You might notice that I often tweak chapters to improve the grammar and wording. If any of your previous comments seem lost in the process, please forgive me.
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Three days had passed since Guts and Uta had sailed off to exorcise the demon Tot Musica, and Robin felt utterly adrift. It was the first time she had been separated from her father, and the absence weighed heavily on her small shoulders. Even sitting in Genzo's bustling tavern, surrounded by Buggy and his boisterous crew, who were doing their best to cheer her up, she couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness and worries that gnawed at her heart. Her childish mind was grappling with emotions far more complex and overwhelming than she had ever imagined.
"Come on, shrimp! Just a bit! Just a chomp!" Buggy coaxed, brandishing a spoonful of food in the air like a mischievous conductor, attempting to cajole Robin into eating. His movements were exaggerated, his voice laced with an overly cheerful tone, as if he were trying to coax a reluctant child.
On the bar table, Nami beamed, a wide grin stretching from ear to ear. Robin had gifted her a treasure trove of knowledge: books on navigation and cartography, journals filled with colorful notes, and meticulously drawn parchment maps of the Grand Line. These were resources that Nami desperately needed in her quest to find Nojiko.
But as Nami looked at Robin, her joy faltered, replaced by a wave of empathy. She knew how much it hurt to miss someone dear, like the emptiness she felt now as she searched for Nojiko. And now, Robin's dad was out there, battling a demon capable of leveling kingdoms. Of course, she was worried too.
Nami made a decision, resolving to cheer up the little girl. Robin had already given her so much, sharing her knowledge and her heart. It was time to return the favor. She hopped off her stool and walked towards Robin, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Robin-chan! How about we go to the market and pickpocket people? It always cheers me up!"
Hearing that, Buggy whacked Nami on the head with a resounding thwack. "Don't you dare!" Buggy fumed, his face turning an apoplectic shade of red. "You're a terrible influence on Robin! Shoo, shoo! Get away from her!" He waved his arms in a dismissive gesture, trying to shoo Nami away.
Clutching her head in mock pain, Nami retaliated with a swift kick to Buggy's shin. Buggy yelped, dropping the spoonful of food he had been brandishing and collapsing to the ground in a theatrical display of agony.
"I just want to cheer Robin-chan up!" Nami huffed, puffing out her cheeks in exasperation. "And who are you calling a bad influence, pirate!"
Buggy scrambled to his feet, pinching Nami's cheeks with excessive force, causing her to yelp in pain. "Hurf hurf (hurt hurt)!"
"Who are you calling a pirate?!" Buggy retorted, his voice rising in indignation. He pointed dramatically towards Shanks, who was lounging in the corner with his crew, with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "That bloodied bastard over there is the pirate! I am the greatest inventor of the century!"
Watching the chaotic scene unfold, Shanks erupted in a hearty belly laugh, pounding his fist on the table in amusement.
"Never knew you were good at taking care of children, Buggy, hahahahahahahahahaha!"
"Didn't you always shout to the crowd that you were going to become the King of the Pirates after Captain Roger?" Shanks continued, his laughter laced with playful mockery.
"Shut up! Don't speak like you know me!" Buggy roared, his face flushed with embarrassment.
Suddenly, a quiet but immense presence filled the room, silencing the bickering and playful chaos. Benn Beckman calmly rose from his corner table, his movements deliberate and unhurried as he approached the squabbling captains. The mere act of his approach was enough to make the entire tavern fall silent, a testament to the respect and authority he commanded.
He placed a heavy, steady hand on Shanks's shoulder, and the Yonko's boisterous laughter died in his throat, replaced by a look of subdued acknowledgment.
"That's enough, Captain," Benn said, his voice a low, steady baritone that resonated with quiet strength. He exhaled a slow stream of smoke, his gaze sweeping over the tense faces in the room before settling back on Shanks.
"We are all worried," Benn stated, his words carrying the weight of undisputed fact. "Including him." He nodded towards Shanks, his gesture subtle but unmistakable. "He just hides it by teasing old friends. Hides it by drinking until he passes out. Just like he's been hiding by crying every night, worried sick about Uta. We all need to be patient. We need to wait calmly."
The bombshell landed in the silent tavern, the weight of Benn's words hanging heavy in the air. Shanks's face became somber, his usual jovial facade replaced by a flicker of vulnerability, his raw emotions laid bare for all to see. Buggy was stunned into silence; he almost forgot that red hair is human, too.
