Chapter 32: Arriving At Impel Down

Two days before Ace woke up in the cave a series of events began to take place as the wheel of fate began to spin. However, even as it spun, the wheel of fate began to change its coarse. What was once a predetermined fate had become a free falling fate and where it landed or ended was anyone's guess now.

With his announcement to Shanks of wanting to hurt the government for the betrayal his brother had suffered because of them, Luffy in turn had asked Boa Hancock for her help. The woman was enamored with him, which confused the young man to hell. He had never had someone dote such affection upon him and even though it was nice; it was weird too. Deciding to use this to his advantage, he decided to see if she would help him gather an army that would help him find and keep Ace safe.

After everything that had happened since Alabasta, all the pain he has seen caused by the world government and the marines, after seeing what the Celestial Dragons were doing to people; Luffy wanted to protected all those he called his friends. However, now they were messing with his family; and that just wasn't going to happen.

So now he was on a marine ship with Boa Hancock heading towards Impel Down. He was going to free those inside with the premise of freedom if they helped him. He knew that pirate alliances rarely worked out because pirates were notoriously greedy, but he was hoping this would work since there wasn't any money involved. His stomach suddenly growled loudly causing Boa to stand and walk over to the door of the guest room they were in. He sighed as he looked around the room, the marine ship was well built; he'd give them that.

Pulling his hat off of his head, Luffy reached inside and pulled out two pieces of paper, each having the name of a brother on it. Looking at Ace's vivre card out he noticed there was some damage to it. Is Ace okay? He wondered. I need to get to him as soon as I gather those who I need. He looked up at Boa who had a cart of food for him. He wasted no time in eating every bite. I'll need to conserve as much energy as I possibly can. Fighting through Impel Down and gathering those who will fight for Ace. He paused in eating for a second. "Handcook."

"Yes my love?" She asked with hearts in her eyes, never noticing he had mispronounced her name again.

"What big fighters will be down in the prison?" He asked as he held a large fowl leg in his hand.

"The worst of the worst are at the final level of Impel Down, including one the Sun Pirate Jimbe who is Warlord that's refusing to support the World Government in their endeavor to kill Portgas D. Ace." She stated. "My ruse to get into the prison is to try and persuade him into helping the Government." She finished saying as he ate the last of the food. "Do you need more my beloved?"

"Hmm…" Luffy thought as his overstuffed face shrank to normal sized as he digested the meal. "Desert?" He suddenly released a loud burp.

Outside the marines couldn't believe the sound that had come from the Empresses room. When suddenly the door opened and Boa burped loudly before pushing the cart out. "I want something sweet." she stated before closing the door.

"Yes Ma'am!" was echoed down the halls by the love induced morons.

"I'm going to need ships." Luffy thought out loud. "I'm certain I'll find the likes of Boraque Works, Crocodile-"

"There's said to be a man down there that hates the World Government with a passion; Shiki I believe his name to be." Boa told him. "Another one who is so horrific that his name was erased from time." She touched her chin in thought. "Somebody once told me that a man who was the size of an island was down there, but he was so despicable that even his own crew left him to rot." She reopened her eyes. "Sanjian Wolf I believe he is called. He is also known as the Colossal Battleship because of his sheer size."

Luffy looked away from her and shook his head. He didn't need monsters. Crossing his legs as he sat on the floor, Luffy tried to think. Perhaps he'd destroy Impel Down after ransacking it of the best of the worst? The rest of the journey to the world prison was in silence as Luffy began to devise a plan. It was simple, each of the six levels of Impel had strong people on it, just because they didn't look it didn't mean they weren't. He would gather people from each level, destroy the prison, escape on the remaining ship that were in the harbor around the prison and get to Ace. There was no way he'd get to the Archipelago in three days time, so he'd asked Boa's sisters to go to Sabody and wait for his friends at the dock where the Thousand Sunny was waiting. He knew how crew would get there. He trusted and believed in them. Sure there had been a few betrayals, but he knew they wouldn't let him down now or ever again!

Once they arrived at the prison, Boa was still unsure how they were going to get him inside. Luffy smiled at her. "Just don't move too suddenly." He whispered as he approached her from behind. Boa's cheeks flushed red as she felt him press up against her body, using his rubber abilities he could mold himself to her as she walked into the prison with a cloak over herself to hide him.

Vice Admiral Momonga greeted Boa respectfully even though he did not like working with a pirate, a beautiful pirate but a pirate nonetheless. Arriving at Impel Down, the Marines stationed there saw him and his crew and let them in as he, Hancock, got off the ship, and walked towards the gate.

Momonga turned towards Hancock. "Unfortunately Empress, because you are still a pirate, you must wear seastone handcuffs and undergo a full body-check before we can go in."

"I see." She said feeling the slithering feel of the cuffs on her person, memories of her past threatened to overwhelm her when she felt Luffy's body press further against her. Her cheeks flushing red. "I will not fight. Do as you must."

As she walked into the holding area, Boa saw the denden video camera in the corner of the room. The Vice Admiral stepped out of the room only to be replaced by a young woman who was to begin the body search when the cuff came off, before the woman realized it Boa had used her devil fruit to turn everything into stone. "It's safe." She assured Luffy.

"Thank-you Hancock." He said as he got out from under her cloak. "Sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

"Darling, I was okay. You could never make me feel uncomfortable!" She tried to not squeal but he was making it so hard especially when she just wanted to hold and comfort him so badly. Her mind began to show her what could come from this as a daydream of them marrying appeared in her mind.

"I'll hide now." Luffy told her as her went to the couch and hid behind it.

Boa quickly calmed herself and returned the young woman back to her original form. Undergoing the body search and finishing just as the warden and Vice Admiral came barging into the room. "What's the meaning of this!?" She demanded. "Have you no decency!"

Both men became flustered. "We apologize!" The yelled in unison.

"She's clean." The female marine stated as she walked over to the warden. Holding her hand out for the key, he begrudgingly gave it to her. As they left Boa wondered how Luffy planned to get out of the room; especially with the surveillance snail watching the room. As they left the room and walked towards the elevator, Boa noticed Luffy in the rafters, her cheeks flushing when she thought she saw him mouth I love you but in reality he had mouth thank-you. So as they descended towards the lowest levels, Boa silently wished him the best of luck before she lost sight of the young man.

M-Angel: Next chapter Luffy begins his decent into the prison. I hope everyone had a great Christmas and I do hope that the New Year is kind to us all.

Guest - I'm not doing any romance in this story. It's mostly friendship and brotherhood. Thanks for the idea though!