Hey, I'm back again^^

This chapter is my personal favourite for now. Because well~ I won't tell you in the author notes at the beginning xD That would spoiler you a bit. So I'll keep this note short and just say, enjoy the chapter^^

yukino76: Thank you. Yeah, entering the Grandline would be nice. But this chapter and the next one are still in the East Blue because reasons~ But then the real fun is going to start. I am kinda excited to finally write down the stuff I have in mind for the Grandline^^

~Chapter 8 – Hoist the colour~

Law had to suppress a laugh. It was quite funny to see how much trouble Sanji seemed to have with Luffy's devil fruit.

"You know, Luffy rarely transforms completely. It's only the wings he would use more often and perhaps the eyes or some hybrid-stuff", he said amused. Sanji glared at him.

"I don't see how that should make it better that he is a …" "He can't control his size. He may have great control over the body parts he transforms or mixes. But when he transforms completely his whole body is around 1.2 metres long which means he has a wingspan from around 2 metres. You saw how big they were when he only transform part of his back to be able to fly", Ace interrupted the cook and added with an amused grin: "That is a lot bigger than the normal species. So you can't tell me you are afraid of a 10 centimetres long insect if Luffy would get it under control."

It was clear to see on the Logia user's face that he was amused about the fact that Sanji is afraid of bugs. Well, if Law hadn't misunderstood, Sanji was only afraid of them when they reached a certain length.

Luffy only stood by and watched the discussion. "If Sanji is afraid, does that now mean that Sanji and I can't be friends any longer because I am an insect zoan?", the future-captain asked and blinked innocently.

Oh shit, Law knew this glance. This was a very dangerous glance. Because it gave Luffy a puppy look. A kicked puppy look. And this was the look that triggered Ace's brother complex and also Law himself couldn't resist wanting to hurt the person who was the reason for that.

"No", Sanji said quickly. "I still want to be your friend… it's just…" The blonde did look nervous.

Law sighed. Maybe he should help him out. After all, Sanji was a crew member and had proved to be a very good addition.

"You know, we could try to cure you of this fear. That way we can also make Luffy train more so that he can become a smaller dragonfly", the surgeon suggested. He noticed how unsure Sanji looked at him. But Luffy seemed cheerful.

"That means Sanji and I can remain friends", the straw-hatted boy cheered and jumped a little up and down. "Ne, Sanji, I'm hungry. Can we have some snacks?"

Typical Luffy…But it did seem to make Sanji calm. Law studied Luffy and smirked. The boy maybe was hungry all the time but this time he asked to help Sanji. It did show that Luffy was learning a bit how to help his crew member.

But before Sanji went to the kitchen the newscrow was heard.

Everyone was quite curious if there would be a report about Conomi Island. Law hoped not. Otherwise, they were in trouble.

When he unfolded the paper the wanted posters fell to the ground. His eyes widened slightly as he recognised three very familiar faces on the posters.

Oh shit… Garp was going to kill them.

During the time Ace and Luffy had been with Garp, Dadan had made it a routine to visit Makino's bar once a week.

Just to share stories about their little brats, who were now grown up and travelling on their own, or to get new information about them.

The bandit leader would never admit it but she missed them a lot. Even if they caused her lots of trouble. But still, they were her brats.

With a nice conversation and a nice bottle of sake on her mind, Dadan entered the bar.

To her surprise, there were much more people than usual. It seemed like they were celebrating something.

"Ah, Dadan-san, I have to show you something", Makino said cheerfully and waved her over to a free bar stool, which the barmaid seemed to have reserved for her.

Dadan was quite surprised about her behaviour. It was normal but something told the bandit leader that it was a bit happier than normal.

"So what is going on, Makino?", Dadab asked when she sat down.

The green-haired barmaid only smiled and laid three wanted posters on the counter in front of her.

All three showed black-haired teens or young adults.

Dadan's eyes widened. Two of them were her brats. Ace and Luffy.

"They have reached the New World already?", she asked even if she didn't believe it.

These were her brats, they were talking about. They attracted lots of trouble. Even if Law was quite good keeping them out of trouble, there was a limit of what the oldest of the trio could handle. And Ace and Luffy would be able to push it over the limit quite easily.

"No, the article said the fought against some Marine on the Conomi Islands. It was briefly mentioned that they also beat a pirate named Arlong who had a bounty around 20,000,000 berries", Makino told her.

Dadan felt a grin on her lips. She looked at the wanted posters again. Both of her brats looked quite happy in the pictures. Also, they beat someone worth 20,000,000 berries. She felt… proud.

