Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece.
"One Piece." – Speaking
'One Piece.' – Thinking
One Piece. – Flashbacks
One Piece. – Devil Fruits and Techniques
Deadly Drinking Pirate
Friends From Down Below
Previously on Deadly Drunken Pirate,
"Suit back up guys because if you liked the Fourth Floor, you will love the Fifth." Luffy spoke up while hastily getting his shirt and coat back on, same as Nami and Perona. At least no one else will see them in their bras~! Bon Clay was delayed for a bit while swiping a staffer's coat to wear over his prisoner garb. "Snug in nice and tight too Nola, we are finally in real hell." Luffy whispered to the size-changing snake that getting even more tense as the cold is especially dangerous to reptiles like her.
Finally, they reached a massive door at the end of the hallway. Luffy grasped the handle and took a deep breath before swinging it wide open. A powerful gust of freezing air hit like a train to the face. They only needed a quick look to see this whole floor as the world's biggest freezer with jail cells stuffed with prisoners. If you could listen in, they often complained that the food was frozen and can't be eaten while guessing which finger is to fall off next. His companions knew they were smart in putting back on their layers; they can already feel the frost on their bare hands showing.
"Here it is, this is as far as those corridors can take us." Luffy wasn't doing any better but tried to focus on what to do here on the frozen floor. "I have heard that some prisoners just disappear rather than freezing all over. We need to track down where they are vanishing because we still haven't reached Ace's prison level."
"Right…behind…you…Luffy…" Nami tried to savage what little heat to spare by buddling around the captain's coat. Same with Perona and Bon Clay. However, a worse fate than freezing over had found them.
"So, you are Mugiwara Luffy, the Liber Glade." A voice broke throughout the floor and every prisoner started shivering, for once it was not the terrible cold. "I am impressed that you got past our security and amazed that a pirate actually came on his own accord to the Prison from Hell. But it all ends here, for you making a mockery of the Government that keeps this world safe."
"If I had a Berry for every time someone said that, I will be swimming in millions, Magellan." Luffy was as confident as always which comforted his companions a tad. "Since your office was on this level, I had to hasten to this giant ass freezer. Was the tour not to your liking? You only get to see Hancock come along once every blue moon you know?" Magellan was not amused at all.
"You should have stayed a Shichibuki if you wanted to live, like Hebi-hime. So, brace for your painful death, Mugiwara!" Luffy grinned at the sight of the serpent heads made out of poison while pulling out his Reimei Itami (Dawn Pain).
"Same to you!"
On the second level of Impel Down,
"Did you hear? Apparently, some no good pirate actually came on his own accord. Why are pirates coming to jail, should they be doing the opposite?" A couple of guards were just simply walking along the cells filled with prisoners who were a bit too quiet.
"And with reports that they are gathering all the nearby and available marines to headquarters and the Shichibuki if they agree, I fear that war is coming." The second guard brought up, not really caring that the prisoners were not acting rowdy like they usually do or even whimpering in fear from the beasts of the Second Level.
"If it is a war, then the Marines are going to win! I am sure of it!" The first guard shouted out loud, not bothered that there were eyes being rolled at that. Unfortunately for those two, they weren't paying enough attention to notice something else out of the blue. One section of the foundation holding up the cells has a couple of brick-shaped gaps while the rest of it appears to be protruding outward for some reason.
That's because the holes were spyholes, being used by Mr. Three! "Looks like whatever is going down below us is getting most of the guards occupied." He whispered not just to himself but also to his companion hiding out in their makeshift shelter, cleverly crafted to blend in with the surrounding brick walls. Who is none other than Buggy! "Can't believe I am saying this, but that Mugiwara (Straw Hat) fool has finally giving us the big break of our lives!"
Mr. Three was so relieved that he was brought to tears. "I know, my friend. We had to sneak around and wait for hours before we got here to the Second Level. It is here that we make it big!" Buggy rejoiced in his brief moment of triumph. Taking a turn through the spyholes, his grin gotten bigger; the coast was clear.
