Gloriosa

Gloriosa is remarkably diminutive in height, with very thick lips, and is wrinkled from old age. She also wears some kind of sea-green bubble belt apparently meant to hold up the spotted-print short skirt that all Kuja wear. Also, like most Kuja, she wears a cape. Her hair is white, and she wears a pink flower on the left side of her head. When she was a member of the Rocks Pirates in her youth, she was a tall, slender and beautiful woman with red hair. She wore a similar outfit to Hancock, a revealing blue V-neck blouse that showed much of her chest and a loose sarong that exposed her long, slender legs with the symbol of the Kuja adorned on it, along with a white cape sporting epaulettes more commonly found on the jackets of high-ranking Marines. In her first colored appearance, in the opening “Share the World”, her color scheme is completely different. Namely that the alternate casual top of the Kuja, which appears to be evening wear, that she wears is blue instead of the pink-bordered burgundy seen in the anime. Additionally, her Snake Weapon is colored purple, as opposed to the white color seen in the “Share the World” opening. It acts as her staff and the upper body of the snake is curled up.

Gloriosa seems to be designed around the concept of a wise old woman, as made apparent by her concerns for Amazon Lily itself and expressing knowledge that her fellow Kuja had no idea of. She also asks the Kuja Pirates for books, and has a crystal ball, both things that would further this image. However, since she believed some of Hancock’s lies about considering the World Government’s terms for war, this proved that she was still gullible towards people’s intent. Although she is not immune to many of Hancock’s emotional manipulations designed to make people follow her, Gloriosa can snap out of them much faster than many others, male or female. Although she is no longer the Empress of Amazon Lily, she believes that she can still go anywhere (which Hancock proved otherwise) but chooses to live on the outskirts of the island because she is apparently considered to be a traitor. Though, during their conversation about the upcoming war, when Hancock accuses her of worrying about her own life, she simply states that she is already too old to be concerned about her own life, but expresses concern for the sake of others on the island. Gloriosa does not seem to the share the misandrist tendencies of her fellow Kuja, possible due to her past experiences with men. However, she still strictly abides by the Kuja laws of men not being allowed into Amazon Lily, with her only allowing few exceptions. She also says “Nyo” a lot, going as far as to incorporate it into a number of words whenever she talks.

Despite formerly being enemies on opposing crews 38 years ago, Gloriosa is currently good friends with Silvers Rayleigh as well as Shakky. Rayleigh is well acquainted with her that he refers to her by her real name instead of Elder Nyon. Before her return to Amazon Lily, Gloriosa had lived with Rayleigh and Shakky on Sabaody Archipelago while sheltering the Gorgon Sisters after their escape from the World Nobles. Shakky was also her successor as empress of Amazon Lily.

Monkey D Luffy

She has a friendly relationship with Monkey D. Luffy. Gloriosa was the first to identify Luffy as a man after he arrived on the island. Her views of him turned to respect after she witnessed him use Supreme King Haki, selflessly giving up a chance to escape for the three petrified Kujas, and punching a World Noble. Once Luffy befriended the Boa sisters, she was pleased at him not scorning them for their past and getting them to open up. Gloriosa is especially amazed by how lucky Luffy can be, accomplishing things that should have been impossible for almost anybody. Such as getting the man-hating Hancock to fall in love with him just when he needed her help the most, surviving after breaking into Impel Down, and participating in the Summit War. She even questioned if the heavens themselves were supporting Luffy.

Unnamed Man

During her time as Empress, Gloriosa fell in love with an unnamed man and suffered Love Sickness. To survive, she chose to leave Amazon Lily and follow him. It has been implied she joined the Rocks Pirates both to curb her Love Sickness and be closer with her unnamed man. While the details of their relationship are unknown, Gloriosa does not seem to regret her decision to be with him and suggests she was very happy. When seeing Hancock’s newfound love for Luffy, she fondly remembered being like that herself.

At some point after she left the island, she lived on the Sabaody Archipelago for an undisclosed amount of time. During this time, she befriended Silvers Rayleigh and Shakuyaku. Her own people considered her a traitor for her actions, but she learned many things about the outside world, including that of the opposite sex. During her journey, she happened to discover Boa Hancock and her sisters Sandersonia and Marigold, a trio of Kuja who had previously disappeared and had escaped Mary Geoise after four years of slavery at the hands of the World Nobles. Seeing these girls, who were her countrywomen, Gloriosa adopted them and kept them with her until she finally returned to Amazon Lily. By the time she returned, she was given a pardon by the Empress who had replaced her; Empress Tritoma, but she was nevertheless tainted by her abandonment. Gloriosa chose to live on the outskirts of the Kuja village, where she would no longer bother in the affairs of the people she once ruled. Three and a half years before the current storyline, Gloriosa informed Empress Hancock about the new Warlord of the Sea Bartholomew Kuma, but Hancock was not interested.