But wait… Conomi Islands. If she remembered it right. These islands were still in the East Blue.

Dadan started to laugh. "I told him they would hoist the colour earlier", she said and grabbed her cup of sake.

A silent toast to her brats and Law for becoming wanted people. For becoming pirates.

He couldn't believe it. On his desk were the new wanted posters out of the East Blue.

Three of them had caught his attention.

Monkey D Luffy, Portgas D Ace. Trafalgar Law.

These three shouldn't be wanted, yet. He had made them promise to call when they leave the East Blue. Something they hadn't done, yet.

So he was quite sure that they were still in the East Blue.

He sighed. How would his old friend react if he saw this?

If this old friend would be close by, he would most likely break into his office through the wall. But luckily said friend was far away from the island at the moment. So the walls of his office were safe.

But that didn't save him from getting a call from certain friend.

"I thought you agree to help out preventing that they get a bounty." The den-den-mushi mimicked an angry face.

"Garp, there was nothing I could have done to prevent this. The headquarter in the East Blue appointed those bounties. I only got them a few minutes ago together with the reports. There is something strange about this report. Because it said that they attacked without a reason and were a hindrance to arrest Arlong. Could you check it out as long as you are still in the East Blue? I can believe that they fought against Arlong. But I can't believe that they attack Marine without any real reason. The report was given in by a marine captain named Nezumi", he said looking into the report for the name.

He could hear the other mumbling something which sounded a lot like "going to give them a fist of love."

"Garp, you can hunt them down after you checked Conomi Islands and have taken the former marine captain Morgan into custody to bring him here. That is an order", he made sure to sound strict.

"Don't worry. I'll tell them to call you, Senny. So you get their side of the story. Bwhahahahaha."

"Gotcha."

Sengoku could only stare at the den-den-mushi.

This man was going to be the death of him.

The fleet admiral sighed and looked at the wanted posters again.

Ace looked quite proud the way he stood in front of the burning headquarter of Arlong. Law seemed annoyed in his wanted poster because he flipped off the photographer. Typical Law if you bothered him too much and he wasn't allowed to use his devil fruit. But there was a hint of a smirk at the tips of Law's lips.

Luffy had a big grin on his face. His eyes were nearly closed. Looked like the youngest was having fun despite the annoyed looking Ace in the background.

Maybe… Just maybe it was for the best to let them be pirates now.

Scum. Only worthless, weak scum tried to be hired by him.

He snarled when one of these weaklings came into his cabin.

"I'm… s-sorry, Captain. T-the o-other thought you would want to see this", the scum stumbled and offered him two wanted posters.

Both showed black-haired teens or young adults. Why would those weaklings think he would be interested in snot-nosed brats (completely ignoring that their bounties were quite high)?

But then he saw the names.

Ace. Luffy. These names made his blood boil. He felt anger rose inside him.

He grabbed the scum. "Where?", he growled and tightened the grip on the weakling's throat.

"P-paper s-said Conomi Islands."

That was the choked and stumbled answer.

He threw the weakling to the ground. "Set sail to Conomi Islands. I have some brats to kill."

Rosinante stared at the den-den mushi he wasn't allowed to use, yet. He was torn between trying to be patient until Garp had found them and ignoring the order and just call them.

He chewed on his lips and looked at their wanted posters again.

Luffy looked so happy in the picture. Law and Ace, too. Even if it was much more hidden with these two.

But that was beside point.

They weren't out of the East Blue, yet, and they already had gotten a bounty on their heads. It worried him. How did they even get in the first place? None of them was the type to break a promise after all.

Also, it worried him that the newspaper said they attacked marines! Without a reason! That did go against the rule Garp had taught them. Only attack marine if they were a threat to them.

And this rule made it kinda hard to believe that they would attack marines without a reason. He curled his lips into a pout. He didn't even have a chance to listen in when Garp had the talk with Sengkou.

His adopted father would most likely have the most information.

But no. Nothing was said to him. Except that their heritage wasn't the reason as it wasn't mentioned in the report.

That was a small thing that calmed his nerves. But there was another reason why he was worried now.

Now that Law had a bounty his brother would know. Rosinante was sure that Doflamingo would try to get his hands on Law and made him perform the operation to grand him an eternal life.

He started chewing on his lips worried about his oldest "baby".

Yes, they were all three his babies despite now being grown up.

"Oi, Rosinante, stop staring at the den-den mushi. We will get them before they leave the East Blue", Garp said laughing.

The blonde looked at the older man. He seriously wanted to have Garp's positive attitude. Because he wasn't so sure that they would get them before entering the Grandline.

