[A/N: How would you guys feel about an original story by me? (it's already in the making, I'm just considering posting it) I'd love some feedback or comments!]
'That was strange... He's not just some lucky blind guy... Right?'
Sanji stepped on my left, Luffy still on my right, watching the door. Sanji blew a puff of smoke, staring the door down as if it would move if he looked away, "Better for both our sakes, huh?" He questioned, "I got a feeling whoever he is, he's infamous."
"But no one recognized him in the restaurant, or even used his name," I added.
"At least we know one thing for certain," Zoro said, watching the deep pit that the man left behind, "He ain't no ordinary person."
After a brief moment of silence, people started panicking, mentions of missing belongings filling the once quiet atmosphere.
'Stolen? By who? No one came in or out during the incident.'
"He's infamous, alright. That man seems quite the thief," Sanji said, staring at the distressed citizens.
"Theif? You don't actually think he did it?" I asked, turning inwards to the restaurant, just as he did.
"Huh? There's only two here!" [Zoro]
"Huh? Was something taken from you as well?" [Kin'emon]
"One of my swords is missing! My Shusui was right here a minute ago!" [Zoro]
"WHAT?! You let him steal the Treasure of Wano?!" [Kin'emon]
"Looks like they stole from everyone!"
A voice rhymed aloud, banging a drum, "But that's what fairies do for fun!"
'Fairies? Again?'
It looked like a little puppet drummer boy who was rhyming, standing almost at the center of most commotion.
"What're you babbling about? Are the fairies a gag of thieves or what?!" Zoro barked.
"Fairies are Fairies, that's all I know. All you can do is laugh and let it go!" The little puppet sang.
"You want me to laugh?!"
"Invisible Fairies have been the guardians of Dressrosa since ancient times, and they're our ally! When they engage in mischief, the only thing to do is turn a blind eye!" he sang once more.
"Well, if fairies stole from us, I guess that's okay then!" [Citizens]
"Let's forget about it!" [Citizens]
"What's happening...?" [(Y/N)]
"Are you all mental?!" {Zoro]
All of a sudden, after quick bickering between Zoro and Kine'mon, the former yelled, "You're not goin' anywhere!" And booked it towards an open window, where we saw his sword connected to a bag, seeming like it was trying to escape.
"Zoro, where're you going?!" Luffy called after him.
Sanji ran after him, "We don't have time to let you wander all over the city chasing after a sword!" Shortly after, Kin'emon chased the two.
"I like where this is headed, hehe!" Luffy said and started to run, but Franky put his hand on Luffy's shoulder.
"Not you, Luffy!" Franky said, wrapping his whole hand around Luffy's arm and picking him up, as Luffy squirmed.
"Lemme go, Franky! I wanna be a part of this!" Luffy whined.
"You wanna settle down and listen to my idea first?"
"Oh?" I asked, crossing my arms and turning to Franky with a smirk, "I do! Let's hear it." I smiled, as Luffy stopped fighting and was set down.
"Now I get it," Franky said, as we watched Zoro jump through and break a window, "When it's just the six of us, I gotta step up and be the adult of the group."
"You should be the adult anyway!" I barked.
"You just leave everything up to you're ol' pal Franky!"
~~~
We stood in front of him, Luffy on my right and Franky behind the both of us.
"You're one of Doflamingo's thugs, ain't cha?" [Franky]
"What's your point? We all work for Doflamingo!" [Main Goon]
"That's super what I thought." [Franky]
"Yep..." [Luffy]
"Just a minute... Do you really think I'm gonna let a couple of nobodies like you try and mess with the Young Master in Dressrosa? Huh?" [Main Goon]
Luffy pushed down on my shoulder, making him and I duck as Franky threw a punch at the goon, making an impact with only the wall. The goon had ducked, now sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall, and eyes filled with terror as he watched the fist above him, "I think this guy needs to be shown what a real threat looks like."
"Look, buddy. How 'bout you just spill the beans and tell us everything we wanna know, okay?" [Luffy]
"I swear I told you guys everything! I remember being ordered to chase around a couple of samurai, but I don't recall how they were caught, or where they're currently being held, and that's the truth! Also, I don't have any idea what SMILE is." [Main Goon]
"You sure you don't have even the teensiest?" [Franky]
"No, and this Factory? I don't know anything about that either! Who are you people?" [Main Goon]
"Man, what a bummer. Even his own foot soldiers are in the dark." [Luffy]
"He's too far down the ladder to know anything important." [Franky]
"Hey, do you know where we can find someone higher ranking?" [(Y/N)]
"Tch. You're gonna have a hard time digging up anyone else to interrogate in an alleyway! Everyone's been summoned to attend the Colosseum games! Just look!" [Main Goon]
We glanced outside of the back alley to see people entering a large colosseum to our right.
