Buggy and Mr 3 could hear Mr 2 singing, and it sounded like he was close by.
'I can barely stand in this heat, but that guy is singing like he's at someone's birthday party,' said Buggy. 'If he's a prisoner here, he must be tough as hell.'
Mr 3 recognised the voice. 'I know this voice, I know this song.'
Buggy looked at him. "Hey, partner. I think this guy can help us out."
Mr 3 stared at him as he walked off. "Wait, what? Let's discuss this first."
Buggy moved carefully to avoid getting spotted by the surveillance transponder snails, and Mr 3 reluctantly followed as they made their way to the source of the voice.
Mr 2 was in his cell, dancing around like he had no care in the world. He even got the prisoners in his cell to follow his lead, though struggling to keep up with his enthusiasm.
"Keep it up, boys!" he said. "Spin and spin like who caught up in the tides of the times."
"Hurry, this way," said Buggy.
"Wait, listen, I don't think we should," said Mr 3, but Buggy refused to do just that.
Eventually, the prisoners in Mr 2's cell were unable to stand and collapsed.
"Come on, lazybones," he said as he spun around. "The parties just getting started. If you think it's steamy in here now, you really hate it when I'm angry!"
Buggy and Mr. 3 had finally arrived at the cell, and they were trying to figure out what was before them. Mr 2 finally noticed them and instantly recognised Mr 3.
"Mr 3, how are you?" he asked.
'Well, this is awkward,' Mr 3 groaned.
It took Mr 2 a few moments to react, and he immediately launched himself at his cell door, staring at his former colleague.
"Mr 3! Wait just a minute here!" he said. "What are you doing here in Impel Down? You're behind bars, so you must've been caught, right? No, I'm the one behind bars. So, how'd you like my one-of-a-kind doubletake? It's a special technique called Looking Back at that Utter Night's Dream."
"Hey, what the hell is this strange creature?" Buggy whispered.
"Hard to say," said Mr. 3 honestly, "let's be sure not to let it out."
"Aww, don't be mean," said Mr 2. "I've got way too much energy to stay cooped up in here."
Hiccup and Astrid were still looking for the stairs, but they were slowly becoming overcome by the heat.
"I'm not sure how much longer we can blast," said Astrid.
"I know, even in my dragon form, I'm starting to get a little heat stroke," said Hiccup.
"The only thing we can do is just try to keep going down, and I hope we get to the next floor," said Astrid.
Meanwhile, Buggy and Mr. 3 decided to release Mr. 2 from his cell and give him freedom from his cuffs. They also explained that Hiccup and Astrid were in Impel Down and looking for Ace.
"They're headed downstairs?" he said. "You sure that? You saw him go? You're not pulling my tail, are you?"
"No," said Buggy.
"Of course not," said Mr 3.
"Very well, and thank you ever so much for letting me after that cell, Mr 3," said Mr 2 gratefully. "I'll pay you back sometime. Now then…" He then spun around on the tip of his toes and took off. "I'm on my way, my friend! Oh, come my way through hell and back!"
"That worked out well for everyone," said Mr 3.
Buggy nodded.
Outside, the Marines guarding the prison were fully aware of the infiltration and began making their way to the prison to assist the jailers.
"Our security here is legendary; how were they able to slip past through?" said the Marine officer in charge. "I know their two invaders, but if we let them rescue Ace, not only will it be the ultimate humiliation for Impel Down, but for the entire World Government. We can't let that happen! In the name of Navy headquarters, we're going to head into that prison and stop Dragon in the War Maiden no matter what it takes."
"Sir!" said the Marines.
However, the prison doors opened, and on stepping outside, there was a tall woman with long auburn hair. Her earrings were shaped like candles, she wielded a web in her hand, and she wore a bright pink revealing outfit.
"Hold on a moment," she said.
"Who goes there?" The Marine officer demanded.