He sighed and looked onto the ocean.

Despite now being nearly twenty years away from the place, he once called his home, he still hadn't found her, yet. It was also strange to still feel a bit homesick… even if he could never return and didn't call it home any longer.

He had failed to find her, yet, and because of him being here right now where he was, he was probably marked as a traitor. Something that only bothered him a bit.

The life he had now, was much easier for him. The pressure which normally was always on his bag had been lifted by his captain and this crew.

Now if he could only find a clue to her…

He turned his head when he heard steps.

A teen well more a young adult stepped closer with a stack wanted posters in his right hand and a single one in his left hand.

"These are the new ones. There are some women wanted. But I don't know if she is one of them", the teen said and gave him the stack.

He nodded in thanks. A small smile appearing on his face. He would look over these posters later. Now he was a bit more curious about the soft look in the younger one's eyes.

"Found your mate, little one?"

His small smile turned into a smirk when the young adult blushed and he could hear a groan. "Please not you, too. The others already had a field trip with it…."

He laid a hand on the boy's head and tousled his hair. "If you say so. But shouldn't you start hiding then? After all, Mister Gossiplover will return soon."

The teen groaned and folded the wanted poster carefully.

The only thing he was able to see from the picture was a big grin.

Now that was interesting.

She sighed and put another wanted poster in the fire. She had to destroy them before someone notice the similarities. It would be bad for the kid.

Not even on the Grandline and already having powerful enemies on his tracks. No, that couldn't happen.

A bit sad she looked at the last poster. Pity, they all needed to be destroyed.

"Are you done, yet?", a male voice spoke up behind her. "This is the last one", she said and put it in the fire.

"Good. So no one here will suspect something." "It's still sad that we had to burn all of them… Do you think we will meet him? I'm curious how similar they are."

"If they are anything alike, we will meet him for sure."

"Joker, how could you do that to my boyfriend?!"

A young woman stormed at him.

Doflamingo sighed. There she went again. He should seriously consider to net let her walk around alone any longer. Even if this was quite entertaining at some points, it was also starting to become annoying.

He easily dodged her attacks. Maybe it would be okay to let her vent her anger a bit and then calm her down. That would be the best. She was too emotional at the moment even if she most likely only felt needed not loved by her boyfriend.

This attitude of her was going to get her killed one day or maybe it would influence the whole family. If it wasn't also to their use…

"Young master, you have to see this."

Doflamingo turned his head to see Jora coming towards them with a wanted poster in her hand.

He lifted his fingers to trap Baby 5 in his strings and turned completely to his other female officer.

"This one came with the newspaper today." Jora now turned the poster so he could see the picture and the name.

Trafalgar Law.

It had been some years since he last heard/read this name. Not since his own brother by blood had betrayed him and disappeared with the brat and the Ope Ope no Mi. Not even Vergo could have found them using the marines.

Well, looked like he would get a chance for eternity again.

"Where?"

"East Blue. We are already working on getting more information."

"Good. Tell me as soon as you know more. I have to deal with a young woman's tantrum now."

He took a sip from his bottle and grinned about the wanted posters laying in front of him.

Monkey D Luffy.

The kid looked interesting and even without being able to see the eyes, he knew the boy must have a lot of potential. Otherwise, the straw hat wouldn'T have gotten into his hands.

He was quite curious about meeting this Luffy-kid. But another one got his attention.

Portgas D Ace.

The facial structure of the young man reminded him of someone. Someone who died years ago. If it wasn't for the freckles on the boy's cheeks and the different hat, he would have thought about seeing a ghost. Especially with the look in the young man's eyes. He had seen it countless times and hadn't know if he should shake his head or just laugh it off.

"I wonder if one of them will inherit your title, Captain", he mumbled despite being alone in the room.

"Well, looks like we have been saved from pirates by pirates", Nojiko mused to her younger sister who was packing her stuff. Nami just shrugged.

"I would prefer if they weren't pirates nor marines. But well, it can't be helped." Her little sister lifted her backpack. "Are you going to be okay with the plantation?"

Nojiko grinned. "Yeah. Don't worry. The village will be fine, too. After all, he did quite help to build it up again. But even if he did that… Are you sure that you would want him as your travelling guide?" She studied her little sister carefully.

"Don't worry, Nojiko. He always treated me good. Also, he sees it as a chance to somehow make it up to me", Nami said with a smirk.

Nojiko shook her head lightly in amusement. "That is an advantage… but why didn't you ask them to take you with them? They don't appear to be the type to stay in the East Blue."

