A Different Journey
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or One Piece.
We will be kicking off Impel Down now, working Lucy through the levels of the greatest prison in the world, impenetrable except for Lucy. Lucy can break into anywhere.
Answers to Reviews:
klterminator: I'm sorry, I know you want to make a French translation, but I don't speak french and I wouldn't be comfortable not being able to read the translation and check up on it. I'm sorry again, but it makes me a bit uncomfortable.
Chapter 36: The Great Prison Breakout
Lucy was hidden in Hancock's shadow again when they exited the cabin of the ship. It was now or never, and Lucy had to do this now. She couldn't wait for someone else to try and save her brother like she was now. No one would dare break in to Impel Down, it was considered suicidal and a sentence to hell. But this was a chance to stop the war and save her brother. She would journey through a thousand hells to save him. And she knew her brothers would do the same.
As they got off the ship Hancock was bombarded with calls of adoration from every male. She was known as the most beautiful woman on this earth. And Lucy could understand that, but she knew Hancock would most likely never get with a man. Unless he proved himself immune to her beauty and was selfless and kind. But Lucy could not think of a single man who could resist Hancock. Even if they were gay it would be difficult.
Before they entered the prison they were stopped, but Lucy could already here the screams of torture. The smell of blood and agony and sewage. It was revolting.
"Boa Hancock, just to let you know when you enter you'll have to be shackled with sea stone cuffs and undergo a full body check," Momonga told Hancock who agreed that would be fine, Lucy wasn't hidden of Hancock's body anyway. And who would check a shadow? Lucy smiled inwardly, at this genius plan. The gates opened and Lucy's form wavered a bit from how much more input her nose and ears were getting.
She could head the cries for death now, and she could smell animals of killer intent roaming all around. At the center of the entrance they were greeted by the assistant warden and chief jailor. The assistant wanted to be the actual warden it seemed, and the chief jailor gave off a sadistic and malicious aura. Momonga went one way to be checked, and Hancock was led down another hall. They were passing by a large area when the jailor spoke up.
"Whenever we receive a new prisoner we strip them naked and boil them in that water over there. It's a like a sort of baptism for the prisoners. Most end up screaming, but…Fire Fist Ace, Warlord Jimbei, and ex-Warlord Crocodile have all gone through this treatment without even flinching. It was truly impressive," the jailor, Domino Lucy believed, said and stopped and something creaked open. "Please come in, I will do your checking here, Hancock-dono"
Lucy heard the sound of shackles and waited, apparently there were security cameras in the room. No doubt ever monitor was on Hancock, the men working in it would make it so. But the snail monitor she heard freeze, and then so did the woman before them. Hancock had turned them both to stone. Lucy came out of her shadow form, stretching a bit as she did so. "Lucy, we're inside now, and there are only thirty three hours till your brother's execution." Lucy nodded her head and changed into different clothes than she had worn on Amazon Lily. A pair of black spandex pants with a high waist, black boots, a black off the shoulder top, and her belt, keys, sword, and all others necessities. The band around her arm from Wendy still in place. Her gauntlets were ready as well. Her hair was swishing down her back, loose to her hips. Lucy took the vivre card from her pocket and looked at it. It was pulling in a certain direction.
"I'll go after Ace through each level, you'll most likely make it there before me, so please tell him that I'm coming if you can talk quietly with him…and thank you, for all of this Hancock," Lucy said and hugged the woman who hugged her back, tight.
"Like you said, we're friends, Best friends, Lucy. I'll always be there to help. Now you must go, and save your brother. He'll most likely be on the bottom level, I don't know how many levels there are though. But Lucy…please don't cause too much trouble. If you're caught here you'll never get out," Hancock said and Salome came up to her and nudged her with his head and she stroked the snake's head.
"I will be, and be safe yourself. If I can't get to Ace in time the war will go on, don't get hurt if that happens. I'll follow Ace to Marineford as quickly as I can if that happens," Lucy told Hancock who nodded her head. "I'd best be off."
"Good luck, Lucy," Hancock said and Lucy nodded her head and then reformed into a shadow in the front of the room near the door. Hancock undid the petrification and was soon led out of the room with the shackles on her. Lucy watched as she disappeared into a large lift, and began to go down. Lucy looked down again the vivre card and went in the direction it was pulling her.
She reformed her body and using the shadows eradicated the sound of her steps on the stone floors. She made it to a large staircase and followed that, running down the stairs. Entering level one. "Wait for me, Ace."
When she had finished coming down the stairs she came to a large door, and after undoing the lock with an iron key, she entered the area and then closed the door behind her. She was vigilant for any and all cameras. The level was a complete mash of stone and cells, and cries for death. Most of the doors were closed, and she kept her ears peeled as she passed them.
Finally she arrived at a floor of open cells, the prisoners all wearing the same black and white outfits, cramped and caged in their cells. "Ah, nee-chan, what the hell are you doing out there?" A man asked and they all began to whistle, most likely deprived of seeing a woman like her in a while. She was not going to let them out that was for sure.
"I'm looking for Fire Fist Ace, do you know which level he's on?" Lucy asked and while most of the men laughed and said it was impossible to reach him she found one who was contemplating something.
