They were back out to sea again.

Two days had passed since the affair with Breed. Izuku had towed Breed's ship back to Meville, with Breed's captives still onboard. They were mostly islanders and civilian sailors - including the crew of the Roebuck - along with a handful of small-time pirate crews. They were all quite shocked to have been saved by an Emperor; an Emperor who, upon reaching the Moby Dick, gave them a simple choice.

They could start new lives on Melville, or take their chances trying to get home; aboard Whitebeard's allied ships.

Most had chosen to stay. After seeing life under Whitebeard's rule, returning to World Government-aligned islands wasn't all that appealing any more. The pirates mostly joined the Whitebeards, and were allowed to build their own ships; so long as they pitched in.

Izuku leant on the gunwale, looking back towards Melville as it retreated towards the horizon. They had rescued all the townsfolk, and repaired the worst of the damage. With McGuy and his crew on hand to protect it, Melville was safe and well on the road to recovery.

Which put a smile on his face.

He liked Melville. He liked its people, and had enjoyed helping them rebuild their town. It had meant something to do that, to do something useful and helpful in a world full of suffering. A reminder he could do things to help that didn't involve fighting for a change.

But now the work was done, and he was back on the seas again. As a pirate.

He looked down watching the waves crash against the Moby Dick's hull. He, Yamato, and Thatch had put an end to Breed's villainy, but there were plenty more like him out there. Plenty of small-time pirates, anklebiters, small crews with stolen ships, jumping any ship they could find and running before anyone could stop them.

And that was just the small time crews. Never mind the countless monsters on the ocean like the Seven Warlords and the other Emperors like Kaido.

Izuku clenched his fists, gritting his teeth to bite down his frustration. Breed's bounty was only 120,000,000 Berries; less than his own, less than many on the Moby Dick. Were it not for Thatch, he would have been sent to his doom on Onigashima, while Yamato would have been sold into slavery.

All because he had hesitated. Because he thought the man was surrendering. Because he had shown restraint.

He was an idiot. A fool. Incompetent!

"You're not." The Second said in his head. "You were just caught off guard is all." Izuku perked up, though could feel the Third user sneering in his mind.

"But had I done what Thatch had done from the start…"

"Do you want to be a killer Midoriya?" He pressed.

"Of course not!" Izuku whispered back.

"...I've killed in my time." the man admitted, "To get to Yoichi and to protect him from then on. It doesn't get easier. Anyone who says that is unhinged."

Izuku frowned, looking out to sea and sighing. "So you're saying I should have or should not have gone for the kill from the beginning?"

"Next time just don't buy the surrender trick. We did that with Bach against the Finalem Brothers, remember?" Daigoro spoke up for the first time.

"I was the one telling him that" grumbled the Third.

"Can you not dogpile on him right now?" Nana added.

"The kid needs to hear this, better we get this out of the way now rather then in another situation like with Breed," retorted Third.

"There will come a time where we might need to kill, Midoriya," Second cut in. "Need. Not want." Izuku sighed. "You don't have to change who you are at your core just because of one failure. You escaped, you have your family protecting you and watching out for you. Learn. And grow."

Izuku looked back, seeing the Vestiges before him leaning against the wall. "Follow the path to your beliefs, and adapt bit by bit as you go. But never change who you are deep down." The Second poked at his chest, and Izuku saw the vestige of All Might beside him, giving him what he could describe as a supportive look.

Izuku sighed, and smiled softly. "Thanks…" he said, looking out to sea.

Surprisingly the Third User spoke again. "We know it's hard, and if we could change things we would. Sadly, we have to play the hand we're dealt."

To remain true to himself. To make small changes, to adapt, but never a whole metamorphosis.

But that didn't mean he can remain where he is now. He had to master One for All in its entirety.

"We will be with you. Every step of the way" Yoichi assured. "As will your friends and family."

Family. Izuku smiled lightly at that. He was saved by his family. Thatch was only looking out for him as an older brother should. He sighed, and looked out to sea as he heard the clacking of geta.

"Hey." Izuku turned, seeing Yamato approach. "I didn't see you in the Mess Hall."

"Wasn't hungry," he retorted, then mastered himself. "I…just needed time to think."

"I can tell." Yamato stood by his side, shading him from the sun.

"We need to get stronger Yamato," Izuku said, looking out to sea.

"I know," Yamato agreed. "I won't be caught off guard again. Like last time."

"Me neither."

Izuku's lip curled. It went against everything he had been taught; to go in guns blazing and ask questions later, that was Bakugo's way of handling things. But this wasn't his world; that was clearer to him than ever. There was no order here, no system to manage everything, no backup to help him get it right. Power was what ruled these waters, whether it was wielded with care and restraint by Whitebeard, or with ruthlessness and bloodlust like Kaido.

Kaido…

Izuku straightened up, remembering what Thatch had said. His Haki had let him break through Breed's Pet Pet power. He remembered his fight with Spytand Malice, and that time in the Baskerville Woods, when he and Yamato had trained together; trying to awaken his own Haki.

"Hey Yamato, wanna spar?" He looked up at her with a grin. "I could use more exposure to your Haki."

The girl blinked, then beamed and nodded. "Sure!"

(X)

Marco looked up, quirking an eyebrow.

