Chapter Three: Again
"Why do we need to get out of the ship again?" Luffy asked, bored. His feet kept kicking a stone as they walked.
"Because the coating mechanic can't work properly with people on board. Don't worry, it will only be for an hour." Sabo replied patiently. "Haven't I already explained this to you?"
Luffy snickered. "I forgot."
They arrived at Risky Red Island after six days of travel. It's one of the first three islands being pointed by the Log Pose upon entering the New World. The island offers ship coating to go back to Paradise, instead of crossing the Red Line through the port controlled by the Marines. This island was tamer compared to what lies ahead in the New World.
Sabo and Luffy were wandering on their own in the middle size town. Koala insisted that they should spend some time with each other. It was a beautiful sunny day. The flea market was buzzing with people early in the morning. Each stand was offering artisan and food products. The buzzing of people didn't stop as they bargained for their goods.
Heightening his senses, Sabo was as cautious as he could be. In his experience, one can never be at ease when your job is literally to overthrow the government. There's also Luffy he needed to make sure to not cause any trouble. He was a world-renowned pirate now and people ought to recognize him. For a supposed disguise, he let Luffy wear sunglasses and floral polo that matched his straw hat, looking like a tourist.
"I'm surprised you agreed to take a stroll with me," Sabo said as their eyes met.
"I realized it can't be helped. And besides, there are still thousands of islands for me to explore with my crew." Luffy beamed, clenching his fists. In the few days, Sabo had known the pirate, one of his best qualities was his optimism that never seemed to falter.
"Risky Red is a pretty boring town if you ask me," Sabo commented.
"Yeah, I'm sure there's—" Luffy stopped midway. His eyes grew large upon seeing a food stand. He grabbed Sabo's hands and directed him in its direction. "Look, Sabo, ramen!"
Sabo was dragged towards the stand by an eager Luffy who's always famished. It seemed like the shop just opened for the day and the brothers were the first customers. The old cook was delighted when they ordered five bowls each. They took their seats in the booth, watching as their order was being made in front of them.
"I remember this one time Ace took us to eat ramen. Ramen is your favorite!" Luffy babbled as his feet jiggled.
"Ramen is my favorite?" Sabo raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, it's not anymore?" Luffy asked, not hiding his dismay with a pout. "What is it then?"
"I…" Sabo mumbled, unsure of what to answer since no one had asked him about that before. "I do enjoy drinking tea and eating biscuits in my spare time."
Luffy giggled. "I'll let you have Sanji's tea. He makes them really good and it makes me sleepy."
The first bowl was served to them in under five minutes. Without missing a beat, Luffy inhaled the whole thing. The cook was surprised, laughing in delight. He immediately turned to make more for them. As the cook and Luffy talked, Sabo had a slower approach. Being a revolutionary, it was unusual for him to indulge in gourmet meals. He made sure to savor the experience and this was deemed to be a nice break.
"Do you like it?" Luffy inquired, halting his eating just to check him out.
"Yeah, I can see now why it used to be my favorite."
Giving him a toothy grin, Luffy went back to slurping. They ate quickly as they were expected to be back in under thirty minutes. Once done, Luffy thanked the cook. He was about to leave until Sabo stopped him. Sabo kept forgetting that Luffy was a pirate through and through. Not paying for food was to be expected. Sabo paid for all of it and gave an extra tip.
They started walking back to where their ship was docked. They made sure it was well hidden this time, not wanting to raise any unwanted suspicion now that they were closer to the marine headquarters. Luffy kept on babbling about how he wanted Sabo to meet his crew. It would be a while before that and Sabo found himself looking forward to it.
"There you are," Koala greeted, arms crossing over her chest. She was standing on the deck, waiting for their arrival. "No problems this time?"
"None at all, milady," Sabo replied with a smile.
"Shocking." Koala rolled her eyes.
"There's still no news of Whitebeard's whereabouts, even our informants are clueless," Hack announced as he folded the newspaper.
"That only means he's planning something big," Sabo replied, snapping his fingers.
"The whole boat is really inside of a bubble!" Luffy exclaimed in awe. "How would we go inside? It might pop!"
"It will withstand. Step in." Koala offered her hand to the pirate.
Luffy extended his arms, accepting Koala's offer. Luffy wrapped his other arm around Sabo. Before Sabo could voice out any thoughts, they went on flying, entering the coated ship. Sabo lost his balance and landed on the floor, face first. Luffy landed perfectly.
"Sorry!" Luffy laughed apologetically.
Koala snickered, covering her lips with her hand. "Aww, Sabo-kun didn't see that one coming."
"Anything that involves me failing is funny to you," Sabo grumbled, standing up and maintaining his composure. He rearranged his top hat.
"That's because you're too serious these days. Loosen up." Koala rebutted back.
"You're the one who's always saying that I'm childish," Sabo replied. He knew Koala was just looking after him as this week has been hellish, to say the least.
"Maybe not that childish," Koala shrugged with a smile. "Have you met Luffy?"
"But that's not a bad thing." Luffy scowled.
"Your silliness has been most charming. Don't worry about it." Sabo smiled at him.
"Children," Hack cleared his throat. "Are we ready to go?"
"Yes," Sabo sighed deeply, not appreciating the sentiment.
On cue, the fishman was next to the valve, opening it. Air started flowing inside the bubble, covering it and giving them breathable oxygen. Sabo and his colleagues were used to this procedure after traveling across the world for years. Their boat started descending downwards in a slow manner.
"Woah…" Luffy breathed, looking all around his surroundings with wide curious eyes.
