"Champion! We have a Champion!" screams the announcer. "I know now isn't the time but the one who got the Flare-Flare Fruit is...a member of the Worst Generation, 'Red' Run!"
"Aah, looks like I win again, Sabo," Run says with a grin, holding the Flare-Flare Fruit in one hand and extending the other in the man's direction. Sabo sighs heavily as he takes the hand offered to him and Run pulls him up onto the remains of the pillar. "Hmm...the power of a Logia." Run holds the Devil Fruit out in offer to Sabo. "Shame I already ate a Devil Fruit of my own."
"Hah, you just wanted to win, didn't you?" Sabo questions him, discarding his disguise with a grin. "Well, it won't happen again! Next time we meet, I'm gonna be the winner!" He takes the Devil Fruit from Run's hand and without a second thought shoves nearly the entire thing into his mouth. "Ugh! That's the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted! It-It yielded in...wait a second. You KNEW it was gonna taste like that, didn't you!"
"Dahahaha~! Sorry, sorry! I thought about warning you...but then I thought it would be funnier not to!"
"I-I'm slipping!" shouts Rebecca. Run moves in an instant, snatching her out of the air and leaping off a piece of floating ring skyward. Rebecca looks up at him, tucked securely under one arm. "Thanks, Run!" Sabo leaps skyward now as well.
"Run! I'm going to make one more attack!" Sabo tells him, discarding his now useless disguise. "So make sure you watch closely!" Sabo thrusts his fist skyward, and clenches his fist tightly as it bursts into flames. "Ow! It's hot! Wait, I really can generate flames! No...it's just my imagination! It's not hot at all! Ace! I take over your ability! Hiken!" Sabo thrusts his fist downward, sending a stream of flames racing towards the standing pillar just as Sabo moves. The water boils rapidly, a cloud of steam rising as the flames punch through the water...and then the floor of the arena. The resulting 'boom!' echos through the whole Colosseum as the floor gives way, the water draining down as the they begin to drop into an open pit.
"Good job! I'd say you've already gotten the hang of it, Sabo!"
"Sabo!" calls a female voice, earning their attention. A young woman appears beside them, holding onto a bundle of clothing and Sabo's pipe. "I got in touch with Hack! Let's meet up with him!" They drop down through the floor into a huge underground facility much to Run's surprise. They land on top of a building with Sabo landing ankle deep in some of the water. "Be careful, Devil Fruit users are weakened by water."
"Right," Sabo says, stepping out of the puddle.
"Wow," Run calls, looking around. "Who would have thought there was a place this big under the Colosseum. What is this place?"
"Dressrosa's secret trade port. We'll find what we're after here. Let's go!" Run follows after them as they start moving. With no other plan, and no idea how to find the others this seems like the best course of action. At the very least, it should give him a better chance of finding the others. After a few moments of moving across roof-tops and in one case, off the shoulder of a giant, they finally stop in a small area filled with crates and a waiting Hack.
"Good to see you again, Sabo, Koala" Hack says. "Hm? And Run, as well." Run finally sets Rebecca down and slowly looks around the area. It seems like some kind of storage yard, and there's several rails across the ground like cargo is constantly being transported to and from it.
"You know Run?" Koala asks curiously. After a moment she notices his tightly bandaged hand. "Oh? What happened to your hand, Hack?"
"Run and I met as opponents in the Colosseum. After seeing it with my own eyes, I'm sure of it. He is a practitioner of the Hakuba Style of Fishman Karate." Koala turns with eyes wide and seems to appear in front of the red head in an instant.
"That's right! I saw your fight in the arena! Your style is amazing! I'm an assistant instructor for the Revolutionary Army! I would love to see more of it!"
"A-Aah, Ha-Hakuba...what?" Run questions. "Sorry, I've never heard that before. I just learned what dad taught me." Sabo reaches out and places a hand on her shoulder. She gives him a pouting face in response but steps away. Sabo quickly lays out their objective for Rebecca and Run. They're here because Doflamingo is producing weapons which are then sold off to promote wars all over the world. Who would have guessed that Doflamingo was running guns in addition to working for Kaido. They're going to put a stop to it once and for all by finding and destroying the factory he's using to make them.
