Dude. Finally. It's done.

Enjoy peeps.

The sun reflected off the highest point of the unmoving staff. Whitebeard had yet to lower his weapon, too busy wrapping his head around what had happened.

Could one of them really possess this kind of power? The man hummed as his eyes traveled the space between the brothers. The blast was definitely untrained and recently unlocked. How recent? Whitebeard could not tell, but it wasn't today. Perhaps, FireFist. He was near to losing consciousness, it would explain why it was so weak.

He glanced at his first in command, wishing to receive a second opinion. While the man's face remained neutral, his eyes darted once from the teen to his caption with one eyebrow raised. Knowing what Marco had inferred, he turned back to the boys.

He hummed, lowering his weapon. Now, more than ever, Whitebeard wanted to take them as his sons. They wouldn't agree to it easily, but it was still worth a civil conversion. "You still have some fire left, brats. How about you join me and become my sons?" He held out his hand to the closest brother.

It was the oldest who harshly responded, while the younger one tried to stifle a laugh. "No way, old man!"

Of course, the yonko just smiled and retracted his offering hand. That wasn't going to stop him. He could almost be as stubborn as a D. He wondered of the best way to 'surprise adopt' with minimal damage. A blast of his own haki was out, even with one close to unconsciousness, it would take more than one causing mental damage. Fighting would be a no go as well. Whitebeard could do serious damage without realizing.

He sighed. They would come out with minor scrapes, but it was the safest option.

The ground began to shake. Slowly at first. Something you would hardly notice. But then the surface became wobbly, like jello bouncing in place. It was the first major tremor that managed to knock Ace's arm from its steady stand. With the loss of the only thing keeping him upright, he crashed on the ground. His head hit the rock first, knocking him out almost instantly. However, just before everything became pitch black, he got a glimpse of his brother being thrown back by the quake.

The power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit was amazing.

"Thatch, Haruta," Whitebeard called out to the nearby commanders. "Get those two to the infirmary. Make sure their injuries aren't life-threatening."

"You got it, Oyaji!" The cook cheerfully replied back, already on his way to the teens.

The first commander, Marco, hung back; only slightly behind his captain. While the actions of the Spade captain and his first mate intrigued him, something told him that they weren't going to be easy to deal with. Whether enemies or soon-to-be brothers.

Needing to talk to the Spade crew, he spent the rest of the time on the island trying to convince the pirates to join the family along with their captain. In the end, Marco had gained a slight headache. But he was successful at getting the members aboard the Moby.

He returned back to his father's side, who had yet to return to the ship. Nearby, a group of his brothers were roughhousing and joking about. While he did roll his eyes, Marco was happy they were enjoying the short free time.

"What do you think?" The older man asked

The question was expected. However, it came sooner than normal. He glanced at Whitebeard from the corner of his eye. "Those two?" He allowed a pause, still trying to come to a conclusion from his earlier thoughts. "I'm…not sure, Oyaji. But they are going to troublemakers, that is for sure. Especially if Thatch gets to them first."

Oyaji laughed. His smile finally returned after the fight. "Only time will tell." The man took a step forward. "For now, it is best if we leave. The marines could be here soon."

"I'll gather up the others." Marco gave him a nod before walking off.

It wasn't extremely hard to get the straggling brothers back aboard the ship. All Marco had to do was herd them like sheep, standing just behind them until they got the silent message. There were a few who would try to make an escape but that only led them to be dragged by the collar behind the commander.

"Come on." Marco pushed the last remaining members up the plank. "We need to get moving."

As he ignored the coming grumbles, he caught a figure lingering near the edge of the tree line. Marco frowned. It was a boy, at least 12 years old. He looked a bit unsure, especially with his fidgeting. He's probably from a nearby town. The commander reasoned, not wanting to jump to conclusions. But just as he was about to leave it, the boy seemed to have come to a decision and made determined steps to the Moby.

Marco's eyes narrowed and frowned deepened. Or not? He walked the rest of the way up the plank, trying to act like he didn't notice the boy right behind him.

