Chapter Text
The descent had lasted hours, a slow slide through a darkness so dense and oppressive that it seemed solid. At first the sun's rays still made their way under the surface of the sea, but now there was no more space for the sun. Fortunately, most of the merchant ship's sailors were clearly experienced and knew how to move even beneath the water's surface.
In front of them, enclosed in a gigantic iridescent bubble that kept at bay the crushing pressure of ten thousand meters of water, shone Fish-Man Island, like a pearl amidst the oceanic darkness. Ann clung to the railing of the merchant ship, a sturdy cargo vessel carrying spices and fabrics to the New World. Her eyes were wide, reflecting the ethereal glow that came from the seabed.
"It's... incredible," she whispered, her breath catching in her throat.
The light, filtered through the titanic roots of the Sunlight Tree Eve, managed to illuminate the colorful corals and the buildings of the city contained within the huge bubble.
Next to her, a hooded figure remained silent.
"I think you could take off your cloak; we're almost there anyway, and with those clothes, no one should recognize you," the demon woman addressed her.
The figure snorted slightly and leaned down to her, letting the light, which now vibrated in the air, reflect on two golden earrings in the unmistakable shape of a snake. Beneath it was a dark purple crew-neck sweater, and, well covered by the wide, warm cloak with fur lining, a black pencil skirt with a typical side slit.
"...It's still very cold, darling; just because you have an above-normal temperature doesn't mean others are comfortable. Besides, I still doubt that a pair of sunglasses and a high ponytail can hide my identity."
Ann chuckled softly at the reply, "Touché, but once we reach the Island, there will be no reason to hide. We'll practically be in the New World," she then added, pointing to the nearby bubble, "What do you think?"
"It looks like an enchanting place. I remember... seeing many fish-men and some mermaids... in that place... some were very kind to me, despite the situation. It's terrible to think that they are considered inferior by so many people when they are human beings."
The demon woman agreed, "...I've met some too, though not many. For a while, they must have even feared the idea of a new escape if they took any more."
A short distance from them, two sailors were tinkering with the ropes, preparing to dock.
"I hope they give us permission to go down to Mermaid Cove," said one of the two, a stout man with an unshaven beard. "I've heard the mermaids are of a beauty that makes you lose your mind."
The other laughed, nodding vigorously. "Wait and hope, friend. I know the situation has changed since Big Mom was around, but given the risks, foreigners are still greatly feared. And then there's the Mermaid Princess, Shirahoshi. They say she's started coming down from the RyuguPalace more often now." He lowered his voice as if confiding a state secret. "The rumors circulating in the ports say her beauty has surpassed even that of the Pirate Empress."
Ann felt Hancock’s body instantly stiffen beneath the cloak, almost as if she were ready to react to anyone who dared question her beauty.
“Surpassed?” hissed the Empress, a sound so low and dangerous that only the demon woman could hear it. She moved to take a step toward the sailors, her head beginning to lift with that typical backward tilt that preceded mass petrification.
The younger pirate reacted instinctively. She positioned herself in front of her, blocking her view with her own body and stifling a laugh into the lapel of her jacket.
“Calm down, Empress,” Ann whispered, amused, grabbing her hand and massaging her knuckles to make her loosen her grip. “We’re incognito, remember? No petrification until we set foot on the Island. We still need this passage.”
“It is heresy,” grumbled the Snake Princess, visibly offended, but she allowed herself to be pushed against the railing. “My beauty is beyond compare.”
“I’m sure of it,” chuckled the demon woman, stealing a quick kiss on her cheek, hidden by the hood. “And even if it were, it wouldn’t change anything in my eyes.”
Hancock’s pout instantly softened, transforming into a small, pleased smile. “Of course.”
The ship passed through the bubble barrier with a strange, sliding sensation, and the air changed. It became humid, salty, but strangely fresh. Compared to the ship, which had to undergo rigorous customs checks, they managed to pass rather easily, thanks also to the incomparable beauty of the Empress who, even without great effort, made the young guard who checked their backpacks (in which they kept little more than the bare necessities) blush.
