New Dawn after the Void

Chapter 6: Buster Call of Ohara

Warnings: massacre of Ohara, extermination, fire, character death, betrayal, unseen murder, guilt/regret, near-drowning.

Robin was panting in fear as she ran away from the Tree of Knowledge.

The little black-haired girl knew deep-down that no one would believe her, but it still hurt.

So, she went to the only person who would believe her, Jaguar D. Saul, a member of the Family of D, who was also a Marine Vice-Admiral.

"Saul! Saul, the Marines! They're going to attack!" Robin yelled as she saw the giant.

"What? Robin, what are you talking about?" Saul asked her.

Hands on her knees, the girl tried to regain her breath as she spoke in an almost dead voice.

"The Marines are coming to kill us all." Then the eight-year-old fainted.

"Robin!" Saul grabbed the girl before she fell to the ground as he brought her close to his face to make sure she was actually alright.

The giant Marine breathed a sigh of relief as he saw that Robin was just exhausted.

He turned toward the Sea of West Blue to see if he could sense any Marines with his Kenbunshoku Haki or anyone else near them.

There was only one person coming towards them, and the man was someone who Jaguar D. Saul trusted with his secret name.

Clover, the Head Scholar of Ohara.

"Jaguar D. Saul, of the Family of D. Please…. save her, she and her mother do not deserve to die for only wanting to know the truth." Clover said as he came up to the giant and the resting girl.

The orange giant lifted a brow but continued to cradle the sleeping child safely in his hand. "What are you hoping that I can do for either of them?"

"Bring some peace of mind to an old man. To know that all is not lost, and that History will not repeat itself." The green haired man paused. "And to know that she will grow up happy."

"I cannot promise that Clover." Saul remined him.

Clover didn't respond, just gazed at the child in the giant's hand. "Perhaps not with you, but she will find those that she can smile and live freely with. I know it. She is a true Scholar; one that I would have been proud to name as my successor." Clover told him as he pulled a wrapped bundle out of his satchel.

"When you get her off the island, give her this. Make sure she knows how proud I and her mother are. Can you do that, Jaguar D. Saul?"

Saul nodded, lowering his hand even more to be able to lift the small package from the old man.

"I am in your debt, thank you, truly. You have no idea how much this means to me." Clover told him.

"I'm sorry I cannot save the rest of you." Saul apologized, but Clover just shook his head, looking up at the giant.

"No, save her, that is all I ask. To know that at least one of us had escaped…that is enough."

"Very well. Goodbye, Clover. It was a pleasure getting to know you." Saul said, regret in his voice.

Robin blinked her eyes open as she felt her body be rocked in something. Blue eyes found the face of the large orange giant who had been staying on the island, Saul.

"Saul?" Robin mumbled.

Saul didn't realize she was awake, so she just stayed quiet as they reached the beach and saw a docked ship. "You'll be safe now, Robin. I promise." Saul muttered as he lowered her into the small boat.

"What's going on? Saul?" Robin shouted up at the giant.

Saul smiled at her, a sad little thing that didn't reach his eyes.

"You will live, Nico Robin. I swear it." Saul promised.

The Sea was angry, waves started crashing on the beach and the coast of the island as both human and giant saw the large warships coming toward them.

"Live, Robin!" Saul shouted as he slammed his arm down onto the crashing waves, somehow redirecting them outward from the island.

Please, let me be able to save this child. She is a true Child of the Five Seas!

He prayed that the Sea would let Robin live, he yelled out a word and used a power that he had never thought he would ever be able to use or even truly feel comfortable with since he was not from the Island of Giants, Elbaf.

"HAKOKU!"

The Sea raged along with him as Robin was launched forward and away from her home.

Robin cried but was trying to keep her sobs quiet since she didn't know if she would be picked up by the ships coming toward her home or just be killed.

The warships closed in on her home and began firing a barrage of salvos destroying everything that was her home.

Robin couldn't keep her sobs quiet anymore, watching the horrible destruction of her home and people. She screamed and wailed for them to stop, but knew it was pointless.

"Little child." Robin jerked at the sound of a voice.

She frantically looked around to see a head and shoulders in the water. The black-haired child tried to blink her tears away.

"That was your home." It was a statement from the oddly colored person.

Robin nodded, confirming with the odd man. "Who are you?" She asked hoarsely.

"Not what?" He asked her, and Robin just shook her head.

"What's your name, Little One?" He asked her kindly.

"Robin."

"Call me Hatchi." He pulled up a pink tentacle-arm and extended it towards her to shake. "It's what my friends call me."

"I'm your friend?" She asked hesitantly as she shook his tentacle.

He nods and smiles, "Would you like some help getting away?" Hatchan asked Robin, who nods shyly.

