0 - Prologue

Swords clanged in the distance, sharpening on each other with each blow as lightening shot down from another area nearby. There were also what seemed to be like cannon shots, teamed up with the great aim of a long-nosed companion. Among these people were also four others, a small reindeer - often mistaken as a raccoon dog - who tended to an impatient blonde, with eyebrows that curled into his brow as he shouted absurdities at the moss-haired swordsman. A tall skeleton with a strange afro stood nearby, chuckling to himself by an amused lady with long black hair as they watched their captain; Monkey D. Luffy, fly into the air with a grin on his face as he yelled.

"Gomu gomu no jet pistol!" His arm shot forward for a finishing blow, extending and colliding into his enemy's face. His team, so to speak, had also fallen one by one under the lightning strikes of the orange haired beauty Nami, to whom the blonde cook Sanji cheered on with hearts in his eyes. Roronoa Zoro, the swordsman, had also finished his battle with the infamous 'Santoryu,' sliding his swords back into their sheaths whilst simultaneously cracking his neck.

"Beat you there stupid cook," Zoro grinned at Sanji.

"You wanna go right now and see who's the strongest here?" Sanji scowled, simultaneously getting up and being thrown back on the floor by a set of hands which had erupted from the ground.

"Thanks Robin," Chopper the blue-nosed reindeer said, "but please be more gentle with the patient!"

Sanji however was unaffected by this, as he stared up at the tall beauty and squealed "anything for Robin-chwan!" At this, Usopp and the cyborg Franky had also finished their part and were walking back from their "super" win, or so could be heard in the distance.

Their captain was already walking back to them, his hands behind his head, ecstatically announcing "well now that that's done I think we should have a feast! We're going to need lots of meat of course Sanji."

"Yeah yeah whatever you say captain maybe you should be a little more patient as I get bandaged up here!" Sanji moaned, annoyed at his captain's appetite.

"But damn I could really use a drink after that," Nami sighed whilst running her hand through her hair. This was enough to get the cook back on his feet and shooting towards The Thousand Sunny. Chopper called out to him, exasperated, but gave up almost instantly. If anything he was at least glad that Sanji wasn't getting life-threatening nose bleeds anymore.

"Yohohohoho!" Chuckled Brook, "that was quite a fierce battle Luffy! I was so surprised I couldn't believe my eyes, even though I have no eyes, Yohohoho!" Everyone couldn't help but laugh at his antiques, and before everyone knew it was evening, and a grand feast was laid out on a table by a glowing fire.

Of course, priorities went to the "lovely ladies" Robin and Nami, as per stated by Sanji, but once they'd taken their plates Luffy was already stealing all the meat and Brook was playing on his violin. He'd chosen to play his violin to "Bink's Sake," giving his title as Soul King a rest in order to reminisce on the pirate classic.

Usopp, Chopper, and Franky were already dancing along to the music, balancing chopsticks between their mouths and noses. The arguably calmest of the group sat down by the tree trunk. Zoro drank sake, content and feeling revived at his most recent battle, yet at the same time he found that it was no challenge. Robin sat by him, dropping his green robe around his shoulders.

"You forgot to put this back on," Robin commented, smiling momentarily at Zoro.

"Heh," he took another drink, a small smile also resting on his lips, "it was warm, and I doubt anyone was complaining."

The conversation ended there, yet though short it was satisfying to them both. Sitting by each other, they watched their crazy crew celebrate upon their recent victory, allowing Robin to contemplate.

She remembered the events of Enies Lobby, which changed her previous attitude that kept her distanced from everyone in the crew, and how they'd all risked their lives to save her. When she joined the crew, she joined on the basis that Luffy was responsible for keeping her alive, but since Enies Lobby she realised just how much she wanted to live. How much she had to live for. And not just for her crew either.

Robin wondered to herself, "I wonder if this happiness will last?" But then shook her head lightly. "I won't question it. I'll just stay happy with the friends I have, I'm happy to be alive."

As the night grew old the music faded, and most of the crew were on the grass, snoring away happily. Zoro took his last sip of sake, and before resigning himself to sleep took a quick look at the peacefully sleeping Robin who was sat just a few feet away. She'd fallen asleep with the corners of her mouth turned up into a little smile, and with that image implanted in Zoro's mind, he too closed his eyes with a smirk on his face, falling into a deep sleep.