Three days later the Straw Hat crew has finally found Smokestack and are planning to set Akane free. They are sitting around a layout sketch that Nami stole.
"Okay, let's go over it one last time." Luffy says. "Sanji, you and Nami with go here," he points to a spot on the map. "Aoi, you and Robin will go here, Usapp and Chopper will go there, and Zolo, Minori, and I will go there. Let's go." Everyone goes to their areas and wait for Luffy's signal. "Gum Gum Double Barrel!" Luffy destroys half the wall in front of the Naval base. The others, except Zolo and Minori, dash into the dust and hide until everyone in the Base are battling Luffy, Minori, and Zolo. Each group begins searching for Akane as their captain, his first mate, and the captain's girl distract the Navy. Then…
"It's a distraction!" Smokestack 'shouts.'
Minori curses silently as he hears the shout. She ran forward attacking one of the Navy's runts with a borage of punches and kicks.
"Minori, lookout!" Luffy shouted as she turns around to see a sword coming at her.
Aoi dashes down hall after hall as she searches for Akane and runs from the Naval personnel. Eventually she loses them. She struggles to stay conscious.
"Aoi." Aoi stands up straight.
"Akane? Where are you?"
"Here." Aoi follows her sister's raspy voice until she comes up to a large heavy door. Aoi freezes the lock and busts it open. She rushes to her sister's side.
"Hang on Akane. We'll get you out of here soon."
"I don't think so." A man's voice remarks. Aoi jumps to her feet and faces none other than Smokestack.
"Is that so? 'Cause I'm one P.O.-ed pirate who's out for blood." Aoi snaps.
"So am I." Zolo puts his blade to Smokestack's neck. Aoi kicks S. Stack in the stomach when he makes to tackle her. S. Stack grabs her arm and throws her into the far wall. Zolo swipes his swords at the Navy man and manages to give him a shallow belly cut. S. Stack back hands Zolo. He rushes forward and grabs the barely living Akane by the neck. He then uses her as a human shield.
"You wouldn't risk this girl's life, now would you?" He sneers. Aoi, by now, has risen and is shaking violently in rage. She screams and before he knows it S. Stack is on the ground being punched repeatedly in the face by a midget. He grabs he wrists, stands up, and runs forward, slamming Aoi into the cell wall. Aoi can feel some ribs crack and she retaliates by kicking him where the sun doesn't shine. Zolo takes his opportunity and attacks S. Stack who is still holding Aoi captive. S. Stack swings Aoi around and into Zolo. The two ship mates fly back into the wall and crumple to the floor. S. Stack picks Aoi up by her shirt and slams her into the wall repeatedly. Aoi digs her nails into his wrists, drawing blood. Suddenly he stops. S. Stack's eyes grow wide and his jaw drops. He lets go of Aoi and she falls to the flood behind Zolo, who has thrust his sword into S. Stack's stomach. The Naval officer collapses to the ground and Aoi breathes a difficult sigh of relief. Zolo picks Akane up bridal style as the rest of the crew rushes in.
"C'mon, we need to get out of here!" Nami shouts. Sanji picks Aoi up and the Straw Hat pirate crew sprint off to their ship and sail away quickly.