Luffy approached the palace gates still cloaked in his hood with Genzo and Nojiko on his heels as they approached the pair of Regime elites that held their hands out bringing them to a stop.
The elder guard halted his movements. "Sorry pal, no ones get in here—" he shut up when the Luffy removed his hood showing them his face. The scar below the left eye was unmistakable, it was defiantly their former leader. During the previous night, rumors spread in the fortress that he had died from fatal injuries while others implied it was impossible to kill the high councilor.
"It's the high councilor." The younger guard squealed before the older man swatted him in the back of the head, disgusted by the tone of voice.
"Come on don't be stupid, your embarrassing me." He shouted towards his subordinate before turning his attention back to the trio. "Right this way sir." The two guards escorted him and his two guests to the dueling platform where the council awaited watching Regime ships ready to depart with the majority of their weapon caches.
On the way up, soldiers going about their business stopped suddenly noticing a crowd of soldiers and officers gathering behind Luffy, Genzo, and Nojiko making their way up the staircase.
The young soldier at the gate rallied the others behind him chanting:
"High councilor!"
The others joined in the contagious chant. Uncertainty waned on the forces not knowing if their leader was dead or alive. It brought them joy to see the high councilor roam the halls once again.
"High Councilor!"
"High Councilor!"
Arlong and the council stood overlooking the vessels in the harbor ready to depart. Soon the Fishmen Islands would be provided with Regime weaponry to overthrow the oppressive humans that deemed themselves superior over the last several hundred years. The Regime and the world would be ruled by the Fishmen Islands.
"Everything is ready, at your command." Dragon said lowly before retaking his place at the helm of his group. The others could only watch with disgust at the manner the fishman carried himself. His goals were misguided despite wanting to put the power back into his peoples' hands. The Fishmen Islands were already set to be reintegrated into the surface world in the upcoming years.
"Excellent, we should beg—" a faint chanting could be heard growing louder by the second. "What the hell is that?" Arlong questioned turning to face the councilmen.
The doors burst open revealing the trio followed by a platoon of chanting soldiers. Regime personnels' chants only got louder as the council stood behind Luffy, ecstatic to see him—however the reunion could wait.
"B-but I killed you...I broke your spirit!" Arlong growled taking a step back. The fishman tossed the high councilor jacket on the floor to which Coby hurriedly picked up.
"Yet here I stand!" Luffy countered glaring at the Fishman who attempted to end his life the day before.
Arlong gritted his teeth backing towards the ledge slowly as the chanting came to a stop. The better part of his mind told him to make a retreat, however his pride got in the way as he wanted to kill the rubber man for good the second time around; his goals were within his grasp.
"As you can see the challenge isn't over, I'm not dead." Luffy spoke grinning widely. The all too familiar look Arlong witnessed that day at Arlong Park and months ago against the New Pirate Alliance was back.
Arlong's eyes widened seeing the new reinvigorated look in Luffy's eyes. No longer the same sadness or pain radiated from him—now stood someone with a renewed purpose, a fixed determination.
The fishman noticed the two familiar people standing behind him.
"I see now, so you brought your dead friend's loved ones...trying to make them forgive you. They'll always hate you, you failed to protect her—you're a failure!" Arlong smirked hoping to fracture the man's spirit once again.
Luffy glanced at the pair behind him offering a small smile before bursting with great speed toward the fishman. Arlong didn't waste time stabbing his two blades into Luffy's shoulder and abdomen, halting his charge. Luffy swiftly cut them from his body, pulling the blades out slowly throwing them on the stone floor behind him—the gaping wounds closed in a matter of seconds.
Arlong brought out his long hunter knife slashing it across Luffy's face; yet he remained unmoved. Arlong's expression became horrified as Luffy turned slowly to look at him, the wound on his cheek that would've scarred a man for life, healed instantaneously.
