章 13: Mama Bird

Rouge had settled into life on Weatheria, the sky island where she and her son Nova had found refuge. The weather was always pleasant, with blue skies and fluffy clouds that drifted lazily overhead. The island was home to a community of skilled scientists who studied the weather patterns and natural phenomena of the sky.

Rouge had found work as an assistant to one of the senior meteorologists, and she spent most of her days in the laboratory, poring over charts and data. Her colleagues were friendly and welcoming, and she had quickly made a few good friends among them.

But even with the serene beauty of the island and the kindheartedness of the people around her, Rouge couldn't shake off the nagging worry that always lurked in the back of her mind. Her baby boy Ace was in the care of Marine Hero Garp somewhere on the East Blue Sea, and she missed him terribly.

She tried to keep busy to distract herself from her worries, but every so often she found herself gazing up at the sky, wondering how Ace was doing. Her mother's heart is always worried if he was healthy and happy and if he was safe from harm. She longed to hold him in her arms again and protect him from the dangers of the world.

After a few days, she remembered the gift Roger left for them and decided to finally look into its contents. When Nova returned in the evening after his study with Heredas she asked him to come to the living room. Finally, she took out the sword and the chest that she had carefully kept till now.

"Are you going to open it now Mom?" Nova asked.

"I think it is the right time Nova", She replied and unlocked the key of the wooden chest. She had been a little hesitant to open it before, but with her renewed health, she decided it was time to see what was inside. She and Nova opened the chest, and inside, they found a note from Roger.

"My dearest Rouge and Nova,

If you are reading this note, it means that I am no longer with you. I am sorry that I couldn't stay and watch our children grow up, but I want you to know that I love you both more than anything in this world. Rouge, you are the love of my life, and Nova, you will always be my son. I know that you are destined to do great things in this world.

Rouge, I have left you a special gift in the chest. It is a devil fruit that will give you the power to defend yourself from harm and reunite your family one day. Use it wisely, my love. And Nova, I want you to follow your dreams. This sword is my legacy and one of my treasures, Ame-no-Habakiri: Sword of the Storm God. Harness and tame the blade's power and carve your fate with your own hands.

Take care of each other, my loves. And always remember, 'Inherited Will, The Destiny of the Age, and The Dreams of the People. As long as people continue to pursue the meaning of Freedom, these things will never cease to be!'

-Roger"

***

Rouge started tearing up after reading the note, her love for Roger was real and his departure had left her heartbroken. Finally calming down her emotions she passed the sword to Nova and said, "Nova!! This is your father's gift to you. My only wish is that you use it to protect those you love. You are the master of the blade, not the other way around. Don't let the blade control you, my son."

Nova nodded his head earnestly and bowed as he received the blade from his mother and said, "I will not disappoint your expectations."

She took out the red devil fruit with a swirly pattern and feathery design and started chomping on it. Despite the unpalatable taste she continued to eat the whole fruit, and slowly she felt an overwhelming energy coursing through her body.

Young Nova was surprised to see the changes in Rouge after eating a devil fruit. She slowly started to turn into a large flaming bird, he immediately warned Rouge, "Mom!!! You are becoming a flaming bird!!". Rouge was surprised when she realized her transformation, but she soon got the hang of it and learned to control her new powers. After eating the devil fruit she learned some basic information about the Tori Tori No Mi, Model: Vermillion. She was now a vermillion, with flames bursting from her wings and a renewed strength coursing through her body. She could feel the heat radiating from her feathers and the power surging through her veins.

"Mom, you look amazing!" Nova exclaimed, in awe of her transformation.

Rouge smiled at her son, feeling grateful for the gift that Roger had left them. With her newfound strength, she felt more confident and capable of protecting herself in the future.

Mayor Heredas and the other scientists dressed up as stereotypical wizards also arrived near Rouge with surprised looks on their faces. They were amazed by the powerful zoan transformation. Rouge felt a mix of emotions as she looked at the scientists. She was grateful for their help and support, but she also felt a bit wary. She knew that the Tori Tori No Mi, Model: Vermillion was a rare and valuable devil fruit, and she didn't want anyone to try to take it away from her.

Heredas stepped forward, his eyes bright with excitement. "This is incredible," he said. "We have to study this transformation more closely. Think of the potential applications. We could create a whole new line of technology and weapons based on this power!"

Rouge frowned. "I don't want my power to be used for destructive purposes," she said firmly. "I only want to use it to protect myself and my children."

Heredas looked a bit disappointed, but he nodded. "Of course, of course," he said. "We won't do anything without your permission. But I do think it would be wise to explore the possibilities of this power. Who knows what we could discover?"

Rouge wasn't sure what to think. She knew that the scientists were well-intentioned, but she also knew that they could be single-minded in their pursuit of knowledge. She decided to keep an eye on them, just in case.

Meanwhile, Nova was fascinated by his mother's new abilities. He wanted to learn more about devil fruits and zoan transformations. "Can I try some devil fruit too?" he asked eagerly.

Rouge shook her head. "Not yet, Nova. You're still too young. We don't know how your body will react to a devil fruit."

Nova pouted, but he understood. He was just happy to have a powerful and capable mother who could protect him from any danger.

A/N: Before you start questioning: "No there will be no devil fruits for little Nova"