Ok, this might seem a bit Zoro/Rose but I really mean it to be nakamship. But if you want to see that side of it, you go right ahead. I'm not stopping you.

I examine the keys in my hands as I grin at my friends.

"Well, I'm not completely useless. Look what I have."

Everyone looked at me in confusion before excitement creased their features.

"Rose!"

"You nasty devil you."

"Saying you failed us when you stole keys to get us out you rascal."

I withheld the keys from their seeking grasp.

"Will you all calm down? I'm not even sure if they will work on your collars."

Luffy looked disappointed that he couldn't get off the thing that restricted the freedom that he loved so much. I almost gave him the keys right there, but I didn't. I needed to check something first.

I walked over to the door, trying the different keys in the lock. They didn't work, but that didn't deter me in the slightest. I was going to get out, the Straw-hats by my side.

I sat back down, eyes closed and fingers clasped together loosely.

"Rose, what are you doing?"

I look up at Usopp's question and wink.

"Thinking. Should we get out of here now, or later?"

Robin noticed the knowing fire in my eyes and smirked.

"You have a plan, don't you?"

I nodded, grinning. Chopper hopped up into my lap.

"Tell us please."

I shook my head slightly as I patted Chopper's head, which made him completely relax into my lap.

"Sorry, I'm not finished thinking it all up yet. I need to refine it."

Luffy cocked his head.

"Refine?"

Nami explained with a karate chop that has a bump raising on his head.

"She means make it better Luffy."

Sanji danced around me with hearts dancing in his eyes.

"Oh Rose-swan is so smart and beautiful and talented and perfect and—"

"Careful dartbrow, if you have a nosebleed right now you will die and even if you don't I will not haul your injured ass out of here."

"What the hell was that Marimo, I think I misheard you."

Zoro closed his one eye, looking bored.

"You didn't."

Sanji was just about to go full-blown flame on mode when I said soothingly.

"Please calm down Sanji."

Sanji instantly sat, the picture of perfection.

"Of course Rose-swan."

I see Zoro smirk.

"You really are like a whipped puppy."

"Shut it garden head."

I smile fondly. Asking them to stop fighting is like getting me and my brother or sister to stop fighting: a completely pointless endeavor. I pop my knuckles out of habit and say cheerfully.

"Ok I think I have got it all figured out now."

Everyone instantly quieted. Brook asked.

"After you are finished explaining can I see your panties?"

"No Brook."

Franky crossed his gigantic forearms.

"Go ahead with the super plan Rose-sis."

I smile.

"I haven't tried these key out on you all, but I need one person who is incredibly brave and trusts Luffy, a lot."

Usopp smirks confidently.

"I will do it."

I chuckle.

"You sure you want to say that when I haven't explained what you will be doing yet?"

Usopp frowned and mumbled.

"Now that I think about it, maybe I might not be such a good candidate. Somebody stronger then me should do it."

I grin.

"Thanks for volunteering."

Nami asks.

"So what's the plan?"

I hold up the keys.

"These are the only keys I could find, meaning there are only a few models of slave collars that these few keys fit to. So technically, I think all of these keys can get all of your collars off."

I jerk a thumb over my shoulder to the door.

"That doesn't get us out however. We are still stuck in this cell until the Celestial Nobles decide to make you all 'fight' again."

I put air quotes around fight, not bothering to hide the anger in my voice. I glance at Luffy.

"That's why we need Luffy."

Everyone else stared at their captain. He looked around.

"Need me, what for?"

I sigh. I am surprised at least Robin, Nami, or any of the other smart people haven't figured this out yet.

"Luffy, do you remember two years ago, when you first met Rayleigh?"

Luffy furrowed his brow as he thought and I even saw a red tinge come to his cheeks, then he smiled.

"Yeah, I remember. He was in the auction house."

I crossed my arms. I was going to let them figure this one out themselves.

"Do you remember how he rescued Camie?"

Realization dawned in Luffy's eyes as he grinned, smashing his fists together.

"Oh, ok."

I raise an eyebrow.

"Are you that good at haki? Can you control it like that?"

Luffy contemplated for a second, before nodding.

"I can try."

I point to the door.

"I need you to force a collar to explode, then direct the force to the door. If everything goes according to plan, it will blow the door open then we can escape from the cell."

Everyone else caught onto the plan and I see the exciting gleam in their eyes. I hold up my hands.

"Hold on a second you guys. Do you guys want to free the other slaves or not? That's a key factor."

The crew glanced at each other. I see Zoro's knowing smile and I continue.