Could he be from Ace's crew? Would he even let someone that young? He took one last glance at the kid.

Something is up.

Luffy sat patiently in the corner near the door. A place where he could stay out of the way to another that entered the room. It wasn't much of a room anyway. More of a semi-large storage closet.

The brothers' injuries had been treated, but it was weird for them to be placed in there. Maybe they didn't have a medical room. Or maybe the pirates worried about what the boys would have done to the doctors and nurses. But that probably wasn't it, since no guards had been positioned in or around the room.

Luffy had no problem entertaining himself as he waited. He hummed a catchy tune he had created a few months ago, one about a potato stealing monster. Honestly, you would think with how much Luffy sang he would have improved greatly. But no, he still sounded the same. Not like he or anyone else would care.

Just as he was about to enter a fourth round of the song, Ace abruptly sat up with a gasp. "Huh.." It took time before he was fully conscious. The youngest's smile brightened.

"Good morning"

Luffy flinched back in shock. He was so distracted that he did not notice Sabo had woken himself while also managing to get hold of a dusty book from a nearby shelf.

"Where are we?" Ace brushed back his bed head. He blinked away moister in his eyes.

"Another pirate ship."

He turned fast, almost causing whiplash. "A pirate ship! The enemies pirate ship?" Eyes were wide with disbelief. "Why didn't you wake me?!"

Sabo sighed. "Obviously they want something. Since we are in a room. If they didn't, they would've just killed us." He paused in turning a page of the book. "Or thrown us into the brig."

"Take things seriously!" Ace groaned

"I am." He responded, effectively ending the conversation.

Luffy's smile had only grown. He happily hopped over to Ace. "I think this ship is really cool! Like a whole new adventure! While I was following you guys, I saw a lot of cool people! There was a guy with a big top hat and another one with bread hair. One even had….had..." He umed, trying to find the right sounding word. "Pineapple! He had pineapple hair!" Eyes fell a bit as Ace only flopped onto the bed in response.

But he kept going. "You guys were asleep for very long so I explored a lot. This place is huge! There's even a big chair out of the deck. Probably for the banana captain. I also found a kitchen! Bigger than the one we have! There were so many cooks too. And they all were cooking some really good meat! I miss the meat. I wish I could try some. But you'll get to try it! You'll tell me how good it is. Right, Sabo?" Looking at Sabo over his shoulder, he giggled.

There wasn't much to say anymore. It stayed silent for a while. Every now and then creaking wood would come but leave as soon as it did.

Sabo continued reading, not looking up. "You're pouting again, aren't you Ace?"

"Shut up." Ace growled, arm resting over his face.

Of course, Luffy laughed loudly at his brothers.

But then, his brothers sat up sudden and tense.

The youngest froze. He thought for a moment. For just a moment. "Can you h-"

Behind him, the door had opened with a loud echoing bang. In the opening stood a man. One that Luffy recognized as the bread hair he saw earlier.

Bread hair was as loud as the door. He was smiling as he pulled the boys out of the room. "Finally you woke up! Come on, everyone has been waiting to meet you two."

"Wait! Wait, hold on!" Ace struggled against the pulling of his arm. His feet dragged on the ground trying to slow the action. "Who the hell are you?! Let go!"

Sabo was on the other side of the man. He grumbled over the loss of the book. However, didn't put up as much of a fight as his brother. Hands did try to loosen the other's grip but no for long.

"I'm the head cook and the fourth commander. You can call me Thatch." He happily sang about it. His steps never once faltering. "It's been a whole day since you guys arrived! You can't be held up in the room forever."

Ace just glared in response, hissing out a 'try me'. Sabo rolled his eyes. The last brother traveled close behind. While confused, he laughed the whole time

"Marco!" Thatch lifted his hand in the air to wave someone over, all the while bringing the other arm stuck in the grip. "I think it's best to start with Marco. Since he's the first commander."

"Start what?" The blond had freed his wrist and was straightening his hat against his head. A glance was spared toward the approaching figure.

