Sailing for Marineford

They all had a short time to rest and recuperate before they got close to Marineford and needed to be on guard.

The pirates onboard the ships changed into marine uniforms to disguise themselves from any prying eyes from afar.

This included Ace especially, as they didn't want to chance him getting suddenly kidnapped by someone like Admiral Borsalino.

"Can anyone think of a counter measure for Admiral Aokiji freezing the ocean? I've heard that's one of his favorite tactics to stop ships in their tracks." Cherry said.

Everyone looked around at each other, but no one could think of any real counter to something so large scaled.

Ace regretted not spending more time working with his devil fruit. If he had awakened it, Aokiji's Ice Age attack could be countered. A pointless worry, as one could never be sure how easy or difficult it will be to do so, it relied heavily upon one's own luck as no one else could teach you.

"I might be able to break one ship out, but not the whole area." Jinbe offered, but he knew it wasn't much.

"Well, there's something I could try. However, if I were to be honest, I've never done it before and I have no idea how effective it would be. It might even kill us all instead." Cherry said. Many were resolved to die trying rather than be doomed, whilst others didn't like the idea of gambling with their lives.

"There is another way, assuming we don't get frozen on the inside of the gate. We could join up with Whitebeard and fight our way through the marines, instead of trying to bypass Marineford and heading to Enies Lobby." Crocodile said, though he had his own ulterior motives, such as trying to kill Whitebeard.

"We don't know when Whitebeard will appear, though. We might end up all dying fighting the marines before he shows up. There'll be some time before the execution is supposed to start when we arrive, after all." Jinbe pointed out.

"Well, that just sounds like we gamble our lives and flee, or gamble our lives and fight. I'd rather take my chances with the old man." Ace spoke.

"Well, we do have many ships. If we can't come to a majority decision, then we can split up. The fighters would actually be giving the cowards a decent shot at escaping too." Cherry said, which made her own opinion on the matter clear enough for everyone.

Although many of the pirates didn't like being called cowards just for wanting to run away, they could exactly refute the woman who toyed with three vice admirals before thier very eyes. Not the mention, they didn't mind being cowards if it meant they wouldn't die. Or worse, be sent back to Impel Down.

They decided to split up the ships for those who wanted to fight and those who wanted to flee.

Unsurprisingly, the stronger members of their motley group unanimously decided to fight and hope Whitebeard wasn't fashionably late for the party. Many of the weaker pirates decided to stick with the strong ones, as they did not want to be called cowards. Or to regret deciding to flee if they were caught at Enies Lobby because they didn't have any powerhouses to back them up.

Cherry found it odd that Buggy and Mr. 3 of all people decided to stick with the fighters.

"I'm surprised, Buggy. I thought for sure you'd run away with your tail between your legs." Cherry commented.

"What do you mean surprised! I'm not a coward, damn it!" Buggy shouted taking offense. He WAS a coward though, his instincts just told him that this was the safest place to be. Right next to the people who could fight in his stead and bear the brunt of the danger.

Many of the pirates cheered his name. It seems that he's been doing some public relations to improve his image.

Cherry looked at Mr. 3, who seemed like he was eager for her to ask his reasoning so he could stroke his own ego.

"How pitiful. It's seems the candle-man here has been tortured to idiocy during his stay at Impel Down. He didn't realize this was the side to fight, not to flee." Cherry spoke, pretending to wipe away tears.

This really got Mr. 3 riled up, but the only thing he could do about it was to huff in annoyance.

*Pururururu*

A den den mushi inset in one of the masts rang. Cherry rubbed her throat and did some vocal exercises that got progressively deeper in tone, then she picked up the receiver.

"Vice Admiral Onigumo reporting." Cherry said in a very convincing impression.

"Your report is late, did you retrieve Fire Fist Ace?" The voice on the other end asked.

"Impel Down experienced a prison break attempt right as we arrived, so it couldn't be helped that we're slightly behind schedule. The prisoner is being transported as we speak." Cherry spoke.

"Your report has been confirmed. Continue onwards to Marineford." The man on the other end responded and hung up. Cherry also hung up.

"That was pretty impressive, and coming from me that's high praise!" Bon Clay sang.

"Hopefully it was enough." Cherry said. "Jinbe, Ivankov! Show me your martial arts, I want to stela them!"

Ivankov didn't mind teaching her, even though their martial art was usually reserved for okama. Jinbe protested that since she was a devil fruit user, she wouldn't be able to perform fishman karate to any great extent, but she brushed off those concerns and insisted.

Cherry spent the remaining time watching the various forms of the martial arts and memorizing them for future use.

...

Marineford.

The communications officer who just finished receiving the report from "Onigumo" picked up one of the short range den den mushis.

It rang for a few moments before being picked up.

"What is it?" A man spoke.

"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. We just received a report from Vice Admiral Onigumo, sir." The communications officer said.

"Good. Is everything alright? It's not like Onigumo to be late with his reports." Sengoku asked.

"The vice admiral reported a prison break at Impel Down, but that he has Fire Fist Ace in custody and is bringing him to Marineford." He reported.

"I see, send out some warships to assist if necessary." Sengoku said.

"Sir..." The officer said, but hesitated.

"What is it?" Sengoku had a bad feeling all of the sudden.

"Vice Admiral Onigumo, sir, I think something was off." The officer stated, knowing he was putting his career on the line for this.

"Out with it." Sengoku ordered, furrowing his brow.

"He made an excuse sir. He said 'it couldn't be helped' that he was late because of the prison break." The officer said. He knew Onigumo's reputation as well as anyone.

"Damn it!" Sengoku almost smashed the den den mushi, but stopped and hung it up gently. He put his head in his hands and let out a long sigh.

"Bwahaha! They got us good! And here we were thinking they'd attack Marineford directly!" Garp laughed, whilst eating rice crackers.

"You shouldn't be so happy about it, Garp!" Sengoku reprimanded.

"Who says I'm happy." Garp said, but the smile on his face was as wide as the ocean.

Sengoku picked the den den mushi back up and gave out orders. The Gates of Justice were to be opened wide and warships assembled to intercept the oncoming ships, only leaving a path into Marineford open.

They needed to recapture Ace no matter what. The bloodline of Gol D. Roger must be eradicated, or else they'll end up having another Roger on their hands. One raised to rule by Whitebeard no less!

Cherry and the others were unaware of the actions taking place as they sailed towards what many would consider their doom.