"So? What are your intentions with my daughter?"
I don't know what to say or what to feel… didn't I see this coming? I didn't… of all my wives and lovers, none of them had a living father and if any of their fathers were to pop up, Robin's would certainly be the last one.
The jokes of fate. Of all people, he ended up being her father.
I was sitting on a balcony in Alubarna with Ivankov, Dragon, and Kuma. Robin was together with Ali and Vivi. I didn't know what they were doing and I couldn't care less. Right now, this is a priority.
"I respect your concern. But do you think you're in a position to ask me this?" My words were challenging and absolute.
This man was such a bad father that even after hundreds of episodes, there wasn't even a hint of him being Robin's father except for the fact that he helped her during the time skip.
"…"
My words immediately sent a chill through the table. Any other person talking to him like that would have to pay. A pity, it is me who is saying it.
"You were never in her life, so even if I were to have bad intentions -which I don't- you'd be the last person to care about the outcome."
"Come on, you two, there is no need to be so aggressive!" Ivankov tried to interject, but it was clear he was just as clueless. He tried to defend Dragon, but even he had his doubts.
"I understand that I have never been there. And at this point in her life, I don't pretend to be, but I'm still her father."
He answered with a lower gaze, at least he knew he made a mistake.
"Does she know?" I asked, though I already knew the answer inwardly. If Robin knew, she would have told me.
"She doesn't know, and I hope you won't tell her… this is merely a discussion between two men who care deeply for the same person, that's all. You should know now firsthand what it means for your enemy to know your weakness."
His fist clenched as if he was talking from previous experience.
"…"
He got me there. Hancock, Sandersonia, and Marigold. Even if it wasn't the world government, they were captured by Kaido because they were perceived as my weakness, and he used them as ransom against me. Anyone who sees me as an enemy must have had the same idea at some point, as I'm not just someone they can face head-on, and even if they can face me head-on, they'd rather not.
'So the reason he is not close to Luffy and Robin is to protect them? It makes sense, but that's not what I would do.'
"We each learn from our own experiences in different ways, Veyron," he stated again, giving a brief glimpse to the big bear who seemed rather incensed by his leader's words.
"I just hope you will be good to Robin and show her a better life than what I ever could. I know you can protect her; I only wanted to know if you could make her happy."
"Don't worry... ever since she has been with me, there hasn't been a day she hasn't smiled."
"Now that's reassuring. I'd give you my blessings if they were relevant."
Things calmed down quite a bit after a mutual acknowledgment. I realized he had his reasons not to be present. He realized I was the best husband Robin could have gotten. All good or so I thought. When things were expected to calm down... when I expected us to have a peaceful conversation about what he came here to do, he struck me hard with another question that put me on the spot in many ways.
"I can be assured regarding Robin," he drifted before slamming the table harshly.
BANG!
"Now tell me, brat. What are your intentions with my sister!?"
"…"
It was then that our brains all short-circuited, and I received two gazes of outright disgust and confusion from Kuma and Ivankov.
Eh? Sister...? There must be a misunderstanding!
** **
I still can't believe what I'm seeing, what I saw, and what I'm yet to see.
Snow falling on this desert was an astonishing event just as much as it was the fact that we're finally free. Alabasta, my home, is finally free from tyranny and free from drought. It was like a saint came one day to solve all of our problems.
Grey clouds, lightning strikes, and snow cover the skies in a meteorological event without precedents. It couldn't look any more eerie and yet… so hopeful for our people. Kids played in the streets with the snow. The elderly danced our traditional dances; our folklore played unhindered. I hadn't seen days so happy in my life.
"Vivi."
"Dad!"
I reunited with my father and the diligent of our Kingdom, our ministries, our head knight, and all of our army who had given their all to keep this country safe while I was gone. Even if they failed, they couldn't be blamed as the opponent this time was just astonishingly strong.
It was so much so that it took Dracule Veyron to personally come and sort it out with mighty power and a gigantic lightning hammer that brought judgment on the wicked. After such an attack, Sir Crocodile had to be gone forever... or so I thought.
"What is going on? Why is there snow?" My father asked me, and I told him everything was due to a devil fruit ability belonging to Lord Veyron's companion, Monet. It had to be; after all... it is impossible for snow to fall on a desert.
It was safe to say this is the first time and perhaps the last time in this nation's history that snow has fallen. Even among the elderly who had never left Alabasta, they had never seen snow.
When Big Sis finally appeared, she wasn't by herself. She was accompanied by some pretty lady who looked like she was in her thirties, a bit older than big sister Robin. She had shoulder-length raven hair, a voluptuous tall body, and clothes that looked too familiar and disproportionate to her body.
What shocked me the most though was a golden hook that I would never forget in my life. I had to ask... even if for the sake of rationality.
"Big sis… who is this?"
"Hmph, you really don't know who I am?" She asked haughtily.
"Sir Crocodile!?"
"It is Lady Crocodile. I'll go check my people, Robin."
The woman swiftly evaded me and headed towards the place where the members of Baroque Works were shackled as if the strife and battles we had undergone against him for the last two years were a joke.
"Is this what I think it is?"
"Yes," Big sis smiled.
"Was she a woman all this time?!"
"Yes."
"Are we going to let them go just like that?!"
It was hard for me to accept how much distress they had caused and how much the army suffered against them with even casualties to account for.
She placed her hand on my shoulder, "I have already apologized in her stead for what she has done. Right now, she's Veyron's prisoner. It is not up to me to decide if
she is going to be punished or not, but I assure you though, she won't be having an easy time, and Alabasta will be compensated for this, so you don't need to worry."
Is this really how it ends? We will be compensated; she will be punished... it should have been a satisfactory outcome, but why do I feel so bad...?
The fact Lady Crocodile was allowed loose like this peeved me the most. How can they trust her?