"If I didn't know better, I'd think I was sleepy..." Sleepily, Ann mutters brow furrowed fatigued as she sits at her desk.

"Ann, did you just say you were tired...?" Teasingly, a familiar voice calls out as Ann jolts up, seeing Aokiji lurch forward briefly on her sofa smirking at the annoyed Ann.

"Of course not! I said nothing of the sort." Scowling, she snaps shaking herself out of such nonsense.

"Ann when's the last time you got some sleep?" Sighing, Aokiji queries.

"Uh…" Anxiously, Ann trails off scratching her cheek conflicted.

"Now that I think about it...You were sent off on that mission just the other day you were estimated to come back next week but you managed to finish it in just two days. Right after you came back, you attended the strategy meeting, didn't you? And I hear you're commanding the rear troops and organizing all of the supplies..." Stoically, Aokiji recalls as Ann's eyes widen when hearing his words.

"That is all true but…" Anxiously, Ann begins but…

"But nothing. Ann I'm not doubting your skills, but please...don't run yourself into the ground, OK?" Aokiji sighs softly at Ann making her furrow her brow by his words.

"Aokiji…" Ann sighs softly, holding her head however before she could come up with a reason…

"I know how hard you work to make it look easy. You don't have to pretend with me." Aokiji reminds Ann.

"I-I just remembered some supplies I need to attend to. Excuse me..." Meekly, Ann bows her head standing up from her seat, leaving Aokiji to it as he sighs softly, shaking his head at the workaholic mess that was Ann.

"So…." Smirking, Ann approaches the smoking Smoker's side softly spewing silverish smoke into the open air as Ann greets him.

"So?" Snippily, Smoker scowls at the amused Ann.

"How'd the date go?" Ann asks as she quirks her head to the side.

"…" Silently, Smoker glares to the side.

"Aw come on smoky don't hold out on me." Mischievously, Ann presses playfully.

"You're the one holding out on us." Smoker smirks back bemused taking Ann aback.

"Eh?" Astonished, Ann blurts out lost.

"You and Aokiji." Smoker smirks back.

"Not you too…there's nothing going on." Annoyed, Ann repeats brow furrowed.

"I know doesn't mean I don't like teasing…." Smoker smirks.

"Urgh you ass!" Annoyed, Ann lightly hits his shoulders.

"Besides you were spotted going into his office." Smugly, Smoker points out.

"It was for paperwork." Ann argues.

"I'm sure." Smoker spews smoke into the open air.

"Geez you don't need to be so serious you know?" Ann sighs shaking her head at him.

"And you don't need to be so stuck up." Snippily, Smoker barks back brow furrowed at Ann.

"Who says I'm stuck up?" Ann scowls hands on her hips.

"A fair few of the recruits they think Aokiji gets you to relax makes you easier to approach…" Smoker admits to Ann.

"Oh, and he's easy to approach." Ann scoffs shaking her head at the thought.

"The marines like him." Smoker shrugs.

"Urgh…" Ann groans rearing her head back brow furrowed fuming.

"So, you miss him?" Smoker smirks at Ann.

"Piss off." Ann gives him the middle finger but…

"I'm not hearing a no." Smoker smirks back bemused.

"All I'm hearing is your bullshit…" Bluntly, Ann argues agitated.

"Captain…" The two turn to the familiar mohawk haired woman.

"Oh, Bell what's going on?" Ann asks arching a brow at Bell.

"The admiral wants you." Bell reports to Ann.

"Right, right see you Smokey." Ann waves him off.

"It's Smoker!" Smoker shouts scowling as next Ann knew, Sengoku was scolding her…

"Crap…!" Agitated, Anna scowls staring down at the paper in her hand brow furrowing from it all.

"That doesn't sound good." Aokiji remarks leant back against the sofa staring at his own paperwork.

"How long have you been there? Urgh forget it you'll hear about my blunder soon enough." Ann huffs tossing the paper down upon the desk below brow furrowed.

"What happened?" Aokiji sighs sauntering over to Ann as she pushes herself away from her desk.

"I accidentally doubled our weapons order. See? Right here. It should say 10." Sighing, she leans forward showing said paperwork to Aokiji gently tapping the paper below.

"That it?" Aokiji arches a brow bored.

"That…it?" Annoyed, Ann's eye twitches tense.

"It's better to have more weapons than not enough." Aokiji simply shrugs.

"Only an idiot could mess up something so...basic!" Bluntly, Ann argues annoyed.

"Maybe if you slept more, you wouldn't have made such a mistake." Aokiji plops himself down on the seat below, one leg over the other.

"You sure do have a lot of free time, huh? Must be nice not to have to worry about things." Tiredly, Ann grumbles glaring lightly at Aokiji.

"Must be nice breaking your back." Bluntly, Aokiji retorts as Ann huffs.

"What is with you? How are you able to act so lax? Were you like this as a kid!?" Astonished, Ann asks.

"Eh. Some things happened. But that's all in the past. I should be asking you the same question. Did mommy and daddy not pay enough attention to you? Is that why you're so desperate for constant approval?" Aokiji asks as he places his hands behind his head.

"I am not desperate for constant approval. I don't need anyone's approval." Assertively, Ann snaps sharply.

"I'm sure. I have my flaws, I admit. But at least I'm up front about them. Tell me what happens if you fail? Even once?" Aokiji asks Ann as she grimaces from her words.

"That would never happen." Ann glares to the side.

"This begs to differ you're lucky this was nothing big, but you will fail at something, eventually. It's best to be prepared." Aokiji tells Ann.

"I suppose you're right. I... I do have a hard time letting go of the tiniest bit of control..." Ann sighs softly sadly.

"Well! The mighty Mrs. Perfect reveals a crack in the facade Tell me what's bothering you. Maybe I can help somehow." Sighing, Aokiji offers as he leans back against the sofa.

"Now this is unheard of! The ice cold Aokiji, showing concern for another human?" Haughtily, the amused Ann remarks.

