"YuYu, I'm hungry!" Aisha told Yue as she pouted, stomping her feet on the wooden floor. Though Yue tried distracting her from her hunger with a tap of her wooden sword, it only made her fussier. "No! Food!"

Yue chuckled awkwardly, unsure of what to do. It had only been two hours since breakfast and the others' departure. Aisha had five servings of her meal; she knew the child ate a lot, but underestimated the kid's stomach. She wondered how a small child like her could eat so much yet become hungry a minute later.

Aisha wasn't tall, her head reaching her waist─a cute kid with her little space buns, a simple yellow camisole, and blue shorts and sandals. Of course, she looked healthy too, but looks were always deceiving. She remembered the shock she experienced when she witnessed Aisha eat for the first time.

She sighed; her poor mistress had to handle such a famished child.

She felt a tug at her dress as she looked down. Aisha frowned while pouting. "Hungry, Yuyu!" She was certain Aisha would only get fussier if she didn't think of something fast.

As she bent over, Yue ruffled Aisha's hair with a smile. "I'll go make you a snack." With that, Aisha's eyes sparkled. Yue giggled as Aisha skipped to the cabin, excited for the meal.

As Aisha sat at the table, Yue went through the fridge. Unexpectedly, there weren't enough ingredients. There were some vegetables, but no other proteins to use, and they weren't enough for Aisha's stomach. Then, she checked the pantries, hoping to find anything useful to cook. However, there was only some rice and flour. Digging deep into the pantry, there was nothing else to her dismay.

Yesterday, a lot of things happened all at once. First, Ace appeared, then those marine people; then they had more mouths to feed, and those mouths devoured breakfast like famished animals.

"Yuyu, where's the snack?"

Scratch that─she had two big black holes for a stomach to feed.

Yue's mind quickly rattled with a solution, attempting to figure out what she could do. Finally, she came up with something.

Yue turned back to Aisha with a smile. "How about we play a game, like hide and seek?"

Aisha pouted in response. "I'm hungry!"

Yue approached the child and bent to her level. "If you win, you get a special snack." She could see the doubt in the child's eyes as her brows furrowed. "It's an extra special snack that tastes super duper delicious!"

Realizing the child didn't trust her words, she made one last effort. "It's special meat," she chirped as the child jumped in her seat. "But you have to win the game to earn your special prize."

With an enthusiastic nod from Aisha, Yue went outside the cabin, shutting the door behind her to find a place to hide. She began counting, her voice booming as she closed and covered her eyes. "One, two!"

Of course, the cabin was small, and finding a hiding place wasn't easy. She heard shuffling inside and a few giggles here and there. "Five, six!" She dragged out the count, giving the kid more time.

A loud crash split the air, barely a second later. Yue froze, her breath hitching in her throat. The noise got louder as she slowly rotated to face the door. For a moment, the noise continued, then ceased as if it never existed.

There was a long pause. Something in her gut screamed that something was amiss. Her eyes trembled as she stared intently at the door. She swallowed harshly as she placed a shaky hand on the cold handle. As the door creaked open, with a shaky tone, she uttered, "T-Ten, ready or not...Here I come."

Her pupils dilated; the cabin was a mess. Slowly, she walked down the stairs with a shaky breath, holding on to the railing for support. Looking around, she noticed the table had been flipped, and flour from the pantry had poured onto the floor. The aroma made her nauseous; however, the familiar scent made her blood run cold; it was metallic and sour from the taste and smell alone.

It was the scent of blood.

Her voice was soft as a whisper, but laced with terror as she called out to her, "Aisha..." She received no response, only the cold murmurs of the wind that travelled through the open door.

The quietness in the cabin unsettled her; her heart hammered in her chest. Her mind raced with many possibilities on the child's whereabouts. She wasted no time tearing the place apart in her desperate search. She flipped the bed, throwing the covers to the side. She tossed pillows, then ran towards the back of the stairs, looking in the small corners.

Yet, she came up with nothing in the end.

Her legs gave out; she slumped to the wooden floor as all hope left her. Tears began to flow down her face, pupils shaking at her incompetence. When all hope seemed lost, there was somehow a light at the end of the tunnel. She turned her head to face the slightly opened door of the wardrobe. Her hazel eyes brightened, taking the handles of it.

Just as hope sprang up, it died instantly like the waves of the seas. A storm brewed, lightning striking across the sky. In the wardrobe, there wasn't a single trace of the child, and the scent of blood became more prominent, hitting her in the nose.

