Chapter 26

Pachyderm

Maxwell ran down the tunnel that lead to the Gates of Justice. There wasn't much to say about it. The passage an arched bricked tunnel with lamps lighting the way. Crossed bar meshes were imbedded into the top of the tunnel, every few hundred paces. The bars were probably there for structural integrity, as this tunnel was directly under the ocean. Small machines and pipes running along the tunnel. They were probably there to monitor moisture, pressurize, or something.

"Faster, Max! Faster!" Luffy squeaked from his shoulders. Maxwell's captain had turned into this miniature version of himself, after using a new technique. It was impressive, gigantifying his limbs to hit stuff, but Luffy didn't seem to have complete control of it yet. Plus, Maxwell wasn't sure if the drawback was worth it yet. So, Maxwell ended up carrying Luffy.

Both of them knew Maxwell would be faster down the tunnel, until Luffy turned back to normal. So, inside of carrying Luffy under his arm, Luffy would stand on his shoulders. Although, he was soon starting to regret that.

"I know, Luffy! I know!" Honestly, Maxwell thought this was the weirdest thing. He was literally carrying his captain like a toddler, one that liked to climb all over his head. At least Chimney and Gonbe hadn't gone after them, Thank the Maker.

Maxwell looked up at Luffy, "…Hey, are you starting to get heavier?"

Luffy suddenly popped a size, "Whoa…!"

"Uff!" Maxwell strained under the sudden increase in weight, but he kept running.

"Hey! I'm turning back to normal!" Luffy cheered, "Thanks Max!" Luffy then jumped off. However, that was also the moment Luffy returned to his full height, making Maxwell face-plant onto the concrete.

"Alright! WAIT FOR ME ROBIN!" Luffy's voice echoed down the tunnel, "I'll be sure to beat the crap out of that pigeon guy!"

"…No good… pea-brained…!" Maxwell grumbled under his breath as he pushed himself off the floor. He did not appreciate being a spring board for Luffy to jump off of.

"Screw it!" Maxwell disappeared into a Fade Step and raced down the tunnel after his captain.

Luffy noticed the incoming cloud coming up behind him and knew it was Max. "Hey, Max! What are you doing!? I want to get to the pigeon guy first!"

Maxwell transformed back into his human self, the duration of the spell timing out, "Do I look like I give a shit!? I'm going on ahead! I'll meet you down at the end of the tunnel!" The mage then cast his spell again and a smoky blue comet shot forward.

"Not if I get there first!" Luffy yelled after him. The pirate then really began to pick up his speed, trying to catch that magic cloud. It actually turned into a miniature race between them. Seeing who would catch up to Robin first. Maxwell would periodically turn into a cloud, able to cover great distances, but significantly slowed in his human form. Luffy always had a crazy amount of stamina. He was able to keep a steady yet breakneck pace down the tunnel.

Yet, despite their little contest, both friends knew why they were here. They were going to rescue their nakama, "ROBIN~!"

They were reaching the end of the tunnel now. The end was insight, just behinds those door! "Doors? It doesn't look like it's made of steel this time."

Maxwell had stopped using the Fade Step, but both men kept running, "Then what are we waiting for!? Break it down!"

"URYAAAAH!" Luffy jumped as he was running and kicked at the doors. He broke them off their hinges and the wooden doors snapped in half as they went flying.

Luffy skidded to a halt, while Maxwell drew his staff behind him. The captain looked around, "A wide open space!? Where are we!?"

It was like there were in some sort of indoor chamber. Barred windows were bulging with some sort of cloth packing in side them. Pillars stood against the walls with various designs as they went up some levels. There was a hole in the roof. Maxwell saw a set of steps that lead to this overhang, and it was directly beneath the hole were a ladder lead up.

The entire room was cylindrical. Crates were closed together, and supply packages were tied down all over the chamber. If they weren't in that structure now, the one in front of the Gates of Justice, Maxwell would eat his own boot.

However, they were not alone.

Lucci had been waiting for them, "Welcome," sitting on a crate. He had this controlled yet bloodthirsty smile on his face, and tipped the brim of his top-hat to them.

"Pigeon guy!" Luffy snarled at the agent. Maxwell noticed the pigeon hadn't left Lucci's shoulder either. This was definitely Lucci, the strongest man amongst the CP9. And Luffy was going to be his opponent.