"You got me. Sometimes I care." Coyly, Aokiji smirks slightly at Ann.

"You know, I think I'm a bit jealous of you." Honestly, Ann admits.

"Really? How so?" Aokiji arches a brow by her words.

"Because you just do what you want, without caring what others think. I wish I could live like that. But…" Ann attempts to explain brow furrowing from it all trailing off.

"But why? What's stopping you? You shouldn't have carry that much weight." Aokiji argues.

"Yeah, I'm a bit tired at the moment." Ann admits sighing softly.

"Here, why don't you give me some of your burden?" Aokiji offers.

"What are you talking about?! It's not just something I can hand you!" Ann scoffs.

"Yeah, I can, I'm not an idiot. Just pretend. Take a big chunk of your worries and place them in my hands. Right here." Aokiji offers his hand out to Ann.

"I don't see how this could possibly help..." Ann sighs.

"But it can't hurt, can it? Give it a try." Aokiji prompts.

"Very well. Here you go... Wow... I actually feel lighter, somehow..." Surprised, Ann arches a brow by the hand clamping over hers, feeling his fingertip brush patterns on the top of her hand.

"You're welcome. Now relax I'll keep watch." Aokiji smirks at Ann as next she knew she was pulled back down on the sofa, familiar arms wrapping around the flustered mess as next she knew she fell into the dark depths of sleep as Aokiji keeps look out.

"I heard what you did. I'm disappointed, Isuka." Annoyed, Ann crosses her arms over her chest scowling at the redhead.

"Um, hi, Vice Admiral Portgas. What have you heard exactly?" Isuka asks anxiously noting Ann's furrowed frown.

"You aimed your blade at a group of marines passing through the hallway. Was this your idiotic idea of training? I told you to be cautious." Cross, Ann berates the girl before her.

"I'm sorry. Idiotic is a bit harsh though, isn't it?" Isuka bows her head ashamed.

"What were you planning on doing after you took aim? Shooting passers-by with your nailing technique? Of course not. If you want to train, choose a target you can actually shoot." Sternly, Ann berates the girl before her.

"I know. Everyone was pretty mad. I really am sorry." Isuka bows her head pained.

"Nobody's happy to have a rapier pointed at them." Tiredly, Ann scowls down at the girl.

"My mentor used to do that kind of thing a lot…" Isuka attempts to defend herself.

"Mentor?" Mystified, Ann arches a brow by her words.

"Oh, you may know him Vice Admiral Draw!" Isuka beams brightly at the mention of the admiral.

"…Draw?" Ann furrows her brow by the name of the nobody not liking him nor his so-called absolute justice…

"Yes, he's the reason I joined the marines well you too." Isuka smiles shyly.

"Eh?" Ann blurts you.

"You may not remember but you two saved me, so thank you for that." She bows her head to her.

"Uh no problem I guess…" Ann furrows her brow by the murky memory not wishing to alarm the girl.

"Anyway, well he saved me you both saved me from a fire which burned my whole village down and killed my parents." Sadly, Isuka bows her head holding her gloved hand.

"Isuka…I…" Ann's eyes soften sadly at the girl, scratching the back of her head, she seemed familiar she supposed.

"It's how I got my burn." Pained, Isuka sadly shows said burn to Ann.

"…Isuka…I understand this sense of gratitude you feel towards Draw but if he jumped down a bridge would you do the same?" Softly, Ann places her hands down on the girl's shoulder sternly scowling at her.

"Well…would it to stop pirates?" Innocently, Isuka queries meekly.

"Isuka…" Ann sighs furrowing her brow down at the girl below.

"N-No…" Isuka bows her head.

"From now on, only aim at bugs. Like I showed you." Ann gently pats Isuka's back.

"But, um, I don't...really like bugs." Shyly, Isuka bows her head once more staring sadly down at her fidgeting fingertips fiddling with them, her rapier strapped to her side.

"You don't like bugs? That should make you want to aim at them even more." Ann argues as she squeezes her shoulder.

"I just can't look at them. Seeing all the extra legs, and things. Ugh! Makes my skin crawl." Isuka grimaces shudder slightly at the thought as Ann's eyes soften slightly understanding clear on her furrowed features.

"Then just draw some spiders and hang them on the walls. Aim at the drawings whenever you pass one. Overcome your fear of bugs while you train." Truthfully, Ann advises.

"You want me to draw spiders?! Ew, no! Would that even help?" Isuka reels back by the thought only to falter furrowing her brow considering the thought.

"Yes. I should know." Ann admits to Isuka.

"Huh? You were scared of them too?" Isuka jolts up at the news taken aback at it, the vice admiral…being scared of something? Impossible! Just impossible!

"I was, but they don't bother me anymore." Ann admits recalling her squeamish screams as a child to the creepy crawlies on board, Buggy often shoving some spider in her face pranking the girl that would burst into tears rushing into Shank's side as he hugged her, telling Buggy to back off or at the least helping get rid of the bug…but as she went on through the grand line she got better…

"OK, you've talked me into it. I'll give it a try." Isuka beams brightly determined.

"And don't hang them where other people might pass." Swiftly, Ann orders.

"Got it! Got it. Learned my lesson. Promise." Perkily, Isuka salutes said vice admiral.

"I'm choosing to believe that." Ann sighs softly just as the two perk up at the soft sound of footsteps.

"Vice admiral mam admiral Sengoku has a task for you." A marine approaches saluting her.

"That so…we'll continue when I get back." Ann turns back to Isuka her hand on the girl's shoulder.

"Can't I come?" Whining, Isuka argues.

"…We'll see what Sengoku says…" Sighing, Ann turns on her heel to leave.

"That isn't a no!" Isuka perks up hopeful.

"Nor is it a yes!" Ann retorts back before heading back to Sengoku, begging beseeching internally that it isn't another lecture as she heads over to Sengoku's office.

