548 Sailing to War

*SLAM!*

"Just what is wrong with the world!?!" Fleet Admiral Sengoku demanded as he slammed his hands on the table in frustration, due to the numerous reports he'd been receiving all day long.

One hundred and seventy nations made up the World Government, all hailing from North Blue, South Blue, East Blue, West Blue, Paradise, and the New World. But no matter the region they were from, reports were pouring in that chilled Sengoku's heart.

Eighty of these nations had defected from the World Government, while another fifty were in open rebellion against the monarchies that wouldn't defect. The remaining kingdoms were silent so far, but it would only be a matter of time before they too followed the trend.

"That is the plague that is 'freedom'." One of the Five Elders suddenly said, making Sengoku look up at them in alarm. He held back anything he might've said though, as he did not want to offend the Elders with his insolence.

"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Meanwhile a certain someone else was laughing his ass off as he happily crunched on his snacks.

"You find this amusing, Garp?" One of the Elders asked in an unamused tone.

"Disregarding your obvious disdain for the gods of this world..." Another Elder spat at him, "even YOU should be worried about the upheaval the Dragon Emperor is causing right now. It puts even your son to shame!"

Referring to Dragon of the Revolutionaries, Garp sobered up a little bit, but he still had a shit-eating grin on his face.

"Yeah? What I care about is justice and the people, and as far as I can tell he's only gone out of his way to help them." Garp answered truthfully.

He may be a Marine, but he didn't give a shit about the Celestial Dragons. It was the only reason he hadn't advanced any further in the Marines from the position of Vice Admiral, because then he'd become a direct subordinate of them.

"Don't tell me you're turning traitor!?" One of the Elders growled angrily, before massive amounts of Haki began to pour off of their body.

Garp however just shrugged it off, and said back at them with a smirk, "of course not. I just find this all amusing! Personally, I can't wait for the chance to cross fists with that brat myself!"

As he said that Garp recalled the most recent report they'd gotten, along with all of the Marines that had been sent to them from the notorious prison, Impel Down. That was the real reason why the Elders were so tense right now, as word had reached them that another pillar of the World Government had fallen, completely. They wouldn't even know how extensive the damages were until they could send someone to check up on the prison.

But that hadn't been the most concerning report.

The first thing Magellan had reported to them after the fall of Impel Down, was that the Dragon Emperor had the ability to remove a person's Devil Fruits powers.

The Elders quickly placed a gag on that information to shut it up, as the last thing they wanted was for their ability users to flee for fear of losing their prided abilities. Garp of course couldn't care less, since he didn't believe in Devil Fruits to begin with. All a man needed was his Haki!

*Knock Knock Knock*

A knock at the door drew all of their attention as one of the Elders answered, "enter."

The door opened to reveal Rob Lucci, the de facto leader of CP9 since Spandam was missing in action after meeting with Alex. One of the only real Marine casualties, though secretly no one actually considered him a Marine.

"Sirs! I have a report from the undercover agent, Kalifa." He declared.

"""!!!"""

"Tell us then!" One of the Elders ordered, eager to finally get the upper hand against the Dragon Emperor for once.

"According to her report, both Big Mom and the Pirate Empress have joined forces with the Dragon Emperor!" Lucci declared, stunning everyone present.

"Is that all?" One of the Elder nearly spat, before dismissing Lucci when he nodded in affirmation.

As the door closed another spat, "at every turn its like he's mocking us! Just when we thought two of the Four Emperors were gone, he goes and recruits one of them!"

"AND he somehow got the Pirate Empress on his side. I just want to know how he did so..." Another stated.

"It doesn't matter HOW he did it. But it's done. Boa Hancock has decided to bite the hand that fed her."

"Indeed. I believe it's time we reminded her of her place, if she doesn't want to serve as a Warlord any longer."

"Her place?" Garp asked curiously.

"Indeed. Her place as property of the Celestial Dragons."

""!!""

Needless to say both Garp and Sengoku were surprised, as neither of them could imagine that haughty and beautiful woman as a slave. But one of the Elders slipped them a sheet of paper, and explained,

"This is a registry of escaped slaves from the Fisher Tiger incident. On it you'll find the names Boa Hancock, Boa Marigold, and Boa Sandersonia."

"When Hancock resurfaced as the empress of the Kuja Pirates, we decided to let her retain her freedom if she accepted a position amongst the Seven Warlords. Either way, she would serve the interests of the World Government."