He wrapped two of his tentacle-arms around her waist but stopped when she shrieked. "No!" The child crossed her arms over her chest and called up her Devil Fruit ability.

"Wait! Child, Robin. I'm sorry, I should have asked you if it was okay for me to touch you." He set her back down in her rowboat.

"It's okay." She mumbled to the Octopus Fishman.

"No, it's not. I should have asked you. Would it be better if I pull your boat toward another island? There's another island close by, we could go there for a bit and then I could help you get somewhere you could be safe at. How about that?"

Robin nods again, not really sure where she could go, but Hatchi is offering to help her and not hurt her. So, she would trust him…for now.

After a few hours of swimming Hatchi made it to the island that was a few days away from Ohara.

Here we are." Hatchi said as he surfaced again.

"Thank you." She told him, arms around her knees, staring at the wide blue sea, but she could still see the orange flames of the salvos destroying everything and everyone she held dear to her.

Robin didn't even know if her mother was still alive or not….

Unfortunately, the island was covered in ice. "Wh…what is this?" Robin asked the Fishman in shock and fear.

Hatchi couldn't answer as he was frozen solid.

"No! Hatchi!" Robin cried for her new friend.

"Nico Robin." A man's voice called to her; her head snapped over toward the voice.

"You…" Robin shivered and flinched away from the tall man.

"I will allow you to live," Vice Admiral Kuzan paused, looking down at her. Robin stared at him, too afraid to move. "-but only because of Jaguar D. Saul. Should we meet again in the Grand Line I will capture you."

With his warning said, Vice Admiral Kuzan shattered into ice crystals and Hatchi unfroze.

"H-Hatchi, are you okay?" Robin asked, pushing away the man's threat and warning from her mind for the moment.

"Robin, who was that? Did he hurt you?" Hatchi asked the black-haired eight-year-old girl.

Robin shook her head, "He didn't seem like he wanted to hurt me."

The Octopus Fishman frowned but didn't ask anything more. "Okay then. Let's see if we can get some help." Hatchi said, silently waiting for Robin to nod her consent for him to pick her up from the small rowboat and put her in his arms.

Robin snuggled deeper into Hatchi's arms, trying to stop her shaking. "Are you cold?" He asked her softly, to which she nodded. "We'll get you some new clothes as well, okay?" She nods again.

Hatchi started walking in a random direction that he hoped had people that would help them and not be prejudice against him and Robin, but he knew how cruel Humans could be.

"We'll have to be fast so keep quiet, alright, Robin." Hatchan told the little girl, she nods, fearful but trusting the Fishman to not put her in unnecessary danger.

Finding the town on the small island isn't that difficult, so staying on the edges of the people and the shadowed streets and alleyways, Hatchan grabbed a few clothing items that looked like they fit Robin and then they went back to the small rowboat that Robin escaped in.

"Alright, put these on, it should fit you, also I grabbed a few pieces of food for you as well." Hatchi said, smiling at the girl who he had put back onto the ground so she could look through the clothing he got her and the few pieces of food he was able to steal as well, which wasn't much: a loaf of bread, a few apples, and a bag of nuts.

She put on a long-sleeve shirt that reached her ankles, but she didn't mind, her dress was ripped and dirty with soot and seawater, and the large shirt was clean, then she grabbed an apple and munched on it before Hatchi sat down and started eating as well. He ripped off a chunk of bread, stuffing it in his mouth and continuously looking around to make sure no one snuck up on them or attempted to hurt them.

After Robin finished her apple, she went to take a piece of bread and a handful of nuts using her Devil Fruit. "Wow, that's an amazing Devil Fruit." Hatchi praised.

Robin froze, staring at him in shock. "It's…its not scary or weird?" Robin whispered, ducking her head in her knees, gripping the food she still had in her hand tightly, ready to run away from the Fishman.

"No, but I'll tell you a secret." Hatchi said, grinning.

"What is it?" Robin lifted her head from her knees to look at the Octopus Fishman with open curiosity on her face.

"All Devil Fruits are weird, but that's what makes Devil Fruit users so unpredictable and strong." Hatchi told her.

"Really? I can be strong like that?" Robin asked him, her eyes lighting up.

He smiled and nodded to her, patting her on her head. "Yes, you can, Robin."

"Thank you, Hatchi!" Robin jumped into his chest to hug him.

"I-of course, Robin." He circled his arms around her and held her against his chest in a long (much-needed) hug.

After they finished eating their stolen food, Robin was back in the rowboat and Hatchi was underwater, pulling the little boat through the sea once more, this time heading toward the Calm Belt, hopefully no Sea Kings would try and kill them.

