**** DISCLAIMER-PLEASE READ- I wrote this with another author, Jesachi u/711995/Jesachi, a long time ago. This is a continuation of a One Piece Fan Fiction Series, which began with The Way of the Sword and Rose, s/7270558/1/The-Way-of-The-Sword-and-Rose. Unlike Zoro's story, we HAVE NO EDITED THIS STORY, and may never do so, but we felt we wanted to share the story with you anyways. Because this story was written as a role play between myself and Jesachi, the story continually switches perspectives between the two main characters. I hope this doesn't bother you, but I apologize if it does, but you HAVE BEEN WARNED.
This Story takes place many years after the conclusion of the One Piece Story Line, and continues on with the story of Rouge, Ace's daughter. Ace survives the Battle of Marineford in a roleplay we aren't ready to put up yet. His survival is not known to many people in the world, but he and his wife Mara have two lovely children, and this is the story of their eldest child, Rouge. It is, perhaps, my absolute favorite FanFiction that I have ever written, so...Please enjoy!********
He practically bared his teeth at her as she pulled out her daggers and ranted about his innocence. Please. There was nothing innocent about this anymore. It stopped being innocent as soon as she said 'hello'.
"Put your daggers away and get the hell out of here before your ego gets us killed," he fired back at her. Later, he'd think back on this moment about how easy the decision was, to hang up the marines and give everything he had for her. Now, however, all he could think about was the execution block at Marineford and what she would look like up there as the Fleet Admiral announced to the world that she was the offspring of Portgas D. Ace and how she was unfit to be in society.
"Enough of this!" Vice Admiral Ore commanded, "Knowles, I'll have you court marshaled for this! Someone shoot the Dragon so we can go home!"
"I said no one touches her," Lukas rumbled, "Rouge, go now," he added over his shoulder.
The look at Ore gave him was like someone had just robbed him blind. His face was starting to turn an ugly shade of purple and his upper lip curled in a sneer. He grabbed the gun from the soldier next to him and pointed it right at Rouge. Lukas shot a bullet straight down the barrel of the gun and it blew up in Ore's face. The man downright hissed in outrage.
There was a rumble of confusion through the soldiers, Lukas could feel it. They were worried about him – some of them were colleagues that had once worked under him – and they were confused at his turn around. The stunt of blowing up Ore's gun and enraging him made them nervous. They knew his skill with a bullet; he'd take many of them out before they realized what was happening. In the end, the soldiers didn't know what to do: shoot the Vice Admiral or save him.
It was that hesitation that was going to buy him the time he needed. He was safe, relatively, with the marines. He wasn't going to be killed, at the very least. He was going to have to face his crimes at some point, but not tonight, not now. Rouge, on the other hand… justice was not a kind friend to her and with her identity out in the open now, witnessed by a hundred soldiers who each formulated a different feeling about her, she was at a real risk here. And nothing else mattered to him but her safety. If he thought putting a slug through his right eye would insure she could walk away scot-free, he'd do it. The realization was powerful, but it was truthful.
He turned and with one Glock still aimed at Ore, he turned the other on her. He didn't plan to shoot her and should she called his bluff, he'd be fucked, but he needed her to know that he wasn't dicking around here. They weren't going to fight their way to freedom, not this time, "Leave now or I swear on my father's grave I'll send all of them after your nakama."
Again, that ripple went through the soldiers. Confusion. What was the Vice Admiral doing? Letting her go or turning her in?
"Shoot them!" Ore shouted.
"Now, Rouge!" Lukas demanded. And he shot Vice Admiral Ore Leifen in the shoulder.
All of her muscles tensed in defiance to his command, and her shoulder gave a nasty shock of pain down her arm, causing her fingers to loosen momentarily around one of the daggers. It was not noticeable to the average onlooker, but to Rouge, it meant she was in deep trouble. That kind of weakness in a moment like this could lead to death. Not even that, but Lukas had been wounded too. Neither of them were in a condition to fight.
Shit. Her eyes wavered, the fierce fire dimming as she stood helplessly before him, time slowing to a trickle as her gaze collided desperately with his. He was fucking serious. He was going to let her get away at his own expense, and if she hesitated, it would be for nothing. They would both be fucked now that he'd openly betrayed the marines by shooting the other vice admiral.
"Lukas-" Rouge bit out, the hint of tears making her eyes glimmer through her fierce scowl. Her hair had long fallen from its bun, and blew in dark wisps around her face. One heartbeat sounded in her ears. Two.
She re-sheathed her daggers.
Three heartbeats.
Long, membranous wings sprang out from her back and scales flashed across her flesh.
Four.
"You're going to pay for this," she promised him viciously, the words conveying her pain, her love, her anger, all of it, but uttered low and just for him.
In the corner of her eyes, she saw barrels slowly start to train on her, and Lukas. Without hesitating another moment, Rouge shot up into the air, so fast she blurred to the average eye. Two bullets whizzed passed her, then she heard more gunshots, but felt no threat. She spared a glance back, and saw that Lukas was shooting the guns out of the hands of the marines aiming for her.
The tears, both of anguish and of anger, finally brimmed over her eyes and tracked down her dirty cheeks. How dare that man make her love him, then force her to leave him like this. How dare he prove to be the man she wanted him to be in a way even she couldn't doubt, all when for naught.
He would be punished. He would be imprisoned. Perhaps even killed, if they consider her as a high threat that he allowed to escape, though such a drastic measure is rare in the new regime.
Still, the idea of Lukas, locked in a cell among scores of dangerous men, many of whom he'd put there himself, made her stomach clench painfully as Rouge continued her flight up into the night, letting the darkness of the sky swallow her up until the sounds of the alley were a distant echo. As she shot up above the first level of clouds, she came to an abrupt stop, and flew in place as her mind went from a slow, distraught pace to cranked up and working.
She couldn't allow Lukas to be put in that situation because of her. Her secret had been found out, and everything he did was because of what she put him through. But...more than that, she loved him. She couldn't bear the thought because she'd come to love that man, in a way that made him feel necessary.
With her mind made up, Rouge adjusted her direction, and dove down below the clouds with a single-minded focus, flying fast and hard. She would find Roary, and then...then she would call an army.
She was gone.
All that was left of her was a little bit of dust, the smell of fire and ocean and a lingering, desperate look that conveyed more feelings than they had had time to express verbally. He felt relieved at her escape and yet ruined by her existence in his life at all. But as he faced down men he'd once worked side by side with, shot their bullets out of the sky and eyed the injured and positively irate Vice Admiral Ore and knew he was looking down a long, narrow hallway to a cell with his name on it at Impel Down, he thought about the last two months he'd spent with her.