"Run!" exclaims a familiar voice, attracting the red head's attention. Huffing and panting, Bartolomeo spills into the area. "I finally caught up! I saw you fall and I came after you!"
"Aah, Bartolomeo!" calls Run, grinning at the approaching man. "I was hoping you made it outta there safe and sound." The man's face turns red...and he begins crying.
"Run was worried about me! I-I'm so happy!" The man's loud bawling causes everyone a bit of discomfort...but serves to attract the attention of someone else. Who squeezes through the stacked crates, and comes to a stop when she notices all of them.
"Run!" calls Robin, causing him to turn quickly. "Aah! Koala!" The woman charges in Robin's direction, and throws her arms around her in a big hug which she happily returns. "I thought it was you! How have you been? Oh, Sabo! Hack! You two haven't changed a bit!"
"Ahem," grunts Run, clearing his throat and earning her attention. "Still here, Robin."
"Hahaha~! Jealousy isn't a good look for you, Run!" Sabo laughs.
"Quiet down, you." A beaten and bloody Usopp suddenly appears through a gap in the crates, carried along by...little people? He almost can't believe his eyes but there are numerous small people carrying Usopp along as if he doesn't weigh a thing, and it makes him wonder just what the crew has been up to while he was busy in Corrida Colosseum. Regardless, he approaches the injured Usopp and the little people with a grin. "Awww~! They're adorable! Look at 'em! A-Aah...ahem, what happened to him?" Robin explains everything that's happened while he's been gone and he nods in understanding. If that's the case...then he need to move to join up with Luffy immediately. "We should-" The factory in the distance begins to rumble violently, and then to their great surprise, actually tears itself away from the ceiling and moves skyward. It disappears into the distance, leaving a gaping hole back to the surface of Dressrosa.
"Citizens and guests of Dressrosa," echos familiar voice. All heads turn towards the sound, finding a massive screen showing the face of Doflamingo. "I could have reigned over you all with terror from the start. After finding out the truth, I'm sure a great number of you want to kill me. That's why I prepared a game for you. It's a game to kill me. I'm in the Royal Palace, I won't run or hide. If you can take my life, the game ends there, of course. But there is another way to finish the game. Here is how. You kill all that people that I'm going to name now. I will also award a large prize for killing each one of them. Kill or be killed! Everyone in this country will become hunters! The only way to survive is to kill someone! No one is going to come help! Nobody can escape this Birdcage!" Footsteps begin to echo in the silence, as the former toys sprint towards the hole and the rubble forming a bridge to the surface.
"Oi! Robin! Run!" calls Kin'emon, dashing in their direction, his hands full of more little people.
"Kin'emon!" calls Robin. "I'm glad you're alright!" Kin'emon instantly focuses on Rebecca.
"A-An iron breast band?! This is quite a foreign culture. I love it!" Bartolomeo who has been intently focusing on the unconscious Usopp and comparing him to the bounty poster of 'Sniper King' finally seems to work up his courage and turns towards Robin.
"M-Miss Robin!" calls Bartolomeo. "Let me be your slave- I mean, can I ask you something? That guy's nose...it looks like Sniper Kings who is known for shooting out the flag on the Tower of Law!"
"That would be him," Robin confirms, approaching the injured Usopp. "His name is Usopp."
I know it! Miss Robin was moved by the actions of her pirate group that turned the world against them to save one of their friends! That makes them the Enies Lobby Shoot Out Duo!" Bartolomeo seems to be over the moon meeting so many of his 'heros'.
"Is he...alright?"
"Aah, yeah, he's a pretty funny guy!" Run tells her with a grin.
"Think carefully!" Doflamingo speaks again. A crowd of pirates begins to gather in front of the large screen. "You can either come kill me or side with us the Donquixote Family and punish the thirteen fools who rebel against me. If you make the wrong decision, the game will not end. I'll pay one-hundred million Beli for each star rating! These are the criminals in Dressrosa!" Names, and pictures begin to flash across the screen. The one stars are Rebecca, Robin, Kin'emon, Viola, and Franky. The two star targets are Kyros and Zoro. The three star targets are 'key figures' of each group and they are Sabo, Luffy, Law and Riku Doldo.
