In here, silence is dominant. The only occasional sound? Mice? A cough or a sniffle. Maybe shackles clinking against themselves or the stone floor?

This is all you hear in the lowest level of Impel Down's Eternal Hell. That's what your ears tell you. Not your soul. Standing in here you can hear the loss of fight.

Portgas D. Ace had long given up on expecting anything different then this. Until now, that is. The small group before him however didn't so much as make him flinch.

"Portgas D. Ace? Hiken no Ace, yes?" The sound of a female voice pierced the air. Being addressed he raised his gaze to take in the sight of the most beautiful woman he'd seen and probably ever would. His tired gaze spoke for itself and she continued.

"I am Boa Hancock. I've come to speak to you." Turning her gaze to look over her shoulder she eyed Vice-admiral Momonga and then to Warden Magellan himself. "I wish to speak to him alone." Her charm struck Hannyabal and Magellan but Domino quickly advised against it.

"As a standard in Impel Down. Pirates are forbidden from entering Impel Down, except for prisoners of course. Even Shichibukai such as yourself aren't usually permitted. Why should I grant you even more freedom in such a rare circumstance?"

With a huff she turned her full attention to Magellan. "I am fully aware of my unique presence here. I assure you, I have no intent of doing anything secretive I simply wish to speak to Hiken no Ace alone."

Momonga narrowed his eyes at the situation. 'As a Shichibukai she was well known for ignoring and disrespecting the World Government. Then she suddenly pulls a complete turn around in exchange for speaking to the person responsible for the Shichibukai summons?'

"Why exactly do you even wish to see Hiken?"

Looking from Magellan she appraised Momonga. "Would you not wish to speak to the reason you're summoned to a conflict?" Momonga's mouth clenched shut accepting the answer. Magellan however nodded in agreement.

"I'd say that was a fair reasoning Boa-san. Very well, we shall wait out of earshot. But know this, if I suspect anything is afoot I have the full right to kill you here and now."

Taking the threat for what it was she nodded, watching as they retreated towards the elevator. Turning around she faced Ace's gaze once more. Taking a brief glance at Jinbei she hitched up the bottom of her dress before taking a sit on the stone floor.

Again looking at Jinbei she pursed her lips before sighing. "I suppose I would have to face a compromise of some kind. Jinbei." The haggard fishman merely gave a nod of courtesy to his fellow Shichibukai. "Hancock."

For a few moments she simply sat there and eyed the Whitebeard Pirate. "I'd say your brother really cares about you." A near silent choking sound was heard by Jinbei as eyes widened in shock at the sudden topic. "To break into Impel Down...I'd call most foolish." This caused even Jinbei's breath to hitch in his throat. A blush crept up on her face as she thought about the rubber man.

"Yes Hiken no Ace. Monkey D. Luffy is currently breaking his way into Impel Down."

"Wh-!" Quickly interrupting Jinbei's voice echoed through room. "ACE!"

Jinbei glared at him, ignoring the glances of interest the staff gave him. "Keep your surprise restrained. If Magellan were to hear of her news you'd only cause more issues." Gritting his teeth he weakly nodded at the fishman's words.

"You're right...sorry."

"Do not be fooled though, I do not come here to speak of Luffy's action." At the mention of Luffy a blush spread across her face. With a pensive look she continued speaking. "I wanted to know more about Luffy, and more about you. Why would he go so far as to save you from this place? This...hell."

The more she mentioned it the more Ace hated himself. His brother was coming here, for him. Risking his life, for him. With barely a whisper he spoke with conflict in his voice. "You idiot, Luffy just stay away."

Looking back up at Hancock he grit his teeth. "Fine if you want to know about me and my brother then tell me something. Why do you care?!" Closing his eyes he reigned himself back in. "I know who you are. Boa Hancock, Empress of the Island of Woman. You and your people have an intolerance for men." Hancock nodded in agreement.

"Yes that is true. But I must confess, if not for Luffy I would most definitely not be here." Again she blushed at the mere mention of the Straw Hat pirate. Ace noticed it this time and pounced on it. "Ooooh, little Luffy got to ya didn't he?" When he laughed it quickly died off as he had no energy to continue it.

