So sorry this update is so late! My muses have just not been here and every time I sat down to write recently something would distract me. But enough with the excuses, the new chapters up!

~Looking Ahead~

Sabo smiled as he walked off the ship back at the main base in Paradise, looking around the familiar surroundings happy to be home again. Koala stood next to him, a smile on her face as well, though they both shared similar thoughts despite their happiness. They hadn't even considered the thought of returning to this place after the war, they both were sure the mission would have failed or they'd have died making it a success.

A member of the revolutionary army walked over as he noticed their departure from the ship. "The boss wishes to see you two as soon as you arrive."

Sabo nodded. "We'll go right away. Can you inform my crew that I've returned?"

The man nodded. "I'll get on that."

Koala and Sabo began making their way through the halls of the base, the girl watching Sabo in interest. Sabo blinked as he turned to the girl, confused at all the staring she was doing suddenly.

"What?"

Koala smiled. "When's the promotion?"

"Promotion?"

"Everyone knows Dragon's going to name you his second in command."

"Why would he do that?" Sabo asked, facing forward again.

"You're his most trusted agent, and he gave you such a major mission."

"He sent you as well."

"Only because I'm your partner on missions when your crew isn't around."

Sabo smiled. "I am not positive I will be promoted, if I do I will be happy, if not oh well."

"You don't care?"

Sabo shook his head. "No, I'll do my job and what's expected of me no matter what."

Koala smiled. "I see."

She stopped talking at a while, but she did watch those they passed, most bowed their heads respectively if they noticed Sabo. Those that didn't bow, stayed out of their path, and hurried past the two, not wanting to keep them from the boss. Sabo didn't pay them any mind, focused on making their way to their Dragon's office.

Koala paused as Sabo stopped in front of the office and knocked. They waited a moment before they heard their leader tell them to enter. The two entered the room, Sabo looking straight at their leader as they walked towards his desk. Koala glanced at the young woman standing in front of the desk who had turned to see who was entering. The raven haired woman watched Sabo in interest, a small smile on her face.

"I see you both have returned." Dragon began as he looked the two over.

"A few minor injuries but nothing major," Koala explained.

Dragon nodded. "Make sure to visit the doctor later to insure your wounds are tended to."

"Of course. We were told you needed to see us?" Sabo asked.

Dragon nodded and waved at the woman. "I believe you have met Nico Robin?"

Sabo looked at the woman and smiled. "Briefly. I didn't introduce myself very well, I'm Sabo, Luffy's older brother."

"Nico Robin, Archeologist of the Straw Hat Pirates," Robin smiled back.

"After your stunt at Marineford with the Ox Bell, I was notified that Robin had agreed to join us for a bit." Dragon watched the blonde in front of him.

"I'm sorry for my recklessness."

"If it hadn't been for that recklessness our crew wouldn't have received the captain's message otherwise," Robin pointed out.

"I am assigning Robin to your and Koala's unit."

"Our unit?" Koala asked. "But I normally act separately or with the Fishmen in our group."

"For the time that Robin is here I am assigning her to a unit that consists of Sabo, yourself, and Hack."

"What about my crew?" Sabo questioned.

"Your crew will be on hiatus, I may send them on their own tasks separately but overall they will be on hiatus."

Sabo bit his lip, but knew that Dragon knew what was best. "I understand."

Dragon nodded as he looked the three over. "I expect you to work as a team, Miss Nico though you are a valued guest please listen to Sabo. He is one of my best."

Robin smiled. "I understand sir."

"Is there anything else?" Sabo asked.

"Make sure to turn your reports in soon."

"They'll be on your desk by the end of the night," Koala promised.

Dragon nodded and the three bowed, before they exited the room. The three of them stood awkwardly outside the door, not positive on what to do now. Koala cleared her throat finally and the other two turned to look at her.

"I can show you to your room," Koala offered.

Robin smiled. "That would be nice."

"Would you prefer your own room? I'm not sure if they already set you up with one."

"I wouldn't mind sharing I suppose, I'll have to get to know you guys soon enough."

Koala nodded as she began leading Robin away. "Sabo, we'll talk to you later after you see your crew!"

Sabo nodded. "See you later!"

Sabo turned and began making his way through the halls in search of his crew. They'd probably be in their normal hang out spot especially if they knew he had returned. He arrived in the longue and smiled as he saw his crew sitting around, doing their normal activities. He walked further into the room as Holy turned his head to the door when he heard footsteps.

"Sabo!" Holy shouted as he raced forward.

The others looked up at that and smiled as they saw their captain standing before them. Apis and Milia dashed forward to hug the blonde man after the younger boy was out of the way. Amanda ran up and hugged him next once the younger girls were out of the way. Maccus and Bonney both welcomed him back and smiled at him. Ann hit him over the head for his recklessness before welcoming him back properly. Silk gave him a hug as she cried out in relief that he was mostly unharmed.

"Sorry I worried you all."

"Don't be so reckless!" Ann reprimanded.

"Why didn't you come see us when you returned?" Holy asked.

"I had to see Dragon."

"He's not sending you out on a new assignment already is he?" Silk asked.

Sabo shook his head. "For now I've been put on a new unit thanks to our guest, Nico Robin."

"What about us?" Bonney asked.

"You are all on hiatus, Dragon may send you out separately but our unit is on hiatus till Nico Robin leaves."

"How long will this be for?" Maccus questioned.

Sabo thought about it for a second. "Two years at most. That's when my brother asked for his crew to meet him again."

"So we'll be a unit again after two years?" Milia asked sadly.

Sabo smiled and bent down to the girl. "Yup, I want you all to get strong during these two years. Can you do that?"