"If he's here he'd be on the lowest level, where they keep people with bounties over a hundred million. But…I've heard there's another level below that, but that's just a rumor," he told her and then they all started to come towards the front of the cage. "Anyway…mind going to the jailor's room and getting the keys for us to break out."
"AHH!" A voice yelled and she pressed herself to the wall, disappearing into shadows as a familiar face and a troop of some monsters rushed past her. She recognized Buggy in a heartbeat. She thought about just leaving him. But yesterday's enemies can become tomorrow's allies. And she would make good use of any allies she could get. Lucy sped off in her form and grabbed Buggy, and then hid them both in the shadows. She muffled his scream and when the monsters passed she let him go. He turned to her and "gaped. "Heartfilia!"
Lucy slapped him over the head and yelled, but in a whisper, for his to shut up. He slapped a hand over his mouth and looked around. "What the hell are you doing here? Were you captured too? But you wouldn't be in that outfit with weapons if you had been," Buggy muttered as he looked her over.
"I broke in, and I will help break you out of here if you help me," Lucy said and he gaped at her asking who the hell would want to come here. "Fire Fist Ace is my brother, and he has been captured and it to be executed in thirty three hours, actually…thirty two hours." Lucy said and checked the time. There was a great distance between the levels. It would take a while to reach Ace at the way she was running and sneaking around. "I'm going to break him out before he can be brought to Marineford."
"Impossible, Heartfilia, there's no way to get down there alive," Buggy told her. "Let's just go, Whitebeard can take care of his own."
"No, I'll make it to Ace, but there are a lot of guards and I don't want to be blindsided by things. So you're going to get me down there, and then I'm going to save Ace," she told him and loomed over him, glaring down and he nodded his head. Cowering a bit as she coerced him into helping.
"I really hate that optimism of yours and Red Hair's, but fine, I'll help. I just want to get out of here," Buggy said and brushed a hand over his face. "Listen up, this is Level 1, the Crimson Floor. Level 2 is the floor of Accursed Beasts. Level 3 is the floor of Famine. Level 4 is the inferno. There are more than that, but those are the ones I know about. Your brother is below those. To get to Level 2 we have to go through the crimson forest."
"I see, and how do we get to this forest? And why is it crimson?" She had a feeling she knew why, but just to make sure.
"First…give me your armband. I request that as payment as well," Buggy said and Lucy tore it off immediately. She handed it to him and his eyes gleamed. He placed it in his prisoner garb and then straightened up again. He cleared his throat and began to explain. "The crimson forest is a forest made of blades. Prisoners are forced to run through it being chased by poisonous beast. Hence the name Crimson. Now it should be on the other side of this wall, but we need to go around."
"No need," Lucy said and put her ear to the wall and listened. Nodding her head she called on Virgo who rearranged the wall and promised to put it back as it was so no one would know which way they went. Lucy thanked her spirit and grabbed Buggy when she saw the forest. In the center was a hole in the ground. "Is that the entrance?"
"Ah, it is. Down to the beasts," Buggy said and she picked him up and used her air currents to glide over to the hole. She landed besides it and looked down, narrowing her eyes down it and listening. She could hear beasts roaming around. People were being dragged around through the area, screaming to be released. She gritted her teeth at all the screams. Was her brother going through this? Was he being tortured? She knew Ace, he wouldn't break from the torture, but she still didn't want him going through it. She wanted to just tear down through every level. But she had said she wouldn't cause a disturbance. And if the people here were like what was at Sabaody then she'd prefer not to fight them head on unless necessary.
"I'm done with one floor, Ace," Lucy said and looked at the Vivre card in her hand. It was still burning away. She clutched it in her hand and steeled herself. "Let's go, Buggy." Lucy grabbed him and dragged him down to the second level of hell with her.
When they jumped down Lucy was surprised at what she saw. Beasts of her world were rampaging around, they were the guards and jailors of this level. How did they ever recreate the creatures of Fiore? It must've been just a coincidence, but still. She had to stop herself from revealing herself and looked around instead. And then she got the scent of something foul. The smell of dead bodies, and she realized why as people were dragged from their cells. The prisoners here were the meals of the beasts.
"Where do we go from here?" Lucy asked Buggy and he was gaping at something. And she realized a large basilisk was coming towards them. She ran at it and took it out before it could alert people to their presence. She realized as well that he was the jailor of this floor. He had the keys. Buggy came over to her and took the keys and smirked.
"Let's let all the prisoners out. It'll make a big riot that will draw the attention of the entire security here," Buggy said and Lucy though about it. It wasn't such a bad plan. And it would make it easier to sneak through all the different levels to Ace. She nodded her head, but instead of using the keys to open the doors, she connected her whip to multiple door and ripped them off their hinges.
She turned back to Buggy and looked at him as he looked around confused. "What is it?" Lucy asked and he grew a bit sheepish.
"Well…I've never been down to this level, so I don't know where the next door to the third is," Buggy admitted and she grew a bit wide eyes and angry and hit him over the head. What were they to do now? It would take a lot of time to ding the door then. And she really wanted to just get Ace and go already. But at this rate…she groaned and rubbed a hand over her face.