"Turn around and get lost, swine! This land belongs to the Stonewall pirates! If you need a second notice, I'll write it down on your men's corpses!" Cross, the voice roars as Isuka and Ann arrive, brow furrowed from the battlefield before them, taking note of the terrified villagers hiding…

"Ya-har! A pile of corpses could still outfight you sorry lot! This is Whitebeard's territory, and no one gives orders to the Whitebeard pirates!" Proudly, a voice bellows bark making Ann's eyes narrow.

"W-Whitebeard?" Alarmed, Isuka's eyes widen when hearing the name.

"Relax Isuka." Ann assures Isuka.

"Relax?! This is yonko business should we intervene?" Isuka furrows her brow conflict clear on her furrowed features. The yonko's were not to be trifled with not to be messed with only the admirals had a shot against them and those were few and far between.

"We were called besides this is still paradise…it's still in our jurisdiction." Ann argues as she draws out her blade brow furrowed from her ears ringing roaring when hearing the sharp screeching screams of people fleeing from their homes, hungry flames fiercely feasting upon the houses, rushing into the bloodbath being impaled, being shot, being shoved that is until Ann quietly draws her blade out, firmly focusing as a thin trial of lightning sparks shoot out from said single slash mark separating both civilians and pirates, scaring the civilians more until…

"But…" Isuka steps forward about to argue but…

"If you are a civilian a marine ship will be evacuating you." Ann announces as she gestures towards the ship behind her the civilian's faces immediately brightening up at the sight of said ship, rushing over, mothers holding children, fathers picking up their crying children rushing towards their only hope of survival. Some however linger, the fright or fight instincts kicking in making them freeze frozen on the spot scared to make even a single second of a move.

"Still for Whitebeard to claim land here is odd he must be getting cocky…even at his old age though…" Tentatively, Ann mutters mainly under her breath brow furrowed from the forwardness of it all as she raises her hand, that silently gesture being above for marines to rush in, taking those too frozen too much and dragging them or at the least taking them out of harm's way. Isuka's eyes widen when seeing some man too frozen to move as she darts her had towards her rapier beofre being surprised by the brisk breeze brushing through the side of her ear noting the stern shell shooting past her hitting the pirate square in the face causing the man to come crashing down to the scene. Isuka turns to Bell-mère gun in hand, firmly focused as she rushes past grabbing the man pulling him out of his tense trance taking him out of trouble.

"Mam?" Isuka furrows her brow by Ann's mumbling seemingly in a world of her own.

"What do you make of this Isuka?" Ann asks as she turns on her heel to face the girl.

"Pirates, from the look. Rival bands squabbling over some petty matter. A common enough sight in these dark times…but if it comes to bloodletting, the nearby villages will pay for it! We can't let that happen!" Isuka reasons anxious at the thought of such bloodshed.

"We won't." Ann assures the worried Isuka nodding her head determined.

"Stick 'em full'a holes, boys!" One of the pirates roars.

"Time to fertilize the fields, guys!" A familiar voice rings out as Ann's eyes narrow at it.

"Well, diplomacy is probably out." Ann remarks brow furrowed from the familiar hairdo in the distance as canon fire echoes tearing houses splinters spewing out into the open-air alarming a fair few.

"Seems our best option is to end the fighting as quickly as possible." Bell rushes down, gun in hand oblivious to Isuka's eyes dilating seeing the fierce flames from the chaos spread across the houses, feasting upon the wood while the people within scream, shout screech for it all to stop bringing a shy shudder down the shaking Isuka's back.

"Allying ourselves with one side or the other would certainly expedite things." Ann reasons seemingly snapping Isuka out of her thoughts.

"Allying ourselves with pirates!? Mam, do you hear yourself?" Incensed, Isuka demands from Ann astonishing a fair few at the nerve of the girl, but Ann simply stares stoically at the clearly terrified girl.

"Isuka…breath." Gently, Ann places her hand on the girl confusion clear on her furrowed features but Ann's firm frown convinces her otherwise as she does so shakily exhaling in and out breathing in through and out the nose as Ann instructs, Ann doing the same as Isuka seemingly follows her breathing pattern until finding herself calming down.

"Now listen if we go against them both it would make both sides confuse and could lead to more bloodshed the best we can do for the people is work with one side." Seriously, she tells Isuka.

"B-But…what makes you even think they would work with marines?!" Mystified, Isuka furrows her brow befuddled by her words.

"Yesterday's enemy is today's ally. You have to abandon old feuds if you truly want to save people." Sternly, she tells Isuka.

"Save people huh…but how do you know they'll work with us!?" Isuka slaps her hand off.

"Who knows." Ann answers as she steps back before heading towards the chaos.

"M-Mam?!" Alarmed, Isuka's hand darts down to her rapier however a firm hand on her stops her.

"Trust her kid." Bell tells her.

"H-Huh?" She turns to the mohawk woman.

"She's got this." Bell smirks smugly the two turning towards the vice admiral sauntering over to the whitebeard causing chaos as Isuka's eyes widen when seeing some try to attack as she easily avoids said strikes not hitting back baffling Isuka at her flawlessly seeing some even stare stunned stopping their attacks anxiously staring scared of her almost as she approaches the one leading the charge.

"Well, well if that isn't a blast from the past!" Perkily, the man with the knives strapped to his sides smiles at Ann.

"…I could see the same, what the hell are you doing here… Thatch?" Tiredly, Ann demands done from the brightly beaming cheery chef.

"Pops was craving something that only really grows on this island." Truthfully, Thatch admits as he plops down from his high horse of a seat smiling down at the annoyed Ann.

"And now it's whitebeard territory." Unamused, Ann crosses her arms over her chest making Thatch sigh. Thatch is tall man with a light brown pompadour hairstyle, which went to a point at the back of his head, and a goatee around his chin. He also has a stitched scar running down his face, around his left eye, reminiscent that of Garp. Thatch often dresses in a posh uniform, with calf-long pants and a black belt around his waist, and brown shoes.

"Ah my boys are a bit…brave." Tentatively, Thatch smiles shyly scratching the side of his beard of sorts, a goutte she supposed would fit it more.

