Hello, dear viewers! I've been kinda blank on the OnePiece front…but after rereading the series thus far, I am back and rarin' to bring you awesomeness! This story will include the Paramount War, Impel Down, and end with the start of the 2-year time skip. I've already got an idea for another sequel (so this will be a trilogy I suppose), that will be post-time skip. But that depends on how well this story goes. *sigh* I love Marco, he needs more page time!

I'm also thinking of adding a lemon to this. Because I really think Marco needs to get laid, and people have asked for it. Would y'all object to some Marco/Soliel action? Let me know. I can do light hints of it, or actually write out the sex but whatever you all want. And if I did write a sensual scene, what pace and mood should it have? I have no idea how to write sex scenes at all, whatsoever.

I'm still thinking about what ability the Devil Fruit that Soliel found has, so if you've got any suggestions, throw it at me. Still can't decide whether it's a Zoan, Paramecia, or Logia either…

Much love, TheEndsongAbyssXV

X~X~X

There was a heartbeat of silence, and Soleil gave her father a smile; the kind she knew would melt his heart and get him wrapped around her finger. Everyone was watching the spectacle eagerly, and surprisingly, Marco didn't say or do anything. Just kept his arms the redhead.

"I knew it would happen sooner or later, and there's nothing I can do about it." his voice was oddly flat, and Soliel frowned slightly. She detached herself from Marco and walked after her father, who maneuvered through his crew and out of sight. As others followed her lead, she shook her head. This was something she felt that she had to find out about, and didn't want too many people asking questions and agitating their captain.

After a few steps, she got the gist that he didn't want to talk, because he was walking three strides ahead of her, and normally he'd walk just a step behind. It ate her; what had happened? Was Ace okay? Did something go wrong with looking for Blackbeard?

A tremor ran through her and her head swam. I have a really bad feeling about all of this. she thought, walking back to the others.

…

Neither of them seem to notice. Which is a good thing, for now. But sooner or later, they'll have to recognize me, and then, maybe they'll allow me to help them. This isn't going to be easy…but with enough time…perhaps…

…

Izo watched as the moonlight filtered though the sparse clouds that drifted through the night sky, bathing everything it touched in a soft pearly glow. He was feeling melancholy; the weight of almost losing Thatch, Teech's defection, and Ace running after him. The world seemed so calm, but the turmoil inside of his heart soured his mood. He thought of the past, back when time wasn't as confusing or dangerous as it was now. Their lives were on the verge of life and death it seemed, and it would only take an instant to tilt them over the edge.

Most of the crew had left the ship for some time to be by themselves. Haruta had holed up in her room, Blenheim, Fossa, and Kingdew were off in the town somewhere, probably having a drink. Thatch was walking about the ship, having recovered enough to move freely (though he was still required to take it easy).

Izo took a sip of the ale bottle in his hand and sighed heavily as feathery clouds drifted across the night sky, obscuring the moon and darkening the world even further.

…

Soliel watched as Marco rose higher and higher into the sky until he was just a glowing blur. He'd been flying around, trying to pull off acrobatic moves and trying to see how fast and far he could go before he got tired and needed to land. He was doing well, his moves swift and precise, like he'd been doing it his entire life instead of just a few years.

So far, he'd been airborne for seventeen minutes.

Soliel walked along the edge of the ship and stood on the edge, just staring into the cobalt abyss that was the ocean. Her head was a jumble of thoughts that she couldn't quite sort into categories, and as she watched the churning waves, she threw herself into the maelstrom of memories that rushed her mind. Memories of brothers. Her sister. Her father. Marco.

It was getting dark, and Soliel knew that her father locked the ship as soon as the sun set, so she didn't have much time left. But damn it, this was important! She'd been busy all day, helping the crew with mundane tasks that most eight-year-olds would find tedious, but she found amusing. The guys would talk to her, tell her stories as they all cleaned. Once every four months the ship was given a deep clean from top to bottom, and Whitebeard had decided that she was big enough to help. Most of the work involved heavy lifting and could be dangerous for such a small child but Soliel knew how to scrub, sweep and dust.

Her hands were still sore from all the work, and she had bloody scrapes on her knees from being on her hands and knees, scrubbing the wooden floors. But she had a sudden burst of energy and ran off the dock and into the city they were at. The crew had been challenged to a fight by a local pirate group (who obviously had noidea who they were up against!)and after winning, had decided to keep an eye out in case the idiots came back for round 2.

Soliel looked around the different shops that lined the road, and made sure no one was watching her. She didn't want to get kidnapped, so she made sure she was alone before venturing further. There was a butcher, a few clothing stores, and random stalls with different bartering themes. The eight-year-old looked up and down the street before speed-walking to the left.

The sign on the door said it was open, and the lights were on, but no one was in the shop except the man behind the counter. As she opened the door, a little bell chimed and Soliel peeked in.

"Can I help you?" the man asked with a kind smile. Soliel shook her head. She knew what she was after. The man told her to take her time and come to him if she had any questions.

She walked over to the table nearest the cashier and picked up the pad of paper and pencil. After nearly fifteen minutes of severe concentration (for an eight-year-old), she presented the slip to the man. "I'd like this, please."

The man gave her a once-over and stared at her face. Soliel's eyes blazed, and the expression on her face told the man that she wasn't taking 'no' for an answer. As his gaze grew uncertain, Soliel gave a small huff of annoyance and reached into her pocket.

"I'll pay double what it costs." she placed a small coin pouch on the counter and the man's eyebrows shot upwards. He took the coins and chuckled.