"But now that she's turned traitor, it's time to make her remember that she is merely our possession."

"Indeed. Send word to Vice Admiral Momonga that he is no longer summoning Hancock to participate in the coming battle. He is instead to apprehend her, and the entire population of Amazon Lily to deliver to the Celestial Dragons."

"Good idea. That might get them to stop crying about all of their slaves being freed."

Sengoku's brow twitched as the Elders began discussing their next step, scarcely daring to believe they were now expected to enslave an entire race after their empress turned traitor. Garp meanwhile just flat out left the room, no longer having the stomach to stick around. They made his food taste bad.

Just as he was about to pick up the receiver on his transponder snail to call Momonga though...

*BANG!*

The door was thrown open as a Marine rushed through, his chest heaving as he hurried to Sengoku.

"SIR!"

"What is it Marine?" He asked irritably.

"Marineford has been sacked!"

***

*Shortly after Alex left Amazon Lily*

*DUM DUT DA DA🎶!*

*DUM DUT DA DA🎶!*

*DUM DUT DA DA🎶!*

War drums thundered as any remaining Marines in Marineford poured out of the fortress to get a good look at the approaching ships.

Normally only Navy ships would be able to approach the crescent-moon shaped island, but an exception was being made this time for one of the Warlords. Especially when they needed all of the help they could get for the coming war.

But the reason so many Marines were hurrying to see THESE ships, to the point that they were flooding the docks that the ships were headed to, was because they were the much rumored crew of only women, the Kuja Pirates.

"Let me see!"

"No way!"

"Get your own telescope!"

"ORDER! YOU ARE MARINES!"

Arguments could be heard as numerous Marines used telescopes to get the first look at the Kuja Pirates and the famous Pirate Empress, all while the few Vice Admirals present tried to restore order.

"They do realize she's a pirate, right?" Growled one man with numerous lit cigars in his mouth.

"I don't think they care at the moment sir... But then again, I've heard the Pirate Empress is beautiful enough to sway even women..." Answered the woman next to him, as she tightened the grip on her sword.

"Anything you want to get off your chest Tashigi?"

"No sir, Commodore Smoker!" The woman, Tashigi declared as she saluted, making the man, Smoker, smirk before glancing back to the approaching ships worriedly.

"Still.... Vice Admiral Momonga was sent to recruit her for the battle against the Dragon Emperor, yet she's here already with all of her forces, and no Momonga in sight... Something stinks..." He muttered to himself as his eyes scanned the three ships as they prepared to dock.

At the head was their largest ship with Hancock at the head, while the other two appeared smaller with her sisters commanding them. All the while numerous Kuja could be seen pounding war drums as they pulled in towards the docks.

*DUM DUT DA DA🎶!*

*DUM DUT DA DA🎶!*

*DUM DUT DA DA🎶!*

The men below however were all fixated with catching a glimpse of the elusive Pirate Empress, the most beautiful woman in the world.

But she wasn't all they wanted to see.

Every single one of the hundreds of women aboard the three ships was incredibly beautiful, and several of them even had their breasts exposed for all to see. But three out of four men still had their eyes glued to the Pirate Empress as the ship finally came to a stop, and she stepped forward.

"I hear that the Marines are calling for the aide of the Seven Warlords against the Dragon Emperor." She declared with a haughty voice.

"Indeed, that is the case. But where is Vice Admiral Momonga? He was supposed to contact and retrieve you." Boomed a massive Marine in a custom cloak, John Giant.

"We must have missed one another. But I am here now."

"I see..." John Giant said slowly as he narrowed his eyes at her. She may be one of the Warlords, but he still didn't trust her. She WAS a pirate after all.

"Is that a problem?" Hancock asked while cocking her head, a small smile gracing her lips that captured the hearts of every single man and woman present.

In an instant every single heart was captured by her. Men and women, they all wanted her. They desired her. They NEEDED her.

"N-no.... Not at all...." John Giant said in response, with even his cheeks reddening slightly in the face of her beauty.

"Love-Love Beam~!"

Hancock's voice echoed throughout the plaza of Marineford as she brought her hands together in the shape of a heart, which then created numerous heart-shaped beams that enveloped the crowds before her. And every single Marine, including even John Giant, was instantly turned to stone.

"HANCOK!" Smoker yelled as he rushed forward to combat her, while Tashigi went to rally whatever Marines were left to fight.