Lucci jumped down from his crate, standing in front of another set of doors, "I'm impressed you even made it here. Storming though Enies Lobby is no small feat. Though…" The assassin seemed to eye Maxwell, remembering their last encounter, "I see you had some help… Perhaps you weren't as strong as I thought."

"I'm plenty enough strong," Luffy cracked his knuckles, "And my friends are strong too! They'll all be here. Just you wait!"

"Hmph," Lucci smirked, "I'd like to see you—"

*Pe-pe-RUUUUUU~!* "[Hey! Hey!]"

"[Yes Chief?]"

The sound was coming out from Lucci's pocket, and it wasn't some new ventriloquist act. Lucci took out a den den mushi from his pocket. It was Spandam on the line, and seemed to be scolding himself.

"[Damn it, I screwed up, this is the baby den den mushi! What have I done!? I was so careless! How could I have pressed the golden den den mushi..!?]"

"Golden…?" Wait… He did WHAT!?

"[Worst of all, I TRIGGERED THE BUSTER CALL!]"

"[…What have you done…!?]" Maxwell and Luffy immediately recognized Robin's voice on the transponder snail, "[Cancel it immediately! Everyone is going to die!]"

"[What!? Cancel it!?]" Spandam seemed incredulous on his end.

"[…Oi oi oi, look who you're talking to! …WAHAHAHAHA!]" Oh great, now the bastard was trying to cover it up, "[Bring on the Buster Call then! What's wrong with it!? That's right, nothing!]" and Spandam sound crazy while doing it, "[It's okay. I'm the Chief of Cipher Pol No.9. In order to deliver you to the Government without fail, I triggered the Buster Call! Haha… That's a good cause, isn't it? So, in case anything does happen here, at least we will certainly slaughter all the pirates!]"

"[You fool…!]" Robin's voice came out of the sanil's mouth again, "[I told you! It won't just end there! That attack doesn't involve any humanity! It'll burn down everything on Enies Lobby! Buildings! People! Even the island itself! It will sacrifice everything to carry out its goal, in a diabolical focus-fire! That is the Buster Call! You don't even realize what you are doing! You weren't there at Ohara 20 years ago!]"

"[And that's alright!]" Spandam yelled over the snail, "[That just means this is such an important case for the World Government! Now that that idiot Cutty Flam burned Pluton's blueprints, your existence is the only way to revive the Ancient Weapons. Military strength that will overturn an era is dependant on it…! Even if thousands of soldier die in the process of burying the idiots who are trying to take you away, we can simply say it was an unavoidable sacrifice for the glorious future! Not to mention, my promotion depends on this, too!]"

Maxwell stared at the snail. How dumb can a guy get!? This guy just cemented his status as a two-copper cheesy supervillain.

"[What do you think human lives are!?]" And he cared just as much.

"[Don't forget. CP9 is THE Government's secret intelligence organization. If we need 100 deaths in order to save 1000 lives, then we'll kill those hundred on the spot, without hesitation. For True Justice, sacrifices are to be needed! Besides, those useless soldiers are better off dead! They couldn't even stop a few pirates, those idiot bastards!]" Spanda chuckled with those last words.

Then the snail was silent for a moment.

"[…That baby den den mushi is off the hook,]" Robin pointed out, like she just noticed it herself.

"[…Eh?]"

It was broadcast over the entire island, wasn't it…

"[WHAT~!? AH—SHIT! DID EVERYONE HEAR THAT CONVERSATION JUST NOW!?]"

…

…

…

"[…B-b-by the way, this is Straw-Hat Luffy.]"

Like anyone would believe that!

"[Everyone, please leave the island!]" Robin's voice then came out clear over the snail, "[The Buster Call is aimed at Enies Lobby! If you stay on the island, you won't survive!]"

"[SHUT UP!]" yelled Spandam. There was a distinct thumping sound over the snail before the line cut off.

Maxwell was livid, "That bastard…! Did he just…!?" Spandam must have punched Robin.

"What was that just now!? Where is Robin speaking from!?" Luffy demanded from Lucci.

The agent sighed in annoyance about his superior's actions, but he did point a thumb at the exit behind him, "…Behind that door."

Luffy then attacked Lucci, jumping forward with a back-kick. The leopard-man blocked of course, and punched at Luffy with his own strike, "…At least let me say, 'I can't let you pass.'"

