The Voyage of the Float Empress
Chapter2
Shells Town
As Luffia sheathed her sword, Nami, having finally regained her composure after witnessing the incredible spectacle of Luffia slicing a ship in half, couldn't hold back her disbelief. "What the hell are you?" she exclaimed, eyes wide with a mix of shock and curiosity.
Luffia turned toward her with a cocky smile. "What, do you mean, Nami was it?" she teased.
Nami's voice rose as she struggled to process what she had seen. "Don't play dumb with me! How did you slice that galleon in half? That shouldn't be possible! And how did you fly?! Are you some kind of demon or something?"
Luffia laughed warmly at the suggestion. "No, I'm not a demon, cutie. But I am a very skilled sword fighter." She straightened up, introducing herself properly. "Allow me to introduce myself. My full name is Dracule D. Luffia."
Hearing the name, Nami's mind raced as she tried to remember where she had heard it before. Meanwhile, Coby, sweating with a mix of awe and fear, spoke in a panicked voice. "Dracule...as in Dracule Mihawk? The best swordsman in the world? As in the Warlord Dracule Mihawk?"
Luffia nodded, a proud smile on her face. "Oh, you know my uncle? Yes, he's trained me since I was seven. He likes to say I'm the third strongest sword fighter on the planet."
Coby's eyes widened in disbelief. "No way! You're Mihawk's niece? Wouldn't that make you a noble, since the Dracules once had the chance to join the Celestial Dragons?"
Luffia's expression hardened instantly. Using her Float-Float powers, she lifted Coby into the air, bringing him close enough that he could see the intensity in her eyes. With a serious tone, she spoke, "That is the last time you will compare me with those Celestial inbreds. Is that clear?"
Coby, trembling and realizing the error of his words, began to panic, apologizing in a comically frantic manner. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that! Please forgive me!"
"Good," Luffia said, her voice softening but firm. "This is your final warning, boy. Got that?"
Seeing Coby floating mid-air, Nami couldn't help but remark in astonishment, "How are you doing that?!"
Luffia smiled again, ready to reveal more about herself. "Ah, I ate a Devil Fruit."
Nami gaped, incredulous. "I thought they were a myth!"
"No, they're real," Luffia assured, a hint of pride in her voice. "I ate the Float-Float Fruit. It lets me manipulate gravity around myself and objects, allowing me to float, fly, or lift things with ease. It's quite handy for getting out of, or into, trouble," she explained, a playful glint returning to her eyes.
Nami and Coby were left speechless, realizing that Luffia wasn't just a powerhouse of strength, but also had the extraordinary abilities of a Devil Fruit user. The potential of such a fruit, coupled with her sword skills, made her a force to be reckoned with.
But as Nami processed all this, she couldn't help but feel a bit flustered by how Luffia kept calling her "cutie," especially after Luffia mentioned she preferred girls. The comment made Nami's face flush a deep red, prompting her to blurt out, "Pervert!"
Luffia laughed, her demeanor easygoing. "I've been called worse," she chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Don't worry, Nami, I'm just having a bit of fun. It's nice to have some good company on this journey."
Nami narrowed her eyes at Luffia, piecing together the implications of her family ties. "Wait, your uncle is a pirate? Are you one as well?"
Luffia nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! I just started my journey two days ago. Since I was born here in the East Blue, I decided to kick things off right here. Why do you ask? Do you want to join me?"
"Absolutely not! No way!" Nami retorted sharply. "I hate pirates! They're murderers and rapists. I'm a thief who steals from pirates—I despise them!"
Luffia drew her sword with a playful flourish, grinning at Nami's boldness. "You sure are brave to say that in front of a pirate!"
Realization hit Nami, and her bravado faltered as she felt a wave of fear wash over her. But Luffia's expression softened. "Oh, don't worry. I won't hurt a pretty little thing like you," she said, her tone light. "But you should know what to say when you're speaking to a pirate. Speaking of which, how about a deal?"
