:note:
We-have-hit-100-reviews! :D So here's an extra early chapter!
Thank you to all the people who reviewed and pressed those favorite and follow buttons! I appreciate it a lot, love ya' guys! 3
Disclaimer: You know what! I do own it! /gets arrested/ Nope. I don't own One Piece in anyway, shape or form. Impel Down, here I come.
(P.S I have just found a spin-off Arc called Ace's Great Blackbeard Search. 'Scuse me while I die a little inside :D)
'PRIZE FOR TOURNAMENT REVEALED: LEGENDARY MERA MERA NO MI FRUIT'
"...Eh?"
"What's wrong?"
Ace stood there, frozen to the ground, his pupils scanning the article with speed; ignoring all the sounds of the street behind him.
"O-oi. Pirate." The Voice called out again, concerned at the lack of response.
Re-reading the of words again, he settled the newspaper by the side of him, bringing his hand up into view. Easily, he was able to conjure up fire, the flames dancing around his fingers. "My Devil-Fruit, it's a prize for a tournament being held here." He whispered quietly, keeping his voice low so passerbys didn't hear. Dispersing his flames, he threw the newspaper back on the ground as he faced the Voice.
"That's possible? I thought two Devil-Fruit users couldn't exist at the same time."
Ace clenched his knuckles, his glare hitting the cobbled stones of the street. "That's what I thought too. Only one can exist at once."
"So what are you 'gonna do?" The Voice's eyebrow raised, it's eyes narrowing at the freckled man.
Whipping his head around to face the Voice, he frowned. "If Buggy was telling the truth, then Luffy is on this island right now. And if he sees that, then.." His voice trailed off, his teeth grinding.
Taking a slight step back, the Voice's words stuttered for a second, going unnoticed by Ace. "A-And what of it? It's just a fruit."
Scowling at the direction of the Voice, he ignored it, starting to walk on forward, pushing through the countless crowds and toys which stuffed the small streets.
"Where are you going?!"
"I'm going to find Lu." He replied bluntly, his face still looking towards the narrow ends of the route.
"And you expect to find him where?"
"..."
All Ace could do was praythat Luffy hadn't seen that newspaper. He couldn't let his brother get hurt again because of him, especially not to something like this.
Not only was that bad enough, but now his Mera-Mera No Mi Fruit was now being some-kind of prize? in this pathetic tournament held by this countries king?
Like he was going to let that happen.
Vista hated this.
He hated that not only was their brother's body missing from his grave, but his Devil-Fruit was now being campaigned off as a prize for a ridiculous tournament held in a ridiculous city.
And now he was stuck there, given the task of finding his fuming captain and his sister who ran off without a trace.
So when he spotted the familiar blonde scruff of hair in the distance, he gave a sigh of relief, pushing through all the crowds; screaming out his captain's name despite the on-lookers.
"Marco!"
Relieved that the person bearing the blond hair turned around immediately, Vista smiled; only to be met with the same grieving face the blonde had been wearing since the island.
"Vista? What are you doing here?"
Breathing heavily, Vista stood beside his captain, looking up at him with confusion. "Everyone's worried about where you had gone. You know, you really shouldn't leave us standing there like that." Even though that Marco was now his captain, the formalities seemed to rarely change from when they were before, some even refusing to accept what had happened to their previous captain.
Marco stared down at his brother, his eyes still blanked and frozen. Turning towards the queue that he lined up in he stepped further. "I'm entering the tournament."
"Enter- the tour-na-ment..." Vista slowly processed, blinking a few times. Understanding his captains objective, Vista straightened his back, sighing. "Are you sure you want to do that Captain? It's not like you're just any rookie, people will recognize you, you'll be bringing in un-wanted attention."
"I understand that." Marco immediately shot back, taking yet another step forward, his eyes still glued to Vista.
"It's something, something that I have to do." Only now did the phoenix's eyes leave his brother, and instantly onto another person-two people in fact. They stood there in front of him, one easily standing out as a giant? and other as an elderly man. Or so it seemed so to a blind eye.
