Italics indicate thinking

Bold is for attacks.

Steve's POV

"Ugh my head."

I opened my eyes and saw I was in a jungle of some kind.

"Just great…NO!"

Every memory hit me like suddenly like a cannon ball to my mind and I remembered what happened.

"No…Luffy?!"

I called out but got no response. I fingered the necklace with the picture of Robin and Lil.

"What should I do? Why does everyone I love abandon me…? I know I grabbed Luffy so he must be around somewhere."

I got up and started walking around. Jungle…jungle…and more jungle…I couldn't find anyone.

"Where are you? Luffy?!" I yelled out.

I jumped to the side as an arrow shot past my head.

"Shit!"

I ducked through the forest and hid out in a tree.

"Must have just been a monkey or something."

I watched three women pick up a body and carry it to a village. The body in question had a strawhat on the back.

"Idiot." I hissed.

I followed them back to town but I didn't try and fight them there were too many and I was still banged up from my crash landing. Luffy was covered in mushrooms and I didn't know how to deal with it. I let them burn the things off but by then there were too many people around for me to do anything. I'm pretty sure at one point they tried to pull of Luffy's junk.

"I feel your pain…"

When someone came up and called the unconscious Luffy a man the crowd gasped.

"There are no men here…" I said surprised "This can't possibly be…The Island of Women?"

Robin will kill me if she found me here…Robin.

My hand reached up and touched the locket on my chest.

Are you…okay? And Lil I…

From there they took Luffy off to a cell and locked him up. I stayed back and waited for a good time to break him out. Eventually the moron woke up; he took his hat back and engaged the woman in conversation. They gave him so nice clothes even if they were a little girly though. Then they decided it was time to execute him.

"Now's my chance." I jumped to the roof of the cell.

"Luffy let's go!"

"Steve!"

"There's another one."

"Tempest Kick: Drill!"

I sliced a hole in the roof and Luffy pulled himself out.

"We gotta go." I told him.

Luffy's rubber body allowed us to do some jumps that made dodging the arrows the women shot a little easier.

"The Vivre Card is in my other pants." Luffy said.

"I still have mine." I told him.

"I need mine back…just in case." Luffy stretched his arm and grabbed the woman who had changed his clothes "I need to ask you something."

"Let me go!"

"We're going over the wall." I told him.

We jumped the wall and Luffy ballooned to soften the landing.

"I think we're in the clear for a bit." I said.

"Don't come near me." The girl said defending herself with a small knife "I hear you all have viruses and can all of you get fat like that."

"Well I certainly can't…I guess all men kinda get fat eventually." I said thinking.

"I just want to look in my other pants." Luffy said.

The girl pulled out Luffy's piece of the Vivre Card and returned it to him.

"It looked important so I kept it."

Luffy explained why this card was so important, it could lead us back to the others. The blonde girl asked what kind of friends we were looking for.

"Oh well we're pirates, do you know what those are."

"You are a pirate, so is the princess of this island." She said.

"So are you an all-woman crew or something?" I asked.

"What a foolish question. Only the strongest warriors on this island are allowed to go with the Snake Princess. That's why everyone looks up to her, Pirate Empress Boa Hancock."

One of the warlords…

Luffy got the girl to take the frills off his new vest while I tried to figure out a way off this island.

"Well we have to get going." Luffy said "Can't relax till I find my friends."

"You're pretty restless."

"As long as they're alive I won't give up." I told her holding the necklace "These two people are the most important thing in my life, I won't lose them."

Since this island was in the calm belt just sailing out was never gonna work. Luffy attempted to build a raft but the result…was just sad and meant I had to fish Luffy out of the water.

"You need to be more careful." I told him.

"Enough friendly chat." The girl said pointing her bow at us "I can't get attached."

We avoided the arrows with a little clever dodging. When they missed us the bolts burrowed into the dirt and shattered rock.

"They look like normal arrows." I said examining them "How are they so strong?"

"It's only natural for an arrow imbued with Haki to be that strong."

A whole squad of archers arrived so Luffy and I decided to make a run for it. We went from the jungle to the village and decided we should try to steal a boat.

"Without Nami we'll just get lost." I told him "Maybe we can hitch a ride with them. We'll need to find someone important."

"Let's look in the biggest building." Luffy said jumping into the tallest building.

