Clover sighed as he saw the letter, or more accurately its shredded remains, fall to the ground and then were caught by the wind.
"Very well, I won't bother you with this anymore." Clover sighed as he got up and walked towards the mother and daughter duo.
"I'm very sorry, Olivia. If only I had known sooner…" Clover.
"Don't bother, she gave it her all, I bet it was hard but Robin, I'm really proud of you." Olivia patted Robin's head.
Robin continued to cry tears of joy at her mother's praise.
"I'm happy for you, Robin. You've reunited with your mother." Kaizo.
"You are his friend, right?" Olivia.
"Yup, the one and only, by the way your brother and sister-in-law are pieces of shit, and your niece an even bigger, apologize more to Robin for leaving her under their "care"." Kaizo.
"Oi, brat! What the hell are you doing?!" Clover smacked Kaizo's head.
"Ah! Senile old man are you deaf or blind?! Robin had a horrible childhood thanks to those idiots but it was her mother who put her in charge of said idiots, Robin is kind and loves her mother so I can't be mad at her but she needs to apologize properly!" Kaizo.
"You fool! You two should be focused on escaping!" Clover.
"Look around you! The whole island is literally being destroyed as we speak! Escaping stopped being a priority and now is just a necessity but what the hell matters when things have escalated this much? I'll still take Robin out of the island though, I promised that." Kaizo.
Olivia let out a light chuckle.
"FUFUFUFU… I'm glad Robin has a friend as good as you." Olivia.
"Yeah, I'm awesome." Kaizo.
"If you're that great of a friend, then I can entrust her to you. Take Robin and leave the island." Olivia.
"Mom, I don't want us to be separated no more! Please…!" Robin begged.
"Sorry, Robin. I still have unfinished business here." Olivia.
"Why…? What's so important that you would put your life on the line like this! To abandon me, your own daughter, alone again?!" Robin cried.
"My dream, Robin." Olivia.
Robin's eyes widened as she recalled Kaizo's words.
'A dream is what pushes us, Robin, it allows us to surpass our current limitations into who we want to be in the future. Sometimes you'll have to make hard decisions for the sake of your dreams, but it's the little things you get along the way what make you keep going. I may die on my journey to become the strongest in the world, but battle that I survive I'll thrill on it all the more. That's why dreams are so important, Robin.' Kaizo.
She didn't understood those words back then, but now, seeing her mother injured but with a resolute expression made her change her mind.
*RUMBLE* *RUMBLE*
A different kind of sound was heard and felt through the ground, but it wasn't the cannonballs exploding, it was our redhaired giant running towards our group.
"Saul! What are you doing here?!" Olivia asked in shock.
"Call it a sick twist o' fate. I fell to the sea and barely made it here, where Robin and Kaizo saved ma arse. But fugget about dat! The situation's really shifty, ya hafta get off da island!" Saul exclaimed.
"Marine warships are surrounding the whole island and some asshole activated a Buster Call, I don't think it'll be easy for you to escape." Kaizo.
"Kaizo is right, but that doesn't matter, we need you to at least let these two leave the island!" Clover.
"But Professor, mom!" Robin.
"Robin, if you're a scholar of Ohara then you should know it well. 'History' is an asset to humanity. I'm sure it will shed some light on the future that you'll be living. But you have to pass on the history that you've inherited from the past, otherwise it'll disappear. It's not that Ohara wanted to reveal history, we just wanted to hear the voices from the past and protect them!" Olivia.
She looked at Robin in the eyes and hugged her.
"Our research will end here, but even if Ohara perishes, we shouldn't give up on the future that you'll be living in!" Olivia smiled.
"I don't get it…" Robin said in between sobs.
"You'll understand one day." Olivia patted Robin's head.
"Now go, Saul!" Olivia pleaded her friend.
"Ya sure? Here I go." Saul.
He tried to pick Robin and Kaizo up but only the girl was caught.
"No! Please! Mom! I want to be with you… mom!" Robin said in between cries.
Kaizo looked as Saul tried to grab him but Kaizo just raised his hand as if asking for a bit more time.
"You know that you've screwed up big time. *Kaizo started saying to Olivia* She'll live with this trauma for the rest of her life. The least you can do, is tell her what you truly feel, stop being the person you've been these past years and be the mother you've always wanted to be!" Kaizo yelled with a few tears in his eyes.
A mother's warmth is something you'll ever experience once in a lifetime; in some cases you might not. It's a cherished feeling that goes beyond time for anyone who's experienced it, Kaizo lacked that, and he would remember the days he'd play outside and see a happy family on the streets or a mother at the park with her baby.
He may have wanted to become the strongest but if he had a chance to wish for something as a kid he would've wished for just a simple "I love you" every time he felt lonely, or a pat in the head to comfort him. Yet those never came.
