WinterRose61 - He's so smug when he knows he's right. Thank you very much! Marco's getting swated by his charms haha

Zoysite - Hahahah yea! Izou is siding with the 'enemy', in Marco's eyes atleast, poor marco. He is! And even Marco is in Awe that Ace takes such good care of his old man! Even if the kid annoys him, he doesn't worry anymore about them being alone togheter, he knows Ace wants the best for Pops.
Aaah thank you! And nope! Unseeing eyes, Phoenix's adventures, MY perfect Family,... will keep going and going for now! There's no real ending planned for those and as long as there's ideas for more chapters, they'll keep coming!

This was going to be the marines chapter... but I got distracted. Once they get to the island!

Marco hummed as he went over the latest charted course, he had expected to need to re-direct some parts, especially around the next island. The waters seemed safe and normal, but he had been at this island enough to know of the few hidden reefs that could seriously damage their boat. But the set course was actually perfect, he couldn't find any safer route to take.

The chart itself too, it seemed like a new one, very legible and easy to understand, yet it contained everything you need and in the right details. Coming from him that meant a lot. He may be the first commander and first mate, having sailed the seas for years, that didn't mean he was an expert in everything. Especially not in navigation, not to this detail, and since he could fly he never really had to bother with things like reefs. The only reason he somewhat knew how to navigate was with experience, thus that only counted for the Moby. If he had to chart a course for a ship of other dimensions and weight he wouldn't deny there was a chance he would get the whole boat stuck somewhere... even if he won't admit that outloud.

"Who made this chart?" He asked the members of second division walking around him. They all froze at that making him roll his eyes. "Nothing is wrong with it. It's actually very impressive-yoi. It's legible, has all the right details," even more then they usually put on, "and it even has a small map area of where we dock, which is actually really convenient to have." they usually differentiated, you have sea-charts, that ofcourse show all details of the waters. While besides that they have charts and maps of the land, they usually needed to have two next to each other to plan their docking. But with the harbour drawn out on the sea-chart, that wasn't even necessary.

Sighs of relieve where around him and one of them came to look, Liam if he got it right. And he for sure hopes he has it right, he's been leading the second division for years now, never finding a good candidate. But this chart was really impressive, maybe they did have someone that could take over. Even if only for the navigation duties and not a real commander, since strength and the ability to lead was also something needed for that.

"Ehm... I don't know..."

Marco raised a brow at that, "Who planned this course?"

"... I don't know, commander."

Now that was really strange, he lowered the paper looking around, "Who planned out the course to the next island-yoi?"

Everyone looked at each other and pointed to each other, some to Liam too which made him more confused since Liam just said he didn't know.

Seeing he was looked at again the recruit spoke, "I did help chart a course to the island, we all did. Last week we sat together and discussed everyone's plans to create a course."

"So...?"

"That's not that one." Liam turned around to their table filled with charts, searching around in the few drawers and pulled out a paper, handing it over. "We made this one."

Taking it Marco nodded instantly, he recognised this map, could even recognise the parts Liam had drawn, pressing just a tad harder on his quills then others. The course on this one wasn't bad, but some turned where a bit risky and if the wind and sea were against them would be asking for some sort of damage even if small.

Before he could once again ask about the other chart, Liam spoke again. "We found this new one about two days. When we wanted to go over our own chart again, this one was laying on top of it. It was done so well and the route was so perfect we thought it was a chart one of the commanders made maybe."

For the umpteenth time he raised a brow, they had thought it was a commander? Not to insult his fellow brothers, but none of them were expert in drawing charts, the whole reason none of them were the ones to take over second division. Drawing charts was precision work, very detailed, a lot more work and expertise went into one. "Who do you think made it-yoi?"

"e-ehm... we-… we thought..." the recruit swallowed, "we thought... you made it."

"Me? Why would you think that? Though I thank you for the compliment, I can't draw charts this well."

More then one recruit swallowed and looked away, this was really confusing...

"Well... if you hold it by a candle... It shows a signature... kind of... and... well... we thought... it was supposed to be you..."

Someone in the background supplied they found it by accident, of course not wanting to burn the chart but just having wanted to take a closer look.