After dropping that emotional bomb, Benn's gaze drifted away from the subdued captains, his attention shifting to the quiet corner of the tavern where Hachi was keeping a watchful eye on the two girls. His eyes, usually calm and composed, narrowed almost imperceptibly, a subtle shift that betrayed the intensity of his thoughts. He wasn't looking at Nami, who was undoubtedly a point of interest given her association with Buggy's crew. His focus was entirely on the silent, small figure beside the octopus fish-man: Lyre.
His expression wasn't one of hostility, but of deep, analytical concentration. It was the look of a master strategist trying to identify a familiar, dangerous chess piece that had inexplicably appeared on the board.
There was something about her—her unnatural stillness, her striking black and white hair, the intensity of her crimson eyes—that was ringing a distant but insistent alarm bell in the depths of his memory. A name, a face, a long-forgotten event—something was stirring within the recesses of his mind, but he couldn't quite grasp it yet. The connection was there, just beyond the reach of his conscious thought, a puzzle piece waiting to be placed.
"That's it!" Feeling he had endured enough of the somber atmosphere, Buggy scooped Robin into his arms, cradling her gently.
Robin tilted her head, gazing up at Buggy with wide, tear-filled eyes. "Let's go after your daddy, shrimp!" Buggy declared with a newfound resolve, his voice filled with determination. He then turned to his crew, barking out orders. "Let's go, boys! We have a delivery to make!"
Buggy's men—Hachi, Lyre, Richie the pet lion, Cabaji, and Mohji—prepared themselves to leave the tavern, their faces reflecting a mixture of excitement and apprehension. But as Buggy stepped towards the entrance, Benn Beckman moved to block his path, his imposing figure a formidable obstacle. "Didn't you hear what I said?"
"Damnation to what you said!" Buggy spat, his anger flaring. "Who are you to command me around?"
Benn's face hardened, his expression turning stern. He tried to reason with the volatile clown, his voice laced with a hint of warning. "Don't you trust your boss? Going there will only endanger her." Benn gestured towards Robin with a tilt of his chin.
"Heh, save your worries for yourself! I'm not like your traitorous captain!" Buggy sneered, his words dripping with venom.
"Watch your mouth, clown..." Benn's face turned serious, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he stepped closer to Buggy. He would not allow any insult to be directed at his captain, especially not during a time like this. But before he could take another step, a hand pressed against his chest, halting his advance.
"Back off," Miranda's tall, imposing figure materialized out of seemingly nowhere beside Buggy, her hand pushing against Benn's chest with surprising strength. Her eyes were cold and unwavering, filled with a silent threat.
"Oh no," Genzo muttered, beads of sweat forming on his brow. He grabbed Nami by the arm and dragged her behind the safety of the counter.
The situation in the tavern had become incredibly tense, the air thick with unspoken threats. Even Richie cowered in fear, sensing the danger.
Then, a sigh echoed through the room, breaking the silence. "Let him go, Benn," Shanks said wearily, his voice laced with resignation. "You can never reason with him."
"And I think leaving everything to Guts doesn't feel right," Shanks continued with a troubled gaze.
Benn sighed, acknowledging the truth in Shanks's words. He stepped aside, clearing the path for Buggy and his crew.
Buggy and everyone in Guts's party then left Genzo's tavern, heading towards where the Jumoi docked, where their ship awaited.
Once aboard, Buggy carefully set Robin down and scratched his bandana-covered head, "Can you speak to, I don't know, fish? And tell us where they are?"
Robin nodded excitedly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. She was going to find her father! She closed her eyes for a moment, focusing her thoughts.
Suddenly, a swarm of small fish began to gather around the ship, their movements synchronized, their presence drawing gasps of amazement from everyone, especially Shanks and his crewmates, who were following them and aboard silently.
"Don't tell me... Buggy... is she..." Shanks stammered, his eyes wide with amazement, struggling to comprehend the scene unfolding before him. He grabbed Buggy's shoulder, hoping for an answer.
"Be quiet, moron!" Buggy hissed, swatting at Shanks's arm in annoyance. "And why are you even here?"
"Come on, let us come too!" Shanks pleaded, his voice filled with earnest desire.
"Swim then, bastard!" Buggy spat, but despite his gruff words, he knew that they needed Shanks's power. He reluctantly conceded, acknowledging the unavoidable truth.