"Indeed, as you said it, he got to me." She gave a light smile as she shifted her legs.

"So is it some kinda crush or what? How deep does your heart go for him? I don't want some bitch toying with my lil' brother." Unfazed by the insult she smiled. "I don't know him as well as you do, not by a long shot. But no I genuinely care for Luffy. The mere thought of him..." She placed her hand between her breast, upon her heart.

"Don't start drooling now." A frown replaced his teasing smirk. "How exactly does Luffy plan to break into Impel Down. As far as I know, nobody has ever broken in or out." As the last syllable left his mouth he saw the heartbroken look she took on.

"He is already inside of Impel Down." Shame took place on her visage. "I...I smuggled him inside." Ace's eyes widened in shock and anger. Before his opened mouth could say anything he heard Jinbei speak.

"Hancock-san, you must either be truly stupid, or absolutely lovestruck to do something so foolish as that. From what I've heard about Strawhat I'd certainly say that beats anything he's done save for this in and of my fellow Shichibukai I know its not the former. My you truly must be smitten with that boy."

Crestfallen at the words she merely nodded. "I know it was foolish of me, not even that, it was pure stupidity. But yes because of love." Once more silence dominated the air.

"Hik-, " she was briefly interrupted. "Ace, just call me Ace."

"Ace-san, I must admit I am curious as to how you ended up here." Ace glared at the stone floor in memory.

"As a member of the Whitebeard Pirates there is one law among us that we never break, to do so would bring upon the wrath of every other member. Marshall D. Teach broke this rule, he killed a member of our crew named Thatch. The old man then gave me the single focus task of finding Teach, figuring out why he would betray us and to kill him." Taking a pause he glanced at one of the adjacent cell cages. Whomever he was looking at gave a gravely deep laugh. "Being part of our crew was simply a part of Teach's plan."

"You see along time ago, before joining, Teach had developed an obsession with a specific Devil Fruit. The Yami Yami no Mi. He figured that his greatest chance at getting it would be to join the strongest Crew on all the seas." Boa nodded at that statement. Whitebeard and his crew 'owned' many islands and their influence through out all the oceans was well known and rightly feared. Joining them almost guaranteed safety. "A good plan for something that could very possibly last a life time if someone already ate it."

Ace agreed but shook his head. "Yes and no, the fruit he went after would only be poorly used by a moron. That fruit..." he clenched his jaw, " Teach beat me in a honest fight. That fruit's powers are...wrong. I used Dai Enkai: Entai and I still couldn't come out on top against him. Boa-san...I warn you now. Do not trust that man. Do everything you can to keep Luffy away from him after this all simmers down."

A light hmph came from Hancock. "So you are aware you've, simply put, caused a great commotion?" Ace gave a lack luster nod.

Ace wasn't stupid, Whitebeard was fatally loyal to his crew members. The moment he heard his execution would go public it was almost as clear as day what would happen. "Don't take that as an accosting tone Ace-san, my biggest concern with this situation is that Luffy will be put at risk in his attempt to save you." Ace bared a large smile.

"Oh trust me Boa-san you'd have to worry even if the world wasn't about to erupt into chaos." She blushed at the comment nodding in agreement. "Yes I noticed Luffy can be quite the handful."

At that comment the conversation hit an awkward lull. As if to intentionally break it the sound of a Den Den Mushi could be heard. Purupurupurupuru kerchak!

From this far away Hancock as well as Ace and Jinbei could hear the anger leak into Magellan's voice as he answered the call. A strike of fear shot through her. Had Luffy been found out? She knew he'd promised her to be careful and so she wanted to believe it wasn't so. But this was Impel Down she'd be fooling herself in thinking there wasn't even the slightest chance he'd get caught.

It simply crushed her to think about it.

A/n This is the first chapter for my semi AU fic(also my first fanfiction). It will be slow to proceed, with probably short length chapters like this. I honestly have no idea where this idea is going but its based around the idea of "What if Hancock was more important to Luffy when Akainu killed Ace?" This chapter was to flesh out how I'd be writing Boa and to give you a look at my writing style. I hope this was satisfactory enough to make you want chapter two and see how I work the One Piece timeline. Til next time - Sol