Dream

As he promised, Luka brought Luffy and Hancock to the freshly trained Karros.

"Alright, there are a few things you need to know before you ride a Karros."

Luka held the reins of a Karros as he faced the two.

"First, Karros are proud creatures. They won't carry those they don't acknowledge. Second, they can be very mischievous when they want. Meaning they will sometimes try to scare their rider or rough them up. That's why you need to be dominant."

He looked at Luffy who was circling around him and the Karros.

"To be honest, you seem like the type to calm a Karros on the first try."

He gave Luffy the reins.

"Alright, give it a go."

Luffy took the reins and jumped on the beast's back.

"Hahahaha! I'm riding one!"

(It's calm.)

Luka observed the Karros. It showed no signs of being rowdy.

"Ok, gently kick its side and shake your rein. It will move."

Luffy did as he said the Karros started moving.

"Oh!"

He shook the rein harder and it sped up.

"Hahaha!"

He burst out laughing.

"The water! I want to see it run on the water surface!"

He directed the Karros to go in the water.

"Is that okay?"

Caria asked Luka.

"It should be fine. The Karros look to be afraid of him. It most likely feels the difference in strength is too great and believes it will die if it defies him."

The Karros carried Luffy into the ocean where it walked on the surface.

"Amazing! It really is walking on water!"

Luffy excitedly raced the Karros across the water's surface.

"Luffy~."

Hancock mumbled.

Okay, folks! It's time to see what Boa Hancock sees when she looks at this scene!

"Hahaha."

Handsome Luffy's laugh was like a melody sung by a choir of angels. His jacket was opened and his bare torso was revealed to the world. His skin glistened like gold under the sun. His hair was long for some reason and moved in waves as it danced in the air. He spread his arms wide as his stead gracefully glided across the water's surface. With every step it took it opened up a galaxy of stars beneath the water surface. Luffy was like a heavenly being opening universes with his presence.

"So beautiful."

A single tear flowed down Hancock's cheek as she watched the beautiful celestial known as Luffy entertain himself. After a few minutes, Luffy(?) stopped and stretched his hand towards her.

"?!"

Everything around her was erased by a heavenly light. Only the two of them remained.

"Come ride with me, my beloved."

Luffy's words pounded on her heart. She stretched her hand out while looking at Celestial Luffy as if in a trance.

In reality—

"Hey, come join me! This is so sick!"

Luffy was waving at her with a goofy smile on his face. He was fully clothed and not glistening. Hancock looked at Luka.

"I require a horse of my own."

"Sorry, can only do one. Besides, aren't you on a date?"

"It's precisely because we're on a date I want a horse of my own."

Luka shook his head.

"That's not what I meant."

He pointed at Luffy.

"Why don't you two ride together? Wouldn't that be more romantic? It will make you and your partner feel closer as well."

Hancock's eyes widened.

"Child, are you perhaps a genius?"

"You may call me the Vegapunk of Love if you wish."

Hancock turned to Luffy.

"Stay there, I'll come to you!"

"Alright!"

Hancock ran towards the ocean. Caria stood beside Luka and looked at him.

"The Vegapunk of love? Really?"

"Please, stop it. I'm already regretting ever saying that."

Luka hung his head in shame.

Hancock leaped into the air, Luffy caught her and helped her sit behind him.

"Isn't this amazing, Hancock? It's walking on water!"

Hancock nodded.

"Yeah, it's amazing."

She glanced at Luffy who was grinning.

(That Luka kid was right, we're closer this way.)

A small smile appeared on her face.

"Hang on, Hancock!"

Luffy held on to the reins again.

"We're going for a ride!"

"Huh?"

Before Hancock could process what he said, the Karros started galloping on the water surface.

"Kyaa!"

Hancock let out a surprised scream and grabbed hold of Luffy's waist.

"?!"

She realized and release his waist in a fluster.

"Hey, Hancock! It's dangerous, so hold on!"