They descended the gangway, mingling with a group of merchants, trying not to attract attention. The Snake Princess, now without her cloak, walked more freely, drawing a few enchanted glances, despite the high ponytail and sunglasses not making her immediately recognizable.
Despite the attempt at anonymity, her presence was magnetic. The dark sunglasses hid her eyes but could not conceal her haughty demeanor, the way her heels echoed with authority on the coral pavement, or how the pencil skirt elegantly but provocatively hugged her figure.
Ann walked beside her, more relaxed, hands in her pockets, enjoying the sight of that submarine civilization.
“It’s different from what I imagined,” Ann commented, looking up at the suspended water channels where fish-taxis zipped past carrying passengers. “It’s... vibrant. And so colorful.”
As they entered the commercial district, amidst stalls selling local sweets and Crimin brand clothes, something caught both their attention. Above the roof of a giant building, a Jolly Roger was prominently displayed.
The skull and crossbones with a straw hat.
“Straw Hat...” Hancock murmured, stopping for an instant, her lips curling into a smile.
The demon woman chuckled, “It seems the future Pirate King already boasts some territory among his own.”
But the sweetest confirmation came a few meters further on, in a small square. A group of three fish-man children were playing noisily. One of them, a small shark fish-man child, wore a crude replica of Luffy’s straw hat.
“Gomu Gomu no... Pistol!” shouted the child, stretching out his arm (which obviously didn't stretch) towards a laughing friend, who was brandishing two sticks like swords. “You won’t catch me, I am the world's strongest swordsman!” replied the other.
The Empress stopped to observe the scene from behind her dark lenses. For the first time since they had descended, her shoulders completely relaxed. In the past, the sight of anything related to Luffy would have thrown her into a vortex of loving and obsessive emotions, but now, with Ann’s hand brushing hers, the reaction was different.
A serene smile, full of deep respect, spread across her face. “I believe your brother has certainly left his mark on this place.”
The demon woman gently squeezed her arm, understanding the weight of those words. “It’s a nice calling card for entry, don’t you think? It means we are in friendly territory.”
“As much as it is possible for two pirates,” the Snake Princess cautioned her with a smile.
They stopped in front of a building with a colorful seashell as an awning, the words Mermaid Café painted on the facade.
“This must be the place the sailors on the ship told us about,” Hancock indicated. “What do you say, shall we go in?”
“Of course!” Ann readily accepted.
They entered the establishment. The interior was spacious and bright, furnished with floating seaweed, seashell chairs, and polished pearl tables, all in a climate of colorful joy.
They sat down at the first free table, which was actually quite an accomplishment. The service seemed impeccable, judging by the smiles of the other patrons, although the fact that it was entirely managed by young mermaids might be an additional explanation for the customers’ contentment. They picked up the menu and, to Ann’s utter horror, discovered that the entire menu consisted of meat-free foods (cake, sea fruits, wakame seaweed brûlée, mozuku seaweed tarts, kombu kelp soufflé, scallop sandwiches, and shijimi clam pizza).
A short-haired green mermaid immediately approached, with a bright pink fish tail and a black tank top embroidered with a yellow star.
“Good morning! What can I get for you?” she asked, smiling.
“A portion of scallop sandwiches, and a tea, for me. Thank you very much,” Hancock said, smiling.
The demon woman sighed, resigned to the absence of meat. “The same, thank you,” she said to the mermaid.
The girl smiled and quickly swam away, flicking her tail.
“Are you disappointed, darling?” Hancock asked, resting her chin on her palm with a smile that showed amusement.
“A bit,” the pirate scoffed, crossing her arms. “Maybe I should have expected there wouldn’t be much meat here, but I hoped for a miracle.”
Then she added with a little chuckle, shaking her head: “I wonder how Luffy survived, honestly. Without meat for more than two hours, he becomes unmanageable.”
Just then, the mermaid returned, bringing the two steaming cups of tea. With a sudden jolt, she stumbled slightly, risking dropping the entire tray. Ann was quick: she stretched out a hand and supported the tray from the opposite side, steadying it.
