Hey there and Merry Christmas~

the last chapter before they enter the Grandline and it took me nine chapters and a prologue to get there... Well, let's see how long it will take until they reach the New World. Also, I did spoiler a little in the second chapter that there will be nine "members" when they leave the East Blue. Now do your math and you get little spoilers for this chapter ;)

SinOfTheFox: Thanks^^ Yeah, there are some interesting aspects about them and their ability to fly gives Luffy lots of freedom, which can be annoying for Law and Ace~

yukino76: Yep, they have~ many people who will cause them trouble or the other way round xD

SakuraKoi: Thank you^^

~Chapter 9 - The last stop~

"Will you stay still, Luffy? Otherwise, you stay behind with Bepo and Chouchou and wait until we are back", Law said annoyed. Luffy had been jumping up and down because he was excited to get back on the Grandline and he was also excited for the last stop.

Maybe he shouldn't have told the younger one the story about Loguetown being the place where Gold Roger was born and also where the late pirate king had been executed.

When Ace had heard about this, he had become grumpy and told them to hurry when they were there. His mate really had some daddy-issues with his late old man.

But the story had the effect that Luffy didn't want to ditch the last stop.

Said boy was now pouting but had stopped his antics. "But I want to see it. The place where he died and I want to finally go to the Grandline", Luffy whined.

Law sighed and flipped the straw hat from the younger one's head to tousle the black hair. "We have to think carefully about our next steps", he said and looked back to where their ship came from.

It worried him a bit that there had been no indication for Garp being on his way to get them. For a strange reason, he suspected to see cannon balls flying at them soon. Haki training with the old man surely had branded him.

Also, there was a lack of Sengoku's call to demand answers. After all, their wanted posters should now also be shown in the Grandline headquarters. He wouldn't suspect his adopted grandfather to stay quiet that long.

The whole situation put him on the edge.

"Ne Torao, can I visit the execution platform? I want to see it… The place where he died", Luffy said and interrupted his thoughts.

Law looked at the younger one. He could see the excitement in the other's eyes. He felt a worrying feeling rise inside him because he knew that Luffy would attract lots of attention when he would reach the platform.

Law sighed. "We will see how quick we get everything done. So you can either go with Ace and Zoro to get new swords, some weapons and whatever wood they find to repair Shippy in case something happens. Or you could come with Sanji and me to get food, navigation tools and medicines."

This wouldn't be an easy decision. No for Luffy nor for himself.

Law didn't know how the younger would think about it. He could only guess that Luffy would be interested in getting food (they need to shop more if Luffy was with them then). But also weapons would be an interesting topic. Even if the younger one didn't use a weapon very often. He knew some basics and was interesting in them till a certain degree.

But the other stuff, they had to shop for, would be boring for Luffy. So it would be a tie between the two options.

The only aspect, which would maybe make a point that Luffy would go with him instead of Ace, was that the chance of seeing the execution platform would be higher. Because their first mate wouldn't go anywhere near something connected to Gol D Roger. Stupid unresolved daddy-issues…

"So Luffy, who would you like to go with?", Law asked and turned to look at the younger one.

Only to find him missing.

He turned his head left and right but couldn't see him. So Law used Haki to find him.

"Luffy!", he screamed angrily after the boy who was already halfway to Logue Town.

Damn this stupid speed with these dragonfly wings…

Ace was grumpy. Well, his precious baby brother would describe him that way at the moment. If his said baby brother hadn't the glorious idea to go ahead and was now 'missing'. Also … Zoro had gone missing, too.

One minute. Just one minute Ace had been in a store to look closer at some studs.

Because of unknown reasons (to him at least), both, Law and Luffy, had been interested in getting their ears pierced. Until now only the surgeon had got it done (Dadan's work), but his little brother had been too young for Dadan to do it for him, too. So Law had promised Luffy to pierce the younger one's ears when they become pirates and if they could find some simple studs, which wouldn't get in the way.

And these studs, Ace had seen in the store, were perfect for Luffy. They seemed silver with little red highlights.

But back to Zoro. So Ace had only been in the store for a minute to look at the studs and to buy them. When he came back out, the swordsman was missing.

Why was it so hard for some people to stay in one place?

He sighed. Maybe he should quickly get the other stuff done and then should go looking for both. The swordsman and his baby brother.

