Strings and Roses: Coliseum Madness

They brought the rest of the food, listing the names when Franky questioned what a "Fairy Pumpkin" was. To which an annoying monkey with chiming cymbals in its hands chimed in, "Eehh, in this country people still believe in fairies...or not. In other words, fairies...Exist, or not!!" my brows furrowed.

"Or not? The hell? Do they exist or not? Which is it?" Questioning, as Sanji questioned that fairies exist. 'So I was right, just had the wrong island…' sighing.

"Eeehh...It's a mystery, it's been happening for a few centuries. Please be careful, travelers!! Or not…" The monkey chimed,

"You're the mysterious ones…" Sanji mumbled in reply,

"Is it the roulette that it's so noisy?" Franky questioned,

"Did they miss?" Kin'emon joined,

"Some hoodlums are trying to steal off money...from a blind old man." Zoro informed us as we looked over at the scene.

"Damn, that's evil. Even villains wouldn't do that, we'd hit or kill him, because equality. But ripping him off? Might as well just steal his wallet. Hoodlums are on a different level, huh." Saying as they all gave me awkward side glances, shrugging and putting my hands up in a "What?" expression.

They were telling him the opposite color he called, the shocking part was the old man's luck. He called and nailed it literally every time. Too bad he was being scammed, though I'm no hero. And it has nothing to do with me. They had assumed he would give up but he decided to go all in for one last time, glancing over at Luffy who looked ready to stand up. 'This kid, is he really a pirate? Well, to be fair. The situation doesn't exactly sit right with me either…' The scammers agreed to go all in as well, and not surprisingly, it was the exact color the blind geezer picked.

They were ready to tell him he lost when Luffy got up and walked over shouting that it was white, the scammers were obviously angry as one of the scammers questioned who he was. Sighing and standing up, walking up behind Luffy while cleaning my ear with my pinky. "It's white. The old man won." Luffy said again, the guy argued saying it was black and to not meddle with their scam. Setting my arm on Luffy's shoulder and leaning against him, "You're quite the crazy ki—Guy." Chuckling, stopping myself from saying kid out of habit. Bad disguise or not, don't want to slip on anything and accidentally give away whatever cover we have.

"D-Did I really win…? I don't know who you are. But thank you." The geezer thanked Luffy,

"I just said what I saw. But it's ok. You're really lucky though..." He replied, still chowing down on the slab of meat in his hand.

"Do you know what you just did!? If we say it's black, it's black!!! He can't see anyway, what does he care!! You're in the way, move!!!" The scammer lost his cool, basically flat out admitting his scam.

Tsking and waving my index finger while shaking my head, "Rule one of scamming, never reveal/give up the scam unless blatantly called out. You guys weren't blatantly called out on your scam, he just interjected and said it was white, which is the truth. Rule two, never scam a blind man. That's just a lot of bad luck and not even the heinous criminals would do it. Rule three, take their money in one go, never leave them a chance for return. If you can't take it all in one fell swoop, just give up and get a job as a waiter or something."

Graciously offering the advice, to which they glared at me. Shrugging "Only fools don't accept free advice." humming,

"This is no good, please move away, oniisan. I will send them to hell…!!" The old man said. Grabbing Luffy and moving back, when the scammers all suddenly fell and pressed onto the floor, like gravity was holding them down.

'That's an interesting power.' Watching as the floor crumbled and a pit opened below, all of them falling in.

"He has an ability…" Sanji stated the obvious,

"But what ability is that?" Zoro questioned,

The old man paid for the damages as someone seemingly recognized him, "You're super strong gramps!! Just what are you?!" Luffy questioned.

"Heheh...I think, that for both our sakes...It would be unwise to tell you that." He replied before exiting, immediately stirring up more trouble outside.

