Chapter 25: The Royal Society for the Preservation of History in the Grand Line
Disclaimer: I decided not to become a super villain dedicated to destroying Eiichiro Oda. It turns out that black capes are really expensive.
Warning: Lemons.
Previously:
The crew lands on the ocean with a ton of gold after the events in Skypiea. The sacred golden bell fell out of the sky, and Wiper joined the crew to search for it. Robin and Luffy are in a relationship, keeping it secret from the others, while Vivi and Nami struggle with their own feelings for the captain.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
It had been a busy week for the Saruyama Alliance.
Montblanc Cricket hadn't had an easy month, but there was no time to reflect on it. Firstly, Bellamy the Hyena robbed him of everything he had. Over two decades worth of work was lost in a single night. Bellamy assaulted his home, beat up his two protégés, and then raided every bit of gold Cricket had ever collected. Cricket was left wounded, penniless, and heartbroken. A lifetime of trying to uncover the truth of his ancestors had been ruined. It had been the worst day of his life. Fortunately, it only got better from there.
Perhaps it's some form of karmic retribution, Cricket mused to himself. Ever since that day his life had become so much better.
Bellamy's crew had been slaughtered by his own boss. Bellamy himself survived, apparently, but the once infamous pirate had been on death's door when the Marines locked him up and took him away. Mock Town itself had been nearly destroyed; first Monkey D. Luffy wrecked the place, and then marine's assault on the bay, and then the storm after scattered any survivors.
Strangely, Cricket and his surrogate sons had been completely uninvolved in the whole affair, and with every other pirate left in ruins, the Saruyama Alliance had been left as the biggest power in the surrounding ocean. Their ranks were suddenly swollen by shipwrecked pirates that needed work, and it didn't take long for Cricket to earn back everything that was stolen from him and more.
By the second week after the storm, Cricket had set himself up as the boss of the whole island. Mock Town was in ruins, but a new pirate outpost was already rapidly growing on the opposite side of the island, with Cricket as the unofficial mayor. There were hundreds of pirates that had been left shipwrecked, hungry and homeless by the assault, after all, and the Saruyama Alliance was the only thing that could keep them alive. All those people that had once laughed at Cricket's dream were now piled up at his doorstep, begging for his aid.
Captained by the 'Salvage King' Masira and 'Sonar King' Shoujou, the Saruyama Alliance became the strongest military might in the waters of Jaya. They'd been completely unimpeded to search further and wider for the lost city of Shandia.
And, then, just when Cricket couldn't believe his luck, everything that he had ever dreamt about quite literally fell out of the sky.
The Shandorian Golden Belfry Bell was a couple of hundred tonnes of solid gold, and Shoujou surveyed the ocean's floor daily. It was literally impossible for them to not notice. Cricket himself dived into the ocean with Masira to salvage the wreckage. It took nearly a full day to drag it to the surface, but it was absolutely everything that Cricket had ever dreamed about.
The next few days were a blur. Cricket still had to occasionally pinch himself to make sure he wasn't actually dreaming. Sadly, the golden bell itself was heavily damaged and couldn't ring, but it was still hundreds of tonnes of gold. All of those people that scoffed at the trinkets that Cricket had pulled up couldn't ignore a giant golden bell.
Montblanc Cricket finally had irrefutable proof that Noland wasn't a liar.
It was more than that; it was justification for twenty-four years of hard labour and several generations of mockery. Finally, Cricket managed to figure out what happened four hundred years ago. The golden sea didn't fall into the sea, it went upwards. Sky Island was real, and he could prove it.
The shockwaves from his discovery started slow, but built up in momentum quickly. Within days, every pirate and merchant within miles was sailing to Jaya to see the giant relic. For a tense few days, Cricket lived in fear that one of them would try and take the bell for themselves, but that was when the Royal Society for the Preservation of History in the Grand Line intervened.
The society of historians arrived with two large galleys on the beaches of Jaya, and they brought experts that verified the authenticity of the bell. The society brought publicity, and suddenly the lead story in the international newspaper was all about Cricket and his discovery. The Royal Society brought enough funds to restore the damaged bell, with the promise to ensure the relic's survival for the benefit of future generations.
And, because this was the Grand Line, they also hired enough strong mercenaries to really ensure that the relic survived for benefit of future generations.
Everything transformed so quickly that Cricket barely had time to keep up with any of it. He wasn't a pirate anymore, and he was quickly forgetting his salvaging days; he was an entrepreneur, a respected pillar of the community, and an honorary historian. He wasn't diving into the ocean every day now; he was wearing an expensive tailored suit and giving interviews to the countless papers and magazines that wanted to publish the true story of Noland 'the Liar'.
"But boss…" Shoujou commented one evening, as Cricket stared off into the horizon and watched the clouds. "… the bell doesn't even ring anymore."
Cricket just smirked. After twenty-four years of chasing after a dream, restoring an enormous bell didn't seem like such a big task. "Nah," Cricket said wistfully as he wrapped his arm around his two surrogate sons. "We'll make it sing again. And then, we'll let them know that we're here."
Somehow, even after all the interviews, discussions, work and riches, one of the best moments of Cricket's life was when a man with a mohawk and tribal tattoos walked up to him and introduced himself as the descendent of Montblanc Noland's long-lost friend.
"Wow," Aisa muttered in awe as she stared at the pair of them. "They're actually getting along with each other."
Leaning across the railing of the Going Merry, Zoro raised an eyebrow as he watched Wiper and Cricket drink, laugh and share stories of their ancestors. Somehow, the two men were getting along like they were childhood best friends.
"Is that surprising?" Zoro asked curiously.
"Wiper doesn't 'get along' with people," Aisa explained disbelieving. "He tries to kill people. Occasionally, they manage to get away. Wiper is not… friendly."
"Huh," the swordsman muttered, just as Wiper burst out laughing at Cricket's jokes. The two of them were getting along so well that it felt rude to interfere. The pair had already gone through several tankards of ale. "Well, what do you know…?"