"Hmm?" He strode towards the bow, where some of the crew had gathered. "All right, what's going on here?"

He pushed his way through the crowd, until he came upon Vista.

"A simple spar is all," the swordsman said, pointing to the object of the crowd's attention. It was Izuku and Yamato, in the midst of what he hoped was indeed a simple sparring session.

Izuku flew at Yamato, punches flying like lightning. Yamato's arms moved like water, shimmering black with Haki, catching every blow. Izuku faltered, and Yamato dropped back. Marco watched, waiting for her to kick, or swing her mace; to exploit the opening.

But she didn't. She just held her arms in place, as Izuku attacked again; punching and punching, her arms blocking every time.

Marco watched as the fight went on, sighing with every missed opportunity; every opening not exploited. It was all he could do not to roll his eyes. Was this their idea of training?

It really made him wonder how they'd managed to survive this long.

He watched some more, waiting for an opportunity to step in. Finally the pair paused for a moment, both breathing hard, getting a little tired.

"Okay people," he said, stepping forward and clapping his hands to get their attention. "Good to see some initiative, but, honestly, that was not much of a sparring session."

Both of them looked at him, clearly embarrassed.

"We weren't going all out," Izuku explained. "I still need to learn Haki."

"And This was all I could think of," Yamato added. "We thought if I used Haki, and he fought it, the exposure would awaken it. I've seen it happen."

Marco sighed, as his crewmates whispered and muttered among themselves. He had hoped to get to Winner Island before dealing with this, but no time like the present.

"That's not how you learn Haki," he said, gently but firmly. "Fighting Haki users helps, but it's not enough on its own."

He paused, and saw Thatch emerge from the crowd. Clearly he'd been thinking about them too; though that was no surprise.

"Haki comes from within," he said, choosing his words. "It's about desire, ambition, will. It's about what you want and need in the deepest of your soul."

"Yes, it is," Thatch cut in. "That's basically how I beat Breed's control. I wanted to protect my family, and my want was stronger than his power."

Izuku and Yamato looked at eachother. Yamato looked like she was thinking hard, going back through her memories. Izuku just looked crestfallen, and Marco understood why. He came from a place where powers were well-understood, well-documented, and well-taught. His teachers back home could probably explain very easily what he needed to do, and how to do it.

Not so with Haki. Awakening Haki wasn't like building a ship or making a cannon. It couldn't be neatly worked out scientifically, or passed down from master to apprentice by tradition and doing. Haki came ultimately from within, and as a man could only ever know his own soul, so only he could ever awaken his own Haki; if he ever could.

Which meant he wasn't much help. There was little he could tell Izuku, almost no advice he could offer.

"Don't worry about it," he said, with a grin. "The only way to awaken your Haki is to test yourself, and we've got just the place to do it. We're off to Winner Island, and we'll find out just what both of you can do."

-x-

"So you want to learn Haki, do you?"

Seated on his throne on the Moby Dick's quarterdeck, Edward Newgate looked down at Izuku and Yamato. Marco and Thatch stood with them, looking up at him with questioning eyes.

"Yes!" insisted Izuku, his eyes stern and determined. "I need to be as strong as I can be, especially against Conqueror's Haki."

"Conqueror's Haki? You know it?"

"Yes." Izuku's fists clenched at his sides. "Oden didn't say much about it in his journal, but when I was creeping through the pipes on Onigashima, I'm sure that's what I felt."

He shuddered as he recalled the memory.

"I could feel his will slamming into me like a tidal wave, pressing in on me from all sides," he went on. "I thought I was going to have an aneurysm. It was…it was just too much, even the other Vestiges were scared. It was all I could do not to run away. I have to learn how to beat it, or I can never face Kaido."

Newgate sighed.

"Haki is the power of will itself," he said. "It is your will made manifest, transformed from mere thought and feeling into physical force. Armament Haki will allow you to strengthen your weapons, and your body itself. Observation Haki will extend your consciousness into the world around you, allowing you to sense the presence and feelings of others. Conqueror's Haki will make a weapon of your willpower, allowing you to overwhelm the will of others."

"That was what Kaido used," breathed Izuku. "He wasn't even fully awake, but I could still feel him."

"Kaido's Haki is indeed strong," agreed Newgate. "Stronger than almost any I have ever seen. Stronger even than mine."

Izuku opened his mouth as if to protest, but no sound came out. One look into his eyes, and Yamato's, told him that they had already knew.

"It's worth having, if you can learn it," he went on. "But I warn you it's not easy. While anyone in theory can learn Haki, actually being able to use it is another thing entirely."

In spite of everything, Izuku smiled wistfully.

"Funny. Someone told us the same thing back in Doyle."

"Oh?"

"A guy named Sabo."

"Very well then. Clear the deck."

He did not raise his voice. He did not need to. Across the ship, his sons and daughters felt the command as much as heard it. With barely a word, they dropped down the rigging and scurried across the deck, vanishing through the doors and hatches, until only the five of them remained.

They knew what was coming.

"That was a small taste of what Conqueror's Haki can do," he said, to an amazed Izuku. "I use it like this, because that's all that's needed. Kaido's the same, only using it when he considers someone worthy. What you felt was a small, out of control burst; his consciousness leaking at the edges. You felt his presence when he was paralytic and half-asleep, and it terrified you almost into madness. If you cannot overcome his will, you will never lay a blow on him."

