03-04-2015, 12:00 AM
Now go, and prepare yourself for the Grand Fighting Festival! The resonant phrase recited over and over in Luffy's head as he retreated to the comfort of his personal chambers, or rather, was it all that dissimilar from the coziest jail cell he'd ever been tossed in? The mute guards posted outside his door made it appear as such. Let us see how a meager human fares against the mightiest Pokemon of Cinnabar! He recalled Emboar's summons to contest, igniting a liberal tempest of moxie within his flowing veins.
The domineering chieftain clearly underestimated his prowess; a justifiable error. Unlike his native realm, here the captain had not yet coveted a reputation for trouble. Here he was not Straw Hat Luffy, the man with a bounty of 400,000,000 Béri. Here he was not the son of Revolutionary Army leader Monkey D. Dragon. The jubilant pirate was but a migrant trapped in a world he hardly understood. The furrow of his brows relaxed as he reined the tensed clamp of his hearty fist and paced over to a well kempt cot.
"Ahh" he relinquished a lax lament, flopping onto the bunk with his back against the sheets. Gazing into the scarred ceiling above, Straw Hat lost himself in thought. Meanwhile, Flabébé snuggled up against the pillow beside him, her tiny stature hardly encompassing but a miniscule portion of the fluffy headrest. "Don't worry Lulu, I've seen just a sample of what you can do, and you'll be great in the arena," she reassured, peeking a single beady eye open. "I envision you standing atop a pedestal, crowned as the hero of the colosseum," The flower fairy encouraged, managing a tuckered smile.
"You've got it wrong, Bébé," the captain requited, maintaining his observance toward the subtle cracks in the stone. "A hero isn't the guy who proves he can beat anyone. A hero is someone who fights for what he believes in, and inspires others to fight for their beliefs, even if they are fearful of the consequences." Luffy's surprisingly insightful words invoked an aghast expression from the petit pokemon. She surmised, without an inkling of doubt, this youthful man would bring about torrential waves of change in this world.
Reposing himself Indian style with legs crossed, the stretchy pirate nabbed a metallic case from the inner pocket of his cardigan. Propping it open and emptying the contents, he sprawled out a medley of pale paper fragments, each matching in both size and shape. "What are those?" His perky companion requested, propping up with trademark flower in tow.
"These are the Vivre Cards, otherwise known as 'Paper of Life,' of my nakama! All members of my crew possess fragments of each other's primary card. The papers move and point toward the main piece, acting as a compass so we will always know where to find one another. At least that's how Nami explained it to me, but I still don't quite get it! Shishishi, cool huh?" The flaky captain instructed, his cheery disposition subsequently curdling into a visage of despair.
"But . . . ever since I got here, they haven't budged . . . not even a quiver," a dreary tinge afflicted the youth, his expressive melancholy plaguing Flabébé with a presage of grief. Transfixed upon the papery snippets, it was as though Luffy attempted willing them to move.
Give me some sort of sign. Anything! Damn it! Zoro, you better be practicing your swordsmanship until you can cut anything in your way. Nami, I imagine you're mapping out islands and honing your navigation skills. Sanji, I'm watering at the mouth just thinking of the new recipes you can cook for me! I can't wait to taste them. Usopp, probably lying his way out of trouble, but you don't have to run! You're the best sniper I've ever met!
Chopper, I bet you're buried in research, studying away to be the greatest doctor in the world. Robin, I miss your grim sense of humor, I hope you've been able to find more Poneglyphs to decipher. Franky, likely tinkering away at the Thousand Sunny; you better install super cool lasers in it this time! Kahaha. Brook, I'm excited to hear all of the new music you've no doubt been composing.
A pleasant aroma ripped Luffy from his mental stasis as it wafted along just below his inflating nostrils. The enchanting fragrance settled his nerves like a calming embrace. Shifting his peepers, Straw Hat noticed the trail emanating from Flabébé's signature flower. "You like my 'Aromatherapy' move? Hehe, don't fret, you will find them Lulu, I know you will. This world is vast and peculiar; it's possible your magics simply retain no effect in this realm. That means there yet may be a method of finding them, or that they are already here but dwelling within a neighboring verse other than our own!" The floating fairy bolstered with unwavering mettle.
"Focus on the here and now! I've heard from a friend there may be scouts among the crowd during the proceeding festivities, and participants whom catch their eye may even be granted invitation to the Royal Kingdom. You just might find more answers there," she solaced with genuine concern, placing her palm upon the pirate's forearm, a puny iota by comparison.
"Hmmm, by 'heard from a friend' do you mean 'creepily eavesdropped from the shadows?' Kahaha! It's settled then! I'll pummel my way through this festival and reach the Royal Kingdom! YOSH!"
— — — — — — —
"Wow! That wraps it up folks! With a severing 'Night Slash' attack, Bisharp fells the brutish Gurdurr, rendering him unable to continue! This concludes tonight's match!" Blaziken declared to the encircling crowd, holding a microphone to his stubby beak. "Join us tomorrow for the kickoff of an event you won't want to miss! The festival that comes but once a year! I hope to see your familiar faces and hear the clamor of this feisty crowd! Blaziken, out!"