Sabo had to agree with Koala about Luffy's childishness. He was childish in a way that he was excited about discovering new things. It's a charming trait he has that made him endearing. It was hard to believe that the seventeen-year-old was a pirate captain at that moment. Sabo had forgotten that feeling long ago but Luffy was there to remind him.
A thousand meters down, the sunlight was only a soft hue, barely emitting. From time to time, a school of fishes would swim across their ship. A sight to behold especially their illuminating colors. The temperature dropped fast and Sabo was glad he was wearing a coat. It was colder than he had last remembered it to be.
The two of them remained alone on the deck. Luffy was silent now, a smile still plastered on his lips. He was more focused on enjoying the view. Sabo also found tranquility deep within. The deep sea held many secrets and many more stories to be told. Here, Sabo could forget all his worries and just exist.
"Luffy?" Sabo called upon noticing that the pirate was only wearing a vest and shorts. "Aren't you cold?"
Luffy blinked. Right after, he shivered, hands rubbing his shoulders. "You're right. It's very cold!"
"Let's get inside the cabin?" Sabo offered, laughing.
"No, thanks. I think I can manage." Luffy wiped his nose. "Ne, are we going to Fishman Island?"
"No, we're going straight to Sabaody."
"Good. I think I'd like to experience it with my crew for the first time." Luffy's smile mellowed.
"I'm sure you'd love the place," Sabo said. "There's this one time Koala and I were on our way there. We almost got eaten by a Sea King but the journey was well worth it."
"Eaten by a Sea King?" Luffy perked up, always ready to hear about stories. "Tell me more!"
And Sabo relayed the tale. Deep down the ocean, two brothers would go on back and forth telling each other about their adventures, wanting to ease their anxieties.
The calm before the storm.
Sabaody Archipelago was a beautiful area with a very dark background. The place was packed full of people from everywhere. It's the last place one would dock in if one were to travel across the New World. Whether it's marines, pirates, bounty hunters, or slavers alike, they all meant trouble. No other place in the world has that kind of diversity. The marine headquarters was also close to the place. Even Celestial Dragons from time to time would roam the islands freely.
In short, it's one of the worst places to be if your job was to rebel against the World Government.
Just before sunset, they managed to dock in Grove 13, a supposed lawless area. Sabo was still fascinated by the uniqueness of the yurukiman mangrove. The forming bubbles that rise and pop up make the place look more innocent. It's been a while since he was last here in this place. It was a beautiful location with a very dark background.
"Our rendezvous with Karasu-san would be thirty minutes from now." Koala reminded him. "Everything is still going smoothly as planned."
"Half an hour?" Luffy echoed, looking over at Sabo. "That's still enough time to look. I have to know if my crew is here!"
Sabo and Koala glanced at each other. It was obvious from Koala's expression that she didn't want to let Luffy go. They already made it this far and one screw-up will end it. The revolutionaries avoided this place for reasons and sightseeing was out of the question.
"Alright," Sabo agreed, much to Koala's exasperation. "Ten minutes of adventures, in and out."
"Yosh!" Luffy expressed in a determined expression.
But before they could leave, Sabo was frozen in place. His eyes quickly darted to the shore, sensing a great danger approaching. He cursed himself mentally for not noticing it immediately. His hands immediately reached for his pipe, pointing it at the man below. The presence was even stronger than Dragon's though it didn't pose them any harm.
"My, Luffy, you're still looking lively," The old man commented with a chuckle.
"Rayleigh!" Luffy yelled, jumping out of the ship to meet face to face with him. Sabo soon followed, being the one keeping him out of trouble. The remaining revolutionaries were still on board though watching the reunion unfold.
"Sabo, this is Rayleigh. Our coating mechanic!" Luffy introduced him proudly. "Rayleigh, this is Sabo, my brother!"
"Coating mechanic?" Sabo sputtered, perplexed by the revelation. "He's the right-hand man of the Pirate King!"
"I know but he's retired anyway, so coating mechanic, it is!"
Rayleigh boomed in laughter, entertained by the youth. "Well, I couldn't argue with that logic."
Sabo could only wonder how Luffy came to be in talking terms with the legendary pirate. The Dark King was out of the public for more than two decades. Luffy can be terrifying when it comes to forming connections easily with influential persons.
Sabo glanced back at his colleagues. They all shared a look of worry. As the saying in their base goes, pirates and revolutionaries rarely work well. Especially a pirate as strong as he was. Sabo knew he was no match with the Dark King and it would be equal to suicide. One wrong move could cause their entire team.
"Is anyone back here yet?" Luffy asked, straight to the issue.
"I'm afraid that you're the first one here. I didn't even expect you to be back so soon," Rayleigh said.
"None of them, huh…" Luffy breathed heavily, lowering his head.
"Luffy here got involved with Kizaru and Kuma helped them escape," Rayleigh explained, looking at Sabo. "He told me that he's part of your organization and that he sent Luffy to your base because of his connection with Dragon."
Sabo's eyebrows furrowed together, wary about such information being shared. He wanted to believe that Kuma meant no harm but revealing himself to the retired pirate was still too much.
"I meant you no harm," Rayleigh reassured, noticing his expression. "I have a proposal to make with Luffy but seeing that you're busy, let's just talk another time."
"And what business does the Dark King have with a pirate upstart, may I ask?" Sabo asked in a polite tone, visibly relaxing.
"He is just an interesting fellow," Rayleigh smiled genuinely.
"Me and Sabo are gonna save Ace in Impel Down. If anyone arrives, please tell them that I'll be back soon," Luffy pleaded.
"Raiding Impel Down? You're getting yourself into more trouble than the last time I saw you." Rayleigh chuckled in amusement.
