Jingle~ Jingle Bell~
A man in a white vest and dark blue shirt pedaled a bicycle across the frozen sea, finally stopping in front of Robin.
"Fairy Tail… what an amazing guild!"
"Admiral—Aokiji."
Robin took a deep breath, suppressing the rapid pounding of her heart as she revealed the man's identity.
One of the Naval Headquarters' most powerful figures: Admiral Aokiji Kuzan.
Seeing Aokiji standing before her, Robin's body trembled—not from the icy wind, but from instinctive fear.
For Robin, he was a living reminder of her worst nightmare.
Twenty years ago… the Ohara Incident. She had been saved because of this man, but that was also why she had been a target.
Since joining Fairy Tail, Robin had thought she had found a home, a place to start anew… yet now, all those old memories surged back.
"Ah la la, don't be nervous, Nico Robin. I'm still on vacation, so I don't intend to make trouble!" Aokiji spoke lazily.
His calm tone did nothing to ease Robin's tension.
"Well, since we meet, let's chat casually," Aokiji continued, speaking more to himself than to her.
"Twenty years ago, in Ohara… I let you go. Since then, I've taken responsibility for all your actions. If you ever threaten this world, I must stop you. You should understand this!"
"Are you here to terminate me?" Robin pursed her lips.
"No, no, no," Aokiji waved dismissively. "As I said, this is vacation time—once or twice a year, precious time. I just came to ask… have you found your home?"
Robin didn't hesitate. "Yes."
Aokiji nodded knowingly, a faint smile touching his lips. "Well, it seems you truly enjoy the life at Fairy Tail. That's good." He then abruptly changed the subject.
"…Nineteen Seven. Just… that's all I have to say. It's inconvenient to say more. Goodbye!"
Jingle bell~
He rang the bicycle bell, stepped onto the frozen sea, and gradually drifted away, leaving Robin alone in silence.
"Robin?"
A gentle voice came from above.
"Robin, are you okay?" Marianne descended from the sky on a large bird, her eyes filled with concern.
"I'm fine." Robin forced a smile.
Not long after, Erza arrived. Seeing the frozen shore, her expression flickered with mild surprise, but she saw that Robin and Marianne were unharmed and didn't press further.
Two Days Later
After dealing with the aftermath, Erza's team returned to Fairy Tail. Wendy's team was also on a break, and rare moments when everyone gathered naturally led to a lively banquet.
At the meeting, Sugisawa Yuuto, as guild president, gave a speech:
"First, thank you all for your hard work these past months. Let's continue to work hard and plan a group trip after completing another round of commissions."
The promise of a feast and celebration lifted everyone's spirits.
The Next Day
Fairy Tail's teams set out again, with some adjustments in staffing. Robin and Marianne joined Wendy's team, while Nami and Juvia remained with Erza. These changes improved combat coordination and strengthened bonds between teammates—a strategy Yuuto had planned from the start.
Time flew.
"President, have you decided where to take us to relax?" Mirajan asked after another week.
Yuuto pondered, then pointed to a promotional poster on the table.
"Spaisland."
The famous holiday resort of the Grand Line.
Two hours later, Erza's team arrived.
"Spaisland? Yes, yes!" Nami's eyes lit up in excitement. They had seen the promotional posters before and were eager to enjoy the island's many recreational attractions.
Mirajan immediately called to reserve accommodations. The only thing left was to wait for Wendy and her team.
Juvia's excitement was palpable after the busy commission period.
Suddenly, the phone buzzed.
"It's Wendy and her team—they've finished!" Mirajan said, picking up the device.
The sound of a girl crying came through.
"Wendy, what's wrong?" Yuuto's expression darkened.
"President, I'm sorry… but I… I offended Miss Robin!"
Half a Day Later – Island of Books
True to its name, the island was famous for its vast library, a second haven of scholars after the destruction of Ohara twenty years ago.
This commission was meant to be simple: interpreting ancient texts. For Robin, an archaeology expert, it should have been effortless.
Yet… events quickly spiraled out of control.
"Woooooooooo—"
Wendy couldn't contain herself. She threw herself into Yuuto's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Okay, okay, don't cry, Wendy. You didn't do anything wrong." Yuuto gently stroked her hair.
"Xia Lulu, tell me exactly what happened!" Erza demanded.
Xia Lulu recounted the story:
"We arrived this morning and learned the details of the commission. Robin began her work, but since we know nothing about ancient scripts, we explored the island instead. When we returned, Robin was gone, leaving only this letter."
She handed Yuuto Robin's handwritten note:
"President Sugisawa Yuuto, thank you for your care. My time in Fairy Tail has been the happiest of my life, but fighting is not what I desire. I wish to focus on study and research… I am leaving the guild."
Nami shook her head in disbelief. "Even if she wants to quit, she should've spoken to us face-to-face!"
Erza's jaw was firm. "Robin must have been coerced into writing this!"
Marianne, no longer calm, clenched her fists. Robin had been her inspiration—her reason for joining Fairy Tail. For Marianne, Robin was like a sister, and she couldn't accept this.
All eyes turned to Yuuto. He silently tore the letter in half, then into fragments.
"I won't believe such a reason. I know better than anyone what kind of woman Robin truly is," he said quietly.
Nami gritted her teeth. "Who threatened her? If I find them, I'll make them pay!"
Mirajan frowned. "Could it be the Marines? Vice Admiral Momousagi tried to take Robin before…"
"Even if it's Marine, with Robin's strength, she wouldn't go without a fight," Erza added.
Vivi finally spoke, drawing everyone's attention.
"It's not the Marines. It's the World Government." She took a deep breath. "Robin didn't want to leave Fairy Tail. She wants to protect everyone—us, Fairy Tail, Alabasta. That's why she left on her own."
Hearing this, Yuuto's eyes darkened. Robin's decision made sense now—she was acting out of love and duty. Yuuto had tried for months to support Robin, but the appearance of Admiral Aokiji disrupted everything.
"Don't worry, Vivi. We'll handle this," Yuuto said softly, comforting her.
Enies Lobby – CP0 Headquarters
This world government institution, alongside Marineford and Impel Down, was a place that never slept.
The train's whistle echoed as the sea train approached the station.
"Time to go, Nico Robin." A CP0 agent, cloaked in white with a mask, spoke.
Robin rose silently, stepping into the scorching sun. Her time with Fairy Tail had been a beautiful dream, but now it was over.
"Good, good! Nico Robin, I've waited twenty years for this!" Chief Spandam laughed cruelly. For him, capturing Robin, the "Devil's Child," was a triumph.
"Officers, the bouillon is ready—let's eat while we discuss business!" he added.
"No, the mission comes first!" CP0 leader Guernica ordered. "Take her to Impel Down immediately!"
Before Spandam could finish, BOOM! The island shook violently.