Hello, everyone~! I'm back! I was going to wait until the end of the week to post the next chapter but my impatience got the best of me! So, without further ado, here you are! I hope you all enjoy~!
"'Opportunity doesn't knock twice'," Run echos Robin's words, slowly descending the stairs. Gladiators are carried out of the arena slowly one after another, nearly packing the hall from side to side. Standing several feet above the crowd of men, Run immediately picks out Jesus Burgess. He's one of Teach's most trusted men, and no doubt one of those responsible for the capture and resulting death of Ace. The man swaggers out of the arena with a cocky grin on his face as if he hasn't a care in the world, slowly passing in front of the red head. "Hah...buh-bye, Burgess." Run grasps the hilt of his cutlass. "I'll send ya company soon enough."
"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, a grin on his face. "You just left without saying a word! Ohh! Did you smell something good? Where?! Go on! Lead the way!"
"A-Aah, no, I- wait one. I keep telling you that I'm not a hound dog. Besides, with this scarf on I can hardly smell anything, so-" 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 dropped out of 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 of a swaggering Burgess, watching him round a corner and disappear from view. "I'll definitely cheer you on! Ah! I've gotta go get a good seat! Go get 'em!"
"Dahahaha~! Make sure you hurry up, then! If you get turned around you might miss the fight...!"
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...although, he's sure a number of people they've fought in the past have thought the same way them so maybe it'd be better to be a bit more on guard.
"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."
"Who could have imagined that attacking innocent people wouldn't earn you any favors?" Run muses, attracting their attention. "I get that being a pirate means living freely...but there's also a limit to what you should and shouldn't do, pal."
"What does a bastard like you know?"
"Ohh, struck a nerve, huh?"
"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.
"I guess someone bounced back from their beat down. First Burgess, and now Bellamy...when did things start to get complicated?"
"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 briefly lift him from his feet. The moment they touch the ground, Run's free hand comes up and shoves the man head first 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.
"Dahahaha~! Sorry, fellas!" laughs Run, approaching to peer over the edge at the waters surface. "A headache is better than a beat down, don't'cha think?"
"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!"
"Whoa-ho!" The red head peeks around the spiked ball, tracking it's chain back to a large man. He flashes the man a grin as he allows it to drop to the stone floor. "What are you doin', pal? You could put someone's eye out swinging something like this around! I- aah?" He turns his attention away from the man as a trio of gladiators rapidly begin to rush in his direction. "H-Hold on a second, fellas! I got my back to the water here! Time out for a moment here!" The men completely ignore his words, closing the distance and raising their weapons only for the red head to suddenly disappear from view as their weapons come down. Before any of them can react, they find themselves quickly booted over the edge of the arena and splashing down into the water. "I said 'time out'!"
"I'll be taking you down, red hair!" shouts Tank, rapidly reeling in the massive ball. "You won't stop it a second time!" Tank begins to whirl the ball around rapidly before throwing it once more in the red head's direction. Run turns his shoulder to avoid the massive spiked ball, and grasps the chain tightly. "Y-You...!"
"Would you knock-"
"Let go of the damn chain!" Veins bulge across the man's body as he pulls against Run's grip, the iron chain groaning ever so softly in response. "You damn-" Run releases the chain very suddenly, and Tank immediately staggers backwards before falling flat on his back before slowly pushing himself up with a scowl "You dirty bastard! You did that on purpose!"
"Damn it, Lepanto!" shouts Dagama. "Can't you take care of a single nobody?! Get out there and earn your keep!" Tank finally gets his feet under him and begins to whirl around his spiked chain and ball.
"I'm gonna crush you, red hair!" screams Tank, launching the ball at Run once again...and once again he dodges out of the path. Again he reaches out and grasps the chain tightly. 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!"
"Aah, really?" Run asks, grinning at the man. "Well, truthfully, I'm only after that Devil Fruit but...a certain Navigator I know would probably beat me black and blue if I didn't at least tell you my going price. If you want to hire me for your 'King', then it's gonna cost you at least ten billion Beli. You're asking me to give up a Logia, after all."
"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! You-" The red head reaches back, and grasps the man tightly by his shoulder. "W-Wait!"
"I've got him, Jeet!" shouts a taller man, rapidly approaching their direction. "Hold him-" Run surprises the crowd by lifting Jeet up and throwing him directly down on top of the approaching man. Their smash into the stone floor of the ring hard enough to create a small crater, scattering stone in all directions.
