Chapter Text
You went missing for a few days.
Nobody knew where you were.
The truth is, the moment you got dragged into that lake, you were stuck in an unknown dimension, almost felt like an inescapable, endless maze, on top of that you were fighting against Red for who knows how long,
An entire year of fighting against Red, the conflict was inevitable, Red was still your persona, more evil, perhaps stronger version of you, compared to your current self.
Perhaps everyone has their "Red" in them, it would be an absurd to assume that some people are entirely and wholeheartedly good.
But as you kept fighting Red...you noticed the despair in it's movements, as if Red was trying to achieve something.
"You don't know what it's like..."
Red spat bitterly while holding you against the wall, clutching onto your collar.
"I had to let him go in another life! How COULD you do the same?!"
You managed to push your other persona away, trying to process their words
"What do you mean?!
You slowly realized that fighting against Red would lead you nowhere, you didn't understand what their goal is.
"Oh..you have no clue. Do you?"
Red laughed, unpleasantly, but you could feel the pain and bitterness in that laugh.
"This world has endless alternative realities! I happen to find a loophole and end up here, STUCK! in your BODY!"
you stared back at Red in disbelief, unable to process their words.
"So.. you're not me."
"Don't be ridiculous. I am you,certain circumstances made me turn out this way."
Well, atleast they're self-aware.
"How is that my problem?
"You let Law go. How could you possibly-"
"He has his own goals and crew, how could I possibly stop him?!"
You retaliated, trying to reason with Red, but it seems impossible.
"You'll regret it."
"Oh yeah? And how do you know that?"
"Because I experienced it firsthand, what it was like TO LOSE HIM!'
A deafening silence follows after, then you watch Red collapse onto their knees, palming their face.
"...I don't understand.."
You murmured, crouching down to their level.
"In the alternative world, where I come from.."
Red explains with a hint of bitterness in her voice.
"A lot of things are different."
Red almost looked..solemn.
"I turned out just like Doflamingo.."
You stood up abruptly, approaching Red.
"Wait a minute, what do you mean you turned out like him?!
"You have no RIGHT to judge me unless you'll see the whole thing yourself!"
"How am I supposed to do that?!"
You snapped back, making Red paused, then they stood up as well, looking back at you with a hint of determination.
"Merge with me."
Red grasps onto your wrist, clutching onto it desperately, you gazed back at them in shock.
"NO!"
"thats the only way!"
"LET GO OF ME!"
It happened within a blink of an eye.
Merged.
It was an odd feeling, embracing your other separate persona in a different realm, their memories flooded into your mind like river, too difficult to process all at once.
As you slowly opened your eyes..hearing multiple voices that were incoherent...
That you heard the voice that you always dreaded
Doflamingo was yelling at one of the doctors, holding onto their collar as if he was going to rip the poor man apart.
"We-e couldn't find the diagnosis due to-"
Doflamingo didn't even need to lift his finger, the strings were already hanging the doctor by his neck.
You couldn't hold in the gasp that escaped your lips, Doflamingo's attention instantly turned to you.
The strings instantly released the doctor as he abruptly approached you, grabbing your chin and tilted your head back so he could look at you.
"You scared all of us half to death, my dear child.."
You felt an unpleasant chill down your spine, and undescribable amount of disgust.
"How strange..your eye has changed."
Doflamingo clearly noticed the odd difference, and seeing how startled you looked.
That poor Doctor was catching his breath, trembling in fear.
You opened your mouth, yet nothing came out, you didn't know what to say to him.
You watched him get defeated by Luffy..but that was in another alternative world. Your world.
Would the same thing happen here?
"Why don't you get some rest? We'll speak with you later."
You sighed in relief when Doflamingo backed off, dragging the doctor by some invisible strings.
As the door closes shut, you're filled with indescribable sense of dread. You rummage through a drawer and find a mirror, seeing that one of your eyes as indeed turned red..just like Red's..
"Shit.."
You murmured, looking out of the window, recognizing Dressrosa's view.
To think that you'll go through the same hell all over again...
"You stupid little- what have you done to me?!"
You attempt to speak to Red, your other persona, thinking that it would respond in your mind like always.
But..Nothing.
No response.
Then you remember them saying something about merging..
So both of you..became one?
The thought of it fills you with unease.
