Wishfull-star: I love that I have a track record for killing off characters and angst while also often saving Ace so nobody knows what I'm gonna end up doing with him! Mwahaha.

Aranado6: Thank you! We shall find out in I think eight more chapters what I do. I love Ace as well, I have more stories with him as the MC than Luffy. Another question is whether I'd save Whitebeard, who I also like to have him revived or survive in fics. Though that would definitely fuck up the canon timeline.

IIRoxaII: I'm glad I know you won't leave in a fit of anger if I end up saving or killing Ace.

My guys, I might have to completely rewrite the raid on onigashima arc. 60 pages done and I am caught up to the manga at chapter 1043 at the time of posting and fuck, the way I changed the plot pretty much ruins any continuity. RIP 50 pages. But I can't believe Oda gave us a fucking cliffhanger like that and then took a week break in between! Evil man. Enjoy, we are finally at impel down.

Luffy felt his entire body go cold and numb. Ace… was going to be executed? He didn't know what to think.

"Ace, will you miss me?"

"Of course! I'll worry, too. Don't do any stupid shit, understand? You gotta be a pirate captain as good as me, and then maybe we can fight on even terms! Until then, you better get stronger like I will."

"I promise I will!"

"I'll hold you to that, lil' brother!"

"Shishishi!"

"Wait! Granny! That's my brother! Ace is my brother! Are you sure it's him?!"

"What?!" Elder nyon and Margaret said in shock. "He's your brother?!"

Lufy started to breathe quickly. "I… I didn't even know he got caught! No… No!" He pulled out the vivre card of Ace's and saw how small it was. It was his fault. If he'd acted, he could have helped! "When will he be executed!?"

"Well, the Whitebeards are strong, they could get him back possibly," Nyon said, though she looked bothered. Luffy repeated his question, more of a demand. "It's at the Marineford plaza, the marine hq, in one week's time. From today on, it would take five days."

"How long does it take to get to Sabaody?!"

"No doubt longer than a week." Elder Nyon looked sympathetic and Margeret had a hand over her mouth upon hearing Luffy's brother was going to be executed. But… Ace couldn't be executed! He was his precious brother! If he had done something to help, if he had done something sooner. It was so long ago that his vivre card started to burn. And he'd done nothing!

But how did he get defeated? He was so strong! What kind of power did Blackbeard have to defeat him!? Luffy was going to kill him and rescue Ace! He couldn't get to his crew in time. There was no way, no time at all. And though he hated the thought, they probably wouldn't all be there. And they'd all be wounded.

Luffy was only okay because of the blood. They might all be injured still. Going with them would be a death sentence for some of them, no doubt. It could be a death sentence for Luffy. He already failed his crew. He couldn't fail Ace, too. He would save him, even if it meant death.

No matter how he did it, he'd do it! Even if he somehow paddled himself to the hq, he would never let Ace die. He loved him, he was so important to him. He loved him despite having to help him find sources of blood, helping keep his existence a secret while still showing he cared deeply about him. Nobody had ever understood Luffy like Ace had, even Zoro.

Ace meant more to him than the world. In a different way from his crew. They were very important in different ways. Ace had been his foundation, what had made him who he was today. He felt he'd done the same in return, but still! Ace couldn't die! He wouldn't let him!

What could I have done differently? That question was haunting him too much lately. And now he had another reason to think that. If he lost Ace right after losing his crew, Luffy would never forgive himself. He'd hate himself for the rest of his life.

"How long would it take to get from here to Ace?!"

"He's no doubt at Impel Down, the great prison. It would take maybe four days to get there by marine vessel."

"That's barely any time! Are the marine ships faster than normal ships?" Elder Nyon nodded. They could ride that current that Kororo told them about. That was between all great marine bases. Those huge doors would only open to a marine ship. Enies Lobby, marine hq and Impel Down. He already broke in one, what was one more?! He'd done crazy shit before. But this time he'd be alone. But how would he get there in the first place?

Unless he somehow learned to fly, he'd be screwed.

"What do you want to do?" Elder Nyon asked.

