Chapter 29- Robin, say you want to live!
"Considering they had to beat the Aqua Laguna… it really is quite impressive." Califa said as she looked at the Strawhats.
Jabra huffed cheekily. "They just got lucky."
"We have the permission to kill them this time." Lucci said sternly.
"It'll be a cinch if we don't hold back." Kaku said seriously.
"A drawbridge?" Luffy asked Zoro, as he told him about the drawbridge that connects the Tower of Justice with the courthouse.
"Yes. The Franky Brothers work on it as we speak. If they lower it, we have an easy way across." Zoro told Luffy.
"Those guys are right in front of us, too." Sanji said, referring to CP-9.
Luffy looked back up to Robin seriously.
Juli's eyes widened as she could feel the heavy burden that was weighing down on Robin. 'Robin…'
Robin bit on her lip and closed her eyes.
Spandam gulped in fright. He turned around and looked at CP-9. "Oi, CP-9, I'll allow you to take them out… but only here, on the Tower of Justice!" He narrowed his eyes and began to sweat. 'The most important thing is my life, my promotion. If I let them do as they please… who would be here to protect me, just in case?' He laughed cheekily and looked back down at the Strawhats. "You dumb pirates! I hope you realize your fancy attitudes won't change a damn thing! It will not change the strength of my assassination squad, CP-9. Not the weight of the immovable Gate of Justice! But most importantly… not my authorization… to invoke a Buster Call with this golden Den-Den mushi!" Spandam shouted arrogantly towards them and showed them the den-den mushi.
Juli narrowed her eyes at him. 'What a disgusting cowardly man… I have never met someone so arrogant as well as cowardly, who was abusing his power to his own purpose of being important…'
Robin's eyes widened. "A Buster Call?"
"That's right." Spandam grinned evilly as he looked at her. "Just like 20 years ago...when we bombarded your island into oblivion, Nico Robin. In the following year, all the maps had a distinct lack of the word 'Ohara'."
"Robin's island?" Chopper asked in shock.
Sanji gritted his teeth angrily. "That shitty mask…"
Juli's eyes widened as she began to remember something. 'Ohara…?'
*Flashback*
14 years ago, on the island Seinaru…
…Juli is four years old…
Juli giggled amused as she splashed water in the face of a little white foal. "I got you, Shiro."
Shiro neighed and jumped at her. Juli laughed amused as they both fell into the water of the hot spring in the middle of the holy forest.
Kurama Rose watched them in amusement. "That's enough, you two. Let's get out of the water before the thunderstorm is coming."
"But Mama…" Juli pouted at her adorably.
"No, Juli. Come, let's go back to the palace." She took the wet Juli and began to rub her dry with a towel.
"Shiro, let's meet again tomorrow." Juli waved at him as they began to walk back to the palace.
After a few minutes of silence, Juli looked up to her mother. "Mama, are there other islands like Seinaru? Did you visit one of them? I really want to see how other islands look like and I want to travel to some of them when I'm older!"
Rose looked at her daughter with a soft smile. "No, I didn't travel to another island, but I would love to visit one. The island was called 'Ohara'. Very intelligent people lived on this island and most of them were studying archaeology. The dream of the people there was to unfold the past of this world, the Government is concealing. They just wanted to know what happened in the past and learn from the mistakes of the people in the past."
Juli's eyes widened in awe. "So, they were trying to learn about the past to learn from it? That's cool."
Rose giggled, but then smiled sadly. "Yes. I would have loved to speak to one of them. You know Juli, Seinaru has a very important past too. Maybe we could have learned something from the other…"
Suddenly Juli realized something and she looked at her mother with wide eyes. "Why do you speak of Ohara in the past tense?"
Rose narrowed her eyes sadly. "This island doesn't exist anymore… They just knew too much and were a threat to the World Government, that's why…" She shook her head as she realized, she was talking to her four-year old daughter. "Maybe I will tell you about it when you're older."
Juli pouted. "But I want to know! What happened to them? Why did they know too much? It can't possibly be wrong to know something, others don't know!"
Rose knelt down to her and looked seriously into her eyes. "Sorry, Juli. I can't tell you… Not now, you're still too young."
Just as Juli wanted to insist on not being too young, a few raindrops dropped to the ground.