Izuku drew himself up, and nodded grimly. "What do I do?" he asked.

"Your first test…is to walk up to me and lay one blow on my knee."

Izuku cleared his throat, readying himself. Then started towards him.

Then he froze, as Newgate focussed his full attention on him. Above them, the soft white clouds turned gray, and the blue sky turned black. Thunder rumbled, and the sea began to churn; winds and waves buffeting the Moby Dick.

Newgate looked into Izuku's eyes, seeing into them, and through them.

Yet, his gaze was not kind, it was not one that would protect.

It was one that fought against the King of the Pirates, the one they called the Strongest Man in the world. The Great Pirate, an Emperor unbounded.

A Conqueror without equal.

It smashed into Izuku like the hammer of an angry god on his psyche as he staggered back, gasping.

"I…won't…give…up!"

Izuku's head came up, and there were those eyes again; bright and pure. He forced a shaking foot forward, and then another.

"I…can't…give…up!"

Another step, and he began to fall. Newgate rose from his throne, but Yamato was there first, catching the falling boy in her arms.

"That's Enough, Izuku!" pleaded Marco. "You'll kill yourself!"

"I…I couldn't… not even five steps!" croaked Izuku, his tears now of shame. "Why am I…so weak?"

"You're not weak!" insisted Yamato. "I could barely stand it myself!"

"Izuku, that would've killed a normal man," added Thatch. "Or shattered his mind. I've seen it happen."

Newgate cursed himself. Izuku was strong indeed, but not that strong.

"It's all right, my son," he said, kneeling down in front of Izuku and Yamato. "Thatch is right. You bore more than most. I can't guarantee that your Haki will awaken, but you are more than ready to try. Once your Haki awakens and you learn it, it will forever and always be at your call."

He reached over, and offered Izuku his hand. Izuku took it, and with Yamato's help stood up. He was already starting to recover, Newgate could tell.

"You won't be walking this path alone, nor will you face Kaido alone." He smiled. "Your family will be beside you. From now until the end."

Izuku smiled back, albeit exhausted . And Newgate had his answer. Yes, he might very well be the one.

-x-

They had arrived.

Standing at the Moby Dick's bow, Yamato took in the sight of Winner Island. It wasn't much to speak of. The beaches were of heavy sand and gravel, and there was nothing to see aside from tall columns of rock as high as mountains, looking like a bunch of half-melted clay figurines.

This was a tough place. A hard and rugged place, with little alive that she could see; apart from a few trees. It was a place where only the strong could survive, let alone thrive.

This was the place where they would train; where Izuku's Haki would be awakened.

She turned back towards the stern. Izuku was beside her, wearing his Hero costume. Whitebeard was by the mainmast, talking with some of the crew. Their conversation ended, and the pirates spread out around the main deck hatch. Whitebeard strode towards them, accompanied by Marco and Jozu.

"So this is it, Pops?" Yamato asked, pointing at the rock pillars. "This is Winner Island?"

"Indeed it is," replied Whitebeard, smiling. "There's nothing here, really. We just use it for storage. Nonperishables, munitions, spare cash, some rare items, that sort of thing."

Yamato glanced along the deck. The pirates were winching a longboat up from the hold.

"They're off to pick up some things," Whitebeard went on. "But you two will partake in this island's other useful function; as a training ground. What I want to see isn't a friendly spar like you were doing the other day. No pulling punches, no missing opportunities, no holding back, period. You two will be squaring off against opponents both strong and experienced opponents who know how to fight, and will use every trick they know to win. We're not just here to develop your strength, but your skills and your instincts."

"So who are we fighting?" Yamato asked. Her blood was up, and she wanted to get started.

"You'll be fighting me," said Jozu. "Izuku will be fighting Marco. We'll fight one pair at a time, and Marco will handle the healing. There's nobody here to hurt, and our stuff's safe in deep caves, so don't worry about going all out."

"Okay then, I won't." Yamato grinned, her confidence soaring. "But will you two be okay?"

Marco and Jozu glanced at one-another, and grinned.

"Oh don't worry about us," Marco replied, a glimmer of blue flame appearing on his head. "We'll be just fine."

-x-

Yamato grinned confidently as she strode up the beach; Jozu to her right. She knew Jozu to be strong, but she had faced some strong opponents in her time. She had fought Kaido more times than she could remember, and Ulti too; except she'd actually beaten Ulti. And then there was Finalem Bandsome too; a hard fight, but a win for all that.

She glanced down the beach, to where Izuku and Marco were waiting at a safe distance. Izuku gave her a thumbs up, and she returned the gesture with a grin. Out in the bay, the Moby Dick sat at anchor, bobbing gently on the blue waves.

"Now." Jozu thumped his clenched fist into his open palm. "Ready yourself and come at me. Hold nothing back. I wanna see and feel just what you can do."

"All right then!" Yamato pulled her kanabo from her back, and ran at Jozu. The mighty warrior didn't move, staying absolutely still. Yamato let out a yell and leapt, bringing her club down hard.

