Down on Level IV of Impel Down, Drago and his crew were now face-to-face with Sal. Sal had, in fact, saved them by giving them an antidote to Magellan's poison.

"Living dangerously is one thing, living carelessly another," said Sal. "If I had lacked the foresight to bring an antidote, I would be stumbling over your corpses right now. Don't ever underestimate Magellan."

"But we are here!" Rock laughed.

"You should dismiss your own inclusion," said Grimmel. "Your presence is a factor in our fate as well."

"Though he is right, I was sure I was a dead man," said Chaghatai.

"We're all lucky that we are still alive," said Mildew.

Drago began rinsing the poison out of his shirt. "Well, it ain't up to us whether we live or die. Fearing death is the fastest way to lose. Just live while you can, even if it kills you. Right?"

The rest of his crew merely smiled.

Drago then walked past Sal but stopped after a few steps. "Still, don't think that I ain't grateful for your help because I am. And again, welcome to our gang. I bet we'll make a great team."

"I don't see much future for myself in this crypt," said Sal. "You're exactly the sort of person I wanted to meet for some time."

Drago laughed.

Meanwhile, Hiccup and everyone else were now sailing through the Tub Current, heading straight to Marineford.

"Gather around, men," said Buggy as he raised a glass. "The time has come; let us raise a toast for our unprecedented escape from Impel Down. To us!"

"To us!" said said the prisoners doing the same thing.

The prisoners immediately began to gorge themselves on both food and alcohol, as well as dancing around.

Mala and the rest of her New Kama citizens were outside the infirmary as Throk was still out cold from his encounter with Magellan.

"I am afraid we'll have to do without Throk from here," said Mala regretfully.

"Wait, are you trying to tell us the infection is that serious?"

"I was lucky that Magellan hit me with one type of poison. I was able to flush it out of my system using healing and energy hormones. It's an ambivalent fix, though; one hormone will take years off my life while the other causes severe side effects.

"So, for him, the best thing possible is good old-fashioned bed rest and natural rehabilitation. Nothing can help you regain the years lost to the hormone. Throk is an indispensable New Kama of the Revolutionary Army. We need him healthy, so we have to make sure that you recover slowly and easy."

Hiccup and Astrid were looking at the Gates of Justice with Mr 3.

"Now that I think about it, he wasn't so much pain in the butt after all," said Mr 3.

"I can't believe he sacrificed himself again for us," said Hiccup.

"He could still be alive," said Astrid optimistically.

"I'm not sure which is worse, being dead or being trapped in that hell hole for the rest of your life," said Mr 3.

The other prisoners shared the same tears.

Buggy then approached them, clearly drunk. "Come on, guys. It's sad, and always you can't waste your whole lives mourning. He was great, but now he's dead and that's the way it is. All we can do is party; that's what he would want."

He just kept on laughing, completely oblivious to the dark looks everyone was giving him.

"There goes it can double as a funeral for Mr 2."

Astrid then suddenly punched him in the face, causing him to fall down the stairs and knock some sense back into him.

"What's the big idea?" he groaned as blood poured out of his nose. "It's the truth, and you know it."

"I will not let you insult Bon's memory," Astrid glared.

"Easy, Astrid," said Hiccup calmly.

Astrid turned on him. "You can't actually be defending them?"

"Oh no, I think he's a massive jerk, but we still have a long way to go, and we need everyone in fighting shape," said Hiccup.

"Those two are total opposites," said Mr 3 as he looked at both Hiccup and Buggy.

Jinbe was still at the helm, and Viggo looked at him curiously.

"Fancy trick how you rallied those sharks," said Viggo. "How did you do it? I was under the impression that only mermaids had the ability to speak to fish, but that impression is clearly incorrect."

"Is that odd? A Fishman being friends to fish?" Jinbe asked.

"Well, it's not usual, I know that. You're a strange one. A misfit of the Savage species."

Jinbe huffed. "Fine. I'll take that as a compliment of sorts. Yes, it's true Fishmen do have a violent nature."

Hiccup and Astrid then made their way over to Jinbe.

