| abstract | - Caden Byrn: I still don’t see what purpose the fight would serve. Marley: It’s a friendly tournament right? It’ll be fun. Byrn: we’re on an island infamous in some circles for its bounty hunters, and the tournament itself is full of said hunters. It may not be too friendly.. Marley: But a third devil fruit! If you got hold of that- Byrn: -You would have nobody to pull you out of the water when you mess up fishing. A pirate crew needs at least one lifeguard if it uses devil fruit at all. Marley: Awwww… good point man.. Byrn: Selling the fruit would solve our financial problems, but whether entering this competition is a worthwhile risk I am not certain. Marley: We don’t have any financial problems.. do we? Byrn: They could be arranged. Marley: That’s true.. hey.. wait. Did you just- Byrn: Joke. Marley: Oh! Hahahahaaa. Funny bro, really.. Byrn: You really think so? Marley: So, about this tournament.. Byrn: Captain’s call I reckon. If he says we’re in then I’ll back you up. But to be honest, I have a bad feeling about this. Marley: really? Well, ok. What do you say Bro- oh? Marley: What is it captain? Dimitri: Person of interest. Byrn: How so? Dimitri: She just doesn’t add up. That outfit is quite plain looking, which says- Byrn: let me guess.. someone without a lot of wealth? Dimitri: Correct, but she’s nervous. She feels out of place here. Marley: Somebody who doesn’t travel often? Dimitri: Not that simple though. The only way you’d be at Whisky peak is with your own ship, or by buying passage on someone else’s. Byrn: those are pretty expensive options. Has she saved up? Dimitri: to come to a place where she’s not at home? She has a table to herself. She came here to meet somebody. And that means whoever she’s meeting travels a lot but she doesn’t. She hasn’t taken her coat off, it’s a disguise. And if she doesn’t have a lot of wealth, what’s she doing with a gold pocket watch? She’s wearing a log pose as well, that says navigator, and that also says she travels a lot which she doesn’t, so it’s a person planning to travel a lot but not yet. A wealthy person planning to travel a lot waiting at a bar in whisky peak trying to look like a not-wealthy person. Doesn’t want to be noticed (guess that didn’t work out…), so it’s not a big official thing. There are several places she could have come from, but based on overall appearance I’m guessing Goa. And she’s getting more and more worried, her guy’s late, something hasn’t gone to plan. And with all that in mind.. Dimitri: Runaway. Marley: woah.. ??: I’m afraid not. I’m looking for someone. Byrn: …Well you got that right captain.. ??: has there been anyone called Edward around here? At all? Owner: Not that I know of. ??: Any messages then? Owner: none- ????: hahah Edward you say? There’s an Eddie over here! He’s your guy! Ed: I’m Ed! Looking for me miss? ??: No.. I’m not. Sorry. Ed: Definitely not? ??: Definitely. Ed: You sure I can’t change your mind- ??: Judging by the smell, you can’t even change your own shirt. Don’t get your hopes up. Ed: No need to be so stuck up! A girl’s gotta have class at least! Ed: You think you can play at being a bounty hunter and still act like you’re better than us girlie? If you’re gonna just go all high and mighty like that you should go back to mummy and daddy.. ??: Why don’t you keep your opinions too yourself!! Ed: you got a problem with that? I guess you really need to unwind. I’m sure- Ed: Alright, that does it. You need to learn a lesson.. Ed: You won’t forget this for a while- Dimitri: Hopefully neither will you. Thug 1: What’s this? Got some kinda guardian angel have we? Thug2: You could use some sense knocked into you too! Marley: ooh boy.. here we go again… Byrn: To think I expected us to stay out of trouble.. Ed: Scum. Acting like you own the place. Your kind ain’t welcome here! Marley: uh oh… Byrn: Hold on, bounty hunters. You know what will happen if you pick a fight with us. Ed: Huh.. Marley: What’ll happen? Byrn: tournament holder fights them. Marley: But we’re not in the competition yet! Byrn: I know, that was a bluff to keep them down. Actually, on reflection, it doesn’t matter whether or not we’re in the tournament does it- Thug: No! You still get beaten down! Byrn: ….Blast. ???: Now Now! You Rabble! All of you! You’re a disgrace! Thug: Bergmont! What do you want? Bergmont: Some civilisation is what. This foolish tournament has clearly brought the worst of the worst here. What did you intend to do with this lady, Edward? Ed: That ain’t none of your business. You just shut up and get out of- Argh.. Bergmont: Disgusting. And pathetic. Scum like these are no better than pirates, and pirates are no better than cockroaches. Dimitri: You.. Take that back! Bergmont: What’s this? Oh, I see you must be one such hopeful. Here for the tournament? You should just leave. There can only be one winner, and that winner can only be me. Now please step aside. Bergmont: Young lady. May I accompany you to a place