OK sorry for any Bon Kurei occness, but I haven't really written him before so still working out the kinks. I sincerely believe that he is still alive, at least I'm hoping. So level 5.5 and 6 then. On we go. Sorry this one was long so I couldn't update quick.

I woke up to the sensation of someone sitting on my roughly. I reach up, feeling blindly for the face. I felt a short crop of hair and a skinny boy's face. I groan blearily.

"Come on Jeff, I don't have to get up early today."

"Who is Jeff?"

The voice is not the one I was expecting, different yet familiar. I cracked open an eye to see a flash of red and a boy's grinning face. I smile and yawn.

"Oh, good morning Luffy."

Then my memories rush back. I am here in Impel Down, on level 5.5, and we will rescue Jinbe today.

I roll the Straw-hat captain off of me and sit up still yawning. I am not a morning person by any means, and it takes me a cup of coffee to get moving properly. I stand up, stagger a little and make my way out of my room, Luffy trotting at my heels.

"Hey Rose, who is Jeff?"

I glance at him with heavily lidded eyes.

"Jeff? Oh, he's my brother."

Jeff is one year and eleven days exactly older then me. He is annoying, but he is the best brother I could ever have, and we are incredibly close. I am obviously fun loving and the fiction adventurous type, but he is the nerdy type of guy that loves to learn about things. He knows about my infatuation of One Piece, one of the only people I have told. I share with him cool things from One Piece and he looks up different things to research it. His favorite character? Whitebeard, because he is so powerful. Yeah, Jeff is the coolest nerd I know of.

Luffy got a faraway look in his eye.

"Younger or older?"

I nod at him.

"Older. I love him very much."

He looks pensive for a moment, before he smiles.

"Come on breakfast is ready."

I follow him into the main room, where everyone is bustling around with breakfast. The Straw-hat crew dominates one corner of the room, already eating. I sit down next to Zoro, and bang my forehead against the table. I am still not fully awake yet. I groan.

"I need a drink."

Zoro taps my shoulder and I look up to see him offering me a tankard.

"Rum or sake?"

I shake my head, stretching.

"I can't drink alcohol Zoro."

I spot a girl, who looks normal enough and say.

"Hey, can I have something hot to drink?"

The lady nodded.

"I can get you some tea."

I smile.

"Thanks."

She leaves and I bang my head against the table again. Why is the morning so evil? I feel a furry hoof against my temple and I hear Chopper's innocent question.

"Rose, are you sick?"

I shake my head, muttering.

"No Chopper, I'm fine, just not awake yet."

I hear Nami giggle.

"What's wrong Rose? Not a morning person?"

I shake my head again.

"No."

Why bother denying it? Zoro asks curiously.

"Why can't you drink alcohol?"

I sigh, reluctantly raising my head off the table, rubbing my eyes.

"I'm too young."

He cocks his head to one side.

"How old are you again?"

I tap the table.

"I'm eighteen."

Zoro shoved the tankard at me.

"Then you aren't too young. I drank my first when I was ten. Who said you couldn't?"

I chuckled and gave it back to him.

"In my world, you have to be twenty one to drink alcohol. I can't."

Zoro pursed his lips stubbornly.

"You aren't in your world."

I shrug. As true as that is, I still can't. I have a fight today, and I can't fight drunk. That would be a disaster.

"Tell you what Zoro, when we all get out of here and have a celebration on the ship, I will drink with you then."

Zoro nodded, taking his tankard back in his hand.

"Drink to it?"

I looked down and noticed that there is a steaming mug of tea in front of me. I pick it up with a sleepy grin.

"Yeah."

I slam my cup against his and while he chugs his, I sip a couple of gulps. The liquid slides into my stomach and its like you can feel its heat on the way down. The warmth roars through me, waking me up completely. I blink a couple of times and I smile at the table.

"Oh, good morning everyone."

Everyone chuckled. Robin nodded at me.

