Meanwhile in the Kuja castle, the Pirate Empress, the woman feared by the world and worshipped by her people, lay sprawled across her silken sheets. Her breath came in ragged gasps. Her skin was flushed with a feverish, unnatural heat. She was sweating. Her chest rose up and down. Boa Hancock clutched her chest. Her fingers dug into the fabric over her heart. Every thud of her pulse felt like a hammer against a drum.
"Sister," Sandersonia said. "Please, you must stay still," she cried out as she hovered over the bed.
"The fever won't break," Marigold added. "She was fine just an hour ago, and now it's like she's burning from the inside out," she said.
Gloriosa stood at the foot of the bed. Her face pale as she stared in absolute horror. She had seen this before. She had seen the strongest of women withered by this very shadow including herself.
"It is just as I feared," Gloriosa whispered.
"What do you mean?" Marigold asked. "Have you seen this before," she added.
"I cannot breathe," Hancock said as she panted. Her cheeks were red.
"It is a virus," Gloriosa replied. "The Love Sickness. The previous Empresses, they all died from this. To love a man is to invite a poison that no medicine can cure. If she does not find a way to soothe her heart, she will fade away until there is nothing left," she added.
"Died?" Marigold shrieked. "You're saying our sister is going to die because of a feeling?" she questioned.
"It is the curse of the Kuja," Gloriosa lamented. "She is fighting against her own soul," she remarked.
At that moment, Enishida walked in. "Snake Princess, Ben has arrived," she said. "Should I tell him to leave?" she asked.
"Yes, tell him to go for now," Marigold replied. "
Hancock's eyes snapped open and she stood tall, her imperial posture returning in an instant, her face glowing not with fever, but with a radiant, intense light. She stayed up straight.
"Sister, You were just dying, " Marigold gasped.
"How are you standing?" Sandersonia asked as her jaw dropped. "Your heart was stopping just seconds ago," she added.
"It has stopped stopping," Hancock said. Her cheeks were still a deep, beautiful pink. She smoothed her robes and walked forward. "He has arrived. I will not be seen in a state of weakness," she said as she walked forward towards the balcony.
Gloriosa, Sandersonia and Marigold all looked stunned. "How lucky is this man?" Gloriosa remarked.
Hancock got out and saw Ben with two women. She saw they were both beautiful.
"Hi Hancock, this is Alvida and Vivi," Ben introduced them. "They are part of my crew," she added.
"Why are you so casual with the Empress," Gloriosa.
"It is a pleasure to meet you," Hancock said as her cheeks were flushed.
"It is truly an honor to meet the Pirate Empress," Vivi said as she bowed with the perfect grace of a princess. "I have heard many legends of your beauty and strength, Hancock-sama," she added. " I am Vivi," she said.
Alvida smiled. "I am Alvida, part of the Love Pirates," she said with a knowing smirk. "But you look a little flushed? Did my love cause this?" she teased.
Hancock thought of love. She wondered what relationship they have. She looked at Ben. "I have made my decision. I will leave this island and join your crew immediately. I will follow you to the ends of the earth," she stated.
"What big sis?" Sanderonia and Marigold said in big shock.
"My love, you are certainly popular," Alvida remarked.
Ben stepped forward. "No, Hancock. I don't want you to join right now," he replied.
Hancock froze. She looked like she had been slapped. "You... you reject me?" she questioned in a weak voice.
Ben shook his head. "I want you to remain as the Captain of the Kuja," Ben explained firmly. "The world is changing. I need you to lead your people," Ben said. "You will play a very important role for us in the future and I am going to need you and the Kuja pirates with us," he stated. Ben thought for Hancock to join him no, would mean losing her Warlord title potentially. There is no need to risk that right now. It will go eventually however they might as well enjoy the benefits for now. "When the time is right, we will sail under one flag and the Kuja Pirates will be a close ally," he said.
"That is a lot to ask," Marigold said.
"You want us to join you?" Gloriosa asked. She thought about what this man was plotting.
Hancock's breath hitched. She looked at him with pure devotion. "If that is your wish, then I will do anything. My life belongs to you and the Kuja Pirates form an alliance," Hancock said. She thought alliance meant marriage.
"Thank you Empress," Vivi responded.
"We should have our girls talk soon," Alvida said.
Ben smiled and reached out and pulled Vivi into a warm, protective hug. His arms were around her.
"Ben," Vivi remarked.