"Dahahaha~! Look at you, Sabo! Three hundred million Beli for your head alone!"
"Next, there is the man who pissed me off most today! It's all his fault you all have to play such a bloody game! The one who kills him will get five-hundred million Beli!" Usopp's photo flashes across the screen, much to a now conscious Usopp's surprise and terror. "And finally...a special treat for all you people here! The second target worth five-hundred million Beli!" Run's name and picture flashes across the screen. "Figerland 'Red' Runelle! The son of 'Red Haired' Shanks!"
"Oh, you blond bitch. I'mma hammer fist you right in the di-"
"Run," Robin says.
"Yeah." Several meters ahead of them the crowd that has gathered slowly turns in their direction. "Oh-ho, boy."
"There they are!" says one of them. "Both five stars! Along with two one stars and a three star!"
"We need to get out of here." Run quickly picks up Usopp and tosses him over a shoulder before moving for the gaping hole in the ceiling. "C'mon, fellas! It's just cash! Aah, still, five hundred million...you think I could turn myself in for the bounty?" Kin'emon, however, tells them that he has to stay behind to keep looking for Kanjuro and parts ways with them. They quickly break free of the crates, covering the distance to the rubble and begin sprinting up all with a large group still following.
"I-I'll cover us!" Bartolomeo says. "Barrier!" The pirates chasing them sprint face first into one of his barrier's, coming to a screeching halt as they rebound and several tumble backwards down the rubble. "Stop chasing us you pathetic pirates! You don't even stand a chance!" Bartolomeo turns and quickly catches up with them. The ringing of a transponder snail sounds and Robin quickly digs it out to answer it.
"Zoro?" Robin asks.
"Yeah," replies Zoro.
"What are you now?"
"I'm with Luffy and the others. We're on, what they call, the King's Plateau. Things are getting messy, aren't they?"
"Dahahaha~! You could say that again!" laughs Run. "How are you holding up, Mr. Two Star?"
"Two star?! Why don't you come say that to my face, red hair?! I'll show you two stars!"
"Oooh~, someone's sensitive! Don't you think you should challenge a three star first?"
"Oh, you-"
"Is that Robin?" asks Luffy over the connection. "Did you see it?! Mingo's such a jerk, isn't he?! He just blurted out Run's secret like it was nothing! He even used his full name! But Usopp's bit was pretty funny, huh? Rebecca was also on the list. I wonder if she's alright."
"She's here," Run says. "She's safe and sound, Luffy!"
"Ohhh! Is that Run?! Well, well?! Who won Ace's Devil Fruit?! Was it you or Sabo?! C'mon, tell me! I just gotta know!"
"Aah, c'mon, is that even a question? Of course, I won! But since I can't eat two, I decided to pass it along to Sabo."
"Run cheated!" exclaims Sabo, earning raucous laughter from their brother. "But...I'm definitely not gonna lose to me next time!"
"Anyway, Rebecca, I'm here with soldier!" Luffy explains.
"He turned back into a human, too, didn't he?!" Rebecca asks quickly. "Tell me, what kind of man is he?!"
"What do you mean? That one-legged soldier is your father!" Rebecca slowly comes to a stop. "He's the old man that statue is of!" Tears slowly start to fall down her face as she stares at the transponder snail...and eventually sinks to her knees. "That soldier guy has gone somewhere now, Rebecca, but you need to listen to me!" Seeing the pirates chasing them catch up, Run grasps Rebecca and quickly pulls her up and over his free shoulder. "I won't let soldier die! But you need to be safe, too! I feel bad that I couldn't let you have the Flare-Flare Fruit you wanted. But instead, I promise I'll kick Doflamingo's ass for you! So, stay with my friends! I'm gonna bring this stupid game to an end! So, survive! Ok?!"
"Luffy, who are you with, now?" Robin asks.
"I'm with Zoro and Tra-guy. And..." A voice echos through, announcing them as Riki Doldo and Viola.
"Okay, so there's five of you. On my side, we have-" She pauses as she realizes that Koala and Sabo are separating from the group and going their own ways. "-anyway, I'm going to move there with Run, Usopp and Rebecca..."
