Author notes:

.

I posted new Fic called Shanks's Choice (I promised it back in September), check it out and share your thoughts ^^.

.

Chapter 1: rewritten and beta'd by Kurapikababu.

Chapter 2: rewritten.

Chapter 3: small mistakes corrected.

Chapter 4: posted again and beta`d by Gerbilfriend

Chapter 5: written and beta`d by gabrielsangel23 and Gerbilfriend

Chapter 6: written, beta`d by Gerbilfriend.

Chapter 7: written, beta`d by Gerbilfriend

Chapter 8: written, beta`d by Gerbilfriend

Chapter 9: written and here, beta`d by Gerbilfriend

Chapter 10: planned, several scenes written.

Chapter 11:

.

I don't own one piece!

.

.

This chapter was beta'd by Gerbilfriend. As usual she is an awesome help, correcting my grammar and making everything clearer for your enjoyment and helped with choosing the title. ^^

Thanks a million XD

.

Warnings:

English is my fourth language. The story will include thoughts about suicide, self-harm, and Ace self-worth issues.

.

Thanks to all of you that followed, favorite and especially reviewed. You are seriously amazing :D

We have now more than 100 followers, this fic gone a long way..

.

.

.

Guest-chan (anon-chan) or My mile long reviewer ;)

Happy to hear you are doing fine and that you loved this chapter. It wasn't easy to write. I missed the strawhat crew and their reactions, and just had to add something to lift up my spirit.

I wanted to introduce the commanders in 'detail' at least once, so I don't need to explain or to describe them every time I mention them from now on, I hope it wasn't that boring?

Was waiting to read your reaction about the female kizaru, yeah, agreed, it felt like it will become the focus point of the story and it was hard to fit it with other things, so I decided to go with something else. Happy you liked it. I am considering writing oneshot about it, we will see…

Doflamingo, huh, I tried to write it to fit his character as much as possible, I am glad it surprised you (hope you didn't break your phone because of me XD) and that you thought it suited him to behave like this.

What do you think about Doflamingo here, shishishi?

Ohhhh, you're right. It was cute, the scene with Sabo and Lina. Very happy you enjoyed it, I decided we needed something cute and not chaos all the time.

Hope you enjoy this chapter, let me know your thoughts. Happy holidays.

.

NightsBlackRose13

I hope I find you well, and you didn't turn into statute and are safely on the cliff (and not clinging to the quickly fraying rope ^^). Yeah, Marco and Shanks are some of my favourite characters, I am not sure I did him justice here, but I will leave it to you to decide.

About the parting shot, a final "Mess with Ace and become a Woman!", that honestly cracked me up! I am considering writing oneshot about the 'female part', we will see what happens...

Hope you enjoy yourself in this chapter until the next one. Happy holidays.

.

Wolfiesilvestar

Well, well, well, Shishishi, I am happy you enjoyed yourself. Unfortunately the female kizaru plan wouldn't have worked with the other things, it would have been hilarious, but wouldn't fit. I am considering writing oneshot about it, we will see….

I apologize sincerely to your 'heart', and ask it to be patient with me.

Hope you enjoy the new chapter, let me know. Happy holidays!

.

her wife

Hello and welcome to the world of Anchor and compass! I am honored that you wrote a long review because of my Fic, and was just about to tell you go read all of it when I noticed the 'brilliant' comment (*blushing deeply*). Yeah, Lina gone long way and she has still long way to go. Being a leader isn't easy, I don't like it either, it feels too much pressure and a lot of expectations on your shoulders, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

About 'Marco is that you?', you will have to read and find out for yourself.

Expecting another long review (^^, no pressure**), read and enjoy! Happy holidays.

.

Haruki Hitomi

Shishishi, yup, Doflamingo isn't easy character to write, but there something that is quite clear about him (to me at least), he is cunning and like to use everything to his advantage, so it was easy to imagine what will his reaction be here.

Looking forward to read your thoughts about the new chapter. Happy holidays!

.

To the new 'Guest' (find yourself new nickname, or I will give you one ;) )

Welcome, welcome to the world of Anchor and compass! Thank you, I work hard on writing, and then reading and rereading everything again and again, and I have a beta to help, but it's still very hard.

It was because of the plot that I decided to give this Fic chance and began writing it (and wanting Ace to be alive, dammit!)

Hope you continue enjoy yourself, let me know your thoughts, Happy holidays!

.

Rodina. Ashraf

I am happy you enjoyed yourself! Bon-chan is amazing indeed! I myself was cracking up while writing the scene!

I am considering writing oneshot about it, we will see….

Hope you enjoy this chapter, let me know your thoughts. Happy holidays!

.

.

.

.

Read notes at the END.

.

Hope you enjoy,

.

.

.

.