Vista stared in the same direction of his captain, raising an eyebrow as he too saw easily through their disguises.
The 'elderly man' approached the assistant on hand, followed by the 'giant'. "My name is Lu-"
Vista instantly looked back to his captain, ignoring the 'giant' banging the elderly man on the head harshly in the background, as his thoughts tried to catch up with him. "You don't think that that's-"
"It's him alright." Marco interrupted, his eyes still staring straight at the duo, narrowing them as they parted, the older heading off into the arena. "It looks like Ace's brother is here as well."
Closing his eyes, Vista leaned against a pillar, his face directed towards the floor. "So, what are you going to do now? You can't exactly go and beat the kid up, he's here for the same reason you are."
"..."
A crash suddenly interrupted their conversation, people surrounding the area starting to scream. Vista quickly re-opened his eyes, turning around to the direction of the sound, staring at the group of people which surrounded an area of the ground.
"-one's fallen!"
"I-Is he dead?"
"You idiot! No-one can survive a fall from that height!"
"H-He's bleeding."
Vista blinked a few times, questioning whether he should go other as well to see if the person was alright- but who was he kidding. Taking one glance at the height of the colosseum, it was clear that nobody would survive a fall like that.
Turning around to resume his talk with Marco, he was left staring at a blank space; his captain already gone. Sighing, he shook his head, slowly making his way over to where the crowd was gathering; pushing his way through the get a better look at the person.
Staring at his face, Vista's world seemed to freeze.
"N-No. It can't be."
"Listen to me pirate!"
In the far-off distance, a looming figure in the shape of a colosseum stood, Ace's blood beginning to boil at the sight of it. Pulling his cloak further over his head, his pupils darted everywhere, scanning the area for any sign of entry to the building, his eyes lighting up when seeing a public entrance to spectators.
His eyes quickly returned to a glare when the figure to the Voice popped up in front of him, mirroring the same glare he had. "Don't go in there."
"What?" He exclaimed, gliding straight through the figure and back towards the entrance.
Appearing once again before Ace, the Voice held it's hand up in front of him. "I'm telling you, It's a bad idea. Don't go in there."
His eyebrow twitched, walking again through the Voice. "If there is a possibility that Luffy is in that building then I am going in. Simple as that. So if you're going to continue to stalk me, do so with your mouth shut."
Seeming to do the trick, the Voice went silent, following Ace as he went through the guards and onto the steps of the arena; barely getting a space to stand on the top row.
"Damn, this place is crowded. It seems like a lot of people want to witness the fight for that Fruit."
Twitching, Ace leaned against the top window, muttering countless things under his breath. "It shouldn't even be here in the first place."
"You died. Once a Devil-Fruit user dies, isn't it ordinary for their Fruit to grow once more?"
Twitch. "But I'm not dead- anymore. And I can use my Devil Fruit, so it shouldn't even exist."
"Hmph." The Voice mumbled for a second, staring directly at the approaching duo of ladies, dragging along a hidden glass case, along with a ridiculous looking gladiator.
Speaking into a transponder snail, everyone around deemed to be quiet, listening with glee at the words he spoke.
"TODAY WE COME WITH A RARE AND SHOCKING ITEM, ONE THAT THE KING HAS DEEMED SUITABLE FOR SUCH A PRIZE! THERE WAS A MAN WHO LOST HIS LIFE IN THE MARINEFORD WAR TWO YEARS AGO- THE PIRATE KING'S SON!"
Ace twitched, trying hard to control his anger.
"THE NOW LEGENDARY 2ND COMMANDER OF THE WHITEBEARD PIRATES- ACE!"
"Tch. This is stupid."
"IT IS SAID HIS FIERY FISTS PIERCED THROUGH BATTLESHIPS, BURNED CITIES AND CHANGED THEM INTO HELL ON EARTH!"
Another mumble could be heard from the Voice, causing the said commander to shoot it a death glare.
