The massive amphitheater that was once filled with a nation full of Kuja women was now reduced to but a few occupants. After their defeat by the unruly men and subsequent rescue, Sandersonia and Marigold were left kneeling before their distraught sister, heads bowed solemnly in apology. Both of the gorgon sister had since reverted back to their normal forms, seeing as the battle had ended.
"We must apologize sister!" Sandersonia said, clutching her makeshift cloth around her body with trepidation.
Her sister, Marigold, nodded profusely in assent. "Not only did we lose, but we were saved by the men."
Luffy stretched his limbs, eyeing the empress. "So…are you gonna fight us next?" Luffy asked plainly, causing Sandersonia and Marigold to tense.
Hancock uncrossed her legs and straightened her back, giving the men her full attention. "No, that is enough. I'm no longer in the mood for these unpleasantries."
Ben perked up at this. "So...does that mean that you'll turn these girls back to normal? I mean, if you turned them this way then surely you can revert them back right?"
"Yeah!" Luffy shouted in agreement. "All they did was try to help us. They've done nothing wrong."
Hancock closed her eyes, trying to process just how to deal with the situation before her. Never had she actually considered complying with a man's wish before, and it was this thought that scared her. "No, I must first confirm their nature."
A sudden thought spurred through the empress's mind, causing a small smirk to cross her lips. "I just have to uproot these men's true desires; a test."
"Indeed, I have the ability to reverse their petrification. However, I shall only grant one request between the two of you." Ben and Luffy looked at each other in befuddlement before Hancock continued.
"You mentioned before that you need a transportation off the island correct? Well, my proposition is this. Either I reverse what I've done to these women here," Hancock gestured towards Sweetpea, Aphelandra, and Margaret; "-or you have my word that you'll leave this island safely to wherever it is that you need to be. But, let me be clear that only one of you will be leaving this island."
Luffy and Ben were shocked by the Amazonian empress's proposition.
"Choose now!" Boa Hancock said, garnering a smug expression. "Now we'll see your true nature men. Show us your deceit." By giving the men only one choice between the two of them, Hanock had forced them to choose between saving the petrified Kuja or themselves. Not only that, but by only giving one of them the opportunity to leave the island, Hancock would test the male's friendship by pitting them against each other on who would be the one to leave.
"Wait! You can't do that. Both of us need a ship off this island!" Luffy yelled in outrage. Choosing Margaret and her friend's freedom over his one chance off the island didn't even bother him. It was the fact that the Amazon empress had forced them to decide between Luffy and Ben on who would be allowed to leave the island while the leaving the other behind. That didn't sit right with him. Luffy never abandoned his nakama, and even though the rubber boy had only known Ben for a short while, he considered the wielder of the Omnitrix his nakama.
Luffy felt tempted to force the empress and her sisters to give them a ride off the island but was prevented taking such actions when Ben stepped in. Ben positioned himself in front of Luffy, who stopped to stare into the stern and serious expression on the hero's face.
Ben shook his head which further confused Luffy. "It's okay Luffy, I know how important it is for you to meet up with your crew." He remembered how fondly the straw hat wearing pirate recalled his friends when he spoke of them earlier to Ben and Margaret.
"Don't worry about me alright? I'll be fine."
"But-" Luffy began.
Ben shook his head again. "No use arguing with me. Besides, you need a lift off this island a lot more than I do. I'm still figuring out exactly where I am and what I'll do, but at this point I don't have a need for a ship." In the event that Ben really needed to leave, he could always use either of his flying or aquatic aliens to vacate the island.
Luffy and Ben continued to stare each other down, as though trying to see who would cave in a battle of wills. When neither showed signs of backing down, both gave each other wide grins before sharing a slight laugh. After their laughter died down, both the men turned towards three confused women who awaited their decision.
Bending down on his knees and pressing his forehead towards the ground, Luffy bowed; an action that surprised all of the women present. "I never abandon my nakama, so please turn them back!"
"The same goes for me. I'd rather be stranded here then chose myself over those I care about." Ben added with a broad smile on his face.
In the far off stands of the stadium sat an elderly Kuja woman who observed the scene with a critical eye. "To have made such a decision without a single hesitation…" The elderly Kuja mused in silent shock. "Especially as powerful as they are. Particularly the boy with Haki of that caliber; bowing his head so willingly."
