Okay - so I've just reposted this chapter - I realised I hadn't proof read it so now I have and changed it! Sorry if I excited people thinking there was another chapter :P:P

Another week, another chapter! Its turning into a bit of an angst fest now, sorry about that. But everyone's a bit on edge, trying to help their friends, you know?

Thanks for all reviews

Review Replies

Blu: I love Ussop when he acts like that, normally I don't like him much so it was nice to have him stand up for things. And I really don't think Zoro would be too pissed at Nami and Sanji, I think he'd be more mad at Robin for tricking all his friends, and ultimately Crocodile. And I think Zoro has a serious complex about himself, look after every major battle he has in the manga he just gets obsessed with the fact he wasn't strong enough. And his whole dream is about becoming the stronest because someone thought him weak. So yea, I think he always percieves himself as weak in some aspect, be it strength or mentality. So of all the people to be pissed at, he'd be pissed at himself. Hat had to do, so the others knew what had happened :p Im glad you like the Zoro/Robin chat, it was worrying me slightly. And I love you too (in a non stalkerish way), you are my biggest fan! You rock

Yusekes: If I live in a world where fan-ness isn't a word, I'd be unhappy :D I like the hidden layers in Robin. The way she tries to hide I find so sad, and Im looking forward to drawing her out of her shell.

Jenelric: Why thank you for the love! Im glad it is creating the kind of emotions I have when I read fanfics :P Excessive rambling is so good, and you flatter me saying its the best fic you've ever read (haven't you read anything by Astrokender? Or Clarobell? Check them out and I pale in comparison), but I am touched by your enjoyment of my story. Please enjoy

So, here is chapter 16!

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of One Piece

Chapter 16 – Prices to Pay

The Going Merry had been sailing for almost a day, and its crew were anxious. As the sun rose, a shout from the crow's nest echoed across the ship

"Land ho! It's Alabasta!"

Ussop scrambled down the rigging and hit the deck as Sanji came out of the kitchen with some snacks.

"Here, I managed to bring a bit of food. Nami-swan, how long will it take to reach land?"

"About another two or so hours to hit land, but then we have to sail up the coast until we find Robin's ship." Chopper morphed into his little form (the larger form had been useful in running the ship) as he ate

"What happens when we find the ship?"

Nami started, but hesitated. After all, none of them knew the country that well, let alone where Crocodile could be. They had no idea whap would happen once docking on the island. Suddenly, Nami had an idea.

"Of course!" She ran off into the cabins, leaving the three males bewildered. When she returned, she was cradling a small snail.

"A mini den den mushi! We can ring Vivi!" Ussop broke into a wide smile and Chopper cheered when he asked

"Princess Vivi?"

"Yes, she knows the country like the back of her hand. I'm sure she can show us the way to Luffy." Sanji almost jumped on Ussop in his eagerness to admire the girl

"Nami-sawaaan! Your genius and beauty are second to none! Your brilliant idea and lovely friend will save the day! Mellorine!"

Sanji's foolishness seemed to lighten the mood. Try as they might to remain calm, fears weighed heavy in their minds. The wind had died down since they set off, leaving Robin with even more of a headstart. Despite what she claimed, even Nami's navigational knowledge couldn't control the weather, and all she could do was worry. Luffy's straw hat sat temporarily on her head, and she rubbed the material comfortingly. Who knows what was going to happen to its real owner? Images of Zoro's injuries covering Luffy's back flashed in her mind, but she shook them out.

No worrying, they'll be back soon. She'll make sure of it. Or quadruple their debt for making her worry.

Ussop was always worried, so the fresh wave of panic was hidden by all the old fears he carried. He was the most obviously affected by the events, as realised by the words to Sanji and Nami before they set sail. But he believed strongly in friendship, and deep down, he blamed himself a bit for what happened. He was not brave enough to help them. But he wouldn't let that happen again.

Sanji buried his fear with work and cigarettes. But it was noticeable to his friends, the shaking of his hands, and how his food wasn't quite as heavenly as normal. Not that he'd ever tell you the Rubber Food Bin and Lazy National Treasure were his Nakama, but his actions strongly suggested otherwise. He'd not lose his friends again.

Chopper was simply beside himself. Sanji wondered how he could do work round the ship with eyes so full of tears. Ever the doctor, Chopper was mentally preparing for any injuries he could think of. Visions of mortally wounded companions fought their way through his mind, and the animal would cry in panic at just his imagination. For now, it was all the animal could do to imagine how to treat them.

The sun began to rise and the four looked towards the horizon, towards their nakama.

They just prayed they could hold on.

--

They had docked many minutes ago. Filtered voices led Zoro to believe it would take little longer than an hour to reach Crocodile's. Not that he could hear much, through the noise of his cellmate's snores.