All the prisoners weren't getting out of their cells either, and she could hear more beasts and the sound of feet coming towards them. The guards were catching up. She bit her lip when she smelt something familiar and her eyes widened in shock. Mr. 3 was standing before them. "I can lead you there if you help me escape."
Lucy though about it. Mr. 3 was craftier than the others she had faced before and she really didn't have many options if she wanted to get there quickly. She knew what she had to do. "Alright, lead the way," Lucy said and Mr. 3 laughed and nodded his head. They began to run through the area, Lucy following after them and looking around.
Lucy had to fight off all the beasts that came close, not allowing them to get to any of her party at the moment. She had to do this, Mr. 3 was necessary to saving Ace now, even if he was annoying. Like Buggy. She'd had a lot of annoying enemies, she realized. Crocodile was the only one who didn't annoy her, just pissed her off like no other.
Shaking her head she looked backwards and noticed guards had gotten down to the level at this point. She cursed and headed forward, warning the other two that the guards had arrived. They all speed up till Lucy can see the entrance of the third level. But before they can go down it a giant Sphinx appears to guard the door. Lucy hisses and roars at the creature. And it doesn't back down.
"The boss of the floor!" Mr.3 screams and begins to run around like a maniac, and she tells him to shut up as she faces up against the creature. Lucy launches herself at it and tackles it to the floor, and then knocks it out with a large bolt of lightning, also paralyzing the creature. Mr. 3 stops screaming and she drags the two down to Level three with her, through the large door and down that stairs. She seals the door with iron for now, not knowing any other way that would be reversible.
But after they pass she hears the prisoners finally begin to riot, now that the boss was gone. And the attention was drawn to them. She told this to the other two and they smirked happily. But she reminded them that they were still going down. It was mean they would have to pass through that floor again next time. And they seemed to grow sad at this, not wanting to deal with all the craziness of this prison.
As they head downstairs she notices it's getting hotter and her body adapts by cooling her down. She frowns at this and shakes her head. "What's on this floor?" Lucy asks the two who are running behind her.
"It's famine. The prisoners are led to starvation on this floor, and then they begin to shrivel from no food or water, most go crazy down here from the heat stroke. The entrance to level four is pretty easy to spot. As level four is what heats level 3," Mr. 3 explained and she nodded her head. She thought about their ability to help and realized if the heat was too much the candle man would melt. She gritted her teeth. "Also, the Warden's office is in Level 4, Inferno. Magellan is his name. A big guy."
"I see, do you know what he can do?" Lucy asked and both shook their heads. She sighed, she really would rather have some information in a case like this. The end of the staircase was close and she tore down the doors to the entrance of the level. It was much hotter now that the door was gone. She looked across the area and found a wasteland. There was nothing but huts for prisoners. The cells far apart and people were all baking to death in the heat. Her body nearly turned frigid to the touch to try and combat this.
When she entered she smelt something familiar. An old friend. She raced towards the area where she smelt it and came across a cell with a few men in it. Most of them were down of the ground. But the one she had been looking for, someone who had helped her escape Alabasta, was standing in the center, twirling around on his toed.
"Bon Clay!" Lucy shouted excitedly and he stopped his spinning when he saw her, and excitedly greeted her.
"Princess! It's so good to see you, but what are you doing here? Were you captured?" Bon Clay asked in a worried manner and she shook her head and tore the door off, letting him out of his cage. He immediately hugged her, and she tried to pay little attention to the way he smelt. But with her nose it was difficult. She pried him off of her so she could explain. A good man like her would help no doubt, and willingly to. He was someone she could trust, even if he was weird.
"No, I broke in. My big brother is Fire Fist Ace, and I've come to break him out," Lucy explained and Bon Clay's jaw dropped and he began to cry a bit. Thankfully he didn't have his makeup on and so it wasn't running from his crying. She tried her best to make him stop, but that was easier said than done. But she had to stop when guards came up and pointed their guns at all of them. Lucy was about to attack, but someone beat her to it. Bon Clay destroyed them all. He then turned back to her and nodded his head. A fire was burning there.
"I understand, Princess-chan. I will do everything in my power to help you save your brother!" Bon Clay said and then pointed in a direction. "Level 4's entrance is that way, let us hurry now to save your brother!" Lucy nodded her head and the two of them took off down the way, running for the lower circle. As they got closer she noticed all of the others were sweating from the heat and she stopped them. She placed her hand on their necks, one after the other, and made a collar of ice to help cool them down. They thanked her and they continued.
The sound of feet on the floor came through the quiet of this final level of the prison. He hadn't really heard anything since Garp came and then left. Jimbei and he had spoken briefly about this coming war and Ace's pops. But then everything had fallen into silence once more. He had also been falling in and out of sleep since then, though his narcolepsy also had a role to play in that.
The men in other cells began to holler rattling against the cages like wild beasts seeing a grand feast before them. "Hancock," Jimbei said and he heard Crocodile from the other cell across from them yell. Why was some like her here? He looked up and met the eyes of the woman who was proclaimed to be the most beautiful woman in the world. She was staring at him coldly, and her eyes turned to Jimbei as well. She didn't look at the ex-Warlord in the room.
