A/N as of February 2021: Yuck, I totally replaced this chapter with the wrong document the first time, so I don't know what my original Author's Note was. Oh well. Anyway, this chapter was one of my favorites to write and it was still one of my favorites to edit. The raw emotion conveyed in the two episodes I used is just so...piercing. I love the crew's dynamic, the worry they show for their crewmates, and everything else! I hope you enjoy reading this chapter!

Chapter 20: On Ice

I'm impressed that you were able to survive, especially as a child. You've managed to betray, sidestep and escape everyone in your past. You've survived in the underworld by being quick to switch sides and now you've chosen this crew as your next haven. You will all learn soon enough that protecting this troublesome woman leads to nothing but regret.

Every organization that she's had something to do with in the past has been annihilated.

Aokiji's words had run through the air, freezing the tension more than his Ice Age had when it solidified the sea itself. Robin was clearly distressed at his appearance on the deserted island they'd stopped at and the rest of the crew was sharing in her panic now as the Navy Headquarters admiral turned on them, raising his ice sword on Robin. The woman closed her eyes and crossed her arms, scared out of her mind but ready to defend herself as best she could against one of the Navy's powerhouses. However, she needn't have worried – her crew had her back.

Zoro stopped Aokiji's blade with his own and Sanji kicked it out of his hands, the Ice Saber landing somewhere in the forest.

"Huh. I don't remember asking for your help, cook," Zoro snarked.

"Funny, I was going to say the same thing to you, Moss-Head." Before their argument could really take off, Luffy was running up and pulling his arm back to punch the man in the gut with a furious yell. Only it hadn't worked so well. Aokiji's Logia body was ice itself, and the cold spread up Luffy's arm, freezing his fist and elbow.

"Ah! He's cold!" Luffy gasped, panicking as his arm was slowly devoured by ice. Aokiji had then reached out and grabbed Sanji's right knee and Zoro's right arm and started to freeze them too. The three men screamed in pain, the unbearable cold burning into their skin. They'd pulled away from the Marine and collapsed on the ground, clutching their frozen body parts, still screaming as the rest of the crew's panic surged. Robin was standing in front of Aokiji now, alone and undefended, as her friends stood behind her, unable to move. Aokiji told her that she'd never change, despite having such loyal friends, and Robin vehemently denied that claim. Aokiji ignored her and made his move, leaning down from his great height and wrapping the woman in his arms. It was almost like he was hugging her but his body was turning into ice, the frost and chill creeping over the woman's body as well until she was completely frozen solid. The terrified expression on her face would haunt the Straw Hats for quite a while as it was frozen in sparkling ice.

"ROBIN!" Luffy yelled, standing up and still clutching his frozen arm.

"ROBIN!" Sanji repeated, horrified at what was happening. The rest of the crew was gaping in terror, completely frozen in place.

"YOU BASTARD!" Luffy howled, his horror turning into fury as he glared at Aokiji.

"Stop yelling," the admiral ordered. "If you thaw her out carefully, she should live. However, her body is extremely fragile in this state so you'll need to handle her with care. If any part of her breaks," Aokiji punctuated his words by raising a fist and bringing it down towards Robin's frozen body. "…she'll die." The whole crew gasped in dismay as the fist neared Robin, the threat of her death very real. "For example, if I was to smash her apart like this…"

"NOOOOOO!"

"ROOOOBBBIIINNNN!"

"NOOOOOO!"

"STOOOOOOP!" It didn't matter who was yelling, their terror and fear were all one and the same as the unforgiving fist bore down on Robin's frozen body.

Thankfully, Luffy moved lighting-quick and snagged the archeologist before Aokiji could hit her, bending backward with his friend in his arms as the admiral's fist swung through nothing.

"Huh?" the Marine stared down at the gasping man.

"That was close!" Luffy panted. Aokiji made a disgruntled noise and his foot came up to stomp Robin. However, he stomped Luffy instead due to Usopp having run forward and grabbed Robin before he could bring his foot down.

"That was amazing, Usopp!" Chopper and Nami cheered, having run across the field with the sniper.

"What in the hell are you doing?" Aokiji growled at the three of them, getting more annoyed by the minute. These punks were messing with the wrong man.

"Usopp! Chopper! Quick!" Luffy yelled, rolling out from under the admiral's foot. "Take Robin and run back to the ship! Thaw her out and keep her safe!" he ordered.

"Right! You got it, captain!" they responded instantly, running back into the forest as quickly and carefully as they could, trying to keep the archeologist from breaking.

