Hello, this going to be my second longer One Piece project and I seriously can't say how long this story will be and how the updates will come. I will try to update at least once a month when I am in a flow of the story, it can be more chapters. But I don't do any promises. This story is still in the writing phase after all.

Also, there will be no update until I uploaded the last bonus chapters of 'Until they notice'. I just upload it earlier than I intended to get some reader ideas for the crew (more mentioned in the warnings) and also to see how you like it.

Before I say a few things about some, you can call them warnings. I would like to say, I know there will be mistakes. Mistakes I do not notice (only much later often x.x) and the programme, I use to keep the number low, don't notice them. So it would be a help if you point them out, so I can correct them. Just don't try to take off my head because of them. English is not my mother language. Also, I don't have a beta reader at the moment. I want one, but this system on fanfic dot net is a bit confusing (just my opinion^^').

To the warnings(or tags on AO3 as this is cross-posted), please read this before you start reading the story:

-fighting scenes: This is the first for me writing them in English and I usually think the lack something. So I appreciate constructive critic on them, so I can get better. But I think the first few will suck... I don't know.

-possible character death: You have to expect this one. I don't know if I kill off an important character or not, because my mind likes to change during writing a story. So I give you this warning to be safe.

-Alpha/Beta/Omegaverse: This something I really want to include. But more the impact on society. I hope it works and well with that I guess I can say, mpreg and smut will be hinted or will be in the story. (I don't know if when I write the explicit scenes they stay in the chapter for the fanfic. net version or if they are just in the AO3 version.)

-different crew: I bet some of you could already guess it from the summary, but yeah, this story is having a different (how much different, I haven't decided, yet) crew, which will probably get another name as in the canon. I'll like to have fifteen people on the crew. Excluding the four you already know after the prologue, there are eleven places (well more eight, as I have three people in mind I want to join for sure, but have to deal with their introduction, yet). Any suggestions? I'm open for them^^

-timeline: To the timeline, well there are things that happened like they did in the canon, but then there are things that are changed and maybe people who are thought to be dead are still alive. But no more details on that to avoid spoilers. Just a few things I can say without spoiler you. Luffy didn't get his devil fruit from Shanks. But the incident with the sea monster, where Shanks lost his arm, still happened. Also, I can say that much they will visit places which were shown in the anime/manga, but the actions there will be different (as the crew members are different and will react differently to certain situations). I will try to have some parts of their journey based on my ideas of an island and its inhabitants, too. But I don't how everything will turn out, yet.

-Pairings: You can expect BoyXGirl, BoyXBoy, and GirlXGirl. I'm not sure on most pairings and they can and some probably will change during the storyline. The only one, which is a constant, is MarcoXLuffy (my OTP at the moment), but this won't happen until later. For AO3, I will tag the pairing, if a new one appeared, when I upload the chapter after it appeared. The same can be said about characters, which will play a role.

I hope I didn't forget anything in my rambles... Just one thing, you should expect sometimes the unexpected. Really, do it. If I go through with some of my ideas for this story... well let's just say some of them a crazy and probably has some plot holes that I have to fill first:x And when I talk about plot holes, there will be a few at first. Some things that will be explained in a flashback or later during the journey. So I won't give you an answer if you asked about. Well maybe I gave one, but then it will be more a riddle or a useless answer;)

But enough rambled. I proudly present to you the prologue of 'A different journey' (the title can change during the story, but it is my working title at the moment^^')

~Prologue – The beginning of a new journey~

Garp wasn't sure what should expect when he heard Luffy crying and Ace shouting the whole way to Dadan's house. Yeah, he knew the boys could be loud. But he never heard Luffy crying like that and Ace's voice sounded angry and tired. He also noted sadness. What could happen to his boys to make them like that? Normally they could even laugh off his training methods. He clenched his fists and fasten his pace. Whoever dared to hurt his boys like this was going to meet his fists. He cared for his boys, even if he didn't show it very often.

When he arrived at Dadan's house, the vice admiral noticed that Ace was tied up to a tree while Luffy's crying came out of the house. The black-haired boy fought with the ropes and shouted that someone should free him and he would show this bastard. „Ace, what's wrong?" Garp looked concerned for his adopted grandson. Ace finally noticed Garp and was shocked first. The boy looked at him. He didn't move. He didn't even seem to like to answer. But then Ace opened his mouth. His words were quiet, but Garp did understand him. „Why would you care, stupid Jiji? " He sighed and freed Ace from the rope. Garp put one hand on the boy's shoulder before he led him into the house.

He looked around for his biological grandson. He found the young boy in one corner of the room. Luffy looked smaller than usual. „Sabo…", he sobbed. Garp turned his head to look for his blonde adopted grandson. But he couldn't see the top-hatted boy. He had a bad feeling about the absences of the boy.

„Dadan", Garp shouted and made Luffy flinched. Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see that Ace was conflicted how to deal with the situation. Garp sighed and pushed the boy softly to his younger brother. Ace looked up a bit unsure what exactly he wanted. But then the older black-haired one went to his little brother and sat down next to him.