"KUJA PIRATES, ATTACK! RAZE THIS ENTIRE ABOMINABLE ISLAND TO THE GROUND!"

"""YES EMPRESS!"""

With a cry of affirmation, hundreds of women flooded out from the Kuja ships at their empress' order, their bows cocked before they prepared to do battle.

"Marines, battle formations!" Another Vice Admiral cried, trying to rally what forces were left after most of their men were turned to stone.

Thankfully Marineford was designed specifically to entrap any pirate stupid enough to sail right up to their doorstep. Elevated walls encircled their docks, all of which were armed with hundreds of cannons.

"""FIRE!"""

*BOOM!*

Cannon fire rang out and smoke filled the air as balls of metal hurtled towards the Kuja fleet, though not all of them were fired due to their lack of personnel.

"Slave Arrow~!" Hancock cried as she blew out a massive heart-shaped balloon, before pulling back on it to release hundreds of pink heart-shaped arrows.

Using the move in rapid succession, Hancock fired arrows in every direction that turned the cannonballs to stone, and halted their movement in midair. Not only that, the arrows that didn't hit the cannonballs continued on until they hit the cannons themselves.

Meanwhile all of the remaining Marines had rallied and were trying to push back against the attackers.

"FIRE!" A Vice Admiral cried, before musket fire filled the air as they shot at the army of women.

"Like that'll work!" One of the Amazon's sneered as all of those at the fronts had their skin ripple, briefly flashing different shades of serpent scales, before all of the bullets bounced off of them.

"Wha-!?!"

"They're ability users!?!"

"Switch to the seastone bullets!" The same Vice Admiral cried bitterly, as the seastone bullets were hundreds of times more expensive to make compared to a regular bullet after all.

But as the next round of shots rang out, again the bullets were deflected by the armored serpent skin of the Amazons.

"What devilry is this!?!" One of the Marines cried, while even the Vice Admirals began to grow pale.

"Draw swords, and ATTAAAAACK!!!"

With the new command the Marines dropped their muskets and drew the blades they all carried, before charging into battle with the Amazons. If it could be called such.

With strength far surpassing what their slender frames would suggest, the Kuja Pirates effortlessly tore their way through the remaining ranks of the Marines armed with only bows, and their daggers.

The Marines became even more demoralized and disorganized when several of the Kuja began to transform after the two younger of the Gorgon Sisters entered the battle. All of them into serpents of some kind, and all of them growing even stronger after they transformed.

Hancock meanwhile was traveling through the battlefield leisurely after dealing with all of the cannons surrounding them, by turning them all to stone of course, riding on her own snake weapon, Salome.

"Pistol Kiss~!"

With her hands making a gun-like gesture, Hancock fired small hearts all over the battlefield as she rode about on Salome, turning all of those she hit into stone to join the other Marines.

"Hancock!" Roared a gruff voice as white smoke suddenly filled the area, before it condensed into the humanoid figure of Smoker.

"Man." Hancock sneered at him with disdain. To her all men were filth, with the sole exception of her beloved.

"Tell me Hancock..." Smoker began as he removed the seastone tipped jitte from his back and pointed it at her. "Why would YOU turn against the Navy and attack us?"

As his question echoed over the battlefield several Marines listened in, as they also wanted to know the reason behind this unprovoked attack against Justice.

"Hmmm..." Hancock hummed lightly at the question, tucking her hair back behind her ear in a cute gesture that made several of the remaining Marines blush, despite the ongoing battle.

"Because..." She began with a voice full of softness, a slight blush adorning HER cheeks now that made her even more beautiful, before she declared, "LOVE IS A HURRICANE!"

...

"Load it all up!" A woman cried as she directed several others who were boarding the Kuja Pirate ships, all carrying arm loads of all the food, supplies, materials, weapons, and anything they could loot from Marineford.

Meanwhile, mountains of treasure and money were being loaded onto Hancock's ship, all of which was either confiscated from pirates, or were a part of Marineford's vast finances.

Despite the vicious battle that had just taken place though, there were no bodies to be found anywhere. This was because Hancock turned them all into stone, and stored them within the spatial storage ring she had received from Alex until later.

Not everyone had been turned into stone and stored away though, as a line of a few dozen women stood shackled before the ships like products. Most notable amongst them were the Ensign Tashigi, and the Captain Hina, both of which had their own secret fan clubs amongst the Marines.

