Chapter 244: The Tournament Part 10
Dialogue "sample"
Thoughts 'sample'
Author notes -sample-
Disclaimer: One Piece and all of its characters belong to Eiichiro Oda.
Chapter 244: The Tournament Part 10
Vivi left the arena under a wave of cheers from the audience and the commentator going crazy.
When she entered back in the waiting room, the remaining fighters took a step back to give her room and looked at her with frightened eyes.
"You made it!" Rebeca approached her.
"Yes, that was not a bad display." Cavendish got closer.
"As one of my future fan girls, I did not expect any less than-"
"Come with me, I need to show you something." Rebeca grabbed Vivi by the wrist and brought her away from the crowd.
"Hey, that was rude!" they heard Cavendish scream.
Vivi did not resist the other girl and let her guide her away as she already had an idea of what she wanted.
But right before they left the room, she spotted someone familiar.
He was wearing a typical gladiator armor that covered his face and was hiding his aura quite well, but from this close, she could feel a sliver of it.
'That's Sabo!, he really is in the tournament.'
The gladiator looked at her and she saw his mouth turn into a smile and mustered something before they left the room.
"It's been a while."
'It seems like he recognized me…did he regain his memories about Luffy?' She will have to talk to him later to find out.
"Are you hungry?" Asked Rebeca as they walked through a big hall with some food stands.
"I'm fine, I'll eat again soon enough," answered Vivi.
"So, where are we going?"
"Just a bit ahead," Rebeca said without looking at her.
Vivi could feel Rebeca's hand shaking as she led her to a circular area with many cells, showing hor nervous she was.
"This is?" Asked Vivi.
"These are the gladiator quarters…but they also call it…our prisons. Guest warriors are not allowed here so we can talk quietly…"
Rebeca sat down next to the cells and made a gesture for Vivi to sit down next to her but as soon as she approached, a hand came out of the cell and tried to grab Vivi's arm but she ended up grabbing the arm instead.
More hands appeared from behind the bars and took hold of her arm and neck.
"Hurry, Rebecca!"
"do it now!"
The men inside the cells spoke with urgency.
Rebecca unsheathed her sword and pointed it at Vivi with shaky hands.
"So, this is the part where you kill me?" Vivi asked calmly.
"I'm sorry…I don't have any other choice…I must win this tournament no matter how." Said Rebecca with a troubled expression.
"Hurry!" the prisoners urged her while increasing the strength of their grip.
"You are shaking a lot, at this point you are likely to miss and stab one of your friends instead." Commented vivi.
"S-Shut up!...i must…!"
"Have you ever killed anyone before?" She asked.
Rebecca looked down, and the shaky grip on her sword lessened.
" Some people are not meant to be killers, Princess Rebecca," Vivi added.
"You knew who I was already…why then?" Asked Rebecca with teary eyes.
"Rebecca…"
The men sighed and released Vivi.
"I just wanted to see what kind of person you were. Had you actually attempted to kill me, we would not be having this conversation."
The way Vivi said the last part made Rebecca's blood run cold.
"Who are you? Why has no one heard about a fighter as strong as you?"
"We never meet each other in person, but may have heard of me." Vivi's aspect returned to her original one. Her blue hair once more covered her shoulders and her blue eyes shone like sapphires.
Rebecca was so shocked she could not muster the strength to speak for a few seconds.
"You!...you are Nefertari Vivi, the former princess of Arabasta."
"Vivi from the Strawhats?"
"Shit!, this is bad, we have offended someone truly dangerous!"
The men inside the cell were starting to panic.
"I heard a rumor that you were kidnapped by Doflamingo…I didn't believe it," said Rebecca.
"Yes, if he is not regretting that decision already...he will be soon," Vivi promised.
"Oh no, the time! my match will be starting soon. I must go" Rebecca realized.
"About that, it would be best if you don't go out there to fight. "
Rebecca frowned.
"But I must win this tournament! With the power of that devil fruit, I will be able to-"
"To what?, to kill Doflamingo?...I already told you. You are not a killer, you are too kind for that, and one moment of hesitation at the wrong time will be your death. A devil fruit is not going to change that."
"I will do what needs to be done to take my kingdom back from that bastard…you, of all people, should know how I feel!." Rebecca shouted.
"Yes, and that's why I'm trying to help you…leave Doflamingo to me and my crew. From one former princess to another, will you trust me?" Vivi said.
Rebecca looked at the men inside the cell.
"We will entrust your decision, Princess."
"Yeah, we will always support you, Rebecca!"
Rebecca nodded.
"Very well, Vivi. I don't know the Straw Hats, but I will trust you. However, I can't sit here and do nothing."
"I would not ask you that…Doflamingo machinations will soon become unravel and this Kingdom will be plunged into chaos. The citizens are going to need guidance."
Vivi looked inside the cell. The men in there were in fought shape, all covered in bandages and some of them were missing limbs.
"Can you guys still fight?"
"Of course!" one of them answered.
"We are always ready to fight!"
Hurried steps were heard approaching.
"Someone is coming." Said vivi.
Rebecca gasped.
"That must be the Taskmaster!. If a gladiator does not present for his assigned fight, they will be punished or killed!"
"Shit, he is coming for Rebecca!" One of the men said.
Vivi changed her looks back to her 'Lucy' persona.
"I'll take care of that one."
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