"Admiral Fujitora! We've spotted them!" A young Marine shouted out from the crow's nest. "Straw Hats and Heart Pirates together in the water, just like our source said!"

"Proceed with caution! The Heart Pirates' submarine is fit for escaping and firing underwater, if they decide to do so we will lose them!" The old figure in purple robes called out to the men around him, the gleaming white cape of one of the three Marine Admirals hung over his shoulders. His eyes lay closed, but opening them would be no different to him, as he could not see regardless. That did not mean he was completely blind, however, as every sound and thudding footstep painted a picture in his mind of his surroundings. The Marines of each ship were gearing up for a fight, ready to take down two of the notorious Supernovas, pirates who had made big names for themselves within their first year on the seas. These two in particular were big targets after the mayhem of Dressrosa, where their alliance had uprooted the entire country. Straw Hat himself was becoming troublesome after picking a fight with and escaping from Big Mom, a Pirate Emperor known for demolishing any who tried to betray or escape her.

In short, these two crews were very dangerous, so he had to take extreme caution as he approached to defeat them. Fujitora had been tasked with bringing in the heads of the two Captains by the Fleet Admiral himself after failing to do so on Dressrosa, and at this point an Admiral was almost necessary in a battle with them.

The young woman who had tipped them off to their location had already taken her leave, but hoped to hear back for their defeat, as well as asking if Fujitora could keep the children that had been traveling with Trafalgar Law safe. He had agreed only on the account that he himself detested harming children where necessary, not to mention the younger they were the hopefully easier they were to change.

Tebliel, the informant, did not mention the mysterious guest traveling with the pirates. She did not think there was a need to, as he would hopefully be stopped along with the others.

The bright yellow Polar Tang and cheerful looking Thousand Sunny came into view. Soon, the fighting would start.

On the ships, the cheerful atmosphere cut off immediately at the sight of the huge warships coming their way. Toshiro could only assume they were Marines by their attitude, confirming that fact as he saw the logo and name proudly worn on the sails.

"Of all the times!" Usopp despaired, panicking the most just above little Chopper shaking behind Robin's legs.

"They won't be so hard." Zoro was exactly the opposite, drawing his swords and sporting a grin that rivaled Kenpachi's before a fight.

"Wait!" Toshiro spoke up, causing them all to turn to him. "They're the ones in charge of protecting everyone, correct?"

"Yeah, and being in our way." Sanji said with a scoff.

"But then they can spread word around a lot quicker, being such a large group?"

"You want to tell them about the Heartless?" Law spoke up from his ship, catching on to the other's idea.

"If they believe me, it might help avoid more disasters like the giant Heartless in the desert and the Stigma." Toshiro confirmed with a nod.

The Heart children looked up at Law expectantly; they all knew well what another Stigma could do.

"You want to go straight to the Marines? They won't believe you!" Nami argued, tone barely concealing worry for their friend going straight onto the enemy ship.

"They don't know I'm traveling with you yet, there's a chance I can still talk to them as a neutral party." Toshiro countered. "They might hate me afterwards, but if I can at least get them spreading the warning about the Heartless, they can be prepared."

"How are you going to convince them?" Law questioned.

"If I have to, I have my own Heartless as proof." The Nobody patted the head of the dragon curled around his shoulders. "I understand you're on different sides, and I'll still stick with you all, but my first priority has been and always will be protecting the lives of the living from dark creatures. On my world it was Hollows, now it's the Heartless and Nobodies. I have to make an effort to keep to that."

"We understand, but please be careful." Robin replied, concerned about what might happen.

He nodded in response before Flash Stepping away across the ocean, leaving small patches of ice where he touched the water that floated away once he left. Hyorinmaru slipped back into his shadow to wait until called.

Despite the distance, Toshiro only took a minute to reach the warships. He caught onto a powerful Spiritual Pressure… it had to be the one in charge, no doubt, and was easily Captain level or above, very startling for a human. He headed towards it, guard up and prepared to make his point before jumping onto the target ship.

The Marines all jumped in shock at his sudden presence, the purple clothed man putting a hand to his sword. He was very tall, even taller than Law and Brook, who up until this point were the tallest people Toshiro knew here. Considering the man's power and the way in which he held himself, that height was a bit intimidating for Toshiro.

"And who might you be?" The man's tone was neutral, but there was no doubt a threat behind it should Toshiro prove hostile.

"My name is Hitsugaya Toshiro… I'm here with a warning." The Nobody spoke to the Admiral as he would his own Head Captain, hoping that would ease some of the tension and help them listen to him. The Marines all had nervous fingers on the triggers of their guns, and the Admiral's hand never left his sword, but they were listening.

"One that is not a threat I hope." The latter spoke with a warning of his own.

"Not from me. In the past few weeks, an outside threat has been rising, and soon it will start becoming powerful enough to show itself. At that point, it would be too late for a lot of people."

"Outside threat?" The Admiral mused, sounding a little more curious now. "I have felt a disturbing shift in the air in recent days… It lingers around you as well."