The old Kuja hummed in thought as she saw the strained look of consternation on Boa Hancock's face. "What will you do now Hebihime-sama?"
Shortly after stating their answer to the empress and her sisters, Hancock numbly reverted the effects of her powers on Margaret and her sisters, releasing them from their petrified forms. Lightheaded but nonetheless unharmed from the ordeal, Margaret, Sweetpea, and Aphelandra were excused from the stadium while Boa Hancock ordered Ben and Luffy to follow her back to her palace.
Ben and Luffy were escorted into Boa Hancock's private chamber, where the empress then proceeded to walk into a curtained chamber, leaving her sisters to entertain the curious men. They all sat on the floor of the room, chatting idly with each other as though they hadn't been enemies earlier that day.
Hancock raised her voice from within the curtained chamber, calling for both Ben and Luffy to enter. It was there that Hanock openly revealed the accursed brand on her back. Ben could clearly tell that the act of revealing the mark was straining for the beautiful woman, who fidgeted with a nervousness that was completely unlike the image that she normally projected.
Ben stared at the mark with an inquisitive look, unaware of the significance that the clawed footprint represented.
Luffy squinted his eyes and hummed to himself in thought. "Ya know, it's not exactly the same as the one I've seen before. There's this Fishman friend that I have that has a similar marking on his forehead that looks kinda the same."
"If neither of you know what the bearing of that marks means then its time you were informed." A new voice spoke from the room's entrance, prompting everyone to look back.
Standing at no more than few feet in height was perhaps the smallest person that Ben had ever seen. It was an elderly woman, presumably a Kuja, with large puckered lips that reminded Ben of a blowfish. The old woman also held onto a cane that was in fact her own snake, while her other hand had in its wrinkled grasp a newspaper.
"She's almost as small as Azmuth!" Ben spoke aloud to himself.
"Elder Nyon!" Marigold and Sandersonia shouted together.
A scowl set on Hancock's face. "You again! Where did you…."
"You've seen the breadth of these men's hearts with your own eyes have you not?" Elder Nyon questioned, interrupting whatever Hancock was going to say.
"You need nyot fear of telling them the truth," she continued before turning her attention to the men in question. "You boy, is your name not Monkey D. Luffy?"
Luffy perked up at the elderly Kuja's question. "Yeah, I am. How'd ya know my name?"
"You show some measure of modesty for someone who's caused such a stir in the world as of late." The elder brandished the rolled up newspaper in her hand. "I've been keeping up to date on the latest newspaper issues. This man here is the leading culprit of the momentous event that occurred on the Shabondy Archipelago, so close near Central."
"And it was there that you struck at a World Noble." Elder Nyon finished, earning an audible gasps to ellipse from Hancock and her sisters.
"A-a World Noble?!" Hancock rasped, disbelief reflecting in her face.
"Though it remains a mystery to me as to how after committing such an incredible crime and miraculously escaping one of Central's most powerful landmarks only two days ago, that you would somehow find yourself on this distant island so far away." The Elder finished with a question underlying her words.
"Like I said before, I was blown away here!" Luffy explained, which ironically enough explained nothing. "And I don't regret for a moment what I did to that World Noble either. He deserved every bit of it after what the asshole did to my friend."
"…So it's true that you raised your hand against a World Noble." Hancock spoke quietly to herself, cupping her face into her hands. "To think that there still exists a foolish man like you who'd oppose them. Like him…."
"Him?" Luffy questioned.
Ben took that moment to interject, now thoroughly lost with the conversation. "Uh, could someone explain to me just what in the heck is a World Noble?"
Every other occupant in the room turned to look at Ben with an incredulous expression on their face, with the exception of Luffy.
"You've never heard of the World Nobles, also known as Celestial Dragons?!" Sandersonia shouted, piercing through the shock induced silence.
Ben sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "I guess I've been a little out the loop. Should I have?"
"How could you not have heard of them before?" Marigold added. "They're select group of nobles whose ancestors were said to have created the world in their own image. They hold more power than anyone in this world and have the backing of the entire military at their beck and call."
"They abuse their power to enslave anyone they please, be they human, pirate, Fishmen, or even mermaids."
