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That matches with what I've seen also. No explanation yet though?

Who else is with you?

No one has reliable information. We just know what we can see. Which doesn't do much for anyone. The government and Marines will place the blame on Vegapunk. I doubt he's to blame, though.

I'm not alone. But I'm looking for someone. Do you have him? He might have come looking for you, if you're me.

Vegapunk was my first thought as well but I'm not one to leap to conclusions. This might be bigger than what even he can accomplish.

I've been looking. No luck yet. How will I know yours from the rest if I find him?

It's too big for any one person playing god. Maybe with the right relics, or magic, perhaps. But those things are ancient and hard to come across. Even government power or celestial backing doesn't guarantee them.

I don't know. I don't know any of them but my Law. He likes piracy as a hobby, he has unique fashion sense, and I can't get him into anything suited to his position to save my life. He does what he pleases, he always has. He's not particularly friendly, but to you? If he sees me, he'll be good to you.

You should look like me, I think. Do you think we're identical?

And what position does he have? In... your court, I take it?

We could meet and find out but I don't know where I am. When I find out, I'll let you know. I always wished to see Dressrosa myself one day.

...What is he to you? I'm curious. I'll answer after you tell me. Indulge my curiosity, please.

That makes it complicated. If you only knew, I'd send a ship for you immediately.

He's the only person I have left. I can't imagine life without him and yet I haven't seen him now in almost a week. He's more than my best friend, he's my whole world.

I'll tell you once I find out. I would love to hear about how your life has become so different from my own.

That's how it is to some degree for us. There's the family, after Doffy's death I was responsible for them. But Law is the one that's closest to me. That's why he became King Consort. He's my entire world, and with him I can do more to help the world we live in.

I'd like that too. There's only so much that can be shared at a distance. [And it's harder to gauge people's reactions and intentions from words on a screen.]

I have so many questions I want to ask and I don't know when I will be able to speak in person. Are you familiar with these particular devices? This... SnailNet? How secure is this line?

So far, I find it more secure than any of my methods back home. I think we're safe. I always choose caution, but none of my tests have been able to manipulate it.

Ask what you desire.

What happened to your world's Doffy?

An illness overtook him. It was horrible, slowly taking his body and mind. No one had seen anything like it, it was like his body was attacking itself. Every treatment attempt failed, it was like his illness was thinking. We treated one part of him, another area suddenly started declining. It made no sense. And no matter what we did, he kept getting worse. He didn't know his own name, he attacked everyone nearby, and nothing could soothe him or offer him comfort.

When he died, he was a ghost of himself. Just barely responding, he needed constant care. And his heart finally gave out, after years of illness.

I miss him.

I'm sorry. That sounds incredibly difficult.

But you must have found the Ope-ope fruit, didn't you? If you have Law by your side.

I had to leave his side, just as his illness was first progressing. I couldn't wait though.

Law deserved to live. The world needed him to live.

I think I understand. We have both had to make hard choices to protect others.

His death put you in charge of the family, then. I'm sure the other executives were thrilled. Are they still around?

Just because we did what we had to do doesn't mean I can live without regrets. But no amount of my presence would have battled what was killing him.

It was not a time of my life I'd willingly repeat. It took a lot of work to get the family anything near safe for the world. I had to gain enough power to weed out those who saw my brother's vision as a good thing. It would have been safer, easier to just take Law and flee.

But if I left, they would have been monstrous on their own.

They would have. Trebol would have and the rest would have followed. But it sounds like you didn't involve the Marines at all? Or was Sengoku able to help? Plenty of space in Impel Down for scum like them, I've heard.

They weren't involved. I got no assistance. And Sengoku and I are not as close as we once were. He did come to my wedding, but we hadn't seen each other in years at that point.

I'm sure there is a good deal of room for them there. But there's also room for the inconvenient. For whoever would challenge their power, even if it's not directly. While I will never forget what Sengoku did for me, I can't turn a blind eye to sins of the Marines either.

It's complicated.

You took everything on yourself. I can't imagine how difficult that must have been.

I don't mean for this to be an interrogation. I'm simply surprised at the differences and just as surprised by the similarities. I don't think I'll ever run out of questions.

How did you end up ruling Dressrosa? I can't imagine becoming king of anything.

