"No, Dragon-sama!"
"You can't go!"
Before Dragon could finish his sentence, a panicked shout interrupted him.
He looked up. Rosinante was staring at the sky, his body trembling slightly.
With a hint of confusion, Dragon asked in a low voice,
"Why, Rosinante?"
Rosinante had sought out the Kamabakka Kingdom and personally requested to join their cause.
Over the past few months, Dragon had seen his genuine kindness and sincerity for himself.
Combined with his considerable strength, that was why Dragon had accepted him.
But could it be... Rosinante knew something about Skypiea?
Ivankov, Karasu, and the others all turned to look at their new comrade, some curious, others concerned.
Dragon's word was absolute within the Revolutionary Army. Rarely did anyone speak against him.
And this matter... involved Bartholomew Kuma's life.
So why was Rosinante trying to stop him?
"..."
Under the weight of everyone's gaze, Rosinante couldn't help clenching his teeth.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, and a storm of conflicted thoughts whirled in his mind. He didn't know what to do.
The kingdom on Skypiea… was his brother's creation. His brother would never allow anyone to ruin it.
And now, his brother stood as one of the Four Emperors, ruling the seas with an iron grip. Dragon-sama was no match for him.
But still… weren't Dragon-sama's ideals and his brother's goal the same—to help the people? Why couldn't they coexist peacefully?
Besides, it was likely that Dragon and the Revolutionary Army had long since caught his brother's attention.
The more he thought about it, the more Rosinante's heart sank. The image of the Revolutionary Army shattered under his brother's wrath loomed vividly in his mind.
His face grew paler and paler, like a corpse still clinging to life.
"What's wrong, Rosinante?!"
"You okay, Rosinante-boy?"
"..."
Seeing his condition, Ivankov and the others quickly asked with concern.
"I'm fine!"
Rosinante gritted his teeth hard. In his panic, he bit his own tongue, drawing blood.
The sharp, metallic taste brought his mind back into focus, and with sudden clarity, he made his decision.
"Dragon-sama, please—don't go to Skypiea! People all over the world need you!"
In just a few short months, Rosinante had come to believe deeply in Dragon's ideals.
His brother had created a stable peace, yes—but the path Dragon walked, inspiring the oppressed to rise and fight for themselves, was what truly resonated with him.
"Skypiea is extremely dangerous. First, the clouds are as thick and vast as the sea itself, and they suppress Devil Fruit users."
"Second, my brother has stationed powerful individuals there—people even my Observation Haki can't sense."
"Dragon-sama… if you go, you'll die."
Ivankov and the others latched onto one word.
"Your brother?! Who from the Donquixote Family?!"
"Yes!"
Rosinante suddenly bowed 180°, his head nearly touching his knees as he spoke in a tone full of guilt.
"I'm sorry, everyone. I've been hiding my identity. I'm not some nameless man from the North Blue."
"My true name is Donquixote Rosinante. The current Yonko—Heavenly Yaksha Donquixote Doflamingo—is my older brother!"
"I'll accept any punishment you see fit. I didn't come here as a spy. I became your comrade with sincere intent."
As long as he could stop a clash between Dragon and his brother, it didn't matter if his identity was revealed.
It didn't matter if he could no longer be part of the Revolution.
It didn't even matter if he died.
Ivankov and the others were frozen in shock at this explosive revelation.
Then, all at once, they crowded around him, shouting questions.
"Wha-wha-wha-WHAT?!"
"Rosinante-boy! Your brother's a Yonko?! What kind of guy is he?!"
"Is he scary? Does he kill people for fun every day? Is that why they call him the Heavenly Yaksha?!"
"Weren't you terrified living with him?!"
"..."
Their barrage of questions left Rosinante stunned. Tears streamed from his eyes.
He had been prepared for accusations, even for a fight. He'd been ready to be killed.
Trembling, he tried to speak.
"N-no… Under my brother's rule, people live in peace."
"???" Ivankov and the others blinked in disbelief.
"Are you serious?"
"My brother's ideals are… different from others."
Though he didn't fully understand everything his family had done at sea, the peace of Skypiea's people was undeniably thanks to his brother.
At that moment, a pair of warm, steady hands clasped Rosinante's arm.
Dragon looked him in the eyes—eyes full of tears—and said sincerely,
"Rosinante, thank you for telling us this."
"I'll make good use of the information. I'll do my best to avoid any conflict with Doflamingo."
Dragon had met Doflamingo before. A man filled with ambition.
But Rosinante was nothing like him.
There was no lie in his words. The burden of their blood ties wasn't something the innocent should have to bear.
And for Rosinante to turn his back on his own brother for the sake of a new path—how deep that pain must be.
That kind of devotion... could never be ignored.
Through his blurred vision, Rosinante looked up at Dragon's face. What he saw there was pure sincerity.
He blinked, stunned.
"Dragon-sama? You don't blame me?"
"Of course not, Rosinante."
Dragon gently patted his arm to calm him, then turned to the others with a rising voice.
"The Revolution cannot move forward without each and every one of us."
"I was once a Marine. Ivankov was once a king. Karasu was once... something else."
"Our pasts have never been a barrier to standing side by side, Rosinante—and neither is yours."
"We're not ruthless pirates. One day, we may even join hands with conscientious nobles."
"Overthrowing the World Government was never something one person—or even one group—could achieve alone."
"This Revolution must belong to everyone in the world!"
Ivankov raised his brows with excitement and gave Dragon a hearty slap on the shoulder.
"What a fiery speech, boy!"
Terry Gilteo flicked away the ash from his cigarette, lit another, and took a deep drag to calm his stirred spirit.
"Dragon, you haven't changed a bit."
Karasu: "I..."
Karasu's voice was so soft that no one quite caught what he said.
But maybe... that didn't really matter.
"Dragon-sama!!!"
Rosinante bowed his head, hugging Dragon tightly, sobbing like a child.
Dragon-sama... he was too kind.
...
"Well then, I'll be off."
After calming Rosinante, Dragon prepared to leave.
"Do you really have to go?!" Rosinante asked, clutching Dragon's hands, deeply worried.
If his brother caught wind of this, the Revolutionary Army might never have a safe haven again.
"I do." Dragon nodded firmly, his expression unwavering.
"We never abandon a comrade. Not even you, Rosinante."
Even if they couldn't rescue Kuma from Doflamingo's clutches, they had to at least confirm his condition.
And if possible, bring Bonney out safely.
As for Vegapunk... Dragon hadn't counted on that.
Given Vegapunk's importance, his security would be even tighter than Kuma's.
And just like back in Ohara, Vegapunk would likely reject any invitation.
Seeing that Dragon wouldn't be dissuaded, Rosinante began to share more about Skypiea.
"Dragon-sama, when I go there, I always bring... something that isolates—"
"As for where the kingdom is exactly now... I'm not sure."
"All the clouds have the properties of seawater. Just touching them can drain our strength."
"And my brother's forces include a Logia user who controls thunder. Their Observation Haki range is..."
"Thank you, Rosinante."
Dragon nodded slightly to those around him.
"I'm leaving."
Rosinante's hands were suddenly empty.
Before him—Dragon was already gone.
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Fanfic is finished 527 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg