Domino took in a light breath stretching and smiling at the spray of the sea against her face. She then looked over her deck leaning lightly over the railings of the stern and watched her crew meander around. Some sitting in circles relaxing, while others waved letters in the air talking about there families or business ventures. She listened into them as much as she could and she made it a point to know each name and face it belonged too. With that being said she was once again finding herself being distant from her crew.

So once more she brought a glass bottle to her red lips and threw her head back and take a long much needed drink. As she pulled the bottle away Adaline's flaming red hair bobbed up the stairs to approach a peaceful Domino. "You need to cut back, We'll be in Marine waters any minute now." Adaline's voice stated sternly as Domino gave a light nod and quickly held the bottle to her lips and chugged the rest of the burning liquid.

Adaline watched with both amusement and disappointment.

"Tah." Domino smiled "The waters don't belong to the marines Ada." She spoke softly and cold. This was the real reason she wanted to be drunk. It was becoming harder and harder to try and be the light person she forced herself to be. But if the burning liquid could help then. Well, she would try it for her crew. They deserved to see her at her best, when she was controlled and drinking not at her worst a ball of anxiety and cold words.

Adaline rolled her eyes and looked down at her own clipboard to then look back up at Domino noticing a relaxed smile grace her face. "Tell, the seventy seven six that. They've called for.." She raised her paper to look at all the times they requested something new from Domino's vessel.

"Well, let's just say Vice Admiral Mozambia has called for everything but the kitchen staff." She mumbled looking at the list.

Domino scoffed "He can have the kitchen staff, it'll give us some time to recover from breakfast."

Adaline rolled her eyes looking at the list and squinting her well done eyebrows as her tied back hair shifted with the wind. "Actually, his most recent call was a relief request. Seems some pirates have had his men pinned for some time and he's requesting newer bodies." She stated reading aloud the mans words exactly.

Domino made a face and 'tcked' "I don't want my men to be considered just bodies. Any info on the place he's sending us too?" She asked placing the bottle down on the deck and moving over to a small map Adaline held out towards her. "Looks like it's a small island." Domino hummed as Adaline nodded.

"For sure smaller then Barracuda. But that doesn't mean we can dismiss it." She stated eyeing Domino's smiling face. "Right?" She asked as Domino was clearly lost in thought.

"You think Barracuda looks better with Whitebeards flag?" She asked Adaline remembering how quickly Whitebeard took over the base 3 years ago.

Adaline rolled her eyes "I don't think any island looks good with a pirate flag, Whitebeard or not." She stated honestly thinking about a certain pompadoured commander with a smile before pulling her head out of the clouds as Domino smiled at her lost stare.

"I guess you're right. But.. It is nice to think about." Dom hummed once more.

Adaline rolled her eyes then let out a small smile and a defeated sigh "Yeah, yeah it is." She murmured before they looked at each other with knowing smiles and then looked back towards the deck watching the men beginning to get ready to change positions as they neared what seemed to be a bellowing smoke covered island.

Domino raised her eyebrows and looked at the hill covered island half of it burning and black smoke now starting to reach their ship still a distance away. "Damn, How longs this battle been goin?" She asked.

Adaline looked down at her clip broad and glanced over the papers now blowing in teh wind as it picked up."Umm.." She started.

"It doesn't say, just that they need like a lot, more people." She continued glancing back up at the island and then at Domino who twisted her wrists with a smirk. "Is the Vice Admiral here or just relaying the info from HQ?" Domino asked glancing at Adaline who shook her head.

"He's back at HQ, we're the only ones with the higher rank in these waters." Adaline stated matter of fact as Domino smirked once again her sharp and crooked canines showing. "Well, better call for back up too." She hummed nodding towards the ship's black flag that flew over the island she then shook her head with a smile as Adaline looked at her surprised.

"Are you sure? This is an easy catch, you got hills and plenty of dirt here. The land is your place girl." She asked confused before seeing Domino jump lightly waiting for their ship to get in sight. She then sighed moving to put down the clipboard and tightening the rifle strap on her back.

"Right, got it." She mumbled before walking down the stairs holding out her hands. "Call for reinforcements! Battle stations!" She yelled before quickly ascending the mast towards the crows nest.

Domino shook her head smiling before quickly throwing herself over the edge of the top railing and landed on the deck and quickly approaching the bow of the ship calling out orders. "No quarter! You're marines! Show them what that means!" She yelled to a coursing cheer behind her. She barely acknowledged it as she quickly dodged a well place bullet and looked up to hear Adaline return her own shot.

Domino smiled watching the black flag and twisted her wrists in excitement. "You just had to go and get you a badass didn't you Shanks?" She mumbled to herself dodging another bullet from their well-trained sniper this time however the bullet took a sliver of her pulled back hair her eyes wide and menacing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~at the same time~~~~~~~~~

Marco lifted his arm over his face as the rolling clouds began to rumble and roar above him, growing black as they did so. He looked at it with a tilted head trying to discern the object that was forming above them before jumping up at the ready recognizing it.

A New World hail storm. The famous foes of all pirates no matter the status. Simply because they happened whenever wherever. Now, they can be handled easily by Whitebeard however they were a nuisance.

He heard the cries of the crew to shift positions and head away from the storm but shook his head as Pop's stormed on deck. It was to late to avoid the storm it was already upon them. Marco held out his hands as he watched Whitebeard roll up his sleeve. "If you're new grab the rails-yoi." He shouted in a warning to the newer younger men on the ship.

He watched as 10 or so men desperately clung to the railings wrapping their bodies tightly against it. He nodded his content at their safety then looked to his father unfazed by the loud cracking noise and splitting of the very air before him. In fact he watched it with nothing but pure admiration for the man.

He looked up as the clouds began to disperse and split to the amazement of the newer members. He looked over and gave a nod of approval at a flexing Whitebeard who frowned. "Damn storm ruined my nap." He shook his sad disappointingly "I was having the best dream." He mumbled before looking over at Marco who already moved to sit next to the towering man.

"Mine too-yoi." Marco nodded. Whitebeard raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Is that so? Could the dream have been about a suicidal marine you have come to love my son?" He asked mimicking Thatch's motions of clapping his hands together and batting his eyes.

Marco sent him a side glance before shaking his head looking up at the sky and smiling slightly. "The new worlds weather will always amaze me-yoi." He stated ignoring his fathers attempt at Thatch fall flat.

Whitebeard shrugged off his attempt then nodded. "And to think there's more we still haven't discovered yet!" He stated with a large grin to match his giddiness he felt.

This was their grand adventure after all, nothing would change this.

Domino glared at the man with the camera in her face and quickly pushed him away. "Leave me alone." She groaned as childish laughter ensued in the background.

"Awe! The camera loves you Dom!" Shank's laughter once again called out as Domino held her bleeding head with a slight wince and eyed the camera man that once again tried to get into her face. She rolled her eyes and looked back at the one-armed man sitting open legged and smiling. His plan t-shirt and baggy pants seeming just as relaxed as he was.

His face had the beginning of a black eye and his right arm had the makings of a bandage around it. Domino gave the order to her medics to take care of the injured marines that had been casualties to Shanks's statement of power. While forgoing her own medical treatment. Deciding that if she was still breathing, even if her body burned it wasn't worth bothering her doctors.

"Who said you can call me Dom?" She asked him as he shrugged "Dunno."

Domino rolled her eyes with a smile then pushed the camera out of her face once more.

"I Hate this, They'll probably lie and make me a hero." She groaned. It was always required of her that she have at least one camera man on standby to document the government's feats. Of course, it was really Akainu's doing. He knew she hated being publicly outed because while she embraced her hair color and old self, she still had a fear that bringing attention to herself more then necessary could really get her killed. And even if she didn't show it. She very much liked to breathe.

Shanks laughed his shoulder length hair waving with the reverberation of his movements. "Well you are aren't you! You got us to stop fighting!" He cheered before holding out his bottle towards hers. "Though we could fight again?!" He asked her, raising an eyebrow with a skull splitting smile.

Domino smirked pulling the blood covered towel from her lips to speak. "I know when I've been beat Red Hair." She sighed before shrugging.

"But I could use the training." She mumbled glancing at him as he looked back shaking his head in disbelief a smile still on his face.

"It's been forever!" He cheered with arm motions. "I'm so excited to see a familiar face in the New World!" He chirped then motioned to her body. "Though you've got a lot more scars then when we were kids." He hummed placing his hand to his chin and titling his head slightly.

Domino rolled her eyes. "I wasn't aloud to take breaks. Like you." She smirked then leaned back pulling the towel away. "I was wondering when you'd come back." She smiled looking towards the three men who stood behind the relaxed red head captain who's smile was cheerful and happy.

Though their demeanor seemed relaxed she knew that to be the opposite of the truth. Each one watched her very closely. Each one was willing to make that decisive finishing blow if she gave any sign of hostility.

Shanks looked behind her and saw a woman with red hair just like his appear over the hilltop and pointed with a smile "Hey we have the same hair!" He shouted as Domino rolled her eyes and looked up at Adaline who eyed the dirty blond mop of hair man named Yasop. He was Shank's sniper and naturally him and Adaline did not consider the other one to be on their own level.

But they never got the chance to prove it due to Domino's deal.

"It's not exclusive to you." She stated sternly to calls of "Ohh!" From Shanks crew. Adaline ignored the looks and looked down holding out a clip board towards Domino who's legs were tucked in as her body leaned over them.

"New orders we leave in an hour." She stated sternly not giving the pirates the light of day.

Domino glanced down at her worn combat boots, and then back up towards the stern petite woman, debating on what to say. "Thanks Ada!" She chirped as Adaline nodded and began to walk off. As she did so someone made the mistake of catcalling the petite Marine. Suddenly her gun was up on her shoulder and her finger on the trigger. Her blue eyes narrowing on the voice as she did so.

Quickly Domino stood up in front of the gun pushing the barrel to her throat as Shanks moved his hand lingering over his sword his eyes narrowing and cold. Yasopp's gun just as quick to draw now aimed to the back of Domino's head.

Both snipers watching the other to see exactly who would be to deliver that final blow.

However, Domino knew pointing a gun at Shanks men was an offense that would lead to their deaths. So instead she made sure it was pointed at her and only her. She could take the guns. She could stop them both. But only her.

Still, Domino didn't dare turn her back on Adaline while still understanding this situation must be frustrating. So instead she glanced back tseeing Shanks in the corner of her eye while her arms were held straight in a 't' shape. "Get control of your men Shanks." She snarled while Adaline watched Domino's honey eyes focus on her the two having a silent battle.

Adaline then moved her eyes over to Shanks who was suddenly a different man. His calm demeanor was now long gone and all that stood before her was a menacing man a presence about him unmentionable at the time.

He eyed the tall marine and looked up, his eyes snapping on the man who whistled sending him a 'what were you thinking' look.

"So should you." He stated his voice stern and serious. While watching the man who now looked down in embarrassment.

The group watched as Domino tilted her head her hair sweeping over her dirty and burnt tank top grazing over her purple rose tattoo as she did so. "She's my best friend I can't just order her to forget that." She took in a sharp breath feeling Yasopp's barrel dangerously close as well. It was nearly touching the nape of her neck and she could feel the cold heat radiating off of the mans eyes.

"You see the problem?" She asked while Adalines eyes watched the man look down. Domino silently mouthed the words 'I got this'. She gave one last huff and began to lower her gun slowly watching the others.

Shanks watched as the two woman had a silent conversation before crossing his arm away from his sword and nodded. "I get it." He agreed. As they watched their captains motions his men to began to relax while Domino turned around a new crazy smile on her face.

Adaline began to walk off in a huff.

"So? You come back just to start some shit or what?" Domino asked him with a raised eyebrow as he shrugged looking around and relaxing leaning back.

"I thought you would ask about my arm first?" He asked as the blood stained marine rolled her eyes and waved her hand putting the bloody cloth back to her head. In reality, her body hurt and burned much more then she let on.

"Please, Luffy told me everything already." She teased as Shanks went wide-eyed and smiled like a giddy kid leaning forward and putting his hand in-between his legs.

"You've seen Luffy!" He asked cheerfully bouncing. "Was it recently?" He eagerly questioned.

Domino shook her head. "Nah, not recently. I guess, I should say, luffy told me through Garp, I haven't seen the little man in a bit." She then laughed "Garp got mad and banned me from ever coming back. Cause I said the little man should be a pirate instead of a marine." She smiled remembering how mad the old man was with her. In truth she had only officially gone back to Paradise one time in her life and she had the pleasure of meeting the three kids. Not all at once because Garp liked to keep them separate as long as possible.

Shanks laughed "So he still wants to be a pirate!" He started when Domino shook her head holding out her hand. "No, No, The king of the Pirates, that's a whole lotta different then just, a pirate." She smiled as Shanks hollered in laughter.

"We need more drink's; Hey Dom let's have a party!?" He asked her bouncing slightly.

"I'll take the drink; you keep the party." She smiled placing a hand on her cheek. He quickly leaned in and handed her a brand-new bottle an ear to ear grin on his face.

She gave a light nod and popped the cork with her mouth before spitting it out in the ground and clanked her glass with his.

"So? You come back just to start some shit or what?" Domino asked him with a raised eyebrow as he shrugged looking around and relaxing leaning back a new smile on his face. "should I be worried?" Domino continued noticing the smile and taking a small sip. However the taste of blood overpowered the alcohols sting.

He shrugged. "Are you going to get in my way?" He asked her as she looked up and closed his scarred eye leaning forward.

"Depends on if you keep taking our shit and killing my men." She asked him as he nodded taking a drink. "Then yeah you should be worried." He remarked with a smile holding his beer out in a grand gesture.

Domino rolled her eyes and groaned dropping her fake persona she held. "Great, now birdy then you." She mumbled as Shanks went wide eyed.

"Birdy?!" He asked then smiled wildly as he saw Domino's surprised face and then the blush that ran across her cheeks.

"Who's birdy? Dom!" He asked as she smiled madly to herself and looked away. "He's uh. No one." She mumbled before biting her lip and looking over at his childish smile and losing it, he reminded her of little luffy.

"Okay, so I know what you're going to say. But he's a pirate!" She giggled nervously. Normally she wouldn't be this childish but seeing the same red head that Garp would take her with to chase was almost like she would feel at seeing her brothers again. But not quiet.

Shanks hollered in laughter and kicked his legs. "Birdy's a pirate! You with a pirate! I knew it if only red nose was here to pay me!" He hollered again as Domino rolled her eyes. "Listen, getting back on track I seriously need you to give me something anything on why you're back." She stated sternly to Shanks's frown.

"Why?" He asked her as she took a drink from the bottle. "Cause, you're about to cause a lot of problems with balance and such, and in case you haven't notice the big guys don't really like that." She stated with a curt smile.

Shanks made a face as if he tasted something wired and frowned. "Since when did you care about the big guys? What happened to the marine that would sneak away from Garp to chase us? The um, the same one who didn't wear shoes. And run around punching people!?" He asked her lightly smiling at the memories of how Garp would come barreling through the islands looking for the younger marine that he now vaguely recognized in this new adult form.

His smiled then dropped it as she gave a weak smile and looked down before looking back up and taking a longer drink. He picked up on how hurt she felt and this made him sad. Who would make a friend sad?

"Well, My deals in full effect now. I've put my name out there too much to not, not care about the big guys anymore." She sighed and ran her hand through her hair. "I've got a lot of people I gotta look out for." She hummed as Shanks stern face lit up.

"You did this for love!~" He laughed trying his best to ease the woman's mind "Alright I'll tell you!" He cheered with giddy wave of the hand.

Adaline watched the shore with her arms crossed her hand on her rifle to move at any moment. She was sure Domino had a reason for doing what she was doing yet it made her feel uneasy how fluid she was with the marine codes. Sometimes Domino wouldn't let a single man get away and others she let a pirate crew such as the Red Haired pirates sit on the now destroyed marine island and drink with them.

It drove her nuts but still she respected Domino for everything that woman has done.

So instead, Adaline paced lightly remembering how Domino had landed the first blow on Shanks and their fight ensued. Then as they were both exchanging blows and dodging Domino stopped and smiled asking Shanks if he wanted a drink. To which Shanks sat down right at the very spot they had just moments before drawn first blood and their they were still.

Adaline shook her head, there had to be a reason so she steeled herself to ask the now oncoming and limping Domino.

Adaline let out a sigh of relief and rushed to call the orders to pull out as Domino forgo the boarding ramp and jumped over to land on the deck beside Adaline.

