One Piece: Luffy's Choice
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard © Me
Summary- While visiting the beautiful Mariposa Kingdom in the New World, the Straw Hats run into some old friends of Luffy's: Hancock and the Kuja Pirates. Luffy is happy to see Hancock again, but there's a problem: he hasn't told her that he doesn't return her affections.
WARNING TO ALL LUFFYXHANCOCK FANS! DO NOT READ THIS STORY IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN! JUST WALK AWAY NOW, AND DON'T LEAVE ANY MEAN HATE COMMENTS, PLEASE! Thank you.
It's another day in the New World. The Straw Hats have just arrived at the Mariposa Kingdom, one of the most beautiful places in the New World. Every now and then, flower petals would rain down from the sky and at night, the skies are so clear that one could see millions of stars.
Right now, Luffy and Blizzard are walking around town, looking for a restaurant to stop and grab a bite to eat.
"Didn't you eat on the ship?" Blizzard asked as he and Luffy walked down the street.
"Yeah, but Nami rushed off the ship so fast, I didn't get to finish my lunch," Luffy answered.
GRROOOOOWL~! Luffy's stomach growled fiercely.
"Yeah, yeah, I know!" Luffy said to his tummy. "You told me a thousand times, already! Sheesh."
Luffy is the only man I know who will actually talk back at his stomach, Blizzard asked.
"Free samples!"
Luffy and Blizzard stopped when they heard those words. They looked to their right and saw a man at kiosk selling sandwiches and serving free samples on a platter.
"Oh! Blizzard, look! That guy's selling sandwiches over there!" Luffy said.
"Looks like he's got free samples," said Blizzard, "but, knowing you Luffy, you probably don't…" He trailed off when he saw Luffy devouring the free samples. He even ate the toothpicks!
Blizzard heaved a sigh before he turned around to look for a restaurant nearby, but as he did, he heard a commotion nearby. He looked over and saw a group of men and even some women, surrounding someone with hearts in their eyes. Blizzard squinted his eyes to get a good look at who it might be, but when he did, he gasped in horror.
There, standing across the street with her back turned…is Boa Hancock, as well as pet snake, Salome. Normally, anyone, be it human or animal, no matter the gender, would be swooning at the sight of the most beautiful woman in the world (under Mermaid Princess Shirahoshi, of course), but not Blizzard. Nowadays, the very mention of Hancock's name…absolutely terrified the wolf-dog.
Oh, hell no, Blizzard thought. What the hell is Hancock doing here?!
"Miss Hancock~! Can I please touch your hair?!" asked a young man.
"Can I have your Transponder Snail number?!" asked another.
"You're so beautiful!" said a young woman.
"Enough!" Hancock barked. "Although I do appreciate your comments, you commoners mean nothing to me. Now get out of my way!"
She then did her "looking down" pose.
"Do you all wish to be turned to stone?!" she asked.
The crowd wisely got out of the Pirate Empress's way, and Hancock began to walk away with Salome slithering along behind her.
At that moment, Blizzard had decided to take Luffy back to the Thousand Sunny.
"Psst…Luffy," Blizzard whispered to Luffy, who is still eating the free samples.
"Huh?" Luffy muttered as he swallowed. "What's up buddy?"
"Listen…we better get outta here," Blizzard whispered.
"What?" Luffy asked. "Why?"
"It's Hancock," Blizzard answered, worriedly. "I just now saw her."
Luffy looked over across the street and saw Hancock, picking up an apple from a kiosk and inspecting.
"What's she even doing here, anyway?!" Blizzard questioned.
"Oh! You're right, Blizzard!" Luffy said. "It is Hancock! HEY! HANCOCK! OVER HERE! IT'S ME, LUFFY!"
"NO, YOU IDIOT!" Blizzard barked. "DON'T CALL HER OVER!"
Hancock turned around upon hearing Luffy's voice, and she gasped upon seeing the man she loved (who did not love her back).
"Luffy!" Hancock exclaimed as she ran over to him.
Blizzard slapped his paw over his eyes in disbelief and frustration.