"Your senses aren't wrong… my arrival coincided with theirs, but my goal is to stop them. That's why I've come to you. As the force in charge of protecting the people of this world, the Marines can spread out further than I alone could and put a stop to their threat before it grows too big."

"But then why travel with pirates?" A Marine spoke up and the Nobody stiffened. "There's no islands around here, just those villains, their ships are the only place you could have come from."

That explained why there was still a heavy tension with everyone. They hadn't been fooled for even a moment, though some were still confused as to how he got aboard unnoticed.

"Yes… I'm traveling with them." The tension grew more hostile as Toshiro gave his honest answer. "If I explained everything you probably wouldn't believe me… not yet. But I'm not here to fight you, my only goal is to make sure the Heartless are stopped."

"Heartless?" The Admiral spoke his question at the unknown name.

"Creatures of darkness that consume the hearts of others to fill their own void." Toshiro explained in brief. "The more they kill, the more there are, and the stronger the darkness in one's heart the stronger the Heartless, so there are potentially very dangerous breeds running around as we speak. Since my time here I have seen a giant Heartless formed from the tortured hearts of an entire island and another island seeped in a plague that almost took them all. It will only get worse if something isn't done about them, but I'm only one person."

"Sir, this all sounds like nonsense to me." A man who looked like the ship's captain spoke to the Admiral with a scoff to his tone.

"His voice does not waver; he does not seem to be lying." Fujitora mused, ever more curious about the boy who had so suddenly appeared before them. He couldn't see him, but he could sense a great power within the tiny body, and a drive to protect. However, there was still his choice in travel partners to be concerned about, as well as what exactly these 'Heartless' could do.

"I wouldn't have jumped onto an enemy ship if I was lying." Toshiro said, still determined to make them believe without having to show Hyorinmaru. "Though I suppose enemy isn't the right term, I aim to be a neutral presence here. My only enemy is the Heartless."

"If that is as you say, why not come to the Marines first? Why these pirates?" The Admiral needed to know before he could trust the other's word, no matter how sincere he sounded.

"I… I'm not from here… I came here by accident, really, stuck with a condition that threatens to drag me down into the darkness as well. Trafalgar Law and his crew found me, and his power may be the only thing in all the worlds I've been to that can cure me. He's my only hope to fix this, so I'll tell you what you need about the Heartless, but please ignore them this once."

"Worlds? Bah!" Several Marines laughed along with the one who spoke. "And a pirate being your only hope? We've got way better doctors than that sadist!"

"The Op-Op Fruit is indeed a unique and remarkable power." Fujitora's out loud musing cut off their laughter, stunned he was taking any of this seriously. "You must either be an impressive liar or under a strong delusion."

'So they don't believe me after all… I can keep trying, but there might be nothing I can do. The hatred between these groups runs too deep, I doubt I can uproot that with words alone.'

"However…" The Admiral continued and Toshiro focused back on him in surprise. Perhaps some hope? "Multiple reports have passed my ears from those reading me the papers, and the odd occurrences I remember noting from those passages match up with what you're telling me."

"Sir?" The baffled Marine Captain sought an explanation.

"There was indeed an island plagued with a remarkably fatal virus within the last few weeks, and an island devoid of its citizens. There are other cases of strange animal behaviors, moving shadows, and vanishing civilians. If what this young man says is true… we have the answer to our mysteries."

'Yes, they've been paying attention!' Toshiro was far more hopeful now, but stayed alert. The Admiral had still not removed his hand from his sword.

"But, sir, other worlds?"

"I understand if you don't believe everything… no one is supposed to know about the other worlds, but with the Heartless here, and on a world so large, it's important everyone is prepared to fight back." Toshiro spoke up once more, trying to push his case. "I can tell you from travelling with the pirates that anyone with a Devil Fruit can defeat the Heartless without too much trouble, but ordinary weapons and people will be at a higher risk as they are of the darkness."

"What of you then?" Fujitora kept that information for later, but this mysterious stranger was still suspicious to him.

"Where I come from, magic is not impossible." Lifting a hand, Toshiro let the wind swirl around it, bringing with it formations of dark blue ice he could then easily disperse. Though he could not see it, the Admiral heard it, not to mention the tiny rise in power from the figure that made his image flare brighter in the older man's mind. Whispers from the other men gave him any other information he needed about it.

"Ice… The man currently with the Ice-Ice Fruit is wondering around outside our knowledge, so your power truly is something beyond our own. I respect your honesty, young man, but there is still the matter of who you travel with."

Before Toshiro could answer, a shout from the crow's nest made everyone tense.

"Admiral Fujitora! Ships approaching to our right!"

A few kept their eyes on Toshiro while everyone else looked to where the Marine pointed. Somehow, a mist had formed on the waters, heading their way with alarming speed. Hidden within it were silhouettes that definitely fit the profile of a ship. There were ten total, an even match to the Marine warships. They were fast and silent, giving everyone an eerie feeling that sent a shiver up their spine. Had it been night, they might have feared ghosts, but the morning sun dispelled such illusions. Fujitora simply frowned, sensing something dangerous.

