Robin shuddered. Her eyes snapped open. She turned around on the harsh floor and brought her hands together, staring into the darkness. Yet no one was there.
Her ears twitched. She heard rapid retreating footsteps, and nothing else afterwards. She yawned and clutched her book tighter, going back to slee–
The book was gone.
Robin rushed to the deck, her heart quivering. Outside, the full Moon awaited her, casting its silver shine upon the tranquil sea. The languid wind played with her dress delicately as she walked towards the guard rail.
Nora stood there, giggling in anticipation. Bit by bit, his grinning face reshaped into an expression of absolute horror. Robin's eyes frightened him; grabbed by his throat and prevented from spouting excuses.
"F-F-Flower made me do it!" he backed away slowly, "S-s-she also told me to push you overboard! She tricked me!"
Robin dashed to where he stood, glaring into the dark waters below.
"Gone..." whispered Nora in disbelief.
Robin turned to him, rage twisting her physiognomy. She felt hollow. Like the strings that kept her body moving were cut. She brought her hands together. They formed bird wi–
"If you want to murder someone..." resounded a male voice to her left, "You'll have to start with me..."
Robin faced Asim, unable to dispute his words. She knew he was right.
"One strike here..." he put a finger at his chest, "...Will kill me..."
The wings turned into fists. She ignored fleeing Nora and charged at the man with tears in her eyes, doing her best to keep silent, to not let feelings ooze out more than she had already allowed them.
The man's torso turned sideways just a little, avoiding the attack.
Robin spun on one leg and struck again, following it with a punch with the other arm.
"Gotta go faster than that..."
She hit his leg with her own, only to clench her teeth in pain immediately after.
The man grinned, "That was dumb..."
Robin hid her face, looking down, and sent a barrage of fists aimed for his stomach.
His smile turned brighter as he evaded each one. "Close..." he ridiculed her.
"Shut...!" she hit again, and again, and again.
"Doing better already..." his body appeared boneless, escaping every contact.
"Shut up!" she screamed, putting all her weight into the next strike – only to trip and hit her chin on the wooden boards.
The man laughed out loud. "Sorry... I lied..."
"I knew that!" she got up and charged once more, her vision blurred.
"Try harder..." he performed a flawless sidestep, his breathing slowly getting worse, "...Or I'll die before you even touch me..."
"Then stop moving!" she threw a left hook, following it up with a right one.
He turned his body sideways twice, "You've got no boxing future..."
"I don't..." she almost grazed his thigh, "Care!" her lips betrayed her, allowing a tiny smile to take shape.
"Are you smiling...?" he spun in place, "You'd better take this fight seriously..."
"I am!" she aimed for his groin.
He snorted and took a step back, "Getting desperate, huh...?"
Robin jumped up in an attempt to reach his jaw. Asim took another step. Then stopped. "How about this..." he squatted down, "A little handicap..."
Robin ran up and sent a fist after fist, aiming for his face.
"Not enough...?" he asked, dodging every strike, "Should I..." he paused, unable to inhale for a moment, "...Lie down next...?"
Robin chortled, attacking from left and right simultaneously.
Asim ducked by simply lowering his head down.
"Let's see..." he grunted and got down on his back.
Robin kicked his head with her foot right away. Her attack finally connected. The man frowned and rubbed his temple.
It was Robin's turn to grin. "That's for fooling around!" she wiped away her sweat and tears, sitting on the floor nearby, and concentrated on catching her breath.
"Not gonna finish the job...?" he asked, studying the starry sky, his hand clutching his chest tightly.
Robin did not reply, watching the quiet waves in silence. She sniffled.
Nights at sea felt suffocatingly lonely. The isolating quietude seemed capable of breaking people's hearts. Yet right now, Robin felt none of it. She experienced the best company she had in years. She felt relieved. Even if bitter. And sad.