She asked something of the warder and he nodded his head and Hancock approached him. She looked his dead in the eyes and said, "I wanted to look into the eyes of the man who has allowed this war to begin. I have to say…you don't look like much at all right now. You made me have to come here and play guard dog for you. That wasn't nice at all. And Jimbei…I'm surprised by you. Not agreeing to killing pirates for once. It matters not though."
Ace gritted his teeth, this insufferable woman. She may be beautiful, but she was a snake like the rest of her tribe. She looked over her shoulder when the warden began to rampage and then came closer to the cage. "Listen to me, Ace, your sister is here in this prison. She is here to break you out, I left her on the top floor and she will follow your vivre card down. Do not die on my best friend or your sister, for she was already worried sick about you before I brought her," Hancock said and Ace's eyes grew wide. Hancock stepped away from the cage. She nodded her head and then her face was stone again.
"Hancock-dono, that is all the time we can allow you," the warden said as he stopped his rampage. Hancock looked at him down her nose again and sneered.
"I have nothing more to worry about. This disgusting male is right to die…so are all males. I am satisfied," Hancock said and stalked away, her heels clicking as she rejoined her group.
"Wait! Is what you said the truth?" Ace called out to her as she walked away.
"I have no reason to lie to you now. But…she didn't want you to be angry with her," Hancock said and then faced forward again. She rejoined her ground and they all left, disappearing into the darkness soon enough.
"Ace-san…what did that woman say to you?" Jimbei asked him after they had left.
"That my little sister was coming here to save me," Ace said, still in a state of disbelief.
"The Dragon Princess that you told me about? How foolish of her," Jimbei replied, his tone disbelieving. Ace had to agree with the fishman. What was she thinking?
Ace dropped his head to look at the floor. His heart was beating a mile a minute and nothing could calm it down. What did that idiot think she was doing? She never should've come here. If she was arrested here that would be the end of her. She may be alive now, but this was hell. Would she survive here? She wasn't safe, she was in danger so long as she was here. She had to know that.
And she was doing this because of him. And her enemies just weren't the jailors or the warden here. Some of the pirates or criminals here were old enemies of hers that would pounce on the chance of taking her down. He knew that. And one of those enemies was across from his cell, Crocodile. And then most of this men hadn't seen a female in a long time. If any man saw her…Ace boiled on the inside.
"Can we really be sure that Lucy-san is coming?" Jimbei asked and Ace knew it was the truth.
"That's the kind of girl she is…she's always been doing stupid things like this. Since we were kids all she's made me do is worry…about everything she's done and who she'll become," Ace muttered angrily.
Lucy was panting, her whole body shaking with execution. This stupid idiot had gone and gotten himself hurt again. She cursed him and pushed more magic into his body. The poison…wasn't being killed off. She has already taken off all the excess poison, but it was the poison that had leeched into his body that was the problem now.
"Damn it!" Lucy yelled and was trying her hardest to save Bon Clay. He was also freezing, so her body was trying to heat him up, and Buggy and Mr. 3. She had been fighting Magellan, and winning too. Her ability to devour poison and gain strength from it surprising him. Magellan had grown frustrated, and what should've just been a battle between the two of them, had grown in scale.
Magellan had decided to take out the 'weakest links' in their team. Buggy and Mr. 3 at that point had already been thrown down into level 5, not being able to fight against the beasts that had also come after them, or the torture lady Sadi-chan. That had left Bon Clay to fight, who had defeated most of the guards while she fought Magellan. So when they made it past him she wouldn't have to worry.
But Magellan had sent his poison at Bon Clay and then had thrown him down the stairs to level 5. Lucy would not let her allies die though, and had quickly punched Magellan out and had run down the stairs to find the three. They were stuck in the snow, and Lucy had made a fire to try and keep them warm, but that had attracted the wolves. She was able to scare them off though with a single growl.
She wasn't too concerned with Mr. 3 or Buggy, they mainly had bumps and cuts. But if she couldn't heal Bon now…he would die. She didn't want him to die, and not because of her. Because she hadn't anticipated for Magellan to attack someone else, and so close to his own men as well. Magellan had gotten a few of his men as well, but they were carted off for an antidote. But she didn't know how long that would take, she couldn't go herself, and her spirits wouldn't be able to find it, and even if they did it might've been too late.
She would find a way to save him though. The snow crunched beneath someone feet behind her, and she looked over her shoulder. A man in orange and white was standing there. He didn't look like a prisoner. He came up to her and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Do you wish for them to be saved?" He asked her, and she did the only thing she could and nodded her head. "Then follow me, and bring them."
Lucy picked them all up and walked behind the man. She trudged through the snow till they made it to some tunnel and he opened it and allowed her in first, and then closed it behind him and began to lead her again. As they travelled down the tunnel she began to hear music and smelt food. Where were they going?
