Italics indicate thinking
Bold is for attacks.
Steve's POV
While Sanji had the others help him with dinner Nami and I worked on a plan for getting the gold.
"Alright everyone listen up!" Nami yelled "Let's talk about the plan for tomorrow."
Nami did a quick review of Noland's stories so that everyone was up to speed. When Nami put the mine and Robin's map of Jaya with the map of Skypiea we found we saw that the formed the shape of skull.
"Noland said the gold was in the skull's right eye." Nami told everyone pointing at the map "So this is where the gold must be."
"Tomorrow we'll split into two teams. One will go for the gold and the other will go and take the ship down the river." I explained "Luffy, Zoro, Rose, Chopper, Robin and I will go get the gold. Sanji you and Usopp will take Nami and the boat down the river."
We finished eating and started cleaning up. I could tell Luffy was already getting ready for his pre-adventure party.
"We should put out the fire; we wouldn't want to give away our position." Robin said.
"Did you hear that?" Luffy groaned at me "She wants to put out the fire."
"Now Luffy be nice, Robin's had a tough life. She wouldn't understand." I told him.
"Understand what?" The woman said glaring at me.
It's like she looking through my soul.
"If we're camping we have to have a campfire." Luffy and I moaned.
"You two are ridiculous! What about those priests or the guerrillas! Not to mention the beasts in the forest!" Nami yelled.
"Yo!" Zoro called moving some wood "This big enough?"
"No need to worry animals are scared of fire." Sanji told her as he held up a torch.
"Behind you!"
Behind the chef there was a pack of wolves. Chopper said the wolves were just looking to party with our bonfire with us. We lit the bonfire and started our usual celebration. I noticed Robin was off on her own not joining in on the fun.
"What's up?" I asked the woman taking a seat near her.
"There quite lively." She pointed out.
I looked over and saw everyone having fun dancing around the fire
"Yeah, we got a lot of unique personalities. We're all so different but so similar to." I said with a smile.
I archeologist stared off looking at the forest, she looked unfocused.
"Is something bothering you, why don't you join in on the fun?"
"I'm fine right here." She said with a smile.
"You even made friends with the sky wolves." We turned around and saw Gan Fall walking around.
"Are you sure you should be up?" Robin asked him.
"I'm sorry. I wanted to help you but I only ended up causing you trouble." Gan Fall said apologizing for no reason.
"What are you talking about? You saved Chopper, that's more than enough." I told him.
The old man filled us in and told us that Conis and her father were safe and far from the God, Eneru.
"I couldn't help but overhear. This place used to be part of Jaya, an island from your sea." The man said "But do you know why we call this Holy Land?"
We just stared at the man unsure of what to say.
He picked up and handful of dirt "Where you come from this is quite common, but up here it is unheard of. We call it Vearth; it is an object of admiration and worship, something important that people will fight over…so much needless bloodshed over naught but a few grains of this."
Eventually the party died down and we all fell asleep. Robin helped me put out the fire before she went to bed herself. I packed it in after Usopp got back from going to the bathroom complaining about seeing a ghost. I looked over from where I was sitting and saw Robin was already fast asleep.
She looks so peaceful.
LATER
When I awoke the only person up was Robin.
"Morning." I said rubbing my eyes "ready to get started?'
"Today should be interesting." She said.
"Yeah, I have a feeling today will be eventful." I told her.
Everyone else got up shortly after. Usopp and Chopper managed to get the ship off the alter after a few attempts, during the night someone had repaired the ship and it looked much better.
I don't know who did it, but as they say 'Never look a gift horse in the mouth.'
Sanji, Usopp, Nami, and the Sky Knight got onboard and started sailing down the river telling us they meet us at the rendezvous point.
"Let's get moving. We have an island to cross." I told Luffy walking into the forest.
"Let's go!"
We hadn't even entered the forest and Zoro was already walking off in the other direction.
"It's this way you dolt!" Rose said grabbing his wrist.
Everyone but Robin had no idea where we were supposed to go so we just followed her.
This is embarrassing. Six people in this group and only one knows where to go.
Along the way Luffy wanted something interesting to happen. He whined about not seeing the priest that attacked Chopper.
Did he forget we fought one of them ourselves?
"Does he really want something to happen that badly?" Robin asked.
"Probably, he's always looking for something to do." I said.
"AHHHH!"