"What is the situation?" Shanks stopped his pacing when he spotted his navigator trying to pass undetected in the upper deck, probably looking for Benny to deliver to him their current state so Benny could deliver it to him, tough luck.

The navigator, understanding that he was spotted and his plan was a bust, reluctantly went down the stairs and delivered the news.

"With the current wind we should arrive in half hour," his navigator announced and the frown on Shanks face made his navigator swallow and he hurriedly added, "Maybe less."

Shanks face darkened and his navigator froze not daring to speak or move. Their cheerful captain was gone leaving this sullen man standing in front of them in his place, glaring at the wooden floor as if trying to burn it to ashes.

That bastard Kaido, from all the times to choose to challenge the old man Whitebeard, why now? Shanks cursed inwardly (he knew why, but still …), at least they were able to intercept him before he attacked the old man and made him late to the party those assholes marines prepared for his honor. Sengoku, what happened to keeping the balance? Why now! For all damn times to pick fight with the old man, no, to pick a bloody war.

Dammit...

Kaido, that beast..

Taking care of Kaido and his fleet took way too much time, precious time that Shanks couldn't let himself waste on Kaido until Kaido had finally did the smart thing and decided to retreat.

Depending on what happened today, Shanks might just decide to pay Kaido special visit, damn him to the seven hells.

Shanks finally looked up and nodded, having noticed his navigator was still standing there (like a deer caught in the headlights) while he was lost in thought. His navigator didn't need to be told twice and bolted back to his post while Shanks got back to his pacing.

His crew were giving him a very wide berth, they were smart enough (or knew him well enough) to know to stay far away from him when he began pacing (a rare occurrence), because it clearly meant that he was pissed and having the happy go lucky captain pissed was something to be really, really wary of. Only his first mate was courageous enough to come near him in these times and that was why everyone was subtly trying to find the middle man (Benny), as to be able to communicate peacefully with their dear captain, but Benny was nowhere to be found.

...

Benn Beckman, known as Benny by his crew and friends, stood in the shadows, disregarding the crew members searching desperately for him, and watched his captain pacing, 10 paces then turn around and another 10 paces and turn back again. The pattern had been going for a long while now, two hours at least.

Benn was close enough to hear him mutter and curse Kaido's name, but far enough not to be noticed by Shanks, or so Benn thought.

He watched the exchange with the navigator, choosing not to interfere, and was instead considering litting another cigarette or maybe not, he reached his quota for the day three cigarettes ago.

His captain mood had been plummeting day after day since they announced the execution of Luffy's older brother, the war. Now Shanks was at his most lowest, right before they were to arrive to full-fledged war.

They would arrive shortly to a war and nobody knew what to expect, what would welcome them when they arrived, for all they knew they could be too late… Benn forcibly cut those thoughts from his mind and tried to concentrate at the matter on hand.

Speculation and conjecturing help nothing and it was obviously the reason for the piling troubles in front him, he inwardly grimaced while watching the still pacing captain.

He did know one thing, his captain couldn't jump to the fray like this, he needed to be at his best, not letting his fears and doubts cloud his reasoning. The captain was the heart and mind of this crew and if his resolve was wavering so well the crew's, that was not an option, not on his watch.

He wouldn't let it happen, that was his own resolve as the first mate of this crew.

Benn got out of his hiding place to do what needed to be done.

He got straight to the point.

"Being tense and pacing around doesn't help anything and it most definitely doesn't make us sail any faster."

Shanks ignored him, not stopping in his stride, Benn appearance didn't faze him at all.

Benn sighed loudly, shaking his head at his captain antics.

"Well, I guess it's succeeding in making the crew even more tense."

Shanks continued pacing, as if the words of his first mate didn't register on his senses.

The crew should be tense, they were going to a war for God sake but not this kind of tense mused Benn.

He sighed, licked his lips and put the cigarette he was rolling between his fingers, for the last half hour, in his mouth (F**k it, he already gone over his quota, another one or two won't change anything, no, it might make him feel better), and lit it.

He let a puff of smoke drift in the direction of the sea, watching his captain's continued pacing.

Benn sighed again.

"We don't even know if they are there."

He finally get a reaction, Shanks turned immediately to face him and shouted,

"Of course, they are there."

Shanks's shout startled several of the crew members in earshot. Lucky Roo stuck his head out from the upper deck and looked anxiously at them wondering what was wrong now.

Shanks took a deep breath and huffed in annoyance, he gave a forced smile and waved at Lucky Roo to indicate that he was fine and to get back to whatever he was doing.

He looked back at Benny seriously, giving him a raised eyebrow.

"We're talking about Luffy and Lina here, there is no way that they wouldn't be there in the thick of things."

Benn nodded (he believed the same) but still remarked nonchalantly.

"Would you stop behaving like a mother hen that is watching her chicks leave the nest."

