Lara's POV;

The first thing Sengoku did was looking at us and mentally counting who was present. He then turned to his assistant and angrily asked. “Where is Blackbeard?”

The assistant looked through his papers, before looking up at the way larger man. “I don't know sir, Vice Admiral Dalmatian's report said that he came with him.”

“Then send a group out to search for him. We won't wait for his sorry ass, the meeting will start now.” With that said Sengoku sat down on the head chair and held his hand out to the other assistant, who quickly put a folder inside.

He looked through the folder and then started. “Well then, tomorrow at noon we will execute Ace, you will stand on the first battlement as the first line. The task is simple, don't allow the pirates to get past you.”

I raised an eyebrow at the lack of information, don't they want to tell us about the hidden wall? The cannons or Pacifista?

“Anything else you want to tell us? Include us in some strategy or something alike?” I asked when it became obvious that he was not going to continue.

“You are pirates, what else did you expect. We can't trust you with sensitive information about our strategies, you will have to work with what you have,” he replied without a pause to think.

“Okay, then why did I have to come to this meeting?” I asked next, if this is everything then I am seriously disappointed.

“You'll have the chance to discuss a strategy of your own. If that would be all? I have preparations to make and documents to sign.” He stood up and left the room without another word.

Doflamingo laughed loudly, before standing up and walking out as well. “You know as well as I do that we won't fight together, this is a war of the strongest. Those who need help are doomed to die,” he said before he was out of the door.

He was followed by a swarm of bats that were once Gekko, he had transformed into these shadow creatures and flew out without speaking to any of us.

Kuma also walked out, the sound of his heavy footsteps were thumbing through the room. He said nothing and walked out in a straight line. The way he walked showed signs of him being more machine than human.

Mihawk eyed my sword with interest, which I noticed rather quickly. “'Hawk Eye' Mihawk am I right?” I asked before he could decide between leaving or staying.

He nodded at my small question. “Yes, and you are Slicer Lara, your moniker was giving because you have a tendency to cut through your enemies. I am.. interested in your skill with the sword.”

I waved him off. “Don't be, I am not as skilled as possible. The sword is not my way, it is a tool for me. A real swordswoman I am not. My father taught me everything I know and yet I never managed to beat him in a fight of true swords skill.”

He shifted slightly and was now facing me with his body and not only the head, a clear sign that he was at least interested in continuing the conversation. “I am surprised that you don't see yourself as skilled. Many would say otherwise from what I have heard and there are a lot of pirates that think themselves to be skilled with lesser achievements as yours.”

“Yes, from what Luff~y told me you are quite skilled?” Said Hancock from the side. She was blushing fiercely when she said Luffy but the rest was still full of vitriol. She was lucky that I have made a bubble of soundless void around the table. No one who was close enough to listen in could do so.

“You've met him? What's he up to now? I can't imagine him sitting still after hearing about the war,” I said in bait, before looking at Mihawk to answer him. “And no I don't think I am skilled. Sure, I know enough to produce force blades and cut through steel, with my Devil Fruit also sea stone, but I neglected my skill since leaving the house of my parents.”

“May I know the name of your father? I might know him,” he requested. I thought about it for a moment. My parents and little brother, I rarely think about them, but don't want them to be in danger. They are good people and only want to live in peace. But I was always curious about dad. He was too skilled with the sword to be unknown.

“My father is named Leo Lonore.” His eagle-like eyes widened when he heard that name and he studied me once more.

“It was a long time ago that I last heard that name. Leo Lonore, the Blade Dancer. To think that he has two daughters.”

I myself was also surprised, I did know that dad was strong but always chalked it up to it being natural with him coming from the New World. From a slight glance to my side even Hancock knew of that name.

“My father never told anything about his past, why was he called like that and why does it look as if his name is something big?” I asked both of them.

“Blade Dancer Leo was a pirate with a bounty of 632 Million Berry. He and his pirate crew of long-ear humans was notoriously known for hunting Marines and slavers. He once even attacked a ship of the World Nobles that was carrying slaves to Mariejois.

