In the forest lab, Ellie's formula had finally matured.
"What are you reading?" I asked.
"A book on childbirth," Ellie said. "I want to be useful when Sister Rouge's time comes."
"Good. The more you know, the better. How much of the medicine have you brewed?"
"Don't worry, Karl-nii—I've prepared plenty. But… why don't we just leave now? The Marines can't stop you anyway."
"It's not that we won't leave—we can't," I said. "Ever since that bastard Roger came here, the trail exists. If we run, Cipher Pol will follow the crumbs. Wherever we land will suffer. Only by staying put and keeping them from discovering us do we reduce the chance of exposure—then we move after they withdraw. Got it?"
"Oh. I get it."
"Good. Since the drug's ready, move it back to the villa. I'll go… 'deal with' our test subjects."
I drove the pirates deeper into the woods and buried them. None of them were saints—each had a list of crimes long enough to wrap a mast.
New World, near the Whitebeard Pirates' territory
"Sengoku, when can we head back? We've been watching six months," Garp grumbled. "The old man hasn't made a move. We can call this off, right?"
"Not yet," Sengoku said. "No movement doesn't mean no movement. We don't know what Roger told him. We wait."
"…Tch. Fine."
Baterilla
Two months after the rescue, the Marines and Cipher Pol had eased their sweeps. They'd convinced themselves the person they wanted was among those "escaped."
"Not yet," Rouge murmured, hand on her belly. She was eleven months along. Each time the pain ripped through her, she grit her teeth and held the baby in.
"Sis, if you can't bear it, then please—do it now. Look at you. And they've loosened the searches. They think their target already slipped away."
"Not yet," Rouge said, breath steady. "Every day we wait reduces the risk for this child. A little pain is nothing. And Ellie's life-strength formula works. I trust you—and I trust her."
Nothing I said would move her. I had to compromise.
"Ellie, give her the first injection."
"Okay. Help her to her room. I'll monitor her closely the first time, then set the timing for the next dose."
We eased Rouge onto the bed. Ellie slid in the needle. Minutes later, color returned to Rouge's face.
"How do you feel, Sister Rouge?"
"Stronger… and the pain's dulled. Ellie, your medicine really works."
"Great!" Ellie beamed.
"Karl-nii, step out for a bit," she added. "I want to check her properly."
"Got it."
In the hall, I let out a breath. Good. With Ellie's potion buying time, we wouldn't have to gamble on a Devil Fruit. Zoans can backfire—weak constitutions can tip into uncontrollable beast rage; and most Paramecia don't bolster the body much.
Ellie came out.
"Well?"
"Relax," she said. "She's stable. I put her to sleep. She hasn't really rested in days."
"You did well. By the way, I have a Fruit that's perfect for you—Paramecia: Med-Med Fruit. Want it? If you eat it, no more swimming."
"Really? Then I want it! I hate swimming anyway!"
"Wait here." I fetched the pear-shaped fruit.
"Here. Fair warning—Devil Fruits taste awful. Brace yourself."
"I test bitter decoctions all the time," she sniffed. "How bad could—"
One bite. Her face twisted. She forced it down, bolted outside, and retched.
"Hahahaha—so? Delicious?" I called.
"Why does that even exist? I thought I was going to die!"
"World's worst food, officially. Here—milk." I handed her a bottle.
She gulped it, exhaled. "I'm alive. Never again."
"Remember: one person, one fruit. Eat a second, your body explodes. Understood?"
"Understood!"
"Now, feel it out. What can you do?"
Ellie closed her eyes. "I can… distinguish medicines instantly, know their properties, and synthesize new compounds with special effects. I'll need to explore more. Oh—and I can optimize the vitality formula to suit Sister Rouge specifically."
"Even better. Our little ship's doctor is going pro." I ruffled her hair.
"I'm not little, Karl-nii. I'm thirteen. I'm already over one-sixty!"
"Okay, okay—not little. I'll go catch something for dinner and drag your brother home. Stay with Rouge."
"Leave it to me."
I hauled a five-hundred-pound boar out of the woods and found Benson dragging chained stones. Fourteen years old, already two meters tall—and stupid-strong.
"Call it for today. Home."
"Right. Oh—Captain, I ran into a huge tiger in the forest. It charged me. We fought to a draw before it ran."
"That's the forest king. I've met him. Starting tomorrow, spar with it daily. Pure drills won't take you much further. Fighting it will sharpen your reactions—and help awaken Observation."
"Understood."
"I've also got a Cold-Cold Fruit and a Bird-Bird Fruit, Ancient Model: Golden Eagle. Interested?"
Benson thought, then shook his head. "Neither fits. I want a power-type. I'll wait."
"Fine. I'll keep an eye out. Be a waste not to match your talent."
"Thanks, Captain."
Back home, Rouge still slept.
"She hasn't woken," Ellie said. "It's good—she needs it."
"Then let's cook."
"On it!"
An hour later, dinner was ready.
"Go get your brother," I told Ellie. "We'll eat first. I'll cook something fresh when Rouge wakes."
Benson inhaled food like a black hole. At this rate, our ship's stores would vanish in days. Headache for Future Me.
Rouge slept through the night. We washed up and turned in.
Days blurred by. Soon it was the end of Sea Circle Calendar 1499.
"Karl-nii, Sister Rouge," Ellie chirped one morning, "I went to town for fruit—no Marines! Someone said they pulled out last night!"
"We can't relax," I said. "They may still be lurking. The little one's in no hurry anyway. We'll wait."
"Okay," Rouge said. "And if it hurts—I'll say so. No more toughing it out."
"Good," I said. "You've had me worried all year."
Ellie's improved formula had done work. Rouge's body was far better than in the 'original tale,' but carrying that belly this long was still grueling.
Two days to New Year's. I went into town for supplies—and spotted two men: Vice Admiral Garp and his aide Bogard, out of uniform.
"Vice Admiral Garp," I said, walking up. "I'm Karl."
Garp tensed at the sudden approach—he'd come quietly, not wanting attention, and I was clearly not a pushover.
"Wahaha—Karl, was it? What can I do for you?" Bogard's hand hovered near his hilt.
"Relax, Vice Admiral. I'm Rouge's younger brother. I'm guessing Roger asked you to come."
Garp's shoulders loosened. "Yes. Sorry I'm late. I've been tied up in the New World—Sengoku too. I came straight here from HQ. How's the child?"
"Not born yet," I said. "My sister feared an early birth would expose her, so she's held on. Cipher Pol finally pulled out. It'll be within a day or two."
"What? Not born—still? Then how's your sister right now?"
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