The situation was hectic, the Kuja Pirates were ready to engage at any moment against Isabel. It seemed like from their perspective time hadn't stopped, she only used her power on us.
"What is the commotion?"
A booming voice rang in everyone's eardrums, I knew exactly who it was. Her silhouette manifested like a looming shadow on top of the buildings, two ruby red eyes glancing down at the street crowds from on top of the buildings.
She was gigantic, way more than normal... and ready to attack.
The Western Cobra, Boa Marigold.
"Lady Marigold, we have an intruder!".
The Kuja announced but Gloriosa was quicker to defuse the situation before it escalated.
"Marigold, you can all settle down. If this woman wants to attack there is very little you all can do".
"I know".
Her tongue slithered as she descended from the top of the buildings, her figure shrinking until she was in her gigantic 'human' form—a slender beauty with a red dress and long ginger hair.
"I was very aware of your presence, Isabel... that is why I came".
She towered above us and in the darkness of the night, her slit ruby eyes seemed to shine. I don't know how that man keeps all those threatening women together without getting 'bitten'.
"Only once you sensed my aura, enough to recognise me?" Isabel laughed, this woman doesn't give jack-shit about the whole situation, worthy of a knight of god.
"We don't entertain the dying business in Amazon Lily".
Marigold looked left and right and waved her hand once, the crowds dissipated and the Kuja Pirates jumped away.
"Veyron told us about you, but that doesn't mean you can just pop up in Amazon Lily without prior arrangement. This place is not like Rusukaina and Shandora, this is a sacred land".
"I'm a woman... as far as I'm concerned in this island only men are not allowed, I'm not breaking any rule".
"That was before, now only authorised individuals are allowed in. Are you authorised?"
"I have the code".
What are they talking about? What code? it must be that bastard playing games again as if the codes of Rusukaina weren't stupid enough. Isabel closed in a whispered something in Marigold's ear.
*Pft!*
She released a squeak and coughed a few times, regaining herself.
"Very well... Gloriosa, you will be in charge of her during her stay in Amazon Lily. And that display of strength from early... I hope you understand my sister will know of this".
Marigold turned heels to return to the palace I presume with the crowds dispersing at her call.
"I don't intend to hide anything any longer... you two come with me nyon" Glorisa told me and Isabel.
"Why me too? I have things to do..." I harrumphed, I didn't even want any of this can these girls just let me work peacefully damn it.
Before I received an answer, Isabel took my hook and began leading me away, following Gloriosa.
"I came here for you... so of course you're coming, girl!"
This is why I hate old hags.
...
The true legends are oftentimes hidden in plain sight, who was it that told me that again? must have been one of the wicked bastards I met in my travels once I was weak. I never believed it until now.
Gloriosa, ex-empress of Amazon Lily... she was a member of The Rocks Pirates before the crew disbanded. The crew my father created and one of the most dangerous in history. It took me by surprise.
There was no recollection of this woman ever being a part of it.
Aside from my father: The Golden Lion Shiki, Yonko Whitebeard, Yonko Big Mom, Yonko Kaido... Captain John. Those were the names associated with that crew... and now as it turns out one of the most beautiful women at that time was Gloriosa.
"I hadn't been a part of the crew for long. I went in there... chasing after a man. Back then I was foolish and compelled by love and sickness. I met your father, he wasn't a saint... he was extremely wicked and ambitious. When I look at your eyes, you remind me of him".
I grunted in disgust at Gloriosa's compliment. The last thing I wanted was to be put side by side with him.
"Foolishness, she has the eyes of her mother. How dare you compare any of my descendants with that criminal? his death in God Valley was well served, he wasn't only our enemy, he was the world's enemy".
Isabel got even more offended than I did as she leaned on me, I had tried to push her away several times but she wouldn't stop. I stood up abruptly from the table and walked up to the balcony.
"Listen very well you two".
"..."
"..."
"I don't give a fuck who that man was, I'm in no way associated with him".
"But then why do you refuse to be called Alicia? When you were born I gave you that name! I named you Alicia Esquivel!" She was exalted, she revealed a detail that surprised me but that I cared very little about.
I don't care about details, about him, about my mother... I have cried enough in the past to try and revive it during this junction, I've had it!
"It was your people who killed my mother. Both sides disgust me! I'm my own, I'm Crocodile!".
Without intending to discuss anything else or get any more of the nonsense, I burst through the door, and back to my work. Like I care where I come from, I only care about what I am now and where I belong.
I would slaughter every single living being in Marie Geoise and I would slaughter all of that bastard's crew members if I had the chance.