She loved this kind of silence. The refreshing, gentle kind. The one where she could feel someone's presence, hear their breathing, sit right next to them with her back turned, and not feel afraid. Feel her troubles lose weight. Feel... feel thankful for staying alive. Just a tiny little bit. She was at peace.
"I want to try again," she said.
Asim slowly rose to his feet.
When morning arrived, Robin followed every step she took yesterday, this time looking in the mirror with a brief smile on her face. She ate pickled vegetables and dried fruit for breakfast, getting the important vitamins her body needed, and even practiced the moves she learned from Asim in the hull .
As she went about her day, emptiness consumed her insides every time she remembered the fate her book had suffered, but was immediately filled with hope at the thought of receiving her reward from Vasily. Surprisingly, she managed to avoid bumping into Nora and Flower, suspecting they feared to meet face to face with her themselves.
Soon, when the blazing Sun reached its highest position in the sky, Flower alerted everyone onboard of land in sight. After a while, the sail was dropped and the ship safely docked at one of dozens of piers, allowing Robin's feet to finally touch the sand.
She looked around. There was nothing on this tiny island, not a single thing. She turned to Vasily, confused.
"Now we wait," he said with a smile.
Robin walked in circles, kicking sand, bored out of her mind. In time, her eyes caught an increasing in size dot on the horizon. A ship was approaching. As she turned around, she witnessed one more. Then one more. In about an hour, the island was completely surrounded by varying in size vessels.
People and fish-men flooded in, all in possession of large backpacks and wooden crates. Here and there popped up all kinds of stalls, some selling exotic foods and spices, while others traded in furs, building materials and valuable gems.
Robin ran up to one of those, stars sparkling in her eyes. She studied the wares with her mouth agape.
"No touchin'!" scolded her an old man with a long purple beard.
"What... what is this...?" she pointed to a strange device.
The man picked up what resembled a pen. "Dis little thing is very popular on Sabaody Archipelago, y'know. You can even breathe underwater with it."
He turned it in his hands, then pressed a button on top. A small bubble escaped the tip, floating in place. Fascination and wonder painted Robin's face.
A chuckle resounded from behind. "Very curious," approached Vasily, smoking a cigar.
"Gon' buy it?" asked the man.
"No, no," he waved his hand, "Just looking, that is all."
Vasily turned towards the setting Sun, a smile forming on his lips.
"I think it is about time, Robin," he made way to the center of the island, "Come."
There, Flower and Asim awaited.
"Is this the spot?" Vasily asked the woman.
"Yes," she replied with a stern nod.
"Then let us begin."
Flower sat down on the ground and assumed a lotus position. She closed her eyes.
"Her Devil Fruit ability lasts for only one minute," explained Vasily, looking at the crowd, "It's range is also short, just a little bigger than this island," he turned to Robin, "That's why we need you. I think you'll understand your role in a moment."
Blood began pouring from Flower's mouth. Then something happened to her rib cage. It opened. Akin to a lotus; piece by piece, petal by petal, accompanied by a repulsive sound, her flesh and bones parted ways, revealing a beating heart inside.
As Robin looked around, she noticed every other person on the island sit in the same exact position, completely motionless, their hearts exposed and vulnerable.
"Do it," commanded Vasily.
Robin's mind went blank. Thick fog entered her skull. She turned to Asim. The man met her gaze, his face chillingly stoic. He did not protest nor did he encourage her. He allowed her to make a decision.
Complete silence occupied this place, interrupted only by the gentle waves. Robin imagined her book, taken away by the sea. She thought of Ohara. She wanted—no, she needed—her reward. She brought her trembling hands together. She formed bird wings. Hundreds of arms bloomed from the white sand. She began the harvest.
"Marvelous," whispered Vasily.
As the lives of everyone on the island were taken, he approached Flower. His large hand teared her heart out. The woman died sitting.
"Capture her," he commanded Asim and walked away, "The Navy are on their way."
The man got up. He faced Robin. He trudged towards her, glaring from under his thick eyebrows.
"One strike..." he pointed to his chest, "This will be your last chance..."