"Island sighted! Island sighted!"
Luffy's excited voice rang from the bow of the ship.
Rolan, Ace, and Lina stepped out of the cabin together.
"Ahh, it's freezing!" Lina shivered the moment she stepped outside, her cheeks turning red from the icy wind.
Snowflakes drifted down like tiny white spirits, dusting the deck in a soft layer of frost. Ahead of them, a small island blanketed in white could be seen in the distance.
"Why's it snowing all of a sudden?" Ace muttered, tightening his coat. He and Rolan had spent most of the time training below deck, while Luffy was always perched at the bow watching the sea.
They didn't need a lookout anyway — Rolan's Observation Haki, what he called his Super Heart Net, could scan a forty-mile radius with ease.
"Rolan, Luffy, aren't you two cold?" Ace asked, raising an eyebrow.
Both of them were still in short sleeves and shorts.
"Ah? Hiss—it's cold!" Luffy finally noticed, teeth chattering as he began hopping in place.
Rolan smirked. "Can't relate. My ability keeps me warm."
It was true. After months at sea, he had become far more skilled with his Electromagnetic Fruit. A thin electromagnetic barrier now coated his body, blocking heat loss completely.
"Adventure! Adventure!" Luffy shouted, gripping the railing and bouncing up and down, his slippers clapping together like some weird dance.
Rolan sighed. "Let's go. Might as well enjoy it."
Before he could take a step, Luffy had already leapt off the ship, disappearing into the falling snow.
Ace chuckled, giving Rolan a nod before jumping down after his little brother.
Rolan didn't bother stopping them. It had been like this for months — chaos followed those two everywhere.
He turned toward the red-haired girl beside him. "Let's go too, Lina."
"Okay, Captain Rolan."
---
The island looked like a winter painting. Snow piled up on the trees and rooftops, while the wind carried flakes that sparkled under the dim sun.
Lina skipped ahead, her boots leaving tiny prints in the snow. Watching her smile and play, Rolan couldn't help but feel content. She had changed a lot since he first met her. The sadness that once shadowed her face was gone, replaced by laughter and curiosity.
She had never left her home island before, and this was her first time seeing snow.
Rolan bent down, grabbed a handful, and shaped it into a snowball. Without warning, he tossed it at her.
But Lina spun around at the last second, the snowball whizzing past her shoulder.
"Hah! Captain Rolan, did you just try to sneak attack me?" she asked, eyes narrowing playfully.
Rolan grinned, grabbing another handful. "This isn't a sneak attack, it's training. Snowballs don't hurt, and they're clean. Perfect for sharpening your Observation Haki."
Lina tilted her head, thinking it over. "Alright… but don't throw too hard!"
He chuckled. "Relax. I won't."
She pulled out a handkerchief and tied it over her eyes. "Hey! And no using Observation Haki yourself! That's cheating!"
"Nonsense," Rolan said, shaping another snowball. "I've got over ten years of snowball-fight experience. You don't stand a chance."
It reminded him of his old winters back on Earth. Snowball fights, ice skating — it had been forever since he'd done something this simple and stupid. For a moment, he let himself enjoy it.
Rolan began firing snowballs like a machine gun. Despite Lina's developing Observation Haki, she couldn't dodge them all. One after another, they thudded softly against her jacket.
"Lina, fight back! Try to feel where I'm aiming next!" he said, dodging a snowball that barely missed his face.
She nodded and threw back at him, guided only by instinct and faint flickers of Haki. At first, she was clumsy, but as time passed, her accuracy improved. Rolan went easier on her, smiling as she gained confidence.
Then— bonk!
A hard object smacked him right in the head.
"OW—!" He rubbed his forehead, dazed. "What the hell, Lina?! You hiding rocks in the snow now?"
"Huh?" Lina untied her blindfold, blinking innocently. "I didn't mean to! I just grabbed whatever was near me!"
Rolan crouched down, frowning, and brushed through the snow. His hand hit something solid and oddly shaped. When he pulled it out, he froze.
It was a strange fruit, covered in swirling patterns and glowing faintly beneath the frost.
"This… is a Devil Fruit," he muttered.
Lina ran over, eyes wide. "A Devil Fruit? Really? I've never seen one before."
Rolan examined it closely — it looked exactly like the Mera Mera no Mi, the Flame-Flame Fruit once wielded by Ace.
"So it's the Mera Mera no Mi, huh…" He chuckled under his breath. "Unbelievable. Found a Logia fruit in the middle of a snowball fight. Guess I really am the chosen one."
He accessed his system space mentally, checking his current inventory.
Inside were two Devil Fruits:
• Mythical Zoan-type Tori Tori no Mi
• Logia-type Gold-Gold Fruit
He'd already eaten one. The other two were waiting for the right people.
Rolan smirked. Who said the Mera Mera no Mi has to belong to Ace anyway? Let's see what happens when the story changes.
He handed the fruit to Lina. "Here. It's yours."
"Eh?!" Lina stared at it like it was made of gold. "Captain, this is a Devil Fruit! It's way too valuable for me!"
Rolan looked out toward the horizon. "I've got a big dream, Lina. One that's damn near impossible. I can't do it alone. I need people who are strong — and loyal. I trust you."
She froze, looking up at him. Rolan's gaze was distant, piercing the horizon as if he could see the Red Line itself and the sacred city of Mary Geoise beyond it.
Lina didn't know what his dream was, but she could feel the weight of it. To her, Rolan was already invincible. If someone like him said he needed her… how could she say no?
"But I—" she started softly.
He placed a hand on her head. "Don't underestimate yourself. Just lend me your strength on this journey, alright?"
Lina met his eyes, determination burning in hers. "Okay! Captain Rolan, even if I die, I'll help you achieve your dream!"
Rolan grinned. "That's the spirit. Now, eat it."
She took a deep breath and bit into the fruit.
Crunch.
Her expression twisted. "Ugh! So disgusting!" She puffed her cheeks out, grimacing.
"Yeah, they taste awful," Rolan laughed. "Just one bite's enough. Now, focus. Feel the change in your body."
Suddenly, flames burst from her right hand.
"Ahh! My hand's on fire!" she screamed, waving it frantically.
"Idiot! That's your power! You're not on fire — you are fire! You don't get burned!" Rolan flicked her forehead lightly.
"Ow! Rolan-sama, stop flicking me, I'll get dumb!" she protested, rubbing her head and glaring at him.
Rolan chuckled, hands in his pockets, his usual carefree grin returning. "Welcome to the crew, Fire Girl."
---