Yue muffled her cries at the sight as her knees gave out once again. The weather began to rage as widely as her heart racing through her chest. Soon, the horizon rained through the land.

The only thing left in the wardrobe was a strange purple fruit.

.....

The storm continued to ravage the island. Nothing was spared in its path.

Yue took a breath as she continued to speak. "All I found was this!" Trembling like a leaf, she handed Rue the strange fruit she found. She refused to meet her mistress's eyes, knowing she had failed.

Rue remained silent for a moment as the rain drenched her. Her loose strands of curls stuck to her cheeks, and her curly puff clung to her back as she stared intently at the fruit in her hand. Ace observed her closely; he wondered what she was thinking.

Then, slowly, Rue marched towards the cabin. Yue lowered her eyes to the wooden floors. Thankfully, the rain hid the fresh set of tears that flowed down her cheeks.

"How did this happen?" Yue heard Hanabi ask, her tone filled with curiosity. All Yue could do was shake her head, unable to come up with a response.

Hanabi skimmed the area, her eyes searched every inch and detail of the ship. This area was isolated; no ship was docked here except for theirs. Based on what Yue told them, Aisha was in the cabin this whole time, while Yue was outside for only a moment. All she came out with was the strange fruit.

A moment later, Rue came out. Ace noticed a small silver object. It chimed like a bell as she kept walking. Each step sent water splashes outward; it got heavier by the second. Before she could pass them, Hanabi grabbed her wrist. "Sister, where are you going in this weather?"

She didn't turn as she stared into the distance. Her voice echoed hollowly. "I'm going to go find my daughter."

Ace's eyes widened like saucers, completely caught off guard. "Daughter?!"

Hanabi responded to him with a blank look. "Were you not paying attention? Or are you just an idiot?"

Yue gasped, her guilt eating away at her. "Y-you can't!" She rushed to Rue's side, "Not in your condition, remember what Hango told us! You need to take care of yourself!" She knew she was at fault; she was responsible for watching Aisha. Yet, she failed at her task. "Let me─"

"Only I can do it!" They jumped in surprise as Rue raised her voice. She yanked her wrist out of Hanabi's grasp. "No one can find her! I have to do it!" Rue was tightly gripping her crystal, and its glow grew brighter. Without another glance, Rue sprinted away, back into town. Her figure disappeared from their sight as the rain got heavier.

"Sister, wait!" Ace stopped Hanabi by firmly grabbing her shoulders. She shoved him away, glaring, "What are you─"

"I'll go after her." That was all he said, grabbing the discarded umbrella from the floor and following after her.

Hanabi and Yue both watched as they left their field of vision. Yue gripped her dress, squeezing it for comfort. It was wet, soaked from the rain. Her braid was undone, hanging loosely at her side. Her shoulders shook uncontrollably at the thought of her mishandling. This is all my fault.

Hanabi kept her eyes in the distance. She slightly narrowed her gaze in worry for her mistress. The weather was worsening by the minute; the storm wasn't ending soon. Hopefully, they would be able to find Aisha as quickly as possible.

"I'm back!" Hanabi silently groaned, recognizing the voice. She could already tell he was grinding from ear to ear. As she stared blankly, a smirk graced his lips. Posing as the Whitebeard's second in command, he stood shirtless in the downpour, raindrops gliding over chiselled abs, his body in all its glory for the world to see. Ryuji had no shame in showing his hard-earned abs to anyone. He tilted his cowboy hat in greeting, his smirk widening as the knight stared intensely."Y'a missed me?"

His tone was annoyingly smug. "Not now." That was all Hanabi said before walking back to the cabin. She was in no mood for his jokes.

Ryuji tilted his head in confusion as he watched the woman return to the cabin. Hanabi was unusually more irritated while Yue seemed downcast.

Lightning struck in the sky. The only glow vanished on the horizon.

Rue sprinted to town, her heart thumping violently in her chest. She didn't allow the weather to stop her from finding her child. The storm tore through the land, completely drenching her head to toe. When she finally arrived at her destination, the storm didn't stop a few people from selling and taking shelter.

Under the storms downpour, she stared at the silver toy in her hand —a small delicate rattle with little strings of bells attached. Her fingers traced every curve, her vision blurring with tears. It had once belonged to Aisha in her infancy, but this wasn't made just for Aisha.

