Sorry I've been gone so long, but I've recently gotten more inspiration so here is another chapter!

I glance at Rai nervously; to gain entrance to one of the lesser known docks on the base we'd stolen a small Marine vessel. I fidget nervously, checking every so often to make sure my hair is still hidden in my cap; Rai glares down at the uniform in disgust. Pumpkin is below deck hidden under a bed in a bag.

The tricky part isn't getting in; it's slipping away after we've docked, gaining access to a battleship and then finding somewhere safe to regroup.

Rai pulls us in close and I quickly get off and secure the boat, Rai hands me my bag, the one with a change of clothes, he's carrying his with Pumpkin and his own clothes and guns. Grabbing a folder, one with 'sensitive' information we prepare to get off and head off.

"Let's go." Rai mutters nodding for me to lead the way, taking a deep breath I glance around nervously, honestly I'm surprised we've made it this far, but what we need to do is find a place to hide change and get to an advantageous position, we need to get stationed on a battleship. Rai and I eventually run into another group of Marines, ones coming off a ship, carefully we meld with the group passing through a check point easily.

I glance to my left, if I remember correctly; it'll take us to Dove's office. Tugging on Rai's sleeve I nod for us to turn to our left. Dropping the file off and then heading to join another mass of Marines is step three of our little plan; one and two being getting a Marine vessel and then sneaking onto the base without getting caught.

"Where are you two off to?" An officer asks harshly as we separate from a large group, the one we'd used for cover.

Stopping I take a deep-breath and turn to face the man, just a low ranked official. "We are under orders to take this file to Rear-Admiral Dove's office." I say in a formal tone. I motion to the file in my hand. "It needs to be dropped off immediately, sensitive information on the Rear-Admiral's daughter." I say giving the man a serious look.

"As you were," The man says nodding his head; he walks off instructing or Marines on where they need to be and what they should be doing.

Rai and I turn on our heels and head off; silently we make our way down the hall, making a right we're at Dove's office. I glance to Rai; I glance back to the door, Dove's name painted on in large black letters. Knocking firmly I wait until we are granted access to the room. Stepping in I turn immediately to my right and hand the man at the desk the file. "For the Rear-Admiral." I tell him in calm voice.

Nodding his head I turn and leave with Rai following, quickly leaving the room Rai and I continue our way through the base.

Once outside we are given orders to board a battleship, which is exactly what we want. In the mass of Marines Rai and I are practically invisible, on the ship I lead Rai and I below deck to help prepare the ship for battle.

Once we get on our own Rai and I quickly find the armory. "This is good, right?" Rai mutters once we're alone in a room next to the armory.

I nod my head. "We can hide here and change." I mumble back quietly, I glance around and nod towards door. "We have to be quick." I mumble as we drop our bags on the ground. I quickly shed my clothing and change. Rai following suit, Pumpkin is sitting to the side looking rather peeved.

"Sorry," Rai mutters to the fox while sighing, leaning down he pets his head. "Ready?" Rai asks while he double checks his guns on his hips.

I nod my head as I adjust my jacket. Whipping my hair out from under my clothes, it falls around my shoulders and back. "Wait until we hear things start, it won't do any good to get caught."

"Right." Rai mutters, his hands are twitching in anticipation. We've gone over this plan hundreds of times, and we concluded that Whitebeard would come, raise hell and get Ace back, at least in a favorable scenario.

I glance around the small room, Ace is out there somewhere, probably being or getting ready to be taken to the scaffold. Just thinking about the freckled commander makes my stomach twist, he's in danger, serious danger. "Rai, we'll get him, right?" I whisper while squeezing my eyes shut.

I feel Rai's hand rest on my shoulder. "Or give them hell." He answers confidently. "We'll stick to the plan, do our best to help, get Ace, and run like hell." He says in a simplistic way, in a way that sounds like it isn't so dangerous.

I nod my head and look at him worriedly. "Ace is family." I say taking a deep breath, attempting to calm my nerves. I'm not sure how people do this, go into battle, into war. The apprehension I'm feeling is making me feel like I'm about to lose it, like I'm standing on an edge and about to fall off.

"Family helps family." Rai says while giving me a smile. "Whatever happens will change everything; all we got to do is try our best for a good outcome."

I give my best friend a small smile. "Whitebeard said things were about to change, that this era was changing, he's right. Things have been crazy." I whisper while trying to calm my heart down, trying to keep my mind off of the fact that Ace is somewhere on this island, he's being prepared to be killed.

"Pops generally is right." Rai echoes just as quietly. Everything that we've gotten done seems like a blur to me, I know that the following hours will probably be the same.

We wait for what seems like hours, Rai, Pumpkin and I all in a room with Marines running around; just waiting for the moment for us to go up and fight our way through. While we are on a ship crawling with Marines and could be discovered at any moment we do have one thing going for us: we'll have some cover and the advantage of surprise.

I pointed out to Rai when we were planning, that while we would end up being a surprise, but we'd have a ship full of people, of Marines, to fight if our first tactic doesn't go as planned. While I am a confident fighter, I'm not sure how long Rai and I would last against any one of the Rear-Admirals an entire ship full of Marines, and unfortunately there are an abundance of them will be here, along with the six warlords, the six of the ones who want their titles at least; not to forget the other officers on the island, the Admirals and so on.

