If you don't like 30 years before then that's fine, you don't need to tell everybody about it with vulgar language, there are underage people who read the comments and they don't need read stuff like that.

Secondly I'm not changing the story because some random doesn't like the story. Don't like it then go and read something else. Nobody is forcing you read this.

I'm writing this because I like it! Not for any other reason, this simply is self indulgent nonsense. It's a fanfic! Not something offensive.

Luffy's POV

"I left you with that abusive old geezer. What was future me thinking"

Dragon had gone very quiet, he had gone rigid, his face hidden under his black mop of hair. He wasn't responding to anything Luffy said, even when the boy had gotten off his bed and sat next to him.

Luffy couldn't understand why Dragon was so upset, all he said was that he was raised on Dawn island and Gramps would visit sometimes for 'training'.

"Why would I do that? I know what he's like and I just..."

The man rolled over onto his side, his back to the young captain. Leaving Luffy in a silent questioning daze.

Sighing the boy slowly made his way back to his own bed, Dragon needed some space. Though he still couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.

The Straw-hat captain was hungry, yet he didn't feel like eating, it was a weird thing that Luffy didn't enjoy. Maybe it was the situation with Dragon or simply the damage he had taken from Gramps. Perhaps it was because he missed his crew.

Either way it was one of first time's the raven willingly missed a meal or at least didn't go looking for one.

Climbing back onto his bed, curling up under his sheets and fell promptly to sleep.

Marco's POV

Ever since the incident with Garp and the Marines three days ago, the crew had been a little more jumpy than normal. The fact that Pops had brought back Garp's sons hadn't helped the matter. Even though everyone could understand why their father had saved them, it didn't mean everyone was happy about it.

Marco was one of the few who didn't really see what all the fuss was about. Yeah, they were Garp's kids, but the vice Admiral was a terrible parent and when the two of them were brought on board, they had been so badly beaten and bloody that everyone had assumed that Pops was the one injured.

How were they remotely dangerous?

Nobody had seen the brothers since Marilyn had taken them away, apart from Pops that was. Marco had heard that they were still alive, apart from that and couple of other things he basically knew nothing.

The phoenix really wanted to go see them, even if it was just to know what they looked like. He had heard from Tam that the youngest had stretchy skin and he really wanted to know if he had a devil fruit.

But sneaking into the infirmary was like a suicide mission, if you went in there you wouldn't come back the same person. The head doctor wasn't afraid of chucking him over board or trying to chase the blonde around with a scalpel. He had no idea how Tam coped with the old bag. She was scary, insane and he wouldn't be surprised if she was the root of all evil.

All in all, Marco would prefer to live.

When a small island came into view, the Whitebeard crew had cheered. They could finally restock and do some much-needed repairs. The Moby Dick had been hit more than once during the Marine attack, having gotten rather damaged. There was a hole in the haul that had been making people particularly nervous. They had patched it up the best they could, didn't necessarily mean it would hold up during a bad storm.

Landing on the uninhabited side of the island, as they didn't want to cause the locals any alarm and the crew got to work.

Marco along with Vista and Jozu were practically shaking with excitement, they hadn't been off the Moby for about a month. The three of them were starting to get especially twitchy, they were fuelled with too much energy and weren't able to burn it off.

The younger members of the pirates had gone exploring along the coast line and through the woods near the ship, it was good fun for about first day, but they had quickly gotten bored.

Normally the boys wouldn't have been allowed to explore on their own unless it was deemed pretty safe. Safe being that the New World was a dangerous place and this island wasn't as dangerous as most. And as Marco and the other two apprentices didn't have bounty posters yet, so they could get away with wandering around towns without much worry. Nobody would recognize them as part of the Whitebeard pirates.

They were in luck.

So, the next day they put their normal plan into action and started purposely getting in the way of the adults and generally being a huge nuisance. Until Marco, Jozu and Vista had gotten permission to visit the small town from an irritated Rakuyo, with the promise to keep out of trouble and to make sure they took care of their 12-year-old brother.

The brothers had set off through the forest, all the way laughing and making fun of one another. Marco would fly up over the trees every so often, making sure that they were headed in the right direction. It wasn't a long walk until several quaint buildings came into view, the kids grinned at each and began running towards their destination.

When the three apprentices had arrived at the plaza, they went to straight to a cafe, with the intention of buying themselves some drinks with the money the Rakuyo had coughed up.

They minding their own business, when they were abruptly stopped by a tall Marine with a long katana strapped to his back. His short black military cut was hidden under a Marine cap and he was wearing a captain coat with a red shirt underneath. The three of them froze, Marco nervously wondering what they had done.

Did they recognize them? If so, how? They didn't have bounties.

