Chapter Text
The Starr Lounge buzzed with chatter and laughter as brawlers relaxed after a long day of battles. The dim glow of neon signs flickered against the walls, and the air carried the scent of Cordelius’ strange mushrooms, mixed with the sweet aroma of Barley’s latest concoctions. It was a rare moment of peace in Starr Park—a place where fights were the norm, and rest was a luxury.
Rosa stood near the corner, nervously twisting a vine between her fingers. She had fought in countless battles, faced off against the toughest brawlers, and held her ground against the chaos of the park. But this… this was different. Her heart pounded against her ribs as she tried to find the right words.
“Hey, Rosa!” Pam’s voice cut through the noise, warm and strong as always. “You’ve been standing there like a cactus in the desert. What’s up?”
Rosa swallowed hard. She had thought of a hundred ways to say it, but now that the moment was here, words tangled in her throat. Then, looking around at her makeshift family—from Bibi balancing her bat on one finger to Poco strumming a lively tune—she took a deep breath.
“I… I have something to share.”
The room quieted. Even Edgar, who had been leaning aloofly against the wall, flicked his gaze upward from beneath his hood. Fang stopped mid-air while showing off a new kickflip, nearly landing on Gus, who yelped in surprise.
Rosa’s voice wavered only slightly as she spoke. “I’m pregnant.”
For a moment, silence hung in the air, thick and heavy. Then, in an instant, the room exploded with cheers.
“No way! Rosa, that’s amazing!” Meg practically bounced over, her excitement bubbling over.
Emz, caught off guard, nearly dropped her phone. “Girl, what?! Oh my gawd, you’re gonna be a whole mom?” She quickly snapped a photo of Rosa, already typing out a new post.
Pam threw her arms around Rosa, her laughter warm and full of joy. “Another little sprout in Starr Park! Oh, Rosa, this is wonderful!”
Poco grinned, plucking at his guitar and breaking into an upbeat tune. “Looks like we’ve got a future brawler in the making!”
Belle leaned back with a sly grin. “Guess we’ll be hearin’ some lullabies in the park soon.”
Bibi nudged Rosa playfully. “Hope they inherit your toughness—maybe I’ll have a new sparring partner in a few years.”
Even Buzz let out an excited honk from across the room. “Dude, that’s radical! Starr Park’s first official baby brawler!”
Only Edgar remained quiet. He crossed his arms, his expression unreadable, but Rosa caught the flicker of concern in his eyes. When the excitement settled a little, he finally spoke. “You still gonna fight?”
Rosa placed a protective hand over her stomach, her determination unwavering. “I’ll fight smarter,” she assured him. “But don’t worry, Edgar. This baby’s got the toughest mama in Starr Park.”
Edgar exhaled, nodding slightly, though he didn’t look entirely convinced.
As the celebration continued, Rosa let herself relax, soaking in the love and warmth of her friends. Despite all the madness Starr Park had thrown at her over the years, this was one of the few moments where she felt truly at peace.
But deep down, she knew—this was only the beginning of a new battle. A battle unlike any she had faced before. Raising a child in Starr Park… it wouldn’t be easy.
And yet, as she glanced down, imagining the tiny life growing inside her, she smiled.
She was ready.
The celebration in the Starr Lounge eventually died down, leaving behind empty glasses, confetti, and the lingering hum of Poco’s last tune. Rosa sat alone at a corner table, absentmindedly tracing patterns in the condensation on her glass. The initial excitement had settled, replaced by the weight of reality pressing against her chest.
A baby. In Starr Park.
She had faced countless opponents—unstoppable tanks, unpredictable tricksters, relentless sharpshooters. But this? This was an entirely new kind of fight.
She sighed, rubbing her stomach. “What have we gotten ourselves into, little one?”
A chair scraped against the floor. Rosa looked up to see Edgar dropping into the seat across from her. His usual aloofness was still there—arms crossed, hoodie pulled low—but his eyes held something else. Worry.
“You okay?” he asked, voice quieter than usual.
Rosa hesitated before giving a small shrug. “Yeah… I think so. Just thinking.”
Edgar studied her for a moment, then exhaled sharply. “You know it’s not gonna be easy. Starr Park’s no place for a kid.”
She met his gaze, unflinching. “I know.”
“Do you?” He leaned forward slightly. “We fight every day just to survive here. What happens when—” He hesitated, eyes flickering downward. “What happens if Starr Park decides it doesn’t want this kid around?”
Rosa’s fingers curled against the table. She knew exactly what he meant. Starr Park had a mind of its own—rules that didn’t always make sense, forces that operated beyond their understanding. She had seen fighters disappear, only to return… different. And some never returned at all.
“I won’t let anything happen to them,” she said firmly.
Edgar shook his head. “You say that like it’s up to you.”
Silence stretched between them, heavy and unspoken. Then, Rosa reached across the table and placed her hand over his wrist. It startled him—Edgar wasn’t used to contact—but he didn’t pull away.
“I’m scared too,” she admitted. “But I have to believe we can make this work. That I can give them a chance at something better.”
Edgar looked down, his fingers tightening slightly before he pulled his hand back. “Just… don’t get reckless.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “You’re not just fighting for yourself anymore.”
Rosa smiled, small but genuine. “I never was.”
Edgar stood, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Get some rest,” he muttered before disappearing into the shadows of the lounge.
Rosa sat there for a while longer, her hand still resting over her stomach. The doubts were still there, curling like vines in the back of her mind. But amid the uncertainty, something else was taking root.
Hope.
No matter what Starr Park threw at her, she would fight. For herself. For her baby.
And she would win.