Impel Down's Hell
The elevator descended slowly, emitting a metallic screech that echoed in the silence of the group. For the vice admirals, it was an efficient way to avoid the tedious walk through the endless, depressing halls of Impel Down. For Kara, it was simply more comfortable than going down on her own.
Meanwhile, Vista, who had been unconscious until now, began to regain consciousness. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at the people around him, chained and with no escape. It took him only a moment to grasp the situation.
"Oh, you're awake," Kara said with a calm smile.
"Damn you… You're making a mistake," Vista growled, his voice still somewhat hoarse. "This will start a war."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say," Kara scoffed with boredom. "We've already done the paperwork."
"If you let me go, I can convince my father that this was all Blackbeard's fault," Vista added quickly. "You'd only have to pay some compensation."
The three vice admirals exchanged glances, all wearing the same expression of disbelief, as if they were watching a man try to sell them air.
"Sounds pretty convenient…" Tokikake remarked calmly. "But we refuse."
"You don't have the final say," Vista snapped angrily. "Tell this to Sengoku! If you imprison me, my father will come with all my brothers to get me."
"Oh no, how scary!" Kara exclaimed, imitating Kizaru's exact tone, while Tokikake struggled to hold back his laughter.
"A pirate is going to do something illegal. How unexpected!" Tokikake added mockingly, joining Kara in taunting Vista.
Vista gritted his teeth.
"Are you an idiot?! Do you really want to go to war with Whitebeard?" he shouted furiously. "Let me remind you…! You're the killer of Condor!"
"Condor… what an ugly name," Kara replied indifferently.
"You damn…!" Vista roared. "The only reason there wasn't a war back then was that Condor was just an affiliated captain… But I'm different! This time, war is inevitable!"
"Ugh… so noisy," Kara muttered.
Without further ado, she punched him in the face with enough force to knock him unconscious again.
Just then, the elevator reached its destination, and the doors opened with a loud "ding."
"Welcome to eternal hell," Hannyabal said with attempted dramatism. "This is the lowest level of Impel Down!"
After unlocking the massive seastone gate, they walked down a long corridor with thick concrete walls. Soon, the prisoners began to notice them. Screams, jeers, insults, and laughter filled the air.
"That damn psychopath is here! Let me out"I'll kill her!" roared a prisoner, his eyes wild.
"Hey, little lady, come 'interrogate' me!" another laughed disgustingly.
"I'm innocent!" shouted a third, wearing such a disturbing grin that it only made him look guiltier.
"What a lovely community," Tokikake commented sarcastically.
Suddenly, a calm voice rose above the commotion.
"Oh my… if it isn't the vice warden."
Everyone turned toward a more isolated cell, where Shiryu of the Rain smirked with amusement.
"One of Whitebeard's men, huh?" he said with interest, eyeing Vista. "Things are about to get interesting. Hey, Hannyabal, why don't you let me out? You guys won't be able to protect the prison on your own."
"That won't be necessary, Shiryu!" Hannyabal exclaimed with false confidence. "My maximum-security prison doesn't need you!"
"Sir, it's not your prison," Domino whispered to him.
"Oh, right!"
"Let's stop wasting time and lock this guy up already," Momonga interjected seriously.
Finally, they arrived at a special cell. Hannyabal pulled out a large key and inserted it into the lock. With a heavy creak, the door swung open.
"This is where you'll stay until your execution," he announced proudly.
The guards threw Vista inside without hesitation. He groaned, barely managing to open his eyes.
"Damn you…" he muttered angrily. "My father will come for me… and when he does, none of you will live to tell the tale..."
Kara smirked and leaned slightly forward.
"Then we'll be looking forward to it," she mocked. "Make sure you don't die before he arrives, okay?"
Vista tried to respond, but a second punch from Kara knocked him out again.
"Well, that takes care of him," Tokikake said. "Make sure security is at its highest. We don't want any surprises."
"Y-yes, of course!" Hannyabal stammered, still nervous.
As they were about to leave, something caught Kara's attention.
"Well, well… if it isn't Croco," she said, approaching another cell. "How's life in prison?"
Crocodile, chained up, looked at her seriously.
"Much better than you'd think," he said with disdain. "Especially after finding out you knew that woman. I'm glad to know the Government took her away without you being able to do anything about it."
Kara raised an eyebrow.
"Oh… but she's free and still sailing. Meanwhile, you… well, I doubt you'll ever see the light of day again."