"You're kidding...is it really that bad?" Ben blurted out.
"Yeah, I saw one those bastard nobles riding on top of this guy like he was a horse and then killed him because he was too tired to carry him anymore." Luffy added, anger shown in his eyes.
The gravity of their words seemed to settle into Ben as his eyes narrowed dangerously. "Why are they doing this?"
"It's their status as Celestial Dragons that entitles them the right to do whatever they please to anything and anyone without fear of retribution." Elder Nyon explained, her voice terribly grave.
"Well why hasn't anyone tried to stop them?!" Ben asked angrily, clearly unsettled by the acts of cruelty displayed by the World Nobles.
"Weren't you listening Ben?" The elder reprimanded. "The World Nobles have the backing of the entire Marine Fleet. If they feel so much as threatened they could send out an Admiral to extinguish any opposition."
"Are these Admiral guys really that dangerous?" The Kuja women all looked at each other, unsettled by the apparent lack of awareness and knowledge that Ben possessed.
A suspicious gleam grew in Elder Nyon's eyes. "Yes Ben, there are three Admirals in total and each possess frightening skill and ability. Tell us how it is that you haven't before heard of either the World Nobles or the Marines? In fact you seem to be missing a lot of common knowledge about the world."
Ben lost the look of seriousness and adopted a nervous disposition. "Uh, well you see there's a bit of story behind that." The shapeshifter said at a loss for words. How did one explain that you were the wielder of the most powerful weapon ever created that was from another universe entirely, without sounding as though you'd gone insane in the head?
"It seems you have some explaining to do, nyow don't you?" The Elder pressed, dead set on figuring out the Omnitrix wielder.
Ben sighed as he slumped down into a cross legged position. "You may want to get comfortable because this may take some time."
It took several hours for Ben to give a brief recount of what transpired during the debacle with Maltruant and his subsequent entry into this world. Every so often he would pause to answer a few questions that his audience posed. Luffy, in his unusual way of doing things, alternated between dozing off during Ben's tale and spasmodically shouting how awesome it sounded. The Kuja women however, hung on to every word the hero said, listening with rapt interest to his almost fictitious tale.
"Even though it didn't quite work out as we hoped, I was glad that I was able to stop it." Ben finished with a relieved smile. He had refrained from speaking of all of his adventures for the sake of time, as it would take far too long to recount all of his adventures and battles.
"Were this not the Grand Line I would have dismissed your story, but alas we live in a strange world indeed." The Elder spoke with wisdom becoming of her status and age. "Surprisingly, yours is not the strangest that I've heard of in my lifetime."
"That Mal guy sounded like an asshole too." Luffy added in ineloquently, while picking his nose.
Ben laughed. "Oh you have no idea."
Boa Hancock stood from her seated position and brushed off some loose dust from her impeccable clothes. "Well, I think we should conclude story time for today." She turned to Luffy. "The ship will be ready by tomorrow morning. Until then, you're free to rest in the palace, though I would ask that you refrain from wandering too far. A feast is already in the process of being made and should be finished shortly."
"Food!" Luffy shouted, getting naturally excited at the prospect of food. There was a loud and obnoxious rumbling noise that sounded like thunder going off in the distance.
The group turned to Ben, who held one hand against his stomach and the other scratching the back of his head in slight embarrassment. "Did you say that there was food? I haven't eaten since I got here!"
Hancock stifled a giggle at the man's antics. "Yes, a banquet was made in preparation for my return. You both are welcome to join in the festivities if you wa-" The Kuja Empress didn't even get to finished her sentence before the two men had already rushed off into the dining hall section of the castle, led by their noses of all things.
The feast went off into the night. Many of the Kuja tribeswomen had entered the palace to attend the banquet, both out of respect for their empress, and also out of curiosity of the strange men. It wasn't often that the ban on men was temporarily lifted and they got such an opportunity to see what the hype was about the opposite sex.
Naturally, both Ben and Luffy were the center of attention. Women crowded around the men as they witnessed the the latter into a feeding frenzy the likes of which was mindboggling while Ben was showing some women the Omnitrix and some of its features. The Kuja with the short brown hair tied by a small hair clip wrote fervently on a little notepad, cataloging everything that she witnessed the men do. The overall atmosphere was light and everyone seemed to be having a great time.