Garp let a soft smile ghost over his face before he turned to Dadan, who entered the room. She looked grumpy like always, but her face turned into a shocked expression as she noticed the vice admiral.

„Garp-san?! " „What is going on here, Dadan? I found Ace tied to a tree, Luffy crying and Sabo missing. " Silence filled the room. Garp didn't like it. Because it reminded him of the death reports at work. He feared the answer. But this was most likely the answer that Sabo …

„Sabo died… his ship was shot by this world bastard…", Dadan said and clenched her fists in anger. Garp was shocked. He had expected a lot of ways how Sabo could have died since he started to suspect it, but not this one. He gritted his teeth and looked at Ace and Luffy.

The younger one was now asleep in the arms of his older brother. Ace still looked unsure, but when he noticed Garp's glance he tightened the hug as to protect his little brother.

Garp didn't like to think about their pain, but he could imagine it and he was in pain just thinking about it. It made him also questioned if they were still safe. He had sworn himself to protect them by hiding them and training them. Perhaps it was wrong to hide them…

„I take Ace and Luffy with me." „What?! Why, Garp-san?" „We won't become Marines, stupid Jiji."

The fire in Ace's eyes reminded Garp of Gol D. Roger. But he didn't say anything about that. It was better not to mention the boy's father. Not when he was already angry.

„I'm not taking you two with me to make you Marines. You are too young for that. I'm taking you with me because it could help you with your grief. I'm not telling you to forget about Sabo, but seeing a different, new surrounding might help you get over it."

Ace just stared at him. He could see that the boy didn't know what to think of that. It would probably take some time when they were on the ship to get them halfway back to their normal selves. But if it helped them Garp would be ready to do anything.

„You can't just come here and demand that they come with you. You are away most of the time. How do you expect the brats to trust you?!", Dadan shouted. She seemed angry. Garp could understand till a certain point. But she didn't help them deal with the death of their brother. Being tied to a tree or left alone in a corner didn't help one bit. But he didn't have the time to discuss this with her.

„Pack their things, Dadan." His voice was more a growl. He didn't want to be angry, but if he had to be a bit harsher towards Dadan to made her work, he would do it. She shouldn't question his dominance. „My boys want to go out to the sea someday. So the vacation from Dawn Island will not only perhaps help them learn to deal with their grief, but also I can prepare them what is happening there on the seas. At the moment I don't care if they become pirates or Marines. I just want them to be prepared so that they are safe when they start their own journey. So they come with me."

Dadan looked at him. Her brown eyes still full of anger. But it seemed less. She didn't question his authority any longer. She sighed. „Fine, I pack their things. But don't think to leave without letting the brats say Good-bye to Makino."

Garp nodded and Dadan climbed the ladder to the boy's room to pack their things.

The vice admiral sighed and turned his head to Ace. He went on his knees. „I know that you probably hate me for this decision. But I feel that this could help you and I swear I won't try to turn you into Marines. But you have to promise me not shout out loud that you want to become pirates, after all, you will stay on a marine ship. Especially Luffy. Can I trust you to keep him safe? I think he needs his big brother most at the moment and you need him, too."

The fire in Ace's eyes was still there. But it wasn't as challenging as in the beginning. The boy looked down at his younger brother and weighed his head from side to side.

„Will… Will it help us to get stronger?"

„I'm sure of that, Ace."

~ten years later~

Garp sighed as he looked at the ship with which his grandsons would start their adventure. They grew some much in the last ten years and got stronger that he somehow wished he could turn back time and had done this earlier. Maybe then Sabo would be still alive and on the ship with Ace, Luffy, Law and Bepo.

Someone sniffed next to him. „It is so sad to watch them go. I remember as it was yesterday that you placed them under my care and even when they got Bepo on board", Rosinante whipped a tear away but forced himself to smile. „We hold them off for three years. I don't think it could have worked any longer. Still, I am happy that they promised to stay adventurers at the start and only hoist the flag when they enter the New World if they still want to", Garp said.

„I wouldn't be so sure. If I know my brats, they hoist the flag earlier then you think", Dadan said. The woman fought with her tears.

„Good luck on your journey", Makino shouted as the sail was set.

„Remember to brush your teeth. Don't eat anything that is rotten. Take care of yourself. Don't start fights. I hope you meet many new friends and don't forget to smile", Rosinante shouted after the ship. A bright smile on his face, but tears in his eyes.

„You sound like a mother, Cora-san."

That was Law. Trying to be not touched by Rosinante's mother nature towards him.

„We are old enough to know this without being reminded."

And that was Ace who secretly was happy about the words. Because they meant that someone cares about him.

„I'll miss you, Cora-san. Thank you for everything. And everyone else, too. Jii-chan, greet uncle Dice and granduncle Goat from me."

Typical Luffy. No problem admitting what is on his mind. He will seriously miss the little troublemaker on board. It was fun to see new recruits dealing with him. In general how the new members of his ship dealt with his grandsons and grandnephew.

„Straightforward, Bepo."

„Aye, aye, captain."

Be safe, boys…