Chapter 37: Long Live the…Queen?

Pain. Unbelievable pain radiated through Luffy's body as the poison from Magellan's attack went through his tiny body. In his kid form it would seem he was more susceptible to the poison attack. Luffy had hoped that wouldn't be the case. Panting against Bon Clay's shoulder, Luffy struggled to stay awake as his friend snuck past many guards. He supposed that it was best to allow this even though he knew they would have to deal with these people on the way back up. He wondered how many hours he'd been fighting his way down by now. I can hardly move.

Bon Clay looked at child Luffy a bit. He's not doing well. He ran over to hide behind some pillars at the sound of heavy footsteps. Peering around the pillar he saw Warden Magellan looking for them. If only I could sneak past him. Bon Clay looked down at his hand in disappointment when an idea came to mind. Perhaps I can! He grinned as he ran the opposite way. Just hang on Strawhat! He thought mentally as he ran towards the level 4 entrance. At the entrance he saw the entirety of what was left of the guards. Sitting Luffy down, Bon Clay hoped his friend wouldn't wake up. He'll get upset if he does.

Bon Clay transformed his body into the lovely navigator that was a part of Luffy's crew whom he had touched. "Oh boys!" Bon Clay called out waving at the guards, all of whom blushed once Bon Clay removed the prisoner top to reveal a nice bosom. Suddenly half of the guards passed out at the sight.

"What the hell!?" Hannybal's voice squeaked as he too fell over from the shock.

"Well that was simple enough." Bon Clay stated as he walked over to Hannybal's unconscious form and touched him. The navigator's body transformed into the Vice Warden's. From the headdress to the wings on his back, Bon Clay quickly threw the body to the side and hid it. Laying down he then waited for them all to be discovered. Thankfully that didn't take too long as the Warden returned and grasped who he thought was the Vice Warden's by the neck.

"What the hell happened here!" He screamed at Hannybal/Bon Clay.

"We were attacked by that dancing ballerina prisoner!" He cried out. "He began spinning and kicking us. He was quite strong, a lot stronger than we were expecting! He and two others escaped back to level 3!" He said assuming the other two were still somewhere on this level. Hopefully Buggy and Mr. 3 will escape easily from here. He thought grimly.

"How could you just let them all escape." The Warden growled. "Guards! We must recapture those escapees!" The Warden looked back to his Vice Warden. "Was Strawhat with those who escaped."

"I didn't see him." Hannybal/Bon Clay stated hesitantly. The warden growled lowly. Strawhat better not awaken. Bon Clay thought, hoping and silently praying to the god above. Thankfully someone took pity on the man as Magellan turned towards the doors that led to level 3.

"You're to stay here and search for the man." Magellan stated as he made a fist. "Once he is found we will imprison him in level 5 where he will be killed by the cold or the wild wolves."

"Yeah, if the bastard is even still here." Hannybal stated. "Unless of course Mistress Sadi and her demon beasts have found him." It was a ploy of course. Bon Clay had heard of Mistress Sadi but wasn't sure if the woman had been put into play yet.

The warden waved his hand, dismissing the notion. "I've already called her back." He stated. "With the amount of poison I've used against strawhat, he'll be dead in two hours."

Hannybal showed no outward emotion of this but Bon Clay wanted to cry. Strawhat! "Then why do I-

Warden Magellan grasped Hannybal by his throat. "Because I said so! I will not be the laughingstock of this prison!" He released the Vice-Warden when his bowels began to make sounds. "Damn it." He cursed as he walked over to his personal portable toilet. A dozen guards quickly grasping the poles and picked it up and carried the warden away.

Shit! Bon Clay thought as he quickly ran over to where he had left Luffy. The young captain was no longer in his child form but was still unconscious. Picking him up, Bon Clay in Hannybal's form, ran through level 4 to level 5. Unfortunately he did come to a group of two guards waiting at the doors towards level 5. Groaning lowly, Bon Clay straightened himself out and walked with confidence and authority up to the two men, the extreme cold making him shiver but he could barely it. For strawhat I'll do anything!

"Vice Warden!" The guards saluted him when they noticed the poison covered man that was wrapped up and being carried by the warden.

Bon Clay mentally slapped himself. Of course they'd notice Strawhat. "Ah, we had a break in. Warden Magellan ordered him to be placed by me personally into a cell on level 5." He explained.