"A deal?" Nami echoed, perplexed.
"Yes," Luffia affirmed, her smile widening. "You get me and this dork"—she motioned to Coby—"to the next island, and I'll pay you for your services."
Nami's ears perked up at the mention of payment. "Okay, I happen to be the best navigator in the East Blue, and it will cost you 1,000,000 beri."
"500,000 beri," Luffia countered, her wink playful. "You'll get half now and half when you get us there."
Nami thought it over for a moment before relenting. "Fine! I accept." But she added under her breath, "Cheap pervert."
In a teasing manner, Luffia reached into her backpack, pulling out a stack of cash and presenting it to Nami. "But unless you're willing to accept a more personal payment…" she began, her voice sultry, looking at Nami with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Both Nami and Coby turned bright red, caught off guard by Luffia's sudden suggestion. Nami stuttered, "Forget it, you pervert! I'm not sleeping with you!"
Luffia sighed dramatically, an amused expression crossing her face. "Oh well, can't blame a girl for trying," she replied with a smirk.
An hour later, Luffia relaxed on the tiny boat alongside Coby and Nami, basking in the warm sunlight. With her straw hat tilted down over her eyes, she was enjoying the gentle rocking of the waves when Nami's voice broke through her peaceful reverie.
"Hey, are you listening to me?" Nami called out, annoyance evident in her tone.
Luffia tilted her hat back slightly, revealing her sharp green eyes. "Yeah, what? I'm enjoying the sun!"
Nami rolled her eyes, exasperated. "We're approaching Shells Town, so tell me, what are you planning on doing there?"
"Oh, not much," Luffia replied casually. "I plan to take this dork here"—she gestured with a grin at Coby—"so he can enlist in the Marines. I also heard about some kind of swordsman who was spotted in the area. He sounds interesting—supposedly he uses three swords."
Coby, still feeling a bit down from being called a dork, perked up at the mention of the swordsman. "Luffia, don't you mean the man you're talking about is Pirate Hunter Zoro? He's a feared bounty hunter here in the East Blue!"
Luffia's smile widened as excitement sparked within her. "Oh, now I am really interested to meet him! Let's see if he'll join my crew."
She then turned her gaze toward Nami, her playful expression still on her face. "And you're welcome to join too!"
Nami, now visibly irritated, shot back, "Forget it, you pervert! I am not joining! As soon as we get to Shells Town, you pay me, and then we go our separate ways. Is that clear?"
"Okay, okay!" Luffia replied, raising her hands in mock surrender but rubbing her ears as she added, "Do you have to be so loud?"
As they reached Shells Town, Nami turned to Luffia with a cool attitude, saying, "Okay, here we are. Now, my money?"
"Alright, here it is," Luffia replied, handing Nami 250,000 beri. Without missing a beat, the orange-haired navigator took the money and headed off, departing with an air of finality.
Once Nami was out of earshot, Coby sighed, "Man, that girl is scary."
"Oh, come on, dork boy! Don't judge her!" Luffia said with a playful grin. She glanced in Nami's direction as she walked away. "Besides, she's got a nice ass."
Coby's face turned bright red, his voice stammering as he exclaimed, "Man, you are a pervert!" Just then, Luffia's fist slammed against his head, sending him reeling.
Coby grabbed his head, a cartoonish lump forming in the shape of her fist. "Ouch! Why did you do that?" he complained.
"That's for calling me a pervert, you dork!" Luffia shot back, her tone lighthearted yet firm. "I only let Nami speak to me that way because I found her cute. You, on the other hand…"
Luffia's teasing words trailed off as she turned her attention to the bustling market of Shells Town.
Later, as the two began walking through the vibrant market, Luffia's keen eyes scanned the surroundings. "So, what do you know about this place?" she asked.
Coby, still nursing his bruised head, replied, "Not much. Just that the Marine captain is a man called Morgan."
