Run stalks slowly down the stairs, scanning the crowd of people being carried out of the arena one after another. He's only got his eyes set on one person...Jesus Burgess, one of Blackbeards most trusted men. Sure enough, swaggering down the hall across from the red head is the man in question. Luffy can easily win Ace's Devil Fruit but they won't get another shot at taking down one of Blackbeard's men so easily. "Oi! Ru- Ran! There you are!" exclaims a voice from the top of the stairs. Run glances over his shoulder as Luffy comes bounding down them quickly. "You just left without saying a word! Ohh! Did you smell something good?"
"No," Run tells him. "I was-" Before he can finish, a woman holding a clip-board forces her way through the gladiators towards the two.
"Are you Ran?" asks the woman. "One of the competitors has been eliminated from the competition. You're going to be competing in block 'B' not 'C'. Make any preparations quickly. Your match will be starting soon."
"Ohhh! That's good!" laughs Luffy. "Now we have double the chance to win!" Run glances in the direction that Jesus Burgess was walking in, and finds the man gone. "I'll definitely cheer you on!" The red head nods in understanding. "Ah! I've gotta go get a good seat! Go get 'em...!"
The crowd roars wildly as the gladiators make their entrance. It seems that they're all just out to see some blood shed. Run scans the crowd of people in front of him slowly. There's a few faces he recognizes from the waiting room before but they don't strike him as being particularly dangerous. "And now, ladies and gentlemen," calls the announcer. "The next competitor is a late comer! It only took him a year to become infamous and enter the New World! An incomparably brutal and crazy rookie! He roasted some pirates on a skewer and shared the video! He also bombed some innocent civilians! He ranked number one in the 'most annoying pirates who should go away' competition! The pirate Bartolomeo!"
"Go to hell!" shouts Bartolomeo. "All of you!" The crowd responds by hurling bottles and trash at the gladiators, which they're forced to dodge. The announcer urges the crowd to stop throwing things which they eventually comply with after several long moments. The man digs in his pocket and pulls out a black sphere which he promptly hurls at the crowd. "Go to hell!" The crowd falls silent as it approaches...and after several moments they assume he's thrown a bomb at them and scramble to get out of the way. But when it comes falling down...it's revealed to be nothing but a black painted ball.
"They really hate you, brat," Dagama says.
"I don't want those shitheads to like me."
"There's one more competitor for Block 'B'!" shouts the announcer. "He admires our king, and declared his loyalty by bringing him a giant gold pillar from a distant country! Since then, he's been destroying various towns and countries that have insulted us by calling us a barbaric kingdom of pirates and bringing them to terms! He is the 'Bullet of Dressrosa'! He's been given a chance by the royal family! If he wins this competition his tenacity will bear fruit, and he'll be promoted to an executive position within the Donquixote Family! He's a real contender for winning this competition! The Pirate Bellamy the Hyena!" The crowd erupts into wild cheers for the man as he swaggers out to take center stage. "All the competitors have gathered! The battle royal of Block 'B' is about to begin!" The bridges connecting to the stage slowly withdraw. "A competitor will be eliminated if he is killed in the ring! Or if he gets thrown out of the ring! There will be only one winner! Now, let the battle...begin!"
The announcer strikes the bell, and everyone springs into action immediately. In an instant, Run finds himself rushed by a pair of gladiators. "We're gonna take you-" Run appears in front of him and drives his fist into the man's gut hard enough to brief lift him from his feet. The moment they touch the ground, Run shoves him in the direction of the second man. He staggers forward, and smashes their heads together. Both stagger backwards from the impact, with the second man coming to a halt right before he falls over the edge of the ring. Before the first can turn, Run steps strides forward and plants his foot right into the man's behind, knocking him into the second and both over the edge.
The crowd erupts in cheers as the two men splash down into the water. "That's two men eliminated by the mysterious red-haired man, Ran! But weeding out the weaklings is what this is about! Does he have what it takes to make it to the end?!" He turns away from the edge when he senses something rapidly approaching, and turns to find a massive spiked ball flying in his direction. He reaches out, and a loud 'boom!' sounds as it collides with his palm, stopping the ball in it's tracks. "Ohhh! He's stopped the attack of Tank Lepanto in it's tracks with his a single arm!"
