Disclaimer: Of course I don't own One Piece, its characters, or the franchise.
Story: Luffy grows up in Marineford. This changes things—a lot. Sengoku is convinced she should've been a pirate and Garp is just so damn happy and proud. She's got three Admirals as over-the-top dads, a pirate Sir courting her, and a chain-smoking handsome best friend. Now that she's finally set sail, regardless of rank and being enlisted, Luffy will make sure she (and her crew!) will be roaming the seas freely and spreading Liberated Justice, no matter what any old geezers tell her. She may have ended up a Marine, but she still wants the One Piece and to be called the Pirate King!
Set as an AU genderbending fic, canon-rewrite.
Spoilers: Probably the whole series, at least up to Wano.
Warnings: Age disparity, canon violence, cursing and sexual situations…
Pairings: Fem!Luffy/Smoker, Fem!Luffy/Crocodile

Luffy the Pirate Queen
Chapter Two: Prime Directives

To be fair, Luffy had been pressed about this issue long ago, back when she had talked back to a noble brat that had been mean to her when she was a kid too. She'd gotten into trouble and her 'dads' had to give her a serious talk about the hierarchy of the world and the people she had to take care to never upset. She'd gotten angry about it all and her attitude about it had just worsen over the years.

And then she'd learned later when she was older, just why she had just gotten off with basically a slap on the wrist. The Gorosei had stepped in for some reason and she'd been warned over and over about the Five Elders since then. Her dads specifically had made sure that she'd learned how to deal with them if she ever had to meet with them in the future.

This meant now, only everything had to go out the window since Saint Saturn was allowing her to look upon him and he had actually deigned to appear away from Mary Geoise.

"Saint Saturn, it's an honor to have you here," Sengoku murmured. "I had no idea that you were going to come out here. I apologize for keeping you waiting."

Ah, so that's why he had gone all formal on Luffy and started calling her 'Luffelia'. They had guests watching that he had to play the stern front on.

Saint Saturn waved him off, still gazing at Luffy in scrutiny.

"I came to see if Commodore Luffelia is pleased with her battleship. Dr. Vegapunk has…outfit it with certain advancements."

"…Advancements?" Sengoku hesitantly inquired.

Saint Saturn glanced at him dispassionately. "Our Pacifistas, thanks to Admiral Kizaru's contributions, have perfectly implemented light cannons into their weaponry systems. Commodore Luffelia's battleship has been built with those in place, than the common canons. It has also, Commodore Luffelia, been built with advanced speed capabilities compared to modern Marine battleships."

"If I may interrupt," a tall old man with a half-curved beard and the top of his hair bent forward walked up behind Saint Saturn. "Because of your assignment, the battleship was built as a hybrid combat/science vessel. It is capable of carrying over 2,000 Marines; that is 1,000 more than a normal battleship. A standard contingent to run a battleship is 800 Marines, but yours, Commodore Luffelia, needs only 100. Its design and automaton allow for a minimal crew —even a single-man crew in emergencies."

"Commodore Luffelia," Saint Saturn addressed her, more than obviously not paying any attention to the men around her anymore. "Your battleship is one of a kind. It is twice the size and yet three times the speed." He swept his hand towards it in a grand gesture. "While you are to fulfill your normal duties as a Commodore of the Marines, your prime assignment is to test out the capabilities of this battleship and the experiments and technology lent to you and to be provided on your ship. Full reports on how it does in combat and the scientific advancements on board will be expected."

"The Figarland Family, my family, helped fund its creation," she could only guess, through rumors of his description, that that old man was Figarland Garling. It made her inwardly tense and super confused —why the heck were these two World Nobles, the highest of them, here and bothering with her? "It is with the highest expectations that you fulfill your assignments impeccably."

Luffy, despite wanting to act like she usually did with everyone else, did not pout, act out, or even try to be playful. As Sengoku had drilled into her head over and over, she dialed down her usual grin to a polite smile and bowed to them. Her back was stiff and she could feel her legs twitch, her toes curling in and fighting against the urge to fidget against her sandals.

"Of course, Saint Garling, Saint Saturn. I will do my best," she said as formally as she was able to and was relieved to feel Borsalino's fingers lightly brush against hers.

"Very well, I'm glad to hear it. I will leave you to your work, Commodore Luffelia," Saint Saturn told her and then turned without another word to her (and still ignoring the others).

Saint Garling hmmed, at least giving a glance over to the silent Fleet Admiral before returning his gaze to her. He gave a strange smile that made her tense and want to shiver unpleasantly.

