One Piece: The Impel Down Trials
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard © Me
Summary- Luffy's brother is about to be executed! Ace is being held up in the maximum Marine prison, Impel Down. There, Luffy and Blizzard must infiltrate the prison and help Ace escape. However, with a poison-spewing prison warden, it may be easier said than done. Luckily, some unlikely allies may be able to help!
Ch. 1- Arriving at Hell
When we last left Monkey D. Luffy, he had gained the trust (and affections) of "Pirate Empress" Boa Hancock and the Kuja. Upon learning that his brother, Portgas D. Ace is going to be executed, Luffy and Blizzard stow away on a Marine battleship with Hancock's help. In order to save Ace, Luffy must infiltrate the maximum Marine prison: Impel Down.
Not just that, but the Whitebeard Pirates have also begun to take action and have thus declared war on Marineford.
Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp had come to pay Ace a visit before his execution day.
All he could do was sigh.
"I tried to raise you and Luffy into being great Marines," said Garp. "Instead, you decided to become a pair of notorious hoodlums!"
Ace just sat there in silence; not that he could move, very much, anyway.
"I'm sure you've heard about Luffy's exploits," Garp continued. "He went and declared war on the World Government at Water Seven and practically destroyed the Island of Judgment, Enies Lobby! I rushed right over there and gave him a good ol' fashioned Fist of Love!" He sighed. "But, like always, he still hasn't learned his lesson. Now, he's gone and caused a huge ruckus at the Sabaody Archipelago, as well as his new dog. Well, that's my grandson for ya!" He broke out into a guffaw.
Ace couldn't help but smile a bit.
However, Garp soon stopped laughing.
"Oh, another thing," he said. "I told Luffy about his old man."
Flashback
Luffy stood behind Garp, who was busy rebuilding the wall that he broke through.
"I have a Dad?" Luffy asked. "Who is he?"
"Your father's name," Garp began, his pinky shoved up his nostril, "is Monkey D. Dragon! The Revolutionary Leader!"
Flashback end
"Luffy was quite surprised to learn that he had a father," said Garp. "Although…I think that deep down, he might've been upset, too…maybe because he thought that he didn't care enough about his mother to help her when she needed it."
"I doesn't even matter, Gramps," said Ace. "Unfortunately for me and Luffy, we both carry the blood of two of the world's most infamous criminals in our veins. We couldn't be Marines if we wanted to. I took the surname 'Portgas' from my late mother, whom I owe a great deal to, but I never, ever wanted to carry my ne'er-do-well father's blood, mostly because I have no memory of him and that I don't owe him a damn thing."
"I understand, Ace," Garp began, "but you see, he tried-"
"What I'm trying to say is," Ace spat, "Gramps…"
Flashback
A 17-year-old Ace sat on the ground on his knees, exhausted and his shirt nearly in shreds. Towering over him stood the mighty Whitebeard and his men.
"You're far too valuable to die now, my boy," said Whitebeard. He reached a hand out to Ace. "Come with me, and you can roam the seas as wild and free as you wish under my name! Become my son, Ace!"
Ace gasped in surprise, but Whitebeard just gave him a toothy smile.
Flashback end
"My Father," Ace said. "My REAL and ONLY Father…has…and always will be…" he gave Garp a grin, "Whitebeard."
Garp just sat before Ace before heaving another sigh.
XXX
Meanwhile, on the Marine battleship that Luffy and Blizzard had stowed away on, Luffy was sitting on the lounge of Hancock's quarters, staring at the Vivre Card, his hair concealing his eyes.
Blizzard laid next to him, staring at his master in concern before he placed his head in his lap, earning an absentminded pet on the head in response.
Hancock also showed concern as she spied on Luffy from behind.
However, outside, the unknowing Marines had spotted something on the horizon.
"Vice Admiral Momonga, sir! I see a pirate ship!"
"Whose is it?"
The Marine soldier zoomed in with his binoculars and saw the pirate ship's flag. It looked like a Jolly Roger with a big red nose.
"That insignia…I think I've seen it before from somewhere. I'll go look into it!"
"Don't bother," said Momonga. "If you can't seem to remember who the ship belongs to, then they must not be that infamous. Leave them be! We've no time to waste on this trip!"
"Yes, sir!"
XXX
On a familiar looking pirate ship, it was revealed that it belonged to none other than the Buggy Pirates, and right now, a Sea King had just appeared beside the ship.
