Like A Rolling Stone

A Post-Piracy Robin Side Story

By Aoikami Sarah

Chapter Four

The next time Robin called Smoker he was halfway across the Grand Line, heading for Marine Head Quarters to be promoted to Vice Admiral. Their conversation was typical but slightly longer. She knew now to pause and let him work out his words carefully and it paid off. "Ya know," he said quietly before he let her go. "It's true, what they say…"

"What's that?"

"Distance… makes the heart grow fonder."

She delighted as a blush warmed her cheeks. "Indeed it does."

.x.

Commodore Smoker of the Marine was promoted to Vice Admiral two weeks later and Robin enjoyed calling him by his new title. When he asked why she wouldn't call him by his name, she explained that there was something about talking over the Denden that didn't feel right but that the next time they saw each other it would be a different story. She was sure that the receiver mimicked a blush at her words.

She spent another three months as promised in Arabasta, helping the archaeological team get a running start into the research that would be their life's work. They were inducted into something Director Weimaraner was calling the World History Academy Field Corps and allowed to report their findings directly to him. Anything of interest to Robin's quest could then be filtered through the Director to her. It seemed that every day they discovered something of to interest her. The Ponegryph in the tombs yielded more mysteries than any concrete leads, but armed with these Robin began planning her next trip.

One afternoon, the head of the six-man team approached her and asked if she would follow him. Intrigued but wary, Robin did as he asked. They entered a vault which held the remains of Nefertari Leonis, seventh king of Arabasta. She was surprised to find the other five researchers waiting for them and her guard went up.

"Madame," the leader, a man called Renni began. "We know you are to leave us soon and we want to thank you for everything you've done for us…"

"That's really not necessary…" she began but Renni raised his hand.

"Our predecessors passed on knowledge that we were forbidden to ever mention to another living soul for fear that the Lost History would be jeopardized…" Robin gasped. This was the first time any of them had mentioned anything about the truth she sought. "We cannot read the runes of the ancients, we do not know the secrets of our Ponegryph, but we do know a place where many ancient texts remain catalogued, safe from the former World Government's destruction."

"Yes…?" she asked breathlessly.

"The Grand Library on the island nation of Guraba. It lies in the new world, west of Water Seven. If it has not been destroyed, you could find clues to the Truth you seek."

She smiled sweetly and thanked the researchers for their tip and their efforts. Not being able to work directly with Hartman Weimaraner, this was the first time she'd felt a real kinship with her co-workers. Robin wished them well, assured them that they were off to a great start and prepared her journey to the West.

.x.

The island of Guraba was steep. The highest point one could see from the shore reached an elevation of over 3,500 feet in just fifty miles. Its climate was fairly arid and its people were dark-skinned and black-haired. What the foliage and landscape lacked in color, its inhabitants made up for with vibrantly painted buildings. Most people wore loose-fitting clothes in the national jewel-tone hues of blue, red and green.

The Café Papagaio sat on the corner of Main and Abis streets in Guraba. Due to its wide view of the main port, it was a popular hang-out for people who needed to watch their backs. Seated in a wooden folding chair, Roronoa Zoro watched the port carefully as he'd done the day before. He wore a combination of the clothes he'd always worn and some of the local colors: a head-wrap of black and a long, open coat of dark green. The lead he'd gotten as to Mihawk's whereabouts wasn't totally reliable, but it was the first he'd gotten since he'd resumed his search. Besides, it had taken him at least a week to find the Café. He needed a rest.

Zoro watched lazily, the sunshine and a large beer dulled his senses enough that he felt like taking a quick nap. A large military ship made a stir as it came into port, puffing smoke. The ship blew its horn and some of the residents ducked for shelter, having never heard anything like it before. "What the heck is that?" Zoro wondered, waking back up.

His waitress replaced his empty beer and smiled. "That's the Marine steam ship, the Ocean's Might," she said proudly. "I read in the paper it was coming. Isn't it cool?"

"No sails," he scoffed. Ain't much of a ship." He wasn't as impressed by the military as was the civilian barmaid. Having nothing else to entertain himself with, he watched it as its passengers disembarked.

A stream of Marines followed by a handful of officers walked down the gangplank and milled around the pier. By the way they were relaxed, it seemed as though they were on shore-leave rather than being deployed to the town. Zoro was confident he wouldn't be recognized. After Enies Lobby and Luffy's supposed execution, the remaining Straw Hat Pirates had been dismissed by the New World Government as disbanded. He hadn't seen his wanted poster up in any of the usual places, either. As this thought entered his mind, he winced and reached for his beer. Robin's poster hadn't been up either, because she was dead.

He glared in the general direction of the Marines and watched a pink-haired, bespectacled Captain greet one of the officers who had arrived. She was tall and dressed completely in white. A large white hat hid most of her features as she looked down on the Captain. He saluted her and she made her way up the steep main street on the opposite side from the Café Papagaio. Zoro watched her climb carefully and slowly in high-heeled shoes that were low and practical, but still feminine. Her legs, at least what he could see of them below the hem of her knee-length skirt, were lean and beautiful. Her hair was bright white but her features told him she wasn't nearly as old as the color belied.

Zoro gripped his beer mug so tightly it almost cracked. Her face was unmistakable, even with the addition of glasses that sat on the tip of her elegant nose. "No way," he whispered and watched until she was just far enough away that she wouldn't notice she was being followed. He threw money for the drinks on the table and started up the street.

.x.

