" ": You talking

' ': You thinking

* *: Narrator/Voice-off

Your POV:

"... W- Who... What did you... Just say... ?"

Nyon: Ace... Fire Fist ace...

Margaret: What's wrong ?

Luffy: Ace is going to be executed ?!

Nyon: Apparently, a pirate named Blackbeard defeated Fire Fist Ace, and became a new Shichibukai...

"Blackbeard..."

Nyon: the government suddenly gained a major chip in the way of the Pirate Age, and they plan to use it in a big way.

Luffy: Lady... !! Old Lady ! THAT'S MY BIG BROTHER... !! ACE IS MY BROTHER !!

Nyon: ... WHAT... ?! REALLY ?! He's your brother ?!

Luffy: I didn't even know he'd been captured... And he going to be executed ?! Is there no way to escape ?!

Nyon: ... Uuhhhm ! If Whitebeard wins this fight, he could be saved.

"... When and where is the execution supposed to happen ?"

Nyon: Right... It's the plaza of the town of Marineford, owned by marine headquarters. "In one week", so about six days from today.

Luffy: WHA ?! That's so soon !! How long does it take to get to Sabaody from here ?!

Nyon: ... Well, you can assume that it will take at least a week...

Luffy: If it takes that long, then before we even meet up, it'll be all over for Ace !!

"Okay, how long from here to where Ace is held ?!"

Nyon: To the prison of Impel Down... On a pirate ship, one week... On one of the marine ship, four days...

Luffy: Why Are marine ships that fast ?!

"It's not that they are fast... But there's a current reserved for the world Government..."

"Enies Lobby, Impel Down, and Marine HQ Marineford. They're all connected by a great current that only government ships can use. At each of these points, giant gates, the "Gates of Justice" can be opened, either allowing access, or... Well, there's no way a pirate ship would be granted access, so we'd have to take a detour."

Luffy: What should I do here... ?!

Nyon: What do you want to do ?

Nyon: C- Could that be your brother's Vivre card ?!

Margaret: Is that the moving piece of paper you were taking care of ?

Luffy: That's a different one. This is Ace's.

Nyon: They're also called "Life papers". They indicate where the owner is and their vitality...

Margaret: So... If it's that small...

"It was about ten times this size at first... Luffy ?"

Luffy: ... Ace is on his own adventure ! It's weird that I would need to save my brother, who's so strong... Ace would probably get mad at me.

"Nah, he'll definitely be... But...

Luffy: Yeah... Sorry, guys... We're gonna take a little detour !

"Then it's decided ! Let's go save Ace ! You said marine ships take 4 days to get there ? I'm sure I can do it in less than 2."

Luffy: ... Two more days like that, you'll fall and drown.

"I don't care !"

Nyon: Do you have any idea how reckless that is... ? Do you really understand, the scale of this war ?You would be like an ant in the midst of a hurricane... ! You might simply be repelled, unable to accomplish anything.

"A VERY stubborn ant !"

Luffy: It doesn't matter what might happen, we're going !! I can't just sit by and let this happen !!

Nyon: Yes, I understand... So you want to save the most important prisoner in the world ? ... To have even the slightest chance of success, you must go to the great prison where he is being held... If you go to the execution site at Marineford, both Admirals and Shichibukai will be on guard there. But of course, since your brother is the most important prisoner they have, the defenses at the prison will be stiff as well. It may be impossible to even enter.

"That's something we'll have to worry about once we get there. What we need right now is a way to go from Amazon Lily to Impel Down !"

Luffy: If you've got a huge row, then...

"N- No, Luffy, there's still limits..."

Nyon: He's right, this can't be solved with brute force... this is a long shot, but... Up until now, Lady Hebihime has been refusing the orders for the Shichibukai to assemble. If she were to assent... then you would be able to hide aboard a marine vessel.

Luffy: A marine ship ?! There's a marine ship out there ?! Then we need to ask her for help !!

Enishida: ELDER NYON !!

Nyon: What's wrong, Enishida ? Rushing about like that...

Enishida: Oh, good ! I was just coming to find you, Elder Nyon !

"Did something happen... ?"

