It is odd to look at things from a different perspective at once. My sister and I always suffered from an early age. She did more than me because of her appearance. We hail from the Surfrost Kingdom in the North Blue.
The Kingdom of Snow She ate a devil fruit that left her body in an eternal infant state from a very young age; In a country where dog eats dog to survive and with no parents to look after us, our life wasn't easy.
It was harsh enough that we had to be born as women. To top it off my sister had obtained that power which at the time she had no control over but that power eventually turned into our blessing.
She may be harsh and stubborn… but my sister protected me and I would never thank her enough, even though I was supposed to protect us as she's too small to do anything.
When things weren't going right, we met Doflamingo. And now... Veyron.
It is hard for me to look at us as anything different than a tool with a master to serve. We have exchanged ownership too many times in such a short while.
After Veyron got us, I expected a lifetime of despair from that man who tortured us mercilessly. I just couldn't believe that smile of his after the pain he made us go through, but I figured whatever he ordered would be better than acting rebellious.
We were Doflamingo's tools… and the same train of thought worked with him. He treated his tools well… I was even starting to get a liking for him when everything happened and we lost our home.
But that's the past... this snow falling in front of me is the present, a desert of sand coated with snow in the darkness of the night with a moon lighting up the hope of people I don't know and don't care about.
It makes me want to think and meditate.
The first thing I thought of him was that he was a tyrant. His reputation around the world is very mixed: 'He's extremely strong and smart but also very young, naive and lacking in wisdom'.
His audacity in fighting the world government and the Marines openly is attributed to the naivety of a young kid who knows no consequences.
'He's been strong from the beginning and his mother is also that monster Hawkeye. So what does he know about suffering?' This is what the majority of people, including me and my sister, thought of him.
We thought the world he moved on to was so high that there was no chance we'd ever encounter him. Who would have thought, we didn't encounter him... we encountered the Kuja Pirates and it was our doom.
It doesn't what we become in the future, this past can't be cast aside. Boa Hancock and her sisters will never be able to look at me and my sister with a good eye. We are enemies cohabitating for the sake of one person.
'I wonder if this will explode in my master's back in the future'.
...
With complex thoughts in my mind watched nothing but cheering under the snow. He ordered me to cast a blizzard on this land just so these people could be happy for one day.
'I want the time of their freedom to be memorable. These people have suffered decades of drought and a few years of war and strife. Hunger and poverty… if at least one day can be happy and overshadow those years. It would be worth it. I order you to make them happy, Monet'.
I was clueless. Make people happy? I didn't even know how to be happy myself. If I don't do it… is he going to punish me? Shock me again?
His gaze at that time as we flew by indicated he didn't know whether I was a human or a donkey.
'Just create snow… what are you waiting for?'
How is snow going to make these people happy? It is cold, if you're exposed to it for long it starts to hurt and it could even kill you. I would know…
'Just do what I say and see… we will be facing Crocodile so you just focus on doing this for me. I want rain and snow falling in this desert at the same time, got it? Leave the rain to me, you focus on the snow'.
And so I did… and the result was just as he expected.
They're cold, and their hands are shaking as they squeal for warmth… but they're still happy and playing and drinking it like water.
He's not here to see it, but I think I accomplished my mission.
That massive man returned together with Rocks D. Ali and Monkey D. Dragon there are also two other people; he is hugging that pink-haired lady and her child while crying like never before.
Kuma and Ginny, they've gone through a lot of suffering too and now they cry out of happiness with my snow in the background.
It made me feel a bit special. Is this what it means to be happy? To watch others being happy…? I think my snow is contributing even if just a little to that happiness.
I bit my lips and clenched my plans, sitting at the top of the tallest tower of Alubarna, hugging my knees.
'They returned but Master hasn't come back yet. Is he safe?'
Somebody interrupted my train of thought, her silhouette manifested from the night itself. I'm still not used to how she can conceal herself so easily, she must be a peak assassin.
"What are you doing?"
"Nico Robin… my master? Is he okay?"
"He called me a while back, he's heading back to Rusukaina first… the operation was a success and there wasn't much resistance in Marie Geoise, unlike what we originally thought".
I sighed in relief and stood up, that means my job here is over.
"Does he have any orders for me?"
The woman crossed her arms and leaned against the tower's wall.
"… He said you should return to Rusukaina by yourself, but you're free to enjoy one or two more days here if you want-"
"I'm going back".
Without even waiting for a second I tried to leap but two dark arms protruded from the ground and kept my foot on the floor.
"...?"
"Wait, do you even know where Rusukaina is?".
"I... think I do?"
"Or are you going to try and escape?"
"I would never-"
"If you want to escape now is your chance, Monet".
"H-Huh?"
What is this woman saying?
"You can't escape because your sister is still in Rusukaina, right? I can help you... if you flee now and never look back, I will personally free Sugar and send her to Jaya without Veyron noticing. You two can meet there and make your way wherever you want".
She can't be serious, this has to be a test.
"Why are you doing this? Is this a test from my master?" I stood up on guard like I would fall for such an easy trap.
"Test?~"
She ignored my furrowed brows and started laughing until her laughter stopped abruptly.
"You and your sister are not welcome in this family. You should know that".
"..."
"Veyron is not one to forgive people easily... you should know first hand. But he's one to make concessions once something has picked up his eye and curiosity. I don't have anything against you; but Primrose, Hancock, Sandersonia and Marigold are not fond of you... Veyron intends to lock you two up in his workshop to stop any nonsense from happening... but I can already foresee things aren't going to be as smooth as he thinks. There is Viola too who most definitely doesn't see you with a good eye after what the Donquixote Family did to Dressrosa".
My body shook a bit.
"Do you see now? How much of a concession he's making".
"If you have any complaints, tell them to master".
"I can't say 'NO' to that man. So? What do you say? I only want to stop an unnecessary drama before it takes place".
"I refuse".
"..."
She didn't look delighted at my answer but I didn't care. Turning my heels I released myself from the dark hands and set flight away to the east. I'll have to think whether my master must know about this or not.
**
**
With her arms crossed and tapping elbows Robin watched Monet go towards an unknown destiny, 'She didn't tell me if she knows her way to Rusukaina... probably not'.
She sighed and rubbed her nose in exasperation as a gust of sand manifested next to her whistling. The woman with a golden hook huffed a gust of smoke before throwing the tobacco aside as both of them stared at the falling snow.
"Is it time?" Robin inquired.
"It is" Ali confirmed.
"Veyron told me that Isabel Esquivel is with him, the ninth knight. They seem to have reached an accord".
"Perfect for me... I have a lot of questions to ask her" Ali smirked and Robin nodded, bringing the two of them back to a long row of silence.
"I apologise... for not believing in you and causing all this trouble" Those words looked like they were hard-pressed to leave Ali's mouth, like the word 'apology' had never left her lips before.
Robin laughed a bit, "I forgive you... you are my best friend forever".
"Stop uttering disgusting stuff, I don't like it" Ali blushed and huffed in disdain while Robin laughed and placed her arm around the beauty's neck.
"It is an odd feeling... but I feel you and I were not fated to be like this".
"I think so too, can't imagine myself being the friend of such a wuss".
"But I'm glad things ended this way. I forgive you Ali... so let's be friends again~"
"Sure, why not?"
A fist of darkness and a fist of sand met in a little dance with both ladies giggling in a miraculous spot. The past was cast away just like that with both eyes looking at a new moon.