A ball of plasma then appeared above them and Lucci jumped back expecting a sneak attack. The plasma didn't do anything though, and Lucci realized it was a feint. Lucci looked around. Maxwell running up behind Luffy, trying to reach the doors while Luffy distracted him. Lucci Shaved towards the mage, only to realize something had tethered on to him. It was the plasma! Lightning electrocuted and dragged the agent back towards Luffy in the centre, where the pirate then punched him in the back.

He barely had time to react, "Tekkai—! URMF!" before Luffy punched him in the kidneys.

"MAX, GO!" Luffy then grappled with the agent, "FIND ROBIN! THIS GUY'S MINE!" He wasn't letting the possibility of Lucci go after Maxwell happen.

"RIGHT!" Maxwell ran past using the Frost Step towards the door. Luffy could handle Lucci, even without his help. The mage then used a Mind Blast spell to burst open the doors and into the central stairway.

Lucci spun around, throwing the rubber-man off him, "…I underestimated your crew. Again."

"Hehe… They're pretty awesome right?" Luffy smirked at the pussycat.

Both men then suddenly moved, attacking each other. It was a flurry of kicks and punches. Lucci had to eliminate this threat first. He knew he would have a good fight, but Lucci also had his orders to consider. He had to protect the director after all. Luffy needed to beat this guy, now! He was the strongest guy on this island. If Luffy didn't beat this guy, Pigeon Guy would go after both Max and Robin!

Neither man could afford to lose. And it showed in their knuckles, when the fists collided.

*BOOOM~!*

O O O

"Hey! Where do you think you're going, Nico Robin!" Spandam sneered at the Devil Child.

Robin was trying to run down the stairs. After Spandam had punched her, the archeologist had fallen down the spiral staircase a few steps. The stairs wrapped around the entire inlay structure, leading to the Bridge of Hesitation. Robin was mostly fine, but her tumble down the stairs had rattled her brain slightly. Her attempted dash was more like a rushed shuffle down those steps.

Spandam hadn't moved from his spot, thinking they had time, "Even if you head back to where you came from, all you'll see are pirate corpses! So cut it out already!"

Robin kept going down the staircase, regardless of what the director said. She knew Luffy and the others were coming for her. That was enough to keep her going.

Spandam gritted his teeth, annoyed with his prisoner. Didn't she see how pointless it was!? He drew the saber on his back, "Show her, Funkfreed."

*PAOO!* The saber made a trumpeting sound as Spandam lifted it into the air.

"Don't hit anything vital though!" Spandam told the sword. Then he thrusted it down towards Robin, "Ivory Dart!"

The saber extended, morphing into elephant-like form while still held in Spandam's hand. This was his personal weapon, Funkfreed. The pet elephant he kept in his office. It was a sword that could turn into an elephant, thanks to the genius of Dr. Vegapunk himself. The elephant-saber rammed into Robin, being sure not to impale her on it's sword-trunk or tusks. Still, she was being tackled by an elephant, and the sword crashed her into the outer wall.

Spandam chuckled as he walked down the steps. Funkfreed had morphed back into his saber form, and Spandam sheathed it, "Wahahaha…! You think you can get away? Stupid woman. Don't underestimate me! Now, let us go together… through the Doors of Dreams!"

Robin didn't move from her spot. Funkfreed hadn't knocked her out, but she refused to go with Spandam any further. Even lying on a bed of rubble, battered, bruised, and bleeding, she would wait for Luffy and the others to get her out of here. Those "Doors of Dreams" were nothing more than a death sentence. She would not enter the Gates of Justice!

"Come on…" Spandam groaned. Robin looked away, defiant, "I said 'COME ON!'" Spandam grabbed her by the hair, "We are going to the bridge!"

"GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF HER! ENERGY BARRAGE!" Maxwell then rounded the corner and swung a flurry of arcane bolts at the director.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH~! FUNKFREED!" Spandam squealed for his life as he fumbled to draw the saber again. How did that pirate catch up to them!?

Robin looked at mage with hope, "Maxwell!" He was so close. Her friends had come for her!

Unfortunately, the elephant-sword was smarter than it's owner. Funkfreed jumped out of it's sheath and blocked the spell, using it's brass forehead as a shield.

"Is that an elephant…!?" Maxwell stared at the beast. He never saw one before. The most he knew was from some old book, back in the Circle. They were often used as war mounts in the Teviniter Imperium, being imported somehow. Maxwell almost didn't believe the accounts, but seeing one now… Maxwell definitely believed how effective they could be at war. A creature of that size, looking that bizarre coming at you, would scare any soldier shitless.