And he would've done it all over again, even if it meant imprisonment.
Rouge disappeared into the sky and the sharp clap of bullets waned, so did the adrenaline high he'd been riding on and blood loss and fatigue caught up with him in the rush of a heartbeat. He dropped to the ground on his knees, his weapons skittering across the pavement. All the Marines were staring at him like they were sure he'd lost his mind and maybe he had, frankly. Lost it to a blue-eyed, sassy she-dragon.
"You!"
Lukas looked up and mustered a sour expression as Ore charged in on him and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and hauling him up slightly, "Knowles! Do you KNOW what you just did?"
"Yes."
"You just let the daughter of Fire Fist Ace get away. I'll have you for obstructing justice and aiding and abeiting. I'll have your rank. I'll have your ass in Impel Down…"
"Eat your heart out, Ore. I'll answer for my crimes."
"You…" Ore turned a terrible, mottled shade of red and purple and shook his fist at Lukas like all he wanted to do was deck him, "A dirty marine! Compromised, that what you are!"
"At least I can sleep at night."
"What're you saying, Knowles?"
"That's enough, gentlemen!"
Both Lukas and Ore, only inches from each other's faces and moments away from beating the snot out of each other turned and coming through the crowd was Admiral Smoker with his three cigars and admiral's cloak flowing behind him. Like a shadow, Tashigi was nearby.
Out of the three Admirals, Smoker was the one Lukas respected the most. There was just something about the guy; he had his head screwed on right and while he was a man of justice, he was a man of true justice and Lukas had emulated him.
"You," Smoker pointed at Ore, "Someone take him to the medic ward for that shoulder."
"Admiral Smoker, sir! Knowles is in violation! He…"
"I'm well aware, Vice Admiral," Smoker interrupted, puffing smoke, "Medic ward, now."
As Ore was being escorted away, Lukas made a solid effort to stand but his vision was blotchy and his knees felt weak. It didn't matter though because the Admiral hauled his ass up to his feet, "And you," Smoker gave him a once over, "Medic ward for you too, but someone cuff this hunk of meat first. I'm court marshalling you, son."
Lukas nodded, "I understand, sir."
"All the same though…" Smoker ruffled his hair like he would a child, "Impressed that you're alive and back," he leaned in a little closer and said just for Lukas' ears, "And glad you didn't sway from your moral code."
12 hours later…
"Has he talked yet?"
Admiral Smoker turned and saluted the Fleet Admiral as he entered the small observation room. Across one side of the room was two-way glass, a window that looked right into an equal small interrogation room. Sitting at the table with his wrists cuffed, his shoulder bandaged and his torso bandaged and one band-aid right above his eye was Lukas. He was quiet, had been for hours since they brought him in. They'd give him some different clothes to wear; a pair of scrubs on his hips and a tee shirt. He'd been allowed to bathe too, so his hair dried straight up. He didn't look much like a Vice Admiral, but he still exuded his power even just sitting calmly.
"No. He hasn't spoken for hours, sir," Smoker supplied, ashing his cigars.
"I'll get him to talk for you," Ore sat in the corner of the room with his arms crossed over his chest.
"No one asked you, Vice Admiral," Smoker growled, "I'm still disappointed in your professionalism for this case."
Fleet Admiral Coby nodded when suddenly, the first movement in hours came from the interrogation room. Lukas slid his chair back and stood up without a flaw or ache on his face and came straight up to the glass. Everyone was silent at he knocked thrice on the glass and said, "Fleet Admiral, I'm ready to talk to you, sir."
Coby laughed, "He's been waiting for me. His haki is as acute as ever."
Lukas never talked more in his life, he imagined. As the Fleet Admiral, Admiral Smoker and – much to his chagrin – Vice Admiral Ore positioned themselves in the room with the Fleet Admiral right across from him at the table, Lukas relayed his entire experience with Rouge the Dragon Smuggler from the moment he pulled her out of that bar fight to the moment he let her escape. He tried to keep an unbias tone in his voice, left out much of the intimate stuff that they'd shared, but every now and again, the Fleet Admiral would get a little secretive smirk on his face like he was in on the joke too.
Finally, at the very end, Coby asked a few questions. "Why did you cover her escape last night?"
"Because I don't believe that she is a sin to society just because she's the legacy of Ace."
"If her identity had not been in question last night, would you have still left her escape?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I'm in love with her."
"Do you think your feelings have compromised your judgment?"
"Are you asking whether or not I fell in love with her because she was my kidnapper? No. Had I been able to return to the marines by simply walking back on base, I would not have obstructed anyone from taking on her case and arresting her as the Dragon Smuggler."
The Fleet Admiral had that little grin on his face again before he closed the notebook he'd been writing in, "In a few days from now, you'll appear before the counsel and they will determine your punishment. We will keep you here on base in custody until then. Are we clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very good."
A week later…
Lukas stood near the bow of the ship as the colossal doors loomed out of the fog and over the ship bearing the marines insignia. Behind him, he could hear the captain of the ship ordering for clearance to enter the realm of Impel Down. Impel Down, where he was going to spend the next five years of his life repenting for his crimes. Well, he was expected to repent anyway. Repenting meant he needed to feel guilty and terrible for his crimes. He didn't. But, he believed in fulfilling consequences for crimes and once his sentence was done here, he'd lead a quiet, retired life.
"Vice Admiral Knowles Lukas, this counsel had determined your guilt on five accounts. Withholding pertinent information from senior officers. Aiding and abetting an infamous criminal named Portgas D. Rouge. Aiding and abetting the criminal organization named the Black Bull Smuggling Ring. Obstructing justice by allowing the outlaw named Portgas D. Rouge to escape justice. Assaulting a fellow officer. For each of these crimes, we sentence you to one year in Impel Down for a total of five consecutively served years. You are also hereby dishonorably discharged from the Marines. Thirty percent of your military fund will be wired to the benefactor named Knowles Angela and the rest will go to probate for redistribution to the marines. How do you find this sentence?"
"Acceptable, Counsel Member," he'd replied.
Behind him in the small courtroom, he heard his sister Gabriella scream, "No! There has to be another way! You can't take him from us!"
Lukas turned around, "Shut up, Gabbi and take care of okaa-chan until my sentence is served, understood?"
She must've seen the seriousness on his face because she'd sucked back her tears and nodded. She was angry at him and angry at the marines, but she knew better than to keep talking. Their mother needed her and if she opened her mouth again, she'd be in contempt of counsel and thrown into military custody for a couple of weeks.
