Chapter 41

Grandline, Paradise, Impel Down.

Impel Down. The prison of the world government and home to the worst criminals this world has ever seen, or at least those of them that had been caught. A giant fortress, hiding most of its might under the rolling waves, and build from tones of concrete, never to let its prisoners see the light of day again.

At its entrance a man was waiting for the newly arriving prisoner, Crocodile, now former warlord of the seas, and from the moment he stepped a foot on the pier of Impel Down, the newest inmate.

Said man was none other than Magellan, chiefwarden of Impel Down.

Soon after he had arrived on the pier Crocodile was lead before Magellan with a mighty frown on his face. "Why am I still in chains? Shouldn't I be supported by the ones I serve under? That was the deal right?" Crocodile snarled, enraged at his treatment.

"Yes, normally that would be the case, though yours is a little bit different. You see, the first problem was getting your a.s.s handed to you by somebody without even a bounty on his head, which put a mighty dent into the world governments image of absolute might and being able to provide safety for the inhabitants of the world. Though that one may have been enough reason to let you keep your title as warlord of the seas. But soon after you were captured another piece of information reached our ears. Namely that you Crocodile tried to overtake the country of Alabasta and rule in the kings place. Despite the Nefertari family being an exception from the norm, they still are a part of the royal families, and you usurping them as part of the world government didn't really sit well with the Gorosei, to put it mildly. The endresult is that the world government will release the news that due to you being an usurper an order for your reinstallment of your former bounty had been issued and the stripping of your title was the consequence, once you were brought in. Thus we are now standing here and me welcoming you into your new home." Magellan told Crocodile while a menacing grin formed on his face.

"You backstabbing little shits!" yelled Crocodile, only to be met by a large fist to the face, which implanted Crocodile into the ground. Signalling for the other guards to pick him of the ground and follow him, Magellan turned around and headed, followed by the new prisoner, down into the prison, Impel Down.

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Grandline, Paradise, somewhere on the seas

Azul was having a nice day so far. He had set sails yesterday, after seeing a marineship arrive in Alabasta and soon afterwards leaving again. He mused that it may have been to take care of Crocodile but didn't ponder on the matter longer than was nescessary.

The sailing, soon after, had been nothing but smooth and he had enjoyed it greatly. With a strong enough wind to make some swift miles, he had literally flown over the waves, his boats bottom sometimes even leaving the waves for a short period of time. Sometimes leaning over the railing, to keep his ship from tilting over to one side completely and sometimes just holding his face into the strong currents of the wind, Azul had been atop the world. Sailing the waves had truly gotten to him. The soft cradling of the waves, the sun reflecting in the waves, the unpredictable weather of the grandline, the bloodrush accompanying a storm only the grandline could provide and the stormy winds ruffling his trousers and carrassing his face. Never would he have thought that he would enjoy something as much as fighting but sailing somehow had done just that. He supposed it was kind of natural. After all the flame that he carried only grew stronger with enough oxigen and what else was he bathing in when sailing but exactly that?

And so the hours went into the land, or sea would probably be a more acurate description, until on the next day he finally spotted an island in the distance. Already hearing the occasional gunshots, and smelling the gunpowder the wind brought into his direction, a bright grin grew on Azuls face.

'Lets see what entertainment you can provide, ehh little island?' he thought, drawing nearer while taking a large gulp of beer from a nearby bottle. Ahhh, what a life he was living. Truly wonderful!

Grandline, Paradise, Jaya

Jaya, the stronghold for all that didn't want to follow societies rules and regulations. The fortress of those that called themselves pirates. Though more often than not that discription ended up being a rather large disappointment as Azul found out, soon after landing on the island.

'Honestly, I think my expectations were a little too large...' He thought with a grimace as he dodged another drunken pirates wild swing without looking, tripping said man in the process, who fell straight onto the table of a nearby group of card players, who cried out in frustration at all the spilled alcohol and messed up cards, taking their frustrations out on said drunk.

'At least some form of amus.e.m.e.nt is being provided...' Azul thought, watching the row about to blow out of proportions in the small pub as more and more men and women were involved in it, laughing in mirth at the sight that presented itself to him.

Walking out the door, Azul began to explore more of the small island that was littered with wooden houses, pirates miling about, drinking, f.u.c.k.i.n.g, drugging themselves and what not. Truly a cesspool of those not fitting into society. And Azul kind of enjoyed it. After all this island had something raw to it. Something animalistic which called to his beastly side, making his eyes light up in a yellow light from time to time. Though that had the unfortunate consequence for him that most men that were still kind of sober, avoided him in fear, like the plague.

Feeling and hearing his stomache rumbling Azul picked a random bar and walked in. Inside seemed to be some party going on but the drunken ecstasy that was envelopping everyone inside.

Walking over to the bar Azul ordered some food and was promptly served soon after. Carrying it over to a corner, he sat himself down and started eating in gusto. Until, a young man with short blond hair opened the door with a big man in tow, that he was pulling by the scruff.

"Grahahaha, that executioner was weak as f.u.c.k! Should have given him a lower bounty if he is so close to mine grahahaha" the young man bellowed which earned him a row of cheers from his mates as he walked over to a table, grabbing himself a bottle of rum and a nearby p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.e from the looks of it, he sat himself down among his crewmembers while laughing and enjoying his time.

Not soon after Azul had finished his dinner and began tracking back to his ship, enjoying the rest of the dimming sunlight on his small boat, a satisfied smile on his face until sleep took him.