-Real World: Going Merry-
The irony of the situation wasn't lost on Nico Robin as she stood on the deck of the Going Merry, surrounded by the crew she had only shown in the Sky Screen's visions. Just days ago, she had been convinced that her story was ending in the familiar pattern of betrayal and execution that had defined her adult life. She had prepared herself for death at Marine hands, for the final chapter of the Devil Child's twenty-year flight from justice.
Instead, she found herself in what could only be described as an impossible reversal of fortune—delivered not to execution, but to the one crew in all the world that the Sky Screen had shown accepting her completely.
From hell to heaven in the span of a single morning, she thought with bitter amazement. Perhaps there really is something to be said for destiny after all.
"Luffy," Buggy's voice carried the authority of someone accustomed to reshaping the world according to his will, "if you want to become the Pirate King, you need this woman's help. Without her, that dream remains forever out of reach. I've brought her to you today—remember to protect her well."
The red-nosed pirate pushed Robin forward with casual force, making it clear that this wasn't a request or suggestion, but a statement of fact about how events would proceed. No one aboard the Going Merry was being given the option to refuse this arrangement.
Monkey D. Luffy studied Robin with eyes that held a new gravity, a seriousness that hadn't been present before their traumatic experiences on Drum Island. The boy who had once charged headfirst into every situation with boundless confidence had been tempered by harsh lessons about the limits of willpower when faced with overwhelming power.
He's changed, Robin observed with professional interest. The defeat by Blackbeard left more than physical scars—it damaged his absolute faith in his own invincibility.
"I know I'm not strong enough yet," Luffy said, his voice carrying an unusual note of self-awareness. "I can't face the really powerful enemies based on strength alone. I need to get stronger, need to find out why Ace dies and figure out how to prevent it."
The admission of weakness from someone whose defining characteristic was unshakeable confidence spoke volumes about how profoundly the Sky Screen's revelations had affected him. Luffy was beginning to understand that good intentions and determination, while necessary, weren't sufficient to protect the people he cared about.
Robin's presence on the ship felt abrupt, forced, but the weight of Buggy's words and the evidence of the Sky Screen made resistance pointless. She was here because destiny demanded it, because some cosmic script required her participation in events that were apparently larger than any individual's preferences.
Good and evil don't seem to factor into his evaluation system, Robin realized as she watched Luffy process the situation. He's willing to trust completely once he decides someone belongs with his crew.
It was a level of acceptance she had never experienced in two decades of survival, and it left her feeling emotionally off-balance in ways she wasn't prepared to handle.
"Buggy," Luffy said suddenly, his voice carrying new determination, "I want to train with you for a while."
The request clearly caught Kaito who had been controlling Buggy off-guard. Whatever script he had created apparently hadn't included this particular development, and for the first time since his arrival, Kaito looked genuinely surprised.
"Some things need to proceed step by step," Buggy replied after a moment's consideration, his tone suggesting deeper currents of meaning beneath the surface words. "Forcing events out of their natural sequence ultimately works against the laws of nature."
The philosophical response seemed to reference concepts far beyond simple pirate politics. Robin found herself wondering exactly how much Buggy knew about the forces shaping their world, and what role he truly played in orchestrating the events they had witnessed.
Blackbeard's victory did more than leave physical wounds, Buggy continued, studying Luffy with calculating eyes. It created psychological fractures that are actually beneficial for long-term development. Marshall D. Teach serves a purpose in this world—he can't be allowed to exit the stage prematurely.
The casual mention of deliberately preserving their enemy sent chills down Robin's spine. If Buggy was powerful enough to eliminate Blackbeard but chose not to for strategic reasons, then the scope of his manipulations was far broader than she had imagined.
"Follow your intended course to the Kingdom of Arabasta," Buggy instructed with finality. "Your script awaits you there. I'll be waiting at the terminal of the first half of the Grand Line when you're ready for the next phase."
Without further explanation, the red-nosed pirate launched himself into the sky with casual mastery over gravity itself, disappearing over the horizon in moments. His arrival and departure had the theatrical timing of someone who understood the value of dramatic impact.
"I'll save that kingdom!" Luffy shouted at Buggy's retreating form, his voice carrying desperate determination. "And I'll definitely come find you! Even if I'm weak now, I won't be looked down on forever!"
The declaration seemed to be directed as much at himself as at the departing figure, a promise to overcome the limitations that recent defeats had forced him to acknowledge.
The flotilla of ships trailing the Going Merry had witnessed the entire exchange with growing excitement and terror. Seeing Buggy the Clown appear in the Grand Line represented news that would shock the world once it spread through the usual maritime communication networks.
"It's really Buggy the Clown!" voices called across the water between ships. "He actually survived Loguetown!"
"Look how easily he moves! The wounds from Admiral Akainu must have healed completely!"
"God Buggy really does care about Luffy! He delivered such a beautiful crew member personally!"
