Night Before Reunion

Calm Belt, Amazon Lily. The most beautiful woman in the world and Warlord of the Sea, Boa Hancock was standing in the center of the Battle Ring where warriors would clash.

"Ready~!"

Boa Marigold shouted while lifting her hand. In the stands, Kuja Warriors pulled bows, some being snakes, and aimed arrows at Hancock.

"Fire!"

Following Marigold's shout the female warriors fired arrows at their empress. Hancock closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The arrows and their trajectory all appeared in her mind. However, that wasn't enough. She focused even further until she saw herself from a third-person perspective. She saw the arrows piercing her body one after the other.

"Ok."

Hancock took a step forward as the arrows flew at her. She walked through the hail of arrows as every one passed her, missing by a few centimeters. She calmly walked as the arrows were unable to even brush against her clothes. After a few seconds, she opened her eyes. She was standing in the ring with countless arrows embedded in the ground around her.

"Kyaa~! Snake Princess!"

"So cool!"

"So majestic!"

The Kuja Warriors rained down praises with heart-shaped eyes. Marigold and Sandersonia clapped with smiles on their faces.

"Snake Princess."

Elder Nyon slowly approached Hancock.

"Congratulations on achieving Future Sight. Your Haki training these last six months have been incredibly successful."

"Granny..."

Hancock smiled.

"With this, I can protect Luffy in the New World!"

"Huh?"

Hancock clenched her fists ignoring the confused Elder Nyon.

"I won't let anybody hurt him! Bring it on New World! Whether it be the Yonko or the World Government, I'll defeat them all for Luffy!"

"Ohhhh!"

The Kuja Pirates' cheers shook the stadium.

"Wait, wait, wait! What are you talking about, Snake Princess?!"

Elder Nyon was frantic.

"What do you mean, Granny? I'm talking about me accompanying Luffy into the New World."

"When was this decided?!"

"The moment I laid eyes on him, I pledged to forever be by his side."

"Didn't you hate him in the beginning?!"

"Me, hate Luffy? Have you finally gone senile, Old Woman? Luffy and I fell in love at first sight."

Elder Nyon's jaw hit the floor. She couldn't believe the nonsense she was hearing.

(Did this woman rewrite her memories to fit her narrative?)

Her face paled.

"She's sicker in the head than I thought."

"I can hear you, You hag. Did you forget we keep the panther over there?"

"M-More importantly, Snake Princess! You can't follow Luffy into the New World!"

"Why?"

"Why? This girl...You're a Warlord and Luffy is an enemy of the World Government! If you're seen siding with him you risk losing your position!"

"I don't care, I want to travel with Luffy. Especially now I know he has female crew mates."

Hancock's fists trembled.

"They haven't seen Luffy in two years, can you imagine how much they long for him?! Especially after he's done the impossible and become even more handsome over the two years! They'll be all over him!"

She was gritting her teeth. Elder Nyon looked at her with utter shock all over her face.

(It's no use...She's dumber than I thought. No, she's just that stubborn.)

She thought.

"Maybe it's time we start looking for her replacement."

She mumbled.

"Sonia, Marie, feed her to the panther for mutiny."

Hancock said while walking away.

"Wait, wait, wait, Snake Princess! We're not done here!"

"I am. I need to clean myself and prepare to meet my future h-husband."

Hancock's face reddened and she tried to hide it.

"Kyaa~! So cute!"

"Snake Princess!"

The Kuja Pirates started cheering again.

"Silence, you fools! Is love all you people think about?!"

Elder Nyon's roar silenced the crowd.

"Listen, Snake Princess. You most likely haven't been keeping up with the news going around, but the World Government is rumored to be creating new weapons to combat pirates in the New World. It's said Dr.Vegapunk has been really busy these last two years! There's a possibility the Marines are thinking of abolishing the Warlord System! If that happens the ones who suffer will be those on the island! You need to stay on the island in order to protect it from outside threat if that was to happen!"

Hancock stopped and turned around.

"Granny, what the World Government plans to do is their business."

She started walking back towards Elder Nyon.

"If they want to abolish the system then let them. They are the ones who came begging to work with us."

Elder Nyon started backpedaling in the face of Hancock's fierce gaze.

"We are the Kuja Tribe, a proud tribe of strong warriors who are feared across the world."

Hancock stopped when Elder Nyon was at the edge of the ring. She bent over and looked her in the eyes.

"We fear no one. As a former empress you should remember that, Gloriosa."

She turned her back and started to walk away.

"Don't worry, Granny. I won't follow Luffy to the New World because he doesn't need protecting."

She showed a small grin.

"He's the man who will become King of the Pirates after all."

She walked away and left the ring. The Kuja warriors cheered while Elder Nyon breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well, at least it looks like I was able to convince her...Although, she had to be extra about it."

She mumbled the last part. After leaving the Battle Ring, Hancock returned to her palace.

"Prepare the bath."

"Yes, Snake Princess."

The servants scattered to make preparations on Hancock's orders. After their tasks were completed they all quickly vacated the palace leaving only the Gorgon Sisters.

"Weren't you a bit harsh on Elder Nyon, Big Sister?"

Sandersonia spoke to Hancock as she took off her clothes.

"That hag is always worried about something, it's like she's forgotten her pride as a former empress."

Hancock entered her floral bath as spoke to her sisters beyond the shades.

"I understand where you're coming from sister, however, she's merely worried about our people and more importantly you."

Mariegold spoke with a wry smile. Hancock didn't say anything and sunk her body in the water. She closed her eyes as she relaxed her body.

"Over the last two years, I haven't had any nightmares about our time in Mairejois. Before I used to hate closing my eyes at night because all I could see were their faces. Laughing at us, looking down at us with ridicule, seeing us as less than human. I hated dreaming but now I look forward to sleeping every night."

Mariegold and Sandersonia frowned before smiling.

"Isn't that a good thing?"

Marie asked.

"Yeah, it's great. Instead of terrors of the past, I see Luffy's smile. That smile makes me feel like I'm untouchable. No matter what happens I feel like he'll come to my rescue wearing that smile. That's why I want to be with him all the time."

Hancock became silent a bit as she slowly opened her eyes.

"Marie, Sonia, I want to become for you what Luffy is for me. I want to be the thing that drives away everybody's nightmares."

"You're already like that for us, Big Sister."

Sandersonia spoke with a smile.

"After we escaped because of Fisher Tiger and met up with Rayleigh and the Former Empress, Marie and I had trouble sleeping. We were being plagued with nightmares fearing that we'll be recaptured. The one who held our hands every night and stayed by our side was you, Big Sister. You chased away our nightmares despite being plagued by them yourself. You're already our beacon."

Marie nodded. Hancock stared at the ceiling and smiled.

"Granny."

"Yes, Snake Princess."

Elder Nyon appeared from behind a pillar.

"Send the girls to pick up Luffy and bring him here. Marguerite is the one most familiar with him, let her meet up with him."

"Is that okay, Snake Princess? I thought you wanted to see him first."

"I do, but you said it yourself, Granny. I need to know when to back away and let him miss me. Sending someone else when he's expecting me will make his anticipation grow, right?"

Elder Nyon's eyes widened.

"So, you are listening to me."

"You may be a senile old hag, but you give good advice from time to time."

Elder Nyon smiled.

(Acting like this is unfair. It makes it hard to stay mad at you.)

She kneeled.

"Thank you for the compliment, Snake Princess."

Hancock nodded while playing with one of the petals floating in the bath.

"I can't wait to meet you, Luffy."