A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for the unannounced hiatus. I don't know why but my inspiration just went kaput for a while.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: So if you like this story, and are missing the more romantic and fluffy bits, the exceptionally talented Dragocilvio has written a wonderful FanFic featuring cameos some of my OCs, including Helena! It's called A Whole New World, and it is super fun and clever. She's been sharing the chapters with me before they are published, and she has my stamp of approval. It has been really fun watching her breathe new life into my creations. The fic actually kind of works as an unofficial prequel, which is also kind of fun to contemplate.

My characters start showing up in chapter three (so don't be disappointed if you don't see them right away, though I think the premise of the whole thing is brilliant and interesting with or without my cameos). Go give it a read and leave her some reviews. I'm interested to see what ya'll think of her rendition of Helena!

Ch. 20 – Queens' Clash

Helena generally wasn't one for naps. In all honesty, her little kip on the beach could more accurately be described as an involuntary loss of consciousness. – Mihawk's sword could do no less. Whatever it was, she regretted it the moment she woke up to four strong Amazonian women pulling her arms and legs in opposite directions. To all appearances they were attempting to quarter her.

She let out a yelp of pain, startling all but one of her captors into releasing her.

"You see, Sweet Pea. I told you she's a woman," the one holding her upright said. Helena turned to glare at the blond woman still clutching her arm.

"Of course I'm a woman! What would pulling me to pieces prove?"

"We weren't trying to pull you to pieces," the roundish one called Sweet Pea insisted. "We were trying to see if you stretch like a man. Right Marguerite?"

The blonde nodded.

"What kind of man stretches?" Helena demanded, tearing her arm free and popping her shoulder back into place.

"Well, how else were we supposed to be sure?" a warrior twice as tall as Helena asked. She seemed to be the strongest of the group – a half giant perhaps - and had nearly pulled Helena's leg from its socket a moment ago. "You're not very well endowed, so…"

Helena's face reddened. "Moreso than a man!" she cried, crossing her arms defensively over the parts in question. It was at that moment she noticed that the criss-cross of sheaths she wore over her chest had disappeared: they had disarmed her.

"I told you we should have just checked her for a mushroom," one with dark hair and some serious eyeshadow insisted. She had Helena's swords slung over her shoulders, where a serpent slithered over them, eyeing her inquisitively.

Helena flushed more deeply. "I definitely don't have a, uh, mushroom," she assured them. "Who are you anyway?"

"I am Kikyo," the one holding her swords said, then indicated the tall one. "That is Aphelandra, Sweet Pea and Marguerite." She pointed to the round one and the blond in turn. "We are the Defense Warriors of Amazon Lily, and you are trespassing. State your business."

"Kikyo isn't very trusting," Aphelandra whispered to her. Being so large, her whisper couldn't help but carry. Kikyo shot her comrade a glare, but then turned it back on Helena:

"The last time a stranger came ashore, our Empress fell in love with him. She hasn't been the same since."

"Well, I assure you again, I am no man," Helena insisted. "I am Helena, former Queen of what was once Ilium. I've come to reclaim my daughter."

"The Sun Queen!" Marguerite gasped. "I told you she looked familiar. She has a wanted poster out."

The four Defense Warriors exchanged glances. "You're Princess Kina's actual mother?" Sweet Pea asked, wide-eyed.

"Her name is Kuina," Helena corrected. "And yes."

"Hancock isn't going to like this. She insisted you were dead," Kikyo informed her. "The man I mentioned that she fell in love with? He was your husband."

Helena's eyebrows lifted and her mouth dropped open, unable to form a more coherent retort than an awkward, "Oh."

"She believed that publishing about Kina in the papers would let him know she has his daughter and that she's safe," Marguerite added.

"More likely she was trying to get him to return here," Kikyo pointed out.

"I thought you killed any men who came ashore," Helena insisted. "How on earth did he survive?"

"He is the one exception," Marguerite explained. "Well, and we did meet his friends Dark King Rayleigh and First Son of the Sea Jimbei once. But Hancock only allowed them because they were with him."

That Zoro had a fishman for a friend didn't surprise her. Recent news had mentioned the Straw Hats causing a ruckus on Fishman Island. And Helena had met Rayleigh herself. Thus she didn't stop to question their story:

"I'm sorry, does Boa Hancock realize this man is taken?" she demanded, scowling.

The Defense Warriors just exchanged glances and shrugged. Taken or not, Boa Hancock probably didn't care.

"Never mind," Helena sighed. "How do I get an audience with her?"

"She has recently returned from another expedition," Marguerite observed, "You should be able to find a way to speak to her if you go to the palace."

"Provided she even wishes to see you," Kikyo pointed out, "But in all likelihood, the Empress would prefer we…dispose of the intruder before she becomes a problem."

Helena's spine stiffened, insulted. "Speaking from experience, I daresay your Empress would prefer you let her decide such things," she spat. "Take me to her."

Zoro's brow had furrowed deeper and deeper through the latest developments. And was it Helena's imagination, or were his cheeks turning pink?

"I have never met Boa Hancock in my life," he insisted. "And I've never set foot on Maiden Isle!"