Kaizo wants Robin to at least have some closure since he has a feeling that even with his help life will be hell from here on out.
Kaizo's words hit Olivia like a truck. She knows that she's not fit to even call herself a mother and that her greatest regret will always be not being for Robin throughout her life. She broke down as tears fell from her face and she looked at Robin.
"When you called me mom… it was the happiest I've ever been! Even when we made groundbreaking discoveries or found more obscure facts of history… none of that made me as happy as seeing you has made me! I'm sorry I wasn't the mother you deserved, Robin, but let me tell you a truth you'll never have to doubt!" Olivia.
She remembers all the time she spend with Robin and overlapped her appearance from before with the one in the present.
"From the very moment I knew I was pregnant, to this day… you became… my most cherished treasure… so, please… LIVE YOUR LIFE TO THE FULLEST ROBIN!" Olivia cried as loudly as she could.
Saul picked Kaizo and he hugged Robin as she was crying unconsolable.
"MOMMY!!!" Robin cried as Saul started to run towards the shore.
Olivia fell to her knees and gripped the grass as Clover patted her back in tears and saw the giant leave the town.
"They left." Clover.
"Yeah, but I feel that she'll be fine." Olivia cleared her tears.
"With a friend like Kaizo she'll be more than fine." Clover also wiped his tears.
"And just imagine of the friends she'll make in the future… I can't imagine how happy she'll be then." Olivia smiled as she looked at the sky.
"Let's go, Ohara's knowledge may be done, but we can't allow all of it to be for nothing!" Clover stated.
"You're right, let's go!" Olivia and Clover ran towards the tree of knowledge, for the last time.
(Back with Kaizo)
Saul was running through the island protecting Kaizo and Robin, the issue?
Well there's a few. For starters, the island is on fire, yikes.
Saul is a giant, which makes him an easy target for assholes with long range cannons, twice the yikes.
We combine these two things and the shitshow is still unbearable.
"Dammit! We're being shot from every direction!" Kaizo.
"Sorry lads! I'm too much of a target!" Saul.
"Zigzag or something to evade, like a zebra or something!" Kaizo.
"Can't me balance aint da best." Saul.
"Kaizo…*SNIFF* can't we return…?" Robin was wiping her tears.
"Robin, we both know that's not an option. The scholars, old Clover, your mother, they're putting their lives on the line for the sake of their dreams and our survival, dying here would be the greatest betrayal we could inflict them." Kaizo.
"But they're all gone now!" Robin.
"Be proud, Robin! *Saul spoke* Proud of ya friends, proud of ya mother, proud of dis island! All of them are honorable! Pass on da history of dis island someday, Robin! Ohara fought the entire world!"
"LOOKOUT!!" Kaizo warned.
A cannonball was directing itself towards Saul, the giant slowed his speed and barely missed being hit by an inch of the nose.
"Woah! Nice eye lad!" Saul.
"I know this is some comforting moment for all of us and all, but we have our rear in the fire so pay attention." Kaizo.
'Dammit! I can't deflect cannonballs with my strength!' Kaizo cursed internally.
"Dat ship 'as become a real eyesore, run towards da shore!" Saul placed both Robin and Kaizo down and ran towards the marine warship.
"Saul, wait!" Robin pleaded as Kaizo pulled her towards the shore.
Saul jumps and lands in front of the warship and grabs it from the front.
"I dunno what da justice is now… I'll just protect ma' friend!" Saul.
The giant started to lift the entire ship as Robin and Kaizo watched in awe.
"Be ready if ya make me yer enemy… 'cause I won't let ya get away!" Saul exclaimed.
Saul raised the entire warship over himself and smashed it against another. Without giving the marines a time to rest, Saul jumped towards another ship and started wrecking it.
Kaizo kept running towards the shore with immense awe in his eyes. This is the kind of strength he had cherished since the beginning, perhaps the One Piece world does have its perks.
"Kaizo, Robin, escape while you can! None of you can live while you stay on dis island!" Saul yelled amidst his rampage.
As they kept running, cannonballs strike a bit too close to Kaizo and Robin, pushing them due to the force of the explosion. As they get up, they look on the distance how the town and the Tree of Knowledge are now set ablaze.
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!" Robin yelled from the top of her lungs.
"Robin! Remember her last wish!" Kaizo yelled before Robin could move.
Remembering her mother's last words Robin ran again towards the shoreline. On their way there, they passed the refugee ship containing the other citizens of Ohara.
Needless to say that the two of them were less than welcomed.
Kaizo ignored their words but did double flipped the bird to them, Robin learned well from him since she sprouted an entire line of hands near the edge flipping them off all the same.
"Robin, I know I don't say this enough but I'm proud of you." Kaizo said with a fake tear on his eye.
"Keep running!" Robin yelled with moisture in her eyes.