Hancock's jaw dropped. She watched the casual way Ben held the blue-haired girl. She saw the way Vivi leaned into him with total trust. Hancock felt a sharp, burning sting of jealousy ripped through her. "You have a woman already? Is she your wife?" she asked.
"She's part of my crew," Ben chuckled.
Alvida stepped up to Ben's other side and rested a hand on his arm. "Actually, Hancock, there are fifteen of us on the ship right now. And quite a few more around," she added.
Hancock felt like the world was spinning. "Fifteen?! And more?!" Her mind raced with a panicked intensity. If there were so many rivals already, she couldn't afford to be distant. She would have to keep him incredibly close to ensure she remained his favorite.
"Thank you for accepting my proposal, Hancock," Ben said.
"I agree," Hancock whispered as her face glowed. "I will wait for you and be ready when you need us," she said.
"She's gone completely crazy," Marigold said. "She's never looked at anyone like this," she added. Marigold sighed.
"She had just accepted an alliance with this crew with the potential for her to join," Gloriosa said. She thought back to the Davy Back fights when Captains were beaten and forced to join. She thought this was not the case here. She had accepted willingly and by looking at everyone else, they would also agree.
Sandersonia could feel her own face heating up as she looked at Ben. "He saved us. He is really handsome, isn't he?" she asked.
Gloriosa watched the scene. "It isn't just the 'Love Sickness' of the Empress," the old woman muttered. "This man has an effect on every woman he meets. It's something beyond Conqueror's Haki. It's the gravity of the soul that pulls them all in," she remarked.
Ben looked toward them. A teasing glint in his eyes. "And does that 'gravity of the soul' include you too, Gloriosa?" Ben asked with a smirk.
"It certainly does my love," Alvida said with a smile.
Ben thought she was a beauty in the past.
Gloriosa's face turned red. "How dare you! You insolent brat! I am an elder of this island!" she shouted as she waved her staff in the air.
Hancock's eyes flashed with anger. "How dare you speak to him like that, Elder Nyon. I shall," she said.
"Hancock, stop," Ben said calmly as he placed a hand on the Empress's shoulder. "Forgive her. She's only looking out for you," he added.
Hancock immediately deflated. Her anger vanished like mist in the sun. "Enisha. Tell the palace that Gloriosa is forgiven for all her past slights. It is my decree," she said. She looked at Ben`s hand on her shoulder. She thought the touch was electric. Her knees started to wobble.
"Okay Empress," Enisha responded from the far side of the room.
Gloriosa stood frozen. Her jaw hung open. "Forgiven? Just like that? After years of exile and bickering?" she muttered. She looked at Ben in total shock. "This man," she said. "His influence is beyond anything I have ever seen. He is rewriting her entire nature," she added.
Marigold and Sandersonia looked in surprise. "This man knows no limits," Marigold remarked.
"I have another request," Ben said.
"Another?" Gloriosa asked. "What is it now?" she asked once more. "You have got our Empress and an alliance," she said.
"Whatever it is, I agree!" Hancock said instantly as she leaned toward him.
Vivi sighed. "You don't even know what it is yet, Hancock-sama. You're being a bit too quick to say yes," she said.
Ben squeezed her body with his arm. He smiled.
"Ben," Vivi squealed as she smiled. She thought this was embarrassing.
Alvida chuckled. "That's just how it is with my love," she said. "We follow him anywhere, through any storm, through any battle, any conflict , no matter the odds and we never look back," she stated.
Ben thought that was a strong statement.
Gloriosa thought this crew was not like others.
Ben smiled. He let go of Vivi for a second. "My request is for you to follow the World Government's orders," Ben said. "I want you to accept the summons to fight against the Whitebeard Pirates at Marineford," he said.
Marigold's face twisted in disgust. "Fight for those dogs?" she said.
"I accept," Hancock responded as her face was flushed. Her legs were still shaky.
"Are you not going to ask the reason for my request?" Ben questioned.
"I will follow you as well," Hancock replied.
Ben thought the Love Disease was a crazy disease.
"Well, the reason is because I have a friend named Luffy. His brother, Ace, is the one being executed," Ben said. He paused. "I need you to maintain your position as a Warlord. I don't want you to risk your title yet. Although, I have a feeling the system is going to collapse anyway, but for now, we need you on the inside," he added.