"A little late Rose."

Franky wrapped an arm around me, giving me a squeeze.

"Better late then never, right sis?"

I nodded eagerly, my eyes sparkling with excitement. Today will be a big day.

"Rose-swan!"

I turn to see Sanji in a cook's outfit spinning toward me and leaving a trail of pink hearts in his wake. I lean forward so he doesn't bump into me but he stops in front of me kneeling.

"What would you like for breakfast, my beautiful dear Rose-swan?"

Good question. I had no idea, but I know the essentials.

"Something with lots of carbs Sanji."

Sanji's eye glinted as he raced off toward the kitchen. Usopp watched him go.

"Carbs? Is that a food?"

I sip my tea, letting its warmth wake me up further.

"Carbohydrates Usopp. They are what gives you energy."

My dad is a doctor, I run for a living, and I take a biology class in school. I know all about the flow of energy and what nutrients are needed for a healthy body. People say avoid carbs because they are unhealthy, but if we didn't have them, I wouldn't run well. There is such a thing that we runners like to call 'carbo loading'. It's where we eat nothing but pasta and carbs all week to have a great race.

Right now, I need all the energy I can get. I am going to have to go nonstop through seven six floors until we get out. Sanji reappears with a plate full of unfamiliar food. I trust him though; he is a cook, so he knows the food groups and how they work. I dig in, happily tasting the cook's food again. As usual, it is melt-in-mouth quality.

Brook sipped some tea across from the table.

"Rose-san, is there a plan for today?"

I sigh.

"Yes."

I glance up at the crew around me, my voice completely serious.

"Now understand, once we leave here and fight in level six, it will be nonstop fighting until we get on the Sunny. The people that are going to fight us in level six will follow us once we leave with Jinbe, so we will have to deal with them from the back, as well as the guards we fought on the different floors yesterday. Not only that but they will have been rested as well. So we will be hard pressed."

I glanced at Zoro and Robin.

"Zoro, Robin, when we get to level six you guys get to Jinbe. Robin, use your eyes to find him, Zoro cut the cage and the chains."

They both nodded seriously. I nod in direction of the okama behind us.

"Bon-chan is setting up distractions in the different floors away from us. It should cause enough problems that we all, okamas included, get out safely."

I glance at Chopper.

"Can you ask the wolves to help? They can eat all the animals on level two if they wish."

Chopper nodded and hopped off the bench to the table and walked off, probably to level five. I finish eating quickly, not going until I am unpleasantly stuffed, but until I didn't feel hungry. I couldn't do any discomfort today.

I heard Bon Kurei before ever seeing him.

"Un Deux Trois! Un Deux Trois. What's four again?"

He spins into view, but when he sees us he relaxes into a pose on his toes.

"Ah, good morning Straw-hat crew. They have been looking for you on all the floors all night. They are quite confused to where you went."

I nod, clutching my fork tightly in my hand.

"Good. We can catch them by surprise."

Franky leaned against the table to grab three cola bottles and I felt it sagging under his weight.

"Hey Rose sis, what can we expect on level six?"

I sip my tea calmly with a small smile.

"Nothing. It is the least threatening of all of the floors."

Usopp spit out half his drink, which caused me to chuckle. He exclaimed.

"What? The most infamous criminals in the entire prison don't get anything that tortures them? Why the heck not?"

I sipped my tea again.

"There are many theories, one being that they are so tough that any torture on them won't work. That doesn't mean they leave them alone though. I'm sure they are still beaten and tortured, but they don't have to deal with spikes or beasts or famine or heat or cold. They just sit in their cells until they are erased from history or they are executed."

Sanji sucked in a long drag of his cigarette.

"This place is hell."

I gave him an apologetic smile. Bon Kurei gestured.

"It is time Straw-hats."

I stand up, my resolve thickening and strengthening like steel. I give a confident grin to Luffy, who returns it, cracking his knuckles to show he is ready. Chopper reappears with a solemn nod.

