"Princess~~~!!" A familiar voice reaches your ear and you and Crocodile look toward the window.

"One Day," Crocodile comments as you rush to the window. A familiar blond sprints out of the trees toward the tower.

"Sanji!!" You call, sticking your arm out through the bars and waving.

"Call me Prince!" He gushes.

"No!" You snap.

"Marimo was right! ___-Chwan is cute when she's mad!" He chimes.

"Just get-" You break off as shadow covers your back.

"Sorry princess, but the dragon can't let them pass so easily," Crocodile rumbles in your ear as sand brushes over you and out the window. You blink as the sand reforms outside the window into Crocodile.

"What!?" You gasp, gripping the bars as he floats down to meet Sanji. "Shit! LET ME OUT!!" You yell, trying to shake the bars in frustration.

"Smoker! We found her! She's at the tower but some sand guy is in the way and.... Sanji's losing! Get the others over here!" Usopp gasps to the walkie talkie as he hides behind a tree. Sanji is thrown back by a gust of sand. His kicks had no effect and he could hear you up in the the tower trying hard to get out.

"Sorry boy, but I have orders to kill those who fail," Crocodile rumbles. Sanji grits his teeth and flips out of the way but Crocodile is there with a sand blade.

"Shit!" Sanji breathes. Crocodile lunges but is knocked of track by an egg hitting the side of his face. Sanji blinks, silently thanking Usopp for not shooting a rotten egg as Crocodile freezes, slowly turning his yellow eyes toward Usopp who yelps and ducks out of sight. Sanji takes the opportunity to kick the spot where the egg had hit. He almost laughs when kick connects but yells in pain when the sand blade stabs through his lower thigh before he is tossed away.

You freeze at the yell and run back to the window to see who. Sanji was on the ground holding his injured leg. "Sanji!!" You call out as Crocodile looms over him. Another shape comes rushing out of the trees, slashing at Crocodile. The older man simply dodges by turning to sand.

"Idiot! Don't make her worry prince!" The new comer growls.

"Zoro!" You gasp in relief. Crocodile swings at him, bursting him back with sand. "This still isn't looking good... I need to get out of here!" You whisper, clutching the bars as you continue to watch, trying to think of something.

Zoro slashes wildly, trying to land a hit somewhere. 'Damn sand! My slashes aren't having any affect!' He thinks in frustration. He glances up at the window, meeting your worried gaze. 'Don't look at me like that! I'm not losing!' He wants to assure you, but the sword in his mouth would muffle it. He bites down harder on the hilt in frustration, swinging more roughly.

"It's hopeless, those blades won't cut me," Crocodile says, easily reaching through the slashes and seizing Zoro's throat. Zoro grunts, still slashing feebly as he is lifted off the ground.

"ZORO!" You cry out, pushing your face against the bars. His eyes flicker up to you as he struggles to free himself. He mouths something with a smile and you tear up.

'I love you.'

"Don't... Don't tell me that here! After this!!" You plead. Crocodile glances up at you and frowns. Something crashes near his feet, followed by a lit match that ignites the liquid. With a hiss Crocodile tosses Zoro to the side and hops back away from the flame. He glares in Usopp's direction.

"Sables!" He growls, sending large blades slicing the ground in his direction.

"Usopp!" You breathe as the blades slash through, drying everything up in it's path. No sign of your death buddy. Something metallic comes flying at Crocodile from the west side of the tower and you look over as two familiar people come into view. "Kid! Cabbage!" You call, feeling relieved. Kid tosses you a smirk.

"Cavendish!" The blond corrects.

"Thought you said you were gonna beat up the next person who got kidnapped?" Kid teases as Crocodile turns on them after dodging the object.

"Sh-Shut up!" You huff with a slight smile.

"Excuse me, I'm here to save the princess," A voice behind you makes you spin around to see a smirking Law. You grin and run to hug him. "Oof! Were you scared we wouldn't make it in time?" He breathes. You pull back and give him a smile.