of safety? ??: No. Bergmont: Why ever not? ??: Because your acting does not impress me at all. Pretending to be nobility doesn’t make you look cultured, it makes you look arrogant. I’d rather stay here. Bergmont:… But this entire bar is about to descend into chaos because of a dispute you caused.. ??: I can take care of myself! Bergmont: How unladylike. A woman should leave the fighting to a duellist such as me. ??:Then fight. Protect me from the chaos you were talking about. Bergmont: I might, but this tournament- ??: Oh that’s your excuse? Probably half of everyone here is in that. And I’m going to join as well! Dimitri: And so will we! I can’t forgive your opinions on women or pirates! Marley: Hah! Take that ya flipping fencing-eh?! Byrn: Captain’s call. Marley: Ya kidding me no? We’re in? Bergmont: Well, this is unexpected. Of course, I object absolutely to any of you participating, nonetheless. Byrn: Scared? ??: I don’t particularly care if you object. Dimitri: You can’t actually do anything to stop us joining. Bergmont: I can’t, no. But only because I respect the rules and therefore will not harm you until you actually get to the tournament and enter. But none of you will. Marley: Why not? Bergmont: Because rabble though many of them are, you are outnumbered and outclassed by the number of people here who don’t respect the rule. I would bid you good evening and good fortune, but I doubt you will have the former, and the latter cannot help you. Marley: Well that went well. Dimitri: Ideas anyone? Byrn: Certainly. Marley: Wha?! Woah Woah -come on now! Ya can’t let that off in here! Byrn: you have a better idea? Marley: But this is a confined space! Byrn: I can soon fix that. Drunken Bounty hunter: What’s the hold up?! Get the buggers, there’s only four of them! Dimitri: And how many of you? More to the point, how many of you want to go picking a fight with pirates, as opposed to say, the no-good bounty hunters that are completely ignoring the protection plan to beat up pirates? Unseen pirate voice: Hey! He’s got a point! We’re pirates too! Second Pirate: What’s to stop them coming for us next! This whole thing’s a sham! Third pirate: There’s little honour amongst us, but I say we look out for our own! Brawler: Let’s get them! Thug: Rumble! Marley: Well that works. Dimitri: I must confess I didn’t expect it to. Plan B was knock them all out. So, anyone for a brawl? Byrn: We should just leave. Much as I would like to prove to that guy he underestimated us, we can do that in the tournament tomorrow. Dimitri: What tournament? Marley: guh.. uh huh.... he…. Byrn: You…. Byrn, Dimitri, and George: What?! ??: As far as pirates go you three are actually kinda funny… Marley: What? Funny, I’m not funny, am I? Dimitri: Ah that reminds me. I don’t actually know your name- ??: Rachel. Dimitri: Just that that’s not it. ??: What? Marley: hoho.. the captain should have been a detective. Byrn: Maybe he was. Jessica: Ok, my real name is Jessica. But how’d you know? Dimitri: Well, I was just watching you when- Marley: He uh.. sorta guesses things about people a lot. Ah.. . our names... I'm George! George Marley. He's Dimitri... Dimitri: Nice to meet you. Marley: ... And the angry looking guy with the cool coat is Byrn. He's not really unfriendly though, honest! Byrn: Do you have anywhere to go now? Jessica: As it happens, no. I was expecting Edward to be here. Byrn: Well, that was the only open inn in town, and I don’t think it’ll still be in business later tonight. So you’d best come with us. We have a spare room. Edward or whoever he is might be here by tomorrow. Jessica: Just what is it with people in this town? I get asked that three times in less than twenty minutes? Dimitri: Umm.. sorry? Jessica: heeheehee… no problem. If it’s any consolation, the first guy was a drunken brute and the second was even worse. You guys are kinda allright by comparison. Dimitri: So that was a yes? Jessica: Of course not! You’re pirates! I admit you seem pretty friendly, but I’m hardly going to trust a guy who was planning on starting a fight a few minutes ago. Although… thanks for helping me out then. Marley: well that went well. Dimitri: Yes indeed. Byrn: Well, back to the Second Wind.. Dimitri: Wait for her to catch up first. Marley: Eh? You think she’s coming back. Dimitri: She did say she couldn’t trust those guys because they were planning on starting a fight.. Marley and Byrn: She meant you! Baka! Dimitri: Me? You were the guys who were planning on blowing the whole place up! Marley: That was his idea! I told him not to! Byrn: I did tell you to stop the captain picking a fight with that Battenberg or whatever he was. We might have got out of trouble otherwise. Marley: So you’d rather let him insult our honour as pirates? Byrn: …… good point. Marley: Thanks. Although- Jessica: Oh, you’re still here? Sorry but ummm.... Dimitri: Told you. Jessica: So where did you guys come from anyway? Marley: Shipwreck town, in East Blue. Me and