"They're gonna execute Ace! He's my brother and I won't let anything stop me."
Rayleigh put a hand on Luffy's shoulder. "Just be careful out there. There's still so much for you to do."
"I will," Luffy nodded determinedly.
"I'll be on my way then." Rayleigh walked away towards the sunset, waving his right hand.
Once the old pirate was out of sight, the revolutionaries all heaved a sigh of relief.
"That was interesting, to say the least…" Delvin muttered.
"Just what kind of people do you interact with, Luffy?" Koala asked in exasperation.
"It could be worse." Hack shrugged, stroking his mustache.
"Rayleigh's really nice. He saved us many times," Luffy commented, chuckling. His eyes were still twinkling with admiration. "So where to next?"
"You're late," Karasu said upon seeing them in the distance.
"Apologies, we ran into someone. But don't worry about it." Sabo elucidated calmly.
They went to Grove 16, which was still part of the lawless area. Sabo made sure Luffy wouldn't run away by holding his hands. Luffy was alerted, eyes darting left to right, looking for any sign of his crew. There was nothing Sabo could do but hold Luffy's hand tighter, wanting to reassure him that everything would be alright. He already had enough on his plate with his brother's execution and the crew's separation.
Karasu was the commander of the North Army. Since he was the only one available at the moment, he and his group were tasked by Dragon to help with their mission. Karasu's arms were crossed across his chest, eying them with a serious expression. Sabo's face was neutral as they stared at each other.
"Before everything, I would like to congratulate you on your promotion, Sabo," Karasu said in a genuine tone. He may be wearing a mask but Sabo was certain the man was smiling underneath it.
"Who's late now?" Sabo taunted. "Has it really been that long since we last saw each other?"
"Six months and the last time we met, you are still the bold lad who liked to challenge Dragon to a fight," Karasu deadpanned.
Koala chuckled, "Nothing has changed except that he doesn't have time to spar with Dragon-san with all the work being thrown at him."
"So this is Crowie, huh?" Luffy exclaimed. "He looks exactly what I imagined him to be!"
Sabo leered, liking Karasu's confusion. "Luffy, this is Karasu. He will help us get to Impel Down."
"So it is true," Karasu said, looking over at the pirate and taking in his appearance. "He is Dragon's son."
Sabo nodded. He instantly heard the other revolutionaries from Karasu's group murmuring. The rumor mill has reached even the farthest of land after all.
"And your brother," Karasu added in monotone. "Why is that? Did Dragon finally give in and sign the papers?"
Sabo scoffed, rolling his eyes. "No, it's a coincidence really. Luffy's saying that we're just sworn brothers."
"Yup, we shared sake when we were kids! Ace is our brother, too." Luffy grinned.
"I do hope Dragon-san is not mixing family with his job."
Hack shook his head. "Portgas D. Ace's execution is the catalyst of the upcoming war. The best way to prevent such a catastrophe is to rescue him."
"You are right and I want to make it clear that I never doubted Dragon's decisions," Karasu explained. "Let's get to business, shall we?"
Karasu led them, boarding the Marine warship his group had seized. Sabo's eyes darted, inspecting every corner. It looked decent and had no signs of being tampered with. He was sure Karasu already checked everything but he was never at ease.
"When are we expected to leave?" Delvin asked.
"This warship has an ETA an hour from now. We successfully seized it with ease and disposed of everyone on board." Karasu elucidated.
"An hour? That's too soon," Koala reacted, eyebrows burrowing.
"You will be able to use the Gates of Justice. We also have the code ready," Karasu briefed the group, tapping his feet. "Delvin is the one who will impersonate Commodore Stanford, the one in charge of this ship. The personnel on Impel Down are well aware of your arrival. Half of my men will come with you."
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Luffy yelled, fired up for the mission and it's giving Sabo all the wrong feelings.
"And what are you planning to do after this?" Sabo inquired calmly.
"That is between Dragon and I. Do not worry about it. I am still your backup." Karasu replied.
"Chief, here's your disguise." Someone from Karasu's group handed him the marine uniform. Most of Karasu's men would accompany them in their mission, consisting of fifty men.
Sabo accepted it. He was used to wearing this disguise by now though he hated seeing himself in it. The uniform simply didn't suit him. Luffy, as always, was giggling as he put on the button-up shirt.
"How do I look?" Luffy asked, circling and showing off his looks.
Sabo smiled in a mellow way. "I still prefer the vest."
"Me too," Luffy agreed, finishing buttoning. "You're not you without the cravat."
"Sabo," Hack called, sounding sincere. He crossed his arms, staring at him. "Be careful out there."
"When did I never?" Sabo smirked, joking.
"Want me to remind you of all the times you didn't?" Koala deadpanned as she emerged now fully clothed with the marine uniform.
"You're not coming…?" Luffy frowned, blinking.
"Have you ever seen a fishman in the ranks of the Marines?" Hack said in amusement with a lone chuckle.
"Nope."
Hack grinned. "Exactly."
"We shall depart," Sabo announced and everyone looked at him.
"As you wish, Chief," Karasu said.
Sabo nodded firmly, maintaining his composure. He admired Karasu ever since he first joined the army. He was a man of caliber and his mere presence was enough to petrify his enemies. It still didn't sit right with Sabo that the man he idolized, was looking up to him for his guidance. It intimidated him but he trusted himself and his subordinates to make this mission successful.
This was the first major mission Dragon had entrusted to him. Sabo was a young man but his age was not a consideration for him to become a second-in-command. He will make sure that he won't disappoint anyone who believes in his abilities.
"Permission granted. The gates shall open immediately. Please follow the command."
