AN: Hello, this is my first fan-fic (unless you count my random poem). I do plan on continuing it even if it takes a while. I got the idea from The Night Circus and The Hunger Games but it is not a crossover. I hope you enjoy.
Chapter one: Circus Belle De Bane
Our escape from Punk Hazard put one of Zoro's katanas to shame, and saying that we cut it fine is a gross understatement. But Luffy being Luffy was already board out of his skull, even though we just left a half hour ago. And he was already bugging me for food. Nami and Usopp were busy revealing their strength own (they kind of did run Caesar through the ringer). Chopper had just about finished giving medical attention where it was needed. Zoro was napping (big surprise) while Brook and Foxfire chatted a bit about where they had picked up there swords, where they had learned to fight, and other swords-man-y stuff. Zoro had talked with them for a bit before a nap attack had hit him and he started dozing of against the side of the ship. Momonosuke (or Momo) was being a lucky little brat and was currently cuddling Robin (mostly her chest region) while she sat and read a book, patting the little [insert swearword of your choice here] on the head with and extra arm. Franky had finally stopped crying about the condition of the ship and was now working on a few finishing touches with the fix up. I had just served lunch on PH so I still had some time before I needed to get started on dinner. I walked over to where Law was gazing out at the ocean and moved to stand beside him. We didn't say anything for a long time, just watch the waves roll lazily along the ocean and listen to the sounds of laughter and Brook's violin coming from the crew. I'm about ready to leave and go start dinner when I here something strange. It's like thunder but with, just; something more. No one else seams to notice it, not even Nami who can sense a storm from miles away. "Hey Law," he tilted his head towards me to show that he's listening, I continue. "Did you here that noisy just now?" He gives me a look that say if its anything other that the crew entertaining each other then I'd have to specify. "It sounded like lightning ricocheting off a stadium made of sea-stone prism. With the background noise of thunder screaming at the heavens who cast it down towards earth followed by the sound of bells." I had no idea where the analogy came from, it just, kind of fit. Law turned to fully face me with a look I though I would never see on him; fear, true, unadulterated fear.
"Sanji, please tell me your joking." His voice was pleading but his face said he already knew that I wasn't.
"I'm not joking, what's wrong with yo-" I stopped short, it finally hit me. "Oh, crap. You can't really think that it's..." I trail off without needing to finish, we both knew what it was, and there was no escaping that fact.
"Belle's Bane." We spoke at the same time our expressions mirroring that horror that just that name brought. As we both tried to think of a way out of it our minds finally settled on the one person who might know of a way. "Robin." Again speaking in unison we ran over to where Robin was sitting. Momo had fallen asleep and Robing had just gotten back from putting him to bed (in the girls room, no less!).
"What's the rush?" Here silky voice broking in to a bit of a chuckle at the end of the question.
"Belle's Bane." I spoke before Law and they both cringed when I said the name of that cursed 'entertainment.' Robins face paled and we knew no further explanation was necessary. Every sailor had heard of this occurrence at least once in there life. When you hear the sound of the heavens rage followed by the sweet sound of bells, don't run, don't pray, don't even hope. No one can escape Belle's Bane.
Robin stood and spoke quickly before rushing of to the ship's library. "Gather everyone up, fast, I'll go grab Heaven's Thunder." Heaven's Thunder is the only known book to this day that says anything of Belle's Bane. Legend says that it was written by the game's-master as a mockery to those who tried to do anything other than except their fate.
"Everyone, get over her now!" Law had to scream a bit to be heard over the ruckus of the crew.
"Aww, but I don't want to Tora-guy!" Luffy wined at Law seeing a he was finally being entertained (Usopp what doing some weird-o imitations).
Despite the desperate situation Law was fuming over the unwanted nickname that Luffy had assigned to him. "It's Trafalgar, straw-hat! T. R. A. F. A. L. G. A. R. Get it right!"
Law's face met with his hand as Luffy tried (and failed) again, "Trafal-guy?"
"TrafalGAR! And I'm gonna ring that skinny neck of yours straw-hat!"
I sigh as I walk over to where Law stands; fuming. "Sorry to ruin the fun, but..." I pause a second before saying those cursed words, "It's Belle's Bane." All movement stops, mouths hang open, limbs frozen in air, like the world just went into suspended animation. Robin rushes back onto deck with her book and everything starts to move again. Everyone runs to form a circle around her.
She opens the book and starts to read; "Heaven's Thunder, a narrative by Saynarn Glory. She flips a couple pages before starting to read again. "Belle's Bane; a death game for those who brave the seas yet run at just the mention of this Colosseum. It's name comes from Belle, meaning beautiful in French and Bane; death, destruction, and ruin. In other words; Beautiful death." The sound of sharp intakes of air can be heard as Robin pauses to take another breath. "This wandering circus has been around since man learned to walk. The same game, only the names have changed. Rule 1: you cannot escape once you hear the sound of heavens rage followed by bells. Once your ship has been called you will be haunted till the circus finds you. This rule is solid fact; no exceptions. Rule 2: Not all participating members are real and we reserve the right to withhold information pertaining to the legitimacy of the challenging party. Rule 3: all fights are to the death unless otherwise instructed. No exceptions. Rule 4: physically interfering in a match will not be tolerated and will be punished by the guilty parties immediate extermination. Rule 4: all weapons except other persons are allowed. Rule 5: have fun and put on a good show." Another pause in her reading. "If you have read this far we compliment you on your quick thinking. I know you're about the join the show; because only those who hear it can truly read this. Tried it before? Don't worry, no one ever remembers. Have fun, and welcome to the Circus Belle De Bane."
"Beautiful by death circus, what a morbid name." Nami speaks quietly but over the sound of us barely daring to breath she's easy to hear.
"I'd say we have a little less than a minute left." Law speaks with the emotion drained out of his voice.
"Nice knowing you all." No one's really sure who spoke, but with death looming over us I'm pretty sure the feeling's mutual.
"Wait, there's more." Robin spots one last blurb of text on the page. "By the way; the second time heaven cries and homage is payed to the years, new and old, you will find the agony of regret."
"Then everyone better hold on, 'cause I just heard it again." I speak quickly so that no one's caught unawares.
The sound of a match being struck hangs in the air as the following sound of a world of flames follows. Everything, the ocean, the sky, everything as far as the eye can see slowly shifts into shades of gray, accented by unadulterated black and white here and there. And as though someone has dimmed a light it all fades to black. The kind of black you see when you close your eyes. I can feel flames dancing around the ship, taunting up, pulling us in. My eyes are closed although I don't remember closing them. When they fluter open I see candles floating along the water beside our drifting vessel. Everything not illuminated by the candles is black. Except where we are being led. A black and white circus tent emerges from the darkness. It looks small but from the way it's starting to loom towards up it's easy to see that it's huge. Looking around I see that the rest of our crew is in the same predicament as I. Jaws are dropped to the floor ad eyes are bulging out of there sockets. A flickering catches my attention. I turn in time to see fireflies form around the front of the colorless tent. They form into the words; "Circus Belle De Bane" and below in much smaller 'print:' "Welcome to hell." I gulp as the lower letters disappear leaving only the name of our hell. On with the show, for we are only here to die.
TBC