Seeing gladiators approaching, Run grips the ball tightly and throws it in their direction, blowing over a trio of men and knocking them out with ease. After throwing it, Run can see that it's attached to a chain, and a large man is rapidly reeling it back in, his attention focused on him. "I'll be taking you down, red hair!" shouts Tank. "You won't stop it a second time!" Run begins walking in the man's direction calmly as he finally reels in the ball and chain. He whirls it around, and then throws it straight at him, bowling over several unfortunate gladiators in the way. The red head stops and simply turns his shoulder to dodge it with ease. It strikes the platform, and he begins rapidly reeling it in once more, at least until Run stomps on the chain, stopping his progress. "Y-You damn..." Veins bulge across the man's body as he tugs on the chain. "Move your damn foot, you-"
"Alright," Run says, lifting his foot as Tank gives a particularly sharp tug. The ball sails in his direction, and his eyes widen in surprise moments before it strikes him center-mass. Tank staggers backwards and drops a knee, gasping violently for the breath forced from his lungs.
"Damn it, Lepanto!" shouts Dagama. "Can't you take care of a single nobody?! Get out there and earn your keep!" After a few more gasping breaths, Tank forces himself to his feet and begins to swing the massive iron ball around once again.
"I'm gonna crush you, red hair!" screams Tank, launching the ball at Run once again...and once again he dodge out of the path. This time, however, he reaches out and grasps the chain. Before Tank can react, Run yanks towards himself and whips the chain, sending a wave through it and racing towards tank. "Wha-" The second it reaches his hands, he finds himself yanked up in the air and off his feet as he holds tight to the end. The red head pulls tight, and swings the man up and over to smash him into the stone of the arena floor. When the storm of dust and concrete settles, Lepanto lies motionless in a small crater.
"Down goes Tank Lepant!" bellows the announcer. "Ran has eliminated the Commander of Dressrosa's Self-Defense Army!"
"I knew that idiot wasn't going to be any help!" growls Dagama. "Oi, red hair, how about you lend us a hand? I can make it worth your while!"
"Sorry," Run says. "Only thing I'm interested in is that Devil Fruit."
"Ohhh, you've left your back open!" laughs a voice, earning Run's attention. He glances over his shoulder just as a man swings a sword down towards him. He steps back instantly, and rather than the sword, the man's bicep strikes Run's shoulder, coming to an abrupt halt. The red head snaps his head back, and a soft 'crunch!' sounds as the man recoils quickly. "M-My nose! You broke my nose!"
"I've got him, Jeet!" shouts a taller man, thrusting a trident in Run's direction. The red head dodges it easily, and grasps the shaft of the weapon before raising his knee and snapping it in half. "H-Huh? It's made of-"
"Sea King's Lash," Run calls, smashing his foot into the man's ribs. He goes sailing across the ring, bowling over several gladiators and is eventually sliding to a stop at the edge of the ring motionless.
"Abdullah!" growls Jeet. "You bastard!" The man rushes forward just as Run spins to face him, and disappears from view.
"Sea King's Rush!" His knee collides with the man's chin, snapping his head back and sending him tumbling head over heels across the arena, and nearly falling into the water.
"Jeet and Abdullah are down!" cries the announcer. "There's less then seventy contestants remaining! We're coming to the moment of truth! Who will be the last man standing?!"
"Young man," calls a voice, attracting Run's attention. Standing several feet away is a large Fishman in a karate gi. "Your techniques just now...you were using an old style of Fishman Karate. Would you care to tell me where you learned it?"
"From an old friend," Run says, turning to face him.
"Very well. My name is Hack...I'll be your opponent. Let us speak with our fists!" The man takes his stance, and then moves forward in an instant. "Four-Thousand Brick Punch!" Hack's punch strikes the red head square in the stomach, and he slides back several feet before coming to a stop.
"Not bad, Hack." The red head brushes his stomach off. "That actually hurt."
"Hmm. I'd heard from Jinbei that you were a tough man, red hair! I'm happy to have seen it for myself!" Run's eyebrows raise in surprise.