As soon as Coby mentioned Morgan, the people around them fell silent, their faces draining of color, fear visible in their eyes.
"Man, what's gotten into them?" Luffia wondered aloud. "Oh well, let's see if we can find this Zoro."
Again, at the mention of Zoro, the people in the market shuddered visibly, casting wary glances at Luffia and Coby.
"What is going on here?" Luffia asked, exasperated as she looked at Coby. "It looks like every time we mention Morgan or Zoro, people are scared stiff!"
Luffia shrugged, glancing at the Town folk. "It's not my problem! Let's just go to the Marine base first so you can enlist, and maybe they know where Zoro is."
As Luffia and Coby approached the Marine base, their hopes of a smooth entry were dashed when a gruff guard at the entrance denied them entry. But things took an unexpected turn when the guard revealed that they had the famed Pirate Hunter Zoro tied up in the courtyard. Curiosity washed over Luffia as she felt an intense determination rise within her. She was eager to meet this legendary swordsman and understand why he was being held prisoner by the Marines.
"Let's check it out," Luffia said, and without waiting for a response, she led Coby around to the other side of the base. Noticing the area was clear of Marines, she felt a surge of relief.
"Ms. Luffia, what are you doing?" Coby questioned, his voice tinged with anxiety.
Luffia flashed him a playful smile. "We're going up!" With that, she activated her Float-Float Fruit powers, lifting both herself and Coby off the ground. They soared into the air, Coby screaming in sheer terror the whole way up.
When they landed on the roof of the Marine base, they found themselves looking down into the courtyard. Luffia's keen gaze zeroed in on the figure at the center—there, tied up, was a man with a white shirt, black pants, and a black bandana. She tapped into her Observation Haki and thought, Hmm, not very strong, but trainable.
Coby covered behind her nervously as Luffia approached the restrained swordsman. "So you're the most feared swordsman in the East Blue, Roronoa Zoro," she called out with confidence.
Zoro raised his head, and his surprise was evident when he saw Luffia—a gorgeous girl with long flowing black hair and piercing green eyes—standing confidently before him, alongside a dorky-looking boy with pink hair and glasses. "Who are you, and what do you want from me? Can't you see I'm busy?" he asked in a serious tone.
Luffia smirked, crossing her arms and pointing out his current predicament. "Busy? With what? Being tied up? From the smell of you alone, I bet you've been here at least for three weeks."
Zoro's expression hardened. "So what? It's none of your business, girl."
But as his attention shifted, he noticed Luffia's katana at her side. "Are you a swordfighter? Did you come here to challenge me?"
Luffia couldn't help but chuckle at the remark. "Oh, come on! Like you could beat me," she said, sarcasm lacing her voice. "First, you seem malnourished and dehydrated, and second, even if you were in top condition, I can tell you the fight between us would end one way—with me beating you with my eyes closed."
The tension in the air shifted as Zoro regarded her, his expression caught between surprise and intrigue. Although he was still bound, the glint in his eye revealed that he wasn't out yet. Luffia relished the challenge. She felt drawn to the swordsman, recognizing a spark of potential that could be nurtured.
"Look," Luffia continued, eyes gleaming with confidence, "I'm not here to fight you. I want to see if you'd be interested in joining my crew. I'm looking for strong fighters and a chance to make my mark on the Grand Line."
Zoro's brow furrowed, clearly agitated as he processed what Luffia had just said. "Your crew? Are you a pirate?" he asked gruffly.
"Of course!" Luffia replied, her excitement undeterred by his anger.
"Forget it! I'm not joining some pirate crew! Don't you know I'm a bounty hunter? Plus, even if I wanted to, I can't. I have to stay here for another three days," Zoro snapped, frustration evident in his tone.
Luffia, feeling a bit annoyed by his dismissive attitude, raised an eyebrow. "So what if you're a bounty hunter? I'm giving you the chance not just to be a free man but also to become stronger. I can teach you to cut steel, solid granite, and even slice a whole ship in half."