Luffy grabbed the blade as it pierced through his hand. He jerked his hand back as blade forced itself out of Arlong's grip, clanging on the ground harmlessly behind him, his wound healing up seconds later.
"Your weak, you couldn't even save—" Luffy snatched the fishman's mouth preventing him from speaking, ignoring the serrated shark teeth that sunk into his hand. Luffy reeled his fist back smashing it into the shark's face sending him free falling off the platform. Luffy gave a salute with his index and middle finger toward the spectators before diving off the platform, pursuing his foe.
The soldiers and councilmen whistled and cheered as the pair fell rapidly towards the beach below. Bartolomeo created a large barrier box resembling an elevator.
"Going down anyone?! I can't believe Luffy-senpai is back!" He said prancing happily as the council piled into the barrier elevator. The super rookie took it hard when his hero had been defeated soundly but he chalked it up as a fluke—claiming it was Luffy's plan all along to fake his defeat to catch Arlong off guard in their next bout.
"Come on you two." Dragon signaled to the pair of bystanders who hurriedly ran in. Genzo and Nojiko were utterly shocked to be riding In an elevator with the leaders of free world—all legends in their own right.
"Hey barrier boy you couldn't have made this any bigger!" Marco shouted being squashed between Kuma and Katakuri.
"Hmm...my legs seemed to have fallen asleep." Borsalino added hunched in the corner.
"Quit your whining dammit, bunch of ingrates!" Bartolomeo snapped back.
"You must be Nami's loved ones, it's great to meet you." Dragon said introducing his family personally to them. Dragon wasn't the personable type but he couldn't help feel the straw hats navigator's family become his own just as Luffy had.
"Welcome to the family!" Sabo exclaimed happily wrapping his arms around the stunned pair. The two could only exchange uneasy smiles being warmly embraced by Luffy's family.
"You might want to hold onto something, going down!" Bartolomeo said slamming his hands on the barrier sending it down at a frenetic speed.
Genzo and Nojiko wrapped around each other screaming their heads off while Sabo laughed loudly holding onto them even tighter. The council paid no mind to the elevator, having gotten used to traveling around by abnormal mean's of transportation.
Luffy flipped Arlong turning his back to face the incoming beach. He stretched his legs connecting a kick to his chest sending him crashing into the sand below. Arlong's yell echoed across the beach from the massive impact of the fall.
The high councilor landed on the ground next to Arlong as the fishman groaned feeling his broken fin crunch on the sand—Arlong started to become fearful and desperate.
"High councilor forgive me, I have not forgotten the debt I owe you. Spare me now and offer me a chance at peace and I promise to pay you in full." Arlong said glancing between Luffy and the sea. If he could make it into the ocean, he may have a chance to make an escape.
"If you wish to repay me, tell me how I find the new gods." Luffy spat impatiently.
"New Gods? You will never defeat them high councilor, you will forfeit your life trying." Arlong spoke crawling toward the waves. The fishman knew he was somewhat wrong, from everything he'd heard Luffy is the natural enemy of the Gods; if there was anyone to take them on, it undoubtedly was him.
Luffy smirked approaching the injured fishman. "Of all the lives you should worry about Arlong, mine is not one of them."
"Feel the power of the tide!" Arlong shot massive amounts of water from the sea at the high councilor attempting to de-power and to be rid of him.
Luffy hadn't budged an inch; his wings shielded him from the massive water pressure threatening to tear him to shreds. Slowly he walked toward the downed fishman.
Before Arlong could think about escaping Luffy stomped his foot on his head pinning him to the ground. Luffy smashed Arlong's face repeatedly in the sand making sure he wasn't going anywhere.
Arlong spit out a pool of blood trying to speak even with Luffy's foot smashing his skull in the sand.
"There he is, the high councilor that everyone told me about—the eyes of a murderer." He said noticing the killer intent in his eyes—the high councilor was indeed back.
"My death will not lead you to the new gods or bring her back." Arlong chuckled seeing the hat shadowing Luffy's expression.