Thatch had finally turned to face the two. He rubbed his chin. "Did I forget to mention that? Ah well, I'm introducing our new brothers!"

Shoulders tensed and glares formed; or deepened in Ace's cause. However, the older man never noticed. While he rambled excitedly, a firey fist flared up and another had reached out only to be stopped by Sabo.

"Commander," Sabo finally caught the attention of Thatch. "Please reframe from using that word."

"What?" The chef's eye widened a small fraction. "Brothers?...I"

Sabo's free hand clenched tightly. Make eye contact, he gave a strained smile. "Yes."

For whatever reason, Thatch stilled. His mouth opened and closed like a blabbering fish, struggling to say anything.

Before he could, Marco beat him to it. "Close your mouth Thatch. You're going to catch flies."

"But...I..they….it-"

He ignored his idiot brother and studied the teens near him. The tension in the shoulders still held. The two looked ready to flee at a moment noticed. "What do you do, Thatch?" Rubbing his head, annoyance shinned through.

The one in question huffed, shoulders sagged. "I didn't do anything! It was-"

Marco, however, rolled his eyes. He cut him off with a quick subject change. "Why did you call me over?"

"I wanted to introduce you to these two-"

"There's three."

Thatch had to do a double-take. A response came out slowly. "Marco….there are only two."

The commander sighed out. "I can count. This isn't the time for your pranks." Arms were crossed making him look more and more like a disappointed father.

"Do you think that little of me?!" Thatch's face fell, though some playful features stayed. "Only two. One. Two." He pointed to each teen, eyes not leaving his brother's face.

While they continued arguing, the other pair stood frozen solid. They peeked at each other, worried terror presence on each. 'Does he know?' Ace mouth to Sabo, who in return only shrugged and turned back to the conversation.

"I can see perfectly fine. There is a third kid on the other side of Ace." Marco pointed in that direction. "He's shorter than them and has the same black hair as Ace. There's also a scar under-"

He never got to finish. The spade captain had lashed out, only inches from reaching Marco and being held back by the blond.

Sabo held a blank face, one almost as nerve-wracking as the glare from Ace. "If you know what's best," He paused to pull back the other further. "I suggest you stop talking."

Marco raised an eyebrow, but listened and shut his mouth. The air around the four was extremely tense.

"I don't know anything about a third, but you should know not to stick your nose where it doesn't belong." Pulling Ace away, they walked away at a hurried pace.

Thatch chased after them, calling to slow down. Marco was left standing there alone. Mostly.

Luffy had stood to the side during the whole interaction, un-sure what to think. His eyes lingered on his retreating brothers before looking straight at the phoenix. The man was also doing the same. They held gazes for, what felt like, ever.

Even based on the conversation, Luffy held very little hope of being actually seen. But something was up. The boy ran after his brothers without a word. He took one last look at Marco before fulling disappearing into the surrounding pirate crew.

I might be wrong. Maybe he can see me. Luffy hummed.

Hey! Sorry, it took forever. I was failing math for months and then the whole corona thing happened. But I hope you like it.

I was trying to write it in Luffy's perspective in the second half, but I gave up halfway through. But It is good, the I'm good.

While I was trying to write this chapter, I came up with an alternate timeline for Ghost Luffy. I can't get enough of him lol.
So instead of following his brothers, Luffy left the island at seventeen and basically created an unofficial crew. Like he met everyone the same way but no one could see him. They all just kept filling this tug and they all just kept following it because sometimes the tug was really strong and demanding. Like they followed it around islands and on to the ships, like going merry, and just lived like that. And they become a pirate crew after the arlong arc because of a bounty placed on them. They became an unofficial pirate crew because none really define themselves as pirates. But everyone around them calls them the Ghost Pirates because they don't have a captain or a pirate flag so it seems like its a ghost ship. But luffy is just kinda running things behind the scenes, as he named himself the captain. Then it goes on from there. Maybe I should write this...I call it "It is fate, It is destiny" because the tug they feel its like basically fate.

I probably won't write this...It's up for grabs for anyone who is struggling with ideas.