Lara's POV;

We flew for the next three days, only landing when we were going to sleep. Soon the island of Amazon Lily was in sight. The island had a mountain in the middle that was formed like a multi-headed snake.

Green jungle forest was growing all over the island and gave it a rather pretty green colour, intermixed with the brown from high mountains and steep boulders. We couldn't see the village of the Kuja from our approaching vector.

Instead, we saw a small area that was cut off from the rest of the island. There were barricades made out of cloth that separated a small part of the coast from the inside of the island. A yellow submarine was anchored on the cut off part.

“Fiara, bring us down next to the submarine,” I ordered. That's the vessel of the Heart Pirates, whose captain is Law.

Our own ship was dwarfing the submarine, with us being easily thrice its size. The Heart Pirates have spotted us before we had landed and awaited us, most were prepared for a fight, but visibly relaxed when they saw the flag of our ship.

The first to greet us was Law, he came straight to the point and spoke without much emotion. “Why are you here?”

We had jumped down from the Raptor and were now facing Law's crew. “Law, come on, is that how you greet a friend? I thought we were buddies, we sat next to each other through the auction and even fought together,” I replied with a mock hurt tone before I studied his crew with a side glance and some Observation Haki.

Most of his men were pretty weak. Stronger than the common grunt, but nothing if compared to my crew or even the Straw Hats. He was going the middle way of having a mid-sized crew with stronger than normal members. A rare few were strong on their own, but still only on the level of the weaker Straw Hats.

The Straw Hats and Kage Pirates are fewer in number, but also stronger per individual. I mean, I don't want to have my crew constantly in the sick bay for getting wounded in every skirmish. Maybe Law does? He is a doctor after all.

Anyway, my mind was going strange ways again and I had to refocus on the here and now. Law looked relaxed, but I felt how he was a little nervous. He was not quite afraid of me, but extremely wary.

“We did not fight together, your Tontatta burned the marines, while you were inside the auction house,” retorted Law. It's a slight barb against me. I was the only captain that did not step out to fight the Marines, I only ordered one of my minions to fight. He must have seen it as an insult to his strength.

I waved my hand in a 'what can you do' way. “Meh, semantics. Anyway, I heard from Ivankov that Straw Hat might be here, have you seen him?”

Law scowled at my attitude but did not start to argue. I also think that he was a little bit angry, must really have hurt his pride when I only sent Fiara. If you went by the looks then she is the weakest of our members.

He was clutching his long sword rather tightly and was also cracking his fingers. “He is, I patched him up, but by the sound of it he is doing good work in reopening his wounds,” replied Law.

A moment later we heard an anguished cry, filled with pain, sorrow and loss.

Nami had sprinted out behind the barricades before any of us could fully turn around. “You'll stay, I'll take a look,” I ordered before Nojiko or anyone else could follow her.

I then rushed past the barricade as well and into the forest behind. A track of destruction was leading me and within seconds I came into a clearing. Luffy was sitting with his back rested against a large boulder. His whole body was wrapped up in dirty and partially bloody bandages.

He was also crying rivers and was hugged by Nami. His own arms were trying to hug her back, but his wounds were too severe.

Nami was speaking comforting words to Luffy while crying herself. “I'm here Luffy, everything is fine. We can survive this, you are not alone.” He continued to cry, but the sound wasn't as anguished as before.

From the side, I saw how Jimbei was watching the scene with a fond smile. “It is good to see that he has friends that love him,” he said to me.

I gave him a once over. He too was bandaged, most of them over his stomach and chest area. His hands were also looking burned. “Long time no seen Jimbei,” I said with a smile. I still remember the days where I have mimicked his training.

It's almost gone now, but I am still able to use a few of the easier fishman-karate moves.

Jimbei looked surprised but then grinned a wide and toothy smile. “You too, you've grown. I was quite surprised when I first saw your and your sister's bounty poster. I saw you during the war, you've become strong.”

“Yeah, saw you too. There wasn't any time to say hello, too much traffic,” I said with a grin. He laughed a loud belly laugh and nodded in agreement. “But still, you look quite beaten up, need any help?” I continued while eyeing his bandages.

He raised one of his eyebrows. “You've probably seen that I have eaten a mythical fruit. It is the Mythical Zoan Fruit, Model Human, Subclass Angel. With it I am able to heal wounds, yours can be easily fixed,” I explained, before transforming into my Mage Angel for.

Neither Luffy, nor Nami reacted to the transformation, but Jimbei looked quite awed. “I know this form, you've used it to fight off Blackbeard's shadows. It can also deflect the attacks of Kizaru. Your fruit has some pretty strong abilities.”

“Yeah, Angels are beings of light and Kizaru is made out of light,” I explained somewhat before touching his chest lightly. I then activated the healing properties of my light and let it flow into his body.

Jimbei looked down in wonder and placed one of his webbed hands on my own. “This feels nice, a warmth is spreading from your hands, its travelling through my body and surrounding the parts where I am hurt most.”

“Yes, I'm told that it can be quite calming.” I finished healing him within a few minutes. He looked down, undid his bandages and then softly prodded the uncared tissue.