Luffy looked at the tiny vivre card. "Ace has his own adventure. Me saving him would make him angry. But that's what I thought before. I… I want to save him. Even if I lose myself in the process, I won't let my last brother die! I won't let it happen! Even if he doesn't want it, I'm not letting him die! Granny, how do I get to Impel Down from here?!"

Luffy pictured his friends, his nakama. As if they were smiling, beckoning him to come back to them, resume their adventure. But he had to save Ace. Even if he died. He loved them, he loved Zoro so much, but this was something he must do. If he did nothing, Luffy would never forgive himself. Even if Ace ended up saved by Whitebeard, knowing he didn't try at all would eat at him for the rest of his life.

"I'm sorry guys. I'm going on a detour! Granny, help me get there!" he said firmly.

"You are aware, I hope, of just how reckless and endeavor like this would be… just what kind of scale this war will be? You would be leaping into a strome as if you were an ant. You may be useless and die on the spot!"

"I'll be whatever monster I have to be to save him! I can't do nothing when I should have already done something!" Luffy would do anything to save him, even if he completely lost himself in the process. Last time he fought a truly powerful opponent, he had seastone and had prevailed easily. Even if he had to cheat to do it, he didn't care. He'd throw away his pride and rely on an outside source if he must.

He would do anything to save him. He already failed his crew. He wouldn't let that happen again.

"You must get to him before he's taken to headquarters or you'll never save him. Do you know the kind of place Impel Down is?!"

"A very bad place. But I don't care what I'll see or go through if I can get to him. Please, how do I get there?" Luffy begged.

"You can't do this by brute force, you need a plan. There is no hope for you unless you get on a marine vessel. The Snake Princess is being waited on by a marine ship. If she answers the summons, she may be able to sneak you aboard. But it's a long shot, truly. I don't know if she'd help you, even if she truly appreciates how you treated her."

Margaret hadn't been there, so she was out of the loop completely. He would ask Hancock right away. Even if it seemed rude, he'd do anything to get there. They ran there, Luffy carrying the old woman on his back or she'd take forever. When they got there, a woman came out and said Hancock had collapsed with an illness!

"What?! At a time like this?!" Luffy lamented. She told him to wait outside. "But I'm in a hurry!" he said, panicking now. This was the only option. If Hancock was sick, he was screwed, and Ace was screwed. Luffy's heart would be broken. Why couldn't they just give her blood to cure her? But if she was sick like Luffy had been, unable to ingest blood to heal him, then she definitely couldn't take him to Impel Down.

She came out quickly, looking like she had a fever, but asked what he needed. He explained the situation frantically, and his huge request. He wasn't asking to be taken somewhere simply, but she'd be risking her life for him to save Ace. He had little hope, but that hope was all he could hang onto. Every other option was darkness.

It kind of felt like the hope was a little lamp he was carrying in a pitch black space. The panic he'd had at Sabaody even before everything went down, it had to be due to him somehow knowing about Ace. There was no other explanation he could come up with.

I should have done something different. What could I have done better?

Hancock was surprised by the fact Ace was his brother more than his request. "You wish for me to answer to the warlord's summons?" she asked in a flat voice. Sandersonia and Marigold were in the window, yelling at him angrily for using her kindness and vulnerability for his own gain. He didn't like being accused of that because it wasn't his intention, but it could come across that way. He didn't respond to them, only focusing on Hancock, his only hope.

"Please, you're my only hope in this, I don't know what to do about it, I have to save him!" Luffy pleaded.

"If that is your request, I would take you anywhere!" Hancock said, her expression bright. How it had been before, when their disturbing and heavy talk was over. Luffy's face lit up, and he felt that lantern glow just a bit brighter. Now he had a chance. Hancock would be his ally in this. Maybe his only one.

Her family and the old woman were shocked. Incredibly shocked. "What on earth is going on here, Elder Nyon?!" they exclaimed.

"Her sickness is love sickness! Yes! It was love that killed her predecessors! It's just as they say in the east! Love is always a hurricane!" Hancock had a crush on him? That was weird! Luffy had said he loved Zoro. Well, one sided love… you couldn't help that, right? He could respect Hancock's feelings, even if he didn't return them. She knew that.