"Well, it's your all's decision. I just need to adjust the plan accordingly if you want to or not."

I look to Luffy for his decision. He stared off into space for a moment, before asking.

"Will this make me a hero?"

I was about to answer yes, but I refrained from it. I sighed.

"You won't have to share any meat. We can take them and drop them off at the first island we come across."

Luffy's face creased into a grin when he found out he didn't have to share his meat.

"Then yes. No one should be denied freedom."

Everyone around me nodded in agreement, anger replacing their excitement. Now that they had experienced the horrors of slavery themselves, there is no way they wouldn't help the rest of the slaves escape. I smile.

"All right, then Luffy, I need you, Zoro, Sanji, Franky, and Brook to go distract the guards."

Franky cocked his head to one side.

"Distract?"

I grin.

"Use your imagination. Once you are done with them, you can go ahead and take the Celestial Dragons hostage."

All of the men I had mentioned grinned sinisterly and it kind of scared me. Poor Celestial Dragons, at least I would say that if I didn't hate them so darn badly.

"While you guys are doing that, me, Robin, Usopp, Nami, and Chopper will free the rest of the slaves. It may take awhile, but can you hold off until that happens. Then we will have our own personal army."

I turn to the cook.

"I'm sure they are going to be starving Sanji."

Saniji takes the hint.

"As soon as I find a pack of smokes, I am on it."

I nodded. Nami raises her hand.

"I have a question."

I raise my eyebrows. I thought I had been clear about the plan. Then I realized that Nami's eyes had turned into beri signs. I laughed.

"Yes Nami, you can still loot the castle."

She smiled gently, hiding her true thieving self underneath.

"Ok good. Nobody gets between me and money."

I put my hand in the middle of the circle.

"Ok and break."

They all looked at me like I was crazy and I shrugged. I pulled out the keys, fligking them between my fingers. I started with Luffy, working my way down, trying out different keys. All of them worked, unleashing the Straw-hats from their partway confinement. They all rubbed their necks, giving me grateful glances. I grin at Usopp.

"Now then Luffy, can you free Usopp the way Rayleigh freed Camie?"

Luffy put his hand up to Usopp's collar, about an inch away. Usopp was sweating buckets.

"Wait, wait, wait a minute, I never agreed to this. Can't Zoro or Sanji do it?"

I patted his back.

"Oh come on Usopp, I thought you were the brave Usopp-sama, brave warrior of the seas. You can do this. Have fun."

Usopp trembled.

"Wait, what if it goes wrong and I explode? That's not fun you know."

I nod at Luffy.

"Make sure to direct it at the door."

Luffy nodded, his eyes closed in concentration. I move back with everyone else to stand at the back wall, away from Luffy and Usopp, who is trembling so hard he can barely stand. I glance around. Sanji is protecting his dear Robin and Nami from the blast. Franky was easily shielding Chopper and Brook with his body. I was about to move over into Franky's shadow when a tanned arm stopped me.

Zoro sat me down and sat himself, facing me. My eyes widen slightly.

"You don't have to protect me Zoro."

He closed his eye, spreading his arms slightly.

"Yeah I do."

I smile and shift back a little to give him even more room. Then I watch Luffy and Usopp.

Usopp had resigned that he wasn't getting out of this and was muttering prayers under his breath. Luffy took a deep breath and grimaced once. Then the ticking began, slow and measured, the perfect thing to build suspense. Usopp's prayers speed up to the beat of the ticking. I say quietly.

"There really is no reason to be scared Usopp."

Usopp turns his head slightly so he can see me as he asked, panicked.

"What do you mean? A bomb is about to explode in my face."

I smile suddenly as I hear the ticking almost reach its limit.

"But you know Luffy will never hurt his nakama."

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Zoro smirk, just as the ticking stopped.

The first millisecond of the explosion almost seemed like it would blow Usopp apart. Apparently he thought so too by his frantic yell. Luffy's eyes remained closed for a second before he widened them so wide that it almost looked painful and the explosion was averted to behind him, right at the door. All of the Straw-hats took cover. Zoro braced himself and easily protected me with his built body as I cowered into his chest. I saw Luffy dive at Usopp, knocking him out of the line of fire.

I don't feel anything except a little heat. I keep my head down and I see Zoro tense from pain. I whisper.

"You idiot, are you all right?"

Zoro smiles at me calmly, not his smirk or grin like he's teasing or unleashing hell on someone, but a genuine smile.

"I'm all right."

I look at the gaping hole in the wall out into the hallway. Already I hear the panicked shouts from the guards. Time to unleash hell on these arrogant fools the Straw-hat way.