"Ah! Lord Snake Princess!"
"It's so beautiful, Lady Snake!"
At the port of Amazon Lily, the citizens of Kuja gathered to welcome the return of the Kuja Pirates. This tradition, upheld by generations of Amazon Lily emperors, celebrated the prowess of the Nine Snakes Pirate Group, the most powerful warriors of the island. Periodically, the Nine Snakes Pirates, led by their emperor, would embark on raids and return to display their spoils, basking in the cheers and admiration of their people. This practice motivated all citizens to grow stronger, aspire to join the Nine Snakes Pirates, and ensure the group's continued evolution.
However, under Hancock, this tradition took on a unique flavor.
"Lord Snake Princess! So beautiful!"
"I am willing to die for Lady Snake!"
The citizens' eyes turned to hearts as they gazed at Hancock with infatuation, their cries echoing with adoration.
"Hancock's popularity as an emperor must be the highest among Amazon Lily's rulers in history," Rayleigh remarked, amused by the overwhelming adulation directed at Hancock.
"Because little Hancock is so beautiful," Shakky added with a slight smile.
Hancock's beauty was unrivaled, even when compared to the legendary mermaid princess. Her allure, amplified by the power of the Love-Love Fruit, made her irresistibly charming. By joining the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Hancock protected Amazon Lily from the Marines and other pirates. While the natural barrier of the Calm Belt had historically safeguarded the island, the Nine Snakes Pirates often faced threats during their raids. Amazon Lily, also known as Daughter Island, had a reputation that attracted pirates and human traffickers who saw the island's women as highly valuable commodities.
Casualties, injuries, and missing persons were common risks for the Nine Snakes Pirates during their expeditions. But Hancock's rise to power and her alliance with the Seven Warlords changed everything. With the kingly qualifications of Conqueror's Haki and the abilities of the Love-Love Fruit, Hancock's strength was unmatched among the Warlords, second only to BIG-MOM among the most powerful women on the sea. The title of Pirate Empress resonated throughout the seas, deterring anyone from challenging the Nine Snakes Pirates.
Hancock's rule brought unprecedented safety and prosperity to Amazon Lily. Her powerful presence ensured that the Nine Snakes Pirates could plunder without fear of retribution. Under her leadership, the island thrived, and her reputation soared to the highest peak among Amazon Lily's emperors.
"Fire Emperor?!"
"The Flame Emperor who led the Entei Incident and defeated Naval Headquarters?!"
All of Amazon Lily's citizens stared at Ace in disbelief. The great incident involving the Flame Emperor had spread worldwide, its coverage by the Den Den Mushi reaching even Amazon Lily despite its isolation within the Calm Belt. The entire nation had watched the battle that shook the world.
During the Entei Incident, Naval Headquarters, the strongest force among the three great powers of the sea, had developed seastone outer ships, breaching the natural barrier of the Calm Belt and exposing Amazon Lily to Marine incursions. Lady Snake, in a bid to protect Amazon Lily, had responded to the World Government's call and joined the Seven Warlords of the Sea to avoid being conquered by Naval Headquarters.
But that seemingly invincible force had fallen into an unprecedented rout at the hands of the Flame Emperor, right in front of the whole world. Ace had not only defeated Admiral Akainu but had also bested Marine Marshal Sengoku and the Five Elders in a battle of wits, single-handedly overpowering two of the Marine's three strongest combat forces. He had executed three Celestial Dragons and smashed the heads of the Five Elders, the highest authorities in the world. This man, capable of easily destroying Amazon Lily, truly stood at the pinnacle of the sea.
The citizens of Amazon Lily struggled to reconcile this image with the young man smiling gently before them. The Ace standing here now seemed completely different from the one broadcast during the Entei Incident. Then, his Haki had been unparalleled, his fierce, stern eyes impossible to look at directly, and his residual fire form had left the world awestruck. Yet, here he was, gentle, kind, and approachable.
"Ace, you are so gentle. Is it because of me? You have left such a gentle impression on the people. Sure enough, Ace wants to marry me," Hancock murmured, covering her pretty red face and not daring to look at Ace.
"Hey! Ace didn't even say anything at all," Grandma Nyon scolded, exasperated by Hancock's lovesick behavior.