"As you can clearly see, the entire kingdom's headed in that direction." [main goon]
"What direction?" [Luffy]
"To the Corrida Colosseum. If you want high-ranking officials, that's the place!" [Main Goon]
"And why's that?" Franky asked, as Luffy and I stood from our squatting positions.
"'Cause there's a huge event going on today. And all the family's leaders should be in attendance watching it go down." [main Goon]
"This big event everyone's excited for– what makes it such a super occasion no one wants to miss?" [Franky]
The goon hesitated, "For whatever reason the Young Master is gonna offer an incredible prize to whoever wins the match."
'Incredible Prize? Sounds familiar.'
"Even I had my doubts when it was announced. It's the one thing everyone wants." [Goon]
"Don't tell me... It's that delicious meat Mingo was talking about!" [Luffy]
"While he did say it's something you'd want, it's probably more important than Lunch." [Franky]
"All right, out with it." [Luffy]
"Heh. Hope you're ready for a surprise. First place gets... the Legendary Flame Flame Fruit!" [Main Goon]
Luffy stayed silent.
"You're saying it's the real deal?" [Franky]
"Doflamingo would never lie about something this huge." [Main Goon]
"Ace's fruit? And it's so close... I don't get it. How did Ace's Flame Flame Fruit end up here?" [Luffy]
Well?!" Franky threatened.
I turned to the main goon, trying to seem a little more threatening, "Actually, I'm more eager to know how Doflaingo tracked one."
Luffy looked slightly confused, and turned to the goon, "Talk."
The man cowered slightly, "F-From what I've heard, each and every devil fruit is unique. There's never more than one of each kind at the same time. Although..."
His voice got more sinister, "If the owner of the Devil fruit's power dies..." It clicked for me.
"...Then another devil fruit with the same power... will appear somewhere else, right?" [(Y/N)]
"Exactly! It's always random!" He said, sounding like a happy teacher, "After Fire Fist Ace died, his Flame Flame fruit was reborn, but nobody knew where."
I looked down, crossing my arms, "But if it's random, how did Doflamingo track it? Did he stumble upon it?"
Luffy pushed his fist into his palm, "So that's how it is, huh?" His tone was angry.
"Seems a bit crazy to offer something like that as a tournament prize, but hey, who am I to judge?" The goon said, seeming slightly more relaxed now.
I moved one of my crossed arms to my chin, "Okay, I figured out some of his plan."
"Man, if I could get my hands on a power like that..." The goon spoke to himself, "Well, I'd carve out a whole new life for myself."
"Huh? You're not getting anywhere near that fruit!" Luffy barked.
"Hey, wait a minute," Franky said, he and myself both turning to Luffy, "Don't you have an older brother named Ace?"
"I want it! That fruit should be mine!" Luffy said, turning to the two of us. I couldn't really tell what Franky was thinking, but I could understand Luffy's sorrows.
'So I've put some of Doflamingo's plan together in my head. He knows he's meeting Law, and he knows Law's goal is to take out the factory, so both sides know that just the simple exchange is not all there is to it.'
'Doflamingo took precautions, and using his bait as a reward for the tournament was his way of seeing to it that the main alliance would split into teams. He knows we are here, so he knows he can draw Luffy to that fruit. He thinks our group is still together, which, sadly, is not the case.'
I heard Franky chuckle, and Luffy said, "Oh, yeah! You don't have any powers! You could eat it!"
"Eah, I'd rather not lose my ability to swim." [Franky]
I looked up, crossing my arms normally once again, 'So, Sanji, Zoro, and Kin'emon are gone. It's up to Franky, Luffy, and myself to take this factory down,' I glanced at Franky, who was still looking at Luffy, 'I know he knows that we cannot convince Luffy to not enter that tournament, and it'd be best to send someone with Luffy, to draw even less attention to the person at the SMILE factory.'
"Well I can't eat it, since I've already got Gum Gum powers, and (Y/N)'s got Wood Wood powers," He spoke sincerely, "But the idea of some random stranger gettin' their hands on it... No way."
"It's like a memento of him, huh?" Franky asked.
'Oh, I forgot. Franky wasn't with us when we met Ace...'
"Well," I said, crossing my arms, "From what I've gathered, there's a pretty good chance it's a trap, considering Doflamingo taunted you with it."
"Well, there's one thing I'm sure of. We can't let a chance like this slip by! You don't wanna regret somethin' like that" Franky smiled, and turned to look at me, "Besides, we got business at the Colosseum, So let's make an appearance."
I nodded, a determined look on my face, as Luffy grunted, feeling more anger than determination, as they started off to the left. I almost did, but before I did I glanced to the goon, who shuddered slightly when I looked down on him.
