CHAPTER 3

A FIRM DECISION AND A SHOCKING REVELATION

The battle between the Royal Army and the Rebel Army was in its climax now, because of the sudden shot that seriously wounded the prime mover of the Rebels, Kozha, and because the King Cobra was taken hostage of Crocodile and more specifically of Miss All Sunday. At the same time Vivi and the Strawhats were trying to make their way through the brutal fight in order to find the bomb that was about to eliminate everyone on the desert island. Time wasn't on their side.

Robin had securely handcuffed King Cobra with her mysterious powers and forced him to show her the place in which the Poneglyph she was interested in , was.

Her heart was racing wildly in the thought that she would see another one, maybe the one she was looking desperately for.

Nevertheless, her happiness would be shadowed by the thought that the chances for Rio Poneglyph to be in this island in the Grand Line, were very slight. "Besides who knows what Crocodile will do to me".

Her train of thought was interrupted by a very surprising and yet tragic encounter. In front of her a marine Sergeant Major with her men were trying to block her way.

What was shocking, though, was that this certain girl called Tashigi was absurdly looking like Kuina. Robin started losing her cool and calm mask. For one moment she even thought of hugging her.

"Such a similarity, how is it possible? Life really plays dirty games with us, her mere pawns. Now I have to take down a girl that ridiculously resembles like Kuina" she thought staring intently at her ignorant opponent.

"You can't hear me? I said set the King free now" Tashigi commanded "And why are you staring at me like this?"

"Oh, you look like someone I knew" said Robin calmly making her way towards the marines. She wouldn't succumb to her vain command, of course.

"You, too? I'm tired of reminding people someone from their past! Now let the King go" she said angrily remembering her encounter with Roronoa Zoro at Logue Town.

"So Zoro had seen her, too" she thought and then took action, having no more time to spend "Unfortunately, you will let me go. Now get out of my way" she said and without losing time she knocked out all the marines except her, with her devil fruit powers "I'm not taking any orders from a World Government's assistance"

Vainly, Tashigi tried to take her down drawing her sword, but Robin threatened to take her life using her own weapon.

"Major, she's Nico Robin, the Devil's Child. Her bounty is 79.000.000 bellis. She had sunk six marine warships at the age of eight" exclaimed a marine soldier with trembling voice and Tashigi's eyes widened in surprise and fear.

Robin tried to control her anger and continued walking past them, but then she felt a hand grabbing her ankle and stopping her.

"Let the King go"

Now Robin was infuriated.

"You've just made the biggest mistake of your life" she said and after a few seconds Tashigi was writhing in pain, before fainting.

"Now that I think of it, she only looks like her. Under no circumstances would Kuina be so weak and pathetic like her, if she hadn't died"

Robin was standing apathetically in front of the massive stone. It wasn't what she was looking for. The only information that was inscribed in that Poneglyph was about an ancient weapon. But that wasn't what she said to Crocodile who was waiting beside her. Cobra was shocked when he heard her saying that it contained only historical information.

"I have made a great deal of damage in that kingdom. In addition to that, even if I gave him what he wanted my end would be the same" she thought.

"I'm disappointed in you. All those years you've been a great help to me. What happened now?" said Crocodile.

Silence.

"Or you weren't planning to tell me about the weapon from the start? I've decided to kill you now"

"I was sure it would end up like this" she retorted and launched her attack. She sprouted an arm in his back which was supposed to make him wet and then she would stab him with a dagger. However, the bottle with the water broke leaving her at Crocodile's mercy, who stabbed her in the back with his hook.

"Don't worry, I forgive you. I never trusted anyone from the very start" he said while she was landing abruptly on the ground of the mausoleum, where the Poneglyph was. After that, the man made his way out, leaving Robin and the King to die in the grave, only to find Luffy ready to defeat him.

While the battle with the Shichibukai and the Pirate was going on, Robin mustered all the strength she had and went to lay her back on a wall, now facing the King.

"Why didn't you tell him about the weapon? I'm sure it was written there" he said knowing from his ancestors that the Poneglyph was about the weapon Pluton.

"There was no point. I'm only interested in learning about the Void Century" she said as loudly as she could.

"But you could have saved your life"

"I doubt it" she said and mustering all her courage this time, she continued justifying why she made that choice. She felt like talking to someone about her thoughts.

"I could never believe that I would die so happy. You may think it's an irony, but what's better for an archaeologist than dying in those ancient ruins along with a Poneglyph" she sighed deeply and continued, blood trickling down her face, especially from her mouth "I may wasn't able to accomplish my dream, but I'm happy that I saw him. He has became such a nice and strong man. I'm sure he'll make it. And I'm happy that I saw that katana again" she said and before closing her eyes for what she thought to be forever, she smiled. Her last thought, her mother. A tear made its way out of the corner of her left eye.

"Oi girl. Are you okay?" the King couldn't help but feel sympathy for her. He wouldn't like to see his own daughter on the same condition "Hey, wake up. You'll see him again"he screamed.

But nothing. She didn't even move a little.

"Gomu gomu no … Storm"

After some minutes, Monkey D. Luffy had defeated Crocodile.

"Thank you" said King Cobra.

"No problem" retorted Luffy and grabbed him and Robin and quickly made his way out of the collapsing grave.

Vivi and the rest of the Mugiwara, who had successfully prevented the town from getting blown off, had reached the grave when they saw Luffy emerging.

"Chopper, treat her immediately" said Luffy panting, while he laid Robin's body on the ground.

"Uhm Luffy, she's the enemy" said Usopp hesitantly.