Luffy started chuckling himself causing Arlong to freeze in fear. "That is where you are wrong." He spoke, before quickly pouncing on the fishman's back, wrapping his hands around Arlong's neck and crown of the head.
The high councilor began to pull with all his strength earning a terrified look from Arlong. Luffy began to twist and jerk at the same time causing Arlong to yell in pain.
Luffy released the hold on his neck while keeping firm on his head, throwing a hard right punch to him knocking Arlong onto the ground. Luffy stood over the fishman's back immediately grappling both sides of his face.
The high councilor pulled mightily stretching Arlong's neck to the limit. The fishman screamed in pain as Luffy grunted from the physical exertion of the task. The rubber man pulled Arlong's head the other direction as he let out a agonizing scream.
Luffy centered the head once again giving one more forceful tug with all his might. Arlong let out an ear splitting scream echoing throughout the city as his neck began to tear off from his shoulders—a sickening rip later and Luffy successfully pulled Arlong's head clean off from his shoulders, painting the nearby sand and sea in blood.
Luffy unceremoniously tossed the head next to the lifeless body before throwing hellfire onto it. The fire burned the corpse to ashes in seconds, as Luffy began to make his way toward the incoming council.
Sabo and Ace were the first too him the force of their embrace nearly knocking him off balance.
"I knew it dammit! A weakling like that couldn't finish off a tough bastard like my baby bro!" Ace stated proudly earning a shrug from Luffy.
Sabo happily smiled seeing the new expression of his brother—serene; was the one one word that came to mind. No longer did he bother to hide his pain behind a facade, he was showing it now, embracing and coming to terms with it.
Dragon and the others added onto the embrace seeing their leader alive and better than ever.
"Great to have you back son." Dragon said patting his son on the back. Garp suddenly bonked Luffy on the head causing him to fall on the ground with swirls in his eyes and a steaming bump on his cranium.
"What the hell old man?! Is that anyway to greet your grandson?!" Luffy growled jumping to his feet before rubbing his sore spot furiously.
Garp smiled widely, "just had to make sure."
"Sure of what? Your fists work fine ya idiot." Luffy groaned still rubbing the sore spot on his head.
His grandpa could only smile happily seeing his grandson start to come back.
The council conversed loudly before turning toward the pair of citizens that witnessed their shenanigans.
Luffy approached the two embracing them. "Thank you for all you've done, truly I have no words." He said pulling them tighter to him.
Genzo laughed loudly holding his sides as Nojiko and Luffy exchanged a puzzled glance. "Ah come on boy, we're like family now." Genzo smirked. The stitched man couldn't hold back his embracing of the high councilor. In a matter of hours the man's spirits lifted dramatically, he could only wish Nami could've seen.
"Join us for the feast, surely we would be honored to have you guys." Raleigh suggested stroking his beard.
"Of course, we're starved!" The two shouted earning cheers from all around.
While everyone else prepared for the feast, Luffy took a few private moments to himself heading off toward his chambers, the coat hung off his shoulders loosely and proudly. Soldiers and officers saluted him, glad to have their rightful leader back in place.
One of the soldiers approached him apprehensively before speaking. "Sir, we called the usual dendrologist, botanist, and gardeners, they're inside awaiting your arrival."
"Why? What happened?" Luffy asked his mood growing worried.
"There was an incident..." the soldier offered before Luffy rushed past him bursting through the doors to his office.
"High councilor!" The four guests stood up abruptly rushing over to him. "We apologize we couldn't stop—"
Luffy only greeted them with a half-hearted wave opening the glass doors to view the decimated and smoldering remains of his garden. The trees were burnt to the ground along with the fertilized grass. The only thing that remained were ashes.
The pang in Luffy's heart returned before the voices behind him broke him from his trance.
"We're terribly sorry sir—" one the gardeners started before a raised hand halted his words.