"Robin, how can we get to the King's Plateau?" Rebecca asks, having finally been let down from Run's shoulder. It seems that they just can't give the slip to those after the money. They've finally made it back into the Colosseum, and they've gathered even more attention with the men shouting out their location every time they catch a glimse of them.
"Because of the geographical shift the Colosseum is connected to the plateau!" Robin tells her. "If we climb up from there we can meet up with the others!" The shouting of more and more men pursuing them sounds from behind and Bartolomeo looks back.
"They're like roaches!" growls Bartolomeo. "They just keep coming back!"
"Good!" Hack grunts. "I'll take care of them all in one shot!" He slides to a stop and turns quickly. "Four-Thousand Brink Punch!" His attack scatters their gathered pursuers while they press on, and quickly find themselves blind sided by a group of men bounding down the seating rows of the Colosseum. Before they can even get near, however, they quickly face plant into a barrier created by Bartolomeo.
"Dahahaha~! Good job, Bartolomeo!" Run laughs.
"Waaah! I'm thrilled to complimented by Run!" cries Bartolomeo. "I-I'm gonna hold the enemies back here so please go on ahead with Sogeking!"
"Alright! We'll leave it to you, then!" They push on, arriving quickly at the edge of the King's Plateau and staring up at the edge high above their heads.
"How are we supposed to get up there?" asks Leo.
"Wow. It's really tall. I'm a good climber but I don't think I can carry everyone...thoughts?"
"Couldn't you just use your Devil Fruit?" Usopp questions him. "Zoan users can change into animals, right?"
"I don't...I don't think wolves are good climbers, Usopp. Then again...Fenrir was a massive wolf. Huh. Maybe? I dunno, I haven't tried that yet. I suppose I could. I-"
"Just leave it to me," Robin tells them all, slowly crossing her arms. "Cien Fleurs! Spider Net!" Numerous arms sprout from the stone of the plateau, slowly becoming a massive net that stretches from the top to the bottom much to the amazement on the Dwarves carrying Usopp. "Leo, take Usopp and go up first." The Dwarves immediately hop to, and begin to carry him up the ladder created by Robin's arms.
"Bartolomeo! Hack!" calls Rebecca. "We can climb up from here!"
"Aah, if I climb up there, I can see Luffy and Zoro, can't it?!" shouts Bartolomeo while sprinting in their direction. "I'm so excited!" The two men begin to climb the ladder created and Rebecca begins to follow...only to be stopped by a trio of men who quickly sprint in their direction with weapons drawn. It seems that they just can't give these small fry the slip! Before they even get a chance to act, however, they're blind-sided by none other than Tank who knocks the three men out of the stands with ease.
"Tank!"
"Rebecca!" speaks Tank, sinking to a knee. "I, Tank, will guard you with my life!"
"Captain Tank!" calls a voice from above.
"King Riku! I'm so glad you're alright!" They begin to climb the ladder created by Robin quickly, and reach about half way to the top before the whole town begins to rumble and shake. What more has Doflamingo got planned for them?! They all look around quickly, and notice a part of the city begin to raise itself skyward slowly, changing into a titanic stone man. When it's finally taken shape, the rumbling of the ground stops and they're left to stare at it in awe...at least until it speaks.
"Now!" says the stone titan in the high-pitched voice. "Those of you who rebel against our family...I'm gonna fight you!"
"Dahaha~! Dahahahaha~!" Run howls with laughter, tears gathering in his eyes. "What's with that friggin' voice?! It's so- owie!" A small chunk of stone bounces off Run's head and he looks up quickly at Robin.
"Now isn't a good time, Run," Robin tells him simply. "We're rather exposed here, wouldn't you agree?"
"Right, right. Aah...I can see up your skirt, by the way." He flashes her a grin and a quick wink which only earns him a chuckle as they continue their climb quickly. However, loud Run's laughter was it pales in comparison to the laughter of another person he recognizes as Luffy. It echos across the town, apparently enraging the stone titan who immediately raises one of it's giant hands. Who'd have thought he'd be so sensitive about his voice? He brings his giant fist down, destroying a huge portion of the city along with it. The shock wave from that rattles the whole city and forces them to stop their climb.