"Take me out of here my hero," You murmur. He blinks and pink dusts his cheeks.

"_-___..." He says, looking away with a sheepish smile.

"Hehe, you're so cute when you're embarrassed," You giggle, kissing his cheek. "Now lets go," You add. He nods, still blushing lightly before leading you down the stairs and out the door he had cut out. "Sanji's leg was cut through, can you tend to it?" You ask him as you both hurry around the tower to help fight Crocodile.

"Leave it to me, don't get captured again," He replies.

"Don't got tell me- KID!" You gasp as he falls back, blood covering the side of his face, Cavendish was already down as well. Crocodile turns to you and Law steps forward, scalpel at the ready.

"Sorry kid, but I can't let you take-" He breaks of as black flames burst of you. You crash into his chest, making you both tumble through the trees. You pin him on the ground, black flames dancing on your back and shoulders.

"Why!? Why were you trying to kill my friends!?" You question, shaking slightly, tears brimming your eyes. He blinks up at you, shame flickering in his eyes.

"Now princess, that's not very nice," Another voice rumbles, making you look up at your principal. He gives a frown. "Let him up sweetheart, it's not his fault," He says. You blink and hesitantly get off of Crocodile. "Good girl," Doflamingo murmurs.

"You told him to... Why?" You ask.

"I had to test them, and you," He replies softly as Crocodile gets up, tossing him a slight glare.

"Test us for what?" You inquire, feeling uneasy.

"Your bonds sweet girl, isn't it nice to know so many will come to your aid?" He asks, reaching to cup your chin but Crocodile pulls you back, earning a frown from the blond.

"You test that by threatening to execute her? What the hell are you really playing at?" Crocodile growls. Doflamingo smirks.

"You're being awfully protective of her Crocy~," He chuckles, straightening up. "And don't worry, everything will be revealed soon," He rumbles, backing up. "Oh, and ___, you should advise Law to stop digging... There's a hundred percent chance that he'll get hurt, or worse," He adds before disappearing throughout the trees.

"Sweetheart, if you wish to stay alive, I highly suggest you get as far away from that school as possible," Crocodile murmurs lowly, eyes trained on where Doflamingo had vanished. His words chilled you. "And I never intended to kill your friends... I'm sorry for scaring you like that," He adds, touching your back before turning to sand and disappearing through the trees as well.

"___!" A familiar voice cheers and you ahead just as a body flies out of the trees and crashes into you. You both hit the ground heavily.

"Ow..." You groan. Luffy lifts himself off you with a grin.

"I'm glad you're okay!" He chimes, giving you a hug as you sit up. You hug him back.

"Hey Luffy," You murmur. He presses his forehead to your temple sweetly.

"You smell like cigars," He comments.

"You smell- gross! Luffy you need a bath," You tell him.

"I don't like taking baths though!" He pouts.

"Too bad you're getting one even I have to wash you myself!" You huff.

"Really!?" He asks with a hint of excitement.

"You shouldn't have said that," A voice makes you look up to see Ace and Sabo with with relieved smiles.

"He's gonna hold you to that," Ace comments with a smirk. You look toward Luffy who was still grinning.

"Alright, then that's the first thing we'll do when we get back," You decide ruffling his hair.

"Seriously?" Sabo and Ace say together with mild jealousy.

"Shishishi!" Luffy chuckles.

"Sure, we can work out something," You muse.

"C-can you bathe me too?" Ace asks only to be hit upside the head by Sabo.

"No," You reply bluntly.

"Why does Luffy get special treatment?" Ace complains, rubbing where Sabo hit.

"Luffy is a good boy, he'll behave for me," You reply, rubbing your cheek against his. The brothers give Luffy jealous glares as he laughs innocently.

"Come on then! Lets go back once we get the others!" Luffy chimes, pulling on your hand and standing up.

"Okay okay!" You giggle.