"Hiccup… Astrid… I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the two of you," said Jinbe, turning his head to watch them. "You gave me a chance to rescue Ace and I owe you two a great debt."

"The way I said, we're even, I'm just happy to have you on the team," said Hiccup.

Jinbe just stood there solemnly. 'I just wish I could apologise to them and apologise for my involvement in that unfortunate situation, but know this isn't the time. We have enough to worry about for now.'

Astrid was looking at Jinbe suspiciously. 'He's wearing the same symbol that Arlong and his men wore, so they must be connected to the Sun Pirates. I don't know what his involvement was with them, but now was not the time to bring up old wounds, not when you can still help us.'

Jinbe looked back at them. "I only hope my strength will be enough. I may be one of the Seven Warlords, but they'll strip me of my title after this. Now let's make it so Navy headquarters regret they ever laid hands on Ace. We must do right by our fallen, will make your friend proud, and rescue Ace at any cost."

"Hey, what's all this talk about Navy headquarters?" Buggy yelled. "Don't tell me we escaped from the bowels of hell just to go straight back into the jaws of the beast."

"I'm afraid so," said Jinbe.

"Screw you!" Buggy snapped. "Nobody is that crazy! Surely, you guys have heard about the war brewing between Stoick the Vast and the Navy."

The prisoners just stared blankly as this was the first time they heard of it.

"Uh, war?"

"Navy headquarters?"

"Don't act like it's a big surprise," said Viggo as he leaned against the side folding his arms. "It's not our fault that you're so dense."

"Say what?!" Buggy snapped.

"Well, we passed through the Gates of Justice isn't that right? Our destination is Enies Lobby or Navy HQ. This Tub Current is restricted to government passage only; it's one giant whirlpool that connects the Government's three major facilities."

"And Enies Lobby was burned to the ground," Astrid added. "Which means we only have one viable option."

Viggo nodded. "Besides, we have a part to play in the upcoming war, so you best get used to it."

"Yeah, the real fight is about to start," said Hiccup.

Buggy and Mr 3 stared at him open-mouthed.

"Real fight?!" they yelled. "What you call back back there?!"

"No way?! No one told us about this?!"

Buggy and Mr 3 desperately tried to grab hold of the wheel to pull them away.

"Stop! Turn this ship around, you big bastard!" Buggy yelled.

"Please, stop," Mr 3 pleaded.

"There's no stopping, and there's no turning around," said Jinbe. "This ship is on the current."

"If we don't get out of here, we'll starve to death. Navy HQ is the only way out," said Hiccup.

"Navy HQ! The warlords! And the Hairy Hooligan Pirates are all fighting each other at once! Nobody can survive that!"

The prospect of the potential facing the Fleet Admiral, the three Admiral and five of the Seven Warlords with a frightening prospect. Additionally, they all knew about the reputation of Stoick the Vast and his division commanders, and they were anything but pushovers.

"I've heard enough. Please take me back; I would rather be in prison than in this war."

"All of us from New Kama Land knew about this plan," said a young woman.

"Then why didn't you tell us!"

They were then interrupted by the sound of the transponder snail.

"Hey, what is that? You guys hear it?"

"It sounds like a transponder snail," said Astrid.

They all began looking around for the source of the sound, and it sounded like it was coming from the mainmast. Upon closer examination, they could see a small door embedded in it, and the sound definitely came out of it.

"She's right, it's a transponder snail," said Mr 3.

"Yeah, but who's calling?" Buggy asked.

Astrid rolled her eyes. "I can't believe you asked that? Use your head when on a Navy ship. Who do you think is trying to call?"

"Let's just act like no one but he is here," said Buggy.

"No, we should answer it," said Hiccup.

"Are you crazy?" Mr 3 stared.

"I imagine the Navy already knows which, in the Tub Current, but they can't get to us right now, not with the war brewing. Besides, this might give us some information we need."

"I agree," said Astrid.

Before anyone could argue, Hiccup opened the door and answered the transponder snail.

"This is Hiccup," he said.