Sabo let out a sigh of relief hearing those words from the other side of the den den mushi. He glanced over at his subordinates who also looked more visibly relaxed than ever. The code they'd used had been old but it still apparently worked. It's one of the biggest risks in their mission and it signaled the start of their grueling rescue.
For all of them, it was the first time seeing the Gates of Justice. It was larger than Sabo had imagined with the symbol of the World Government in the middle. Once beyond the gate, they're basically dead men. Their vessel passed with ease, carried by the tarai current to their destination.
"How long till we get there?" Luffy inquired.
"Approximately thirty minutes if all goes to plan," Delvin replied while steering the ship. His looks were way different now, matching the marine he was disguised as.
"By the way, Luffy." Koala looked at him nervously. "Do you know how to act as a marine?"
"Yup!" Luffy responded energetically, much to Koala's delight. "There's this one time our crew got inside a marine base by accident."
"How do you even get inside a base by accident?" Sabo deadpanned, humoring him.
"Well, after falling down from sky island, we just ended up there! I had lots of fun though. I've got to eat as many meals as I can with no restrictions." Luffy giggled as he laid the story.
"How lucky of you." Delvin snorted.
"I'm pretty sure Gramps will be happy if he learned I've got to be a Marine even just for a day." Luffy snickered.
"Gramps? Wait, is he a marine?" Koala questioned, taken aback.
"Yeah, he'd tried forcing us to be marines but that obviously didn't work."
"Who is it?" Sabo's curiosity got the better of him.
"Garp. We had a reunion like two months ago on Water Seven. That's where he told me 'bout my Dad." Luffy explained nonchalantly.
"Garp? As in the Marine Hero Garp?" Koala blurted out, gasping.
"He's your grandfather?" Sabo repeated in disbelief, flinching.
Sabo looked at his subordinates, all having one thought in mind. He had met Garp before but not properly. The old marine was roaring in laughter, throwing cannonballs at their ship as they escaped with an inch of their lives. Garp was scary and crazily strong for someone his age. He was considered the nemesis of the Pirate King for a reason.
"Is he your paternal grandfather?" Sabo queried as he crossed his hands over his chest.
"How many times would you ask me that?" Luffy said in annoyance.
"I mean, is he Dragon's father?" Sabo continued, eyes twitching.
"Duh, obviously. That's how it works!"
Sabo wondered how exactly a respected Marine raised his son to be the most wanted man alive. Sabo always had suspicions that Dragon may have been a former marine or connected with someone in their ranks because he knew their exact moves. That hunch turned out to be correct. Dragon and Garp being related was something he would never figure out on his own. The two seemed to be nothing alike, personality-wise.
"Alright, I'm done here. Information overload. Need some alone time." Koala walked away, muttering to herself. "Your family is the most complicated thing I've ever heard of. No wonder you two turned out like that!"
"I took offense at that!" Sabo grumbled with a scoff.
"You broke her," Delvin chuckled. "We're learning more about our leader in a week than we ever did since the start of the revolution."
Sabo breathed out, reaching to rub his temple. "Does his personal history matter? Everyone in the army has a secret to hide but we still stick together. All that is important is the heart to change things for the better."
"I know, but hearing that his father is a… It's just a shock." Delvin mumbled before shrugging off. "Koala is right. Your family is a weird one, Chief."
"What exactly did I get myself into?" Sabo sighed heavily.
"Am I not supposed to say that? Oops." Luffy giggled.
"It's fine. Anyway, we must review the plan. Make sure to listen carefully."
"You've already done that a hundred times."
"I know but I've heard you have a history of violence. We don't need that for our mission," Sabo elucidated calmly.
"Well, people have a history of hurting my friends and pissing me off." Luffy scowled.
"Oh, I do understand that sentiment…" Sabo commented, chuckling.
The two spent the remaining time talking. Sabo only got halfway through the plan of action till he stopped listening altogether, distracted by other things. It was a new record for him to last that long.
And there on the horizon, Sabo saw the great underwater prison, Impel Down. If there was hell in this world, this place was definitely it. A gaol that's supposed to be inescapable and they were the only people brave enough to break in. But Sabo knew that it was escapable. Years ago, Morley, the commander of the West Army, successfully got out alive and lived to tell the tale. Most of the information they got about the prison was from him and the current resident, Ivankov. Sabo had everything memorized down to each personnel. He would make sure their mission will not fail.
He could sense hundreds of sea kings circling their ship as they made their way. There was an abundance of marine ships docked outside, something Sabo took into consideration. It could turn out to be a full-blown sea battle later on.
"Here goes nothing…" Koala breathed heavily.
"Now, don't jinx us. A little optimism is what we need here," Sabo reminded in a neutral tone.
"Tell that to the guy next to you." Koala pointed out Luffy whose eyes were wide open, admiring the build in front of them. He was too enthusiastic for their liking. "He's got too much of that and it doesn't comfort me at all."
"Everything will be fine."
"Famous last words."
Sabo flashed her a smirk.
Ever since he turned thirteen, Sabo had been involved in hundreds of espionage and rescue missions. He accumulated experience over the years that made him more advanced than his peers. It's the reason why he was appointed as the chief of staff at such a tender age of twenty.
And yet, there he was feeling nervous about what is to come. He appeared stoic on the outside but there's still some sort of panic. The dread of thinking that he might die was only growing stronger by the minute. Anxiety seemed to never leave his side especially now that they were to infiltrate a prison that was meant to be impenetrable.
Sabo was just a human after all. These emotions and thoughts were normal but he can't possibly falter now. As their leader, his responsibility was to encourage his men and fight till the end. That was what fuels him to move forward.