Shanks spluttered, not knowing how to respond to such accusation.

"I am not," he announced reluctantly after few seconds. He didn't sound convinced to his own ears.

"Well you shouldn't," continued Benny, choosing to ignore his captain fumbled denial.

"We knew that they left the nest since their wanted posters were first published," Benny added, still observing his captain reactions with critical eye.

Shanks couldn't help the nostalgic smile from appearing in his face, his shoulders relaxed a bit and he stared at the sky, not really seeing anything.

Indeed, I know, Shanks thought.

He remembered being totally and utterly surprised when after months of seeing Luffy's wanted poster for the first time, they saw that Lina also had a wanted poster of her own. She did sail with her brother, she did choose to become a pirate, and not any pirate, a Strawhat.

The party they had after that world changing discovery was one of their most famous ones, more than half of crew had no idea why they were having such an extravagant party, but nonetheless enjoyed the drinks, the food (Lucky Roo had gone all out) and their captain happy mood which was infectious and had lasted for more than a month.

He was sure that Luffy had something to do with convincing her, or more likely dragged her along at the beginning, but she chose to stay long enough to have her own wanted poster.

He even asked (more like demanded to know from) Hawkeyes, his friend (kinda), when he brought the news of Luffy's finally beginning his journey, if when he met Luffy and his crew in East Blue he saw a small black haired girl, Lina! (He was called Hwakeyes for a reason), and his nonchalant answer was that he saw no women with them.

Shanks had to admit that he felt a bit of disappointing pang (well, more than a bit) when he thought that Lina chose not to sail the free seas.

Speaking of Hawkeyes, that lazy bastard, he had better not had attacked them or hurt them in any way, or they would not be sharing only words and drinks the next time they met (which would probably be very soon, Hawkeyes was supposed to be involved in this war, dammit).

He hoped that they were okay, if anything happened to them because he wasn't able to get there in time because of that damn Kaido, he …

Shanks huffed angrily and looked at his First mate, who was eyeing him silently, Benn's usually solemn face showing slight worry.

Shanks finally sighed, his shoulders slumped tiredly, "I'm just feeling uneasy."

Benn patted him consolingly on the shoulder, giving him a half hug, "you are not the only one worried" he continued after small pause, "I'm worried, Lucky Roo and Yasopp are also… . Luffy and Lina are our friends as well as yours."

"This shouldn't have happened," insisted Shanks, fury coloring his voice even though it remained at a conversational level.

"But it did," answered Benny, in voice of someone used to being the bearer of bad news.

Benn tossed the unfinished cigarette and slumped near the railing facing the vast sea, and added.

"You always told me not to live in the past.."

"...But to face the present and build toward the future .." Shanks continued in soft voice.

"I know," Shanks whispered while sighing.

Shanks took a deep breath and slumped his body into the railing, giving the sea his back.

"Sorry," he said softly.

Benn nodded his acknowledgment, and added

"We will get there soon and make sure that they are okay ourselves, and do what must be done."

Shanks hummed his agreement, feeling more clear headed.

Shanks looked at the darkening skies that were reflecting his still sour mood, and couldn't help but remember the day that he left the small island without his treasure, having giving it to even more important and precious one.

It was one of the hardest decisions he had to make.

No, not leaving his hat in Luffy's care, no, but leaving him and Lina there.

He knew it was the right decision, to let them grew as normally as possible, well, as normal as being a hyperactive trouble magnet like Luffy and having a guardian like Garp could be. Nonetheless it was something he thought about from time to time, what if he took...

But those doubts and thoughts disappeared when he met Ace, he knew then that he made without shred of doubt the right decision.

On that day…

Luffy was bellowing his eyes out, after Shanks had bestowed his hat on his head (Luffy long ago give up on hidden his tears), shouting his promises, while Lina was standing near him silently, staring blankly at the Red Force. Shanks could see her true feelings and how upset she was by how strongly her small hand was clutching her brother's shirt from behind.

When he gave Luffy his treasure it wasn't something he planned beforehand, it was a spur of the moment decision (it just felt like it was meant to be) and it didn't feel right not to give the adorable smart Lina anything before they left. So he was in the process of taking his cape off to put it on her shoulders (which wasn't easy with one hand, mind you) when she looked at him, for the first time since they announced that they were leaving for good, while shaking her head and staring disapprovingly (her nose cutely wrinkled) at him and she told him straight out; "You would look lame without your cloak on, you already don't have a hat," she had a real serious face and was saying this while still critically eyeing his figure.

He froze for a second (still clutching his cape that was still on his back) and burst laughing jovially the next.

He was laughing now at the memory as he did then (even Luffy smiled through his tears then, saying that now he was the cool one). His whole crew made fun of him for long while, it still was a running joke: why did the captain sleep with his cloak (it was a cape dammit!) tightly around him? Without it he would lose his superpower! And what is the captain's superpower you ask? Not being lame!