“There is no scar,” he said in wonder.

“Yes, I can heal the scars as well. It's even able to regrow limbs,” I explained. I did offer Fiara to heal her arms and eye once, but she declined. She said that her new ones are way better. She has a lot of different useful tools inside them.

“Did you heal...,” he began and glanced on my back. He looked sorry, probably giving himself some of the faults for burning a mark into the back of a small child.

I shook my head no while giving him a fond smile. “No, Lia and I still have our Sun Pirate symbol.” I really like Jimbei, he was always friendly and gave me sweets and some extra chicken.

“I see.” For a long moment, we said nothing. We silently watched Nami comforting a still slightly crying Luffy. Both content with the pause in our conversation.

It was him that broke the silence. “May I know why? Your parents must have told you about the meaning behind the symbol and what it stands for.”

“They did, they told us what the Sun Pirate symbol means and why we have it. I decided that instead of a mark to hide our history as slaves it also represents the camaraderie between the Sun Pirates. Not all of you have been slaves and they still took the pain of the burning. They agreed to share the pain of being marked. I think the symbol is more a sign of friendship. I may have been only a small child then, but I like to think that I too am part of this group.”

He did not turn to look at me when he replied.“Thank you, for years I have feared what you two think of us. The branding isn't pretty and it can be seen as a disfigurement, especially for women. It's a relieve to hear that you two are not resenting us for forcing it on you.” A side glance showed me that he was crying a little.

I patted his back and smiled up at him, he nodded and we became silent again. This time it was me who broke it. “I heard about Fisher Tiger, from Arlong. Sorry, but Nojiko, a member of my crew killed him. He took over a small village in the east blue and enslaved the populace. Luffy did beat him up, but I allowed Nojiko to take her revenge for him killing her mother.”

“Yes, Hatchan has told me. I was shocked when I heard what Arlong did. I always knew that he wasn't a fan of humans, but that he went this far is beyond anything I could have imagined. Had I known I would have done it myself. Arlong became a monster after Fisher's death. He reaped what he sowed. Then the girl that is comforting Luffy must be Nami. Hatchan has spoken often about her, he is sorry as well.”

“We know, met him at Sabaody Archipelago, got interrupted by a group of World Nobles. But the apology was received and accepted.”

He looked down at me with worry. “Did something happen? Have they found out your history?”

“No, they were present at an auction for slaves. Kami, a mermaid was caught and the Straw Hats were trying to buy her freedom, my crew and I were coincidently there as well. But before the Straw Hat's could voice their offer they were overshot by one of the World Nobles. One thing led to the other and in the end, Luffy attacked one of them. This activated something that Lia and I have done to the three and they died. It is what caused the separation of the Straw Hats. Kuma got involved and sent them away.”

“Must have been quite a thing. Attacking a World Noble and escaping the resulting retaliation is rare. You all were lucky, but then again, it must have been shortly before the war. The Marines had not the manpower to truly chase you..,” he stopped mid-sentence because Luffy had stood up.

With slow shaky steps, and while being supported by Nami, he came over to us. He stopped in front of me and fell down to his knees.

But when Nami tried to help him up he declined. “No Nami, I have to do this,” he said to her and then turned back to me and Jimbei.

He placed his head down on the ground and moved into a begging position. “Lara, please watch over Nami for me. As it is now we aren't strong enough for the New World. We have to train if we want to survive the New World.

You and your crew are strong, stronger than me or my friends. So I ask you, no, I am begging you to help Nami. Please watch over her for the next two years. I promise you that in two years I can become strong enough to protect her and my friends. But right now I am too weak.”

Nami looked at Luffy with a shocked expression, one hand in front of her gaping mouth. “Luffy...” Begging like he does, to a different captain, is comparable to throwing away one's own pride. He is admitting that he himself is not strong enough for his crew and asks for help. He admits that he lacks as a captain.

For Nami it showed how serious Luffy was with this. He is a prideful man and forcing him to do something that he does not want to do is hard. His willingness to be parted with his friends, even handing over the responsibility of keeping them safe is something huge.

“Well, I think we can manage one more mouth to feed,” I said and tried to not make a big deal out of this. I had already expected that it would come to this. Luffy has seen that they are too weak and with Nami landing on our ship it was kinda obvious that she would stay. We can hardly throw her off at a random island.

Luffy looked up from his position and smiled a big and toothy smile. “Thank you, Lara, really thank you.”

“It needs strength to admit your own shortcomings, Luffy. That you are able to do so is a good sign of growing up,” praised someone new. It was Rayleigh, he was shirtless and stood at the entrance of the clearing.

“Old man Rayleigh?” Asked Luffy and Nami in confusion. Jinbei and I stayed quiet for the moment. Jimbei from shock and I because I had nothing to say.

“I came to look for you, the others from the Kage Pirates are waiting, wondering what takes you so long. Gloriosa and the girls from the Kuja Pirates are also waiting.” Explained Rayleigh. It did not tell us how or why he was on this island, but you take what you get.

