Dawn's Dream

Inside the palace baths at Kuja Castle.

Hancock sat at the edge of the pool, her long legs submerged in the water and her wet black hair clinging to her smooth back.

Resting her chin on one hand, she stared at the water without seeing it. Worry clouded her delicate features.

"Don't worry. He'll definitely come back today."

At the other end of the bath, Stussy swept back her short golden hair and rose from the water. Droplets ran down the curves of her body.

"It's your birthday. Even that guy wouldn't forget a day this important."

Hancock sighed softly, her voice listless.

"It's been more than a year... Stussy, do you think he might have met other girls out there?

Do you think... he might find the outside world more interesting than Amazon Lily and never come back?"

Her voice grew quieter with every word, until it was barely a whisper.

Without the life-changing years of slavery she had endured in the original timeline, Hancock was, for now, simply an ordinary girl caught up in her first love.

"There are so many of us here. You think that greedy guy could just walk away from us?"

Stussy rolled her eyes and put an arm around Hancock's shoulders.

"Stop imagining the worst. Dawn might fool around sometimes, but I can tell he genuinely cares about you."

The other girls in the bath gathered around too, all talking at once as they tried to comfort Hancock.

Looking at the friends who cared so much about her, Hancock took a deep breath and forced a smile.

"You're right... I shouldn't be like this."

The girls resumed their play, splashing water as laughter echoed through the baths. They pulled Hancock into the pool and drew her into their antics.

Night fell, and Amazon