Luffy shouted.

"B-But..."

"Hancock!"

"Yes!"

Hancock held onto Luffy's waist again.

"Come closer to be safe and tightened your grip!"

"O-Okay."

She scrooched closer to Luffy and held him tighter.

"Alright!"

Luffy shook the reins and the Karros' sped up. He laughed as he rode the beast up and down the water. Hancock silently held on him.

(I can feel his warmth.)

She pressed her face against Luffy's back.

(I can hear his heartbeat....I can tell how excited he is from how much it's racing.)

Her face became flushed as she started snuggling with Luffy.

(I like this. His heartbeat calms me. His warmth soothes my soul and makes me forget my troubles. Just knowing he's in my arms makes me feel invincible as if nothing can hurt me.)

Hancock closed her eyes. All the noise around her vanished. The only thing left was the sound of Luffy's heartbeat. In her mind, she could picture herself and Luffy riding in the meadows with only them in the open world.

"I really love this."

"Me too."

She opened her eyes when Luffy spoke.

"I know we came here to get supplies, but I'm glad we were able to spend time having fun just the two of us."

She straightened her body and looked at the back of Luffy's head.

"It feels like we return to that week we spent together on the island doesn't it?"

Hancock looked around. They were some distance away from the island. It was really only the two of them on the open sea with the Karros.

"I've told you already but I really enjoyed that week with you, Hancock."

"Me too....We experienced all kinds of hardship but I would do them all again because you would be with me."

"Is that so?"

Luffy looked behind him with a smile.

"Then that makes the two of us."

Hancock's eyes brightened up as they became a bit watery.

"I won't lie, this is the happiest I've been in decades."

"Really?"

She nodded.

"Meeting you has brightened up my world. Meeting you have made me want to do things I haven't done in years....Meeting you made me start to dream again."

"Dream, huh?"

Luffy grinned.

"Then that's great. That just means you're living. After all, a person without a dream isn't truly living."

"I guess you're right..."

Hancock remembered the days without Luffy. It was as if everything was monochrome and lackluster. The world was mundane yet terrifying. She couldn't show any signs of weakness; not to her enemies, not to her allies, not even to her sisters. She needed to be strong, she needed to be the Pirate Empress. But now, on this creature in the middle of the ocean wasn't the Pirate Empress or the Snake Princess. She was just a woman experiencing the joys of love. She was merely Boa Hancock.

"Hancock, what is your dream?"

Luffy asked her while staring off into the distance.

"My dream?"

At that moment, Hancock wanted to scream "My dream is to be your wife", but she didn't.

(That's not the answer Luffy wants to hear....He just said dreaming is what makes us human, it's what makes me who I am.)

So, the question was who was Boa Hancock and what is it she desires the most in life?

"....."

Hancock silently smiled.

"My dream is to one day sail the world with you, I want to see the world through your eyes."

(I'm sure it's beautifully vibrant.)

She thought.

"I see, then once I become Pirate King I'll show you."

He glanced at her behind him.

"I'll show you the world as I see it."

Hancock smiled and stuck out her finger.

"Then it's a promise."

Luffy grinned and locked his finger with hers.

"It's a promise."

The two laughed while locking fingers. Meanwhile, Caria and Luka were still on the island.

"Looks like their date is going good?"

Caria said.

"Yeah, looks like it."

Luka paused for a bit.

"I wonder if they're Devil Fruit Users?"

"Why that sudden question?"

"I was just thinking if they were, you'd have to go save them if they fall into the water since I can't."

"Why are you thinking about something negative when they're having a good time?"

Caria frowned.

"Because we never expect bad things to happen when we're having fun, and it's because of this why when bad things do happen we're left helpless."

"Didn't Jessie tell you to stop being so negative?"

"Yes, but he's not here, is he?"

He sighed.

"All I'm saying is when things are going good, except it to go to shit."

He looked at Caria with a deadpan expression.

"Because it always does."