Cherry was very satisfied with the tailor's, whose name is Inazuma, work. He made a tight fit dark grey outfit that easily blended into the dark grey stone of the prison. It had an attached hood and mask, as well as gloves to ensure that no skin was showing for maximum stealth.
"It's very comfortable and warm. I appreciate that you made it with stealth in mind." Cherry complimented honestly.
"Of course, we didn't see you on any of the surveillance feeds, so I presumed that was what you were in need of." Inazuma said and sipped his wine.
"It is very impressive that you managed to break into the prison without being seen, especially with that fool in tow." The woman called Iva pointed a thumb at Buggy who was already drunk and dancing on top of a table.
Iva created needles from her fingers then jabbed herself in the side. A startling transformation occurred before Cherry's eyes in just a few seconds. Iva transformed from a tall and curvy woman into a shorter man with a giant head.
"I am... EMPORIO IVANKOV! Queen of Kamabakka Kingdom! Hee Haw!" Ivankov introduced with a flamboyant pose.
"I'm Harpin D. Cherry. I don't have a title, unless you count 'Bastard of Hawkeye'." Cherry was outwardly unfazed by Ivankov, which caused him to clear his throat with some embarrassment.
"Ahem, I see, nice to meet you." Ivankov said. An awkward silence fell over them. "WAIT DID YOU SAY YOUR HAWKEYE'S DAUGHTER?! Ah, your eyes are just like his now that I look closely."
"In any case, I'd love to have some assistance in any capacity that you're willing to grant it. I'm trying to bust Portgas D. Ace out of this hell hole and I sort of did this on a whim with no preparation whatsoever." Cherry explained.
"No can do! We've got our own things to worry about and I'm some some charity worker!" Ivankov denied her request.
Cherry somewhat expected that response. These were criminals after all, it was fortunate enough that they were friendly at all.
"I see. Can you tell me what you know about Impel Down at least? I'd hate for Kuma's efforts to send me here to be wasted." Cherry said, scratching her head.
"Huh?! Kuma sent you here to break out Fire Fist Ace?" Ivankov was shocked.
"Do you know Kuma?" Cherry asked, with a twinkle in her eye.
"N-no, why would I acquainted with that dog of the World Government?" Ivankov desperately tried to cover up his slip up. Inazuma face palmed.
"I see, so you're a Revolutionary too." Cherry looked Ivankov up and down. "Actually, I should have guessed as much earlier. You don't look like a status quo type."
"Nhaha, you got that right! How did you know Kuma is a spy, though? Did he tell you?" Ivankov simply gave up since he was found out anyways.
"I managed to get him with the classic 'I didn't know, you just told me' trick a while back." Cherry said.
"Nhahaha, you must have gotten him pretty flustered then, he usually such a quiet boy! Maybe he likes you, hm?" Ivankov joked. Kuma was very well liked amongst his comrades.
"Well, if he does, then not for much longer. Vegapunk is going to turn him into a mindless puppet soon. Saving the Straw Hat Pirates was perhaps his last action as a complete man." Cherry spoke sadly.
This bombshell did not really shock Ivankov or Inazuma, but it did enrage them. Kuma's undercover mission was exceedingly dangerous, so they were prepared to hear that he'd suffered a bad end one day. It doesn't soften the blow at all, however.
"I see. Inazuma will fill you in on the details about the prison. I need a drink." Ivankov stalked off, having lost much of his gusto.
Inazuma explained what he knew about Impel Down, which fortunately included a fairly detailed map of it's interior. The 'official' sixth level was where they kept the most dangerous prisoners and also where they kept Ace.
"HEE HAW!" Ivankov got his spirits up again, never one to be a downer. "I don't know why Kuma wants Ace out, but I'll help you, girly! We still have time before they take him away, so we can put together a proper plan of action in the meantime!"
"Oh, I'm grateful. Luffy will be very grateful too, I'm sure." Cherry said.
"Luffy?" Ivankov tilted his big head.
"You know, Monkey D. Luffy? Grandson of Monkey D. Garp and son of Monkey D. Dragon? Ace is his brother, so he'll be grateful." Cherry explained. Seeing Ivankov's face go through several different emotions at once told her that he didn't know that information.
"Dragon has a son?! Two sons?! Wait wait wait, this is all hard to believe. Too many coincidences!" Ivankov shouted. "Tell me, where are Luffy and Ace from?"
"I think it was the Goa Kingdom, in East Blue?" Cherry said, amused that Ivankov was only just now doubting her. 'I guess I just have an honest face.'
Ivankov ordered some nearby okama to go get whatever records they had on Luffy and Ace. After looking through them and seeing that he really did shared a surname and the D initial, as well as coming from the sea that Dragon always gazed in the general direction of, he was 99% sure it was the truth.
"We really can't afford to fail here! This is bad, very bad!" Ivankov was stressing out a lot over this.
"We have time, remember? First I'll sneak down to level six and see if I can chat with Ace.You just start thinking about how we can get away from Impel Down if we can reach the surface. That's the biggest problem here." Cherry said.
"Right, right. I panicked a bit there! You go on then, don't get caught or I'll strangle you!" Ivankov warned. "NOT REALLY! Nhahaha!"
...
The Shichibukai Juinbe and Fire Fist Ace sat chained to the walls of their shared cell.
Jinbe was humming a song to pass the time and distract himself from the pain of the injuries the jailer beasts inflicted upon him. Many of his neighbors hated when he did it and would scream at him to shut up, but Ace liked it so he ignored them.
"I wish I could hear a decent singer sing those songs." Ace said.
"You'll have to make do with what you have. Beggars can't be choosers." Jinbe said seriously, causing Ace to show a rare smile.
*Tap tap tap*
"Hm?" Jinbe felt something tap on his leg.
He looked down and saw a pair of eyes peering through a small hole where the wall met the floor. He would recognize those eyes anywhere.
"Hawkeye?!" Jinbe kept his voice low, so it would not be heard above the sounds of distant screaming.
Ace did hear him though, being in the same cell. He followed Jinbe's gaze and saw those infamous eyes as well.
"Don't call me Hawkeye. I'm nothing like that deadbeat. I'm as dishonorable as they come, won't get a fair fight from me, no sir!" Cherry joked, they didn't laugh.
Hearing what was clearly a woman's voice, they knew it couldn't be Hawkeye.
"Who are you, then?" Jinbe questioned skeptically, but there was some hope in his eyes. Hope to prevent the war between Whitebeard and the Marines.
"Harpin D. Cherry, I've been traveling with Luffy for several months now. Seeing as his brother was about to executed, I took it upon myself to rescue you." Cherry said, looking at Ace.
"Is he here?" Ace asked, but his eyes said he didn't want him to be here.
"No, but I expect he'll wind up coming here eventually, probably at the last minute knowing him." Cherry answered.
Ace showed immense relief and let out a sigh. "Luffy mentioned you back in Alabasta. It's good to know he has good friends. You should get out of here if you can, you won't be able to help me."
"I didn't ask for your opinion, twerp. You're getting saved like the damsel in distress that you are, whether you like it or not." Cherry paused and looked at Jinbe. "You look like a martial artist, are you strong?"
"Not strong enough, but yes. I use fishman karate." Jinbe answered.
"Great! You're coming too then. In exchange for saving you, you'll teach me fishman karate, I'll bet it's pretty interesting. I'll talk to you later when we've got a plan of actin sorted out. Don't tell anyone about this." Cherry said, then quickly disappeared into the wall, leaving no hole behind.