It's time for another chapter! Yay are we all excited? This chapter has been tough to write, so I apologise for what is for mw a considerable delay! Like a week without posting is weird for me huh? :P

Thank you everyone for reviews! Any more are most welcome

Review Replies

Jenelric: I love Crocodile - or at least I love his evilness! Bu then, I am evil too laughs evilly,. Yea I like making my characters suffer! Mwa ha ha ha!

xHitsulover: I'm a sucker for a good ending. Glad you liked it

Sho-a0ycupid: You flatter me, but thank you very much. You want a really good story - go read something by Astrokender. Seriously fantastic

Yusuke: I love how easily pushed over Zoro is by Luffy, I find it quite sweet! You and I must see Crocodile the same way.

Blu: Ooh I need to know what you are planning! Teasing me so you are :P I wish I'd been able to include Vivia bit more, but she just didn't fit! Though I have another story in the works that she'd be involved in!

Thanks for the spelling stuff, one day I will re-read it and correct those errors.

I like Lucci, but I prefer the slimer villan. Lucci is a bit too cold for me.

Natsuumi: Ahh, you get points for noticing my little error! Let's just give me artistic licence and assume that during his months with Luffy, he realised with his DF powers that he's strong enough to escape. It was mainly me just showing Zoro questioning how Luffy was being so weak. But thanks for the compliment! I'm glad people think my story's original.

Here's Chapter 17! Hate to say this, but only about 4 more to go!

Chapter 17 - Reunions

"Zoro! ZORO!"

Luffy shouted as much as he was able, which as anyone who had met him was aware, was a lot, but his voice did not permeate the thick door his friend had just been lead out of. The rubber boy glowered at his captor and yelled at him across the room.

"You bastard! I'll beat you up for what you did to Zoro!" Valiantly, Luffy struggled to get free of his handcuffs, inadvertently sapping his strength further. From across the hall, Crocodile chuckled.

"Curious as to why you're so weak, Redhair? Allow me to explain." He walked over to Luffy, and quickly tapped the handcuffs

"Those are made of a special rock, called Kairouseki. It has been painstakingly mined from the Ocean floor, giving it properties akin to water."

Luffy seethed with anger at being near the man he hated so much, but without being able to beat him up. Crocodile sneered at him as he continued.

"So, it makes a Devil Fruit user as weak as he would be when in the Ocean. Ingenious, no? It appears effective, at least." Luffy wasn't paying attention, his mind only focused on the friend who had recently departed the room

"Why did you trick Zoro like that? What're you gonna do to him?"

"Surely you should be worrying more about yourself, Redhair. Roronoa is going where he belongs; it's not my fault if the Southerner is too stupid to understand my plan. "

"You leave my friend alone!"

"Your friend? He is my property, Mr Redhair, and I will do as I please with him. For the trouble he brought me with escaping, well, I'll have a lot of fun making him bleed. How long until I make your friend scream, Luffy?" Crocodile's voice was smug as he addressed his captive, who was by now looking devastated.

Two guards entered from the door behind Luffy, and held the boy by his arms. As he was steered back out the room to his own personal prison, he heard the voice he now despised address him.

"Go relax in your own accommodation, Mr Redhair; I'll be sure to give my best to Roronoa for you."

--

He was barely registering where he was being dragged, Zoro was too busy thinking about the friend he had just failed, and left in the clutches of the Crocodile bastard. Who knew what was going to happen to the kid now?

All thoughts of the scene he left behind were interrupted by the sudden lack of movement. Finally noticing the present danger he himself was in, Zoro noted the lingering smell of blood in the air, the heavy atmosphere, and the dark cell infront of him with a door currently swung open.

"Here, you can have someone to talk to until Crocodile-sama wants you." The guard scoffed as he pushed Zoro into the cell and closed the door behind him. He kneeled on the floor, trying to repress his feelings of frustration by imagining the best way to tear that grin off that guard's face.

When the echo of footsteps left the hallway, the slave was shocked when two frail voices emerged from the darkness before him.

"Is that really you?"

"Zoro-aniki!"