The elephant now stood between them and Maxwell, taking up a good chunk of space in the stairwell. Funkfreed moaned at the mage, shifting on its legs, ready to trample this would-be enemy.

"Ah…! Yes! Good job, Funkfreed!" Spandam quickly gathered himself, realizing he still had some form protection.

"Robin!" Maxwell called out to behind the elephant, "Luffy's still fighting Lucci, but he'll be here as soon as he can! The others are gathering the keys!"

"You mean Lucci hasn't—!? Frunkfreed!" Spandam yelled at the elephant, "Deal with that pirate! I'm taking Nico Robin up to the Gates of Justice!"

*Paaa-OOOO!* Funkfreed raised his trunk and trumpeted in acknowledgment.

"Maxwell!" Robin cried out as Spandam dragged her up the stairs.

"I'm coming Robin! I'll—SHIT!" Maxwell jumped out of the way as a bladed trunk tried to chop him in half.

*PAAOOO!* Frunkfreed brayed as he lifted his head again. This time he twisted his trunk and swung his head sideways.

Maxwell rolled back again, getting a good look at the elephant. It's strength was hard enough to break stone. It's blade and tusks were able to gouge metal. But it was slow… and couldn't really move outside of it's animal form. The elephant didn't seem to have a lot of room for maneuverability either. Funkfreed had to create it's own footing on the narrow steps. With it's hindquarters raised, it was fighting its own weight to stay upright. The animal was basically a giant roadblock… One that would have be removed.

Maxwell took advantage of his distance, blasting Inferno spells at the animal-weapon.

He couldn't afford to get close, not yet. If Maxwell was going to get past Funkfreed, he would have to time it just right. Get to close, he risked being stabbed. Use a spell to early, he risked getting crushed; Whether it was beneath it's feet, or between the wall and its hide. But Maxwell knew one thing. Weapon or not, an animal was still an animal.

And all animals were afraid of fire.

Funkfreed reared back as Lasting Flames erupted from beneath it's belly. It didn't was to get roasted over those flames! Blasts of Wildfire blinded the elephant, trying to make it panic. The mage then thrusted lances of Blistering Pain to catch it's attention. Maxwell wanted the animal angry. Maxwell wanted Funkfreed to charge!

*PAAAOOOO!* The elephant-sword trumpeted, having enough of being burned. The fire hurt and his brass was becoming tarnished. Funkfreed had no idea where all this fire was coming from. But that human… he was the one causing it! If his human wanted him dead, then he'd gladly kill him!

The elephant started to charge, trampling down the stairs. Funkfreed went as fast as he could, though the elephant still had to try and keep upright. Seeing his opening, Maxwell charged at the elephant as well.

Man and beast raced towards each other. Funkfreed was on the rampage, held rolling as it flailed its mandibles. Maxwell had to sharpen his focus, his hand tightening around his staff. He had to get this right!

Just before the elephant could gore the mage, Maxwell transformed into the Frost Step. The cloud had slipped right between Frunkfreed's legs. Frost and ice crept onto the elephant's limbs, bitting into it's legs and trunk. Funkfreed growled and shook in pain, as it screeched to a halt. The cold burned, and it felt like a thousand needles had grown inside it's trunk.

Maxwell could have left the fight there… but he would not. The mage knew if he left this fight unfinished, Funkfreed would just find a way to turn around and chase after him. If that did happened, Maxwell was risking Robin's safety and the elephant rejoining it's master. So, Maxwell decided to do something a little crazy.

He jumped onto the elephant's back.

The mage had a little momentum. A running start, going downhill. Maxwell leapt onto the elephant's rump and climbed on it with it's tassel like tail.

Of course, Funkfreed did not appreciate being climbed upon by a stinking pirate. The elephant bucked, as much as an elephant could, reared, shook, slammed it's massive bulk into the walls. Maxwell held on tight. Funkfreed's elephant armor was surprisingly leathery, and easy to grab onto.

Maxwell crawled his way up to the head, keeping a tight hold on his reins. Funkfreed still tried all he could to buck the rider off. It screeched and moaned, shook it's head. The elephant even started charging down the steps. Maxwell even came dangerously close to being slashed by the trunk, once or twice. But he made it.