"Thank you so much!" he said.

He slept in Elder Nyon's house, and then got up early in the morning. He was given a large helping of blood, since they wouldn't get to bring any on the ship. That would weaken Luffy, but when he got to Impel Down, he would secretly find somebody and feed off them. Even if it might be wrong, again, he was throwing out all pride and decency. No matter if everyone finds out he's some blood drinking monster…

He didn't give a shit.

Never had he felt more determined, not even to save Robin. Not even to save Nami. Not even to just do anything else. Not even more determined to be the Pirate King, which he never thought was possible. He was shocked but also not at all surprised by this. Ace was part of what helped him form that dream, solidify it, after all.

Luffy said goodbye to the women who saved him, thankful for their help in getting him treatment, and bowed to Elder Nyon for her help that could never be repaid. Just like the help from Hancock could never be repaid. Even if it failed, she was still risking her life for him. He was so happy to have an ally in this.

They got onto the ship by going onto the sea serpents. "They aren't scared of me?"

"They are used to my presence. They won't fear you or myself." She smiled lightly, and it seemed she rarely did that around her subjects, as they were shocked by it. He said goodbye to all the women, some who were still complaining about not being able to touch his rubbery body, and promised to visit them again some day with his nakama.

"I'd like to meet this 'Zoro'," Hancock said in a weird voice.

"I'm sure he'd think you're really interesting!" Luffy said cheerily. Hancock kind of didn't look happy about this. "And Nami would think you're really pretty, probably. She likes fancy clothes and jewelry. Robin would be interested, too. And all the other guys would probably annoy you."

"And you feel nothing for the women of your crew?"

"They're my nakama! I love them all," Luffy said. Hancock turned away, and muttered that Luffy thought she was pretty.

On their way there, Hancock drilled into Luffy's mind that he must be careful. He couldn't get caught or he'd live in hell for the rest of his days. This didn't deter Luffy from his one man mission. Hancock would get him inside but help no more, which he was just fine with. But he was going to be careful. He would be completely sneaky for the first time in his life, using his senses to his advantage.

Hancock didn't know what exactly went on in the great prison, but told him to be prepared for anything. Luffy nodded. When they got onto the marine ship, Luffy was pressed to Hancock's back and butt, holding on tightly. Her cape concealed him. She was strong and it was lucky she was very tall.

He couldn't see anything, but he heard a man affirm they could go to the great prison, it had been approved. It was only the current circumstances that allowed her to go there. Normally pirates, not even warlords, would ever be allowed. It was so lucky.

Ace, I'm coming!

She turned around to face the Kuja ship, and said goodbye. They all shouted goodbye and to be careful. "I leave the country in your hands," she said. Sandersonia and Marigold agreed confidently. Hancock had petrified everyone on the ship, and undid her devil fruit power. It was suddenly full of the smells of humans. They really had been turned to stone.

If Luffy had found her attractive like them, he could be stone right now. He thought she was pretty for a girl, but it wasn't the same as being attracted to her. Zoro was the only one that made Luffy drool at seeing naked. He had trouble not giggling at the thought and completely blowing his cover.

He got in easily, and Hancock was given her own room, of course, being the only woman, a guest and a scary pirate warlord. Luffy climbed out from under her once the door was firmly locked. "Heh! That was suffocating," Luffy said. "Neehee, but we're here. Neh, are you gonna be okay? Without blood?"

"I'm in the same position as you. But will you be able to control your arms?" she asked in concern, sitting far from him near the door, not even looking at him. Luffy said head to be. There was no other option. "I see…" Hancock said shyly.

"You're really awesome to let me come with you! Now I can get to Ace before he's e-executed," Luffy's tone fell near the end. Then he brightened. "Well, as long as I get there, I'll pull it off somehow." Hancock asked what his plan was. "Well… try and be sneaky and get him out that way. Once he's free, we can both break out easy.