"A bit stupid would be more suited." Snippily, Ann scowls at the cheeky chef.

"Aw come on catch us some slack would ya?" Teasingly, Thatch winks at Ann.

"Only if you have our backs." Ann hints back as Isuka watches on anxiously, her hand darting down towards her rapier rushing forward, using her nailing technique pushing back the pirates granting another space for the marines to rush in, to evacuate the civilians, calling out to those still within the fierce flames, some brave enough to rush in saving them, taking them out, dragging them towards the marine ship.

"I don't see why not." Thatch smirks back at Ann as he offers his hand to her, her eyeing said hand.

"I-It worked!?" Isuka gawks gapes at their clasped hands smirking smugly at one another.

"Alright men we're working with the whitebeard pirates if any of you have a problem with that you can take it up with me at a later date!" Ann roars raising her voice to her men simply nodding returning to what they had wondered prior.

"Y-Yes mam!" Surprised, Isuka's eyes widen when hearing their compliance.

"T-They agreed to it!?" Isuka stares shocked seeing the pirates and marines nod at one another focusing on their respective job.

"Those that follow Ann follow only her." Honestly, Bell states the fact firmly, she couldn't explain the strange power that her friend had, bringing some many walks of life under her wing teaching them, taking them under her wing when it came down to it they knew their boss had the best intentions for them, they could trust her. When no one would give her a chance due to her rude behaviour she still did just as she did for the rest of her men, she took them in and trained them, taught them there was more to life then this us vs them mentality sure there would be some rough points but they all knew their boss had the best intentions for them….

"Isuka!" Isuka perks up at the call of her voice.

"Y-Yes!" Isuka squeaks shyly.

"You'll focus on evacuation; Thatch is already dispensing some of his medical team to help with the evacuees while the rest of us will deal with the stonewall pirates is that understood?" Strictly, Ann orders her.

"Y-Yes mam!" Isuka nods her head in understanding.

"What was that?" Ann roars raising her voice to Isuka.

"YES MAM!" Isuka screams back.

"Good let's get a move on people!" Ann orders.

"You heard her come on guys!" Thatch joins in calling out to his men as finally the battle begins…

"Every time this lot has a go, our fields get trampled, and our houses destroyed! Ain't no matter to us which side wins so long as it's over quickly. Here, then. Take this and get those sorry lunkheads outta here!" Isuka's eyes widen when one of the evacuees' hands over some vials of some sort, medicine Isuka assumes as she takes them.

"T-Thank you." Shyly, she bows her head helping the woman board said ship.

"Arghh…" She perks up at the low groan seeing a whitebeard pirate tend to the wounded man a fair few marine medics and pirate medics working side by side to her surprise conversing with one another talking about their respective patient.

"Hold on the ointment for your burn will be here." The whitebeard pirate assures as Isuka assumes from the mark on the man's arm.

"H-Here!" Isuka rushes over showing said vial to the man, her burn mark aching searing as she offers it to the medic.

"Hm?" He turns to Isuka.

"Y-You need ointment right the woman just gave me some!" Shyly, she shows said medicine to him.

"Thanks, think you could keep him down?" Hopeful, he asks.

"Y-Yes!" Isuka nods her head crouching down holing the man down as he screams, the ointment being placed…

"W-What's going on!? The marines and whitebeard pirates working together!? What madness is this!?" The captain, Ann assumes roars raising his voice as he holds a woman hostage, a blade teasingly touching her neck.

"Ready to end this! How about you?" Thatch smirks.

"I've been ready from the start!" Smirking, she adds as the two lunge forward finishing it.

"Well, that was anticlimactic. So, you're really one of them now." Thatch turns to fully face her eyeing her up and down.

"It's a long story Thatch." Tiredly, Ann grumbles holding her head not wanting to get into it.

"I can tell." Thatch smirks slightly.

"How so?" She raises a brow befuddled.

"You used to be such a ball of energy now you just look…sad." Sadly, his furrows his brow at her.

"Wow really smooth moves their Thatch." Tense, Ann glares lightly at Thatch.

"You know what I mean." Mischievously, Thatch lightly hits her back.

"Tell the old man I send him my regards." Sighing, she brushes him off.

"I will!" Thatch smiles.

"Oh, also get that flag off." Sternly, Ann orders.

"Eh?" Thatch whines.

"You have enough islands in the new world are you trying to start a war by getting an island in paradise?" Pointedly, she snaps scowling at Thatch.

"Fair, fair…I'll see you around." Amused, Thatch raises his hands up in the air as they see said flag be lowered, some of the whitebeard pirates arguing but Thatch easily deals with them as he salutes her off, heading back to his crew as she heads back to hers…

"Captain the fighting is over. That should spare the villages from any further damage. Those that were from Whitebeard's side that were hurt have been tended to as have the marines!" Isuka salutes standing straight before Ann.

"Good. Come on we should head back." Ann brushes past Isuka.

"R-Right! But mam…!" Isuka tries to stop her however…

"Hm?" Ann turns to face her.

"What will you tell the others? I doubt they'll want to know we teamed up with pirates…?" Pensive, Isuka asks as she looks down at her fidgeting fingertips.

"And I doubt they'll need to know." Aloofly, Ann shrugs.

"Pardon?" Perturbed, Isuka furrows her brow befuddled by her captain's words.

"What would the point be in telling them?" Tiredly, Ann argues.

"It's the truth." Isuka states the fact firmly as if that would win the fight right there and then as Ann frows.

"That truth that will get us in trouble." Tense, Ann reminds her.

"Then why work with them in the first place?" Panicked, Isuka scowls.

"For the people they take priority that is why we at the marines should prioritise not the pirates we chase but the lives that could be lost. They are people at the end of the day Isuka, they have families as we have, and they have pasts as we have, we are all human at the end of the day…now then let's head back." Ann explains to Isuka, her eyes widening when hearing her words.