His whole body felt lighter as he continued laughing and guffawing, his body unwinding with a feeling of inner peace. He could see Benny looking at him from the corner of his eye and a faint, almost indiscernible smile could be seen on Benny's lips (It reminded him of his smiles when he congratulated a member of the crew on job well done!).

The other crew members who were watching discretely the interaction between their captain and their first mate from the corner of their eyes (hoping for a miracle to change the doom feeling clouding the ship), were now staring inopenmouthed confusion at their captain antics, uncertainty clearly written on their faces, not sure if they could breath their relief (a miracle! Let's party!) or if their captain finally lost it (and they should abandon ship).

He heard Lucky Roo calling his name anxiously while sticking his head out, looking more and more worried.

Shanks shouted between laughter, "The day we..." he snorted a laugh and continued, "departed from..." he stopped to take some much needed air to continue laughing.

He finally was able to choke, "Dawn Island!"

Before he finished the last word, laughter and roars erupted from several members of his crew that were witnesses to that special, special day.

He heard Yasopp singing, and other crew mates joining him, the mood changing drastically and all of them began to sing off key or were they? Shanks wasn't sure if there was a key to begin with.

"There was once a groovy man,

His hair was as red as flame,

Shanks was his name,

Straw hat his head framed,

And cape from an animal he himself slayed,

A little miss examined him and gravely proclaimed

Without his cap and cape his charm had drained…" their voices carried over the ship, more and more of the hidden crew members come out to listen, to cackle, and to share the fun at the expense of their captain.

"Ohhhh… Ohhhhh," almost the whole crew were howling loudly, no harmony whatsoever.. Singing beautifully was not a talent that his crew was famous for.

Shanks was laughing hysterically. He was sure now that everyone in his crew was either tone deaf, just deaf, or both.

"Ohhhh… Ohhhhh …. Ohh," the crew roared and howled.

Shanks had tears rolling down his face and was clutching his stomach that had begun to ache from how hard he was laughing, yet was still able to see Benny moving his lips with the song lyrics.

"Shanks once had a great fame!

Ohhh … Ohhhhh...

It such bloody shame

He became so lameeeeeee..

And had no one but himself to blame…."

Snickers and laughter could be heard everywhere, repeating the song again and again (their performance getting worse and worse every time), making fun of their dear captain.

And with that the foreboding mood disappeared as if it never was there in the first place.

Shanks breathed deeply feeling more energized and wiped the happy tears from his face.

He turned and stood near Benny looking at the vast sea that the Red Force was cutting in her fast sailing.

"They are strong," Benny said quietly, Shanks had no problem hearing the words even with the loud ruckus around them.

"I know," he agreed.

He did know, but that didn't mean he didn't worry.

Shanks blinked several times, and shielded his eyes, so did Benny, he heard him cursing the wind for losing another cigarette.

Shanks smiled.

It seemed that the wind was howling louder and stronger as if answering the crew's own howls and roars.

Yes, thing were looking up.

.

.

.

.

.

.

...

Marco POV

.

.

Shit, that was real close.

Real f**king close.

He was almost late, seconds and ….

How would he have explained that to Oyaji, no, how would he have explained this to Ace…

Shit…

Ace would have killed him, cut him into small tiny pieces and burned him bit by bit slowly, only then to let him heal just to do it all over again, and Marco would have let him.

He could remember how Ace's eyes changed, his face, his whole demeanor, when he spoke about his little sister and brother. Thatch and Haruta used to make fun of him but Ace would always laugh it off, he wasn't ashamed of it, no, in the contrary he was quite proud of being called overprotective-doting big brother.

Ace's little sister was looking blankly at the air in front of her.

She didn't seem all there…, but she was not hurt more than she was before he arrived, he hoped. Marco was still eyeing her in worry from the corner his eye.

He really didn't want to deal with Ace if she was seriously hurt, only imaging the hurt and sorrowful face on his brother face made him cringe and bare his teeth (at the reason) inwardly.

While all those jumbled thoughts kept on running in Marco's head, nothing showed on his face or body. He was emitting, as usual, a bored aura, his face blank, lazily watching the source of his annoyance.

He would see to her in moment, he had an annoying birdie to take care of first.

Marco gave his full attention to the comical figure in front of him, and eyed him critically. Doflamingo's fashion sense was something to envy (Izo told him that his sarcasm sense was always tingling whenever Marco spoke, he didn't know why! He only spoke the truth, seriously! ), but now it quite shone, Marco concluded. If he had less veins throbbing on his forehead he would look dashing in his smoking hot (or is it burnt?) feathery coat.

"Doflamingo yoi, what get your feathers so ruffled?" he asked calmly.