"Jinbe? You know him? Wait, you know me?"
"We're old friends...and he's spoken about a certain Straw-Hat and his friends. Now, come!" Run smirks behind his mask and takes his stance as well. "Yes! A good stance, proper balance...you have some talent!" Run moves forward in an instant. "Four-Thousand Brick Punch!"
"Sea King's Bite!" Their fists collide with a deafening 'boom!' and both remain still for several moments before recoiling violently, staggering back several steps as a crater is punched in the ground between them. "Haah, that hurt, Hack!" Both men shake their fists violently, doing their best to force down the pain rattling through their hand. Regardless both men rush forward once again.
"Five-Thousand Brick Punch!" As Run appears in front of him, he tilts his head sharply, dodging the man's fist.
"Sea King's Bite!" Run's fist lands square on Hack's chin, and his head jerks down. Run grunts loudly as Hack's knee suddenly drives into his stomach and he slides backwards across the arena, eventually coming to a stop several feet away. "Not bad." He presses a hand against his stomach. "You took it on the chin and you're still standing, Hack." When the Fishman doesn't move or respond Run's brow furrows. "Oi, Hack?" After a few moments he suddenly drops to his knees and falls face first onto the arena floor. "Haah...don't tell me you actually kneed me while unconscious."
"The Fishman Hack is down!" cries the announcer. "Ran has been eliminating one strong fighter after another! Is he the top contender to take down Elizabello?! Does he have what it takes to be the last man standing?!" Run glances over at the announcer in irritation even while the crowd erupts into wild cheers over his success. His commentary on the fighting is starting to wear on his nerves. "Ohh! Unbelieveible! How much more does Bartolomeo want to offend people?!" Run looks around the arena quickly and he spots the man in question...bare assed and taking a leak into the water surrounding the arena. "No one has ever done such a thing in this colosseum!" Run sighs heavily and approaches the man.
"Oi, let's go. Zip it up. There are children-" Sensing something moving fast in his direction, Run glances around quickly finding nothing surrounding him, and when a shadow falls over him he glances skyward.
"Spring Death Knock!" exclaims Bellamy, fist sailing in Run's direction rapidly.
"Shave," mutters Run, disappearing seconds before his fist pulverizes the ground. The red head reappears several meters away as Bellamy lands, and then comes sailing in his direction again instantly, arms outstretched. "Shave." He disappears just as Ballamy flies through the space he'd been occupying...but Bellamy isn't empty handed. The man comes sliding to a stop, clutching a black cloth.
"Ohhh! you're pretty fast! But...not..." The colosseum falls deathly silent as Run sighs heavily. "Well, well, well! What do we have here?"
"I...I don't believe it!" says the announcer. "The competitor Ran is actually...'Red' Run! Ladies and gentlemen, the First Mate of the infamous Straw-Hat Pirates! A member of the Worst Generation with a bounty of two-hundred and thirty million Beli! No wonder he could over-come the strong fighters so easily!"
"Change of plans!" exclaims Dagama. "Straw-Hat must have sent him to secure the Flare-Flare Fruit! Take out Red while we're still working together! We can't let him near our King!" The men surrounding them look between themselves and then Dagama. "Well? What are you waiting for?! Go out and earn your pay!"
"B-But...how can we beat him?" one of them questions. "He's a member of the Straw-Hats! He's Straw-Hat's First Mate!" While the men are hesitating, Dagama suddenly cuts several down from behind.
"You worthless lot! I knew I couldn't count on you! Blue Gilly!" A long-legged, blue haired man lands beside Dagama. "Take out Red! He can't get near the-" Before he can even finish his sentence, Blue Gilly has kicked him square on the face, and knocked him off of the platform and into the water surrounding the arena.
"Sorry, Dagama," Blue Gilly says. "But even if you paid me, I still wouldn't trust you. I mean, who in their right mind would trust a shady guy like you?" Blue Gilly looks at Elizabello, and then back at Run before turning to face the red head. It seems he'd decided that between the two, Run presents the biggest threat. "I've heard that Straw-Hat's First Mate has the strength of a giant...I wonder if it's true!" Blue Gilly moves forward quickly.