The Going Merry was moored at the edge of the outpost, next to Cricket's stone tower. To avoid any troublesome attention, their block of gold had been covered by a tarp to keep it out of sight. Still, everyone was focused more on the Shandorian Golden Belfry, displayed proudly next Cricket's home. The bell was pierced and half-melted to slag, but it had still been polished to perfection and the carvings were perfectly legible. Robin was out there right now, inspecting every engraving and hieroglyph with unwavering diligence.
There were dozens of ships around the budding outpost. Mock Town was destroyed, but there was still a booming trade. The beach was covered in ships and more buildings were being established every hour. The outpost was crawling with activity.
"Do you think anyone will steal the bell?" Usopp asked after a moment's pause. "I mean, it must be worth a fortune, and it's just lying out there…"
"Eh, someone will probably try," Zoro mused, glancing down at the mercenaries patrolling the bell. There were dozens of them, and they all carried sharp blades with an aura of quiet expertise. "But those guards that the history society hired look pretty tough."
"You know, I heard a rumour in the outpost," Vivi commented idly, still staring at the magnificence of the golden bell. "Can you guess what they're planning on calling the new town?"
"What?" Zoro asked curiously.
Vivi grinned. "Cricket Town."
That made them all chuckle. Montblanc Cricket had been nothing but welcoming to the pirates, and Luffy had bonded instantly with the two monkey brothers Masira and Shoujou. Dusk was slowly setting over the island, but nothing was dying down. Cricket had already ordered enough ale for a large party, and it was already shaping up to be a good night.
Across the field, Robin crouched slowly as she inspected the Poneglyph chamber nestled within the belfry. Poneglyphs were indestructible, but it was still a stroke of luck that this one had been found so quickly. She ran her hands over the smooth blue stone, musing quietly to herself.
"Poseidon," she muttered quietly, still musing over the contents of the runes. She had no interest in the ancient weapon, but the name was still troubling. Even more confusing was the writing that had been carved on to the side. "'We came here, found the text and followed its guidance'," Robin reread, trying to find some hidden meaning in the words beyond the obvious. "Gol D. Roger."
The archaeologist was so busy crouching over the hieroglyphs that she didn't even hear the footsteps behind her until someone lightly tapped her on the shoulder.
"Hey," Luffy greeted quietly, crouching beside her comfortingly. "How's it going?"
She smiled, wrapping her arm around his shoulder. Her heart still fluttered as their skin touched.
"Confusing," Robin admitted. "It's the first time I've been able to examine the Poneglyph in such detail, and… well, there are bits that don't make sense. I've always assumed that all the Poneglyphs were written together in the Void Century, but the terminology, the syntax, it's different to the other ones I've seen. I think this might have been written in a different era, but then if so, then how could they be related? I've always thought that each Poneglyph would combine to give the lost history, but how could there be such an age difference between the tablets? Is there a chronology between the writings that I'm missing? It's like each part is a piece of puzzle, but I don't know how everything fits…"
Her voice trailed off as she realised she was rambling. Luffy's expression had a blank look of someone trying very hard not to be lost. Robin paused. "Sorry," she muttered quietly.
Luffy frowned and shook his head. "No, tell me," he insisted. "So it's basically like a jigsaw, right?"
Robin raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, basically," she said with amused smile.
He nodded with focus. "Ok." He knew jigsaws, he could do jigsaws; the trick was to look at the picture on the box. Luffy's head started to ache as his brain churned. "How about I go get a big piece of paper and then we can trace out everything it says?" He suggested finally, beaming proudly. "And then we go to the other pieces, put them together and see which one's a corner piece?"
Robin burst into giggles at the sight of Luffy's expression. The captain pouted and sat cross-legged on the ground. "Fine then," he said as he shifted into inspect the Poneglyph. "How about I sit here next to you, and let's just see if we can figure it out together?"
She met his eyes and saw absolutely nothing but a sincere desire to help. Robin was good at recognising ulterior motives. Luffy didn't have any. She hesitated for a brief moment. "You know they're having a party down there?" she said softly, motioning to the lights around Cricket's house. "I'll be fine by myself."
He shrugged. "I want to stay with you," Luffy said simply. "Let me help."
Robin's smile widened. Luffy could always make her smile. Suddenly, the Poneglyph didn't seem so important. Robin pulled herself up and took Luffy's hand. "Alright," she said quietly, holding on to Luffy tightly. "Let's go to the party."
He beamed at her widely as she slowly pulled him so closely that their noses were nearly touching. He could feel her breath on her face as his body pressed against hers and then, in that glorious moment, their lips pressed together. Even if they were kissing regularly, it still took Luffy's breath away every time.
As they parted for air, Robin was staring at him with wide, dark eyes and Luffy felt his whole body shiver.
"Alright," he agreed softly. "Let's go."
He could taste the ale on her lips as they stumbled into the ship. Their lips smooched together tightly, hot and sweaty, unwilling to break the connection even for breath. Everything was quiet in the dead of night, but Luffy's heart was so loud it felt deafening. Robin's body was warm as sweaty as she wrapped her long legs around his waist.
Finally, the kiss broke. Luffy was gasping for breath, but when he saw the sultry look on her face his knees nearly buckled. He wasn't so great at reading body language, but this one was obvious.
"Yep," Luffy said definitely. "That was a good party."
Robin giggled as she pressed again, kissing his neck tenderly before moving upwards to nibble on his ear. Luffy groaned quietly as her hands ran under his jacket and across his chest, while Robin just pushed him against the wall.
It had been a good party. They laughed, they sung, they danced and they drank. It was a great night, and Robin and Luffy had been side by side the entire time. And then, when everybody else was either dead drunk or asleep, Robin pulled Luffy to one side and started kissing him. And then she just didn't stop kissing him.
He could feel her heart pounding as the stream of wanton kisses continued. She was normally so calm and reserved. It gave him goose bumps to see this side of her.