Quickly Avery who had just recently came back to the ship, and donned a new black eye patch, looked at the taller woman as she called to set sail. Adaline didn't wait till they were in the confides of the captain's quarters to finally let her anger boil over as she looked at the extent of Domino's injuries.

"Domino what was that?" She asked going wide eyed at the beach that had a waving redhead pirate. Domino didn't even look back as she gave a light smile noticing her crew watch her as well. Some with angry eyes others just worn out the battle had lasted longer the Domino wanted.

"I wasn't about to let my men die fighting someone who would rather have a party." She stated sternly looking at her crew knowing that they were beginning to second guess if she was fond of all pirates or just the few.

"Wasting my men's lives is not something I was trained to do, So even if I have to bite back my tongue and roll with it. If it means saving at least one of you. I would do it in a heartbeat." She stated sternly looking at her men as someone called out.

"What about our oath?" to which Domino nodded.

"As Marines to protect the seas?" She asked then shook her head. "How do we do that if we waste our lives, fighting the wrong battle?" Her cold voice very stern but still caring.

Adaline who went quiet looked up "Do you not have faith in us, this is why we became marines. To fight." She asked not knowing why it was she spoke. At any moment Domino could quickly throw back her love affair with the 4th division commander though she was sure that Domino would never do such things.

Domino scoffed pushing away from Avery and looking towards the tiny red head who felt so useless once more trapped in her head with her conflicted feelings. She was upset at Domino but was also grateful for her.

"I have faith that y'all'll help me defeat the gods themselves." She smiled taking a breath to continue. Adaline frowned, in her anger she forgot Domino's real reason for joining the marines and mentally scolded herself for doubting her in the first place.

"But, you can't fight the gods if we fight the wrong battle." Domino stated sternly looking towards her men who looked on with somber faces. Unsure how to process their officer's words. "Call me a coward, leave my ship, I won't stop you." Her cold voice ringing through their ears.

"But. Do not think for a second that I don't have faith in everyone of you." She stated sternly then ran her hand through her hair and shook her head walking briskly towards the captain's quarters. Her wrists twisting as she did so.

Adaline followed behind uneasy at Domino's motions. Adaline gingerly closed the door behind her as Domino moved to take off her tank top in a huff reveling the various brushes and cuts that marked her body as even her midsection seemed extended and purple. Almost as if she was a few months pregnant. Which was not a possibility.

"Hey, I'm sorry." Adaline called then she stopped and looked down at Domino who leaned over her desk taking in deep breaths her eyes wide as she tried to breath without pain.

"He's that strong?" She asked unsure on if she should try and continue to apologize or instead just watch Domino move to shake her head.

"Adaline, if we continued to fight, the only ones alive would be you and I and barely." She stated grimacing. "I know it's hard and frustrating for you but please. Trust me we will fight when we need to." She whispered as she began to cough and hide the blood that came from her mouth as she did so.

Adaline rolled her eyes and walked over to Domino and gingerly walked her naked form over to her bed to lay her down. "I'm sorry, I am, I just feel so confused and useless." She murmured as Domino grimaced and then nodded.

"I get it, trust me I do. But not everyone is black and white, pirate or marine. There are so many different variations, that you just gotta trust yourself to make that call." She stated holding her hand to her mouth once more before continuing. "And you can, I've seen you do it plenty of times before, I don't know why you don't trust yourself. You're not useless you do so much for me and this crew. Most of these things I could never do." Domino stated through a strained voice her teeth red as Adaline bite her lip in worry.

"I need to call Avery." She spoke to herself as Domino looked at her.

"You're ignoring me." She whispered as Adaline crossed her arms.

"Of course I am, You're always doing this to me!" She whinnied as Domino smiled "Only because I know you can take it." She cooed. Adaline rolled her eyes noticing the blood that seeped through Dominos closed lips.

"Let's save this for later alright girl?" She asked as Domino nodded as she placed her arm over her eyes and let out a soft smile.

"Are the men taken care off?" She asked absently. Adaline rolled her eyes "Yes, of course. Now, I'm getting Avery." She smiled beginning to walk off giving Domino a worried look then stopping as Domino smiled.

"Thanks Ada!" Domino called before she instantly frowned as she closed the door and held her body over the side of her cot. Watching as more blood fell from her mouth.