Making to the edge of the West Sea he popped up and told Robin to not be afraid. "Robin, we're about to go into the Calm Belt, it's a stretch of the Sea that has a lot of Sea Kings," He started to explain. "-but I'll be pulling you along and try not to be scared of the Sea Kings should any come toward us. I'll try and get us through as fast as possible, alright?"

Robin nods and crosses her arms over her chest. "I can fight if I have to." She declared.

"I know you can, Robin, but Sea Kings are difficult to fight even for us Fishmen since they are so large." Hatchi warned.

Robin pouted, lowering her arms into her lap. "I won't let anything hurt you! You've helped me so much already!"

"Thank you." He paused, "Are you ready?" Robin brings up her arms once more and nods determinedly.

Hatchan wrapped one of his arms around Robin's waist and let her grip one of the suction cups (just for her own reassurance if she needs it) and then dove back down into the water, keeping himself close to her surface so he could hear Robin if she was calling (more like shouting in worry and fear) him.

Just get through the Calm Belt, then you'll be home free…in the Grand Line-Shit! He did not think this through!

When they got out of the Calm Belt, they would be somewhere in Paradise, the first half of the Grand Line. Honestly, it would be great if he could somehow get Robin to Fishman Island, but that won't be happening soon since she was still (rightfully) terrified of any form of water!

That would change (in time), he would make sure of it. If he could find Jinbe, he might be able (and willing) to help Robin, maybe teach her Haki.

Hopefully. Probably.

His thoughts halted when he realized that Robin was yelling and screaming. That's when he noticed the shift in the air, Hatchan had somehow gotten through the Calm Belt with a child without attracting any Sea Kings toward them as well as gotten into a very bad storm.

In Paradise…why was there a freak storm in Paradise?!

"Robin, it'll be alright! I'll protect-" Hatchan stared in awe at the small frightened child…who had just summoned two arms and pulled the person who was currently drowning (not knowing that this man was both incredibly powerful and kind, just like his former Captain) toward him.

"Dos Fleur: Grab!"

Hatchan dove downward and grabbed the older man out of the water and put him in the boat with Robin. The Fishman hoped that this wouldn't be a mistake to put him and Robin together.

"Oh! Thank you for the help." The man said while smiling at both Robin and Hatchan.

"Anywhere we can take you?" Hatchan asked, finally able to actually hear himself think as the storm dissipated around them.

"Sabaody Archipelago if that's okay with you? My wife is there, and I was on my way to meet her." The man said, and Hatchi wasn't sure if he should go anywhere near someone who was from Sabaody Archipelago.

"I haven't introduced myself, have I? My name is Silvers Rayleigh, nice to meet you." He smiled at the child and teenager.

Hatchan froze and stared at the blonde man in utter shock. "Wh…what…?"

"Hatchi?" Robin scrambled back as far as she could in the small rowboat.

"Oh, and who are you, little one?" Robin froze, not knowing what to do.

He hadn't hurt her, or Hatchi yet, but Hatchi was scared of this man. So that meant that he was dangerous and powerful and could easily kill her if she said or did anything that he didn't like.

"I-I'm Robin." She finally told him her name.

"You look like a friend of my wife's- Nico Olvia! Are you her daughter, by chance? I'm sure Shakky would love to meet her goddaughter." Rayleigh already knew the answer to his own question, but he was glad (for however the circumstances happened) that Olvia's child was safe.

"You know my mother?!" Robin asked, blue eyes widening in shock.

The former Pirate grinned, "That I do, little one. Would you two like to stay with us for a little while?" He was saying that more for Hatchan's benefit since free Fishmen were banned from the Archipelago.

"Really?" Robin asked, her eyes shining with renewed hope.

Rayleigh put a hand on her head, ruffling her hair, "Really. You are more than welcome to live with us for however long you want, Robin."

"Can we, Hatchi?" Robin turned to look at the Octopus Fishman that was staring in shock at Rayleigh.

"You mean it? This isn't a trick to lure us?" Hatchan had to ask, just in case.

"I swear Hatchan. I will never allow anyone to harm you while you are at Sabaody. Either of you." The Dark King swore to the Fishman and the little girl.

"Okay." Hatchan nodded, agreeing to get to Sabaody Archipelago and stay with Rayleigh and his wife until he had to go down to Fishman Island.

When the three of them had arrived at the mangrove-island, Rayleigh gave Hatchan his cloak to cover up his arms and body, while Robin was nestled in the blonde man's arms, sleeping half-inside his jacket.

Was this man really the First Mate of the Pirate King? He didn't act like a bloodthirsty Pirate that would kill someone at a moments notice, but…appearances could be deceiving.

