Chapter 26

30th of February 1522
Whiskey Peak

Gecko Moria watched Robin enter the office from the shadows. His Haki, slowly improving, had sensed her presence when she steeped foot on Whiskey Peak through the Shadows he had let on the island. At first, he had thought a pirate of considerable might - well, for the very beginning of Paradise - had arrived on Whiskey Peak, prompting a predatory desire to harvest his shadow. But as she stood before him, he realized the reality was far, far more enticing than his initial assumption.

Her cerulean eyes swept the room with a mix of curiosity and caution, finding nothing of note. The purple corset hugged her figure, enhancing every contour and teasing her flawless, pale breasts. Her coordinating miniskirt danced with each step. Cascading dark hair framed her beautiful face. Moria found himself captivated by her presence, his breath catching as an instinctual desire surged within him. She was irresistible - she certainly had the looks of a child of the Devil. He checked her status, the information flowing into his consciousness.

[Nico Robin]

Class : Archeologist Job : Miss All-Sunday
Fruit : Hana Hana no Mi

Dourikis : 654
Potential : S
Fate : SS

Miss All-Sunday? From Igaram narration of Baroque Work's structure, she had to be the partner of Crocodile. And this Miss All-Sunday was the elusive Nico Robin, uh? And…SS-ranked Fate ? Only Garp, Dragon and Princess Vivi had such a Fate. All had the will of the D. - Robin hadn't. Was it linked with the unknown reason for her having such a bounty when she had been only eight years old ? The scholars of Ohara had been accused of trying to find Ancient Weapons to destroy the world, but nobody who knew a bit about them or about the propension of the World Government to lie believed them. They had been rumored to be able to read Poneglyph, which one were strongly associated with the Mystery of D…even if it was a mere rumor in the New World, as nobody knew why.

But…SS-ranked Fate…Moria's crimson eyes drank in the sight, his breath hitching slightly as he felt a surge of primal longing. He wanted her. Moria's gaze locked onto hers, his crimson eyes gleaming with a mixture of fascination and carnal intent. She would be his, another rare jewel in his growing collection. His!

30th of February 1522
Whiskey Peak

The office was shrouded in shadows, the only light filtering through the narrow gaps in the heavy drapes. Where was this "Boss"? She scanned the room…But it was difficult to see. Her breath quickened slightly, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Every creak of the wooden floorboard beneath her feet seemed amplified in the oppressive silence. Suddenly, a pair of red eyes appeared out of the darkness, blinking right in front of her. Despite her extensive experience and usually unshakeable composure, Robin couldn't suppress the slight jump of surprise. She quickly regained her poise, chiding herself silently. How had she missed him? He was standing right in front of her!

The figure stepped into the light, revealing a man of striking appearance. His gothic suit was impeccably tailored, accentuating a tall and lean frame. His beauty was almost otherworldly, with features too perfect to belong to any human. His skin was as pale as alabaster, and small, sharp fangs peeked from behind his lips, adding a rough, predatory edge to his otherwise handsome face.

"Nico Robin," he greeted, his voice a smooth, chilling whisper that sent an involuntary shiver down her spine. She steadied herself, her mind racing. How had he recognized her? And not as Miss All-Sunday!

She scrutinized him as he sat behind the desk, noting every detail—the way his crimson eyes seemed to pierce through her, the predatory grace with which he moved, the aura of dark power that surrounded him. His long, pale fingers rested on the armrests, exuding an unsettling calm.

With a gesture of his hand, he offered her a seat in front of him. She eyed the chair briefly before deciding against it. Instead, she made herself comfortable by sitting on the desk itself, crossing her legs and leaning slightly forward. It was a deliberate move to assert control over the flow of the conversation.

He seemed amused by the maneuver, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Hello, handsome," she began, "May I know what you're doing in the office of my subordinate?"

His laughter echoed through the room, a strange and unsettling sound. "Kishishishi…"

Robin's eyes widened slightly. That laugh—it was one she should recognize, one she had heard in recordings of …her boss's …meetings with the other… Warlords a few years ago. Her mind raced. Could it be? No…
Fuck. It could not be! He did not look like him at all!

But…the shadows behind him seemed alive, shifting and writhing as if they had a mind of their own. The power matched perfectly. Could he... Could he change his appearance all along? Was he not as reclusive, in the Florian Triangle, as the rumors suggested?

Her pulse quickened as she continued, maintaining her composed exterior. "It is nice to meet you, Gecko Moria".