"Rain?" Juli asked and looked up to the dark sky. 'That's a surprise. It rarely rains on Seinaru in this season… I know Mama said a thunderstorm was coming, but I didn't expect rain.'
"Looks like we have to hurry." Rose said, grabbed Juli's hand and together they ran the few meters to the palace that were left.
*Flashback end…*
Juli shook her head to dispel her memories. 'The island Mama wanted to visit…Looks like it's Robin's hometown… "Ohara- The island who knew too much"…' She shook her head again and took a deep breath. 'Concentrate on saving Robin now.'
"No! Anything but that!" Robin shouted at Spandam in full-blown panic.
"Oh, what a reaction. How thrilling!" Spandam laughed evilly. "So? Do you want me to hit this button and commence the Buster Call?"
Robin gritted her teeth. "Do you even know what you're saying- What will happen if you push the button?"
"I do." Spandam smirked cheekily. "The chance of you pirates leaving the island alive will be reduced to zero! All with the push of this button. It couldn't be simpler!"
"IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE!" Robin snapped at him as she began to sweat in fright.
"Does it bring back memories, too?" He laughed. "Maybe I should push it and see. Here and now." Spandam laughed darkly again.
Robin's eyes widened in shock as Spandam's finger drew closer to the button on the golden den-den mushi. "What are you doing?! Stop!"
Spandam stopped and glared at her. "Such insolence."
"You said Ohara was wiped off the map. When you look at a map, do you see any people?! Are you capable of doing such horrible things… because you look at the world like that?! A Buster Call serves no purpose beyond malice. It must never be used." Robin began to sweat heavily and sank to her knees as her heartbeat increased and as she remembered the terrible memories of the Buster Call twenty years ago.
Juli's eyes widened in shock and her heartbeat increased too as she felt all the emotions Robin was feeling right now. 'Robin… You suffered so much, huh? I'm sorry that I didn't realize that earlier… I could have helped you…' Tears gathered in her eyes as she could feel Robin's unbelievable sadness and grieve.
Luffy narrowed his eyes as he saw how Robin's eyes watered and she looked very distant. "Juli-nee, what's going on with Robin?"
Juli sniffed and wiped her tears away. "She's remembering her past on Ohara and the Buster Call…" She said sadly.
"I see…" Luffy said seriously and looked back to Robin.
"If you invoke a Buster Call… right now…" Robin said in a grave voice as she ripped herself out of her memories. "It will wipe out Enies Lobby…as well as you!"
"W-What're you blabbering about?!" Spandam shouted at her. "You think I would be killed by friendly fire?! You don't know what you are talking about!"
Robin's eyes were shadowed over by her hair. "Twenty years ago… it took everything from me. So many people's lives were ruined. All with a single attack- The Buster Call!" She stood up and looked at her friends. "And now…it's back! It's being directed at my carefree nakama. The more I want to be with you guys…the more my fate endangers you!"
'Robin…' Juli looked at her sadly.
"No matter how far I sail… I cannot escape such a powerful enemy! Not when the enemy is the world itself, with all of its darkness. First it was Aokiji… and now this. I've now gotten you involved twice! If this goes on, no matter how kind you all are…" Robin clenched her fists. "You will eventually see me as a burden! You'll end up betraying me and tossing me aside! That's what scares me the most! That's why I didn't want you to come and save me! If I'm just going to be discarded one day, I'd rather die here!"
"Robin…" Chopper said sadly.
"Robin-chwan…" Sanji looked at her.
"Robin." Nami looked at her in surprise.
Juli looked determined at Robin. 'I see… You are afraid of being betrayed… But you don't have to worry, Robin. Lu would never do such a thing!'
"So, that's what it is." Zoro said utterly serious.
Spandam laughed amused. "I see! You're spot on! That's exactly right. No one is stupid enough to take you along without seeing you as a hindrance!" He laughed darkly. "Take a look at this symbol, pirates!" Spandam pointed up to the flag of the World Government. "That design represents the unity of more than 170 participating nations… located throughout the world's four oceans as well as the Grandline. That's the world! Do you realize how puny your existence is in comparison? Can you guess how many powerful organizations are in pursuit of this woman?!"
Juli narrowed her eyes. "Lu."
