Hey, there ^^'

sorry, it took me so long. But I do have the problem at the moment to bring my ideas to paper and into a working context. So yeah longer waiting time for you. But don't worry, I do intend to write this fanfic until it reached its end (also meaning that Marco and Luffy have met). So don't worry there. I just will probably take longer to upload and change the upload schedule from one chapter per month to one chapter every two months. This is just a goal I intend to keep up and it might give me the opportunity to get some sort of a puffer when I can write more in a month so that it is possible that the upload schedule might change again. But no promises there.

Then I have to address another thing (this part of the AN will only be on FF dot net because it doesn't really influence AO3 at the moment). I disabled guest reviews. Normally, I don't have any problems with guest reviews. Also when you look at the first chapters you know that I like to interact with my reviewers even if I cut it short during the story. I still do. But yeah... you see I don't want to discuss stuff openly which should be clear... so by taking away the option to write guest reviews, it is for the opportunity to have a simple normal discussion without having to use the Author note like I have to do now. Because I feel the need to defend myself a little~ and the guest review can be lucky that some time passed and I have calmed down =D so yeah if you aren't interested in me defending myself skip the italic part until you see "Just a quick overlook...". Otherwise, feel free to pm me if you feel I was too mean~

so this is for guest who called himself/herself thev: You're quoting my summary and then complain of the A/B/O-System. This makes me question your ability to read, because "A visit from Garp to a certain point changed Ace's and Luffy's life. different crew, different df!Luffy, more warnings in the prologue. Rated M to be safe, Genres can also include family, friendship, drama and romance crossposted on AO3". I marked it bold. I might not have mentioned it in the summary, but I did go over it in the prologue. I gave every warning which I didn't mention in the summary a little paragraph to explain. So please do not blame me for not being able to read everything or you skipping the Author Note.

Since you said you hate it "when a person advertises a story as the consequences of one simple difference and then proceeds to change *everything*". You wouldn't complain about that if you would have read the warnings in the prologue. I mentioned it there with the point Timeline. Also, my statement of the story isn't wrong. Garp's visit changed Luffy's and Ace's life. Just because there are more changes which become more visible later during the story doesn't mean that the statement is false.

But let me explain how I decided to build the summary and how I will go on doing it. I will use the summary as an eye-catcher and then will give more warnings in the prologue because the numbers of letters in the summary is limited. Therefore I much rather go with a shorter one than a longer one and stuffing everything in. For the warnings, I will use the prologue because I can explain in more details. I could change it up when FF dot net would have a tagging system like AO3 but it doesn't have one, so I'm just staying with the system I have now. So if you have a problem with the way, I'm dealing with this stuff, your problem not mine.

Then I would like to give a piece of advice to you, if you have nothing nice to say, then say nothing. Because that is how I see your comment. I can't see it as a constructive critic because you wrote "A/B/O bullshit". Like serious? So okay, I get you don't like it, but that doesn't mean that I have to see it as bullshit as well? Also, you really surprised me despite having you write something like that, I seem to have something done well with the story if you have read it until the last chapter I upload. But please consider reading on if you don't like the A/B/O-System. Because there is this beautiful statement for many fandoms "don't like it, don't read it" and I don't want to deal with another comment like that which makes me questions people's ability to read.

Also, I am sorry if this comes off as mean. But it is my personal opinion.

Just a quick overlook for you about the Crew/Persons on board:

Monkey D Luffy: Captain, Bounty: 150,000,000 Berrie

Portgas D Ace: Vice Captain, Bounty: 120,000,000 Berrie

Trafalgar D Water Law: Surgeon, Bounty: 115,000,000 Berrie (Alive only)

Bepo: Navigator, Bounty: -

Roronoa Zoro: Swordsman/Fighter, Bounty: 90,000,000 Berrie

Vinsmoke Sanji: Cook, Bounty: -

Bartolomeo: Defender, Bounty: -

Ain: Strategist, Bounty: 70,000,000 Berrie

Conis: at the moment guest on board until they reach Skypiea (little Spoiler maybe which island might come soon~)

Bon Clay: no official part yet ,Bounty: 32,000,000 Berrie

Nico Robin: no official part yet, Bounty: 79,000,000 Berrie

~Chapter 21 – The Invitation~

Luffy stretched himself delightfully while sitting on the figurehead. It was a nice day. From the newspaper, they knew that Vivi should be fine because it was mentioned in an article about Alabasta that she would become the next monarch. There weren't many details and also he didn't care a lot about the details like for example Ain would. He was just glad that Vivi seemed fine at the moment.

Otherwise he would have made the others go back and kick anyone's ass who tried to make Vivi miserable.

"Food is ready."