Eventually the feast died down, with all of the invited Kuja women leaving the palace premises to return to their homes. Sometime after things had died down, Ben had opted to sneak out of the palace to get some fresh air. With his stomach full, Ben as XLR8 sped off into the surrounding jungle area before ascending up the incredibly steep cliffs that bordered the Kuja village. From there, Ben was able to get a clear view of the entire island.
As far as Ben could see there was plentiful amounts of jungle and land, and beyond that was the vast ocean that he'd heard so much about from the locals. "From what they told me, there are some pretty powerful people out there. Lots of corrupt ones too." Ben recalled the horrifying story that Hancock had told them about her and her sister's escape from their lives of enslavement by the Celestial Dragons.
The selfless and noble hero was appalled by the treatment of Boa Hancock and the other slaves. In his mind, they were almost as bad as the likes of Vilgax and Aggregor. Like the alien warlord that he'd fought in the past, these World Nobles abused their power and even worked under a similar operation. Vilgax had indentured many worlds and races under his reign in order to increase his ever growing power, so as to dominate and terrorize the galaxy. These pesky nobles did very much the same, though just on a smaller scale than what Vilgax had pulled off before his latest defeat at the hands of Ben.
Ben already had plans on visiting these World Nobles when the time came. Though, in the meantime, the shapeshifter also had the intention of accompanying Luffy on his voyage to return to his friends. It just so happened that Luffy's destination was also the home of many of the World Nobles, and where their despicable acts of cruelty took place.
Ben let himself fall backwards freely, letting gravity set him on the rocky floor. The Omnitrix bearer let out a huge sigh of content as he gazed at the starry sky. Night had settled in, leaving a barrage of bright lights to decorate the black space. He sat there on the rocky cliff for some time, just taking the time to enjoy a moment of peace. It wasn't long before Ben eventually succumbed to a deep slumber, exhausted from the day's events and his ordeal.
Boa Hancock leaned against the wall of her room's balcony, eyes wistful and full of thought. The view from her balcony gave her an incredible vantage point of the entire scenery of the Kuja village. She spent several nights in the past on this very balcony, time she took to ponder over large decisions that would influence her and her sisters' lives.
Hancock had plenty to think about as of late. First, there was the crisis of the Marines possibly revoking her status as a Shichibukai should she decline to join them in the coming battle with Whitebeard and his allies. Her status as a Shichibukai had always been a relationship of necessity and convenience.
If it were decision, Hancock would've rather turned down the position when the Marine's first offered, but at the behest of Elder Nyon and several others, Hancock had no choice but to accept. The Calm Belt gave her people and the Kuja Island a natural defense, but even she was not fool enough to believe that the threat of the sea kings that lurked beneath its depths would be enough to drive off the Marines. The presence of the Marine Vice-Captain and his crew was proof enough of that. How the Marines had found a way to bypass the danger of the Sea Kings was beyond her, but nonetheless the Marines had found a way.
"I suspect that Dr. Vegapunk had a hand in that department." Hancock mused to herself with slight contempt. "And then there's the situation with Luffy and that man Ben."
The men's sudden presence had initially been met with her infamous hatred and ire for all things male. Though, that animosity had withered when they showed her actions that defied the depiction that she had come to associate with men. Their sense of selflessness was something that she would have never expected to see again. The only male to ever force Boa Hancock to reevaluate her hatred of men was the incident with Fisher Tiger so many years ago, and now he was long dead.
"Perhaps they are simply the exception." She had thought. Whatever the case may be, she had a promise to keep in giving aid to the straw hat boy called Luffy. Luffy had rushed into her room not too long ago, alongside a troubled Elder Nyon. Together, they relayed to her the precarious situation of Luffy's older brother figure, Portgas D. Ace and his impending execution in a weeks' time.
The young pirate that had caused such a stir in the world as of late had begged the empress to help him save his brother, who clearly meant the world to him. Her sisters had voiced their outrage and concerns of involving their precious Hebi-sama in the man's plea, but Elder Nyon seemed strangely enough, on the side of the boy. Hancock had felt compelled to assist Luffy simply from the desperation that he exuded, and the fact that he had helped prevent her and her sister's secret from being unveiled had certainly helped his cause. But there was still something holding her back, and that hesitance alone gave her pause. She told Luffy that she would think his request over the night and give him her decision tomorrow. They wouldn't be leaving anywhere until tomorrow anyhow so she had given herself some time to collect her thoughts and come to a decision. Thus, the reason for her current position on the balcony.