I hear someone talking over a speaker, I glance to Rai and nod, this is our cue, or just about at least. Rai goes to peek out into the hall; opening the door and peering around Rai steps out cautiously and waves for me to follow. Rai and I are alone in the corridor, heading to the armory, Rai and I gather up the barrels of gun powder.

The plan is to blow up the armory and several places below deck to sink the ship and to escape and to a friendly ship, versus another Marine battleship. Rai and I split up to cover two ends of the ship, leaving a trail of power. With any luck we'll meet back at the armory and sneak our way to the deck and blow the ship up escaping relatively unharmed. This is all of course in hopes that we can get to a ally ship or even the flag ship.

I manage on my own, only knocking out a few guys and dragging them a safe-ish distance away. Rai had beaten me back to the armory, glancing around nervously Pumpkin yips to get his attention. "It's getting rough out there." Rai says motioning to the men running around above us. "Sounds like something is about to happen." He mutters looking around as he pulls out a lighter. I nod my head, running on ahead we use the last of the gunpowder to make a trail away from the stock in the munitions store.

Rai and I make it to a set of stairs before he lights the trail and we take off like crazy up the flight of stairs. Coming out on deck Rai and I glance around, obviously being spotted and men and woman being alerted we take off towards the edge of the ship.

"Rose, we'll have to jump." Rai yells as we push through and dodge people, I nod my head as I look towards the center of the Marinefold is Whitebeard's flagship surrounded by his other ships, and many, many alliances' ships, and a ship that looks torn to pieces. "Rosie, we have to jump now!" Rai yells with Pumpkin securely in his arms; climbing over the railing Rai and I jump off the ship just as a great majority of the bottom half explodes.

Rai and I land in the water, but we aren't there for long though. "You two make quite the entrance." Namur says grabbing us. "Trouble, just trouble, then again I suppose it wouldn't be like you two to stay out of trouble." He mutters with a smile. I grin, extremely relieved. Namur takes us to the flagship, while avoiding firing from the battleships.

Once on the ship we're met by headshakes and approving looks. "Figures you two would sink four ships in one go." Johnny says meeting us as I shake the water off me.

"I told you we'd get more than the one ship." I say wringing my hair out. Though I glance back to see what damage Rai and I actually have done. Four ships are indeed sinking, and several others are either on fire or in a panic, judging by the sounds and franticness of the crews.

"Yeah, well it was a shot in the dark." Rai mutters as Namur nudges us forward. "Marco wouldn't happen to be unaware of our involvement, would he?" Rai asks in a rather glum and doubtful tone.

"Are you kidding?" Namur asks in serious tone as we run to the front of the ship. "As soon as he heard the explosion he figured it was you two."

Rai and I both share a look; we'll get hell for it, especially for how reckless it was for us to do it, not to mention us being here. As we reach the front of the ship the commanders are all gathered there around Whitebeard, Marco standing next to the captain with a very angry expression.

"Picking a side?" Whitebeard asks seriously and in a knowing tone. "Rose, there isn't any turning back after this."

"Let's be honest, the moment I saved Marco, there wasn't any turning back." I say walking over to him, I glance around him, I can make out the scaffold and people on it. I feel my heart sink, Ace.

"Girlie, why is it that you're always getting into dangerous situations?" I hear Marco ask in an annoyed tone.

I refocus on Marco. "Rai and I figured we might as well." I explain as I shrug my shoulders.

Whitebeard nods to his sons, whom I take it they all know what it means; in a swift motion Marco has his arm around me securely as Whitebeard makes his first move. Setting off a massive earthquake, which of course has tidal waves following it, I keep an eye on them, already expecting for them to be taken care of by Aokiji. The bay area begins to freeze and quickly spreads to the two waves.

Most of the crew takes this in a stride and descends onto the ice.

"You're reckless as ever, Rose." Marco mutters releasing his grip on me.

I look out towards the ice, Rai is standing near us still watching and waiting. "You couldn't expect the two of us to stay out of it." I tell Marco quietly, I look up and see him watching me, his pale blue eyes flickering between worried and impassive. "We came up with a plan, followed it and then, well hoped for the best." I say quietly.

"Rai, can she fight?" Marco asks looking around me to his crewmate; I roll my eyes at this.

My friend of course scoffs at this question. "Marco, Rosie here can hold her own. She has learned a thing or two from her practice sessions with everyone and from our adventures."

"Thank you." I say turning to Rai, I face Marco and give him a defiant look. "Marco, Ace is my family too." I remind him while frowning. Ace quickly became a best friend to me, a brother, someone I depended on and had a great time with.

"She's not helpless." Whitebeard says looking at the two of us, I frown when I hear a scream, it isn't so much that it's a scream, but where I think it's coming from.

Looking up I watch on in disbelief. "How the hell does he do this?" I ask under my breath, it would be Ace's little brother to come falling from the sky on a boat with other people. "Honestly, he's remarkable."

