"To survive thanks to continued happenstances… Your name certainly is fitting, Lucky D. Brynlee. Had Revolutionary agents not infiltrated the exact island where you were hiding, I feel as though you might not have flown under the World Government's radar for so long – pun unintended, of course."

Brynlee chuckled a bit but nodded in agreement. "It was an unexpected turn of events, for sure, but one I'll forever be grateful for. It not only guaranteed my protection, but also gave me the opportunity to grow much stronger. Thanks to them, I have a fair shot at actually living my life, now."

"But why not stay with them?" Robin asked, genuinely curious. "Why not join their ranks? I daresay you could have easily become one of their top officers in record time, and you would have gotten the opportunity to oppose the World Government in a much more direct manner as well. The Army is composed of highly wanted figures as well – even if you were to reveal your Lunarian heritage, I doubt you would have particularly stood out, in the grand scheme of things."

"That's true. And, quite frankly, I considered it for a very long time – years, in fact," she admitted. "Working alongside some of my dearest friends, aiding a great cause, fighting the World Government head-on, not having to hide who I am any longer… Tempting, of course." She then spread her arms, gesturing to their surroundings. "But look at where we are! At what we're doing!"

"Getting lost on an island rift with danger?"

"Adventure!" replied Brynlee, the brightness of her grin now matching one of Luffy's. "The thrill of not knowing what will happen next! The anticipation of what we might discover! The rush of adrenaline as we fight for our very survival! To discover secrets untold, to put our lives on the line in order to accomplish our greatest dreams! To live!" She swiftly took off her cloak, revealing her wings. "To be free to do whatever the hell I damn well please, because being born is not a sin, and I want to witness for myself the absolute greatness this vast, terrible, incredible world has to offer, still."

"… so you really are whom you pretend to be."

Brynlee paused, surprised. "You doubted it?"

Robin was staring at her wings, a bit aghast. "Knowing and seeing are two vastly different things. I didn't not believe you, but I did hold some doubts regarding your identity, since I had yet to see a single trace of the Lunarians' most… outstanding trait."

Brynlee was about to add something when a flash of light caught her attention – the reflection of sunlight upon a smooth surface. It took her a brief second to notice what it was, and she couldn't hold back her grin as she realized what it meant.

"Ah, that's fair," mused Brynlee. "I'll tell you later how I manage to hide them if you wish. But first, I believe something else takes priority."

"What do you… mean…"

Robin trailed off as Brynlee parted some of the thicker foliage blocking their way, revealing a very large, perfectly shaped cube made out of deep blue stone. Intricate carvings, most filled with moss, covered the entire surface, which lightly reflected the few rays of sunlight that managed to bypass the thick jungle roof.

"… did you know?" whispered Robin, almost reverently.

"Nope!" beamed Brynlee, pleasantly surprised. "But what can I say? I've got good luck."

Robin didn't even add anything, too taken aback by their unexpected discovery. Brynlee stayed back and watched as the older woman reverently began reading whatever was written on the Poneglyph, leaving her space. While infinitely curious, she didn't want to pry – she knew Robin's ability to read the Poneglyphs was a sensitive subject, after all.

Unfortunately, their peace was broken after a few minutes as an unexpected explosion echoed from the other side of the island – different from the volcanic eruptions that had already occurred twice so far. Brynlee frowned, unsure of what to make of it.

I know Mister 3 and Miss Goldenweek are supposed to be on the island, but that sounded more like Mister 5...

"Stay here," she instructed Robin, whose eyes had widened a bit. "I promised you that you would be free to do as you wish, and that we wouldn't involve you in our fights. So stay here, research to your hearts' content, and let us handle it. I'll see you back on the Merry, alright? Oh, and please keep this safe for me."

She hesitated, then quickly folded her cloak. She wouldn't be able to reach her crew in time unless she flew above the jungle. And, whoever their enemy was, she wasn't entirely worried – she'd simply claim to possess a Devil Fruit, which was rather believable, and her markings were hidden, too. They shouldn't be able to connect the dots so easily.

Robin mutely accepted the cloak, seeming somewhat… hesitant.

"If you're worried about returning alone—"

"No, I'm fairly confident in my ability to defend myself," she assured quickly. "But are you quite certain the rest of your crew won't turn on me should I fail to assist you?"

"Pff, no way," snorted Brynlee, rolling her shoulders a bit. "I told you: do whatever you want to do. That's what living's about, you know? Anyway, stay safe. I'll come back to find you if you're not back to the ship once everything's dealt with!"

Before Robin could add anything, Brynlee spread her wings and took off. She easily breached through the thick jungle foliage, the warm breeze whipping her face, and she took a moment to appreciate the incredible bird view. But then, another explosion echoed further away, and she immediately flew in that direction, hoping that whatever trouble had found her crew wouldn't be too much of a hassle to handle.

I was making progress with Robin, too! Damn those guys!