Isn't life just a spur-of-the-moment journey? For Rosinante, it certainly felt that way. Before the age of eight, his life was one of privilege – fine clothes and rich food, surrounded by slaves, perched high above the common world, a darling child of the gods. But everything he experienced after age eight with his parents and brother in the North Blue became an unspeakable scar upon his heart. During that time, he learned the meaning of helplessness, humility, and degradation. Hunted by everyone they encountered, forced to scavenge food from trash cans just to fill their bellies, stripped of their fine garments, obedient slaves, and lofty status – to survive, they became the very people they once despised most.
Enduring unbearable suffering and persecution time and again, witnessing his parents' demise, and seeing his own brother's drastic transformation into something monstrous… Rosinante saw firsthand Doflamingo's capacity for violence and cruelty. It was precisely because he knew his brother's true nature that Rosinante desperately wanted to escape Doflamingo's demonic clutches. In his mind, any price was worth escaping that grasp. The irony was thick, then, that this time, he was willingly walking right back into the lion's den.
After successfully escaping Doflamingo, Rosinante had the good fortune to meet his adoptive father, Sengoku. The two hit it off immediately, developing a deep bond akin to father and son. Rosinante's life after eight became rich and fulfilling. He received the Marines' education in Justice, proudly becoming an officer. And now, driven by his own, perhaps naive, sense of justice, he had willingly volunteered for this mission: to infiltrate the Donquixote Family undercover.
Don't preach goodness to others if you haven't experienced their suffering.
It was truly remarkable that Rosinante maintained his kind heart after enduring so much hardship. But perhaps he had forgotten how others had treated him? Those mobs wanted to kill him. If Doflamingo hadn't intervened, Rosinante would have kicked the bucket long ago. Yet, despite being tortured and beaten, he still held onto goodwill towards the world? A true saint, indeed!
From Doflamingo's perspective, of course, this was utter bullshit. Kindness? Such a righteous notion. When those troublesome commoners were beating them, nearly killing them, where was their kindness? The world demanded kindness from him, yet imposed no such requirement on itself. Why didn't they practice self-discipline?
Rosinante stubbornly clung to his own kindness, attempting to pull Doflamingo back onto the righteous path. But what Rosinante saw as kindness, Doflamingo saw as dangerous naivety. Doflamingo, treat others kindly? Dream on! Most people weren't worthy of his kindness. It was precisely because Doflamingo had seen the world's true, ugly nature that he scorned concepts like 'kindness' and 'justice'.
Justice will prevail? Of course, it will. Because only the victors are Justice! That was the world's fundamental truth. Might makes right!
To Doflamingo, Rosinante was simply weak, soft. Willing to help the Marines harm his own family for the sake of some abstract 'justice' and 'kindness'? When Doflamingo discovered Rosinante was a spy in the original timeline, how could he not have felt heartbroken? But the brothers had chosen different paths. Doflamingo felt betrayed – Rosinante had chosen 'justice' over their brotherly bond. Rosinante desperately wanted Doflamingo to turn towards good, but had he ever truly considered what Doflamingo wanted? Don't force your own ideals onto others! When their family was being persecuted, who stepped forward to help? Was it Rosinante's precious Justice? His Kindness? The Marines he now served? No.
It was your own brother who saved you, Rosinante. And now, you return to oppose him. How could Doflamingo not feel fury, anguish? Perhaps executing Rosinante himself was an act born of helplessness, a choice forced upon him. He needed to impose rules upon his vast Family, make an example – even the closest brother couldn't betray the Family and be spared. But did anyone in the Family ever truly understand Doflamingo's hidden tenderness? No. They didn't understand him. They merely used his Celestial Dragon heritage and his fearsome power to act tough in the world, like a fox borrowing the tiger's might. Without Doflamingo, they were nothing.
Ultimately, the two brothers walked different paths, one towards light, the other towards darkness. But who was truly right, and who was wrong? Who could definitively say? Fate is often strange. The drama of those who love and kill each other is a timeless classic.
Under the moonlit night, upon the vast green waves of the sea, a passenger ship sailed from Marineford towards the North Blue. To avoid unnecessary suspicion, Rosinante had meticulously prepared his cover story from the outset. He knew appearing so suddenly before Doflamingo after years of absence would undoubtedly raise questions. His plan was to feign muteness, using it to deflect inquiries and smooth over inconsistencies. Though apprehensive, he felt duty-bound – for Marine Justice, and as Sengoku's surrogate son.