She was led to an area in the tunnel where there was a single door. And two hallways. One from where they had just come from, and one to the music. "Wait here," the man told her and she growled, not liking being ordered around, especially not in this situation. She placed all her cargo on the ground again and went to Bon again, and began to heal him again, trying to sustain him just a little while longer.
"Vyou may stop, girly, I have come," A man said behind her and she looked to see a male transvestite standing there in the hallway. He had a giant head and big girly hair, and a shiny, almost dominatrix, red…thing on his body. She didn't stop though and he stomped over to her. He tilted his head over Bon and nodded his head. "I can try and save him. But there's a chance it won't save him, and it will cost ten years of his life," Bon said, and Lucy didn't know if she agreed. But it was the only thing she had at the moment.
"Do it," Lucy said and the man nodded and his glove like hands became like needles and were jabbed into Bon's side, and immediately he began to scream. Lucy covered her ears at the sound and then a wave of dizziness hit her and she began to see spots. She was so unskilled with healing magic that trying something so advanced had taken so much from her.
She blacked out, her head hitting the stone floor.
Magellan was awaiting everything in his office. Soon the dragon would be dead and all of her helpers, and the reason for all of this would be transported within the hour to his death. But who'd have thought…his men that had been taken out reported that they overheard Heartfilia's reason for coming here, her connection with the man she was trying to break out. She was the little sister of Fire Fist Ace.
She had been her to save her brother, but there was no one to save her. Magellan had taken down her followers, and no doubt they were freezing to death right now in Level 5. Everything was going back to normal now, all the riots would calm down, and he could continue overlooking his hell.
Lucy awoke to a party going on all around her, and the man she had seen before was dancing on a stage with other men dressed like him. The man she had met before saw her and jumped off stage and came towards her. He motioned for her to follow and she did, wobbling a bit, but finding her footing soon enough to keep up.
She was led back to that same chamber like area from before, and on the other side of the doors she heard the whimpers of pain from Bon Clay. She gritted her teeth and approached the door. "Keep fighting, you have to live," Lucy said and pounded on the door before facing the man. She curtsied to him. "I am Heartfilia Lucy, it's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for helping him," Lucy said and the man just watched her before answering back.
"Vi am Emporio Ivankov, the Emperor of Newkama Island, and the ring leader of this band of escaped prisoners. And Vi have only given him an opportunity to live, the rest is up to him now," Ivankov said. "We have been watching you since you entered this place, and are quite impressed with all your actions. But, you should give up now. Ace-boy is soon to be transported from Level 6, the floor below us, to his convoy."
Lucy narrowed her eyes and reached for the vivre card. It was smaller than ever, and was still pointing down. She still had a chance to stop this before anything happened. She clutched it, and answered back, with all her heart and will, "No, I won't stop here. I will save Ace, and if he is transported to Marine HQ…then I'll follow."
"Are vyou an idiot, just leave the rest up to Whitebeard! He'll look after his own, and if vyou go there what chance do you think vyou'll stand against the forces their? The admirals, vice-admirals, and Shichibukai…vyou won't survive, girly," Ivankov said dismissively and waved her off, a little irritated at her attitude.
"But if I don't go…I'll regret it!" Lucy yelled back, standing firm on her beliefs. Ivankov jumped back at this and looked her over. Ivankov was looking at her, but not looking at her. It was the look in the man's eyes.
"Vyou remind me of vmy leader, The Revolutionary Dragon," Ivankov said and tilted his head and came close. "No one has ever reminded vme of that man before."
"When you share blood with someone that can happen," Lucy said, not wanting to outright say it, but the Revolutionary still heard it, and so did the other transvestites who followed after them and were listening in.
"Vyou are related to Dragon!" Ivankov screamed in shock, falling face first into the ground.
"He's my biological father, but he was never a part of my life," Lucy said dismissively.
"What sea are vyou from?" Ivankov asked and looked her up and down.
"The East Blue," Lucy responded and sighed, she didn't have time for these questions. "Anyway, how do I get down to Level 6 from here? Ace is still there, so I still have a chance."
"Wait a minute! Let vme take this in? Vyou…are Dragon's daughter…The Dragon Princess who utilizes the abilities of a dragon…VI never thought he would have a child," Ivankov said, gaping at her. But then he got himself together. "Vi will lead you to Ace-boy! As vmy friend's daughter Vi am to help vyou in any way possible!"
"Ivankov-sama, there is little time, Lucy-san has been asleep for a long time. And they are to transport him soon," the man from before told Ivankov who nodded his head and then turned to all his people.
"Vwe're breaking out today! Get ready to go. Dragon-girl, let's go save Ace-boy!" Ivankov shouted and she nodded her head. So maybe her father wasn't so bad to be related to. She would get to save Ace with more help with her connection to him.
"Damn it!" Lucy shouted as the lift dropped before they could climb up it. Ace had been taken, and would soon be transported now. They would have to go back up through all the levels to reach him. She punched the floor and ran back to the stairs they had just come down. But a metal fence dropped around them, and then sleeping gas began to pour out. It wasn't a poison necessarily, and she didn't know if she could eat it.
Inazuma, the orange and white man, was able to seal the stairs before the gas effected any of them. And Ivankov had taken out the cameras.
