The Duelist and the Runaway. A Grand Battle at Whisky Peak!

''Whisky Peak prepared for a tournament the likes of which had never been seen, and the entire town shook with the news. It spread mainly by rumour, and as such, the facts and truth of the matter were dependant entirely on who you asked, but after listening to several different explanations, the story would become clear. A bounty hunter had come from further up the grand line, and called a tournament. Bounty hunters from the whole island, and its immediate environs, had all come running to join, and not just bounty hunters but pirates as well. Not surprising, really, considering that the prize was no less than a rare devil fruit, worth over a hundred million beri, that could grant it’s bearer either unimaginable wealth or uncertain power. And, in a surprising gesture of fairness, it had been stated that the holder of the competition was actually encouraging pirates to participate as well as hunters, and had promised to oppose anybody who tried to collect a bounty within three days of the tournament, providing ample time for them to come and go. And sure enough, Whisky Peak was more chaotic than ever, as anybody capable of fighting came from far around for a shot at the prize. And that included about twenty different bounty hunters, and at least three pirate crews. Fighting so many people would be quite a challenge, but that was exactly what had been proposed by George Marley as soon as the Obsidian pirates heard about the competition at a local bar. ''

Caden Byrn: I still don’t see what purpose the fight would serve.

''The marksman has taken off his shades while they were in the bar, as well as pulling down his face-obscuring bandana. ''

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..

<p class="MsoNormal">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.

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: really? Well, ok. What do you say Bro- oh?

<p class="MsoNormal">''Dimitri, who had been sitting at their table as well, is ignoring them and watching something happening across the bar. Seeing this, the other pirates turn to watch as well. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">''About ten minutes previously a girl had entered the bar, sat down, somewhat nervously, at a table in the corner, not ordering anything, and instead checking a gold pocket watch, before sitting back to wait. She was wearing a plain, uninteresting looking coat, as well as a pointed hat, and despite the hot stifling air in the bar, she did not take either of them off. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: What is it captain?

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: Person of interest.

<p class="MsoNormal">Byrn: How so?

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: She just doesn’t add up. That outfit is quite plain looking, which says-

<p class="MsoNormal">Byrn: let me guess.. someone without a lot of wealth?

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: Correct, but she’s nervous. She feels out of place here.

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: Somebody who doesn’t travel often?

<p class="MsoNormal">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.

<p class="MsoNormal">Byrn: those are pretty expensive options. Has she saved up?

<p class="MsoNormal">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..

<p class="MsoNormal">''The girl finally gets up and walks over to the bar, and glances nervously around the room. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: Runaway.

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: woah..

<p class="MsoNormal">''The bar owner comes over to meet the girl, and asks to take an order. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">??: I’m afraid not. I’m looking for someone.

<p class="MsoNormal">Byrn: …Well you got that right captain..

<p class="MsoNormal">??: has there been anyone called Edward around here? At all?

<p class="MsoNormal">Owner: Not that I know of.

<p class="MsoNormal">??: Any messages then?

<p class="MsoNormal">Owner: none-

<p class="MsoNormal">????: hahah Edward you say? There’s an Eddie over here! He’s your guy!

<p class="MsoNormal">''The girl turns. The voice had come from a group of three burly men who had been sitting at a nearby table. Based on the sheer number of flagons piled up behind them, they had drunk a huge amount of sake. One of the men, who’s leering grin reveals several gold teeth, stands up. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Ed: I’m Ed! Looking for me miss?

<p class="MsoNormal">??: No.. I’m not. Sorry.

<p class="MsoNormal">Ed: Definitely not?

<p class="MsoNormal">??: Definitely.

<p class="MsoNormal">''Ed had been walking towards the bar the whole time, and now he grabs the girl and leans in closer ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Ed: You sure I can’t change your mind-

<p class="MsoNormal">''Something hits him. The girl hadn’t appeared to move, but there is a thud and his head suddenly snaps back, and he staggers, releasing his grip. The girl turns and walks off. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">??: Judging by the smell, you can’t even change your own shirt. Don’t get your hopes up.

<p class="MsoNormal">''Ed climbs back to his feet, and snarls at some of the laughter in the darker corners of the bar. He looks rather annoyed at the insult, and abruptly shouts after her. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Ed: No need to be so stuck up! A girl’s gotta have class at least!

<p class="MsoNormal">''The girl stops walking, and for a second everyone seems to hold their breath. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">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..

<p class="MsoNormal">''The girl suddenly spins on the spot and screams. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">??: Why don’t you keep your opinions too yourself!!

<p class="MsoNormal">''Ed merely smirks, and closes in on her again. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Ed: you got a problem with that? I guess you really need to unwind. I’m sure-

<p class="MsoNormal">''The girl snatches the nearest empty bottle she can find and hurls it at Ed. He staggers slightly as it bounces off his head, and then glares as he shakes his head. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Ed: Alright, that does it. You need to learn a lesson..