Before anyone can say anything, Luffy and company, plus a ship crash in the bay.

"Don't tell me" Marco says watching on while shaking his head. "Monkey D. Luffy."

It's difficult not to chuckle at Luffy's antics, after defending Whitebeard; he would talk as though an equal, but you know what. Luffy might as well be one. "Oi, Rosie!" Luffy says looking at me, he smiles at me. "And Rai, you guys made it here too?"

"Ace is important to us too." I say smiling, before I can ask where the others are Luffy goes off. "Definitely hasn't changed." Rai and I share a look, we may only have had dinner together, but that was more than enough to get to know Luffy, plus we do have Ace's stories. He'd described his brother and everything about him perfectly. Luffy is reckless, but he has an insane amount of luck on his side.

"You've met the squirt?" Marco asks looking at me warily. I nod my head as Rai comes to stand next to me. "It would figure, but Rose, this is dangerous."

"Marco, Rai and I weighed the risks before we even set out for here." I tell the first division commander calmly. "We made our choice to come and help, Rai and I turned into quite the team, and even solo I'm capable." I tell him confidently.

"You better go help the brat, he's reckless." Whitebeard says, motioning down below where Luffy is running forward dodging and beating the crap out of Marines left and right.

Without another word Rai and I jump down. "So what's the plan now?" Rai asks as we run forward, picking up a sword I shield off several attacks.

"Help Luffy, he has the best chance in all honestly aside from any of the commanders." I look forward, seeing plenty of distance. "Luffy is incredibly lucky, but he looked worn down already." I comment as I kick a guy to the side.

I glance around trying to figure out some kind of plan; it's when I see Dove for the first time since I was rescued by Marco. "Rose, what do you think you're doing?" He asks in his Rear-Admiral commanding voice. "These men are Marines."

I nod my head facing the man who I thought to be my father. "Funny how the truth can change things, isn't it?" I ask him holding the blade up in front of me. "It can change a lot of things."

"I've protected you for years, treated you as though you were my own." Dove says in a dry and unamused tone. "I shielded your mother."

"After you killed my dad, and took my mother captive." I remind him darkly. "You hunted her down and chased her, and then when she couldn't run anymore, you took her captive and kept her a prisoner on an island, an island she died on."

Rai hesitates from moving on. "Rosie, we can't." He mumbles from my side. "We have to get to Luffy."

I nod my head, glancing to Rai and back to Dove. The Rear-Admiral has moved forward several steps, advancing quickly with a sword in hand.

"Rai, you go ahead, I'll catch up." I command keeping my gaze on Dove.

"You'll betray the world's government; go on the word of pirates?" Dove asks, obviously still trying to recover me. "Rose, we need to get you out of here."

"And you need to wake up." I say knocking his sword from his hands easily, I advance forward easily. "I'm here to save Ace; he's more family than you." I yell kicking him square in the chest, though he grabs my ankle, lifting me up I use my other leg and kick him in the face. "And just what do you think I've been doing this past year? Sitting quietly in a room?" I ask as I manage to get free from his grip, standing my ground I smirk at him. "I've learned a thing or two from some pirates." I say in mocking tone.

Dove gets up, wiping the blood off his lip. "You're just like your mother." He seethes. "Don't tell me you're lining your odds up with a bunch of outlaws."

"Actually, I am." I say grinning at him defiantly. Before I can say much more a sense of safety surrounds me, I glance back and see Marco. "I can handle this." I tell him facing a man who'd lied to me for years, someone who let me think that he actually cared about me.

"You're the problem here." Dove say while pointing to Marco, his face laced with anger. "Kidnapped her, and filled her in."

"Girlie wasn't kidnapped" Marco says smugly. "I returned a favor and saved her." The commander steps forward and tugs on my shoulder lightly. "You need to get to Luffy; you can settle this score later."

I'm reminded of what Rai and I are doing right now, we're ensuring our odds, making sure Luffy makes it to his brother. "Fine, but you're not taking him out." I say stubbornly. "Go fight someone who actually stands a chance." I command as I send a glare to Dove, him watching on, his face contorting into anger.

"Don't tell me, you fell in love." He says while shaking his head. Dove lets out a long bitter laugh as he watches Marco and me. "Rose, even your mother hated pirates, she was killed by pirates, and the same ones that had attacked the day you slipped away."

"I was saved by pirates you know" I say easily, I glance back at Marco and smirk. "Both times, and even if she did hate pirates, I've been given every reason not to." I exclude the times I've been attacked by the wrong kind of pirates; I rather focus on the times I've been saved by the right kind. "Besides being in love with one isn't so bad." I glance back Marco this time, his normal expressionless face has a big grin showing.

"Well, Rose seems to have made her own choice." Marco says grabbing me by the waist. "Seems I've fallen for this young lady." Picking me up, Marco tosses me through the air; I catch sight of Rai quickly, him waiting to catch me.

Falling into his arms I smile at him thankfully. "I told Marco, well indirectly, but I told him." I say proudly as we run after Luffy, it isn't too hard either, he's leaving a trail of Marines knocked out behind him.