"Look at that symbol pirates!" Spandam cries condescendingly, pointing above the building to the flag flying in the wind.

"That mark represents the unity of over 170 nations in the four seas and the Grand Line! Do you understand how insignificant you are to stand against us?" Spandam sneers, "Do you understand how big of an organisation was after her!?"

Robin is trembling, Luffy can tell despite the gap between them.

He understands now.

He gets why she wants them to leave.

After hearing about a Buster Call…

He has no doubt that he would be in a similar state if his entire island burned down.

Having the trash pile burned down when he was younger had really stuck in his head and he used to be terrified of the fire. The feeling of helplessness being trapped by sky high orange flames, the heat too hot to breathe.

And then the pirates had come out of the fire, changed. They lost their sanity, so, he knew a little about what it was like to deal with a fear of something like that.

Then Ace had become fire and he wasn't scared of the flames anymore, the oppressive feeling whenever he saw fire vanished.

But to have your island burned down to ground with no survivors…

It was a magnitude of grief and horror he hadn't felt. Period.

It was the World Government that did this…

"I get it now, Robin's enemy." He murmurs gently, Robin and Ace aren't all that different in that regard, he thinks. "Sogeking."

"Hm?"

Luffy thinks that Sogeking might actually be Usopp but that's okay, if his friend wants to help without 'being there' then who is he to deny Usopp the right? A captain? No, Robin was his friend so he has the right to help.

"Shoot that flag."

His voice is steady, calm, despite the absolute rage he feels as Robin trembles, caught up in her own memories.

"Roger that." Sogeking says. "New weapon: the great pachinko, called kabuto! Carefully observe its' power!"

Spandam looks confused, Luffy smirks, why on earth would they care that the World Government was after Robin!? That would just increase their resolve to protect her.

They're already wanted after all.

"Ultimate Fire Bird Star!"

The bird is more like a phoenix, Luffy thinks, and if he were in any other circumstance he would be starry eyed. But he has to be firm right now so he watches in satisfaction as the World Government flag burns freely.

Spandam's eyes are literally popping out of his head and Robin looks like she's about to start crying again. "No way…"

Luffy hears the din of the marines behind them crying if the pirates know the meaning of what they just did.

He snorts, of course they do, they just declared war against the World Government of course.

"Are you bastards insane!?" Spandam shrieks, looking red in the face. "Don't you dare to even dream that you'd survive having the world as your enemy!"

"I'd be happy to live with that!" Luffy screams back, letting his rage pour into his voice.

Robin starts to cry again but Luffy knows she has made her decision.

But, she might need a gentle push in the right direction… "Robin! I haven't heard it from you yet!"

She looks confused. "Say you wanna live!" He cries it as loud as he can, because Robin deserves to live.

She still looks confused for a few moments and his heart breaks a little. Then she begins to cry harder and yells back "I wanna live!"

It comes out garbled from her tears but Luffy smiles because she understands