Hancock looked into his eyes and nodded slowly. "If it is for your friend and for your plan, I will go," she responded.
"You are truly something," Gloriosa whispered. "Most men would ask her to hide him. You are asking her to go to the heart of the fire," she added.
"And there's one more thing," Ben added, a wolfish grin spreading across his face. "That friend of mine, Luffy? He's the one who punched the Celestial Dragon at Sabaody. And he's coming here, to this island, soon," he said.
The room went deathly silent. Hancock, Marigold, Sandersonia, and even Gloriosa looked as if they had seen a ghost. "He punched a World Noble?" Sandersonia gasped, her hands trembled. "And he is coming here?" she questioned.
"Don't worry," Ben said. "The Government won't know. But Hancock, I need you to help him. He's going to want to visit the Impel Down, to save his brother. I want you to sneak him in," he added.
"You want me to smuggle a man into the world's most secure prison?" Hancock asked.
"I'll be sneaking in with him," Ben said. "We'll protect each other and you will go with the Marines. Don't worry, I will be fine," he added.
"That is absolutely crazy," Vivi cried out.
Ben didn't argue. He simply stepped forward and pulled Vivi into another deep, lingering hug. "I'll be fine, Vivi. I promise," he remarked.
Hancock watched them. She gritted her teeth as she saw how comfortably Vivi melted into his arms. Her heart beat was pounding. She thought she got to touch him so easily, she knew his scent. She thought she must become the one he leans on like that. "I will do the prison mission," she said.
Gloriosa leaned on her staff. She looked at Ben. "How do you know all about this?" she asked. "Is there something you are hiding? Something deeper than just being a pirate captain," she added.
Ben met her gaze with a calm, knowing smile. "Everyone has their secrets, Gloriosa. You have quite a few secrets buried in your past as well, don't you?" he asked.
Gloriosa's heart skipped a beat. Her grip on her staff tightened until her knuckles turned white. "What could a brat like you possibly know about the old days?" she asked.
"I know about the names the World Government tried to erase. Names like Rocks," Ben replied casually.
The silence that followed was deafening. Gloriosa looked as if she had been struck by a physical blow. Her eyes widened in genuine terror. The color drained from her face.
"Rocks?!" Gloriosa gasped. "How do you know that name? No one alive should remember him," she added. "How do you know about it?" she demanded to know.
"The one from God Valley?" Vivi interrupted.
Gloriosa nearly collapsed. She looked from Ben to Vivi as if they were demons from her nightmares. "God Valley, you know of that too? Who are you people?" she asked.
"Later, Gloriosa," Ben said as he smiled towards her. "The past is for another night. Right now, we have the future to worry about," he said.
Hancock thought he was also smart and knowledgeable. She leaned forward. Her eyes softened. "You said your friend Luffy will be here soon?" she asked.
"He should be here in four days," Ben remarked. "We'd like to stay until then, if that's alright with the Empress," he said as he looked at her.
Hancock's face lit up with a radiant glow. "Five days," she whispered to herself. "Luffy arrives at four, but you stay for five. That gives us plenty of time," she remarked. Hancock's mind immediately began racing with plans. Five days of moonlight walks, five days of private 'consultations' about the World Government, five days to prove she was far more 'intense' than the blue-haired princess or the smooth-skinned pirate. "Yes," she declared aloud. "You and your crew shall stay as guests of the palace. Anything you desire is yours," she said.
Sandersonia and Marigold exchanged a look of pure exhaustion. "She's already planning the wedding menu in her head," Marigold whispered.
"Okay, we will let you rest, Hancock. I will check on what everyone is doing," Ben said.
"Yes it is time for my love`s Captain Duties,"Alvida remarked.
"Captain Duties?" Hancock questioned. "What is that?" she asked.
"It is," Alvida started to respond.
Ben quickly interpreted her. "We can talk about that later," Ben said. He thought that was going to be an awkward conversation here.
"Yes at girls talk," Vivi agreed.
Alvida nodded. "I was only pulling your leg my love," Alvida responded.
Hancock thought of the word, my love. She had to say something.
"Have a good night Hancock, we will take our leave," Ben said.
"You can stay here in the castle," Hancock offered.
Ben thought that was a good idea. He could get up early and train with Hancock. "Sure that sounds good," Ben replied. "Thank you," he added.
Hancock nodded. Her face was flushed. Her heart beat was pounding. She thought he was staying here. She would have a chance to be with him.