"So that's what he was talking about" you gritted your teeth. "That bastard found a way to get in his hands Ace's Devil Fruit"
"B-But....How did it get here?!" said Luffy.
"I heard there are no two Devil Fruits of the same power existing at once" stammered the blonde bandit. "However, when a Devil Fruit eater dies, a Devil Fruit with the power that the deceased possessed will pop up again somewhere in the world. And when somebody eats it, he'll become the new holder of that power. After Fire-Fists died, the Flare-Flare Fruit was, without anyone knowing, reproduced and the Young Master-sama got hold of it!"
"That bastard!"
"I can't believe the Young Master-sama made the Logia type a prize for the competition! If I can possess such incredible power, my life will change!"
"I'm not gonna let you eat it!" bellowed Luffy, causing the man to cower in fear. He then turned to you and Franky, sweat gathered on his forehead. "I want it! The Flare-Flare Fruit!"
"It isn't like we got a choice in the first place. Ace's Devil Fruit was very powerful, and I don't want to think if it fell into wrong hands" you stated.
"Why don't you eat it, (y/n)? Or Franky?"
"I don't wanna lose my ability to swim" you answered in unison with the cyborg.
"I ate the Gum-Gum Fruit so I can't eat another one. But I don't want some stranger to possess Ace's power"
"It's like a memento of him to you, isn't it?" wondered Franky, tilting his head. "It's possible that it's a trap considering the way Doflamingo dangled it in front of you. But one thing for sure! You shouldn't let the chance slip by! You don't wanna regret it afterward"
"Yeah. We have to go to the Colosseum anyway" you nodded. "Let's go!"
"Uh-huh!"
Finding the Colosseum was no hard task. You only needed to follow the loud screams and cheers from its audience kilometers away. Your captain let out a sound of pure awe, rushing to stand in front of it.
"It's a huge Colosseum! What kind of competition is it gonna be!?"
"The people are going nuts! That makes me wanna enter the competition!" grinned the cyborg.
"They're going crazy!" nodded Luffy.
"He's making it harder for us! Just give up already!"
"You infamous wanted toy soldier!"
You raised a brow as you saw at the distance two officers chasing a soldier toy around the Colosseum. Said toy was missing a foot, using his only one to surf pass the bystanders to jump inside the impressive building.
"You guys are too slow! Look! I have my foot in the Colosseum!" taunted the toy soldier. "You know the law, don't you?! Heh, the police and the Marines are not allowed inside! Even if a criminal is in the Colosseum, it's not your jurisdiction! The only rule of law in here is that of the Don Quixote Family! If you pull that trigger, you will become a criminal yourself!"
The police officers gritted their teeth in frustration, but didn't push it. They turned down the chase, and disappeared around the corner. While the two guys behind you commented about how it was weird for an arrogant toy to be on a wanted list, the soldier jumped from the window and landed beside you.
"Oh, elderly people! Do you want me to carry your bag or something?" the toy offered.
"Eh? He became polite all of a sudden" said in disbelief Franky.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING OLD?" you snarled, kicking the toy in one of the Colosseum's walls.
"Er...He wasn't talking about you, Silvers..."
"Sorry, ma'am. Very sorry, ma'am" whimpered the solider, falling on his side. His body spasmed weirdly, looking funny to your captain who couldn't hold in his chuckles.
"What a funny toy soldier!" laughed the ebony male.
"Ah? Am I funny? What about this?" the toy fooled around while the boy laughed out loud of his antics.
"Can you please just get out of our way?" you sighed, folding your arms across your chest.
"Oh, I was in your way. I'm sorry!" the soldier's face turned bright red.
"Blushing much. You're a serious guy, aren't you?"
"N-No way!" spluttered the toy, shaking his head. "Toys have to make people smile! There is no such a thing as a serious toy!"
"Ha! He took it personally!" snorted Luffy.
"We're closing entries from the public for today's competition!" announced a woman with a skimpy outfit that resembled a gladiator. "I don't think anyone from the public wants to enter. They're all cowards!"