"Well, well, mother-in-law, it's good that Sister's lovesickness has eased," the green-haired Sandersonia remarked with a smile.
"Hey, Hancock's lovesickness is much more serious than mine was back then. Fortunately..." Grandma Nyon sighed, but there was joy in her eyes. Fortunately, Hancock had fallen in love with Ace, whose power was enough to eliminate any threats to her pursuit of him.
Joining the Flame Emperor's command, Ace's reputation now far surpassed that of any Seven Warlords of the Sea. He was a terrifying man who had defeated Naval Headquarters head-on and a madman who had publicly executed three Celestial Dragons. No one or force on the sea dared provoke such a man.
Grandma Nyon understood the future direction of Amazon Lily: joining the Flame Emperor. Hancock was deeply in love with Ace, and as long as Ace said a word, Hancock would undoubtedly join the Entei Pirates. Consequently, Amazon Lily, following Emperor Hancock's decision, would naturally fall under Ace's command.
Moreover, Shakky's return to Amazon Lily highlighted the stance of the former emperor. She and Rayleigh had found an overlord capable of protecting Amazon Lily and ensuring the prosperity of the Nine Snakes Pirates. Hancock had joined the Seven Warlords of the Sea to shield Amazon Lily from Marines and other pirates, allowing the Nine Snakes Pirates to raid and hunt without casualties. Her beauty, combined with the Love-Love Fruit, exuded incredible charm, making her the most beloved emperor in Amazon Lily's history. The younger generation of warriors were infatuated with Hancock, worshipping her blindly.
Though Shakky was the former emperor, her status remained high among the older citizens. Both emperors had made the same decision: Amazon Lily would join the Flame Emperor. Ace's reputation and power were more than enough to protect Amazon Lily, ensuring its continued safety and prosperity.
"Hurry and prepare for the banquet, clean up the dust for Ace, and gather all the best ingredients!" Hancock commanded with a wave of her hand.
"Yes, ma'am!" All the citizens responded quickly, bustling into action.
"Ace, let me check out the kitchen," Laki said, her red lips curling into a smile. She was intrigued by what ingredients Amazon Lily, isolated in the Calm Belt, might offer. More importantly, Ace had mentioned he was accustomed to her cooking, a thought that filled her with happiness. Under the guidance of a citizen, Laki headed toward the palace kitchen.
"Hey, Ace, I can cook too. Would you like to try my cooking?" Hancock asked, blushing, her slender fingers twirling nervously. The prospect of cooking for Ace filled her with a joy she could hardly contain.
"Sister!" Sandersonia and Marigold stared at Hancock in shock. She was the emperor of Amazon Lily, yet here she was, offering to cook. But even in their astonishment, they found her so beautiful, caught in the throes of love.
"Thank you, Hancock," Ace said warmly, taking her hand. Her breathtakingly beautiful face seemed to glow as she covered it, not daring to meet his gaze.
"No, it's not hard. I, I am so happy now," Hancock stammered, her eyes swirling and her face turning a deep crimson. Her legs went weak, and Ace had to catch her to prevent her from falling.
"If Ace hadn't held my hand and looked at me so tenderly, I might have fainted," she thought, pink hearts rising all over her body thanks to her Love-Love Fruit ability.
"Then, I'll go to the kitchen first, Ace," Hancock stuttered, feeling the need to escape before her heart gave out from sheer joy.
"Well, I'm looking forward to it, Hancock," Ace replied with a smile.
The banquet soon commenced. Amazon Lily's most famous ingredient was, of course, the giant Sea Kings that inhabited the Calm Belt. These enormous creatures were dozens or even hundreds of times larger than those found elsewhere. Their immense strength could overturn the sturdiest of Naval Headquarters' warships, and their taste and nutritional value far surpassed that of ordinary Sea Kings.
Ace savored huge pieces of Sea King meat, drinking in the pleasure. The nutritional value was so high that even his formidable physique felt a noticeable increase. It became clear why the women of Amazon Lily were such natural-born warriors, able to freely wield Armament Haki upon reaching adulthood. Feeding on giant Sea Kings provided a strong foundation for their prowess.