"When will it be ready?" He asked his hat covering his eyes.
The others pushed the dendrologist forward as he cleared his throat to answer. "We did the calculations and it could take a few months for the trees to start there natural growth and another two months to get the trees to their original state."
Luffy gave no outward reaction toward the explanation.
"It could be sooner depending on the weather but I can add special fertilizer and plants to the refurbished grass to aid the trees development; it could cut a month off the time." The botanist added as she clenched her clipboard tightly.
"I will pay you all double to work around the clock, even you guys." The high councilor said glaring at the gardeners. "I want this restored even better than before at the soonest available time."
"Yes, right away sir!" They answered in unison.
Satisfied he turned to face them. "Good, you'll start tomorrow morning, enjoy the rest of your night—dismissed." He simply said offering them a small smile before returning to his seat.
They all bowed slightly agreeing to the terms. Before they left, one of the gardeners placed a small orange on the corner of Luffy's desk before following the others out the room. It had gone better than expected, they thought one of them would've been executed for their failure to protect one of the high councilor's treasures.
Once alone Luffy let out a relieved sigh pulling out a familiar photo out of the jacket pocket placing it on the table. It pleased him to know Arlong hadn't found everything he held dear to his heart that he had left. He gave a glance at the lone orange resting on his desk as a smile graced his features.
He pulled out the letters Nojiko held onto while he was battling the deceased fishman. The beautiful letters that Nami wrote over the years to her family about the Straw Hats had meant everything—it gave his life a new meaning he didn't have previously. A large smile came to his face as he placed the letters and the photo inside the drawer to his right. Though the loss of his garden hurt deeply, he knew it would be replaced and fixed even better. The garden encapsulated how he felt.
After killing Big Mom and escaping hell itself, he thought himself invincible. Being bested by Arlong truly proved that he was only fooling himself; he'd never felt weaker in that moment. It wasn't Arlong's power that nearly killed him, it was his own sorrow and pain, the belief he didn't deserve to be the leader of the free world anymore— his greatest enemy truly was himself until today. He had been burnt to the ground only to rise from ashes stronger than ever; his mind was now driven and focused. The past drove him to succeed rather than dragging him into a pit of guilty despair.
Without a second thought the high councilor prepared for the feast and the departure of his Regime Emperors.
The councilmen and their guests all sat around the large private dining conversing and shoveling food into their mouths not caring about their company eyeing them astonished.
"T-they all eat like Luffy." Nojiko said observing the table of gluttons. Her eyes nearly popped out of her skull witnessing Genzo mirroring the council stuffing his face rapidly. Nojiko could only sigh palming her forehead, "I'm surrounded by idiots."
Once the emperors ate their fill they began to stand up all at once saying their goodbyes.
Luffy stood from his seat addressing his emperors. Borsalino was the first one to him.
"Ah Kizaru, you all set for the trip?" Luffy asked showing his signature grin.
The sharply dressed man in a suede black suit adjusted his tie before offering a grin himself. "Long as I have a putting green, and my closet is full of my tailored suits, I'll manage just fine high councilor." Borsalino answered earning a loud laugh from Luffy.
"By the way, it pleases me you are well and unharmed—the world needs you." Borsalino spoke. The former navy admiral believed with every fiber in his being if the world was going to move forward it would need him. The pair shared a handshake before Borsalino was escorted by his private soldiers out of the hall.
Marco shook the high councilor's hand firmly. "It's good to have you back, I didn't know after awhile but I'm glad it's over with now." Marco said earning a nod from his leader. The past few nights were difficult for Ace and Sabo, the near tragedy had brought the council closer. Now that he was indeed back, they hoped to get back to business without a hitch. The flaming Phoenix started to consider them his family after all they been through, he didn't want to lose anyone—even Borsalino.
"Thanks, It's good to be back pineapple head." Luffy snickered seeing the man's eyes light up in fury.
