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Baterilla Island
"Ikki… if my mother really gives birth to me now, will it create that parallel world you mentioned? Would we be unable to return to our original timeline?"
Ace's voice carried a hint of worry.
Ikki didn't answer immediately. Instead, he fell into deep thought.
To avoid creating a parallel world, no major changes could occur. But was Ace being born earlier than expected a major change? Not necessarily—after all, Ace's birthdate was only known because Garp had said so.
The real problem was what happened after Ace was born.
If Rouge lived and raised Ace instead of passing away, and Ace never met Luffy and Sabo… then the timeline would be completely thrown off.
Taking a deep breath, Ikki finally spoke.
"If Rouge gives birth naturally and then stays with you, raising you herself… then yeah. The timeline will be completely altered, and a parallel world will be created."
His voice was serious.
Ace's expression tightened. "Then what do we do?"
He felt conflicted. He wanted a mother, but he also wanted his brothers. Choosing between the two felt impossible.
Ikki crossed his arms. "At this point… we can only go with Plan B."
Ace blinked. "Wait. Plan B? Since when did you have a Plan B?"
"Oh, it was always an option," Ikki said casually. "But I didn't mention it before because… well, I didn't think it was a reliable plan. Also… it could lead to an Oedipal pervert being born." (T/N: Oof fancy English. For proper definition, google it, for normal one, it means that he likes his mother and hates his father )
Ace froze, then pointed at himself. "Wait—are you calling me an Oedipal pervert?!"
Ikki just shrugged. "Well, think about it. How long have you been stalking your own mother?"
Ace: "…"
It was true that he'd been keeping an eye on his mother before she even gave birth to him… but still!
"Oi! No matter how weird that sounds, I'm not a pervert! And definitely not Oedipal! Bastard!"
"Alright, alright. Calm down." Ikki smirked. "Want to hear Plan B?"
Ace took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. "Yeah. What's the plan?"
Ikki's grin widened.
"Simple. After Rouge gives birth to you, we take Rouge with us through time."
Ace's eyes widened. "Wait, what?!"
"Here's how it works," Ikki explained. "After she gives birth, I'll use a method to put her into suspended animation. To Garp—and to the world—it'll look like she died from exhaustion after carrying you for so long."
Ace's initial shock quickly turned into excitement. "That's genius!"
"Yeah, it's a solid plan," Ikki admitted. "But there's one problem… We need Rouge to go along with it. After all, it does mean separating a mother from her child."
Ace fell silent. He understood what Ikki meant. Rouge had endured fifteen months of pregnancy just to keep him safe. Now, they were asking her to leave him behind?
After a long moment of contemplation, Ace clenched his fists and nodded.
"Leave it to me. I'll talk to my mother."
A Few Days Later
Rouge successfully gave birth to Ace.
Though she was weak, her life wasn't in danger.
Ikki, however, had already taken precautions.
He had secretly given a suspended animation jellybean to the midwife. Then, using his Sharingan, he cast a Genjutsu on her, ensuring that Rouge would consume it.
Baterilla Island
Just as Garp was preparing to meet Roger's child and perhaps even "adopt" a grandson into his care, he noticed Rouge's condition deteriorating. Her breathing grew faint, her skin turned cold, and her body fell completely still.
Garp let out a long sigh.
Looking at the now pale and lifeless Rouge, Garp carefully picked up the newborn Ace in his arms.
He had already prepared himself for this. Rouge was just an ordinary woman—delaying childbirth for six extra months was far more dangerous than even the riskiest surgery.
As Garp gazed at the tiny infant in his arms, a knock came at the door.
"Vice Admial Garp, trouble's here," Ikki's voice came from outside. "CP agents have arrived again."
Garp's expression hardened. He knew it was time to leave.
Holding Ace securely, he turned to Ikki. "I'll leave Rouge's funeral to you."
Ikki nodded firmly. "Don't worry. Leave it to us."
With that, Garp departed from Baterilla Island, carrying the newborn Ace.
And just as he left, a ship bearing the World Government insignia arrived at the port.
This time, however, the CP agents weren't here for pregnant women.
After the last debacle, they were certain that Roger's child had already been taken away.
Their real targets now?
Ikki, Ace, Kakashi, and Rogers.
Meanwhile—
As soon as Garp left with baby Ace, Rouge suddenly woke up from her suspended animation.
"Ace, your mother is your responsibility now," Ikki said, turning toward him. "Help her understand the situation fast."
Rouge, still disoriented, heard a familiar voice.
"Huh? This voice… isn't this the pervert who sells oysters?"
Ikki stumbled at her words, nearly falling over. He shot Ace a glare before storming off.
After Ikki, Rogers, and Kakashi left the room, Ace sat beside the bed.
Slowly, he reached up and removed the mask that had been covering his face.
"Mother…" he said softly. "I… am Ace, from twenty years in the future."
Rouge stared at him, her eyes widening in shock.
She covered her mouth with her hands. "I… have I been in a coma for twenty years?!"
Ace: "…"
He hadn't expected his mother to jump to that conclusion.
"No… I traveled from twenty years in the future," he explained. "And I'm here to take you back with me."
Rouge blinked, trying to process his words. Then, a thought hit her.
"Then… what about Ace?" she asked hesitantly.
At the Ruined Port—
Ikki, Rogers, and Kakashi stood atop the crumbling docks, watching as the World Government's ship approached.
"Rogers, catch!"
Ikki tossed two objects toward Captain America.
The Rabbit Talisman and the Ox Talisman.
Among the three of them, Captain America was the most durable, but his attack power wasn't enough. Against normal enemies, he was fine—but against CP agents with Mastery of Armament Haki and Iron Body, his strength simply wasn't enough.
The Rabbit Talisman would give him super speed, and the Ox Talisman would give him enhanced strength—enough to bridge the gap.
As for Kakashi, Ikki wasn't worried. The shinobi had plenty of techniques. Even if he couldn't overpower the enemy, he was smart enough to find their weaknesses.
"Kakashi, make clones!"
Kakashi nodded and immediately created over a dozen shadow clones.
Seeing that the ship was getting closer, Ikki pulled out something he had prepared long ago—an RPG rocket launcher.
He handed out dozens of RPGs to both Captain America and Kakashi's clones, taking a quick half-minute to teach Kakashi how to use them.
Captain America stared at the launcher in his hands, shaking his head in amusement.
"I never expected you to have an RPG," he muttered.
Ikki grinned. "Ha! I could have anything up my sleeve. One day, I might even pull out your underwear!"
Captain America: "…"