"Yikes!" Cabaji yelped. "Look at the size of that Sea King!"
"If he sees us," Mohji began, "then he took swallow the whole ship in one bite!"
Luckily for them, the Sea King just dove back into the smooth surface of the water; the Calm Belt, where it belonged.
"Phew," sighed a relieved Cabaji. "That was a close one. Well, we came all this way, but it doesn't look like there's anything we can do! What do you suggest, Sister Alvida?"
Behind the group of clown-like pirates, Alvida walked up to them, her iron mace in her hand.
"Why are you asking me?" Alvida questioned. "It was you fools who wanted to come here AND who spent a fortune on that Eternal Pose."
"It was all to plan a rescue mission for Captain Buggy!" Mohji exclaimed. "He's held up in Impel Down, you know!"
The pirates then began to cry (comically), showing the sadness they bore at the thought of losing their beloved captain.
Alvida simply smirked and said, "Look around. We're about to enter the dreaded Calm Belt, where the Sea Kings roam and breed. Do you honestly think that we can sail this ship through there?" She turned back to the crew. "There is only one safe course, and that is exclusive only to the Marines. They're not gonna open up the Gate of Justice for a crew of pirates."
"You mean we can't even get there?" Mohji asked in disbelief. "If we don't do something, Captain Buggy will be executed!"
"Along with our friend, Ace!" Cabaji added.
GRRROOOOOARR! Richie growled sadly.
"Oh, and listen to poor ol' Richie!" Mohji said. "He's sad just thinking about what'll happen to the captain!"
In reality, Richie was too busy thinking about his stomach to worry about Buggy. Right now, he was thinking about a nice hot bowl of steamed rice.
"Impel Down is the maximum prison," said Alvida, "and it's nearly impossible for one to infiltrate into or escape from. It's best if you just give up on that fool. Buggy the Clown's luck has finally run out."
The Buggy Pirates fell to their hands and knees.
"No! It can't be!" cried Mohji. "Captain Buggy will not die like this!"
"That's right!" agreed Cabaji. "Until he finds the treasure island of Captain John, we will stay by his side, forever!"
GRRRAAAAAARR! Richie growled, again.
"What a compassionate lion you are, Richie!" Mohji praised through his tears.
Once again, Richie's mind was still on food. This time, he was thinking about a nice fresh leg of meat.
"Oh, Richie~!" the Buggy Pirates cried as they all gave the sad (and hungry) lion a group hug.
"Well, have fun," Alvida said. "I'll be taking the Big Top and you lot can have a dinghy."
The Buggy Pirates gasped in shock.
"You can't!" Mohji said. "This is Captain Buggy's ship!"
"True," said Alvida as she pointed her mace at the pirates, "but Buggy isn't here, now is he?"
"Well, no, but-"
SMASH! Alvida drove the end of her mace into the deck.
"Listen here," she said. "I am not walking up to Death's doorstep and I am not letting you incompetent louts to waste this ship. You can go ahead and chase after Buggy to your hearts' content. However, I think you'll most likely die before you can even SEE Impel Down."
Mohji, Cabaji, and Richie glanced at each other in worry. As much as they hated to admit it, Alvida was right. If the Buggy Pirates just continued on their way, there was a great chance that they'd be eaten by a Sea King before they could reach Impel Down.
Plus…they were just a bunch of chickens.
"Captain Buggy!" Mohji cried. "Thank you for all you've done for us!"
"We'll never forget you!" Cabaji added.
RRAAAAAWWR! Richie roared in sadness (but mostly hunger).
"Have a peaceful execution! Farewell!"
"We'll see you again, in the next life!"
RAAAAAAAWWWRR! Richie roared again, this time thinking about some fried fish.
"Ah, Rich! I feel your pain!"
GRAAAAAAOORR!
XXX
"This is Vice Admiral Momonga, Marine Code G100660. We are about to sail into the current, so please open the Gate!"
The Marine ship that Luffy, Blizzard, and Hancock is approaching the Tub Current, which is exclusively used only by World Government officials, such as Marines. It connects three of the government's central facilities…
One of which is Impel Down, the Maximum Underwater Prison.
There, one would find devices that would be used for torture, such as whips, pools of water that are used for drowning, shackles, a noose, and other devices.
One could hear the sounds of tormented screams and cries of "PLEASE, JUST KILL ME!"
A pair of prisoner had gotten into a scuffle in one of the cells, but they were soon silenced by a monstrous figure that carried an iron mace. They were thrown inside another cell, where something even more terrifying awaited them…and were never seen again.