"Here I am trying to be civil and you insult your emperor! Just what kind of leader are you anyway?!" Marco growled earning a hearty laugh from the rubber man once again. Marco couldn't help slightly smile hearing the troubled man let out an authentic laugh, even if it was at his expanse.
"Ha! He got you good Marco, the resemblance is uncanny." Ace added hunching over joining his brother in laughter.
"Damn children, all of ya." Marco muttered angrily before heading off in the same direction.
"Marco!" Luffy called causing him to turn around. "Thanks again, I'll see ya soon."
Marco grinned, "Tch, no doubt about it high councilor, take care." With that the flaming phoenix was off to his new territory. The emperor couldn't leave fast enough, ecstatic the Regime reunited his old Whitebeard comrades after the Regime Registration Act.
"Finally! Thought that bastard would never leave." Ace smirked. As much as the deadman wanted to go with his former Whitebeard brethren, he needed to stay by his true brother's side—his reunion could wait.
Katakuri along with his loyal pet Hattori approached Luffy who greeted the pair.
Luffy took a slight step back always forgetting just how tall and imposing his height alone could be.
"Good to have you back high councilor, I trust this won't happen to you again." Katakuri stated folding his arms.
Luffy nodded, "you have my word." He knew that Katakuri respected his strength, it was a big part of why he followed him unquestionably. Despite their friendship if he were to ever become weak, the man would probably stop following him devotedly, electing to keep his distance— Luffy admitted he needed the Mochi master by his side, he was an irreplaceable comrade.
"Glad to hear it." Katakuri smirked before firmly shaking Luffy's hand.
"Till next time." Luffy said as he watched the leader of Totto Land leave. Luffy flexed his hand that Katakuri shook, feeling the lingering soreness of the strong grip.
Sabo met with his two brothers wearing a stupid grin embracing the pair as best he could.
"I'll be back before the others, possibly in a few weeks from now." Sabo exclaimed jovially.
"Yeah we ain't gonna miss ya, just get goin already." Ace said grinning toward the Dressrosa emperor.
"I'll miss you brother, come back as soon as you can." Luffy couldn't help but not want to see Sabo go, even if it was only for a little while.
"Will do, see you guys soon." Sabo said tilting his hat toward the two bidding them farewell.
Workers began cleaning up the grand table as the remaining people scattered about conversing merrily with one another. Ace had been true to his word and hadn't left his brother's side.
Dragon and Garp invited their guests, Nojiko and Genzo to stay the night at the palace to which they graciously accepted. The former head of the revolutionary army wanted to offer them government part-time jobs in Human Resources. So they could communicate directly the needs of the mid-upper, middle, and lower classes to the council—It would prove beneficial for both sides.
The remaining members Bartolomeo, Coby, and Kuma all left to which Luffy assumed which was to get drunk in the palace parlor.
Ace meanwhile continued to watch Luffy eat the massive amounts of stakes piled on his plate.
"I never think I can be more astonished of you, until I see you eat again." Ace said continuing to watch as he poured sauce over the stakes stuffing them into his rubber mouth. "Good to have you back brother."
The doors burst open revealing Raleigh, who came back from seeing the emperors sail off toward their territories.
"What's up old man?" Ace asked the swordsman who seemed to have a rare frantic expression.
"High councilor, you need to come with me, it's extremely urgent." Raleigh exclaimed awaiting Luffy's response.
Ace noticed the slightly irritated expression of his brother. "No rest for the weary huh brother?" Ace laughed seeing Luffy scarf the remaining food down while finishing his water.
"Alright let's go Ace." Luffy exclaimed wrapping his high councilor coat around his shoulders before the pair of brothers followed Raleigh out the dining hall's doors.
The trio arrived at the palace gates meeting with the Regime elite squad commander and the Regime head of security.
"I'll leave you two to it, I need some sleep." Raleigh spoke towards the pair of brothers a little solemnly before hurrying back in the castle.