Milia nodded but looked confused. "Why?"

"In two years we're going to meet my brothers in the New World."

"What?" Bonney shouted in shock.

Sabo nodded. "So you guys are to get stronger and home your skills. I'm going to need you all in the New World."

"Why us?" Maccus asked nervously.

"There's no one I trust more."

Everyone was quiet as they examined their captain, they hadn't known he felt that way about them. It was a few minutes later, before they all smiled and the kids dragged Sabo to the couch and began telling him about all that he had missed. Sabo smiled as he listened to their stories and played with the children excitedly.

~Whitebeard's Grave~

Marco looked up as he heard a quiet knock on his door, his eyes drooping more than normal thanks to the little sleep he had gotten since the war. He let out a small yawn before giving permission to enter. Of all the people he thought would visit him, Ace was not the first on the list. The raven haired boy looked just as rundown as Marco, and he had gotten just as little sleep, if not more, then the first division commander.

"Ace?"

The raven looked up at the blonde and gave a weak smile. "I wanted to talk."

Marco sighed, he had a feeling the boy would want to talk eventually. "About what?"

"I'm sorry for everything. If I had been stronger none of this would have happened." Ace paused and Marco went to speak but the boy shook his head before continuing. "No, if I had only listened to you all in the first place and not let the ship. None of this would have happened."

Marco sighed. "You're right if you had listened you wouldn't have been captured. If you had been stronger you may have not been captured as well. If you had not been captured Pops may still be with us."

Ace grit his teeth as he bowed his head. "I'm sorry."

Marco watched the boy sadly. "Don't be. We should have helped you hone your abilities better and I should have gone after you when you left."

"Marco."

Marco closed his eyes for a moment. "It's not your fault Pops died, he would have done the same for any of us. Teach is the one who instigated this whole thing. I'm sorry my earlier words were so harsh."

"I deserved them, I disobeyed your orders, Pops' orders and everyone's concerns."

"You did, and for that I feel you've been punished enough."

Ace clenched his hands into fists tightly. "I understand."

"Remember everyone's sacrifices Ace. Pops did not die so that you would throw your life away or beat yourself up. He forgave you and placed no blame on you for the war."

"Why?" Ace asked, his voice choking up as he began to cry.

"Because your his son."

Ace knelt on the floor as his emotions over came him and he began to cry openly, something he rarely did. Marco stood and went to his little brother, kneeling next to the boy and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Remember Ace, Pops may be gone, but his memory will always live on. We, his sons, will keep it alive."

Ace nodded. "I understand."

"Look at me."

Ace looked at the blonde. "Yeah?"

"The coming years will be hard, I am going to need your help."

"My help?"

Marco nodded, sitting next to the raven. "I am next in line for the Captain's position. Pops will want us to continue sailing."

"Marco. Are you really going to take over?"

Marco nodded. "I'm the eldest and the first division commander. It's my job."

"What do you need me to do?"

Marco glanced at the raven. "I'm making you the new first mate."

Ace blinked. "Me?"

Marco nodded. "You'll be taking over the first division from me once I fully settle in to the position as captain."

"What about the second division?"

"We'll find a new commander for them, there are plenty of fine choices there. We also need a new fourth division commander."

Ace nodded. "I understand."

The two remained silent, just taking in each other's company for a bit, not sure what to do now. Ace was still shocked about the news, and Marco was thinking over the next bit of information he needed to deliver to the boy.

"I'm sending you away from the ship in a few months."

Ace froze. "What? Why?"

Marco placed a hand on his shoulder to still the younger man. "I want you to train in both armament haki and conqueror's haki."

"Why can't I stay here for that?"

"No one else on this ship knows how to use conqueror's haki now that Pops is dead. Shanks has agreed to train you in it."

"And the armament?"

"I will begin your training, but Shanks will most likely finish it up. You'll be training for a year, that's twelve months exactly. Six months from now is when you'll be going to Shanks' ship. You'll be returned to me six months before your brother is set to return to sea."

"You have this all planned out don't you?"

Marco nodded. "I know in two years time you may want to meet your brothers, I will allow that, but you have to show me you can handle it. That's what those last six months are for. Prove to me that you will be fine away from your brothers and I will let you go."

"Marco."

"Don't argue with me Ace. I need a first mate that knows what he's doing, and understands his place in the world better. I expect you to learn from sailing with your brothers what you can do for your own crew."

"What will you do while I'm gone?"

"I will gather out allies and strengthen our crew again. Ace you will be the only Whitebeard Pirate publically active, you will be the one to show people that we are still here and going strong."

Ace's eyes widened as he realized the faith and task Marco was placing with him. "I understand. I won't let them forget our name or our mark."

Marco smirked. "Good."

Ace smiled at his older brother as the blonde smiled back, tension leaving them both as they got the major matters out into the open. Ace was nervous about leaving his home, but he knew he needed to do it to help his future captain. He needed to do it for himself also, he couldn't handle disappointing and failing another captain, especially not his older brother.

~End ch. 20~

Finally I got this done! I had rewritten Sabo's part of the chapter so many times it wasn't funny! The guy couldn't figure out what part he liked best. It wasn't until his back-story chapter in the manga recently that he finally let me actually keep his part. I was going to end it there but then decided to add a bit more for Ace. I didn't expect how much I added for Ace!

Reviewer's corner:

samira vangola: Thanks for the review!

kunf'you'z-ed: Thanks for the review! Sorry this took so long! Sabo will probably continue to be trained by Dragon, he's probably the one who trained him anyways, and Ace is being trained by Marco and Shanks! I can't wait for the new world to start, but I really need to bring more to light over the time skip before I do that.

Till next time!