EDITED 5/19/2015

Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece or any of its characters, all the honor for Eiichiro Oda!

Warnings: Some blood (SPOILERS about Ace, war and Impel Down on future chapters). Please say if the rating should be raised ~

Remember to review! Hope you enjoy!^^


Chapter 1: Who the Heck Are You?

"So, why in the hell they put me with a weakling like you?" Zoro asked irritated. He stepped on the grey-colored elevator, hitting the right button.

"You know that extremely well," Usopp said, elevator's doors closing after him. "You yourself asked, no, shouted, that you wanted to take part of the rescue of-"

"Yea', alone-"

"Alone? With your sense of direction? You would've ended up in the North pole instead of the right cell! Do you remember when you got lost on our ship? Or on all those towns we visited? Or-"

The elevator was left in silence, neither wanting to apologize. Usopp sighed inside his head; things had been like that for a while now. The whole crew had been on their tip of toes ever since they had heard the news – they were extremely worried, so maybe it was no wonder after all that they got irritated at each other every now and then.

Usopp followed screen's growing numbers as they traveled downward. 1… 2… 3… 4… 5… there was a little 'bling' sound as the elevator arrived at the bottom stair, doors opening and freeing the two from the suffocating silence. Number 6 was burned red in Usopp's eyes, boiling inside his stomach due to his nervousness and worry. Floor 6, the Eternal Hell… They would have only this one chance to fix things, or they would everyone soon be in trouble.

"Come on, let's go now", Zoro said, waking Usopp up from his gloomy thoughts. Usopp hurried his steps, reaching disguised Zoro's side. His friend was wearing a jailor's suit, including a hat and sunglasses. Thick beard and moustache covered his usually so bare face. Usopp knew that he was the same himself, wearing all those things making him unrecognized.

Usopp trembled nervously, saluting some real guards of the jail as they went forward. At least they didn't seem to suspect anything. The atmosphere of the sixth floor was distressing, no other voice being born except their random greetings and shy steps. There were several prisoners just sitting on their cell, watching passers-by with cold, dead eyes.

"What was the cell's number again?" Usopp asked, trying to calm down the shivers running down his spine.

"Shouldn't you remember it by now? Rescuing our friend and not even remembering which his cell…" Zoro started to complain, but stopped as soon as he saw Usopp's serious face. Usopp hadn't forgot, how he even could do that? Zoro should've guessed that already.

"Fine", Zoro puffed. "Cell 1013; made completely from Kairouseki, isolated from others, needing always at least a one jailor with a gun at the guard. Unlike the other prisoners, prisoner 1013 is to be taken to a torturing every Monday", Zoro read from his paper. His face didn't reveal any emotion, but Usopp could guess that there was a storm going even inside of the swordsman.

As they had heard from the other jailors, every cell in the flat 6 was isolated from the others – apparently there were only people who were a huge danger to whole world, being insanely strong. But cell 1013 was still different – it was said to be a prison inside a prison, a place that shouldn't exist, a place where the ones with no any human dignity left were put to. Usopp knew that his comrade was strong as hell, definitely the strongest person he knew actually. But deep inside of his mind was a voice whispering, making him nervous: wouldn't a year in a place like this be too much for anyone?

Usopp tried to calm down as they reached the cell 1013 and the jailor standing in front of it. The mentioned man watched them from his spot coldly, holding his gun with blood-stained gloves. Usopp didn't want to know who that blood belonged to.

"Your names and business here?" the jailor asked, watching them over his dark glasses.

"We're here to take prisoner 1013 to his weekly punishment", Zoro stated after saying his and Usopp's fake names. Or not fake actually, Usopp thought, remembering a certain jailor and his new assistant locked in a closet, fully asleep thanks to Chopper's medicine.

"Can I see some prove of that assignment?" the jailor asked. Zoro handed the paper over, including faked information and Magellan's perfectly mimicked autograph – Nami could be such a witch with mimicking writing when she wanted.

The jailor checked the paper with narrowed eyes, finally giving a nod. "Fine, you shall go. I'll take my well-deserved break, I can't stand that floor-staring idiot anymore", the jailor said, laughing way too loudly. "Can you believe, he hasn't moved an inch from the morning, when I hit him to wake him up!"

Usopp felt anger rising rapidly, clenching his hands into fists. Suddenly Zoro was there, putting his gloved hand on his shoulder and giving a stare from behind his sunglasses.

"Problems?" the jailor suddenly asked, startling Usopp's heart to his throat.

"Not at all! That guy here is just a newcomer, such a coward in addition", Zoro laughed, getting an amused grin from the jailor. Usopp felt his cheeks reddening, knowing that the swordsman was without a doubt paying him back from the scene in the elevator.

"Well, that prisoner is nothing to be scared of! So, will you survive?" the jailor asked, half joking.

"Yes, sir!" Usopp said and lifted his hands to salute; he was supposed to be working for the first day here after all.

"Oh, you don't need to address me so formally", the jailor said, not being able to hide his proudness. After giving his gun and key to Zoro, he turned and walked away, whistling softly as he went. Usopp and Zoro stared after him, only one thought swirling inside both of their heads: such a idiot.

Zoro led the way as they walked to the darkest corner of the large prison. Arriving to the cell's door, Usopp tried to undo the lock with the key Zoro had given him. As his hands kept shaking and key missing the lock, Zoro grabbed the key, pushed Usopp out of the way and unlocked the door with a one smooth movement.

Usopp felt his stomach turning around as he gave a glance at the cell's walls and floor: old, grey bricks were stained thoroughly with dried blood. Usopp didn't have to ask who that blood belonged to, as they had heard that their nakama was first prisoner in this cell ever.

Slowly both Usopp and Zoro turned their eyes at the prisoner 1013. The boy who once had claimed 30 hours on the day to be the next Pirate King, sat now on his knees, wrists in handcuffs attached to the wall by chains and body filled with cuts and blood. Those once so bright-colored shorts were now unrecognizable, although it was a wonder itself that the shorts hadn't been changed to a striped prisoner's clothes.

"Luffy?" Zoro asked, a crack being revealed even in his voice as he bent down. The mentioned boy's black hair shined less in the dim light coming outside the cell than usually, his head hanging down. Slowly Luffy raised his face into their sight, eyes somewhat dull and face tired. Usopp felt his throat tightening – what the hell had they done to his friend – but after all, Luffy was still alive and breathing.

Usopp felt like he could hug his friend right now and never let go, but he felt the snail-cameras staring at them. Even though the silent words couldn't be heard, friendly actions could be seen. So, Usopp decided just to talk to his friend, ignoring how much his heart was longing for the hug.

Usopp felt Zoro watching him as he felt tears streaming down his face and his wavering smile growing wild. "Luffy, my old, dear, best friend-" Usopp was cut off by Luffy, and right as he heard the next words, he felt like he could throw up all his guts.

"Who the heck are you?"


Thanks for reading!~