"Stupid idiot."

I can't make a jump like that so I had to climb down slowly. By the time I got down there he was already jumping out a window.

"What the hell did you do?!"

It was too late we were already surrounded.

LATER

We were arrested and dragged off to some arena where we'd be judged.

"Now why are you here?" the leader demanded.

The leader of this bunch was Boa Hancock, one of the most, no the most, feared woman on the seas, she was the only female warlord and supposedly she was incredibly strong.

"We got shot here." Luffy told them.

"We just ended up here." I added

"What a laughable tale, what is your true purpose?"

"A purpose…" Luffy mumbled "A boat be nice."

"We have places to be. If you're the most important person here can you give us a ride?"

"You won't be leaving here alive." She said.

Marguerite, the girl from earlier, tried to explain what happened but the Hancock just turned her into stone.

A Devil Fruit.

"What did you do that for?!" Luffy yelled "They saved my life."

"Indeed and they have been punished accordingly. Bring out Bacura! On this island strength is beauty, you shall die fighting for your lives."

A large black panther appeared and the snakes binding us slithered off.

"What's gonna happen to them?" Luffy asked but his request was ignored.

"Don't talk back to the princess!"

The cat lunged at us but Luffy and I knocked it away with one punch and a crack of my whip. The crowd became silent at the show of strength.

"That woman turned your friends to stone and you just sit there and laugh!" Luffy yelled.

The crowd still defended the woman, on this island whatever Hancock ruled was law.

"No matter what I do I will always be forgiven, because I am beautiful." She smiled.

She was attractive there was no denying that but compared to Robin she might as well have been a sea slug.

Robin…

"You'll forgive me as well?" Hancock asked.

"You're pissing me off." Luffy growled glaring at her.

That's right, if it's feelings of Love or Lust that turn you to stone around her someone as dense and ignorant of female beauty like Luffy would be immune!

"Ah! This man, immune to my charms, how can he exist? Marigold, Sandersonia please eliminate these two. "

The two larger sisters stepped into the ring and now it was a two on two match. They each had Zoan Fruit powers as well, different version of the Snake-Snake Fruit. The crowd said the two were cursed and had obtained the power of a gorgon.

"They're just Devil Fruits." I said "Zoan Fruits like Chopper's."

Luffy moved the statues out of the arena and we got ready to fight. The space between the audience and the ring was a pit full of spikes so there was no running away. As soon as the bell rang they were slashing at us, the rounder one also spit poison to make things harder in terms of dodging.

"Keep moving!" I told Luffy "Tempest Kick!"

Despite being a blade of compressed air, she was able to block it with her hand.

"What the hell?!"

The green haired one quickly used her tail to slam me into the ground.

"AH!"

I fiddled around and grabbed my whip.

"Horizontal swing." She mumbled.

"Whip Lash!"

She easily ducked under my swing.

"Whip Hurricane!"

My fastest whip attack and she was dodging every swing.

It's like she knows…Mantra?

"Shave!"

I got behind her and grabbed her tail. I was all set to throw her but she wriggled free and wrapped me up.

"Snake Slam!"

I got smashed into the ground again and I was pretty sure I broke a few ribs. When I got up the two snake ladies were all set to smash that statues. I had flashbacks to the time Aokiji tried to smash Robin.

"This is between us!" Luffy said.

"They're fragile don't fool around!" I commanded.

The yellow one wrapped us up and they were gonna break the statues.

"WE SAID STOP!"

They wavered for a brief moment and let us free. They looked spooked like they had seen a ghost, and now the crowd was in a panic.

"Nice to know you can be reasoned with." I said tapping my foot "This is the most intense I've felt since Enies Lobby."

"From here on out no holding back." Luffy smiled "Second Gear!"

Sandersonia's hair came to life and tried to attack us.

"Shave."

I dodged the strikes and saw that they destroyed the floor. I was moving fast enough that she was having trouble keeping up with me and became unable to land a hit.

"Hangman's Noose!"

I wrapped my whip around her neck and started choking her out.

"Whip Tornado!"

I spun around and threw the snake into the pavement.

"Jet Bazooka!"

Luffy slammed into Marigold and knocked her back and close to the spikes. Hancock was not happy that Luffy and I had the upper hand. When the larger sister got up she was on fire.