"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?!"
"Four-Thousand Brick Punch!" shouts a loud voice, drawing Run's attention to a Fishman in a gi who sends a far larger man sailing out of the ring with a single blow.
"That was awesome, Hack! He's beaten his eighteenth opponent!"
"Like my friend, and our species' hope, Jinbe, does, we can establish friendly relations with our fists! Hence, I will continue fighting!"
"Wow," calls Run. "Your Fishman Karate is pretty strong. I guess I should have expected that from one of Jinbe's acquaintances!" Hack turns to face the red head, slowly sizing him up. "If you're acquainted with Jinbe, then I suppose I wouldn't mind 'establishing friendly relations' with you, Hack."
"Jinbe...he's spoken about a certain Straw-Hat and his friends. Now, come!" Run grins 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 Hack recoils violently, staggering backwards several steps before regaining his stance. "Dahahaha~! That kinda smarts, Hack!" Both men stare at one another for several long moments before rushing 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 softly as Hack's knee suddenly drives into his stomach and he takes a step back before catching himself. "Not bad!" He presses a hand against his stomach. "Wow! You took it square on the chin and you're still standing, Hack!" When the Fishman doesn't move or respond Run's brow furrows. "Aah...Hack? Hello~?" After a few moments he suddenly drops to his knees and falls face first onto the arena floor. "You actually kneed me while unconscious? How spiteful!"
"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?!" The whole Colosseum erupts into cheers, nearly deafening the red head. "Ohh! Unbelievable! 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!"
"Aah, 'fraid I gotta ask you to zip it up, pal. There are children present, after all." Sensing someone fast approaching from behind, the red head simply turns his shoulder and reaches out. Run glances in the direction moments later, a grin splitting his masked face when he finds none other than Bellamy standing several meters away with a bewildered look on his face. "Dahahahaha~! Well, aren't you wound tight as a spring, Bellamy!" The red head looks at the sunglasses gently grasped in his hand now for a moment before slowly slipping them on. "I guess some things never change."
"That voice!" growls Bellamy, hands balling into fists. "I'll never forget it until the day I die! Take off that damn mask, and face me like a man, 'Red' Run!"
"Face you like a man?" Run echos, reaching up and stripping his scarf off. "Look at you! Guess you finally worked up the nerve to pick on people your own size!"
"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 hair 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?"
"Aah, I guess that's a good point," agrees Run. "Still, turning on your own 'ally' is a little cold for my tastes." 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.
"He was never my ally...hell, he was barely my employer. Still, I think that's the least of our concerns right now. Now, 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! I can kill two birds with one stone!" calls Bellamy, his arms and legs changing into springs. "I can take my revenge and impress Doflamingo by taking you down here and now, red hair!" Ballamy flies in his direction. Both men rapidly close in on the red head who looks between the two quickly.
"Whoa, whoa! Time out!" Run cries. "Two on one ain't fair, boys!"
"Spring Death Knock!" Run glances in the man's direction as he appears at his side, and surprises his by simply taking a step backwards, avoiding him entirely. Bellamy's eyes widen in response as he stares into the red head's eyes which briefly flash a bright crimson behind his stolen sunglasses. A cold dread fills his chest, his heart leaping to his throat as the whole world seems to fall away but for the red head standing only inches from him. It's the same feeling as Jaya...an impossible gap between them.
"I let you off too lightly in Jaya, Bellamy."
"Wha-" Run moves in an instant, grasping the back of Bellamy's head and driving him face first into the ground hard enough to create a small crater in the stone. A shower of dust and concrete scatters in all directions, and the crowd falls silent for several tense moments before it clears to reveal Run kneeling beside a downed Bellamy, a small pool of blood slowly welling out.
"That's for Cricket." Run lifts his hand from the back of the man's head, turning his attention to the still approaching Blue Gilly 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?!" There's a brief dance of light across the surface of something and Run slowly stands, approaching it with a hand outstretched. His finger tips graze a hard surface and he knocks on it several times before grinning.
"Dahahaha~! Well, isn't that niffty!" laughs Run. "Wonder who-"
"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.
"Uh...what?" Run approaches the downed man quickly. "Pal? You alright?" He kneels down and gives him a firm pat on the chest to no reaction. "Well...whether you intended it or not, I guess you took care of Blue Gilly for me! So, I don't care what anyone says about you, you're alright!" The red head stands with a sigh and turns to face Elizabello. He hasn't moved since the start of the match, and stands still surrounded by the few remaining gladiators shadow boxing to the cheering of the crowd.