"I-I'm slipping!" cries one of the dwarves from the top. "I won't...I won't...let you go!"
"Hold tight!" begs Usopp only seconds before he slips from their grip. Their sniper immediately begins to plummet towards the ground while screaming the whole way. His descent comes to an abrupt halt, however, when someone catches him by the back of his jacket.
"Dahaha~! Safe~!" laughs Run, holding onto Usopp with an outstretched arm. The red head suddenly yanks their sniper closer just as a dagger flies through the air in their direction. "Or not?" All heads glance down to find numerous men climbing in their direction. "Leo! Take Usopp and go quickly!" The Dwarves swarm down their ladder, and quickly grasp Usopp before ferrying him up once more.
"We gotta kill all the criminals!" cries one of the men.
"I see so much money!" screams another one of them. "Rebecca, one-hundred million! Nico Robin, one-hundred million! 'God' Usopp, five-hundred million! 'Red' Run, five-hundred million! The total is...one billion and two hundred million Beli!" One of the men catches Rebecca by the ankle as they climb quickly. "One-hundred million! Right in-" Run releases his hold on the net, dropping down several feet rapidly and planting a foot in the man's face before grasping the net again. The man plummets straight down and Run quickly boosts her up the net.
"Hah! 'Scuse us, fellas!" They continue their climb to the top and as they finally reach it, Robin turns with a smile.
"Since we're finished with the net," Robin begins. "We should put it away." Her arms disappear into nothing but flower pedals...and the men on the net immediately plummet back to the earth. Run peers over the edge and then shakes his head.
"Whew~! Tuck and roll when you hit the ground!" Hearing a loud explosion all heads turn towards the stone titan to find it's now missing it's entire head. "Looks, like Luffy and Zoro have been hard at work." The red head reaches up to scratch the stubble on his jaw. "How am I gonna...?"
"I found it!" calls a voice. All heads turn towards a dark haired woman walking towards them, key in hand.
"Viola!" shouts Rebecca, dashing in her direction and throwing her arms around her.
"I found it! The key to Trafalgar Law's handcuffs! I have to deliver it to them somehow!"
"Why are they so important to you?" Riku asks her. "They're pirates!"
"Yes, they're unlawful men who will break this country's deceptive peace! Father, I decided to trust them, the Straw Hat Pirates! The World Government gave him the title of Shichibukai, and that pirate Doflamingo terrorized this country, causing us so much pain! I don't want the help of the Navy that was supposed to uphold justice or the help of the Government! They can't hear the voices of the people who fell victim to them! People in authority only hear what they want! At least the words of the Straw Hat's are humane, and they take action out of the goodness of their hearts!"
"Dahahaha~! Well said!" Run laughs, approaching and extending a hand in her direction with a grin. "Give it here. I'll take it to them. I've got business with Doflamingo and I guarantee that's where Luffy and Law are heading. I mean, the bastard first named me...the audacity; the pure arrogance of it baffles me."
"A-Aah, that's right," says Bartolomeo. "What was it? Figerland-"
"Run. Just 'Run', Bartolomeo. Only those who are very close to me can call me Runelle...no offense intended."
"I-I'll go with you," Rebecca adds, taking the opportunity to break the ensuing awkward silence. "I can't just stay here and wait." Bartolomeo charges over quickly, his eyes sparkling.
"Alright, let's do it!" agrees Bartolomeo. "Let's go see Luffy! You can count on me!" Run takes the key from Viola and then looks at Rebecca with a grin.
"Alright! Then, let's get moving! Time's a-wastin'!" Run tells her with a grin. However, it's not just Rebecca and Bartolomeo but Robin and two of the little people that have been with them as well that want to join them. The two little people, Leo and Cub, decide that it's best to take the roof-tops to avoid attracting the attention of the people looking for them. "It's settled then." With their plan decided on, Robin pulls out the transponder snail and calls Luffy. After a few rings, someone finally picks up on the other end.
"Hello," says Luffy. "This is Monkey D. Luffy! I'm going to be King of the Pirates!"
"Luffy, it's me" Robin says in way of introduction. "We're still at the plateau you were at before. Where are you?"
