Chapter Text
Portgas D. Ann was born at ten to midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Ann stared intently at her mother’s writhing form with focus no baby should possess. Despite the uncanny, too old eyes, Rouge loved her unconditionally… for the grand total of ten hours.
The first few hours after her birth were filled with shouts of agony, but as time went by, they slowly dwindled down to small whimpers and died altogether.
Finally holding Ace, Rouge looked pleadingly at her eldest.
What exactly those eyes wished to convey would remain a mystery forever, as she gave her last breath right after whispering their names.
In another universe, Portgas D. Ann didn’t survive the long pregnancy. In this one, a young woman from Earth opened her eyes after closing them for what she assumed was the last time.