The doors groaned so loudly that many of the crew covered their ears and the waves swelled, rocking the ship. Lukas stood steady and took in a deep breath. There it was, the fortress of a prison, just in the distance. He was ready. Every single hour he was about to spend in there was worth it for the two months of freedom she'd given him. He was ready.
One Week Ago
Rouge landed in front of Shakky's Rip-Off Bar and was stumbling for the handle when the door was suddenly yanked back, and Roary grabbed her by the shoulders and dragged her into the bar so fast she did't have time to react. All at once, she was surrounded by all twelve of the Inner Circle, save for Niki, who sat off to the side while Shakky tended to her wounds.
"Rouge! Where have you been!"
"We were worried about you!"
"Where's that marine hunk?"
Questions and voices came at her from every side, but Rouge's mind was solidly locked on the image of Lukas' face as she'd left him. Fury, at the marines who forced their early parting, who'd forced him to betray his own, continued to swirl in her chest and she struggled to get up the energy to tell everyone to shut up and leave her alone. She knew, in a less irrational part of her brain, that much of her anger was directed towards herself; after all, she'd caused the complete ruin of the first man she'd ever loved. He would lose his job, he would probably go to jail even. How would his sisters and family get by? The guilt and the pain of such a selfish action, even if she'd been trying to protect herself and her family, gnawed at her relentlessly. She couldn't possibly handle conversing with people right now, especially not her friends. She'd just opened her mouth when Roary's calm, commanding voice brought abrupt silence to the room.
"Everyone shut up, and back off." Dark eyes glimmered grimly from under the dusting of brown hair that fell across his brow as he watched his brood back away from Rouge until the woman stood in the center of the room, directly before him, practically swaying from exhaustion as she hit her adrenaline crash. His eyes tracked a line of blood that slowly dripped down her stomach from the shoulder wound soaking through her vest, and his lips settled into an even grimmer line.
Rouge ignored the look on his face, but she kept her eyes locked on his. Then she drew in a deep breath and said darkly, "The Marines have Lukas." Around the room, looks of confusion were exchanged, and Pixie rubbed the back of her head with a frown. Only Roary's practically expressionless face seemed unaffected, with the exception of the fact that his eyes glittered like hard diamonds, and the grim line of his lips fell another fraction of an inch. "We were trapped in the alleys, and the marines surrounded us...Lukas betrayed them, to save me. He allowed me to escape and shot away their attempts to stop me." She tried to maintain a level voice, but the panic she truly felt swirling in the base of her gut, the one she had no rational control over, leaked over into her voice a little. She'd caused an innocent man to turn against his fellow nakama! How could she do that to someone she actually cared about? The desperation in her voice drew alarm from Pixie and Kugo's face, a concerned frown from Teddy and Leon's, and lead to murmuring among the rest as those smuggler's in the room more unfamiliar with the vice admiral, unsure as to how they should react to the news that one of their enemies was likely no longer a threat, but that this was definitely not good news.
"Lukas helped to save my life. Whatever you're going to do, I support you," Niki's voice cut through the room, clear and determined, as if completely and one hundred percent sure that Rouge was going to do something about this, to right the situation somehow. Rouge wished she had the same confidence as her best friend. The fierce look in the redhead's eyes made Rouge's heart ache. Niki would always be there for her, that Rouge would always make sure she was safe.
Rouge turned to Niki and strode towards her with long strides, despite her near-exhaustion, and bellied her impatience, her burning need to do something, now. For Lukas, the man who'd stolen her heart. "Niki, babe, I know you just got out of a terrible place, and I should be here for you-"
"Stop. Rouge, I know you. I know what you need. Go save him. I'll be rooting for you. Thank you for saving me," Niki's grin was honest and full, and Rouge felt a stab of relief that the Don had not robbed her best friend of her strong and beautiful personality. Despite the shadows she could see lingering in Niki's eyes, there was also a bright and determined woman eager to face freedom again. "I'll be here when you get back, and we'll get wasted and go raving again." Rouge felt her lips twist into a quick smile, thankful to have such an understanding nakama.
"You cannot go tonight," Roary's voice held a sharp but quiet command. His brow was darkened in a slight scowl as he crossed his arms over his chest. "You're half-dead on your feet. You're lucky I've let you rant and rave this long before being treated. Besides, there are far too many Marines on this island for our force, even combined, to overcome. Especially considering our current weakened state."
Rouge turned to face Roary, the stubborn glint in her eye making several of those near her to shift almost nervously, anticipating trouble from past knowledge of how difficult Rouge could be in this mood. She ignored them, her eyes never leaving Roary's as they faced off across the room. "I know; there is no way he could be rescued before he is taken off of this island, not without a miracle, and I'd rather have better odds if I'm going to rescue someone I care about out of Marine custody." Only then did Rouge break eye contact with Roary as she started walking towards the door, so slowly at first that her intention was unclear. "Instead, I'm going to go get my Uncle and a whole mess of people, and then I'm going to break that man out of Impel Down. It's a long flight, I must leave immediat-"
She never got to finish. Roary had given a slight indication with his chin to his bodyguards the moment it became clear that Rouge was heading for the door. Less than a foot from the door, Fillipe suddenly appeared behind her and delivered a quick blow to her temple, and her body crumbled into Dave's waiting arms.
"You can leave after you're wounds have been tended to and you've gotten some sleep," Roary said conversationally and with a small, knowing smile to Rouge's unconscious body. Looking up, he grinned when he noticed the relief on everyone's face. "You're all cowards. Rouge wouldn't have hurt you if you'd tried to stop her," Roary insisted, shaking his head woefully.
"Yeah, right. Just because she's wounded doesn't mean she wouldn't have kicked me in the balls," Kugo said with a snort.
A couple of hours later, Rouge came to spitting mad. This time, nothing could have stopped her from leaving. The moment she became conscious, all she could think about was Lukas. He filled her thoughts in a way she hadn't allowed herself to think before. She'd never wanted to get attached, so she'd conscious ignored any thoughts about him if she could, but now that she was attached, and he was gone, it was all she could think of.
She thought of how he made her laugh, of how he gave as well as he took, how he just seemed...to fit, in her life. As if he'd always been there. She knew they'd never really stood on the same side of the law, but when they were together, that didn't seem to matter at all.
How could she let someone like that out of her life? She remembered, a little, the way her mother had been when her father had still be presume "dead." How her mother couldn't ever stop thinking about him, even though he was gone. Would it be like that for her too?
The idea was unbearable. She had to get him back.