Oh, Doflamingo's veins seemed to throb even more, was he upset, Marco wondered.

The fuming figure in front of him was looking at him murderously (if looks could kill, Marco would have been dead at least 233 times over, every time in another horribly creative way that have to do with strings, Marco would bet) and flexing his fingers repeatedly as if he was trying very hard to restrain his boiling anger and not attack Marco in full force ahead.. or was he trying to decided how best to attack him.

Hmm...

Either way he looked quite the funny, mused Marco.

"Marco the Phoenix, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Doflamingo asked, he was trying to go for the uncaring effect, but utterly failed. The question come from between gritted teeth (and the veins were still throbbing).

"Oh, you know," Marco answered while shrugging his shoulders, eyeing Doflamingo lazily. Marco's demeanor and face emitting that he had no care in the world (that was how it's done, pinky).

"Something flashy caught my eyes, yoi," Marco told him in the bored voice of someone explaining patiently to little problematic child how to put his socks on, "as you know, we" he gestured at Doflamingo and then at himself, "birds like shiny things, yoi."

Doflamingo's head seemed like a volcano ready to erupt any second now.

"I thought for sure it was a golden treasure, yoi," Marco sighed shaking his head, his shoulders slumping, as if experiencing great and heavy disappointment. All the while he was sharply eyeing Doflamingo's movements and reactions with deep interest before he finally added.

"Who knew, yoi. It was just a lousy sunglasses."

Doflamingo didn't seem to find the tale as amusing as him, and the way he was looking at the ugly pair of sunglasses (purple lens! Ugly was him being nice) near Marco's feet was hmmm, real amusing.

Even though he could understand why he needed to wear them … without them his face looked….

Maybe only getting those sunglasses was not as much of a fail as he thought.

Marco was actually aiming for Doflamingo's eyes when he attacked him, intending in not only on saving Ace's little sister but on getting an eye or two as payback for Oars and all his brothers that were attacked by this asshole, but all he get was those lousy sunglasses which were somehow still whole even after all the ordeal, but maybe it was not as lousy as he thought at first.

Hmmmmm… maybe he could use…..

"Do you want them back?"

Doflamingo gritted his teeth, not saying anything, but the slight increase of the twitching of his fingers and the throbbing of his veins were quite telling about his true feelings on the matter.

While still looking at him, Marco crouched flexing his body, and picked the sunglasses up, and stood up straight while twirling them. Doflamingo narrowed his eyes at his hand, Marco could hear the sound of his gritted teeth.

"Here yoi," Marco said a bit loudly, his body began to make the movements as if he throwing a ball, his left hand coming forward, Doflamingo's eyes never leaving his hand, his precious sunglasses.

The sound of those sunglasses crushing in his hand was satisfying not only because of the murderous aura around Doflamingo intensifying much more or the monstrous look clearly occupying Doflamingo's eyes, but also because, well, the sunglasses offended his fashion sense (Izo's sarcasm sense was not only tingling, but shivering like a naked person in a Winter Island).

"Oops," Marco intoned, he didn't even try to stop the smirk from appearing in his face this time.

He naturally opened his hand and let the remains of what was once a 'fashionable' pair of sunglasses fall onto the frozen ground.

(He only needed to add the final nail to the already made and closed coffin, he hoped).

"Sorry, yoi," he added, his smirk getting bigger when he stepped 'accidentally' on all the crushed remains, the sound of them shattering until they became dust was phenomenal, especially when paired with the look on Doflamingo's face as the main treat.

Doflamingo lunged at him with strings and bullets, Marco's smirk remained, hook, line and sinker (really, this moron was supposed to be the strongest and most cunning of the all Shichibukai), Marco didn't even bother dodging, his blue fire surrounding him naturally, (he expected it, no, wanted it), waiting for him to get in range before instantly turning his legs into claws intensified with armored Haki and going for the neck (the kill).

.

Dammit.

Tch, he should have been a bit faster, he only grazed him, well, maybe a bit more than a graze if he were to judge by the blood pouring from his neck. Doflamingo had his hand on his neck trying unsuccessfully to stop the bleeding while still trying to stay ready and alert for Marco's next attack.

Still by how his eyes were trailing to his coat and then back to Marco, he seemed more bothered by the fact that his feathery coat was stained with blood too.

Red, pink and black, seemed not only to describe his clothes but also his face which was beautifully changing to those fabulous colors, really! It suited him quite well. Marco opened his mouth intending in telling him all about it, in great detail.

Wshhhhhhhhhh….

When a storm of sand arrived out from nowhere, its target was Doflamingo, or more accurately his still bleeding neck, making Doflamingo curse and retreat even more by jumping several times, his hand leaving his neck and becoming busy in helping him retreat and firing bullets and webs at the encroaching storm.

