The fog rolled thick across Whiskey Peak's harbor as Miss All Sunday's calculating smile cut through the darkness. Her presence alone seemed to drop the temperature several degrees, and even Luffy's usual grin faltered slightly as he studied the mysterious woman.
"What an interesting crew you've assembled, Princess," Miss All Sunday mused, her eyes scanning each member of the group before settling on Luffy. "Especially your new... protectors."
"What did you do to Igaram?" Vivi demanded, her voice trembling with both rage and fear.
Miss All Sunday's smile widened slightly. "Oh? Are you sure you want to know?"
"Get away from our ship!" Usopp shouted, his knees shaking but his slingshot raised bravely.
"My, my... so hostile," she chuckled, crossing her arms in that distinctive way. Suddenly, multiple hands sprouted from the deck, disarming both Usopp and Zoro before anyone could react.
"A Devil Fruit user!" Nami gasped.
"Hey! That's so cool!" Luffy exclaimed with stars in his eyes. "You can make hands appear!"
"Luffy! This isn't the time to be amazed!" Nami scolded.
"But Nami, she's gonna be our nakama! She's Robin!" Luffy grinned widely.
Robin's composed expression cracked slightly. "What did you say?"
"Shishishi! I know all about you! You're from that tree place and you like books and stuff!" Luffy said while picking his nose. "Join my crew!"
"Luffy!" The crew shouted in disbelief.
"How... how do you know about Ohara?" Robin asked, her composure slipping further.
"Because I'm gonna be King of the Pirates! And you're gonna help us find that funny writing stuff!" Luffy declared with his signature grin. "Oh, and Vivi! Your makeup guy is okay! Robin made sure he didn't die!"
"What?!" Vivi gasped. "Igaram is alive?"
"Yep! Robin's not bad! She just needs friends!" Luffy bounced excitedly. "And we're gonna be her friends!"
"Captain-san," Robin interrupted, trying to regain control of the situation. "You speak of things no one should know..."
"Oh yeah! Like that giant ice guy who taught you to laugh! Dereshishi!" Luffy attempted to imitate Jaguar D. Saul's laugh, failing miserably but grinning anyway.
Robin's eyes widened in shock. The crew watched as their usually composed enemy seemed genuinely rattled by their captain's words.
"Oi, oi, Luffy," Zoro growled. "Are you sure about this?"
"Of course! Robin's gonna be our friend! Plus, she makes hands appear everywhere - that's super cool!" Luffy stretched his arms excitedly. "Hey Robin, can you make hands come out of my nose?"
"This is serious!" Nami bonked him on the head.
"But Namiiiii," Luffy whined, rubbing his head. "I am serious! Robin's gonna join us and help Vivi save her country from that stupid crocodile guy!"
Robin took a step back, her mind racing. This rubber boy somehow knew things that should be impossible to know - about Ohara, about Saul, about her past.
"You're quite the interesting captain," she said, trying to maintain her calm demeanor. "But what makes you think I would join pirates I just met?"
"Because you're lonely!" Luffy stated bluntly. "And you want to know about that missing history stuff! We're gonna have lots of adventures and find all kinds of cool things!"
"Luffy," Vivi interjected, "she's working with Crocodile! She's our enemy!"
"Nah, she's just pretending," Luffy picked his nose again. "She doesn't like that sandy jerk either. Right, Robin?"
Robin stared at the strange captain, her carefully constructed walls beginning to crack. "You're a dangerous man, Monkey D. Luffy."
"Shishishi! Yep! But you're gonna be even more dangerous when you're with us! Oh, and you can read those funny stone things too!"
"The Poneglyphs..." Robin whispered. "How much do you know?"
"I know you're gonna be my Nakama! That's all that matters!" Luffy stretched his arms wide. "So stop being sad and join us already!"
"This is absurd," Robin said, though her voice lacked its usual confidence. "You can't simply declare such things..."
"Watch me!" Luffy grinned. "Oh, and that dream you have? About finding the true history? We're gonna help you do that too!"