Sometimes, I hate my life, he thought.
"Hi, Hancock!" Luffy said. "Long time no- MMPH!"
BLOOMP! Luffy suddenly found his head betwixt two…melons as Hancock embraced him happily.
"Oh, Luffy~!" Hancock cried. "I'm elated to see you, again!"
"Yeah…I'm happy to see you, too, Hancock!" Luffy said, his voice muffled between Hancock's breasts.
"Oh! And I see you brought Blizzard with you!" Hancock said as she spotted Blizzard, who is wearing a forced smile.
Just smile for the crazy lady, Blizzard, the wolf-dog thought before he noticed Salome.
"Oh, hey, Salome," Blizzard said in his own language. "What's new?"
"Ah, not much," Salome said. "How's life treating you?"
"Pretty good," Blizzard answered.
"So, Hancock, what are you doing here?" Luffy asked.
"Oh, this happens to be one of the islands under the protection of the Kuja Pirates," said Hancock.
"Oh! So we're on your territory!" Luffy said. "I hope you don't mind, but my crew and I are docked at the shore and-"
"Oh, Luffy, no! I don't mind at all!" Hancock replied, a blush on her cheeks. "You're more than welcome to land here!"
"Great!" Luffy said. "We kinda had to stop here, anyway. Our rations are running low and all and we-"
GRRRUUUUUUUUUUMMMBLE! Luffy found himself getting cut off by his stomach, again.
"Hey!" Luffy said to his tummy. "It's not nice to interrupt!"
"Oh, dear!" Hancock cried. "Luffy, you must be starving!"
"Well…I did have some free samples of sandwiches," Luffy said, "but they barely filled me up."
"Why don't you and Blizzard come with me to my ship?" Hancock asked. "I'll have my cooks make you a feast!"
"You mean it?!" Luffy asked, drooling. "Awesome! What are we waiting for?!"
"Uh, Luffy, I don't think that's a good idea-" Blizzard answered.
"C'mon, Blizzard!" Luffy said. "Hancock's being nice! Plus, we'll get to see the rest of the Kuja Pirates, especially Marguerite!"
Blizzard's ears perked up at the sound of Marguerite's name before he looked down at his paws, remembering the gold anklets she gave her before he and Luffy left for Impel Down, two years ago.
"Well…I guess it would be nice to see Marguerite again," Blizzard said. "Maybe I can ask her for a new pair of anklets."
"See? It's okay!" Luffy said. "Oh! Hancock! Is it okay if Blizzard and I bring the rest of my crew with us?"
"If it makes you feel comfortable, of course you can," Hancock answered.
Blizzard gasped in horror at this.
"Here," Hancock said as she gave Luffy a folded up piece of paper.
"What's this for?" Luffy asked.
"It's a map to the southeastern shoreline," said Hancock. "My ship is docked there, so you'll know where to find it."
"Oh! Great!" Luffy said. "See you later, then!"
Hancock smiled before she and Salome left.
"Luffy, are you nuts?!" Blizzard asked in disbelief. "We can't bring the others!"
"Why not?" Luffy asked, bewildered.
"Well, first of all, I'm afraid of what those girls will do to Sanji and Brook," Blizzard answered. "Second of all, I'm afraid Nami will get jealous again and try to break up with you, like last time!"
"What?" Luffy asked. "That's ridiculous! Nami knows I don't like Hancock that way!"
"Yeah, but does Hancock know that?" Blizzard asked. "Luffy…you saw the look on Hancock's face. She developed feelings for you after that whole mess on Amazon Lily, and she still has those feelings! Luffy…if you don't do something, worst-case scenario is she's gonna get in between you and Nami. You don't want that, do you?"
"…not really," Luffy answered, somewhat sadly.
"Then I guess you don't have much choice," said Blizzard. "Luffy…you gotta tell Hancock that you don't return her feelings…before it's too late."
Luffy stared at Blizzard with a worried expression before he looked down at the ground.
XXX
"This looks like the place," said Nami.
"Luffy, I still can't believe that the Pirate Empress invited us for dinner!" Usopp exclaimed.