"The wolves will help."

I grin at him.

"Wonderful. Let's go then."

I am so ready to go, like an overcharged battery. I am excited in a way, and determined. I will be strong. I will be brave today.

We walk through the stone halls until I feel the biting chill of level five. Bon Kurei nodded.

"Good luck Mugi-chan."

With that he disappeared down another tunnel. I hope I see him again soon. Luffy glanced around at his crew before he nodded.

"Let's go."

I follow him out of the caves and into the cold snow.

I am better prepared this time because I have snow boots on my feet and the thick warm coat from yesterday. Still freezing, but better then yesterday.

We traipse through the snow without any sound. It was eerie, and very freaky because I kept expecting something to jump out at us. Luffy started by walking, but he steadily sped up until he was racing through the snow. We followed his pace eagerly; none of us wanting to be left behind and everyone feeling the excitement in the air like a tension.

I skipped after them, my running ability proving an asset. Some people puke while running after they just ate. I have a strong stomach because I have never thrown up after I eat. I have mild discomfort but never have puked. So I run unrestrained after Luffy toward the stairs to the sixth level.

Suddenly alarms begin to blare just as we reach the stairs. I glance up and see the transponder snails on the wall, looking down at us with an uninterrupted gaze. I call out.

"They know we are here now."

Zoro drew his swords in a flash and was running with them in his hands and mouth with ease.

"Let them come."

Usopp had his goggles of his eyes and his kabuto in his hands. He stopped suddenly and stated calmly.

"Incoming."

He raises his kabuto and shot off something, yelling.

"Green Star, Impact Wolf!"

The green wolf with a red nose grew forth and raced down the hallway, exploding upon impact of the guards that had been coming up the stairs. I run down the stairs two at a time beside Brook and Chopper. Luffy grinned.

"Let's go."

He ran even faster so that even I had trouble keeping up with him. More guards appeared, but Nami spun her climatact, a serious frown on her face.

"Thunderbolt tempo!"

She sent a stream of bubbles with rainclouds down the stairs toward the guards running and yelling toward us. After a few seconds the bubbles popped and electricity fried the guards, making them fall to the ground. I ignore them as we pass, continuing down the stairs where the bubbles still hovered. Nami explained.

"I made them go to the bottom of the staircase. They will take care of anyone that comes up."

I grin at her.

"Good one Nami."

She flips her hair and smiles.

"Thanks Rose."

We continue until we reach the bottom of the stairs where a large group of guards is waiting. Luffy draws back his hands and flings them forward.

"Gomu gomu no Gatling gun!"

The guards try to get out of the way or withstand the attack, both of which they fail miserably at. They fall to the ground as we land, facing horde of guards and blugoris, as well as the demon guards. Great.

I bend my knees slightly and rise on the balls of my feet. All right, bring it on.

Suddenly a deep voice boomed out.

"Straw-hat!"

I look forward to see Magellan towering over the other guards. Luffy glances at me and I nod with a smile.

"Go get him tiger."

Luffy bent his knees slightly, the reddish tint already glowing in his legs. He sped forward faster then I could ever see with a shout.

"Magellan."

Magellen turned purple, his poison oozing off him.

"I will keep you here this time, Straw-hat."

Zoro whistled as Luffy attacked Magellan with blackened fists raised.

"So that is Magellan. Impressive."

I nudge him.

"Go on, with Robin. Find Jinbe."

He nods.

"Right."

Robin already had her arms spreading everywhere, covered in eyes. They both took off, Zoro clearing a path for Robin to follow. Even with her arms and eyes, she could still clutch. Sanji distracted me with a coo.

"Who is that wonderful lady?"

I turn and see him staring at none other then Sadi-chan, who purred.

"Ooh, let me hear you scream."