Summit War Saga

Amazon Lily Arc

When Luffy was being washed in the stream on Amazon Lily, Gloriosa found her fellow Kuja baffled by an apparent Body Mushroom that would not come off. She knew that it was Luffy’s male-‘private part’. Soon afterwards, Hancock and the Kuja Pirates returned to their island. Upon their return, Gloriosa went to ask if any books had been found in their raids. Ran handed her a newspaper, instead of a book.

Soon afterwards, Gloriosa visited Hancock to warn her about the consequences of her actions, only to be tossed out for her trouble. Later, observing the fight between Luffy and the younger Boa sisters, she remained in the stadium after Hancock ordered the evacuation of the arena, in order to hide the mark on Sandersonia’s back, which was only being covered by Luffy. As Luffy, without hesitation, accepted Hancock’s offer of freeing the Amazonians who saved him earlier, from their petrified state, over obtaining a ship to leave the island. Elder Gloriosa then noted how a man, with Haki of such a caliber, would willingly bow his head to save those who helped him; probably because of how uncommon both events would occur at once at all. She later entered Kuja Castle to reveal the truth of both Luffy’s actions at the Sabaody Archipelago and the Boa siblings’ past as slaves. When Hancock fell ill, Gloriosa identified the illness as the same one that killed many of her predecessors, Love Sickness. However, she was astounded that Hancock was able to stand on her own upon hearing Luffy’s name, and wondered if Luffy might have overcome a mountain that no other could budge. Due to the fact that even Hancock herself was shocked at the fact that she immediately agreed to escort Luffy to Impel Down without hesitation, Gloriosa told her that going with him will ultimately be what saves her, as just about every other Empress was killed when they tried to suppress their feelings. She saw the two of them off at the bay, commenting on Hancock’s obvious love for Luffy.

Postwar Arc

Two weeks after the Summit War of Marineford, Gloriosa informed Hancock that Luffy had regained consciousness. Gloriosa said that Hancock should see Luffy after he fully recovered, but Hancock insisted on seeing Luffy as soon as possible. Gloriosa commented to herself about Hancock’s love virus and Luffy’s amazing survival through several ordeals from Impel Down to Marineford, musing that it must be by divine will for the boy to survive through it all. She was then seen accompanying Hancock and her sisters to the beach with the food that Hancock wanted to deliver to Luffy. Gloriosa told Hancock that just because she was hugged does not mean she is married. Hancock then asked Gloriosa how to have a proper marriage. When arriving at the beach, she was shocked to see Rayleigh, who handed her a letter from Shakky. Gloriosa was also shocked that Hancock, whose attention was on Luffy, did not notice Rayleigh until moments later. She appeared again on Rusukaina with Luffy, Rayleigh, and the Kuja Pirates. When Hancock starts to believe that Luffy saying her name correctly for the tenth time means marriage, Gloriosa says that is not the case.

During The Timeskip

The following events are non-canon, and therefore not considered part of the canon story.

3d2y

Gloriosa attempted to alert Hancock of Byrnndi World’s return to the world and that she was summoned by the World Government to defeat World. However, Hancock, ignored the summons and threw it away. Later, when Sandersonia and Marigold are kidnapped by World, Gloriosa accompanied the Kuja Pirates as they waited near the World Pirates’ ship for Hancock and Luffy to defeat World. When the Marines arrived, Gloriosa ordered the crew to sail to the back and retrieve Hancock and Luffy. Later, Gloriosa and Enishida were surprised when they read the newspaper and saw the Buggy Pirates had been given the credit for defeating World. Concludes non-canon section.

Fishman Island Saga

Return To Sabaody Arc

Gloriosa was seen with Hancock, Marigold, and Sandersonia greeting Luffy on Rusukaina Island after his two-year training. After Luffy picked up his hat, the Kujas took him back to Sabaody Archipelago. On the journey there, she told Hancock to lighten the massive amount of luggage she was giving to Luffy, and after Luffy said that he had hoped to see Hancock again, the Pirate Empress mistook this as a marriage proposal. Gloriosa responded by saying “no” once again.

Whole Cake Saga

From The Decks Of The World The 500000000 Man Arc

After the events at Dressrosa, Gloriosa watched a blushing Hancock in annoyance after the latter hung a gigantic image of Luffy’s bounty poster outside on the castle wall.

Wano Country Saga

Wano Country Arc

After the Seven Warlords system was abolished, Gloriosa was present in Hancock’s throne room as a Marine fleet approached Amazon Lily. The following events are non-canon, and therefore not considered part of the canon story.

One Piece Film Red

Gloriosa was singing Uta’s childhood song “Where the Wind Blows” with the Gorgon Sisters watching her. Concludes non-canon section.

Final Saga

Egghead Arc

A few weeks after the Marines and Blackbeard Pirates invaded Amazon Lily, she commented on the island’s aftermath and got irritated when Hancock thought about leaving the island to marry Luffy. They later discussed with Shakuyaku, Rayleigh, Sandersonia, and Marigold about the incident and the Marines’ technological advancements, thinking that it would have been over for them if not for Rayleigh’s arrival.