Pride: This story is a tribute to Cardboard Pixie, an amazing friend, confidante and sister-figure who passed away on October the 9th. She dedicated her last moments to writing fanfiction, which she truly loved. I hope her hardwork and dedication is recognized, because she truly deserves it. Thanks for the great memories and times we had, and no matter what, we won't forget you.

Updated: 17/1/2015

They all knew that it was not a match made in heaven. But it was a match made in hell, and that was just fine too.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own One Piece or any of its characters.

Narrator's Perspective

'Thoughts'

"Speech"

"Attacks/Raised Voices"

Settings- Place and Time

Dreams

A Match Made In Hell

An One Piece original fanfiction

Recollection 9: Endings and Beginnings

Luffy limped towards the main mast, his handicap hurting him now more than ever. Every step he took felt as though he was being stabbed with a thousand white-hot knives. Before, he had a goal to accomplish, and a crew to protect, so he had taken the pain with a grin on his face. To him, it had been worth it at that time. Now, however…

Tears streamed down his face, as he trudged on slowly, trying to make time pass as slowly as possible, so that he could reconsider his decision one last time. He felt his mind, and his limbs protest, pleading for him to change his mind.

But this wasn't just his own decision. It was the whole crew's decision. They all knew that this was necessary. They couldn't go on like this, not any more, now that they had all achieved what they had set out to. Before, they had goals of their own, that united them, but now they couldn't afford to go on without a goal. A falling-out would be inevitable then. And none of them wanted to part on such painful terms.

That's right, they needed this.

This was the best decision they could make right now.

He had to make a decision that was best for his crew…even if they were going to remain as a crew only for a little longer. For now…he was still the captain, and he had to think like one, act like one.

It was also his responsibility to make a decision that wouldn't compromise the future of the pirates, being the Pirate King. Much as he wanted his crew to stay together for all time, he knew that they had to make way for the new age, and let the younger ones step up to take charge of their generation.

It was what Gol D. Roger and Whitebeard had done in the age before his own, and it was what Trafalgar D. Law from his own generation had done already. It was now his turn. With that, Monkey D. Luffy, Pirate King, steeled himself to face his final responsibility as captain and Pirate King.

And he had to be damn sure that he wouldn't regret this decision, because if he did…he wouldn't be able to do anything about it afterwards. He would have no power over whatever happened after this.

He lowered the Jolly Roger, and held it out in front of him. He let it go and watched as it floated away as tears flowed freely down his cheeks. There was no turning back now.

"The Straw Hat Crew is hereby…disbanded."

Zoro walked to a suitable-looking bench and set his basket full of beer and sake down.

He felt depressed, thinking of everything that had transpired so far.

Luffy had stayed on the Thousand Sunny, saying that a captain had to stay with his ship until the end. How he would survive on the ship, at the very end of the Grand Line, without a navigator or anyone else to help him, Zoro didn't know.

He had worried constantly about everyone on the crew, wondering what would become of them. And that led him to his current situation. Zoro had bought as much alcohol as he could with as portion of his money and brought them to this private spot, wanting to be alone for now.

The others, as far as he knew, must be on this island, wandering around aimlessly without a purpose. He'd never realized how much it would cripple them to lack a goal in life. Not until now at least. He felt as if his whole life was worthless, as though it would make not difference if he was dead or alive.

He chuckled wryly.

Roronoa Zoro, world's greatest swordsman, could get suicidal when he was depressed. Who would've known?

He smashed the top off his first sake bottle for that night, and took a long draught. When he set down the bottle, he felt his cheeks wet with tears. It had been a long time since he had been this expressive. The sake tasted unusually bitter on his tongue today.

She had rotten luck when it came to finding a home, it seemed. Ohara, Baroque Works, the Mugiwara crew. None of them had lasted.

At least before, she had a goal, and the determination to survive in order to achieve it. Now, she felt as though life held no appeal to her.

It would be an understatement to say that Robin was depressed that night. She thought that perhaps, she should try some of the sake Zoro liked so much and see if it helped.

Robin was worried. Worried for her crew. Worried for her captain. Worried for herself. And worried for Zoro.

Who knew what that swordsman was up to, or where he was? Directionally challenged as he was, he might as well have gotten lost, accidentally walked into the sea and drowned, or accidentally walked off a building.

With a newfound determination, she set out to look for Zoro. Despite his tough exterior, that man could very well have the most fragile heart out of them all, next to Chopper.

At least her search for Zoro would give her a goal and occupy her for the night, if nothing else.

Robin found Zoro passed out on a bench, completely hammered. It seemed as though he had drunk an entire bar to bankruptcy, and still needed more.

"Zoro. Zoro, wake up," she lightly shook him awake.

Zoro opened his eyes and saw Robin. It almost tricked him into believing that they were still on the Thousand Sunny, and that everything from the disbanding of the crew onwards had been nothing more than a bad dream.

But as he had expected, life was cruel. It had not been a nightmare.

Robin helped him off the bench, and supported him as he tried to walk.

"Let's go find an inn to stay in for today, then we'll continue searching, okay?"

"Search…for what?" Zoro slurred out.

"I don't know. A purpose, a home, something. Something worth calling our own," Robin tried to give him a reassuring smile, but found that she couldn't even reassure herself.

"Mmkay," he let her guide him, trusting her to do what he couldn't at the moment.

It was at that moment that the two of them realized – each was closest thing to a goal that the other had. All this while, they had known; that no matter what happened, no matter who stayed and who left, Zoro and Robin would never leave one another's side.

As Robin realized this, she turned to Zoro and gave him a genuine smile.

"Don't worry, Zoro. Someday, we'll eventually find a place to call home…together."

End

Pride: Sorry if this chapter was a little angsty, I was just kinda depressed at the time, so this appealed more to me. And thanks to all who reviewed, please keep supporting this story!

May good fortune rule over you
Peace live in your heart, and
May the stars watch over you

- Yours truly, Pride