"I don't care. She had helped me"

"Oh my god. Where's my kit. She's fatally wounded" Chopper cried.

Zoro was staring intently at her. The scene was reminding him of…

Flashback

"Zoro you have to control your strength, and make better use of your mind and willpower. Swordsmanship is not all about strength"

"Hai sensei"

It was a shiny and unbelievably peaceful autumn day at Shimotsuki Village. Koshiro sensei and Zoro were practicing at the beach. It was constructive to change environment and not practice always inside the dojo. Zoro knew that his sensei used to practice with Kuina, his beloved daughter, at the forest on a near mountain.

Now they had chosen the sea. The only things that could be distinguished were the calm waves of the sea and the voice of shinai made of bamboo hitting each other.

After a little, though, they heard loud voices laughing and yelling. When the two swordsmen turned their heads to the source of the distraction, they saw a pirate ship, not many miles away.

"Tch. Pirates" said Zoro and then it was the time in which he saw three men throwing someone on the sea and sailing on. Koshiro had already dived into the cold waters in aid of the man, that didn't seem to emerge from the deep waters.

The minutes were passing and neither sensei nor the man could be seen. Zoro started getting really anxious when he saw his master swimming towards him, while carrying the unfortunate pirate.

When they reached the shore, he laid him on the sand and immediately he started pressing his chest in order to bring him around. Then he had a realization.

"Zoro, put off his hat"

Zoro did as he was told and when they saw black and long strands of hair and a young face they both exclaimed "She's a woman"

After making sure that she was alive, they brought her to Koshiro's house. Kuina was preparing food and Zoro was with the mysterious young girl, waiting for her to wake up.

Present time

Chopper had started tending to her wound and everyone was staring at him and their enemy. Zoro's heart racing wildly, waiting impatiently for her to open her eyes. That was the only thing that he wanted to see. Her eyes would tell him who she is.

Suddenly they heard a rough gasp. Robin had waken and understood that the Mugiwara's doctor was treating her. No she didn't want this. She had decided to die, and she was getting furious when someone was changing her plans.

"Stop it" she said bluntly and grabbed the little reindeer's arm.

"But…" Chopper was really anxious. If he didn't operate immediately she would die.

"That's an antidote. Your Captain has been poisoned. Treat him" she said and handed him the little bottle with the drug. Everyone was dead silent.

When she started standing up, Zoro braced himself. Her eyes were still sealed but he knew that in a little he would be able to see them. He wasn't sure if he wanted to be her or not, though.

The next second she was erect and she was standing in front of him. A light breeze dangled her hair and slowly she opened her eyes.

Her vision was still blur but she knew that the first thing she saw was Zoro, whose eyes were wide open in shock, apparently.

Flashback

Zoro knew that the girl in front of him was really exhausted, so he would patiently wait for her to wake up. All this time he was looking at her and some simple things really intrigued him.

She was tall and her wet hair were quiet long. Even her bangs were long and were covering her eyes. Her lips were tiny and at that moment extremely pale. Her neck was covered by a dark green bandana.

And then she opened her eyes. He had never seen such a strange and yet beautiful color. It was a light blue or aquamarine. He couldn't tell for sure.

"Who are you?" she asked weakly and tried to stand up. Her voice had a characteristic tint. It was peculiar, too.

"I think you should rest a little. My sensei rescued you. I'm just a swordsman"

Present time

Zoro had been paralyzed.

"She is… She is… Damn! I don't even know her name. She's her. Black hair. Blue eyes. That voice. I still can't believe it"

While he was thinking all these things, she started moving, her eyes never leaving him.

"Where are you going? You'll die" cried Chopper.

"I've made my decision" she said sternly and on her next step she was next to Zoro, who was sweating furiously.

The moment she was near him she brushed her arm to his and they both took a deep breath while closing their eyes. One second and one touch was enough to make them shiver with delight.

The next moment, he knew she was leaving. She was leaving him again. But what could he do? She was their enemy and at that moment he couldn't think clearly. So he let her leave.

The Strawhats were resting after their adventure at the Royal Palace. It was the least that the King could do to show his appreciation for what they did for his country.

Still, Zoro was lost in thought.

Flashback

"So where's the man who save my life? I want to thank him properly and then I have to leave from here"

"That would be my father. He was waiting for you to wake up. I'm Kuina" said a dark-blue haired girl and handed Robin a bowl with hot soup.

"Arigatou, Kuina"

"And that moody boy is Roronoa Zoro" she said showing him and he frowned. Robin just smirked.

"And who are you?" asked Kuina.

"I'm sorry, I don't think that I could tell you"

"Why?" asked the little girl again.

"Kuina, Zoro leave the girl alone, she needs rest"

"Hai sensei"

"I need to talk to you" said Koshiro to Robin. That was the last thing that Zoro had heard before leaving them.

End of flashback

"That was it" thought Zoro and left his bed in order to go and find the King.

When he reached the room in which they had told him he was, he knocked the door and waited for a reply.

"Come in" he listened and hesitantly he entered the big room. He needed to know.

"How can I help you Roronoa?"

"Well, I hope that you could help me find the identity of that woman that Luffy saved"

"Oh. You don't know her? She's quite famous, or rather infamous"

"Yeah, I have an idea"

Cobra opened a drawer and withdrew a wanted poster.

"Nico Robin" he said and showed Zoro the poster.

"What the… 79.000.000 belli? And what kind of photo is that?"

"She has a bounty in her head since she was eight"

"I see" he said and gulped "Thank you very much"

When he returned to his room he dropped himself to the bed and couldn't help but think.

So, what's your opinion? :)

Thanks for reading!