“Well, I think Lia would like to see you as well, Jimbei. Wouldn't want to let her wait, would we?” I said with a grin. “I'm sure she will make a feast for us. She became quite the good cook,” I added for Luffy's sake. The still heavily wounded boy was instantly salivating and eager to go, the only problem was that his body was not able to move on its own.

“Hehe, did she? She was always the more serious of you two,” laughed Jimbei, while carefully picking Luffy up. He positioned him on his back and together we walked back to the ship.

There we found the Kuja Pirates and my crew in a standoff. The Kuja Pirates were standing with their back to the jungle and had their bows out. They were lowered, but ready to be aimed within a moments notice. My crew was casually waiting for me to resolve the problem. None of them looked ready, but they all could react if it becomes to blows.

“We're back,” I called out. The woman that was leading the Amazons turned around saw Luffy. Her frown instantly turned into a love-struck expression and she came almost flying over to us.

“Luff~y how are your wounds? I came with food for you,” she almost sung the words. She stopped in front of us and studied each of us. Jimbei she already knew and by her expression she also knows Rayleigh. She glared a bit at Nami and then smiled at me.

“And Lara, why are you here on Amazon Lily?” She finally decided to ask me, while her eyes had gone back to Luffy.

I followed Luffy and Jimbei over to the rest of the group while explaining why we are here. “Long story. During our raid on Impel Down, we helped a guy named Bon Kurei escape.”

I got interrupted by Luffy. “Wait?! Did you say Bon Kurei? Did he have eyeliner and did he dance around?”

“Yeah, he told us to say hello. We found him inside one of the sick rooms of the prison. He helped us freeing a friend of us, in return, we helped him get to the island he wanted to be dropped off.” I explained, only a little bit miffed about being interrupted. You can't expect orderly conversations if Luffy is in the same room.

Luffy began to cry again, this time from happiness. “So he made it out? He is really alive?”

“Last time I saw him he was happily partying with the rest of the Newkama guys,” I answered with a shrug. Luffy began to celebrate loudly, but not bodily.

I turned back to Hancock, she in return was only giving me maybe 20% of her attention. The rest was on Luffy. I still continued my tale. “Anyway, he wanted to be set off on an island called Kamabuta something. There Ivankov, a high ranked member of the Revolutionary Army, told us that Luffy might be on this island. And Nami, Luffy's navigator, found herself on our ship. She wanted to see Luffy, so here we are.

It's not a problem is it?”

She still did not turn away from Luffy when she answered. “No no, friends of Luffy are welcome on Amazon Lily. But your male members have to stay on this side of the barricade. Men are usually not allowed on Amazon Lily, there are only a bare few exceptions.”

Jonny, Yosaku and Noa grumbled a bit. They had hoped that they would be able to see the elusive city of Amazon Lily. It was something of a mythical wonderland for every male pirate.

“Sure, we can hold a party on this side as well as on the other,” I said and signalled for Lia to start the preparations for a feast. I know that a lot of it will go into Luffy's stomach, but the Kuja Pirates have brought enough for the rest as well.

What followed was a party that went well into the night and even early hours of the next day.

Everyone who did not know Lia's cooking skills was impressed. Jimbei apologised to Lia as well. She forgave him, but only if he gives her a few good recipes that are known by fishmen, Jimbei gladly obliged.

At some time during the feast, we run out of chicken. That forced me to stop eating. After pouting for half an hour I saw how Luffy was being fed by Hancock. Hancock looked as if she was in pure bliss, while Luffy looked a little annoyed with her not shovelling food into his mouth fast enough.

I contemplated if I should offer to heal Luffy. Luffy would thank me, Hancock would not. But then again, it might be that she will appreciate me healing the one she loves more than the possibility of feeding him.

In the end, I decided I would ask. “Hey Luffy, do you want me to heal you as well?”

Luffy stopped eating for a short moment before he nodded rapidly. He then continued to eat everything close to him. Hancock first looked at me with a small glare, but her focus was quickly set back on bringing food close to Luffy's mouth.

He'll be fine enough for a few more hours. He can't be too hurt if he's still able to eat. “I'll heal you after dinner then.” This made Hancock smile, which in return made the male members of my crew swoon.

Even the female members were awing at her seemingly caring behaviour, alongside the watching Kuja Pirates. The only exceptions were Jimbei, me, Rayleigh, the old granny from the island and Lia.

That Lia wasn't affected showed that she was either too strong for Hancock's allure, or that she found her lacking. I think it was a mixture of both.

Later she told me that she has noticed a compulsion to shower Hancock with attention, but she quickly quelled that kind of pressure and was then unaffected.

Sometime during the feast Rayleigh offered to train Luffy. He accepted without much thought. Nami's presence has forced him to acknowledge their weakness far sooner than in canon.

Rayleigh also proposed an idea how to bring news of the two year training to the rest of Luffy's crew. It was the same as in canon. They will do it the very next day, after I have healed Luffy. I did not offer our help, we had other things to do.

Like bringing Mrs Chicken Wing home.