"Hina is disappointed with herself..." The captain groaned as she came to terms with not her own, but their loss as a whole.

"Don't worry Captain Hina, justice will always prevail!" Tashigi uttered next to her hopefully, until they saw several Kuja bringing the next group of statues to be stored away, with included the petrified Smoker.

"Ladies!"

All of them immediately directed their attention to the one before them as she barked at them, Hancock, as she lounged leisurely on Salome.

The serpent was slithering up and down the line of women, giving Hancock a chance to observe them all, including the giant woman at the end. And when she was done, Hancock nodded in approval as she declared,

"You all have a choice to make! To be turned to stone like your comrades, or to join us as members of the Kuja Pirates!"

"""!!!"""

Every single one of the captured women was shocked as the shackles were removed from them, which would allow them to attack Hancock if they so wished. But none moved to do so.

Every single one of the Kuja had displayed power far beyond what a normal human was capable of, power that apparently even rendered them immune to the usual weakness Devil Fruit users had.

"I will join!" One woman said as she stepped forward.

"So will I!" Declared another.

One by one they stepped forward and declared their willingness to accept Hancock's offer, even the giant woman, until it was only Tashigi and Hina that remained.

"How can they betray the Marines so easily!?!" Tashigi uttered under her breath in indignation.

"Hina will accept as well." Hina suddenly said, stunning Tashigi further.

"Captain Hina! How can you do that after what they did to Commodore Smoker!?!"

"Be quiet Ensign. This is not a situation that Hina can help. So, instead of dying here, it is better to join them and be able to fight at a later date." Hina declared, surprising Tashigi at the plan.

"But... We'd have to be pirates..."

"A necessary evil..." Hina answered, equally disgusted by the thought. But, if by going along with the Kuja, they were able to gain the upper hand, then it would be worth it.

Soon Tashigi noticed every eye on her as they awaited her decision, making her bite her lower lip in frustration before she choked out,

"I-I accept..."

"Very well!" Hancock declared, before nodding to the Kuja behind them.

Suddenly came the sound of the tearing of cloth as their clothes and uniforms were torn from their bodies. Shirts, bras, pants, panties, shoes, socks. Even any accessories they were wearing had to be moved until every single one of them were standing there completely naked.

Though it may seem like harassment from the outside, it actually wasn't.

This was an important ceremony for those who were to be inducted into the Kuja Pirates, as they were stripped of everything they had and were before. They would start their future as Kuja with nothing but their names, and what THEY gave them.

So, after forcing the women to stand there for a moment in the nude, Hancock snapped her fingers and several women appeared from the ship carrying several spare leather and fur garments in their hands for the new recruits.

Tashigi and the others were extremely grateful as they quickly donned the admittedly provocative clothing, though the giantess had to settle with a loincloth that was too small for her, while her breasts were exposed for all to see.

Nodding in approval as they finished dressing, with the rest of her people loading up into the ships, Hancock cried out,

"Kuja Pirates, let's return home!"

There was a cheer in response to her declaration, before all of their new recruits were ushered aboard their ships to begin their new lives. Despite being handed mops and buckets, or being assigned several menial chores, all of them couldn't help but to look back forlornly at Marineford as they sailed away from it.

"Fire!" Hancock ordered suddenly, and a single flaming arrow was loosed.

They all watched as it sailed impossibly far before landing somewhere within the island.

*KABOOM!*

*BOOM!*

*BOOM!*

*BOOM!*

Numerous explosions were set off, as what was likely to be ALL of the fuel and gunpowder on the island was ignited. Soon they all watched as the island was engulfed by flames, before they were in turn engulfed in fog that delivered them directly to Amazon Lily.

***

"And a toast, to the man responsible for liberating my daughter from the continuous assaults of Vander Decken, as well as helping to expose the truth of Hody Jones! Alexander D. Morningstar!" Declared King Neptune, as he raised his glass.

A great cheer sounded out as every official and noble on Fishman island toasted Alex, followed by the clanking of glasses before they all took a drink.

Alex as well drank from his glass, though it was a bit awkward for him to do so thanks to his current position, which was in Shirahoshi's lap. It was made more so since his head was right between her massive breasts, which were already exceptionally large for her age.

Next to them sat Bonney, who was still her actual age at the moment as she continuously scarfed down as much food as possible without a single care that they were in the presence of royalty.

