A/N:: So this is from a request of sorts:

"I dont know if you do requests, but I'd love to see more MarcoAce from you set in canon (doesn't have to be pure canon. Thatch can be alive, etc) with more protective Marco. Because the world needs more of that. It'd be amazing if you could genderswap Ace too, but that's not needed!"

I am not genderswapping Ace only because I have that saved for a different oneshot that is also more canon universe. This has turned into a chapter story because I wanted to. I have gotten a bit on it and know what I am doing so I decided to go ahead and get the first one up so you all can prepare for this rollercoaster! Marco will be protective to an extent since they are pirates, but it also won't really show more and more until later on.

So, buckle up and enjoy the ride~!

((PS: I have a new page break system going since I had been informed that not everyone can see the line thingy, so I am applying -o-o-o-o- as a page break, let me know if it needs to be bigger!))

The Maiden's Light

That day was something all of us never had thought we would have to fear, but then there it was. Someone we thought to be a brother stabbed another in the back, literally. We were lucky to get to Thatch in time and that none of his organs had been damaged too severely. Head Nurse Maybelle was able to clot it in time and preform quickly, which helped in saving his life. If we had found him any later, then he would have been gone from us.

Not only him, but Ace too.

The stupid firebrat was about to jump on his Stryker and take off after Teach. Saying he was his responsibility because of the man being in his division. It was hard, but as soon as I had overheard him tell Oyaji that he would deal with the other, I intervened. I had dragged him to the crow's nest, the one on watch quickly exiting since I literally threw the other down from my talons. He was pissed, as expected, and luckily his fire can't hurt me. Ace knew that, being able to use his full training extent with me since I can heal.

What he hadn't expected is when I forced myself not to heal where he punched a fiery fist into. Dark eyes had been so confused when I didn't let my flames come forth and had cooled off somewhat. I made sure to watch my tone, saving my playful banter for when he was cooled off a bit. The last thing I wanted him to feel like was a child and, though, he acts like it on occasion—he is far from it. A grown adult who needed to sedate his temper and begin to think sensibly.

Ace felt bad for hurting me, apologizing a few times whilst just sitting in the crow's nest and held around his legs. He knew I was right, running off right now would only stress the family more and Thatch as well. We kept in high spirits, even if the fourth commander was still unconscious from blood loss. Plus, for Ace, I made sure to reassure him that fighting as a family is a lot more painful to Teach's pride. The turned rogue man was no doubt anticipating his commander's chase, probably to either suggest to Ace—which would never work—or to try for his head. We don't know if he ate the fruit yet and if so, what it entails. The devil fruit was nothing but a bad omen and Oyaji even spoke to me of what he spoke with Akagami one time.

It seems we had been forewarned about Teach, the Marshall D side known to being the false D family. Probably dating back and no doubt having to do with betrayal on someone's end. I'm not sure, not one to dwell on those matters since everyone is usually different, but now I was curious. That was partially why Oyaji confronted me with it, mentioning of wanting to do some research at some specific islands after Thatch woke up. All in good reason, too, as I made my way over to a certain shirtless brunette—borderline black hair—who was chattering to one of his division members, keeping them in high morale.

"Ace," I spoke out firmly and that had the two looking over.

"Excuse me, Commander." The man knew I wanted to speak with the other and promptly left when Ace nodded to him.

"Go help with Iman and Flint." That was the last thing regarded before I shifted over to the brunette who stayed on his perch on a barrel. "What's up, Marco?"

"A bit after Thatch wakes up," a gleam was in his eye at the mention of our brother and I knew it lingered in relief of the thought of Thatch being alive with us. "I need to do some research for Oyaji, do you want to come along?"

"For research?" A bit of disbelief was there and I let out a snort before standing next to him with a look.

"I thought you wanted to stay up to date on what we plan to do?"

"Of course, I do. I don't see what you are going to research has anything to do with it." A slight puff of cheeks made a stir in my stomach, making me keep questioning my sanity on how a little brother could be so bratty, but have me comfortable with such antics.