I grab Sanji's arm, steering him away from her. He can't fight women; he would lose if he fought her, but there might be a strong opponent he could fight. I smile as I see an Egyptian headdress moving its way through the guards and blugoris, who surprisingly haven't attacked us yet.

"Here Sanji, you fight Hannyabal."

Sanji's eyes focused again and he swung his foot experimentally.

"Come on you bastard."

Hannyabal lowered his spear at Sanji.

"As Warden, I will stop you Straw-hats!"

I poke Nami's shoulder, and point to Sadi-chan, who is tightening her whip.

"Nami, you got her?"

Nami thudded her climatact against the ground.

"Yeah, I got her."

I grin. All the pieces are in place. It was time to go all out. I gestured to who was left: Brook, Usopp, Franky, and Chopper.

"Come on guys, we can take care of the rest."

With that, we leapt forward toward the enemy.

Prisoners cheered us on in the fight. I moved through the enemy carefully, dodging and taking care of enemies one at a time. I acquired another trident from which I was grateful. Occasionally, I would glimpse another battle. Franky using his strong left and right to shove back guards and blugoris by the dozen. Usopp shooting off his stars in a flurry of attacks in multiple directions. Brook taking care of scores with a single slash. Sanji using his kicks on Hannyabal, but the warden just kept getting back up.

Nami caught Sadi-chan's whip on her climatact at one point, and had spun the woman into the wall. I turned to face a new enemy, but I felt the crackle of electricity behind me and heard Sadi-chan's scream of pain. Go Nami.

Chopper was in Horn Point, using his horns to buck the jailors in the air. Luffy and Magellan were fighting brutally, but it was as I suspected; Luffy was winning. Magellan was also helping us actually, decimated his own forces with his excess poison. All and all, we were doing pretty well.

The problem with me is I don't know how to pace myself. I should save energy for the rest of the floors, but if I don't give enough energy I will be killed. Oh what a quandary. I was using the trident, until it got sliced in half by a sword. I shrugged and threw the pieces to one side. Couldn't use them anymore, so I might as well go for something new.

He tried to slash me over the head with the sword but I ducked the swing and snapped his elbow in a lightning fast attack. He fell back, cradling his arm in pain and dropping his sword. I scooped it up, and swung it experimentally. Not like Zoro's swords at all, and heavy. Heaviness means a better swing though. I will take it.

I take the sword in both of my hands, readying myself. A blugori charged at me. I closed my eyes, giving myself a mental image of Zoro. What would he do?

I snap my eyes open, and do a poor imitation of the expert swordsman. A diagonal slash down the chest. It wasn't deep because I am weak, but it injured to blugori enough for it to retreat. All right, going good.

Suddenly, I hear a booming voice.

"Fishmen Karate, five thousand brick fist."

I turn to see Zoro leap into the fray. Robin, clutching several jailors, and Jinbe, larger then life, taking out about a hundred guards.

I can't help but stand there slack jawed. Jinbe was impressive in the anime, but in real life he was downright intimidating. Beaten up as he is, he casts a presence much like Zoro and Luffy do. He reminds me of the ocean, not only because he is a fishman, but also because he is solid, he is strong, he will always be there, and he is powerful. I quickly snap out of my trance to yell.

"Jinbe is here!"

The Straw-hats, distracted from their fights for a second, cheered.

"Hey Jinbe!"

"Good to see you Jinbe."

I quickly use the sword to literally cut through the guards. Then I freeze, taking stock of our situation.

I was a complete and utter fool.

They were clever, I hadn't even noticed. They had drawn us away from the stairs and cut us off, surrounding us down here with no escape route. I bite my lip, thinking quickly. Wow, I'm stupid.

The lift.

We can use it to go all the way to the top, and find a way to contact Bon Kurei to meet us at the top floor. Yeah, that could work. First, tell the others.

I turn, intending to tell Usopp first but I see something that catches my eye in horror.