In the awkward silence that followed Buggy's departure, Robin maintained her characteristic composed smile despite the obviously strained circumstances. She had learned long ago that projecting calm confidence was often the best strategy when dealing with unpredictable situations.
Luffy won't agree to remove me from the ship, she calculated with professional detachment. His personality type doesn't allow for abandoning people once he's decided they belong with his crew. The real question is whether the others will accept my presence.
"Sanji!" Luffy's voice cut through the tension with typical enthusiasm as he shifted gears from contemplation to celebration. "Bring out the food! We're having a party to welcome Robin to the crew! Let's eat well before we reach Arabasta!"
The chef's reaction was immediate and predictable. Heart-shaped pupils appeared in his eyes as he studied Robin through his tinted glasses, mentally comparing her current appearance to the mature cross-dressing version displayed in the Sky Screen's visions.
Another beautiful woman aboard the ship, Sanji thought with barely contained excitement. And one destined to become even more stunning in the future. How did I get so fortunate?
"Robin-chan," he said with exaggerated gallantry, "I'm the ship's cook. Please tell me anything you'd like to eat—I'll prepare whatever your heart desires!"
The other male crew members watched this display with varying degrees of resignation and bewilderment. The same man who would apparently become an okama in five years was currently the most enthusiastic supporter of feminine crew additions.
"Thank you," Robin replied with genuine warmth, appreciating the straightforward kindness after months of suspicious glances and whispered threats. "I'm not particularly picky about food."
The fan fleet immediately began preparing their own contributions to the impromptu celebration, recognizing an opportunity to participate in what would undoubtedly become another legendary Straw Hat moment. Luffy's attitude toward such offerings was characteristically simple—food was food, regardless of its source, and he intended to eat his fill.
During the party preparations, the Sky Screen continued its revelations of future events, showing Robin and Chopper beginning their underground confrontation with the Donquixote Family executives. The little reindeer in the present timeline watched these scenes with obvious fascination, studying his future self's combat capabilities with professional interest.
I want to become that strong, Chopper thought with determination. I want to be a real pirate, not just the ship's pet. I want to fight alongside my crewmates and protect the people I care about.
The Sky Screen had given all of them glimpses of their potential, but for Chopper, the visions carried special significance. They showed him not just as a doctor, but as a formidable combatant worthy of respect from enemies and allies alike.
-Broadcast-
The temperature change was sudden and devastating. Monet's Yuki Yuki no Mi (Snow-Snow Fruit) transformed the underground loading dock from a merely uncomfortable environment into a frozen hellscape within seconds. Snowflakes filled the air with blinding density while the temperature plummeted well below freezing.
"Chopper, I'm so cold," Robin said through chattering teeth, her breath visible in crystalline puffs. "Take off your fur and lend it to me."
Her clothing—light summer wear suitable for Dressrosa's tropical climate—provided no protection against the supernatural blizzard. The thin fabric that had been perfectly comfortable moments before now felt like wearing tissue paper in an arctic storm.
Chopper, meanwhile, seemed completely unaffected by the temperature drop. His thick reindeer coat was designed for exactly these conditions, and he actually appeared more comfortable than he had in the underground facility's previous warmth.
"Idiot!" Chopper replied with typical directness. "How am I supposed to take off my fur? It's attached to my body!"
The extreme cold forced Robin to release her Hana Hana no Mi (Flower-Flower Fruit) restraints on Sugar, the little girl vanishing immediately into the concealing snowfall. Recognizing the immediate threat to her survival, Robin abandoned dignity in favor of practicality.
She scooped up the small reindeer and pressed him against her chest, using his natural warmth as a makeshift heating source while wrapping her arms around his fluffy form.
"Since you're being stingy with the fur, let me at least hug you," she said, her voice carrying genuine desperation beneath the playful words. "I'm really freezing here!"
"The temperature feels just fine to me," Chopper replied with typical lack of sympathy for problems he couldn't personally relate to. His reindeer physiology made him essentially immune to cold weather, leaving him unable to appreciate Robin's distress.
Easy for you to say, Robin thought with growing frustration. Humans evolved away from heavy fur coats for good reasons—we're not designed for this kind of extreme cold.
The underground space had become a winter wonderland of deadly beauty, with snow covering every surface and reducing visibility to mere meters. While Chopper could fight effectively in such conditions, Robin knew she would succumb to hypothermia long before any meaningful combat could take place.
I need to acquire warmer clothing from one of our enemies, she realized with grim determination. I don't care if it's stolen from a sweaty man—survival trumps dignity.
But even as she focused on immediate practical concerns, her enhanced senses detected movement in the concealing snow. Something large was watching them from within the blizzard, waiting for the perfect moment to strike when their guard was down.
In the snow, a pair of huge eyes were spying on the two people's actions in the dark. They were waiting for an opportunity when their prey was weak.
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