All there is to do was sneak to one of the many cells of prisoners. "Time is of the essence and we shouldn't miss this chance, men. Are you ready?" The prisoners had grins on their faces too,
"We sure are, Captain Buggy." One spoke up while holding a keychain loaded with identical keys, while his fellow cellmates each have one too! "These keys that Mr. Three made will get our asses out of here!" The floor was soon filled with devious chuckling, kept to a low to not alert any possible guard still on duty.
XXXXX
Meanwhile, in Level 5,
Screaming was heard throughout the shivering winds that can cut through one's bones even when heavily clothed. The air had not only snow and wind but a revolting stench as well. The prisoners looked up from complaining about fingers falling off and bread being too frozen to eat to see whole cell blocks attacked by a monster made from venom. They all knew it was Magellan but couldn't help wonder why the warden was rampaging through Level 5, he had never done it before! Their answer was a young man hopping from cell block to another to dodge the incoming venom monsters.
"Come on Magellan, I am getting a little bored of this! And while I don't care for prisoners, how are you going to report all this to your bosses?!" Luffy taunted with the same confident, roguish smirk on his lips. All the while, Magellan was already panting with frustration at this hard-to-hit target talking back to him. "After all, weren't you the one who made a big deal to your equal about killing prisoners?"
"SHUT UP!" Magellan was usually calm and collected, albeit easily annoyed with insubordination, but now he is outraged. "The reports about your ability to read minds aren't so far-fetched after all. Just leave that psycho out of this, he is just another monster we don't need! Anywhere!'
"Monster is a relevant term, Warden. To the prisoners and even your own staff, you are the monster." Luffy retorted as cold as the wind cutting through his bones. "And now, you are the monster killing prisoners for a change. Doesn't that make you the psycho?" Not waiting for an answer, Luffy took out his blades and charged at Magellan who looked like he was about to burst a blood vessel.
That was when an even fouler smell broke through the strong icy winds that caused the remaining prisoners to shout out loud about their noses burning in the stench. When they all looked out of their cell blocks, they started to scream even louder than before. It was like seeing the devil himself in full, burning, smelly, venomous rage. It was so bad that Luffy himself lost his cool and stopped in his tracks.
"Now that is a monster." Was the last thing the pirate said before a massive arm made of the terribly smelly sludge moved at blinding speeds, finally hitting its mark. All was left of that cell block that Luffy was standing on had completely and utterly dissolved along with several blocks nearby. The prisoners trapped in their cells lost the will the scream after that, and the warden did not even give them a passing glance.
"Shit. Now I will have to report this to my superiors. I will count myself lucky to even keep my job." Magellan muttered to himself as he struck down to his base size and absorbed all that nasty venom that left a rotting stench in the air still. Not that it ever bothered him and the remaining prisoners were all too scared to say a word about it. All Magellan cared was the intruder was dead, or was he?
XXXXX
"Is he gone yet?"
"I think so. It was a close call." In the distance, by some pillars that blocked most of the freezing winds, a familiar trio of pirates were hiding. "I knew that trouble was going to find us eventually so I made sure to make a couple of Ēruabatā (Ale Avatar) in advance." Luffy smirked as he huddled with his two lovers.
"Brilliant as always Captain~!" Perona didn't care about the cold for the time being. "If only we can see the look on that venom jerk's face when he finds out~!" Nami secretly wished for the same but hid it under a small smile. Luffy returned one of his own,
"We will leave that to our imagination while we try to find a way go further down." With that said, Luffy confirmed that Magellan has left Level 5 and that it was high time to keep moving. "Stay together and keep huddling, you guys. We still got a long way to go." And into the blizzard further within Level 5 they trekked.
It was so cold that they only had the energy to keep on walking which came at a bad timing when a pack of white wolves appeared from the thick, snowy winds. They looked hungry for fresh meat and from the drool off their jaws, they had found the jackpot. Luffy and his friends knew that the cold has sapped most of their strength away but weren't going to just surrender after they made it this far.
One of the wolves leapt with fangs showing but instead got a mean punch to the jaw. The others followed and were hit by kicks and punches that drove off most of the them. But unfortunately for the pirates, they were already exhausted from the cold and the wolves were the ones with the advantage this time. When it looked like they were going to get eaten, someone kicked away the wolves furthest from their prey. Dozens were sent flying in all directions and landed with terrible bruises to their bodies.