"Come to think of it, that other man wasn't there with Luffy and the old hag when they spoke their case." Boa Hancock gasped slightly in shock as a sudden thought struck her like thunder. "Was the reason for my hesitance somehow cause by his lack of presence on the situation?"
The idea in itself left the Kuja Empress simply befuddled. "Is my decision really contingent on what that man's stance is? Preposterous!" she denied, more out of fear of it being true than anything else. If that were even the case, then why would she value the opinion of this man, whom she had hardly known for a day, more than even her sisters or her own opinion?
Hancock pinched the bridge of her nose with tired weariness. She turned away from the balcony and entered into her chamber towards the comforting sight of her bed. "Perhaps sleep will bring me the answers I seek."
Ben walked into the large chamber that Hancock had given to him and Luffy for the duration of their stay. It was an isolated room in the palace that was furthest away from the Kuja populace. After awakening from a refreshing nap at the cliff top, Ben had awoken feeling energized and refreshed.
Upon arriving in the chamber, Ben took note that Luffy was discussing something with the elder Kuja woman. Ben took one look at their anxious faces and knew that something was up.
"Hey guys, what's with the long faces?"
"Ben! Where have you been?" Luffy questioned, promptly ignoring Ben's question, likely because of his absentmindedness.
"I've just been out getting something to eat. What were you talking about earlier?" He tried asking again.
This time it was Elder Nyon to answer the Omnitrix bearer. "Yesterday's paper came with grave news. Luffy's elder brother Portgas D. Ace is scheduled to be publicly executed in a week from now."
Ben's eyes bulged in shock as he turned to Luffy for confirmation. The rubber boy was more shaken than Ben had seen thus far since he'd met the pirate, which was all the indication that Benneed to know that they weren't kidding in the least. "Who's going to kill your brother?"
"It's those damn Marines. They somehow captured Ace and now they're gonna kill him unless I do something!" Luffy spoke through gritted teeth.
Elder Nyon took it upon herself to fill Ben in on the details. "The newspaper said that it was the pirate, Blackbeard who captured your brother and turned him in to the Marines. In exchange for his contribution, the Marine's awarded him with the position of Shichibukai. They'd been looking for someone to fill in the position since Crocodile's discharge from the ranks of the Shichibukai."
The elderly Kuja's face tightened with worry. "What worries me more is that by doing this the Marines have essentially issued a challenge to the Whitebeard pirates, and willingly at that."
"Whitebeard? What, is he like Blackbeard's brother or something?" Ben asked, oblivious to these new but obviously important people.
"No Ben, Blackbeard was said to be a former crew member of the Whitebeard pirates before he split off and formed a crew of his own." Elder Nyon informed the clueless shapeshifter, by now used to his usual obliviousness to any of the world's affairs or its important people of interest.
"Whitebeard is one of the four Yonkou, who are revered to be the most powerful pirates of this age. Their power and influence is so great that even the Marines and their Admirals aren't willing to challenge their might; at least until now it seems. Portgas D. Ace is a well-respected lieutenant of the Whitebeard pirates and Whitebeard himself is never one to abandon one of his self-proclaimed children. He's the sort of man who treats everyone under his crew as though they were his own child. In other words, Whitebeard would rather attack the Marines than let them execute Ace."
Luffy internally sighed in relief at the proclamation. It was some measure of relief to hear that one of the four Yonkou's themselves were out to save Ace as well, and not just himself. Whitebeard's reputation proceeded him as a force to be reckoned with, thus the reason of why he was given the title as a Yonkou.
"Those Marine fools." Elder Nyon spoke with clear distaste in her voice. "I can't believe that they knowingly forced a confrontation with Whitebeard of all people. Neither side will walk away without massive casualties. What were they thinking?"
"Knowing those fools who claim to uphold Justice, I would wager that there wasn't much thought involved in the first place." Hancock's voice was heard as she entered the chamber behind Ben. She averted her eyes when they met Ben's and began to fidget under his gaze.