'What's up with the old geezer, never seen em like that before.' Ace scratched his hat in confusion.
"What happened?" Luffy asked the elite squadron commander.
The hardened leader of the elite troopers still looked shaken "There is this, its a strange one. We didn't have long to look before we gave the evacuation order, but the forensic boys looked real freaked out, real nasty." The man said handing a graphic photo to Luffy and Ace—it was a murder, the first one to occur in the brief existence of the city. Ace could see the anger radiating from his brother.
"I've got a skeleton crew searching south and west. I'm going to join them when we're done here. We're going to find that son of a bitch." The head of security spat angrily crossing his arms.
"Take me there now!" Luffy growled wrapping the men in his rubber arms taking flight into the air with Ace trailing behind him.
Luffy skidded to a halt landing on the south west side of the city underneath the large stone bridge towering over the city's river.
The body looked just like in the photo: A white sheet covered the victim's head as its bloody green shirt blew in the wind. It was hung up by its hands directly above the head. The body hung off a large cross as it remained chained on the bridge.
Luffy snatched the transponder snail from the commander dialing Dragon's private number, after a few rings he picked up. "Dragon, I'm sure you heard what happened. I found the mutilated body that was reported, I'm going to try and establish a cause of death."
The head of security handed him a device to analyze blood. After a few seconds of collecting blood the device beeped rapidly as he handed the blood sampler to the commander. Luffy grabbed the den den mushi again speaking to his father.
"Blood tests reveal the cause of death was an overdose of painkillers leading to cardiac arrest. Also the victims fingerprints were burned off with Acid." Luffy spoke examining the corpses hands closely before throwing them down.
Luffy could hear his father shift in his seat becoming a bit unnerved. "Not a good way to go, an unsavory demise if you ask me." Dragon stated.
The high councilor continued, "that's not all." Luffy said as one of the forensics men handed him the full written results of what the device picked up. "Its as though the victim's DNA has been corrupted somehow. There's insufficient information for us to cross-reference in the database." Luffy said handing the notes back to the workers.
"Ace its time for you to go to work. You need to analyze the victims deep tissue to look for distinguishing features and determine the victim's identity." Luffy said motioning his brother toward him.
"On it." He nodded disappearing into the body.
Ace reappeared a few seconds later from the deceased body, somewhat causing a stir among the workers. "We got a deformity on the left ear, looks like a result of minor ear agenesis— a birth defect."
As soon as the words left the dead man's mouth the forensic workers scribbled the notes down ready to take them to the city physicians and doctors.
A few more seconds pass before Ace reappeared shouting, "This one will surprise ya, got a wedding ring in the intestine, reads 'Margret.'"
"Keep looking Ace, there's gotta be something else!" Dragon hollered through the snail, Luffy couldn't have said it better himself, they needed more.
"Ho-ho! We hit the jackpot, this guy has a hip replacement on his left side, there's still some scar tissue, so it hasn't fully healed, must've happened recently." Ace said grinning from the find, now the victim could easily be found by medical records. Agenesis left earth birth defect, married to a Margret, and had a recent surgery in the past few weeks—it narrowed things down significantly.
"That's it!" Luffy and Dragon shouted in unison.
"You got that!" Ace yelled towards the forensic people who nodded furiously.
"Good, identify who this is right now and send it immediately to this." Luffy said tossing the head of security the transponder snail with Dragon still on the line. "Get going!" Luffy commanded causing everyone to run off.
As the Regime guards lowered the body from the chained up cross one of the morticians yelled for the two brothers. "Sir! We got something else here!"
Luffy grabbed the note that was placed neatly into one of the chained handcuffs.
'It's time we meet face to face, or this will happen to all the citizens in two nights. Meet tomorrow night, I'll find you— Delta, the new gods.'
Luffy re-read The note a few times before grinning toward his brother.
"What is it?" He asked curiously examining the note himself.