Luffy nodded utterly serious at her and then glared at Spandam. "I'm well aware of Robin's enemies. Sogeking… Shoot down that flag." He said calmly.
"Roger that." Sogeking said seriously.
"Wha?" Spandam said in surprise.
"That's my new giant slingshot. Its name is Kabuto. Behold its might!" Sogeking said seriously and aimed at the flag. "Hissatsu Firebird Star!" And with that a bird made out of fire flew towards the flag and began to burn it down.
Spandam's eyes bulged out in shock.
Robin gaped utterly shocked. "It can't be…"
"All done." Sogeking said casually.
Juli watched the flag burn in satisfaction. 'I wish I would have done this to the World Governments flag on Seinaru… To think I raised a flag of a so disgusting organization…'
"Are you kidding me?!" Spandam shouted at them. "Don't think you can oppose the entire world and make it out alive!"
"BRING IT ON!" Luffy screamed at him.
Spandam screamed in fear of him and stumbled a few steps back.
Tears gathered in Robin's eyes as she watched the flag burn. She sniffed emotionally.
"Roooobin! I need to hear it from you!" Luffy shouted towards her.
Robin's eyes widened as tears ran down her face.
"Say you want to live!" Luffy screamed at the top of his voice.
"Robin…" Chopper said seriously.
"Robin." Nami looked at her sympathetically.
Robin looked at all of her nakama emotionally.
Juli smiled at her softly. "Just do it Robin. I know you want to."
'Life… I thought just wishing for it was wrong. No one ever accepted me!' Robin began to cry heavily as she remembered what Saul said to her: 'One day, without a doubt… you'll meet nakama that will protect you!' Her eyes widened as she saw her nakama right in front of her in a bright light. 'If… If even for a moment… I can express my own desires… then I…' "I WANT TO LIVE! TAKE ME OUT TO SEA WITH YOU!" Robin screamed at the top of her lungs while crying.
Luffy grinned satisfied, Chopper looked determined ahead, Sanji smiled, Sogeking got ready to fight, Nami narrowed her eyes seriously, Zoro drew his katana and Juli smiled cheerily at that.
Franky cried really heavily, touched from the scene. "I love you guys, dammit!"
Luffy smiled seriously, ready to fight. "Let's roll!"
Just then, the drawbridge was slowly being lowered down.
"The drawbridge is being lowered." Chopper noticed.
"Looks like they pulled it off." Sanji said with a smile. "Nice timing."
Sogeking began to shiver in fright. "I'm sure it's just excitement."
Juli smiled softly. "They did it. I hope everyone is okay, though."
"Come on, lower!'" Zoro said as he watched how the drawbridge slowly lowered. He grabbed onto his katana, ready to fight and smiled dangerously.
"That's a scary expression." Nami said as she looked at Zoro.
Juli giggled. "You think?"
"Robin." Luffy said seriously. "We'll definitely save you!"
Spandam's eyes bulged out in fright as he looked at the battle position of every Strawhat. "STAY AWAY!"
Califa smiled in amusement. "They sure are bold."
Jabra laughed. "They're not afraid of the World Government."
"It's no use. They're no match for us." Kaku said casually.
Lucci just looked at Juli. 'Just wait, my kitty. I will get you away from these pirates.'
"STAY AWAY! The drawbridge is being lowered!" Spandam screamed in fear.
Suddenly, trench mortars crashed into the drawbridge and it stopped moving as it was halfway up.
"It stopped!" Sanji said in surprise.
"They're trying to stop us!" Luffy said angrily. "Dammit! Whoooo did that?!"
"Okay. Yosh. Well done." Spandam said in relief. "I'll head to the Gate of Justice before they'll make it across." He grabbed onto Robin. "Let's go, Nico Robin! Someone escort Cutty Flam! Oh right, and someone capture Princess Juli."
"Robin!" Chopper shouted in panic.
Juli narrowed her eyes. 'What now?'
Spandam huffed arrogantly. "Those pirates aren't even worth arresting. I have CP-9 here- an assassination squad! I've got Nico Robin, the sole survivor from an island whose people were plotting to resurrect and ancient weapon… and Cutty Flam, the man who inherited the blueprints for such weapon. And soon, I'm going to get Princess Kurama Juli, whose mysterious power is said to be on the same level as an ancient weapon. There's no way in hell I'd risk losing the power this will earn me!" He laughed evilly, but then stopped and looked surprised at Franky. "Cutty Flam!"
