"Come on, slowpoke!" Robin's laughter was a bright, chiming bell in the salty air.
Riven felt his lips curve into a smile, a fragile defense against the cold dread that was his constant companion. He took her outstretched hand, her small fingers wrapping around his with an implicit trust that twisted a knife in his gut. Together, they ran, their footsteps light on the winding path that led to the island's secluded western shore. It was a forgotten place, a cove walled off by ancient, sea-worn cliffs, making it the perfect hiding place for a man the size of a mountain.
They broke through the last of the coastal foliage and there he was. Jaguar D. Saul, the giant castaway, sat amidst the wreckage of what looked like the start of a raft, a sad-looking cowboy hat perched on his head. Upon seeing them, his face split into a wide, booming grin, and a sound like rocks tumbling down a hillside erupted from his chest.
"Dereshishishi! Well, if it isn't my two favorite little people! Riven, my boy! And the lovely Miss Robin! Have you come to keep this old giant company again today? Dereshishishi!"
Riven winced theatrically, shaking his head. "Gods, Saul. That laugh of yours could scare the fish from the sea," he shot back, the playful jab feeling blessedly normal.
Saul just laughed louder, the sound echoing off the cliffs. "Dereshishishi! What does it matter if it's ugly? Even when your heart is heavy, you must laugh. Laughter is a shield, little one. It makes the world a brighter place, even when skies are gray." His optimism was so pure, so genuine, that it was almost painful to behold.
Robin's gaze, ever sharp and observant, fell upon the half-finished raft bobbing gently in the surf. Her bright smile faltered. "Your raft… it's almost finished," she said, her voice small. "Does that mean you're leaving, Saul?" The question was quiet, laced with an unspoken plea.
Riven felt the familiar pang of sorrow for her. On this island of adults who saw her as a monster, Saul was the first true friend she had ever made outside of himself. The thought of him leaving was clearly a blow. Catching the giant's eye, Riven gave a short, sharp shake of his head, a silent, desperate signal. Not yet. Don't leave her yet.
Saul, whose heart was as big as his body, understood instantly. Theirs was a friendship forged in crisis, but it was deep and true. "Leaving?" he boomed, feigning surprise. "Goodness, no! Robin, don't you dare look so sad! I was just thinking… this raft needs a proper flag! A glorious one! No, no, I'll be sticking around for a while longer yet. A captain can't set sail without his colors!"
The relief that washed over Robin's face was a physical thing, a brilliant dawn chasing away the shadows. Saul had effortlessly bought them a little more time, a few more days of stolen peace. As the giant began rummaging for materials to fashion a makeshift flag, the three of them fell into easy conversation. It was a perfect, sun-drenched afternoon, a portrait of friendship against the endless blue of the sea. For a moment, Riven almost let himself believe the lie. He almost forgot the ticking clock.
But the future does not negotiate.
It was a flicker at first, a disturbance on the razor-sharp line of the horizon. Riven felt it before he saw it, a cold prickle on his skin, the same dread he'd felt the day he first awoke in this world. Then, his eyes found it. A black speck. A smudge of wrongness against the perfect sky.
Robin noticed a moment later. "Riven… what is that?" she asked, her small hand pointing towards the sea. To her, it was a curiosity, a ship larger than any she had ever seen.
But Riven knew. He saw the shape, the disciplined cut of the sails, the predatory way it sliced through the waves. And then he saw the flag, snapping in the wind. A symbol of absolute power, the emblem of the World Government. The prophecy was no longer a nightmare in his mind; it was here.
"It's… it's a government ship," he breathed, the words turning to ash in his mouth.
"What?!" Saul's head snapped up, his friendly demeanor vanishing in an instant. All traces of the gentle giant were gone, replaced by the hardened instincts of a marine. "A World Government ship? Impossible! What would they be doing all the way out here?" His eyes, wide with a dawning horror, darted from the approaching vessel to the two children beside him. A terrible suspicion began to take root.
"Robin. Riven," he said, his voice dropping to a low, urgent rumble. "Tell me. What is the name of this island?!"
"Ohara," Robin answered, her voice laced with confusion at his sudden panic.
The name struck Saul like a physical blow. "Oh… Ohara?" he stammered, the color draining from his face. "No… why? Of all the places in the world… why would I wash ashore on Ohara?!" He stumbled back, his mind reeling, a terrible, impossible puzzle clicking into place.
"It can't be…" he muttered, his gaze locking onto Robin. "Robin… please… tell me your mother's name."
"Olvia," Robin replied, her voice clear and proud. "Her name is Nico Olvia."
"Ah…" It was a sound of absolute despair. Saul's mind, his world, his entire sense of self, seemed to shatter in that instant. He looked at the ship, then at the girl, the daughter of the woman he had risked his life to save, and the crushing weight of the irony was too much to bear. His enormous body swayed, his coordination failing him. He fell backward with a deafening crash, the impact shaking the very ground beneath their feet and sending a cloud of dust and sand into the air.
For a moment, there was only the sound of the waves and the ringing in Riven's ears.
Then, Saul pushed himself up, his face a mask of grim, terrible seriousness. "Listen to me," he commanded, his voice devoid of all laughter. "Riven! Robin! There is no time. You have to run. Now! If that ship is here, it means the Navy's warships are not far behind! They aren't here to arrest anyone."
He took a deep, shuddering breath, the words tasting like poison. "They are coming to wipe Ohara off the map."
"That's… that's impossible!" Robin cried, her face a canvas of disbelief and terror. "The Navy… they're supposed to protect people!"
Riven said nothing. He simply tightened his grip on her hand, the warmth of her skin a stark contrast to the ice filling his veins. He watched the hope in her eyes begin to die, and knew this was only the beginning of her pain. The end of their world was sailing toward them on the tide.