Then Sengoku fought him, the battle was said to have lasted for days and destroyed a whole island. The Dancing Blades, that was the name of his crew, did escape but were later captured by Garp. He himself got caught after losing the fight against Sengoku. It was a major accomplishment that gave Sengoku enough cloud to become Fleet Admiral.

I was just a new Swordsman when he got arrested, he was one of my idols. Tell me, what is he doing now? Is he well?”

“He and my mother live a peaceful life, away from conflict and without any desire to fight again,” I answered truthfully. Lia and I have seen how much they loved the peace on Numuro Island.

“What happened to him? I always taught that Sengoku won the fight and that he got imprisoned into Impel Down,” questioned Hancock.

“He was sold to the World Nobles, I don't know how, when or why. My sister and I were born two years before Fisher Tiger came,” I answered. By now it wouldn't matter if the World Nobles knew about Lia and me.

This time it was Hancock who got wide-eyed and shocked. “Is that true? You were slaves?” She asked a little louder than normal and one of her hands moved to her back, touching the symbol that was also burned on me.

“Why do you want to know?” I asked, she gave a side glance at Mihawk and then looked back at me, before standing up and leaving the room without another word.

“Strange woman, but whatever. My parents escaped that day and since then lived a life without conflict. My sister and I found a Devil Fruit and our parents knew that we couldn't live a normal life. That's why my father started to train me in his sword style. I never managed to beat him and he always held back, that's why I say that I am not skilled.

The truth is, I am better with daggers. My sword Lunare is something I keep as a memento to him,” I said once the door has closed.

Mihawk's eyes flicked to the sheath of Lunare and it was obvious that he wanted to look at the sword, but wouldn't ask himself. “If you are interested I can show you Lunare,” I said with a small knowing smile.

He nodded gratefully and received the sheathed blade with care. His hand travelled over the carved sheath and then with a click he drew the blade in one swift move. He raised the blade to eye level and inspected it carefully.

“This blade is young, masterfully crafted and well-taken care of. There lays strength within and it is deadly. However, it is not his blade, why is it then a memento and who did make it?” He said after sheathing and handing the weapon back to me.

“It reminds me of the time we spent training together, he made me learn with a sword of the same design. And I forged it, I am a little skilled at the forge and made the weapons for my crew as well.” Again he looked surprised but composed himself quickly.

He nodded once again. “It is of remarkable quality. My own sword is one of the twelve supreme grade swords, Yoru the strongest sword in the world. Are you... taking requests? I'd like to have a sword forged by you.” His request came as a surprise, but I had nothing against it.

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“Sure, I need time, maybe materials and a general idea of what kind of sword you'd like to have. Once this is over and I am back with my crew I can make one for you and then we could meet up.” I answered. Having Mihawk as an acquaintance could prove fruitful. “There is also a theory of mine, if you infuse your Armament Haki into the metal while it's forged I think it will greatly benefit the blade. It might attune the blade to the one who supplies the Haki, I'll have to test that out, but if it's true I might be able to forge even better weapons.”

“I would be most greatful. I hope you'll survive tomorrow,” he said with another nod in thanks and then stood up before leaving the room. I was now alone in the room, which was boring so left for my quarters.

Inside I heard the sound of flowing water, someone was inside my bath and apparently preparing a bath. I'll bet two roasted chicken that it is Hancock. She had the same theatrical show with Luffy.

I walked to the slightly opened door of my bathroom and pushed the door fully open. Had I bet against someone I would now have been richer two roasted chicken, a pity. I stepped inside and closed the door loud enough for her to notice.

“May I know why you are using my bath and not your own?” I asked and leaned against the door with crossed arms.

She stood naked inside the large bathtub and vapour was hiding some of her body. Her long hair was cascading down her back and pooling into the water that stood knee high. The moment it reaches her hips she will feel weak.

“You've said your father was a slave to the World Nobles,” she began and kneeled down. She did not act as if the water was weakening her, but I knew better.

“That was the case, he and my mother used Fisher Tiger's help to escape Mariejois. They took my sister and me and run like so many others. From your reaction, this means something to you. Let me guess, either you or someone close to you was once a slave,” I said and looked out for her snake.