Robin practically dragged him up the gangplank into the Going Merry, not that Luffy needed any encouragement. He almost tripped over the threshold and they both burst out into a fit of giggles that only ceased when they pressed their mouths together in a long, passionate kiss. They were both grinning madly at each other, but then the moment was broken by a light flickering on in the lounge. They both jumped.
"Sanji," Luffy hissed quickly, and he and Robin quickly crept towards the storage room. Robin pressed her finger to her lips as she quietly closed the door the door behind them.
"Won't they hear us?" Luffy whispered, motioning to the latch to the women's room, where Conis, Vivi, Nami and Aisa slept.
"Can't be helped," Robin replied quietly, pressing close against Luffy as they rummaged through the dark storage room. The room was cramped with barrels and crates stacked along the side, and junk littered across the floor. Luffy nearly banged his knee against a cannon. "This is a small ship; there's not much space for privacy ."
He was still rummaging around in the dark, struggling not to make a move when Robin twisted him around and pulled him in for another, longer kiss. Luffy's heart stopped. Robin's lips were soft and tender.
"We're just going to have to be quiet," she muttered breathlessly, pressing up against him so tightly he could feel her breasts squeezing against his chest.
It took a few seconds for Luffy's brain to restart. "I'm not the one who screams," he whispered quietly in her ear.
Her hands caressed playfully across his chest. Even in the dark, he could see the twinkle in her eyes. "Well, then…" Robin teased. "… I take that as a challenge…"
She kissed him again, hotter and more passionate than ever as she pushed him backwards. Luffy crashed into a stack of barrels, and he winced as they rolled together in the dark, struggling to get comfortable in the cluttered mess. Her long, toned leg slowly wrapped around his waist as their pelvises pressed together.
Luffy had to bite his lip as he stifled a groan, while his hand started from her shin and slowly caressed upwards towards her thigh. God, her legs just didn't stop…
The air between them was electric, and Luffy honestly wasn't sure whether that was from his Devil fruit or just the heat of the moment. Robin leaned further into him, but then the barrel behind him slipped and Luffy nearly fell to the ground on his bum. It was so horribly bad timing that they both burst out into fits of hushed laughter.
"There's not much room here to…" Luffy whispered with a hint of hesitation, still rummaging around in the cluttered space. They didn't have a bed, a chair, or even a patch of ground in the overcrowded room. "… to… you know…"
Robin smiled. "I'm sure we'll make do," she whispered, followed by a ruffle of fabric as she pulled her shirt off over her head. Luffy gulped, shifting as he struggled to restrain the burning pressure in his trousers.
It was too dark to even see any details, but then he felt the cool press of her bare skin against his body. He could feel the soft points of her nipples against his chest.
Luffy tried to say something, but somehow all that came out was an incoherent murmur. Robin was completely topless and pushing against him. The concept was mind-blowing.
She smiled, her lips hovering next to his with tentative care. They had kissed and experimented with their new relationship, but ever since that first night they hadn't had sex. Luffy could feel the tension in the air, but it wasn't weird and magical anymore. There were expectations and nerves, and suddenly Luffy felt more lost than he had ever been.
Robin must have picked up on the slight hesitation. "Are you ok?" She asked quietly, gently stroking his shoulder.
"Yeah…" he murmured in a sheepish whisper. "I just… I just don't want to do anything wrong…"
Her grin widened, moving the distance to kiss him with such a soft intensity that it took his breath away. Her arms were around him, soft and comforting. "You won't," Robin promised, gently wrapping his hands in hers as she guiding his groping fingers around her body. "… Just take it slow, and steady… and don't be nervous…"
There was a click as her belt unbuckled, followed by a light swoosh as her trousers dropped to the floor. Robin slowly guided Luffy's hands downwards. "Keep it smooth. You don't have to know everything straight away; just stay calm and… and…" Robin gasped. "… learn…"
They were so close their bodies squished together. Robin's hands were everywhere, scratching along his back as she pushed his jacket off slowly. The ship creaked quietly as it rocked on the gentle midnight waves. Their bodies tensed and convulsed together, in gentle, rhythmic motions.
"You don't have to do anything," Robin whispered in a wheezy breath, meeting his eyes as her hand pushed through the hemline of his trousers. "… We're doing it together…"
The air snapped. Luffy's fingers caressed her inner thigh, before easing through the warmth of her sex and pushing into her body. Robin convulsed with every twitch, gasping around him as he moved pushed forward with regular, steady strikes. Her hips moved in rhythm with him, as Luffy pressed two fingers further into her. Her body was warm, muscular and tight, and the smell of her sweat nearly drove him mad.
In that moment, there was absolutely nothing in the world but her. His head was spinning, but he was completely focused on every motion and every sensation. The blood roared through his body like fire and his heart pounded like a jackhammer, but that was still overwhelmed by tastes and feelings flooding through his body.
Robin groaned weakly as he kissed her neck tenderly, his hands still moving inside her with steady intensity. Her body was sweating madly, even despite the cool sea air. Her breath was short and choppy, while her groping hands finally pushed Luffy's trousers downwards. Both her legs wrapped tightly around his waist, while Luffy's hands grabbed her from behind to lift her off the ground. They spun around, and Robin's back pressing her against the wall.
Luffy felt like solid muscle. His abs were as well-defined as stone, and his biceps held her firmly in place. She was more than happy to let him take the lead, while Luffy's movements quickly became more and more confident.
"I can promise something…" Robin muttered in a sultry whisper. "… the second time is always better than the first…"
Even in the darkness, she could feel his grin as he pushed her against the wall. The wood creaked.
Robin had been bit tipsy from drinking, but she was absolutely giddy from adrenaline and exhilaration. Luffy made her feel like a teenager again. He was the only person who could put her completely at ease and make her truly smile. Every muscle was more relaxed than it had ever been as Luffy pressed towards her, and, with a breathless moan, their bodies squeezed together.