Her nakama wouldn't allowed her to leave unless she promised to stop at several island along her path, and Rouge had been so desperate at this point, she'd agreed, though had little intention of stopping.
She used Lukas' face to give her the energy she needed to keep going, to keep flying. As a full dragon, she took off from Saobody and headed for the island she'd been born on.
And though she was tired, and though her wound re-opened half a day's flight out from her destination, Rouge pushed on. She flew right to Roctortue Island, not stopping once.
Three days passed since Lukas had been taken, and the long flight had taken a toll on her. The bandage wrapped around her shoulder was ripped and frayed from the repeated beating of her wings. The reopened wound was oozing blood, and had soaked the bandage through. The moment the island came within view, however, she earned a burst of energy. She let loose a roar and a stream of flames so loud and bright that by the time she reached the shore, almost every single person living on the island had gathered by the shore.
She landed on the large space left clear at the end of the bluff, and shifted to her human form as two figures separated from the crowd and rushed towards her. Ace reached her first, grabbing her bare shoulders and brushing her wild hair out of her face. "Rouge, dammit, what the hell happened to you?!" he demanded in an angry voice, his blazing eyes skirting over her wounds and the dark circles under her eyes.
"There's no time, daddy. That's not important. Where's Luffy?" Rouge demanded as her mother caught up.
"What? Luffy?! What do you mean, not important? Have you looked in a mirror!" Ace raged, shaking her shoulders slightly to accentuate his point. Rouge felt her world tilt dangerously at the motion, and struggled to regain her mental equilibrium as her exhausted body struggled through the pain and wear she'd put it through. In fact, it was beginning to be a struggled to remain conscious. She hadn't slept for more than a couple of hours in days.
"I need him...and Zoro...and..." Rouge couldn't finish as her knees suddenly felt weak and she was forced to devote her precious mental strength on straying upright. Once the dizziness and weakness had alleviate some, she locked eyes with her incredulous-looking father, trying to convey how important this was to her. "We need to save Lukas, daddy. We need to get him out..."
For the second time in less than a week, Rouge lost consciousness, but this time it wasn't by force. Her body overrode her stubborn mind, and Rouge's eyes slid back into her head as her knees buckled beneath her. Ace caught her limp body, his eyes livid as he took in his daughter's condition.
There was a momentary pause, then Ace drew in a deep breath.
"THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LET OUR ONLY DAUGHTER GO OUT TO SEA BY HERSELF!" Ace exploded as he rounded on Mara, fire racing up and down his arms and shoulders as he practically shook with anger. "Look at her!"
Mara let out a sigh and reached out to smooth Rouge's hair back from her face. She let her fingers hover over the girls lips, then gliding her touch down and around to the pulse at her neck. "She's fine, Ace. Relax. She just pushed herself too hard! She'd been in worse conditions and lived," Mara said confidently, though her creased brow bellied the concern she couldn't hide as a mother.
"Woah! What happened to Rouge?!" a voice came from the direction of the crowd, and two more figured disentangled themselves from the murmuring onlookers, and hurried forward. Raion was gaping with shock while Sabo's face was a little white. He'd never seen his sister so beat up.
"Mom...is she gonna be okay?" Sabo asked, but Ace cut Mara off.
"I've never seen her worse! What are you talking about, woman?!" Ace demanding, holding Rouge out like a doll as if to exhibit her body. "She looks like she's going to die!"
Mara tsked at the man, "She's just smart enough never to come here while looking like that. She's also smart enough not to tell you about the times she'd been in sticky situations. She's wounded, but she'll live. Obviously she came here because she felt very strongly about...whatever it is she came here for. She'd not that seriously wounded, but she pushed her body despite her condition, and this is what happens."
Ace stared at Mara with a look that said he wanted to strangle his wife, just a little, but then managed to reign in his temper, and let out a slow hiss of a breath that caused smoke to furl out of his nostrils. "Who the hell is this Lukas, then?" he demanded in a tight voice.
"Lukas?" Raion piped up, his eyes sparking with recognition.
Sabo's eyes went wide, then he winced, taking a fell step further away from his father as he realized how angry the man was about to be with his son and nephew.
"That's the dude that Rouge has been shaking up with on her island! I think he's a vice admiral or something too," Raion said with a snicker, and Sabo buried his face in his hands at his friend's lack of tact.
Mara let dismayed sigh, and darted forward as if to grab Rouge out of Ace's arms, but it was too late. Ace's whole body suddenly erupted in a column of fire. Those people who had continued to linger at Rouge's return now decided it was a good time to scram, and get the gossip once Ace had cooled down, seeing as Mara had declared the girl alright.
Since Rouge was a dragon, and therefore immune to the heat of flames, and Mara was made out of water, neither female was hurt as Ace combusted and yelled, "WHAT?! Shacking-?! I'm going to KILL this man."
"Calm the hell down!" Mara snapped in her loudest most commanding voice, and both Sabo and Raion traded nervous glances as the Mom-Voice made an appearance. Ace glared at his wife and continued to huff like a pissed off bull, but he shut the hell up.
Mara reached up and flicked her husband in the nose, hard, and snatched Rouge out of his grip with surprising strength. "How can you possibly rage and rant like this when your daughter clearly needs medical attention! You should be ashamed, Ace. Now go cool off and when your daughter wakes up, we'll figure everything out in a calm and rational manner."
Ace opened his mouth like he wanted to argue, then shut it again when Mara narrowed her yes. He let out a growl, then whipped around and crossed his arms over his bare chest. "Fine," he muttered. Mara gave a satisfied nod, then turned on her heel and started marching towards the hidden village. She got twenty feet before she snapped, "Sabo, come carry your sister."
Raion let out a laugh, earning a glare from Sabo as the blond boy hurried forward to take his older sister out of his mothers arms. Though Rouge was definitely bigger than Sabo, Ace had been training Sabo relentlessly since he could walk and so he easily heft the young woman into his arms and followed his mother to the doctor's house.
Three Hours Later
"Ace! Oi! Aaaaaace!"
Ace looked up to find the Thousand Sunny approaching the island, and Luffy standing on top of the Lion's head, waving his arms in the air. Ace had spent the better part of the past three hours pacing or checking in on how Rouge was doing, and Mara had finally kicked him out.
"Luffy! What are you doing back here?" Ace called, moving slowly towards the shore. The Strawhats had left not long before Rouge had arrived after they'd dropped Raion off on their way to visit an old friend.
"Well, we saw the fire in the sky...we decided to come back and find out what happened," Nami voiced from the deck as she moved forward and leaned on the railing.