But Jozu wasn't there. He was a blur, emerging to her right, his fist swinging down. She twisted in mid air, his fist catching her a glancing blow, knocking her sideways. She landed on her feet, skidding across the sand. She slammed down her kanabo, dragging herself to a halt, but Jozu was already moving, fists black with Haki, right fist aimed at her head. Yamato ducked and charged, his fist flashing over her head, her club swinging for his stomach. Jozu's left foot darted down, propelling him off the sand, her club swinging through empty air.

Yamato shoved out her foot to stop, to turn. But Jozu was charging once again, covering the distance with a speed that belied his size. Yamato hissed, and forced herself to pause, waiting until his Haki-clad fist was whistling through the air towards her. She jumped, thrust down her kanabo and pole-vaulted, somersaulting into the air above him. She swung overhead and down, her club slamming into the back of Jozu's head.

For an instant, she thought she had him. But Jozu's head fell forward, his whole body toppling over even as the blow struck. He rolled head-over-heels, leaping to his feet even as she landed and turned.

Yamato gritted her teeth, anger mingling with fear. She should have known it would not be so easy. Jozu was one of Whitebeard's top commanders, of course simple tricks wouldn't work. But she had the measure of him now. Time to turn it up a notch.

She unleashed her Haki, the black gleam covering her hands and arms. Her power rose, spreading to every corner of her body. Her Haki rose, and her skin tingled.

She moved, not running this time but leaping, pressing herself along foot by foot, the world around her blurring as she shot towards Jozu. She swung her club, catching Jozu in the chest as he moved, scoring his breastplate. She landed and skidded to a halt, turned, and charged again; just as Jozu was turning to face her. She swung as she reached him, catching him on the arm as he darted away.

Yamato turned again, leaping at Jozu and swinging hard. Again Jozu fell back, her club narrowly missing him. She hissed and swung again, and again, her kanabo whistling as it cut the air. But Jozu would not be struck, darting left and right as she swung, always ahead of her blows.

Her hiss became a snarl. He was toying with her. He wasn't fighting, he was hopping around like some jester, playing the prancing fool! He wasn't taking her seriously! And now her horns were itching!

Her snarl became a roar, and she threw herself at Jozu. She swung at him, every swing harder and faster as her power erupted from within. Jozu fell back before the onslaught, every dodge slower and clumsier than the last. Finally she hit him, catching him on the shoulder and knocking him flying. Her heart leapt, rage turning to euphoria, and she leapt at him, club brandished high, shrieking in triumph.

Jozu rolled aside, and her club thumped into the sand, blasting it away like a bomb going off. Yamato's heart clenched, and she slammed down her feet, trying to pull it out and move.

A sledgehammer blow struck her cheek. Yamato felt herself flying, her kanabo torn from her hands, tumbling over and over through the air. She hid the sand and skidded to a halt.

She blinked as she mastered herself. Her cheek stung and her head ached from the blow, but nothing seemed to be broken. The sand was hot and gritty beneath her. Her fury was gone, her mind made clear by pain.

She'd been a fool. She'd let herself get angry, let rage cloud her mind. She had made a beginner's mistake, and now she was weaponless.

Weaponless, but not helpless.

She lay still, looking through the corner of her eye. She could just make out Jozu, walking slowly towards her. Did he think she was down? Finished?

She kicked down, throwing herself into the air, landing like a cat. Jozu hesitated only an instant, but Yamato was upon him, striking at him with Haki-clad fists. Left, right, left, right; striking with force to shatter solid rock. Jozu retreated, arms moving in a blur, parrying her blows. Again and again she struck, driving him back, looking for her opening.

He moved, flashing to the left. She stamped down her right foot, pivoting as she rose, then kicked with her right leg as he passed. She felt her foot catch his head, and kicked outward, throwing herself back. She somersaulted and landed on her feet, looking up to see Jozu doing likewise, his feet scoring long furrows in the sand.

He raised his head to stare at her. His face was expressionless, his eyes fixed on her like an apex predator eying a threat. Blood ran down his cheek, from where her foot had nicked it.

"Not bad," commented Jozu, wiping away the blood with one thumb. "Not bad at all. Looks like I'm gonna have to turn it up."

Yamato stared, amazed, as his skin began to glow. Glittering plates, like carved diamonds, emerged from his flesh, sliding over one-another, forming into a suit of armor over his arms and chest.

"My Twinkle Twinkle Fruit allows me to become a Diamond Man," explained Jozu. He flexed his muscles, the armor glittering and shimmering as his body moved beneath it. "This armor you see is pure and untainted diamond. No force, no attack, has ever penetrated it."

Wonder and horror tore at Yamato's soul. She had known he had a Devil Fruit power; Oden had spoken highly of it. But to see it like this, in the flesh…so to speak. His forearm was raised up.

"Now…Brilliant Punk!"

Jozu became a blur, flashing at Yamato like a bolt of lightning. Yamato tried to move, but Jozu hit her like a speeding train, throwing her back with the elbow/shoulder charge. She tumbled through the air, her mind a blank, and slammed into a nearby boulder, cracking it down the middle. She slumped to the sand, the boulder falling apart around her, blithering as she tried to clear her mind, her bones screaming from the attack.

"I use that attack when I need to make an effort," Jozu went on, walking slowly towards her as the diamond-armored vanished. "No enemy has ever withstood it."

