Okay guys, I hope this version works better. Dunno what happened with the first one. See what you think.

New Nakama

Prologue Marco PoV

The storm had come out of nowhere. We had been through many storms before since I joined over five years ago. Sixteen years old and strong enough to be recognized by Whitebeard. I had heard so much about him and had set out to find him myself. Not to kill him, as many pirates are determined to, but to swear my loyalty to him. I had searched for him for a good three months until I found Moby Dick, and stood on their reiling, yelling my promise of loyalty to the greatest pirate and my inspiration. I had been met with laughter, not too much of a surprise, but stood my ground until it stopped. Making ones way into one of the strongest pirate crews in the world, I did not expect it to be easy. Either people thought of you as foolish or way too big headed. I was not big headed, never had been, but I knew I was strong enough to take on most of the crew. Behind the taunts and pointy fingers, Whitebeard met my gaze with a hint of a smile, seconds before a cannon ball hit the water only meters from the ship. A wonderful coincidence; Gol D Roger and his pirates were approaching, all with great smiles. Another battle was about to rise. The Pirate King never missed a chance to fight Whitebeard, not even when stumbling over them like today.

- I guess it is playtime sons. Whitebeard grinned while rising.

I remember being flabbergasted over the fact the two strongest crews in the world were about to clash. Whitebeard had turned to me and, only with a look that told me that this was my time to prove myself. I had had a bunch of speeches prepared, but it seemed I did not need them.. I had just had time to introduce myself and offer to Whitebeard my services, with the knowledge I would probably have to start as a cleaning boy. But my chance had come when the cannon ball had notified the Roger pirate's presence. Many would see this as a curse, I saw it as a blessing. The two enormous ships collided and after agreement between captains, it apparently was the Whitebeard pirates turn to board Oro Jackson. I have never been an eager fighter, but knew that it was needed on the seas. I felt the need to not throw myself into battle and risk making a mistake. To be fair, this was the strongest pirates in the world. I got dizzy by the thought.

I climbed the mast a good few feet up, watching the men fight. It was like watching a choreography. Most of the men laughed while jumping over sticks, ducking from flying sand bags coming towards them, having tug-of-war over a beer can. The more serious fights also seemed to be made with a smile in all its harshness. None of these crews were planning on trying to take the other one out, due to the fact they would lose too many members in the process. I smiled and let go of the mast. A blue light surrounded me and I softly and elegantly floated onto the other ships reeling. The fights stopped and everyone's eyes aimed up. It was show time.

- Who's the brat? I heard someone say.

- Oh we don't know, some kid that wants to join the crew.

- Hahahhaa, why? Boy, what are you doing joining Whitebeard? Don't you recognize who is the Pirate king?! Wouldn't your dream to become part of his crew?

- I choose my own destiny and mine is to be beside Whitebeard for the rest of his days!

I said this loudly, very loudly, and strong. My voice almost never had this much stamina. Many of the men had gone back to their fighting party – which was pretty much what it was, many bottles of sake were being thrown around, hell someone even mistook his bottle for his sword and swung it towards someone's shield so it broke and they both broke down in laughter – while some others still inspected me.

Well then you should know what you're up against! A tall man with black long hair and sunglasses, burst and started to swing an axe towards me. I managed to sweep towards one side to avoid being hit, but this guy was fast, aiming another swing. It gave me half a second to check my surroundings, no one else were aiming something at me, and so I could let myself on fire once more. I spread my arms out and the warm blue flames made me lift. I knew I was not as strong as these fellas but I could show my speed, and my Devil Fruit ability off. I knew He was watching. After aiming and missing three more swings at me, one had come really close to cut my foot, the tall man laughed and scratched his head.

- What ability is that boy? Blue oiled flash?

- I am Marco-yoi, I ate the Tori Tori no mi, model Phoenix! I yelled and spread my wings once more.

- Kid's sure got sum balls. I heard someone mutter.

- Yeah, get out of here before you get hurt, boy!

My wings sank to my sides. Of course this was nothing to them. They had seen the world, they had seen everything. Not two seconds had gone before a sword was coming my way, I woke up from my thoughts, cursing myself for not being more awake. I lifted from the reeling but a rope was now stuck to my wrist and I was drawn towards a Roger pirate.

- Im sure Senchō would appreciate a Mythical Zoan!

My whole being turned into a Phoenix, cause of rage and fear. I felt like a scared bird, and it was probably what I looked like. The man was strong and would not let go of the rope while laughing. I felt like a fool. It made me angry. All of a sudden my wrist felt light and the man had jumped away. I had set the rope on fire and the blue flames had licked his hand and burnt it. I took a couple of beats into the air and landed on Moby Dick where there was calmer. I was no real threat or treasure for any of them.

- Are you hurt angel? I heard a voice ask me and I turned around.

A red haired lady with a nurse outfit stood beside me with her hands worryingly holding each other. I hadn't realised I was still a bird and quickly changed again so I was standing there with my stripy shirt and shitty jeans.

- Nah, I'm fine… thank you…?

- Dorothy! Head nurse of this ship. I have cared for these men since the very first day!

She sounded proud and by the look of her rather wind burned face, it seemed she hadn't had a very stressful time here. Only wind weather and joy could make a woman grow old so gently. Her grip around my arm ¨however, wasn't that gentle, when she took me to the side and sat me on a chair. She took up some cotton wool and a bottle of some pink liquid and started patting my forehead with it. It hurt.

- Leave us Dory. I heard a voice dark as thunder and stood up. There he was. Whitebeard.