<p class="MsoNormal">''His two companions fall in behind him, and one of them passes him a bludgeon like bat. The girl backs off, and finds herself cornered by them as they close in on her. The owner raises his voice in protest, only for one of the men to hurl a table at him, knocking him unconscious. Ed raises his bat menacingly as he gets closer to the girl. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Ed: You won’t forget this for a while-

<p class="MsoNormal">''There is a sharp crack of wood meeting wood, and his bat is suddenly knocked out of his hands. Dimitri appears in front of the girl, seemingly from nowhere. He raises the quarterstaff he is holding again and knocks Ed back with another forceful strike. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: Hopefully neither will you.

<p class="MsoNormal">''There is an angry rebuke from the person on Ed’s right, who clenches both his fists and takes a step forwards. The man on the left punches somebody out of their chair, and picks it up preparing to throw. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Thug 1: What’s this? Got some kinda guardian angel have we?

<p class="MsoNormal">Thug2: You could use some sense knocked into you too!

<p class="MsoNormal">''The thug raises the chair, but before he takes another step there is a sharp crack and he staggers as something hits him in the side of the head. A billiard ball bounces onto a nearby table. The other thug looks around, and then back to find a dreadlocked person wielding a pool cue like a sword rushing to intercept him ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: ooh boy.. here we go again…

<p class="MsoNormal">Byrn: To think I expected us to stay out of trouble..

<p class="MsoNormal">''The two pirates square up next to their captain, as the three thugs climb back to their feet. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Ed: Scum. Acting like you own the place. Your kind ain’t welcome here!

<p class="MsoNormal">''There is a lot of angry murmuring in the back of the tavern, and more than one crash of a table being swept out of the way. More people close in. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: uh oh…

<p class="MsoNormal">Byrn: Hold on, bounty hunters. You know what will happen if you pick a fight with us.

<p class="MsoNormal">Ed: Huh..

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: What’ll happen?

<p class="MsoNormal">Byrn: tournament holder fights them.

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: But we’re not in the competition yet!

<p class="MsoNormal">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-

<p class="MsoNormal">Thug: No! You still get beaten down!

<p class="MsoNormal">Byrn: ….Blast.

<p class="MsoNormal">???: Now Now! You Rabble! All of you! You’re a disgrace!

<p class="MsoNormal">''A man wearing blue strolls up from the corner. He is wearing a hat plumed by a ridiculously oversized feather, and three gilded sabres hang in hilts from one hip. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Thug: Bergmont! What do you want?

<p class="MsoNormal">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?

<p class="MsoNormal">Ed: That ain’t none of your business. You just shut up and get out of- Argh..

<p class="MsoNormal">''He collapses as Bergmont makes a single thrusting slash with one of his sabres, cutting into one of his sides. Bergmont stares at the drop of blood clinging to the edge of the blade distastefully. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Bergmont: Disgusting. And pathetic. Scum like these are no better than pirates, and pirates are no better than cockroaches.

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: You.. Take that back!

<p class="MsoNormal">''Dimitri steps forwards to confront the swordsman. Behind his back, Caden gestures hurriedly to George to grab him. George shakes his head and raises his pool cue again. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">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.

<p class="MsoNormal">''He steps right past Dimitri and offers his hand to the girl, who had watched the whole thing unfold with some shock. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Bergmont: Young lady. May I accompany you to a place of safety?

<p class="MsoNormal">??: No.

<p class="MsoNormal">''Bergmont cannot stop himself frowning at this. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Bergmont: Why ever not?

<p class="MsoNormal">??: 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.

<p class="MsoNormal">Bergmont:… But this entire bar is about to descend into chaos because of a dispute you caused..

<p class="MsoNormal">??: I can take care of myself!

<p class="MsoNormal">Bergmont: How unladylike. A woman should leave the fighting to a duellist such as me.

<p class="MsoNormal">??:Then fight. Protect me from the chaos you were talking about.

<p class="MsoNormal">Bergmont: I might, but this tournament-

<p class="MsoNormal">??: Oh that’s your excuse? Probably half of everyone here is in that. And I’m going to join as well!

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: And so will we! I can’t forgive your opinions on women or pirates!

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: Hah! Take that ya flipping fencing-eh?!

<p class="MsoNormal">Byrn: Captain’s call.

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: Ya kidding me no? We’re in?

<p class="MsoNormal">Bergmont: Well, this is unexpected. Of course, I object absolutely to any of you participating, nonetheless.

<p class="MsoNormal">Byrn: Scared?

<p class="MsoNormal">??: I don’t particularly care if you object.

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: You can’t actually do anything to stop us joining.

<p class="MsoNormal">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.

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: Why not?

<p class="MsoNormal">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.