Kaizo looked back and saw that Saul was catching up to them.
'Good, if we're lucky… the three of us could-' Kaizo.
"Ice Block Partisan!"
At the sound of that new voice, Kaizo looked back and saw giant ice partisans stabbing numerous parts of Saul's back and sides.
Kaizo's pupils turned into slits as he saw Saul fall, the responsible? A tall man wearing a blue coat and dark circular glasses with some sort of Afro that was barely hidden by the headband over his head.
"SAUL!" Robin and Kaizo screamed as the giant grunted in pain before repositioning himself to face the new threat: Kuzan Vice-Admiral of the marines and future admiral with the nickname of Aokiji.
"My, my, my (ara-ara-ara) … if an ex-marine gets in the way of the Buster Call, it wouldn't be good for us, would it?" Kuzan.
"Kuzan! Can you be proud of… this attack!" Saul said in rage.
The ships started to sail off Ohara.
"It's strange!!! You should know it as well!! This is just to create an "example"!! they're going to obliterate Ohara for dat purpose!" Saul.
"If this is for the greater good of the world, I have no opinion. The scholars are breaking the law after all… the thing called "Justice" changes its shape depending on where you stand. So, I won't blame you for your "justice." But if you get in my way… I can't leave you be!" Kuzan declared.
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
A new explosion was heard, but this one didn't came from the island, it came from the sea. With astonished looks on their faces: Saul, Robin, Kaizo and Kuzan saw the refugee ship lit on fire and starting to sink. From the transporter snail in Kuzan's arm, which was not muted, the reasoning came to light.
[WAAAAAAAH! The evacuation ship exploded!!!]
[It's a bombardment from a warship!!!]
[It came from Vice-Admiral Sakazuki's ship!!!]
'Sakazuki? I'll remember your name.' Kaizo made a mental grudge.
[If we're going to do it, do it thoroughly!! If any scholars had managed to sneak aboard then all of our efforts would've been for nothing!! Evil must be cut from root in front of Absolute Justice!] Sakazuki's voice was heard.
"That bastard…" Kuzan muttered at the unnecessary bloodshed.
"How could they…" Robin muttered with horror in her voice.
"Motherfucker…" Was all that could come out of Kaizo's mouth.
"Is dis a deed of the just?! Can you still be proud of yourself after this?!" Saul lunged at Kuzan.
For a moment, Kaizo could've sworn that Saul's arm darkened for a moment. He couldn't think too much about it though as he saw Saul's attack miss and Kuzan jumped back.
(Don't worry, there won't be any early Haki training, hate it or love it that's how I roll.)
"I wasn't going to overdo it like that fool!!!" Kuzan defended himself.
Saul didn't cared and rushed for Robin and Kaizo and carried them again.
At the sight of this Kuzan lunged at Saul and extended his right arm.
"Ice Time Capsule!!" Kuzan.
It only took him a small touch from the tip of his fingers to freeze over half of Saul's giant body. The semi-frozen giant fell but managed to protect the kids.
"Saul!" Robin yelled worried.
"Dammit, Logia Devil Fruits are bullshit!" Kaizo.
"Robin… Kaizo…RUN!!" Saul ordered.
The two of them flinched.
"Run wit all yer might…! If ya stay on dis island there's no way yad survive!" Saul.
"What about you!?" Robin.
"Dis is the end of da line for me, GO!" Saul.
"But Saul, your body!" Robin.
"Listen up you two and listen closely!" Saul ordered again.
Robin and Kaizo flinched.
"You'll be targets the rest of your life, life will become so unbelievable difficult that you'll feel like its hell, but no matter what, ya two must persevere!!! Persevere, because you two will eventually meet trusty companions, Nakamas, that'll aid ya in whatever you need!!! For the sake of your dreams, alongside the will of all of Ohara's scholars and mine as well, the two of you must live!!!" Saul spoke as his body was starting to freeze by a menacing Kuzan.
Kaizo and Robin dropped some tears but Kaizo smiled amidst them.
"When in adversity, you must always smile. Isn't that what you taught us, Saul?" Kaizo asked him with a grin from cheek to cheek.
"DERESHISHISHI!!! Dats the spirit!! Keep moving forward no matter what!!" Saul also laughed as he lunged at Kuzan again.
Kaizo grabbed Robin, who struggled to smile as she saw her other only friend get frozen, supposedly getting killed.
Kaizo and Robin entered the forest, evading the barrage of countless cannonballs and eventually arrived at their shore, only to be meet by despair in the form of a lazy iceman.
"Aww Crapbaskets…" Kaizo muttered.
Kuzan didn't moved, in fact, he actually placed the raft with all and provisions on the sea already, however, Kaizo felt the difference from his past demeanor.