Yamato gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stand. Now she was hurt, she could tell; but she was not down yet. The diamonds flashed all over him once more.

"Brilliant Punk!" Jozu charged again. Yamato leapt, somersaulting through the air. Below, Jozu slammed shoulder-first into the ruined boulder, and into a stone pillar behind. The pillar shook, dust and small rocks clattering down its sides.

Yamato looked down as she fell. Jozu was standing against the pillar, half-buried face-first in the rock. She watched as she landed, and saw Jozu put his booted foot to the pillar and push. Rocks and dust clattered around him as he drew himself out; a Jozu-shaped indent remaining in the pillar behind him. She almost laughed.

Jozu charged again, and she leapt again. She landed, but Jozu was charging again, the air whistling around him. She leapt, twisting her body in the air, and landed next to her dropped kanabo, stooping to pick it up. If she was to stand a chance, she was going to need it.

As her hand closed around the kanabo, Jozu charged. Yamato darted away, narrowly avoiding him. She ducked low as she ran, avoiding his diamond-clad arm.

But it wasn't there.

Yamato looked back as Jozu skidded to a halt. His diamond-covered arms were hanging by his sides, just as they had been when he activated his Devil Fruit. Why hadn't he struck at her while she was vulnerable?

Come to think of it, why hadn't he used his arms to push himself out of the pillar? Why hadn't he used them…at all?

Unless…

Jozu turned and charged. Yamato paused, waiting just a fraction of an instant, until he was right on top of her. Then she moved, jumping to her right, slamming down her left foot, then spun on it, swinging her Haki-clad kanabo into Jozu's uncovered back. The man-mountain grunted and staggered forward, and Yamato's heart leapt as she saw the dent in his back-plate. She had hit him!

She followed through, letting her momentum carry her round. She landed, and attacked again, coming at him from his right, where his diamond-clad arm could not shield him. She swung, catching him in the front, sending him tottering backward. Yamato yelled in triumph and repeated the move, landing, twirling, and striking at him again, and again. Back and forward Jozu staggered, left and right he tottered. She was beating him! She was…!

Jozu's arms grabbed her around the waist, and he brought her into a bearhug. Yamato fought to get free, but she could get no purchase. She tore at his arms, frantic with fear, but they wouldn't budge.

"Grade-A Delinquent!" Jozu threw her down into a suplex. Yamato tried to move, but her mind was blank with pain. The breath flew from her lungs as she crashed into the earth, through the pillar and out to the ground level, until finally she hit the sand and skidded to a stop.

It hurt. Her body was full of pain. Her world was pain. She hadn't felt pain like this since she last faced Kaido.

Yes, when she had last faced him. On that horrible, wonderful day, when the creature that called itself her father had thrashed her to within an inch of her life, and bade her surrender her dreams.

But she hadn't, because for once, she hadn't been fighting to win. She had been fighting for something else.

She pulled herself up, her body hurting but still responding, her beloved Takeru still gripped in her scarred, bleeding hand. She forced herself around on aching legs, hefting her kanabo, as Jozu strolled slowly towards her. His diamond covering was gone, revealing bruised flesh and a chipped and scored breastplate.

Yes, she had guessed right. His Devil Fruit was impenetrable, but his body could not move while covered by it. That's why he couldn't use his arms while he was tackling her. He had dropped it in order to grab her.

Her heart burned. She could not give up now! Jozu's defense wasn't perfect! And he knew she could exploit it! She had laid blows on him! She had hurt him! She had to try!

Yamato shrieked, and threw herself at the slowly approaching Jozu. She leapt, pouring all her Haki into her kanabo, all for one last swing.

"Raime!" Jozu narrowed his eyes.

"Hak-" And he dodged her blow with a graceful sidestep, and his forearms were turned into glittering, black diamond.

"Perfect!"

Jozu's fist slammed into her chest. She flew back, cratering herself into a stone pillar, fighting to steady herself, but the man-mountain was on her again. His fists flickered light lightning, glowing with Haki and glittering with diamond. She tried to block with her free arm, but a jabbing blow knocked it aside.

"TARDY!"

Jozu laid on, jabbing with left and right, his fists driving into her stomach, chest, face, and shoulders like rapid fire piledrivers; blow after blow after blow.

Yamato's vision was swimming. She tried to master herself, but every blow drove her further and further from consciousness, deeper and deeper into the pit of pain before one last roaring blow sent her through the stone pillar and out the other end as the towering structure collapsed in a pit of debris and dust.

She felt herself hit the hard, gritty sand, skidding along the ground as Takeru fell from her grip.

And she knew no more.

(X)

"Yamato!"

Izuku ran towards his fallen friend, his heart clenching with terror. Her whole body was bruised, her clothes were ripped, and blood was leaking from her mouth and a dozen wounds.

"Stand back, Izuku!" Marco pushed past him, and knelt down beside her. His hand glowed blue, and the flame spread over Yamato's prone form.

"I hope I didn't hurt her too bad," said Jozu, stopping beside them. Izuku glowered up at him, his heart full of a fury he couldn't name.

Then he faltered, as he saw the look on Jozu's face. It wasn't triumphant or proud, but crestfallen, unsettled; even a little worried.

"She'll be fine," insisted Marco, as Yamato's body glowed with healing flame. "She's taken a battering, but it's nothing I can't handle. A good day's rest, with Thatch's cooking, and she'll be right as rain."