Zoro is fighting easily, but I see Magellan and Luffy fighting behind him. I hear Magellan say quietly.

"I can't hurt you, but I can keep your friends here."

He took a deep breath and let it out, breathing out his poison. Every guard around him fell to the ground gasping for air. The jellyfish looking thing took its form and made its way slowly, unnoticed by anyone else, toward Zoro.

Crap crap major crap! I push forward without thinking. Time to pay Zoro back for level 3. Time to protect him for a change.

He turns swiftly as he senses me coming toward him and his eye softens.

"What Rose?"

I don't say a word, just shove him calmly out of the way as the jellyfish descends on me, wrapping me in its purple wispy tentacles.

I suck in a quick breath before it completely engulfs me. I pinch my nose and cover my mouth holding my breath. All right Rose, don't panic.

"Rose!"

Zoro storms forward but I shake my head violently. Don't you dare come forward and get caught too. He stills, his eye flicking back and forth, trying to discern what to do.

"Rose."

Suddenly Luffy is beside me. He swings his fist.

"Gomu gomu no pistol!"

He swings it at the jellyfish, but it just melts through. I grab his shoulder to get his attention. My lungs are already aching from the strain. I have to hurry. Luffy looks at me. I point to Magellan and I hope he gets the message. Get rid of Magellean; that will help me.

He does because he rockets off, hitting Magellan with a barrage of fists.

"Let her go!"

I sink to my knees, struggling against the impulse to breathe. Magellan has limited the range to this thing to protect his men, but it protects the Straw-hats as well. Good.

I pinched my fingers together to keep my mind away from the bomb so close to exploding in my chest. Crap, I have to breathe.

I let out a few breathes to blow away some of the poison before sucking in a quick mall breath. It isn't enough and I practically feel the poison sliding down my throat like a liquid. Oh I am so screwed.

If it is airborne like this, it will enter the bloodstream through the lungs and shut down the body. With my heart rate higher then normal it would take no time at all for me to succumb to the poison. I turn to see Luffy beat Magellan into the floor and the gas disappeared. I drew in a few gasps of air thankfully.

"Rose, are you ok?"

I look up. When did all of the crew get here? I smile reassuringly.

"I'm fine guys."

I cough slightly. The poison must have started its work. We need to leave. Gosh, I'm going to be a burden from now on, and that sucks worse then the dying part.

Right, we need to move fast.

"Guys, they blocked off the stairs. Go to the lift."

Suddenly I see Jinbe standing over me.

"Hello, Luffy-kun who is this?"

I stand quickly and I stiffen at the sudden dizziness.

"Rose at your service, sir Jinbe, but right now I suggest we leave."

I swiftly take a head count and realize with a thrill of horror that someone is not here.

"Where is Brook?"

There was no sign of the musician. Crap, at a time like this? I order.

"I will find him. I am the fastest. Go to lift now, before they recover."

Luffy nodded.

"Come on."

They all leave, cutting through the enemies where I see the lift is waiting. I glance around, and see the skeleton, completely oblivious, a hundred feet ahead of me. I dodge jailors everywhere as I sprint toward him.

Something is terribly wrong. I am slowing down, and I can't breathe except for a wheezy gasp. The poison. I need to hurry.

I grab Brook's wrist and he whirls around in surprise.

"Rose-san?"

"We need to go. Now."

I explain hurriedly, pushing him in front of me. He senses my urgency and he rushes forward, using his sword to clear a path through the jailors.

"Stop right there Straw-hats."

I look around Brook and see Hannyabal standing there. I juke around Brook and kick the warden in his knee, almost snapping it.

"Sorry, but we are leaving."

I tell him before I take off again. Brook is right behind me and the door is right in front of me. Then a jailor grabs my ankle and I almost fall flat. Brook rushes past me, but he stops. I kick the guy off of me and nod.

"Go."

He takes off again, laughing.

"Yohohohohohohohoho."