"If you find you do not like or want to continue your current position on the seas for this assignment, there is always a welcomed position for you to be stationed on Mary Geoise."

She tried not to clench her jaw obviously or glare at him, keeping her expression neutral —the way Sakazuki had taught her over the years.

"Thank you for the offer, but I will do my best to fulfill my assigned work, Saint Garling!" she allowed herself to give a bright smile, one of her usuals, even though she didn't want to smile at this man at all.

"Offer is always open," his smile, creepy and slimy to her, widened, and then he too was turning from them and leaving.

A moment or two passed before Borsalino stepped forward and fully grasped her hand, though he stood straight and looked forward.

"Are you alright, Lulu?" he murmured.

She didn't know if she was or what the hell all that was.

"Do you guys know anything about any of that?" she asked, also not turning to them in case they were being watched.

"It is the first time I've heard any of this," Sengoku said, sounding tired. "I barely found out about the battleship, before the four of you came. I've had to quickly transfer the crew that volunteered to work under you from the ship I thought you would be going on, to this one."

"I talked to Vegapunk somewhat recently," Luffy confessed, glancing over to Borsalino. "Last time you went over to visit and brought me along, I was mentioning wishing I could get a red ship since it was my favorite color. I didn't know it would…evolve into this."

"I'll talk to him," Borsalino promised. "See if I can find anything out if he didn't manage to tell you anything somehow."

"You best be going," Sakazuki muttered, eyes darting around even though his head didn't move an inch. "The farther away from here, the farther away I bet you'll be from them for now."

She really, really wanted to hug them, but if she was still being watched from a distance…

But what did it matter if they were shown to be close? Wasn't that already known stuff? Why should she care?

"Kuzan, go take her before steam blows out of her ears," Borsalino surprisingly was the one to push. He smiled gently at her. "You really should remember to keep from being emotional."

"Says you," she grumped, glancing at him and his sad face. "You're sad too."

But she let Kuzan take her shoulders and lead her off, even though she wanted to turn back and hug the other three she was leaving behind.

Then again, she knew that if they were known to be extremely close, their close bonds could be used against them. Close enough was acceptable and already known…but she knew she was really, really attached and loved them and they were the same.

This recent development just reminded her that there were people outside of her happy, little bubble and her makeshift family, and that they were people that weren't going to be pleased or allow such closeness, especially for her for some reason.

As they watched the scarlet-colored battleship leave and the assurance that both Celestial Dragons had no more business on Marineford and had gone back, the three men left behind made the quiet walk to the Fleet Admiral's office. Sakazuki lit a cigar and looked out the window, while Borsalino made himself at home on the couch.

"I don't like it," he spat out, giving Sengoku a dirty look. "First, they made her a Commodore already —"

"They wanted to make her a Vice Admiral," Borsalino cut in, his familiar playful smile gone.

"And now this shit with her battleship? What the hell's going on, Sengoku?"

"Mind your tone, Akainu," Sengoku frowned at him, though he glanced away immediately, looking contrite. "The…Gorosei have been interested in Luffy for a long time."

He tensed and he could see Borsalino's scowling. Sengoku's pet goat nudged the old man's hand and he started petting it as he let out a tired sigh.

"They found out Garp had a granddaughter when, by idiocy," he gave them a dirty look, "a certain Devil Fruit was eaten by her and I had to explain to them what happened to it. Since then, they've periodically asked after her."

'Oh? And what happens when your Absolute Justice means you'll have to arrest Luffy? Execute her even?' Garp's bitter, mocking voice echoed in his head.

"Why're they interested in her? Because she's his daughter?" he asked through gritted teeth. She's my daughter!

Sengoku drummed his fingers agitatedly on his desk. "That is…that's my first assumption. Knowing Luffy is Garp's granddaughter means that she's obviously going to be Monkey D. Dragon's daughter. I thought they would want to…have her taken cared of." And not the way they'd been taking care of her. "But they didn't remark any further on that connection and only told me to make sure she's looked after and occasionally ask about her and what has she been doing."

So they wanted her watched over but not killed. Some sort of leverage against Dragon in the future? But why all this about her assignment aboard some experimental battleship and her instant high rank?

"I'm also assuming that, having told them about her having to do all sorts of chores and help around headquarters, that they considered her passed the Chore Girl and Ensign ranks. And given how she'd recently been helping the Marines here with their training…might've thought to consider she'd been more or less unofficially the special rank of Instructor."