I wasn't alone. I had Law there. And although he couldn't do much to assist at first, he gave me strength. And that kept me going.

It's not like that. I understand, and I have questions for you too. How about you tell me about your Doffy's fate, and then I'll tell you about how I ended up with an unwanted kingdom?

I'm glad you had each other. I've never missed someone like I miss him and it's only been a few days. At this point I don't know what to do with myself. I just keep checking the network and hoping we'll find each other.

In my world Doffy is alive. I stole the fruit and gave it to Law so he could heal himself. I hid him. Doffy killed me.

I know that's confusing. It's been a hell of a week. I woke up in some strange city where some creatures that called themselves gods evidently revived me. Law was there, only an adult now. He filled me in on the rest the best he could. So I know what happens for him. But I missed thirteen years of it and he had to go on without me.

I hope you find each other soon. I really do. I've sent so many messages out but he's not responding. So that means he's not here.

I'd like to say that I'm surprised, or even shocked to hear that. But no amount of love for my brother erases who he was. His cruelty knew no end. And the only kindness his illness offered was chaining him. He'd still bite at the hand that fed him, but his ambitions died long before he did.

It's confusing. But so is everything that's happened. This place doesn't make sense, and nothing makes sense and I'm so sorry that you had to miss seeing him grow. I could send you some pictures, if you like. I know it's not the same, nothing can give that back to you, but I think you deserve to see his more awkward phases.

Doffy's had already taken Dressrosa at the time of his death. That's how I became king. Simply by process of succession. The Riku family is almost entirely dead now. There's no one capable to return the lands to. So I do my best, to protect Dressrosa and make it a prosperous, peaceful place.

Please?

At least I got to see him healthy and strong, though. It still makes me speechless to think about. I think of him first as a child still, every time, and then I remember. He's a pirate captain, now, and he named his crew after me. Designed his flag as a tribute to me. In that other world where I met him, he had a ship built that he named for me too. He remembers me and carries that memory with him in everything he does. It's more than I could have ever hoped for.

Thank you for taking care of Dressrosa. I'm sure the people there are very grateful. I was told in my world, King Riku did survive and he rules well after Doffy was imprisoned for his crimes against the world.

Of course. Let me scan a couple for you. [A text arrives with several attachments. A young Law not long after when Rosinante would have died looking fierce and healthy, first experimenting with shirtlessness in front of a mirror. A video of that also comes quickly, he's posing to look impressive. It's not very effective, unfortunately. The video ends with Law screaming "Rosi-chan don't just come in! Stupid!" A picture comes next of him a little older than that, wearing makeup much like Rosinante's own. It's also a bit of an unfortunate look. Then a teen Law posing in matching open jacket jumpsuit sets with Bepo, no shirts and no dignity. He's looking at lot harder at that point, but there's still something young and silly about him. And a little older after that in the next picture, he's wearing all leather and obviously posturing. Something about him is changing though, he's harder than before. The next picture he's wearing a three piece suit that matches his infamous hat, visibly rolling his eyes. The final pictures Rosinante balks at sending, but finally does. Law's in his late teens, looking powerful, a massive crown on his head and robes that reflect royalty and power. It's a beautiful picture. And the next picture he's flipping off the camera. Some things never change.] His tastes have always been eclectic. And he was adorable when he was little!

It's touching to know that you made such an impression on him. Mine follows a similar line of thinking, when it comes to his crew and theme. I'm not sure I deserve it in the same way though, I didn't die for him. Thank you, for doing it. For giving him a chance.

Edited 2019-02-17 06:33 (UTC)

[It's a good thing he had already retreated to a quiet spot away from the people around him when he began this entire conversation, but a Calm bestowed on himself becomes necessary as he sits there absorbing every little detail of the images, laughing with delight and leaking tears at the corner of his eyes. This might not be his Law but some things truly do stay the same across all worlds. He ends up sitting with a fist to his mouth just paging back and forth through the pictures for a while like he just can't get enough.]

Thank you! Oh, Law. He makes the same faces as the one I know. And he calls you by your actual name! That's different from mine. He started calling me Cora-san a few months ago and it's the cutest thing!

I just did what I could for him. Nothing else mattered. One of those decisions that wasn't as hard as it probably should have been and one I'll never regret.

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