"That's impossible, girl!" Zoro retorted, disbelief etched on his face. "And why should I accept your help? You don't seem strong, and I have my own dream."
Curiosity piqued, Luffia inquired, "Oh? What is your dream?"
"To be the world's best swordsman," Zoro stated, his voice filled with conviction.
Luffia smiled knowingly. "Oh, that's interesting. Well, since you shared your dream with me, I suppose I can introduce myself properly. My name is Dracule D. Luffia. I'm the niece of Dracule Mihawk—the man you want to beat to get that title. And let me tell you something: you are far from achieving your goal. Uncle Mihawk would kill you in three seconds."
Zoro's eyes widened in shock. "You're Mihawk's niece? No way!"
"I am, and I was trained by him for ten years," Luffia affirmed, her confidence shining through. "If you join me, I can train you. The things I mentioned earlier? I cut those when I was 13, and I even cut diamonds in half."
Zoro considered her words, weighing his options. The thought of working with Mihawk's niece, and possibly gaining the strength he desired, intrigued him greatly.
"Alright," he finally said, a determined glint in his eye. "I'll join you, Captain. But first, I have to stay here for three days. I made a promise, and I intend to keep it."
Luffia felt a rush of satisfaction at his acceptance. "Great! We'll turn this world upside down together, Zoro. And who knows? Maybe I can help you become the greatest swordsman after all."
Just then, a ladder appeared on the other side of the wall leading to the entrance of the courtyard. Luffia grabbed Coby and exclaimed, "Come on, let's get out of here!" Using her Devil Fruit powers, she lifted them both into the air and flew them onto a high wall, much to Zoro's shock.
"How are you doing that?" Zoro asked, blinking in disbelief.
"Oh, don't worry about that. I'll explain later," Luffia assured him as they landed atop the high wall.
From their vantage point, Luffia noticed a little girl climbing the ladder and heading toward Zoro. "What is this little girl doing?" she thought, watching curiously.
As the girl approached Zoro, she grinned and exclaimed, "Big brother Zoro! I brought you some food!" She reached into a small bag and pulled out two rice balls, presenting them to him with enthusiasm.
Zoro, trying to look intimidating, waved her off. "Get lost, kid," he said dismissively.
From their high wall, Coby frowned at Zoro's harshness. "Man, what a jerk! Being so mean to a little girl," he muttered.
"Actually, no, he's not being mean. Look at the sign next to him," Luffia pointed out.
Coby looked down, noticing for the first time the sign that had been overlooked earlier. It read, Helping a prisoner will be punishable by death. Panic surged through him. "Luffia, we've got to get that little girl out of there before she's spotted by the Marines!"
"Relax, Coby. I got this covered. Don't worry," Luffia said confidently. Just then, three individuals entered the courtyard—two were Marine soldiers, and the one in front wore a flashy purple suit.
Luffia couldn't help but scoff, Man, what a tacky suit. But she focused on the situation as the trio spotted the little girl.
"Hey! What are you doing with my prisoner, little girl?" the man in the purple suit said, his tone sharp and demanding.
The girl panicked and replied, "I came to bring food to Zoro!"
The man scoffed, glaring at her. "No food for him, or you know what will happen to you and your mother."
Zoro's expression darkened. "Hey, you piece of shit! This is between you and me—leave her out of this!"
Ignoring Zoro, the man, who introduced himself as Helmeppo, pointed at the sign. "Don't you know how to read?"
Fear flashed in the little girl's eyes as Helmeppo noticed the rice balls. He grabbed one, biting into it before spitting it out with disgust. "Yack! It's sweet!" he sneered.
The girl, tears welling in her eyes, explained, "I added sugar instead of salt! I thought it would make them more delicious!"