Still, there's a lingering question in his mind. Why were the Marines willing to wage war with Whitebeard and upset the balance of the world? The Marines were exhausting all their might for the upcoming war. But what exactly is their purpose? Why were they doing this now after all these years?
Was there more to Portgas D. Ace than he initially had thought?
Sabo shook away all the musings. There's no room for distractions and he needed to focus on the mission. He would have all the answers later once this was over.
After they docked next to the line of marine ships, it was time for them to go inside and report to the jailers. Twenty men will go and with Delvin being the one disguised as a Marine captain. They left the ship and made their way towards the huge wooden door.
Sabo and Luffy were in the back of the troop. It was Sabo's job to keep an eye on the pirate since he has proven himself to not be trusted when it comes to concealment.
The doors opened for them and with heavy footsteps, they stepped in. The atmosphere inside immediately changed. Sabo felt coldness as chills went down his spine. Dark stone walls were laid upon the long hallway. The light was barely emitting and Sabo's eyes needed some time to adjust. He could hear low whimpering sounds and occasional screams of mercy. It was exactly what Sabo had expected.
There Sabo immediately recognized Hannyabal, the vice warden of Impel Down. He was waiting for their arrival. Two guards were beside him. The man seemed to have a bored face. From what Sabo had read from the reports, he seemed to have a laid-back personality.
"Greetings, Commodore Stanford. You are right on time," Hannyabal greeted him in a bored tone. "I'm afraid Warden Magellan is not here. He's on his bathroom break. Don't you agree that it's much better if I was the Ward—?"
Laughter erupted in Luffy's mouth, making Hannyabal stop and glare at the supposed marine officer. To make him stop, Sabo stepped on Luffy's foot, making him react loudly.
"Shh," Sabo reminded, eyebrows furrowed together. Of course, it would take Luffy under five minutes to ruin the plan they spent making for the past week. Luffy immediately stopped, eyes darting sideways, trying to appear innocent.
"You!" Hannyabal pointed at him, blood boiling in anger. "And what is it that you find funny?"
"He just finds the whole place overwhelming. Do not bother about it. He's not worth the time. Let me deal with him later on." Commodore Stanford– Delvin said sternly.
"But—"
"I believe we are behind schedule, Vice Warden," Delvin said in a tone with no arguments. He tapped his feet aggressively. "And if you want to be promoted, tardiness is out of the question."
Sabo hid a smirk. Bless Delvin for having a way with words. Hannyabal scoffed at him but didn't rebut. They started walking towards the main office and they followed suit.
And there Sabo saw a familiar face.
Inazuma was hiding in the corner. A pleased grin was on his lips. It's been years since he last saw Inazuma. His looks didn't change at all, as if he was no prisoner in this hellhole. He took a sip on the wine glass he was holding as their eyes met.
Sabo looked over at his surroundings, assessing their situation. No one was focused on them right now. And just like that, he grabbed Luffy and put a mouth on top of his lips, not wanting the pirate to yell and cause commotion again.
Inazuma nodded at them as they stared at each other. Sabo let go of Luffy and gave a stern look that hopefully said to shut up. Luffy mockingly saluted and Sabo could only sigh. The two followed Inazuma silently. They occasionally stopped in their tracks, avoiding guards and the surveillance camera pointed in their direction.
It didn't take them long to arrive at their destination. They halted in front of a wall from a far corner. Inazuma didn't waste time as his hands turned into a scissor, easily cutting through the walls and revealing a secret staircase underneath.
"That's so—!"
Sabo once again had to put a hand over Luffy's mouth and nose as they went inside the path. Inazuma closed down the walls, concealing them inside.
"How many times do I have to tell you to shut up?" Sabo scolded, lashing out.
He let go of Luffy who was finally able to breathe again. Luffy's eyes widened. His body language told Sabo that he didn't expect that kind of outburst from him. He bit down his lips as he muttered the words. "Sorry…"
"N-No, I…" Sabo sighed heavily as his hands reached for his temple, rubbing it. "Please minimize your voice. We can't allow screw-ups. Not now that we're rescuing your brother."
"Our brother," Luffy corrected yet again, more adamant this time. "I'm making your job harder. I will try not to from now on."
"Thank you." Sabo gave him an apologetic smile.
Inazuma cleared his throat, cutting into their conversation.
"Hello, my name is Monkey D. Lu—!"
"Monkey D. Luffy. I am very much aware. Your reputation precedes you," Inazuma finished.
Luffy looked at Sabo in confusion, eyebrows furrowed together. "He means that he already knows who you are. You're quite famous for all the wrong reasons."
"Oh yeah?" Luffy giggled.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Inazuma and I shall assist you in your rescue mission." Inazuma offered a handshake.
Luffy accepted it. "Thanks, I guess."
"Iva-sama is waiting for us. We shall proceed. We mustn't waste time."
They descended the stairs in a hurry. Sabo was never comfortable with small spaces. It didn't offer any kind of escape route. The stairs just went on and on with no end in sight. The only thing heard now was their heavy footsteps. The place was as silent and barren as it could be.
Suddenly, he started feeling hot as sweat formed and trailed on his face. He wiped it down as he started breathing heavily.
"Are we passing Level 3?" Sabo asked after a while.
"Yes, please expect that it's about to be worse than that once we're in Level 4." Inazuma didn't even flinch as he relayed those words.
"H-How far are we…?" Luffy inquired in a lethargic tone. His tongue was out as he breathed heavily. "Sabo… water…"
Sabo grabbed a bottle from his knapsack and threw it at him. Luffy emptied it in just one gulp.
