Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
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Luffy stirred from his slumber feeling the familiar gentle sway of a moving ship. Rubbing his eyes, he looked around. Snapping to attention, he was bewildered by the familiar surroundings he hadn't seen in so long.
How did he get here?
The last thing that he could recall was lying on the floor and dying next to Hancock. Hancock!
Spreading his Haki out, he quickly found her aura. Not just her presence but her sisters and all the other Kuja pirates. On top of that was the monstrous Haki of Rayleigh. Now more than puzzled Luffy decided to shrug it off, his brain would hurt if he thought too hard about it. Rather he chose to focus on Hancock. She would be able to help him make sense of it.
Getting up from where he had been sprawled out, he ventured out towards Hancock's presence, careful not to wake the others as he tiptoed around the ship like a ninja. He found Hancock as she too ventured out from her quarters, confusion etched across every line of her face mixed with some disbelief.
Luffy scratched his head. "Hey, Hancock! Are we fine?"
Hancock, equally perplexed but elated gasped, "Luffy!" She stepped to him and gave him a massive hug. "We are fine. We are fine." She repeated feeling over the moon that they were okay. All her sisters were okay. She stopped in her moment in realization. "Wait, this doesn't add up. I was sure we were about to die. Even for an adventure on these seas, this is weird."
"Man, I was sure that was the end too." Luffy rubbed at the back of his head again.
"Now we're perfectly healthy and on my ship. This doesn't feel like the afterlife. I feel completely fine, however, I do feel weaker. Do you also feel weaker?" Hancock asked with an inkling of a possibility beginning to take root.
"Mhmm, my body feels weaker. And I still have these bandages on. Bandages? Aaahhh! Hancock, I'm injured!" Luffy panicked throwing his hands above his head.
"Luffy!' Hancock called out getting him to calm down by grabbing his shoulders. "I think I know what is happening but I'm unsure how. I... I think we are in the past."
"We are in the past?" Luffy asked his voice a mixture of awe and confusion.
Hancock nodded. "And by the looks of it, we are on the voyage to Rusukaina."
"That means we are two years in the past right?"
Hancock nodded, her eyes scanning the ship. "Two years precisely it looks like."
Luffy grinned, then threw his fist in the air. "Guess we've got time to kill before we get to the training island. Let's go find Rayleigh and figure this out together!"
XXX
Luffy and Hancock found Rayleigh sitting on the side of the ship looking out at the sea. Now that they were before Rayleigh, they were unsure, how did they disclose their bizarre time travel?
"Rayleigh, something crazy happened," Luffy began with a mixture of excitement and bewilderment in his voice. "We woke up, and it turns out we're two years in the past!"
Rayleigh raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Time travel?" he mused. He had a sense of disbelief at Luffy's words. Looking between them, both were serious, as serious as Luffy could be but there was no lie. Well, this was unique in all his years, but he had some experience with things that others would consider impossible. And they had no reason to be making it up.
Hancock nodded, her composure unwavering. "Yes, and we thought you of all people should know. Maybe you can help us figure out how this happened."
Rayleigh leaned back, going over various possibilities in his head before he spoke. "This is indeed unusual, but not too rare. I have met a few others who had the power to adjust time in one way or another. Can't say I can help much on how this happened though but there must have been a reason. Tell me. What happened before you woke up?"
Luffy lost his smile and Hancock's face went dark. Hancock solemnly explained how the Marines had attacked Amazon Lily and with it everyone that called the island home. She told him of everything up to Akainu finally beating the both of them and then that they had lay dying on Amazon Lily with the island collapsing around them.
Luffy interjected with his trademark grin, "And now we're here. I was thinking of going with it! Maybe we can use this chance to make things even better than before!"
Rayleigh sighed, a mixture of amusement and caution in his expression. "It's not that simple, Luffy. Time is a delicate thing. We need to consider that when you start doing things differently there is no way to know how things will be changed. You'd no longer have your future advantage of how things will go."
"But Rayleigh, adventure! Won't this be so exciting! We can have fun with the Marines." Luffy laughed his spirits high.
Rayleigh sighed at Luffy's exuberance- two years could only mature someone so much. But it was nice to see he hadn't lost seeing the good in situations. "Well, we might want to keep some things as close to the chest as possible though, before we diverge too far.
Hancock added, "That's why I thought it best for your advice. Other than making sure the women of Amazon Lily get out of this. I'm unsure of how to achieve it – and we're not sure what should be next. We wanted your advice on how to proceed."
Rayleigh nodded, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. He bowed his head and thought of a way forward. He turned and watched the waves move and the islands pass by. His eyes lit up; He suddenly thought of something. "I may have an idea."
XXX
On the shore of Rusukania, Boa Hancock's crew, the Kuja Pirates, gathered on the sandy beach to bid farewell to their Captain, Monkey D. Luffy, and Rayleigh.
Hancock, with her characteristic poise and elegance, addressed her crew with a measured tone. "I entrust the protection of the island and our beloved Amazon Lily to all of you. During our absence, continue to grow ever stronger and protect our people."
"Yes, Hebi-hime!"
Hancock nodded satisfied with her crew's response and determination. She turned to her sisters and hugged them. This would be the longest they had been apart been apart in forever.
"We will miss you sister," Marigold said tearfully.
"Don't worry my dear sisters. When I come back, I will be even stronger than before. But you must make sure that the World Government doesn't catch on to what I am doing."
"Yes, sister. We know. Those Government dogs will never find out." Sandersonia scoffed.
Hancock smiled at her sisters and stood by Rayleigh and Luffy to watch as the Kuja pirates boarded their ship and waved at them as they prepared to set off.
Luffy, wearing his usual straw hat with excitement fairly buzzing from every pore him, added, "When we come back, we'll be stronger than ever! Get ready for some epic adventures when we reunite!"
Rayleigh, the ever-old timer, spoke with a hint of nostalgia and encouragement to the crew. "You've all shown remarkable growth under Hancock's leadership. Use this time to hone your skills and face any challenges that may come your way. The future of the Kuja Pirates is in your capable hands."
As the brief farewell came to an end, the crew became but a speck in the distance Hancock, Luffy, and Rayleigh set off toward the interior of the island, ready to push their limits and grow stronger. They had to. Their entire future was at stake..
"Hey, Hancock you ready to get stronger?" Luffy challenged. He was eager to get even stronger than he was before.
"Of course, Luffy." Hancock smiled brightly but determined. She was set on getting stronger now. She had always been strong, but Akainu had shown her she was just a little too arrogant and comfortable in her strength level. If she was completely honest with herself, she had stopped getting stronger, but no more. She will be the true Pirate Empress by truly becoming the strongest female pirate. Becoming Luffy's wife when he became King would be a nice bonus. Hancock swooned at her thoughts with her hands on her face.
Luffy was confused as he saw Hancock swooning. Seeing this, Rayleigh sighed. One more thing to address as they got to training. Maybe he could also work on Luffy's obliviousness. Rayleigh snorted at the thought. And maybe the sun would turn purple.
"Alright you two, show me what you've got." Rayleigh challenged. And then an indomitable spirit exploded out of Rayleigh—the Haki of the man who once stood as the Vice-captain of the Roger pirates.
Feeling the pressure, Luffy and Hancock stopped any thought of fooling around and looked at Rayleigh seriously. Rayleigh beckoned them with his hand. The two pirates looked at one another and together burst forward, both intent on getting stronger no matter the cost.