"Shishishishi! I know! Hancock's pretty awesome, huh?" Luffy asked.
Sanji just grumbled irritably to himself, apparently still jealous of Luffy for "goofing off" in Amazon Lily two years ago (even though the captain and Blizzard really spent two years on Rusukaina).
The Straw Hats had arrived at the southeastern coast of the island, where they find the Kuja Pirates' ship. Upon arriving there, Luffy and Blizzard are greeted by some familiar faces: Marguerite, Aphelandra, and Sweet Pea.
"Hey!" Luffy exclaimed. "It's Marguerite, Aphelandra, and Sweet Pea!"
"Luffy!" Marguerite greeted him. "You're here!"
"What are you guys doing out here?" Luffy asked.
"The Snake Princess gave us orders to welcome you and your friends when you arrive," Aphelandra answered.
"The saga of 'We've been waiting for you'," Sweet Pea added.
"Aww, that's nice, you guys," Luffy said. "Oh, right! I should introduce you guys to my crew!"
The captain then turned to the rest of the Straw Hats.
"Guys, this is Marguerite, Aphelandra, and Sweet Pea," said Luffy. "They saved my life, two years ago, after Blizzard and I landed in Amazon Lily!"
"What happened?" asked Nami.
"He ate Body Parasite Mushrooms," said Marguerite. "It caused mushrooms to grow out of his body."
"Oh! I read about those!" said Chopper.
"They did chase me and Blizzard after a while and tried to shoot us with their arrows," said Luffy, "but after a while, we became really great friends."
"Oh," Nami said. "In that case, thanks for saving my boyfriend."
"It's no problem," said Aphelandra.
"Yes, the saga of 'It's the least we could do,'" added Sweet Pea.
"By the way, what's your name, again?" Marguerite asked.
"Oh, right," Nami said. "I'm Nami. Luffy's navigator and girlfriend."
"Oh, right!" Marguerite said. "You're that girl that Luffy would talk about so much!"
"And this is the rest of my crew, Zoro, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, and Brook!" Luffy chimed in.
"Hello!" the rest of the crew greeted them.
That's when Sanji approached the girls.
"It's truly a pleasure meeting you beautiful ladies," said Sanji as he kissed Marguerite's hand. "Tell me…have you three known each other long?"
~30 seconds later~
Sanji lay on the ground, a bloody and battered heap after he had been pummeled by Marguerite, Aphelandra, and Sweet Pea.
"Ouch…!" Sanji muttered, his hands in between his legs.
(A/N: Yes, they hit him there.)
"Such vulgar manners," Marguerite said.
"Yes, the saga of 'He should learn some respect'!" Sweet Pea added.
"Anyway, please come aboard," said Aphelandra. "The Snake Princess awaits inside."
"Great! Let's go!" Luffy said.
With that, Luffy ran aboard the Kuja Pirates' ship, and the rest of the Straw Hats soon followed behind.
"Hey, Hancock! I'm here, and I brought my friends!" Luffy called. "Where are you?!"
"Big sister is in her room, right now," said a voice, "but she'll be out, momentarily."
Luffy turned and saw Boa Marigold, Boa Sandersonia, and Elder Nyon.
"It's good to see you, again, Luffy," said Marigold.
"Yes, long time, no see," added Sandersonia.
"Oh! It's you guys!" Luffy said. "Hancock's sisters and the bean lady!"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A BEAN?!" Elder Nyon questioned.
"You know them, too, Luffy?" Nami asked.
"Oh, yeah!" Luffy said. "They're my friends, too!"
"Well, it's nice to meet you, too," Nami said. "I'm Nami. Luffy's navigator and…his girlfriend."
"Ah, so you're Nami," said Sandersonia. "Luffy tells us a lot about you."
"So I've been told," Nami said before she glanced at Luffy with a knowing smile.
"Yep! Nami's the love of my life!" Luffy said as he put an arm Nami's shoulders. "She and I are like salt and milk!"
"Salt and pepper, honey," Nami corrected.
