Author Message: Hello everyone, while I'm still working on the Rwby story plot for vol 3, had time to type out another chapter for this story and hope to hear what you think.

WORDS STYLE:

Flashback

(Past words)

Thinking

[Den Den Mushi]

SHOUTING

TwIsTeD

Chapter 1:

"Yohohohohoho!" Laughed the bony member of the Straw Hats, along with the Crew sailed on the Thousand Sunny, they stood in line of several ships entering the largest ship in the world, the Gran Tesoro that hung signs all around for the Contest. The entire crew dressed like they were going to the beach except for Brooks who wore his Soul King outfit.

"Ahem, Dear Soul King Brook's. We have contacted you to cordially invite you to attend the biggest musical contest of all time. We have seen and heard your songs and wish for you to enter the contest as a participant if you can." Usopp read aloud the invitation.

"Nami, are you sure this is a Ship and not a city?" Questioned the Captain of the Straw Hats, looking up at the sheer size of the ship as they began to enter a tunnel, it being lit with golden lights.

"Yup! Tho it can be seen as both, and it's also a Casino. The biggest entertainment center in the world, the Gran Tesoro and its holding the biggest Musical contest in the world!" Smiled the Navigator who had eyes of money.

"Looks like a whole island to me!" Shouted the smiling Usopp who stood next to an equally happy Chopper while sitting on a chair near them was Robin, staring at a pamphlet.

"Since you received an Invitation Brook, you can bring as many guests as you want." She said, looking at the many contests lined up with the Biggest being the musical one.

"Don't forget the free food!" Added Luffy who stood at the front of the Straw Hat members as the line was shortening as the light at the end was being seen but along with it could be seen pirate ships, and familiar ones at that.

"This is gonna be so much fun!" As he spoke, the Captain almost looked to be drooling while Sanji arrived with some drinks, handing one to Robin.

"It says here that among the contests, there will also be a Chef contest." She looks at Sanji who just smiles.

"Guess I have a great place to try some new recipes." He takes out a Cigarette just as Franky runs by.

"This is gonna be SUUUUUPER!" He gives his signature pose, smiling brightly at all the contests to either watch or enter, each having one hell of a cash prize, even the smaller ones just as Nami jumps onto Brook in order to press her assets into her face, much too the skeletons happiness and Sanji's sadness.

"Your gonna win, right!" Nami asked with a greedy look on her face. "After all, I'll be really happy if you get first place!"

"I'LL DEFINITELY WIN!" Brook declares, giving a thumbs up while being embarrassed which Sanji could only look on in jealousy before he spoke up.

"Don't worry Nami, I'll win as well!"

"Mhm!" Nami didn't hear him as her thoughts were on the big grand prize with Brooks winning while Zoro was staring at the copy of the pamphlet which included a swordsman contest in, which only the strongest can win. the sight merely caused Zoro to smile at the challenge. As this was all happening, Luffy just smiled at all the fun he'd be experiencing yet that all ended the moment he felt a chill down his spiked, an unfamiliar sensation being felt deep inside himself.

(~~~~~~The Demon King of Subjugation~~~~~~)

When Luffy heard that unfamiliar voice, even if he didn't know it nor did it sound familiar, he still felt his soul resonating with the voice.

"Hey guys—" Luffy stopped the moment he turned to see no one but darkness behind him.

"Huh, what's going—" When Luffy turned he was met with a sight he never even imagined, Nine massive shadows stood before him as they all appeared to be staring down at the Straw Hat before noticing an even larger one behind the nine.

"What—" Luffy stops and looks down, seeing someone his height standing before him consumed by darkness as nine floating Magatama the size of ping-pong balls were seen spinning behind him, each one a different color while the figure appeared to be making a hand sign.

"LUFFY!" It was with that shout, that Luffy found himself lying on his back surrounded by his crew mates who appeared worried as their captain sat up, very much unnerved.

"Captain, you ok you just fell over unresponsive?" Asked Franky, never seeing this happen before while Luffy scratched the back of his head.

"Not sure, something weird—" Luffy stopped talking just as they exited the tunnel to find themselves in a massive shipping docks where ships of all kinds were seen docked while music was playing and cheers could be heard.

"WHOA!" Shouted the Captain as he got up, ignoring the worried looks from his crew mates.

"Luffy, are you sure you're ok?" Chopper asked, not liking out he appeared to have passed out yet the man just smiled cheerfully.

"I'm fine, it was just nothing!" He reassured the doctor of the crew before looking around, seeing several pirate crews he recognized and didn't, some not well known while others very well known but most of the attention was on a rising pillar where a man dressed in golden was seen dancing atop it.