Crocodile, that shitty nauseant, cursed Marco. He was about to take care of Doflamingo for good, before he got back his senses (maybe toy with him a bit more).

Crocodile emerged as the storm disappeared, standing near Marco with only few feet between them. His hook had blood on it, Marco instantly noticed, even though Crocodile was trying to subtly wipe it off.

Well, well, well … maybe things were not that bad.

Crocodile didn't even look at Marco's direction when he demanded.

"Whitebeard trash, stop trying to devour my prey."

Marco didn't have time to react before the indignation voice of Doflamingo's filled the air.

"Prey?" shouted Doflamingo angrily, his fingers were twitching, as if they were being jerked by invisible threads, or in his case they were doing the jerking. His strings were beginning to sew his injury, but it may be too late, thought Marco relishing the thought.

Crocodile ignored him (which made Doflamingo shout furiously "you don't only touch me but dare attack me, you bag of dirt") and glanced at Marco's direction for a second, Marco would had missed it if he wasn't watching Crocodile closely.

No, Crocodile wasn't looking at him, but behind him.

He was checking on Lina, ohh, that was interesting, so he wasn't playing along just for fun, what was his relationship exactly with Ace's little sister.. Should he be worried?

"Oi, trash, go mind your own business," Crocodile spat out, putting a cigarette in his mouth, "here, you don't have any."

Interesting… very interesting.

His words had underlying threat to them which had unique flavor to it. Marco assumed the business he was implying (that Marco should hurry and take care of) was Ace's little sister, what were Crocodile's true intentions? Was he here to help? No way….

Marco didn't move or respond, Crocodile didn't add anything else, he ignored Marco and gave his undivided attention to his prey.

Them fighting would free him to handle more important things like Crocodile implied. They seemed to have a score to steal, by the shouting accusations that Doflamingo was spitting venomously.

Doflamingo lifted both his hands aiming at Crocodile, when a ball of blades rolled from behind him intending in cutting him into pieces, Doflamingo jumped using his strings to dodge the coming attack while firing his string bullets at the blades ball but found himself instead inside of huge ball of sand trying to swallow him whole.

Marco took the hint, he really didn't care about any of them, they could kill each other for all he cared.

He had more urgent matters to take care of.

He turned around and let a breath of relief.

Izo was dragging the medic to where Ace's little sister was still sprawled at the floor, she hadn't moved an inch. The medic knelt beside her examining the injury while Izo was hovering above him making sure he hurried up.

Ace's little sister, didn't seem to realize that people were speaking to her, she was staring in front of her unresponsive to any of the medic pokings or Izo's questions (making Izo poke the medic demanding what was wrong!).

The sound of strings and sand crushing seemed to do the trick, she blinked several times.

Marco saw her mouthing Crocodile's name, her face crunching up in confusion and bewilderment.

Marco's eyes narrowed as he moved faster and crouched in front of her, making sure not to touch her and to keep some distance between them, he ignored Izo calling his name.

"Are you alright, yoi?"

"You are .. Marco." She seemed to become more aware of her surroundings.

Marco raised an eyebrow and noded.

"What about Aokiji?" she asked panic coloring her voice and showing in her eyes.

"Don't worry, Jozu can handle him just fine, yoi."

"Are you sure?" she asked, there was no skepticism in her voice, but curiosity and calculating intent were now lighting her eyes.

Marco nodded, still eyeing her with a calculating look of his own.

Ace's little sister, Lina D monkey might look like a weak, frail, and tiny little girl, but behind her clear eyes there was a fearsome intellect and cunning brain, he saw for himself what it was capable of creating, What was she planning now?

Lina jolted, "ouch," she muttered quietly.

"Sorry," the medic said apologetically, talking more to Izo who was glaring at him than to Lina, "I will need to move you to be able to examine the injury."

Lina nodded her agreement absentmindedly, her eyes were narrowed she seemed deep in thought.

The medic and Izo moved her body a bit, neither of them touching the injured knee, or any of the other injuries on her hands and body (Marco noticed several bandages and also other small wounds on almost every part of her body that weren't properly treated) until she was sitting upright more comfortably, and the degree of her main injury was more apparent for the medic to be able to treat or at least stop the bleeding. When Marco saw the wound clearly he realized that the injury to her knee had an exit wound and it looked real nasty, Marco grimaced for a second then his face was blank again.

She didn't seem to feel any of the pain, as she should have when injured to this degree. Hmmm.. Adrenalin? Drugs?

"We need to stop the bleeding first," the medic announced while the injured person was not listening, she was in world of her own.

She wasn't looking at the wound or at Izo or the medic, or at him for that matter, she was looking over his shoulder at the fight behind him, Marco could see it in her eyes the moment she realized something.

"Crocodile's group," she blurted out in panic, she was definitely Ace's little sister worried about everything and everyone else but not herself.

