"It's an ancient legend passed down from generation to generation in my tribe." King began. "It tells of a great and powerful man, someone who at every step of his way manages to change the world: correct injustices, overthrow dictators, and help people. Lots of people. A man who brings freedom and hope to the world.
Once every few centuries, an incarnation of this person is born, and cares for the welfare of the world. But the last time Joy Boy was born, something went wrong. One of the ancien..." King suddenly stopped.
"You're not a Lunarian, I'm not sure it's OK for me to tell you that."
"I'm not sure either I should tell you what I know." said Robin coldly. "What happened to one of the ancient weapons?"
"You heard about it! Of course, you are a walking encyclopedia after all." King took a breath.
"Alright, I will tell you everything. Not that I have anything to lose, I'm already out of the race...
One of the ancient weapons was affected by Joy Boy's powerful opponent and crossed to his side. The move led to a bloody war that lasted for decades. Step by step, the opponents subdued Joy Boy and took over the world.
The Lunarians, who were Joy Boy's most loyal and powerful allies, remained the last stronghold. But the enemies discovered our weakness and began slaughtering us until only the women and children remained.
Joy Boy himself was wounded by the hand of the one who controlled the traitor weapon. But before his death, in his last breath he promised our tribe that he would return. Someone with powers like his would be born again in eight hundred years and change the world.
After his death, the women of the tribe decided that the most important thing now was to survive. Anyone who was still alive left our beautiful old city, which was by then largely ruled already by the enemy, and went to search for shelter in the caves and crevices of the Red Line, in places uninhabitable to ordinary human beings. And still, the soldiers of the recently established World Government continued to persecute us and try to obliterate us.
My late mother put it in my head that Joy Boy would definitely return, and that the Lunarian tribe would return to its homeland if only we would follow him and help him. That was the only thing that helped me hang in there for two years at Punk Hazard, under the tortures of Dr. Vegapunk.
When Kaido released me from there, I was convinced it was him. I followed him faithfully, helping him reach the status of the most powerful in the world. But very quickly I discovered that unfortunately he was far from correcting injustices and helping people. And yet, he still saved my life, and defended me zealously for more than 30 years.
I stopped believing in the legend and concentrated on bringing Kaido to become the pirate king. Yet, he always feared that if someone would come and defeat him I would follow him. Basically he told me now to follow Straw Hat, just because in his opinion, he has become the strongest now.
But... I was wrong once already. And Straw Hat is not a great man at all, he's tiny! How can I tell if it's him at all?" King finished his tale with a question.
"Luffy is a great man," Robin said. "It has nothing to do with his height. And to be honest, when I think about it, from the moment I met him, everywhere we go, something truly changes."
King's eyes gaped open as Robin continued. "In Arabasta he prevented a civil war initiated by Crocodile, overthrew him and restored the worthy king to power. Later in Skypiea, there too he defeated a dictator and the worthy ruler returned. In Thriller Bark he returned to a multitude of people the shadows that Moria had stolen from them, in Sabaody he freed slaves, and punched one of the celestial dragons in the face."
"Wow, seriously?" King interrupted her.
"Yes," Robin laughed, "but then we had to go our separate ways for two years, and when we met again we saved Fish-Man Island from a bunch of horrible thugs. And then we saved those kids who had growth experiments performed on them at Punk Hazard, and..."
"They still conduct experiments on children there?!" King was furious. "How? But the island was ours! I would not have let such a thing happen!"
"That's why Caesar Clown kept it a secret from you. It was an experiment for Big Mom."
"The traitor scum!" King raged.
"Anyway, we released them and left them for the Marines to return them home."
"The Marines?! These corrupted bastards?!"
"It was an officer Luffy once saved. He owed him a favor." Robin smiled.
"Unbelievable..." King smiled, "Are you sure you're not exaggerating a bit to glorify your captain?"
"Exaggerating? I haven't even told you yet about Dressrosa and Zou, and well, you can see the changes in Wano for yourself."
"So you think Luffy is Joy Boy?" King asked.
"I don't know," Robin replied. "I never heard the legend before. I only found a Poneglyph on Fish-Man Island, where instead of the usual history there was an apology from him written there. An apology from Joy Boy to the Princess of Fish-Man Island. He apologized for failing to keep his promise to her that time, but said someone would come in his place in the future to fulfill it."
"Joy Boy wrote a letter on a Poneglyph?" King asked, amazed, "Joy Boy himself?"
Robin nodded.
"So he really did exist? This isn't just a legend?"
"Probably not..." Robin replied.
King suddenly sprang to his feet. Swaying slightly, but excited. "If that the case I have to find him! Thanks Robin," King lifted her easily at her waist and embraced her to his heart like a girl hugging a doll. "You gave me back my hope!"
"You're welcome." Robin smiled humbly. "Speaking of Poneglyphs, can I ask you something else, King?" Robin asked.
"Of course," King replied, returning to sit and bringing Robin down to the ground. This time Robin sat down on his long, muscular thigh, her hand holding his waist, over his white shirt, under his open leather jacket, to balance herself.
"I know for a fact that there's supposed to be a red Poneglyph in Wano." said Robin. "But I searched the Flower Capital, and even infiltrated Orochi's palace and did not find it. I continued to search in Onigashima too, and I did not find it there either. Do you happen to know where it is?"
"Hey! That's the Beasts Pirates Poneglyph!" King replied without thinking, "You do not expect me to... actually... right... you are the only one who can read it. And there is no point in not revealing it to you anymore. Umm... but I think it no longer exists."
"No longer exists?" Robin asked in amazement, "What do you mean?"
"It was kept in the armory basement in Onigashima, the one that just blew up the whole island yesterday." King replied.
"Oh, phew," Robin replied. "That's all right then, Poneglyphs are not destroyed by explosions." Robin explained.
This time it was she who jumped up. "I have to go there, to the place where Onigashima fell, to find the Road Poneglyph! It is vital to us! I will go immediately to tell my nakama and set off."
"I'm coming with you." said King. "I'll help you."
