Well, no one's more surprised than me over this new story. I just came up with it today and it's the first time in months that I've felt compelled to write so I've latched onto it as fast as I could. Let's hope it lasts, huh?


The dinghy lurched with the jolt of new cannon fire and plummeted towards the inky mess of waves below. Robin tried to regain control of the decent but the rope burned through her palms like fire until she was forced to release it. She was knocked down on impact, swallowing a cry as her hands fell forward automatically to catch her, but she quickly lunged for the oars to put distance between her and the large vessel from which she had escaped.

She couldn't hear specific shouts over rumble of thunder, howling wind, and rain but her senses told her she would soon become the target of conversation onboard, if she wasn't already. Those marine vessels were drawing very close, if the increased accuracy was anything to go by.

Robin called upon her power to grab the extra oars and started paddling, praying to whatever had watched over her these last ten years that the waves would continue to miss her until she was safely out of range.

With a CRACK that made her flinch violently, a chunk of railing was blasted away into the rain.

The young historian looked up to see her former captain gesturing wildly in her direction, pistol still faintly smoking despite the rain. To her utter dread, two more crewmen joined him and she just barely ducked down below the railing to dodge their fire.

I guess negotiations for my trade didn't go so well. She thought bitterly. She just hoped their aim wouldn't be good enough to sink her.

Her horror increased as the marine's attack siren finally overpowered all else to reach her ears. With a wince she made extra arms appear again to take up the oars, keeping herself well shielded in case her former crewmates were still present. A new volley of bullets told her they were.

She lay there, curled up and drenched in rain and sea water, desperately trying to remember why. What was she fighting for again?

Even if her eyes had been open then, she couldn't have done anything about the wall of water descending on them all. The large ship swayed dangerously on impact. She never had a chance.

The violence of it hit her like nothing she had ever felt, leaving a white noise of pain before her body even registered the actual seawater and she was filled with the helplessness that accompanied her curse. The chances that she would remain conscious after such an impact was not lost on her. She only held her breath for a moment before realizing that no one was going to come for her. No chance of rescue this time.

She vaguely wondered if all Devil Fruit users were forced to feel themselves drown like this. If the Sea held back it's devastating fury just for them, just so they could feel the full impact of this curse.

As her vision faded to black explosions lightened the ocean's surface and falling debris sent jets of bubbles to further break the calm. She wondered if she could finally rest now.


Pretty short, but I liked this place to rest for a chapter break.

This story's going to be a little darker than my other ones, by the way. Not to say there won't be fluff eventually, I don't think I'm capable of completely ridding that from a story of mine.

Robin's about 18 here.