#catalina devon

I never thought it would be easy escaping Marineford after all the fighting but I honestly didn’t think it would be as hard as this. In a way, this is good because it’s more realistic. I would probably have complained if the Allies sailed away without meeting resistance.

The Admirals should probably have a quick look behind, though, because while they’re gleefully picking off the retreating survivors, Blackbeard is finishing what Whitebeard started (trans: taking the credit for his hard work).

Sink Marineford into the Water!

The episode opened with Teach’s sweet, gentle laughter.

Just kidding. It was of the maniacal, villainous variety, as he was enjoying himself immensely. “I can feel the power coursing through my veins!” he roared, as he punched the air and chunks of Marineford crashed to the ground. “I feel like I could control the whole world!”

Is it better than a really good cherry pie, though? Doubtful.

Random Marines looked on in horror as their beloved symbol was reduced to rubble. One of them was so angry, he was moved to call Teach what he is. Teach, being a sympathetic sort, laughed and said, “Wanna fight? No? What a shame! Oh, well. I have no choice. Let’s start with sinking Marineford into the sea!”

A shaft of light broke through the clouds. Oh, yes. Yes, please do, Teach.

But Sengoku was like, “NOT ON MY WATCH, WHIPPERSNAPPER!” Once again, his speech was excellent. 

“A building can easily be rebuilt. But the island of Marineford is located virtually in the centre of the world. To protect the people of the world who are threatened by rampaging villains, it is important to them that we are here. Justice that comes from humanity will never perish. Don't claim to be able to sink Marineford so lightly you little punk!”

It’s interesting that Sengoku talks of protecting the people of the world, how important the symbol is to the people, and that justice stemming from humanity will never die. Sengoku is concerned with ordinary people, with their safety, and believes his justice stems from that humanity. Some noble beliefs right there. I guess that’s where he differs from Akainu. Akainu, I imagine, wouldn’t give a rat’s ass about protecting ordinary people if they got in the way of Justice Being Done. Buster Call, anyone? Innocents are unfortunate collateral.

It was also interesting that the Blackbeard pirates are currently holding their own against Sengoku. They may be new but they are no slouches in combat. (And I’m still confused by San Juan Wolf. That guy is so massive, he could sink Marineford himself. Couldn’t he just pick up Sengoku and launch him like a baseball?)

It’s really weird, but right now, I am rooting for Teach. This is because when Whitebeard threatened to sink Marineford, I was all for it. The Marines executed Ace, who they claimed was symbolic of Roger. I wanted Whitebeard to make it even by smashing Marineford, their stronghold, part of that symbolic triangle of justice. Now that Whitebeard, the symbol of the old Era, is gone, I want the pirates to get even. Two pirate symbols wiped out and no Marine symbols? I call that unfair. If it means Teach has even the score, that’s fine by me.

This, of course, means the fodder Marines who haven’t sniffed the Justice Poppers are now stuck between a rock and a hard place. Blackbeard vs Sengoku at one end and Akainu vs Everyone at the other. Joy of joys! The Marines who have come over all stab happy are causing Coby and Helmeppo to have Doubts. Yes, justice is wonderful, but some of their colleagues are chasing overkill and the zealous, foaming-at-the-mouth anger is making them uncomfortable. I like that Oda included the scene. There is hope for the Marines yet. Hurry up and grab yourself a good fruit, Coby. We need you as an Admiral.

Because if Akainu doesn’t stop it, someone will deck him with extreme prejudice one day...

I hope it’s Jimbei.

It’s okay, Jimbei. It’s okay... ;_;

Yet again, Ivankov agreed to act as a distraction to let Jimbei hoof it to safety. (I hope he’s okay because he collapsed after inhaling a lot of smoke. Please, Oda, I cannot handle any more deaths. Ivankov is precious to me now.) This was a wise move because Akainu was, by that point, so angry and intent on murdering Luffy that he might not have noticed Marineford crumbling behind him.

Akainu did land a hit. I may have sworn at the screen when I realised he’d got Luffy and Jimbei. 

Uncle Jimbei’s strategy was simple. Get into open water and outrun Akainu. If Aokiji hadn’t cheekily frozen the water, Jimbei would have been in the clear! As Akainu indulged in a spot of shit-talking, "You gonna keep protecting him with a hole in his chest? He's gonna die soon." 