It was for the first child she lost.

The raindrops illuminated the small rattle; her memories flowed through her like the harsh waves of the seas crashing on a shore. For a moment, her senses dulled as a memory she had forsaken had resurfaced, sending a ravaging storm to course through her. As the rattle jingled in her palms, Rue' eyes blanked, slowly narrowing. The thunder faded, echoes of voices rang in her ears. Her mind went back, to the palace—to that dreadful day, the one that has began with hope.

Going back to the day she gave birth.

"Push your Highness!" A nurse maid ordered, sweat upon her brow. Other nurses aiding her, constantly checking the status of her condition.

Rue squeezed her eyes shut, gritting her teeth. Yue and Hanabi were at her side, each gripped her trembling hand. Black and blue dots began swirled her vision, however, a fresh wave of pain  jolted her back to awareness, her knuckles as white as a sheet of paper.

The room was chaotic. Maids ran in and out of her room. An aroma of blood flooded the area. Her cries of pain echoed throughout the palace walls, each sharper than the last. Once a room that would even make the sun jealous from its fancy gleams and luxurious attire, now, flooded with anxiety.

How could this have happened? She was certain every precaution was taken. During her pregnancy, Caspian had rarely let her out of her palace. For the last, few months she had been on a tight lockdown. Monitored, cared for throughout her pregnancy, food tested, everything possible to ensure safety for both mother and child.

After all these efforts, why was the child seven and a half months early in its delivery.

The scent of blood in the room became more and more nauseating by the minute. She bit her lip to potentially numb the pain from her abdominal. She attempted to take glances, intending to hover over the golden coloured sheets. With the help of Yue and Hanabi, she sat, slightly hunched leaning on Hanabi for support.

"Why hasn't the doctor arrive yet?!" Hanabi yelled out in frustration, Rue was drenched in her sweat, writhing in pain for hours. The nurses came, however, the doctor still hasn't showed up yet. "Go, get one now!"

A maid quickly left to get more assistance while other servants stood outside the bedroom. Many unsure of what to do, glancing at each other like headless chickens. If anything were to happen to His Majesty's favourite consort; they would surely lose their heads.

Rue's consciousness began to fade in and out. Voices fell on deaf ears, the room swirled, her throat dry from her agonizing cries. Slowly, she slipped into a slumber, completely exhausted. The last thing were the shouts of her friends and the nurses in the room.

What felt like forever, a sharp slash ripped her from her from her slumber. It tore her through her like a dull blade to prolong her agony. She clutched a fistful of the sheets as a bitter cry of anguish tore from her throat.

As tears slipped down her cheeks another cry matched her's only it was smaller, high-pitched.
With the little strength she had left, as she slowly lifted her head, her met the doctor's eyes that held her little bundle of joy. However, oddly, the doctor's eyes didn't match the happiness she seemingly expressed.

Before, Rue lost consciousness, the faint whispers of the doctor sent shivers down her spine.  Words that would forever be embedded into her mind.

"I'm so sorry."

Her world went dark.

Rue's lips trembled, the rain masked her tears flowing down her cheeks. Once again, slowly, her fingers traced every curve. Then, she squeezed, tightening her grip on it. Her hands trembled as her other hand rose to clench her crystal.

She lost a child once; it won't happen again.

As she attempted to suppress the memory, she took a deep breath as her crystal began to glow. Her mind drifted back to what she'd seen in the cabin.

After Yue presented the devil fruit, Rue drew a conclusion. Aisha must have eaten it to subdue her hunger. However, the small gashes of blood spiked her worries. Her heart dropped at the thought of numerous possibilities of her child's condition. She had no clue of the fruit's abilities which only increased her anxiety.

She prayed and hoped her daughter was alright. Thankful, her senses were beyond an ordinary humans, she could find Aisha easily. She focused, drawing a breath as she clenched her crystal in her palm.

Unfortunately, despite her efforts, the storm masked any type of smell. The heavy rain drowned the voices of nature—and the few people still on the streets. Rue's heart sank to the pits of her stomach, her hand began to tremble as the glow from her crystal brightened. She tried again and again.

Nothing, but the raindrops of the skies rang through her ears.

A coldness spread through her. "No..." She whimpered, her voice as soft as the whispers of the wind.

She tried again and again.

And again.

A chill ran down her spine. No...No....