That didn't take away from the fact that there was a hidden signature. Going to one of the covered candles, the glass dome making it just a tad safer so he didn't instantly burn the paper. And held the chart over it, searching the corners. He moved until he slowly saw lines appear, there really was a sig- "That fucker-yoi."

"Y-you know who drew it commander?" Liam asked, a little bit of a stutter in his voice. And he for sure deserved that stutter, thinking he would make this signature himself.

He barely contained himself from crumpling the chart in his hand as he watched the signature slowly disappear together with the heat, if this chart hadn't been this amazing he would have...

"Yes-yoi." he started, "I have a pretty good idea of who made this."

"May we use it?"

… Should he allow it? It was a really good chart, even if made by... he sighed, "Yes, you may use it. I already compared it to the other one and everything is accurate and... he wouldn't write things down wrong on purpose." He handed the chart over again and turned around, "let me know if more charts or maps like this one pop up."

The others gave their okay as he left. Now, he was going to search for the maker of this map. How dare he create a signature of him... he shook his head, no, it wasn't a signature of him! He wasn't a fucking pineapple with a face! "Stupid second division thinking I would draw myself as a pineapple for a signature... idiots"

With the use of his haki, it wasn't difficult to find him. That brat. Getting to the deck he made his way to Pops, looking up at him. Why was he hiding his hand? Probably sake again.

"Why are you drinking-yoi?"

"I'm not."

"Then why are you hiding your hand inside your cloak."

"... I'm cold."

"Only your left hand is cold?"

"... Yes."

Marco sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He however felt stupid because now he focused again he knew the elder didn't have sake in his hand, but however the reason of his headache.

"Give him to me-yoi."

"No."

"So you do have him?"

"... I didn't say that."

"Still you promptly denied without even asking who I was talking about." He raised an brow as he looked to his father, a sweat drop forming on the man's temple.

"I- ehm- you know... it was a guess... and..."

"Aaaaah! Pineapple! Why are you ruining my braiding! I was almost done!"

An annoyed voice came from under the cloak before said cloak was flipped open and a sputter of flames jumped out, descending until they dropped before the blond and recovered into an angry looking teen.

He ignored that weird little piece of info that Ace was braiding something, knowing the teen the chance was high he was braiding Pop's arm-hair for who knows what reason. "You can draw sea-charts-yoi."

"huh? Yea." Ace looked confused, that was random.

"You draw very good sea-charts."

"... Thank you..." While he was a bit flustered at the sudden compliment, he was also suspicious of where the blond was going with this.

"How are you able to draw them so well-yoi?"

"Because I am the navigator of our ship." he stated as a matter-of-fact, "It's kind of my job."

"But you're the captain?"

"So? Doesn't mean I don't have any tasks to keep everything running smoothly. Shouldn't you know that, ..." Ace looked the other up and down, eyes falling on the sash, "Bandana."

"We're really still not passed the weird nicknames, I know you know my name Ace."

"These are funnier."

He sighed, "ofcourse they are... but anyway, where I was going with this. Y-"

"Yes, I made a chart for the upcoming island because your chart sucked and was probably as old as you, I wanted to say older but well if I have to believe Thatch than the chart would be dust, anyway, the whole paper was fraying and it's a miracle the ink was still legible. And besides all that, the reefs weren't drawn to the very edges, some were missing and the route made was a possible one but definitely not the best so I changed it."

Marco was gaping, he suddenly got a lot of info and... did he just get insulted for being old!? Ancient? And... did he just say Thatch supplied him some kind of age that made him centuries old?!

"Ahem... okay... Thank you... for the info-yoi." he started slowly, coughing into his hand, "Ahem, Why did you re-make it though, this isn't your ship."

A raised eyebrow greeted him, "did you see the amount of turns, what if the old man grew seasick from them!"

"Huh?"

"They were turning the boat like every other reef! And like a lot! While doable, dangerous with wind against you, but doable, so many turns!" he pointed to their captain, "He's already a day older, mar-fruity, you can't do manoeuvres like that at every port. The poor man's lunch will come up."

"... What-yoi?..."