The swarm of small fish then dispersed, scattering in all directions before returning a few moments later, conveying the location of a giant Sea King: the location of Gargar, who had gone with Guts and Uta.
With a shared sense of purpose, they set sail, their course fixed towards the location of the Sea King, their hearts filled with a mixture of hope and trepidation.
They found a gargantuan figure of Gargar in the middle of the sea, no longer after, swimming calmly.
Robin, leaning against the railing of the Jumoi, called out to the Sea King, inquiring about the whereabouts of the Red Force. She requested that Gargar lead them to the location where Guts and Uta were.
Gargar, understanding her words, saluted with one of his massive tentacles, then proceeded to pull the Jumoi towards their destination.
Soon, they spotted the Red Force in the distance, floating ominously on the water.
The ship was enveloped in a swirling vortex of distorted space, the air around it crackling with runes and echoing with discordant musical notes. Gargar carefully maneuvered the Jumoi alongside the Red Force, bringing the two vessels close together.
Buggy, displaying an uncharacteristic display of foresight, threw a wooden bridge tied with rope across the gap, allowing everyone to move towards the Red Force.
Once they were aboard, they were confronted with a horrifying sight. Guts's body lay on the deck, twisted and contorted, breaking apart and regenerating repeatedly, a macabre spectacle that defied comprehension.
Shanks, his face etched with panic, immediately noticed Uta's absence. Using his observation Haki, he scanned the ship, desperately searching for his daughter. It wasn't long before he located Uta. Shanks rushed towards the cabin, his crewmates following close behind. He threw open the cabin door and found Uta beside a bed, huddled and trembling.
"Uta!" Shanks exclaimed, rushing to her side and pulling her into a comforting embrace. "Tell me what happened! What happened to Guts?"
Uta, burying her face in Shanks's chest, spoke in a trembling voice, her words fragmented by sobs. "I don't know, Father," she stammered, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "I tried to wake Guts-san, but there was something holding him back..."
Uta recounted the events that had transpired, telling Shanks how Guts had instructed her to hide when Tot Musica had appeared. She had then escaped the virtual reality-like dream and witnessed Guts's body begin to change in the real world. Unable to bear the sight of Guts's body being torn apart and regenerated, she had fled to the cabin, seeking refuge from the horrors she had witnessed.
From the relative safety of the cabin, she had continued to monitor what was happening within the virtual reality-like dream, and what horror she was witnessing.
"Listen," Shanks said softly, stroking Uta's shoulder in a comforting gesture, his voice filled with reassurance. "I'm going to help Guts-san. Can you bring me inside your dream?" Uta, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and hope, gave a hesitant nod, agreeing to his request.
Shanks then lifted Uta into his arms, cradling her protectively, and returned to the deck, where a heart-wrenching scene awaited them.
Robin was kneeling beside Guts's distorted body, her small frame trembling with grief. Tears streamed down her face as she cried out, "Father!" again and again, shaking his mangled form in a desperate attempt to wake him.
Shanks gently set Uta down on her feet, his expression hardening with determination. "We're going inside," he announced, his voice ringing with resolve. "Who's coming with us?"
Robin, her eyes red and swollen from crying, rose to her feet, her face a mask of determination despite the tears that continued to stream down her cheeks. "Let me come, please!" she pleaded, her voice filled with desperation.
Benn stepped forward, gripping Shanks's shoulder tightly, his gaze filled with concern. "Are you sure about this, Captain?..."
Shanks met Benn's gaze, his eyes unwavering, his face set with an unshakeable resolve. He nodded firmly.
Benn chuckled, a hint of pride in his voice. No one could ever dissuade his captain when he wore that expression. "Let's go, then," he said, his tone conveying his unwavering loyalty.
Uta stepped forward with a resolute expression and began to sing once more.
But this time, her purpose was different. She wasn't creating a new world, conjuring a haven from the depths of her imagination.
Instead, she was opening a door, tearing a rift in the fabric of reality to gain access to a world that was already in turmoil, a chaotic landscape raging with the fury of Guts's inner demons.
Shanks, Robin, and everyone on the Red Force braced themselves, their faces etched with a mixture of apprehension and determination as they prepared to enter the unknown.
And then, with a sudden surge of energy, their consciousness was pulled into the swirling vortex, their bodies left behind as their minds plunged into the heart of the raging dream.