"My salvation." Luffy said taking flight with Ace once again disappearing into the night sky.
Across the ocean Trafalagar Law prepared with his alliance with Strachman Apoo, Basil Hawkins, and Eustace Kid to depart Amazon Lily. The crews gathered on the docks stockpiling supplies, and fuel for their journey.
Law wasn't sure how everything ended up the way it did. After the destruction of the city Mariejois he couldn't have been happier with the results despite the loss of his respected ally Monkey D. Luffy. Everything he'd heard from Wanda and Carrot along with the new Regime Registration Act had alienated the surgeon of death and his former Kaido alliance leaders.
Despite not having seen Luffy for nearly half a year he could tell the man was not the same as before the incident at Mariejois. Although he understood what type of pain a loss like that could bring, he didn't understand the slaughtering of his enemies family. Law had seen his fair share of dictators and his former friend was now just that.
The surgeon barked orders as Bepo told him the alliance was all ready to disembark.
"Give me a minute." Trafalgar said to his best friend and first mate heading back toward the island shore to meet Boa Hancock.
"Empress Hancock, a word." He spoke earning a nod from the woman as she waved her amazons off as they disappeared back toward the palace.
The pair regarded each other for a minute before stepping into a tight embrace once left alone.
"You don't have to leave..." the empress said softly as he held her tightly.
He shook his head, "Empress I have to go, you know that...the Regime will be here soon."
Boa pulled back placing her hands on his face. "There's still time, Luffy could make an exception you're friends—"
"I'm sorry Boa, but I can't fight to overthrow a tyrannical government just to join another, my alliance would never accept it." Law stated cradling her head into his chest. The two had grown close after a one night stand months earlier. It would be understatement to say they shared mutual feelings toward one another.
"You don't have to go." She repeated looking at him directly.
"Don't wait for me, you should move on. I know you still care for him, you should go to him." Law said keeping his eyes on the ships raising the anchors.
Boa couldn't deny that she still cared greatly for the former straw hat captain. The empress clutched onto Trafalgar who she also cared for undoubtedly.
"But I'm here with you—"
Trafalgar's eyes widened slightly in surprise at her statement. She truly wanted him to stay with her, he did consider signing over to the Regime for the empress of Amazon Lily; but he couldn't.
"I have to go—" he said pausing to see her hiding her emotional expression in his chest. Law let out a sigh before continuing, "I'm sorry that I can't come back here, I-I will miss you Boa."
The empress couldn't help smile warmly at him still clutching his coat.
"Stay." She commanded causing him to take his attention away from the ships to her.
"Stay with m—" he cut her off crushing his lips against hers pulling her by the waist bringing their bodies together.
Hancock moaned lightly as he pulled away slowly their foreheads still touching. "Goodbye Empress." With that he turned on his heel heading toward his vessel.
Boa could only watch his retreating form walk on the beach. Her heart clenched seeing him stride toward the dock.
"Law!"
He barley turned around before the empress crushed him in a fierce hug nearly throwing his balance. This time she ignited the kiss as they held each other one last time.
The two released each other after a few seconds of embracing, Boa regained her ruler attitude as Law stood on the dock ready to step onto his ship.
"Trafalgar!" She called as he turned to face her. "It would've never worked between us." Boa smirked seeing his rare amused expression.
"Keep telling yourself that love." Law said before disappearing onto his ship.
Boa Hancock watched the vessels disappear into the distant horizon. She couldn't help let a few tears fall letting go of another man she cared about. The empress stayed on the beach awhile longer before heading back to the fortress wondering if they would meet again. Before Hancock went to bed that night she decided the amazons would visit the new capital for a diplomatic meeting. The empress hoped reuniting with Luffy would help her sorrow—she wished that maybe they could heal each other's wounds knowing the former straw hat captain was still in mourning. Not too much long after that she fell fast asleep her heart still torn between the two former friends.