Small spiders could be seen crawling among piles of decomposing skeletons that lay in a crimson forest of needles and knives.
A boiling vat of crimson liquid was placed over a huge sea of flames.
The growls and roars of hungry beasts with saliva cascading from their jaws could be heard amongst the symphony of screams.
One might say…that this place was a true Living Hell.
It has been four-and-a-half days since Luffy, Blizzard, and Hancock left Amazon Lily, the Island of Maidens, and they were now arriving at their destination.
The Marine battleship came before the humungous Gate of Justice.
"Vice Admiral Momonga! We are now arriving at Impel Down!"
"Hurry and open the Gate!"
"Aye-aye, sir!"
The Gate opened, thus allowing the Marine ship entrance.
Luffy looked out through the window, small beads of sweat forming on his face.
Gulp! Blizzard swallowed the lump in his throat as unease and nervousness began to sink in, but a stroke on the back from Luffy soon calmed him down.
"So this is the world's greatest prison, huh?" Luffy questioned.
No turning back, Blizzard thought.
The battleship sailed through the Gate, and once inside, Luffy and Blizzard saw that there were even more battleships surrounding a huge building in the middle of the ocean.
"We were delayed due to headwinds, Vice Admiral Momonga, sir!"
Momonga looked down at his wristwatch.
"Oh, my," he said. "We must hurry, then! Get Hancock, now!"
"Yes, sir!"
Four Marines came to Hancock's door.
"Lady Hancock! We've arrived!"
"I'll be right out."
Luffy and Blizzard were still looking outside, and needless to say, they were quite surprised to see so many battleships; the most that they had ever seen.
"What the hell?" questioned. "This place has more battleships than a Buster Call!"
"Since it's the maximum prison," Hancock began, "it's necessary. You've actually seen a Buster Call, though?"
"Yeah," Luffy answered. "Is Ace really inside that place?"
"He's probably being held up underwater," Hancock said as she pulled on her cape. "Now come. Get under my cape, and Blizzard, get on my shoulders."
Luffy and Blizzard looked to Hancock, then at each other, then back outside, and then back to each other.
"Well, buddy," Luffy said as he pet Blizzard on the head. "This is it. No turning back, now."
Blizzard nodded, fully prepared to take on whatever this place threw at them.
XXX
The Marine battleship soon anchored in the harbor that led to the main entrance of Impel Down. Momonga, Hancock (who had Luffy hidden inside her cloak and Blizzard draped over her shoulders), and Salome had disembarked, and they were soon greeted by the many Marine soldiers that were there.
"Welcome Vice Admiral Momonga!"
"OOOOOH~! L-look at her!"
"It's the Pirate Empress! She looks like a goddess!"
"Her beauty is positively breathtaking!"
"How man volts is her beauty? 10,000? 100,000? 1,000,000?"
"What's that obnoxious sound?" Hancock questioned. "It offends my ears. Can't I turn these fools to stone?"
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't," Momonga advised. "The Marines do not need further humiliation."
"Psst…!" Luffy whispered. "Are we inside yet?"
"Not yet, Luffy," Hancock whispered. "Please, be patient."
"Your one condition to coming here," started Momonga, "was that you wished to see Portgas D. Ace, am I right? As I had said before, even though you're one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, pirates are not normally allowed anywhere near this prison. So, once inside, you will have to be put on a full-body search and wear Sea Prism Stone handcuffs. We can't allow you to do anything that might help initiate an escape."
Oh, damn… Blizzard cursed in thought.
Hancock put her hands around her chest.
"Luffy," she whispered. "They're going to search me."
"Just keep going," Luffy whispered. "I'll think of something."
"If you say so," Hancock whispered.
XXX
Inside the prison, a mysterious figure was speaking into a Transponder Snail.
"What? Buggy the Clown has escaped from his cell? And he's eaten a Devil Fruit?"
Tap! Tap! One of the staff of the prison, a woman, came knocking at the open door.
"Vice Warden!" she said. "Vice Admiral Momonga and Lady Hancock of the Seven Warlords of the Sea have arrived!"
"I'll be right there!"
XXX
Outside, the swooning staff had opened the gates for Momonga and Hancock.
"Let's go, Luffy, Blizzard," Hancock whispered as she, Salome, and Momonga entered Impel Down.
Only 33 hours remained until Ace's execution.
TO BE CONTINUED…
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