"Absolute Justice *Kuzan started monologuing* sometimes drives a man insane… maybe it's because one tries so hard to retain their ideals, that they ultimately compromise themselves for the sake of others. Regardless of that this is what my gut tells me is right."
"I've decided to let you escape this island. The seed that Saul protected, I wonder what it'll become. It's none of my business to whom you hold a grudge to, me, the world government or yourselves, just be glad you two are still alive. Try to live an ordinary life in the future, as hard as that may be."
"I'll create a path that'll take you to safety from the marine warships, but it'll be only this once. But don't forget this: I'm your enemy, the moment you enter the government's sight, I'll be the first to be there to catch you." Kuzan stated as he looked at the sea.
"What's the catch Mr. Freeze?" Kaizo asked noticing that Kuzan spoke mostly in singular.
"I can explain my superiors about one survivor, but two are a crowd and my head will roll for it, one of you must leave and the other one will remain. I personally don't care which one is so, it'll be for you two to decide." Kuzan stated.
Robin and Kaizo's eyes widened at the realization, this was no different than saying "choose between yourselves who lives and who dies" kind of scenario, truly messed up.
Kaizo looked at Robin's eyes, she was losing it. The train of emotions and trauma that she's been on has made her enter a complete panic attack, she doesn't even recognize what she's seeing anymore. The world became bleak and her head spins with only the beating of her heart in her ears to add to that stress.
Kaizo can take this chance to get on the boat and leave, but we all know what he's planning on doing.
He carefully carried Robin, bridal style, snapping her from her panic attack. The girl looked at him in the eyes, his blue eyes softened and Kaizo smiled.
"Time to go, Robin." Kaizo smiled as he placed Robin on the raft and pushed it away.
"N-no! Kaizo!" Robin wanted to leave but the Raft was already on the seawater, touching it would mean weakening herself so she couldn't touch it.
"Robin, you're the only friend I've had in this dunghill of an island. Do me a favor and live well, remember that I'm the one who'll become the strongest in the world, I won't die from this!!! Keep on living Robin and lets meet once again in the glorious future that awaits us!!" Kaizo.
"Kaizo… KAIZO!!!!!!!!!!!" Robin could only scream those words as the current took her away the ice path.
"Laugh loud and proudly Robin, you have a beautiful laugh!! HAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!" Kaizo screamed and started to laugh.
Robin took a pause and looked at Kaizo.
*SNAP*
Something snap inside Robin's head and her face changed from one of despair to neutrality.
"DERESHISHISHI…!" Robin forced herself to laugh as her emotions started to overwhelm her.
"DERESHISHISHI!!!!!!" Robin laughed amidst her tears as she saw Kaizo's image get further and further away from her.
After seeing Robin leave the island, Kaizo took out a flask and drank from it.
"What is your endgame, Kuzan?" Kaizo asked.
"I'm not too sure about that myself, I'll talk to a good friend of mine once I return to the headquarters." Kuzan answered on a lazy tone.
"Just make sure you don't kill him, since killing friends is something you're good at." Kaizo spoke with venom in his voice.
"You're just a kid; you wouldn't understand anything about me." Kuzan.
"Don't have to, you've shown me enough for me to know that you're an undecisive, cowardly pawn that would commit innocent genocide for the sake of his orders." Kaizo took another drink from his flask.
Kuzan grabbed him from the collar and started to freeze his hand.
"That wasn't my idea, none of this is! Don't start piling all of this on me alone!" Kuzan said with anguish and anger dripping from his tone.
Kaizo didn't said anything, instead he just smiled at Kuzan before his pupils became slits again.
*SPLOOSH*
Kaizo spat the water he was drinking at Kuzan's face, thanks to how close they were and how agitated Kuzan was, he couldn't freeze the water before it made contact.
Feeling the immediate effect of weakening, Kuzan knew that Kaizo spat seawater, but his little introspection couldn't go beyond as he was immediately punched in the eye by Kaizo.
He dropped Kaizo and took his distance as he battled with the weakness he was feeling, Kaizo held the flask up high and mimicked a toast expression as he looked at Kuzan.
"A toast for all those scholars of Ohara and I served it with a punch from Saul, hoped you liked it." Kaizo.
Kuzan was already a mess of emotions from all the incident so he couldn't control himself for what he did next, a wave of cold erupted from the ground and enveloped Kaizo, turning him into a perfect ice sculpture in seconds.
Kuzan had just realized what he had done and looked at Kaizo's frozen expression: A defiant smile with some taunting, he had gotten the worse of Kuzan, a rise out of him, and in Kaizo's eyes that was enough of a 'Fuck You' to an unbeatable opponent.
Kuzan sighs.
"Garp-san… what type of justice is this…?" Kuzan asked no one as he started to leave the area.
The last seen from Ohara was a raging fire, consuming as much as it could from the land of Knowledge and Scholars.