Digging his heels into the mesh, Maxwell conjured a Spirit Blade sitting up on the elephant's back. And with a roaring shout, "RRRRAAAARRRGH!" plunged the blade into the base of the elephant's skull.

Funkfreed went still, like it had no idea what had happened. Then Maxwell twisted the blade, popping the neck joint, and the elephant suddenly to shrunk into thin air. Maxwell swore he even heard a poofing sound as the elephant disappeared.

Both Maxwell and the resulting saber cluttered to the ground. The mage groaned at the suddenly landing. It was on the jagged stone, but he was alive, and not too worse-for-wear.

Maxwell looked over at what once was the elephant, Funkfreed. The saber was broken at the handle. Its grip and hilt were now disjointed, broken, and the hand guard was bent. All pachydermic features were gone from the blade. No little tusks in the hilt. No elephant tail tassel. The saber no longer had the Zoan Devil Fruit in its remains.

Maxwell picked up the weapon. The sword was now useless.

He won.

Maxwell then threw the sword out a hole in the wall the elephant had made. It wasn't going to be of use to anyone now, "Good riddance…"

Now, he just had to go after Robin!

Maxwell immediately started running up the stairs. He picked up on details he hadn't bothered to notice before. The inner wall was covered in metal sheets. Meanwhile, while the other wall was made of stone. Electric lights, like what Maxwell saw in the tunnel, ran along the out wall.

He had lost some distance fighting that zoan-weapon. Maxwell had listened to Usopp before, when he told what he and and Chopper fought against in Alabasta. There was some baseball sneezing gun that could turn into a dog with one of the Baroque Works agents. They had apparently got it off the black market and after seeing an elephant with a morphing blade-trunk, he was now a bit more inclined to believe the sniper. It should be no surprise that a spy-agency would have deals in the black market.

But now, that bastard Spandam shouldn't have any protection left! …Well maybe a few marines to operate the ship, but—

*BOOOM!*

O O O

"Heh… Heheheh…!" Spandam had reached the top of the stairs, with Robin in tow.

"We're here…! We're on the Bridge of Hesitation! Look, Nico Robin," He still had her by the hair, "The Gates of Justice are already opening. They are ready to welcome me!"

Wind blew in their faces as the Gates of Justice opened. Those colossal doors opened to a new world, ready for the taking. It was the World Governmant's doorstep. Connecting with Marineford and the prison Impel Down. The Gates of Justice were causing a new wind current, just by opening. They were such an immense structure, that clouds had butted against the top for so long. Now they were starting to disperse. The Gates were agonizingly slow, though.

"It's been a long journey… But once we pass through those gates, I will be the Government's… No, I will be the world's hero!" Spandam laughed.

"The bridge that connects to the other side of the Gates is rising even now! It's waiting for the steps of the hero!"

Robin watched as the drawbridge lifted itself out of the ocean. It was similar in the way the courthouse extended it's bridge. However this bridge's mechanism pushed up, rather than lowered.

"Now! Let's go! We're crossing that bridge, Nico Rob—" *BOOM!* "IIIIIIIINNN~!" Spandam screamed in terror when an explosion suddenly went off beneath the bridge.

"WHAT!? HOW!?" Spandam rushed to the edge of the bridge to look over it, "THE MINE SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE OFF THAT SOON! I PLACED THAT MINE THERE SO NO ONE COULD FOLLOW US UP THE STAIRS!"

There was a gaping hole that showed the stairwell they had just exited. The stone was blown to bits, and the metal was shorn. "Funkfreed already knew about the bomb in the stairs. He couldn't have… Wait. Where's Funkfreed!?"

Spandam looked harder, trying to see any sign of his weapon. However, the man quickly realized what had happened.

"…No… no, no, no, no, no!" Spandam hammered his fist into the concrete, "YOU KILLED MY ELEPHANT, YOU FILTHY PIRATE!? FINE! AT LEAST I'VE HAD MY REVENGE BY BLOWING YOU UP! SLEEP WITH THE FISHES FOR ALL I CARE! I HOPE IT WAS PAINFUL! I HOPE YOUR CHARRED CORPSE GETS PICKED APART BY THE BOTTOM FEEDERS YOU BELONG WITH! BECAUSE I STILL WIN, YOU BASTARDS! I STILL HAVE NICO ROBIN!"

Robin immediately thought the worst.

"No… Maxwell…!"