Chapter 18: The Calm After the Storm
The throne room of Ryugu Palace, once a place of celebration, now held a tension far different from the battle in the plaza. The Straw Hat crew, King Neptune, his sons, and the now-freed Shirahoshi were gathered. And in their midst stood Arata, the eye of a new and mysterious storm.
Luffy's blunt question hung in the air. All eyes were on the stranger.
Before Arata could answer, a commotion at the entrance drew everyone's attention. Boa Hancock swept into the room, her beauty causing the usual wave of stuttering and petrification among the male guards. Her eyes scanned the room, first landing on Luffy with a lovesick blush, then narrowing as she found Arata.
"So," she said, her voice cutting through the room. "You finally revealed yourself, Thunder God."
The title, spoken aloud by the Pirate Empress, sent a new wave of shock through the assembled crowd. "Thunder God?" Franky echoed, his metallic jaw dropping. "SUPER... enigmatic!"
Arata gave Hancock a slight, respectful nod. "Empress. The situation necessitated it."
Hancock turned her attention to the Straw Hats, particularly Luffy. "Luffy-sama, this man is Arata. He is the ruler of Amazon Lily, my... ally." She said the last word with a hint of reluctance, but also a thread of respect. "He possesses the power of the storm itself. I have witnessed it."
This confirmation from someone of Hancock's stature and power lent immense credibility to Arata's presence. The Straw Hats' curiosity skyrocketed.
"But why are you here?" Nami asked, ever the pragmatist. "And why were you protecting Robin so specifically?"
Arata took a deep breath. This was the moment. He looked directly at Robin, who was watching him with her sharp, analytical gaze, her arms crossed.
"My story is not a simple one," he began, his voice calm and measured. "For the last two years, I lived in isolation on an uninhabited island in the Calm Belt—Raijin Island, the Island of the Thunder God. It is a place where the sky is a perpetual, violent tempest. I survived there, and it was there I ate the Jishin Jishin no Mi."
"A Mythical Zoan," Robin stated, her voice soft but clear. It wasn't a question.
"Yes," Arata confirmed. "The Thunder God Fruit. It granted me dominion over lightning and storms. My survival there forced me to awaken and master all three forms of Haki, including their advanced applications."
A stunned silence met this declaration. To master all three Hakis, and their advanced forms, in just two years? It was a feat that seemed impossible.
"But that doesn't explain your interest in Robin-chan," Sanji interjected, his protective instincts overriding his usual swooning over Hancock. He was swirling with conflicted emotions, a cloud of love hearts and suspicion.
Arata's gaze never left Robin. "During my isolation, my spirit... connected to the world in a way I cannot fully explain. I learned things. I learned of the Void Century, of the World Government's crimes, and of the lone survivor of Ohara who carried the weight of that lost history on her shoulders." His voice softened. "I learned of Nico Robin. I learned of her journey, her pain, and her strength. I learned of Enies Lobby, and of the crew who fought the world to give her a reason to live."
He took a step forward, his words now meant for the entire crew, but his eyes still held Robin's. "I am not here to intrude on your Nakama. What you have is sacred. I am here because I have the power to ensure that what happened at Enies Lobby never, ever happens again. I am here to be a shield for all of you, but most especially for her, because the world will never stop hunting for the knowledge she carries. I offer my strength to your crew, not as a member, but as an ally. A guardian."
The room was utterly silent, processing his speech. It was a confession born of myth and power, yet underpinned by a startlingly genuine understanding of their history and their bonds.
Luffy, who had been listening quietly, his straw hat shadowing his eyes, finally looked up. He wasn't analyzing the politics or the power. He was looking at Arata's heart.
"You're strong," Luffy stated.
"I am," Arata replied, without arrogance.
"And you want to protect Robin?" Luffy asked, his tone serious.
"With my life," Arata answered, his voice absolute.
Luffy stared at him for a long, hard moment. The rest of the crew held their breath. Luffy's judgment in these matters was infallible. Finally, a wide grin split Luffy's face.
"Shishishi! Okay!" he said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. "If you want to protect Robin, you must be a good guy!"
The tension in the room shattered. Zoro grunted in agreement, a rare smile on his face. "Anyone who can give me a breath of air in the middle of a water fight is alright by me."
Sanji, though still slightly wary, lit a cigarette. "As long as your intentions towards Robin-chwan are pure, I suppose an extra layer of protection isn't bad."
The others voiced their own forms of acceptance, their trust in Luffy's instinct overriding their initial suspicion.
All except Robin. She had not moved, her expression unreadable. She walked slowly towards Arata until she was standing directly in front of him. She looked up, meeting his golden gaze.
"You know my past," she said quietly. "You speak of shelter. But trust is not given. It is earned. You have fought alongside us. You have declared your intentions. But I need to understand. Why me? Truly?"
Arata looked down at her, and for the first time, a flicker of something other than divine certainty showed in his eyes. It was vulnerability.
"Because," he said, his voice so low only she could hear, "in a lifetime of storms, you are the only calm I have ever wished for. And I will spend eternity proving that I can be the same for you."
It was not the answer of a historian or a warrior. It was the answer of a man. And for Nico Robin, that was the most compelling answer of all. A faint, genuine smile, one she reserved for her Nakama, finally touched her lips.
"Then we shall see," she said. "Welcome, Arata."