"We're halfway through," Inazuma announced. "And please don't pay attention to the screaming. Most prisoners are regularly tortured in Level 4. The guards tend to throw them into a boiling pot of blood," he explained, too cheerful for Sabo's liking.
"Sounds fun," Sabo said, sarcasm-inducing.
Just like the information laid earlier, it only became hotter as they descended further. Inazuma wasn't bothered by it, not one bit. Luffy, on the other hand, wasn't his usual self and looked helpless. He kept mumbling incomprehensible things. Sabo persevered though the heat was also doing him numbers. The atmosphere changed all at once and shivers ran through their body.
"C-Cold!" Luffy reacted as he rubbed his arms.
"It's two times colder if we were inside," Inazuma stated. "Level 5 is so cold the prisoners either die from hyperthermia or severe frostbite."
"How do you guys even survive this place…?" Sabo whispered.
"Life finds a way," Inazuma said, smiling.
After a few minutes, the stairs ended. Inazuma opened the door, revealing a bigger room. It revealed the paradise within hell, the Newkama Land. The main room consisted of some sort of a cafe and a nightclub. In the middle was a stage with colorful disco lights. There were different kinds of okama and people all merrily having fun. And as they stepped inside, all eyes were on them.
"Welcome!" Ivankov exulted, pumping his right fist in the air. He appeared on the stage out of nowhere dramatically as all lights were pointed at him. Everyone cheered except for the two of them who only watched with interested eyes. "It's been a while, Sabo-kun."
"Hey," Sabo waved his hand, smirking. "Your love for theatricals knows no bounds, Iva-san."
"It's one thing Vi will never lose in life, vmy boy," Ivankov chuckled gracefully. "Who would have thought the cheeky brat will one day be the one leading us to vour liberation."
"Sabo, his afro is so big!" Luffy was in awe as he pointed at it.
"Luffy, it is incredibly rude to point out someone you just met." Sabo reminded him, sighing. He knew that there was no point in it as it would just fall on deaf ears but he still tried.
"No manners at all?" Ivankov huffed as he crossed his arms.
"None. I'm a pirate after all," Luffy cheekily grinned, making Ivankov tee-hee again.
"Vi am Emporio Ivankov, a commander of the Revolutionary Army."
"I'm Luffy and I will be the King of the Pirates one day!"
"Another cheeky brat, I see." Ivankov huffed.
"He is Dragon's son," Sabo said out of nowhere.
"Ah yes, of course, he is Dragon's son," Ivankov repeated. There was silence for a few seconds as he blinked his eyes. He looked at Luffy, then at Sabo, then back at Luffy again.
"H-He's what!?" Ivankov shrieked as his whole body flew back to the wall, hitting his head hard. Everyone else was taken aback and copied their queen's expression. The chatter only grew louder as they tried to comprehend what they just heard.
"My, what an interesting turn of events," Inazuma commented.
"And Sabo and Ace are my brothers!" Luffy chirped, adding more confusion to the mix.
"What?" Ivankov turned and stared at Sabo, eyebrows raised. "Surely vyour not Dragon's scion."
"Nope." Sabo shrugged.
"Have vyou got vyour memories back?"
"No, I haven't." Sabo bit down his lips. "Kuma sent Luffy to the base after his encounter with a Celestial Dragon to protect him."
"Yes, vwe have read it in the newspaper," Ivankov said. "Though infiltrating Impel Down together is hardly protecting him, Sabo-boy."
"Luffy recognized who I was and claims that we're sworn brothers and the rest is history. Did you know that Dragon is from the same home island as I was?"
"Vi have my suspicions that he's from East Blue. He's never the one to open up about his past."
"Can we go now?" Luffy asked impatiently. The vivre card was in his palms as it flew freely and was pointing downwards.
"Is everything in order?" Sabo inquired. His stoic expression returned as chitchat was now over.
"Yes, we can move anytime," Inazuma answered.
"Perfect," Sabo grinned as he put his hands on his hips. "We are going to prove that Impel Down is not the impenetrable prison they thought it is!"
Besides him, Luffy roared with laughter. It sounded like music to Sabo's ears. At that moment, it felt like they could do this.
Thanks to Koala and her team, they finally have control over the surveillance system. Sabo called her for updates and no one was suspicious that the revolutionaries were already inside.
With Ivankov and Inazuma in tow, they directed Sabo and Luffy to Level 5. Unfortunately, the newkama land has no access straight to Level 6. They were forced to traverse the frozen wasteland on their own. Sabo could feel most of the prisoner's life was being weakened by the cold. He was used to dead bodies by now which was a terrifying idea on its own.
Inazuma knew the fastest way to the staircase that will lead them downstairs after scouting the area over the past few days. The surveillance cameras never worked here as the cold easily froze them. The only things they were wary about were the wolves roaming freely. They could be mauled by the wolves but Sabo could easily tell if there was one nearby, thus avoiding the issue altogether.
They soon found the staircase leading to the last level of the prison. It was easy and it gave Sabo all the wrong feelings. He was used to his plans failing but everything was still going fine.
"This isn't a trap, is it?" Sabo questioned, turning to Ivankov as they ran downstairs.
"No, vyou're too tense, Sabo-boy." Ivankov scoffed.
"Then why aren't there any guards?" Sabo questioned.
"You've seen those prisoners freeze to their deaths. The guards usually avoid Level 5 and Level 6 unless it's absolutely necessary. Level 5 for the cold and Level 6 for its dangerous residents." Inazuma explained and Sabo just nodded.