"Harsh." One guard said feeling sorry for the man.

"No need to feel sorry for him. He did break into the strongest prison in the world." Hannybal/Bon Clay explained. "He's an idiot."

The guards laughed. "Of course sir!" The guards agreed. "So the usual?"

"Hmm?" Hannybal asked confused.

"No warm clothes. Wearing only what you have and no weapons to defend yourself from the wolves?" The guards asked.

"You say you like proving to us how brave and strong you are." The guard explained.

"Of course!" Hannybal/Bon Clay declared proudly.

"Be careful though." The other guard warned. "The beasts seem quite agitated and aggressive today."

"No need to worry." Hannybal/Bon Clay stated without worry. "I'm a professional here."

"Yes sir!" The yelled in unison.

As the door to level 5 was opened, Bon Clay grasped the roister for the level and found the name Emporio Ivankov with a line through it. This caused him to frown. Does this mean he's dead? NoNoNoNo He thought. I can't ask. If I do, it could be sign that I'm not the real deal. That man must be alive! He has to be alive! Strawhat needs him. Placing the clipboard back he bravely walked into the freezing cold of level 5.

Luffy felt as if he were dreaming. Before him was Ace and Sabo when they were kids. Ace was yelling at him for being stupid for touching a poisonous frog and trying to eat it. It hadn't been his fault! He'd been hungry and Ace hadn't wanted to stop for any berries in their journey. So he laid on the mat in their half finished treehouse with a swollen face, ears and all around feeling of being miserable.

"Ace!" Sabo yelled at the dark haired boy. "You know how Luffy is! You should have taken snacks, like I told you to!"

"He wastes them!" Ace yelled back. "He throws out the nuts and only eats the dried fruit!"

"Then take only dried fruit!" Sabo yelled back. "What if his throat swells because of this? What if he suffocates!"

"Then he's an idiot and deserves death!" Ace yelled back, his eyes prickling at the edges. "Damn it!" He cursed as he ran over to Luffy and threw the tiny boy onto his back. "I'll take him to Makino!"

That was the last thing Luffy heard before he woke up two days later with big sis 'Kino taking care of him. He was fussed over by the green haired barmaid for a week afterwards until both of his brothers came back down the mountain. By then neither Sabo or Ace were talking to each other. Sabo was angry at Ace for allowing Luffy to eat the poison laced frog and Ace was angry at Sabo for not seeing his way in this.

A month later Luffy ate a poison mushroom on Sabo's watch. Ace felt vindicated when it was Sabo racing down the mountain side with Luffy's limp body. After that both brothers put up a new rule. No eating poisonous animals or vegetation. Luffy pouted as his brothers breathed easier as Luffy always followed their rules on these things.

Luffy's eyes opened. He was still hurt; so very badly. Shaking he looked at the strange people above them. Of course. Now he remembered. These people had saved them from those beasts. He had awakened to seeing Bon Clay being attacked from all sides by giant wolves. I think I took a bite out of one. He thought as he shook. His body was far too injured, he was certain he was dying from the poison in his system. "Bon…Bon…" he said his friend's name. "Bon, he was trying to help me. He got a-a-attacked by those wolves." He felt his muscles tighten and spasm. He was being wrecked by the pain. Yes, he was certain he was going to die. He let out a gasp. "Please take care of him!" He cried out. "He's m-my friend. I c-can't let him die!" The man's eyes widened above him.

"As you wish."

Unconsciousness soon enveloped him. Then the most intense pain erupted throughout his body. It felt as if his whole body was on fire. That his bones were turning to ash and then reformed again and again. His muscles spasming, twisting unnaturally and then tearing apart only to be put back together again. His blood ran dry only to be replaced by acid and then the burning began anew only to be worse!

So Luffy screamed and screamed and screamed.

Was it for days? Was it for weeks? Or was it for months that he was tortured by this? It felt worse each time.

He barely remembers what the man had told him. He remembers that it'll take ten years off of his life. He remembers the man saying it'll be an intense treatment. He only has a three percent chance of survival. Ace needs me to live! Ace needs my help! He needs me to be strong!

Imperial Healing Hormones!

That's what that person had yelled before this process had begun. My will must be strong! He thought as another scream ripped out from him. For Ace!

