It was a young morning in a peaceful village. The weather was nice, the sun shone, cows grazed.

A pirate ship anchored in a little seaport. While this might have been alarming, these pirates were here before, and were known by the villagers to be mostly harmless, even entertaining, bringing news about the broad world.

As the Crew got ready to get off the ship, everyone's attention was caught by a little child, standing on the bow. One of them raised his voice over the ruckus.

"Hey Lucy! What are you up to now?"

They knew her as the clumsy kid that always pestered them about becoming a pirate, and when she shouted something about proving them being strong enough, they thought little of it, dismissing it as her usual antics.

That is, until she took out a knife, and stabbed herself right under her left eye. Everyone was in shock. And although the pain was great, she shed not a tear and said not a word of discomfort.

The cut has been shallow enough for her to live and see, but was a painful cut none the less, and as soon as her grandfather heard about it, he came over. She was taken to the doctor, and the grandfather made sure none of the pirates could get in.

The girl was treated, but for gramps this was it. He had enough of these pirates, endangering the lives of the villagers, and his granddaughter. He locked the girl in her room, and went to talk with the pirate crew's captain.

The talk was short, he told them he would no longer tolerate them in this village. Not after what happened to his girl. They were hesitant at first, but after seeing the look in his eyes, they knew he wasn't joking around.

The red haired captain only asked for the grandfather to deliver a parting gift and note. They stared each other in the eyes for the while, and both nodded. The pirate quickly wrote something down on a note, and tucked it under the ribbon of his straw hat. Then he handed it over to the old man. They turned around, the captain shouting

"Pack up guys, we're leaving. Everyone on board."

which they replied to with groans and sighs, the grandfather slowly returning to his girl.

Once the door was opened the girl nearly fell out of the room, nigh immediately angrily screeching

"What the hell did you do?! Why did you lock me in!?"

Her grandfather though, did not respond. He stared into the distance, and lifted his arm, revealing to the little one a hat. The pirate captain's very own straw hat. The girl fell onto her knees, thinking of the worst, and tears started to flow into her eyes.

Ten years have passed since then, and three years have passed since her entrance into the Marine. Ace, the girl's brother, has been a Pirate for quite a bit by now, and Lucy read reports on his activity from time to time.

It seemed a usual day in the Marine base at that time. Her training started early, but it was nothing compared to her first year, under gramps. He was strongly against her becoming a pirate, and the way he chose to convert her to a loyal marine was by giving her such a hard time, she hadn't had time for planning her pirate life.

He probably even succeeded, all she did pirate-wise nowadays was reading news about her brother. She had a stable, comfortable life here. It was what many wished for.

"Hey Lucy! Whatcha dreaming about?"

She was brought back to reality by one of her comrades prod.

"Oh yeah. Training. I'm coming in a second."

She turned around and opened her hand. Then she moved a few fingers. Her locker closed, her hat flew onto it's place, on her head. She looked back at the marine. What was his name again? All of them seemed like a blur. He looked at her, his face in a state of slight displeasure.

"I still don't like when you do this. It's creepy."

She looked at him, head at an angle, confused. Then she went of. She turned her head around and yelled back, while starting to run.

"What are you waiting for! You know how the Lieutenant doesn't like tardiness."

The morning training over it was time for Breakfast! She loved that time of day. Actually, she loved every single mealtime. And with her gramps being who he was, she usually got all the food she wanted. Well, nigh all, the reserves were limited after all. She depleted them several times already.

The eating started and soon the food mountain before her drastically shrunk. She was ready with it sooner then anyone else in the room, even having the greater portion. While she still was hungry, she was satiated enough, and let it be this time. She let herself eat out the kitchen once a week, and today was not the day.

There was some murmur behind her. She turned around, but it was already to late, they took her hat, again. They never learn, do they? She ran off after them, shouting.

"GIVE ME MY HAT BACK, OR I'LL BEAT YOU UP!"

After a while she remembered about it. The devil fruit. She brought her hand up, the little strings getting into place. Then… Stop! Every of the ne'er-do-wells stood stopped in the position they were. There was a boo, and someone said.

"That's unfair Lucy. At least give us a chance."

She ignored it though and went over to the one holding her hat, hand still in the air and tense. As she saw the hat though, her entire body tensed up, with which all of the thieves fell down. She grabbed her hat, its ribbon was ripped. She grabbed the one who had the hat last and spoke slowly.