Ace kept on babbling that it was for the safety of the old man. Even started about things like make seatbelt onto his chair on deck to make sure he didn't fall off... This kid cared about their Pops but still... this was a bit...

"And the old man approved, and so-"

"hold it- wait- Approved?" Marco looked up to Pops and the second he did a tic-mark grew on his head because said elder looked away, "Approved you say. You showed the chart to Pops."

Ace nodded, "Yea, Couldn't just put it anywhere randomly. He showed me where to put it, told me I had to sign off on it and make a report... right!" he smiled and pulled out papers, quickly jumping them up to Pop's hand and coming back down, "Anyway, he told me the whole procedure and..."

He couldn't believe his ears. Pops had given him every single task to do that usually the commander of the second division usually did. He knew of everything, and by Pops look as he was checking over the report, whatever was made and had been done already seemed good...

His eyes widened, "No! Pops! You're not doing what I think you're doing-yoi?!"

"Hmmmmmm?" Pops hummed looking down at his eldest son, trying to keep a smile of his face, "I don't know what you're talking about. What am I doing?"

"You- You're trying to make him-" He glanced at Ace who looked confused, he couldn't say it while he was here! "There needs to be a vote!"

"... Majority agrees."

"WHAT!?" He screeched, "When did you-"

"At dinner." he hummed, "about 14 positive replies. Everyone was very impressed with the chart and signat- with the chart."

Ace grinned at the last thing, smiling up at the man even if he didn't get the whole thing that they were discussing, "The signature was good wasn't it! That's going to be my official signature from now on!"

"No, it won't-yoi!"

Ace snorted, "then try to stop me. On that note, I still need to sign those papers!" Once more jumping up to Pop's hand he took the papers and pulled out a weird looking quill without ink, yet somehow signed the papers."

"You can give them to Marco, boy. He usually goes over the reports."

"Okay!" Grinning Ace jumped down just as Thatch called for lunch. "Oooooh! Lunch! Old man, I'll finish braiding later!"

"Perfectly well my boy, gives us more time to spend together."

With a smile Ace pushed the report into Marco's hands before running off towards the messhall, leaving a stunned Marco behind.

"Oh, don't forget about the commanders-meeting in the evening, Ace!"

"I'll be there!" The raven called back with a wave before disappearing inside.

"... Does he know what you're doing-yoi?"

Pops snorted, "Of course not. He's just joining to watch you. And apparently we once again counted things wrong and he told me he likes being right and correcting you. He likes you!"

"Likes me..." he murmured looking down at the report, the signature a cutely... ahem crudely drawn pineapple with a bored face on it looking back at him. "Yea... right..."

"His chart was good wasn't it, son."

"... It was."

"He's a good leader."

"He is..." Even if he doesn't want to admit it and the decisions he made are stupid... The pure thrust his crew puts in him shows he's a good leader.

"He's caring too."

He is... for his own men and for those he wants to protect... even to himself... even if he suspects him of going after Pop's inheritance, he has never hurt him or started a fight himself.

"He's a perfect fit. I think he'll do great."

"... Maybe..." Was the only reply he gave as he turned around, leaving to put the report in his room and go over it. Second division commander. They had been looking for years. It would already be a whole lot of work off his shoulders to have someone so skilled in their division. And then... Ace was a leader, a good captain, already proven it quite a few times. His crew loved him as a captain and as a person. He didn't let the leadership get to his head, he still listened to others. He was strong too, very strong. The kid had a lot of potential to grow too. He had shown he still wanted to learn new things.

…

Getting to his room, still lost in thought as he reached for his doorhandle, but before he opened his door, his attention was pulled to the door next to him. No more dust on the doorhandle of that one, now a frequently used passage again. The shiny spade logo on it showing who was inside. Who had made that room their home. A neighbour who he thought he wouldn't get again, a neighbour who he thought would bother him immensely to have next to him... yet... while he complained... it wasn't all that bad...

One more look and he went inside, taking a seat at his desk and looking over the report, barely needing to add things. "Second commander... Maybe... … Maybe..."

Unofficial official second commander has been found!

On my wattpad and AO3 you can find some adorable drawing of Ace and the signature he made on the papers!