The palace banquet included only the members of the Entei Pirates, Hancock, Grandma Nyon, Sandersonia, and Marigold. Other Nine Snakes Pirate officers were in the hall outside the palace, while ordinary warriors gathered in the palace courtyard, and the rest of the citizens celebrated outside. Amazon Lily's hierarchical structure, based on strength, was designed to inspire citizens to become stronger, and even during a banquet, this rule was upheld.
"Ace, this is my dish..." Hancock carefully placed a bowl of fish soup in front of Ace, looking at him with hopeful eyes.
"I'll try it," Ace said, understanding that this was Hancock's own creation. Unlike his usual ravenous eating, he gracefully sipped the fish soup, his eyes lighting up with surprise.
"It's delicious! This taste..." Ace's voice trailed off in amazement. The flavor was unexpectedly exquisite, rivaling Laki's cooking. Laki's culinary skills were said to be the best on the sea, enhanced by her profound understanding. That Hancock, the emperor of Amazon Lily, could cook as well as Laki was astonishing.
"It's the power of love, little Ace," Shakky remarked with a laugh. "Lovesickness can be life-threatening for the emperor of Amazon Lily, but when she's with her beloved, even her cooking is infused with the power of love."
"I see," Ace realized, understanding why the soup had felt so different from the other dishes.
"Hancock, thank you for your hard work," Ace said, smiling at her.
"It's not hard at all. I'm very happy," Hancock replied, her face flushing deeply.
"Can I come to your room tonight? I have a gift for you," Ace asked gently.
"Wait, WHAT?!" Hancock exclaimed, covering her face, which had turned a frightfully deep red, as she stood frozen in shock.
Amazon Lily, Nine Snakes City, night.
In Hancock's bedroom, the entire island had settled into a peaceful slumber following the grand banquet. Yet, within the palace, Hancock's heart was anything but calm.
"Ace... let me wait for him in the palace. Is it really happening?" she murmured, her face flushed with a deep red, her beautiful eyes swirling with nervous excitement. The mere thought of Ace sent bursts of steam rising from her head.
"Can you really hold on?" she whispered to herself, feeling a mix of anticipation and trepidation. She was so paralyzed by her feelings that she could barely move. Just thinking about being with Ace filled her with dizzying happiness.
Though she longed to be closer to Ace, the sudden prospect of it all overwhelmed her. "No, I must compose myself. Ace will be here soon. I can't lose my composure now," she told herself, stroking her heart to calm its rapid beating. She took deep breaths, trying to quell the shyness that threatened to consume her.
"By the way, shouldn't you take a shower first if you want to present your best self?" she suddenly realized. In the joy of returning to Nine Snakes with Ace, she had completely forgotten to bathe.
Tonight might be their first intimate moment together. She had to be perfect for him.
Hancock hurried to prepare herself, determined to wait for her beloved in the best possible manner.
Hancock was about to undress and head to the bathroom when she suddenly froze. Her face, which had been flushed with anticipation, turned pale. Her delicate hands unconsciously reached for her back.
"How could I forget?" she murmured, biting her red lip so hard that a small trickle of blood seeped from her teeth and ran down her chin.
Ever since she met Ace in the Calm Belt, her mind had been filled with thoughts of him and their potential future together. The idea of their happy life had consumed her, making her forget one painful truth.
Hancock sat on the bed, hugging her knees, burying her face between her slender legs. On her back was the slave brand of the Celestial Dragons—the Hoof of the Celestial Dragon.
When she and her sisters were very young, they had been captured by human traffickers during a voyage with the Nine Snakes Pirates and sold as slaves to the Celestial Dragons. The brand was an inescapable symbol of their past enslavement.
After being rescued by Rayleigh, Shakky, and Grandma Ze, they returned to Amazon Lily. Hancock, with the power of the Sweet Fruit and her awakened Conqueror's Haki, soon became the emperor of Amazon Lily. But her traumatic childhood led her to don a cold and proud facade, using it to maintain her image as a tyrant emperor.
Each time she bathed, she would close Nine Snakes City to hide the brand. The legend of "Gorgon" and the supposed curse of the witch from their Devil Fruit powers helped conceal the truth. She feared that if their tribe knew they had been slaves, they would no longer be accepted in Amazon Lily.
This fear had been ingrained deeply into the hearts of Hancock and her sisters.
"How could I forget such an important thing?" Hancock's face was contorted with pain as she bit her lip, blood continuing to drip. Was she so happy with Ace that she had even forgotten her painful memories?
