CHAPTER 154 TRADING PLACES

CHAPTER 154 TRADING PLACES

The 6th Floor of Impel Down was huge. At least 150 feet tall I wasn’t sure why it was so big until I saw the giant cages at the rear of the room. Huge figures in dark cells stood in the far back. This was where they held the giants. I hadn’t really seen any actual giants yet. But I knew my crew had. The biggest one I had been against was Oars. And that was a zombie version.

I slunk back behind the escort for Hancock. The most beautiful woman in the world quickly caused an uproar for the men and women trapped in the lowest hell in the world. They screamed obscenities at her.

Hancock was used to this sort of talk. I considered disposing of a few, but knew the majority of them would die in the coming hours. Magellan yelled at the especially vulgar ones. When they didn’t calm down he turned his arm into dark purple poison. Throwing it at the idiots.

“You people forget!” Magellan roared. “I have sole discretion on whether I think you deserve to live or not.” The men who were covered in poison began to melt from the power of it.

“An antidote” “someone help me!” “Jackass!” They yelled as they began to die quickly.

“No! The rest of you best remember who is in charge here!” He breathed out, relaxing. “Boa Hancock, say what you need to say,” Magellan said pointing at a cell. Inside I noticed the big Jimbei. He was a blue fishman. Beaten and shackled to one side of the cage he stared at the group angrily.

On the opposite side was Portgas D. Ashley. Tan skin, longer black hair than her poster, it was down to her collarbones. She wore a simple red shirt that barely held in her C-cup breasts. With 6-pack abs and thin muscular arms shackled to the wall she appeared strong. But she was beaten up. Bloody gashes, deep bruises, and ragged breath escaping her I doubted she had received any first-aid since her fight with Blackbeard.

But she wore a big smile. “Hancock, my love,” Ash said. Her eyes sparkling as she eyed the woman. “Of all the people I wanted to see before my death. You were the one I wanted here the most.”

“Can we have a moment?” Hancock asked the group. I doubted any of them questioned the truth of her words now.

“2 minutes,” Magellan said, backing up.

She nodded as they stepped back. The rest of the prisoners cowed by Magellan, they were quiet. Happy for at least some drama from 2 beautiful women.

“I came to apologize,” Hancock admitted. She didn’t look around as if looking for me. But stared straight at Ash. “Last we spoke. We had different ideals.”

“I remember,” Ash said. “I wanted you with me, and you wanted to stay away.”

“That’s not-“ Hancock said. But stopped from elaborating. Taking in a breath she relaxed herself. “I met someone. Someone just as reckless as you. Perhaps moreso.”

“Good for you, came to gloat?” Ash asked.

“No,” Hancock admitted. “I came to tell you I am sorry. And that you were right. I was too stubborn back then. Too focused. I am sorry that we ended the way we did.”

“And now I’m dead,” Ash scoffed. “Too late to do much about it.”

“I don’t know about that,” Hancock whispered. Almost too low to hear, but I noticed Firefist had heard it as well. “Goodbye Ashley. I will see you again.”

Hancock turned but I pinched her butt. “Goodbye my love,” I whispered. “I’ll see you soon.” She blushed. Licking her lips she nodded and headed over to Magellan. The group walked back to the lift and were soon out of there.

“Old girlfriend?” Jimbei asked.

“Shut it, fishman,” Ash growled. “Why the hell are you here anyway? Aren’t you supposed to be with your fellow Shichibukai?”

“I’m here because of you,” Jimbei spat. “Your old man at least.” Ash stiffened. Not understanding. “Whitebeard.” Ash relaxed. “Back before him, Fishman island was where all the pirates traveled through to get to the New World. It was a lawless time. Mer and fishfolk kidnapped and killed daily. Then Whitebeard stepped in. Claimed we were under his protection. Overnight the place became civilized once more.”

I had forgotten that. Back when the Straw Hats got to Fishman Island Whitebeard was dead. It was under Big Mom’s protection. I didn’t want to let Whitebeard die. My plan should see him alive. I wondered what else would change.

“Yeah, the old man is pretty great like that,” Ash said. “Better than my old man. That’s for sure.”

“I’ve never heard of Portgas. Who is your father?” Jimbei asked. Simply making conversation. I decided to sit down and wait. The area was dark, no one noticed a thicker shadow. The others in the cages had quieted down. Those people Magellan poisoned, breathing their last breaths, it was a sobering moment for the rest of them as they accepted they were never leaving this place.

“Ha, no, Portgas is my mom’s name,” Ashley said. “My dad...was a deadbeat. He decided to give up and die. Without a word.”

“What?” I asked, a little upset. Both Jimbei and Ash turned to me. “Your dad died louder than anyone.”

“Who's there?” Ash spat.

“Aaaaa ghoooooost,” I whispered eerily as I laid on the floor, unworried about them hearing me.

“No, seriously,” Jimbei said.

“I’m a ghost,” I said. “The ghost of...Christmas past.”

“Christmas? What the fuck is that?” Ash asked.

“Doesn’t matter,” I grumbled, enjoying this way too much. “I am here to discuss your sins. We have plenty of time, so let’s get comfortable. Jimbei...your sins first.” I looked at the fishman. He appeared rather scared as he noticed the dark area where I was. He perhaps believed I was really a ghost.