Inside the quiet cabin, the other passengers were already asleep. Rosinante lay on his bunk, his even breathing suggesting he too had succumbed to slumber. Suddenly, his eyes shot wide open, though they remained clenched shut. His arms flailed in the air as if grasping at something intangible. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead and soaked his back as indistinct murmurs escaped his lips.
He was having a nightmare. (Just as Doflamingo in the original story was plagued by nightmares of being tied to the wall as a child, facing the murderous mob). But Rosinante's nightmare wasn't that scene. It was the memory of himself, crying, begging his brother not to kill their father, only for Doflamingo to pull the trigger without hesitation. It was the memory of Doflamingo, later, slaughtering the residents of an entire town simply to vent his anger and avenge their earlier humiliation. These images had haunted Rosinante for years. In his eyes, Doflamingo had already fallen, becoming a demon damned to hell.
With a gasp, Rosinante forced himself awake, sitting up abruptly. He lit a cigarette with trembling hands and smoked silently in the darkness. The years of torment had turned him into a heavy smoker. After all, when plagued by nightmares or heavy thoughts, what better way to forget one's sorrows, however fleetingly, than a cigarette? The small, glowing ember briefly pierced the oppressive darkness of the cabin before burning out, leaving him enveloped once more.
"Hmph," Rosinante exhaled the last puff of smoke, his eyes deep and shadowed, yet flickering with a determined light. He muttered softly to himself, slowly revealing the voice of his heart, "Brother... this time, let me save you!"
(Everything occurring in Rosinante's room remained unnoticed by others. Not a sound escaped. During his time in the Marines, Rosinante had trained alongside other recruits, sleeping in communal quarters. His frequent nightmares inevitably disturbed his bunkmates. To solve this problem without disrupting others – and because receiving special treatment like a private room, even as Sengoku's ward, would hinder his integration into the Marine collective – Rosinante, ever considerate, had reluctantly asked his adoptive father for help. Sengoku had procured the Silent-Silent Fruit for him, perfectly solving the issue. Such a kind man, Corazon! Rosinante always kept Sengoku's kindness and gratitude in his heart. This mission was not only for his own sense of Justice and conviction but also a way to repay Sengoku for raising him all these years. After all, Doflamingo was a constant thorn in Sengoku's side, a source of unending pressure from the World Government that needed resolution.)
Several days later, under a bright sun and gentle breeze, seagulls soared and played cheerfully overhead.
On the Donquixote Family training ground, Doflamingo was sparring with Enel, demonstrating the nuances of Armament Haki. Robin, Diamante, and Pica watched intently from the sidelines.
"How is that possible?!" Enel exclaimed, staggering back from a blow. "Doffy, how did you do that?! I clearly defended with Armament Haki! How did you still hit my actual body?!" He was shocked; Doflamingo had seemingly repelled him without direct contact, somehow bypassing his Haki defense.
"Looks like I've finally mastered it," Doflamingo murmured, looking at his own clenched fists with satisfaction, ignoring Enel's surprise. "Advanced Armament Haki... Ryuo."
"Advanced Armament Haki? Ryuo?" Enel repeated, bewildered.
"Doffy, what's Advanced Armament? And what's Ryuo?" Diamante asked, equally confused. He had followed Doflamingo for years and thought he knew most of what his leader knew, but this was new.
"Onii-chan, what's Ryuo?" Robin asked, wide-eyed and curious, lacking the foundational knowledge the others possessed. Pica remained silent, but his eyes clearly showed his intense curiosity.
"Ryuo!" Doflamingo addressed the small group that had gathered closer. "It's an advanced application of Armament Haki. That's just the term they use for it in Wano Country." He paused, then asked rhetorically, "Did you all think Armament Haki was simply coating your body or weapons?"
"Well... isn't it?" Enel scratched the back of his head, looking slightly embarrassed. He genuinely didn't know much about the intricacies; Diamante had taught him the basics, but Diamante himself hadn't understood these advanced levels.
"Wano Country?" Robin's focus latched onto something different. "Onii-chan, have you been to Wano?"
"No, I haven't," Doflamingo replied, taking the opportunity to pat the nearby Robin's head affectionately.
He continued his explanation. "Armament Haki can be roughly divided into three stages. I've only just recently reached the third stage myself. Stage One is the basic application you all know, 'Armament: Hardening.' This involves simply covering the surface of your body or weapon to increase attack power and defense. Stage Two goes beyond simple surface coating. Haki can be made to flow, a technique called 'Ryuo' in Wano. This signifies finer control. Ryuo can form an invisible layer of armor around the user, or be channeled through a weapon to damage an opponent without direct contact. This stage offers greater attack and defense than Stage One, and crucially, allows for ranged Haki attacks. However, it generally only damages the enemy's surface, making it less effective against opponents with extremely high durability. Stage Three demands even greater mastery. Haki is focused to such a degree that it can penetrate defenses and strike the inside of an enemy, like 'striking the cow through the mountain.' This internal destruction bypasses conventional defenses and causes immense damage. It's highly effective against durable opponents, like the great pirate Big Mom, for example. Without mastering this third stage of Armament, I suspect it would be very difficult to inflict significant harm upon someone like her." He finished detailing his understanding of Haki progression.