"Oi, don't you know whose territory you just walked into?"

Ace looked annoyed to the left where the person, who had spoken was.

There only stood some … well grunts, he would say. They did look and acted the same as the ones back home, he had beaten up together with Luffy and earlier with Sabo. This probably meant they weren't worth his time at the moment.

"Don't care whose territory this is. But I don't have any time for you … "

A bullet went right through his head. He could feel the flames dancing on his head. Ace sighed.

"Guess I'll need to take a bit of my precious time to play with you~"

A devilish smirk decorated his lips and he let flames dance around his hand.

Luffy started to pout.

The nice smoking man had given him the direct way to the execution platform. But now someone in a cloak was blocking his way.

"You should watch it from here."

The voice sounded familiar… but Luffy couldn't place it. He only knew that it was a female and he definitely met her during the time he travelled with his grandpa.

"Are you listening to me? You are going to be in danger when you get closer to the execution platform."

She sounded annoyed and took a step towards him.

His eyes widened first when he saw an X-shaped scar on her right leg which was slightly covered by a holster.

Then a bright grin appeared on his face. "I'm so happy to see you again alive", Luffy cheered and hugged the woman in front of him. Even lifted her a bit up to twirl her around.

"Stop it, Luffy", she complained but she didn't do more to stop him.

Law massaged his temples. He had set the groups to make sure they would get everything done quickly.

But now it looked like planning was useful.

Zoro had lost Ace when his mate had only told the swordsman that he was going to look inside a store.

How could someone lose another when the other only went into a store? Well, Zoro didn't want to wait in front of the store but decided to want to wait on the bench on the other side of the street. And on the way to this bench, Zoro got lost!

How was that even possible? No one should be able to get lost on such a short distance.

Law seriously needed to edit their shopping list when they did their first stop on the Grandline. A leash for Zoro so that he wouldn't get lost and that they could tie him to something when they went inside a store.

His eyebrow twitched dangerously.

The very reason for this was Sanji's and Zoro's biggering. It annoyed him that they couldn't wait until they were back on the ship. At least there, he could threaten them to cut them apart without getting attracting more unwanted attention.

Maybe it would be a good idea to send these two to the ship. Zoro had already gotten new swords. So there was nothing left for them to do and without them, he would be much quicker in his search of Luffy and Ace.

Well, he would not really have to search for Luffy. Law was pretty sure that he only had to go to the execution platform to find the boy.

Ace was a different topic. His mate could be anywhere in this town except the places which were connected to Gol D Roger.

"Sanji, Zoro, bring the stuff to the ship and prepare to set sail. I'll get these two idiots", Law ordered after looking to the sky.

He may not be as sensitive to problems as Luffy. But for some unknown reason, Law had a very bad feeling suddenly.

"Shouldn't one of us come with you?", Zoro asked. Law shook his head.

"I am faster without our goods and you. So I'll find Ace quickly and then pull Luffy back to the ship. In that time you'll probably have just reached the ship and brought the stuff on board", he said.

Both looked unsure at him. Like they didn't like the thought about just going back and leaving him alone in town.

"One of them is possible attracting the Marines. So we have to be ready to get away as fast as possible. I can use my powers to confuse the Marines if they chase after us. But we won't be able to get far away if the stuff isn't already on the ship and the preparations to set sail haven't started, yet", Law said with a voice which didn't allow any resistants.

It helped to convince them to go back to Shippy when a big lion with a familiar idiot on top walked by on a side-way. The docks seemed to be the idiot's goal.

"Protect Shippy, if the idiot is planning to take revenge on us. Also, tell Bepo to call me on the mini den-den-mushi if anything happens", Law said and started to run off.

When he started to focus, he felt Zoro's and Sanji's Presence taking the way to Shippy. Good now, he had to concentrate on finding Ace.

It bothered him a bit that despite the people in this town had a weak aura in comparison to Ace's. But it blocked his range a bit.

Law stopped when people run in a slight panic out of a street.

"Bartolomeo is going wild! Run for your life." "Why did this had to pick a fight with the grunts?" "Wasn't it their own fault for picking a fight with someone who has a 30,000,000 bounty?"