"R-Right!" Isuka nods her head following after Ann as they head back to their marine ship, heading off back to HQ…

"If you want to catch me, bring Garp or Sengoku! It's no fun fighting against you guys!" Roger grins giddily down at the battered beaten vice admiral held in his fist blood descending down the battered beaten corpse alongside the many more battered beaten marines, blades broken embedded impaled into the sandy shores below as marine after marine are slumped against the sandy shore done, destroyed, defeated…

"I swear they're getting weaker…where's the fun anymore?" Annoyed, the pink haired girl grumbles crouching down eyeing the marine man's goods, opening a pocket watch seeing a smiling family making the girl frown easily throwing the chunky watch away as she continues looting…

"We'll find something fun soon enough princess." Roger leans down, ruffling the wavy locks of blondish pink beaming brightly down at his pouting princess holding a small book in her chest, some sketches showing surprisingly detailed scribbles of a red nosed Buggy with reindeer horns coming out of him with Shank's straw hat flying him away somewhere while smiling Shanks in the real world munches on his bar of chocolate, the captain's hat on him crouched down.

"CAPTAIN! There's Whitebeard's ship on the opposite side of the island! Seems like they noticed us!" Buggy screams making them all turn to the frantic crying clown his eyes glued to the lenses looking out.

"Finally, some actual fun!" Eagerly, the young Ann beams brightly at the news, closing her book sliding it into satchel with her pencil before drawing out her blade from the sheath smiling. The brisk breeze brushes through the young girl's held together hair, she has her hair in two loose pigtails held by two ruby red bands, wearing a ruffled slanted snow-white shirt with ruby red roses upon it matching the ruby red leggings she wears and brown boots.

"We just finished fighting Roger." Rayleigh sighs at the grinning giddy man.

"Whitebeard huh? It's been a while…" Roger drops the body to the ground below bemused by the name.

"The birds seem distressed…they must've come ashore…" Rayleigh eyes the cawing cranky birds soaring high in the sky, fleeing somewhere far from the island they were once perched upon.

"All right let's do it! we're only bale to fight each other while we draw breath! My end is nearing this could be the last time I see you, Whitebeard." Roger grins giddily at the thought of fighting the yonko oblivious to the furrowed frown of the pink haired girl by his remark however before much more could be said…

"Who's that? He runs so fast!" Buggy suddenly screams making the crew turn back to the man watching on from the top of the cliff, his eyes glued to the binoculars.

"You tell us Buggy you're on lookout!" Snippily, the young, annoyed Ann hollers glaring up at the beanie boy.

"Is he a samurai!?" Stunned, Buggy blurts out loud as immediately, Ann's eyes dart towards the figure that was her father, her eyes narrowing noting the glint gleaming in his eyes, knowing it anywhere as she sighs…

"A samurai?! That one everyone's talking about!?" Roger grins giddily at the thought as Ann sighs softly exhaustion exasperation etched into that single sigh sensing the energy emitting from her father, knowing where this would lead better than anyone well maybe not better than anyone, briefly, her eyes turn to Rayleigh.

"Catch up already!" Eagerly, the samurai himself rushes forward towards the greenery marching stomping his wooden heels of sorts against the floor below rushing ahead swords in hands.

"Commander Oden wait!" One of whitebeard's pirate's bellow.

"Should I plunder their treasure!?" Eagerly, Oden ponders to himself grinning giddily oblivious to the fretful faces following behind him.

"This is a totally different situation! The Roger Pirates are dangerous!" One of his underlings try to warn the samurai but…

"He's not listening at all!" The two realize as the samurai storms ahead.

"Is that guy wearing a diaper?" Astonished, Ann blurts out quirking her head to the side but before she could ask more or at the least Rayleigh by her side could answer her…

"Gun Modoki!" The man himself rushes at Roger's men cutting them down grinning giddily.

"Finally, time for some fun." Ann smirks smugly drawing out both blades.

"Agreed! Just make sure not to kill him Ann, the captain seems interested in him." Rayleigh warns Ann.

"Fiiiine." Frowning, Ann whines puffing her cheeks out pouting almost.

"Wait Ann! Rayleigh! I don't want you to get hurt!" The two then turn towards the bright beaming Roger rushing past the two-smiling apologetic at the two frowning at him.

"Liar! Liar pant on fire papa!" The young Ann angrily huffs puffing her cheeks out pouting as she places her hands to her hips, swords either side as she scowls at her unapologetic father rushing into battle.

"You just wanna fight him!" Rayleigh adds furrowing his brow at his reckless captain.

"I smell a beast!" Beaming, Oden beams brightly at Roger rushing ahead of him.

"Hey samurai! Divine departure!" Smiling, Roger warmly welcomes the samurai with a swift strike from his blade, a black burst of energy hitting throwing the samurai back into tree after tree until…

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!? Dam I can't let that slide! Huh?" Oden roars scarlet spewing out of him coughing crimson from said strike as he manages to pry himself out of the creator of the tree leaping down, collecting himself before rushing forward about to continue the fight with the man but before he could, he looks up noting the huge shadow casted over him. His eyes widen when noting the blonde man flying forward, spear of sorts in hand…

"Here he comes!" Roger grins giddily his eyes lighting up flaring up even as next he knew his blade swung forward towards the blade that struck downwards as next Oden knew he was flung back alongside the threes and people of the island from the conqueror's clash…

"You look great Roger!" Pleased, Newgate slams his weapon down upon the ground below, cracks spewing out from said singular hit after their conqueror clash, grinning giddily at the man himself.

"How long has it been!? Newgate!" Grinning, Roger whose blade is held lazily at the back of his shoulder is swiftly slammed into the ground below, both men grinning at one another, a still silence filling in the air as next the two knew they both laughed, declaring…

"Whatever you've got hand it over!"

"Get them!" Marco roars, leaping upwards his hands engulfed in fierce flames of icy blue before lunging forward.