She didn't scream, mostly because but her lungs could barely breathe. He was inside of her smoothly, thrusting forward in steady strikes as her whole body meshed around him. Robin's eyes bulged in breathless bliss, while Luffy gasped and wheezed with the overpowering feeling.
Time didn't matter. Robin honestly wasn't even able to keep count. The pace seemed to increase into an infinite crescendo so intense it was indescribable. While the rest of the ship slept, Robin and Luffy were snuggled away at the back of the storage room, nestled into crates and barrels as their bodies writhed together as one.
It wasn't a climax. The word didn't do it justice. It was more like soaring into the sky, higher and higher, and then finally breaking into orbit. Their bodies convulsed together in raw, primal bliss that left Robin a dripping puddle of heat and nerves, but she didn't care because they were caught in a timeless moment of ecstasy. She blacked out for a moment as the whole world collapsed around them.
Her whole body shivered as she panted breathlessly, trembling from the phantom orgasm that still danced through her nerves. It took nearly a minute before her body started working again, blinking repeatedly as she tried to process her surroundings. The only thing she was aware of was Luffy, lying on top of her in a sagging, wheezing heap.
When Robin first decided to tag along with the crew, she had had no intention of ever taking a teenage lover. Now, it seemed like the best decision she had ever made.
Her body blazed with sudden, furious desire as shot forward, kissing Luffy passionately as their lips squelched together and their tongues roamed each other's mouths. Luffy's eyes widened in shock with her intensity as Robin pushed him backwards. He landed on his back on the ground, with Robin draped over him without breaking their kiss.
Their naked bodies squirmed together on the ground, while Robin slowly straddled his waist. Her tongue roamed across his chest as Luffy kneaded her breasts. Their bodies were still burning with lust for each other, and they weren't done.
Hours later, Robin and Luffy were left gasping weakly on the ground next each to each other. Their bodies were soaked in each other's sweat and juices, but neither of them cared. Dawn would be coming soon and they need to move, but at this point neither of them could walk straight.
Hell, neither of them could even think straight.
Luffy was panting as he twisted his head to look at Robin. The raven-haired woman was lying limply on the floor, hair spilled over her face, as she gasped for breath. He was so close that he could see every bead of sweat dropping down her body. Luffy gulped weakly.
The first time had been so exhilarating and overwhelming he hadn't properly appreciated it. This time, he had known what to do, they had been more comfortable together, and it all been less mind-blowing and more intense.
"You're right," Luffy gasped with a weak nod. "The second time is definitely better."
Robin was grinning as she rolled over. The exhaustion left them so shattered that they wanted to collapse and sleep for days, but their hearts were still fluttering. "Do you want to know a secret?" She asked with a playful smile.
"What?"
Her grin widened. "The third time is always better than the second."
The next morning arrived sluggishly. Fortunately, everybody had been deep asleep last night and nobody heard a thing. Robin said that she went to bed late and woke up early to research the Poneglyphs, and nobody noticed that she was wearing the same clothes as last night. Luffy said that he had spent the night sleeping on deck, in his special seat. Nobody noticed that they were both walking funny, or that they both used the shower at the same time. Most of the crew had too much of a hangover to pay much attention.
The whole island had an air of quiet peace. Even as the outpost woke up for another day of bustling trade, the Going Merry was almost serenely quiet.
It was noon when Wiper walked slowly up the gangplank. Zoro was on deck, working out as he did pull ups from the mast. The swordsman looked at the raider curiously.
"Had fun?" Zoro asked nonchalantly, groaning as he pulled himself up on a bar. His feet were weighted down with cannonballs to make it more of a workout.
Wiper just grunted, but he stared behind at the giant golden bell glinting in the sunlight. "I guess this is your journey over, then," Zoro said casually. "I mean, you've found bell again. Last wish of Calgara was to protect it, and all that."
The raider paused. "I've just shared a drink with the descendent of Noland," Wiper muttered quietly. "I think Calgara's will is fulfilled."
Zoro looked at him quietly. If he had been anyone else, Zoro would have sworn that there were tears swelling in Wiper's eyes. The angry, violent raider was smiling as he stared at the magnificent bell.
"I'm just really, really happy that I got to be here," Wiper admitted softly. For once, the berserker looked almost at peace.
The swordsman smirked, dropping to the ground. "What now, then?" he asked curiously.
Wiper shrugged. "Well, I guess I could stick around for a bit," he said, with careful non-commitment.
"Even if your dream is already fulfilled?"
There was a burst of laughter from ship. Wiper turned to watched Aisa laughing as she played in the tangerine trees, chasing after Carue happily. Wiper stared quietly for a couple of seconds.
"I suppose I'll have to find a new dream now," he muttered under his breath. Zoro grinned, and the two of them spent the day arguing, sparring and training together in a friendly rivalry.
Nami panted as she swirled her blade around, her nimble fingers adjusting the controls for the Dials in the pommel as the iron cloud swirled around her like a whip. The navigator was wearing a tight black training top and shorts, her hair tied upwards in bun as she trained; dancing and slicing the air with agile grace.
She was definitely getting better. Nami wasn't an amateur with a sword anymore, and she was just starting to develop her own fighting style. Zoro was still better, of course, but Nami had fast reflexes, good instincts and a lot of agility. She had yet to prove a formidable challenge to the swordsman, but with her cloud sword she was definitely getting close.
The entire crew had devoted themselves more to training. There was no verbal agreement, but it seemed like everyone had just decided independently that they needed to get stronger. Zoro and Wiper were sparring near-constantly, while Chopper was brewing Rumble balls for Usopp. Even Conis had gone around asking every single member of the crew, including Nami, if they could help teach her how to fight. They had all agreed.
Nami's muscles ached slightly as she dove and spun around with her blade, the iron cloud spinning around her like a whip. Her concentration was solely on every movement, every step, as she cut down hundreds of enemies in her imagination. Strangely, in her mind's eye, her invisible foes all looked like Marcus.