"Don't bother," Aokiji said calmly, slowly walking after them, his cold body making clouds in the warm air. "The world would be a much better place without that woman in it." Suddenly, there was a staff in his face and Aokiji grabbed it before it could make contact. Nami had attacked him, defending her friend and trying to stall for time.

"Not to split hairs," Nami countered. "But a pirate crew pretty much consists of people just like that."

"You've got that right lady," he replied. "Now if you don't mind, kindly step aside." Aokiji threw Nami to the side by yanking on her Clima-tact. She hit the ground hard at the admiral's feet.

"Nami!" Sanji yelled. He and Zoro jumped to their feet, ready to fight and defend her, Robin, Usopp, and Chopper in spite of their frozen limps. Sanji could barely run with his knee and Zoro's right arm was useless so he was fighting with one sword as they began to attack the ice man.

"You're not messing with this crew!" Zoro growled, pissed that they'd been hurt by this man, first by maiming and then by threatening to kill their friend. He wasn't going to allow this jackass to fuck with them any longer!

"Wait! Nobody attack him!" Luffy's voice ordered from behind everyone. Sanji and Zoro skidded to a halt, looking back at their captain in shock. What was he thinking!? "Stay back and don't interfere. I'm going to fight him one-on-one." Zoro's heart leaped into his throat involuntarily. Luffy…what are you thinking?! This guy is dangerous! He just took out all three of us at the same time! Do you really think that you can beat him alone!? The rubber man held up his fists, one of them already frozen solid, ready to fight. "What do you say?" Luffy continued, addressing his new enemy. "The two of us can settle this on our own."

"Fine by me," Aokiji replied, his body starting to ice over again. "But since I don't have a ship to take you back, then I'll just have to kill ya."

"Luffy-!" Zoro started to tell his boyfriend how stupid he was being when Luffy cut him off.

"Get your asses moving! Go to the ship! NOW!" The captain's voice was hard and held no mercy for those that disobeyed him. He was really looking and acting like a captain now, forcing his crew to accept his orders out of respect for his position. They couldn't disobey him; that would go against everything that being on a crew stood for. Zoro growled angrily, wanting to shout and yell and pound some sense into Luffy, to tell him that getting killed was a horrible idea and that they should just run away but he sheathed his sword, following his captain's orders no matter how worried he was. He'd follow Luffy's orders for now, but that didn't mean that he wouldn't come back for him once those orders were fulfilled.

"Nami! Lover Boy! Let's go!" Zoro shouted as he started running towards the Merry.

"What?!" Sanji exclaimed. "You're just gonna leave Luffy here?!" The whole crew knew how much he loved and respected Luffy, so it didn't make any sense for the swordsman to leave his lover behind without argument, especially when his life was truly, truly in danger.

"Captain's orders!" Zoro replied, grabbing Nami's arm and dragging her to her feet. The woman looked up at her crewmate and gasped, seeing the demon look in his eyes that he only glared at his enemies. In that one look, Nami understood how much harder it was for Zoro to leave Luffy behind, how conflicted and heartbreaking it must be for him to do such a thing. But Zoro was the first mate, if he didn't follow orders then how could he expect anyone else on the crew to? The redhead stood up and started running, brushing off her crewmate's hand.

"Come on, Sanji!" she snapped and the cook, now finding himself alone in the matter, ran after them as best he could with his knee. He stole one last glance behind him as Luffy squared off against Aokiji, his chest squeezing in worry.

It was the longest run of Zoro's life. His heart was pounding and his lungs were heaving as he tried to run as fast – faster – than he'd ever run before. He had to get back to Luffy as quickly as possible, but he had to go to the ship first as per his orders, and he needed to get rid of this ice on his arm if he was going to be any help. The deserted island wasn't big, but it felt like hours before they'd reached the end of the jungle. The walk there seemed to have been an eternity shorter the first time they'd crossed it but relief flooded the man's chest as the Merry came in sight now, anchored off the shore.

"Chopper!" the swordsman yelled, trying to get the doctor's attention as they ran up to the ship.

"What's going on?" Chopper threw open a door with a bang and ran outside. "Why are just the three of you here?! Where's Luffy?!" Nami and Sanji were standing next to the swordsman, the former panting from the run and the latter delicately balancing on one leg, but Luffy was nowhere in sight, causing the doctor distress. They couldn't escape without their captain!

"There's no time to explain!" Zoro shouted back, holding his frozen arm as it ached, ached just as much as leaving Luffy had been. "We need to go back right away! Help us do something about this frozen arm and leg!" Ice first, then Luffy. Zoro didn't even care that he'd added that lovesick cook into the equation of getting Luffy back – they were going to need as much strength as they could muster to do it.

