Invitation

"See Luffy?" 

Hancock looked at Elder Nyon with a bit of confusion. 

"What a foolish question. Of course, I would see Luffy now if I could." 

A huge grin appeared on Elder Nyon's face. 

"What if I told you I knew where he was going to be? Not an estimate, but his exact location?" 

"Does it have to do with the poster you're holding?" 

Hancock focused her eyes on the poster. 

"Pirate Festival? Why does that sound familiar?" 

"It's a festival for pirates where they party, socialize, and share information. It was normally kept every couple or so years out of the blue. Its date and location are shared to notorious pirates who keep it from the marines. You definitely heard about it. I talked about my time there before but you probably tuned me out like usual." 

"Did I? I probably did, since such things don't interest me." 

Elder Nyon nodded. 

"It's been quite a long time since the last one though. Buena Festa, the organizer was thought to have died some time ago..." 

Elder Nyon lifted an envelope to show Hancock. 

"But it seems he's returned. I know it's him from the seal." 

"Is that my invite? He got quite the ego to think he has the qualification to request me to go anywhere." 

Hancock scuffed. 

"Why should I go to a stupid festival?" 

"Don't you remember what I asked you earlier? What would you do if you could meet Luffy?" 

"So you're saying Luffy got invited?" 

"The famous Strawhat Luffy, hailed as the fifth emperor, he must be at the top of the list." 

"But shouldn't he be heading to Wano?" 

"This story is based on a movie, so don't sweat the small stuff." 

"Makes sense." 

Hancock thought about it for a bit. 

(Luffy would indeed get invited and he would definitely want to go...But should I interrupt his journey? I promised him I'd prepare our wedding while he travels.) 

Hancock made this promise one-sidedly. 

(Is it alright to go meet him?) 

Hancock started having doubts about seeing Luffy, something that was as rare as a Shanks appearance. 

"It will be okay to meet him." 

Elder Nyon answered Hancock's thoughts with a smile. 

"Pirates go to the Pirate Festival to have fun and relax. In other words, they're on vacation. It's natural to not want to visit your husband while he's working, but shouldn't a wife go vacationing with her husband?" 

Hancock's eyes widened. She had a vision of handsome Luffy coming up to her to pick her up off the ground, spinning her around. He then pulled her into his embrace. 

"I missed you, My darling. Every day was painful without you." 

Handsome Luffy slowly lifted her chin as they looked into each other's eyes. 

"How about it? Let's make up for time apart tonight, just the two of us." 

"Oh, Luffy~! You mustn't our crews are watching~!" 

Hancock wiggled while on her throne. 

(Seriously, her mind must be a fun place to live.) 

Elder Nyon sighed. 

"So what do you say?" 

"We're going to the Pirate Festival!" 

Hancock loudly declared. Elder Nyon nodded while hiding a grin. 

(It's true Luffy will be there but so will a certain pirate. Once we get to the island and I find her, the time for me to put this little girl in her place will come!) 

Elder Nyon and Hancock wore delighted expressions, but they were for different reasons. 

"So, Granny. Tell me how we get to the festival!" 

"Oh, that's easy." 

Elder Nyon took something else out of her clothes, it was like a pocket dimension at this point. What she took out was a Log Pose with the words "Grand Banquet" on it. 

"This is an Eternal Pose that was sent with the invitation. If we follow this, we will make it to the festival. Once there we will find Luffy." 

"Alright, let's begin the preparations! I want to hurry up and see my man!" 

Hancock shouted with much glee. Her cheeks were rosy and her eyes were sparkling with child-like excitement. 

(....Maybe I'll have her enjoy herself first before I take my revenge.) 

Elder Nyon thought as a smile appeared on her face. 

Later that day, the island of Amazon Lily came alive as everyone started to prepare for Hancock and the Kuja Pirates to go to the Pirate Festival. There were some who were gathering supplies while there were others who were doing maintenance on the ship and weapons. 

"Bring me all of my best attires!" 

At Hancock's order, hundreds of dresses, Sarong skirts, blouses, and jackets, along with various accessories like sashes, Jewlery, and capes. 

"No, no, no, no!" 

Hancock dismissed everything before her. 

"I need to look my absolute best when I meet Luffy again! Since these are no good, make new clothes for me!" 

"Yes, Snake Princess!" 

The servants left the room with Hancock's clothes. Mariegold and Sandersonia looked at Hancock who was pacing back and forth in her throne room. 

"Sister, don't you think you're getting a bit too excited?" 

Maria asked. 

"Excited? How I cannot? I'm going to meet Luffy and his crew!" 

Hancock glanced at her hand and her eyes widened. 

"Oh no! When did my skin get so rough?!" 

She ran up to a mirror and started examining her skin. 

"Sister, you have the most beautiful skin in the world." 

"Oh no, is this a pimple?!" 

Sonia's words didn't reach Hancock, who was taking a serious look at her face. The younger sisters looked at each other and shook their heads. Hancock stayed in a state of constant panic until the day the Kuja Pirates were schedule to leave the island. 

"Is everything prepared, Enishida?" 

Hancock stood in front of the Perfume Yuda with a stern expression on her face. 

"Yes, Snake Princess! Food and medical supplies are enough for a return trip. The clothes and accessories you picked are stored in places they won't be soiled. Finally, every member of the Kuja Pirates is healthy and fit for voyage." 

Hancock nodded. 

"Then I'll be leaving the island's management in your care until we return." 

"I will not disappoint you." 

Enishida bowed her head as Hancock made her way to board the ship. 

"Ok, girls! We're going to the Pirate Festival to see Luffy and his crew! However, you guys can think of it as a vacation too, so you're permitted to enjoy the festivities on your own time." 

"Yes, Snake Princess!" 

The Kuja Pirates were all smiles as Hancock boarded the ship. As the Perfume Yuda set sail, the Kuja tribe shouted their goodbyes and well wishes. Hancock looked back at them and smiled. 

"So if we're heading to the New World, we will need to go through Fishman Island." 

Elder Nyon mumbled as she looked at the map. 

"That means we need to get our ship coated at Sabody Archipelago...In other words, we need to visit Rayleigh." 

"Rayleigh?!" 

The three sisters' eyes lit up at the mention of Rayleigh's name. They gathered around Elder Nyon. 

"You're saying we're going to meet Rayleigh again?" 

"Man, I can't wait!" 

Marie and Sonia couldn't hide their excitement. 

"Rayleigh, huh? It's been some time since we last met." 

Hancock had a small smile on her face. However, that smile slowly disappeared. Her face quickly began to pale. 

"What if Rayleigh found out I went behind his back and visited Luffy when he was on the island, even though he forbid me to?" 

Marie and Sonia's face paled as well. 

"Don't worry. As long as nobody says anything, we will be fine." 

Elder Nyon said while rolling up her map. She looked at the three sisters who were trembling. 

"Come on. I mean, I know you guys see him as a father, but it's not like he will punish you guys." 

"Oh, you're right." 

Hancock's eyes brightened up and Elder Nyon nodded. 

"He's going to punish you since it was your idea." 

"Huh?" 

Elder Nyon froze. She looked at Hancock who wore a smirk on her face. 

(T-This little....She's planning on throwing me under the bus!) 

Just like this, the Kuja Pirates made their way to Sabody Archipelago.