The Athena glided quietly across the calm waters of West Blue. The gentle morning breeze carried the scent of saltwater as the silhouette of a familiar island gradually emerged on the horizon.
No one spoke.
Even the usually lively atmosphere aboard the ship had become unusually quiet. Robin stood alone at the bow, unable to take her eyes off the island as it slowly taking shape before her. More than twenty years had passed since she had last set foot on this island. At long last... she had returned.
Ohara. The place where everything had begun... and where everything had ended.
A faint smile appeared on Robin's face, one filled with nostalgia... and just a hint of sadness. Arthur quietly walked over and stopped beside her. He didn't say anything. Some moments didn't need words.
Robin: "It looks... smaller than I remembered." Robin smiled faintly.
Arthur: "Or perhaps... you've simply grown." Arthur glanced toward the island.
The Athena slowly entered the abandoned harbor. Most of the docks had long since rotted away, while many of the old buildings had collapsed beneath the weight of time. Nature had reclaimed almost everything. Trees had grown through the cracks in the old stone roads, while thick vines had engulfed what remained of the houses that had once echoed with laughter.
Only silence remained. The crew quietly disembarked. Even Sabo, who usually joked about everything, instinctively lowered his voice. No one wanted to disturb the memories sleeping on this island.
...
Robin wandered slowly through the abandoned streets. Every few steps, she would stop, her eyes lingering on places only she still remembered. Farther ahead... she stopped again. Robin quietly reached out her hand. Her fingers brushed the cracked stone of a ruined house.
Arthur simply listened in silence. He knew these stories. Robin had told them countless times during their journey. But hearing them here... On the island where they had truly happened... it felt completely different.
Robin: "This bakery... used to sell bread every morning." A few steps later...
Robin: "...There used to be a bookstore here." Nothing remained except broken walls.
Robin: "... Professor Clover used to stand here every afternoon... he always forgot where he left his glasses." Her voice became softer.
The group eventually reached the center of Ohara. There... the enormous Tree of Knowledge still stood proudly. Its trunk was scarred by age. Several branches had been destroyed during the Buster Call. Yet somehow... the giant tree had survived. Everyone unconsciously looked upward.
Law: "It's even bigger than I imagined..." Even Law couldn't hide his amazement.
Robin slowly approached. Her fingertips rested against the ancient bark. She closed her eyes. For a long moment... She simply stood there. As though she were listening to something only she could hear. A gentle breeze passed through the leaves. The branches rustled softly above them. Almost as though an old friend were quietly welcoming her home.
Robin: "I'm home..."
Not far from the Tree of Knowledge... A vast lake stretched across the center of the island. The Lake of Books. Robin quietly stopped at its edge. The surface reflected the morning sky. Deep beneath the crystal-clear surface, countless books could still be seen resting upon the lakebed. Thousands... Perhaps millions... Bookshelves... Ancient manuscripts... Historical records... Knowledge gathered over centuries. Everything the scholars of Ohara had tried to protect.
Arthur: "They really did throw every book into the lake..." Arthur silently gazed into the lake.
Robin: "The scholars knew they couldn't save themselves. So they chose to save knowledge... " She smiled sadly.
No one spoke. Even Sabo lowered his head. For scholars... books were far more than ink and paper. They were history. Memory. The future.
Robin slowly knelt by the water. She gently touched its surface. Small ripples spread across the lake. Her voice barely rose above a whisper. Tears quietly formed at the corners of her eyes. But they never fell. She had cried enough for this island. Today... she wanted to smile.
Robin: "Professor Clover... Everyone... I finally came back."
Arthur: "They'd be proud." Arthur quietly placed one hand on her shoulder.
Robin: "I think... They already are." Robin looked at him. A warm smile slowly appeared.
Far away... Several hundred nautical miles from Ohara... A Marine warship cut across the sea at full speed. At its bow stood a tall man wearing a white justice coat, Admiral Akainu. Behind him, another warship sailed in parallel. Standing quietly upon its deck... Admiral Aokiji.
The two Admirals had entered West Blue at almost the same time. Not because they were traveling together. But because Marine Headquarters had issued the same order to both of them. Locate... The Art Pirates. Inside Admiral Akainu's flagship... A Marine officer hurried toward him.
Sakazuki: "Report." Sakazuki didn't look away from the sea.
MARINE: "Admiral Sakazuki. The Art Pirates departed Gran Tesoro several weeks ago. Their last confirmed route crossed the Calm Belt into West Blue. We've also received reports that they're searching for ancient ruins so Headquarters believes Ohara is their most likely destination." The officer unfolded a navigation chart.
Sakazuki: "Poneglyphs..." He slowly crossed his arms and silently studied the map
Sakazuki: "They're becoming more dangerous than we anticipated. Their threat is growing faster than expected." His expression darkened.
MARINE: "Several reconnaissance ships have already been deployed." The officer nodded.
Sakazuki: " Maintain the search. If they're truly in West Blue... we'll find them." Sakazuki looked toward the horizon.
...
Meanwhile... aboard another Marine vessel... Kuzan leaned lazily against the railing. His hands rested in his pockets. A Marine officer approached with a fresh report. Kuzan accepted the report without much interest.
MARINE: "Admiral Kuzan. No confirmed sightings yet."
Kuzan: "Hmm? Keep searching." Kuzan yawned.
MARINE: "Yes, sir!" He walk away leaving Admiral Aokiji alone.
Kuzan: "So... You finally came back..."
His eyes paused for a moment at a familiar name. Nico Robin. He quietly closed the file. For several seconds... He remained completely silent. Then he looked toward the endless sea.
No one knew whether he was speaking about Robin... or the island called Ohara. The sea offered no answer. Only the wind continued to carry the Athena toward the next chapter of its journey. Far beyond the horizon... two Admirals were slowly closing in from opposite directions, while the Art Pirates remained completely unaware of the storm that awaited them.