For the first time the phoenix glanced around rapidly, where were the residents? The whole plaza was covered in Marines, they were marching around, clearly, they had some serious business going on.

"You boys, where did you come from?"

Vista started to nervously stammer out an excuse; he wasn't the best at coming up with things on the spot.

"Oh, uh we were just- uh"

"We were hanging out in the forest; you know just doing kid stuff. We should probably get going home now, yoi"

The blonde boy took over, he tried to make it sound as casual as possible. Marco sighed with disappointment; too bad they had come at such a bad time.

Looks like we'll have to go back to the Moby Dick and warn everyone.

"Really because you kids don't look like you're from here"

What? How could he tell? It's not like they were weird looking or something. They looked like normal kids. Well except Jozu, he was kinda of big kid.

"What do you mean, yoi? This is where we live, but our parents are going to be worried about us if don't go now, yoi"

Marco said with a light and airy tone. He tried to make it come across as matter of fact as possible.

"Really because you kids look a lot like pirates"

Marco stiffened; how could he tell? What give him that impression? Vista had tensed besides him, his hand absently grabbing his sword on his waist. Jozu was pushing up against him, he could hear him starting to sniffle.

The man smiled suddenly, it was dangerous and it made his skin crawl. Marco got the feeling that they were in a lot of trouble.

The 15-year-old made his decision, he would protect his brothers, with his devil fruit, it made Marco an effective shield.

"I'LL HOLD HIM OFF YOU GUYS RUN, YOI!"

Marco threw himself at the man, without waiting for their answers. The blonde's body was engulfed in flames, kicking in the Marine in the temple with a clawed foot.

The captain didn't even flinch, then the boy came to the sickening conclusion that his foot was melting! His talon had passed though the man's head, leaving behind a trail of lava.

Marco was falling towards the ground, even though the pain was already fading, he was in a panic he almost didn't catch himself.

He's made out of lava, that is so broken! I don't know how to use haki either, yoi!

"Follow those Pirate scum! Don't let them escape!"

The Phoenix flew upwards, circling his target as he calculated the best course of action. He could see a wave of Marines chasing his brothers. Marco just hoped that the man he was fighting was the most dangerous among them. And by keeping him busy meant they would survive long enough to get back to the Moby.

The lava man threw up his hand and shot a large bolt of super-heated rock at the kid. It hit Marco square in the chest, the blonde went spiralled out of control and he hit the soil, a mound of dirt feeling his mouth.

The burning in his chest started to dissipate, the boy rolled to his feet spluttering out the mud in his mouth, he took to the air again.

Another shot of molten rock hurtled towards him; this time Marco managed to evade it. He dove towards the ground, instead of kicking him again, he threw up gust of sand, the man staggered back as sand and dirt hit him, trying to catch sight of his target.

The lava bastard quickly recovered, this time he drew his sword from his back. Marco instantly put some distance between them, he got the feeling he did not want to get hit with the weapon.

The swordsman jumped into the air, swinging his katana towards his neck, Marco avoided the blade within inches, then a blast of lava hit him in the face, his vision going black.

The boy was blind, his flames were trying to push back the lava that was eating away at his flesh, he was then hit harshly, it felt like his stomach was cut open. It probably was.

Marco hit the ground, his eyesight slowly started to blur back into existence, the world was fuzzy and he couldn't make out much. He tried to get to his feet, something hit his back, he realized that a foot was holding him down.

His healing abilities had slowed down! His flames had to fight against the lava, fire wasn't a good match up with lava. Marco started panic, if he didn't get out of here and away from this man he was going to die.

Marco didn't want to die; he was rather fond of life.

He could feel the cold steel on his throat, Marco struggled, his arms turning into flaming wings as he tried to hit the mans leg, even if he could dislodge his foot long enough to fly away would be enough.

His brother's were probably back at the ship by now, he hoped that they had gotten away. He hoped they were safe. At least if they were okay then this was fine.

"Say goodbye Pira- ack"

The weight on his back disappeared, Marco immediately staggered to his feet, his eyes were still not properly healed. Everything still looked like a mess of colours, it was disorienting but he was alive.

"Whitebeard! So you came back for more did you?"

Marco perked at the mention of his father, though he wasn't sure where he was. Frowning he tried to discern his surroundings, until he realized the white blob in front of him was mostly his Pops.

Either way Marco was just relieved to know that he was there. If he was here then that his brothers were okay. But he needed to be sure.

"Pop are Vista and Jozu okay, yoi?"

"Yes, they're fine. I can't say the same for you, your eyes look bloodshot"

Marco sagged with relief.

"Good, yoi"

"Stay there, don't move this won't take long"