"That is only for you to know if you either come along or wait until I come back, which means you have to stay on the ship until then." There was this grimace there and a look of contemplation on what I said. "I'm sure you won't be bored on some stops I have in mind, yoi." That caused his eyebrow to twitch and dark eyes gleamed to me in excitement, but I stayed stoic as I hadn't snagged him yet.

"Oyaji is okay with me tagging along?"

"Yes, after I recommended it." Eyebrows were up at my words in surprise and gave tilt of his head before shifting lightly.

"Why do I feel like you are just being a babysitter?"

"If I was then you would stay on this ship like a good boy." I smirked lightly for my humor and that made him roll eyes, causing me to chuckle. "Besides, I felt like you would get antsy after Thatch wakes up since he won't be able to move around for a while." Lips were pursed in contemplation of everything and he soon shifted his jaw before a grin showed.

"Fine, but I still get to take Stryker, right?"

"Of course, yoi." A bigger grin showed and he laughed lightly as if he won a sparring match with one of our brothers. "I'll let you know a day prior to when we leave." That is what I left with as I went to go check in and make sure paperwork was in order before the trip. Also, to inform Oyaji of Ace going with me.

-o-o-o-o-

Thatch whined that we were leaving, but only did it to be an annoying brother. He knew the importance, vaguely told it was to help against Teach, and we were parting the Moby Dick. Oyaji stood at the railing, refusing his medical equipment to see us off with the others. The nurses reluctantly let Thatch move to at least be by the doorway of the infirmary, but that's as far as he could go. We didn't make them wait long as Ace jumped down to Stryker and I transformed arms to wings, taking off by falling forward and completely changed to do a round about the sails with a screech. It was practically traditional of me to do as I soon took off in a direction, Ace quickly matching my speed with a hand waving out to our brothers who bid us a loud farewell.

It would take us roughly two months, I have estimated, on gathering information and the first place is a bit more peaceful. When I explained that, the second commander showed a grimace on if he should still come, but I reassured him that some stops with brutal force will be necessary. That eased his mind set, and when we had left, I knew it was a good idea. He was practically bouncing with restlessness and driving Izo, and somewhat Vista, nuts on his jitters.

It took roughly two days to reach the first island, reaching right before the sun settled, and we found an Inn. We got a room, dealing with a one small bed since it was cheaper and we lightly argued before I said that he needed to be well-fed, so he knew I had accounted such things. Ace left for food to take back to the room and I left towards a local bookstore as I had gathered some intel from Haruta to start out and Izo provided some other little tidbits from his informants.

The town is quaint, showing no issue when we had strolled through, probably not aware of Teach as the man headed straight for the Grand Line running. That, in a way, was relieving enough to know what waters he would reside, but it brought no comfort. Teach was out looking for a crew now and would no doubt challenge Whitebeard once he got enough men. Corruption and hatred attracts, no doubt Teach would find unstable people to be under him.

A bell chimed above my head as I entered the bookstore, smelling parchment and leather—plus an underlining scent of ink. An older gentleman was standing at the counter, resting in full view of the door in the back. Pale grey eyes viewed me as he had seemed to be doing inventory with glasses resting at the end of his nose. Grey hair was pulled back, in a ponytail I assume, and his clothes were of simple button up shirt and jeans.

"I just closed up, sonny." The voice was firm, but a bit weary as if he may be parched.

"Excuse me, I wanted to ask you a question, Sir." My voice came out politely, but stayed where I was. "If necessary, I will come back tomorrow, yoi." A thought came across the shopkeeper as an eyebrow shifted and eyes flickered to my exposed chest peering from where the purple jacket didn't cover.

"No, it is quite alright, please come in." A hand waved me in, showing wrinkles on bony fingers, and I moved along down the aisle with eyes flickering at the books surrounding me. It was of more simpler types in this row, 'How to's, and it made me lightly reminisce on when I was a child and found my first navigating book. "Would you like something to drink?"

"That is not necessary." I spoke firmly as he was pulling out a glass for himself and then poured some rum at the shorter counter, away from the line of sight of the door.