“Let’s see, your life....has been....boring,” I said. I laid back, staring up at the ceiling.

“What? I’ve done lots of-”

“Following?” I asked. “Yes, you have. First you were in the Fishman royal guard, correct? Then Fisher Tiger shows up and you break your oath to the army to follow him. A pirate? How cliche. Fighting against the humans that oppress you. Only now fighting in their neighborhood, rather than protecting your own people and country? Your sins are many. Letting the queen die? You most of all deserve death.”

“A human did that!” He roared angrily.

“Oh right, Weston Watanabe,” I said. “We haven’t really talked roles on the ship but I consider myself the unofficial first mate of the Straw Hat Pirates.” That perked Ash up, Crocodile too.

“Weston!” The ex-Shichibukai growled from the cell next to us. “You fuck! I’ll kill you!”

“Shutup Crocky,” I said. “Still pissed about that whole Mr. Half thing?” He growled. “Guess so. Calm it down, or I’m leaving you here to rot too.” That shut him up.

“What?” He asked.

“I’m breaking ol’ Firefist out of here,” I said.

“What? Why?” She asked, still angry at me.

“Um because you're my captain’s sister, duh,” I said. “Why wouldn’t we try to break you out?”

“We?”

“Of course, why wouldn’t Luffy be here?” I asked.

“Luffy’s here?” She asked, worried and excited.

“Well not here here, but here. Sorry I didn’t trust him in my shadow. I can cover my breath and presence, but he’s not so subtle,” I said. “He’s upstairs.”

“He was captured?!” Ash raged.

“No, god, shut up,” I said. “Look, Luffy and I snuck in here. I followed Magellan down earlier. Luffy is making his way down floor by floor. He should be able to make it with some luck.”

“God dang that idiot,” she mumbled. “He should know it’s impossible.”

“Well, unlike you, he hasn’t given up on you,” I said. That quieted her. The grimy and bloody woman staring at me. “Why do you think I’m talking to you? I know when someone has given up.” I had seen it enough torturing people in my Genjutsu.

“What the fuck do you know?” Ash asked.

“I know who your dad is. Who your grandpa is. Who your brother’s are. I know a lot about you, Ash. And I know if you don’t get your head out of your ass. You will die,” I said.

“Who cares?” She growled. “I’m a fucking cursed-”

“My captain cares!” I yelled. “You aren’t cursed. Who cares who your dad is? Literally, right now, only about 10 people in the world know. You know who I was talking to less than a week ago? Silvers Rayleigh. Have you ever met him? Probably the one man in the world that knows your dad better than anyone. A man, that when he finds out who your dad is, will probably show up to try to save you too.”

That quieted her. We sat in silence for a while. A long while. Longer than I meant to since I fell asleep. So much going on I had said what I wanted to. Tried to smack some sense into her. Given her the Robin and Nami treatment...pre-sexual encounters.

I woke up to find Ash still sitting there thinking. Quiet and introspective as she went through her whole life. When I felt she had enough I said, “Jimbei, I meant what I said about Hordy Jones.”

“How can you know that?” He asked.

“Haki,” I lied. “Ask the princess when you see her.”

“Crocodile,” I said, moving closer to his cell. “I will not be freeing you. But Luffy will be down here soon. He will free you. So don’t tell my secrets.” He growled. “Whitebeard is going to be at the execution. A great place to kill him, trust me.” He quieted.

I turned back to Ashley. “Okay, sleep sleep time for you,” I said.

“Wh-what?” She asked, brought out of her thoughts.

“I am going to take your place for the execution,” I said bluntly. “You will be safe and sound in here. Luffy should be here eventually. Tell him I’ll be pissed if he doesn’t save me.”

“Wh-” She tried to say but I touched her head, putting her to sleep with Genjutsu. I began messing with the manacles on her arms. Releasing her hands she dropped limply. Dragging her over to Jimbei I looked him up and down. For some reason I had thought he was in a different cell, not the same.

“Can we hide her on you somewhere?” I asked.

“Are you really taking her place?” Jimbei asked.

“Of course,” I said. “My captain would be sad if this bitch died.” I looked him over. He was a huge man. He was my height sitting down while I stood. There were 2 giant chains criss crossing over his body holding him there. He wore a large poncho shirt, and a black robe jacket. “I’m just going to hide her here.” I grabbed his jacket and put her much smaller body inside. Resting her against the wall and his body. “She will wake up if you say the words ‘Baby shark dodododo’.”

“Seriously?” Jimbei asked.

“Yeah seriously,” I admitted. It was simple enough to make the chakra attuned to words. “Don’t do it until her brother is here though. Got it?”

“Why are you doing this?” Jimbei asked.

“I just said-”

“No, trusting me?” He asked.

“Oh, Jimbei. You’re a good guy,” I said. “Despite what I said, above all, I trust you to keep your word. Because you know what happens when people don’t. Wait for my captain. You will like him, trust me. Do this for me, alright? Keep my captain’s sister safe,” I said. He nodded slowly.

“Good.” I did the hand seal for a transformation jutsu and turned into the exact replica of Ash. Scratches, boobs, blood, and all. “Let’s do this.”