"Hancock!" Luffy shouted the empress's name as appeared before her, a little closer than what would be conducive for a having a conversation. The fact that Luffy had called the woman by her name correctly though, took her and the room's other occupants by surprise. Luffy rarely seemed to refer to anyone by their actual name. Instead, he called people by nicknames that usually associated with some physical or personal trait that the person possessed. The exception to this being those he cared for most, namely his nakama. That he actually used Hancock's real name, and even spoke it correctly without twisting it into some vulgar joke like Handjob was extremely telling of how serious the young pirate was about saving his brother.
"Are you gonna help me? I really need to get to Ace. Granny here said that the likely place that they would be holding Ace captive until his trial would be Impel Down!"
"You want me to respond to the call for the Shichibukai?" Hancock replied sullenly. Even having the entire night to mull over the pirate's request, she was still undecided on what she should do. Hancock knew that she still owed Luffy a favor, but responding to the call for the Shichibukai would mean having to return to the place that had scarred her and her sisters when they were young. Besides that, if she were to be found aiding a pirate with Luffy's status and connection to Ace, then that would reflect badly on her already fragile position with the government.
Before the Kuja empress could make out a proper reply, Ben stepped forward, lightly brushing Luffy to the side. Once again, Hancock met the Omnitrix bearer's green deep eyes and found herself strangely fixated with their depth. Hancock's legs began to feel a little weak and her face slightly warm.
"I know that this a rather tall favor to ask, but could you please help Luffy?"
"If only it were so easy." Elder Nyon thought to herself wearily. She of all people in the village knew how difficult it was to persuade Hancock of anything that she was reluctant to do, if not outright impossible. The woman's personality suited only to her needs and that of her sisters, but not much beyond that. It was also the central cause for most of the elder's vexation and stress.
"I've been trying to convince Hebihime-sama of responding to the government's call for the Shichibukai ever since they sent the notice, but she's always turned me down, despite knowing the jeopardy that she puts our country in for her negligence. They even sent a vice-captain to personally convince and escort her back to Marineford."
A light blush dashed across Hancock's cheeks, making her usual beautiful features even more mesmerizing if it were possible. "If that is what you truly wish…then I shall go wherever you desire."
The Kuja empress's declaration threw the sisters and Elder Nyon aback with sheer surprise. They started open-mouthed at the spectacle that was their empress, acting like a love-struck schoolgirl.
"H-hebihime-sama actually agreed to go to Central?!" All three of them crowed simultaneously, equally in disbelief of their empress's compliance to the shapeshifting man's request.
Both of the gorgon sister's rounded on the elder, seeking some rational answer to the ridiculously uncharacteristic actions from their precious Hebihime. "What is going on elder?! This is so unlike sister. It can't be real."
Elder Nyon looked as equally perplexed as the Kuja sisters, trying to rationalize the strange scene. She looked closely at Hancock to gauge her face and reactions. The empress had a look of fawning on her features and a faint red hue stained her cheeks. Her eyes would shyly peek at the man called Ben when he wasn't looking and she constantly toyed with her fingers. It was an action so unlike Hebihime.
"What could've brought about this sudden change of character?" Realization struck the elder like a bolt of thunder.
The elder Kuja gasped. "Of course! Hebihime-sama is suffering from Lovesickness. It's the only explanation."
"Isn't that the disease that killed the previous empress?" Sandersonia questioned, glad that the others weren't paying any attention to their conversation, too immersed in planning for their trip to Impel Down.
Elder Nyon nodded gravely. If her hunch was correct and Hebihime did indeed suffer from Lovesickness, then Hancock would have no choice but to comply with the wishes of this Ben, less she fall victim to the same condition that ended the life of her predecessor. The elder's swollen lips thinned tightly with worry.
"I'll need to speak with Hebihime-sama before she plans to depart. Thankfully, her decision to help the straw hat boy happens to coincide with the benefit of our country's livelihood." Helping Luffy meant that Hancock would need to appeal to the call of the Marines, which would therefore prevent the World Government from revoking Hebihime's position as a Shichibukai.