"Salamander!"

We were surrounded by hair snakes.

"Luffy."

"Jet Gatling!"

Luffy smashed the hair apart and I kicked the air between the two.

"Tempest Kick: Fangs!"

I did a horizontal kick the slammed into the two and knocked them into each other. The two slammed into each other and the fire started spreading. Luffy and I each grabbed a tail and tied them together.

"Thank you, Thank you." Luffy and I waved.

The green haired sister grabbed the ledge to stop from falling into the spike pit. The fire had burned her top off, that was when I saw what was really there, and Luffy went over to cover her back.

"He's gonna kill her."

"You may be trying to kill us but it's not what were gonna do. Don't move from that spot Luffy." I said.

"Mari just kill him!"

"I can't…right now that man is the only thing protecting us."

"If I tell Luffy to move her 'Gorgon eyes' will be exposed." I informed her.

Hancock dismissed the crowd in a hurry and ended the fight.

"That thing you have has nothing to do with this fight." Luffy told her.

Once the crowd had cleared out Luffy got up and went to check on the statues.

"If we're done here turn them back." Luffy said "You can do that right?"

"You only get one request." Hancock said "Either I free them or you get a boat to leave this place. Which do you want?"

"Oh good so you'll free them." Luffy said.

Luffy politely bowed and thanked Hancock for helping his new friends. I was nice enough to bow my head as well.

"Thanks." I added.

Hancock snapped her fingers and freed the three girls. After Luffy thanked them again Hancock demanded that Luffy and I go to the castle.

LATER

"You may enter." Hancock beckoned us.

"You think there's food back there?" Luffy said.

"No." I told him bluntly.

I wasn't stupid I could tell what was gonna be back there.

"Luffy you go." I said.

Luffy ran off and I had to sit with the other two sisters.

"Why did you not go?"

"My girlfriend would kick my ass if I went back there." I smiled "I hope she's okay…Besides I already saw it. I know what that is."

I could hear Luffy talking; he said the mark reminded him of the one on Hachi's forehead. Some old lady entered and started telling Hancock to trust us.

"These two are Monkey D. Luffy and Steve…it doesn't have a last name in the paper…well these two are the ones responsible for the incident and Sabaody Archipelago. An incident in which a Celestial Dragon was punched. Though I cannot understand how they arrived here."

"We were touched by Bartholomew Kuma." I explained "He sent us flying here."

"That guy was a jerk, I enjoyed punching him!" Luffy yelled.

"You talking about the Dragon or Kuma?" I said.

"I couldn't even hit Kuma…"

Hancock said that she would tell us the truth behind the symbol on her back and the mark on Hatchan's head. The mark scaring her body was the symbol of the Celestial Dragons, a mark they use to brand their slaves…

"You guys were slaves?!" Luffy interrupted.

"Sit down and shut up." I told him "Be quiet and listen."

Hancock went on to explain that a fishman by the name of Fisher Tiger broke into Mariejois and freed the slaves. He didn't care who you were Fishman, Human, Giant, he freed anyone he could.

Sounds like a nice guy.

She explained the mark of the Sun Pirates was used to cover up the Hoof of the Dragon so that the fishmen slaves would not be discriminated against. Everyone in his crew slave or not got that mark as to make sure there was no distinction. Hachi may or may not have been a slave at some point, we might never know.

Hancock explained thanks to the Devil Fruit powers they had been given as slaves they were able to trick the other citizens with a story. They won't accept their fate and refuse to let anyone know what they really were.

"So now that you know what I really am are you going to discriminate me to?" she asked.

"I hate slavery. I think you just have a really cool story." I told her.

"The dragons can suck it!" Luffy yelled.

"I like you two…My ship is yours where do you wish to go?" she said.

Luffy told her we needed to get back to Sabaody and she said we could set out in the morning.

The women wanted to throw a party for Luffy. I hated this party. It was loud and people kept paying to touch me. I had my fill of food a long time ago so I wasn't sure what I wanted. My thought of Robin and the others kept plaguing me, why couldn't I save anyone…I'd been putting on a brave face but inside I was crying I just wanted to see them again.

It's right there. The painkiller you need.