You try to remember what Red said about this world, how it was different and they turned out like Doflamingo..
How did you even end up like him?
What else changed?
You had thousands of questions flooding into your head, yet not a single answers.
You felt like your head was about to explode.
Then you heard a knock on the door.
"Come in.."
You murmured mindlessly and instantly regretted it. Viola walked in holding a tray of food, she did a light courtesy without an eye contact.
"For you, your grace."
Even more questions filled your head upon seeing her strange behavior.
"..thank you Viola, place it right here."
Viola paused for a second, Briefly glancing at your face before looking down at the tray, placing it on the drawer.
Judging by her reaction..she wasn't used to being thanked.
You were indeed different in this world.
Judging by her behavior...you were more..feared.
"Would you mind telling me what had happened to me? I hardly remember anything."
You attempted to get any information out of her. Anything.
But she seemed so.. cautious.
"Unfortunately I wasn't present to witness your condition, Trebol informed me that you collapsed durning a family meeting."
She chose her words carefully.
"So, you don't know the cause?"
"No, your grace."
You couldn't tell that she was hiding something from you, it was quite obvious.
"I won't be mad at you, please tell me the truth."
Viola swallowed hard, her gaze flickering to random items which suggested her unease.
"Appearantely you were angered when they mentioned names of some Marines during the meeting."
Her response confused you even more.
"Who exactly?"
"I'm forbidden to speak of their names, your grace."
You pinched your nosebridge, letting out a frustrated sigh.
"Just tell me.."
"I cannot, I'm sorry."
She backed away towards the door and quickly left. You cursed under your breath, palming your face.
So far..you have no leads as to what had happened before you ended up here.
According to what had happened in the past..and looking at the current calendar, Luffy, his crew and Law are supposed to be arriving to Dressrosa in a day or two.
Unless something has changed?
Those god awful memories start to resurface, when Sugar managed to turn you into a wooden puppet and everyone forgot about you. That was a pure nightmare.
You're starting to think about getting rid of her from early on so she doesn't cause more problems.
But of course, it came with risks.
Doflamingo would discover it and that would be the end for you.
You rummaged through the entire room, only to find a diary inside of your desk, in a hidden compartment.
The diary was dusty and the pages were yellowish, suggesting it was old.
...
•
•
•
The following enteries of this diary:
- the day Carozon decided to take Law away from Doquixote family, he also asked me to accompany him.
Initially I was planning to refuse but Law wouldn't go without me, so I accepted his offer.
Quite strange..in your reality, you decided to stay behind.
Seems like there were indeed some differences in this alternative reality.
Corazon was desperate to save Law since he was dying of White Lead's disease, we searched through many islands, countless of hospitals but couldn't find help.
That's when Corazon decided to get his hands on Ope Ope no mi devil fruit. That was the only available option left, so we had no other choice.
Unfortunately for me, as we got our hands on that devil fruit, a fire broke out on that island, Doflamingo's subordinates were surrounding us quickly. Vergo managed to catch us, but his priority was something else.
It was Me.
Vergo threatened Corazon to hand me over, otherwise he'd shoot both him and Law.
Just as Vergo was about to shoot Corazon I came out of my hiding place and took the bullet instead.
The last thing I saw was Corazon carrying Law away, while Vergo held onto me, trying to stop the bleeding.
"See that, kid?? They left you! They left you!"
Vergo yelled while I was barely conscious.
.
I don't know what happened afterwards, the entire Doquixote family convinced me that I was abandoned and used by Corazon so he could escape.
I didn't want to believe it.
I waited for his return.
Which never came.
Being completely isolated from the outside world, I grew up under the heavy influence of these people, especially Doflamingo.
I slowly became.. him.
I could feel it.
Inheriting his brutality and his violent temper.
Breaking my own promises..
I had no memories of my mother.
I suspect they took it away somehow..just like they took away my freedom.
I was angry.. everyone. At the entire world even!
I still am.
•
•
•
You stood still, staring at the diary in daze, processing the drastic change in this alternative world.
You attempted to run away with your father and Law, but..he had to leave you behind in order to save Law.
Is that why your other
self grew up so bitter?
Is this why there's an unexplainable grudge in Red's heart?
Of course you feel it too, since two of you have become one.
You shook your head, trying to drive away these thoughts but to no avail.
...
You didn't sleep that night.