Also at the feast was Shirahoshi's three brothers, Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, and Manboshi, the former of which sat on Alex and Shirahoshi's other side as he tried to engage him in conversation.

Mostly Fukaboshi was telling Alex how he and his brothers had trained themselves for years to be powerful warriors in order to protect their little sister from Vander Decken. But, while they may be powerful compared to other merfolk, the three of them were still really weak in the grand scheme of things.

"I don't know much about the fighting styles of the merfolk, but there are numerous paths available to peruse strength in Asora if you wish."

"Asora... Shirahoshi told us of that place. A land where all walk freely under the sun, without fear of capture and enslavement... A place like that sounds too good to be true."

There was a forlorn look to Fukaboshi's face as he spoke, which told plenty about the mistreatment that Merfolk had suffered from for centuries.

Since they were not a part of the World Government, the Merfolk and Fishmen were considered lesser beings that were actively enslaved, hunted, and feared by most people. Despite this, all Merfolk and Fishmen longed for the surface and its wonders, which made things dangerous for their youth when they'd sneak up to the surface as children.

"It may sound too good to be true, but that doesn't mean it is." Alex told him before taking a bite of food. Unfortunately the Merfolk didn't eat meat...

"Asora is a world for those who either have no place in their own, or have no place to go themselves. The first residents we had belonged to three different races that had been locked in an endless war for several millennia, along with a fourth race that hadn't been involved in the war.

"The next group to move there were a people not too unlike yourselves, the Dagons. They are a seafaring people that were lumped into a much larger collection of people called the Demihumans, which were ostracized and enslaved by the other races, humans and demons.

"The Dagons weren't actively enslaved like the others, but that was only because they performed a valuable service to a human kingdom. If the circumstances were any different though, they would have been enslaved like the rest of the Demihumans.

"Now they, and all of those who have joined us since, live in Asora in peace. We've even got some other mermaids there as well."

Fukaboshi could only gape at Alex in awe of what he had just described, which his brothers and father had also been listening in on as well.

"Yep! Mr. Alex-Sama is an amazing person who helps a lot of people! I hear from his wives all the time of the good things he does! Even more, he's preparing to fight someone who tried to kill one of his friends!"

With Shirahoshi adding her two cents into the conversation, everyone else was giving Alex various looks as well since her words were more credible with him right there in front of them. Alex of course just wanted to sigh, since he despised being seen as anything resembling a 'hero'.

"Speaking of these 'wives' of yours..." King Neptune began after his daughter. "Do you intend to add Shirahoshi to their ranks?"

Now every eye on Alex had a different look as they awaited his answer, but he instantly replied, "of course, but only when she's old enough."

"""!!!"""

Needless to say everyone was shocked at his immediate answer, while King Neptune asked testily, "and what of my daughter's opinion on this?"

Looking to her for her answer, they were all surprised to Shirahoshi acting bashfully at the idea of her becoming Alex's wife. So much so, that he had to answer in her place.

"Shirahoshi's opinion is irrelevant. I intend to 'collect' her regardless once she is of age, and I will ensure she is happy for the rest of her life."

Again, shock filled everyone present at Alex's straightforward answer, while the king looked between him and his daughter repeatedly.

"I see... Rather tyrannical of you, wouldn't you say?" He said as an observation.

"Naturally. After all, I am NOT a benevolent or 'good' person. I am a tyrannical despot that needlessly conquers all that he can, plunders every source of wealth within reach, and adds every little flower that catches his eye to his collection of wives."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Once he finished speaking, Alex entered a stare-off with Neptune as the king tried to divulge the truth behind his declaration.

He knew what a despot looked like, they had nursed a Celestial Dragon back to health when he was on the verge of death after all. But Alex did not strike him as the same type of man.

The more Neptune studied Alex, the more he was convinced that he wasn't such a person. He may not be the 'ideal' ruler, but none could ever truly claim such a things. As a king himself, Neptune could honestly say that anyone who thought they ruled perfectly was instead a failure.

*BANG!*

"King Neptune! I have some urgent business to discuss with you!" Declared the new arrival, a human man with green hair that was tied back into a long ponytail, and sharp features.

His sharp eyes scanned the dining hall instinctively upon entering the room, before they focused on a single person in particular. Alex.

"YOU!" The man exclaimed in shock, before his body began to grow as green scales formed along his skin.