Marco stood up without answering and called for one of his subordinates that were helping to release Jiru from the webs, and ordered him to hurry up so Jiru could take control of Crocodile's former group, and for now to send as many reinforcement as they could and have their allies join if needed, he paused and looked at Lina, who was looking at him calculatingly making him uncomfortable, he looked away and shouted after the hurrying subordinates to make sure nobody get close to the admiral in that group.

Marco hadn't yet finished crouching down when she murmured, "Mr.1."

"What?" Marco asked confused.

"Oh, the blade guy, .. his name .. is… Daz Bonez.."

He stood back up and called.

"Oi, send reinforcement to Atomos and Curiel's group too, ask the Decalvan brothers or Doma."

Marco looked at her with a raised eyebrow before he crouched this time, seeing if she had anything more to add. She looked a bit sheepish but her face became blank again quickly.

She muttered a small, "Thank you," when Marco was back to her eyes level again.

Marco nodded back in acknowledgment.

She suddenly tensed up and tried to turn her body to look behind her. She strained her neck looking behind her trying to see, the medic was cursing and shouting at her not to move, she ignored him and asked, more like demanded (Ace's sister alright).

"Izo, what about ..."

"Don't worry," Izo cut her realizing what made her worry and assured, "we took care of them rather easily without that manic hovering around." Izo then added pleadingly, "would you please not move."

Ace's little sister breathed a sigh of relief, relaxed her shoulders and sit back in her place, "sorry," she added as afterthought.

Hmmm...

So she bolted from the group not because she was afraid, but because she wanted the maniac away from the group. Marco assessed her again, nobody with a brain would call someone that stood up to Three Admirals and Shichibukai, her and her twin brother in this case, scaredy cats or cowards. But still, to stay sharp even in unexpected situations was not everyone's forte, you needed huge amount of experience and true confidence in yourself to be able to keep your head straight on your shoulder in such unexpected situations, which seemed to happen a lot today. Lina had no problems with keeping her head straight when it came to her plans but less when it came to her own well-being, like another idiot he knew and anyway, he reminded himself, she was the one responsible for most the unexpected situations he had to handle on today.

Lina and Straw Hat Luffy's behavior did remind him of the days of Ace trying to assassinate their father day after day (several times a day). A family of troublemakers indeed, they would fit right in with all the other troublemakers that their father liked to collect.

She seemed to stir, her eyes sharp, she had reached a decision of some sort.

She finally looked at her injury and she had look of disdain on her face, like the injury offended her, Marco thought amusedly.

"Just stop the bleeding, please hurry up," she demanded, offended her indeed.

"You have other injuries that ne..." the medic who was trying to stop the bleeding began to say.

"Don't care," she blurted out.

Both Izo and the medic stopped what they were doing and stared at her, Marco silently observed, she seemed to realize that she startled them, and that the medic's hands had stopped moving.

She instantly changed her tone, changed techniques, her hands went into her lap and she softly said, "We don't have time to waste now, Ace is still in danger, please, could you stop the bleeding."

Manipulatively smart of her.

Izo hit the medic, who get the hint and hurriedly began to put more bandages on the bleeding knee.

Izo came to stand beside him facing Ace's little sister and asked softly, "How do you intend to continue fighting, you would became a burden in your state, we could give you a Den Den Mus.." (as expected Izo hadn't fallen completely for the act).

Lina cut him, "Den Den Mushi's, great,... no, dammit", she cursed colorfully, startling both the medic and Izo again, while Marco raised an eyebrow utterly amused, he knew exactly where she learned such unseemingly dirty vocabulary (glare from Izo and the medic got back to work).

Her head was tilted down while she murmured to herself, yet it was loudly enough for them to hear some of it, "if l only had given them some... shit … we could have easily …. Yeah … communicate … we will be able to collaborate our next….. timing…..offffttt," she huffed angrily and looked up to them.

Her eyes were looking at them accusingly, as if they were the reason for everything bad in the universe.

Izo opened his mouth, then closed it and looked helplessly at Marco unsure what the hell he did, Marco shrugged, he had an inkling about what may had annoyed her, and she had no one but herself to blame.

She had the calculating look in her eyes again, "who has them?" she demanded.

Izo was busy looking confused while Marco answered.

"Almost all our allies, and some of the commanders, yoi."

"Names," she ordered, Marco raised an eyebrow at the demanding tone, "Please," she added impatiently, then she murmured loudly speaking to herself again, "no, you can tell me on the way."

The way? She already had a place for him in her plans, didn't she? Marco didn't ask (he wasn't sure he was ready to hear anything about it). Instead he continued to observe her closely.

She looked with the same accusing look at the injury, which was now hidden behind thick bandages, and ordered the medic.

"Could you please stop the bleeding, no need for anything else."