"Let me out…and I'll help you," a man chuckled from the darkness of his cage. And Lucy gasped when she recognized the voice. She narrowed her eyes and growled at him, but Crocodile came forward, chains rattling against his hook. "It's been a while, Heartfilia. But what do you say. I get to see this war, and you get out of here. Not a bad deal at all."
She thought about it. He was powerful, and could help get them out. She didn't sense that he would attack them. But it was difficult to gauge. He had also nearly killed her and the rest of her nakama. He would have if she hadn't stopped him. But her power would potentially take down all of Impel Down while they were still inside. It didn't operate in small doses. And she had her allies to think about.
And Ace.
"If you try anything…I'll drown you," Lucy warned and Ivankov laughed.
"Have mercy on me!" The man from Ace's cage shouted and Lucy turned to him. "Take me with you! I'll help! I've known Ace-san ever since he joined Whitebeard's crew with his brother. I know you're Ace-san's precious little sister who came to save him! He told me all about you, even when he didn't tell anyone else of the crew when he thought you were dead! I was arrested because I objected to this war! I want to save Ace-san too! So please! Let me die for him!"
Lucy was taken aback by this, but could smell his desire to save her brother. She walked over to his cage immediately and tore the door off and threw it away. She then gripped his shackles and began to take them off. When he was undone she offered her hand to him and smiled, "Then let's go save my idiot brother." The fishman grinned and took her hand and she heaved him from the ground. He introduced himself as Jimbei.
She then went and freed Crocodile, glaring at him and handling him roughly. Once they were all out Lucy and they all met back in the center. Crocodile and Jimbei nearly got into a fight right off the start though and she sighed and stepped between them. "I'll take you both down if you don't stop. And lock you right back up." They stopped and nodded their heads.
They went back up to Level 5.5 and Crocodile demanded he be redressed. She would call him something…but she would've done the same if she were in that garb. Stripes didn't look great on her. They gathered their forced and began to move out, following the tunnels to Level 4. The other group would free as many people from Level 5 to the top to ensure their own survival and cause mayhem like no other.
"Jimbei, Crocodile, you two ready for this?" Lucy asked and stretched herself out.
"Of course I am," Jimbei said and stood up. "It's around ten a.m. and the execution is at 3 p.m., we have to get there in time. The war could start any time now that Ace-san is on that ship!"
"Whatever," Crocodile said and cracked his neck and they began to lead the other group. Starting at Level 4. They made their way to the boiling room and Lucy gritted her teeth as some began to sweat.
"I can finally let loose," Lucy said and smirked as the guards lined up. She called upon Gemini, they coming out in her form, and sent them on their mission. She smiled as they disappeared in their normal form, flying away.
Crocodile, Jimbei, and she all got started, destroying the enemies that were before them. "Roar of the Celestial Dragon!" Lucy yelled and roared, snaring all those it caught and throwing them all around, burning their bodies. Crocodile began to use his sand to dry people out, and Jimbei used Fishman Karate better than any she had seen before.
The guards had taken a large blow and the three of them charged and took them out. After they had done that they began to free prisoners left and right. After freeing most of the prisoners on that level they began to make their way to the stairs up to level three. But Jimbei had disappeared to Magellan's office for some reason and had told them to continue on.
Lucy stopped though before she got there. Her stomach churning and she drew the attention of all those working with her to escape. She could feel it. He was here.
"Heartfilia, why did you stop?" Crocodile asked looked at her funny as well.
"Blackbeard is here," Lucy said as the doors of the stairs opened, and Blackbeard appeared. She growled and he looked at her. Everyone was on their guard immediately. Blackbeard began to laugh, and she launched herself at him, her fist snapping his face to the right and sending him flying into a wall. His men came to attack her, but she brushed them into the opposite wall with a large block of water. "You bastard," Lucy growled and Blackbeard got up, but not looking worse for wear at all.
"Ah, the Dragon Princess. This is interesting, I had heard someone had broken in. It was you?" Blackbeard laughed again and she roared. The other dark magic of hers reacting. She could felt it coursing in her. "Funny, you were trying to break him out, when your one of the reasons he got put in here. He was so mad when he learnt my plan to kill you and use you to become a Shichibukai that he lost his head. Funny, cause he's about to lose his!" He began to laugh again she Lucy jumped on top of him and began to beat his face in. But he threw her off of him. "Ah, you really aren't a devil fruit user. And I wanted your powers. I think you better leave now and let me do as I please though. You think the marines will follow through on executing Ace at the given time?"
She gritted her teeth, really wanting to destroy him now. But she risked her other powers that she hadn't gotten a handle on yet getting the better of here. "Lucy-san, we have to go, we don't have any time to waste," Jimbei, having finally come back, told her and she gritted her teeth but understood.
"Fine, I'll let you go for now. But…if my brother dies…I'll hunt you down and kill you myself," Lucy promised and narrowed her eyes at him, and Blackbeard shivered and looked at his hand.
"Your willpower has gotten stronger," he commented as she passed him by, the others racing ahead up the stairs.