"How can I help you, sonny?" He sat in a wooden chair and started taking some sips of his beverage and I stayed standing.

"I was inquiring if you knew of anything concerning the D families." I asked and this hum left him in thought.

"Which family specifically?" The question was expected and he began drinking his beverage and I let him swallow before continuing.

"Marshall." Eyes flickered with an emotion, a mixture of keening and suppressed anger.

"Whatever for?"

"We want to know anything about him so we can kill him, yoi." I did not lie, that was the whole point, but I could tell he looked slightly confused.

"There is a Marshall alive?"

"Yes, Marshall D Teach." A slight sneer was there as the glass found the counter and he began to steady himself up.

"Bolt my door and follow me, sonny." That had me move as requested and when I found him at the back-doorway area, he flickered lights to only have one over the counter on. This island used windmills, each house carrying one or a few on the roof depending on how much they needed.

When making into the small hall of sorts, we entered another door to the right and it showed a living space. A hand waved me over to the seating area, where I went ahead and moved to sit on the loveseat, seeming as he rested his glass and bottle next to a chair on a small end table. Resting in place, the older man had begun to another room and I heard rummaging. He was searching for whatever it was needed for our discussion, I assumed. Shortly after, he returned with a small stack of papers and what seemed to be a medallion. Sitting in the chair, I waited patiently as he made himself comfortable and I rested an arm to the support.

"This," the hand held up the medallion of a stallion up on hind legs, mane whipping out as if wind was there. It was solid bronze, engraved and rigid to show the animal. "Is the family insignia." It was held out towards me so I could reach for it and take a hold. Carefully viewing it, I flipped it over to see a name engraved.

"Marshall D Tiberius?" The name left me in curiosity and the older man nodded his head.

"The story I have been told though generations, so excuse anything spotty as people lost parts or anything that may seem unfathomable." A nod left me in understanding so he may continue and he took a moment to take a drink before beginning. "Our family, Hewitt, were the servants of the Marshall family several decades ago." He began with his back resting to the chair, pale eyes to me. "We served loyally until another D family—them all loosely related—came in to stop their cruel ways."

"Which one, if I may ask?" I inquired, not liking to interrupt, but was curious. That had him shake his head and let out a short sigh.

"The name has been lost to my generation, the papers I have only tells of before they were attacked, but they would be more useful to you than me now." A curious look left me as I carefully took the papers extended out to me. "My son was a pirate, proud he made us, but some years back we heard from his crew that he had been killed valiantly in battle." My hand shifted to my chest and I bowed my head lightly in condolences, having him smile in appreciation. "My wife, bless her heart, she was sickly at the time and passed shortly after the news. I think she had been holding out for that moment, pushing past her ailment that would take her sooner than later, just to hear about her son. I do believe it might have comforted her knowing he would be awaiting her and told me to keep my stubbornness and live until I can't move."

A laugh left him in remembrance, making me chortle lightly at the thought of Oyaji being so stubborn with his alcohol and how he would never stop no matter his health. My captain knew how to press the head nurse's buttons and did so frequently. Sometimes she wondered out loud why she was there, but deep down Maybelle and I knew the truth.

Oyaji insisted that we kept it pushed aside, not wanting to worry any of his sons, but I knew regretfully that sometime, in the near future, I may have to take his place. Oyaji had already decided it down in a creed, Maybelle signing as a witness to the encounter, and I kept the bottled up scroll in my room safely away. My captain, and Maybelle as well, have reassured me multiple times that everyone would—with no hesitation—accept me as the new captain.

I just wasn't ready to think about that all.

"Anyhow," the old man began back up where he left off, "The D families were all a type of high standing individuals, but by gods it was said when the first Hewitt told his grandchildren after they moved homes, the other families were of angels. They treated their people well and, in no way, took advantage as did the Marshalls had. 'It was like a breath of fresh air when leaving a cell that you have been imprisoned in for twenty years of your life,' he would say enthusiastically. Our family had been happy to be out of the Marshall reign and threw out anything to remind of them, but that medallion as a clear reminder on our family history of why to never trust a Marshall."