"Oh, right!" Chopper's voice was trembling, his fear showing through even as he talked them through textbook explanations. "We need to douse every part of your body that's frozen in water!" He started looking around worriedly. "But we're using the shower room for Robin…"

"How is Robin?" Nami asked, her head popping up. "Is she okay?!"

"It's too early to tell!" Chopper was distracted by a splash near the back of the ship and his head snapped around to see what it was. Sanji and Zoro had leaped into the sea, figuring out that that was the easiest place to access water to melt the ice. The faster they got back to Luffy, the better off they'd be.

"What are you doing?" Nami asked, confused by the duo's actions. Sanji's head popped out of the water next to Zoro's.

"Will this do, Chopper?" the blonde man asked. Zoro floated next to him, still holding his arm, an extremely worried scowl on his face. "Yes!" Chopper confirmed. "Once the ice begins to melt, start rubbing the affected areas and then come up to the ship right away! Nami! Come aboard and help us treat Robin!"

"Right!" Nami ran to the ship and climbed up onto the deck, disappearing into the shower room to help the doctor.

Luffy, you'd better not die! Zoro cursed in his head, lamenting the situation they were all in. The pain of the burning ice on his arm was nothing compared to what Luffy was probably going through right now, so he'd endure it without complaint. When they'd left, most of Luffy's right arm had been frozen already from that one punch he'd landed, and Luffy's fighting style was all about physical contact. The more he touched Aokiji the more his body would freeze. This one little patch of ice was nothing in the face of that – it was an insignificant amount of pain in comparison to Robin's and Luffy's. However, Zoro couldn't endure the hurt in complete silence, letting out one or two grunts of pain as the ice started to melt. Sanji was in the same boat and he needed to use his frozen leg to keep himself afloat, his hisses more frequent that the swordsman's groans. As the ice cracked and melted Sanji and Zoro peeled it off, wincing as they freed their bodies once again. They then made it onto the ship and Chopper handed them dry towels to hold against their skin to help rub heat back into their muscles before he went back to Robin. Both men did as they were told, sitting on the deck in their soaked clothes. Usopp emerged from the shower room via the storage room and opened the door to find the pair sitting on the deck.

"What the-? Why are you guys here?" he asked, doing the same thing that Chopper had when they'd first arrived. "What happened? Where's Luffy?!" It seemed that their captain was on everyone's mind. Just the mention of his name was making Zoro feel even worse about leaving him behind, and Sanji's tight expression reflected the same worry.

"Fighting Aokiji one-on-one," the cook answered curtly, his eyes narrowing.

"One-on-one!?" Usopp gaped. "You mean you left Luffy there all by himself!?"Another prickly comment, another twist in Zoro's heart. Usopp should just shut up.

"Those were the captain's orders," Sanji said simply, closing his eyes, resigned to their actions. Usopp looked at Zoro, finding the same resignation there as well. They didn't like it but they had to deal with it.

"Are you crazy?! Can't you tell when an order is unreasonable!?" Usopp argued. They were all scared out of their minds, stretched so thin with worry and panic that getting into a fight was easy. "I can't believe that you would be so cold-hearted to leave him behin-" Sanji leaped up and grabbed Usopp by his overalls, slamming him into the wall.

"It was a duel! Can't you understand that!?" he yelled back. "It's what he wanted!"

"Stop it, both of you! This isn't the time!" Zoro snapped, drawing their attention. What Sanji and Usopp saw on his face was enough to stop their fight – compared to what Zoro was feeling, their anger and frustration, and worry were nothing. The argument died right then and there as Zoro spoke, his voice softer but just as pained as before. "Right now, we need to stay focused, okay? Whether this decision was one of his passing whims or not, whatever happens, we have to be ready to deal with it, understand?" Even death? The question hung in the air even though no one would ask it. They weren't even sure if Chopper could save Robin and if Luffy ended up in the same state and they couldn't be revived, then what would they do? That question didn't have an answer either and no one wanted to answer it anyway.

