Part 9
Hancock's shoulder and hands were still wrapped up in bandages as she stood in front of the Princess' chamber. But she couldn't afford to let the princess wait any longer. She never felt this nervous before… The girl went through the little speech she had prepared in her head as the dark voice of a guard spoke to her.
"Please enter, the princess is expecting you"
The girl took a deep breath and entered the chamber with determined steps.
As she went through the portal, she arrived in an impressive majestic hall. Tall marble Pillars were lining a path to the other end of the room.
There the princess was waiting for her.
As Hancock approached her, it felt like her knees were going to give in any second.
The princess was reclining in her impressive golden throne. Her fingers played mindlessly through the black soft fur of Bacura, who was lying to her feet. The gigantic Panther reached out his head, yearning for her touch like a spoiled pet.
It was hard to believe this animal normally performed gruesome executions; she had witnessed him rip up prisoners in the arena without mercy. As Hancock knelt down in front of the throne, the Panther turned his head curiously and tried to move his massive body up. He probably thought she was another small snack. But the princess put him in his place with a firm press of her hand. The animal understood and lay back down to her feet obediently.
Hancock swallowed. She had often seen the princess from a distance. But it was her fist chance to get a glimpse from so close up. Carefully she moved up her eyes to look at her ruler.
The princess was of such astonishing beauty, that Hancock had to try her best not to stare.
The ruler herself was looking down at the girl, as well. Her cold blue eyes were investigating the little Amazon like a cat was watching its prey. Finally she started to speak in a voice rich and crystal-clear:
"You are here at last, Boa Hancock…You caused me a lot of sorrow…But I hope you have recovered well, nonetheless …"
Her words were compassionate, but her tone sounded almost painfully sarcastic.
The bright eyes of the princess wandered over the visitor, paused at the injured shoulder and finally looked straight into Hancock's eyes... It felt as if she was analyzing her tirelessly, studying her every thought.
The girl looked down; she couldn't stand this gaze any longer.
"I beg for your forgiveness, princess…" she started to speak shakily.
"I am afraid a mere apology will not be enough." the princess interrupted." Only the most experienced members of our tribe are to enter the Serpent's cave. You were not one of them. Explain to me, what were you thinking in entering the den in the middle of the night without support?"
"I wanted to prove to you that I am a warrior, that I am strong…" Hancock whispered in her defense.
"Strength was not what saved your life, Boa Hancock." The princess snapped with unconcealed contempt.
"Your two little sisters, who carried your body through the jungle in the middle of the night, saved your life. Just like the elders, who attended to your wounds and cured the venom in your veins, and the youngest members of our tribe, who collected every single herb for your antidote with greatest care. They may not be strong in your sense… But without their aid, your death would have been inevitable."
The princess paused; her calm eyes were still resting on Hancock. The girl was careful not to lift her head.
"A true warrior fights not for pride or personal gain. We yearn to become stronger only to support and protect those that are important to us. That is the only reason we train our strength. A Kuja warrior that only fights for her self is not better than a traitor."
The words of the princess sting like needles.
A traitor!? Hancock remembered the previous Princess, who had left the Island and her whole tribe when Hancock was younger. She betrayed all of them. Just thinking about being compared to the like of hers filled Hancock with rage.
"I am not a traitor..." she objected quietly, choking down her tears
"You deliberately opposed my command to not enter the cave and endangered not only your own life but that of your sisters. What should I regard you as, then?"The princess asked patiently, the tips of her fingers pressed together.
Hancock remained silent, her eyes were shut.
For a second, she wished they would have just left her to die back in the cave. She couldn't stand this humiliation any longer…
But this was not right…Hancock opened her eyes again. Thinking like that was weak and pathetic. She had made a mistake. But denying it wouldn't solve the problem. She had to accept her error, like a real warrior would do.
"I was an arrogant fool…" Hancock finally answered. She looked up to her princess.
"But I am not a traitor."
The princess gave the girl a piercing glance but Hancock didn't shift her eyes. It was as if she wanted to challenge the princess.
At any other time, in any other place this defiant look would have been called a pure provocation. But this moment the princess just smiled quietly and leaned back in her throne.
"Your sisters, they told me that you confronted the serpent, despite being fatally wounded. They told me you were the one who managed to keep harm away from them. Is that the truth?" the princess asked, her voice was echoing through the hall.
The girl nodded.
"Tell me now." She commanded "how exactly were you able to fight off the serpent, in spite of your injuries?"
"I cannot really remember…"Hancock answered hesitantly" I... was lying on the floor. I could neither breathe nor move …But when I heard the voices of my sisters, I did not care about the poison or the pain."
Her voice grew louder „I could not let the serpent harm my sisters. I just wanted my sisters to get out before it was too late! I attacked the snake and told it to stop! And it actually listened to me. Had it not, I would have killed it. If I had given up right there the snake would have turned to my sisters! It would have …"
Hancock stopped, suddenly all the terrible emotions crawled up again. Against her will, her eyes filled with tears. She tried to hold them back and hid her face from her princess. She couldn't cry in front of her. She couldn't show such weakness.
Finally she gained back her self-control and dared to look up to the princess. But suddenly there was unexpected warmth in the rulers light blue eyes. A gentle smile appeared on her lips.
" So you overpowered your foe just by speaking to it, for the sole purpose of protecting you sisters…" the princess shook her head in disbelief.
"You may not be aware of it but you possess a great strength, little Amazon. Even though you have your flaws..." The princess stated, her head was sunken in deep thought now.
Finally she lifted her eyes again and started to speak
"As a matter of fact you were called to me today to receive a penalty for your unruly behavior…But I will let it be if you just promise me one thing: Never use your powers to satisfy your own arrogance or pride ever again. You need to learn that you are the strongest when you fight to protect, not when you try to conquer or kill..." The Princess glanced at Hancock with soft, almost pleading eyes.
"If you remember these principles, you might become the greatest and most beautiful warrior that was ever put forth by Amazon Lily…"
Hancock was surprised at these words… she tossed and turned them around in her head, trying to give them sense. Was she really serious?
"Do you understand?" the Princess asked earnestly. She was not the type to joke.
"Yes, I do" Hancock then answered firmly. She was sure that she would never forget the words of the princess.
"Good, always remember this lesson" the princess said.
"But before you leave, I want you to take something with you..." She turned to Bacura, who was still sleeping on his spot. The princess gently tapped the animal's forehead.
"It is time" she whispered.
The Panther woke up with a loud yawn and carefully moved his right paw. A red shiny object was hidden underneath his warm fur.
Hancock recognized the egg from the cave.
"Princess, it is yours…We brought this egg for you!" Hancock objected
"Indeed, it is a real shame... I know this beautiful egg was supposed to be a present for me..." The princess laughed mildly "But you were the one to touch it first, thus it belongs to you."
As she noticed Hancock's puzzled face she began to explain.
"The snake remembers the touch of the very first person that lays a hand on its shell. Just imagine a bond was sealed the moment you touched it. From now on the snake will be your faithful companion. You shall take good care of it."
Hancock accepted the red egg with shaking hands, her thin fingers wrapped around it like it was a treasure.
"You know that this makes you part of the Kuja-warriors now. I only expect the best from you, Boa Hancock. Do not dare to disappoint me again." She beamed at the little warrior; a bright smile appeared on her face.
"I swear I will not, princess. Thank you…" Hancock answered with gratitude.
"Good, then You are dismissed for today. It is still a long way before you can call your self a strong warrior, so get back to training! And who knows, if you are doing well you might even accompany us to the grand line, someday."
Hancock nodded and glanced at the princess confidently; she couldn't wait to find out what was waiting for her out there.