"Hey," a quiet voice greeted, shaking Nami out of her focus. "Can I join you?"
Nami flinched as she turned to stare at Vivi, staring towards her with a quiet smile. The princess was wearing a long blue dress and an orange jacket covered with yellow stars as approached Nami. The navigator smiled slightly woodenly.
"Alright," Nami muttered, feeling her body tense. "I suppose we can't avoid each other for ever…"
Vivi winced slightly. Nami dropped out of her stance and looked at her expectantly, while Vivi bit her lip hesitantly. "Do you want to spar?" Vivi asked after an awkward silence.
Nami nodded, lifting her sword upwards. Vivi quietly drew her Peacock Slashers, twirling the blades around her fingers lazily. Vivi's old Slashers had been destroyed by Marcus in Mock Town, Nami recalled, but she must have had Usopp build replacements at some point. Her new weapons of choice were larger, heavier and sharper; dual chakrams of polished steel suspended by a finely crafted metal chain.
The two girls dropped into a fight stance, walking around each other quietly. Somehow, it was much easier to talk when they were sparring. It was less complicated.
"Be careful," Nami warned, hoisting her large cloud sword upwards. "This sword has quite a long reach."
Vivi frowned. "You realise that I'm made of sand, right?" She asked with a smile. "You can't even touch me with—"
As quick as flash, Nami lunged with her sword. The blade extended into a bat of heavy white cloud that swung towards Vivi. The princess never even reacted as the cloud lightly swatted her over the head.
"Ow!" Vivi exclaimed, as Nami smirked. She looked confused. "But how…?"
"I might have made some improvements," Nami explained smugly. It was more accurate to say that Wiper made them, but that wasn't important. She hoisted up the sword proudly; the blade was still solid white but the bulky pommel had been retrofitted with a lighter, two-handed handle. She had so many modifications planned for her new sword. "This is the Clima-Blade now. It still uses an Eisen Dial to shape the blade, but I've altered the density a bit. I've added Seastone into the cloud, which means that it will paralyse any Devil fruit user it touches. Not even a Logia could phase through this blade."
"Hmm…" Vivi muttered, tying her long cyan-blue hair into a pony tail. "Well, in that case I've got no guilt about doing this!"
She flicked out her hand, and instantly a wave of sand exploded from her fingertips. Nami slammed her sword out, but she was too slow. The surge of sand nearly took Nami off her feet, but she recovered quickly and lashed out with her blade. Vivi already disintegrated into the storm, spinning around the navigator.
"Too slow," Vivi chided, lashing out with a blade of sand from behind. Nami kept her composure fairly well, dodging the churning sand and striking forward with her sword, the edge forming into a skewer that shot at the princess.
She's a lot better at her control, Nami realised with a grin as Vivi dematerialised in a flash. Instantly, Nami realised why Vivi's new Peacock Slashers were heavier than the old ones; the metal chakrams spun in the sandstorm, slicing towards Nami in a furious assault of sand and steel. Nami barely managed to parry the spinning blades, but with the long chain Vivi could attack from any direction. The sand blinded her and seared at her skin, while the Peacock Slashers kept her constantly on the defensive. It was a combo that Nami barely managed to parry.
Still, Nami's swordsmanship was brilliant. She wasn't as strong as Zoro, but she was nimble and a lot craftier. Even despite Vivi's advantage, Nami didn't give her any chance to pause. Her feet skirted across the ground, lunging at Vivi whenever she reformed and predicting every attack with unnerving accuracy.
The two of them danced across the ground in a swirling storm of sand and cloud, gradually increasing in pace as they became more confident with the other's skill. Vivi probably had the edge, but Nami didn't give any ground easily.
A burst of laughter broke from Nami's mouth as she twirled. Vivi was a flash of blue hair in the storm of orange, but she was chuckling too. Every attack became more elaborate, less serious as the girls danced with each other.
"So…" Nami muttered after a while, as Vivi slashed her chains in an arc towards Nami's legs. The navigator easily skipped over the attack. "You ready to talk now?"
"Guess so," Vivi replied awkwardly, but neither of them stopped sparring. "It's just…"
"We've both got a crush on the same guy," Nami said bluntly, causing Vivi to lose her concentration and for Nami to land a strike on her shoulder. Fortunately there was no sharp edge on the Clima-Blade. "We both like Luffy."
Vivi hesitated. The sandstorm wavered slightly. "Yeah," Vivi muttered with a gulp. It had been hanging over them since Skypiea, and it was awkward. "That's pretty much it."
Nami nodded, forcing herself to stay calm. "Right." Nami waited for Vivi to recover and the spar to begin again. Nami glanced at her best friend curiously. "For how long?"
"Since Alabasta," Vivi admitted, focusing firmly on every swipe and parry and not on Nami. "Luffy is just… he's always there for me. Whenever I need him, he's there, and he just…" She paused. "And I just want to be there for him."
Nami swung her sword in a light swipe. "Yeah, I get it," Nami sighed. "I really do."
It had become harder and harder to hold back her feelings for her captain. Nami found herself reflecting on absolutely everything he did and realising how much she appreciated him. She loved the dumb way he cheered everyone up, she loved the way they would argue, and she even loved the way he would pester her gently as she was mapmaking. There had been several nights when he would just sit next to her, peering over her shoulder as she sat craned over her desk. Whenever Nami fell asleep working, she would always wake up with a blanket around her.
Nami knew now that she loved Luffy. She had never known love before, she had never even had a boyfriend before (all those pirates she seduced for their money didn't count), but she was become more and more certain with every passing day that she was in love with him.
And it was just made all the more difficult, because she knew that Vivi must feel the exact same way.
They exchanged a few half-hearted parries in silence for a while. "You know that you're my best friend, right?" Nami said finally.
"Yeah," the princess smiled softly. "You're mine too."