Enishida: You see... ! Lady Hebihime has fallen ill with an unknown disease ! SHE'S COLLAPSED.. !!

Luffy: EHHHH ?! AT A TIME LIKE THIS ?!

Sandersonia: Hang in there, sister... !

Marigold: Ah.. Elder Nyon... !

Nyon: ... You, go wait outside...

Luffy: Ahh, but we're in a hurry...

"And she knows that. We won't achieve anything by bringing in more stress."

Hancock: Haa... Haa... It hurts... !

Belladonna: She's been clutching her chest, so I thought there might be some abnormality with her heart... But I don't understand... I've never seen anything like this before... I don't know what medicine to prescribe... !

Enishida: Lady Hebihime looks like she's suffering... ! She won't even take any food.

Nyon: ... ... Tomorrow morning...

Hancock: Haaaauu... !!

Belladonna: Lady Hebihime ?!

Nyon: ... I see... How could this have happened... What an inopportune time... Damn virus... !

Sandersonia: Eh ?! A virus ?!

Marigold: Do you know what it is ?!

Hancock: ... E... Elder Nyon... It hurts... Am I... Am I going to die... ?

Nyon: ... Yes... I am afraid this is what will happen...

Marigold: Wha... ? What are you saying ?! Stop joking around, Elder Nyon !!

Nyon: The previous empress... Died of this disease as well... And the empress before her had the same sickness... I came down with the same disease, and only survived because I left the country...

Nyon: Hebihime... Monkey D. Luffy came with me. He has a request. Are you willing to hear it ?

Sandersonia: Wait, Elder Nyon !! How can my sister handle that now ?!

Hancock: I don't care... Listen, you will all leave the room.

Enishida: Eh ?! You stood up ?!

Nyon: '... What good fortune you have, Monkey D. Luffy !! Could you have moved the mountain... That no one else could ?!'

Hancock: What do you need... ? Luffy...

Luffy: Yeah, I've got something to ask you... Are you sick ?

Hancock: No illness could keep me down... !

'Why was I pushed aside too... ?'

Luffy: one of Whitebeard's men is about to be executed. A pirate named ace. He's my brother ! I need to help him ! But I can't make it on a pirate ship. Will you get me aboard the waiting marine ship and take me to the prison where Ace is ?!

Sandersonia: HOW RIDICULOUSLY SELFISH !! STRAWHAT LUFFY !! YOU KNOW THE WOUNDS IN OUR SISTER'S HEART, AND NOW YOU WANT HER TO GO BACK TO THAT CURSED PLACE ?! WHAT A CRUEL MAN !!

Marigold: YOU SHOW A MAN SOME PITY AND HE JUST WANTS MORE !! JEEZ, THERE'S A LIMIT TO OUR SISTER'S PATIENCE !! TURN HIM TO STONE AND BREAK HIM !! GET HIM, SISTER !!

Hancock: So you want me to answer the order to assemble as a Shichibukai... ? If that is your desire... Then I... Will go wherever you wish.

Luffy: Great !! Thank you !! Now I can make it before the execution date !!

"W- WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT ?!"

Nyon: HEBIHIME !! SHE DECIDED TO GO WITH THE GOVERNMENT !!

Marigold: WHAT'S GOING ON ?! ELDER NYON !!

Nyon: HEBIHIME'S DISEASE IS LOVE SICKNESS !! THE PREVIOUS EMPRESSES DIED PINING FOR LOVE AS WELL !! THEY HAVE A SAYING IN THE EAST SEAS... "LOVE IS ALWAYS... A HURRICANE !!"

"HOLY CRAP, SANJI YOU WERE RIGHT ALL ALONG !!"

Hancock: W- What's happening to me ?! I can't even think of refusing Luffy's request... Going to Marineford all of a sudden... But I don't regret it in the slightest... !

Nyon: That's "Love" !! The unbearable suffering you feel, yearning for the one you cannot see will weaken your body until you die... the previous empresses tried to suppress their feelings, and that destroyed them. Your decision to go with them will save your life. And if answering to the summon can protects your status as a Shichibukai, it will protect this country as well... And it will also help Monkey D. Luffy...