*HISS*
We turned around and saw a giant snake tearing down the trees to get to us.
"Oh Crap!" I yelled.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!" Rose screamed.
"It's huge." Robin observed.
No Shit!
"Run!" Luffy yelled laughing.
We split up to avoid the snake's bite. The teeth of the beast clamped down on a nearby tree and the poison worked like acid, melting a hole in the wood.
"Don't touch the poison!" Zoro yelled.
I swung up into a tree to avoid the snake and looked down and saw Rose had passed out on the ground and the snake was looking right at her.
"Sis get up!"
The snake went to wrap him tongue around her. An arm grabbed rose by her jacket and pulled her away from the monster.
"Gotcha!" Luffy pulled Rose to him and slung her over his shoulder.
The snake ran after the other members of my group, splitting us up. I looked down from the tree I was in and saw Robin on the ground. I jumped down to her level. I must have spooked her because she gasped when I landed.
"Sorry about that." I said "have you seen anyone else?"
"I'm afraid not. Where not too far from where we were when that that thing attacked. Should we wait here or keep going and regroup later?" she asked.
"Let's keep going. Zoro won't be able to find his way back here anyway. I saw Luffy run off with Rose so he and Chopper will have to figure it out themselves." I told her.
We headed out for the ruins where the gold was supposed to be. Along the way we made small talk. I told her about my adventures in the East Blue from before our paths crossed. Robin was quiet like always not revealing anything about herself while I told my stories.
"You as mysterious as ever Robin." I remarked "Here I am telling you my life story and you won't even tell me where you're from."
At the mention of home she tensed up so I made an attempt to recover.
"Not that mysterious is a bad thing. I actually find it very attractive."
"Is that so?" She said raising an eyebrow.
She responding, it's a start. Time to step up my game.
"Yeah I actually find a lot of things about you attractive. Your personality, your intelligence, and your body. You are very appealing women Miss Nico Robin." I said dishing out a spree of compliments.
"You not too bad yourself." she answered.
Yes!
I felt my face light up and decided it was time for me to make a more aggressive move.
"What's say in the next place we stop I take you out for dinner or something? You know like a date." I said with my finger crossed.
"No."
Huh…WHAT!
"Well this is awkward… Do you mind me asking why not? Is it because I'm younger than you?"
"Actually I very much attracted to younger men." She paused "I'm just not looking for a relationship right now. Maybe sometime in the future."
There's still hope!
"Then I accept your challenge."
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"I will convince you to go on a date with me. I swear it."
?'S POV
"Well my Lord how many people do you think will be left?"
"In three hours exactly six people will be left standing."
Rose's POV
Uhh what happened? Last thing I remember was seeing that giant python.
"You're up," I heard Luffy say.
I opened my eyes and saw that he was carrying me on his shoulder.
This is so embarrassing.
I wriggled free of his grip and dropped to the ground. I composed myself and asked him what happened while I fixed my jacket. He said we got separated from the others when the snake attacked.
Great that means Zoro's probably by himself. He'll be lost without me.
Luffy started singing as we walked around trying to find our way to the gold. I heard a strange noise in the distance.
Was that a goat?
Luffy turned around and punched a man trying to attack me.
"Thanks Luffy. I owe you one." I told the captain.
We walked a little farther when Luffy suddenly stopped again.
"You again!"
"I thought I told you to leave." I looked over and saw a man who looked very much like the Guerilla that attacked the Merry when we first got up here.
"We gonna take care of this guy Luffy?" I started reaching into my jacket.
"You're asking for a fight girl?" The man yelled at me.
"Maybe I am! And my names not girl it's Rose! Come on let's dance!"
The man fired off a cannonball and I sliced it with one of my longer blades.
Good thing his using small ammo I can just cut it.
"You know." I said throwing a knife at the man "It's polite to introduce yourself to your dance partner."
The man took another shot which I cut in two.
"I'm Wyper, Shandorian warrior." The man skated past another volley of my knives.
"Rose, Strawhat pirate."
It was getting bothersome to fight this guy alone with Luffy watching, I'm a lady he should be helping me.
"Luffy help me out here…Luffy?" I looked back and Luffy was missing.
I heard a rumble not too far off but put it out of my mind.
I have to focus on taking out this winged weirdo.
AN
Thank you reading. Feedback is appreciated. Feel free to message any questions or concerns.
Till Next Time!