“Salome is not with me now, he rests in my own quarters,” she said suddenly. She must have noticed my searching look and tried to reassure me that this was not a trap.

I shrugged and got out of my clothes as well. She may not be attractive to me, but she already prepared a bath and I can feel that this might lead to some alliance. Once naked I stepped inside the water as well but did not kneel down like she did in the middle, but sat on the underwater bench on the side. The water in the middle was too high for me. Boa Hancock is almost half a meter taller than me.

“And yes, to answer your guess. My sisters and I were once caught and sold to the World Nobles, they branded me with their symbol and gave me and my sisters a Devil Fruit for their own amusement.

What about you, do you remember what happened to you and your sister, or have your parents told you anything? You said they used Fisher Tiger's help, do you know about him?” She said and came closer.

“I don't know much about the escape,” I lied, “our parents told us that it was hectic and scary. My mother said that I made them pick up a shackled mermaid girl and that this might have given us credit with Fisher Tiger when they asked him for help later on his ship,” I explained and reached out behind me to grab the head conditioner.

From behind me, I could hear Hancock muttering, “So it was you Luffy spoke about.”

I began to smear the conditioner into my hair and gave her the bottle, before speaking again. “What did Luffy say? And how did you come to know him? The last time I have seen him was when he punched the World Noble in the face.

I hope he does not get too much stress because the three died.”

Hancock took the bottle out of my hands, but it slipped and fell into the water when she heard that the World Nobles have died. “How did that happen? I thought he only punched one of them, that does not explain how three died.”

“Luffy's not at fault. My sister and I were. You see, my and her Devil Fruit have some attacks that are a little sneaky. From the bounty poster, you might have seen that I am said to be able to control sound and that my sister can push things away.

Well, that is not really the extent of our power. I can manipulate vibrations and her pressure. When we came upon the World Nobles I created tiny vibrations in their heartstrings, the muscle got damaged and the next time they get stressed or a fast heartbeat it will rip. Needless to say that seeing one of their own hit was stressful.

The World Noble Luffy punched had a vein in his head manipulated by my sister. After getting hit it had to let too much blood flow through its narrow passage and the vein ripped, giving him an aneurysm and killing him rather quickly.”

She looked at me with a shocked expression, the bottle floated between her legs and was left untouched. “You killed three World Nobles without anyone knowing it was you,” she then finally mumbled.

“Sure did and will do again. I don't like slavery and even more, dislike the World Nobles. Arrogant fuckers think they are the greatest because they were born into luxury.

But you said something about Luffy, how did you meet him?”

She finally grabbed the bottle and began to clean her hair. A happy smile blossomed on her face and it turned crimson from embarrassing, most likely illusionary, memories. “Luffy got separated from his crew and found himself on Amazon Lilly, my home island. At first, we thought he was an intruding male and hunted him. During his flight, he escaped into my personal bath and saw the symbol of the World Nobles on my back. I was mortified that he would tell anyone about this dark past and wanted to execute him for knowing.

My two sisters were to kill him in a fight, during which one of them got their shirt destroyed. Instead of using that moment to show my island what was on her back he jumped on her and hid the sign with his own body.

I couldn't kill him then, we were indebted to him for this. I allowed him to live and asked if he wants something in return. He begged me for help with his brother Ace and I accepted.

Then, when I asked him if he knew others with the symbol he said there was a friend of him that had the symbol, but after a closer look, he said it was different. His friend had the sign of the Sun Pirates, the same you do. From your words, I can take that you know him well?” She explained. Her words were fearful at the end. This girl was stupidly and blindly in love with someone I think was mentally not even able to differentiate between love between his crew and a woman.

“My navigator and his are sisters, that's where our main connection is. I also know him since I started my days as pirates. I was present when he defeated Arlong. My sister and I wanted to give the once Sun Pirate member a visit, but saw how inhuman and cruel he became after Fisher Tiger's death.