"Magellan is coming!" Ivankov yelled as he raced passed and she followed after, knowing she had no time to waste. She raced past right after the rest had crossed, catching up to Jimbei who had been waiting for her. They were racing up when she heard Magellan yelling for her. And she smelt a sudden burst in poison.
They made it up the stairs when a giant poison hydra came after them, most began to freak out. But she calmly devoured the entire thing and they all kept running. Cheering for her, but she just raced to the front after that. He was after her mainly.
She made it up to level two after that, and when everyone had finished climbing up she blocked the gate with iron, blocking Magellan from advancing towards them. She noticed that she could no longer smell the strong scent of poison and then ran off after everyone else. She ran next to Jimbei, and she smiled at him as he stared at her confusedly.
"We have to get one of their ships to be able to sail to Ace-san quickly," Jimbei told her and she nodded her head and looked forward.
After making it up the last flight of stairs and freeing more prisoners they came to the doors of Impel Down, upon which she threw them open and they all stepped into the light. Except one problem came into place. There were no ships for them to steal. The prisoners fell into despair over this, falling to their knees. But Lucy narrowed her eyes over the sea.
"No, they moved the ships. They're farther off, but I can see them. We'll have to take a small group to take down all the ship but one, and then take that ship and bring it back here to load up on," Lucy said and everyone nodded their heads. Lucy brought out a key and summoned one of her spirits. "Open! Gate of the Sea Monster! Cetus!" The large sea monster appeared and all the inmates screamed. He lowered his massive head down to her and she hugged his snout.
"Hello, Princess. I'll be happy to help. All those to take a ship climb on," Cetus said and Lucy was carried on his head. Ivankov, Bon Clay, Izanami, Crocodile, Daz, and Jimbei all jumped on his back and they sped off. Jimbei climbed onto the head with her. They were speeding towards the ships, Cetus dodging the cannons they threw at them.
When they were close enough Cetus put on one last burst and collided with one of this ships, and they all spilt onto it. Cetus then destroyed the ship next to them. The others and Lucy made quick work of the crew on board, and Lucy told them to go back to Impel down and get their 'soldiers' and come back. She and Cetus would hold off any pursuers and then catch up. They did as she asked and went back.
Lucy took out ship after ship, this going on for a good twenty minutes, before the group on the ship finally departed from Impel Down, and were making their way far from this place. Once they were getting farther away from where she was, she finally stopped and dismissed Cetus. Jumping into the sea, though she heard Jimbei yell for her not to, along with the others.
She swam though, using her magic to swim, close to a mermaid's speed, after the ship. She then jumped up on deck just as she watched Jimbei about to jump in after her. They all stared at her and she smiled, flipping her hair over her shoulder and then placing her hands on her hip. "What? Think only fishmen and mermen could ever swim that fast? Sorry, you got a Dragon here who can swim like that too," Lucy said and confidently straightened her back and stuck her hip out to the right.
She regretted this when she got men calling out to her about her. Practically salivating with hearts in their eyes. She shook her head and approached the group. "Ne, Princess-chan…how are we going to open the gate?" Bon Clay asked and everyone else began to freak out. She sighed and shook her head.
"Calm down, all of you. Do you actually think I don't have that covered already? The gates will open for us," Lucy said and grinned. "I sent Gemini to copy Magellan. Gemini will get us access to the Gate and current. Now, all hands to cannons and stations. We have to get this girl to Marineford as quickly as possible!"
Everyone went where they had to be, though it really was a mess. People running into each other as they went to follow her orders. On the other hand Jimbei calmly went to the wheel and directed them to the door.
Lucy and the others who had taken the ship dealt with making sure the ship wasn't hit. They worked till they got to the door. And she knew they thought they were trapped, that the door would never open for them. But with one thought to Gemini and they were peeling themselves open for her and the others to get through.
The whole crew cheered and she laughed. Hanging on the rigging as she watched the door open. She laughed into the wind, a little madly too, and then sent another cannonball right back at the marines. As they were passing through the gates, they then began to close. No one would be able to chase after them this way.
After they began to close the whole ship sighed in relief and a shimmer of light appeared next to her. And Magellan appeared next to her. "Eh?! Magellan?" They whole crew screamed in fear and she laughed.
"I told you, I had Gemini take his shape to take care of the gate," Lucy said and waved them all off as Magellan appeared and Gemini appeared in their original form again. They floated around the crew and landed on Jimbei's shoulders.
"Ah, it was fun to make fun of him," the twins said, trading off every other word as they did so. They began to laugh and giggle after that. Everyone came up to the twins and began to touch them, Bon Clay was especially interested in them. They had almost the same powers, but Gemini had a little more versatility with their transformations.
The gates close fully and they were sailing on the waters, Ivankov taking over for Jimbei. Lucy went over to the side of the ship and collapsed down to her butt. Bringing her legs up and bending them. She rubbed a hand over her face and checked the time.
Four hours till the execution.
She leaned her head back and looked to the sky. So much had happened lately, it seemed too much for such a seemingly short amount of time. And she didn't know how the rest of this war would go.
