ROMANCE DAWN

14

Don't forget that English isn't my first language, so if you notice any mistakes, don't hesitate!

Don't hesitate to leave a comment!

"Now you need to feel the energy inside you and push it outwards." The brunette said as she walked ahead of me at the pace of her explanations. "Close your eyes!" She shouts.

I close my eyes. I don't understand a word she's saying, I can't feel any energy inside me. Yet I've been sitting cross-legged in front of the Empress for several hours now, and she's been patient. She takes a few hours of her time to train me every day, from dawn onwards.

"I don't understand. I don't feel anything." I mumble.

"Concentrate." She answers.

I open one eye, watching her. She grabs the flask she has hidden under her long kimono with one hand and opens it. The Empress empties it completely onto the floor in front of me.

"Visualise this puddle in front of you." She says. "Think of its shape.

— Water has no shape." I interrupt her.

She frowns, showing her displeasure because I contradicted her again. "Think of the puddle and imagine the shape you'd like to give it.

— Ahhh, I can't do it. It's not working." I huff, crossing my arms in front of my chest.

"Let's end it there." She sighs. "I'm tired of training you and Luffy will be here any minute. Let's go to the harbour.

— Is he coming?" I ask, surprised.

"Yes. He and Rayleigh are coming to eat on Amazon Lily, I just want to make sure Luffy's okay."

She starts to smile, a goofy look on her face. The brunette starts fidgeting, thinking about the boy in the straw hat.

"Aren't you a bit old for him?" I ask, arching an eyebrow.

She grits her teeth and lands a punch on the top of my head, which fails as her fist goes right through my head. I smile and stand up.

"He's going to be 18 and you're going to be 30, it's clearly repulsive." I laugh at her.

"Wait till I catch you! You're older than him too! You're going to be 22!

— That's still better than 30." I shrug. "But it doesn't matter, you age like fine wine."

It's been almost a year since Luffy and Rayleigh left for an island north-west of Amazon Lily, to train his Haki. I've stayed here. Despite my unshakeable desire to return to DressRosa, Hancock tries as hard as he can every day to make me understand what's best for me. Doflamingo has been using me for years and this is my only chance to be free now. Despite all the love I had for this man, I have to move on, that's what she keeps telling me every day. To make sure I don't leave, she has women watching the harbour and two women outside my bedroom doors, which are locked at night.

I'm learning more and more to master the power of Devil Fruit thanks to my daily training sessions. I never liked Hancock when I was still part of Doflamingo's crew. She was beautiful, that was undeniable, but her haughty looks, the way she spoke and her aversion to her beauty were detestable. And even when I arrived here, I couldn't stand her. But in the year I've been here, I've got to know her by spending time with her. This woman has faults, many faults in fact, but by integrating her into my daily life, she has become a friend I can count on. Even though we often fight, I know that she looks out for me like a big sister would for her little sister.