"So that's how it is..." Enel sighed, awed. "My road is still very long!" But his competitive spirit quickly rekindled. "But, that just makes things more interesting, doesn't it?"
"Armament Haki has such high requirements..." Diamante murmured, his perspective broadened. Pica remained silent, but his mind was clearly racing, processing the new information.
"Um, Onii-chan," Robin piped up, temporarily setting aside Armament Haki (which she hadn't awakened yet), "do Observation and Conqueror's Haki have advanced applications too?"
"Indeed they do, Robin. You're very clever," Doflamingo praised her insight, patting her head again.
"Are there?!" Enel leaned forward eagerly, eyes shining, anticipating more revelations. The others also focused intently on Doflamingo.
"Observation Haki certainly has higher levels," Doflamingo confirmed, his expression turning slightly wistful. "As far as I know, there are currently two recognized advanced applications. One allows the user to briefly see into the future. The other enables one to hear the hearts of others, even read their memories."
"See the future... read minds... terrifying!" Enel breathed, simultaneously awestruck and intensely interested.
"Truly terrifying," Robin agreed softly. Diamante and Pica looked thoughtful.
"As for Conqueror's Haki," Doflamingo continued, ignoring their reactions, "beyond its basic use for intimidation and exerting pressure, it too can be coated onto attacks, much like Armament Haki, drastically increasing their power. However, this technique is extremely difficult, and only a handful of individuals can master it." He concluded his Haki lecture.
"Now do you understand?" Doflamingo addressed them all. "The truly strong individuals ruling these seas aren't simple! Anyone standing at the pinnacle is undoubtedly a master of both Armament and Observation Haki. Combine that with powerful Devil Fruits and vast subordinate forces... and they become the Emperors who control the seas! Our own path is still long! Don't become complacent or aim too high too soon. This small North Blue won't hold us for long!" He roused them from their contemplation.
"Emperors...? Now that sounds truly badass!" Enel exclaimed, awed by the concept.
"I believe Onii-chan can become an Emperor too!" Robin declared with firm conviction, looking up at Doflamingo.
"That's right! We believe in you, Doffy!" Pica and Diamante added, their voices filled with unwavering loyalty.
"Fuffuffuffu..." Doflamingo laughed heartily. "Emperors, merely... Family! Let us reach the summit together!"
Hearing Doflamingo's confident laughter, the others grinned, sharing in his ambition. The moment of camaraderie, however, was interrupted by a subordinate rushing towards them. Doflamingo, still in a good mood, wasn't annoyed.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Reporting, Young Master!" the subordinate said nervously. "There's someone at the main gate... He says he's your brother."
"Brother?" Doflamingo froze, momentarily shocked speechless.
"Yes, sir! He says he's your biological brother!" the subordinate quickly confirmed.
"I see..." Doflamingo recovered swiftly, a complex, intriguing smile spreading across his face. "It seems my dear brother has indeed arrived." Without further explanation, he turned and walked away alone, ignoring the stunned reactions of his executives.
Left behind, Robin's curiosity immediately flared. "Diamante," she asked, "what's this about a brother?"
"This..." Diamante hesitated. He knew about Doflamingo's brother, but the history was tangled and difficult to explain succinctly. He settled for a simple answer. "Doffy's younger brother... was separated from us a long time ago. We don't know where he went."
"Is that so?" Robin accepted the answer verbally, but her mind raced with questions. Her gossip-loving heart was burning fiercely.
Enel and Pica, however, couldn't care less about Doflamingo's family drama. Their minds were already back to figuring out how to improve their own Haki, how to increase their own strength.
At the entrance of the Donquixote Family base, a tall man stood waiting anxiously. He wore a simple white shirt and trousers, and his blond hair was the exact same shade as Doflamingo's.
"Fuffuffuffu... Well, well. Isn't this my own flesh and blood brother?"
Hearing the familiar, yet somehow distant voice, Rosinante stood stunned, frozen on the spot. He didn't know what to do, how to react, feeling completely at a loss. All he could do was watch, helpless, as the figure slowly, deliberately, walked towards him.
Doflamingo approached step by agonizing step. For Rosinante, each footfall felt like torture.