Izuku looked down over his shoulder. The wounds had stopped bleeding, and the bruises were fading, black and blue turning red, and then pink. The swelling around her face was going down, its shape returning to normal.

Marco would have been an amazing Hero back in his world. A top-ranked Pro, easily.

"S…sorry," he said, glancing awkwardly at Jozu. "I just…"

"It's fine," Jozu insisted, face as stoic as ever but his eyes were soft. "Nobody likes seeing someone they care for get smashed up. But Marco's right, she'll be okay."

His cheeks went pink. Izuku had a sudden memory of a story Whitebeard had told him, of how Marco and Jozu and the others had carried on when they saw Oden and Toki together. He'd made them sound like a bunch of teenage girls.

Was that what he had looked like? This massive man whose strength likely surpassed All Might's.

"When she wakes up," Jozu went on, as Marco finished his work. "You can tell her not to beat herself up. I had to put in some effort there towards the end, and she's young enough to get stronger." He leaned against a boulder, crossing his arms.

"That's the truth," agreed Marco with a grin. "She's a tough cookie. "

Izuku took a deep breath. It pained him seeing Yamato hurt like that, but this was a controlled bout. A spar. And Yamato had survived countless all-out fights with Kaido.

They had to do this. They had to get stronger.

"But I have a feeling you're more the thinking type while she's the brawn.." He adjusted his glasses. "For now though, you'll need to focus. Because you're fighting me next."

Izuku nodded, looking up to the taller man as Jozu knelt down, cradling the still-flaming Yamato in his arms. "I'll take her back to her cabin. You two go on without me."

Jozu started back towards the Moby Dick.

"You're going to be alright Marco?" he asked.

"I'll be fine." Marco had his hands in his pockets. "You should worry about yourself first."

He smiled, and brought up his hand, gesturing for Izuku to come at him.

"Don't hold anything back. I certainly won't. And King won't either if you come across him. We're both flyers after all."

Izuku frowned and spread his legs, settling into a fighting stance. Wind whistled and moaned through the canyons around them. Marco stood there, open, casual, unguarded.

But his eyes were hard, focussed.

"You're giving me the opening blow?" Izuku asked, as One For All erupted. Right to 50%.

"I told you, I can take what you can dish out. Relax." Marco adjusted his glasses. "Now, show me what you're capable of in battle, Izuku."

Izuku glared, lightning arcing around him, hissing and crackling as it earthed itself in the rocks. He charged.

"You should be taking this… seriously!" Izuku yelled as he leapt up, drawing back his leg for an axe kick.

"Shoot Style! Manchester!"

And brought his leg down.

"SMAAASH!"

His leg struck Marco's raised forearm. The sand under Marco's feet blew out as the impact drove him down, gale force winds blowing all around them.

But the blonde didn't so much as flinch! Or move at all!

Izuku gawked in amazement. Was he using Haki?!

"Oh don't worry," Macro quipped, grinning. "As a wise man once said, I'm always serious, young man!"

Danger Sense erupted. And before Izuku knew what was happening, he was flipped onto his side; Marco's heel driving into the side of his head. Marco followed up with a roundhouse kicking, sending him straight into a nearby pillar. The breath flew from his lungs as he crashed through the pillar, then another, and another; the pillars crumbling into dust as he passed through them.

Izuku's body was a mass of pain. But he forced it to respond, kicking out his legs and boosting forward. His flight stopped, and he flew back towards Marco; standing unmoving in his crater.

"Hope you don't think that's it. Otherwise you won't learn much." Marco said, still smiling.

"Air Force! Delaware Smash!" Izuku thrust out his fist and flicked his middle finger, sending a burst of compressed air down at Marco. Marco leapt, and the blast smashed into the sand, blowing out an even larger crater.

Izuku hissed, and fired off another blast. But Marco dodged again, and a boulder behind him was blasted to dust. He fired off another, blasting away a pile of sand the size of a small hill. He fired off another, blowing a stone pillar apart. He fired again, and again, and again.

And then Marco was in front of him. And Marco's foot was in his chest, sending him slamming into another pillar. This time he stopped, embedded in the rock, his mind reeling as his body screamed in pain. How could he be so fast?

Marco hovered in front of him, putting on a casual pose despite being in mid-air as he flapped his blue flaming wings.

"King won't be making small talk like this, Midoriya," he said. "What're you going to do?"

Izuku willed his mind to settle. If 50% wasn't enough, he would have to turn it up. He focussed, picturing the egg in the microwave, as he had done countless times before. Just a little more power, then hold it, and focus on it.

55%...

Izuku erupted from the rock, his glowing fist striking Marco full in the face, the man's eyes slightly widened in surprise. The force of it rushed past, the wind howling through the pillars, blowing up gales of sand. Trees flew from their roots, and one of the pillars toppled over, crashing into its neighbor and collapsing into a tide of rocks and dust.

Marco flew back, his eyes wide, tumbling through the air, before he recovered and shook his head, smirking a bit.

"Hey, not bad!"

Seems 55% can catch even him off gua-

Then he was gone. And then he was right next to him, wings of blue flame sprouting from his arms. The wings spread, wrapping around Izuku and clenching tight. Izuku struggled, but he couldn't break free. He could feel himself accelerating, and then the wings let go, throwing him into yet another pillar.