“...Thank you!” exclaimed the mermaid, blushing a violet color. “I'm a bit clumsy, I apologize so much!” She placed the two cups on the table, then hesitated. “It's just that... I didn't expect to hear the name Luffy-chin. Do you know him?”
The demon woman raised an eyebrow, amused by the nickname. “Luffy-chin?”
“We both know Luffy,” the Kuja Empress interjected calmly, sipping her tea. “He was on my island for some time, while he and Ann grew up together. They are siblings.”
The mermaid, who introduced herself as Camie, widened her eyes in surprise. “Oh, then I am so happy to meet you! I am also friends with Luffy-chin and the whole crew! They saved me two years ago... practically twice! And then when they came here, they saved the Island from being destroyed!”
“Is that why their flag is on a building nearby?” Ann asked, vaguely pointing outside.
Camie shook her head, and her expression became a little worried. “Actually... you could say we went overboard with the celebrations after they saved the island. We had consumed all the sweets from the candy factory, which were supposed to be our monthly tribute to Big Mom in exchange for protection. The Emperor was furious, so... Luffy openly challenged her and declared that Fish-Man Island is now under his protection!”
The demon woman immediately burst out laughing heartily, despite the clear anxiety in Camie’s voice. “Typical Luffy!” she murmured between laughs, wiping away a tear. “God, he never changes. He declared war on an Emperor over sweets.” There was evident pride in her words.
“Ann!” Hancock admonished her, giving her a light kick under the table. “You shouldn’t laugh like that; challenging an Emperor of the New World is a serious matter.”
While Camie was walking away to get their sandwiches, a second mermaid passed near their table. She had long brown, wavy hair and a more sophisticated air. Her gaze fell beside Ann, where the hilts of her swords were visible, leaning against the chair.
The mermaid stopped, her eyes sparkling with immediate interest. “Oh! Are you a swordswoman?” she asked in a fluty voice, completely ignoring the Snake Princess and addressing only the woman opposite her with an admiring smile. “I adore pirates who use swords; they have such a... wild and noble charm. I bet you’ve lived incredible adventures.” She leaned forward slightly, approaching the demon woman. “Has Camie taken your order yet, pirate? If not, I can do it.”
The air around the table dropped ten degrees in one second.
Hancock set down her teacup. The sound of porcelain against the saucer echoed like a gunshot in the sudden silence at their table. The Empress slowly took off her sunglasses. “I don’t think we’ll need any help,” she replied with a smile that was beautiful but sharp as a razor, as her hand slid onto the table to cover Ann’s.
“You see, my companion and I already have everything we need, even if it might seem difficult to satisfy someone so charming and wild.” She smoothly let down her high ponytail with an elegant gesture.
The mermaid, catching the not-too-subtle message, lost her alluring smile. She quickly stammered an apology, gave a small, embarrassed bow, and backed away, making space for Camie, who set the two plates of sandwiches down in front of them.
Ann stifled a laugh, turning her hand under the Snake Princess’s to intertwine their fingers.
“You’re awful,” the pirate whispered, amused. “Charming and wild? Seriously?”
Hancock put her sunglasses back on with a fluid gesture, returning to sip her tea as if nothing had happened. “I spoke no lies. And she was eating you up with her eyes. She should thank my generosity for letting her go with only a wound to her pride.”
They ate with gusto, so much so that the demon woman had to admit that, even without meat, the food was delicious. They paid the bill and left the premises, ready for the next stop. They had already moved away from the most crowded area, chatting quietly.
“Alright,” Ann said, stretching as they returned to the coral-lit main avenue. “No meat, but excellent company. Was there anywhere else you wanted to go?”
For a few seconds, the Empress thought, then nodded. “Actually, there is one place I would like to see before leaving this island. The Sea F—”
She couldn't finish the sentence.
A sudden roar shook the water itself inside the bubble. It wasn't an earthquake, but something that had violently impacted the city's entrance barrier.
The demon woman and the Empress abruptly looked up towards the area where the Dragon Palace bubble was visible, right above the main one containing Fish-Man Island.