"We're at the first level of the other plateau and heading to a place called the Sunflower Field."
"Viola found the key to Tra-guy's cuffs." Leo hops up to Robin's palm with surprising ease.
"Hello," Leo says quickly. "This is Leo of the Tontatta Tribe. We're going to escort Rebecca, Rooster Big Human, Robiland and Ruland there at a super high speed!"
"We'll meet at the Sunflower Field on the fourth level!"
"How will you guys catch up?" Luffy asks.
"We'll explain later," Leo assures him. "See you at the Sunflower Field!" While they're all wondering as to how they're going to get meet up with them, Cub raises his hands and shouts loudly into the sky for the 'Yellow Cubs' to come to them. They all squint their eyes in the direction that Cub has shouted and wait for several long moments before finally spotting...well, beetles. Not just a few beetles, either, but at least a few dozen of them that land in front of them.
"Aww, look at 'em!" Run says, crouching down to gentle stroke the back of one of the beetles. "Are you guys gonna fly Cub and Leo there?"
"Not just us," Cub says. "Everyone! Now, all of you hop aboard!" The four of them exchange looks and then look down at Cub.
"I would, really...but I don't think they can carry us. Trust me when I say, I'm a lot heavier than I look, Cub." Leo and Cub seem completely unfazed by the red head's words. In fact, both of them respond by giving them all a pair of strings, one for each hand.
"Now, let me give you all instructions," Leo says. "This is Tontatta Airlines' Jumping Service! Big Humans are too heavy, so they can't bear you. We don't have that much time anyway so..." Leo and Cub quickly charge in their direction...and surprise all of them by promptly throwing them over the edge. "...just take off!" Run's face immediately splits into a grin, and he can't help but start laughing at the situation. However...rather than dropping like stones, they slowly begin to float down. "They can't fly you but they can slow you down when you fall!"
"Dahahaha~! Alright! What's next?"
"Head for a roof-top!" As they slowly descend, angling towards the roof-tops, Run hits the ground at a sprint. "Now, kick off!" With a grunt the red head leaps skyward, and once again the beetles begin carrying him. "Watch out for attacks from below, and then head for the Sunflower Fields!" Of course, things can't be that simple, after all flying through the sky does make you quite visible...and it isn't long before they start taking fire from the ground below.
"Don't worry!" calls Bartolomeo. "I'll put up a barrier! Barrier!" Several moments pass and suddenly Bartolomeo starts to panic. "Shit! I can't cross my fingers like this!" The people below continue shooting at them without delay. "You assholes! Don't push your luck! Fine! If it's come to this...I'm gonna do the same thing I did in the Colosseum!" Bartolomeo wiggles violently...and his pants slip down around his ankles. The people below scatter quickly while he laughs. "You bunch of cowards!" They touch down several more times on their way to the Sunflower Fields with Bartolomeo managing to get his pants back up on one occasion.
They draw closer and closer to the now motionless stone titan...and a sudden explosion on one of the arms draws their attention. Through the dust they spot Zoro squaring off with several large, curved stone pillars...and one strangely human shaped one.
"Oi!" shouts Zoro, finally noticing them. "What are you doing flying?"
"That's...Pica!" gasps Rebecca.
"Who?" Robin asks.
"One of the Top Executives of the Donquixote Family along with Trebol and Diamante!" The human shaped stone, suddenly shrinks back into the massive arm...and then reappears at the destroyed head of the stone titan. The whole thing begins moving again, aiming it's massive fist directly at them.
"Hey, Zoro!" Run calls. "About that 'two star' comment? I was just playing around so how about a hand here, huh?" Zoro leaps up, swords at the ready.
"Three-Sword Style!" grunts Zoro. "One-Thousand and Eighty Pound Phoenix!" Zoro brings his sword down, slicing through Pica's stone body in half from shoulder to hip with ease. They fly on free and clear, nearing the second level of the Sunflower Field. They have to be careful where they land now, or they might end up bumping into some of Doflamingo's men. As they draw closer to the second level, Rebecca spots several more of Top Executives of the Donquxiote Family who seem to be facing off with several of the gladiators from the colosseum.