Without a hint of compassion, Helmeppo grabbed the other rice ball, throwing it onto the ground and stomping on it. The little girl began to cry, and Luffia's anger flared. "So that guy thinks it's tough picking on a little girl?" she muttered, gripping her katana tightly.
Before she could act, Coby pounced on her arm, begging, "Don't attack, Luffia!"
Helmeppo then ordered a Marine soldier to throw the little girl over the wall. The soldier hesitated, but Helmeppo reminded him, "My daddy is the commander of this base! Do as I say!"
Reluctantly, the soldier picked up the girl and whispered to her, "Curl yourself into a ball to soften the impact," before tossing her over the wall.
As the little girl fell, she suddenly stopped in mid-air, widening her eyes in amazement. She looked around and saw Luffia beside her, smiling brightly. "Thank you, big sister!" the girl exclaimed, relief washing over her.
Luffia, using her Float-Float powers, gently lowered the girl down to safety. "No thanks needed, Rica. Just don't go climbing ladders alone next time, okay?"
As Luffia gently floated Rica and Coby to the other side of the wall, she turned to Coby and instructed him, "Take Rica home now!"
"Thank you, Miss Luffia!" Rica exclaimed, her eyes shining with gratitude. "Zoro is tied up because of me; he protected my mother and me from that idiot Helmeppo. He killed Helmeppo's pet wolf that almost got me, so Helmeppo wanted to execute us. But Zoro made a deal—if he could stay tied up without food for a month, Helmeppo would forget the whole situation."
Luffia's admiration for Zoro deepened upon hearing this. "Man, he's more resilient than I thought. Coby, take her home now; I'll catch up in a minute."
Back in the courtyard, Zoro stared at the stomped rice ball on the ground, clearly trying to will it back to him when Luffia appeared. "You should know that girl is safe," she assured him.
"Okay...and thanks," Zoro replied, his voice steady but filled with gratitude.
"No problem, Zoro," Luffia responded, then Zoro asked her, "Could you pick up that rice ball for me?"
"Are you sure? It has more dirt on it than rice!" Luffia remarked, but she picked it up anyway and handed it to him.
Zoro took it with a shrug, promptly eating it. "Delicious! Tell the little girl I liked it."
"Sure, no problem," Luffia replied and then took off toward Rica and Coby, who were already at Rica's place—a quaint restaurant.
As Luffia stepped inside, she saw Coby and Rica being scolded by a woman who was obviously Rica's mother.
"But, Mom!" Rica protested.
The woman shook her head firmly. "No 'buts,' little missy! You're grounded for that!"
Luffia intervened with a warm smile, "Don't be too hard on her; she was trying to help."
Rica's face lit up at the sight of Luffia again. "Mami, Mami! This is the girl who made me fly and saved me!"
Rica's mother turned to Luffia, a grateful expression on her face, and bowed slightly. "Thank you for saving Rica."
"Oh, it's no problem, ma'am! But since we're in a restaurant, I would like to order something," Luffia said, her stomach growling.
"Of course," Rica's mother replied. "What would you like?"
Twenty minutes later, Luffia sat enjoying her meal, with Coby by her side and Rica listening wide-eyed to her stories. The little girl idolized her, and finally, she piped up, "Wow, Ms. Luffia, you are amazing!"
In mock exasperation, Luffia replied, "Oh, don't call me Ms.! It makes me feel old, Rica!" She playfully chomped on a drumstick, her demeanor warm and inviting.
Rica giggled at her response, her fear from earlier vanishing. "Okay, Luffia! You're the coolest!"
Rica's mother approached Luffia once again, her expression earnest. "Thank you for helping Rica get out of trouble," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.
Luffia smiled warmly. "It's my pleasure! But what's going on in this city? It seems like everyone is on edge."
Rica's mother sighed, her face reflecting the weight of the situation. "Captain Morgan rules with an iron fist, but he's not the true problem. His adutant is really in charge due to his connections."
"Oh really?" Luffia prompted, intrigued.