He had slightly red cheeks but scoffed, "You morans think you can just walk off with it, Huh? Probably get yourselves killed." He smirked.
I squatted, my arms on my knees, "Now, you won't talk, right?"
His smirk grew, "Maybe... for a price."
I stood pivoted on the foot I was squatting on, kicking him in the side of the head, making him keel over, "Will that do?"
He didn't move, so I assumed I accidentally knocked him out... oops.
I hastily stood and looked around for witnesses, then booked it to catch up with the boys.
~~~
Once he heard the sound of her heels fade to silence, he sat up, holding the side of his head, and glaring holes into the back of the clothed woman's head.
He rose to his feet, scoffing, "She thinks she's tough, huh? We'll see how tough she is against Mr. Diamante."
~~~
As I caught up with them, I asked, "So, what kind of tournament do you think it is?" I asked, panting slightly," Like a fight? Or a game?"
"Ooh!" Luffy giggled, seeming to be less angry, "I hope it's a fight! Then we'll win for sure!"
We turned a corner as I sighed, 'I don't think Luffy knows that if one of us enters, then he'd have to fight us.
We turned again, and I drew back slightly with Franky, "I know his plan."
"Really?! That fast?" He asked, keeping his voice low, and continuing to look forward as if we weren't talking.
"No, just the basics. He knew we would split, between our groups, Law's, Luffy's, and Nami's, but I don't think he knows our group is split up now."
"He knew Law would deliver Caeser personally, so he knew Luffy would be on the island, and he's drawing Luffy in with the fruit."
"Wow..." He said, seeming genuinely impressed.
"Although this is an objective, the Factory is still top of the list," I looked up at him, as he looked down at me, "If it comes to that, one of us will enter the colosseum with Luffy, to keep him in line, and the other will look for the factory," I looked down and scoffed, "If those three morons stayed with us, we wouldn't have to leave the factory to one person," I grumbled, then looked back at him.
"I think you should be the one to go for the factory. You blend in as a toy, and besides," I raised my arm, "With those Super-weapons, no one can match your destructive power!"
Franky smiled, and nodded, "A SUPER plan! I'm impressed!" He ran up and talked to Luffy for a little, until I heard him speak, and his running slow, "Looks like the place."
We slowed to a stop, Luffy on my right, and Franky on his, as we all gazed at the incredibly large colosseum.
"Whoa! The Colosseum is huge!" he said, throwing his arms into the air.
"Must be one heck of a show!" Franky added.
"I can hear the crowd from here. This must be big," I added, as the cheers seemed to grow louder.
"Makes me wanna sign up for the competition!" Franky laughed.
"Yeah, listen to all that!" Luffy laughed as well.
"Stop right there, fugitive toy!" I heard a voice yell and jumped as I saw two guards running our way.
"Get away from the Colosseum! One of these days, we're going to catch you!" The second guard yelled as they chased...
"Keep trying! You suckers!" The little toy soldier yelled back, as he rolled swiftly away on his one leg, which looked to have some kind of roller skate on it.
He was little, and had a red coat with a black hat, looking like a royal guard, as well as light brown hair peeking out of the back, and a large wind-up button on his back. He had a white rifle over his shoulder, looking to be fake, and his hat read 'SOL', as his jaw moved like a nutcracker, laughing as he successfully evaded the guards' fire.
The little soldier juped extremely high, and landed with his back against the bars of a banister in the colosseum, making me now notice the bars on the building's windows, balancing on the brake of his skate, "Ha! You were too slow! Look! My foot is placed in the Colosseum! I don't need to remind you of the law, right?" He asked with his confidence shown proudly. His voice had an accent that I couldn't quite pinpoint.
"As you both know, the police and the Navy are forbidden from entering here!" [Soldier]
'Then good thing Luffy wants to go in...'
"It doesn't matter if you're chasing a criminal. This is not your jurisdiction! The only rule of law within these walls is that of the Don Quixote Family!" [Soldier]
'Okay then, maybe not such a good idea...' I swallowed hard.
"If you choose to pull those triggers, you will be the ones thrown in jail! Now begone!" The little soldier barked at them.
"An, this island is weird. They've got a toy on the Wanted list?" Franky said as we all watched the human soldiers walk away discouraged and angry, "Gotta admit, the little dude's got some bluster, though."
The soldier jumped down and landed in front of our group once the human soldiers were out of sight, "Oh my, dear gentleman and lady, may I offer to hold your belongings for you?"
"What the...?" Franky asked, bending down slightly.
"He sure switched his act around," I mumbled to myself.
Luffy chuckled, "You're one funny soldier."
"Oh, you think I'm funny, do you? What about this? Is this funny?" [Soldier]
Luffy laughed and pointed, and I thought his actions were funny as well, but I didn't laugh. There's something about these toys that rubs me the wrong way.