But that's not all, they receive a call from another little person who tells them that they've been sprung from the SMILE Factory but that Princess Mansherry isn't with them. Another call from Viola confirms that the Princess is being held in the 'naughty' room in Doflamingo's palace. They push off the second level, soaring through the sky and floating over the third level.
"We're getting ready to pass the third level, Rebecca!" Robin says.
"One more level to the flower field!" Rebecca says. "We're almost there!" Sensing something fast approaching Run glances down quickly to see several small dark balls flying in their direction.
"Bartolomeo, drop down! Now!" Run orders, surprising the man who immediately releases the strings he's been holding as the balls slow around him. The black balls explode seconds later, obscuring him from view for several long moments before they spot Bartolomeo dropping towards the ground below. Robin follows moments later, the blast having enough power to knock out the beetles carrying her. "Robin!" Through the smoke Run can make out someone rapidly approaching them.
"It's Gladious!" calls Cub.
"Diez Fleurs!" speaks Robin. Multiple arms sprout from the man's body, quickly restraining him entirely. "Run! Take the key to the Flower Field! I'll be fine!"
"Craaaap!" shouts Run. "Fine! Just...be careful!" The two of them fly higher, reaching the Flower Field and setting down safely. Doflamingo's palace looms in the distance beyond the sunflower field that stretches out in all direction. "We need to find Luffy and Law."
"That's right!" speaks Leo. "We need to find Princess Mansherry as well! Runland, we'll leave Rebecca in your hands!" With that Leo and Cub rush off, dashing through the sunflowers faster than a normal person could follow.
"Come on." Run takes a single step forward and then stops, tilting his head slightly skyward before actually grinning. "I can smell you. Stop hiding." Rebecca's brow furrows in confusion and seconds later something in the tall sunflowers moves, and then stands. Diamante appears before the two of them calmly.
"I didn't think I'd be caught so quickly," Diamante says, grinning down at the two. "That nose of yours is really something, red hair. You know, the Top Executives of our Family are guarding this plateau...honestly, I never thought anyone would make it this far but just in case I decided to lie in wait."
"Aah, thank you very much! Luffy seems convinced that I've turned into a hound dog ever since I ate that Devil Fruit...I guess he's not too far off, huh?" Run suddenly snaps his fingers as if he's just remembered something. "Speaking of, I never have gotten a real chance to test it out! Now, I haven't got much time but I hope you'll entertain me none-the-less, Diamante."
"Ohhh? Maybe this will be interesting." Run moves forward seconds later, closing the distance between the two of them in an instant. "Don't get so full of yourself after eating a Devil Fruit, red hair." Diamante sweeps his cape in front of him quickly. "Lock!" The flowing material seizes up instantly, presenting itself as a solid piece as Run comes to a stop several feet away, fist raised.
"Careful now." Run's fist makes contact with the hardened surface. "Devour." Diamante's eyes widen first in shock, and then further in horror as what seems to his eyes as a spectral set of crimson teeth spring into existance on either side of his body. He immediately leaps back, abandoning his cape as they snap shut and disappearing into the sunflowers. Deep gouges appear through the earth, consuming sunflowers, soil and cape indiscriminately before vanishing completely. "Whew~! I'm glad you dodged when you did, Diamante. Truthfully...I have no idea what effect this might have on a person but I imagine it won't be pretty...or pleasant." Several long moments of silence follow and Run scratches the stubble on his jaw. "Hello~? Man, if this is all the Top Executives are worth then-"
"Vipera Glave!" Run tilts his head as Diamante sword seems to flutter out of the sunflowers like a whip, passing inches from his neck.
"Whoa-ho! Stuck a nerve, did I? You really should-" Run turns his shoulder, avoiding the blade once again as it sails through the air in his direction. It bounces off the ground and immediately wheels back in his direction as if seeking him out of it's own volition. "Aah, give it a rest, pal!" The red head flickers from view, reappearing several meters away from the cloth-like blade as Diamante rises from the sunflowers. "Fine, if you won't come to me then I'll come to you, Dia-"
"Rebecca!" shouts a voice from behind. Both turn to look as a one legged man bounds of a strange almost glass-like set of stairs. He lands in front of her, beside the red head with his sword held at the ready. "Run...thank you for looking after her. Rebecca, I'm sorry. As a toy with no future, all I could do was teach you how to fight. Even though you're a gentle person like your mother. But it ends today. You...You don't have to fight anymore."