"That's a lot of assumptions, Sengoku," Borsalino said sarcastically. "Especially since that's my daughter you're talking about."

Sengoku tossed him an agitated look. "And she's just as much a granddaughter to me as she is to Garp. I don't know the exact reasons the Five Elders are so invested in Luffy and what she does, but I would at least like to try to have some idea."

So would Sakazuki and he wasn't going to settle down until he got what he wanted to know.

He and Borsalino traded dissatisfied looks.

Kuzan, without making it look like they were running, did his best to quickly lead Luffy towards her battleship. That whole encounter was discomfiting and he knew the others felt the same way. He also knew that Luffy was itching for answers and if she didn't get them soon, she'd burst out and demand them, too impatient like always.

There was only so much patience he, Borsalino and Sakazuki could instill in her, but she was a Monkey D. and Garp was hardly known for his own patience.

"Kuzan?" Luffy muttered through the corner of her lips.

"Observation Haki, Luffy," Kuzan prompted her. He'd already used it himself and made sure they were fine, but Luffy could use the practice.

"…We're good," Luffy said while they walked up the ramp. "I'm glad Vegapunk actually managed to color my ship so cool!"

"No one's going to mistake this battleship as anyone else's but yours," he replied sarcastically. "How'd you managed that anyway? You said something about mentioning it to Vegapunk when you visited him with Borsalino. And since when have you visited him with Borsalino?"

Luffy looked sheepish. "Well, Borsalino took me with him when I was younger, so I could get out of Marineford and also to meet some…friends of his." She glanced at him, but he was sure there was more to it and he'll probably have to pry it out of Borsalino later. "Anyway, since then, whenever he goes, he takes me with him."

"He indulges you too much," he grumbled.

"Borsalino's always spoiled me," she shrugged, grinning her signature wide grin. The 'same as you and Sakazuki' went unsaid. "Anyway, last time, I mentioned how I finally decided to be a Marine and somehow became a Commodore. I told him that I wished that, when I got my ship, I could get a paint job and make it red."

"You got paint and then some," he deadpanned, making her giggle. They made it onto the ship and observed the Marines running around, getting things ready, and working on their assigned roles. "We have time before we reach Dawn; I'll be with you until then and we'll go through the battleship's extra assets and see what Vegapunk added —Luffy, tell me that ain't what I'm seeing."

She gave him a confused look before looking where he was staring flabbergasted at. She blinked before turning to him and giving him a clueless look, smiling innocently.

"What, that? It's my ship's flag. Borsalino and I were messing around with designs that day and Vegapunk must've liked it and designed it onto my ship's front sail. It looks awesome~"

"It looks like a Jolly Roger."

"What? No way," Luffy gasped and shook her head. "You are totally imagining things, Kuzan."

He definitely was not. That was a damn Jolly Roger disguised by the Marine emblem.

She just grinned widely and laughed.

"Shishishi! Silly Kuzan. I'm a Marine, remember? Of course that's not a pirate flag!"

Present Time

Luffy munched on some delicious pork, cleaning the meat straight off the bone as her men gathered Alvida's crew and started to haul them onto the Scarlet Pearl, tossing them into the brig. She was determinedly ignoring the consistent, intense glare Ripper was tossing her, along with the stinkeye Rokkaku was giving her by the other man's side.

Large and silent, Bartholomew Kuma appeared by her side and also glanced at her and the sleeping Admiral (whose head was cushioned on her lap).

"If the two of you hadn't run off, perhaps your Commanders wouldn't be so grumpy," he told her lightly.

Luffy's eyes darted around uneasily. "Wait, Bari's upset too?"

Kuma gave her a look. "Commander Hibari is busy organizing your Weapons division in their section, thankfully for you…But yes. Last seen, she was storming around the ship with Commander Ripper looking for you, when he realized you and Admiral Aokiji were missing."

"Aw, come on," Luffy pouted. "Kuzan and I were bored and decided to go ahead of the Pearl and check around the area. It was just our luck that we ran into this pirate ship attacking that other ship."

Kuma quietly chuckled. "Be that as it may…The two of you went missing and panicked your crew."

She gave an exasperated huff. "They're the ones insisting on coming aboard and joining me, for some reason —I just became a Marine in the first place; they really think they want to work under a newbie commanding officer? Blegh! They're crazy! I just wanna go and sail and not order anyone around!"

"They are also comprised of Marines you helped train in Marineford."