"Yeah! You shouldn't be doing that kind of thing unless it's an emergency bro!" Luffy scolded, gum-guming his way to the shore once they came in range.
Ace felt his cheeks burn just slightly, and scowled at his brother hotly. "It was an emergency. Rouge showed up all wounded and exhausted! She collapsed right in front of me!"
"So you blew up into a pillar of flames?" Nami asked skeptically.
Ace balked, then scowled even darker at the woman. "She wants to save some vice admiral that your son says she's been sleeping with," Ace voice was tight and his hands curled into fists, but he let it out with a breath as he remembered that Mara would probably be out here soon, since the ship had probably been reported to the village already.
Luffy frowned, as if he was confused, while Nami giggled into her hand up on the ship. "So? Rouge is a nice girl. Of course she'd want the save the guy. What kind of trouble is he in?"
"He must be the marine they have on trial at Enies Lobby. The Marines wont talk yet but apparently he was cavorting with a criminal," Nami supplied, indicating the newspaper she'd read that morning.
"Wait, he's a marine in trouble with marines?" Luffy asked, flabbergasted. "She wants to save him from the marines?" Luffy asked, still looking a little confused.
"I don't know. She didn't get out much before she passed out, but she asked for you," Ace said darkly to his brother, as if this was all his fault. Luffy was one of the reasons his daughter had gone out to sea in the first place, though.
Luffy let out his long thinking sound, holding his hand down on his head as he tried to figure out what the hell was going on, obviously still confused about the fire pillar relating to a rescue mission, but finally he just sighed and said, "Yosh! I'll just wait till she gets up and then I'll ask her! I love rescue missions..." he added with a grin, and Ace almost decked him, his foul mood continuing.
He'd been here for a month. As a Vice Admiral, he'd known exactly what type of containment he was getting into. Impel Down wasn't nearly as terrible as it had been in previous generations, but it was still pretty tough compared to the little holding cells for petty crimes at each marine base. Every day at the crack ass of dawn, he was pulled out of the silence of his cell to go the cafeteria on his level for breakfast. The first couple of days had been an establishment of dominance. A fallen marine in a sea of pirates and riffraff he'd tossed in here himself? Well. He'd gotten into some serious scraps and his left eye and cheek were still yellowed from the hook punches he'd taken before he beat the shit out of a couple of his assailants. Meals were quieter after that.
For the first couple of weeks, he hadn't had much peace. Every day, or every other day after his breakfast, he was hauled up to the top floor and dropped into an interrogation room. And every single time, it was the same questions over and over again.
"Where can we find the Dragon?"
And every single time, he'd reply, "I don't know."
"Where is the cache island?"
Same reply; "I don't know. I was blindfolded when I was transferred."
Then, they'd leave him alone in the room for hours and come back again and ask him all over again, maybe phrased differently, maybe a different investigator coming in. It was always the same though. They wanted to find her. Frankly, he wasn't going to let them but at the same time, he wasn't going to be uncooperative.
He'd be ushered back to the cafeteria for some dinner, then every other day a shower – and more ass kicking as some dudes tried to jump him in the nude – then back to his cell for the night. He had no visitors, wasn't allowed to send letters or make phone calls. All he had were the black and white striped jumpsuit and a tee shirt, a cot, a toilet to piss in and every now and then, he'd ask for a newspaper and get a crossword puzzle and some news. But other than that, it was pretty routine.
He'd been left alone mostly now, for a couple of days now, maybe a week. He supposed that the investigators must've grown tired of his repetitive answers, the same bullshit over and over. He had nothing to offer them. Maybe they'd started to realize that.
The ten-foot double-steel and seastone lined doors opened at the end of the hallway and Lukas perked from his cot where he was lying. No one came down to Level Six, the level reserved for criminals about to hit the execution block or marines like him who Benedict Arnold'd the system. Well, not unless they were coming to get you for brekkers and it wasn't that time of day. That could only mean that someone was coming to deliver… or collect.
Two investigators stopped in front of his bars, flanked by three marine patrols. Lukas sat up. It was hot as fuck down here and he had his tee shirt off and wrapped around his head like a do-rag and his jumpsuit tied around his hips. In the past month, his facial hair was starting to riot and they wouldn't allow him a razor to shave. God forbid he slice his wrists and they be robbed of his punishment. Then again, he was lucky he got to shower on occasion at the very least.
"Let's go, Knowles," one investigator said.
"I got nothing to tell you," he replied, not moving from his cot.
"The Fleet Admiral wants to see you," the other one said.
That gave him pause, "Why?" he said, "I've got nothing to tell him either."
The marine patrols opened the door and the investigators beckoned him, "Let's go."
He cooperated and the patrols slapped some shackles on his wrists – unnecessary, really. He wasn't going anywhere – and guided him out of the level and into the elevator to take them to the top. Once there, it was down a series of hallways and a few coded doors and he was dropped in an interrogation room once again. A slammed door and he was alone.
He glanced around needlessly before settling on staring at the "mirror" on one side of the room. A double window. It was a mirror to him, but he knew from experience that there were people on the other side. And he could sense them with his Haki. Marines. Higher ups, maybe Vice Admirals and Admirals. Watching him.
The door opened and the Fleet Admiral walked in. Lukas didn't move as Coby slid into the chair across from him, two steaming cups of joe in his hands. He pushed one across the table to Lukas, who eyed it surreptitiously.
Coby laughed, "It's not poisoned. Thought you might like something better than the slop they serve downstairs."
Lukas grabbed the paper cup in his linked hands and took a cautious sip. Just a little bit of heaven in his dark world, "What can I do for you, sir?"
The Fleet Admiral spun his cup in his hands, "The Dragon has gone to ground," he supplied, "No one seems to know where she is."
Another sip of coffee, "I've been keeping an eye on the papers when I can," Lukas answered vaguely. When he was met with silence, he continued, "I don't know where she is, if you're asking."
"I'll bet you could hedge a guess, though."
Lukas shrugged, "I have a lot of different ideas."
"Why don't you shoot a couple my way?"
The ex-vice admiral narrowed his eyes, "Why do I want to make it easier for you to find her?"
The Fleet Admiral smiled around his paper cup as he sipped his beverage, "Because you want to know where she is too."
… damn it. That's why he worshipped this guy. Perceptive to a fault. Lukas shrugged, "She's wherever she feels she needs to be. She could have gone to ground with the whole smuggling ring…"
"Smuggling ring has been pretty quiet."
"… or she went to her island…"
"And you don't know where that is."
"No… or she could have gone home."
"Where's home?" Coby asked, "Or more importantly, what's home?"