She decided to turn the question around, framing it in a way that highlighted her untouchable status. In any case, her cover was useless, and she did not feel true loyalty to Crocodile. "What can I do for a fellow Warlord of my boss?" she asked, a subtle reminder that she was a subordinate of another Warlord. The implication was clear: attacking her would be a breach to the unwritten rules regarding relationship between Warlords.

Moria's amusement didn't wane. In fact, his smirk deepened, and the shadows behind him seemed to dance in response. "Ah, using Crocodile as your shield, are we?" he mused, his voice dripping with mockery. "But you're not truly his subordinate, are you? You're the subordinate of Mister 0, an elusive man whose identity remains a mystery even to me. How could I know Mister 0 is crocodile? No, if his right-hand woman was to disappear, it would only be a mistake, not a deliberate plot against him. He would be disappointed, yes. But without a thought of revenge. And the unwritten rules between the Warlords are enforced by the Marine - are you going to go and complain to them?"

Robin's mind raced. But before she could respond, Moria's expression shifted, and he abruptly changed the subject.

"I have this irremediable feeling," he began, his voice filled with an unsettling conviction, "that for reasons I cannot yet reveal to you, I am a component of history itself. Fate is pushing me in a specific direction. I know I will have to become the Pirate King - or die trying."

Moria straightened up, his face approaching Robin's as she remained seated on the desk. He leaned in close—too close. She could feel his cold breath against her skin. Suddenly, he brusquely stood up and began pacing the room. Robin maintained her composed expression, not showing that she thought he might be mad.

He laughed.

"Do not look at me like that, Nico Robin. You accept the existence of Devil Fruits and other reality-bending occurrences—how can you doubt the existence of things like Fate?"

Moria turned sharply, closing the two meters that separated them in an instant. He stopped mere inches from her face, his crimson eyes boring into hers.

"It's not only for myself that I have these intuitions," he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "But also for you. I don't understand everything. The world is mysterious—and you, daughter of Ohara, are undoubtedly seeking to fill the gaps in the history of the Void Century. To uncover the truth behind the World Government's creation—to comprehend why they burned Ohara. And for some reason, you are fated not only to rediscover history but to take an active part in shaping it."

Robin wondered if he was mad. Or…He didn't look like Moria. He had used his Devil Fruit—centered around the concept of shadows—to change his appearance. Devil Fruit powers could indeed extend to unexpected realms; Doflamingo could fly using his string abilities. What if Moria wasn't deluding himself? What if he could also sense things with his Devil Fruit?

Abruptly, he changed the subject. "Tell me, Nico Robin," he said, his tone now contemplative. "Do you know why Kaido chose to make his home in Wano, and why Big Mom reigns over Whole Cake Island?"

Robin blinked at the unexpected question. "I don't," she replied.

"Neither do I," he admitted. "But I have a hypothesis. There are two Road Poneglyphs on those islands, one on each. And you, Nico Robin, know that these Poneglyphs are essential to becoming the King of Pirates. I have this... feeling, let's say, that one day I may need to collect them and understand their secrets."

Moria smiled seeing her twitch, the first genuine reaction, at the mention of the Poneglyph. So that was the angle to play…

Moria settled back into his chair, his eyes never straying from Robin's. "Allow me to be clearer," he began, his voice a velvet whisper.

"You are hunted like a dog by the Marines, denied peace, your home burnt in a buster call, and you don't even know why. You possess an insatiable hunger to unravel history, to decode the Poneglyphs. To know. Yet, you barely survive as a mere pawn of someone who cares little for you, someone who will never guide you to your true purpose and help you decipher history."

He leaned forward. "But I am different. I am a Warlord of the Sea, more powerful than the Crocodile you currently serve. My strength has surged since my awakening a few months ago. I command the seas, and I hold sway over entire kingdoms."

He scrutinized her, a sly smile curling his lips. "You and Crocodile believe you are on the verge of conquering Alabasta. But you and the royal family are merely marionettes dancing on my strings. The kingdom, like many others, is already mine."

Robin recoiled in surprise. What? How did he know? Was it…true?

He extended his arms, a gesture of grandiosity, his voice swelling with unshakeable confidence. "With me, you could unlock all the Poneglyphs, truly live, veiled from the prying eyes of the Government. Envision the freedom, the enlightenment, the power that could be yours."

Robin's heart pounded. Was this… a recruitment speech? Was he trying to recruit her?

He pierced her with his gaze, each word a deliberate cadence. "I will give you a month to make a choice. Continue existing as a hunted rat, distanced from your dreams, or join me and inscribe your name into history. In a month, you will have witnessed my power firsthand, with Alabasta as a testament. Then, you will see the inevitability of your decision."