Her mind spiralled, her crystal glowing brighter and brighter. Her eyes gleamed in a blue hue, her breath became short, hyperventilating. She gripped her crystal for comfort, attempting to calm herself.

She repeated her mantra: Think don't feel.

Not again... I can't...She unknowingly took a step back, everything blurred around her.

Think don't feel. Her shoulders shook vigorously. She tried to concentrate, focus, but...but...

She just couldn't.

I can't lose my baby again...

She gasped, spinning on her heel, as Ace grasped her shoulders, springing her around to face him.His hands squeezed her shoulders in comfort.

He only arrived moments ago, dropping the umbrella. He'd seen everything and he'd only known her for barely a day. He was an ally to her— nothing more. She'd made that clear from the beginning: they would use each other, benefit each other and move on.

No strings attached.

Rue was always calm. Even when she wasn't, she wouldn't show it. Her calculating circles around others. Even in a crisis, she held her own, always in control of the situation.

But now...

Her eyes were red, he knew she cried. Her pupils slightly dilated. She trembled under his touch; her skin cold like a frost in winter. She was in a complete state of panic.

So vulnerable.

His hands found hers. "You're cold." Ace said gently, yet a tinge of a firm concern crept in tone.

Rue stared up at him, blinking through the tears. "W-what" she choked out.

"The rain is too heavy," Ace quickly gazed around. Squinting his eyes, it became hard to catch a glimpse of anything. His eyes landed back on Rue, "Let's go back for now."

Rue stared up at him, her blue eyes were blank like a canvas. She wondered why was he was still...here...

Then her mind, that was previously disorganized, was piecing things back together.

"The deal's off." Ace rose a brow at her words as he dropped his hands to his side. "My daughter ate the Devil Fruit. I gave you the information that you need, so there's no need for you to stick around."

Ace frowned at the tone in her voice. It was hollow, just like the look in her eyes. It was as if she flipped a switch. One moment she was in distress and the next she was like she was the first time he met her.

Through the silence of the rain, they stared at one another. Neither made a move. Ace clenched his fist, his mind racked on ways he could get her to listen to him.

Then the idea hit him like a wave crashing on the shore. Ace wasn't the type to give up. His brother stayed his side no matter how things got tough. He would do the same for her.

He saw himself in her, someone who pushed others away out of fear. A fear of uncertainty, a fear of...

A fear of being unloved because of his bloodline.

He didn't know anything about Rue—but he knew this: Rue loved her daughter more than anything.

"You're right," Ace responded, his tone firm as a hard rock. "I don't have to, but I want to help no strings attached."

As she stared up at him, he continued. His eyes softened, "Our goals align somehow might as well stick together, don't cha think?"

Rue stood unmoving, gazing, analyzing his words, actions. No matter how much time passed, there wasn't a single trace of deception his words.

But people could always pretend to be something they're not.

She pursed her lips, biting as she gripped her crystal. A familiar feeling boiling to the surface, a feeling she had thought she had buried. It was warm, almost soothing. However, she swallowed it, letting it drown in the deepest part of the sea.

As she turned away from him, she stumbled, losing her balance. Her vision became hazy, the atmosphere around her spinning. Her head began to pound, throbbing in pain. She cursed under her breath, this wasn't the time to show weakness.

Her consciousness began to fade, her energy leaving her. Slowly, she fell backwards, her world darkening into a slumber.

Immediately, Ace caught her, carefully carrying into a bridal style. He gazed at the moment in his arms, snuggled into his chest. He didn't waste a second as he made his way back to the docks of her boat.

He hoped that her daughter was safe and sound somewhere.

Elsewhere, a butterfly fluttered its wings. Hidden under the roof, it hang awkwardly as it attempted to steady itself on a small vine. It shield itself from the raging storm.

It was strange, yet alluring. Its wings shimmered in lilac hue, edged with black rims and a long tail on each end. An unnatural shape for a butterfly, otherworldly—yet intriguing.

Soon, people in white uniforms appeared. The little bug flapped its wings in excitement in recognition. This prompted the butterfly to follow suit after them despite the nasty weather. Lightning struck, making the pour butterfly falter slightly, as it avoided the raindrops, but to no avail it was struck down by the multitudes of the showers of the skies.

However, this didn't stop the little creature from persevering. It flapped its wings, quickly flying straight into the marine's cape to shelter.

The butterfly hoped that it could find the aid it needed in its time of peril.