"Have you ever worn seastone?" Luffy asked slowly. She nodded. "Did anything weird happen?"

She said it just made her weakened. "Why do you ask?"

"Seastone just messes me up. It takes away my devil fruit powers, but I'm like… rabid. I can't control myself. I brutally killed a government guy with my hands cuffed alone," Luffy said lightly. "I don't know why it does that to me," he added. "I'm going to get a pair though. Somewhere in Impel Down, I'm going to find one. I don't care if I cheat and use it in desperation. I'm getting Ace out no matter what I have to do."

Food was coming, both hearing the rolling cart and smelling the plethora of food. When it came in, Hancock quickly locked the door behind her. Luffy devoured it. Might not be blood, but meat still helped him get lots of energy. It was delicious! Good food was the best, though it didn't have the flare that Sanji's meals had.

He missed them all. He'd do better next time. He had to.

After he was done, he was stuffed. "Ahh! That was so good! Neehee!" Luffy said loudly. Too loudly, and there was a banging on the door, demanding to know if Hancock had someone else in there. Luffy hid behind the door and Hancock rolled the cart of empty dishes out. She made a fake burp and said, "Ahh! That was so good. Heehee." She made the last part the cutest for the men, and it got them to shut up, even though they were in shock that she supposedly burped, and did a nice imitation.

"Luffy, you must be more quiet," she said.

"Sorry, sorry," Luffy replied with a laugh. "Thanks for covering for me, Hancock." She turned red and put her hands to her cheeks, turning away.

Later, the first wave of need to explode came. Maybe "release" was better to call it. Or relieve pressure. He sat on the bed, eyes closed as he tried to imagine putting the pressure all over his body in an even layer. It took a lot of concentration, and Hancock left him alone for it. She'd seen the blast on her ship, him going up high in the sky again.

His hair and clothes ended up moving a little bit under the mystery power. Like it was flowing around him. He would store this pressure for the next four days. If necessary, even longer. The moment he let the blast out, then he was screwed. He would only use it at the right moment. If he ejected it from all his body, he should last longer than if he let it out from one area.

Meditating was boring, but he had to focus on this. He got thirsty on the third day, and was so cooped up it was uncomfortable. Hancock had to go longer, but she could go much longer than he could without blood. Based mostly on her age. She was over ten years older than Luffy. Had more experience in desperation to hold out back when she was a slave.

When he slept, he had dreams about his crew. Luckily, no nightmares, which was surprising. Hancock watched him most of the time. She was very patient and nice. He didn't want to share the bed, Luffy sleeping on the couch even though she offered him the bed. She was already doing enough for him.

He barely slept the night before they'd arrive. He was worried, and his heart wouldn't stop pounding. He was thirsty, the first thing he needed to do was find blood. When they came into view of it, the thing was huge! And it reached the sea floor. There were dozens of marine battleships there.

"Ace is in there? There's more marine ships here than a buster call!"

How am I going to find him in there?

Shut up, you have to.

Ever since losing his crew, a little person who liked to hurl doubts at him had taken up a space in his mind. He couldn't get it to go away, and it was annoying. "Well, this is the most secure place in the world. They have to protect it to keep that name. He's probably deep under water here. Now quickly, hide in my robe," she said. He took a deep breath. "I believe in you," Hancock said firmly.

Luffy thanked her. He needed to hear that. He definitely wanted Hancock to meet his crew! The captain crawled under her robe again, clinging to her butt and legs. When they got out on deck, Luffy was trying not to tremble. Ace… He wasn't this nervous before going to Enies Lobby, but he also had had his crew with him.

Maybe it was better to only have him here. Easier to break in and then out. But he wanted their support. He was all alone. Knowing they were there for him at the end, once he defeated the bad guy, had been a constant help that he never noticed until he didn't have it.

There was quite a lot of noise outside from all the marines on the other ships around. They all fawned over Hancock, who was annoyed by it. "How noisy. May I petrify them?" she asked coldly."