Byrny lived there a long while. Jessica: oh right. I’ve heard of that place. It’s on the edge of the calm belt and the red line right? Byrn: That’s the place. The inevitable resting place of anything that tries to get out of the grand line’s first half… Including our captain apparently. Marley: he just washed up one day… Jessica: Just washed up? Where from? Dimitri: That is a good question. Jessica: Is the answer any better? Dimitri: No idea. Jessica: umm.. ok. So what’s the answer? Dimitri: That was the answer. I don’t actually remember much before that. In fact… I don’t actually remember anything! Haha.. Jessica: What? You.. don’t actually have any idea where you came from? Dimitri: There’s a reason we’re going back up the grandline you know. I kinda want to know what I was doing up there. Jessica: And you two? Marley: Well, the captain’s alright, and… well.. you know.. I just thought it would be fun. Caden: And these two could handle East Blue easily enough, but two people isn’t enough to take on the Grand Line. Especially when neither of them can swim. So you’re from east blue as well, aren’t you? Jessica: Yes…. The kingdom of Goa, as it happens. Dimitri: I knew it! So.. who are you trying to run away from? Jessica: I never said I was. Dimitri: No but- Jessica: Please, just… don’t ask me about that. Or tell anyone for that matter. In fact, please don’t go deducing things like that, it’s unsettling. Jessica: I’m just here to meet Edward and move on. But…. Byrn: He’s late isn’t he? Jessica: It’s been two days now. I’m getting worried. I don’t think I can wait around much longer, but I don’t have much of a plan otherwise. Dimitri: You could always come with us and go looking for him. I mean if- Jessica: What the- are you crazy? He hates pirates! In fact, so do I, usually... but anyway, I can’t become a pirate! It’s hard enough getting by round here without the marines being after you… Marley: Shame. We needed a navigator. Marley: Ulp.. sorry. Dimitri: Oh. Good morning. Byrn: Morning. You slept in longer than I expected. Dimitri: Guy’s got to sleep before a big fight right? Byrn: I find after the fight is often more usual. Dimitri: Only for the losers. So what were you doing there. Byrn: trying to wake you up. That tournament is today you know. Dimitri: Aye, I can’t wait. When is it? Byrn: It started about an hour ago. Dimitri: whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?! Dimitri: We’re late! We’re late!!! George: Woah there, you can’t rush off without breakfast can you? Dimitri: But it’s started without us! George: At least eat something bro, you’ll tire yourself out running on empty… Dimitri: Ok ok… What do we have? George: Uhh.. not much. Cooking ain’t my strong point... Dimitri: Darn. Pancakes? Wait, no good, they’d take too long. Bread? George: Before a fight? Wrong sort of food. Dimitri: True, true…. Sugars… protein- Ah! Meat!! George: That’s still raw- George: that was kinda like overkill.. Dimitri: It worked didn’t it? George: That’s true… Hang on?! Dimitri: Whoops! Sorry! Jessica: Ouch! Will you please watch where you’re going! Dimitri: Gah?! Where did you- Oh, it’s you! Hello! Jessica: Ah…. Hello… again. You’re running late you know! Byrn: huh? Really? Hadn’t noticed. Hold on. If we’re late, and you’re also in the tournament, Why are you here? Jessica: I was seeded for the semi-finals. So I went back to get a paper. Thanks for letting me stay over by the way. That bar got completely turned upside down!. Marley: That wild huh? Guess the owner’s got some tidying up to do. Jessica: No, I mean…. Well… Just look! Marley: Wha… But… Thi… What the heck?! Byrn: The guy holding the competition did this?! Dimitri: Got to admit. That was some throw. Jessica: What? Dimitri: Well, you see- Jessica: wow. He flew a long way. Marley: Oh this guy. I thought you meant the tavern. Dimitri: What the… where did he come from? Byrn: …. Seriously? Jessica: He’s one of the tournament contenders. There’s this guy called Nelson who tends to beat people by throwing them out of the ring. But that was a long way… Marley: Guess this ain’t such a friendly competition after all… Anouncer: Well folks, now only the last few rounds remain! And here come our last contestants. Have we saved the best till last, or are they just common fighters? We’ll soon be able to find out! Byrn: We’re the last ones to get here? Marley: Seems so. Bergmont: About time you got here. You know there was talk of disqualifying you all on the spot for the lateness. But some kid with blue hair and way too many swords suggested just moving on and delaying all your fights. What he was thinking I’ll never know. Marley: Too many swords hmm? Only you’re carrying a few as well. Bergmont: Fool. You clearly have no idea what you are dealing with. Well, I could hardly expect brutes who don’t use any weapons to understand. Marley: Brute? BRUTE?! Swords are dangerous you know! He needs sorting out.. Dimitri: So I just need to blast that guy off