Nodding, Rica's mother continued, "His name is Lieutenant Granger. He was once part of a special Navy task force."
Rica's eyes widened as she interjected, "He was in charge of escorting slaves!"
"Rica, shhh! Don't say that too loud! You'll get in trouble if one of those Marines hears you!" her mother scolded gently but firmly.
After that moment of panic, she continued, "But yes, he was transferred here because rumors have it that during one mission, he and an entire Navy garrison—which included four warships and a slaver ship—were sunk by the Witch of the Grand Line. He was the only survivor, which made him so scared of the Grand Line that they moved him here. But he's a Grand Line veteran."
Coby, listening intently, nodded. "The Witch of the Grand Line? That is a legend! I heard that the Marines gave her an unofficial bounty of 450,000,000 beri. But they don't even know who she is! Some say that the Navy is trying to cover up her existence."
Hearing this, Luffia reflected silently, Boy, if only they knew…
The door of the restaurant swung open abruptly, causing Luffia to turn her attention toward the entrance. To her surprise, two Marine soldiers stormed in, accompanied by the spoiled brat Helmeppo and another figure who looked like an officer.
Helmeppo strutted forward, confidence radiating from his smug grin. "Granger, you sure have the best ideas!" he remarked, his tone dripping with arrogance.
The officer, Lieutenant Granger, shot a sideways glance at Helmeppo. "Of course I do. That's why I'm your father's second-in-command," he replied, his demeanor proud yet condescending.
As Luffia observed Granger, flashes of memory surged through her mind, transporting her back to a dark, rainy night on the Grand Line. The stench of death hung thick in the air as she had just completed her mission, freeing slaves on their way to be sold. She stood amidst the chaos, her katana stained with blood, before a petrified Marine begging for his life.
"Please, don't kill me! I'll change!" he pleaded.
Luffia walked to him, grabbing him by the hair, her voice low and menacing. "It's your lucky day, Marine. You get to tell the tale of how your comrades died. Now go. But if we meet again, I won't be so merciful. Got it?"
With that thought fading, the memory stuck in her mind like a thorn. Man, he's still the same asshole he was two years ago. Well, I guess he dies today.
Back in the present, Helmeppo's smug tone broke the silence in the restaurant. "Listen here, everybody! Tomorrow, there will be an execution! I plan to have Zoro shot!"
Rica's eyes widened in horror. "You can't! You promised him!"
Helmeppo, unbothered, dismissed her with a wave. "I changed my mind!"
"Rica, don't—" her mother started to protest, but just then, she was grabbed by Lieutenant Granger, who smirked. "Well, looks like we have a whore who needs a little lesson in respect." He began to tear at her shirt as he leered at her.
Suddenly, a voice rang out, "Leave her alone!"
The Marine soldiers turned to see Luffia standing resolutely, her katana at the ready.
Helmeppo burst into laughter, but his amusement turned to confusion when he saw Lieutenant Granger pale as a sheet. "No, no! It can't be you! No, no! Please go away!" Granger stammered, fear gripping his features.
Helmeppo scowled at Granger's reaction. "Hey, what's the matter with you, Granger? Just stand there!"
"It's her—the Witch of the Grand Line!" Granger exclaimed, his voice shaking.
Luffia stepped forward, a bemused smile on her face. "Oh, you remember little old me?"
In a flash, she unsheathed her katana, and with a swift slash that nobody saw coming, she decapitated Granger in an instant. His head fell to the ground, and the remaining Marines froze in shock.
Turning her attention to Helmeppo, Luffia grabbed him and, with a ferocious heave, tossed him out of the restaurant—not through the door, but directly through a solid wall, the force echoing through the building.
"Take him to his daddy," Luffia commanded the two remaining Marines, "and tell him that the lieutenant is dead and that death is coming for him."
That is, it for this chapter, hope you like it, i have already started writing the next chapter were more of Luffia s past will be revield.
See you soon.