Franky looked at him seriously and held up a stack of paper for him to see.
"That's… Don't tell me you…" Spandam said in surprise. "The blueprints for the Ancient Weapon, Pluton!"
Franky smiled. "The real ones. Don't believe me?" He held a page up. "Lucci. Kaku. I know you two do." He swiped through the pages.
Kaku's and Lucci's eyes widened in shock before being back to normal.
"I never imagined this. You had them hidden inside your body the whole time, huh?" Kaku said seriously.
"Th-The real thing… Those are the real thing?!" Spandam shivered in excitement and greed. "Hand them over. Hand those over! My precious blueprints!"
"Nico Robin." Franky said seriously as he looked at her. "Those rumors floating around about you are all false. On the way over to this shithole… I realized you're anything but a 'demon' in pursuit of a weapon. The shipwrights of Water 7, who passed down these blueprints… never considered their creation to be a weapon. Hey, Spandam. Tom-san and Iceberg protected these with their lives."
"Hurry up and hand them over!" Spandam shouted at him greedily.
"If any idiot like you got his pawns on an ancient weapon and went on a rampage…a second weapon could be constructed to counter it- those where the architects' intentions. It is certainly possible for you to use Nico Robin to recurrent the weapons. As a result, even if she's against the idea…she's still a dangerous woman. However…she has nakama who are willing to look death in the face to protect her. Therefore…I'm going to take a chance. Given the circumstances, there's only one way for me to satisfy the architects' wishes."
"Stop babbling and give them to me!" Spandam shouted at him. "They belong to me!"
Franky narrowed his eyes. 'Tom-san… I'm sure you would have done the same in my position.' He took a deep breath and then, blew fire at the blueprints.
Spandam gaped at him utterly shocked as he saw how the blueprints burnt to ashes. "Damn! What the fuck have you done?! Waaaah! It's nothing but ashes! Shit! I'm going to kill you!"
"Our five-year mission!" Califa said in shock.
Franky grinned. "Those blueprints existed only as a countermeasure…but you, the Government, kept coming after them. Their existence used to be a secret…but once that was no longer the case, I had no choice but destroy them. We now have no way of opposing the ancient weapons. If Nico Robin remains in your hands, the world has no hope. However, if the Strawhats win…you're left with absolutely nothing. I'm betting on their victory."
"You've really done it this time." Spandam said utterly angrily. "It seems that you, too, are eager to die!"
"ANIKI!" Zambai and the Franky Family shouted for him from the courthouse.
"Huh?" Franky looked at them in surprise.
"We're here to save you! We tagged along with Mugiwara! Even Sodom and Gomorrah tagged along to help!" They shouted towards him.
"G-Guys… You punks… When did I ever ask you…ask you…to save me?!" Franky began to cry heavily. "Idiots! I'm not crying dammit!"
Luffy's eyes were shadowed over. "Everyone shut up!"
"Are you heartless?!" Nami and Zoro asked him flabbergasted.
Juli shook her head in fondness. 'Lu…'
"Robin is waiting for us! Hurry up and lower the bridge!" Luffy shouted at them.
"Oh, that's right." Zoro said in realization. "Get cracking, people!" He snapped at them.
"Yeah! Hurry up!" Nami shouted angrily. "Don't make me hurt you!"
Juli just sighed and smiled at that.
"Oh, right…" Zambai said in realization.
"I love Nami-swan's wild side~" Sanji shouted lovestruck.
"Oi, Mugiwara!" Franky shouted towards him. "Looks like you took good care of my men. As their boss… I, the great Franky, will lend you my super strength."
"Do whatever you want!" Luffy shouted at him in annoyance. "I still haven't forgotten what you did to Usopp!"
"But he's standing right next to you…" Franky deadpanned.
"Cutty Flam… How dare you! My blueprints!" Spandam said angrily and then screamed.
Robin's eyes widened in shock and she turned around.
Franky's eyes bulged out, utterly shocked, as Spandam pushed him over the railing and he began to fall down towards the waterfall.