The rest of the crew watched this exchange with mixed reactions. Zoro kept his hand on his swords, still untrusting. Nami looked confused but intrigued, while Sanji was already in love-cook mode. Usopp hid behind a barrel, peeking out cautiously.
"Captain-san," Robin said carefully, "even if what you say is true, I'm currently your enemy. I work for Crocodile."
"Nope! You quit! Right now!" Luffy declared. "Because we're gonna kick Crocodile's butt and save Vivi's country!"
Vivi stepped forward, still wary but curious. "Luffy... are you absolutely sure about this?"
"Yep! Robin's good! She just did bad stuff because she was scared and lonely. But not anymore!" He turned back to Robin. "So, wanna see me punch Crocodile into the sky?"
For the first time in years, Robin felt her carefully maintained mask truly slipping. This boy... this impossible boy.
Robin found herself caught between disbelief and a dangerous feeling she hadn't allowed herself to experience in years: hope.
"You speak as if defeating Crocodile is a simple matter," she said. "He's a Warlord of the Sea, and his powers are..."
"Don't care!" Luffy interrupted. "He made Vivi cry and messed with her country. He's getting punched!"
"Luffy," Zoro spoke up, his voice stern. "Are you sure about this? She could be playing us."
"Nope! Robin's gonna be our friend!" Luffy stated with absolute certainty. "Plus, we need someone smart who can read those mystery rocks!"
Robin couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "Mystery rocks? Do you mean the Poneglyphs? The stones that the World Government has forbidden anyone from reading?"
"Yeah, those! They're important for your dream, right? And for finding the One Piece!"
Robin's eyes widened slightly. What connection between the Poneglyphs and the One Piece? Just who was he?
"Captain-san... you are either the most dangerous or the most foolish person I've ever met."
"Shishishi! Probably both!"
"But before we do anything else," Luffy continued, suddenly serious, "you gotta promise something."
Robin raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"No more trying to die! No more thinking you shouldn't exist! You're gonna live because we're your friends now!"
The words hit Robin like a physical blow. How could he possibly know about her deepest thoughts, her darkest moments?
Vivi, who had been watching silently, stepped forward. "Luffy, I understand wanting to help people, but she's been working with Crocodile to destroy my country!"
"And now she's gonna help save it!" Luffy declared. "Right, Robin?"
Robin found herself at a crossroads. Twenty years of survival instincts screamed at her to run, to maintain her walls, to trust no one. But something about this boy's unwavering certainty made those walls crack.
"And what if I refuse?" she asked softly.
"Not gonna happen!" Luffy grinned. "Because you already know we're right! Plus, you're curious about how I know stuff, aren't you?"
For the first time in decades, Nico Robin felt cornered not by enemies, but by the possibility of friendship.
"Very well, Captain-san," Robin said, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Great! And I already know how to beat him!" Luffy grinned, punching the air excitedly.
"Oh? And how do you plan to fight someone who can turn into sand?" Robin asked, genuinely curious about his confidence.
"That's a secret!" Luffy said with his characteristic laugh. "But sand or not, I'll kick his ass!"
Robin's eyes narrowed slightly, studying him. His confidence seemed different from the usual bravado of pirates she'd encountered.
"But first - Robin, what's Crocodile planning with the bomb?"
This time it was Robin who looked surprised. "How did you...?" She paused, studying Luffy carefully. "Yes, there is a bomb. One powerful enough to destroy all of Alubarna. It's set to detonate during the height of the rebellion."
"Then we better hurry!" Luffy declared. "Zoro, Sanji - you guys help Vivi stop the rebels. I'll handle Crocodile!"
"Are you sure about going alone, Luffy?" Nami asked, concerned.
"Don't worry! I'm way stronger than what I s- I mean, than he thinks!" Luffy caught himself. "Plus, Robin's gonna help us now, right?"
"There are two routes to Alabasta," Robin explained, holding up two Eternal Poses. "One through Little Garden, and a safer route that bypasses it."
