I panted as I ran towards the palace. I didn't want to use my Devil Fruit, as that would wear me out a lot. I needed the energy if I truly wanted to defeat Doflamingo. Hopefully, I could assist Law and Straw Hat. I obviously couldn't do it alone, even if I wanted to. Suddenly, a hand pulled me into an alley and threw me on the floor. "Bullet Sting!" The stranger grinned. I gasped in pain as I felt the string pierce the skin in my arms and legs. "Well, well Cuffs. Were you coming to the palace to kill me?" I glared defiantly at him and tried to sit up. "Ah, ah ah." Doflamingo produced strings, and binded limbs to the ground. "You can't leave now. I have so much to say." Doflamingo laughed.
"Why are you here? Did you kill Law and Straw Hat?" Doflamingo laughed.
"My clone's fighting them right now. Law should be dead, and Straw Hat's just about finished. If you were wondering, I didn't tell anyone I was going to do this, not even the top executives. No one knows about this plan." I looked at him, confused.
"This plan?" Doflamingo laughed again and spread his arms out.
"I want to rule the world. I want to destroy all that the Celestial Dragons ever stood for. I want to relish in the flames as the whole world cries out in pain. I want to paint the lands red with blood." Doflamingo's voice turned darker as he spoke. I panted, watching my blood flow out. Was this what he meant? "But, there are obstacles in my plan. Kaido. Big Mom. Blackbeard. Shanks. These are pretty obvious. But..there's also the marines." Doflamingo scoffed. "I knew Akainu would be a problem. I predicted that twenty years ago. But how to get him down on his knees? That's where you came in." My eyes widened. Me? "You were his daughter. I knew he would care for you. You were from his blood and bone, of course he'd care. You were my protection against the Navy." Doflamingo grinned again. "But now, I have a better idea. I don't need you alive anymore." My eyes widened. Was...was he going to kill me now? I tried to absorb the string, but I couldn't. I didn't understand. I should have been able to. Why wasn't I able to!?
"W-why can't I absorb your string?" I asked Doflamingo. Doflamingo laughed again.
"I just said were my pawn, didn't I? I've been controlling your life since the Buster Call. Maybe even when the Buster Call happened. Well, not control entirely, but more...influencing you to do what I want. Who do you think tipped off the marines about Ohara and the scholars?" Doflamingo grinned again. "I gave you your cuffs. I was the shopkeeper. Killed off the other one. Never make a trap you can't get out of." Doflamingo grinned wider, light glinting off his sunglasses. "I was the shopkeeper who gave you your cuffs. I couldn't have you die on Ohara, I needed you a bit longer than that. I even gave you the devil fruit, just for your personal interest." I clenched my fists, scowling at him.
"You didn't give me the devil fruit for me." Doflamingo's gaze turned dark, and his veins popped out.
"What did you say?"
"You didn't give me the devil fruit for me." I repeated. "You gave me it so you could give me a weakness, kill me if things got bad." Doflamingo laughed, his grin returning.
"You got me there. So what if I did?"
"You don't care about anyone except yourself. Your so called family, is just a ruse. Maybe they think like that, but you don't. The only thing you're interested in is achieving your own goal." Doflamingo's veins popped out again, and he clenched and unclenched his fists.
"You don't know what you're talking about." Doflamingo shot more bullets into me, and I groaned in pain. "I was thinking for letting you have a quick death, but for that comment, I'll let you bleed out." Doflamingo walked away, leaving me bleeding on the floor. As he left, I was determined to have one last word.
"Law and Straw Hat will defeat you! You won't win! YOU WON'T WIN!" I shouted out at him. Doflamingo turns towards me and shoots one finale string bullet at me. It sinks into my shoulder, and I grit my teeth, refusing to cry out. Doflamingo turns away, and starts walking again. I struggle to break free of my restraints, but I gave up with a defeated sigh. I couldn't. I watched slowly as the blood trickled out of my wounds, and formed a puddle beneath. I clenched my fists. Doflamingo! He would pay. He would be defeated by Law and Straw Hat. He won't win. Then my thoughts turned to my father. I sighed. If I really was dying, I-I should at least say goodbye. I dipped my finger in the blood and quickly scratched out a message. My father….I did forgive him. He is my father. Not Akainu, not Sakazuki, Father. He was my father. As time passed, I found it harder and harder to keep my eyes open. I was dying. I was at peace with that. My life wasn't in vain. I remember when it was just the three of us, Mother, Father, and me. I remember when it was just me. I remember when it was Father and me. I remembered Ace, I remembered Whitebeard, and I remembered Mother. 'Was this what Whitebeard and Ace felt when they died?' I couldn't feel my legs anymore. 'Is death always this slow?' I wondered.
"Jade!" A voice called out. I widened my eyes. It was Father! "No, no, no, no. Jade, please...Don't die!" Father sobbed out. "Please, don't! I can't save you this time!" I shook my head, and smiled sadly at him.
"I-I can't live. I'm sorry, Father." I coughed out blood. The blood flew over my chest, and sunk into my clothes. "I-I forgive you, Dad."
"No, NO! Jade! Please, don't die!" I coughed again. It hurt to speak now.
"Dad…" I coughed again, and weakly pointed to my hat. "My hat….It was a gift. I-I bought for you. O-On Ohara. B-before the Buster Call. I-I kept it..to-to remember to never forgive you...But I do. I forgive you, Dad." Father let a few tears leak out of his eyes.
"Don't talk like that, Jade! You can live! I-I'll get revenge on-on whoever did this! I swear!"
"No!" My Father stepped back, taken aback by the anger in my eyes. "Don't. Doflamingo wants you to do that. Please, just forget about revenge. I-I don't want you to do tha-" I coughed violently, and Father's eyes widened. He quickly ripped off the restraints and helped me sit up. I stopped coughing and held a hand to my shoulder. "Dad, take me hat. A-As a sign. That you remember me. P-Please." Father looked at me doubtfully, but took my hat. I grinned. "T-Thanks, Dad. J-Just promise me one more thing."
"Anything. I swear." Father's fists were clenched, and I knew he was trying not to go and kill Doflamingo.
"D-Don't die too early. I-I want to see you, b-but you better be an o-old man. And...please. Remember me...Promise me, Dad." Father nodded, his eyes welling up with tears.
"I-I promise." I grinned, satisfied.
"Thanks, Dad. I-I love you." I whispered. Father hugged me, enveloping my body with his warm heat. I gazed weakly into the distence, my eyes glazing over. I felt..peace for the first time in a long time. "I-I see Mother, Dad. Sh-She says sh-she still loves you…" My eyes finally drifted shut, my limbs grew numb, but I smiled. I could see Mother again.