The once-feared warrior women of Amazon Lily had abandoned their posts. No patrols. No guard rotations. Not even their usual training sessions.
Instead, they had formed an orderly line outside a hidden cave, each waiting patiently for their precious five-minute shift.
Inside, Nolan lay peacefully on a bed of soft furs, still unconscious but somehow looking even more unfairly beautiful in sleep. The girls had dressed him in a simple white robe—both to preserve his dignity and to stop themselves from staring too much. It wasn't working.
Outside, the warriors who had already had their turn stood watch, weapons drawn. Their usual discipline had been replaced with something far more dangerous—fanatical devotion.
"If the Empress tries to take him away, we fight," one whispered fiercely, tightening her grip on her spear.
"To the death," another agreed, nodding solemnly.
A third warrior sighed dreamily. "I hope he likes the stew I made..."
The island had transformed overnight. The fierce, battle-hardened women were now baking, sewing, and even singing—all in hopes of impressing their unconscious guest when he finally woke up.
Gloriosa watched it all with a mix of exasperation and understanding. She got it. Even at her age, she could appreciate beauty, and Nolan was... special. The kind of face that made poets weep and kings wage wars.
But that didn't mean she could let things get out of hand.
"HEY!" she barked, smacking the current caretaker's wandering hands away. "I said NO PEEKING!"
The warrior pouted. "I was just checking if he was warm enough!"
"Liar! You were eyeing his—"
A sudden commotion near the shore cut her off. The warriors tensed, weapons at the ready.
Their Empress had returned.
Marguerite, ever the voice of reason held up a hand. "Wait! Remember her schedule—she always takes a day off after sailing! We still have time!"
The women hesitated, then slowly lowered their weapons.
"...One more day," one murmured.
"Just one more day with him," another agreed.
They turned back to the cave, their expressions softening.
Inside, Nolan remained blissfully unaware of the coup unfolding in his name—and the fact that the most dangerous woman in the world was now just a day away from discovering him.
Gloriosa sighed.
"...We're all going to die."
---
Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress and the most beautiful woman in the world, stepped onto the shores of Amazon Lily with her usual dramatic flair. Her ship had just returned from a successful raid, loaded with treasures that lesser women would have swooned over.
She glanced at the haul being unloaded and wrinkled her perfect nose. Why must I bother with such trivial matters? she thought, flipping her long black hair over her shoulder. The world should deliver its riches to my feet without me lifting a finger.
Exhaustion tugged at her—not from the battle ,those pathetic pirates had been turned to stone with a single glance, but from the sheer inconvenience of it all. She needed her beauty sleep. Now.
Hancock strode forward, expecting the usual fanfare—warriors bowing, flowers being thrown, cries of admiration for her divine presence.
Instead...
Silence.
The beach was deserted. No cheering crowds. No groveling subjects. Not even a single snake to greet her.
Her eye twitched.
"Nyon-ba!" she called sharply, expecting her elderly advisor to come rushing.
Nothing.
The veins in her forehead pulsed.
The warriors who had accompanied her on the raid shifted nervously. One brave soul stepped forward.
"Empress, shall we... look for them?"
Hancock's glare could have melted stone which, given her Devil Fruit powers, wasn't far-fetched. "Hurry up!" she snapped. "I expect a full report when I wake!"
With that, she stormed toward her palace, her heels clicking angrily against the stone path.
Inside her lavish chambers, Hancock collapsed onto her bed, sinking into the silken sheets. Finally, some peace, she thought, closing her eyes.
She had no idea that just beyond the palace walls, her entire kingdom was in chaos.
---
In the middle of the sea. Luffy's panicked scream sent chills down the crew's spines.
"AHHHH! TURN THE SHIP AROUND! NOW!"
The Straw Hats froze. Their captain never sounded like this—not when facing warlords, not when trapped in a storm, not even when staring down certain death.
Sanji's cigarette nearly fell from his lips. "What the hell's gotten into you?"
Zoro's hand went to his swords. "You recognize that ship?"
Yachiru floated upside down in the air, kicking her legs. "Ooooh, is it a super strong bad guy? Like, super duper strong?"
Nami, already gripping the wheel, shot Luffy a sharp look. "Luffy! What's going on?!"
Luffy pointed a trembling finger at the massive warship gaining on the smaller vessel ahead. "THAT SHIP IS CRAZY! IF THEY CATCH US, WE'RE DEAD!"
The crew exchanged glances. If Luffy was this scared...
Nami didn't hesitate. She wrenched the wheel hard, sending the Going Merry veering away. "Usopp! Adjust the sails! Sanji, get below and—"
"CAN'T YOU MAKE IT GO FASTER?!" Luffy begged, which was somehow more terrifying than the approaching ship.
Usopp groaned. "If Nolan were here, he could just tell the wind to—" He cut himself off, slapping his own face. "No! We can't rely on him for everything!"
Chaos erupted.
Zoro and Sanji immediately started brawling over the best escape plan.
"WE SHOULD TURN TOWARDS THEM AND FIGHT!" Zoro roared.
"ARE YOU TRYING TO GET US KILLED, MOSSHEAD?!" Sanji kicked him in the face.
Chopper sobbed, clinging to Robin. "WHY ARE THEY FIGHTING NOW?!"
Yachiru cheered, bouncing between them. "FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"
The precious seconds they wasted sealed their fate.
BOOOOOOM!
A cannonball exploded just ahead of the Merry, the shockwave halting their escape. The waves tossed them back like a toy boat.
Luffy's face went pale. "...We're done for."
Then—
THUD.
The entire ship shook as something—no, someone—landed on deck with enough force to crack the wood.
"BWAHAHAHA! STILL AS MUCH OF A BRAT AS EVER!"
Luffy's soul nearly left his body. That voice. That laugh.
The man who had thrown him into valleys, tied him to balloons, and fed him to bears for fun when he was a kid.
Garp stood before them, grinning like a madman.
Luffy screamed. "GRANDPAAAAAAAA!"
The crew's jaws dropped.
"WAIT, THAT'S YOUR GRANDPA?!" Usopp shrieked.
Garp cracked his knuckles. "TIME FOR SOME FAMILY BONDING!"
The Straw Hats collectively realized—
They'd have been better off with the crazy warship.
---