"I am Mistress Sadie, our torture expert," she said. "We've already been compromised, so accepting help from the Navy would further disgrace the good name of Impel Down."
The Marines just stared at her.
"Mistress? Really?" said one of them out loud. "What? Does she think she's being cute or something?"
"I am adorable!" she snapped and whipped the Marine. "You will refer to me as mistress!"
The Marine cried out in pain, and Sadie appeared to find it dreamy.
"Those screams are irresistible," she said longingly.
The Marine in question didn't seem to think so as he glared at her. "Why you—"
"Hold it," said the Marine officer, stopping him before he fired his rifle. He then looked at Sadie. "Are you telling me you do not need the Navy's aide?"
"Yes," she said. "This whole prison is a labyrinth hell. If you do not know your way around here, you'll be of no help to us. That being said, if you wish to serve us, you can guard to the outside. This drawbridge is the only entrance, so we'll secure ourselves inside, raise it, and seal off Impel Down completely. We'll do our job, and so long as you do yours, nobody will escape this prison alive."
The Marine officer nodded. "Fair enough, we'll remain here and guard the gate then."
"There, that's a good boy," she smiled.
The Marines then noticed that a giant Kuala was poking its head out from the door.
"Is that a…"
"No way!"
"Kuala?"
"A Kuala?"
"Sure is."
The Marines make their way outside the prison just as the drawbridge closed, sealing the entire prison from the rest of the world.
Meanwhile, Atali finally reached the bottom level and was now being escorted to Ace's cell, and the prisoners started to take notice.
"Hannibal?"
"Yeah, and Magellan too. What's going on?"
Hannibal made his way to the cell. "You've got a special visitor, Ace. Behave yourself; you'll never guess who it is." His eyes then turned to Jinbe. "Jinbe, you know her well, but you've never even met her. Maybe I should give Ace a hint here; her name is notorious, but she never shows herself. She leads a tribe of warriors called the Wing Maidens, and she's one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Strong, noble and one of the most beautiful women in the world. The Pirate Empress Atali Boa!"
Both Ace and Jinbe were indeed surprised by this.
"Yeah, it's Atali!" Hannibal yelled and practically danced around. "Check her out! Hey, quick question: when I become warden, will you do the honour of being my beautiful bride? Marry me!"
Magellan then struck across the head.
"Ouch," he said, rubbing his head. "When I'm warden, I'll hit on her all I want… I mean, sorry, warden, you can hit me all you want."
"That's another of your tomfoolery," Magellan grumbled.
The prisoners in all the other cells immediately began to go crazy over Atali.
"Holy crap! Guys, am I seeing things? She's gorgeous!"
"So she's the Snake Princess of the Wing Maidens. Hey, move a little closer."
"Turnaround, Atali."
"Yeah, that is some choice meat."
"Hey, hot stuff! Coming to our cell, we'll give you some tended love like you've never had before."
"Damn, she smells amazing! If I ever get out of here, I'm going straight to Valkyrie Lily."
"I've heard it's full of hot naked chicks. Count me in."
Atali ignored and approached Ace's cell.
"What is it?" Ace asked. "What do you want from me?"
"Nothing really; I simply wanted to take a good look at you. To see the cause of the war, I'll take part first-hand; that's all."
"Am I everything you've hoped for?" Ace asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Come on, Atali. Don't ignore us like that."
"Get over here and give me some love."
Jinbe looked at her. "In the past, you've always been the Empress who stood her ground and disobeyed every summons. Yet you're going to take part in this war? I hope your title is worth your dignity."
Atali then turned her eyes to him. "A pleasure to meet you, too. Now, mind your foolish tongue."
"Oh man, I want to lick her everywhere!"
"They're trying to talk!" Magellan glared. "Keep it down; you damn louts!"
"Can it Magellan. Or should I say, Diarrhoea Man?"
"Haha, good one. Say, Snake Princess, I bet the women on your island are hungry for guys like us."
"Hey you, why don't you make Hannibal the warden!" Hannibal yelled.