"You answered the question yourself. They will go the Grandline quite fast. They are going to be troublesome, I can tell just looking at their bounties. I could never concentrate on my maps if I went with them."

She sighed. What were the others doing that took so long?

She was tired of laying low like she had done it for the last month.

But she had to. Otherwise, the marine captain of this town would notice her and that could lead to some awkward questions she would rather not answer. That was under the condition that the man remembered her.

But she wasn't one to gamble on pure luck. So staying low and waiting for the others would be her best option.

To get her mind somewhere else, she turned her focus on the newspaper again.

First the articles about the local town. She lifted an eyebrow.

Did she overestimate the marine captain of this town? It seemed so. Because he hadn't been able to catch this rude person who acted like some kind of Mafia boss. Or maybe the marine captain wasn't really into capturing guys like that and focused only on pirates. Even if it wasn't a good excuse, it would be a reasonable excuse in her eyes, because there came lots of pirates to this town. So maybe the captain was too busy dealing with pirates than with mafia bosses.

She put the newspaper away and started to look at the bounties.

Her eyes widened when she saw the last three. She knew these three. She had met them some time ago.

She frowned. Why would these three be pirates or whatever they were to get bounties? They were too nice… okay, Law and Ace did fi the pirate description often, but that was beside the point.

But… every one of the three looked happy in their own way.

Maybe not all pirates would be bad if it wasn't the typical government bullshit to hide stuff.

"We have bounties", Luffy cheered.

"Why is Luffy's higher than mine? That isn't fair", Ace pouted which made him grim grin.

He had a higher bounty than his big brother.

"Luffy has hit this marine captain twice. They will think of him as the bigger threat than you. Despite seeing you easily burn down a pirate base". Law said.

The surgeon didn't look very happy about his bounty. Was there something wrong with it?

Luffy looked at Law's wanted poster again. It did look good in his opinion.

"Be happy that you got a bounty!"

Sanji was pouting and Bepo nodded in agreement with the cook.

"Am I the only one who knows exactly what this means?!"

Law sounded annoyed. Luffy tilted his head confused and looked to his big brother and the others. No one seemed to know the answer, Law wanted.

"We promised to stay off the radar until we get into the New World. By getting bounties now, we can't stay off the radar any longer. It means we ware official wanted as pirates most likely."

Luffy's eyes widened. They were pirates now.

THEY WERE PIRATES NOW!

"Wuhu, hoist the colour!", he ordered. Because that would be a very good first order as captain.

"You know your grandpa will hunt and hit us now", Law prophesied doom.

Luffy flinched. Getting hit by his granda didn't sound good.

"Let's hurry so we get to the Grandline before Ji-chan catches us", he then declared cheerfully and looked to his big brother who was hoisting the colour.

He put his straw hat on his head. They were pirates now and could openly declare their goals.

A smirk appeared on his face. Bevor Law could stop him, he flew on the top of the ship. Carefully he folded his wings so they wouldn't get caught by the wind.

Then he took a deep breath and screamed:

"I am going to be the pirate king!"

So now I can ramble~ I like these jumping around PoVs without mentioning who exactly is acting there. It is a bit challenging to not write their names to stop using 'he' or 'she'. Also, I like these parts as a bit to build some stuff up and maybe give you some hints for later ;) You can already guess about the people who are not named. But I won't say anything about your guesses, I just tell you they are all Characters of the One Piece universe (meaning no OC).

Also, I can finally ramble about Luffy's devil fruit. Hands up who expected it to a be a bug xD I really wanted to use a Zoan devil fruit which seemed weak when you first hear it but when you think about it more can be quite strong. I choose a bug because Luffy really seems to like insects and then I came across dragonflies.
They are one of the best flyer being able to fly in any direction. Also, there are some other nice things that I will explain later without spoilering you.

But before I forget, [B]SinOfTheFox[/B] made an interesting list of aspects which could lead towards Luffy's devil fruit. There was the point in Chapter two when Law mentioned that he hoped that Luffy doesn't present because of the effects of his devil fruit type.
Remember Chapter 5 ;) Devil fruits affect the user more than people think when they present. A Logia Alpha is more aggressive and doesn't handle orders normally well (the reason why Ace had his trouble). Law hates being an Omega because when he goes in Heat he is more vulnerable because Paramecia Devil fruits seem to make Omega more submissive when they are in Heat. And Zoan affects both Alpha and Omega in being more possessive about the people they call family or their mate.
Just giving that explanation now to maybe clear some questions ahead. But I can promise you there will be more details about the system when they get into the Grandline.

so rambling over and see you in the next chapter ^^