If Ace learned her secret, could she still hold on to this happiness? The thought tormented her.
"Crack!"
The sound of the palace door opening echoed through the room. Footsteps approached slowly.
"!!!"
The footsteps that Hancock had been eagerly anticipating now filled her with dread. She was terrified that Ace would leave her, that she would lose him forever.
"Hancock."
Ace's voice was gentle as he looked at her, her pretty face buried in her legs, her delicate body trembling. His eyes filled with pity. His Observation Haki had picked up on her tumultuous emotions—fear, worry, and an overwhelming sense of loss.
The fear that she would be abandoned by Ace once he knew her secret was consuming her, overshadowing even the traumatic memories of her childhood. This made Ace's gaze soften with even more tenderness.
"Hey, Ace."
Hancock instinctively raised her tear-streaked face upon hearing his gentle voice. Her beautiful face, marked with blood from her bitten lip, looked so pitiful it tugged at Ace's heart. She no longer resembled the proud Amazon Lily Emperor; she was a frightened girl, scared of losing her lover.
"Ace, don't look at me like this, today I..."
She couldn't bear the kindness in his eyes. She bit her lip, avoiding his gaze.
Ace chuckled softly and stepped closer.
"Hancock, I haven't bathed..."
Her voice was panicked as Ace approached, her beautiful eyes wide with fear.
"Hancock is always pretty."
Ace's smile was warm.
On any other day, such words would have made Hancock swoon with happiness. But now, the fear of Ace's departure overshadowed everything, leaving her pale and trembling.
Ace extended his right hand towards her.
Seeing his hand inch closer, Hancock closed her eyes tightly, her body tensing. She leaned back, trying to hide the mark on her back, the symbol of her past enslavement.
At least, let me hide this...
Ace's hand gently touched her cheek, wiping away her tears. "Hancock," he whispered, "you don't need to hide anything from me."
Her eyes flew open, and she looked at him in shock. The tenderness in his eyes was unwavering.
Ace looked at Hancock, who had finally opened her heart to him, and his eyes filled with even more pity and compassion.
"Then Ace... the biggest secret of my body is this."
Hancock gritted her teeth and slowly turned around, exposing her back to him.
"!!!"
Hancock felt a warmth against her back, which gradually calmed her trembling body.
"Nice skin, Hancock," Ace's gentle words made Hancock blink in surprise.
Beautiful? Look at her back!
Hancock turned her head sharply and froze. Her back was smooth, without any marks.
Where's the slave mark? The Hoof of the Celestial Dragon?!
Hancock moved her delicate hand across her back in disbelief. The skin was smooth and flawless, as if the mark had never existed.
"Ace, this is..."
Hancock raised her pretty face to look at Ace, tears welling in her eyes. He smiled gently at her, his eyes soft and reassuring.
The Hoof of the Celestial Dragon was notorious for its permanence. Even if the entire layer of skin was peeled off, the new skin would still bear the mark. The only way to conceal it was to tattoo over it with new designs. But now, the mark had completely vanished, as if it had never been there.
"I can use all the Devil Fruit abilities, including the healing fruit's abilities, to erase marks like these," Ace explained with a soft smile, his eyes filled with speculation.
The slave mark was indeed special, resistant to conventional healing methods. Even the awakened power of the healing fruit couldn't completely eradicate it. However, Ace had managed to push the healing fruit's abilities beyond their limits using his field of understanding, completely erasing the Hoof of the Celestial Dragon.
Is this mark related to Imu's ability?
All slaves of the Celestial Dragons were branded with the Hoof of the Celestial Dragon, and Imu constantly covered up the blank century and buried the will of "D," the will to liberate. Could this cover-up be linked to Imu's abilities?
Ace pondered these thoughts but quickly set them aside. This was not the time to dwell on such matters.
"Hancock," Ace said softly, "the mark is gone. You don't need to worry about it anymore."
Hancock's eyes filled with tears of relief and joy. "Ace, thank you. Thank you so much."
Ace pulled her into a gentle embrace. "You don't need to thank me. I'm here for you, always."
Hancock clung to him, feeling a profound sense of safety and acceptance. For the first time, she could let go of her past and look forward to a future filled with love and happiness.