[Oooooooh, all your hopes, and all your dreams can happen in a flash! As long as you've got cash! We've got no need for misery~~]

The song could be heard all around the straw hats, Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp appearing amazed as they saw all sorts of flashing signs for the Musical contest along with other contests and where to head along with longings. Almost all the Straw Hats were amazed at such a sight before their eyes while Sanji and Robin were taking notice of the gold-like water.

"How are they doing this? Is it water coloring?"

"I'm not sure but it's quite fascinating that it's staying inside the ship."

As they talked, Zoro was just staring at the Strongest Swordsman sign held up glowing and the time to enter, the sight interesting him on who would enter it. Meanwhile, as this was happening with the Straw Hats moving around their ships, other crews seemed to be moving around.

"Seriously?" Muttered the Ex-Warlord Law, he had just exited his ship wearing beach clothes like the other members of his crew except for one, Bepo. He wore a massive spectacular sparkly outfit with Uta seen printed on it.

"I'm sorry."

"You weren't kidding you were a fan." Law said, starting to sweat drop just as Bepo looked excited and smiled brightly.

"How can I not! I heard Uta will be performing and I couldn't help it, it's going to be her first live show!" He said to his Captain who just stared at him.

"Riiiiiiiight." He steps aside as Bepo leads the way which he follows but stops momentarily to see a familiar sight.

"Straw Hats?"

"Ahahahahah!" Laughed one red-nosed clown, who wore a big, red cloak, by using his Devil Fruit powers it made himself appear larger. "These contests will be a piece of cake for me, after all, I'm a Warlord!"

Behind their floating captains were Alvida, Galdino, Mohji, and Cabaji who were talking amongst themselves.

"He's how much in debt to Crocodile?"

"It was just a guess but seeing how excited he is at having a chance to win some contests, pretty obvious it's a large amount."

"Is this why after Crocodile's last visit we were stuck eating just bread for a month?"

They chose not to say such things out loud and simply followed after their Captain while walking nearby was one certain swordsman who spotted Buggy from the corner of his eye, he stood a few floors higher as he walked around the massive dock. It had enough room to fit a number of pirate ships while also acting as a massive plaza with a multitude of floors that housed games, stores, shops, marketplaces, many things that would interest anyone, and signs hanging all around for the contests.

"That clown." He mutters, recalling Marineford where he cut Buggy to pieces only for him to put himself back together and try the stupid bomb tactic that sent the clown himself flying.

"So cute!" When he heard that, he looked to his right and saw Perona staring at a few teddy bears in the window.

"I'm not buying them."

"Whaaaaat?!" She looks towards the Strongest swordsman in shock who simply walks past her.

"If you wish to purchase one, use your own money." He told the ghost girls who floats after him, now clearly upset.

"Why did we even come if we can't buy anything?" Her question gained not a single chance in his facial expression as he replied.

"A mere whim, a fool is hoisting a swordsman competition with the winner being the strongest swordsman. Such a concept is laughable." Despite saying that, he already knew Perona had a different thought and it was not just because she was trying hard not to laugh at the fact he got bothered by the contest he heard of tho unknown to her, he was actually invited as a guest to be the last opponent of the swordsman, tho they would still get the prize, he would get an opponent that wouldn't bore him.

"What the hell is Gild Tesoro thinking?" Mutters the Marine himself, Smoker who sat with a newspaper in hand next to Tashigi at a table overlooking the docks. "It's becoming more complicated, inviting a number of pirate crews for some contests, especially among the four Emperors, it doesn't help this is a neutral zone yet I'm seeing smaller crews that are also affiliated just showing up without issues being raised rather than civilians." He almost bites through his two cigars while his partner looks at two certain pirates, one being Queen of the Beast Pirates, the large and round man walking with a few of his pirates who were laughing. It wasn't just them, nearby two individuals were walking in silence while followed by a number of others which consisted of Charlotte Custard, the Sixth Daughter/16th Child of the Charlotte family next to Charlotte Katakuri, Second son/Third child of the Charlotte Family and one of the Three Sweet Commanders of the Big Mom pirates.

The sight of them unnerved Smoker badly, something that his partner noticed quite easily.

"This could go very bad, I still can't believe we're just on standby when so many criminals are here!" Mutters the Marine who looks pissed. "Why would that man even host such a contest, more so…" He stops, his gaze resting on someone he's been keeping an eye on which was a certain CP0 member that walked with purpose. "Something is happening and we aren't being given full details, it bothers me more due to the fact there's been sightings of him." He extends a piece of paper to Tashigi which she takes it and opens up to reveal a bounty of a certain pirate.

"There have been sightings of him just after this contest was announced, a coincidence like that after two years of silence means there is a likelihood he may appear here."

"Douglas Bullet? An escapee from level six Impel Down?" Her eyes were now wide and turned to Smoker who was even more upset.