Domino narrowed her eyes. "Really now?"
"Come on, Atali, move that sexy ass over to our cell already."
Atali turned towards them. "I'll only say this once…"
"Atali, look at me!"
"…if you keep accosting me with those coarse voices," she said and then smiled at them innocently, "I'll get scared."
The prisoners then instantly went crazy.
"I can't take it! She's so cute! She's perfect. Let us have heard, Diarrhoea Man!"
"If there is a more violent place in this world, I don't want to see it," said Marcus. "This makes me sick."
"Everyone is calling you Diarrhoea Man," said Hannibal. "And you just put up with it. It's disgraceful, is that your attitude. I know a guy who would love to have your job."
Magellan didn't appear to be listening, as he also went cuckoo over Atali. "So cute!"
"Diarrhoea Man for shame!" Hannibal yelled.
"Enough," Magellan growled.
"She's hot! Let me have her for myself, Diarrhoea Man!"
"Diarrhoea Man, let me show her my skink!"
"I won't tolerate your impertinent any longer," said Magellan, and his body began to transform into poison. "This ends now!"
His poisonous body then began to drip onto the floor, causing Hannibal to panic.
"Warden Magellan, wait a second please!" Hannibal pleaded. "You're going to kill us too!"
The prisoners finally stopped shouting and realised just how much danger they were in now. Even Hannibal, Domino and Marcus were giving them a wide berth. The only person who was keeping their cool was Atali, who continued to look at Ace.
"You are going to suffer," said Magellan.
"No, no, we're dead."
"You degenerates have forgotten your place," he said, and then, shooting out of his back, were three poisonous dragon heads. "Let me remind you who the boss is around here."
The prisoners began to panic.
"Man, he's pissed."
"He's brought out the Hydra!"
Atali then used the commotion to relay her message to Ace, the only person who could hear.
"W-what are you doing?"
"Warden Magellan, stop! Please!"
"Come on, we were just joking around, honest!"
Ace's eyes widened when Atali talked.
Magellan fired his three poisonous dragon mouths at three prison cells, each attacking a single prisoner in sight. The prisoners screamed in agony as the poison ate away at them.
"No, you bastard! You can't do this to me!"
"Wow, sorry, buddy, but you're a dead man now."
"Damnit! I need the antidote! Help me!"
The prisoners kept their distance away from him so as not to suffer the same fate as he cried out in pain.
Magellan then pulled back his dragon heads. "Never forget that I not only have the authority but also the ability to execute any of you at my whim."
He then returned to normal, and the prisoners immediately fell silent; he then approached Atali. "There… so sorry about that. You're free to speak with him now. Proceed…"
Atali then turned around and walked away. "I'm finished here."
Everyone looked at her, confused.
"Wait!" Ace yelled. "It is what you just told me the truth?"
"What reason would I have to lie?" she said plainly. She then turned her head and smiled. "By the way, he was afraid that you might be angry, but he still had to do it."
"Is that really all you needed?" Marcus asked, puzzled.
Magellan looked at Hannibal. "What do you think they were talking about?"
"I have no idea," said Hannibal as they returned to the lift. "Honestly, I was busy trying to get away from you."
Once they were gone, Jinbe looked at Ace. "So Ace… will you tell me what she said to you?"
"She said that my brother is here," he said.
"You mean Hiccup? Stoick's son, the one you in the old man keep talking about?" Jinbe stared. "That fool!"
Hiccup and Astrid were now climbing up a series of stairs on Level III.
"Since when did we start going upstairs? We need to go downstairs?" Astrid asked.
"I don't know; this place is a complete labyrinth," said Hiccup.
They were then noticed by the surveillance transponder snail.
"I've got a visual of them, and it appears they are about to enter District C," said a guard in the monitoring room.
"Right, we see him," said a jailer.
At the very top of the stairs were several jailers with net guns, and they fired the moment they saw them. Fortunately, they were able to dodge each and every single shot.
