I clearly have a penchant for jumping into more things than I probably should, but this time I can't even pretend to be sorry about it. I've decided to create an One Piece Fanzine. I would really appreciate it if you guys took a look at the zine's tumblr blog (romancedawn-zine dot tumblr dot com) and, if you're interested, either as a contributor or reader, filled our a href="interest check for the zine (docs dot google dot com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3Td1IOgkFU2v1raHBhIjtsE6Sq7zVj4H24RdN5tfNQwJl9w/viewform)
That being said, here is the newest chapter for this fic :D
The Freezing Hell, Part I
Leaving level six had been anticlimactically easy. Pops had disabled the level's security systems before coming to the cell area to retrieve Ace and Jinbe, and so nothing stopped them from reaching the stairs that led up into level five. They had chosen to bypass the elevator connecting levels six and four, aware that they would be more vulnerable while they were in it. Besides, Pops had said they had something to do up in level five.
Ace had a very good idea of what the plan might be, and he approved of anything that would create a bigger mess for the World Government to clean up.
Pops halted halfway through the spiraling staircase and gestured for the rest of them to stop as well.
"Looks like we have company."
Ace looked up ahead. He didn't see anything, which meant whatever foes Pops had sensed were beyond the massive gates that led into level five.
"Good," Luffy grinned, and he clapped palm to fist before his chest in a challenging gesture.
Ace glanced at him, then up at Pops with a grin of his own.
"Mind if we take care of it?"
Pops chuckled.
"Go ahead. Rayleigh and I will stand back and watch."
Ace looked to his other side, where Jinbe nodded at him grimly. Ace wasn't the only one who wanted to get back at the guards for their shitty treatment of them.
Looking around Luffy, Ace caught Marco's eye.
"Hope you can fight," Ace threw at him with a smirk.
Marco gave him the most unimpressed arched eyebrow Ace had ever seen.
"I'm not the one weakened here."
Ace barked out a laugh.
"Let's go."
They started walking again.
Rayleigh moved ahead of them to open the closed gates.
If Jinbe, Ace, Luffy, and Marco fell into a single line and managed to walk mostly in sync through the final stretch of steps, well, there was nothing saying they couldn't make an intimidating entrance.
Meanwhile, Pops fell back to stand still right before the gates came into sight, where he wouldn't be easily spotted by whoever waited behind them but could still watch. He was grinning, looking rather proud and pleased.
Rayleigh was hidden by one of the gates as they opened, clearing the view into a vast expanse of frozen wasteland crawling with guards whose weapons were aimed at the gates.
More than one guard paled upon noticing who was walking in, and Ace grinned fiercely at them.
"Hey there."
The guards opened fire.
Ace rushed forward, letting the bullets pass harmlessly through his fire. A fire he was still thrilled to be able to sense and summon again. He had never imagined he would miss it so much until his connection to his devil fruit powers had been cut off for hours and it had finally sank in that it would most likely never come back again. He was relieved to have been wrong.
Next to him, Jinbe dodged and returned fire with deadly precise drops of water, each downing at least one guard.
Luffy was jumping around the room at an impressive speed. The few bullets that hit him bounced off harmlessly, and he was punching and kicking guards as he moved with an ease that surprised Ace. His little brother had really gotten stronger since their last meeting, it would seem.
A bright flash of light caught his attention, and Ace turned to see Marco, spots on his torso covered in blue fire, kicking the guards around and jumping all over the room more than Ace himself could manage.
A blue fire logia?
Now that was interesting. Was that the reason Luffy and Pops thought a fight between them would be good? Would a fight against Marco be a repeat of Ace's confrontation with that marine captain back in Alabasta?
This could be fun.