Law wanted to facepalm. This idiot had gotten in a fight! Well, now he knew where he should look. Thanks to the panic crowd.

He pushed his way through cursing under his breath.

What was going on in this burnt brain of his mate? Picking a fight with some mob boss? Why was the order "don't attract too much attention" so hard to follow?

Law grumbled. But his facial expression changed quickly to frown. He hadn't really known what he should have expected. But he was sure that he wouldn't have expected that.

In a destroyed area sat Ace laughing with a young man nearly to heads taller than his mate and slicked-back light green hair.

"Are you serious? Are you fucking serious, Ace?", Law groaned annoyed and hit the black-haired one.

"You were the one who did push all of us to hurry so we won't be in Logue Town for long. And now you took your fucking time to pick fights which most likely attract the Marines. I thought I only had to remind Luffy, but it seems as you need reminders, too. We have fucking bounties on our head. We aren't even on the Grandline, yet! And you…", he was starting to scold Ace but was interrupted by the other.

His mate grinned innocently at him while he pulled him into his lap.

"That is Law. Don't even think about it. He is mine~", Ace said with a slight growl at the end.

This made Law stop moving and focus a bit more. Why would have Ace implied that directly? Then he noticed it.

It was only a light smell. But it was clear. The light green-haired one was an Alpha.

"Feisty one", the other commented, but didn't seem to come closer like he respected Ace's claim.

That wasn't the usual behaviour for Alphas. Even if an Omega was mated, many Alphas came closer to smell the Omega better to decide if they should fight for the Omega or not.

"This is Bartolomeo. He is one of the local bosses around here. His grunts started to pick a fight with me and then he came to rescue them. But these idiot civilians were making it not very easy to have a good fight", Ace said with a grim look on his face.

Law wanted to hit him again. It was like the other one had ignored the scolding part.

"Maybe they panic because you have one of the highest bounties in the East Blue", hey said annoyed and started to free himself from Ace. "And we don't have any time for chitchat. We still need to find your little brother. Also, there is possible an annoying circus-themed pirate crew here."

Ace groaned. Well, that seemed to make him think about their situation again. "Okay, so we have to search my little brother and leave quickly?"

"I'll help you. When two men fight fairly against each other, they become friends", Bartolomeo declared.

Well, that could be helpful. If the green-haired Alpha had been able to hold his own against Ace, the other wasn't weak and what would be even more helpful he knew the town.

Luffy pulled her after him. A slight pout on her lips which was hidden by the shadow of her cloak.

She hadn't been able to stop the boy from getting on the execution platform.

But she had been able to stop this idiot clown from trying to execute him.

Seriously, what was this clown idiot thinking when he tried to kill her protégé as she had called him years ago or when she teased him she called him her godchild.

But the second one she wouldn't use any longer. Because Luffy wasn't a child any longer.

If she remembered right he could now present every day and would then be considered as an adult or he would stay a Beta and would be classified as an adult when he became 21 by the law at least.

Well … since he was wanted, he wouldn't follow the laws set by the government.

"Captain Smoker!"

Oh damn, there came the marine captain. That was bad. With his devil fruit, he could trap them.

Well, she was sure that Smoker didn't know how to use Haki, yet. But with his smoke, he would be able to slow them down enough to put sea-stone on them as he did with the clown and the slippery woman, who was now a teenager thanks to her fruit.

She had to take the lead and find a quick way out of this situation. Luffy would only run into a trap set by the marine.

"Ace, Torao, look who I met", Luffy suddenly screamed.

She turned her head to look the same way Luffy did.

There came running towards them Law and Ace with a green-haired man who she recognised as one of the local mob bosses.

"Why do you always get into trouble, Luffy?", the older brother of the little idiot pulling her asked. But he did seem amused. How was Luffy to learn some self-preservation if the older one didn't scold him right?

Her attention was quickly captured by Bartolomeo.

The green-haired one crossed his fingers and she could hear a dull sound behind her.

A blue barrier had appeared behind them. Blocking the marine's way.

So he had eaten a devil fruit. Now that would be helping to escape if they didn't dock on the other side of Logue Town.

"No time for talking. Just get out of here", she said and took the lead by pulling Luffy after her.

"Dragon-san, what is our purpose in being here?"

A small smile graced the cloaked man's lips.

