I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter!

~Ships, Pop Greens, and Hell~

Nathaniel stared up at the ship as the shipwrights worked on it, his eyes strayed back down to the plans in front of him, going over everything carefully. Blenheim and Kingdew were both working continuously on the new ship they had two years to get enough ships finished for their entire crew. Their allies were nice enough to help supply them with the supplies needed for repairs.

Nathaniel, and the two commanders, had come with a few other crewmates to one of their allies islands nearby and were beginning to rebuild their destroyed fleet. The plans for the new lead ship had been approved by Marco and they were slowly making progress on the ship. It should be done at the earliest by about midyear if there were no complications. Marco had merely requested that when Ace comes back he wanted the boy to come home to their new ship.

Nathaniel looked over the details of the ship, smiling as he remembered the night these were created. It had been a long night of drinking between Ace and Thatch, the commanders inviting him to join them.

~A While Ago~

"You know, Marco's going to need his own ship soon."

Ace glanced at the cook, "Why do you say that?"

Thatch looked at Ace. "You didn't know?"

"Know what?"

"Marco's next in line to become captain, whenever Pops decides to retire."

Ace paused, Nathaniel listening intently, "Pops is thinking of retiring?"

Thatch paused. "Not yet, but it's going to happen. That doesn't mean he'll leave the ship! Just that Marco will take over duties."

"Why did you say Marco's going to need his own ship?" Nathaniel questioned.

"Before Pops retires Marco will probably take lead of one of the other ships, to show his captaining potential."

"So wouldn't he just take one of the additional ships we have?" Nathaniel asked.

Thatch laughed. "Marco needs his own ship, one that suits his personality!"

"I think the Moby Dick and it's sisters would be fine for that," Ace commented.

Thatch shook his head. "I have a brilliant idea for Marco's ship!"

The two watched as Thatch grabbed a piece of paper off of Ace's desk and began drawing on it. Nathaniel attempted a glance but was shooed away by the chef. It was a bit later that the chef finally finished his drawing and thrust it in front of Ace and Nathaniel. They both blinked at the picture, trying to figure out what it was exactly.

Nathaniel could make out what looked to be a bird shape to the ship or something, he took the picture from Thatch as Ace began laughing, seeming to have understood Thatch's design. Nathaniel grabbed a piece of paper himself and looked over the design Thatch did before beginning his design. He could feel the commander's eyes on him as he drew the ship. After several minutes he had a rough design for the ship and showed it to his commanders.

Thatch laughed at the phoenix inspired ship, commenting on how much it suited Marco. Ace commented that the design really did suit their feathered commander. Nathaniel pulled the design back and stored it away for safe keeping. Marco's birthday was coming up, maybe he'd make a small replica of it for the commander's present.

~Present Time~

Nathaniel looked back up at the figure head, the beak and head of the phoenix was coming along nicely. Everything was a plain color at the moment but they planned to paint everything in Marco's colors eventually. They had decided on additional ships like the main one, in different colors representing shades of fire for the Phoenix and their new first division commander.

"Everything coming along well?" Blenheim shouted down to him.

Nathaniel looked up at the commander. "Yeah, everything looks great so far!"

The commander disappeared back to work on the ship, Nathaniel smiled before putting the plans away and returning to work himself. They would make this ship perfect, it carried all their new hopes and dreams on its wings. It was the beginning of a new life for them, and this ship is what would carry them.

~Boin Archipelago~

Usopp ran through the forest, ignoring the food as he passed. He was determined solely on getting stronger for when he met the others again. He paused at a plant and knelt next to it, examining it carefully before picking it and placing it in his bag. It was yet another new species of pop green, he could find a new way to use this plant, he at least hoped he could. Heracles had shown him various plants, but Usopp was finding new ones he could collect seeds from as he traveled further into the island.

Usopp paused and looked into the forest, before turning to go back the way he had come. Heracles had warned him not to travel to deep into the forest because he would become trapped if he did. So far the two had been lucky to not have been eaten by the giant plant they currently resided on, but Usopp knew he had to trek carefully. If he didn't heed the other's warnings he may not escape to see his crew again.

Usopp sat back down at the base they had decided on, and pulled out the plant, intent on gathering the seeds and figuring out how they worked. He threw one seed onto the ground and saw nothing happen. Usopp sighed before getting back up, he figured he should go to the closest water source to see if that would get the seed to sprout.

The pop greens were useful but even he had trouble figuring out how to get them to grow, they were all a little bit different. Some you just threw them and they would grow, others had to meet certain conditions. Before he left the area, he planted one of the seeds so that he could just grab more from somewhere near their main base.

It was going to be a long two years, but Usopp was determined to make a difference and to continue growing. He couldn't return to his crew week and useless, he had to show him he could be just as useful. He was determined not to be the weakest link in the crew anymore, it was his goal.

~Momiro Island~

Sanji collapsed next to a tree after checking to make sure the area was clear of his enemies. He couldn't wait to get out of this hell-hole and back to his beloved Nami and Robin. He tried to calm his racing heart, as he caught his breath, he had been running most of the day. Sanji closed his eyes as he allowed himself to slowly relax.