"We shouldn't be fighting like this… I really don't want to lose you." And I don't want to lose Luffy either, Nami added silently. "It's…"
"It's not up to us," Vivi said quietly, as the sandstorm vanished. Her body rematerialized and absorbed the swirling sand. "We can't go on like this and we can't just treat Luffy like… like he's some object labelled 'boyfriend'. It's disrespectful to him, and is disrespectful to us."
Nami lowered her blade. "You're right," she agreed with only a touch of reluctance. She had been thinking a very similar thing, but she never liked where she knew this conversation was heading.
"We're going to have to tell him how we feel," Vivi continued with a twinge of nervousness. "Otherwise we don't have any right arguing between ourselves."
"You want to go up to him and say 'Oi, Luffy - we both have a huge crush on you, so you've got to decide between us'?" Nami asked sarcastically.
"Well, no," Vivi conceded. "We've got to be more subtle than that."
"Luffy's still an idiot," Nami argued dryly. "If we have to wait for him to pick up on the signs then we're both going to die alone."
Vivi giggled. "So we'll have to figure it out," she said with a sigh, smiling at Nami. It felt much better to joke about it than strew over it. "But we're still going to have to do something."
"Yeah," Nami agreed with a smile. "It is his choice as well." Her voice sobered slightly. "But the problem is, even if we promise to stay friends and be nice, this still makes us rivals. I really don't want to have to compete with you, Vivi."
Vivi shifted uncomfortably. "I know," she said uncertainly, biting her lip. If either of them had been willing to concede, then there wouldn't be a problem. Vivi knew that she should put her friendship first, but at the same time she would forever doubt herself if she just rolled over. Vivi really didn't want to have to doubt herself anymore. "But is there any other way?"
"Suppose not," Nami said with a nod, walking over to her best friend and extending her hand. "So, we're agreed?"
Vivi shook it firmly. "Yes," the princess said, more confidently than she felt. "Luffy decides."
Luffy watched the waves washed lazily against the shore as he held Robin's hand lightly. "So…" Luffy muttered. "Tell me about these Poneglyphs?"
Robin hesitated. The last time anyone had questioned her about the Ancient History, it had been nearly a decade ago when she had been dating a young sailor, and she had confessed about her past. She later found out that that young man was actually undercover for one of the World Government Cipher Pols, and he had seduced her in order to interrogate her about her knowledge of the Poneglyphs. Later, he tried to assassinate her. Ever since then, Robin had never shared her history with anyone, not even people she thought she could trust.
Luffy must have sensed her discomfort. He didn't push the issue, but he just stroked the back of her hand gently. "Hey," Luffy said happily, picking up a rock as he changed the subject with an endearing lack of subtlety. "Look at how far I can through this stone!"
Robin smiled as the stone went shooting off into the distance, and she snuggled into Luffy's shoulder as they watched the sunset together. Luffy knew she was hiding something from him, but he never pushed her for it. It wasn't that he didn't care, he just knew that Robin didn't like talking about it. As far as he was concerned, if it hurt Robin to say it then he never needed to know.
She loved for it. She absolutely and totally adored him for it.
Deep down, Robin knew in her heart that it would never last between them. Sooner or later, the government would track her down and they would hurt anyone, everyone, if it meant they could to get to her. Eventually, Robin knew that she would have to run away to protect them. She was the 'Devil Child' after all; everyone around her was cursed by mere association. If there was one thing that her childhood had taught her, it was that everyone who loved her, died.
Even so, Robin found herself cuddling up to Luffy, watching the sunset as she tried to pretend that perhaps this time would be different.
The minutes passed by a comfortable silence as the water lapped around their ankles. The moments they spent together were so relaxed, so comfortable that she never wanted them to end. Robin felt herself start to drift off as she stared at red sky, but eventually she had to move.
"We should get back," she muttered sleepily.
Luffy yawned and stretched out. "Alright," he agreed tiredly, groaning as he pulled himself up.
They walked hand in hand across the beach, but it was only when they got closer to the docks that they let go of each other for fear they'd be spotted. Robin wasn't quite sure why they were still keeping their relationship a secret, to be honest; she was rapidly reaching a level of comfort where she didn't care what anyone else thought.
"How much longer are we going to stay on Jaya?" Robin asked curiously, after a long pause. The hectic outpost was quickly coming into view. They were heading along the edge of the cliff, towards the giant cut-out of a mansion picture that was Cricket's half of a house.
Luffy shrugged. "Don't know. Zoro wants to stay here a bit longer, though."
She frowned. The swordsman handed left the ship for the entire visit. "Really? Why?"
He just shrugged again. "I never asked," he explained simply.
He really doesn't mind, Robin thought quietly, glancing at Luffy curiously; he just trusts his friends without any need for explanation. As far as Luffy was concerned; if no one wanted to tell him then he really didn't need to know. Luffy's faith in his crew was absolutely infallible; he just assumed that they would always have their reasons. If it had been Robin, she wouldn't be able to rest without some sort of justification.
As they approached the makeshift harbour, they saw two figures standing by the gangplank of a large galleon. The tall, muscled figure with a chestnut on his head was absolutely unmistakable.
Luffy grinned. "Oi! Mr Chestnut head!" He shouted, waving happily at Montblanc Cricket. "Hey!"
Cricket turned to glare at him, slightly annoyed at interruption to the conversation he had been having with the other man. The Boss of Saruyama Alliance was wearing a dark grey suit now, even if his collar unfastened and he wore it with a general disregard for tidiness. Cricket took a breath of his cigarette.
"That's not my name, brat," Cricket grunted, but without any real anger. He liked Luffy, after all. "You enjoy the party last night?"
"Yep! It was great!" Luffy said brightly, with only a slight glance at Robin. The statement was true enough, but after-party had been much, much better. "Thanks so much!"
"Glad to hear it. You're welcome hear so long as I have any say. My door is always open for men that pursue their dreams," he said with a smile. Despite his gruff attitude, Cricket was still a romantic at heart. "You heading off, then?"