"Rob them!" Gabon and Rayleigh point at Whitebeard's crew as both crews charge at one another eager for the bloodbath to come…

"Urgh…" Ann holds her head brow furrowing feeling the drowsiness of it all, must have been the ale, she assumed as she stretches. She needed some air; Ann holds the side of her head still as she saunters out of her office noting the filed papers to the side all waiting to be signed off before heading out. Pleased, her eyes close enjoying the brisk breeze brushing through her hair enjoying the shy shudder of sea salt air as she approaches the end of the ship, seeing those below the marines and Bell drinking eagerly, enjoying themselves from the fight before but her eyes narrow noting a familiar redhead on her lonesome.

"Isuka?" Ann arches a brow by the girl.

"O-Oh captain!" Isuka perks up at the sight of her vice admiral.

"Not going to join the others?" Ann asks gesturing to Bell dancing with the men, sloshing their pints about.

"I thought it would be best to stay out here keep a lookout." Isuka smiles strained.

"Isuka even the marines doing that are drinking out here." Ann gestures to the marines cheering conversing clinking their pints talking.

"Hm…someone should be sober." Strained, she smiles.

"Isuka what's going on?" Ann asks the girl brow furrowed.

"I…I just can't believe we did that…" Isuka sighs sadly leaning against the railing.

"Did that?" Ann arches a brow befuddled.

"You've done the report right?" Isuka gathers.

"Ah yeah I did." Ann confirms calmly.

"We're really lying to them!" Isuka scowls.

"…Isuka, they helped saves lives today." Ann reminds her.

"They caused the chaos we had to stop." Isuka disputes.

"Maybe so but not all pirates are evil. It's like marines not all marines are good, there are those that use the title to obtain what they want just as some pirates do the same…" Sighing, she explains to Isuka.

"And how do you tell the good from the bad?" Isuka queries.

"Trust." She answers.

"Trust?" Isuka exclaims.

"The choice whether you trust them or not. Watch them first see for yourself what you think of them and whether you think you can trust them or not…that will be up to you to decide. But without trust nothing can be done." Dutifully, Ann explains as Isuka listens on the edge of her seat stunned.

"You know this?" Isuka raises a brow sceptical.

"It isn't exactly the first time I've had to work with pirates." Ann confesses to her.

"You've done it before…?" Isuka's eyes widen when hearing her words.

"To save lives yes. Saving lives is our priority." Pointedly, Ann asserts.

"But…isn't justice about stopping pirates?" Innocently, Isuka queries.

"I'll tell you something Isuka the justice the marines tend to follow…I don't believe it." Honestly, Ann admits.

"…You don't?" Isuka's eyes widen when hearing her words.

"No why should one pirate life be worth hundreds of innocent lives?" Ann asks as Isuka goes quiet from her words.

"…" Isuka bows her head eyeing her burn brow furrowing from the thought of it all.

"Isuka…I understand how you feel you have a reason to hate pirates but not all pirates are the same they have their only version of piracy as we have our own versions of justice." Ann explains to Isuka.

"There isn't just one version of justice." Ann tells Isuka.

"Course not? The world isn't as innocent as that, you cannot separate it into black and white despite what the marines believe the world is much more complex than that." Truthfully, Ann explains to Isuka.

"…That so?" Softly, she whispers, her eyes widening when hearing her words.

"That's what I think anyway still it's your life, I look forward to the justice you find for yourself." Ann admits.

"Captain…" Isuka begins brow furrowed not quite sure what to say, the faith she had in her she was touched, truly she was.

"Now come on let's drink the night away!" Animated, Ann drapes her arm around the shyly smiling Isuka nodding her head shyly following her inside for the two to get a drink…

The two great pirates of the age clashed!

Roger rushes towards negate both blades clashing in a fight of their own as their crew fight it out, diamond Jozu slams his diamond like fist towards the pink haired girl, his eyes widening when she seemingly vanishes before turning to look behind him just as he feels the sharp slap of the back of the neck, making him fall flat to the ground pressure point having been hit. She soon looks up, her eye blaring raw red when seeing the roaring men of whitebeard rush at her blades in hand as with one swift strike, scarlet splatters in the open air as the whitebeard pirate fall flat to the ground as just then she looks to her side blocking the hit coming from the side scowling as her blade bashes into the razor claw of an older taller bulkier boy glaring down at her. She pushes him back as the fight continues…

The Roger Pirates vs the Whitebeard Pirates the tense fraught battle lasted three days and three nights…

Loudly, rain roars as it comes crashing down descending down from the high heavens as the fight continues onwards, Rayleigh easily beats men after men, pirate after pirate, broken blades fly high in the sky as bloodied beads fly in the air.

"Don't push your luck!" Roaring, Marco raising his voice, slamming his blazing blue talon at Rayleigh however…

"Don't push yours." Rayleigh smirks smugly as with one single finger glowing ruby red a shy tint of black holds up the burning talon taking the blonde aback as his eyes widen only then to dilate when a bright blondish blur rushes up almost climbing over the dark knight as before Marco knew it, she raised her blade to the high heavens slashing his chest crimson comes crashing out of his stomach spewing out as the battle continues.

Loudly, the ringing metal of chains echo as the mad man wielding the spiked ball and chain waves it about the open air as he slams it into the young Shank's direction, breaking the rock as Shanks dives out of the way while Buggy screams scared trying to flee from the terrifying man, rushing at them, his eyes soon widening when noting something on his chain.

"Ann!" Tearfully, Buggy screams snot spewing out of his eyes relieved to see the girl smiling standing protectively in front of the two.

"Shut it and run idiots!" Incensed, she snaps glaring at the two before lunging at the man with the ball and chain trying to deal with him…

The setting sun shines down upon Oden as he deflects each and every heavy hefty hit by Gabon's axe blocking them form the tired man but being met by Rayleigh's blade one blade swiftly catching the two as Ann glares at the young Teach, blades either side of hers while he has his claws out. Buggy and Shanks stand side to side surrounded by whitebeard pirates as before the crews knew it…

The loud clink of pints echo, slosh spewing out from the rim.

"Those are pretty good drawings." White Bay smirks slightly eyeing the drawing of herself looking rather refined noting some paragraphs and such.