The elder heaved a weary sigh as she leaned on her staff. She then looked at the shapeshifting warrior that had somehow found a way to bring out a softer side of Boa Hancock, other than her usual cold and hard demeanor.
"I don't know how you did it, but you actually managed to worm your way into Hebihime-sama's heart. That was something that I had feared was lost forever in her deeply troubled past. For our empress's sake and that of our nation, I pray that you aren't secretly the type of man who would take advantage of this."
Several hours were spent planning out on how to get Luffy to successfully infiltrate the greatest and most feared prison for pirates. All the while negating any suspicion that Hancock and the Kuja women were in any way involved with the straw hat. In the end, Hancock had been able to propose to the vice admiral assigned to make certain of Hancock's arrival at Marineford, on the condition that he take a short detour to Impel Down.
Thankfully, Luffy's relatively small stature in comparison to Hancock's was what gave the young pirate the opportunity to be smuggled aboard the marine ship without notice. Hancock was reluctant to the idea at first, but eventually conceded that it was the only way to safely harbor Luffy onboard within the folds of her long cloak.
The most challenging obstacle of all was the inclusion of Ben in all of this. Hancock couldn't smuggle the both of them on board the hostile ship like she would Luffy. Hancock made the suggestion for the Omnitrix bearer to simply stay on Amazon Lily until the events with Ace's rescue was settled but Ben would have none of it.
"I can't in good conscience let you guys go to such a dangerous place without my help. From what you told me, this prison is a really nasty place where some of the most evil and powerful criminals are kept locked up. And then there's the entire Marine force that you have to watch out for. No way, I'm staying behind." Ben's words brokered no argument, and his eyes gleamed with determination to see to it that his new friends were safe. So, in order to conceal himself from the Marines, Ben transformed into Nanomech, his smallest transformation.
Hancock tried to ignore the oddly ticklish feeling in her back where Luffy strapped himself underneath her robes while there was a odd tingling sensation on her neck where Nanomech had perched on. The vice admiral had whipped his crew back into action after having been released from their fossilized confinement. At first the marines appeared confused, but were quickly harried by their commanding officer to prep the ship for departure.
"The conditions are exactly as I described over the Transponder Snail," Hancock said.
"Then only you and the snake are coming, eh?" inquired Momonga, biting on piece of Sea King meat. "As for stopping by the Great Prison, Impel Down…it's been approved. Under normal circumstances, no pirate is ever allowed near it, not even the Seven Warlords. However, this time will be an exception, but I'm afraid that we won't be able to stay there for very long. Now, come aboard."
One of the Yudas let Hancock descend from its head and onto the Marine battleship.
"It was definitely worth the wait," said Momonga. "Now I can fulfill my mission."
Hancock scoffed as she and Salome walked/slithered passed him.
"Still," Momonga started, "Considering how opposed you were to coming earlier, you still made the right decision-"
GRRRUUUUMMMMBLE!
Hancock froze at the sound of that rumbling.
Momonga simple smirked.
"Even the feared Pirate Empress is still human," he said. "Even your stomach growls in hunger."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Hancock barked. "An empress, such as myself, would never make such disgusting sounds!"
"Then was that rumbling I heard?" Momonga questioned.
"I…it was me," Hancock answered with some hesitation as she kept walking.
GRRRRROOOOOWWL! The rumbling noise was heard again.
"Shh…! Quiet, tummy…!"
"Luffy?" Hancock asked, her voice soft.
Inside Hancock's cloak, it was revealed that Luffy was hiding inside in order for him to stow away. Unfortunately, his bottomless stomach chose that moment to start growling.
"I'm sorry," Luffy whispered. "All of those girls were chasing me, so I couldn't get enough to eat!"
"Why am I not surprised?" Nanomech questioned in thought, irritably.
"Luffy," Hancock whispered. "If Momonga discovers you and Ben here, there will be no recourse. I promise, I'll give you something to eat later. For now, you must endure it."
"Okay," Luffy whispered back.
"Also," Hancock started, "it's getting harder to walk with you hanging on to me like this. Do you think that you could climb up by back a bit higher?"
"You mean like this?" Luffy asked as he tried to climb up.
Hancock let out a small gasp as she felt a slight brushing motion around her chest, but she regained her composure.
Momonga, on the other hand, noticed this and went up to her.