When Chopper had a spare moment to leave Robin with Nami, he came out and checked on Zoro and Sanji, putting ointment and bandages around their arm and leg as quickly as he could. Once they were patched up, Zoro and Sanji left the ship to go back for Luffy, having followed his orders. They ran as fast as they could. Zoro shouted at Sanji to pick up the pace as he pulled ahead, and Sanji reminded him that it was his leg that was injured but picked up the pace nonetheless, not wanting to lose to the green-haired man even in this instance. However, the competition between them faded away as they both ran, charging through the jungle until they could almost see the field where Luffy and Aokiji were. We're almost there…hang on, Luffy! Luffy was strong, Zoro knew that, but Aokiji was an enemy that couldn't be defeated easily or at all with the way Luffy fought. It was like when Zoro, Sanji, and Robin had faced Eneru – they couldn't even touch him let alone fight him. They had been incompatible with Eneru's Devil Fruit powers and had lost because of it. That's what this fight was: everything that Aokiji touched froze – the air, earth, water and even living flesh. Luffy wasn't immune; he'd been frozen just like Zoro had and he was still fighting with that useless limb and possibly others. Zoro ran even faster, forcing his legs to move, forcing his body to its limits. If he was too late, if Luffy had been defeated, or if he'd died, Zoro would never forgive himself for behind so weak.

They crested the hill leading out of the forest, the field and the sea spreading out in front of them. There was more ice now than before, waves and curls of it snaking across the ground, but Aokiji was nowhere to be seen. Had he…? Had he killed Luffy? The thought was unbearable. Zoro's eyes scoured the area, searching for any signs of life but there were none. His heart plummeted, his stomach roiling in fear of Luffy's safety. Then he spotted something odd among the ice, a form that wasn't smooth or twisted like all the other ice around it…it was Luffy!

"There he is!" Zoro shouted. Luffy was completely frozen solid, just like Robin was, his arm stretched out in a punch, his legs bent like he had been jumping, his entire body leaning precariously because of the way he had to be propped up. Luffy had been growling when the ice froze him, leaving his face in a mask of anger and retribution, whether or not Aokiji had suffered any of it was a moot point. Luffy was alive! Sort of.

"Luffy!" Sanji shouted, a smile splitting his face even in such dire circumstances.

"He's still in one piece!" Zoro shouted, his heart soaring at that little blessing.

"That's good news!"

"I'll carry him!" they both said at the same time. "Let's get him to the ship!" the pair spoke in tandem again. "Stop saying what I'm saying!" They reached Luffy, both of them shoving their face in the others, growling ferociously.

"Just…" Zoro started, his eyes breaking contact with Sanji's and flicking towards Luffy. "Let me carry him…" the swordsman's voice dropped, hinting at his remorse.

"You feel guilty for leaving him behind," Sanji took a step back, letting Zoro have his way.

"You do too," the green-haired man shot back.

"But it's different…when it's a lover," the cook replied, understanding and relinquishing his offensive stance for once.

"What a stupid lover." Zoro sighed, reaching out to touch Luffy's frozen cheek. It was cold and unmoving; so unlike Luffy's joyful and boisterous nature.

"I'll never deny that one," Sanji sighed. "Have it your way. Let's go, Moss Head." And for once, Zoro didn't complain about the insult. The swordsman picked up Luffy around his middle and hefted him under his armpit, delicately holding him. Zoro had carried the young man many times when he got jumped on, or when he swung him around like a punching bag, but this time he was much heavier because of the ice coating his body. However, Zoro didn't complain as they started running again. He'd carry this burden without protest because Luffy had, whether by stupidity or sheer bravery, saved them all.

Back on the ship, Zoro deposited Luffy into Chopper's hooves and he was carefully taken to the shower room to be thawed out with a defrosted Robin that Nami was rubbing down and dressing. Then the swordsman was kicked out to go wait outside with the rest of the crew since Chopper could handle Luffy on his own now that Robin was out of danger. The long, tedious wait began. Nami and Usopp didn't say a word as they sat on the balcony and Sanji kept rubbing his stinging leg, Zoro's arm feeling the same. The swordsman kept rubbing and gripping his bicep to try and ease the pain with pressure, trying to imagine that feeling across his entire body – that's what Luffy and Robin were feeling. Ten minutes passed…then twenty…thirty…forty…finally, an eternity had passed before the door flew open. Chopper was in tears as his small form burst through the door. Zoro didn't know whether they were tears of joy or grief, waiting on the edge of his seat for the verdict since something clearly had happened. Are they…alive?

"Both…of their hearts…" Chopper sobbed, "…are beating!"

"YEAH!" Nami, Usopp, and Sanji cheered, throwing the towels they'd had laundered into the air.

"Luffy!" Usopp shouted, running towards the door.

"Robin!" Sanji yelled, doing the same. Chopper expanded into his human form and grabbed both of their heads, stopping them from going any further.