The lift is right there and already has the rest of the Straw-hats on it. The gate though is slowly easing shut. The others are cheering us on, encouraging us to go the extra amount. We won't make the door, there is no way.

Well, I won't make it.

I take both my hands and shove Brook down and through the gap just as the bars come down completely, shutting me off from my friends.

"Rose!"

Usopp, Nami, Luffy, and Chopper all yell through the bars, grasping at my hands. I slump against the bars, giving a weak smile.

"I'm so sorry. I thought I could make it."

Zoro draws his swords, but I hold up my hand.

"No Zoro, don't you dare."

Now that I thought about it, me staying here was good. I could keep the entire company down here distracted by me so they couldn't destroy the lift or go up the floors. Usopp tried desperately to open the door.

"Rose come on, we can get you on."

I shake my head.

"Sorry guys, you guys leave me here."

Franky tried to wrench the bars.

"No Rose-sis, we won't leave you."

Luffy looks incredibly angry.

"You expect us to leave you behind?"

I glance behind me. The jailors and Hannyabal are helping Magellan up. He will get the Straw-hats if we don't move quickly.

"Look Luffy, think about it. I leave tomorrow anyway; who cares if they keep me here a day or two. Besides, I don't have a bounty. I will be on the very top level, the one where you can just walk in, grab me, and leave if you want to rescue me. It will be simple to get me out."

I think about all the tortures they can do to me in two days and gulp, but I put on a convincing smile. I need to be brave.

"I got some of Magellan's poison too. They will treat it. They will need me alive. I promise Luffy I will not die."

His eyes darkened.

"No don't, Ace—"

"I will keep mine. Please Luffy. You have Jinbe. Get Bon Kurei and leave. You can come back. I will survive until then."

Luffy still doesn't look convinced, so I reach through the bars and flick the lever that operates the lift. It starts moving up with agonizing slowness. I wave, but crumple to the ground as my legs finally give out on me.

"Rose!"

I smile, trying to keep my fear at bay.

"I will be fine. Contact Bon Kurei to get him to the top level. I will see you again."

Luffy stretches his arm down, grabbing my wrist.

"Rose! I can't leave you here!"

He shouts. I sigh and shake my head. I knowit is against everything they believe to leave a nakama behind, but it won't be permanent. Knowing Luffy, he will come straight back.

"You have to."

I rip his arm off of me and it shoots back up to him. I call up.

"Luffy, I will just take the stairs. They can't catch me, not when I'm running. You know how fast I am."

I see the inkling of tears in his eyes as he shouts back.

"I will see you, on the top level."

I nod.

"I will meet you there."

Then my friends disappear up to freedom, while I stay down in eternal hell.

I grit my teeth. There is no way I could run like this. My head was spinning like a merry-go-round, and my arms and legs would no longer cooperate with my brain signals. No, I can't end like this, I will at least go out with a fight.

I push myself with difficulty to my feet as jailors and blugoris surround me. I raise my fists taking a deep breath. Be strong, be brave.

I let them attack. I bring my arms up, and try to snap their elbows, but I am completely drained of strength. How could I, so full of energy, completely drain so quickly? Darn you Magellan. It was worth it though. Zoro is safe.

Suddenly I find myself dragged to the ground, completely incapacitated. Darkness swims at the edge of my vision and I see blurriness, like I don't have my glasses on. I see Magellan and Hannyabal towering over me with guards all piling on top of me. I smirk and whisper, trying to bluff. It was my only chance.

"You might want to keep me alive?"

Magellan knelt next to me and he looks terrifying. I suck up my fear and give him a glare.

"Why is that?"

My smirk returns.

"I can tell you about the Straw-hat crew. I am a valuable information source."

He doesn't look convinced. I bite my lip as my last strength fades. If they think I am valuable they would treat my poison, otherwise, they will let me die. I close my eyes and fall into a world of darkness, not knowing if I would ever wake up again.