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The air in the desert was dry and heavy by midday as the trio made their way through a rocky pass leading deeper into Alabasta. The map Vivi carried pointed them toward the hidden canyon—a place rumored to hold a secret buried beneath time and lies. Rael led the way, calm and unreadable, while Kaya and Vivi followed closely, still adjusting to the heat and the weight of their thoughts.
They camped just beneath a natural stone arch. The sun dipped low, casting long orange shadows across the dunes.
Rael sat silently, cross-legged on a flat stone, gazing out at the endless horizon.
That's when she arrived.
Without warning, a familiar presence emerged from the edge of the cliffs. Cloaked in beige robes, with her signature grace and calm steps, Miss Sunday descended the path toward them.
Vivi immediately stiffened, stepping in front of Rael with a narrowed gaze. "What is she doing here?"
Kaya was already reaching for her weapon. "You followed us?"
Rael didn't move. "She didn't follow us. She knew where we'd be."
Robin smiled faintly, lowering her hood to reveal her dark hair. Her expression was calm, as always. "Still perceptive. I like that about you."
Vivi's eyes burned with distrust. "You're Baroque Works. Why should we listen to anything you say?"
"I'm... in a complicated position," Robin said. "Let's just say the organization and I don't share the same vision anymore."
Kaya stepped closer to Rael, eyes narrowing. "You expect us to believe that?"
Robin chuckled softly, hands raised in a disarming gesture. "I expect you to decide that for yourselves. I'm just here to share information. The rest is up to you."
Rael spoke at last. "What do you want to tell us?"
Robin looked at him directly. "Crocodile knows about your movement. He's already sent agents ahead to the canyon ruins. You won't be alone there."
"We expected that," Rael said plainly.
"But he doesn't just want to stop you," Robin continued. "He wants to awaken something. Something buried."
Kaya frowned. "Pluton."
Robin's smile widened slightly. "You remember. Good."
Vivi stepped forward, her voice tense. "Why are you helping us? If you really are part of his group, then you should be trying to stop us—or kill us."
Robin tilted her head, thoughtful. "Maybe I've grown tired of being used. Maybe I'm looking for something different. Or maybe…" She glanced at Rael. "Maybe fate brought us together."
Rael stared at her, searching for any signs of deceit in her tone, her expression, her aura.
There was none.
"She's not lying," he said quietly.
Vivi turned toward him in disbelief. "You're just going to trust her like that?"
"She didn't lie the last time," Rael replied calmly. "If she wanted us dead, she would've led Crocodile to us already."
Robin gave him a small, knowing nod. "You're as sharp as the rumors say."
Kaya crossed her arms. "Even if she's not lying… she's dangerous."
"So am I," Rael said without looking at her.
Robin stepped forward and unfurled a scroll from her satchel. She laid it across a stone slab near the campfire. "This is what Crocodile's been chasing. It's an old blueprint—fragments of it, at least. He believes the canyon you're heading to hides the final clues to awaken the weapon."
Vivi stared at the scroll, then back at Robin. "And what do you believe?"
"I believe the world isn't ready for it. And neither is he."
Kaya raised an eyebrow. "And we are?"
Robin smiled faintly. "Let's just say… you're a better gamble."
Rael looked at the map and nodded. "Thank you."
Robin turned to leave, her cloak fluttering in the dry wind.
"Wait," Kaya called out. "What happens after this?"
Robin paused at the edge of the slope, turning her head only slightly. "That depends on what you choose to do with the truth."
And with that, she vanished into the dusk like a shadow swallowed by the sand.
Silence settled over the group for a long while. Kaya watched Rael, brows furrowed.
"You really trust her?"
"I trust what I see," he answered.
Vivi sat beside the fire, her gaze lingering on the scroll. "Crocodile can't be allowed to reach whatever's buried out there. If it really is Pluton…"
Rael stood and began rolling the map. "Then we'll stop him."
His voice carried no doubt. No hesitation. Just resolve.
The stars began to emerge in the darkening sky as the fire flickered, casting dancing light over the three figures seated in the vastness of Alabasta's wilderness.
The race to the canyon had begun.
And the storm was coming.
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