The remaining wolves decided to cut their losses and fled deep into the frozen prison level. At first it was hard for the pirates to tell who came to save them from the wolves because of the snow until the figure got close enough to see it. Luffy knew for sure that he hadn't meet this strange-looking person before and neither did his lovers. But not to the companion they picked up back on Level 3. "You! You are Inazuma, you work for Lord Ivankov!" Bon Clay looked relieved in spite of the intense cold.
Inazuma has clothes and hair that is orange on one side and white on the other. On top of Inazuma's forehead, there is a distinct lightning bolt shaped scar that goes over Inazuma's right eye. Inazuma seems to be holding a glass of wine in his left hand, and sporting a particular pose,
"…if you wish to find safety, then follow me."
XXXXX
Later,
"This is so weird." Perona said, "We are sure to be at least two more levels down by now. This tunnel is going on forever!" It didn't help that she was the only one complaining when they were saved from the freezing hell of Floor Five and the even deadlier Magellan. Everyone else were grateful that they could discard the heavy coats that were starting to itch a little.
"Young lady, this is merely a level between levels, constructed a while back by a prisoner who ate a certain Akuma no Mi that allowed for excellent digging. For the staff of the Impel Down, this is just a superstition while to the prisoners, it is a safe haven to escape the torture of the levels and the staff themselves." Inazuma explained to the ghost girl who only grumbled while still clutching Luffy's arm.
That was when the pirates saw a literal light at the end of the long tunnel, "We are here. Welcome to Level 5.5" Compared to the cries and screams of pain back in the upper levels, this place was filled with cheer and cries of excitement. Once their eyes adjust back to the bright lights compared to the dark tunnel, what behold them was nothing they had expected in the Prison from Hell.
It was more like a concert hall and bar. There were round tables, open countertops with servers, an open space for partygoers and finally a huge stage where a show was taking place. In the center of the performance and surrounded by strange-clothed actors, was a figure who looked like a man trying to be a woman.
"Just…just who is that!?" Nami felt a little overwhelmed by all this…strangeness that even exceeds the Grand Line. Perona was also hiding behind her captain's arm with no more words for all this.
"That man, yes a man, is actually a powerful figure down here that can help us reach Ace. He is known as Empero Ivankov." Luffy spoke in a deadpan tone, proving that not he can best explain how he feels about this.
Ivankov is a large man with an afro of indigo hair, and has long eyelashes, he also has a noticeably odd-shaped chin resembling an arrowhead. His afro is large enough to hold people inside it. He has a personal Jolly Roger tattooed just below his chest. He dresses in reddish-purple woman's leotard with a high collar and a deep V-neck that reaches down to his belly. He wears matching gloves and boots, as well as a pearl necklace. He wears a net cape on his back and matching net leggings. He also wears heavy, but tasteful makeup.
"Thank you, thank you…thank…you…" The star of the show finished 'his' performance before starting to slow down and even getting onto one knee. "…so…tired…I…think…that…I…am…"
"Don't die, Empero Ivankov!" The crowd started to act worried for their star before,
"NOT DYING!" Ivankov got right up from 'his' silly act of pretending to be dying, which actually got the audience to admit they almost fell for it. As for Luffy and his companions, they were not amused nor falling for the obvious act. "Tough crowd I see, what can I do to flip those frowns upside down!?"
"By hearing us out Ivankov. We need you to help us get to Ace further down still." That killed the mood alright and everyone gasped at such a request.
"Now why would I do that? I was placed in this god forsaken pit because I rebelled against the World Government. Why would I leave and be a fugitive all over again?" Ivankov asked in a similar goofy fashion to what he did on stage.
"Because I know that you are still with the revolutionaries. After all, my father runs it." That was like dropping a ten-ton safe on a wooden floor, now everyone is shocked. Even Perona and Bon Clay were among the people who just heard this unbelievable news.
"YOUR-YOUR-YOUR FATHER!?" It was rather amusing to see such a silly character to be so shocked that he backed away right into a stone wall so hard that he left a noticeable mark. "Are you kidding me!?"
"Wish I could. Beside the fact that he is my father, I know next to nothing about him. I got it all from my Grandpa Garp." Luffy shrugged it off. "I am not asking much but I need your help to finally reach the level where Ace is. We will work on getting out while you can stay if you want."