"Alright, pal. Can you clear the path?" Franky asked.
The soldier somehow went very pink, "I-I'm sorry. I was blocking your path." He seemed very concerned about this.
"Jeez, your face turned as red as your coat." Franky noted, "You're a pretty serious guy deep down, ain't cha?"
"Wh-WHat? Of course, I'm not!" The soldier defended, avoiding all our gazes, before turning back quickly, "Toys only exist to make people smile! There's no such thing as a serious toy!" He defended sternly, throwing his arms down as if he was physically blocking the question, though his face was still red.
Luffy giggled, "Now he's all mad!"
"Last chance to sign up! Entries for the public are closing! It's now or never!" A woman called from closer to the colosseum door. I looked over to her, as did the two with me, and we watched the woman place her hands on her hips and sigh, "Not like anyone has the guts to enter this contest. Cowards."
"You see that, Luffy?" Franky asked, pointing to her, "Looks like we just found your ticket inside."
"Alright! C'mon, (Y/N)!" Luffy said, running towards the woman, "Over here! We wanna enter!" He called from over the road.
I sighed and turned to Franky, "I guess you'll be in charge of the factory. Please be careful." I turned to him.
"He put a hand on my shoulder, and the other in a thumbs up, "Don't worry about me, sister! Worry about what you're getting into!" He laughed.
"I wanna enter! Me!" Luffy continued to cheer. As he yelled, I noticed most of the discouraged faces in the crowd, looking at us with pity. Since we're pirates, I'm not used to that look, but now that we're civilians, they must be nervous for us. What is this competition?
"What?" The toy soldier asked, before turning to us, "What?! You can't! You're too old! And you are a fine lady, who shouldn't throw away their-"
Luffy startled the toy by leaning down in front of him, and I crossed my arms. Luffy leaned down, and simply chuckled, making the toy stop complaining. I believe he saw that Luffy was wearing a fake beard, and isn't that old at all. I mean, he's 19. Young, with all things considered, but I'm 20, and I'm entering. There shouldn't be a problem if we can hold our own.
Luffy walked over to the worker in the booth, in front of me, and when he stopped, she looked at him, "You lost, grandpa? This booth is where you sign up for the competition."
"Exactly. Put my name down!" Luffy barked, smiling wide.
"And mine," I said, stopping next to him.
The chatter behind us was loud, considering an old man and a young lady were signing up for this. I also heard one toy woman whine, "Do they know who they're battling with?"
'So it is a fight.'
"Listen up, Luffy." Franky said, now standing behind the two of us, "You gotta promise us just one thing," Franky looked at me as if asking if he could say it, and I nodded. He turned back to Luffy, "Fight whoever you want, but don't let them know who you are." Then, Franky turned to me, "That goes for you too."
I smiled slightly at Franky and turned back to the woman in front of us. I'm glad to not let anyone know who I am. Mostly because they'll think I'm a Celestial Dragon.
"I'm undercover!" Luffy whispered happily as the woman grabbed the sign-up sheets for us. She placed them in front of us, and the first thing we were to sign was our name. I watched before I put mine down, and saw that Luffy almost wrote an 'f', for Luffy. I used my devil fruit below the counter and shoved his arm, accidentally making him write a 'c'. He looked at me, and I directed his eyes with mine to my paper, which had (N/N) on the name line. He nodded, and proceeded to put a c at the end of his name, hereby naming him 'Lucy'.
She gave us name cards and placed them on our acks. Luffy's was No. 0556: LUCY and mine was No. 0557: (N/N).
I figured using the nickname Nami uses for me should be fine, since if people did know me, they'd most likely know me by my last name, rather than my first, unfortunately. Or, they'll know me as Redwood. But, since I'm in disguise, that shouldn't be a problem.
Luffy walked inside the gate first, and I followed, the woman closing the gate for good behind us, meaning we were the last contestants.
She stepped back from the gate, and looked at her clipboard, then looked up at Franky, who was just on the other side, "Sorry, sir. Only fighters are allowed back here.
I nudged Luffy lightly, and he turned his head sideways to hear me better, "Ya hear? Fighting. Be on your guard, and try not to use your Devil Fruit," he nodded, and turned back, his back to me and Franky.
"Follow me." The woman said and headed down the Hallway, I followed her since I knew what Franky was going to say to Luffy. I don't need to be reminded one thousand times to follow our plan.
"You remember what I told you earlier. Beat the crap out of 'em, but keep a low profile." That is what Franky said to Luffy.
Luffy said something back and ran to catch up with us, but I focused my attention on the architecture around us. Who knows how many years ago this place was made?
(A/N: Bujosab Vd Juoklberubhak Djbveri, ok?)