"For both your sakes?! Is he some super infamous guy or what…?" Sanji questioned,

"No matter who he is...He's no regular guy…"Zoro said,

"That's for sure...I can't help but feel anxious about him…" Voicing my thoughts as trouble stirred once again, everyone had seemingly been pickpocketed. My brows furrowed, ignoring the drama and pulling back the collar of my jacket, peeling the secret pocket open. Sliding my fingers inside to rummage around, sighing in relief, pulling out the crystal gem necklace. Brushing my thumb over it in fondness before putting it back in the hidden pocket. Fixing my collar, remarking the fact that both Shoto and Eraser were looking at me, 'I almost forgot Eraser was with us, it's kind of creepy that he's being so quiet.' Shoto walked over.

"You kept it, we all thought it got lost in the fire." He said sadly.

"Well, it was the only thing that didn't burn. I had to take something other than the burns anyway, it's the only thing I could have to remember you three and mom. Too bad I couldn't ever forget dad ." Sighing as he smiled softly and hugged me, "Anyway, it seems Zoro went fairy chasing." Informing while patting Shoto's head. We watched Sanji and Kin'emon chase after Zoro as Luffy ran in place calling for us to follow, to which Franky seemed to have a better idea…

We stood in a back alleyway as Franky interrogated one of Doflo's men, the interrogation wasn't really going anywhere since the guy knew pretty much nothing important. Though he did direct us to some colosseum, saying there was some big event and that there was a prize everyone would want. Crossing my arms, 'Something about this is giving me serious goosebumps.' Glaring at the lackey as his face paled at my gaze, walking over to him and kicking my foot up onto the wall next to his face. Leaning down towards him and studying his reactions, watching his eyes as they darted away from mine.

He kept glancing somewhere forward as sweat doused his face, my brows furrowed, following his eyes after the fifth glance. Raising a brow while eyeing him up and down, slightly turning my head, I could see him gulp. Brushing a hand through my hair and removing my foot from the wall. Standing up straight and shrugging "He's got secrets, just not any important to us." Sliding my hands into my pockets, letting the guy talk more.

"Ace's...Mera Mera fruit?!?!" Luffy shouted in disbelief and a hint of sadness, sharing a soft gaze with him, setting a hand on his shoulder. Glancing back at the lackey as he continued talking, he was saying how if he had it, it would change his life. "What?! Like I'd let you eat it!!" Luffy huffed. Franky was about to blow our cover when Luffy cut him off by shouting "I want it!! The Mera Mera fruit!! Ah, won't you eat it Franky?!" He said.

"I'd rather be able to swim." Franky replied,

"I've already got my Gomu Gomu fruit, so I can't eat it. But I don't want Ace's ability to be taken by just anyone!!" He turned to me with a desperate look in his eyes, my brows furrowed as shock and uncertainty filled my face. He didn't even need to say anything for me to know what it was he was going to ask. "Dabi! You could! Maybe?!" Raising my hands, waving them in denial.

"Whoa whoa whoa, Luffy I-I don't even know if that's possible and I couldn't- I-" Slightly backing up.

"It could, though! I'd rather let you have it than just anyone else!" He expressed.

He wore puppy dog eyes, glancing away as my hands fell to my sides. Biting the inside of my lip and sighing, rubbing the back of my neck, "Geez kid, okay fine, fine. If I get it then I'll try, no promises though." He smiled and nodded.

"It's a promise!" He chuckled

"Hey wait- I just said no promis-" I put my hand out to grab Luffy when Franky interrupted.

"A memento, huh. From what Doflomingo said, there is a big chance this is a trap, but...I'll tell you this. It'll be boring if you just regret it later, besides. We have business at the colosseum anyway! Let's go!" He said

"Yeah!!" Luffy cheered as we took off.

...

"The coliseum is so big!! Wow, I kind of want to participate too now!!" Luffy said,

"That's some cheering." Franky noted as Luffy hummed, there was shouting ahead as some guards chased and shot at a toy soldier. After successfully driving off the guards, the toy soldier dropped down from the coliseum window in front of us.

"Oh oh! What an aged fellow you are. Shall I carry your luggage?" He questioned Luffy.

"How come he's got proper manners all of a sudden?" Franky said,

"Ahahaha what a funny soldier." Luffy laughed as me, Shoto and Eraser shared a look. The toy soldier flapped around on the ground.