"You can do what you want. I'm here on a private matter", he said and sent the top-hatted one off.

Now he should look for his son and make sure that he will leave Logue Town safely.

Also, there were these two other boys, who were close to his as far as he knew from his father's rambling about the kids.

One of the boys was the child of Roger.

The boy shared Luffy's fate in becoming just wanted for their heritage if that would be found out.

He sighed without making a noise and shook his head slightly.

Now was not the time to think about it.

Especially with all the screams from the Marines in the streets.

Maybe he should give them a good scare.

"You would definitely have enjoyed scaring them… right, Roger?"

Ace blinked once. Then twice. His environment didn't change.

How had that happened? Only seconds ago they had been running away from the Marines when suddenly the weather started to change and the wind became stronger.

And now they were on their ship under clear sunshine.

For crying out loud, they weren't even able to see Logue Town any longer.

How had that happened?

Ace turned his head to Bartolomeo who seemed kinda torn between being excited for maybe going on an adventure and worried if his men were going to be okay.

"Stop whining and just call them. Tell them, we kidnapped you to prevent the Marines from punishing you for helping pirates", Law scolded the other Alpha. Just from the body languages of his mate, Ace knew the Omega was close to hitting Bartolomeo.

But the words had their effect. The shocked look of the light green-haired man made him chuckle before he turned to look at the female who had helped Luffy.

She had taken off her hood.

Dark blue hair, reddish-brown eyes and a slight frown on her face.

"Ain?!"

Ace was shocked to see her again. Because the last time they had seen her was after the attack on the recruits and the former admiral Zephyr.

She had had a sad smile on her back then when she told them goodbye.

Then she had vanished with Zephyr right after the appointment of a new Shichibukai.

"What a beautiful lady. I hope these idiots didn't cause you any trouble. If not feel free to tell me, I'll punish them for you."

"Uhm, Sanji, you shouldn't try to get flirt with Ain that directly…", Ace started to warn the cook but it was too late. Because Ain had already kicked Sanji where it hurts.

"Sorry for Sanji… He is a bit of a ladies man, but he only means well in the case that he says himself he was born to laugh woman. His cooking also makes up for this tendency. I'm sure if he will…"

The sentence wasn't even finished and Sanji had already run off to the kitchen. Possible making something delicious for Ain.

Ace shrugged his shoulders before he turned back to the blue-haired one.

"Thank you for helping Luffy. I know my little brother can be a handful", Ace said and bowed slightly.

"Ne, Ain-chan, join my crew. You had promised me that you will travel with me when I'm older", Luffy suddenly piped up with a big grin on his face.

"Oi, Luffy", Law said and pulled the younger one a bit away to possible tell him why this would be a bad idea. But Ain spoke up.

"I'm sorry. But I can't join you. I'm already part of some kind of a crew. I also have to try to get back to Logue Town, because they said they would pick me up there. Even if it possible still takes some time until they get out of the New World."

"Then we will bring you back to your Nakama", Luffy declared with a tone that made even Ace submit to his command despite the Alpha-nature.

Ain looked like she wanted to protest but Law, who had given up on scolding Luffy, patted her shoulders.

"You know that it is useless to argue with Luffy when he makes up his mind. Also, we are close to the entrance of Reverse Mountain to get to the Grandline. We can't turn back now", his mate said and pointed to the Red Line.

Ace grinned and turned his head to Zoro.

"I hope you and Sanji are quick on your feet still. Because Ain and Bartolomeo are also Devil Fruit users."

He could hear Zoro groan. That would be fun.

But maybe they should also look for some people to recruit who haven't eaten one.

Also… maybe they should start teaching Zoro and Sanji Haki. Maybe Bartolomeo, too. If the other Alpha decided to stay on board and if Luffy agreed with him being part of the crew.

A smirk ghosted over Ace's face.

The mob boss would be a fun addition to the crew and also being able to boost their defence with his barrier.

And maybe they could convince Ain to stay much longer with them. Then they would have a skilled tactician also a person who could teach Haki without them using the methods of Garp.

The crew would be fine with this two addition.

A captain, a first mate, a surgeon (Law would hit him if he didn't classify it), a navigator, a swordsman, a cook, a defender and a tactician. And also Chouchou as a guardian or their mascot.

A nice crew overall.