-...- time-skip of about 2 years -...-

"Sir!"

"What is it, soldier?" Kizaru looked up from his paperwork.

"A report. About the remaining former Whitebeard Pirates and some of their allies."

"Didn't most of them disperse after the war?" the admiral murmured to himself. "Then give the report." he said louder.

"There is movement, especially around the former commanders of Whitebeard and the allied captains. Our informant speaks of a gathering call for the strongest. Someone is gathering the old alliances and leading them."

"Is it Marco the Phoenix? He was the commander of the first branch."

"No, sir. Both Marco the Phoenix and Diamond Jozu and also Flower-Sword Vista have vowed themselves to their current leader who is unknown to us. All pirates affiliated with Whitebeard who dispersed after the war come together. Someone else is leading them. Someone we might not know."

"Hn.." he dismissed the soldier with a wave of his hand and then lapsed into thoughts.

'The Whitebeard pirates are mostly about family. They'd never let someone lead them they don't consider family. Maybe an original member? No, then Marco, Jozu or Vista would be first-choice. But who is left then?'

–..-

"Are you sure about this, nee-san?" Marco leaned against the railing of the stairs, curiously looking down into the living space at the crowd getting bigger, the big house on top of the mountain filling with old friends.

Her laugh made him smile. "You mean the marine's informant? It's time we make them nervous, even if just a bit."

Jozu joined them. "I agree with Saya-nee-san. It's about time. And that their 'informant' is a fake is a little fact they'd probably never guess." He grinned widely.

Former pirates and those who still were, gathered and some looked up, greeting the top three of their big group respectfully. No one really wondered about Saya leaning onto the railing next to Marco and Jozu. Whitebeard had called her his daughter since their first meet, so she was family and all were happy that the rumors of her death weren't true.
Even whispers of "I told you she won't die that easily" and such were heard, but that only made her smile.

The sickness had taken most of her life and energy when Marco gave her his 'phoenix tears' and healed her. After about a year of resolute training she nearly had reached her power level from before.

"Saya-nee-san?"

She turned around and saw Vista a few steps below her and Marco and Jozu. "Yes, Vista-san?"
"I have the newest reports on the Strawhats."

A big smile split her face and Marco and Jozu automatically smiled with her, although not that wide.

"That's great to hear. Have they reached Fishman Island? And if they did, they really went into the midst of a big conflict." she laughed a bit.

Vista nodded. "The message of their arrival there just came. And they already have had a few fights with the New Fishman Pirates."

Her grin diminished just a tiny bit and she shrugged. "They have to get through that. And it will show the world how much they changed and trained. And I can't really afford to reveal myself to Luffy. My 'grave' still exists."

The three men around her nodded thoughtfully. Because of her intentions, and because she had visited several people that shouldn't know that she was still alive beforehand, she had faked her death. Visiting Marco and with him the former nurses of Whitebeard had been a last resort. Officially she had died while they tried to save her. On an island near the one with Whitebeard's and Ace's graves she had been 'buried'. The grave was accessible to the public, since she had many friends and acquaintances outside the Whitebeard Pirates. Many Marines had also visited it, Garp and Sengoku under them. After the official, public declaration of her death, many were surprised she still had existed, since she had never been seen. With her faked death, she had made sure no one would search for her anymore.

Marco looked down towards the gathering pirates. "I believe we contacted less."
Vista grinned. "You did. But the message spread in secret. Jinbe can't come, because of the Strawhats, but he sends his greetings to the ones coming, he still believes that nee-san is dead and we left him in that belief for safety reasons. The DeCalvan Brothers should be here any minute, Doma and McGuy are already here, Whitey Bay also. The former Whitebeard crew is nearly completely here. Most of the minor crew isn't here, but they dispersed too much and far and we nearly have no contact to them. But the inner core is here."

"Good." Saya smiled. "I am consoled that most kept active, awaiting something like this."

Marco and Jozu nodded vigorously.

The door opened and the DeCalvan Brothers were welcomed warmly. Both glanced upward to the stairs and saw Saya amidst the commanders. By the looks of their glances, they knew who was going to take command and had no problem with it.