"Oh oh oh?! Am I funny?! Was I? Was I??" The soldier bemused as Luffy laughed.

"Look, won't you get out of our way?" Franky said as the soldier stopped and looked shocked and guilty.

"Ha! Ah, was I in the way? How rude of me!!" He gasped,

"You're super red-faced. You're actually really serious aren't you?" Franky said, It was more of a statement than a question.

"N-Not at all! Toys are supposed to make people laugh!! There is no such thing as a serious toy!!" He said very seriously and angrily.

"Seems pretty serious to me." Muttering,

"Ahahaha he got angry!!" Luffy laughed. Rolling my eyes, a small chuckle could be heard beside me. Glancing at Shoto, smiling softly. Remarking the fact that Eraser was looking at me with a slightly raised brow and soft smile, glancing away when commotion sprung and a voice sounded out.

"The general entry desk will be closing soon!! But not like there will be any, right?! Ahaha!!" My brows furrowed.

"Hey Luffy, it seems you have to enter somewhere else." Franky said while pointing somewhere.

"Hm? Really?" Luffy questioned as we made our way towards the entry desk. "Ooh! I'm in, I'm in!! I'm signing up!!" Luffy voiced. Taking a moment to glance around at the people and toys, who were watching and muttering to each other. Franky whispered to Luffy.

Looking down at Shoto "You've been in a tournament before, feel like joining another? Who am I kidding? You're staying by my side so you kind of have to." Chuckling with a smile while patting his back.

Eraser sighed behind me, "I'll just spectate." he said before taking off towards the coliseum. Luffy went with a nickname, of which was "Lucy." While we of course went with our names, or so I should say...But this is what happened instead…

"What is your name then?" The guy had asked, ready to open my mouth and speak, Shoto so graciously interrupted with a quick and calm.

"Touya." Choking on my words, looking at him in shock and confusion.

"Alright, number 0557, Touya." He handed me the number sticker with my name on it as Shoto got his. He put mine on the back of my coat after a lot of glaring and upset mumbling.

"Geez Sho." Sighing as Luffy and Franky looked at me.

"Why are you using a nickname? No one knows your real name, and with your change of appearance, no one will recognize you from your wanted poster." Franky questioned. Rubbing the back of my neck and groaning in annoyance,

" Actually , this is my real name" Pointing at the sticker on my back. " Dabi is a " nickname " but to be fair, and honest. I left this name behind a long time ago. Touya stopped existing when that… house went up in flames, so please, keep calling me Dabi. It's bad enough that other people will be calling me by that name." Grimacing as Luffy looked at me for a bit before smiling and nodding.

We made our way to the contesters waiting room. Franky had deviated off to the spectators' seats on the way, it was very spacious but almost suffocating with all of the contesters. It was also very loud, everyone was excited and wanted to win for the grand prize . Everyone was large and beefy, and it smelled like a school gym locker during summer. 'That muscle head guy would've loved this place.' Humming, remarking that the majority of the contestants were looking at us.

It was obvious they looked down on us just because we weren't all large and beefy like them, but absolutely no thank you . Just thinking about being large and muscly like that gives me goosebumps, sliding my hands into my pockets as Luffy seemingly said something about "using anything" to which I assumed he meant weapon wise. One of the contestants finally decided to share his and the others' opinions with us, he wasn't even that close and I could just smell his breath.

Plugging my nose and slightly gagging, "Dude, seriously. When was the last time you brushed?!" Questioning as he seemingly got angrier.

"Get out right now!!" He shouted before swinging his fist, Luffy dodged and took the guy down. Groaning in annoyance at his actions, to no surprise except Luffy's, he was told to leave for causing a ruckus. But to everyone's surprise, some supposed well known " legendary " persons interrupted and explained the situation. Then a bunch of other tough guys started appearing and started hyping things up, either way, we all seemed to have ended up in different blocks, luckily. Sighing and looking out onto the sea of people. 'This is going to be a long couple of days…'

....