"We may have to discuss this later; this is an unfortunate turn of events for our mission." The Admiral stated to their guest, turning instead towards the approaching vessels.

Seeming to realize they had been spotted, the mist began to clear, no longer leading the mysterious ships and allowing them to leave its embrace. At the front of each vessel, a terrifying face lead the way, the body of the ship bearing more of a resemblance to a skeletal structure than wood, gleaming yellow eyes picking their targets. Black sails made of shadow mocked that of a pirate flag, but instead of a skull and crossbones it was the bright red symbol of a crossed out heart. Heartless. On board each monstrous ship were entire crews of even more shadowy monsters.

"Heartless!" Toshiro exclaimed, surprised. Somehow the mist had kept them from his senses until they emerged, and he suspected an outside force had helped with that, but now his focus was needed here. He Flash Stepped to the side of the ship, eyes wide and jaw clenched. The Marines were quite startled by his sudden movement, but did nothing as they waited for orders from the Admiral about what to do with the approaching ships. "To think they could even possess ships… they won't be trapped on just islands anymore."

"I've never seen anything like them before!" A Marine shouted, shaking nervously.

"That mark is the symbol of the Heartless… I never expected them to approach in a force like this." Toshiro mused aloud before keeping his next words to his thoughts. 'They have both the best and worst timing. There's no better way to prove to these guys the Heartless are here without revealing Hyorinmaru, but they still don't trust ME because of the pirates… Speaking of.'

The Nobody had noticed that three of the Heartless ships had switched their direction, spotting the two pirate ships and seeking to destroy them as well.

'The pirates are still the best choice.' Hyorinmaru rumbled, noticing his master's hesitation. 'The Marines have proof now, word will spread. You have done your part.'

'Not if they die here before knowing how to fight them. I need to get them some of that cure… if they can weaponize it, even these grunts would stand a chance.'

His dragon rumbled his agreement and went silent, allowing Toshiro to focus back on the battle. The warship closest to the approaching Heartless had begun firing upon the approaching ships. The ship gave a low rumble as it was hit by the barrage, some of the Heartless aboard it scrambling to avoid a cannon ball to the body. It would be comical if the oncoming threat wasn't so overwhelming.

Then, the ship did something no one expected. Once it was close enough, tanking any cannon fire that came its way, the lead ship began to rise out of the water. Everyone froze, even Toshiro, as they watched this ship lift itself above the Marine ship, the skeletal body opening up like a set of shadowy jaws, cracking and groaning with the effort of moving against gravity. The men on board shrieked and cried as the gaping maws of the Heartless came crashing down on them. It would sink them all for sure.

A ripple through the air, a sound eerily similar to something Toshiro was very familiar with and even made him tense, and a force pushed the ship back through the water just enough that, when it finally crashed down, all it snapped up was sea water.

"It seems these Heartless are going to be some trouble." Fujitora grunted, returning his sword to its sheath.

'Was that… he just twisted gravity? Is that his power?' Toshiro wondered. If that was the case, it was no wonder he was such a powerful figure, and to move such a huge ship at that distance, that was dangerous. Still, he couldn't stand around admiring it, he had to help. The Marine ships now outnumbered the Heartless ones since some had broken formation to attack the pirates, but with tricks like that it might not be too hard for the shadowed monsters to even the number. 'Looks like you will have to reveal yourself anyway… here's hoping I can still get these guys what they need even if I protect pirates.'

'Then let us smash these foes!' Eager to jump in, the shadows under Toshiro began to shift and grow.

In a motion that was now becoming as natural as drawing a physical sword, Toshiro brought both of his weapons to hand, the zanpaktou gleaming in the sun and the Keyblade giving off its own glow.

"What the-where did those come from?" A Marine gasped, startled by their guest now being armed.

"If you see a dragon, please avoid shooting it." Toshiro called back before vanishing once more, jumping across the ice he made with his steps towards the nearest ship. His shadow grew darker before seeming to absorb into the water during one of these steps, Toshiro now moving forward on his own. He heard the sounds of metal screeching and spotted cannons being aimed his way.

"Icicle Flock!" With a swing of his zanpaktou, large icicles shot forward and obliterated the cannons on one side. The ship itself bared its teeth, trying to turn the other way, but Toshiro was already on board striking at the Heartless. They weren't terribly strong, it seemed they were anticipating the ships to do most of the work and then sweep up the remaining foes afterwards, so it wasn't too difficult for the Nobody to remove the crew.

He was a bit startled as the ship reared up, unhappy with this unwanted rider, before suddenly diving forward. Was it trying to sink itself? It could probably survive such an action considering the ship itself was alive and not made of wood, didn't have an inside to flood, but it was unexpected. Gritting his teeth, Toshiro stabbed his blade into the deck of the ship and held on tight as the water rushed up over him.

Before their eyes, the entire ship of darkness became submerged.

I really liked the big ship in Dead Man's Tale that ate other ships, okay, and Heartless would totally do it.