"I like drawing the places we've been I even make notes sometimes." Smiling, she shows her a picture of…

"Is that Marco?" White bay recognises, smirking when seeing some shy scribbled out hearts about the page.

"For a long while I struggled drawing him until I find using a pineapple as a base works." She admits as White Bay bemused cackles by the news befuddling a fair few.

"I like you kid!" Smirking, she plops the hat over her face making the girl gasp giddily at it, happily putting the oversized hat on, noting the poofy fluffy feather on top.

"Then three boxes of meat for a barrel?!" One of whitebeards crew members offer to one of Rogers.

"Deal!" The man with the pint agrees.

"I like this shirt! Where did you get it!?" One of whitebeards asks.

"Let me have more!" The man takes the meat with bone from the sack.

"Wait you took too much! It's basically an equal exchange!" The man with the bird like hat hollers.

"Sorry." The man with the meat apologises.

"You've got something too, right?" The man with long pink hair assumes as the bargaining continues…

"We were trying to plunder each other but now it's a gift exchange…" Rayleigh looks down at the conversing crews below.

"Isn't that great!?" Giddily, the young Ann smiles leaping over to the crossed legged form of Roger smiling softly down at the girl below before ruffling the hat she now adorns as she goes off continuing to show off her new hat to the crew.

"Shanks Buggy look!" Happily, the young Ann shows said hat to both boys.

"Whoa cool new hat!" Shanks smiles at the hat.

"Thanks!" Ann smiles back oblivious to Buggy's stern scowl.

"Are they apprentices?" Gruffly, the young gruff boy glares at the three conversing children.

"Come to think of it they were always with us…" The young Marco exclaims, bandages coiled around his toros feeling the sharp sting from the girl's blade prior.

"They don't look strong they kept hiding behind that girl." The young gruff boy offers, eyeing the girl with long pinkish blonde hair.

"The girl who kicked your ass?" Amused, Marco smirks slightly.

"She kicked yours too." The boy gruffly growls.

"But they behave…like veterans…" Marco adds as the two eye the three.

"It looks stupid." Buggy pokes his tongue out at Ann.

"You're stupid!" Snarling, Ann yells at him.

"Hey Shanks Ann…" Buggy whispers to the two taking them aback.

"What?" Shanks and Ann share a look frowning at Buggy.

"You see the guy with that hat over there?" Buggy whispers to them.

"Yeah…" Shanks eyes the boy glaring at them.

"Hm? You mean next to pineapple?" Perplexed, Ann quirks her head to the side, a shy scarlet eye touching her crimson cheeks which she shyly hides with the hat.

Pineapple? Perplexed, both boys quirk their head to the side at the description.

"I heard he didn't sleep yesterday or the day before during the ceasefire at night!" Buggy gossips to the two.

"Why? He wanted to show off!?" Shanks assumes.

"No! They say he's never slept once since he was born!" Buggy tells them.

"What? Is there such a person?" Surprised, Shanks says.

"That's so sad sleeping is awesome!" Anguished, Ann exclaims.

"You're kidding right? That's great I wonder if he enjoys life twice as much as us!" Shanks offers optimistically.

"How can he when he's grumpy all the time!? To not sleep sounds like a death sentence!" Seriously, she tells both boys.

"You're only saying that cause you're lazy." Buggy huffs.

"Excuse you? Who was protecting your behinds these past three days? I think I deserved that victory nap all right." Resolved, Ann arrogantly smirks smugly at the two.

"You kept kicking me in the face!" Buggy barks back.

"Not my fault your face is so kickable." Aloofly, Ann waves Buggy off, his eye twitching tense fuming from her words.

"Idiots it's not that simple! He must be a monster!" Buggy assumes.

"A monster?" Shanks says as the boy's eye twitches tense from his words.

"He was pretty scary when we fought…still to not sleep that sounds sad." Sadly, she couldn't help but look towards the gruff boy brow furrowed staring pitifully, shaking her head at the clearly confused older boy watching on.

"Hey Oden, can you really read it?" Roger beams brightly leaning over the copy of symbols for Ode to read.

"Yes, I can but why do you have this writing? Knowledge of this script has been passed down from father to only one son per generation in the Kazuki Clan." Confused, Oden queries.

"It's already been 13 years…we finally made it to Lodestar Island the last island that the log pose points to which no ma has ever set foot upon. But we noticed when we cheerfully disembarked that wasn't the last island the needles on the log pose just kept spinning and pointing to everywhere. I was convinced there was one more island when I make it there, I'll be the first person ever to travel all around the world! And the location of the island is detailed in the writings on four of these red stones! But the world government has always forbidden anyone from deciphering them. They are called Poneglyphs. I thought they were cultural artifacts, but they were actually important maps for us which indicate the location of the last island. The government is telling us not to go to the last island which could host a vast amount of treasure that makes it even more tantalizing. If we can get there we'll be in both name and deed…the world's greatest pirate group!" Roger reveals to the two.

"The world's greatest…?" Oden says shocked but…

"Hahahaha! You must be surprised Newgate that's right then I'll…" Roger cackles hands on his hips as he excitedly tells his plan to the two taken aback at it…

"GWALALALALA! What are you talking about Roger!? That's a child's fantasy!" Newgate laughs downing his bottle.

"I'm serious Newgate! Please! Just for a year will do. Let me borrow Odin! With him I can get to the last island!" Roger requests from Whitebeard.

"Hey don't be selfish!" Scowling, Oden frowns at him.

"Please Newgate! I'm begging you!" Roger gets on his knees shocking everyone.

"Hey stop Captain Roger! He's, our enemy!" Gaban roars but…

"…Papa…" Ann's eyes soften sadly at the man above.

"Stop that's pathetic! Don't bow your head!" Oden furrows his brow at Roger however…

"Please Odeh join us on our journey just for a year!" Resolved, Roger continue to beg despite the tremors to come…

"SCREW YOU! Roger, are you trying to take my family away from me!?" Mad, Whitebeard roars as a huge tremor breaks through the island, looking like war would be broken out again and yet Roger remains resolved in his stance as just then…

"White-kichi-san let me go! Please allow me to go!"