"Hey Luffy! I guess we have to go in separately" pointed out Franky.
"Ah? Okay. Oi! Here, here! I want to enter!!" shouted Luffy, bouncing his way to the receptionist who jumped in surprise.
"E-eeh?! No, you don't! You're too old!" panicked the soldier toy.
"Count me in too" you stated, and the guys turned to you in surprise. "With at least two of us in the competition, we have more chance to get Ace's fruit"
"Shishishi! Let's go then! Lady! We want to participate!" cried out your captain to the girl who gazed at you both in wonder.
"Grandpa, I'm currently accepting entries for the competition in the Corrida Colosseum"
"I know! We're entering!"
"Oi, oi. Luffy, (y/n), listen. Promise me one thing" whispered Franky. "You can fight as you like but don't ever let them know who you are"
"As if I didn't know that. Though, it is pretty normal when it comes to Luffy. You heard the trashcan? No stupidity like you usually do" you warned, pinching your captain's ear who howled in pain.
"AOW! Who are you calling trashcan, you Silvers bit-"
The cyborg didn't have the time to finish his sentence that you sent him flying in the air with a punch to the stomach. The woman behind the counter gulped and handed out to you and Luffy a sheet of paper filled with names.
"Sign your names"
"Alright..." you said, writing down (false name). "Your turn, Grandpa"
"Yosh! Luf...." the boy started, but you immediately stopped him from writing his true name.
"NO, YOU IDIOT" you snarled, punching the back of his head.
In the end, Luffy went by the name of 'Lucy', which to your opinion could be better if he didn't include the same syllables as in his true name, and just change two letters. You walked inside the Colosseum with your captain, the receptionist closing behind you two the gate. Franky bid you farewell and good luck while you both followed the woman.
If it was enormous from the outside, it was nothing compared to the inside. The female 'gladiator' led you to a room filled with fighters of all kind: boxers, swordsmen, giants, etc. All of them wearing ferocious looks to intimidate the other competitors.
"This is the dressing room for the competitors. You're free until we call you"
"Wow! It's filled with excitement!"
She left the two of you alone, and Luffy already strutted around to take a look at his future opponents. You followed close behind him, making sure that he didn't get in trouble. You grew uncomfortable as you felt many eyes on you two, probably not taking you both seriously. Others were lingering a little too much to your taste on your body.
Suddenly, a shadow fell on you and Luffy, and you looked up to see a huge man. He was breathing heavily with an unconcealed rage and frustration, veins popping all over his torso and neck.
"Hey, fake-bearded brat! This is a fighting arena!" the man bellowed angrily.
"Don't, Spartan!" warned a competitor, trying to calm down the giant.
"It's no fun seeing weaklings get pummeled! The spectators only get excited when the strong go head-to-head! This is not a place for you both! Go home! GO HOME NOW!"
With a snarl, the man tried to land a few punches on Luffy, but the young man simply stepped aside to dodge them efficaciously. Growing tired of the big gorilla, you snapped your fingers. The minute after, the big oaf found himself on the floor with a large bump covering his whole face.
Fortunately for you, no one had the time to see you summon a Realm that you immediately closed it right after. Luffy let out a chuckle, bringing his hands on his hips:
"Nice to meet ya! Shishishi!"
"No way! He's one of the star gladiators of this Colosseum!" whispered a competitor.
"Maybe, he just tripped over himself"
"That wouldn't lodge someone in the ground!"
"Where should we sit?" wondered Luffy, completely ignoring the whispers around you.
"Hey, did you just start that fight?!" demanded someone with a pad. "You both will have to leave now! You're disqualified!"
"WHHHHHHAT?!" cried out Luffy, mortified.
"Oi, that baboon started it!" you snapped. "We can't be disqualified because of someone else's deed"
"I'm sorry, but we don't need hooligans like you causing scuffles before a match..."
However, the guard didn't have time to escort you out that an axe planted right at his feet, causing the male to let out a shriek. Three men took a step forward from the shadows, and you couldn't help the strange feeling you sensed as you stared at them.