"What she said," Luffy said…before he frowned.
"Something troubles you, Luffy?" Marigold asked.
"Well…" Luffy mumbled as he looked to Nami. "Uh…Nami? Promise me you won't get mad and break something when you hear this, okay?"
"Why?" Nami asked.
"Just please promise me," Luffy pleaded.
"Uh…okay," Nami answered, bewildered.
"Okay, so here's the thing," Luffy said before he turned to Hancock's sisters and Elder Nyon. "Hancock…still kinda has feelings for me…doesn't she?"
Marigold, Sandersonia, and Elder Nyon tensed up at this…before they grimly nodded their heads.
"I thought so," Luffy said.
Nami tried not to show it when she heard that, but deep down…she…was…fuming.
"So…the thing is, I'm hoping to tell her that I don't feel that way about her," said Luffy. "I mean…I already told her I have a girlfriend, and that's Nami!"
"Well, apparently, that fell on deaf ears," said Sandersonia.
"We've tried to tell her, ourselves," said Marigold, "but she just refuses to listen to reason."
"The way I see it," Elder Nyon started, "Hancock is trying to cling to the hope that you still love her…to keep herself from getting hurt."
"…Wow," Nami whispered. "I actually feel sorry for her."
"Hancock always has been one to try and hide her true feelings in the face of others," Elder Nyon commented. "Luffy…all I can tell you is…let her down gently."
Luffy heaved a sigh.
"Sounds easier said than done," he said.
Just then, one of the Kuja Pirates came out of the door.
"Presenting…the Snake Princess!" she called, and soon after, Hancock appeared with Salome at her side. The Pirate Empress is garbed in a dress that is similar to the one she wore in the Paramount War, two years ago, only this one is pure white, and the Kuja Pirates' mark is embroidered in a shiny gold color. Also, she has a pink cape draped around her shoulders.
Blizzard gulped nervously when he saw Hancock's clothes.
She looks like she's about to get ready for a wedding, he thought.
"Hi, Hancock!" Luffy said. "Is the food ready, yet?"
"Ah, what are you doing?!" asked the Kuja warrior that announced Hancock's arrival. "Do not address the Snake Princess unless she has addressed you, first!"
"It's all right, Gilea," said Hancock with a grin. "Luffy is the only exception. Luffy…I welcome, as well as your crew, to my ship." She then looked down and saw Chopper, looking up at her with a smile.
"Hi!" Chopper greeted.
A vein appeared on Hancock's forehead, and then, THWAK! She kicked Chopper away!
"Who left this raccoon dog in my way!?" she questioned.
Luffy caught Chopper in his arms.
"Hey!" Chopper snapped. "What did you do that for?! I was only saying hi!"
"Hancock, this is Chopper! He's my friend, too!" Luffy shouted.
Hancock gasped upon realizing her mistake.
"O-oh, dear!" she said. "My apologies, Luffy! I had no idea!"
"Well…I guess I could let it slide, for now," Luffy said.
Chopper glared at Hancock, snorting through his little blue nose.
GUUUUUUUUUUURRGLE~! Suddenly, Luffy's stomach growled, again.
"Uh…oops," Luffy muttered, sheepishly.
"Oh, of course!" Hancock said. "The food should be ready, shortly. Follow me to the ship's banquet hall."
XXX
MUNCH! MUNCH! CRUNCH! CHOMP! GULP! URRRP! Inside the banquet hall, Luffy is happily eating the food that had been prepared (and is enjoying it more so than before since Hancock had forbidden the Kuja warriors to play with his stretchy skin while he ate). Ham steak, seared rabbit, salmon stew, octopus balls, deep fried squid tentacles, grilled sea king marinated in teriyaki sauce…Luffy grabbed all this and more and ate as much as he possibly could.
Brook, who is covered in bruises and bumps, is painfully eating his meal after he gotten up by one of the Kuja warriors for asking her if he could see her panties (he just wanted to see if the rumor that they didn't wear underwear was true or not). Sanji, still aching from Marguerite, Aphelandra, and Sweet Pea's earlier beating, and Franky immediately sympathized with the skeleton and praised him for his attempt, nonetheless.
