Why didn't Shirohige rescue Ace when he was still in Impel Down

Question

The news of Ace capture is quite long time before the execution. And surely it will be much easier to save Ace when he was still in Impel Down (or maybe Enies Lobby). Is it because Shirohige is to far away? Can't he ask one of his subordinate or his alliance to save Ace? Where exactly was he at that moment?

Answer 1

Good question and a bit difficult to answer. I think the following things might have influenced White Beard to not save Ace in Impel Down:

1. The whole Whitebeard crew, including alliance partners, are said to be in New World, not in Grandline. And to come to Marineford, the only way is through Fishmen Island, and mobilizing such large pirate group does take time.
2. As we now know, the weather of New World is too unpredictable to travel quickly. Although it is not known whether Whitebeard was far away, but weather must have affected his travel time significantly.
3. Ace was 2 division commander of Whitebeard pirates. So if such a strong character can be captured, then I don't think Whitebeard would risk any more of his family to intercept/rescue Ace in Impel Down or Enies Lobby.
4. Reaching Impel Down/ Enies Lobby is considered to be difficult as it has natural protection in the form of circular waves which are used exclusively by marine only. Marineford is the remaining area where one can reach easily without going through the circular waves.
5. Also it is not known but as Kaido tried to block movement of Shanks, a marines tried to stop Whitebeard, so there must be other factors which tried to stop Whitebeard from moving, which stalled Whitebeard from coming quickly.
6. If he would have been able to save Ace earlier, then there won't be any fight and Ace would be alive right now. And that's not how Oda imagined it to be. ;)

Answer 2

My reasons would be,

• Impel Down is surrounded by Sea Kings, they may deal with them easily but they still will pose a distraction. Their ships are not layered with Kairoseki, hence the sea kings will attack them. Someone has to wait outside to protect the ships against their countless numbers.

• Straw Hat Luffy's physical strength is comparable to an average Division Commander (if not more), and he had to use Second Gear for the 4 Demon Guards (Awakened Zoan). If I were Whitebeard, I wouldn't attack such powerful Devil fruit users under such extreme conditions.

• Imper Down's chief warden Magellan is Doku Doku no Mi Devil fruit user, a powerful fruit in any's hands. Obviously, no one would want to fight someone who can produce a,

  • mixture of poisons whose antidote hasn't been created.

  • more powerful version of poison, "Kinjite", which forms the "Venom Demon: Hell's Judgment".

• Impel Down is the Great Underwater Prison in the middle of the Calm Belt, build to keep most dangerous criminals and pirates. No one in their right mind would try to take chances with this place (my opinion: Straw Hat Luffy doesn't have a right mind).