Summary: When the war between the World Government and Pirates breaks out, it threatens to crush even more than what it appears to.
A/N: Sorry I took so long to update, but I have a life also. I had to study for exams plus, I had to spend Christmas with my family so I was forbidden to use the computer.
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Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
"I don't understand why you have to go and answer that stupid summons!" said Luffy.
"I must go, Luffy. If I don't then they will most likely revoke my status as Shichibukai. That title is the only thing keeping Amazon Lily safe." explained Hancock turning away to avoid meeting her king's charcoal black eyes.
She couldn't even bear to imagine what he might think of her, as strong as she is to cave into such people as the World Government. The same government that backed the very resistance that enslaved her more than a decade ago.
Before Luffy could raise more opposition, she was off the 'Thousand Sunny,' and aboard her Kuja Pirate ship, sailing away.
Nami appeared laying a comforting hand on his shoulder to sooth him.
" Luffy…." she hesitated ", I'm sure she will be fine, she's a Shichibukai for crying out loud."
Luffy's said nothing but instead he left Nami's touch and went to sit on his usual seat, which was the lion's head. He had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach that something terrible was going to happen. Hancock left without disclosing much information with him, which was odd in itself; he could recall most times when she was quite open to tell him these sort of things in a flash. He knew that wars of this magnitude could last for many years since he once found himself in the middle of one, but in that time he will not give up looking for her.
Even if it kills him.
Maybe you've been pouring everything into this
Your mistake of this attends to agony
You can't predict this when it comes to it
You can hide from it, but don't you surrender anything
Don't you know that
That patience is a virtue? Yes, it is
And life is a waiting game
Don't you know that
Peace must be learned to you?
Hancock found herself sitting amongst the rest of the Shichibukai and some Admirals that she didn't care much about knowing. She opted to sit at the other end of the large table, opposite Dracule Mihawk, who was recently defeated by Roronoa Zoro. On her left sat Donquixote Doflamingo, Gecko Moria, Bartholomew Kuma, and Blackbeard.
Admiral Sengoku came in followed by Garp and a few other Vice-Admirals.
" We have confirmation that not only Whitebeard intends to meet us in battle but also most of the pirates who respect him and frown upon the imprisonment of "Fire Fist" Ace."
Hancock wanted no part of this war. She'd rather be back on the Thousand Sunny sailing with Luffy, providing her admiration in the form of protection and never ending devotion towards him. At the going rate, this war was going to last for quite some time; the time she could be spending as the Queen of the Pirates with her beloved Luffy.
" We need to mobilize for whatever situation there is to come," he turned to Hancock and Doflamingo ," Pirate Empress Boa Hancock. We will need the services of your Haoushoku (King's Disposition for those who don't know-haki) and Donquixote Doflamingo we will need your fruit powers to take control of Whitebeard's reinforcements. That will cut Whitebeard's henchmen down to size but we must act now."
Blackbeard slammed his beefy fist down on the table, " Now listen up Admiral Sengoku, I will be the one to take down Whitebeard and I don't need any of you getting' in my way. It's between me and the old man."
" Very well, but as long as you are absolutely sure that you will bring him in, then I won't mind leaving that to you." explained Sengoku.
He couldn't care less about the Shichibukai. To him they were the filth of the world recruited to do the World Government's dirty work among other things that involved making money. It caused so much trouble just to find one replacement but he could at least admire them for their strength, if not their reckless way of life.
And all the money in the world can buy you nothing (I tell you that)
All these things happen
All these things happen for a reason
Don't you go and throw it all away
When the seasons change, you gonna change
Four weeks later….
Ever since Hancock's departure, the crew have been showing great worry for their Captain, especially since he opted to not eat as much as he use to. Instead he would spend his time sitting on the Lion's head or standing in the crow's nest staring out to sea, clutching his chest.
Chopper and Usopp once asked if he wanted to go fishing. To their surprise he declined and continued to sit there in the same spot, wasting away with the thought that he'll never see his girl again. Though he did feel guilty for isolating himself from the rest of the crew because as the Captain, they needed him more than they needed each other. Without him they would most likely fall apart as the crew and part ways but Nami wasn't going to let that happen.