War? She never thought she'd be a part of one. It was such a big word for just three letters as well. Such might and terror could be wrought through a being with just that one war. People tried their hardest to remain out of them. But here she was going into one. "When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "'Come.' And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him," Lucy quoted the bible. It was true. She would be a part of death today, and slaughter. "And the swords have already been raised, cleaving life from one opponent to the next…but for my brother, I will do the same. Nor will I regret it if it comes to that."
"I see you are resolved, Lucy-san," Jimbei said and sat down next to her as they watched the others prepare for battle, and others threw parties of their freedom.
"No way will I allow myself to falter, this is my brother," Lucy said and nodded her head as she looked at him. Jimbei was smiling down at her, and nodded his head. He then lifted his massive hand and ruffled her hair. "Hey!" She pushed his hand away and began to straighten her hair out, sticking her tongue out at Jimbei.
"Jimbei! You lucky bastard! To be so casual with Lucy-sama!" Some of the prisoners, those who had been drooling like dogs every time she passed, screamed.
"Don't get any ideas, like I would allow any of you near Ace-san's little sister while he's not here," Jimbei yelled and glared at all of them and Lucy groaned.
"Not you too!" Lucy dropped to her side, laying down and then propping herself on her elbow to look up to the fishman who was staring at her. "How am I ever going to get a boyfriend with such overprotective men around me? Not that I'm interested in any of them, but still! What happens when I do find a guy? I need to have a strict talk with my brothers."
"They just don't want anyone unworthy to get any ideas," Jimbei said and nodded his head. He then picked something from his back that had been dangling by his neck. She had noticed it but hadn't thought anything of it. But now she knew what it was. It was Ace's hat. She sat up immediately as Jimbei handed it to her. "It's precious to him. Look on the back side of the emblem, and open it."
She caressed the skeletal form on it and then flipped it over. She noticed a small latch and did as she was asked. It popped open nicely. Inside was a picture of her giving Ace the puppy eyes over food. She had wanted his. And at first he had tried to resist, but Makino had taught her how to do those eyes to use on Shanks when she wanted something. Shanks had been better at resisting them than Ace.
She giggled and caressed the photo lovingly. She clutched it to her chest. "Thank you, Jimbei. This means a lot to me."
"You mean a lot to Ace-san," Jimbei told her and she nodded her head. He then bowed his head to her and she froze. "Lucy-san, thank you for giving me this chance to save Ace-san. I'm indebted to you."
Lucy forced him up from his bow and slapped him on the shoulder in a friendly manner. She smiled and placed the orange hat on her head. "You don't need thank me. Nor are you indebted to me. I'm happy you're here, and I'm glad my brother has such a good friend. And at this point I hope I can say you're my fried too, Jimbei."
"I'm happy you feel that way…but it wasn't the only thing I was thanking you for. But we can talk about that another time, Lucy-san," Jimbei said and she tilted her head. She took a deep breath in and smelt guilt.
She flicked him on the forehead and he looked up confusedly at her. She smiled and pinched his cheeks lightly. "No need to feel guilty, you're a good man who I trust. Whatever you want to talk to me about later…don't think about it till then, okay? Besides I don't think anything could break our bond now. We're fighting in a war together."
Jimbei smiled and nodded his head. "Ah, for now I'll let it go," he said and they turned and faced forward again. They were both taking time to relax and rest themselves when the Den Den Mushi began to ring. Lucy got up and looked it over, everyone gathering as she approached it. Should she answer it or not?
It may help them if she did, and most likely someone knew a ship had been stolen. So what was the real harm in answering? She took the receiver off the shell and answered. "This is Marine HQ, we know this ship has been taken by the escapees of Impel Down. And that the one behind this incident is: Dragon Princess Heartfilia Lucy. We also know that Buggy the Clown is on the ship, the crewmate of the Pirate King and brother like figure to Red Haired Shanks," The man on the other end said. Lucy covered her mouth to stop from laughing. Buggy was not enjoying this, nor did he want to be connected to his past.
"We also know Jimbei, Crocodile, Ivankov, and over two hundred other escapees are on that ship. But…you will never leave that current, as the Gates will not open for you. Resign yourselves to the fact that you cannot escape," the man said and Lucy felt her eyebrow twitch.
"Marine…listen to me carefully," Lucy whispered in her most sultry voice, low and breathy. "I'm going to reach Marineford, and I will save Ace…and if you get in the way of that…I'll slaughter you without blinking. That's a promise you can hold me too. So watch yourselves when I arrive." Lucy then slammed the receiver down and ended the call.
When she turned back most of the men, besides some of Ivan's, all had nosebleeds and hearts in their eyes.
As they are riding longer and longer, getting closer to their destination there is another call form the Den Den Mushi. Lucy goes to pick it up again, and a scream comes out from it. "Remember, when a chance is given, or if it seems like Whitebeard is about to win, Kill Fire Fist Ace before the set time! We must win, no matter the cost." The line goes dead.
Lucy's eyes widened and a startled sound fell from her mouth.
They were running out of time.
So that's the end of that chapter! I hope you all are ready for the war next time! I'm not sure if it's going to be one or two chapters. I might make it two. Because it's so EPIC!
Please Review!
~Stay Free