"You are…?" Dr. Kureha narrowed her eyes as she looked at the two intruders standing at the edge of Drum Rock. It took her only a moment to recognize them, they were far too famous to be mistaken for anyone else.
The first person has a similar face with that person and he is the infamous member of the Whitebeard Pirates, Fire Fist Ace. His sharp features and confident stance reminded her strongly of Gol D Roger in his younger days. His resemblance and the way he talk are around 90% in similarity. While the second man, standing beside him had slightly calm face, was Sabo from the Revolutionary Army, a name that had spread across the world in recent years as a worst criminal.
"I'm sorry to barge in like this," Sabo said politely. "We came to visit our little brother, but it seems he's already flown away."
"You mean the Straw Hat Pirates?" Dr. Kureha asked, her sharp gaze flicking between the two.
"Yes," Ace and Sabo answered at the same time.
Hearing that, Dr. Kureha did not react the way she was reacted with Strawhat Pirates. Instead of chasing them away like she had done with Luffy earlier, she simply turned around and gesturing two of them to follow her.
"Then follow me," she said curtly, already walking ahead.
Ace and Sabo exchanged confused glances. This old woman behavior was strange. Still, out of respect for the elderly, excluding their own troublesome grandfather, they followed her without protest.
"Anooo… old woman," Sabo began cautiously, trying to ask a question.
Before he could finish, a sudden kick flew straight toward his face.
Sabo sensed no Armament Haki behind it and instinctively chose not to block. The moment Dr. Kureha's foot made contact, she froze.
It felt wrong because her kick felt too light and too soft, there was no solid object upon contact and It was like she was kicking a water
Her eyes widened as she realized Sabo face had partially transformed into flowing magma. Heat radiated outward and Dr. Kureha reacted instantly, slamming her foot into the snow with a sharp 'hissss.'
Steam rose into the air, but thankfully she had pulled back in time, another second and her shoe would have melted completely.
Ace stood there, completely dumbfounded looking at Sabo. Earlier, when the ground had melted beneath Sabo feet, he had thought that the snow and cold temperature affecting his brother and he willingly melting the snow and raise the temperature so Sabo would find it comfortable to walk.
But silently his brother had eaten Logia Magma devil fruit.
"You…," Sabo muttered, surprised himself.
Dr. Kureha clicked her tongue and straightened up, staring directly at him. "That power… isn't that Admiral Akainu ability?"
The air grew tense as Ace also noticed the power of Sabo.
"Wait a minute, you're right," Ace said, staring at Sabo in disbelief. "How can you wield Akainu power?"
Sabo scratched the back of his head casually. "Earlier, when Akainu was captured, Jack managed to extract his Devil Fruit power. After that, he let me eat it."
"Seriously?" Ace asked, eyes widening at the news he just received.. The idea sounded absurd, almost impossible but the proof are infront of his eyes.
Sabo nodded firmly. "Yeah. That's why Jack was more than willing to return Akainu to the Marines. Without his Devil Fruit, that man lost his greatest source of destruction. All he has left now is his Haki."
Ace let out a low whistle. "That's insane and why you are hiding it earlier?"
"Because, there was a marine and Jack didn't want to lose 10 billion beri negotiation," replied Sabo.
Nearby, Dr. Kureha froze in place. As a doctor and a lifelong researcher of the human body and Devil Fruits was part of her research, what she had just heard completely overturned everything she knew.
"Wait… how?" she demanded sharply, turning to Sabo. "Are you absolutely sure about this?"
Sabo raised his magma-coated hand slightly, letting heat ripple through the cold air. "This is the proof," he said simply. "The power is mine now."
Dr. Kureha's sharp eyes narrowed, her mind racing. Extracting a Devil Fruit ability without killing the user… that went against every known rule. Whoever this Jack was, he wasn't just dangerous but he was revolutionary in chemical and also biology industry.
Ace clenched his fist, a grin spreading across his face. "Looks like I really need to meet that guy again. Our last meeting was way too short."
Dr. Kureha snorted. "You're not the only one," she muttered. "Anyone who can do something like that… I'd like to see his brain up close." Her expression softened slightly as she thought of Chopper. "Though it seems my disciple has already chosen his path."
Both of them didn't understand what Dr Kureha muttered about but before they could ask she turned abruptly. "Come on. Follow me."
Without arguing, Ace and Sabo fell into step behind her. By now, they had learned that questioning this old woman would make her react agressive and she can't beat them because they had logia power.
They soon arrived at the front gate of the castle, partially frozen shut by layers of ice and snow.
Dr. Kureha pointed upward. "You see that bird up there? One of you, get it down for me."
Her gaze then shifted to Sabo. "And you, magma boy. Use your power to unlock or melt the metal door, but don't burn it. If you damage it, I'll break your legs."
Sabo smiled nervously. "Y-Yes, ma'am."
Ace burst out laughing.
Twenty minutes later, they had finished hauling a large, heavy box from deep inside the castle and dragged it out into the open snowfield.
Ace wiped the non existent sweat from his forehead and eyed the box suspiciously. "So… what's inside this thing anyway?"
Dr. Kureha adjusted her coat and snorted. "It's a present. For my disciple who chose to become a pirate."
Ace and Sabo exchanged glances, clearly confused.
"A present?" Sabo repeated. "Who"
"You will know when you met your brother," Dr. Kureha replied. "Did you think I'd let that idiot leave without something meaningful?"
Neither Ace nor Sabo understood what the old woman was planning and talking, but experience told them it was better not to question her. They simply followed her instructions and positioned the box where she indicated.
By then, the sky had begun to darken. The sun still lingered on the horizon, casting long orange shadows across the snow, but night was quickly approaching.
Dr. Kureha pointed at a long fuse sticking out of the box. "Light that."
Ace raised an eyebrow. "You sure about this?"
"Just do it," she snapped.
Ace shrugged and flicked his fingers, producing a small flame. He leaned forward and lit the fuse.
A few seconds passed.
BOOM!
The box exploded and launched burst of pink fireworks that shot high into the sky. The colors bloomed like flowers against the darkening clouds, lighting up Drum Island in brilliant shades of pink colour.
From ashore aboard the Going Merry, Chopper suddenly turned around.
His eyes widened as the fireworks reflected in them.
"…Doctor…" he whispered.
Tears welled up and streamed down his cheeks as he watched the display. He understood immediately.
That explosion wasn't a warning or a weapon, it was a farewell from Dr Kureha.
A farewell from the woman who had raised him, trained him and believed in him.
Chopper clutched the railing of the Merry, crying openly now.
.....
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