Thank you, Maro… I'll make sure you see all of it," Rosan said quietly.

The Queen made a small noise, before the call hung up and Rosan let out a distressed sigh.

There was simply too much for Rosan to account for and even though he wouldn't have had a problem bringing Maro (he would have welcomed it in fact)… she had her island to worry about.

If her identity was gleaned any further… with so many powerful forces around it'd only be a matter of time before she was pressed into revealing more and once that happened, she'd put herself at too high of a risk.

He wouldn't risk Celadon like that. Ace would never forgive himself either if it were destroyed for his sake.

Robin was self explanatory. The World Government wanted her at all costs and Rosan would be a fool to bring her directly to them… just one Admiral was enough to completely decimate his entire crew…

Rosan wouldn't be able to protect her and save Ace… it wasn't feasible. He'd need to put his all into saving his brother, defeating the Marines wasn't even an option...

He wasn't strong enough…

"I'm sorry, Robin," he said genuinely, holding her close as he shut his eyes. "I'll get stronger, I promise."

Robin's eyes softened at the disappointed Rosan and she pulled him into a deep hug.

"I'm fine, Rosan. I'll be fine," she whispered gently, calming him down to the best of her abilities. "I understand your concerns so I won't push you to take me. Just please be careful, okay? I won't forgive you if you die," she said, hiding the small tremor at that thought.

Rosan gazed at her in wonder. "You're... too good to me," he muttered in guilt.

"I know... it's because you're too good to me," Robin replied with a reserved smile.

They stared at each other, before Rosan nodded in determination, eyes narrowing into something fierce as he managed to get his wild emotions under control.

"I'll be back before you know it," he murmured, exchanging another moment with her.

The redhead summoned a similar plush like he had with Raisa (he did it so that she could have something that looked similar to him… but he kinda liked how they looked) and handed it over to her.

"This will show you everything through my eyes," he said softly. "I won't leave you in the dark so just keep that near."

She nodded and accepted the plush of her boyfriend, gazing at it with an unreadable expression.

Then, she turned towards Sabo and pulled him into a deep hug.

"Please watch Rosan, Sabo. I'm putting all my faith in you... he's very reckless and he'll do anything to save Ace... please just make sure whatever he does doesn't risk her life,"

The revolutionary nodded, returning the hug and securing his top hat and pipe. "Don't worry. We'll all make it out of this. I'll make sure of it," Sabo assured.

"Sabo."

The chief of staff gazed at Dragon with a serious look.

"Be careful," was all Dragon said.

The blonde nodded and exchanged a quick hug with Koala, before grasping Rosan.

Rosan reluctantly broke away from Robin and she saw his gaze waver once more, before they hardened.

"Save Ace. Save Ace. Save Ace. Save Ace."

He would not fail Ace again. Rosan swore he wouldn't.

With that, the brothers vanished.

Almost as soon as they did so, Robin's brave smile vanished and she sagged into herself with a defeated shudder.

Once more, she'd be useless to Rosan because she wasn't strong enough to defend herself from the World Government so she had to sit on the sidelines while he risked his life…

Something needed to change, she needed to get stronger. She needed to regain Rosan's full trust.

"Dragon-san… I'd love to exchange information with you but until Rosan comes back, could you help me get stronger?" Robin asked with a fire in her eyes.

"I'll help you too!" Koala grinned. "They'll be fine but it's a great way to distract ourselves from it!"

Dragon nodded. "You're an ally so I'd be glad to help. I've been very interested in meeting you, Nico Robin."

Robin smiled shakily at that.

Maybe that's why Kuma sent her here…

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

"Rosan."

"What's up Sabo?"

"I wanna eat the Goro Goro no mi."

Rosan paused at that and turned towards Sabo in surprise.

"You want to eat it… right now?" He asked with a raised brow.

Eating a Devil Fruit was a big change in life... and eating one right before such a battle carried a lot of risks.

Sabo nodded with a serious expression. "I already decided that I wanted to eat it… but we're gonna need all the firepower we can get. With what Enel was able to do, I'd probably be able to wipe out a bunch of people."

Rosan had a pondering expression.

They were currently in his Pocket Dimension, prepared to head to Luffy when Sabo suddenly sprung that request onto him.

"You sure? It's not easy mastering a Devil Fruit and we'll probably be dealing with a lot of conflict," Rosan muttered.

Sabo nodded seriously. "I'll be fine. If anything, I'll just use basic abilities and rely on my normal fighting style."

Smart. That would just be a flat boost in power with no downsides…

"Alright," Rosan said easily, beckoning with his head. "Follow me then."

The two went further into the castle until they made it to Rosan and Robin's room.

Rosan wasted no time entering and Sabo followed after.

The blonde couldn't help but appreciate the two's room. They were both impossibly neat with their own little additions that signified who it was.

There were books stacked neatly on the right cabinet, while various trinkets dominated the cabinet on the left. Sabo spotted various mechanical animals and he gazed at them in interest.

A bird, a wolf, a tiger...

"Things I'm using to improve my scouting," Rosan mentioned idly, pushing open the cabinet on the left.

The redhead rummaged through a counter and pulled out the chest, before turning towards his younger brother.

"Here, the Goro Goro no mi," Rosan presented, inclining his head as he handed it over.

Sabo inspected the fruit that would change his life forever.

With just one bite, Sabo would be changed on a fundamental level… he'd be exactly like his brothers…

"Hard to believe you're just giving it to me," he mentioned.

"Nami showed interest in eating it recently. It was either you or her and you asked first," the redhead shrugged.

"Will she be mad?" Sabo asked curiously.

"Nah, if anything, I'll try to find her another Logia," Rosan laughed.

"Fair enough," Sabo shrugged.

He brought the fruit to his mouth and bit into it without any hesitation.

His brothers were having too much fun with their fruits, it was about time he joined them...

Right after he got this awful taste out of his mouth.

Sabo gagged in disgust, at the foul and horrific taste in his mouth currently.

What the hell was that?! No warning would ever have been able to prepare him for what he just ate. Bad didn't even begin to describe how horrible a Devil Fruit tasted!

He coughed and spit, all while his older brother looked at him with terrible amusement.

"Help me asshole!" Sabo rasped, glaring at the insufferable redhead.

Goddamn his brother was as annoying as ever. It was even worse now that he wasn't a dry asshole!

"Bad isn't it?" Rosan asked, tapping Sabo with a palm and making the taste go away. "You guys made fun of me when Mod-chan said I ended up crying eating it."

Sabo let out a sigh of relief, coughing a bit at the memory of the taste, and said, "Yeah… sorry about that. I don't know what we were thinking that day, we definitely deserved that —"

Sabo abruptly froze and held his head.

"I don't know what we were thinking that day, we definitely deserved that prank you did… where you modified our taste buds," Sabo breathed in shock.

Everyone's eyes widened at that.

"You… remember that?" Rosan asked in disbelief, gazing at his brother wide eyes.

Before Sabo could properly answer, his eyes widened in utter horror.

"Shit! Ace is gonna get executed!" Sabo panicked, eyes going wide in horror. "We can't let that happen, Rosan! I have to apologize for everything! I can't believe I forgot you guys!"

Shit shit shit. Sabo was the worst brother ever. How could he ever have forgotten his 3 brothers?! It had been 10 goddamn years and he had not remembered them once!

Who did that? Forget apologizing! No apology in the world was going to make up for the royal fuck up he just did!

Oh man, they were definitely gonna kill him and Sabo was going to let them —

Rosan pulled Sabo into a deep hug, eyes lit in genuine joy as he took in his brother's essence.

"You got your memories back," Rosan said softly.

"He… got his memories back," Mod sobbed happily.

"Wooo! He got his memories back!" Ram grinned ear to ear.

Sabo froze at the touch of his older brother. "Rosan…" he breathed in shock.

His older brother sounded so happy for him… he didn't sound anything like the robot from years ago…

He knew Rosan had gained his emotions back… but now that Sabo had gained his memories back, it was truly hitting him that he had his older brother in full.

Sabo let loose blinding grin and took in his brothers essence, allowing those heavy emotions to wash over him as he eagerly returned the hug.

This whole situation was so surreal… Sabo wasn't expecting things to suddenly be so clear but he remembered everything —

In his excitement at the entire situation, Sabo began feeling overwhelmed…

So he exploded in electricity.

Rosan grunted as he absorbed the massive dose of electricity and gained a worried look as Sabo began clutching his head.

"Feel… too… much!" Sabo strained, eyes shutting tight as the Goro Goro no mi began fully assimilating with his body.

"Take a deep breath, Sabo. Relax," Rosan urged, continuing to absorb the errant lightning strikes that were shooting out of his brother.

Considering he was practically already full, it wasn't a pleasant experience.

He guided the blonde out of his room and all the while, Sabo began taking deep breaths until everything began settling down around him.

"I see how Enel was able to sense everyone on Skypiea," Sabo said in some shock. "If we weren't in the Pocket Dimension, I can't imagine how far I'd feel!"

So it really was the lightning that expanded his range like that...

Rosan handed him a glass of water and Sabo gratefully grabbed it.

The redhead watched in amusement as the cup began sparking and Sabo drank without noticing.

"We have time still so while I get things sorted, you focus on making your Observation usable and controlling your power output."

Sabo nodded and downed his entire cup. "I wanna see Luffy badly but you're right. I'll work to get this under control and you go get him."

Rosan nodded and stood up. "We'll be right back. I just need to figure some things out and how we're going to approach this…"

The redhead sighed.

"One step at a time, Rosan. Luffy first," Sabo informed him, shrugging off his coat as he headed to the training fields.

He nodded at his 2nd most level headed brother and waved, promptly vanishing.

"Alright, let's get used to this," Sabo grunted, holding out a fist and tapping into his ability to get a feel for it.

Instead of going to his fist, he fired off a ridiculous amount of electricity, destroying part of the training field.

Sabo frowned.

This would take some getting used to.