Title: One Moment's Despair

Author: Me (Jace)

Summary: Luffy is about to defeat Lucci when despair strikes. Literally. Lucci destroyed Luffy's pride even though he lost his life.

Genre: Angst, Tragedy.

Chapter One : Despair

As Luffy and Leopard Lucci gasp for breath, they both knww who will be victor of the fight. Lucci knowing this becomes rampant and roars out, "Straw Hat, even if you defeat me I'll take away everything you were fighting for. I'll take this bitch's life!"

Luffy saw Lucci raise his arm in preparation for his Shigan and lunged for him. But Luffy never made it. Lucci's finger penetrated Robin's skin, stabbing her heart and in the last few seconds of her life, Robin thanked Luffy for everything. Without knowing it Luffy shed tears, tears of anger and sorrow and everything in between.

"You bastard...You took away my NAKAMA, you took Robin's life. How dare you," Luffy stammered in between sobs. "HOW DARE YOU EVEN TOUCH HER!"

Lucci realizing his mistake ran for his life because he knew what was next, his inevitable death.

Luffy turned Gear Second and reached him in no time and punched him in the gut, making Lucci spill blood. He then kicked him in the air and sent his leg flying upwards hitting him in the face then kicking the back of his head sending him back down to the ground. Luffy then started punching Lucci nonstop breaking the ground and long after Lucci was cold and dead.

Luffy exasperatedly walked to Robin's lifeless body and tipped his hat covering his face. Luffy then took off his hat and placed it on Robin's head and picked her up and took her to the almost dead Going Merry.

One Day Later

The Straw Hats arrived at a new island called 'Flight 7' where Luffy buried Robin. As he was closing the opening, he placed his hat on her head and covered her face, just as a single tear fell from his eyes.

"I no longer have the right to be a pirate, much less a captain now that Robin is gone," Luffy recited to the Straw Hats on the substitute ship Franky made for them. "I let Robin die and now that I can no longer protect my nakama, I am of no use to you."

Immediately after this everybody started shouting and yelling about the this and the that and who knows what. But Luffy had made up his mind, which would not be changed. Luffy would now retire from his position as a pirate and a captain.

"Tomorrow I will leave this ship, along with you guys, to start a new life..." but he was cut short by Nami smacking him bellowing, "What are you saying! We have all risked our lives more than once for our dreams and now your saying that you are leaving. Luffy, you can't leave us, we need you as you need us."

"She's right Luffy," Zoro replied in a hoarse voice. "We've gone through a lot together and now calling it quits is not acceptable. Remember that you have to become the Pirate King and I the Strongest Swordsmen in the world."

"Luffy, but your our backbone..." said the small reindeer, Chopper.

"Don't you idiots get it! I couldn't protect Robin so what guarantee do you have that I can protect you, my other nakama! If I couldn't protect her and I can't protect you, I'm useless, much less the captain of this ship."

"Luffy," Franky began, "We don't need you to protect us. We each are strong enough to watch our own backs, but face it, without you, this crew would undoubtedly crumble."

"Just shut up! Shut up and give me some space!" Luffy said as he ran towards the men's sleeping quarters.

They don't understand me. I love those guys but what can I do if I can't protect my subordinates as captain? Robin who threw her life away to ensure ours, who lost her life because I couldn't protect her, is now deceased. I let one of my nakama die right in front of me, and I still could not do anything.

They don't know how it is to cope with the feelings I am feeling. The war I declared against the World Government, was all for naught if she's not here. So my presence could bring death to all my nakama just because of that.

A tear fell down Luffy's stern face, I'm useless. I'm a threat to the very people I care about. I am a monstrosity. And worst of all is that because of me, my nakama's dreams will never come true. I should just get it over with and slit my throat...

"Luffy! Oi Luffy!" Zoro shouted, "Get your ass out here NOW!"

"What if I don't want to!" Luffy retorted. At that Zoro cut through the door to the room and announced, "I challenge you to a Davy Back Fight!"

Luffy's mouth dropped to the floor when he heard this. There was no way Zoro could beat him, even if Zoro was incredibly strong. "Stop talking shit!" Luffy retorted, "

You know damn well you could never beat me."

"Who said I was the only one to fight you? We all are you shitty rubber-man.The conditions are that we fight one battle, all of us, against you. If we win you will stay as our captain but if we lose you are free to do as you please." Zoro replied calmly. "The battle is, "COMBAT"!

A/N: Did you like? Did you like my ending? I hope you guy's know what a Davy Back Fight cuz if you don't imma be HELLA pissed. So next chapter should be out if I get the right number of comments and I don't mind criticism!

1 Shigan – Finger Gun

2 Franky – He is now an addition to the Straw Hats.