His body screamed, and his mind reeled. Izuku gritted his teeth, forcing himself to focus. He had to think of something!

"What?" It was Marco, hovering in front of him once again, blue wings blazing around him . "You done already?"

Izuku unleashed his smoke, blowing it right in Marco's face. As the cloud billowed he moved, flying away from the pillar and out into open air. He had a few moments at most.

"Air Force! Delaware Smash!" He punched and punched again, sending a fusillade of air bolts into the smoke cloud. The cloud billowed and began to clear, but Izuku was already moving, sending another volley from another angle, and then another, and another. If he could only…

But then Marco was upon him, that grin still on his face. Izuku leapt back, barely avoiding a swipe of a flaming blue wing. He leapt back, and back again, but Marco came on, wings flapping, blue flames billowing all around him. Izuku thrust out his hands, white smoke spraying into the blonde pirate's face. He flew back between the pillars, and thrust out his Black Whips, grabbing all he could reaching and throwing with all his strength. Rocks and trees flew through the air, ripping through the clouds.

But there Macro was again. Left and right, up and down, he darted past the flying debris effortlessly; smashing it aside with his wing, or with quick kicks. Izuku screamed in mingled terror and fury, and threw harder and harder. But nothing could lay a hit. Marco just came on, still dodging, and still grinning.

Izuku threw all he had at Marco, then charged straight at him, pouring power into his fist.

"Detroit! SMAAASH!" The blow caught Marco on the chin, sending him spinning away. Izuku shot past and turned hard, only to see Marco coming around, seemingly unhurt.

"Shoot Style!" Izuku arched his leg and somersaulted, his foot glowing green and red as FA Jin charged with his leg kicking out. "St. Louis Air Force Smash!" He kicked out hard, the green-red blade hissing through the air towards Marco.

Marco turned, curling in one wing. The air blade glanced off and exploded; bursting in a flash of green.

Izuku felt his heart begin to sink. What was it going to take? Why were none of his tricks working?

Of course they weren't working. They were never going to work; not against a fighter like Marco. He had been fighting all his life, sailed from one end of the world to the other, seen just about every attack, every threat, it could throw at him. There was nothing Izuku could do that he could not foresee, or counter.

But…he had seen through the smoke too. Was that Observation Haki?

Marco was moving. Izuku flung himself to the side as Marco flashed past, turning to face him. But there was Marco again, blue talon clawing for his throat. Izuku dodged, the talons slashing down his chest as he leapt over Marco's head. He spin-kicked, but Marco wasn't there. He was to the right, one wing swinging hard at him. Izuku bent over backwards, the blue wing slicing through the air like a blade, cutting away strands of his hair.

"Your Fa Jin needs kinetic motion, movement!" Marco called out. "So I won't let you move!"

Izuku's heart skipped a beat. He tried to fly away, to gain distance to charge again. But Marco was above him, kicking down at him. He dropped down, looking around for an escape route. But there was Marco again. His clothes weren't even dirty!

"The better-known you become, the better known your abilities become!"

He dived hard, his foot a glowing blue talon, ripping through the air towards him. Izuku dodged sideways, trying to boost away. Marco shot past, his slipstream sending Izuku tumbling. He righted himself, but there was Marco again, swooping like a raptor, taloned feet outstretched. He boosted away, but then Marco was right in front of him, his feet reaching out to grab him. He twisted away, narrowly avoiding the blue flames.

And Marco was there again, talon replaced by a foot as it was coming around hard. Izuku threw himself back, and the blow caught him on the cheek, sending him spinning away. He shook his head, forcing down the pain, trying to right himself.

Marco was faster than him at even 50%. Stronger.

Faster and stronger than All Might.

Marco hovered above him, wings billowing, right hand raised; blue flames coiling around his forefinger

"Bluebird!" He thrust his fingers at Izuku, and a gout of blue flame leapt from them. Izuku tried to dodge, but the fireball was too fast. It caught him, engulfed him, and flung him down, slamming him into the blasted remnant of one of the pillars. The breath flew from his lungs, and his whole body screamed in agony.

Izuku stared up, trying to clear his pain-addled mind, willing his body to move. Above him Marco hovered, wings spread, wreathed in cerulean flame, triumphant.

He clenched his teeth together, the pain gutting through the haze in his mind and the ache in his body. Slowly, shaking, his limbs began to move. He had to stand up! He had to fight! He couldn't just give up! He wouldn't just give up!

Marco's wings vanished, and he dived at Izuku, blue flames swirling around him. Izuku made it to his feet, and brought his bruised arms across his chest.

Marco's knee hit him like a piledriver, driving him down. The pillar around him blew apart as he was slammed down through; down through the rock, down to ground level, and below.

And into darkness.

(X)

"Uhhhhhhhhhh…"

Yamato's eyes fluttered open. It took her sleep-addled mind a moment to recognize the ceiling overhead. The ceiling of her cabin on the Moby Dick.

She sat up, and looked around. She had been lying on her bed, wearing her clothes, with a blanket laid over her. Everything was as it had been that morning, when she had left it to go have breakfast with Izuku. But now it was dark; with no daylight coming in through the porthole. How had she gotten there?