I looked over and saw it calling to me. One bottle, the hard stuff…

One sip won't hurt, it'll numb the pain. You can forget about her and the girl…

I felt my arm moving.

Exactly just drink it and forget…

It was right there…One sip wouldn't hurt anybody.

"What are you doing?"

I noticed that party had gotten quiet and Luffy was standing in front of me.

"Don't even think about it." He said.

"It's right there." I didn't even look up at him "I just want the pain to stop…I just want to forget…"

I could hear the various women whispering wanting to know what was wrong with me.

"Just one sip Luffy I can handle it. I just need one…"

"You don't need that. We're leaving." Luffy grabbed me and pulled me away.

Luffy dragged me through town and Marguerite told him that I would probably be better off at that old lady, Elder Nyon's house. She let Luffy and I hang out there for as long as we needed.

"What's wrong with him?" Marguerite asked.

"A party isn't what he needs right now." Luffy told her.

I felt like I wanted to pull my own hair out. Last time I quit I was a wreck for weeks. That time from the waterpark a few weeks ago was coming back to bite me in the ass now. My body had gotten a taste again and now it wanted more. The cravings were back again, I almost broke again back there.

"I used to be able to control it." I mumbled "I just want the itch to go away…I just need one drop. Something please…"

"Go make him some tea." Nyon told the girl standing behind me "It'll calm him down."

I needed to get my mind on something else.

"You sure like the paper old lady." Luffy said.

"There Nyot easy to get a hold of out here. The paper doesn't get delivered to the calm belt. The princess is a warlord so it is important for her to knyow the state of affairs in the world."

"WHAT?!" Luffy yelled "She's that strong?"

"You're a pirate and you don't know the names of the seven warlords." She said.

"I know most of them." I told her "Donquixote Doflamingo, Gekko Moriah, Bartholomew Kuma, Boa Hancock, Jinbei and Uncle Hawkeye. Crocodile used to be one but it got revoked after Alabasta. I don't know the new one's name."

"Correct, but now the Snake Princess is in danger of losing her title."

She explained that the Marines and the Warlords were going to war with Whitebeards crew and if Hancock didn't go she would lose her title.

"Whitebeard won't stand by while the government does as they please. He has been planning this since the government announced the execution of Portgas D. Ace."

"What…"

"Ace is gonna get executed..."

"Yes it seems a pirate named Blackbeard captured him and turned him over to gain the open warlord position."

Luffy started freaking out.

"I suppose if Whitebeard were to be victorious, he could be saved…"

"When is the axe gonna fall?" I asked.

"It says in a week, so based on the paper approximately six days. That's so soon…" the old lady said.

"How long would it take to get to Sabaody?"

"At least a week." Nyon explained.

"That's too long." I mumbled "Ah well nice knowing you Ace!"

"Shut up!" Luffy yelled.

"Sorry…" I mumbled.

"How long to get to him from here?" Luffy asked.

"A week by pirate ship or four days by Marine vessel."

Luffy looked like he was thinking something over.

"I'm sorry everyone but I have to take a little detour…I want to save Ace!"

"What are you looking at me for?" I asked "I've known you'd say that since this conversation started. Fine, I'm not happy about it but I'll help you."

We came to the conclusion that the fastest way to get to Ace in time was to have Hancock take us on the Marine ship with her. When we went to go ask the lady we discovered she was now sick.

"Timing's perfect!" I yelled in frustration

The old lady told Luffy and I to wait outside. Eventually Hancock came out to talk to Luffy and I was once again left behind with the sisters. Luffy explained what he wanted and Hancock's answer blew us away.

"I shall go wherever you wish."

"WHAAAAATTTTT?!"
"She actually agreed?!"

"Well I'll be." I said "Someone besides Nami who actually cares about Luffy."

How is it that Luffy gets all the girls?

"One problem." Sandersonia said "How are Luffy and Steve gonna get on that ship. It's not like they can just walk on board."

"I have a plan but it's risky." I said "Luffy's small enough that he can fit under your coat."

"What?!"

"Me on the other hand…you need to make it up to the marines for denying the first request. I'll be your gift to them."

"No way!" Luffy said.

"Hancock will bring me as a prisoner. I'll figure the rest out when we get to Impel Down."

"You can't." Luffy said "It's way too risky."

"I'll be fine."

AN

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Till Next Time!