They reached Level 6, Eternal Hell. The ambiance already gave the deathly aura Sabo was expecting. It was dark as fog covered most of the area. It was eerily petrifying as the only sound was silence. It didn't have the same torturous screams as the upper levels had. It sent shivers down Sabo's spine and once again, he was reminded that this place is the most dangerous spot in the whole world. They walked slowly, getting used to the absence of light. Sabo could feel every prisoner's eyes were on them but he paid them no heed.
The cell he was in was only a few meters away from the stairs. There, Sabo first faced Fire Fist Ace. The pirate looked ghastly as expected. His pale body was grotesque, cuts and scrapes scattered all over, red and still fresh on his skin. His hands were stretched out with handcuffs on.
"Ace!" Luffy screamed as loudly as he could. Happiness was tingling in his tone. "I found you!"
"L-Luffy…?" Ace croaked, gray eyes have gone wide and transfixed at him in horror. His lips parted in silent horror as his muscles tensed. "What are you doing here, you idiot!?"
"Rescuing you, duh," Luffy replied matter-of-factly.
With his fist, Sabo destroyed the barred cell and created an opening. He watched as Luffy immediately launched his rubbery arms onto Ace, embracing him. Ace yelped, flinching from the sudden touch. Luffy let go and apologized to him with a frown. The key to the lock was in Luffy's hands and he freed his brother from the clutch.
"Sorry! I'm just really excited to see you! You promised that you will never die then I read that you're 'bout to be executed! And your vivre card is burning away! Stupid Ace who never ran away from a fight! And you're the one who's always saying that I'm reckless!" Luffy rambled with a pout.
"I didn't ask you to come here! People normally break out of prison, not break in! Of all the reckless things you've done, this is definitely the stupidest!" Ace rebutted back in annoyance as his ears bled from Luffy's yelling. "What's wrong with you? Are you crazy!?"
"Yup! I thought we already established that?" Luffy snickered, just happy overall.
Sabo just silently listened to their scoldings. He didn't expect them to be this wild and loud but he didn't stop them. Luffy deserved this after days of anxiety over his older brother's safety. Instead, Sabo redirected his attention to the other prisoner.
"Jinbei, right? I've heard that you're thrown in here for supporting Whitebeard," Sabo said.
Jinbei nodded, although wary of him. "Who sent you for Ace?"
"Ah, I've been tagged along by his brother." Sabo destroyed the fishman's handcuffs, freeing him. "I've heard about you from Hack."
"Hack? Then that means you're from the revolutionaries," Jinbei concluded, standing up.
Ace finally took notice of Luffy's companions. Sabo and Ace stared at each other, taking in each other's appearance. Just like Sabo had expected, there was nothing that triggered his past memories. For him, Ace was just like any pirate.
"Portgas D. Ace also known as Fire Fist, the 2nd division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, has a bounty of 550,000,000 beris, and the current user of Mera Mera no mi," Sabo said gracefully as his hazel eyes stared at Ace's gray ones. "Congratulations, you are being rescued. Please do not resist."
"Who are you?" Ace hissed with a threatening tone. He glared but Sabo kept his cool.
"Ace, that's Sabo! The one we exchanged sake with when we're—" Luffy replied.
"Of course, I know who Sabo is!" Ace growled.
"Oh, I thought you forgot your memories, too."
"What?" Ace questioned. He glared at Sabo once again, angrier this time. "You didn't answer my question."
"I am Sabo."
"No, you're not," Ace growled, spitting the next words like poison. "My brother is dead."
Sabo flinched. He didn't expect that kind of antagonistic attitude from him. Granted, not everyone was like Luffy. Sabo's hazel eyes were wide as he took it all in. Realization struck him hard and it left a cold mark inside.
He never thought about the people he left behind. What their reaction was like and how they dealt with it. They thought he died from that explosion. It took them ten years to know what really happened to him. And during those years, they mourned for him. They cared for him enough to weep.
Sabo wanted to remember. He really does. It was obvious to him now that Luffy and Ace were his family. But Sabo was not there. He didn't know. He didn't remember. He is different now. He's not the brother they mourned ten years ago. He didn't grow up beside them. He missed so many things. He doesn't know them. He doesn't remember them—
And yet, even though Sabo doesn't remember who Ace and Luffy are, they stare at him as if he is their whole world.
It hurts…
Panic rose up and he found it hard to breathe. He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself from the onslaught of mental anguish. He couldn't falter now, not until he made sure Luffy was safe and out of this place.
"Ten years ago, on Dawn Island in East Blue, vmy boss rescued a boy from the wreck of a small fishing vessel. Vwe treated his injuries and after a few days, he woke up with no memories," Ivankov's voice resonated.
"You're revolutionaries," Ace mouthed. "Then by boss, you mean Dragon."
"Amnesia?" Jinbei asked, crossing his arms.
"Yes…" Sabo mumbled. His head was bowed down, unable to look at any of them.
Ace stared at him, more sympathetic this time. He wanted to say something but no words came out. Luffy was still clinging to Ace as if he was going to disappear anytime. They both watched as Sabo approached them. Sabo put his knees down and removed his coat. He put it on Ace.
"Sabo…" Ace croaked, voice breaking.
"We all have questions and I promised I will answer them once we are out of this hellhole." Sabo smiled gently.
Sabo helped him stand up on his feet. The three nodded at each other. They put their minds foremost into escaping.
"Sabo, change of plans," Inazuma said. "There's currently a jailbreak happening in Levels 1 and 2."
"What? But we haven't directed for that to happen yet." Sabo frowned. Their plan was to cause commotion in the first level to help distract the guards but it was too early for that.
"No, it's not from one of our men. From what I'm hearing, it's caused by a man called Buggy the Clown."
"Well, we must make the best out of it," Sabo said.
