Let's get this party started, shall we?

I walk into the girl's quarters to see Nami sitting on the bed, examining her climatact. I quickly grab my clothes that she bought for me last time, but before I change, I glance over at Nami.

"Hey Nami?"

She looks up, her brown eyes sparkling.

"Yes Rose?"

I gulp. I cannot believe I am asking this.

"Do you have a tank top and short shorts or a bikini I can use?"

I have seen level four, and don't want to sweat myself to death. Nami looks surprised and stands up.

"Let me see if I have anything in your size."

Man, this is going to be totally out of my comfort zone. I am incredibly modest, but I know that if I want to fight well, I have to be as comfortable as possible which means less clothes. She hands me a bikini, one she used in the earlier episodes.

"Here, try this."

I relax when I see the thick straps and not completely skin revealing swimsuit. Smiling slightly I go to the bathroom and shed my wet clothes and tried it on. It fit perfectly, and it didn't feel like it would slip or slide when I was on the run or fighting. Perfect. I slide my green bear t-shirt and my brown shorts on over it. I step out of the bathroom.

"Hey Nami, I would layer. Put on a bikini or swimsuit under your clothes."

Nami nodded and grabbed a change of clothes for herself. Robin walked in and I told her the same thing. Robin followed my directions without questions. All right, got the hot part. Level five we will just have to steal coats off of guards. Ok, that's taken care of. Then I hear Usopp's call from the deck.

"Impel Down is close!"

I check my clothes, everything I could possibly need for this mission. I pull my hair up extra high and give it a swish, making sure it is secure. Nami hands me her old quarterstaff, and I am grateful for the extra weapon. Anything I can use, I will use.

I walk out onto the deck, seeing the towering structure right in front of us. Everyone stands in a line, facing our newest enemy. I am reminded of Enies Lobby, and I stand tall and proud next to my crew. I wrap my fingers around the quarterstaff tightly, trembling, not with fear but suspense in a way. I guess I'm a little nervous, but I want to get started.

Usopp pats my elbow. I say quietly to him.

"You are brave Usopp. Be confident."

I watch him nod in my peripheral vision. I see some of the jailers come out onto the dock, looking at the pirate ship in horror. I can't help but giggle as they completely freak out.

"It's the Straw-hat Pirates!"

"Are you sure?"

"What are they doing here?"

Luffy grins as he sees them. I know he is about to unleash, well, hell on them.

"Good luck Luffy."

He glances at me, looking like a kid asking to go to the park.

"Can I go now?"

I bow mockingly.

"Be my guest."

With a grin, he rockets himself to the dock. We drop anchor and I am barely containing my excitement by the time we leap onto the dock. It is now deserted, well deserted from conscious guards anyway. I shake my head, smiling as I follow Sanji and Chopper into the first hall. Off to one side, I hear Luffy yelling attack names and guards yelling about him getting farther into the prison.

The first thing I notice is the smell. I gulp down a gag, as I smell the bloody, sweaty, smoky odor of the prisoners and the fire. It was so strong it made my eyes water.

"What is that?"

Nami coughed. I covered up my disgust and rage with a calm answer.

"You expect the world's worst prison to smell like sunshine and roses?"

I feel Chopper shaking at my side. He whispers in horror.

"Death. It smells like death."

Usopp bent down to his level and I see concern in his eyes.

"You sure Chopper?"

The little reindeer nodded.

"I'm a doctor. I know the smell very well."

I jump as screams permeate the air. I'm not the only one either as I see the more timid Straw-hats startle. Sanji immediately leapt to Nami's rescue.

"Oh Nami-swan I will save you."

Brook shudders and I hear his bones clacking together.

"Whew, I'm glad I don't have ears to 'ear those with. Skull joke and pun!"

Zoro glanced at me.

"What was that?"

I sigh.

"This prison specializes in torture. They actually named the floors different levels of hell because of the horrific things they do to them on those floors."

The Straw-hats are stunned into silence. Robin glances around, interested that she is able to see inside the infamous prison, but I see relief in her eyes. This would be where she would be if Luffy had not saved her from CP9.

"Where do we go Rose?"

I glance at Franky and I point down the hall.

"The lift is down that way. It is a platform that we could just go down and shouldn't encounter any problems. Or we could go down the hard way, through the levels. Or, down the stairs."

Sanji lit another cigarette, already burning out the one he lit earlier.

"What do you suggest Rose-swan?"

I tap my chin, and shrug.

"Whatever you guys want. I am a guide, not a boss. You tell me where you want to go."

The Straw-hats all met eyes, discussing silently what to do. I watch Zoro and I see him grin, almost wickedly. Hard way it is then. I was stupid for asking.

I lead them through the halls toward the entrance to level one, trying to keep my swirling thoughts focused on the one goal. My mind was in so many places at once, trying to think of things I could do differently that could help. It's not like I knew all of Impel Down. I mean Luffy ran around trying to figure out his way through the prison for half an episode until he found Buggy. I doubt people will be willing to help us down here too.

I am jerked out of my thoughts by a light touch on my leg. I look down to see Chopper smiling at me.

"What's wrong Rose?"

I sigh. I am worrying too much about this. The Straw-hats take things seriously, but they don't take it this seriously. I need to relax. I smile down at Chopper.

"No, I'm fine. Just a little stressed is all. I get back, and you guys throw me into a wonderful adventure."

Chopper smiled back at me.

"Sorry about that. You shouldn't have come if you didn't want to."

I laughed.

"No Chopper, I want to do it. The stress is all that's bad. I will be worse then Nami soon."

I listen behind me and hear Sanji and Zoro arguing quietly and Nami smacking both of them angrily. I chuckle at the familiarity, trying to block out the screams. I can't help them. I need to focus on Jinbe, and only Jinbe. It's only lucky we haven't run into—.

I turn a corner and run into a group of blugori.

I instantly freeze for a second in shock before I raise my quarterstaff.

"Guys."

I say and the Straw-hats are by my side in a second, brandishing their weapons as the blugori turned around. Nami struck first with a bolt of lightning, and then we all move, attacking the guards as one. I even manage to take one down by myself by beating it senseless with my quarterstaff.

I poke it to make sure it truly is unconscious before I turn to see the rest of Straw-hats congratulating each other, but I hear the undertone. They know we have a long while to go yet. I bite my lip. Nami flipped her hair over her shoulder.

"All right, it is no use wasting time around here. Let's move on."

I nod and move in beside Zoro and Robin, feeling their strength fuel mine.

We passed many prisoners who yelled out to us like they did to Luffy last time he was here. I have to clench my fist to restrain myself and remind myself that these are dangerous criminals. I want to help them though; they don't deserve this. Zoro nudges me and I look up at him. He shakes his head and I sigh and nod. I know we can't.

Then we reach the hole to the first floor.