Helena glanced at Luffy, ready for him to interject, but was surprised to find that he had fallen asleep at last. Apparently Sanji hadn't slipped him enough caffeine to be of much use. Well, so much the better. That would make the story that much funnier.

Perhaps she could tease Zoro a bit.

"I certainly wasn't surprised to hear that the most beautiful woman in the world had fallen in love with you," she said, grinning at him. "Naturally I was jealous, but how could I blame her? She has good taste."

Zoro flushed.

"Helena, I swear…" he started.

"Wait, who fell in love with the Marimo?" Sanji demanded, entering the room. He'd slipped out, and returned with a tray of snacks.

"The most beautiful woman in the world," Usopp clarified

"So Helena-chan then?" Sanji said, calming immediately.

Aw. Sanji could be so sweet sometimes. "Well, of course I'm in love with him," Helena agreed, "But we were just talking about the Snake Princess, Boa Hancock."

"WHAT?" Sanji roared, rounding on Zoro. "FIRST LUFFY GOT TO MEET HER, NOW YOU? AND SHE'S IN LOVE WITH YOU?!"

Zoro had to pull out a sword to fend off a barrage of kicks from the distraught cook. Impressively, Sanji managed it without spilling anything from the tray.

"Quit hogging the pretty girls, you Hurricane Cad!" he cried.

"I'm not!" Zoro retorted, and he actually shot Helena a pleading look, "I swear I'm not," he said to her, but then had to turn his full attention on his opponent. "Anyway, it's not MY fault your stupid curly brows scare away any woman with sense."

Helena stifled a chuckle as Robin and Nami came to take Zoro's place beside her. Nami had managed to snatch some of the food from the tray and sneak it to Helena, Robin, and herself. The three women watched the ensuing fight as they munched finger foods and sipped punch.

"Are you going to explain this is a comedy of errors before they disembowel each other?" Robin asked after a moment of watching their antics.

"In due time," Helena replied, tickled to note that the two women had already figured it out before the men. She eyed the small bowl of olives Nami had handed her, shrugged and popped a few into her mouth. "I admit, the confusion caused me no small amount of trouble."

Helena hadn't given Hancock time to turn her out. As soon as the Defense Warriors informed an attendant named Enishida of her presence, Helena had pushed her way through the doors to Hancock's throne room exactly as she was announced:

"Helena the Sun Queen, former ruler of Ilium."

The Snake Princess eyed her through cold, limpid eyes as she lounged on her throne, or what Helena took to be a throne at first glance. A moment later she realized that Hancock hadn't a throne at all, but sat instead on the coils of an enormous snake.

Helena didn't like snakes. They were almost as icky as bugs. Almost.

The snake didn't hold her attention for more than a glance. After all, she was getting a good look at the most beautiful woman in the world for the first time. – during the battle, Helena hadn't seen Hancock up close, just her handiwork. And while she wanted to hate the warlord on principle, she couldn't help but admire the woman's immaculate skin, silken hair, and perfect figure. Though devoid of feeling, her face and features were flawless.

She forgot the beautiful princess a moment later when a far more beautiful sound rang out through the throne room:

"MAMA!"

It was Kuina calling out to her.

In seconds the little girl sprinted across the hall from where she'd been sitting at Hancock's side. She gleefully threw her chubby, little arms around her mother, squealing in delight.

Helena had meant to make an intimidating entrance. Though still swordless, she had intended to glare down the Snake Princess with every ounce of queenly disdain she could muster. But she melted to her knees despite herself, and wrapped Kuina up in her long arms, holding her tightly to her. It was everything she could do not to burst into tears.

"I thought I'd never see you again, Kuina Bee," she murmured into her daughter's perfumed curls.

Whispers rolled through Hancock's court, but Helena didn't say anything more for a long moment, and no one intervened. Kuina must have missed her too, because she didn't squirm or make a fuss. When Helena finally released her, she made a quick inspection.

What in Hades was she wearing?

Kuina had on nothing more than a pair of floral panties and a scarf around her chest. – though Kuina was a child, Helena had been careful about dressing her with decorum. She was, after all, a princess. – anyway, it was one thing to let a toddler run about in a diaper; it was another entirely to dress her like an unscrupulous woman.

But more alarming than her clothing was the strange, sickly tinge to her skin and face. She looked flabby too. Not just the usual baby chub she'd been holding onto, but overweight.

"What on earth have you been feeding her?" Helena demanded, standing.

"Hammock gimme lots and lots of chocwate sammich cookies," Kuina replied, smiling. Her gums looked red.

"She only eats what she wants," Hancock replied nonchalantly.

Helena glared at her. – she hadn't realized she had a mode more intense than queenly disdain, but apparently motherly rage took her a step farther:

"What?!" she snapped. "What kind of idiot are you? You're making her sick!"

Hancock's beautiful, perfect blue eyes leered menacingly at Helena from where the Empress still lounged on her serpentine throne. Helena stood her ground, so furious she could glare down a thousand pairs of perfect eyes.

"You have a strange way of thanking me for looking after your daughter," Hancock pronounced coldly, sitting upright. "Kina, come here."