Luffy still hadn't woken up. The noise he was making suggested the tranquilizer had worn off, and the lack of consciousness was purely the result of the lanky boy's laziness.

When they had docked, police had moved the pair into another covered cart. In the darkness the slave noticed Luffy wasn't chained up like he was, just a simple pair of handcuffs hung on his wrists. Zoro found it odd, normally Luffy could break out of that easily.

He still found it odd his friend was there, along with him. Last he saw, the kid had run off. The flash of hurt on Luffy's face back at The Baratie hit Zoro like an arrow to the chest. He wasn't a slave or anything like that, so why was he here? Zoro couldn't put his finger on it.

He considered asking Robin, but the thought of that woman gave him an unpleasant chill.

Any questions about the dark haired woman were interrupted by a broken snore

"Naa….huh…whuzzappenin?" Luffy sounded as dazed as a boy who'd been sleeping for a day could be. Which is quite a lot.

However, unlike normal boys, Luffy recovered quickly

"Huh, what's going on? Where am I? Where's hat? Hat?" Zoro's exasperated sigh got Luffy's attention.

"Zoro! What's going on? Have you seen Hat?" The rubber boy coked his head to the side and gawked at his friend in amazement, before falling onto the floor with a flop.

"Luffy, you okay? What happened?"

"Naaaaaa…I feel funny…all tired."

Zoro quickly shifted over to the lanky kid with a look of concern.

"You feel okay? What's wrong? Did she hurt you?"

"Ne? Who hurt me? What happened?" Zoro grunted as he looked for wounds on Luffy

"Robin. Witch caught you somehow."

Suddenly, Luffy shot up

"Robin! Of course! I was in the alley and this net hit me and Hat fell off and I got all tired and weak and I could tell Robin was near me then there was this sting in my neck then I was asleep!"

"Tranquilizer. Maybe it's still working somehow, that's why you're tired. She kidnapped you Luffy." Chains clinked as Zoro leaned back against the wall, making Luffy aware of the shackles for the first time. He looked at them, and pulled at his own cuffs

"What're they for, Zoro? Where are we going?"

Before Zoro had the chance to answer, a door could be heard opening the other side of the hold, and some angry looking guards came in, wide grins on their faces.

"You wanna know kid? We're going to Crocodile-sama's. The chains are to keep that demon from getting out again; we don't want to lose him again now do we?"

The men entered the cell and two hoisted the boy to his feet, pushing him out as the others unchained Zoro. Luffy growled and tried to move back to his friend, but the guard's grip was too strong in his weakened state.

"What are you gonna do to Zoro! Where's Robin? Let me go!"

The guard did nothing but laugh, and heaved Luffy up into the sunlight.

A few blinks later and he could see the expanse of desert around him, and the sun that threatened to dry him up, so hot the area was. Nothing could be seen except sand and rocks and the occasional plant, but in the distance, the speck of civilization could be viewed.

As Luffy took in the area around him, he didn't realise he was being moved towards another cart. He climbed in voluntarily, welcome of the shade the boxed in transport provided. Zoro was pushed in not too long after, and the door was slammed behind them. The pair sat in silence until the cart began to move.

"I'm confused." Luffy's voice was quiet and concerned, and Zoro found he hated hearing such uncertainty from the normally exuberant kid.

"About what?"

"…I remember what happened…at The Baratie, and I remember leaving and being in the alley. Then I woke up here. I don't know what's going on, what's gonna happen to us?"

Zoro's feelings of frustration and helplessness swelled, and now guilt hung heavy in his mind also. He looked over at the rubber boy with an expression of utmost sincerity

"I'm sorry, Luffy. This is all my fault." Luffy looked nothing but confused

"How?"

"I was the one meant to be caught, not you. If I weren't around you wouldn't have fought with Nami and Sanji, and Ussop and Chopper wouldn't have been upset, and you'd have been able to be friends with Robin without any arguments, and you wouldn't have caught for whatever reason. I just brought you trouble."

Luffy was shocked by Zoro's words. Zoro was strong; he didn't worry about things like this. Did he? Despite the rocking of the moving vehicle and the difficulty of walking whilst handcuffed and unusually weak, Luffy managed to sit in front of Zoro, and looked him straight in the eyes.

"Silly Zoro. Trouble or no, you're our friend. I would've stuck by you anyway. That's what Nakama do." Zoro looked back at the honesty and kindness reflected in those big eyes and was stunned. Never…not since her had anyone been so kind, stuck by him. Not thought him a monster.

So these were true friends, huh?

Zoro was touched by the friend's honesty, but his mentality still piled on the guilt.