The voices, as weak as they were, were burned into Zoro's memory. But when his two friends and conspirators in escape all those months ago stepped out of the shadows, Zoro was speechless.

Johnny and Yosaku looked dirty and weak. Clothes were torn and ragged, merely scraps by now. The glasses that so constantly adorned Yosaku's face were cracked and sat disjointed on a visibly broken nose. Cuts littered his body, red and sore from lack of treatment. Johnny's arm hung at his side fractured at the elbow. And the fingers of the same arm were broken, snapped to pieces in a way Zoro didn't want to ask.

It made his heart wrench looking at his two battered friends, but more than the injuries did the whole hearted smiles of happiness on their tired faces.

"It really is you, Aniki! We thought we'd never see you again!"

"How are you Aniki? Where have you been?"

Zoro kneeled in a stunned silence, at a loss of how to react.

"Johnny…Yosaku…what happened to you?"

Johnny smiled sheepishly, not really knowing what to say. After a few moments of silence, Yosaku quietly confirmed Zoro's fears

"Crocodile was angry you got out Aniki…" The swordsman groaned

"Damn it, he took it out on you?"

"He wasn't pleased with how we…helped you escape." Zoro tightened his fists, wanting to pound something but the wall was too far away. Johnny noted the stress and upset in Zoro's stance and jumped forward

"Don't worry, Aniki! We're okay, really!"

"We wouldn't have changed what we did for the world, Zoro Aniki." Yosaku looked at his aniki with pure honesty. Sure, they were hurt, but they let their friend taste freedom, and try and be happy.

If they could give him a chance, then it was worth it.

Zoro watched them, having no idea how to respond. The suffering they went through for him was clear, but he didn't want to shout at them, or feel bad for them. They took this because of him, but Zoro knew their intentions were honourable. He should be grateful, so he did something he never thought he would do.

Zoro bowed slightly, averting his gaze from the surprised pair.

"Johnny, Yosaku, I'm sorry, for everything I've put you through. Thank you, for what you've done for me."

Johnny was almost in comical tears at the reunion, and Yosaku did the only thing he could think of and engulfed their lost friend in a big hug. Zoro quickly shrugged off the unusual affection, and as they parted Johnny asked

"Aniki, what's happened with you? How did you get back here?"

The tired captive eased himself onto the floor, sighed deeply and began the long tale of his adventures on the outside.

--

While one friend was reuniting with previous acquaintances, the other was bored. Luffy wasn't in a cell, instead he sat in a large cage within a quiet room. His handcuffs had been removed, but he still felt weak.

"Naaaa…maybe the cage is made of the same mystery rock as the cuffs." Luffy chatted to himself, having no-one else to talk to.

Or at least he didn't think he did.

The door quietly opened, and a slim figure slipped in through the shaft of light, before the door was shut again and the pair were left in peace.

Luffy stared up at the figure of a person he really didn't expect to be there

"Hi, Robin" He sounded forlorn, the memory of her betrayal fresh in his mind.

"Luffy-san. I hope you aren't being treated too badly."

"Ah, it's okay. I wish I had something to eat tho…"

Before Luffy had a chance to finish his complaint, one of Robin's real arms reached forward and handed the boy a large chunk of meat. It was gnawed on ferociously.

"Mffff, fwanks wobin!" Robin watched as he consumed the meat (at a frighteningly fast pace). When Luffy had finished, she muttered quietly.

"I'm sorry, Luffy-san." The rubber boy cocked his head to the side, and asked softly

"Why did you kidnap us Robin? I thought we were friends."

"I was just following orders, Luffy-san."

"…What's gonna happen to Zoro?" Robin sighed

"Zoro-san's fate is up to Crocodile, he belongs to him now. It is unfortunate, but inevitable. He cannot escape his life that easily."

"He can. Anyone can do what they want." Robin smiled in a wholly saddened way at Luffy's responseand looked down at the floor.

"None of us can, we will always be bound to our fate."

Luffy fell across the room, and Luffy watched the woman with an expression of childlike curiosity. Eventually, he neared the edge of the cage and enquired.

"What's yours Robin? Where do you belong?" As hard as it was to see in the darkened room, Robin's ever-present mask of indifference cracked slightly.