"Hold it right there, you fool!" the dark haired one snapped. "That big one started it! If you wanna throw someone out, it's got to be him!"
"He passed out though" added the brown haired man.
"Oh! It's Sai and Boo from the Kano Kingdom!" cried out one of the competitors.
"Even Don Chinjao is here! He's a legend!"
"Ah? Is it true?" inquired the soldier, turning to a competitor.
"Yeah, it is. Spartan started it"
"I see. Then Spartan has to go. Lucy and (false name) can stay"
"Okay!" grinned Luffy, taking the axe and walking to one of the three men. "You saved us! Thank you!"
"Don't mention it, fool!" said smugly Sai as Boo took the weapon from the young boy. "Heh. Boy, you don't have to mention it....You don't have to say 'Thank you'...I don't like to hear the words 'Thank you' "
"Okay......?" you drawled, weirded out. You were taken by surprise when the man suddenly whipped his head to you, an angry glare on his face.
"TAKE BACK YOUR 'THANK YOU', BASTARDS!" Sai shouted, about to lash himself at Luffy if he wasn't held back by Boo.
"You don't have to refuse their thanks that much, brother!!" sweatdropped Boo.
"Don't ever say those words to me, idiot!!" the weirdo continued to cry.
"Sorry. He's easily excitable"
"Is it the only reason?" you sweated, turning away from them with Luffy.
"There are all kinds of people in the world" commented in awe your captain.
You saw the lady from before standing in the middle of the dressing room, taking notes in her pad. You both approached her, and Luffy asked in which block you two will fight. The girl raised a brow, bringing a hand on her hip.
"I'm sure the receptionist told you already" she answered.
"Ah? You're not the receptionist? Sorry, we have mistaken you for her" you said.
"We don't look alike at all!" the woman snapped, outraged by your remark.
"Sure you don't...." you stated, voice laced in sarcasm.
"Anyway, your numbers are 556 and 557. Number 556 is in Block C. And you're in Block E"
"Block E?" you raised a brow. "I thought I would be in the same block as Lucy"
"We're lacking competitors in this block"
"What a reason"
"SOOOO COOL!" yelled Luffy, stars replacing his brownish eyes. He was beyond amazed by the amount of armors and helmets that adorned this place. "This is awesome! Can we use anything here?!"
"You can use anything except projectile weapons"
"What a shame" you clicked your tongue, gazing at the statue of the champion's Colosseum.
"A half-naked statue of an old warrior man! Can I have it?!"
"No" you growled at Luffy. "And the heck are you doing?!"
"I want to wear this armor! And a helmet that's cooler than that old man's! And I'm gonna use this big sword!"
You watched in disinterest as Luffy tried on all the armors and helmets he found cool. Though, you were pretty sure that he exceeded the weight limit to enter the fight. Suddenly, you heard a few loud thuds resonating behind you, and you looked over your shoulder to see all the female staff on the floor. All of them had hearts in their eyes, gaping mouths.
Over the pile of fallen bodies, a young man was advancing in your direction. Blond hair that looked soft to the touch and a little too shiny to your taste. A white cloak draped over his shoulders like a cape, and a long shirt that revealed the man's chest. You could actually see stars and sparkles dancing all around him, like some kind of a prince that came out of a lame story book.
"So, this is the dressing room?" the young man overlooked the place, and his eyes fell on your captain. "Hey, you. That's no good. There is a weight limit for gear"
"Huh? Is that so?" inquired Luffy. "But it's so cool..."
"Well, whatever you do, there is no chance for you" sighed the man, sitting on a bench with his leg crossed over the other. He sounded as if he was truly sorry for Luffy to announce the news. "I will win the Flare-Flare Fruit"
"More sparkles?!" you cried out, hiding your eyes from a blinding light coming from the man. He pulled out a rose, taking its scent gently.
"Yes! That beautiful power belongs only to me" he hummed. "My name is Cavendish. I didn't have to tell you my name because...everyone knows who I am"
"Who the fuck are you?" you demanded, crossing your arms over your chest.
It seems that the Colosseum held more weirdos than you accounted for.