"They're using Sea Prison Stone nets again," said Hiccup.
Hiccup and Astrid spent most of their time dodging the nets and weren't allowed to fight back. Then, to make matters worse, the sphinx arrived and began attacking them. Before they could make a move, they suddenly found themselves pinned against the sphinx, which was looking at them rather hungry.
"It's that sphinx again!" said Astrid as she struggled to free herself.
"And he looked hungry," said Hiccup.
Sure enough, the sphinx was moving his mouth towards them, and they screamed as if they were certain they were about to be gobbled up.
"Hey!" a voice yelled. "Let them go!"
The sphinx stopped, and all three turned towards the voice's source. Hiccup and Astrid recognised and were rather surprised to see Toothless standing there.
"Neither hand?" Toothless asked.
"Am I seeing things, or is that Toothless?" Astrid asked.
"No, I see him too," said Hiccup.
"Fooled ya!" Toothless laughed and launched into the air. "Swan Pirouette!"
He suddenly kicked the sphinx across the face while posing as a ballerina. He struck the sphinx so hard that Hiccup and Astrid were able to free themselves.
"I don't think that's Toothless," said Astrid.
"Yeah, but the technique is familiar," said Hiccup.
They looked up again and saw that Toothless had transformed into Mr 2.
Hiccup's eyes widened. "Wait, is that…"
"It's been a while, Dragon Boy, and you too, young lady," said Mr 2. "Did you two miss me?"
Hiccup and Astrid recognised Mr 2; he had once been an enemy of theirs when you were facing against the Warlord Viggo. However, after their victory over Viggo, he became rather friendly towards them and even sacrificed himself to allow them to escape the Marines.
"It's Bon Clay!" Hiccup gasped.
"He's alive!" Astrid stared happily.
However, this reunion was ruined when the jailers arrived with their net guns.
"Take aim! Open fire on Dragon and the War Maiden!"
"Piss off!" Bon Clay roared as he spun, pelting them with an onslaught of kicks. "Bastards! Stay away from my friends, or things are going to get very ugly!"
He took them down, but then the sphinx recovered.
"Good boy, sphinx," said Saldeath as he arrived. "Now take them out!"
However, Hiccup, Astrid and Bon Clay made incredibly quick work of the sphinx with their attacks.
Saldeath just stared openmouthed at the sight.
"He should stay down after beating like that," said Hiccup.
"Sometimes, when you're dealing with an animal, you have to teach it's the law of the jungle," said Bon Clay.
Bon Clay then wasted no time in hugging both Hiccup and Astrid.
"We really thought you were gone the last time we saw you," said Hiccup.
"And boy, are we so glad we were wrong," said Astrid.
"Oh, stop pulling my tail," Bon Clay cried. "Don't you know swans never die?"
"I don't think that's true," said Hiccup.
"Not that we're not complaining," said Astrid.
Bon Clay merely cried as he hugged the two of them.
Bon Clay had eaten the Clone-Clone Fruit, allowing him to become anyone. All he had to do to transform into someone was touch their face with his right hand. However, he is incapable of mimicking their strength and abilities.
"Now there's another escapee to deal with," said Saldeath. "The deeper Dragon descends, the more friends he seems to pick up along the way."
Hiccup, Astrid and Bon Clay then turned to face him and his Blugori.
"I don't care what it takes, don't let them escape," Saldeath ordered.
The Blugori then began to surround the three of them.
"Oh, and by the way, I heard that you wanted to go all the way down to Level V," said Bon Clay.
"That's the plan, but we could use a guide if you're not too busy," said Astrid.
"Wouldn't have it any other way, my friends," said Bon Clay. "As fate would have it, there is someone down on Level V I would like to see too."
"What a happy coincidence," said Hiccup.
"Now then, shall we go?" Bon Clay asked.
"Let's do it!" Hiccup and Astrid yelled.
They then began to attack the Blugori.