"Greetings from Navy HQ," said the Marine officer on the other side. "Let's cut to the chase, kid. We are well aware that this ship has been hijacked by escapees. We received a report from Impel Down so let's be honest here. Before contact was lost, we had inside information being fed to us. Based on this, we have determined who the two ringleaders behind breakout are."

"Two?" Mr 3 blinked.

"You, the pirate known as Dragon Conqueror Hiccup and another notorious pirate, Buggy the Clown."

Buggy stared at the transponder snail openmouthed, and everyone else was shocked.

"Wait, what? Ringleader?"

"Seriously?"

"We've got the Warlords here, and their main suspect is Captain Buggy?"

"Who the hell are you? Come clean with us."

"No," said Buggy, horrified. "Why me?"

"Passed me the documents," said the Navy officer to his aid.

"Here," he said, handing them over.

"Thank you," he said. "At first, we assumed the clown was another two-bit criminal, but to be frank, we were wrong. We learned that he was a crewmember on the ship of Roger Gold, King of the Pirates."

"Argh!" Buggy cried. "They found me out!"

Everyone stared openmouthed at Buggy, everyone apart from Hiccup and Astrid.

"What?!"

"You rode on the Oro Jackson?"

"Unbelievable!"

"You're a star, a star among Pirates."

"Oh, and there's one other thing," said the Navy officer. "He is an ally of one of the Four Emperors; his name is Alvin the Treacherous."

"Are you serious?!"

"So if you can hear us, Buggy, we don't know how someone with your background has laid low for so long, but you most certainly have stepped into the spotlight now. We haven't defined your connection with Fire Fist Ace yet, but we're sure that you share the same goal with Dragon Conqueror Hiccup, to rescue him from execution."

"Not really," said Buggy with a stunned look.

"We know that you're accompanied by Astrid, Jinbe, Viggo, Mala, and not to mention over 200 average of the mill ruffians you tricked into following your lead. Now let me explain your future. Your fates depend on whether we open the Gates of Justice. As long as we leave it closed, you can't get to Marineford. You can't even get out of the Tub Current, you'll be completely stranded. There is no sea for you to escape to. Better get used to your surroundings, that's all."

"I've got news for you, Navy, I'm going to rescue Ace no matter what," said Hiccup. "You had better keep your eyes peeled."

Hiccup then placed the receiver back on the transponder snail.

Silent soon fell across the entire ship as all eyes slowly turned towards Buggy.

"I have got to know Captain Buggy. Were you honestly a member of Roger Gold's crew and a sworn brother of Alvin the Treacherous?"

The prisoners then immediately began to cheer.

"You should have said!"

"You're one hell of a pirate, Captain Buggy."

"Now, hold on," said Buggy. 'Aw, damnit. The Government is never going to let me out of their sights now the truth is out.'

However, there were still many people on board the ship who were still dubious about his credentials.

"Not the background I was expecting from him," said Jinbe.

"And yet he so weak," said Ryker, who was looking at Buggy sceptically.

"That pedigree, and he's so petty?" said Mr 3, stunned.

"Every ship has one," said Mala calmly. "A little blemish, I mean."

Her people nodded in agreement.

"Shut your mouths!" Buggy snapped.

"I guess this is the confirmation we needed," said Astrid, folding her arms.

Hiccup nodded. "Yeah, Rayleigh did mention you were part of his crew."

Buggy blinked at them. "Rayleigh?"

"You know the first mate of the Roger Pirates; surely you know him," said Astrid.

"Of course, I know him!" Buggy blurted out. "Are you actually saying that you've seen Rayleigh? Ah, man, I miss that guy. Where did you see him?"

The prisoners just stared at the three of them.

"They're talking about Dark King Rayleigh like it's no big deal!"

Buggy then suddenly realised what he had just said.

"Holy crap, Captain Buggy. I knew you were the genuine article!"

"No!" Buggy panicked. "Look, not so fast. Everything is true, yes, but you can't go spreading this out willy-nilly. We've got to think about my future as a pirate."

"Whoa, I can't believe you are a member of such a legendary crew!"