So she called a meeting.
" We have to do something to help Luffy. He's not himself after she left." she stated leaning up against the wall.
" Perhaps a one on one talk can get us through to him." suggested Robin " It will have to be someone that understands his situation."
Everyone turned to look at Sanji washing the dishes.
" Alright…I'll do it. Just because I can't stand to see him like this. It's depressing." he said before putting the dishes up and finally walking out on deck.
He walked closer towards the young Captain before stopping a few feet behind him.
" Did the others send you out here to talk to me, Sanji?" Luffy asked.
" Yeah…but that's not the point. The point is that you haven't been acting yourself ever since…"
" Ever since what? I don't know why, but I feel something weird in the pit of my chest every time I think about her. It's hurts even more than it does after using Gear Second. I never felt pain like this before. Not even after we got separated that one time."
Sanji took a drag out of his cigarette then exhaled the puff of smoke through his nostrils.
" Luffy…you're telling me that you're married to that awesome beauty of a Pirate Queen but you still don't know the feelings that apply to it?"
" I thought marriage was just another adventure. I didn't know about that stuff but when I think of her it just feels strange. Am I going to die, Sanji?" he asked with his head tilting off to the side in confusion.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
" No." he sighed " It means that you'll have to cure that strange feeling by going after her. If you really care about her then you should try to follow her to protect her."
The spry young man shot up off the Lion's head to inform the others of their new adventure. He slammed opened the door to the kitchen where the crew was just finishing up their meal.
" Get ready for our next adventure, you guys! We're going to Mariejois to help Hancock!"
" Luffy, there's no way you're dragging us in the middle of that war! I mean, I'm glad that you're alright and all but are you joking?!" yelled Nami.
" Nope." he simply replied.
" After all the overwhelming adventures we have been on, I would expect you to be unfazed by the dangers of the sea, Navigator-san." stated Robin.
" It's just so beautiful. Strawhat-aniki is setting sail to find his companion." said Frankly, rubbing his tears away with his arm. " Su-per! I'll go get the cola. Long Nose help me out, will ya?"
And they were off to find there recent nakama and all the time Luffy was hoping that she's alright when they finally arrive.
Three days later….
Hancock was in the middle of a group made of dozens of enemy pirates. She petrified little more than a third of the pirates stunned by her beauty while she used her Haoushoku haki to cause the more strong-willed under Ace, to faint. She really didn't want to be here; all she wanted to do was finish off this war so she could return to her beloved Pirate King.
Disobeying orders, she hopped onto the Moby Dick( Whitebeard's mothership) in order to bring an end to this once and for all. Doflamingo had fled the scene minutes before she even tried this stunt. She silently cursed him and his New Era under her breath and continued on to be interrupted by Ace.
" What you helped Luffy do was foolish and idiotic. He could've been killed…but I guess you Government Dogs don't care about anything except yourselves and your lousy title." said Ace.
" I have no intentions of fighting you, as you are Luffy's brother and he cares for you dearly. All I ask of you is a swift surrender and I'll be one my way." she said unfazed by the recent insult.
" What does a horrible excuse for a pirate like you have to do with my goofy little brother?"
" To put it simply me and him are…close acquaintances," she said obviously getting tired of the interrogation.
" What is all this about?" asked a booming voice from behind Hancock.
She turned to see that the voice belonged to non other than Whitebeard himself.
" I am here to put an end to this madness and the only way to do that is to take you in." stated Hancock as boldly as can be.
Whitebeard pulled out his gigantic bisento and thrusted it at Hancock, but luckily she was able to avoid it before the worst happened. She infused the giant pet anaconda with haki causing it to form like a large sword (My guess of its use; don't get confused) which allowed her to block the oncoming blow. She went on the offensive, trying to strike him right after his error. This went on and on with one trying to outwit the other. Hancock had completely underestimated the Yonkou; for an old man he was quick on his feet and his skills with haki was outstanding. What less could you expect from a man who had battled toe to toe with the late Pirate King, Gold Roger, and match him also.