"Her name is Kuina," Helena corrected with her hand on Kuina's shoulder, preventing her from running back to Hancock. "Kuina, you're coming with me."

"Mama, Hammock nice," Kuina informed her, "She reawwy reawwy pwetty. She be my Mama too?"

Helena stared at her a moment, unsure how to respond to this odd request.

"You only have one mother, Kuina Bee," Helena informed her sternly.

"If you're referring to yourself, you're mistaken," Hancock interjected. "You were unable to protect your daughter, and so are unworthy to claim her, Sun Queen. Nor are you worthy of the man you claim is your husband. In reality he is married to me."

"He WHAT?!"

Hancock's icy gaze warmed over, "Yes, he said my name. That means we're married."

Not just beautiful, she looked ridiculously cute when she blushed like that, but to Helena's own surprise the famed beauty didn't phase her. Not now. She was too angry over Kuina's health.

"Saying your name doesn't mean you're married," she pointed out sharply. Was it some weird custom of the Amazons? "At least not in the rest of the civilized world."

"We're engaged then. But whatever the case, clearly he's over you," Hancock went on, standing. "After all," she pointed to Helena, suddenly looking down on her so much that she was in fact looking up. "A queen who couldn't protect her country? A mother who couldn't protect her child? You're nothing more than a failure."

Helena gritted her teeth at this, momentarily at a loss for retort. Futile anger surged through her at being accused of failing to protect the country this selfsame warlord had helped the World Government to destroy; at being accused of poor motherhood by her daughter's kidnapper.

But what could Helena say? Whatever Hancock's failings, she was right.

It didn't matter. Helena knew that she needed to get Kuina safety, which she clearly would not have under Hancock's care.

"Kuina," Helena said softly, taking her daughter's hand. "We're going."

"I didn't excuse you!" Hancock cried, straightening up.

Helena shot her a glare, and turned to go.

"Wait, Mama," Kuina cried, resisting her mother's tugging grip, "Hammock come too!"

"No," Helena said sternly.

"Kina, come here!" Hancock commanded.

Kuina turned back, slipping free of her mother. Helena turned swiftly to follow her, only to find Hancock standing with both hands clutched before her in the shape of a heart:

"Love Love Beam!"

A beam of pink light struck both Helena and her daughter. The former queen threw her arms protectively around Kuina, but though the beam passed straight through her she felt…nothing.

Helena knew well about Hancock's power. Mihawk had warned her plenty. But Hancock had caught her off guard as she turned, perhaps thinking to pre-empt any kind of defense that Helena could devise.

Fortunately for Helena it hadn't worked, and she had an inkling as to why:

"You have underestimated the anger of a mother," Helena pointed out, straightening up with her arms still clutched around her daughter. "Your beauty is not enough to entice me, witch. That you would dare to attack my daughter makes you the ugliest person in the world to me."

Hancock cocked her head to one side, contemplating her through those clear yet impenetrable eyes. It was like she expected more of a reaction.

And then Helena felt it. Kuina wasn't moving. She'd grown suddenly cold. Suddenly hard. When Helena finally dared to turn her gaze on her daughter, she let out a gasp.

Kuina had been turned to stone, a look of pure adoration on her little face.

Instinct had driven the mother to throw her arms around her daughter, but she hadn't actually believed upon further thought that Hancock's beam could work on a child. After all, how could one so young be capable of lust?

In that moment, Helena realized that Hancock usually fell back on lust because it was easy to seduce people. It was easy to prey on people's weaknesses. But love, true devotion, though harder to obtain, clearly worked just as well.

Helena saw nothing but love and trust in her Kuina's now stone-cold face as her idol turned on her.

"How dare you!" she snarled.

Energy pounded through the room, making every hair on Helena's body stand to attention as she straightened up. It was as if she had never known true anger before that moment. The emotion crackled out of her, a static pulse so raw and powerful it pushed nearly everyone in the room to the ground, knocking most of Hancock's court out cold.

So this was Conqueror's Haki. Zoro and Mihawk had both told her about it, she had experienced it in the past, but she was only just now beginning to understand it. She didn't know how to control it. How to hone it.

Hancock did. Apparently unaffected by Helena's haki, she pushed her own straight back at the ex-Queen. Though Helena tried with everything in her to resist, the power of Hancock's unconquerable spirit pushed Helena, shaking, to her knees.

The Snake Princess sauntered toward her with swaying hips, confident, beautiful, dangerous, perfect. Despite the storm of power, her perfect hair flared but never fell out of place, her perfect eyes never winced against the wind. As she approached, Helena's haki failed her and she fell helplessly onto her back.

Hancock looked down her nose at her rival disdainfully. Her Conqueror's Haki never fading, she placed the ball of her high-heeled foot onto Helena's throat.

"You are nothing next to me, Sun Queen," she stated coldly as Helena's shaking hands struggled to grip Hancock's shoe, much less push it off of her. "Why he fell for you, I'll never know."

Helena grimaced. Before she could say or even think anything else, Helena's vision tunneled, her hands slackened, and she lost consciousness for the second time that day.