right? Byrn: This is a tournament. We go after him directly, we have to deal with the guy who flipped a tavern. We need a battle plan. Marley: Well, if we can bring down Bergmont, we could then scatter and try and find our way- Byrn: -I mean, if we’re entering as a team, we need to work out what who’s fighting who for each round. Jessica: Well, the Semi-finals have already started, for the most part. In fact, the playoffs and major rounds are all finished now. The only fights remaining are your qualifier. That would have left us with eight semi finalists and therefore four pairs, except two of those matches are finished as well. So in order to get to the finals, you have to beat the qualifier, then two semi-finalists. Byrn: That’s handy actually. Jessica: How so? Byrn: We know all the opponents we’re up against already, right? Marley: Well, we already knew Bergy’s a big name round these parts… Though I reckon Dimitri could handle him easy enough. Those fancy swords of his can’t be that good on slicing metal. Jessica: What? Metal? Byrn: So we need to keep fighting so Dimitri can keep his strength up. Until we get a shot in at Bergmont at least. So who are the opponents? Jessica: All your opponents are big names; Catapult Nelson, a kickboxing champion from West Blue. He’s the guy who threw people out. Drunken Devil Monroe, a rookie pirate, and his right hand man, Zeroth Kelp, are the semi finalists. Monroe has already advanced to the second round of the finals, so you’ll be up against Kelp first. On my side, Bergmont is also in the second round. I have a semi final fight against an old friend of yours, and the winner faces Bergmont for the final spot. Marley: who? Dimitri: It’s that Ed guy… Jessica: Yeah, he went through as well. Mainly because Bergmont took out most of the competition, and he got a lucky shot in. I reckon I can handle him easily. Byrn: You sure? Jessica: Trust me. I’m not a serious combatant, so I don’t have mush skill, but I do have something he cannot defeat. Of course, once I win I’ll be up against Bergmont, which might be bigger trouble. Anyway, keep an eye out. All of your opponents save Nelson have flawless track records. Marley: I say we put Byrn in once Nelson is dealt with.. Byrn: Why? You’re much stronger at close range. Marley: Oh. Good point. Byrn: Well, Monroe seems to be a swordsman, so you can handle him right? Kelp shouldn’t trouble me. Marley: Aye. Dimitri: Right ok, It seems our first fight’s starting. Wish me luck! Marley: Eh? Jessica: I thought you were trying to keep him out of trouble till the final? Marley: Yep. Byrn: I really should have seen that coming. Anouncer: So, for the next round, and our last qualifier, pirate captain Dimitri Marcellus, the so called “Jack of All Trades” against “Catapult” Nelson, who has so far defeated all his opponents in a truly spectacular fashion! Will this round end in the same way? Let’s find out! BEGIN!! Anouncer: Ouch! I felt that one. Marley: You know guys, if Dimitri’s our best chance, then does it matter if he takes on these guys? Jessica: Hold on, that…. Jessica: This technique again?! Dimitri: Ack… Nelson: Ring Out! Marley: What the… Jessica: finished already.. Marley: Don’t worry. The captain’s got a pretty hard skull. Anouncer: And that seems to be it folks. Nelson: Eh- Dimitri: I’m back. Dimitri: Well, one guy down. How many more? Byrn: You realise we had a plan to follow? Dimitri: Whoops, sorry. But it worked out didn’t it? Marley: Yeah it worked. That was awesome bro! Jessica: You have a devil fruit power? Dimitri: Surprised? It’s impressive isn’t it? Jessica: odd. I’ve seen a Devil Fruit used before… but it was nowhere near that weird.. what does it do? Dimitri: It’s a copying fruit. I can turn parts of myself into anything by touching it. And back. Jessica: What? That’s…. Nonsense! Dimitri: Eh? Jessica: what happened to your coat?! Dimitri: That gets transformed as well. And my hat. Jessica: And all the air in your lungs I suppose… Dimitri: True… guess they somehow count as part as me. Jessica: But if that’s the case, why can’t you just breath in air, or hold something in your mouth or whatever, and turn it into something else? Or something you were holding in your hands? Dimitri: Well… Jessica: You didn’t think of that did you? Dimitri: Not as far as I remember… Jessica: You could mass-produce anything you get your hands on. Anything! Money would never be an issue, nor would food, or supplies. And you use it to become a hammer. Dimitri: …. That’s not all I do with it. … honestly.. Marley: Ya know Byrn, if this girl ever gets hold of a devil fruit, we really are in trouble. Byrn: My thoughts exactly. Anouncer: And now for round two! The Obsidian pirate team, captained by Dimitri Marcellus, vs Zeroth Kelp of the Crimson Pirates! Kelp has so far decimated everyone he faced instantly! Should he do so again, he will be against his own captain for the position of finalist!
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