"Little Garden!" Luffy declared instantly, grinning.
Robin raised an eyebrow, curious about his quick decision. "You should know, Little Garden is a trap set by Crocodile. It's an ancient island where prehistoric creatures still roam. Many pirates have died there."
"Shishishi! Sounds fun! Plus," Luffy's expression turned slightly more serious, "there are two giants there who need help, right?"
Robin's eyes widened slightly. This was information she hadn't expected him to know. "Dorry and Brogy... you know about them?"
"Yep! They're awesome! And that weird Wax guy and the Paint lady are there too, but we can handle them!" Luffy said confidently.
"Mr. 3 and Miss Goldenweek," Robin confirmed, increasingly intrigued by Luffy's knowledge. "You seem very well informed, Captain-san."
"Let's just say I've got a good feeling about it!" Luffy grinned. "To Little Garden!"
In Rain Dinners Casino, Crocodile sat in his darkened office, the aquarium walls casting eerie blue shadows across his face. The Den Den Mushi before him wore an expression of pure terror.
"What do you mean you've lost contact?" Crocodile's voice was deadly quiet.
"Sir... Miss All Sunday was last seen at Whiskey Peak, but since then... nothing. The Straw Hats escaped, and Princess Vivi is still with them."
Crocodile's eyes narrowed as he took a long drag from his cigar. Miss All Sunday had never failed to report in before. Something wasn't right.
"And the Unluckies?"
"We only got three of the crew picture, responses from them either, sir. It's like they vanished."
The warlord's hook scraped slowly across his desk, leaving deep gouges in the wood. "A rookie crew from East Blue causing this much trouble? How... interesting."
He stood, walking to the aquarium wall. His reflection distorted in the rippling water as he contemplated this development. Miss All Sunday was too careful, too calculating to simply fail. Which meant...
"Mr. 2," he spoke into another Den Den Mushi.
"Yeeees~?"
"Find that ship. I want to know exactly what happened at Whiskey Peak and after that go Little Gardn Island to deliver the eternal pose of alabaste to Mr.3 . And if you encounter Miss All Sunday..." his voice hardened, "...watch her carefully."
After disconnecting, Crocodile stared at the ceiling, smoke curling from his cigar. Twenty years of partnership, and now this silence. What game was Nico Robin playing?
"Your survival instincts have never failed you before," he muttered. "So why aren't you reporting in?"
Back at Going Merry:
"How can you trust her so easily?" Vivi finally burst out, her fists clenched. "Do you know how many people have suffered because of Baroque Works? How many of my people have died?"
Robin's eyes met Vivi's, and for a moment, the princess saw something unexpected - regret.
"Your Highness," Robin said softly, "you have every right to your anger. But perhaps you should ask yourself why someone would ally themselves with Crocodile while knowing his true intentions for your country?"
"That's because you're searching for something else!" Luffy chimed in. "Those stone thingies!"
Robin's calculating gaze shifted to Luffy again. "Captain-san, your knowledge is... troubling. Tell me, how does a rookie pirate from East Blue know about the Poneglyphs? About Ohara? About Saul?"
"Those stone thingies!" Luffy said, then tilted his head thoughtfully. "But that's not what you want to know about... it was something about a weapon... uh... what was it again?" He crossed his arms and frowned, genuinely trying to remember.
Robin's eyes widened slightly. For someone to know even that much about her true quest... "Captain-san, you continue to be more mysterious with each passing moment. How could you possibly know about-"
"Ah, forget it!" Luffy waved his hand dismissively. "My head hurts when I think too hard! What matters is you're gonna be our nakama!"
Vivi watched this exchange with growing confusion. "Weapon? What weapon? What are these stones you're talking about?"
"That's not important right now," Robin interjected smoothly, though her eyes kept darting back to Luffy with intense curiosity. "What matters is the immediate threat to your country. The bomb in the clock tower needs to be dealt with."
"Right!" Luffy punched his palm. "First we save Vivi's country, then we go on more adventures! And Robin comes with us!"