Then she remembered, and her heart sank. She had gone onto Winner Island, and fought Jozu. And he had smashed her into the ground.

She sighed. She supposed she shouldn't be too ashamed. He was Jozu after all, one of Whitebeard's Division Commanders, and a warrior who had stood alongside Oden. He was everything Oden had described, everything she had dreamed he would be, and more.

And she had gone strolling in there with a smile on her face, thinking she might actually impress; that she might actually earn a nod from a warrior like Jozu, or Marco, or Whitebeard himself. How could she have been so arrogant? So stupid?

She looked down at her hands. They looked remarkably good. She looked down at herself, and stretched her arms. They felt fine. Better than fine.

Then she remembered. Marco said he was going to heal them up, so they could keep on training. And he was going to fight Izuku.

Izuku! How was he? Had he been beaten down too?

Yamato stepped out of the bed and straightened up. She tried her arms and legs, twisted her waist from side to side, then tried a kick. Everything seemed to be working. Satisfied, she slipped on her geta and stepped out of the cabin, and headed for Izuku's door.

"Izuku!" she called as she knocked. "Izuku, are you in there?"

"Uhhhhh…" groaned a voice from within. Yamato faltered. It sounded like Izuku, but it wouldn't be right to just walk in, would it?

She tried the door. It was unlocked. Oh well, if he wanted privacy he would have locked it. She opened the door, and stepped inside.

There was Izuku, lying on his bed, asleep. He was wearing his uniform, which like her own outfit looked like it needed a clean, with a blanket over him. He showed no sign of injury, so Marco must have healed him too.

"Izuku?" she asked.

"Nuuuuhhh!" Izuku moaned, stirring. "Don't make me wear that…!"

He blinked, blinked again, his eyes focusing on her.

"Ah! Yamato!" He sat straight up, face red. "Wh-wh-what're you doing here?! What happened to the door?!"

"It's unlocked," explained Yamato, crestfallen. "Sorry, I just wanted to see if you were okay. Looks like we both got clobbered."

Izuku sighed, and deflated; his shock was replaced with sorrow.

"Yeah, guess we did," he said. "Marco…I knew he was strong, but never that strong."

"The same with Jozu," agreed Yamato wistfully. "He wiped the floor with me. It was like fighting Kaido all over again."

"Uh, no!" insisted Izuku, perking up. "You fought so well, Yamato! Marco and Jozu were both so impressed!"

"They were?" Yamato blushed, and began to fidget.

"Oh yes, we were." Both looked up, and saw Marco leaning on the door frame, grinning his usual grin. "So don't go beating yourselves up, you two. There's not many who could beat me or Jozu."

Yamato paused, and glanced at Izuku. He didn't look too happy either. Was he thinking what she was thinking?

"It's not so much that I lost," she admitted. "It's that I lost so easily. I thought I was stronger than that." She looked down at her hands again.

"Kids you gotta give yourselves more credit," Marco cut in. "Raw power matters, but you should never rely on it unless you absolutely have to. If you can come up with a plan, choose the battlefield, set traps, or anything like that, you should always do it; even if your enemy is weaker. I've seen too many youngsters like you two come to a bad end because they got overconfident or relied on brute force."

He paused, and seemed to be thinking.

"Which means you're going to have to get stronger," Marco concluded. "But there's no need to worry about that. You're both still young, and you haven't hit your ceilings just yet. Better still, you've got us to help you, every step of the way."

He smiled, and in spite of everything, Yamato felt better. She wondered if that smile had made Trish want to marry him.

"Can we…have another bout?" asked Izuku, brightening a little.

"Ah, not tonight," replied Marco, glancing out of the porthole. In the distance, the sun had just about slipped below the horizon. "What you two need is dinner and a good night's sleep. If we start again at first light, we can probably get in two, maybe three bouts a day, depending on how much recovery you need."

"That's great!" Izuku beamed, and Yamato's heart leapt. "Thank you Marco."

"Don't mention it." Marco straightened up, grinning. "See you in the mess hall." Yamato looked back to Izuku who nodded. The two got up and walked together side by side, with a spring to their step and smiles on their faces.

And there we have it. I thought of this being split into 3 chapters, but felt like a drag so just gave Juubi a nice big outline for him to have fun with.

Anywho, big thanks to Juubi-K , IKnowNothing and WildJoker000 for their help on this one.

We have our training coming in, mainly in the form of fighting against experienced and veteran Emperor Commanders. Jozu is a tank and can fit against Yamato's brawler style, while Marco is more flexible and a flyer, ideal for Izuku to combat against. You can also notice the difference in speed and power going from 50 to 55% can do, as it caught even Marco off guard for a moment there.

Also wanted to highlight our duo's approach to battles and how it contrasts from the Straw Hats. Sure they used tactics and stratgey before(Fishman Island Plaza battle, and Onigashima to a degree) but they literally just went 'fuck it we ball' 90% of the time.

Next chapter(52) is in progress, but 53 is actually done! And it will be the end of the Acclimation Arc too, and to a new original saga I am looking forward to write. But I'll need to roadmap it out first. I'll probably post 53 by Christmas or so so I can have a break to roadmap and plan first.

Anyways, we hope you enjoyed this chapter. See ya in the next one.