The woman in white strolled up to the concierge at the Cenet Towers Hotel and waited to be served. "Checking in?" a thin man in a bright green hotel uniform asked.

"Yes," she replied. Zoro leaned against the other side of a large pink marble column and listened carefully. "Madame Curator."

It was her voice. It had to be. Zoro clenched his teeth. 'What the hell is going on?!' he wondered.

"Ah, yes, Madame. Room 313. The elevator is just to your right. Do you have any baggage?" he asked, noting that she hadn't brought anything with her.

"An ensign will be bringing it along shortly," she answered, taking the key from him.

"Very good. Enjoy your stay here in Guraba!"

She nodded and went to the elevator. As the doors closed she breathed a sigh. In a short while she'd be settled in, she'd get something to eat then head over to the reason she had come to this island – the Grand Library – the largest and oldest surviving library on the Grand Line. Because of its location in the New World it had gone relatively untouched by those who would destroy its secrets. The head librarian was eager to work with the World History Academy and had invited both she and Director Weimaraner to visit. "I hope I don't let him down," she said with a giggle, imagining the little old man trying to get through the trials and tribulations of traveling this far away from his beloved Academy.

The elevator stopped on the second floor. The doors opened and Roronoa Zoro stepped in. He hit the close-door button and frowned at Madame Curator. "You had better be a ghost," he growled. "Or we went through a ton of shit for nothing!"

Robin went as white as her costume, took a half-step back and gawked at the swordsman. "I might as well be dead, now," she whispered hastily. "Making contact with you is grounds for my execution." Zoro raised a brow but didn't budge. She sighed sadly. "I'll explain everything. Follow me to my room." The doors opened onto a thankfully empty foyer. Room 313 was just around the corner. She was able to let Zoro in without being seen and was already thinking of ways should could get him out the same way.

Zoro walked into the luxurious room. Normally he would have made some crack about the poshness of his surroundings but his mouth was still screwed up into a heavy pout. "Alright, woman. Out with it. You were greeted by a Captain who saluted you – and ensign is sending up your bags – are you're in the military now?! Did you betray us for real?!"

"Please keep your voice down!" she urged. "I told you, I'll tell you everything." Robin sat down as if exhausted on the edge of the large bed. "When I told your Captain that I wanted to live, I meant it. I still don't know exactly what happened in Enies Lobby because I was drugged…" Zoro rolled his eyes and began to say something but she held up a hand. "I was told this by the man who drugged me. I believe him. He had the best of intentions. He didn't know that I was being rescued."

"Luffy thought you were dead so he gave himself up," Zoro growled.

Robin couldn't help but smirk. That tactic wouldn't work. "You know as well as I that the captain wasn't executed. You were there." Zoro raised a suspicious brow. "Thankfully, a certain Marine told me the truth of that day."

"Smoker…" Zoro gaped.

"My superior officer, Vice Admiral Smoker," she added.

"So you are in the military!"

She let out a short sigh. "No. Please let me explain!" It took a few minutes, but soon the swordsman had relaxed. He removed his swords and placed them on the table to his left as she talked. Because of the heavy detail Robin used to tell her story, he believed every word.

"So that's why you couldn't tell us you were alive…" he muttered. "And I just totally blew it for you, didn't it?" He leaned against the wall and looked incredibly guilty. "Sorry 'bout that."

She shrugged. "You didn't know."

He pushed off the wall and stepped toward her. "If I hadn'tna been bored I wouldn'tna found you. You look really different with the conservative getup and the hair and the glasses."

She laughed lightly. "I suppose I have changed a little. The hair wasn't intentional though. It started to go grey just after we parted ways." She reached up and took out the barrette that was holding her bun together and her white locks spilled down past her shoulders.

Zoro stood in front of her and looked down at his former nakama. "When we figured you were dead, we were devastated. I'm really glad you're alive."

Robin was surprised to hear such a sentiment from him. She looked up with a genuine smile. "Thank you." Her heart skipped a beat thinking about the halcyon days aboard the Going Merry and the freedom she'd felt then. Although she enjoyed the freedom the New World Government gave her to pursue her work anywhere in the world, Robin was by no means free these days. She bit her lip. "When you walk out that door, we'll probably never see each other again."

"Probably not," he said softly. His eyes searched hers.

"Will you stay, just for a little while?" she asked. He nodded followed her lead as she lay back on the bed.

.x.

Later in the evening Zoro slipped his boots back on and tried not to look at her face. Robin struggled to keep from using her Akuma no Mi ability to restrain him. She knew full well when she let him in that whatever came of their meeting could last no more than a few hours but he was one of the only people in the world she knew and trusted and cared for. "Seems I've been doing a lot of leaving lately." He pulled his shirt on and went to retrieve his swords. "I left a woman and a child in Palast just a few months ago. Not that I wanted to."

Robin had to gasp. "What happened?"

He finished affixing his swords and finally looked at her. "I was forced to make a choice: to stay and abandon my dream, or to go. I guess that's why I can't blame you for shacking up with the government. My dream comes first. I can't be what she wanted me to be. I can only do what I was meant to do, and that's to make good on a promise I made long before I met her."

Robin tightened her grip on the sheets she wore. "Dreams are cruel like that, aren't they?"

He nodded. "You'll be ok," he said as if reassuring himself. "Robin, if I run into anyone else, can I tell them you're alive? They'd want to know."

"Yes. Please do."

Again he nodded. "Take care." Zoro turned and let himself out. Robin lay back down in bed and curled into a fetal position.

"I'll try…" she whispered.

To be continued…