"But what about now? We're both stuck heading to this bastard and who knows what'll happen to you. And you wouldn't have been caught if I weren't around. I wasn't even strong enough protect you…"

"Who says? I still could've been caught. No one knows what could've happened. All we need to think about is we're here now and how so we get out?" Luffy's stomach rumbled "Naaaa….And what to eat! I'm starving!"

Zoro's growl matched the one from Luffy's stomach, and the chains holding him rattled as he quickly and angrily rose.

"Don't you get it? We can't get out, Crocodile has us and there's no way you can escape."

"Why not? You did before."

"That was different! Everything…there were circumstances…and, dammit Luffy, I'm not letting anyone have to suffer like that again for me, got it? You can't get out now, back to being owned. Nothing can be done about it now."

Zoro's defeated posture saddened the younger boy. Luffy was so used to seeing Zoro tall, proud of who he was even if others didn't like him. The effect of chains and guards were shocking. Fortunately, no such thing had happened to him yet.

"Na, Zoro, we can always fight, always. We'll just beat that man up and go home, and everything will be fine."

"For fuck's sake Luffy! Don't you get it? We're screwed! Probably…" Zoro trailed off and turned away. While he was realistic to the situation, he didn't think Luffy would be that accepting.

"Probably what, Zoro? What's so bad about Crocodile?"

Zoro slowly eased himself back down, avoiding his friend's gaze. When he eventually answered, his voice seemed distant and saddened

"What I did…escaping…Luffy, that's usually punishable by death."

--

Some say it is possible to find a paradise in the middle of the desert. An oasis, a perfect shelter to the heat and arid conditions surrounding it.

This is why many people nicknamed Rainbase, the home of Sir Crocodile Banan, as his Oasis. A huge area of land, with a massive lake of water (the only water source for miles), an unnecessarily large house surrounded by land palm trees. Every ounce of the area oozed excessiveness, just a show of his wealth and status. It was a paradise indeed.

To those slaves who inhabited it, the paradise was just a mirage.

Sir Crocodile was walking through his home, through the area that none of the public was aware of. Dungeons lined the walls of corridors, each full of slaves. A terrified hush filled the area as he approached, and any slaves not working cowered away from him. They knew the real Crocodile, the evil man hidden under the facade. He smirked at their responses and walked with a guard.

"Where are those two?" The guard almost fell over in his eagerness to answer

"They don't live with the workers; you can find them in the wing, Sir." Crocodile's teeth glinted as he sneered.

"Perfect. Make sure everyone's out working, all day. Anyone stops, you know what to do." The guard stopped and bowed before running off to inform the other slave guards.

Crocodile was having guests to the mansion in a few days, and he wanted everything was to be perfect. So the house was being cleaned spotlessly as the farms were tended constantly. Slaves were dropping like flies thanks to the hard labour and intense heat.

No matter, there were plenty others. And now, he had a new plaything, which he was looking forward to immensely.

As he approached the wing, the amount of guards, and light, reduced dramatically. These cells were notably dirtier and the atmosphere was much more oppressed. The slimy man stopped in front of a small cell and addressed its occupants.

"I hope we're feeling well?"

"…" The silence didn't bother the rich man.

"Well, you'll be pleased to hear I have a new plaything now, so you are no longer needed. You'll be sent off to the fields when I'm ready. I only hope The Demon is more fun that you."

The sounds of carts pulling up outside drew the man's attention, and he exited to greet his new arrivals. From the depths of the black cell, worried and hurt voices whispered.

"…Demon?"

"Aniki."

--

Luffy and Zoro were dragged off the cart; hands cuffed and currently kneeled in a luxuriously decorated entrance hall. Robin stood behind the pair, notably ignoring them, and addressed the man dressed in a fur coat, who sat in a chair in front and looked down upon them.

"I hope you are satisfied, Sir Crocodile."

"Nico Robin, you never fail to amuse me. I hope things went well?" Robin smiled graciously

"Of course, the capture went well. It was rather devastating to all involved, I believe."

If looks could kill, Zoro's would've floored anyone it was directed at. Instead, he kept it trained to the floor as Crocodiles laugh rang around the room.

"Perfect! Go and relax Robin, I'll call when I need you." Robin nodded and left, giving a glimpse to her former friends as she left. Crocodile didn't notice, but the remorse was clear.

"I hope your journey was comfortable, gentlemen. Young Mr Redhair, I don't believe we've met," He bent down in front of Luffy and smiled sleazily. The rubber boy's gaze bore right back. "I'm Sir Crocodile Banan, and I'm the owner of your Demon friend here." He nodded at Zoro as he spoke "I'm going to have a lot of fun with him."

Zoro growled in a feral fashion and Crocodile chuckled.

"Ever the beast, Roronoa? You were the same last we met." He lifted the green hair's face with his hook and eyed the faint scar left on his neck from their previous encounter. "You remember, yes?" Zoro was tense, filled with hatred towards this man who's made his friends suffer.