Today was one of his training only days, he would probably challenge Ivankov the next day or the day after. Beating that Okama was the only way for him to get off the island, the only reason Sanji put up with the Okama was because he seemed to be an ally of his captain's and Sanji wouldn't disrespect his captain by being rude to the Okama, didn't mean he had to like the guy or his island.

"Are you okay?"

Sanji stilled at the feminine voice, trying to decipher if it truly was a female or if it was one of the Okama's that actually seemed to do a good job at throwing their voice. He prepared himself to come face to face with the Okama, because that was all it could be, there were no real women on this island.

Sanji glared at the person who stood next to the tree across from the cook. He paused as he looked over the figure, trying to figure out if this was a trap or not. The person definitely looked like an actual female, their beauty didn't quite match Nami or Robin's but was angelic enough for this hell.

Their long blonde hair, was tied back into a low pony-tail, their reddish eyes watching the cook in worry. Their outfit made Sanji paused, not what he would see a girl wearing normally, but the figure wore a blue t-shirt and beige colored plaid shorts. To complete the outfit they had on boots that seemed ideal for a walk through the forest.

"Excuse me?"

Sanji paused taking in their sweet voice, it sounded heavenly hearing the angel speak. He brought his eyes back up to meet the angel's. Sanji stood up suddenly, startling the girl by his sudden movements.

"Are you real?"

The person blinked. "Uh. Yes?"

Sanji paused. "That cannot be though, on this island it is impossible for there to be an angel such as yourself here."

"I think Master Ivankov would be angry to hear you say that." The figure commented.

"Master?" Sanji sighed. "I knew it, you're nothing but a trap! Sent to tempt me back into the depths of this hell!"

"Trap? What are you talking about?" The blonde asked.

Sanji turned. "I can't be tempted by one cross-dresser that was able to almost perfectly copy a woman's beauty. There are no women on the island, I have to remember that."

"Cross-dresser, I'm no cross-dresser."

Sanji turned back to her, moving to stand directly in front of her, staring at her. "You're saying your an actual woman?"

"Uh. Yes?" The girl blinked. "Did you hit your head."

Sanji grabbed her hands suddenly. "God has blessed me with a lovely angel, to keep me going till I can truly escape this hell and find my way back to the presence of women."

"Uh."

Sanji paused as he heard noise from close by, before groaning, sad to see his time with his angel having been interrupted. He looked at the girl again before letting go of her hands regrettably.

"Don't worry my angel I will fight hard to escape this island!"

The girl watched the man run off into the forest, still confused on what was happening. She turned to where the voices were coming for an smiled as she saw Ivankov and Inazuma.

"There you vare Silk." The Okama king commented as they approached the girl.

"Were you looking for me?"

Ivankov shook his head. "I vas looking vor the other person I am taking care ov on this island."

"Other person?" Silk paused. "Blonde man in a suit, and swirly eyebrows?"

"That vis him."

"He ran that way, was acting very strange."

"You saw him?" Ivankov questioned.

Silk nodded. "He kept referring to me as a trap and cross-dresser, and when I said I wasn't any of those he assumed I must be an angel then. Kept saying something about hell."

Ivankov laughed. "That boy is a strange vone. You best stay clear ov him my dear."

Silk nodded. "Alright, if you say so. Is it alright if I return to the castle?"

Ivankov nodded. "Inazuma vill accompany you so that you two can train."

"Any word from Sabo by the way?"

Ivankov shook his head. "Afraid not, your captain is busy and probably on a top-secret vor Dragon."

Silk nodded. "Right, thanks Ivankov."

Silk turned and followed Inazuma through the forest as Ivankov went deeper into the woods in search of his other charge. The Okama king found it funny that his two charges had met, he would enjoy toying with the straw hat pirate by dancing Silk in front of the boy. He had to be careful not to let the young girl find out though, she wasn't known for her temper, but Ivankov didn't want to find out what she'd do if she found out she was a tool to get the boy moving.

~End ch. 22~

I really enjoyed writing this chapter, I'm trying to introduce more of Ace's crew mates in this story, and get more looks at the Whitebeards besides Marco and Ace. I wasn't quite sure how to work out Usopp since we don't know much about his attacks just yet.

The part I was looking forward to the most was Silk and Sanji meeting. Silk's a swordsman of training and I figured Inazuma is a perfect trainer for her to practice with because of his devil fruit ability. Also Zoro kind of already stole the only other swordsman besides Vista that is well known in the One Piece world, not that Mihawk would train Silk anyways.

Silk is very much a tomboy compared to Nami and Robin and I want to show how she is different from them by having her interact with Sanji. As for Sanji referring to her as an angel, it has to do with: 1. he describes the island as hell, so his guiding light would be an angel I'd say and 2. Her crew is known as the seraphim pirates, not that Sanji knows this so he's not using that as reference, but it plays on her crew.

Romantically speaking besides Silk being a female Sanji wouldn't be interested in her, simply she's a young girl in the middle of his hell and he thinks of her as his angel. Whether he actually realizes she's actually there or not can be questioned or if he thinks he is just imagining her. So Silk will be appearing in chapters during the time skip with Sanji, because they are both on the same island.

Reviewer's corner:

Nala1220 - Sorry the end wasn't as pleasing Ann is throwing me for a loop somewhat. Thank you for the review though!

Son of Whitebeard - Thanks for the review.

Till next time!