"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?!"
"I...Is he really going to make a move now?"
"How do we stop him with Dagama?"
"How do we stop him with Dagama?"
"Aah, don't mind me, fellas," Run tells them. "I'll wait until he's done. I'm curious to see this punch of his. Maybe I'll learn something to help me out with a little...wall I've happened to bump into." Elizabello suddenly stops his shadow boxing, and a haze seems to slowly come over his body. "Hoh? Is it time?"
"Hehe," laughs Elizabello. "You really let your pride get in the way of winning this match, punk. I'm all set...and all I need to do now is throw it!"
"There's a restlessness in the air!" calls the announcer. "The king who kept quiet in the battle formation is on the move now!"
"We of the Prodence Kingdom will win that Devil Fruit! King Punch!" Elizabello snaps a punch out in his direction, sending a massive wave of force racing across the arena. Rock and dust scatter in all directions as it engulfs the red head, briefly blocking the entire arena from view.
"How...How powerful was that?! I don't think anyone in the ring could survive that! Oh! But what's this...!" The dust slowly clears, revealing Run standing firm in front of a massive trench gouged into the stone. The red head raises a hand and waves it in front of his face. "'Red' Run stands unharmed! It seems the 'King Punch' wasn't enough to fell a member of the Worst Generation; a member of the 'Straw Hat' Pirates, 'Red' Run!"
"Dahahaha~! Man, that was loud!" laughs Run, grinning at the man. "You could have really done some damage with that punch if I hadn't stopped it, Elizabello!" Run appears in front of the man in an instant. "Sea King's Bite!" His fist smashes into the man's stomach, and sends him tumbling end over end across the arena before eventually striking the opposite wall and finally splashing down into the water.
"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!"
"Aah, thanks!" Run chirps. "Unfortunately, I got found out, though. So, I guess I owe Franky an apology."
"It's fine, it's fine!"
"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 until a loud 'smack!' sounds through the hall and the man comes to an abrupt halt.
"Whoa-ho! Easy, pal, easy!" Run tells him, holding the blade between two Haki coated hands. "You're gonna put someone's eye out swinging this thing around like that!"
"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 two seem to have made 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 a very sudden wolf like snarl escapes Run's throat as he surges forward. He grasps Burgess by the throat with one hand, and the wrist of the arm holding the transponder snail with the other before slamming him against the wall. A myriad of cracks spiral out in all directions from the impact, and the veins of the man's face bulge against the skin of his masked face.
"Ya might wanna figure out what yer last words ta Burgess ta be!" Run warns Blackbeard, silencing his laughter immediately. "'Cause I'mma tear him ta pieces right here and-"
"Run, don't!" Luffy shouts, grabbing him by the shoulders and slinging him away. Burgess immediately raises a hand to his throat, hacking and sputtering for several long moments before eventually spitting up a bit of blood. "If we fight now we'll only get kicked out and lose Ace's Devil Fruit!" A growl rumbles in the red head's throat and chest as he steps back in Burgess' direction, only for Luffy to quickly place a hand on his chest.
"Luffy-"
"Not now," warns Luffy simply, their eyes meeting. Luffy's brow furrows as he takes in Run's slightly elongated canine teeth before he steps back with a heavy sigh. His scowl immediately changes into a grin, his teeth returning to normal.
"Aah, I apologize, Luffy. I let my temper get the best of me again."
"It's alright! We're gonna win even if we don't fight him here." 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.
"Hello, could I get three of your largest lunch boxes, please?" Run asks with a grin. 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?"
"Luffy, don't eat her outta house and home. C'mon, we're gonna have lunch." 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 is a little more restrained in his eating. To Run it's...well, a little average but perhaps that's a result of being spoiled by Sanji's cooking.
"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!"
"Wha- the betrayal!" accuses Run, looking at the woman. Rebecca grasps the hilt of her sword firmly, and raises it in their direction. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Wait a minute! Time out! We can talk about this!"
"If you don't do it you can't carry out your purpose!"
"Don't listen to them! That is bad advice! They are leading you astray- no!" 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 unspilled 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!"
"Aah, you wouldn't be the first," Run tells her with a grin. "Besides, it's not like you could have actually pulled it off." He holds her sword up and scrapes his thumb across the edge. "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..."