We decided to take him out, but Luffy beat us to it. I'm not sure if Luffy even knows about us being ex-slaves. He certainly does not know about the Sun Pirate sign on my and my sister's back. He must have spoken about Hatchan, a fishmen that was part of Arlong's crew and a friend of Luffy.

But you could say that the Straw Hats and Kage Pirates are allied crews, not official, but something like that. We often helped each other out. On Whisky Peak, we fought together against bounty hunters, in Alabasta we were together against Crocodile and on Enies Lobby we fought the World Government together. As I have said, the last time I saw him was on Sabaody Archipelago, where we parted ways.”

“Then what are you to him? Do you like him?” She asked, her face was blushing fiercely.

“Me like him, as in love? Haha, as if. Luffy does lack the physical attributes for me to like him,” I laughed and got glared at.

“Luffy is manly!” Declared Hancock resolutely and daring me to say otherwise with a glare of hers.

“Sure he is, that's exactly why I don't find him attractive,” I said still with a small chuckle. This woman is so fucking lost.

“Oh, then... why aren't you attracted to me then? You don't act like any other women that stands in my glorious presence.” She really looked confused about that.

“Because I love my sister, you can't hold a candle to her. I am not affected by your Devil Fruit produced allure because you don't interest me,” I answered with a little lie. I am sure that Lia would be somewhat under her allure, not falling completely to it, but also not immune. My Calm Mind gives me immunity.

“I see... So there is nothing between you and Luffy?” She asked again to be sure.

“Not in the way you thought. Luffy is not someone I can say I know enough to call him a true friend. I know that he would help me and my crew if we needed it and I would do the same with my crew. But that stems more from the fact that our navigators are sisters. That Zoro, his first mate, is a friend of two of my crew members and that we have crew members that have the same interests.

As I said, we had a few run-ins with each other and helped where help was needed. You can feel free to go and try to seduce him. If I were you I would give him meat and ask for a kiss or sex in return. Luffy is so much in love with meat he would probably sleep with you if you give enough,” I answered and joked at the end. Well, joked a little. I really think Luffy would sleep with her if she asks.

Hancock blushed so redly it looked hilarious. She was also swooning from left to right and muttering to herself in an illusion that must show the exact situation, with her most preferred outcome. I swear, she almost creamed herself from the sheer imagination.

“Damn you got it bad, but good luck. Still, he must be quite restless with his brother up for the execution,” I remarked when she calmed down enough to look aware of her surroundings.

“He is, Luff~y has infiltrated Impel Down and wants to save Ace before he gets shipped to Marine HQ,” explained Hancock. There was no longer any envy or sermon in her voice, she sounded a lot friendlier.

“Good luck with that. I don't think he is strong enough to fight against the stronger prison guards. But if he's lucky he will meet my sister,” I replied and started to wash the shampoo out of my hair.

Hancock raised an eyebrow in a silent question. “She and my crew are on their way to attack Impel Down and rescue someone important to a member of my crew. While I play the good little Marine dog and help with the war,” I explained.

“That is mightily dangerous. If they find out about your betrayal before you can get away it will become hard for you to escape. They will not stop until they got you and you will become number one on their enemy list,” she warned and started to wash her own hair.

“I know, exciting right? You'll see tomorrow that there is more to me than my little body indicates. The Marines don't know the extent of my Devil Fruit power, nor do they know the strength I possess. Momonga only wounded me because I had limited myself,” I laughed happily at the prospects of the coming fight and then leaned back.

Hancock looked at me with a strange expression that was a mix of 'are you crazy' and 'I hope you'll survive that'. She too got closer and began to relax in the warm water.

We spoke a lot about stuff without real importance. She was telling me stories about her upbringing without any men. I told her in return how it is to grow up with men and woman living together. I think at the end of the day she was thinking of me as something close to a friend. Someone that could speak with her without acting as if she was the greatest in the world. She must have longed for someone like that if she latches this easily onto me. Not that I will complain, having her as a friend might help in the long run.

She left late and wished me luck in tomorrows war, as did I to her.

I fell asleep with a little worry about Lia and the others, but also with a great anticipation for the fun in tomorrows war.