"No! You can't go in yet! I don't want them disturbed, understand?" he ordered.

"Hey! Dr. Chopper," Sanji started, "How about I make them some food?" Chopper shrunk to his normal size and started wiggling around with a smile on his face.

"Calling me 'doctor' won't make me happy or anything, you stupid jerk!" He giggled, clearly liking the title. "But I suppose some warm drinks would be nice for when they wake up. I'll carry them into the lounge later."

"Aye, aye, sir!" Sanji dashed off to the kitchen without another word. Zoro looked over at Nami who was picking up the newly washed towels off the floor.

"Hey, Nami, should we set sail?" he asked, ready to get off this island and away from Aokiji, wherever he was.

"No," she replied. "Not yet. Not while the captain's out of commission. The log pose has our new heading but let's rest here for the day." As she finished up, the swordsman's attention was drawn to something else – it was Usopp collapsing against the wall and sinking boneless to the floor, groaning the whole way.

"What's wrong, Usopp?" Zoro asked, feeling just as exhausted as the sniper looked. "You look beat." But he'd never admit that he was beat too.

"Are there going to be more guys like him coming after us everywhere we go?" he asked. "This is crazy. I don't know how much more of this I can take."

"Get some sleep, idiot," Zoro answered, taking charge while Luffy was out. "You're just exhausted, 'kay?" And speaking of exhausted, Zoro wanted to sleep as well, but he wasn't content to wait out on deck now that he knew that Luffy and Robin were safe. He wanted to be by their side. Well, mostly Luffy's but Robin was his friend too. Zoro walked up to the storage room door and knocked on the open doorway. Chopper poked his head out of the bathroom.

"Need some help?" Zoro asked.

"Yeah, thanks," Chopper ducked back into the shower room and came out with Robin in his human form, carefully handing the woman over to Zoro. "Take her to the lounge, please. I still have to dry Luffy off."

"Got it." Zoro settled Robin into his arms princess style and walked her up to the kitchen area. Nami had gone ahead of him and had made up two makeshift beds out of the extra mattresses for the bed in the girl's room and all the blankets and pillows on the ship since the only proper bed was down in her room. Zoro laid Robin out on the temporary bed and covered her up with a blanket, noting that Nami had chosen simple pants and a hoodie for the woman to say warm in as he pulled two blankets up over her. Robin was breathing evenly but her face was red from the hot water and ice that had been dumped over her. Luffy had to be in the same condition and Zoro saw that he was right once Chopper brought Luffy upstairs, dressed in a T-shirt and shorts since the young man didn't own anything warmer. Once they both were settled, the doctor shoved Sanji outside once the drinks were made and just needed to be heated up, but as Zoro was shoved out the door, he asked a question.

"Chopper…can I stay?" The doctor gave him a critical eye. Zoro sighed. "I just want to take a nap." The eye came around again.

"Fine. As long as you're quiet. I still have to finish bandaging Luffy up." Chopper let the man stay and shut the door once again. Zoro wandered back to Luffy's side, sitting down and leaning against the wall next to the rubber man. Luffy was sleeping quietly for once, his mouth closed, his breathing even. Just seeing him safe was relief enough for the swordsman and he felt the panic and fear of the day slip away as Chopper finished up his work and sat down to rest.

Luffy, you're an idiot. Zoro slumped against the wall, resting his swords on his shoulder as his eyes drifted shut. Unexpectedly, Luffy shifted in his sleep, his arm flying out as if he were still fighting Aokiji, and smacked Zoro's leg. The swordsman cracked on eye open and saw the hand resting on his leg. Confirming that no one was watching, he gently took Luffy's hand in his own and held it, falling asleep almost instantly now that they were safe.

Later that night, all the Straw Hats were sleeping in the lounge, passed out cold after the stressful day. Luffy wasn't sleeping quietly anymore; his snores echoed around the room and he was still holding Zoro's hand as they both slept. Nami was laying on Chopper and Usopp and Sanji were sleeping face down on the kitchen table. The one Straw Hat who was awake let her blue eyes stare blankly at the ceiling. When she finally moved, she turned her head to the left, studying her captain. Her thoughts were a mystery to all, but she couldn't help but smile as she saw her captain and first mate holding hands. It was so nice to have such loving friends; they'd really treated her well.

If only it could last.

Luffy shifted in his sleep, rolling over and yanking Zoro's arm hard enough to pull the man down onto the floor with him. Neither the swordsman nor the rubber man woke up, and Robin couldn't help but chuckle at their silliness.

To be Continued...

A/N: And there you go! See you next time!