"Why the hell have you taken Luffy?" Crocodile was taken aback by the vicious tone in his new slave's voice.

"Now now Roronoa, any other time and you'd be beaten for talking to me like that. But, we have plenty of time to see how many beatings a Southerner can take." He bent down to Luffy and patted his head, which the boy tried to shake off.

"But Mr Redhair is not here for my use. He is a gift for a very good friend of mine."

Luffy looked confused, but it was Zoro who asked.

"Gift?"

"Indeed. Dr Vegapunk has been curious to continue his research on the Devil Fruit. Luffy here will be an ideal subject for him to test. I believe he needs to see the internal effects, maybe an autopsy, you'll be very useful I'm sure."

The two captives were stunned. Sure, they had worried Luffy would be in danger too, but never this much.

Concern for his friend clouded Zoro's judgement, and his blood ran cold. He remembered the first time they met, the fun they had, the swords he had been given, and the conversation in the cart. Luffy had changed his life, given him friends and shown him a world that wasn't hellish. He remembered what Luffy had said

"Na, Zoro, we can always fight, always. We'll just beat that man up and go home, and everything will be fine."

The kid was right, he could fight back.

And so, he did.

With a roar, Zoro tore the cuffs that bound his hands. Internally he laughed at the stupid idiots getting rid of the other chains - that was a rookie mistake by the guards. He lunged towards Crocodile with the intention of beating the man senseless.

He was shocked when the man disappeared from where he stood.

"What the…?" Zoro scanned the room, confused as to how a very solid man had so rapidly vanished. A startled choke alerted his attention.

"Ack...Zoro!"

Luffy was half raised off the floor, his feet dragging as his weight was carried by the hook around his neck. Crocodile stood behind him, a victorious look on his scarred features.

"Ah ah ah. Don't move, Demon. Or your friend will pay the price."

Zoro stood, poised to strike.

"Let him go, you bastard."

"You really seem to care about him, don't you?" Zoro looked at the hopeless look on Luffy's face.

"He saved my life. So now I'll save his." Zoro never took his eyes off Luffy as he spoke, as if he could help the kid by looking alone.

"Touching, really...So then Roronoa, I apologise, but this lab rat is needed. How about this…I'll keep him, and you can leave here now, free."

"…What?" Zoro was thrown by the offer.

"You can go back to your friends in Rouge Town, or even back to South Blue, to the other monsters such as yourself. All you need to do is walk away, right now. Or, I'll keep you, and set your little friend free. One or the other, that is the price you have to pay for your freedom. An easy choice, no?"

Luffy's eyes widened as he listened to Crocodile's options. How dare he, make Zoro choose like that. Luffy swore he'd kick his ass, before remembering he was still inexplicably weak. As he tried to call out to the swordsman, the hook around his neck shook him, causing him to choke anew.

Zoro was stuck. Here his freedom, what he had always desired, was offered to him on a platter, but at the expense of his best friend. Zoro looked between Crocodile and Luffy as he tried to decide what to do.

Eventually he hung his head, and gave the answer Luffy had been both expecting and dreading.

"I won't fight. Let him go, and you can do whatever the hell you want with me."

Luffy's heart sank as Crocodile clicked his fingers and guards came and took hold of Zoro. He felt the hook leave his neck and he sunk back to the floor. 'Baka' he thought 'don't you see what's gonna happen?'

Crocodile stood face to face with Zoro, and patted his cheek in a manner wholly irritating and patronizing.

"Good boy. You'll learn to listen yet, southerner. Shame you're such a fool though."

As Zoro was being dragged backwards, Crocodile's words registered in his mind. He saw the self satisfied smirk on his owner's face and felt his stomach drop.

"You really think I'm going to let your friend go free?"

As Zoro was lead kicking and roaring into the wing, he could hear the bastards laugh of victory echo around him, and he realised he had well and truly lost.

-.-.-

Okay so this is a ridiculously long chapter, I apologise. But I had so much Zoro/Luffy stuff to write and it just kept getting longer, then I realised I needed to get the others in there somewhere are Gah! It just grew.

Crocodile is a bastard, I hate him. He is my favourite villian though. So mean to all his slaves! And who are the mysterious pair in the dark cell? I'm sure you've all already figured that out, guess where I'm going with that ;P

I feel Robin should have been in this chapter more, but I don't think she would've spoken to Luffy once he was captured. She still feels bad about it, deep down where she is a nice person

So, I hope you enjoyed chapter 16! If you did, or didn't, I'd love it if you reviewed, they really spur me on to writing more and trying to improve.

I have another fic now, called Cosa Nostra. It's a bit darker than PoF, and the chapters and much shorter! But I really like it, I'd love to see if you guys do too

Thanks for Reading! - Pamplemoose