"Heheh! Taking you down is sure to impress Doflamingo!" calls Bellamy, his arms and legs changing into springs. "Spring Death Knock!" Ballamy flies in his direction, and Run disappears from view. He reappears beside Bellamy, elbow raised. "Wha-"
"Sea King's Maw," mutters Run, raising his knee as he brings his elbow down. A loud 'crack!' sounds as he smashes Bellamy between elbow and knee and the man instantly spits out a mouthful of blood before dropping motionless to the ground in front of him. "That's for Cricket you son of a bitch. Now-" Run glances in Blue Gilly's direction just as the man launches a kick...which instantly rebounds and sends him sprawling across the ground, clutching tightly to his shin.
"Aaah! My leg!" growls Blue Gilly. "What did...you do?!" Run's brow furrows in response and he blinks as light suddenly gleams across a barrier directly at his back.
"What's wrong? Couldn't kick through a little 'ol barrier, Blue Gilly?" taunts Bartolomeo. Run looks in the direction of the green haired pirate, who stands with fingers crossed and a grin on his face. "Sorry, but I guess you just weren't...meant...to..." As his eyes wander to the red head the man's words trail off. His face suddenly flushes a red fit to match Run's hair and he falls backwards, unmoving. The red head shudders slightly in response to the man's actions but regardless he turns towards the last big name he recognizes. Elizabello stands in the same place he's been since the start of the match, shadow boxing while surrounded by the last remaining gladiators.
"Run has set his sights on Elizabello!" cries the announcer, to a chorus of cheers. "Does he have what it takes?! Will he bring down the King?!" Elizabello continues his shadow boxing to the cheering of the crowd. The red head stares the man down for several seconds before disappearing from his view, only to reappear standing in front of him.
"Sea King's Sweep," says Run, dropping and sweeping the man's legs out from under him with ease. Run rises quickly and grasps Elizabello by an ankle. He whirls around and slams the large man into the last remaining gladiators, sending them sailing over the arena edge along with Elizabello.
"The King is down! The ring is clear! We have our winner! 'Red' Run is the winner of Block 'B'!" The stands erupt into wild cheers over Run's victory. The bridges quickly roll out to connect to the arena once again and the medics come swarming out to collect the injured gladiators. He walks out of the arena calmly, heading across the bridge in the direction he'd come from to enter. The gladiators gathered, part on either side as he walks, avoiding looking at the red head as he passes. There's only one person who stands in his way, arms crossed and grinning from ear to ear.
"Good job, Run!" laughs Luffy. "I knew you'd win!"
"Yeah," agrees Run. "But now everyone know's who I am."
"That's fine! Franky said I shouldn't let everyone know who I am! But he didn't say anything about you!"
"All Block 'C' competitors prepare for the arena!" calls a voice over the crowd. "All Block 'C' competitors please prepare! The next block will begin shortly!"
"Ohh! It's finally my turn! Make sure to watch, Run! It's gonna be a good fight!" With that, Luffy goes sprinting off into the crowd while Run smiles. He turns and takes the nearest staircase, and wanders down a few halls before finding a balcony to watch the fight from. The fighters for Block 'C' are all gathering in the arena slowly as Run watches on, easily picking Luffy out of the crowd. The red head leans against the railing, arms crossed as he waits for the battle to begin.
When it finally kicks off, Run watches intently as Luffy begins making short work of the gladiators in the ring. He has a few slip ups where he accidentally uses his Devil Fruit powers but he quickly corrects himself. Even without them, he's more than a match for every single opponent that stands across from him. After a few scraps with the small-fry, he moves on to the big names like Sai, Chinjao, Hajrudin; until Don Chinjao's and Luffy's final attack shatters the entire arena, and Luffy is the last man standing.
Wild cheering fills the arena, nearly drowning out the announcer as he tells the crowd there will be a fifteen minute intermission between the next Block's while the ring is repaired. Run turns away from the balcony and walks back in the direction he'd come from earlier. As he descends a large set of stairs Luffy exits the ring, and picks him out out of the crowd immediately.
