Two Dreams, One Adventure

Impel Down Part 2: Control

First, to find a source of blood. Ace was supposed to be at the bottom. He didn't know how deep, but as long as he headed down, it was the right way. But he couldn't start looking for Ace until he was strong again. He followed the sounds of prisoners, the closest of them. There was a whole hall of them. Without any questions asked before he shot a hand into the cage gap and yanked an arm out, biting down.

They were already very loud, so more shouting was nothing. He drank enough to function in tip top shape, wiped and his mouth, took out the tiny vivre card and followed it. He took his shoes off, sticking them in his waistband before looking for any source of seastone. He smelled it in multiple places, but didn't find any up for grabs.

He had a time limit. If he couldn't find it quickly, he couldn't spend the time searching for it directly. Prisoners asked who he was, but he ignored them.

He came across a big door, but it was a dead end. He had to be more careful. He should be able to smell fresh areas of air, but the place was so permeated with blood, sweat and shit it was hard to make anything out that wasn't near.

Hearing voices talking about a prisoner outbreak, he got up against the ceiling. His rubber powers sure were helpful. Seastone was the very last resort, as he'd lose his power to stretch and bullets could get him that way. Well, Luffy planned on not needing it, but that didn't mean he wouldn't consider it as a last ditch effort.

At least the door opened for him and he swooped in by the ceiling, following his brother's vivre card. He heard a very nearby scream, but didn't pay attention to it much. He passed more prisoners, and they whisper-shouted. "Hey, kid! How'd you get out!?"

"I came in from the outside," Luffy said.

"No way, you're lying!" another said. They were really packed inside these cages, weren't they? How stuffy and smelly. "Are you a jailer? How'd you get out? Hey, unlock us, too!" Luffy ignored their words and asked if they knew where Ace was. "Ace? Fire Fist Ace?"

Luffy nodded, "I want to save him." They laughed at his effort.

"But, if you are looking for him, he gotta be on level five. That's where they keep the guys with bounties over 100 million," a helpful prisoner on the other side of the hall said. "But instead of that, can't you go to the jailer's room and let us out?"

"That's right, nii-chan, let us out! Yeah, we'll help you!" Luffy didn't believe it.

"Hmm, level five?" Luffy asked. Was that the deepest part? That was the bottom of the prison. Only five levels? Maybe that could be quick. They kept begging him for him to let them all out. Then they all heard a ruckus, Luffy hearing it first. He got on the ceiling, pressed flat to it as a familiar voice passed below, screaming as huge monsters followed him.

But even with them not seeing Luffy, they stopped and skidded to a halt. They were not human, they were afraid of Luffy. Luffy dropped down, taking this chance to get away from them before they caused a commotion. He found himself running next to the familiar face. And scent. The smell of lipstick mostly. Buggy was running next to him.

"Haha, the blugori are too scared of me! Ah, Straw Hat?! What are you doing here? Ah, did you come to save me?!"

"Shut up! Of course not, I came in here myself! I'm supposed to be sneaky and you ruined it! And it's me the monsters are afraid of," Luffy said. He followed the vivre card down another hall and then staircases. There were some more monsters coming for Buggy in front of them, Luffy could hear them.

When they came into sight or smell of Luffy, they ran the other way. "Hell yeah, I'm sticking with you!" Buggy said. Luffy wanted him to go away.

"Then you're coming with me to the bottom! I'm finding Ace!"