"I imagine…it's where you are, Luffy-san"

Luffy was so confused he almost forgot to answer.

"What? Where am I?"

This time it was Robin who forgot to answer, she was busy remembering.

Born into slavery, Robin was fortunate to have a kinder owner. But when he mother died, leaving a young Robin alone, fate intervened and she was purchased. She remembered the cold, sterile hand of he new owner, the white labs, and the syringes. When the disaster happened, she fled, hurnted and persecuted for her unusual ability. She remembered how, hungry and tired,she found her way to the only man who would care for her, and she remembered theunderstanding Crocodile provided, and how she owed her life to him, so pledged to work for him.

The cold and hurt and loneliness of those years was still firm in her mind, and the devil fruit power Vegapunk left her with was a constant reminder of what he did to her all those years ago.

She was snapped out of her thoughts when the imprisoned boy asked a random question that hit remarkably close to home.

"How did you get your powers, Robin?" Luffy looked so curious, so innocent, that Robin stepped back in surprise.

"...I'm very sorry Luffy-san; I can't go back to him."

"The Vegaman? You were a test subject for him, like my dad?"

Robin's silence was damming, and Luffy bowed his head.

"He hurt you bad, huh?"

The woman's only answer was a slight nod. Luffy's response to her sullen behaviour was predictably unexpected to her.

"Then it's okay! You had no choice Robin, so I can forgive you." He nodded in resolution and sat cross legged onto the floor. Robin looked up in surprise

"What?"

"I forgive you; you did what you had to. We're Nakama Robin! I wouldn't want you to be hurt.Everything will turn out fine."

Robin would have thought this statement made absolutely no sense from a boy resigned to a horrid death at the hands of a scientist, but the fire in his eyes led her to suggest otherwise.

If he believed in his friends, maybe she should as well.

--

The temporary crew of the going merry had finally found a place to dock. Chopper and Ussop were disheartened when they couldn't see another ship, let alone one that could've been Robin's, for miles.

They were lifted considerably by the sight of the girl waiting for them on shore.

Neferatari Vivi was every bit the princess, in her appearance and her demeanour. Her long blue hair shone in the sunlight as she waved at the ship, even the unusual animal at her side didn't reduce her regal manner.

"Vivi!" Nami jumped off the ship the minute it was secured, running to meet her old friend. The three men quickly followed.

"Nami! How are you? Sanji-kun, Ussop-kun, Chopper-kun, it's nice to see you again!"

Ussop and Chopper smiled and waved at the greeting, and Sanji tripped in excitement, transformed the fall into a perfect roll, and landed on bended knee at the princess' feet, muttering proclamations of joy and love. Ever used to such unusual behaviour, Vivi smiled politely and helped him up.

"Thanks, Sanji-kun. I hope your trip was okay? Please, explain what's going on, what has happened to Luffy?"

Despite the friendly reunion, mention of the cause of their adventure sent the small crew into despair. Slowly, Nami sighed and began

"Well…it all started with this guy Zoro…"

Many minutes and a few less dry eyes later (mainly on the part of Ussop and Chopper), Nami had fully explained the situation to the princess, who was undeniably shocked at the events.

"Oh poor Luffy, and your new friend, the Bushido."

"Swordsman…" Ussop corrected

"We have to help them!" Vivi was distraught; clearly ruffled she worried over the fates of people. That is one thing Nefertiti Vivi was famed for; she had a huge amount of compassion for her fellow man.

"That's why we're here, Vivi-chwan. We need to get them back." Sanji spoke little, but his words sounded determined and even slightly desperate. They all knew the importance of their plight.

"Can you help us get there Vivi?" Nami questioned, and Vivi nodded.

"Mmhmm, the duck squad are here to help!" From behind her, a mismatched group stood saddles on, ready to transport the heroes. It would have been a wonderful sight.

If it weren't for the fact their steeds were in fact ducks.

The collective quacked in eagerness to help, and Vivi grinned at them. The others didn't look quiet as pleased with the development.

"They're the fastest animals in Alabasta – you'll get to Crocodile's in no time."

