North Blue – Open Waters
The Marine warship surged forward through the waves, its hull cutting a clean path across the sea only to slow, then grind to a halt.
Directly in its path stood another vessel.
A large, crimson ship adorned with elegant curves and serpent motifs, its presence commanding and unmistakable. Two massive snake-like sea beasts flanked it, their eyes half-lidded yet alert, bodies coiled protectively around the hull.
The ship of the Kuja Pirates.
At its very front stood a woman whose beauty alone seemed to bend the air around her.
Boa Hancock.
She stood tall and proud at the bow, her long black hair flowing freely behind her, chin slightly raised as if the world itself were beneath her notice. At her sides stood her sisters Sandersonia and Marigold, while behind them, the Kuja warriors lined the deck, bows and weapons ready, eyes sharp and unwavering.
On the Marine ship, a hush fell.
Slow, unhurried footsteps echoed as a tall man moved to the very front of the deck.
Borsalino.
Or as most knew him
Kizaru.
Hands tucked casually into his coat pockets, yellow-striped suit immaculate as ever, he peered ahead through his tinted glasses at the woman blocking his path.
After a brief pause, he spoke, his voice carried effortlessly across the water, lazy yet unmistakably authoritative.
"Warlord of the Sea, Boa Hancock~" Kizaru drawled. "May I ask why my ship is being blocked?"
Hancock didn't even blink.
"Because I feel like it."
A beat passed.
Kizaru tilted his head slightly. "Is that so~?" he said, faint surprise coloring his tone. "Now that's troublesome. I'm in a bit of a hurry, you see. I'll need you to let me pass."
"I don't feel like it," Hancock replied flatly.
Kizaru brought a hand up, rubbing his chin as he stared at her. "This is… strange~" he murmured. "What exactly am I supposed to do in a situation like this?"
Hancock's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
"Turn around," she said. "And head back to Marineford."
Kizaru sighed. "That won't be possible, Warlord Boa Hancock~ I have a mission that requires me to go through here."
Before Hancock could respond, Marigold stepped forward, arms crossed.
"Maybe you should turn back, Admiral Kizaru."
Sandersonia nodded. "Yes. You see, our sister has a… terrible personality. But she always gets what she wants."
"No matter what that is," Marigold added calmly.
Kizaru remained silent, his expression unreadable behind his glasses.
Then
Boa Hancock moved.
In a single, fluid motion, she leapt from the Kuja ship, landing gracefully on the side rail of the Marine warship itself. Her heel touched down lightly, yet the impact sent a strange tension rippling through the deck.
All Marine eyes snapped toward her.
She stood there, elevated above them, one leg crossed over the other, posture regal and unassailable.
"Do you know why that is?" Hancock asked, her voice carrying effortlessly. "Why I always get what I want?"
She tilted her head back slightly, dark hair cascading down her shoulders.
"Because no matter what I do," she continued coolly, "even if I kick a kitten… even if I tear off your ears… even if I kill—"
Her eyes gleamed.
"Everyone in the world would forgive me."
She placed one hand lightly against her cheek, lips curving into a proud, absolute smile.
"Yes. Because I am beautiful."
The Kuja Pirates erupted instantly.
"LOVE SNAKE PRINCESS-SAMA!!"
"She's too beautiful!!"
"As expected of Hancock-sama!!"
On the Marine ship
Something went terribly wrong.
The Marines' expressions melted.
Eyes widened, pupils dilating as pink hearts practically burst from their gazes.
"She's… amazing…"
"So beautiful…"
"She's the most beautiful woman in the world!"
Some dropped their weapons. Others clasped their hands together in awe, faces flushed, bodies trembling.
Kizaru slowly turned his head, taking in the sight of his subordinates utterly entranced.
A bead of sweat slid down the side of his face.
'…This is bad,' he thought.
Hancock looked down at the scene before her, countless Marines gazing at her with shameless adoration.
Her expression hardened.
"How distasteful."
She reached up, gathering her hair with both hands and pulling it back in a deliberate, alluring motion, her posture becoming even more striking, more commanding.
"For the sin of lusting after me," she declared coldly, "your consciousness will turn you solid."
She brought her hands together before her chest, fingers interlocking in an elegant, heart-shaped pose, palms angled inward, thumbs and fingers forming the unmistakable symbol of her power.
Her eyes flashed.
"LOVE-LOVE BEAM!"