Emperio Ivankov was silent, a far cry from how he/she loved all the attention from the other inhabitants. "First, tell me which Blue are you from?"
"The East." Luffy spoke immediately, not even questioning why he was asked that out of the blue.
"I knew it! Your father will always face in that direction, sometimes without realizing it." Ivankov responded. "For every time I will ask why, he stubbornly refused to answer. Now I know, he had family in the East. But I still need to know, to be sure, are you really his son?"
Suddenly the entire space between Levels was filled to the brim with something hard to see to the eye but weighted terribly on everyone's soul. Bon was also terrified while Perona gritted her teeth. The only ones not affected were Luffy and Nami, although the latter looked a little worried. "How about now, Emperio?"
"Now…" Ivankov looked like he/she was about to kneel down for real before, "…I am sure! Now is the time to return to the surface and back to Dragon!" This successfully released the heavy presence and lifted everyone's spirits. "My Candies, my loyal and brave followers, be ready to fight for freedom when the terrible staff comes to stop us!"
XXXXX
It was a good call to rally as much help as possible, for how there was extra security than usual. Even the secret entrances/exits were no longer completely safe. Nevertheless, Luffy found a break in the rotations and soon reached the elevator that will take them to the true bottommost level of the prison.
However, "ACE!" Luffy shouted upon seeing the sixth floor to be not like the others. It was composed of several prison cells littered across the vast floor along with a massive cell in the far back of the room made only for giants and the like to be contained in. All the pirate captain was interested in was Ace's cell, too bad that his brother was nowhere to be seen! "I had hoped we will make it in time…" Luffy spoke with such a rare tone of defeat that made him loose strength in his legs to stand at the sight.
While his 'girlfriends' try to comfort him, Ivankov spoke to Luffy. "They must have gotten recent orders to move Ace to headquarters ahead of schedule. If we move now, we can still catch up and maybe steal one of their ships to tail to wherever they are taking him…"
"I know where, long before I even asked Hancock to sneak us in." Luffy spoke, his soft tone still heard loud and clear. "They are going to make a spectacle of him just like the Pirate King over twenty years ago. Only they hope to deliver their message for real this time. So instead of Logue Town in the East Blue, they are going to the 'heart' of the Navy Force."
"MARINEFORD!" Everyone shouted out, ignoring the complaints from the other prisoners about all the noise and/or the sad scene that made them supposedly sick to the stomach. Ivankov made sure they shut up with a Death Win for each one.
"Yeah, and its going to be even more difficult to get in and out with your life. They will be bringing everyone and I mean everyone they can to get ready for Shirohige-sama (Whitebeard) to come. Because he will." Luffy added. "That not just means hundreds of Marines but dozens of Vice Admirals with all three of the Monsters of the Marine, not to mention the remaining Shichibuki (Seven Warlords of the Sea) that want a piece of Shirohige-sama." With a pause to let it all sink in, Luffy practically punched the cell bars of the cell, ignoring the weakening feeling of the Kairōseki (Seastone) that makes up the bars.
"That was why I was hoping to get here earlier, so Ace can help us plow our way out of this prison from hell and eventually rejoin with our crew." Nobody, not even the prisoners in their own cells, had anything to say to that. "That was the only plan I can come up with that would've worked. Now we can try to get everyone out but I got nothing on how to sail away from Impel Down. Our ride here had to leave ages ago so she won't blow our cover. As we speak, any and all ships could be far away from the prison docks to strand us here! I got nothing on how to fix that!" His companions can see the desperation in the eyes that used to be full of boundless confidence and wished they had an answer. That was when,
"Wait…!" A small, tired voice that seemed to be awakened by the comminution was heard in the same cell. "Are you…Luffy…?"
Said pirate took a close look with squinted eyes, trying to pierce the darkness of the cell and then widened them with surprise. This was the first time he had seen this certain prisoner but Luffy knew immediately who this was. "You are…!?"
End of Chapter 67
*Hello Everyone. I cannot apologize enough for finally posting this for the first time in forever. I was stuck in a real runt and even when I do take a break from work and video games, I struggle to think of something to put down! I am glad to finally get this chapter done. Constructive Criticism will be appreciated and flamers will be ignored. Good night*