His arms pulled at the heavy and thick chains that were holding him to the metal table. Just as he thought the pain was ending, finally, he heard something.

"Strawhat?" The voice was familiar. It was filled with worry.

Who is that? He wondered for all but a minute when an enormous and sharp pain, like lightning striking your spine, slammed through his entire being.

He screamed. His scream was high pitched and struck the hearts of those nearby.

Ace. He thought as heart clenched. Big brother.

Jinbe looked up at the ceiling of his prison. It's been silent for several hours. He thought grimly. Did Ace's brother fail and get captured? He remembered his fight with the fire logia, how he showed such promise. These people wish to use him as bait for Whitebeard; but then never expected an inexperienced rookie to come here to gain allies for his brother in order to stop a war. He leaned back against the wall. His muscles ached from being in one position. Magellan will kill that boy and if he doesn't- He eyed those on this level in their cells. -then one of these beasts will. There is no honor amongst these monsters. He silently eyed Crocodile. Except for one other perhaps. He watched Crocodile look up at the ceiling before a grin crossed the scarred faced man's visage. Oh! Something is happening. His attention returned towards the ceiling. Jinbe raised a brow. What is that? He wondered as his haki pressed against another's above him. It feels like a wild animal. A very large one at that? The haki struck down at him. "Ah!" Jinbe cried out more in surprise than anything else. "What the-"

Crocodile began laughing. His laughing growing in intensity and volume until it filled the entire level. Everyone turned towards the sound, some in curiosity while others; in fear.

The sound ended with Crocodile looking at Jinbe. His eyes were wide and wild looking; almost crazy. "He's coming." He announced before laughter filled the level once again from the ex-warlord.

The screams in Luffy's room stopped all of a sudden as those outside stopped their movements. After awakening Bon Clay had been told what was happening to Luffy. That the treatment would take upwards of three days to complete. Long enough that Fire Fist would be brought to Impel Down; but word had reached them from the outside that Ace was still MIA on the island that the marines had planned to capture him on; though his crew had been executed. Luffy would be upset. It had been twenty odd hours since the treatment had begun.

The Queen of the Newkama; Emporio Ivankov, was standing next to Bon Clay. "Silence this early is not good." He stated as blood leaked from under the door. His will wasn't strong enough. He thought sadly. "His silence brings grim tidings I'm afraid."

"No." Bon Clay said with a deep sadness to his voice. "Straw boy." A soft whimper escaped his lips. He was so certain that his dear friend would survive.

"Survival was only at three percent." Iva stated, his voice soft with remorse. A true pity. He fought valiantly for over twenty hours.

Everyone began crying as the pool of blood trailed down towards them from the locked room that the young man had died in. When suddenly the chains rattled as the door was kicked from the other side. This startled many who jumped back. The door shook with another powerful kick from the other side. Followed quickly by another and another.

Suddenly a loud growling sound came from the other side followed by a scream. "FEED ME!" Everyone cried out for joy; the boy had lived!

He hadn't even gone a day! Iva thought with shock. Just who is this boy?

Joy turned into celebration as the Okama began making food and bringing everything that they had for the young man. The food was left outside the doors which were opened. The boy had yet to exit the chamber when stretchy arms came flying out of the room pulling food towards the occupant inside. As one prisoner described it as a sand trap, because the young man truly was acting like one. His hunger was so great and intense that it took every morsel to feel his never ending hunger before it stopped all of a sudden.

As the clanking of a bowl dropping was heard the group stared in wonder as the young man came out looking like a rounded blob. As he came to the doorway, in which he could no longer fit through, the Okama watched in disbelief as the boy inhaled deeply before his body digested everything a returned to his original form!

"I'm healed!" He screamed as he lifted his hands above his head in victory. "Shishishi." He laughed a laugh that sent shivers down everyone's spines. "Now, let's finish what we started Bon."

Bon Clay felt more giddy than he had in the hours that had passed them by. Quickly running forward he hugged the young man before pulling away. "Whatever you say my friend!" He grinned. "The prison guards won't know what hit them."

M-Angel: Yay! I finally got my update out! This week has been so hectic. It's the weekend, which means I'll be trying for a second update tomorrow! Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. I am. Next weekend I'll be going on a mini vacation, so no promises of an update then.