A blinding wave of pink, heart-shaped energy erupted outward, flooding across the Marine ship in an instant.
Marines froze mid-cheer.
Mid-blink.
Mid-breath.
Stone crept rapidly across their bodies, expressions of awe and devotion locked forever in place as they were petrified one by one.
In mere seconds, the deck was silent.
Statues stood where soldiers once had.
Only one man remained untouched.
Kizaru stood alone amid the stone figures, hands still in his pockets, staring at the aftermath.
"…Ooooh~" he muttered. "This really is troublesome."
Boa Hancock looked down at the lone man still standing among a deck of stone.
"Closing your eyes to avoid looking at me," she said coolly. "That was smart, Admiral Kizaru."
Kizaru, eyes shut behind his glasses, let out a slow breath.
"What a problem~."
Hancock's gaze sharpened.
"I know why you're here," she continued. "You came to execute Marine Captain Tenjin. I won't allow it."
Kizaru tilted his head slightly, still not opening his eyes. "Now that really isn't good~."
He paused, then turned his face toward her voice. "Yes, I'm here on orders of execution. But… why does that bother you, Warlord Boa Hancock?"
For just a fraction of a second, Hancock stiffened.
Tenjin's image flashed through her mind.
Her cheeks colored faintly.
She clicked her tongue and straightened at once. "That does not concern you."
Marigold frowned, looking between Hancock and Kizaru.
"Wait, sister… all of this is about that Marine Captain from the newspaper?"
Sandersonia's eyes widened slightly.
"You're saying we came to face an Admiral… just for him?"
Low murmurs rippled across the Kuja deck.
Hancock turned sharply.
"Shut up!"
Her voice cracked like a whip.
"If anyone has a problem with my decisions as Empress," she said coldly, "step forward and say it to my face."
Silence.
The Kuja Pirates froze, eyes lowered, not a single soul daring to move.
Hancock scoffed and turned back toward Kizaru, hands settling firmly on her hips, posture flawless and defiant.
"Well then, Admiral Kizaru," she said. "What's it going to be?"
Kizaru scratched his cheek, finally opening his eyes just a sliver enough to look past her without meeting her gaze directly.
"Warlord Boa Hancock," he said slowly, "you do realize that obstructing official World Government business like this could be considered obstruction of justice… interference with government operations… and grounds for revoking your Warlord status~?"
"I don't care," Hancock replied instantly.
Behind her, Sandersonia and Marigold tensed, unease flashing across their faces, but neither dared to speak.
'Sister… what's happening to you?' Sandersonia thought.
Kizaru exhaled.
"This job is turning out to be much harder than it needs to be~," he muttered. "Why do I have to deal with both Boa Hancock… and Vice Admiral Garp?"
Hancock's eyes widened.
"Garp?" she demanded. "What do you mean, Garp?"
Kizaru shrugged. "Vice Admiral Garp is most likely with Tenjin right now~."
Hancock's heart slammed violently in her chest.
'Garp…?'
'Was I too late?'
'If I leave now can I still make it to Lnevel Kingdom?'
'Is Tenjin… safe?'
Kizaru sensed the shift instantly.
"Relax~," he said lightly. "Garp is actually on your side this time. He's there to protect the boy."
Hancock froze.
Then, slowly her breathing steadied.
Kizaru continued, "That's why this is such a headache. He refuses to hand Tenjin over."
Hancock clenched her fists, then loosened them.
Relief washed through her, though she refused to show it.
Kizaru looked at her curiously. "This really is strange~. I wonder what kind of relationship you have with Captain Tenjin."
He raised a finger.
"But that doesn't matter right now."
"You're going to let me pass, Warlord Boa Hancock."
Before the final word fully left his mouth
Kizaru's body dissolved into brilliant particles of light, scattering upward into the sky.
A sharp flash.
Beams of golden light rained down toward the Kuja ship but Hancock was already moving.
In a blur, she launched herself forward, leg snapping upward with terrifying speed.
Her heel slammed into Kizaru's abdomen mid-materialization.
Kizaru crossed his arms just in time
BOOM!
The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, light scattering violently as Kizaru was hurled backward across the sky.
He skidded through the air, reforming fully as he stabilized himself, boots scraping against nothingness.
Hancock stood poised on the Marine ship's rail, eyes blazing.
"We'll just have to see about that," she said coldly.
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