A grimace lightly showed on my face, knowing deep down already that the family had to have a dark background. To actually hear, though, is completely overwhelming on how right Akagami had been. Maybe he knew a thing or two about the Marshall family history? I wouldn't dwell on that fact unless necessary.

"You seem to have faced a misery from them as well." He inquired with a gaze and this breath left me.

"Yes, the man, Teach, had been a part of our crew. As you may know, we consider other crewmates as brothers and our captain as our father." A nod left him in understanding before I crossed a leg whilst gripping the medallion in my hand, papers resting next to me on the loveseat. "Teach had tried killing one of our brothers for a devil fruit, yoi."

"A great evil for an even greater evil." It was like he knew, just a gaze telling all and I wondered if all older men were like that; Oyaji was.

"Yes, we are only vaguely aware of the devil fruit being sinister in presences, but not sure if he wanted the power or just wanted it for money. We suspect the former since some of us have acquired fruits and he never made a move for almost twenty years." The words left me as I kept eyes to the man.

"You said tried?"

"Our brother is alive, woke not too long ago." A smile showed in relief, even though he doesn't even know of this person.

"Good, may the sonny get better." This smile found me in appreciation before he shifted lightly to take a drink. "The only other thing I can mention is how our family came to serve them, but that would be short as well."

"Anything would help us, to make sure on any ulterior motive." A nod left him in understanding as arms rested to the supports and he hummed lightly.

"We had been a tribe of sorts from some, now, uninhibited island in North Blue." Interest spiked at the mention of that, but put that thought aside as the man continued. "We were living peacefully when some scavengers came along and decided they would make us work for them. My ancestors tried to fight them off, but some mentioning of darkness were vaguely made and no one could fight back the leader of the group. So, they were dragged to an island in Grand Line to start a grand home and, soon after, a village." That left me curious and he must have noticed as he held a hand up lightly. "The island is named Malika Isle now, after it broke apart from the war that happened among the D families. I have noted that to the side where it explains of the island." This firm nod left me as I made a note to swing by there on the way to another stop we had to make.

"I appreciate all this, yoi." The words left me as he shook his head with a soft chuckle.

"You need it, sonny. Stop the line with him, no one would want another Marshall in this world, they have done too much damage enough as it is." A nod of agreement left me on hearing that before gathering the items as he made his way to get up. "Though I do appreciate you keeping me company," a small chuckling left him as I smiled and he began leading me out a different door.

"It's been my pleasure." I lightly bowed towards him as he opened the door and I carefully stepped out. "Would you like for me to return these at a later date?"

"No, sonny. They would not be as much use here." A reassuring look was in his eye and I bowed slightly towards him.

"Thank you again…?" I realized that he never mentioned his name and he chortled.

"Hewitt Yuugo."

"Thank you again, Yuugo." That made him smile whilst nodding his head and seemed to wait, almost realizing that I wanted to ask him a question. "May I ask you something?"

"Of course, sonny." A smile was there, seeming to like that he was right on thinking I had one.

"What would you say if one individual from the Gol D was alive?" Eyebrows shifted in surprise and only showed a grin before laughing.

"By gods, I would be shocked hearing if the Pirate King an offspring! My son would have loved to meet them! He was always so enthralled by the man and might have even followed the offspring to the ends of the Earth!" A laugh of good-nature was sputtering out of him and this smile found me, glad to know that he thought that of that D family. "Ah, but you better return to your friend." The door began to close and I stared in light surprise, knowing we hadn't passed his store on the way into town, but pushed the thought aside. I did need to get back to Ace.

Returning to the room with some information in hand, I found my companion sprawled on the bed sleeping like a rock. A snort left me at the sight, closing the door and I moved to the desk area to place the items down. Moving, I went to Ace and tugged boots off before shifting the blankets to toss his legs up into the bed, knowing well enough he would most likely wake if I was too gentle or slow. Being mildly noticeable made his senses aware, but not awake him. That, of course, brought a thrum through me that he trusted me so much even when clocked out at a random Inn. The blanket found his form as I then went towards the table that had food resting on a plate. I gave Ace kudos in my head for not eating my share and moved to the desk to sit down.

