Cursed Seas and Slashing Tides

Robin's Truth

At the highest point of Enies Lobby, two groups stood firm, their final confrontation imminent.

"CP9! Listen up! You can kill them, but it has to be in the Tower of Justice!" Spandam barked, his eyes flickering with fear as he glared at the Straw Hats.

'There's no way I'm leaving myself unprotected!' He thought, gripping the golden transponder snail tighter.

"You're about to witness the true power of CP9!" His confidence returned as he sneered. "And the authority to use the Navy's ultimate military force…the Buster Call!!" He raised the snail high, his fingers twitching in anticipation.

"Stop!! Do you have any idea what will happen if you press that!?" Robin's voice was sharp, her eyes wide with fear.

"Robin…" The Straw Hats tensed at her reaction, pain evident in her voice.

"With just one press of this button, I'll reduce your chances of escape to zero! Wahahaha! Does this bring back memories?!" Spandam taunted, reveling in her distress.

"It won't end that easily! Just stop it!!" Robin shouted, desperation creeping into her voice.

"Hm? You're quite bold." Spandam's smirk twitched into a frown.

"You've never seen a Buster Call firsthand. You just hide behind your subordinates, ordering destruction from safety! That's the only reason you can commit such atrocities!" Robin spat, her eyes burning with defiance.

Spandam's face reddened in anger. Just as he stepped forward, ready to strike her, the transponder snail suddenly flew out of his grasp, tumbling across the stone floor before coming to a stop near an 'unconscious' Franky.

"Aaah! What the hell!?" Spandam gawked in shock. CP9 remained still, already sensing the attack's source.

"If it's so important, you should keep it closer." Ryomen said, lowering his hand with a smirk. "Wouldn't want anything to happen to it."

Spandam turned, his fury now directed at him. "You idiot! Don't you get it!? There's no chance of survival for you! You've provoked powers beyond your understanding!!" His breath hitched as he tried to regain control of the situation.

"But why am I even telling you this?" His sneer returned. "You'll die either way! Might as well laugh while you try to fix your dismantled crew!"

Ignoring him, Ryomen turned to Robin, his expression softening.

"Robin, I get why you're scared. But pushing us away won't change anything." His voice was calm but firm. "I don't care what it takes—even if it costs me my life, I will free you from these chains."

His gaze locked onto hers. "Without you, a part of me would be lost forever! So tell me, how do you truly feel!?"

Robin's breath hitched. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

"…The Buster Call took away everyone I loved." Her voice trembled. "And now…it's aimed at all of you."

She clenched her fists. "No matter how kind you are, no matter how much you say you care…someday, the burden of my past will be too much. Someday…you'll betray me and cast me aside!"

Her voice cracked. "That's my greatest fear! That's why I didn't want you to come! If I'm going to die here anyway…I want to die alone!!"

Silence hung heavy in the air.

"Robin…" Ryomen's eyes darkened. "You will never be a burden."

"Wahahaha!" Spandam cackled. "That makes perfect sense! Dragging you around—who wouldn't see that as a nuisance!?"