Again, Lukas shrugged, "Home is where her family is and no, I don't know where that is. We didn't talk about family much. Her family anyway. You know, they're all pirates and me being a marine and everything…"
The Fleet Admiral nodded, "Yes, that's right, she's technically related to Luffy and his nakama. There has been some movement among the pirates, a little stir, if you will," and for one moment, they met eyes and Lukas felt a chill down his back. But then the moment was gone and Coby stood, "Well, that's all, Lukas. We've hit a bit of a standstill as far as locating the Dragon so until we learn anything new, we won't be hounding you for answers anymore," he smiled, "Try to stay healthy. Do some exercises or something. That food down there… it's cheap to fund, but not so great for you."
And then he left and the patrols came back in and ushered Lukas out. As they went down the elevator and headed back to his cell, he thought about what the Fleet Admiral said. Stay healthy. Do some exercises or something. That felt weird to him and he couldn't place why. He supposed it was just something compassionate to say; he did have a closer relationship with the Fleet Admiral than maybe some of the other soldiers had had. Maybe he just didn't want Lukas to waste away in prison or something.
Whatever. He put it out of his mind as he was shoved back into his cell and a few moments later, the seastone steel doors shut and silence reigned once more down on Level Six. Lukas wrapped one hand around the bars and glanced out at that door, the only way in or out of this place. He couldn't let linger what the Fleet Admiral said.
All the same, he spun around and fell to the floor in a push up position. A few reps wouldn't kill him.
Rouge paced the deck of the ship in the prow, scowling darkly at the woodwork as she marched. Too long. This was taking too damned long.
"If you stare hard enough, maybe you'll develop laser beams in your eyes like Franky," A a deep, cheerful voice came from behind her. Rouge turned her head, and spied her Uncle Shanks coming up from the lower part of the deck. "Though I still think being able to turn into a freakin' dragon is way more cool than a robot," he added with a grin.
Rouge couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips. She rarely got to see her Uncle Shanks, since he continued to spend most of his time on the open seas, free to ride the waves and the world, but when she did, she cherished those times. She'd been truly lucky that he'd been in the area when she'd sent out the call.
"Of course it is, but don't tell Uncle Franky that, or he won't make me such nice toys," Rouge replied, striding towards Shanks until the man swept her up into a big bear hug, then placed her back down like she was a delicate flower. He was such a softy with me, Rouge thought with a grin.
"So Luffy gave me a brief description of what we're doing...Are you sure you want to rescue this man? He will never be allowed back among the marines, and will like get a bounty on his head considering it will be assumed he can get to you, Portgas D. Rouge," Shanks reminded her with a more serious expression.
Rouge sighed and stepped back, cross her arms over her chest and looking out across the sea. She could see two more ships appearing in the distance, and another thrill of excitement went up her spine. She pushed that from her mind, and murmured, "I know, and I've thought about that...but in truth, I feel like we were meant to be together. I've never felt so at ease and myself than I do when I'm with him. I couldn't risk losing something like that, and I wouldn't want him to lose it either, if that's how he feels. If he ends up hating me, then...so be it. At least I know."
Shanks was quiet a long time, so much that she tore her eyes from the see to glance up at him. Shanks had a broad grin on his face, and she thought, perhaps, were his eyes glistening? Rouge blinked, confused.
"Rouge! You've grown up into such a fine young lady!" Shanks exclaimed, lifting her up into another bear hug. "I can't believe it! You've grown too fast! You were such a beautiful baby girl..." Shanks added, his voice a little teary. Rouge had to restrain a laugh from escaping, and simply rolled her eyes, hugging him back and patting his back awkwardly.
"Thanks?" Rouge muttered, and Shanks put her back down, but didn't remove his hand from her shoulders. His face instantly lost the weepy-look, and took on a more serious stare.
"How did your father react to the news that you're going to save a marine from impel down that you happen to be in love with?"
Rouge groaned, her head falling back and her eyes squeezing shut. "He yelled at me when I regained consciousness, but my mother kicked him out and scolded him so hard that he sulked for a day. Then he just glared at me whenever I was around, and was even more sullen with Luffy, who was absolutely ecstatic to help me. It didn't help that he's blaming Lukas for the marines finding out my real name."
Shanks let out a bark of a laugh, then sighed. "That poor man. Be gentle with him, remember that you're his only baby girl, and you're quite the handful." Shanks grinned wryly.
"Well, he was a handful, according to Luffy, so it's his fault for giving me his genetics," Rouge snorted, crossing her arms and turning back towards the railing. The ships were much closer now, and she could see that it was Bon Kurei's ship, and the Kuja Pirates, who'd come out of tradition since they'd helped in the last Impel Down break-out.
Nearby, the Heart Pirates' submarine surfaced, and Trafalgar Law appeared out of the hatch. She leveled a look up to Rouge, nodded his greeting, then moved his eyes over the rest of the people assembled on deck. Rouge followed his gaze. Luffy and his crew were all present, along with Jimbei, Emporio Ivankov, Marco, present under strict orders from Ace to protect Rouge, Buggy the Clown (a reluctant family member, but he liked Rouge), Teddy, Leon, and Kugo. Also on board was Raion and Sabo, but they weren't supposed to be since both Mara and Nami had forbidden them on account of their age. However, they'd snuck aboard anyways, and Rouge had found them out three days ago.
In the waters nearby, several ships were anchored. This was the designated meeting spot, and ten pirate ships, including the Thousand Sunny that she stood on now, had responded. Among them were the New Fishman Pirates, the Red Hair Pirates, and others, friends of Luffy's that had owed favors to him. Rouge was glad she had such an influential uncle.
"I think that's the last one that responded," Nami accounted, planting her hands on her hips and nodding confidently. "This should be plenty, especially considering how weak Impel Down got after the Revolution. It's no longer such a maze of deathtraps, at least," she said with a nervous grin, looking over at Luffy. "Right?"
"No worries! This is gonna be fun!" Luffy said with a big grin on his face. He turned his head and looked up at Rouge, "Ready to go get him?"
Rouge grinned, feeling the excitement tingle all over her body. "Yes! I've been waiting a whole month already, Luffy, let's do this!"
Luffy laughed, gum-gumming his arm towards her until he could ruffle her hair, like he used to do when she was little. "You'll learn patience as you age."
Nami reached over and smacked him over the head, "It's not like you have!" she retorted, and Rouge giggled.
Three days later, Rouge was standing on the lion's head with a spyglass to her eye when the big, imposing doors of Impel Down came into view. Luffy stood just below on deck, whining and begging her to get off his seat. She ignored him, and adjusted the glass to sharpen the focus, and confirmed the symbol on the doors.