Being a phoenix, I didn't necessarily need to sleep, though it did help recuperate me faster. Also, if necessary, I didn't need to drink or eat either so I didn't need to eat as much food as others. Though, most of my brothers made sure I had my fill and Ace was no exception at the full plate for me left behind. Of course, I merely picked at it with feet propped up on the desk and reading over the papers. I would just read these and then catch some sleep in the chair.

-o-o-o-o-

"I told you it was fine, yoi."

"Not an excuse! I could have moved over and I hardly need a blanket!"

"I don't either." A frustrated noise left Ace as we began to the dock where Stryker was resting.

After an eventful morning of him placing the blanket over me at some point and bringing breakfast, making me eat the rest of the plate from last night, we were setting off. Of course, Ace was up in arms about my sleeping arrangement, though he knows I wouldn't feel the stiffness very long after waking. If anything, he hardly feels it as well with his body basically being flames. Granite he doesn't have healing abilities where if he got injured without his abilities he couldn't heal himself when getting them back. I can, but he can't as we realized one time before. It was just a time a little before he became a commander and included a seastone bullet getting him near the hip.

"Look, stupid bird," I eyed him in slight amusement at his attitude changing childish once we officially found the dock. "I don't care about sharing a bed and make sure you get enough sleep so I don't have to worry about you falling into the ocean!" A finger jabbed in my direction and I raised an eyebrow at that whilst he showed a lip curl.

"I'll keep that in mind, yoi." A grumble was leaving him, making me chortle with a low cooing following as I waited for him to get on Stryker.

"So where to?"

"This next place will be more of your… taste." I comment and he grinned in excitement before giving a look. "Not too far, should make it by midday tomorrow at a quick pace."

"Sweet, let's get going, Marco." Hearing my name made me snort, knowing it was mostly so I didn't dawdle any longer, but still pleasant to hear than the usual nicknames. He was excited for the awaited fight to come and I shifted to have arms start flaming by my sides.

"It's a small marine base, so you will need to leave the higher to me so I can get information." A slight face was made, not seeing the fun in me getting the bigger man, but I merely smirked and transformed completely to take off. Hearing Stryker begin to chase after me brought a nice feeling in my veins, I wasn't alone for the trip and Ace was hardly boring company.

As we travelled, I lingered either right above him or to the side as he would chatter away. Mentioning things of his childhood, even that boy named Sabo, and then there was the stories of Luffy. Strawhat was showing to be a whirling storm and wrecking everything the marines considered as absolute justice. I bet he was making Sengoku pull his hair all the time and no doubt Garp was laughing at what his grandson was up to. According to Ace, Garp truly cared for them and just had an odd way of showing it by trying to turn them into marines.

Our time passed pleasantly as I began to fly more ahead, like a beacon in the night as he trailed with his fire flaring. We could be spotted, but as far as I could tell, no one was near enough to notice and I continued our path. The sight of a small island nearby had me shift to soar towards it. This small island was isolated, but had animals so we could break for the night at least. We found it shortly, my body shifting to change and sandaled feet found the sand as I calmly moved along the island more with glances around.

"A pit stop?" Ace asked as I stood with hands in pockets and waited at the edge of the vegetation for him to finish pulling up his Stryker.

"I figured you were getting hungry and this would help save on some gold." I remarked whilst hearing boots kicking sand as he approached to be next to me with a look to the forest.

"Hunting at night on an island I have never been on?" That had me look over as, though, he questioned with skepticism he was by far from that. The face showed a wide grin of excitement and feet shifted in anticipation, so I set him off just right.

"Scared, firebrat?" A laugh left him as he soon began running ahead with a holler.

"Just try to keep up, old man." That had me snort as I watched him run into the darkness of vegetation before I saw his fire being like a burning symbol in the abyss. From the stories of his childhood, and besides the fact of knowing his strength, this would be a cake walk for him and to let off a little steam before hitting up the next island.