Hatchan trailed behind Ray-san, the name that the blonde had asked him to call him by. Which was fine, he would respect the others request easily.

During their journey to the island (it had taken them almost a month) Hatchan and Rayleigh somehow were able to find common ground and become friends. With Robin also liking to talk to Rayleigh and Hatchi, mainly about her mother, but also just asking for stories about his adventures as a Pirate.

"Ray-san, you're back!" a woman said, Hatchan looked up to find a black-haired woman smoking a cigarette smiling at the blonde man.

Was this Ray-san's wife? Maybe.

"Shakky! I'm back, and I've brought some friends." Rayleigh told his wife, coming over to give her a quick kiss on her cheek, to which Hatchan turned away from and Shakky grinned.

"I can see that." She chuckled at her husband's antics.

"This is Hatchan." He first introduced the Octopus Fishman to her, Shakky nods, smiling at the teen.

"Nice to meet you, Hatchan, I'm Shakuyaku, but most call me Shakky since they can't pronounce my name correctly."

"It's not that hard to say." Robin mumbled in Rayleigh's jacket.

"Ah, you're awake little one?" Rayleigh smiled gently at the girl (he had seen her bounty poster at one of the first islands they'd had to stop at to get food).

Robin flushed, not realizing that she had said that out loud. Looking up to meet Rayleigh's gaze she turned her head to where Rayleigh's wife was.

"Olvia?" Shakuyaku breathed in shock.

"Her daughter, Robin." Rayleigh corrected, handing the little girl to his wife.

Shakky stubbed out her cigarette and came over to the girl who was her goddaughter and pulled her into a hug. "I'm glad that you're okay, Robin. And I know Olvia would say the same." Robin sobbed into Shakky's chest but that didn't seem to matter to the woman.

"I wanna stay. Can-can I stay with you?" the Devil Fruit user asked hesitantly after getting out most of her tears on Shakky's top.

"Of course!" Shakky told her.

"I told you before, Robin, you and Hatchi are welcome here. Shakky and I would be more than happy to give you a home." Ray-san grinned.

This way both Rayleigh and Shakky could keep an eye on Robin, as well as the Government. As long as either Silvers Rayleigh or Silvers Shakuyaku were alive, Nico Robin would be safe and happy. They would take care of Nico Olvia's daughter and raise her as their own when her mother couldn't.

There was no escape from the World Government.

She knew that, but even still, she tried to get out and get back to her daughter.

That was a mistake…or at least, she thought so.

"She's safe?"

"As safe as she can be with a bounty at age eight."

"Why did you let her go?"

She remained silent. "I am in your debt." And then she was gone.

"Why did you?" the other male asked.

He stayed silent for a few moments. "She will stand side-by-side with the Family of D."

"They will demand answers."

"Are you worried?" the giant asked his friend.

He changed the subject. "Only Garp wouldn't be executed for doing something like this."

Saul grinned, "Maybe, but I'm still a D-Bearer." Like that explained anything to the other Vice Admiral.

"You and Garp are insane."

"That's part of our charm, Kuzan."

White hair swayed in the wind as she watched as her home was destroyed and burned to the ground.

Waiting until the fires had finally died out, she stepped back onto her home.

Ohara's people were gone, and there was nothing left.

But…that wasn't true, both she and Robin were still alive.

For now.

The white-haired woman started walking toward the center of the island, not looking at any of the charred remains of her fellow Scholars and family.

The Tree of Knowledge was nothing more than a seed buried beneath the ashes of the dead. But all was not lost.

Olvia tilted her head up and looked up at the sun, tears streaming down her dirty face.

"Knowledge will Bloom here once again."

"I have no doubt about that. You always were the best of us."

Olvia spun around and stared slack-jawed at the man who was just a few feet from her, giving her room to grieve for all those that had lost their lives on this day.

"What are you doing here?" Was the first thing out of her mouth. Which, can you blame her?

The man extended a hand toward her. "Come with me and you'll find out."

"You want me to join you?" Olvia asked with a raised brow.

He grinned. "Let's show them what happens when they mess with our Families."

Olvia laughed and took his hand.

"Alright, sure. But you're going to let me keep an eye on my daughter. Got it?" Olvia told her friend.

"Of course, Olvia."

This was the start of the partnership between Monkey D. Dragon and Nico Olvia, the two most wanted (living) people in the world.

Writing Robin is really hard, also, just a reminder, this is an AU, so things like characterization and personality will be different.

I know this chapter is very late, but I've had so much trouble on it that I couldn't keep rewriting it over and over again. So I thank you all for waiting.

Robin is now living with Rayleigh and Shakuyaku (Shakky), and she is friends with Hatchi as well! I headcannon that Shakky and Nico Olvia were friends.