"So loud…" Ann groans holding her head, brow furrowed from her heavy eyes, her eyelids threatening to droop down as she tries to deal with the banger of a headache hammering against her head. She feels her fingertips comb through her hair attempting to comfort the searing sensation of her head, having hoped the fresh brisk breeze of the sea salt air would provide some sense of reassurance however it does nothing for the hungover mess of a vice admiral.

"Probably from that hangover of yours." Bemused, Bell remarks arms crossed over her chest as Ann glares lightly at the smirking Bell, not at all fazed by the liquor she downed despite having had a whole barrel here she stood smiling as bright and blaring as the morning sun, swearing she was feasting of Ann's misery almost.

"Not my fault you're such a light weight speaking of Isuka you owe me that belli you wagered." Smirking, Bell turns to the mess that is Isuka, both Bell and Ann furrow their brow by the still silence they receive as they dock only then to hear the sound of heaving alarming the two turning to see the young girl spewing her insides out into the open sea.

"How about we talk about this another time?" Tense, Ann argues as she rushes over to the girl's side softly patting her back, helping pull her hair back helping her deal with this crouched down while the other marines go about unpacking from their journey, oblivious to Bell's eyes widening and a smug smirk crossing her lips when seeing a certain someone waiting at the docks.

"Speaking of belli how about you leave her to me?" Mischievously, Bell drapes her arm over Ann.

"…Why?" Warily, Ann's eyes narrow at her friend taking Isuka off her hands.

"Because I'm concerned and also, I'll give you double next time we drink." Dubiously, Bell offers.

"Hm? You want to lose beli that bad?" Befuddled, Ann arches a brow at her friend.

"I have a feeling my luck is going to turn." Teasingly, she winks smirking at the befuddled Ann.

"How so?" Ann asks lost.

"That so." Bell soon turns Ann her eyes widening when spotting a familiar figure beneath the shade of a nearby store.

"Oh, you got to be shitting me." Ann mutters staring at the stoic stone wall which Aokiji leans against, arms crossed over his chest, curiosity gets the best of Ann as she approaches.

"Were you waiting for me?" Ann asks crossing her arms over her chest eyeing the man before her.

"Welcome back." Aokiji smirks slightly at the sight of her.

"…Welcome back too…I guess." Shyly, Ann glances to the side sheepishly scratching her chest.

"We'll leave you two alone." Amused, Bell hollers holding the side of Isuka, still sleeping, still in a world of her own.

"H-Huh? Oi Bell!" Flustered, Ann calls out to her however she's long gone…

"How was your trip?" Aokiji asks as he and Ann wander through the streets their hands brushing gently against one another as Ann tries to ignore the faint feverish tint to her crimson cheeks from said touch alongside the sharp spark spreading up her arm.

"Nothing much." Meekly, Ann slides her hands into her pockets.

"Heard you got into a squeamish…" Aokiji remarks.

"Wasn't that bad, what about you?" Ann asks him.

"Just some ship that got ambushed." Aloofly, he shrugs.

"Ah…" Ann nods her head in understanding, a still silence filling in the air between both of them, but it wasn't awkward, it wasn't uncomfortable it was rather the opposite, a comforting silence, no words needing to be shed between the two util…

"Ann sama!" Smiling, the love-struck marines call out to her.

"So noisy…" Annoyed, Ann holds her head grimacing at the searing sensation of her tense temple.

"Agreed. Guess, I'm going to have to beat people off with a stick, aren't I?" Aokiji remarks reaching out, his cool hand providing some semblance of comfort.

"You can try it would be funny to watch…" Amused, Ann chuckles coyly at the thought, leaning into his hand slightly.

"Thanks again for the food." Aokiji thanks her after a moment slowly lowering his hand.

"Oh that…it's fine. Hey um…sorry." Shyly, she bows her head scratching the back of her neck, guilt gnawing away at her.

"Hm?" He hums looking down at her.

"About before…with the whole handler thing and kicking your shin thig I may have gone a bit far…" Sighing, she furrows her brow, she just wasn't used to it the again that wasn't really an excuse she supposed…

"Just a bit." Aokiji exclaims.

"Okay maybe a bit especially with us coming back from the mission…" Ann sighs softly.

"Guessing going out cooled your head then…" Aokiji assumes.

"…Yeah. Sorry again." Ann apologises once more.

"It's fine." Aoki assures Ann.

"Hm what's…?" Ann's eyes widen when he takes out a bottle of some sort.

"You seemed to have liked that wine from last time, so I brought you some." Aokiji reveals.

"You remembered? Thanks… this stuff looks expensive where did you get it?" Intrigued, Ann asks as she eyes the bottle baffled, touched even by it.

"Like I said I saw it and bought it, don't drink it all in one day." He tells her.

"Don't worry that's the last thing on my mind. Still finding this where exactly did you find this?" Ann asks it looked rather rare.

"I saw it at a store while I was working, think of it as incentive for that date of ours." Aokiji scratches the back of his head.

"Heh, you're still on about it." Amused, Ann chuckles coyly.

"And if I am?" Aokiji asks eyeing her soft smile.

"You're relentless." Ann smiles shaking her head, a faint tint of ruby red crossing her crimson cheeks.

"I don't hear you complaining." Cheekily, he argues amused almost at her reaction.

"Course not…thank you Aokiji that's…that's kind of you." Ann smiles softly up at Aokiji.

"Don't mention it." Aokiji glances to the side, a faint feverish tint to his cheeks bringing a bright broad smile to her lips.

"Oh, and Aokiji?" Ann calls out to him.

"Hm?" He looks down at her.

"I'm looking forward to it." Ann winks at Aokiji.

"As am I." Aokiji smiles softly down as the two head off heading back to base…

*What do you think of Ann and Aokiji in this chapter? Or of Ann and Isuka's dynamic?*