The domineering chieftain clearly underestimated his prowess; a justifiable error. Unlike his native realm, here the captain had not yet coveted a reputation for trouble. Here he was not Straw Hat Luffy, the man with a bounty of 400,000,000 Béri. Here he was not the son of Revolutionary Army leader Monkey D. Dragon. The jubilant pirate was but a migrant trapped in a world he hardly understood. The furrow of his brows relaxed as he reined the tensed clamp of his hearty fist and paced over to a well kempt cot.
"Ahh" he relinquished a lax lament, flopping onto the bunk with his back against the sheets. Gazing into the scarred ceiling above, Straw Hat lost himself in thought. Meanwhile, Flabébé snuggled up against the pillow beside him, her tiny stature hardly encompassing but a miniscule portion of the fluffy headrest. "Don't worry Lulu, I've seen just a sample of what you can do, and you'll be great in the arena," she reassured, peeking a single beady eye open. "I envision you standing atop a pedestal, crowned as the hero of the colosseum," The flower fairy encouraged, managing a tuckered smile.
"You've got it wrong, Bébé," the captain requited, maintaining his observance toward the subtle cracks in the stone. "A hero isn't the guy who proves he can beat anyone. A hero is someone who fights for what he believes in, and inspires others to fight for their beliefs, even if they are fearful of the consequences." Luffy's surprisingly insightful words invoked an aghast expression from the petit pokemon. She surmised, without an inkling of doubt, this youthful man would bring about torrential waves of change in this world.
Reposing himself Indian style with legs crossed, the stretchy pirate nabbed a metallic case from the inner pocket of his cardigan. Propping it open and emptying the contents, he sprawled out a medley of pale paper fragments, each matching in both size and shape. "What are those?" His perky companion requested, propping up with trademark flower in tow.
"These are the Vivre Cards, otherwise known as 'Paper of Life,' of my nakama! All members of my crew possess fragments of each other's primary card. The papers move and point toward the main piece, acting as a compass so we will always know where to find one another. At least that's how Nami explained it to me, but I still don't quite get it! Shishishi, cool huh?" The flaky captain instructed, his cheery disposition subsequently curdling into a visage of despair.
"But . . . ever since I got here, they haven't budged . . . not even a quiver," a dreary tinge afflicted the youth, his expressive melancholy plaguing Flabébé with a presage of grief. Transfixed upon the papery snippets, it was as though Luffy attempted willing them to move.
Give me some sort of sign. Anything! Damn it! Zoro, you better be practicing your swordsmanship until you can cut anything in your way. Nami, I imagine you're mapping out islands and honing your navigation skills. Sanji, I'm watering at the mouth just thinking of the new recipes you can cook for me! I can't wait to taste them. Usopp, probably lying his way out of trouble, but you don't have to run! You're the best sniper I've ever met!
Chopper, I bet you're buried in research, studying away to be the greatest doctor in the world. Robin, I miss your grim sense of humor, I hope you've been able to find more Poneglyphs to decipher. Franky, likely tinkering away at the Thousand Sunny; you better install super cool lasers in it this time! Kahaha. Brook, I'm excited to hear all of the new music you've no doubt been composing.
A pleasant aroma ripped Luffy from his mental stasis as it wafted along just below his inflating nostrils. The enchanting fragrance settled his nerves like a calming embrace. Shifting his peepers, Straw Hat noticed the trail emanating from Flabébé's signature flower. "You like my 'Aromatherapy' move? Hehe, don't fret, you will find them Lulu, I know you will. This world is vast and peculiar; it's possible your magics simply retain no effect in this realm. That means there yet may be a method of finding them, or that they are already here but dwelling within a neighboring verse other than our own!" The floating fairy bolstered with unwavering mettle.
"Focus on the here and now! I've heard from a friend there may be scouts among the crowd during the proceeding festivities, and participants whom catch their eye may even be granted invitation to the Royal Kingdom. You just might find more answers there," she solaced with genuine concern, placing her palm upon the pirate's forearm, a puny iota by comparison.
"Hmmm, by 'heard from a friend' do you mean 'creepily eavesdropped from the shadows?' Kahaha! It's settled then! I'll pummel my way through this festival and reach the Royal Kingdom! YOSH!"
— — — — — — —
"Wow! That wraps it up folks! With a severing 'Night Slash' attack, Bisharp fells the brutish Gurdurr, rendering him unable to continue! This concludes tonight's match!" Blaziken declared to the encircling crowd, holding a microphone to his stubby beak. "Join us tomorrow for the kickoff of an event you won't want to miss! The festival that comes but once a year! I hope to see your familiar faces and hear the clamor of this feisty crowd! Blaziken, out!"
![[Image: giphy.gif]](http://media3.giphy.com/media/Rx8H5yTo36LLy/giphy.gif)