"Please refrain," Vice admiral Momonga said. He put up with a lot from Hancock since the beginning, when she petrified all of his men and left him hanging. "Your condition is still to see the central character, Portgas D. Ace, correct?" She must have nodded, but he couldn't see. "As I said, warlords are not allowed here, but for this exception, you must wear seastone handcuffs and have a full body check. You will not pull any stunts, understand?"

"I'm not a fool. If you think I am, I shall petrify you, too."

"Good, you understand," the vice admiral said.

"Luffy, they're going to do a full body check," she warned, speaking so low only he could hear it. He replied just as quietly that he'd deal with it. Even though she was part of this very risky task as well. She was very confident, though, that she could get him inside. Just not out.

"Let us go in already," she said shortly, and she followed the man to the huge doors that opened. "Here we go, Luffy," she hissed, and they walked inside. Instantly, he smelled blood, thick and disgusting. He heard so many screams of pain and hopelessness. It sent shivers down his spine.

There were also the sounds of beasts and animals. Hopefully they'd leave him alone here. It seemed the vice admiral had never been here before, as he disliked the aura of the place already. It really was hell. Well, Luffy wasn't any less determined. Especially when he smelled Ace in the entrance. He had come here, for sure. He already knew it, but now he had concrete proof for himself.

But the place was so thick with the smell of blood and shit that he couldn't hope to find Ace by his scent. He still had the tiny piece of paper of the vivre card, though. Maybe he could find his voice, too. He would find him, even if he had to tear the place apart. I will triumph here. He thought that constantly so he actually believed it now.

A new person came. "Welcome to my Impel Down!" an annoying voice said. "My mistake, I was being too ambitious to say 'my'!" What an irritating person this seemed to be already. "I am still vice-warden, Hannibal! Nice to meet you. I've heard this is the 'empress' Hancock-dono? My… empress Hancock-dono! Sorry, I'm being too ambitious again!"

He said the warden Magellan was in level four, good information to know. A woman named Domino was introduced, going to be the one to do the full body check. It was explained on their way by Domino that the prisoners were boiled alive when they first entered. The most recent additions, Ace, Jinbei and Crocodile barely flinched.

So, he was there? Luffy was glad he wasn't dead, that he didn't drink him dry. He barely remembered that time. His eyes bleeding… Robin had a strong stomach to not be haunted by that image. Must have been horrifying. He'd sure learned his lesson about animal blood.

Once they were in the private room, Luffy wasn't sure what to do. Hancock was silent. Apparently there were camera den dens everywhere in the prison. To be expected. Luckily they had a certain smell. Maybe he could find his way through by avoiding them.

"Please, take off your robe so we can finish this quickly." Hancock also needed seastone cuffs.

"Please, be gentle," Hancock said in a sweet voice, and then the smell of a person immediately disappeared into stone. "You can come out now, Luffy." He let out a sigh. He thought he'd have to make a break for it at the beginning! "It looks like I can't help any further. I had hoped to be of more help, but I won't be able to use my abilities from now on," she apologized sincerely.

"What are you talking about?! I would never have been able to come here without your help! Even if battleships surround this place, this is enough," he said brightly.

Hancock frowned and once again pleaded for him to be careful and stay out of trouble. "If you're caught, you're doomed. You're strong, but promise me you won't be rash," she said in desperation, really worried about him.

"Okay! I promise I'll be careful! I'll try to repay you someday! I'll never forget this! Thank you so much, Hancock!" he said, holding her hand. Her face went bright red and she nodded frantically. Luffy climbed the rafters and the body check went fine, and now she was locked in seastone cuffs.

It was so lucky she didn't react how Luffy did or it would all be over. She wasn't like Roger, she had a devil fruit. And Luffy had reacted to seastone that way long before he touched the blood stone. Back in Alabasta, the seastone cage had caused that problem. It had always been there, it seemed. It was something only having to do with Luffy. Well, so far.

He hung to the ceiling as Hancock got in the lift, going down to the floor with Ace. Luffy gave her a grin and a thumbs up, hanging upside down. She smiled and swayed, but caught herself when the others asked if she was alright. "I'm fine," she said coldly. The lift lowered, and Luffy's major task began.