With a deafening WHOOSH, the Royal Palace connection bubble opened and snapped shut violently. A human figure launched out, plummeting toward the main square with the grace of a cannonball.
BOOM!
The landing stirred up a cloud of dust. When the cloud cleared, it revealed an elderly but massive man, with shoulders as wide as a mountain, wearing an elegant suit and the Marine coat draped over his shoulders like a cape.
He stood up, dusting off his knees as if he had only jumped half a meter and not fallen from an immense height.
“Bwahahaha! Perfect landing!” thundered a voice that Ann knew all too well. A voice that populated her childhood nightmares and her fondest memories.
The man lifted his head, smiling but with the sharp eyes of a predator. Behind him, breathless and visibly panicking, arrived three mermen who had also descended from the sky thanks to bubbles around their tails. And as if the situation weren't absurd enough, a gigantic shark with an equally gigantic pink-haired mermaid soon made her way forward.
“Vice Admiral Garp!” shouted one of the mermen with long blue hair and a shark tail. “You cannot launch yourself like that! You risked breaking the bubble!”
Seeing the situation, Ann decided to act accordingly, as only a brave pirate would do: she grabbed Hancock by the arm and immediately turned in the other direction, ignoring the gasp of surprise the other woman let out.
“Is that how you behave, girl?” the man roared.
No use.
The demon woman sighed and turned back around.
“It’s been a while, Gramps.”
Garp’s eyes widened, shining for an instant with pure emotion. He had seen correctly: the child he thought was lost in Goa was there, in front of him, grown up.
“Ann!” exclaimed the Hero of the Marine, and for a moment he almost seemed on the verge of tears. “You cursed brat! I thought you were dead...”
Then, the emotion abruptly stopped, replaced by authority. Garp noticed the swords, the clothes, and, with horror, realized what they might mean. “What are these swords! And these clothes, don't tell me you’ve become a pirate too!”
“Don’t start, old man. It didn’t work ten years ago, let alone now.”
The Vice Admiral's eyes then slid to the woman beside Ann, and recognition flashed in his pupils. He took a step forward, with a smile threatening enough to push the demon woman to act.
“And now you’re strolling with a wanted criminal.”
The pirate quickly unsheathed one of her swords with a rapid hiss and placed it horizontally between Garp and Hancock. The steel glittered under the light filtered by the Sunlight Tree Eve.
“I’m sorry, old man, but she’s not an option.”
The Marine froze, staring at the sword in surprise. A tense silence enveloped the scene. The three mermen remained still. The giant mermaid covered her mouth with her hands, the shark thrashing nervously.
Then, Garp burst out laughing, a laugh so loud and thunderous that it made Megalo sway.
“AHAHAHAHAHAH! It really is you! You little pest!” and he lunged forward, catching her by surprise with a bone-crushing hug. “I thought the beasts had eaten you!”
“Oh heaven! Let go of me, Gramps!” Ann shrieked in horror, feeling her ribs nearly buckle under the Marine Hero's grip. She only managed to put the sword back in its sheath to better wiggle free, but Garp was immovable.
And when she heard the Empress's crystalline laughter behind her, which rang out melodious but charged with malicious hilarity, Ann couldn't help but feel even more humiliated.
Hancock covered her mouth with the back of her hand, her eyes sparkling with pure amusement.
“You’ve grown up so much, brat. I’m quite sure you’re even taller than Luffy.”
At that moment, the gigantic mermaid leaned forward with a little squeal. “You know Luffy too!”
Garp finally let her go, chuckling and patting her on the shoulder, which made her stagger. “Of course, Princess Shirahoshi. Ann here is also my granddaughter, just like that rascal Luffy.”
“How wonderful!” the mermaid smiled, and she extended one of her enormous hands forward. The demon woman, realizing what to do, grabbed her index finger and shook it.
“My pleasure. So you’re the famous Mermaid Princess? I must say I expected you to be... considerably different.”
The Empress also stepped forward, taking off her sunglasses. Her gaze fixed on Shirahoshi, evaluating her as a rival in beauty and popularity.