"What's wrong?" he asked. "Do you have a fever? Are you sick? Why is your face red?"
"It's nothing," Hancock said.
"There's something strange going on, here."
Hancock turned to Momonga, who approached her with eyes narrowed, suspiciously.
"First, you refuse the summons of the Warlords," Momonga said. "Then, you change your mind and decide to come. What's going on here, Hancock?"
"Uh oh…" Nanomech thought. "Sounds like he's on to us."
Luffy just decided not to say anything, out of fear that they would get caught.
"Are you implying that I have something to hide?" Hancock said. "I am simply coming for the good of my country." She then made a sly grin. "But if you doubt me, then go ahead. Search me and prove that I am wrong."
Momonga and Hancock soon came into a stare down.
"Is she out of her mind?!" Nanomech thought.
"Don't do that…!" Luffy whispered. "That's too risky…!"
A pause came.
"Fine," Momonga said. "I believe you." He turned back to his men. "Now…return my men to flesh and blood."
"As you wish," Hancock said as she approached the Marines. She raised her hand up to her lips. "Awaken," she said.
FWOO~! She blew a kiss from her hand.
The Marines returned to flesh and blood, still swooning over Hancock's beauty.
"HANCO-"
THUD! The sea men soon fell on the deck.
"Huh?"
"What just happened?"
"Why am I drooling?"
"Get underway, you fools!" Momonga barked.
"Aye-aye, sir!"
With that, the Marines prepared to set sail.
"Sister!" Sandersonia called from the Kuja pirate ship. "Please, be careful out there!"
"And come back alive!" added Marigold.
"Good luck, Snake Princess!"
"And you, too, Luffy and Ben…!" some Kuja whispered.
"I must be going, now," said Hancock. "I entrust the kingdom to you while I am away."
"You can count on us!" declared the Gorgon Sisters.
With that, the Kuja pirate ship sailed back to Amazon Lily.
Hancock was being escort to her own private quarters on the ship by Momonga.
"I'll have someone bring you something to eat, later," he said. "For now, please stay in these quarters until we arrive at our destination."
At that, Momonga left Hancock to be alone.
Hancock took a look at her surroundings. The room was decorated rather nicely with pink walls and drapes. There was a lounge by the porthole window, a coffee table in the middle of the room surrounded by two armchairs and a sofa, a stove and teapot, and a bed.
Apparently, the Marines thought that Hancock should be treated more like a guest than a prisoner.
"Luffy, Ben." Hancock said. "You two can come out now."
Luffy appeared from Hancock's cloak, heaving a sigh and stretching his legs. Nanomech buzzed off from Hancock's shoulders and in a flash of green light, turned back to normal.
"That was a close one," said Luffy. "I really thought that guy was gonna notice us! Sure was scary! Huh, Ben?"
"That's an understatement," Ben replied.
"Until we arrive at Impel Down," Hancock began, "we cannot leave this room, Luffy. The Marines must not know of yours or Ben's presence if we are to arrive safely."
"Okay," said Luffy. "Gonna be pretty boring though. What about my food?"
"You'll be fed, soon," Hancock said. "Until we reach Impel Down, you and Ben must get some rest."
Luffy nodded, now realizing how tired he was. He went over to the lounge, laid down, and before long, he drifted off into slumber.
Ben followed the straw hat's lead and lied next to him, closing his eyes and lightly snored.
"Sleep well, Luffy, Ben." Hancock whispered before she, too, decided to retire for the night. She turned off the lights and headed for bed.
Ben, however, was the only one who was not really asleep.
"Impel Down," the Omnitrix wearer thought. "If what Hancock told me about that place is true…then that means Luffy and I…are headed straight for is a literal hell on Earth."
And so, Monkey D. Luffy and Ben 10,000, with the help of "Pirate Empress" Boa Hancock, were soon en route to the Great Underwater Gaol: Impel Down. There, their strength would be put to the limit…and they would have to be stronger than ever before in the hope that they would rescue Portgas D. Ace from execution.
From this point on…there was no turning back.
AN: I bet a lot of you are looking forward to what comes next as we head into the Marineford arc. If you have any suggestions on how the story should proceed, Please remember to review. Until then, I'll see you next chapter.