She did as she was told and left me alone with the enormous man. I couldn't manage to look at him.

- Meet my gaze son. He said and I forced my eyes to.

- What makes you think I would let you come with us?

- Nothing, sir. I simply swore my loyalty to you. You will have it whether or not you let me become a part.

- Garararraa…. He laughed and asked:

- Where are your parent's boy?

- My father left when I was born, my mom took well care of me until she sadly past away three years ago. I have been working as a blacksmith to earn food and a place to sleep. I have no fear of the ocean and I want to roam it freely…

- Then become my son.

- Eh..?

Now, five years later I understood the meaning of those little words, and how undeservingly easily I had earned them. Oyajii has said how he saw how I belonged on his ship even before I had taken on a Roger pirate. Nothing I have meant more to me ever since.

- Marco, only you can stand daydreaming during a storm a like this, help taking down the sails! Charlie from fourth division yelled and Marco had to snap out of his sudden mindful state. The storm was aggressive and the waves grew bigger and bigger along with the intensity of the rain. The Whitebeard Pirates had just left Kilauea and was heading towards the Grand Line once more. The wind got stronger by the second and it was difficult even for eight men to douse the sails. With good help from their splendid navigator, Fleur, who managed to lead all four ships towards calmer waters, when someone suddenly yelled from further up the ship and told everyone to look north east.

- Something lit up over there!

- It's a ship!

- Turn Blue Moon 90 degrees!

One of the three gray whale ships, smaller than Moby Dick, changed course and turned towards the fire on the ocean.

- What is going on? Whitebeard had come onto deck. He was usually up for storms like these but he suffered from a cold at the moment, so he had been told by the head nurse Dorothy to stay under deck. She was one of the very few people he actually listened to when it came to it.

- We see a light Captain; they steared Blue Moon it its direction.

- Follow her.

- You heard Oyajii, follow the light!

Blue Moon reached the small ship first. Enormous flames roared from deck and defeated the now softer rain. Another ship was on its way from there, with their crew yelling to each other. Must have been a looting going on here.

- Marco, check after survivors! Vista called from Cascelot and Marco did not have to wait for further instructions. He lit his blue wings and swept over the flames. Not a soul on board, at least not outside the cabins, but the flames were still too bright and alive for him to fly through.

- I find no one! He yelled.

In the meantime, Cascelot had approached the other ship where there was way more life and noise:

- Can you see it? Someone screamed from the railing of the stranger ship.

- Don't let it get away!

They had not yet spotted the large ships that were approaching from behind, they were way too busy looking for something on the dark waves.

- There!

- Well don't just stand there, get her!

Her? Vista looked at his right hand Embleton. They are looking for a girl. He could not decide whether these guys were saving her or had set that boat on fire to catch her.

- Don't let her get away, she is the key! Don't let that little shit get away!

The latter it seems…

- Marco!

- Alright alright! He said and swooshed past Vista and Emble towards where the smaller ship's crew was aiming. They noticed him.

- What the hell is that?! One shouted, pointing at Marco, but saw the enormous figure that was Cascelot and silently knocked his crew mate on the shoulder so that he would turn around. One by one they turned around .

Marco wasted no time but put on his sight that was better than that of any living creature of this world. He almost immediately saw the little boat that almost tipped in the waves. On board was a very small creature shining in the dark. Without further thought he lowered himself onto the boat where he could barely stand. The little bundle was a cascade of silvery light hair with a little person underneath. Wearing nothing but a little gray dress it laid in foetus position, trying to make itself as small as possible while shaking like a leaf in the storm. When Marco had jumped into the boat, he saw it was a girl. A very small one, and she became stiff from the sudden presence.

- Don't worry I will not hurt you.

He reached out to touch her head but she just squealed and hugged herself even harder.

- Oi! Captain! The Whitebeards are after her too! Someone yelled from the stranger ship.

- This can't be happening! Not after all we have went through to get this far!

A thin bald man with skin as light as the hair of the little girl on the boat reached the reeling. A long black coat covered his body from the rain that made his bald skull as shiny as a ball. The creepiest part was his mouth. It was too big for his thin face and the eyes were a bit too intense and very light watery blue. Marco turned to the girl again.

- Oi, you'll have to come with me or those creeps will take you.

The girl squeaked, he could see her face now. She didn't meet his eyes, but looked straight ahead as if she was looking at his knees. He sat down.

- That's right, so you'll have to come with me, we can help you home!

He reached forward and grabbed her. She screamed, but he decided he wasn't going to care. In this situation, even a big fluffy bunny could have taken a hold of her and she would have been terrified still. This was no place for a child. But as soon as he had her against his chest she held on to his pink shirt like her life depended on it, which it pretty much did. He held her with one arm and the other took one wing flap onto their ship. Bullets went through the sky from the stranger ship before a voice yelled.

- Are you trying to get us all killed?! That is Whitebeard! If we hit any of his crew we are dead meat!

That was true. Few people stood up against Whitebeard. Especially when there was only one ship against four. The little girl was now safe. As soon as Marco had landed, Dorothy was there and aimed to take the girl from him. As soon as the little one felt another pair of hands on her, she screamed, even worse than when Marco had grabbed her. Her little hands squeezed his shirt harder and her legs flew around his waist. Or as far as they could reach which wasn't really far around him.

- Who is this? Dory asked and pet the girls back instead.

- She was on a boat that the other crew was looking for.

- Alone?

- I could not find anyone else. The ship is on fire, but no one is there.

- Take her under deck and put a blanket around her. She is freezing.

Aight, hope you enjoyed it, more to come soon xx