Sanji's call for food made him jump from the figurehead. He didn't take long to get into the kitchen and sat down.

"Meat, Meat, Meat~", he chanted delightfully.

"Don't be so greedy! Ain-san, Conis-chan and Robin-chan need the food more than you to maintain their beauty", Sanji said slightly annoyed that the young captain was already making grab motions with hands to get food.

But before the conversation could go on the den-den-mushi started to purr.

Luffy followed Law with his eyes as the older one went to pick the call up. The den-den-mushi mimicked the face of granduncle goat and seconds later his voice could also be heard.

"Ah good, you picked up, Law. At least if the den-den-mushi is mimicking the right face."

"Yeah, it is me. And I believed we discussed to keep the contact very low", Law sounded a bit annoyed, most likely he was irritated. "Don't be mean to Granduncle Goat, he must have his reasons to contact us", Luffy chirped and stood up.

He was quite curious. Normally, the other one wasn't one to break the rules, especially if he had made them himself.

"So what do you want?", Law grumbled a bit nicer.

"Did you see your new bounties, yet?"

Luffy couldn't help himself and took the speaker from Law. "New bounties? Cool. I can't wait for them", he said enthusiastically.

"Don't say it like it is something positive! You make yourselves targets if you don't lay lower or if you do something, do it less attention-seeking."

"So you just called to berate us that the bounties went up? Lame", Ace mumbled.

"No… I called for two things. One, you need to be more careful. Especially you, Law. They put 'Alive only' on your wanted poster, so they could get your devil fruit easier and less expensive. So be careful."

Luffy frowned. "They don't get Torao. If someone wants to take him away, I will kick his ass", he declared.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw that his older brother had a similar reaction and the others in the kitchen had also a look fo determination in their eyes.

"So that's one point that I must be more careful after the new wanted posters got around. The other point?"

"Well… I need you to promise to not interrupt me. Especially Luffy."

"Why should I? Are you going to say …" A hand-laid itself on his mouth. He turned his head to see his brother and immediately started to pout. "I'll make sure that he will keep his mouth shut."

"Good. You see, because of your actions in Alabasta we are one Shichibukai short and to balance the powers in the world we need to find a substitution quickly. A crew of a Shichibukai get the same rights, so it works as some kind of protection against the World Government. I want Luffy to take the open position as Shichibukai. And before you start to scream something about government dogs or so. I know that the situation isn't perfect but at the moment, it is a safe option for you to get through the first half of the Grandline. When you are in the second half, you are more experient and also a bit more away from the influence of the Government as it is much weaker in the New World."

"But that means that I won't be as free as now when I accept!", Luffy had wiggled out of his brother's grip and looked angrily at the den-den-mushi.

"I tell you because I don't want that one of you lands in Impel Down! You are nowhere near the power you need to survive at the moment. Also, if you become one of the Shichibukai the Marine won't chase after you directly. They won't do anything to you then. You get more time to grow and more time to teach your crew to defend themselves.

Also… there is another reason why I would be more eased if you take the position. During the discussion we held. Someone appeared uninvited. We still don't know how he got in. But he was there to suggest that his captain a man called Blackbeard for the position. I won't give you the details. Just a warning, this man is bad news. I would be surprised if Luffy met him, he would directly say that the man is bad. After the fiasco with Crocodile, we can't make another person Shichibukai who will most likely go behind our backs and try to take over a nation."

"You mean like Doflamingo did and you didn't do anything against it. Despite that, he nearly wiped out a whole marine ship? Using the crew as puppets and making them kill each other? Yeah, great job", Ain suddenly said. She sounded angry and her hands were shaking. "You just betrayed the trust of the families who lost someone because of him. Instead of bringing justice to him to give him immunity! How many more people must die because of this man?"

There were tears glinting in the red-brown eyes. The hands were clenched into fists. Luffy looked a bit worried at her. He had only seen the older woman cry once and that was after the massacre which happened shortly before she left the marine.

The den-den-mushi's eyes softened.

"Ain, if I had anything to say in it, this man would be locked up in the deepest cell in Impel Down. But the decision to make him a Shichibukai wasn't made by me. The man used his knowledge as former Celestial Dragon to get the position. So the higher-ups had decided it. But I won't let a mistake like that happens again.

That's why I want you to take the position, Luffy. I know that you won't abuse the immunity and the power you will get by taking the position. I would be less worried when you take actions that will revoke your title because even if you are unpredictable you have a reason for your actions, which is more than often selfless.

The man who wants to become Shichibukai is trouble. As I said, I won't give you details. Just saying, don't get challenge the man or get involved in his schemes if you aren't ready to be confronted with one of the Yonko.

I will expect the call with your answer tomorrow evening."

With that, the den-den-mushi went quiet.