"Luffy, you were born under one hell of a star... Usually, getting captured is the only way to enter Impel Down, let alone trying to go there voluntarily..."

Luffy: I don't care. Ace is there, and I'm gonna rescue him.

"I know that, and, I don't care either... Even though... Since we're not going to meet up with the others for quite some time..."

Kuja: LUFFY !! Weren't you setting sail tomorrow ?! I haven't touched them yet !!

Kuja: I heard that they are going somewhere different now. They're going to board one of the government's ships with Lady Hebihime !

Luffy: Later guys ! Thanks for all your help !

Margaret: next time, bring your friends to visit !

"Uhh... Are you sure this is a good idea... ?"

Margaret: Ahaha, if they're your friends, then they're special, so it's fine !

"I wasn't talking about that... But a couple of them might be a bit too happy to get here for their own good..."

Aphelandra: Ah ! Is she here ?

Hancock: Who was it, that left this... Puppy, and baby seal in my way ?!

Kuja: My humblest apologies, I'll take responsibility...

Hancock: Be more careful...

Kuja: KYAAAAAAA !! IT'S LADY HEBIHIME !! I don't know why, but her beauty is overflowing !! There's nothing about her that isn't sexy !!

Luffy: Ohh !! Sorry about the rush, snake lady ! I want to go as soon as possible !

Hancock: '... I can't look him in the eyes... !'

Margaret: Luffy !! It's rude to talk to her like that !! You should address Lady Hebihime properly... !

Hancock: P- Please call me... Hancock.

Kuja: KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA~ !!

Luffy: Okay, got it, Hanmock.

"Hancock, Luffy... Hancock..."

Kuja: L... L... LADY HEBIHIME... SMILED ?! HOW MANY CARATS WAS IT WORTH, THAT DIAMOND'S SHINE ?!!

Nyon: A woman in love... Fufufufu. There was a time when I looked like that as well...

Nerine: Huh ? Elder Nyon, you don't look so well..

Nyon: BE QUIET !!

Kuja: Have a safe journey, Lady Hebihime !! Come back soon !

Kuja: See you again !!

Kikyo: STOP THAT !!

Hancock: the conditions are as I stated over the Dendenmushi.

Momonga: Only you and that pet snake will be allowed on board. As for visiting the great prison Impel Down, I managed to get permission from my superiors. Normally, even the Shichibukai stay away from that place. And even though this is a special case, you won't be able to stay for very long. Now, come aboard !

Momonga: Looks like waiting was worth it. I've fulfilled my duty. First, could you do something about my crew that you petrified ? Or are they dead ?

Sandersonia: FAREWELL, SISTER !! Be safe !!

Marigold: You have to come back to us alive, sister !!

Kuja: We're praying for your good fortune, Lady Hebihime !!

Hancock: I will return... In the meantime, watch over the country.

All: YES !!

Hancock: Wake up. Fuu...

Soldiers: ... -CK~ ! H- Huh... ?

Momonga: Ready the ship, you fools... !

Soldiers: Y- Yes, right away !!

*Somehow, Luffy has gained the Shichibukai Boa Hancock's cooperation. He and his guardian successfully boarded the marine warship. And that ship is now headed for the world's greatest prison, the great sea floor prison Impel Down.*

"Okay, so we need to determine how exactly we'll be able to sneak on board of the ship..."

Luffy: How about it ?

"Well, we can't exactly just walk in in front of all the soldiers, can we ?"

Hancock: ... ...

"... Okay, so, I've been thinking... Luffy, you can probably sneak in with Hancock..."

Hancock: ... !

Luffy: I can, but what about you ?

"I'll be following behind. As soon as you get on board, I should be able to sneak up behind the ship by going right above the water."

Luffy: Then what ?

"I've seen enough marine warships in my life to know where the cabins are. And since they are at the back, I'll just wait beside the porthole and enter the cabin then."

Hancock: ... ... ...

"... On second thought... Having three people there would make it more difficult to stay hidden... I could easily create a platform beside the porthole and stay outside... Probably better, in case we need to escape."

Hancock: ... !

'You're way too honest with your feelings...'

Luffy: Okay ! Then we'll do that ! Next stop, Impel Down !!