“Yes, that’s me,” Shirahoshi replied gently to Ann’s question. Then the Princess’s gaze fell on Hancock’s beautiful face, and she offered her hand to her too.
“Boa Hancock,” the woman introduced herself.
The three mermen near the shark stirred. “You are a member of the Seven Warlords!” said the blue-haired one.
“Ex-member,” the Snake Princess corrected them. “But I continue to be the Empress of Amazon Lily.”
“You are an Empress?” Shirahoshi asked.
Hancock nodded, and she moved her hair away from her shoulder. “I am the Pirate Empress of the Kuja tribe.”
“You are very beautiful,” the mermaid commented, making the pirate smile broadly.
“For the Kuja, beauty goes hand in hand with strength, and the most beautiful and strongest of all becomes Empress,” she then added, perhaps mollified by the appreciation the mermaid, her rival, had shown her, “You are also very pretty,” she told her, surprising Ann.
Meanwhile, the demon woman turned toward Garp, who was still beside her, after hearing him sniffle, “...What? Are you crying, old man?”
“I’m not crying, pest,” the man told her, snorting, but openly lying. “...Just... I didn’t think something like this could happen, not after... Ace.”
The pirate nodded; she didn't want to deal with that conversation, not with the Vice-Admiral, who had been so close to her twin in his final moments. And who, because of his role, had done nothing to save him. She didn't blame him, rationally, but she couldn't help but feel an unconscious anger toward him.
“You won’t try to capture us?”
The Marine laughed heartily again. “No, there’s no need. It’s quite clear to me why you two are on this island, seeing as she lost her title. Although I don’t understand what ties you to her, I have no warrant for the arrest of either of you.” He then placed one of his big hands on her shoulder. “I’m happy to see you, Ann. Truly.”
They exchanged a look laden with many unspoken words, then Garp walked away with a smile and roaring laughter, followed by the Neptune brothers and the Mermaid Princess.
“So…” Hancock asked, approaching. “...The Hero of the Marine will hunt us?”
“He says no, but it’s always better to be wary of that man. He used to train us by throwing us into ravines when we were kids,” the pirate replied. “And you? What do you think of the one who is supposed to surpass you in beauty?”
The Empress shrugged. “She is very sweet. Perhaps too much so, and she is certainly very pretty. But you should be the one to answer that question. Is she more beautiful than me?” she asked, gently gripping the woman’s chin and running her thumb along her jawline.
“I agree with you. She’s really pretty,” Ann admitted. “But she’s not my type. What can you do? I prefer authoritative women, who can kill you and be frighteningly sexy while doing it.”
The Snake Princess smiled mischievously and leaned close to the woman's lips. “I like that answer very much.”
They kissed quickly and intensely, a kiss that was both a promise of adventure and a declaration of absolute possession.
“Let’s go,” Hancock whispered, her voice deep and full of desire. “There’s still one place I want to visit.”
It took them a while, but they finally managed to get there: the Sea Forest. The Sea Forest was an absolute contrast to the vibrant Coral Hill. It was silent, almost reverent. The massive roots of the Sunlight Tree Eve filtered a faint, greenish light that illuminated a unique underwater landscape: among various shipwrecks, colorful corals, and thousands of schools of fish and whales, a large mausoleum stood on a hill. But that was not what they were looking for.
In the surroundings, there were many other burial sites, and among them, they were able to locate the one they were looking for. Camie, the waitress from the Mermaid Café, had explained to them where that gravestone was located.
Only a name and a sun underneath: Fisher Tiger.
His body was not buried there, as it had been taken to the Fish-Man District in its time, but the kingdom's subjects had still placed that symbolic memorial site there, in honor of the hero.
Hancock stopped in front of the simple slab. Ann stepped aside silently, knowing this was her moment alone.
The Empress knelt slowly before the stone. Her eyes were not crying; they were dry, but full of gratitude. She placed a bouquet of sea lilies there.
She stood up, straightening her back. The scar of the past had not vanished, but the pain that had accompanied her until that moment had subsided.