"I haven't agreed to that yet, Captain-san," Robin said with a small smile.
"Shishishi! But you will!" Luffy grinned with absolute certainty.
Robin felt that dangerous hope growing stronger in her chest, even as her mind raced with questions. This boy somehow knew about her search for the truth, about the Poneglyphs, and even hinted at knowledge of ancient weapons. Yet he acted as if none of that mattered compared to having her join his crew.
Who exactly was Monkey D. Luffy? And how did he know so much while seeming to know so little?
"Oh yeah!" Luffy suddenly exclaimed, as if remembering something important. "That punk guy said your friend Saul is alive! He's in the land of giants or something. Don't know how he survived though..."
Robin froze completely, her usual composed demeanor shattering for a moment. "What... what did you say?" Her voice trembled slightly. "Jaguar D. Saul is... alive?"
"Yep! The guy with the weird hair said so!" Luffy nodded, grinning. "He's a giant, right? The one who laughed funny?"
Robin's hands shook as she brought them to her mouth. Tears began forming in her eyes. "That's... that's impossible. I saw him... Aokiji..."
"Shishishi! The Giants are tough! We can go visit him after we kick Crocodile's ass!" Luffy chirped as if planning a casual trip.
This news seemed to affect Robin more than anything else that had happened. The possibility that her dear friend, the one who taught her to laugh, might still be alive.
The conversation gradually died down as everyone processed the weight of these revelations.
Robin excused herself to collect her thoughts, while the rest of the crew prepared the ship for the night's journey.
As the hours passed, the stars wheeled overhead, each lost in their own contemplations about their mysterious new ally.
Dawn broke over the Grand Line as the Going Merry sailed steadily away from Whiskey Peak. The crew gathered in the galley, where Sanji prepared breakfast.
"MEAT!" Luffy shouted, diving for the plates Sanji was setting down.
"Ladies first, you rubber idiot!" Sanji kicked Luffy away from Nami and Vivi's portions, then placed an elegant plate in front of Robin with a flourish. "A delicate fruit parfait for the lovely Robin-chwan~!"
"Thank you, Cook-san," Robin replied politely.
The usual breakfast chaos ensued - Luffy stealing food from everyone except the ladies (after several kicks from Sanji), Usopp protecting his plate with elaborate traps, and Zoro quietly eating while keeping one eye on their new passenger.
Once the dishes were cleared, Nami spread a map across the table. "Alright, we need to discuss our route to..."
A loud snore interrupted her. Luffy had fallen asleep, face-down on the table.
"WHY DO YOU EVEN BOTHER ASKING FOR A STRATEGY MEETING?" Nami punched him on the head.
Zoro leaned against the wall, only half-listening as Nami and Vivi discussed navigation routes. His attention was divided between watching Robin and planning his training routine for the day.
"As I was saying," Nami sighed, pointing at the map, "we need to navigate through these waters carefully. The Marines will be looking for us after Whiskey Peak."
Vivi nodded, "And Baroque Works agents could be anywhere."
Robin, sipping her coffee, added, "They have several bases along this route. I can mark them for you."
While Nami, Vivi, and Robin discussed the details, Usopp was sketching new ammunition designs, and Sanji was cleaning up the kitchen. Zoro had his eyes closed but wasn't fully asleep, and Luffy continued snoring loudly.
Later on deck:
Zoro was in the middle of his weight training, massive weights in each hand, sweat dripping down his face. "2,998... 2,999... 3,000..."
Nearby, Luffy was practicing his punches against the air, occasionally stretching his arms to test new angles. "Hey Zoro! Watch this new move I thought of!"
"Not now, Luffy. I'm concentrating," Zoro grunted, moving to his next set.
From her deck chair, Robin observed them with interest, a book in her lap. She was particularly intrigued by their training methods, making mental notes about their fighting styles.
"Watch this!" Luffy grinned, his arm turning black as he playfully jabbed at Usopp, who yelped and somehow sensed it coming.