"I see it!" she cried, and Luffy increased his whining.
"Rooooouge...I wanna be up there," Luffy said, scowling and looking pouty.
"This is my rescue, Uncle, not yours," she reminded him with a sassy grin, and planted her hands on her hips. "We'll be in view soon, and that'll really shake them up. When was the last time an armada of ships came knocking?" Her grin was feral.
He was in the interrogation room again. It seemed that this time, instead of grilling him like they had before, they tried the Fleet Admiral's approach. They gave him some coffee and attempted to have a pleasant conversation with him.
Unfortunately, there were two reasons why that didn't work. 1: They asked questions that he couldn't possibly have any answers to and 2: he didn't respect the investigators like he did the Fleet Admiral so it was all in vain anyway. Apparently, in the last few days, there had been a serious stir in the pirate community. Newspapers were starting to report it and other than the rumors that were flying around at meal times, he had no other information for the marines.
"Alright, take him back downstairs," the investigator told the patrol marines. As Lukas was being escorted back out, the investigator added, "Nice shiner you have there, Knowles. Getting into some fights?"
Lukas reached up and gingerly touched the left half of his face where his cheek, temple and eyelid were a colorful and swollen array of deep ocean colors, "Ya, well, when it's you versus ten pirates you singlehanded threw in here not too long ago, chances are they sneak a hit or two in. Don't worry, though. You should have seen what they looked like before the guards stepped in."
That brought a vague smile to the investigators face, "Sounds like you hold your own."
Lukas shrugged and finally, the patrols took him out of the room and led him down the series of hallways towards the elevators. Suddenly, commotion screamed down the concrete and steel halls and the patrol guards stopped. Then, they were ushered to the side as a small squadron of guards went running passed them, armed to the teeth with rifles and swords. Someone was yelling commands down at the end of the hallway.
"I need fifty guards on the elevator at the top floor and fifty more stationed at the front doors. Any word from the control room yet?"
Someone else shouted, "Under no circumstances do those doors open! Are we clear?"
Another voice, "Has someone contact the Fleet Admiral yet? We are gonna need backup from headquarters if they decide to launch an attack!"
Lukas turned to the guards, "What's happening?" he demanded, his vice admiral voice coming out on reflex.
They didn't deem him an answer and simply shoved him along the hallway. The sound of hundreds of boots echoed and more than once they had to step aside to allow soldiers to go by them. At one point, a commanding officer stopped them, "The Warden wants all prisoners back in their cells immediately. We are entering a lock down."
"What's going on?" Lukas demanded again, this time digging in a little as the guards tried to yank him down the hall, "Who's here? Who's attacking? Why are we going into lock down?" Impel Down hadn't been assaulted since Luffy single-handedly infiltrated the fortress right before the war. New procedures had been put into place to offer more protection from intruders and break outs. It seemed unfathomable that someone would stupidly try to break in.
"Just get back to your cell, Knowles," the officer said before disappearing down the hallway.
A little shove and he started walking, but he tuned his hearing and his haki on full bore to try and figure out what was going on. The marine in him demanded to know, demanded to take action and the romantic in him thought something completely outlandish. All he got was panic and chaos. Whoever was out there was causing a huge commotion.
Another team raced by and Lukas caught a snipit of gossip conversation as they ran.
"… Straw Hats are here…"
He outright stopped this time and the guards stopped short, "Move it, Knowles," they ordered, shoving him forward.
He didn't move his feet. The Straw Hats were here? Impossible. What could they possibly gain from attacking Impel Down? The Pirate King didn't need more followers and what did he have to gain by starting a war with the Marines again? So long as his crew left the marines alone, the marines didn't bother them. The Pirate King went to ground like, ten years ago with all his kids.
Then, his mind jumped to the thought that he'd flirted with the second he'd heard the uprising. But she wouldn't dare. He'd kill her if she came here. He was in here for her, damn it. It would be stupid and idiotic and he'd kill her because all his sacrifice would be in vain…
He dug his heels in as the guards tried once again to get him to move his feet, "No!" he said forcefully, "I have to know what's going on!"
"Move it, prisoner!" one of the guards growled, "No one is authorized to tell you anything anymore."
And for the first time since he'd been thrown in this hellhole, Lukas was uncooperative. He planted his feet and slammed his elbow into the face of one of the guards, staggering the poor guy as blood poured from his nose. The other guards immediately sprung into action and jumped Lukas, trying to squelch him. He could smell the unease coming from them. At first, when he'd been escorted around, it had been with his hands and feet chained and a collar around his neck with several leashes attached. The marines were afraid of his power and for good reason. Weaponry was his specialty, but he was top of his class in hand to hand. Now though, since he'd been so good and cooperative, all he had were cuffed wrists and three guards.
"Tell me what's happening!" he demanded, tossing his elbows around and lashing out with his feet. He would've taken to the two other guards down had a team of soldiers not rounded the corner at that very instance and offered their assistance. Twenty against one were not good odds and someone shouted, "Knock him out!" and there was a clapping noise and suddenly, his world tilted and went black.
When he woke up, he was back in his cell. He wasn't sure about how much time had passed, but he reckoned he was only out just long enough for them to toss his ass back in his cage. He groaned and sat up, rubbing his head where a nice egg was developing. Someone got him good…
Then, he remembered that something was going on outside and he jumped to his feet and wrapped his hands around the bars, pressing his face against them to see down the hall. A dozen guards were stationed at the doors and the rest of the inmates were glancing out of their cages too.
"What's going on?" he shouted to the guards, "Tell me what's happening!"
No one answered him, hell, no one looked his way other than the prisoners nearby. Lukas slammed his fist against the bars in agitation. He needed to know. He had to know. It better not be her. She better not be here. He would be so angry if it was her. And yet, at the same time, his stomach twisted with nerves of excitement and he hated that he was even being so pompous to think she would even be here for him.
Lukas spun around and tossed his ass back on his cot. There were thousands of prisoners in Impel Down with thousands of pirate nakama who'd risk getting them out. It could just be some crazy fucks thinking they'd succeed.
Yet, at the same time, who other than Rouge, backed by Luffy would be crazy enough to try and attack this fortress? And he had heard those soldiers say, "The Straw Hats are here…"
It better not be her. Please god let it not be her…
All eleven ships came to a stop about twenty yards away from the large, imposing doors the separated them from Impel Down. Rouge hopped down from the lion's head and gave her spot up to Luffy, moving to stand by the railing and watch. Everyone moved like a well-oiled machine, previously prepped on the proceedings.