Hancock slipped up a bit from fatigue and the bisento made slight contact with her side, causing blood to drip.
Whitebeard took a few more strikes at her until she was finally immobilized and before she could meet the ground, he caught her and picked her up in his fist.
" Pitiful Government Dog, you didn't stand a chance against me, but one thing good came out of this; one dog down…only six more to go."he said before raising his arm in a position to get ready to throw her.
Hurts me to see you feel this way, but it won't be always
Don't you know everything got to change? Oh
Feel like all your hope is gone
You can't carry on, but there's nothing wrong, oh
You don't have to pretend with me
Don't you know that
That patience is a virtue? (Yes, it is)
And life is a waiting game
Don't you know that
Peace must be learned to you?
" Wait!" exclaimed a man by the name of Shanks. " I'll dispose of the woman. Can't you see she's already immobilized?!"
" Very well get her out of my sight."
Shanks complied by taking Hancock into his arms and then rushing to the nearest unoccupied area with land. He spotted a ship coming near, which the Jolly Roger wore a strawhat. Sounds of cannons, guns, clashing swords, and men yelling sounded from a distance. He laid her down in the soft sand and headed back to the Whitebeard's ship.
Usopp was stationed up in the crow's nest when he saw a body laying on the sand. He adjusted his scope and saw that it was non other than the Pirate Queen they came there for.
" Oi, Luffy! I can see her, she's on the shore right ahead of us but…"
" But what?"asked Luffy hoping that Hancock is alright.
" …She looks pretty dinged up. I mean she's bleeding."
" She is? Well let me get my stuff!" yelled Chopper in a rush to get any and all the medical equipment he will need.
" Gomu Gomu no…Pistol!!" shouted Luffy in a haste to help his nakama.
He caught hold of a tree and pulled himself in. After landing on the soft sand, he then ran over and embraced Hancock in his strong arms, being very careful to support her neck.
" Are you still alive?! Please answer me, Hancock!!"
" Luffy my love…he was too strong for me."she panted in between sentences " I…was just being selfish. I rushed things too fast trying to get back to you soon."
" Hancock, don't die on me right now. I'm almost close to finally knowing what this marriage thing really is." he said, now starting to tremble "It truly is an adventure- an adventure with a person special to you. Sanji taught me that."
" Luffy…" she said grinning.
She raised a weak hand to reached his face. She softly ran her nimble fingers through his hair. He reached his left hand up to cover it, feeling the softness of her skin and the mild warmth it let off.
All the money in the world can buy you nothing (let me tell you that)
All these things happen
All these things happen for a reason
Don't you go and trhow it all away
When the seasons change…
Oh, oh, oh ,oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ,oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Yeah, when the seasons change, yeah
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ,oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Her hand slid down his face leaving a trail of blood in its place. Rain started to pour, a cool treacherous wind blew and the waters began to rock back and forth with waves with crests of foaming white. When Chopper and the others finally made it over to the Pirate King and his Pirate Queen, it was too late.
When Hancock left it was late fall now that they reunited on this deserted beach, the coolness of winter started to set in. The flower with the showy flowers has now wilted since her death and the Strawhat Captain was only left with the memories of the last seconds talking to her.
Just goes to show as waiting could bring both good things and bad things as the Seasons Change.
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A/N: I hated keeping this away from you guys but as a high school senior, a lot of things get in the way of me updating. I'll try to get the next chapter in a.s.a.p. and I hope that you will bear with me no matter how long the wait is. Anyway this chapter is dedicated to Houkaru Kisaragi and after every five chapters there will be a chapter dedicated to a reader as I can't think of any other way to repay you all; I can't thank you guys enough for your time on my stories. Ideas just kept pouring in for this one and the idea is how the distance between Luffy and Hancock changes the seasons. Remember the One Piece timeline? Years can pass in our world while only a few months and weeks pass in their timeline, so keep that in mind. J