"I felt that before it happened!" Usopp exclaimed, then puffed up proudly. "The Great Captain Usopp's Observation Haki is improving!"
"You mean MY teaching is improving," Luffy corrected with a laugh.
Robin's eyes widened slightly. "What is that strange power, Captain-san?"
At the same time, Vivi gasped as she watched Zoro and Sanji sparring, their leg and swords occasionally flickering with the same black sheen. "I've never seen anything like this before!"
"It's called Haki," Nami explained, looking up from her maps. "Luffy's been teaching us. Those two monsters picked it up pretty quickly, though nowhere near Luffy's level."
"Shishishi! That's because I'm amazing!" Luffy grinned proudly. "But wait till you see this!"
Suddenly, a small pebble flew towards Usopp, who yelped and dodged it at the last second.
"I-I felt it coming!" Usopp exclaimed, surprised at his achievement.
"See? The Great Captain Usopp-sama's student is getting better!" Luffy declared, making Usopp puff up with pride before realizing what Luffy said.
"Wait, aren't YOU the teacher?!"
"Fascinating," Robin mused. "These abilities are rarely seen outside the New World..."
"The New World?" Nami asked, confused.
"Shishishi! Maybe I'm from the future!" Luffy joked, then froze. "I mean... uh..."
"Luffy..." Nami's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Oh look! A mystery bird! Adventure time!" Luffy pointed dramatically before running off.
"GET BACK HERE AND EXPLAIN PROPERLY!" Nami yelled, chasing after him.
Robin watched with amusement as their captain fled from his navigator, occasionally throwing out more outlandish explanations like "I learned it from a mystery old man!" and "Maybe I'm a genius!"
"He's impossible," Nami sighed, giving up the chase and returning to the group.
"SANJI! FOOD!" Luffy's voice echoed from somewhere on the ship.
"Tch, always thinking with his stomach," Sanji muttered, but his leg still maintained its black sheen as he walked towards the kitchen. "Dinner will be ready soon anyway."
"Speaking of dinner," Robin turned to Vivi, "I noticed you've been watching the training quite intently, Princess-san."
Vivi nodded earnestly. "Yes! If such power exists... maybe it could help against Crocodile?"
"Shishishi! Don't worry about that!" Luffy suddenly reappeared, hanging upside down from the mast. "I already know how to beat him!"
"You do?" Both Vivi and Robin looked surprised.
"Yep! Water makes him solid, and this-" he hardened his arm again, "-can hit him even when he's sand! Plus..." He grinned mysteriously, "I might know some of his weaknesses."
"How could you possibly-" Robin started, but Luffy was already swinging away.
"Because I'm gonna be the Pirate King! Shishishi!"
Zoro, who had been quietly observing, smirked. "That's our captain for you. Always full of surprises."
"TOO MANY surprises," Nami muttered, still suspicious. "Sometimes I wonder if he's the same rubber-brain who set sail from Foosha Village."
"SANJI! IS THE MEAT READY YET?"
"WAIT FIVE MINUTES, YOU RUBBER IDIOT!"
The crew watched as their captain bounced around the ship, somehow managing to seem both impossibly wise and completely childish at the same time.
As dinner wound down, the usual chaos of the Straw Hat crew filled the galley. Luffy was still trying to steal food, while Sanji kicked his rubber hands away from Nami and Robin's plates.
"Shishishi! Come on Sanji, just one more piece!"
"YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH!"
Vivi watched the scene with a mixture of amusement and wonder. These pirates who carried such mysterious power, and seemed to know more than they should... yet they were still the same warm-hearted crew that promised to save her country.
Looking out the window at the starlit sea, she smiled. Whatever secrets they held, whatever strange power this 'Haki' was, she knew one thing for certain - she could trust in their strength.
"To Alabasta!" Luffy suddenly shouted, raising his mug.
"TO ALABASTA!" the crew cheered in response.
The Going Merry continued its journey through the Grand Line, carrying its crew toward their next adventure.