"Eh, I'll probably hanging around for a few days," Luffy said with a shrug. He glanced towards the man that Cricket had been talking to curiously. Robin stayed quite few feet away, observing coolly.
Cricket snorted. "Ah, this is Professor Hamilton," Cricket introduced gruffly. "We were just talking about moving the golden bell somewhere else for restoration. He's with the Royal Society for the Preservation of History in the Grand Line."
Robin frowned. Luffy made a face. "Huh, that's a really long name."
Professor Hamilton just smiled. He was short but lean man, wearing a tweed jacket and large horn-rimmed glasses. He was young, fairly handsome in a scholarly sort of way, and there was just a line of grey in his dark hair.
"Yes," the historian agreed, extending a hand covered in a clean satin glove. His voice was educated, unaccented and softly spoken. He had a very light handshake. "We're working on it."
Robin took a step forward cautiously, staring at Professor Hamilton coolly. "I'm sorry, Professor," she asked in a deliberately polite voice. "Where did you say you were from again?"
The man smiled softly. "The Royal Society for the Preservation of History in the Grand Line."
There was a pause. Robin kept her expression completely neutral for a few seconds, and then she smiled and nodded slowly. "Oh, of course."
They were both completely polite as they shook hands. It would have a took a very keen eye to notice that Robin's smile was somewhat forced, and there was a flicker of discomfort across Professor Hamilton's face.
Luffy looked between them curiously. "Huh, I thought you would both know each other." He scratched confusedly. "You know, since you're both historians and all that."
Professor Hamilton's smile was fixed in place. "Well, I don't really get out much," he explained. "I'm really more of an academic, whereas the esteemed Nico Robin is—"
"An archaeologist." Robin's voice was sickly sweet. "Why, I'm flattered that you've heard of me?"
"But of course," the historian replied smoothly. His eyes glinted for a second. "The famed scholar from Ohara is really quite famous in my circle of colleagues."
She paused before replying. Luffy had the distinct impression that there was some hidden conversation going right over his head. He looked at Professor Hamilton again. Compared to the bulk and muscle of Cricket, the historian was a stick insect.
"Huh." Robin smiled again. "I would so appreciate meeting your colleagues."
Professor Hamilton's smile widened slightly. "And it would be my honour to introduce you," he said slickly, before turning back towards Cricket. "Please excuse me, Mr. Cricket, but it seems that I really must be going. This day has just flown by, it seems."
Cricket frowned. "Alright," he muttered with a shrug. "We'll finish up later."
"Of course." Professor Hamilton bowed respectfully, adjusting his glasses before turning around and walking away. Robin watched him go.
Luffy looked at her curiously. Her composure was absolutely perfect, but through his Haki Luffy could sense that she was troubled about something. "Are you alright?" He asked quietly.
Robin smiled at him. She was very good at hiding what she was feeling with a smile. "It's fine," she muttered quietly, walking away slowly. "Go back to the ship. I'll catch up to you later."
Professor Hamilton didn't run. He didn't even walk quickly. His pace was calm, measured and collected as he headed outwards from the beach. He then proceeded to do a lap around the outpost, pausing behind a corner to ensure that no one was following him, and then he went straight back towards his ship, taking care not be seen. Absolutely nobody in the outpost noticed him as slipped through the busy harbour.
The slender man jogged up the gangway of the large galleon with surprising agility, before dropping below deck and jumping down the stairs in a single leap.
He burst into the mess room with urgent haste. Inside, there were several men crowded around a circular table, playing poker.
"Guys!" Professor Hamilton announced to the stunned room. "We may have a proble—!"
There was click of door closing behind him, and the tap-tap-tap of high-heeled boots walking smoothly into the room. Professor Hamilton felt a cold shiver run up his spine, and he slowly gulped.
Nico Robin was also very good at not being noticed. Nobody spoke for a few seconds.
"Yeah, I think you do," Robin agreed as she glared at the room with folded arms. "'The Royal Society for the Preservation of History in the Grand Line' doesn't exist."
The men stared at her in stunned silence. Besides Professor Hamilton, none of them looked much like historians.
"What's she doing here?" A man demanded nervously. He was large, fat with bloated red cheeks, wearing a stripy yellow jacket and a pink hat. "She can't be here—"
"Quiet!" Professor Hamilton snapped.
"But she shouldn't be in—"
"Just be quiet!" Professor Hamilton ordered in flustered tone, before straightening his tweed jacket and turning towards Robin again. He forced a smile, while Robin glared at him suspiciously. "Ah, Ms. Robin." Professor Hamilton's voice was instantly smooth and composed. "How pleasant of you to join us. I'm afraid you must be mistaken, the Royal Society for the Preservation of History in the Grand Line is a very old and respected institution—"
"Oh really?" Robin interrupted sharply. She was sure to keep her distance, her body poised for a sudden fight. "How old?"
"I'm not sure," a man answered from the poker table. He was medium height, but stocky, with a heavily scarred face and a bald head. Unlike everyone else in the room, he sounded almost amused with the situation. From her position, Robin could see the poker cards he was holding - apparently he had five kings. "What day is it? I reckon is it must be at least a week by now."
Professor Hamilton winced slightly, glaring at the scarred man irritably. He just grinned in reply. "Ignore my companion, he has a poor sense of humour. It is a very venerable institution whose origins date back towards the founding of the World Government itself." His voice was pure silk; soft, cultured and reassuring. "We are dedicated to conserving historical relics across the globe. Why, the Royal Society of History in the Grand Line—"
"You missed out a bit," Robin interjected.
Professor Hamilton never missed a beat. "—the Royal Society for the Preservation of History in the Grand Line is—"
"You see?" One of the other poker players protested smugly - a tall man wearing a brown suit and a cowboy hat. "I told you that we should have picked a shorter name."