"Whatever you say, sweetheart."

Nearly forty-five minutes had passed, and Soliel had mere minutes before she was found out. As she made her way back to the ship, she caught sight of Fossa and Haruta walking the same path, carrying boxes of food. The girl knew that if others were out, she had time. She ran, harder than ever, her lungs burning, her legs aching sharply. Once she reached the docks, she rubbed the sweat from her face and finger-combed her hair, pretending to stand waiting for her family.

Fossa patted her head as he walked by, and Soliel grinned as they all went inside the ship together. Some of the crew milled about while others rushed around like maniacs. After all the mayhem had died down, Izo killed the lights, and Soliel grabbed Fossa's hand. She was afraid of the dark. Terrified, rather. The man crouched down to her level and grinned.

The door banged open, and the lights came to life, everyone screaming "Happy birthday, Pops!" (Soliel yelled 'Daddy!') as Whitebeard walked into the room. A banner was hung across the ceiling that read "HAPPY 57TH BIRTHDAY".

Whitebeard gave his family a level stare, and Haruta bit her lower lip to avoid laughing at the disgruntled expression on the older pirate's face. The man never really like dpresents, so the crew simply gathered good food to celebrate.

"I have a surprise!" Soliel yelled as the crew feasted. The girl stood on her chair (Kingdew had to steady her). She pulled her sleeve up to her elbow. On her right wrist was the Jolly Roger of the Whitebeard Pirates. Her skin was still red and puffy from the tattoo, and there were various responses from the members.

"Is she crazy?"

"Soliel, you're way too young for a tattoo!"

"Oh leave her alone! You got your tattoo at her age!"

Soliel looked at her father, who was watching her with an unreadable expression. "But-" she looked ready to cry. "I just wanted to…"

Edward took his daughter's hand and pulled her across the table. He examined the tattoo carefully and after a few heartbeats he chuckled, and soon the chuckle turned into laughter. "You really are my daughter, aren't you?"

Soliel's smile was as bright as her eyes.

…

Soliel was mad. That much was obvious.

The seventeen-year-old stormed across the deck, and Thatch, Marco and Izo backed away from the irate female. Her father was talking to Brew and Vista, who gave the girl a concerned look as she got closer.

"What's wrong, pup?" her father asked. Soliel looked positively livid, and she crossed her arms.

"I need to borrow your halberd."

Whitebeard's eyebrows crashed down, "Excuse me?"

"Because of reasons, damn it old man, give it to me!" When her father didn't respond, Soliel snarled, "My ego is banked on this, so give me the damn thing!"

Marco chuckled, "How about you use your words?"

"How 'bout I punch you 'til you cry?" the girl seethed. "Fine. I'll use something else then." She vanished into the ship.

"Pops, is it really a good idea to let her run around town with a weapon?" Vista gave a half-hearted laugh. "Her aim isn't the best when it comes to blunt weapons. Melee, she's great at. Long range, not so much."

"She's not a kid anymore," Haruta defended. "She'll be fine."

Soliel came back out, and Brew's eyes bugged as he saw the glass war axe he'd found draped over the girl's shoulder.

"Little sister, I really must protest-"

Soliel shook her head. "No. This is my fight, and I'm winning it. I tried using my words, but apparently, these bastards need physical reprimands."

The crew watched her go, and a few argued that she needed to be looked after, but Whitebeard agreed with Soliel. This was her fight, and she'd have to handle it on her own. Izo and Marco exchanged a glance, silently agreeing that if she wasn't back in an hour they'd go looking for her. Whether Pops wanted them to or not.

Time passed, and night turned to day. the crew went about it's business, but a few of the members were concerned about Soliel. It was nearing three hours, and Izo was thinking of doing a once-around the town to see if he would run into her.

From upstairs, Thatch's laughter could be heard, followed by Fossa's booming voice: "What have you done to yourself?!"

MArco and Izo raced topside and noticed other people had gathered in the main foyer of the entrance to the ship. Soliel was standing there, shirt torn, one shoe gone, hair in dissary, and blood steadily dripped from her busted lip as well as her nose, but she either hadn't noticed or didn't care.

"I won." She said with a shit-eating grin. The glass battle axe was covered in dirt and streaked with blood, like her clothes. "Pretty sure I broke a few fingers, maybe my whole hand, but watching those guys scream for mercy was so worth it."

Brew took the weapon and pegged the teen with a glare, "You little shit. I was going to sell this." Suddenly he smirked, "How's it cut?"

Soliel smiled, "Like a hot knife through butter." She winced. There were scratched and bruises on her arms and face, and it looked like maybe someone had tried to choke her because there was a dark ring around her throat. She looked up as her father appeared and he gave a once-over.

"Have fun?"

Soliel smiled, her copper ringlets a tangled mess around her face. "Yeah, actually. Took two out, the third ran off. But one of them was really…scrawny, so he didn't really count."

"What did they do to piss you off?" Marco asked.

Soliel wiped blood from her face with the wet rag Blenheim handed her. "Wanted to challenge dad to a fight. Says he's old and feeble. I said that as a member of the crew, they'd have to fight me first."

Whitebeard sighed a little. His kids were going to be the death of him, one way or another.

…

OKAY!

SO. THE DEVIL FRUIT.

It's either gonna be a paramecia, logia or zoan type. Y'all decide. Shit, add what specific ability you want the fruit to possess. I'll do a random pick later this week and figure out whether or not to use it. =_=U I'm so tired. UGH. Carpal tunnel's comin' back and my wrist is killing me, yo.

Read and review.