She gave a grumpy wave at that. "By accident. I just offered to spar and wanted to fight because I was bored, and that snowballed. Then it just became a thing."

"As it stands, it earned you some loyal soldiers willing to be under your command."

Luffy pouted and almost regretted having challenged all those people back in Marineford. The crazy majority of them decided they would follow after her when they found out she was becoming a Marine and given her own ship.

"How's Jewel?" she changed subjects, glancing at him. "She okay? And is she alright with you coming along with me?"

"As a Warlord, I've been tasked to be part of your crew as your Science Officer," he told her. "Dr. Vegapunk also insisted," he lowered his voice. "Bonney understood and was relieved that I would at least be with you. She insisted we communicate with her frequently."

Luffy hummed, thinking about the younger girl. She wished she could've gotten her to come along, but maybe it was best she stayed with Vegapunk.

"H-hello?"

She turned towards the nervous voice, correct in thinking it was that weird boy she'd run into earlier. He shakily pushed his glasses up before inhaling deeply. Then he gave a sharp bow.

"Please let me join your Marine crew!"

Luffy blinked. Was that all?

She reached up and started twirling her hair as she looked up in thought.

"Hmm…no way!"

She shrugged as the short boy face faulted.

Started 7/14/24 — Completed 7/24/24 (1:15 am)

Omake!

"So…she doesn't know about Vice Admiral Ketagiri?"

Sakazuki blinked but then grimaced. "No, otherwise she'dve gone over and pestered him into assigning her that ridiculous, inappropriate excuse of an epithet."

Borsalino tutted but inwardly chuckled at both Sakazuki and Sengoku's expressions.

Nezu Ketagiri was just having another normal day. It was only interrupted by the surprising arrival of Admiral Kizaru.

"Admiral Kizaru! What can I do for you?"

Kizaru gave a nonchalant hum, looking around the busy, loud work room. Nezu really hoped this wasn't a surprise inspection!

Kizaru's infamous perpetually calm smile widened unnaturally. "I actually have a suggestion for an epithet…"

Omake! II

Luffy sat up from where she was lying beside Kuzan, pouting as she stopped gazing at the sky. Kuzan kept his sleeping mask on and ignored her movement.

"I'm bored! We were making good headway, so why'd we stop?"

"Because it's lunchtime and you insist on the crew eating together."

"Eh, crew is family and family should eat together."

"Funny you aren't eating with them then."

"I was banished."

The both of them already knew why that was.

Luffy's pout grew worse and she crossed her arms across her chest. But then she got a look in her eye and she grinned widely, her signature grin the first thing Kuzan saw as she lifted up his sleeping mask from his eyes.

"Kuzan~ Did you pack your bike?"

5 minutes later…

"Whooo! Pedal faster, Kuzan!"

Kuzan grunted, making sure his ice kept up while he tried not to falter as Luffy rode on the bike behind him. She cheered on and swung a little side to side.

"Luffy, if you fall into the ocean, I'm not fishing you out."

"Yeah! Go faster, Kuzan!"

He sighed but did indeed go a little faster. They were just going to Dawn Island ahead of everyone after all, and bonding one on one for a little longer until he was forced to leave her…

"Hey, isn't that a Jolly Roger on that ugly ass ship?"

"…Most importantly, it's attacking that other ship."

"Hell yes! Some action! Let's go kick their ass, Kuzan."

"…You mean, let's save that ship from those pirates."

"Yeah, that too."

Kuzan fondly sighed again.

A/n: Aaah, I'm so glad that this has readers. I got some wild ideas to play with in here, so I'm excited to write them out and have everyone hopefully get a kick out of them.

Quick Notes:

1. I went Star Trek on y'all. Luffy's ship is based off of USS Vengeance from ST: Into the Darkness, though a little influence from Discovery (ship and show). It's also called the Scarlet Pearl, based off of you know what ;)

2. Saturn and Garling are assholes. Enough said.

3. We have the three types of Dad —Akainu the Tsundere Dad, Aokiji the Best Friend Dad, and Kizaru the Idiot Doting Type Dad. AKA Batman and Bat Fam, Cobra Kai Johnny, and Skip Beat!Kuu.

4. Luffy still has pirate tendencies :3

5. Kuma is Spock~

6. Crew Introductions! Part I:

Science Officer Kuma (aka PawPaw)

Commander Ripper (aka Rip)

Lieutenant Junior Grade Rokkaku (aka Rok/Rokka)

Commander (Weapons Leader) Hibari (aka Bari)