The commanders and Saya walked down the stairs and the mass turned towards them. She stopped and the three former commanders joined the mass while she stood a few steps higher.

"Men and Women! I am glad you all have come. The time has come for us to become active once again. Will you join me on my conquest?"

Yelled and screamed affirmations made the room waver and Marco grinned at her sincerely.

-...-

"Captain!"

"What is it, Ben?" Shanks turned around.

"A message falcon, coming towards us."

His brows creased. "There is nothing around. Is it for us?"

The falcon reached the ship and landed onto the railing not very far from Shanks. It screeched and Shanks took the small letter fastened around its claw. When it got loose the falcon screeched once more and took off.

"What does it say, Captain?"

"Hm... let's see." He unfolded the paper and then his eyes widened, he immediately sprinted towards his quarters, leaving his crew in confusion.

"I'll go see what it is." Ben assured everyone, but wondered about his captain. He never had been this hasty before.

He knocked on the door to the captain's quarters and immediately entered as he heard Shanks murmur.

"Er, captain?"

Shanks searched through some of chests, absentmindedly he noticed his first mate in the doorway. "What is it, Ben?"
"What are you doing?" he asked slowly.

"Searching. Here, read." the red-haired Captain threw him the folded paper and then quickly returned to searching.

A quick look made Ben's eyes wider. "Is this..?"

"Yes."

"But, captain..-"

"Found it!" he yelled happily. Ben noticed the dark gray small den-den-mushi in Shanks' hands and laughed.

But his laughing ceased when he heard the small ~gacha~. The den-den-mushi beeped twice and then he heard the receiver being taken off at the other side. Ben quickly scrambled over to his captain.

"Hello Shanks."

"Saya? Is that really you?"

"Who else could it be? Of course it's me."

"But I visited your funeral..."

"Yeah, I noticed. Sorry about that. Had to shake off some nosy pursuers."

"I can't believe you are still alive... Marco told me you'd be terminally ill just a few weeks before the funeral-"

"And he didn't lie. I WAS terminally ill. But I got cured."

"I see."

"I'm really sorry about it, Shanks. But Saya had to die. There were far too many trying to find me and most also capture me."

"I understand." he paused and huffed out a sigh. "I'm just glad you are fine."

"Thanks. It's nice to know you care."

Ben snickered as Shanks blushed slightly. He cleared his throat and pushed Ben away. "Why did you sent me the message though? I thought you are supposed to be dead."

"I thought I'd let you know about a few things. The former Whitebeard alliance is forming itself new. We will be on the move soon. Though mostly underground."

"And you are part of it?"

"Yeah. Kinda owe them and the old man quite a bit. And they're family after all."

"Ace?" he nearly whispered.

"Also, yeah. But Whitebeard invited me the first time we met and he had considered me part of the family since. So I was and am."

"I see... But if you need help with anything..."

"Are you proposing and alliance of some sort? You look out for me, I look out for you?"

"Y-yeah. If you need it."

"I wouldn't speak of needing it. But it will be better if we are allies. Deal?"

"Deal."

He almost heard her smile in the next thing she said.

"Thanks."

"No need to thank me." He paused and wanted to ask something else when he heard someone else over the den-den-mushi in the background. A man.

"I have to go, Shanks. But we can keep in contact like this. I'll keep it with me all the time."

"Er, sure. Take care."

"You too."

With a click she was gone and Shanks stared at the den-den-mushi in his hands.

"So, she really is alive." Ben lit a cigarette.

"Hm?"

"I've heard rumors. Just very few. About how she faked her death. They didn't last long, after the former Whitebeard commanders confirmed her death and even royalty and Marines visited her grave."

"Marines? And royalty?"

"Yeah, she seems to have been around pretty much." Ben shrugged. "She still is mysterious."

"One thing, Ben."

"Yes, captain?" Ben turned around in the doorway, just as he was exiting the room.

"This alliance, the existence of the New Whitebeard crew and the fact that she is alive is something the crew shall not know yet. This stays between you and me."

His eyebrows raised a bit in irritation, but Ben still nodded readily. "Sure, captain."

-...-