A strange silence filled the room. A silence Luffy didn't like.

"Sanji, lunch~ I'm hungry", he said and sat down again. He wouldn't be able to think clearly if he was hungry.

The other's seemed to get out of their shock.

"So you have a connection to a very high-up marine who is also willing to help you?", Robin said calmly. But she seemed sceptical.

"He is the adopted father of the person who saved my life. So I guess you can call him family", Law answered very vague without mentioning the exact position or any names. It seemed like he wasn't trusting the woman, yet.

Which shouldn't be a surprise. After all, they had no experience with a female Alpha. Despite a female Alpha not being any different than a male Alpha at least on paper.

Robin nodded.

Ain had her head down so that the others couldn't see her face. But she was shaking a bit. "Strategist-san, you shouldn't let the memory get you down", Robin said suddenly. Her voice sounded a bit more soft and not teasing like she normally sounded when she spoke with Ain.

"Shouldn't you give the advice to yourself? After all, you did run away your whole life and stab people in the back because of a memory, didn't you?"

A slightly shocked expression ghosted over Robin's face. Like she hadn't expected this reaction.

"Well… then maybe we should talk about it sometime. Because now should be discussed the captain's answer", Robin said with the hint of a smirk.

"I know I'm not a full member of the crew. But I think you should take the offer. From what I heard it will most likely benefit in the protection of the crew, right? Also… he sounded like he wouldn't have asked if he had another option."

It was a surprise that Conis had spoken up. The blonde Skypiean didn't often voice her opinion often. Especially if the discussion was essential for the crew.

"Why should we become Government dogs? You are basically declaring that you give up your freedom", Ace said. His face clearly showed the disgust, he felt by the thought.

"You really don't give up your freedom. I worked with Crocodile for some time. He mostly did what he wanted. Just in some rare cases, he had to answer some calls. But nothing which would be considered huge", Robin explained.

"He mentioned new bounties. I know that the discussion is mostly about giving freedom up or not. But we should add the new bounties to the equation. If the bounties could attract enemies which are too strong for us at the moment, we should consider it. So we wait. Either today or tomorrow we should get them. Then we can decide. Until then everyone will think about it and makes a list with arguments or topics we need to discuss before coming to a conclusion", Ain said.

"I don't think that would help much. In the end, it comes down to Luffy. He is the captain and the one who have to make the decision", Law looked at him with the silent order to speak up. To show that he is the captain.

"Well… I think Ain-chan's idea is good. I don't like if my freedom gets taken away, but… it can be beneficial in protecting the crew, right? At least for now, until I'm strong enough to kick anyone's ass who tries something against us", Luffy said.

"Okay, so we will have the discussion tomorrow again and are following Ain's idea. Good, then we can eat now. … Oi Luffy, stay away from the meat that piece is mine!"

Sengoku sighed. It had been clear that Luffy didn't like the idea. Even if he hadn't voiced as much as he had predicted. But even with the disgust they probably felt, he had to ask.

It was the only way he could do something to protect them. Otherwise, he wasn't able to do anything without the higher-ups getting suspicious.

He shook his head slightly. It wasn't the time to think about it at the moment. He had another call to make. Maybe that call would help to put him a bit at ease regarding the subject Blackbeard or to him better known as Marshall D Teach, the traitor of the Whitebeard Pirates.

"Shouldn't you still be in bed resting?"

Thatch flinched at the voice of Izo. The black-haired commander of the sixteenth division could be quite scary despite being an Omega and having some kind of a maternal instinct which made some a bit more docile. Izo definitely didn't fell into that category.

"I… I got hungry and wanted to get something to eat", he lied quickly. Hoping that Izo wouldn't notice.

"Really? So you didn't sneak out to play a prank on someone?"

He laughed nervously. "Why should I? Everyone is still on the edge of their nerves because of the traitor. It would be kind of irresponsible of me as a division commander to play a prank in this situation", he said. It would be a wonder if Izo didn't pick it up. Even for himself, these words sounded idiotic. Because that would be the exact situation he would play a prank to lighten the mood.

"Thatch, don't play dumb with me. Get back to bed before I'll drag you there myself!"

He swallowed hard. He wouldn't put it past Izo to do it. Despite the other being at least a head shorter than him.

"Okay, okay, just don't drag me by the hair", he pleaded and started to go to his room.

He still felt Izo's eyes on him when he went back to his room.

Damn it… whoever would hook up with Izo had to put up with one of hell of an Omega, who possibly didn't even know how to be submissive.

To be true I'm not quite happy with this chapter. But it will work. The last two parts are mostly filler because the main point of this chapter was the invitation for Luffy, but it felt too short if I didn't add little fillers. So I hope you enjoy it.

Until next time =)