"My, my...how touching, Kyros!" laughs Diamante. "It almost sounds as if you mean to take me down all on your own!"
"Don't count me out, yet," Run says, stepping in the man's direction only for Kyros to thrust an arm out in front of him.
"No," Kyros tells him. "Please. I'll take care of this. I must settle my score with all of them today!" Kyros launches himself forward seconds later while Run calmly paces backwards.
"Rebecca! Run!" screams a familiar voice. Rebecca and Run whip around quickly and move to the strange staircase. Luffy sprints up the stairs with Law thrown over a shoulder. "The key! I need the key!" Run quickly digs it out of his pocket, watching as a giant tin soldier suddenly lunges at them from behind. Luffy quickly dodges the tin soldier, and kicks off it's head to launch the two of them into the sky.
"Luffy!" shouts Run. "Coming at you!" He cocks back and throws the key right at Luffy, who stretches an arm out towards it quickly. The tin soldier chases after them, launching itself into the sky with it's mouth open wide. Luffy catches the key from the air right as the jaws of the soldier close around them. "Crap!" A set of cuffs strike the ground in front of Run and he grins from ear to ear.
"Room!" says Law, a translucent bubble stretching out in all directions. The body of the tin soldier is sliced to pieces seconds later, and both Luffy and Law land several feet away. Run approaches the two of them still grinning from ear to ear.
"Dahaha~! What took you so long, Luffy?"
"You didn't beat me by much!" complains Luffy. "Anyway, Mingo is here, right?"
"Law! Straw Hat!" growls Diamante. The man quickly launches himself in their direction before being intercepted by Kyros.
"I'm sorry," Kyros says. "My hands are full here. Could you take care of Doflamingo for me?"
"Yeah!" chirps Luffy. "We'll leave him to you, Soldier! Let's go!"
"Lucy!" Rebecca calls. "Are you really going to take down Doflamingo?"
"It's not Lucy. My name is Luffy! The man who will become the King of the Pirates!" As they start moving, Diamante once again tries to stop them. Law responds by summoning his 'Room' and teleporting them out of the path and into the palace proper. "Alright! We're inside, right? Let's go kick Mingo's ass!"
"Wait!" Law says. "Scaple." A pained grunt escapes him and after a moment he pulls his hand back, holding three bullets in his palm. "That bastard. He used lead balls on purpose." He tosses them aside and looks at the two of them. "Doflamingo isn't someone you can beat with sheer will alone. We need to have a plan."
"Aah, relax, relax," Run tells him. "We'll make one up as we go along. It's worked before."
"'Kicking someones ass' can't be the answer to everything! It's also not a plan!"
"Why not?" counters Luffy. "It's easier that way!" Sudden crying causes three heads to turn towards a little girl standing several feet away. "What the..." She approaches the three of them, tears streaming down her face as she does so.
"Please help me, big brothers!" cries the little girl. "Papa! Mama! Where are you?"
"Don't tell me she's lost?"
"In a place like this, no way," Law says. "Don't pay attention to her." The little girls crying ratches up a few notches and Run sighs in response.
"Good job, Law," Run says.
"Look, it's not our problem! Let's go!" The three turn away from the little girl who continues her crying and asks them not to leave her there alone. When they continue on their path, however, she offers them the basket of what seems to be grapes...which brings Luffy to an abrupt halt. What happens the next second, however, throws all of them off. What seems like a poorly drawn rendition of Usopp's face flies between them and startles the little girl so much that she passes out on the spot. Several of Doflamingo's men rush out from their hiding places to surround the little girl and Luffy stretches an arm out wrapping both Law and Run up tightly.
"Let's go!" Luffy says, stretching his free arm up and grasping the remaining top of the palace before sling-shotting them up and over...and landing right in front of Doflamingo. "We're here, Mingo!"
"Let me just make sure," begins Doflamingo. "Just in case I'm wrong. You three...what did you come here for?"
"To kick your ass!"
"Same here!"
"Ain't that obvious?"
"I'm disappointed..."