The prisoners then began chanting his name.

"Hey, listen to me, you fools," said Buggy.

The prisoners didn't seem to be listening as one of them then lifted Buggy onto his shoulders.

"Shut up! I was only a crewman, that's all!" he yelled. "You can't worship me for that! Come on, knock it off. I'm not being humble; just stop."

However, nothing he said could convince them otherwise, and they kept cheering him on.

'I don't feel as bad as I thought I would,' he said, and then a sinister smile appeared on his face. 'Wait a minute. Sure, the Navy has completely overestimated me, but maybe that's not such a bad thing. Maybe that's because it's all true. I've got a pretty good reputation going for me here if only there was some way… If I could defeat Stoick, maybe I can become one of the Four Emperors.'

He then shook his head at the idea. 'No, I could become King of the Pirates! It's perfect; some of these guys probably got higher bounty on their heads than me. If I play my cards just right, I can do this.'

"Captain Buggy, we'll follow you until the day we die!"

The prisoners cheered and then suddenly drew their weapons.

"Just give us an order, like steal this ship from the guys who stole it. We don't have to go to Navy HQ."

"That's right, and then we'll be free!"

Hiccup and Astrid found themselves surrounded by several heavily armed men.

"Sorry to do this, Dragon, but we're taking control of this ship."

"If you pledge yourself to Buggy Astrid, I'm sure he'll spare you."

They were doing the same thing with Jinbe, Viggo and Ryker.

"We already broke out of prison, and we don't want dying to be the next thing we'll do."

"Surrender now! We've got Captain Buggy on our side."

"Kill them, Captain Buggy!"

"Not good," said Jinbe.

Of course, all of them could easily overpower this mutiny, but it would leave them very shorthanded.

"Only one way to handle this," said Viggo as he conjured a miniature sand tornado in his palm. "Kill them."

Ryker's arms then became blades.

Hiccup clenched his fist, and Astrid reached out for her battleaxe.

"I'm good, I've got this," said Buggy. "I really think I can do it."

Buggy and detached, his legs began to float up onto the upper deck; from there, he turned to face his newly required crew.

"That's enough!" he said. "Don't get too flashy. You guys are high on power and acting impulsively. No matter what, this ship is not stopping. We're headed straight for the heart of the war, and you guys are already on board, aren't you?"

The prisoners looked perplexed and looked at Buggy, confused.

"Think what this means for a second. In no time at all, we'll come face-to-face with the man who has his foot standing on top of the world. Chances like this do not come around more than once in a lifetime. So listen, I want all of you to live out a dream with me. For today, I'll conquer Stoick and thus rule the world!"

"Yeah, Captain Buggy!" the prisoners cheered.

Almost instantly, they dropped their weapons and fell to their hands and knees.

"Captain Buggy, thank you. The darkness of hell had beaten us down."

"You saved us! Gave a light. We almost lost the most important thing."

"Yes, our dreams. Let us dream again."

"I'll follow you anywhere, Captain Buggy!"

"To hell for living a peaceful life!"

Buggy then stretched out his arms. "All right then, let's win this war, you guys! To Navy HQ!"

The prisoners then began to cheer him on.

"I guess the mutiny is over," said Hiccup.

"Lucky for them," said Astrid.

"Guess he's not entirely useless, I suppose," said Jinbe.

Both Viggo and Ryker then stood down.

"You're going to rule the world, Captain. I know it."

"I'm with you until the bitter end!"

"That's right, you are," Buggy laughed.

Mala merely shook her head. "Let them have fun while they can."

Meanwhile, at Navy HQ, everyone was getting prepared for the upcoming battle when they received a message that a fleet of ships had just arrived.

"Police escorting Ace D Portgas will arrive at Marinedord shortly!"

"Ah, perfect," said a Navy officer.

Knowing how dangerous the battle would be, the Marines were busy evacuating the base of non-military personnel.

"Right this way! Please board the ship; there's plenty of room, so don't worry. We'll get everybody on board."

"Prepared to receive the prisoner!"

Ace looked up as they reached Marineford and were sailing towards the port.