With Veyron I have that chance... so I better finish quickly.
**
**
Both legendary ladies watched her go and sighed, youngsters were stubborn but they could understand why she was reluctant to speak further. In the end, if the child is not interested in her past, there is nothing they can do.
"Would you like some nyon tea?".
"Are you sure? I could be your enemy".
"I trust the boy's choices".
Gloriosa prepared some tea and they shared it with their gaze fixed in the everlasting firmament. Who could have thought water and oil could ever meet eye to eye.
"I never thought I'd be sharing drinks with you of all people".
"If Xebec saw this..."
"If Maximus saw this..."
They shook their heads and took a deep sip.
"How was your love story?"
"As pitiful as yours".
"I heard you have a daughter in Wano".
"Leave my daughter out of this".
"It is amazing the things we women can do for love, it must have been disappointing for you... to learn Kaido's true nature".
"Not as disappointed as you were saddened by Maximus' death at the hands of Dorothialis".
"I won't berate you on that, Gloriosa".
"Love is like a hurricane. Once it has been attained, it can't be stopped... in hindsight, you and I were lucky to not have fallen into this hurricane".
"Throughout history, I have watched every single generation of Amazon Lily's empresses. You all seem to have this unresolved issue with love and sickness".
"Love and beauty are our strongest traits but at the same time, like a curse descending from us across generations, we're mostly unable to find the right partner. We get crazy over a man who more often than not... is not able to make us happy, this long stand of disappointment led one of our empresses to implement that law... no men allowed in Amazon Lily. I can only imagine the extent of her heartbreak which led to death but her legacy continued on".
"It is painful, for decades I have been unable to forget".
"That is why I couldn't judge Shakuyaku when she decided to elope with Silvers Rayleigh but in doing so... she abandoned her pride".
"She's lucky..."
"Yes".
They took another sip for that one.
"I wonder... an empress of Amazon Lily who didn't need to discard either her love or pride... how strong would she be?"
"Such a person... her love would be like a true hurricane. A wonderful sight to behold... the object of her desire should beware for the lovesickness can strike both ways. Back then, only that man was able to bear my 'love' and I doubt a second like him exists in that regard".
**
**
The Grandline Rusukaina, Underground Liberator's Complex.
I remember now why... uhm~ I made a strict policy once this workshop was inaugurated: none of my wives were allowed in here. Perhaps the two weeks of honeymoon we spent together made me more infatuated than I thought and my mind started drifting... 'Maybe I can make a concession and they can stay here with me while I work, they're not working all the time. When they're not doing anything they can stay here with me'.
How naive I was.
"Uhm darling~ it is so delicious, more!~".
It is been two days ever since we arrived, I was supposed to check her up and then call Prim, Sandersonia and Marigold here. Set up Sugar and Monet in their task, and give the research team all the data collected so they can start.
But I haven't done anything... everything is late, everything is delayed, I have done nothing and my schedule is in shambles!
All I can do is sit at the edge of my bed in the corner of my office, in the dark disorganised room... with my eyes hazy and unfocused while pulling Hancock's head ruthlessly against my crotch.
She was lapping on my member like her life depended on it, I had her locked in place with my tights and it may have looked like I was being too rough on her... but I was merely returning her passion in equal measure.
I love it when my girls are proactive, but I don't like to fall into a submissive position for the most part during our intercourse. For the past two days... Hancock has been trying to take that position away from in incessantly.
She is insatiable and forceful, I don't know what the hell is going on with her!
I thought for the past two weeks we managed to sate our lust, but It now looks like I was wrong, perhaps only my lust was sated...!
It all began when we arrived, the plan was simple: since our holidays were over -and Hancock still needed to go back to her office with Prim, Marigold and Sandersonia to keep working- I just wanted to take all samples needed from their bodies in order to start my test... I would need more than just their hair, I'd need saliva, some blood and another component.
That night after arriving we made love normally. It was very passionate, the continuation of our date, sweet and intimate. It was the first time we made love without any of the girls being in bed with us... just her and me. It all ended in a delightful tone, giving me all the energy I needed to move forward.
That same night I didn't sleep and instead, while Hancock was slumbering I began setting things up. I wanted to have Monet create a cryogenic chamber and maintain it for me, I also wanted to take Sugar to Rusukaina's main prison for some other matters.
But... Hancock had other plans. By the time I noticed my pants were down, it was too late.
"Darling, more~"
Her pink heart-shaped irises invaded my eyes and she came to me with strength and momentum that were difficult to equal.
'More' would be a word I would be hearing a lot for the next not only two days... but a whole week.