Over the initial shock of the unusual transport, the group chorused thanks, and the ducks quacked and waved, ready to begin their journey.

Vivi hesitated

"You really think they're going to be okay?" She bit her lip anxiously, avoiding their gaze as she questioned quietly.

The winds howled across the desert as the group thought. Fears they'd tried to compress rose to the surface at Vivi's innocent question. Because as innocent as it seemed, in was the one question all four of the group asked themselves.

Would they be okay? What if they were too late to help, what would they find?

Unable to decide how to answer the innocent princess, Sanji turned and headed towards the duck squad. Ussop and Chopper followed after, the reindeer sniffing bravely as he turned his back on the women. Vivi looked at the redhead

"Nami?" The princess suddenly found herself in the arms of the navigator

"Vivi, maybe you should head back to the palace." Nami sniffed and wipes tears from her eyes, and Vivi started

"But…."

"I bet Shanks is going to know about his ship by now, ne? You should inform him it's safe. You do what you are able to do."

With one more brief hug, Nami ran off to follow her male companions, and Vivi was left with wet cheeks and a firm resolve. She would do what she could, and she could get help.

--

Johnny and Yosaku watched their friend and cellmate with teary eyes as he was lead out the cell. The story had been explained to them, and they were pleased to hear Zoro had found some things worth living for whilst he escapes. They both wished they could meet these wonderful sounding friends.

And it broke their hearts to realise how he would pay for the friends he made and life he led.

Zoro observed his new prison as guards pulled him down the corridor. Everywhere he searched for Luffy, and found no sign of him. But he saw plenty of other things.

People, crammed in cells, cowering in fear as guards pass. He saw a few glimpse at him, and some vaguely familiar people muttering about Demons and green hair.

Figures others who came from Kuro still remembered him.

One thing that the slave found surprising was the looks of pity he received from some people. It was as if they knew something he didn't. Something he was soon to find out about.

A heavy door was opened to reveal a large stone bricked room. Through the dim light, he could make out the stains of blood on the floors and walls. But there was one thing through the darkness he could definitely see.

The smug face on Crocodile's bastard face.

Zoro growled quietly in the back of his throat, never leaving eye contact with his owner as guards stood him in the middle of the room. He felt his arms being raised and chained to the ceiling, at a slight angle just behind his head. But as he was being manhandled, Zoro stood firm glaring at Crocodile as he moved closer to him.

"I suppose you're wondering how your friend Mr Redhair is? I wouldn't worry, Dr Vegapunk is on his way, and he'll soon be out of his misery."

Fists clenched as Zoro attempted to suppress his anger, which didn't go unnoticed by Crocodile as he circled him.

"Heh, never mind. Your friend may not have to suffer much longer, but for you, we're just about to get started."

Zoro listened intently as Crocodile passed behind him. The footsteps echoed, and when they ceased Zoro heard the distinctive instinctive sound of heavy material sliding to the floor.

He knew what was coming next.

The heard the crack of the whip before he felt it on his skin. The force of the blow moved the captive's body forward, in turn pulling his arms back. Zoro felt the strain on his arms and he steadied himself, frowning at the pain but refusing to make any noise.

The second crack stung, he felt his skin tear as the leather grated on his back. It seemed to be indented with small, sharp bumps. Zoro mused

'Spikes…great…just great'

Four strikes later, blood began to seep from the wounds now forming on Zoro's back. He bit down on his lip when his body wrenched forward and he felt the blow, but still, all he did was breathe deeply.

"Hurts, boy?" Crocodile smirked as he lashed the whip at him again, clearly enjoying himself. "You know, you should say if it does, it'll make things easier for you."

Zoro snorted defiantly, and Crocodile lifted the whip again.

"Well, then we'll just have to keep doing this until you beg me to stop."

-.-.-

So another chapter down! Lots of Luffy in this chapter, which makes me happy. I know I've rushed the Going Merry's journey, but there's just so much going on I needed to cover with Luffy and Robin especially in this chapter, I kinda had to rush that.

And yea, so Zoro gets to suffer more, maybe I shouldn't like to do that so much :P Poor Robin, she never has a happy life, ne?

Thanks for Reading! - Pamplemoose