Crocodile's eyes widened in surprise, but he soon smirked maliciously.
"You interfered…" he murmured. "I wonder how the World Government will take that."
"I wonder that too. But in the meantime… here's a little gift for being a snitch."
Kara raised her hand, and before everyone's astonished eyes, Crocodile let out a bloodcurdling scream of pain.
"Hey, hey!" Tokikake exclaimed. "Sengoku will be pissed if you kill someone!"
"I didn't kill him," Kara replied calmly. "I just cut off his tongue and arms."
Tokikake sighed.
"Sometimes you're terrifying…"
"We fight pirates who loot, rape, and kill. If you walk along the shore, your feet are bound to get wet," Momonga stated seriously, unfazed by Kara's actions. As long as she didn't kill anyone, many Marines used this method to neutralize their enemies"even if they were already imprisoned.
After all, no one could say for sure that they wouldn't escape one day, like Golden Lion Shiki.
Kara turned on her heels.
"Well, time to go. This place stinks."
Before stepping into the elevator, she remembered something.
"By the way… where's Doffy?"
"Doffy?" Hannyabal asked, confused.
"She means Donquixote Doflamingo," Tokikake clarified.
"Oh… well, he was killed by one of his own crewmates. Seems like they only sent him to prison to get rid of him. Then the assassin committed suicide."
Kara crossed her arms and clicked her tongue.
"Typical World Government."
After that, they all calmly returned to the ship, preparing to head back to Marineford.
"So… a war?" Tokikake sighed with a hint of concern.
"Are you nervous?" Kara asked, lounging on her folding chair with total relaxation.
"There will be many casualties… soldiers, comrades…" Tokikake answered seriously.
Kara narrowed her eyes and smirked.
"Then you just have to be strong enough to survive and protect them."
Tokikake pondered her words. He knew she was right. As soon as they arrived, he would have to train even harder.
"By the way, what did you say to Magellan before we left?" he asked curiously.
Kara grinned mischievously before replying.
"I just borrowed some money."
Tokikake blinked in disbelief.
"You asked him for money? You barely know him… Besides, you're supposed to be one of the richest people in the Navy."
"That's exactly why I'm still rich," Kara replied proudly.
Thanks to the connection between Impel Down and Marineford via the Gate of Justice, the ship arrived at its destination quickly.
"Finally… now I can get rid of the weird hairstyle and the little pig," Kara said with a mocking smile.
Tokikake frowned. Lately, people had been calling him Brown Pig because of Kara.
"ShiroNeko," he shot back immediately with a smug grin.
"What did you just say, bastard?" Kara growled, a vein throbbing on her forehead. She still hadn't gotten over that nickname.
"You started it," Tokikake replied indifferently.
"Enough, you two…" Momonga sighed in resignation.
"Oh, it's nice to see our Marines getting along so well," a lazy voice suddenly interrupted.
The three immediately turned to see Kizaru approaching with his usual carefree expression.
The soldiers saluted him with respect and enthusiasm, but Kara and the other vice admirals only gave a slight nod. However, when she noticed Kizaru's gaze on her, Kara felt a bad premonition.
"Well, I think Admiral Aokiji is calling me, so I better"" she tried to slip away.
"Aokiji isn't in Marineford," Kizaru interrupted in his usual slow drawl. "But, lucky for you, I have a mission for the three of you."
Kara clicked her tongue.
"Damn it…"
"Disrespecting an admiral, how bold," Kizaru teased.
"Just tell me the damn mission," Kara huffed, crossing her arms.
"You need to gather the Shichibukai for a meeting."
"That's it? Perfect," Kara replied in relief.
Kizaru was about to leave when Kara stopped him.
"By the way, I'm taking your ship."
Kizaru looked at her calmly and smirked slightly.
"I just hope it comes back in one piece… Your ability is terrifying."
With that, he vanished in a flash of light.
"It'll come back floating… but I can't promise anything," Kara said with a mischievous grin.
"Looks like another admiral will be getting a new ship soon," Tokikake commented amused.
Kara ignored the remark and started planning her trip.
"I'll go for Hancock, Ace, and Moria."
Tokikake raised an eyebrow.
"Hmm… I thought you got along well with Hawkeye and Jinbe. I didn't know you knew Moria."
"I don't know him," Kara replied indifferently. "But my number one slave needs a new sword, and Moria stole an interesting one."
With that, she strode off, determined, in search of Zoro and Chopper to accompany her.