I bet he regretted it when Crocodile came screaming out of nowhere and spirited away Luffy and Jimbei in a massive sand tornado. (Crocodile, if you survive this, team up with Jimbei and get a crew together. You two would unstoppable.) He yelled, “CATCH THESE GUYS AND GET THEM ON A SHIP!” Then he turned round to face Akainu, joining forces with the Whitebeard Division Commanders.

Someone did catch them, but it wasn’t the random bunch Crocodile shouted at.

He’s so out of his depth it’s hilarious.

And speaking of depth...

Guess who popped out of the water?

It was only Trafalgar Law! :D And now, after years, I finally know what that damned symbol is! (For anyone who has followed NWOP more recently, a friend gave me a phone strap she said was One Piece merch. It had some of those little sea mine symbols on dangling chains but I had no clue what they were.

Trafalgar Law is the only other Hot Shit Rookie to grace the battlefield. Kidd will be so jealous. He seems the bitter type...

But let’s not get ahead of myself... 

At the start of episode 440, Ivankov revealed he ate the Horm Horm Fruit, which is the source of his hormone-related abilities. This enables him to “remodel someone from the inside-out” and controls “biological sex, temperature, growth and emotions”. Those are all pretty important. Ivankov would be horrible to fight against.

I wonder if the Horm Horm fruit only affects humans? Would this work on Chopper, since he’s technically a reindeer? Would it fully work on Franky, since a good portion on him is metal? What about Kuma? Could Ivankov’s Horm Horm Fruit restore his humanity? I am full of speculation.

Ivan-san also explained how New Kama Land is able to exist. It was carved out by a prisoner with a hole-digging fruit ability. There are tunnels on every level and they stole a CCTV snail that links them to the security network. They also rummage in trash for newspapers, so they are also aware of what’s going on outside Impel Down.

This is why Ivankov knows Bon-chan and Luffy were once enemies on Alabasta and that Luffy has broken in to rescue Ace. He tells Bon-chan Ace is being held on Level 6: where all the proper psychos or governments threats are kept.

Some new names cropped up: Catalina Devon (the most dangerous woman in the world),  the “Great Battleship” San Juan Wolf, “Heavy Drinker” Vasco Shot, and the former Jail Manager, Shiryu of the Rain, a lantern-jawed, cigar-smoking psycho who killed prisoners for fun and who was arrested by Magellan (knew he was a stand up kind of guy. Magellan’s justice is fair).

Since Ivan-san knows what’s going on outside, he knows Ace will be executed in a matter of hours. Luffy’s treatment will take days. It seemed all was for nothing.

Bon-chan had a sort of meltdown at that point (who wouldn’t, after going through all that effort?) He stood outside Luffy’s quarantine room and yelled: “HANG IN THERE!” for ten hours. 

(I know there’s not a current vacancy on the Thousand Sunny, but I really want Bon-chan to become a Strawhat. He’s a loyal friend with a killer Devil Fruit ability. Who wouldn’t want him on their crew?)

Some of Ivankov’s minions questioned his sanity, but Ivankov overheard them and told them to STFU, for a miracle was about to occur! 

Cue the residents of New Kama Land engaging in a mass cheer for Luffy, triggering a shounen classic trope: protagonist recovers miraculously quickly from life-threatening injuries!

I totally forgave the cliche when Luffy did this, though, ahahahaha....

It was what happened after this point that blew my mind.

Then Ivankov had that chat with Luffy about not breaking out from Impel Down until Monkey D. Dragon, the great revolutionary mastermind, made his move, and Luffy was like...

“Yeah, that’s my dad.”

That delayed reaction was golden.

I mean, this is such classic Garp to tell Luffy about Dragon, like no big deal, while picking his nose.

After a hilariously tasteless pulse joke (thanks, Ivan-san!), the plot went into hyperdrive. Ivankov mustered New Kama Land and broke into Level 6, teamed with Luffy and Inazuma (two-tone guy who seems to have a door-unlocking ability).

It’s funny because when Ivankov discovered Luffy is Dragon’s son, he assumed Ace was too. I remember being told they have different dads (or at least weren’t related in the way I thought) so I wonder why Ivan-san assumed the New World Government are plotting something against Dragon by kidnapping Ace? Maybe Ivan thinks the NWG want to lure out Dragon. Who knows?

Meanwhile, Magellan is down on Level 6 with Domino, ready to escort Ace to Marineford. The Marines have gathered outside. Ace knows Hancock is not lying and that Luffy is coming to rescue him.

Yes. Yes he does, Ace.

All the plot thread are coming together.

This is getting good now...