"I still say that we should have gone for an acronym," another argued, throwing some chips onto the table. He was short, stocky dwarf crunching his way through a bag of biscuits. "Something quick and bouncy that rolls off the tongue."
"You all said that my acronyms were too vulgar," the scarred man added cheerfully, looking at Robin brightly.
A vein pulsed in Professor Hamilton's forehead. "You guys really aren't helping here," he hissed angrily at poker players.
"Not trying to," the scarred man said with a wide grin, folding his arms as he lent back in his chair.
Professor Hamilton twitched as he turned back towards Robin. His voice had a desperate tone to it. "These are my Society colleagues, please forgive their appearances, Ms. Robin, but it has been a long journey," he said in a forced voice, clinging to the deception like a man frantically trying to scoop water out of a sinking ship. "This is Professor Daisuke…" He motioned to the fat, timid man. "… Professor Namami…" He pointed to the tall cowboy hat. "… Professor Dagmund." The short dwarf. "… and… um… Professor…"
"Bloodgrin," the scarred man said happily, extending his hand to Robin. "Professor Bloodgrin. Pleased to meet ya."
Hamilton groaned and rubbed his face exasperatedly. Robin stared at 'Professor' Bloodgrin in shock. The man grinned evilly, revealing several gold teeth. If there had been any police officers around, Bloodgrin would have been arrested on the spot. There was absolutely no possibility that a man with a face like that could ever be innocent of anything.
His face was marred by dozens of scars. One particularly long scar ran from the bridge of his nose to his temple, from a blade wound that had taken his right eye. He was also missing his left ear, and his head was completely bald. He had a face that looked like it had been designed specifically to be on a mugshot, but at the same time Bloodgrin had the type of primal aura that was normally only found on wild animals. Robin found herself feeling slightly uncomfortable just being in his presence. He was the type of person that could commit sexual harassment while sitting quietly in the corner of an adjoining room.
"Oh really?" Robin said slowly, looking Bloodgrin up and down. "And what are you a professor of?"
Bloodgrin's smile widened. It was a smile usually only seen on sharks. "Interpretive dance."
Hamilton groaned, taking off his horn-rimmed glasses and dropping them to the ground. "You're killing me here," he muttered tiredly, still glaring at Bloodgrin.
Robin carefully backed away. If things turned violent, she wanted enough space to use her powers. Bloodgrin still had his hand extended, but Robin didn't touch it. "Ah, don't be like that, love," he said cheerfully. "We're not going hurt you. As a matter of fact, our boss gave us specific orders that we weren't to obstruct or interfere with you or your crew in any way."
Hamilton was still staring at Bloodgrin. "Do you remember what else the boss said about her?" Hamilton growled angrily.
"'Course I do!" Bloodgrin protested. "He said under no circumstances were we to reveal who we really are to her." He paused. "Oops. My bad."
Robin never moved. Her eyes flickered across the five men, carefully assessing every detail. "You're not historians," she muttered coldly. "You're conmen. You're going to steal the golden bell." Her eyes flashed with uncharacteristic anger. "You're taking advantage of Cricket just to rob a piece of history."
Hamilton suddenly turned serious. All smoothness was gone as he stared at her soberly. "You are wrong," he stated in a much colder voice. "We are not here to rob history, we are here to protect it. It might have been under false pretences, but we were honest about our intentions."
"And why would you care so much about the golden bell?" She demanded suspiciously.
Hamilton shook his head, pulling off his satin gloves and the tweed jacket. Honestly, a tweed jacket, black shoes and horn-rimmed glasses. It was like he only had a vague stereotype of what historians looked like, but he had just dressed up anyways.
"We do not," he admitted. "We do not care about the golden bell at all. We are here for the Poneglyph."
Robin froze, her mind reeling. "You know of the Ancient History?!"
"No. You are the only one who can read the Ancient Language, and I honestly don't have a clue what it says," Hamilton said with a shrug. He might be skinny, but his arms were toned and well-muscled. He didn't look quite so harmless without the whole 'academic' act. "All I know is that the World Government does not want those Poneglyphs to exist. That alone is enough for us to fight to protect it."
The room was quiet. One by one, the men all stood up from the poker table and stood behind Hamilton. The air was still.
"We are going to protect the bell too, of course. We do not care about the gold," Hamilton said in a quietly firm voice. "We are going to pay to have the bell restored, and we are going to ensure that the true story of Noland the Liar and the golden bell is made such a big headline that not even the World Government will be able to quietly make it disappear. They are going to try and get rid of what that tablet says, eventually." His eyes were dark. "And when they do, we're going to slaughter every last one of them. Please do not underestimate our commitment to this cause."
"Why? " Robin growled, her eyes unblinking. Her hands were trembling slightly with the thought. He was a liar, she told herself firmly. No one stood up against the Government when it wanted to destroy history. "Why would you? "
"Because someday…" There was a quiet emphasis on the word. "… the World Government will be gone and then the people will want to know the truth about their past. We are here to make sure that the truth is still around for when that day comes."
"Got nothing to fear from us, love," Bloodgrin said with smirk. "The way I see it, we're on the same side."
Robin never moved. Hamilton smiled softly as he took a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it coolly. He slowly started to roll up his sleeves, revealing a crisscrossing, red tribal mark tattooed onto his left forearm, shaped like three diamonds on top of each other, with a circle in the centre of each. Robin's eyes widened. She recognised that symbol, even if the World Government refused to publish it.
"If you ever want an ally in your fight," Hamilton muttered quietly. "Then Monkey D. Dragon will be happy to answer the call."
Robin froze, eyes bulging in shock. Monkey D…?!
Author Notes:
Also, yes, I've introduced five new OCs in this chapter. I quite like them, and I think I've got a good story planned with them, but let me know what you think. Right now, I really want to get to the Water 7 arc, though I am debating whether I should add another shorter island in the gap. I won't be doing the Davy Back Fight Arc, mind, just because I've never liked that one.
Next chapter: 'Tribunal'…