Blizzard ate his meal in the corner of the room, wearing a new pair of golden anklets that Marguerite gave him after she found out he had lost the ones she had given him before his and Luffy's trip to Impel Down. Also, she given a pair to Chopper after she found out that he is Blizzard's little brother, so to speak.
SLUUURRP! URRRRRRP! Luffy slurped up some spaghetti and then let out a belch that reverberated throughout the hall.
"Excuse me," he said before he went back to eating.
"Good for you for remembering your manners, Luffy," Nami praised.
"Shishishishi!" Luffy laughed. "Well, you taught me!"
Hancock felt a vein appear on her forehead when she heard Nami praising Luffy.
Just then, SNATCH! SNATCH! SNATCH! Luffy stretched his arms and grabbed a piece of crab meat that Usopp was about to eat, as well as Chopper's steak, and Franky's Sea King sandwich.
"HEY!" Usopp shouted. "DAMMIT, LUFFY!"
"Luffy, that was mine!" Chopper snapped.
"Quit stealing everyone's food!" Franky added.
"LUFFY CAN TAKE WHATEVER HE PLEASES!" Hancock boomed, which quickly silenced the complaining trio.
"Here, Luffy," Nami said as she held up a piece of ham on her fork. "Say 'ah~!'"
"Ah~!" Luffy opened his mouth wide, and Nami happily fed him the piece of ham…much to Hancock's growing jealousy.
"What do you think you're doing to my Luffy?!" Hancock questioned.
Nami tensed…before she slowly turned to Hancock…with an almost murderous glare in her eyes.
"Excuse me?" Nami questioned. "Did you say Luffy was yours?!"
"That's right!" Hancock shouted.
"Oh, boy, here we go," Luffy muttered with a hint of dread in his voice.
"And just what gives you the right to say he's yours?!" Nami questioned. "I've known Luffy longer than you have!"
"Oh, I know of that," Hancock said. "You are Luffy's…girlfriend, correct?"
"That's right! What about it?!"
"…I hardly think that a lowly ruffian such as you is fit to satisfy Luffy!"
"What did you say, bitch?!"
"Oh, dear," Robin said as she grew four arms on Chopper: two to cover his eyes and two more to cover his ears.
Good thinking, Robin, Blizzard thought.
"Luffy has told me about you," Hancock said. "How you hit him in the head sometimes and how you yell at him! Meanwhile, I treat him with the respect he truly deserves!"
"Hey, whenever I hit him, it's mostly because I worry about him!" Nami rebuked.
"Yeah, she does apologize afterwards," Luffy pointed out.
"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS!" Nami and Hancock shouted at Luffy, who flinched.
"Look, missy!" Nami spat. "I don't even care if you're one of the Seven Warlords! You think that because Luffy spent time on your island, that gives you the right to talk down on me?!"
"Why not?!" Hancock questioned. "I'd be a much better lover for Luffy!"
"Oh, please!" Nami spat. "How old are you?! Like 30-something, right?! Luffy's 19! You're way too old for him!"
"And how old are you?!" Hancock asked.
"I'm 20, but that doesn't make a difference!" Nami answered.
Marigold and Sandersonia glanced at each other, nervously.
"I can't look," Usopp said as he covered his eyes.
"I can," said Sanji, smirking at the possibly of a potential catfight, but then Zoro covered his eyes.
"Don't hold your breath, cook," the swordsman said.
"Yo-ho-ho-ho…!" Brook chortled nervously.
"Why would Luffy ever fall for someone like you?!" Nami questioned.
"Why?" Hancock asked. "Because, fool…I am the most beautiful woman in the world!"
Uh, technically, you're the second most beautiful woman in the world, Blizzard noted mentally. Shirahoshi's already beat you to the punch.
"You may be beautiful on the outside," Nami began, "but you're really a snobby, stuck-up bitch who thinks she owns everything! Well, let me tell you something! Luffy and I are engaged to be married!"
Everyone gasped at this.