Without another word, Moria melted into the shadows, his form dissipating into the darkness. Robin, her heart pounding, sprang to her feet and rushed into the corridor. She frantically searched for any sign of Selena or the green-haired swordsman, but it was as if they had never existed, their presence wiped clean from reality.

What…What was she going to do?

30th of February 1522
Alabasta

King Cobra sat on his throne, the weight of his kingdom pressing heavily on his shoulders. He was a man of average height, his face etched with the lines of wisdom and worry, his eyes reflecting the burdens of leadership. But, for once, he was smiling. Relief had washed over him as he heard the news that Igaram had returned safely, in secret, and sought an audience with him bearing both terrible and excellent tidings. Cobra dismissed his guards with a wave, aware that some of them might be compromised. The room emptied, leaving an expectant silence.

Igaram entered, followed by two cloaked figures. The loyal retainer knelt before the king. "My old friend," Cobra said warmly, rising from his throne. "Stand up." He moved forward and embraced Igaram.

"Igaram," Cobra began,"who are these people, and where is Vivi?"

Igaram straightened, his expression grave. "Your Majesty, the situation is dire. We have discovered that the mastermind behind the turmoil in Alabasta and Baroque Works is none other than the Warlord Crocodile."

"Crocodile? But the Warlords are invincible! How can we possibly fight against him?" Cobra's face paled, fear gripping his heart.

Igaram nodded. "It seemed hopeless, but fortune smiled upon us. Vivi and I had the luckiest encounter of our lives. We met another Warlord—Gecko Moria. He is nobleness incarnate."

Cobra's eyes widened in surprise. "Another Warlord? And he helped you? Explain, Igaram."

"Moria saved us from the assassins Crocodile dispatched," Igaram continued. "He saw the danger we were in and intervened. These two," he gestured to the cloaked figures, "are loyal subordinates of Warlord Moria. They are here to help us in secrecy to combat Crocodile's schemes."

At Igaram's signal, the two figures removed their cloaks. The first was a muscular man with a rugged demeanor and a fedora perched on his head. The second was a strikingly beautiful woman with long white hair, an ethereal pale complexion, and mesmerizing red eyes. Cobra found himself lost in her gaze, time seeming to stretch as he drowned in the crimson depths.

Shaking his head to clear the fog, but his eyes still focused on the white-haired woman's gaze, Cobra asked, "And where is Vivi?"

"She was injured, but not severely," Igaram reassured. "She is recovering on Moria's island and will return within a week."

Cobra's relief was palpable. "What a generous man, this Moria," he murmured, his eyes involuntarily drifting back to the woman's red eyes, losing himself once more in their allure.

"Igaram," Cobra said, breaking the trance, "tell me more about this Moria. Why would he help us? What are his intentions?"

Igaram nodded. "Your Majesty, Moria is a complex figure, but he has honor. A true leader. I believe he genuinely wishes to see Crocodile's schemes fail. Unfortunately, the Warlords are forbidden to confront each other directly. Since Moria was not personally attacked by Crocodile, he cannot act openly against him."

Cobra nodded, understanding the delicate politics at play. "Then what do we do? How do we fight an enemy as powerful as Crocodile?"

Igaram discreetly glanced at the two subordinates. Cobra understood.

"You may leave us now," he instructed.

The man, Capone Bege, grumbled, but the woman, Isabella, smiled enigmatically. As they exited, Cobra failed to notice something slipping from their shadows to his.

Alone with Cobra, Igaram leaned in, his voice low. "Your Majesty, I may have a plan to defend Alabasta. Well, a plan to make sure Moria can legally fight Crocodile…"

"Tell me everything, Igaram. We must protect our kingdom at all costs."

Cobra listened intently, and a flicker of hope ignited in his heart - as he mind wandered back to the memory of those pretty, mesmerizing red eyes.

Beware - minor spoilers.

As you guessed, I'm going for a monster themed/Halloween crew. For the moment (from beginning to the ellipse there is already stereotypical :

→ Werewolf
→ Witch
→ Female Vampire
→ Serial Killer
→ Mafia Boss
→ Mad Scientist
→ Surgeon of dubious morality
→ Ghost
→ Harpy
→ Beastman/Frankenstien Monster (Absalom)
→ One other (don't want to spoil Vivi's fruit)
→ Spider-themed villain

Any idea of any other stereotypical monster/horror character ?

I've got a character without a devil fruit I can transform…and Robin still does not fit in this nice hell !
So if you want Robin in sexy Halloween dresses, you better find ideas lmao.