They ran upstairs back to Level 5. They met up with the okamas and they were all ready to cause havoc and leave this place behind permanently. They used the entrance to the hidden passageway in the newkama land. Sabo kept glancing at Ace once in a while but he's doing very well for his physique. They probably know that Ace had been gone by that time. They just need to conceal themselves deep within the walls.
They emerged through Level 1. Everything was messy. Hundreds of prisoners all dressed in black and white clothing were rallying to get on the open door. Guards and different kinds of beasts were there to stop them. It was full-blown chaos, a great distraction for them to slip through the security.
"Sabo!" He turned and saw Koala running towards him. She was with the remaining revolutionaries. "Still in one piece, I see."
"Koala, I would appreciate the sentiment once we're out here," Sabo retorted.
"I've reached Karasu and the escape ship is awaiting our arrival. We leave as soon as we boarded it," Koala reported. "Let's try to— Jinbei!" She was distracted, running over to the fishman to exchange pleasantries.
"Straw Hat!" Another voice was heard. The man approached their group alongside other prisoners.
"Eh, Buggy?" Luffy deadpanned, uninterested.
"Oh, it's you," Ace blinked.
"What kind of response is that!?" Buggy yelled angrily. "I expected a more flashy reaction!"
"You two know him?" Sabo asked.
"He tried killing me one time!" Luffy replied enthusiastically.
"We're drinking buddies," Ace answered. "Good job on letting out these pri—"
In an instant, the prisoners on their backs screamed for their lives as they were paralyzed. The ragtag group looked back, watching as their bodies melted away in the most painful way possible. The poison consumed their bodies slowly, melting away.
And there stood Magellan, the warden of Impel Down. His whole body was covered in his own poison, making him literally untouchable. He looked ready to murder them all. And if his research was correct, he could pretty much do it with one attack. He heard Ace cursing their luck. They were a few meters away from their freedom.
"Everyone, be careful and in no instance, you should ever touch him!" Ivankov reminded as he readied for the impending fight.
"We won't be able to escape this place until we defeat the boss itself." Jinbei put on a karate stance.
"Escape? That's a bold statement to make, First Son of the Sea," Magellan scoffed as his hands started producing poison. "I already blocked the entrance of this place with a wall of poison. Your lives will end here and now!"
Magellan was quick on offense. He threw the poison at them like balls at such a high speed at every possible angle. The hallway was too small for them to move. It was Inazuma who moved first. He cut the floors and threw them at the incoming attacks. The stone melted instantly.
Sabo's mind was still thinking of strategies. They couldn't possibly defeat Magellan without touching him. Haki could work but it still wasn't enough to obliterate the man completely. His pipe was the only thing he could use. Just as his brain was still coming up with tactics, Ace and Luffy launched their own attacks.
"Luffy! Get back here!" Sabo yelled but Luffy paid him no heed.
"Portgas D. Ace, I won't allow you to leave this place alive!" Magellan threatened.
"Oh hell nah!" Ace scoffed, jumping in for his attack.
Fire burst out from Ace's whole body. It spread out, hitting Magellan's body but the warden didn't even back down one bit. Ace grabbed Luffy before he could attack the warden, knowing that he didn't stand a chance against him without Haki.
Jinbei was next as he punched the air, sending shockwaves and causing Magellan to lose his balance for a second. Sabo soon followed suit as he coated his pipe with armament, hitting the warden straight on his face.
Magellan's poison was turned into numerous hydra. Unlike earlier, this poison followed their movements. They ran for it and Sabo managed to dodge as the hydra hit one of the walls.
And when his eyes fell on Luffy, emotions were high. Luffy didn't manage to dodge. His lower body, particularly his left leg, was now oozing with poison. He groaned as his leg was now paralyzed, preventing him from moving away from the place.
"Luffy!" Ace and Sabo yelled at the same time.
Magellan took notice of Luffy's vulnerability. His hydra was turned into one, much bigger this time. It turned darker in color and it only meant deadlier. The hydra was fast approaching the pirate and Luffy could only watch with wide frozen eyes.
Inazuma tried the same tactic again of blocking the hydra with stone but it failed. The poison was far stronger this time, abolishing the stone in mere seconds. Ace finally got Luffy but there wasn't enough time to drag themselves out of that mess.
Sabo's eyes were full of fear, thinking it was happening again. He's about to lose his bro—
"I'm Sabo and you are…?"
"Ace…"
"Let's be partners in crime!"
"... being a pirate sounds fun."
"My name's Luffy and I wanna be friends!"
"... alone is much more painful than getting hurt!"
"Do you want me to live…?"
"They only love their status, not me…"
"Let's become stronger and be pirates!"
"It's the proof of my existence!"
"I wanna be the—!"
"If you exchange cups of sake with someone, you're gonna be—"
"From now on, we are—"
"Your grandpa's really crazy!"
"Let's stand up on our own feet!"
"I want a telescope!"
"I'll do what you ask. Please just don't hurt them…"
"Are you going to end it like this!?"
"I'm ashamed of being born noble…!"
"If I stay behind here, I will never be free!"
"Please take care of him for me!"
His head throbbed painfully as the ringing in his ears won't stop. Information was being inserted into his brain faster than he could comprehend. He felt like being drowned by the thousands of images flashing in his mind. It was becoming hard to breathe. He had to clutch his knees to maintain his balance. And then it all came back to him.
"Don't you dare touch my brothers!" Sabo yelled in fury. He ran, standing in front of them as he took the incoming poisonous hydra.
The last thing he remembered was screaming as his whole body felt like it was melting away.
A/N:
nervous glance
sorry, not sorry.