"Nami, that was supposed to be secret!" Luffy exclaimed.
"Well, it's not anymore, Luffy," Nami said. "Sorry."
"You…and Luffy? Engaged?!" Hancock questioned in anger. "That's preposterous! I should be the one Luffy is engaged to! He does return my love, after all! Don't you, Luffy?"
A pause, but then Hancock looked to Luffy…who is silent.
"…Luffy?" Hancock called, in concerned.
Everyone looked to Luffy, waiting for him to speak.
"…Hancock," Luffy said. "I'm sorry, but…no. I don't love you."
Hancock's eyes went wide in horror, and it almost felt like she felt her heart shatter into a million pieces.
"…I…I see," the Warlord whispered with tears forming in her eyes. "…Please excuse me."
With that, Hancock turned and walked out of the dining hall with Salome slithering along behind her in concern. Everyone watched as she left, and even Nami seemed to be feeling some slight remorse for her words.
"Uh…maybe I should-" Nami began, but then Luffy stood up.
"Let me talk to her, Nami," Luffy said. "I'm the one who made her upset, not you."
With that, Luffy followed after Hancock, leaving everyone else in the dining hall.
"Uh, okay, I know this is pretty bad timing," said Usopp, "but…can somebody please pass the salt?"
Everyone glared at Usopp for his insensitivity of the situation.
XXX
Luffy followed Hancock all the way to her quarters and found the door slightly open. He took a peek inside and saw the Pirate Empress…lying on her bed, sobbing face-first into a pillow. Salome sat by her side, nuzzling her face gently in concern.
"Uh…Hancock?" Luffy called.
Hancock looked up at Luffy, her eyes bloodshot and puffy.
"…Luffy," she whispered.
Luffy opened the door all the way and entered the room.
"Hancock, I'm really sorry," he said. "It's just…I knew you still had feelings for me…and I do like you…just…not the way you expected me to, okay?"
"Luffy…I must be honest," Hancock said with a sniffle as she sat up on her bed. "I actually knew for a very long time that you did not return my feelings…when you first told me about Nami."
"You did?" Luffy asked. "Why didn't you say so?"
"Because…I never found happiness like that before," Hancock answered. "The happiness I felt whenever I was with you. I never wanted that feeling to go away. Even after those two years had passed and you said you did not wish to marry me…I continued to foolishly hold on to the hope that you would return my affections…but I know see it's useless. In the end…I only ended up saddening myself."
Luffy sighed sadly at this…but then he walked over to the heartbroken empress, sat down next to her…and gently put his hand on hers, much to her surprise.
"Hancock," he said, "I know you're upset, but…just because I don't love you doesn't mean you should be sad forever. If it's not me, it'll probably be someone else! Someone who understands you, like me and Nami!"
Hancock appeared thoughtful at this notion, and Luffy smiled.
"You'll find yourself happiness like that, someday," said Luffy. "I know you will."
Hancock smiled back at Luffy.
"Thank you, Luffy," she said.
"No problem," Luffy said. "So…can we still be friends?"
"…Of course," Hancock said.
Outside of the room, Nami, Sandersonia, Marigold, and Elder Nyon stood by the door and, hearing the conversation that went on inside, smiled happily.
"You're a very lucky young girl to have a man like Luffy, Miss Nami," said Nyon.
"Thanks," Nami said. "I consider myself lucky to have him, too."
And so, Hancock went back out and apologized to the rest of the Straw Hats for snapping at Luffy when he stole their food, as well as to Nami for fighting with her over Luffy. Nami seemed to easily forgive the Pirate Empress, but she warned her that next time, she should try and be careful with her words. Also, Hancock decided to throw another feast in celebration of Luffy and Nami's engagement, which the rest of Straw Hats were of course surprised to hear about, but were joyful nonetheless. However, Luffy did complain to Nami about just blurting it out like that.
"Ah, everyone was gonna find out eventually," Nami rebuked.
What's more, Luffy and Hancock continued to remain very good friends. Who knows? Maybe the Pirate Empress really will find her perfect match, someday.
THE END
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