"I don't know what his connection is in all this, but I can't shake this uneasiness like something very bad is about to happen, more so the fact there's something else I've noticed." When Smoker said that he took out a second piece of paper. "It says here, that there are only hotels and housing for workers, no one lives on this ship but Gild himself yet for some reason Gild has paid the debts of every worker in debt to him and even compensated him and sent them off the ship, that also includes civilians such as the rich, most of who had their trips cut short and sent away after being compensated."

"What does that all mean?" As she asked him her question, he turned to he to see the seriousness in his eyes.

"There are barely any civilians on this ship besides a large number of workers, as of right now there are more pirates and criminals aboard this ship than there are those who work on it, it doesn't help that we are being informed that most of the workers on the ship are being sent home before the contest starts tomorrow, meaning something is going down tomorrow and they don't want civilian casualties." As he mutters that to her, he can see the shock on her face as he looks around and his eyes widen at seeing a certain ship on the docks.

"Straw Hat?!"

As soon as it began, the song came to an end as Gild smiled brightly at the audience, more so seeing lots of pirates that have come to win contsets and into the prizes.

"Well, how are you all enjoying the festivities?" He asked and in turn got a roar from all those below him, so loud he could almost feel the vibrations from where he stood. "That's great to hear, you all must be wondering why would I have such a contest, to begin with, and the answer is I've always wanted to hold one, to find the greatest Musician in the world and let them sing to their heart's content for all to hear. For this contest, I took some inspiration from a certain Festival Pirate, Buena Festa, and how he held many events besides the main one to attract all sorts of individuals be it Civilian, Rich, Poor, Pirate, and Marine. As long as a select number of rules are followed, there will be no issues regarding involvement in outside affairs so have fun to your heart's content within the rules, I mean! Not only that, this contest is being broadcast throughout the entire world as well!" More cheers could be heard as the Den Den's stationed through the docks were capturing all of this happening while the richest man on the ship turned to a massive monitor and snapped his fingers which it lights up.

"Now, here are the participants that have all been confirmed!" Gild shouts as he moves to the side with his arm extended towards a screen behind him showing a list of names, it was at this time the Straw Hats had docked and were walking off their ship when they saw it yet there were a few names that caused Nami and Luffy's eyes to widen in shock.

Participants:

Soul King Brook

Hell Cat Carina

Scratchmen Apoo

Maria Napole

Queen of the Beast Pirates

Ann The Illusory Songstress

Custard of the Big Mom Pirates

Uta

In that instant, massive cheers echoed throughout the entire audience and world as well. The sight takes Gild by surprise yet he just smiles and glances at the list, more so at one particular name on the list.

"Ah yes, I forgot to mention but let loose some information that Uta, the world-famous Singer will be having her first debut in this contest!" Even as he spoke, the cheers wouldn't end, and looking to his left he could see a small screen displaying the broadcast suddenly spiking in massive numbers.

"All according to plan." Gild thought to himself, his smile never leaving his face.

"Luffy-Senpai!" Shouted none other than Bartolomeo, Captain of the Barto Club pirates as he was running towards where he had seen the Sunny docking with the pirates exiting, running full speed past everyone and bumping into a number of pirates that were now glaring at him yet at this point, he was passing by and opening where a ship could dock when he caught something rising from the corner of his eye and stops in his tracks.

"What the…" He like many of them watched the water slide off something rising to reveal a submarine-like ship, it's front going over the edge and onto the platform for docking ships to drop off its crew before it opens up with a small set of stairs coming down from it. As the seconds passed they were introduced to the sight of a very large man wearing what appeared to be a typical bouncer outfit, jeans, a black shirt that couldn't contain his rippling muscles, and shades. He merely steps aside as more footsteps are heard and almost immediately the looks on everyone's faces both pirate and civilian alike became shocked and awestruck for exiting the ship with Uta herself who smiles and waves.

"Sorry I'm late, it's nice to meet you all." With that said, cheers erupted gaining lots of attention while a number of pirates got some greedy looks on their faces until they froze upon the bodyguard staring them down, scaring them as they took steps back. As this was all happening, back on the ship Naruto stood in the bathroom of the submarine and stared at his face, despite appearing fine his eyes told a different story.

"No turning back, this is all for her." Was all he said to himself, to others he looked perfectly fine yet to himself he saw an emotionless man covered in blood with piles of corpses behind him before it disappears after he splashed water on his face before turned away from the mirror. A serious expression on his face as the single memory of Uta showing a smile yet eyes filled with hopelessness. "No matter who I have to kill, I won't let her suffer anymore."

As he muttered that to himself, he gripped the Kunai and walked out with a dark look in his eyes.

COUNTDOWN TOWARDS DESTRUCTION: 22 HOURS