"THAT AMAZING ABILITY HAS ONCE AGAIN BECOME A DEVIL'S FRUIT AND RE-APPEARED IN THIS WORLD! BEHOLD!"
Drawing all his attention towards the covered glass case, he inwardly shuddered, bracing himself for what he was about to see. After all, it wasn't like he was expecting to see the Fruit again; that was the last thing on his mind when he first ate it. Hearing the Voice speak once more, Ace glanced away from the fruit.
"I can't allow you to see it."
Ace raised his eyebrows, staring at the figure with wide eyes. "What?"
"Try to forgive me for what I'm about to do."
Unsure of what it meant, Ace continued to stare at it. "Do what?"
As those words left his mouth, it's hand reached out took a hold of his cloak; surprising the fire-user at its touch, as it easily pushed him from his spot by the top window, pushing him out onto the open air.
Ace felt time freeze, the air unable to catch him as the gravity started to pull him down. Taking his last glance at the colossuem, he saw the figure peering at him with guilt, the sounds of the Fruit being revealed.
"THE MERA MERA NO MI FRUIT!"
Air started to gush by him, immediately bellowing a loud crack noise as he hit the floor with force, feeling his consciousness fade as his fingertips were met with blood flowing from his head; unable to make the noises around him make sense.
"S-Someone's fallen!"
Feeling his eyelids grow heavier, he was able to make say last word before the darkness took a hold of him again.
"S-Shit."
Hi ._.
Man. What a cliffhanger :D /gets shot
IMSORRYDONTKILLME-
Thankyou so much to the people that reviewed, I always love hearing from you guys! So here are the replies:
02FireRains: It's a strange non-romantic paring to put those two together. But somehow, I thought they that they fit! And yes...everyone is slowly getting closer together :D
scatteredPhilosopher: *joins in* JISHUAHUS. I screamed so much with his entry. *shakes head* So much!*cries* You gotta love coincidences. That kinda crap will happen a lot in this story :D And we have reached 100 Reviews! I hope you have enjoyed this chapter, and thanks for the review!
Blueh: I love both Haruta and Sabo. It's a shame we don't see much of her in the anime/manga. HER LIFE WILL BE TOLD THROUGH FANFICTIONS. *holds up flaming torch*
HarukaSennen: SAABBOOO. I'm really glad you're enjoying it! :D I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
fairyofthelake: I'm glad you liked the last chapter! I thought leaving Sabo too long out of the picture wouldn't be as dramatic, so here he is! :D
CrazySarahify: T'WAS SABO. Hope your wrists get better! I hoped you enjoyed this chapter!
darkloveforfanfiction: CONGRATS! You're my 100th Reviewer! I hope you enjoy this story! Sabo has arrived!
aqua-empress: I'm glad you do! Ah. My habit is so bad. CONGRATS 101th Reviewer! So many amazing character's at once is amazing/deadly on someones health- how I am when watching an episode- D: I got pissed off with the whole hernotapologizingandnotseeingAce'sface thing aswell- And Im the writer! Hoped you enjoyed this chapter!
Kaninix: The brother's reunion ;) I'm glad you're looking forward to it! I hoped you enjoyed this chapter!
Animezpeps: Poor Haruta. I hope you are enjoying this story and thanks for the review!
uncageduzu x10: Woah! Thanks a bunch for all the reviews! It's great you enjoyed the chapters and that it drew you into the story! I loved Buggy and Ace too, I find that clown too hilarious. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
VodkaTheif: I agree with you. As much as I like drama in animes, I would definitely go back and change Ace's death. HE WILL BE KEPT ALIVE THROUGH FANFICTION! I hoped you enjoyed this chapter, maybe excluding the ending.
Picu: I only realized after actually releasing the chapter how many people were in it. I really should re-read over this stuff. And here is your future chapter.. I hoped you enjoyed it!
sairakanzaki: I'm glad you're excited! I hoped you enjoyed this chapter!
/collapses/ Thank you for all the amazing reviews! BTW I have two other stories that I'm updating all the time, so check them out :D
-KayaaHiko