Luffy quickly sprints in his direction, grinning from ear to ear. "Run!" shouts Luffy. "Did you see?! Did you see?! What a great-"
"Straw Hat!" screams a voice, earning both of their attention. "You can't run away this time!" Cavendish sprints down the hall in their direction rapidly, sword held tightly in his hand. "And 'Red' Run, too! I'm gonna kill both of you right here!" He lunges at them, sword poised...and comes to an abrupt halt when Run grasps the man's sword.
"You're gonna put someone's eye out," Run tells him, holding tight to the blade with a Haki infused hand.
"L-Let go!"
"Oi! Straw Hat!" shouts another voice, attracting their attention. Luffy and Run glance back at a beaten and bruised Don Chinjao. Boo supports the old man while Sai walks several steps ahead of them. "Our old man has something to say to you!"
"Aww, just leave me alone!" complains Luffy. "I won already!"
"No!" shouts Don Chinjao, lurching forward and smashing head first into the ground. The trio scatter as a wave of destruction races towards them, completely shattering the wall and ground. "I don't hold a grudge against Garp anymore! I want to express my deepest appreciation to you."
"Run away!" Luffy and Run take off sprinting down the hall from them...and Run actually begins laughing. "What's so funny?"
"This...whole situation!" Run tells him, grinning. "You always attract the weirdest people!" Luffy glances back, and finds Cavendish, Don Chinjao, Boo, Sai...and even Bartolomeo giving chase. It's strange that he's still here after being eliminated. After a few moments he begins laughing as well. The two laugh loudly as they quickly disappear down the hall, leaving the others in their dust as they cut a winding and twisting path through the colosseum. After they feel like they've put enough distance between the two, they come to a slow stop.
"Boy, there's no place I feel comfortable here."
"This way, you two," calls a woman, earning their attention. The woman motions both of them to follow and they quickly do so.
"Oi, aren't you...?"
"Rebecca. You have a lot of enemies. Follow me!" As they're running, loud laughter reaches their ears and both Luffy and Run glance in it's direction...finding Burgess sitting by himself, transponder snail in hand. Both men come to an immediate stop across from him.
"I can't trust Aokiji!" growls Burgess. He finally seems to notice the two of them and grins. "Hold on a sec, Captain. Straw Hat and Red are here."
"Oh? Oooh?" grunts Blackbeard. "Are you there...Straw Hat?"
"You're Blackbeard," Luffy grunts, staring at the transponder snail.
"Yes, it's me! It's been a while! I heard you're competing to win the Flare-Flare Fruit! But my man Burgess is going to win it! I can't wait! It'll be like having Ace in our group!" The man's laughter echos through the transponder snail and both Luffy and Run grit their teeth.
"You're the last person I want having Ace's power! We're gonna win the Flare-Flare Fruit and then Run is going to eat it!"
"Oh, Run, you say? Now, that's interesting! I haven't seen you face to face since you were just a little brat!" Run's brow furrows in response.
"What did you say?" Run asks.
"Well, you probably don't remember it but I'm sure Red Hair remembers it every time he looks in the mirror! Every time he looks at your mother's photo!" Run growls and tenses but before he can move, Luffy throws an arm out in front of him. After a moment Run takes a deep breath and exhales slowly.
"I'll let you know how the Flare-Flare Fruit tastes, Blackbeard."
"I can't wait to fight the two of you," laughs Burgess. He stands up and walks away from them while Run grinds his teeth. The red head watches the man's retreating back for several long moments before once again exhaling slowly.
"I'm gonna kill that man." At Rebecca's insistence, they continue on down the hall. Unfortunately for her, the two are distracted again, and when the sound of their footsteps disappears she comes to a stop and looks back to find them standing in front of a food stand. "Three of your largest lunch-boxes, please." The red head hands over a few Beli, and waits while she picks the lunch boxes for them. But she isn't going quick enough for Luffy, who is quickly eating all the free-samples he can.
"Yummy~!" cries Luffy. "Lady, can I have some more samples?"