"Today is not your lucky day. This hat was a present, from a friend."

She then appeared to think a little and finally said.

"Today, after dawn. We'll fight. Come, or I'll drag you there."

She then wandered off, in the direction of the training field.

Back in her room she thought about what happened. It was just a harmless prank, but on the other side, honour demanded revenge. She looked at the hat, the place the ribbon was nicked. There was something behind it! A piece of paper. A message? She took if out and opened it.

'I believe you now.'

This was written on it in a handwriting she has not seen in a very long time. Shanks, the pirate captain.

She got to know he lived, but didn't understand what the hat was to mean. Until now. She was ready. She has been ready for a long time already. One more thing to finish and she'll set off.

The time waiting for the right hour she spent fixing the hat. The Marine had a few positives to it, one being practical skills, but she wouldn't be one for long now.

She had been standing outside and waiting for a bit till now. No one has yet come. She was getting thoughts of the other one chickening out, but waited a bit to see if the other was even a honourable opponent worth considering.

A while later, as she nearly set out to go for him, the guy arrived. It was clear he was afraid, but it takes even more courage to do brave while frightened.

"You came after all. Good choice. As a reward. I'll fight using only one hand."

He seemed more confident after that last statement.

"Oh, and another thing, no guns, no swords."

His eyes went down his face falling in a little, but he took off his sword and threw it aside.

"Are you ready to fight, or are you going to rule everything out?"

He seemed cocky, she'll see how much he'll stay this way after the fight.

"Then, let's dance!"

With that, the both of them ran at each other. The guy was heavy on his feet, the gal light.

They clashed at about 3/4 down the distance between them. He threw a punch, standing in a trained boxer position, in what seemed to him the weak spot of her defences. She, as promised, using only her right hand, jumped over the attack, turning around his hand and landing, while landing a hit under his ribcage.

He stumbled backwards, but gathered himself up, and rushed in once more. He tried to set out a quick barrage of punches, but at the first one, his fist was caught by her hand. He tried to get loose, but somehow failed. Damn was she strong.

Then he realised anew, she would fight with two hands, thus giving him the advantage of having a free one. He looked over her, she was clearly waiting for him make his move. She could have defeated him easily by now. He just didn't know where to hit. It was a girl after all.

The situation seemed bad. Well, he was desperate, he might as well try hitting anywhere. But as he started to punch, she moved pulling his other arm directly on course of his first, and holding it there. Too much momentum. Crash. He howled as he nearly broke his own arm.

She thought about ending this battle. All that was to be tried was done already. There was no reason to harm each other more. She got behind him and heavily hit the backside of his head. He fell unconscious. She looked at the slowly rising sun.

"You fought honourably, but still have a long way to go. We'll meet again, once you're stronger."

She left him under the flagpole with a note on his chest.

'Farewell.

-Lucy'

Then went behind the tree, where she stored her traveling backpack for the battle. That is when she got one more idea, that she'd have to realise, but she'd be out in the sea soon.

The door was unlocked, and so was the wardrobe, it was easy to get in and get out without being seen. Lucy opened the door, and entered the Lieutenant's room. He was fast asleep in his bed.

She slowly stepped over to the wardrobe and opened it. The door screeched. She stopped, and so did her heart. There was a loud snore. Nothing. Seems she managed it this time.

No, these were all civilian clothes, she rummaged through them, and finally found what she wanted. Overjoyed, she slammed the wardrobe shut. Her heart skipped a beat. She looked over to the bed. The blanket heaved up and down, accompanied with snoring. Huff, she got lucky this time.

She crept to the door, and outside. Then back to the backpack and towards this islands docks. She was free. She found a ship and bound it loose, and set out into the wide world. She was a pirate now.

She changed into more comfortable clothes, a black shirt with a skull and some short pants, and for a finishing touch, the stolen overcoat, she got from the Lieutenant's room. She crossed out the 'justice' sign though, and then draped it over her shoulders. Then she stood up, put her hands into a cone shape around her mouth and shouted.

"Look out world, here I come! I'M GONNA BE THE PIRATE KING!"

In a room now quite a bit away a sleepy person was just woken up. The Marine base's Lieutenant Somnus rubbed his eyes gently, them being all bloodshot. Then he looks at the clock. It's 4 o'clock in the morning. He groans.

"Who the hell is shouting around at this hour?!"

He then proceeded to fall over and asleep, into the deep covers of his comfortable bed.