<p class="MsoNormal">''And with that, Bergmont sheathes his saber, and strolls out of the bar in a way that he probably sees as dignified and dramatic. Dimitri, Caden, George, and the girl now find themselves once again standing in a room full of angry brawlers, most of whom having taken the opportunity to grab weapons. A few scuffles had apparently broken out elsewhere in the bar, and resolved with some violence. However, the vast majority of them, Ed and his companions included, are now staring at them threateningly. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: Well that went well.

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: Ideas anyone?

<p class="MsoNormal">Byrn: Certainly.

<p class="MsoNormal">''He raises his gauntleted hand, and points it, all fingers extended, into the crowd. In the gloom, the small holes in the knuckles appear to glow faintly. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: Wha?! Woah Woah -come on now! Ya can’t let that off in here!

<p class="MsoNormal">Byrn: you have a better idea?

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: But this is a confined space!

<p class="MsoNormal">''Caden smiles grimly and doesn’t waver. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Byrn: I can soon fix that.

<p class="MsoNormal">Drunken Bounty hunter: What’s the hold up?! Get the buggers, there’s only four of them!

<p class="MsoNormal">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?

<p class="MsoNormal">''A loud reply comes from somewhere in the rafters. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Unseen pirate voice: Hey! He’s got a point! We’re pirates too!

<p class="MsoNormal">Another person stands up 

<p class="MsoNormal">Second Pirate: What’s to stop them coming for us next! This whole thing’s a sham!

<p class="MsoNormal">''And another ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Third pirate: There’s little honour amongst us, but I say we look out for our own!

<p class="MsoNormal">''And one by one another crew steps up, knocking aside their table and grabbing weapons. Other apparent pirates get up as well ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Brawler: Let’s get them!

<p class="MsoNormal">Thug: Rumble!

<p class="MsoNormal">''Several fights break out, and the room, living up to Bergmont’s prediction, falls into chaos. A few bounty hunters and other patrons run towards the group and have to be beaten back by Dimitri, but a sizable portion are forced to deal with the other pirates, and once some of the shorter tempered among the mass inadvertently start smaller disputes, the vast majority are ignoring them. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: Well that works.

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: I must confess I didn’t expect it to. Plan B was knock them all out. So, anyone for a brawl?

<p class="MsoNormal">''George hands a chair to Byrn, and he smashes it over the head of the nearest hunter. There is now a relatively clear path to the door, and he gestures for them to take it. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">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.

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: What tournament?

<p class="MsoNormal">''Byrn immediately pulls up his bandana, but can’t hide his sudden frown in time. George, who had no way of hiding his face, freezes utterly, walking forwards but otherwise fixed in an expression of shock, trying to speak. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: guh.. uh huh.... he….

<p class="MsoNormal">Byrn: You….

<p class="MsoNormal">''A laugh interrupts him, and they all turn to find the mysterious girl smiling, unable to hold back a giggle. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Byrn, Dimitri, and George: What?!

<p class="MsoNormal">??: As far as pirates go you three are actually kinda funny…

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: What? Funny, I’m not funny, am I?

<p class="MsoNormal">''He quickly undermines his own statement by turning to face her as he speaks, and nearly tripping over a stone as he sidesteps. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: Ah that reminds me. I don’t actually know your name-

<p class="MsoNormal">??: Rachel.

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: Just that that’s not it.

<p class="MsoNormal">??: What?

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: hoho.. the captain should have been a detective.

<p class="MsoNormal">Byrn: Maybe he was.

<p class="MsoNormal">Jessica: Ok, my real name is Jessica. But how’d you know?

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: Well, I was just watching you when-

<p class="MsoNormal">''Marley and Byrn look alarmed as they notice Jessica’s expression, and the former interjects quickly. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: He uh.. sorta guesses things about people a lot.

<p class="MsoNormal">Byrn: Do you have anywhere to go now?

<p class="MsoNormal">Jessica: As it happens, no. I was expecting Edward to be here.

<p class="MsoNormal">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.

<p class="MsoNormal">Jessica: Just what is it with people in this town? I get asked that three times in less than twenty minutes?

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: Umm.. sorry?

<p class="MsoNormal">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.

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: So that was a yes?

<p class="MsoNormal">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.

<p class="MsoNormal">''She turns, and walks off, leaving the three pirates alone again. ''

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: well that went well.

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: Yes indeed.

<p class="MsoNormal">Byrn: Well, back to the Second Wind..

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: Wait for her to catch up first.

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: Eh? You think she’s coming back.

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: She did say she couldn’t trust those guys because they were planning on starting a fight..

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley and Byrn: She meant you! Baka!

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: Me? You were the guys who were planning on blowing the whole place up!

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: That was his idea! I told him not to!

<p class="MsoNormal">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.

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: So you’d rather let him insult our honour as pirates?

<p class="MsoNormal">Byrn: …… good point.

<p class="MsoNormal">Marley: Thanks. Although-

<p class="MsoNormal">Jessica: Oh, you’re still here? Sorry but ummm....

<p class="MsoNormal">Dimitri: Told you.