Izo began to speak while crouching down beside Marco, "Lina, you can't..."

Lina cut him again, she had a frantic look in her eyes.

"No, I will not!"

She paused and took breath in closing her eyes for second and the opened them, her eyes becoming clear, "I mean I won't become a burden," her voice had a pleading quietly to it, Marco felt a bit uncomfortable (that seemed to be a recurring feeling that she was able to evoke in him).

Izo was touching her shoulder now, "Lina…"

Her shoulders stiffened slightly and almost immediately she forced herself to relax, it took less than second, Izo wasn't paying attention (which was unlike him) but Marco was, she smiled softly then.

"Don't worry, I really didn't want to use it here, but I don't have a choice," she said while taking something out of her bag.

She had a medium sized vial with several small syringes, "Emporio tension hormones," she announced holding them carefully like a delicate flower, "This will make sure that I will be fine until we leave this god forsaken place."

The medic who was able to stop the bleeding after several tries, and had her leg tightly wrapped announced "Finished, I heard about them, they are some magic cure that work like an Adrenaline shot."

"Yup something like that," she said cheerfully, no eye contact, Marco's eyes narrowed, eyeing the syringes she was busy filling from the vial, she wasn't telling them everything.

Marco was considering stopping her and demanding some more detailed explanation about those hormones, when she injected one syringe near her leg and two others into the area near her heart simultaneously.

"That's not good idea.." the medic murmured disapprovingly.

Lina ignored his displeased muttering and announced "I feel better already, thank you, you should look at Blenheim's shoulder, the injury looked really nasty."

The medic understanding that he was being dismissed huffed, murmuring "yeah, yeah,..." and left to look to whoever needed his expertise.

Lina stood up instantly.

Izo was anxiously eyeing her, staying close to her, of the chance she fell or stumbled.

Lina walked up to where her staff was lying, she was walking regularly, the only thing that gave an indication that she was just severely injured was the thick white bandage around half of her leg, she churched get her staff, and walked back to him, Izo was following her closely, still eyeing her uneasily, afraid that the magic would evaporate and she could fall at any moment.

"Hey Marco, can you get me to Whitebeard, I assume he has a Den Den Mushi," Marco nodded when she didn't continue, and only then she added mysteriously, "We have things to discuss."

Marco raised his eyebrow at the bold statement and its implications. He tilted his head to the side, asking her now you want to discuss things with him?

She shrugged and added with forced cheerfulness, "No time like the present!"

Indeed she was Ace's sister, Marco nodded, a small smile appearing on his mouth against his will.

Marco gave a nod to Izo, who understood instantly and had his guns in his hands in instant, loaded and ready.

Marco immediately turned into his phoenix form (no explanation necessary, they needed to move), enjoying as always the fire surrounding him, it might be cool to the touch, but they always gave him a warm feeling, like he was home, in the Moby Dick with all his brothers and sisters.

He wasn't going to take any chances with her, he was going to deliver her to their father safe and sound, and quickly.

Lina was looking at him helplessly, that was one strange reaction, he was used to seeing colorful reactions to his form that ranged from oh and admiring (even worshiping in some cases) to people scared out of their wits (He even had a few people losing their conscious at his intimidatingly beautiful figure. Izo had an acute shiver run down his back, startling him, fearing the reason, he looked paranoidly around him).

He heard her murmur miserably, "of course, flying! It has to be flying."

She took a breath closing her eyes again and when she opened them she had a determined look of someone going to their demise but intending on seeing it through nonetheless, Marco mused to himself finding the whole thing rather amusing.

She took several steps into his direction then stopped in mid step and turned abruptly to look it Izo, who was readying himself to watch their backs when they flew.

"Erm, Izo, I want you to do something very important to me."

Izo, nodded a little bit surprised to the sudden request, but more than happy to oblige.

"Listen very carefully, you have to do exactly as I say, this is really important,"

Izo nodded again, his eyes a bit narrowed listening in interest. He seemed quite enthusiastic to Marco's eyes, (Marco knew him long enough to be able to clearly read the small tells in Izo's body language) he seemed to look forward to whatever the little terror planned.

Marco had a foreboding feeling that those feelings would vanish as if they never were when Ace's little sister finished saying her request.

.

.

.

.

.

Oh, He was right.

.

.

.

.

.

.

MAHMAH, your thoughts? What part did you enjoy the most?

On a more personal note, is becoming poet my future path?

.

This is Shanks's month apparently!

Coincidentally (it just happened), in my other Fic MDNR the last chapter had Shanks POV, and I just posted new chapter about Shanks and Ace, called Shanks's Choice, go check it out and tell me your thoughts.

I am not sure if I am writing different Shanks every time, or if it's just Shanks in different situations.

.

.

Waiting to read your reviews! Happy holidays :)