"Aniki!" The Franky Brothers shouted in shock.
"Oh, no!" Juli said in shock and held a hand before her mouth.
Sogeking's eyes bulged out. "Franky!"
"Oi, pirates!" Kokoro's voice sounded through Nami's den-den mushi.
"Huh? Kokoro-san?" Nami asked in surprise and looked at the den-den mushi.
"I heard everything. What are you standing around for?"
"What do you mean? The bridge is only halfway down."
"Halfway is enough! I'll be there in four seconds! Take a big leap into the waterfall!"
"What's going on? Was that the old frog lady?" Luffy asked.
"I don't know. But she told us to jump into the waterfall!" Nami said in confusion.
Juli's eyes widened in realization. "Wait, she doesn't mean-"
The Sea-train whistle interrupted her.
"The Sea-Train whistle?" Luffy said in confusion, but then smiled as he got the idea. "Hehe…"
"I-I don't like that smile…" Sogeking said in fright.
Luffy pulled Juli towards him. "Juli-nee, grab tightly onto me!"
"Wha?" Juli said surprised, but did what he said and hugged him tightly.
Just then, Luffy stretched his arms and grabbed onto every one of the Strawhats.
Zoro's, Nami's, Sanji's, Chopper's and Sogeking's eyes bulged out utterly shocked as Luffy jumped and dragged them down with him. "Let's go! Shishishi!" He laughed cheerfully.
Sogeking, Nami and Chopper screamed in fright as they began to fall.
Juli shook her head in fondness, still grabbing tightly onto an amused laughing Luffy.
'Robin…' Luffy thought determined as they were falling. 'I'm going to protect you…just like Shanks did for me!'
'Robin. We're going to save you no matter what! You belong to this crew just like everyone else.' Juli thought with a soft smile, as she hugged her brother tightly. 'Lu would never forgive himself if he couldn't protect you. We're going to beat CP-9 and continue sailing on! And maybe, I can tell you all my entire past and even who my father is, after everything is over… I'm now more than sure that I can trust you guys!'
Just then, the Rocketman went over the drawbridge and shot into the air.
"The Rocketman!" Franky said in surprise.
"It's flying again!" Zambai and the Franky Brothers shouted in shock.
The Rocketman caught the Strawhats perfectly out of midair. But just before they landed on the Rocketman, Juli let go off Luffy, just as he crashed against the chimney of the Rocketman.
"Kyaa!" Juli shouted surprised as she landed directly in Zoro's arms instead of crashing hardly onto the Rocketman.
Just then, the Rocketman hit Franky head-on and continued his way through the air towards the Tower of Justice.
"EEHHHH?! They're coming!" Spandam shouted utterly frightened.
"It's a waterfall!" Chimney shouted from inside the Rocketman.
"Juli, be careful and don't fall down." Zoro said to her as he hugged her tightly.
Juli nodded seriously and Nami screamed in fear.
"We're gonna crash!" Luffy shouted in shock as they drew closer to the building.
"W-we'll be crushed!" Franky screamed.
They all began to scream as they were about to hit the Tower of Justice.
Hey guys! So, that was chapter 29. How did you like it? :) I really almost cried as I was writing Robin's emotional scenes. That she had to go through all of that… poor Robin. :( Anyway, I hope you liked Juli's short flashback. What do you think about her mother, Kurama Rose? I didn't reveal everything to her person, but I hope you like her. Oh, and smooth move Zoro, to catch Juli before she could hit the train, just to hug her :3 XD.
Well, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as well as the whole story. Have a nice day and see you next chapter! :D
names
Seinaru = holy
Shiro = white
attacks
Hissatsu: Firebird Star = Firebird Star (Usopp)
Reviews
'Tashigi-chan': Hey, I think you up a wrong chapter, because this is a Naruto chapter not OP chapter
Thanks for telling me that. I first uploaded the wrong document and I'm really sorry. I was just very tired from school but still wanted to upload this chapter. Oh, and sorry to everyone, who had to wait before he could read this chapter because of my dumb mistake. I hope you still enjoy my story and have a nice day.
'nyny2002': my leg is shaking with anticipation for the next chapter. Keep up the good work.
Thank you~ :3 The next chapter is going to be uploaded on Tuesday or Wednesday.