"You're getting ready to eat, Luffy. We'll eat when we get there." The woman hands over the lunch-boxes just as Rebecca approaches and Run shoves one out in her direction. "Here. Let's go eat." With Rebecca leading them, she takes them to a quarter specifically for the gladiators of Corrida Colosseum. Although, it looks more like a prison to Luffy and Run. Luffy wastes no time in digging into his lunch-box while Run eats a little more reserved beside his Captain. It's not Sanji's cooking...but it'll still pretty good.
"Your fights were both amazing," Rebecca says, removing her helmet. "I was really amazed by your strength."
"Aren't you going to eat?" Run asks her. The woman tenses in response, and after a few moments relaxes.
"I don't get hungry. Here." She holds the lunch-box out in offer to Luffy who rapidly polishes off what little is left of his and digs into his her's quickly.
"Hehe!" chuckles Luffy. "You sound like a samurai or something!" The next second, however, both Luffy and Run find themselves yanked by against the bars and restrained. "What the?!"
"Now, Rebecca!" cries a voice. "You brought them here to do it, didn't you?! Now! While we've got them!"
"Oi, c'mon!" grunts Run. "Let's talk about this!" Rebecca grasps the hilt of her sword firmly, and raises it in their direction.
"If you don't do it you can't carry out your purpose!" When she lunges forward both Luffy and Run react. Luffy bites the man's arm around his neck and slams another one hand first into the ground while Run's foot whips up. The point of her sword collides with the sole of his shoe with a loud 'clang!' and comes to an abrupt halt. Luffy spins in air and quickly punches both men restraining Run in the face. With the red head free and her attack stopped, Rebecca steps back and launches another attack at them. Both men easily dodge, and Luffy drops down on her, planting both feet on her arms and crashing down with her pinned under him. Luffy continues eating his lunch which has somehow remained full through-out the whole thing.
"Do whatever you like to me," Rebecca tells them. "I'll pay the price." Run bends to retrieve her sword which has fallen by the way side and his brow furrows as he stares at the edge. The sword is blunt, almost completely lacking any sort of edge.
"I'm not gonna hurt someone who gave me their food," Luffy tells her.
"I tried to kill you!"
"With this?" Run asks, holding her sword up and actually scraping it across his palm. "This thing couldn't cut hot butter. You didn't actually plan to kill either one of us...did you?" Luffy crawls off Rebecca and sits cross-legged beside her.
"Being forgiven so easily," mutters one of the men behind the bars. "It just shows how unevenly matched it was."
"Aah!" shouts Luffy. "Mummies! Run, look!"
"We're not mummies! We're convict gladiators! So is Rebecca. We'll keep fighting and get killed in the ring someday as part of a show. All because we protested against the Doflamingo Family, even moderately. The King says we will be released if we can win a thousand times. But no matter how tough you are, you'll die if you fight to the death one-hundred times."
"I'm...I'm going to win," Rebecca says. "I'm going to win no matter what it takes...and kill Doflamingo with the Flare-Flare Fruit power! Today, an Army led by Soldier will come to let us out...by provoking a battle with Doflamingo! He is willing to sacrifice his life to destroy this Kingdom! I'm gonna do it before he does! I don't want to be protected anymore!" Tears begin to stream down her face to the surprise of Luffy and Run. "I want to protect Soldier this time!" After a few long minutes of silence Rebecca finally seems to collect herself. "Soldier is going to die."
"Soldier?" Luffy echos.
"He's a one-legged toy soldier."
"Toy? I met a guy like that in front of the Colosseum! Yeah! He yelled at you Run!"
"That sounds like him."
"You're worried that a toy is going to die? A living toy seems really odd to me." Rebecca sits up slowly, and looks at him.
"You're not from here so it's hard to understand. They're the same as Humans. They're friends for the friend-less. Siblings for those who have none. Lovers for the loveless. I don't understand why they aren't allowed to live with us. Since the day I lost my mother who was my only family, Soldier raised me. He's like a father to me." The announcers voice suddenly echos through the hall, calling an end to the intermission now that the ring has been fully repaired.
"Here," Run says, holding out her sword. "Good luck in your battle. Next time, you can treat us to a lunch..."