Jimbei walked slowly to the edge of the ship, his eyes roving over the large door with a slight scowl on his whale-shark-man features. Luffy twisted his upper torso around like a cork screw to look at the fishman, and both men saluted each other. Then, Jimbei dove off the deck and into the ocean.
"This feels so nostalgic!" Ivankov pipped as he climbed the stairs to the top deck of the prow, joining Marco at the railing and facing the door with a big smile on his face. "Luffy-boy, I'm so glad you called me! I was getting bored and this is just so much fun!"
Across the deck, next to the other railing, Buggy scowled at him and said angrily, "How can you be nostalgic about that? We almost died!"
Luffy's voice cut through the conversation as the Pirate King stamped his foot down on the ground, and instantly turned a shiny hot red as he entered second gear. "Guys! Time to have some fun!" He announced seriously, but his lips were stuck in a perma grin.
Next to him, standing at the railing just to the left of the lion's head, Zoro grinned as well and unsheathed all three of his shiny katana, "These doors can't handle my fury," he said in a deep, scoffing voice.
"Or my canon," Franky added from the helm, his fingers hovering over the trigger for the Gaon cannon.
A shot of water rocketed into the air from directly before the door. Luffy lifted both of his hands and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Marines! We're coming in, like it or not!"
As his hands dropped, every pirate present with the exception of Rouge, Sabo, and Raion shifted into attack-ready positions. Then Luffy blew air into his arm through his thumb and vulcanized his fist. "Ready, set...GO!" Luffy called, sending his fist rocketing behind him, and then wrenching his shoulder forward and pulling his huge, ship-sized fist into a devastatingly fast punch.
Simultaneously, everyone let loose their most powerful attack. Zoro's enormous cannon, Robin's giant foot, Nami's enormous lightning strike, and others joined Luffy's fist in a strike that made the ocean tremble. Below the sea, Jimbei used his control over water to first blast the door, and then manipulated the currents that held the door shut to ease the process. With a terrible groan that sounded like thunder, the doors cracked open almost wide enough for a ship to pass. Jimbei moved into the gab, and began a furious dance of arms and legs with his fishman karate to keep the water from re-closing the door and erasing their efforts.
"One more!" Luffy called, and swung his fist back. Again, another attack hit the doors, half of the pirates focusing on one door, the other half on the other.
"Yes! Franky, Go!" Rouge jumped up and down, her eyes alight with anticipation as she waved her hand at Franky insistently. The doors had been pushed back enough that even their largest ship would be able to slip through, but Jimbei would only be able to hold the doors for so long.
"SUPER!" Franky shouted, and this time the canon in the back of the ship discharged, propelling them forward in a great leap that easily allowed them to pass. Behind them, other ships were using the motor's that Franky has designed. They charged forward, slower than the Sunny, but fast enough to get through the gate, one at a time, until all eleven ships had passed. Jimbei gave a great heavy with his fishman karate, shot cleared far from the doors, and felt the water pull at his legs as the doors slowly, with deep, vibrating groans, slid back to place. They no longer fit perfectly and even had dents in places, a testament to the power of the pirates that had gathered under Luffy's call.
Now past the gate, Rouge could see the giant fortress that was Impel Down. She wasted no time, shooting forward and climbing up onto the lion, despite Luffy already occupying the spot. She gripped his red shirt to stabilize them and wedge her way in next to him until the man let out a disgusted laugh and slung his arm over her shoulders.
"If you push me off into the water, you're going to be very sorry," Luffy told the girl with a gruff tousle of her hair, knocking her stetson off to fall across her back. Rouge ducked her head and bat his hand away, glaring up at her uncle.
"This is my rescue, Uncle Luffy...not yours. I get to be the one who charges in. After all, I want them to know exactly who they pissed off by locking him in there," she retorted, and poked him in the side, urging him to stand back as they came up to the large gate in the thick wall surrounding the prison.
Luffy pouted at Rouge, "But...but I'm the king!" he insisted,
"Yes, you are, but this isn't about your throne, it's about my heart," she shot back, pointing to her chest emphatically and a little over-dramatically to get the point across to the somewhat thick-headed man. Luffy blinked, let out a mournful sigh, and hopped down from the lion's head to stand next to Zoro, still sulking a little.
From before them, a voice suddenly came blaring from a loud speaker: "Halt! You will not be permitted entrance to Impel Down. If you do not turn around and leave, you will be hunted down and given over to the hands of justice, pirates."
Rouge lifted her hat off of her back and plopped it back on top of her head. She planted her hands on her hips and cocked her head to the side until she could peer up at the small windows where she knew she was being watched. Opening her mouth, she called loudly, "I am no pirate, marine. And I'm not turning around. I'm coming in to get my man, and there's nothing you can do to stop me with all of my friends and family to help me." Rouge emphasized those words to emphasize the point that this wasn't about being a pirate or anything. It was about them having taken her man.
And dammit, she wanted him back.
"So either you release Lukas Knowles to me, unharmed, or we'll bust down your door and bust your face in until you give him to me," Rouge added, sweetening her voice up a little and smiling savagely.
There was a long pause, in which Luffy demanded to know what was taking them so long, when the voice blared out, "Impel Down would never concede a prisoner because of a threat! Prepare to be captured, criminals!"
Rouge's grin only got bigger, and she glanced back to either side of her, catching the eyes of many who'd she looked up to and admired as a child. Now they grinned back at her, a similar sheen of anticipation glowing in their eyes as did in hers. Well, she supposed that considering they all practically raised her, it was only fitting.
She turned back to the gates, and lifted her hand to wave her army forward, "I was hoping you would say that..." Rouge said smoothly, and suddenly, her wings burst out from her back and she took off into the sky like a bat outta hell. Marco did the same, blue flames covering his arms and allowing him to soar high into the sky as a phoenix-man.
Both mythological beings converged on the windows in the wall. Those the slits were far too small for them to fit in, they hit them with such a force that both Rouge and Marco blew their way into the gate room on the other side. Screams tore into the air as marines scrambled back from the crumbling wall. Like a tandem team, Rouge and Marco took out any opposition with such grace and finesse that it was like a dance as they half leaped, half gliding from man to man, until Marco grabbed the lever for the gate, and pulled it down.
Gears ground and wood groaned as the heavy doors started swinging outward. Down below, she could hear the whooping and cries of the pirates as the ships surged forward and pirates jumped onto the walkway separating the prison from the wall. Rouge shot up into the sky, then dove for the doors where marines were flooding out to defend Impel Down. Sirens rent the air to signal the emergence as Impel Down prepared to go to war.