He stayed in the marine base for a week or so. 

A long week where he had to work with the base's chef and improving the soldiers' diet.

And fine, maybe working and living in the base wasn't so bad as he was feed and given space outside of working hours, but he didn't leave Baratie to be stuck in another structure of hierarchy. 

With the exception of one middle age chefs couple Kyuji and Koda, Sanji passed every hours of cooking with fellow cooks by yelling and instructing them to step up their level. No wasting, no slacking and not mumbling because the kitchen was loud as fuck and people had to speak up to be understood. Especially if they had to be fast enough to feed a thousand of so soldiers for three meals every day. 

Worse of all? The coffee there sucked balls because the machine had some problem and made it too bitter. Sanji would have propose to add milk but because asking this kind of request took a long procedure with the higher up, he let it go as it didn't bother him that much. He drank worse beverages.

But that saddened Kyuji and Koda, who had left a daughter back to their homeland and who worked in their dairy farm that could produce some really good milk. If the marine did chose to purchase the milk and making the trip to Lulusia kingdom, they could tag along on the ship and see her again.

Moved by their story, Sanji chose to help them by letting the higher up know about some good milk they could add into the bitter coffee. He was after all the new recruit in the cooking staff that managed to improve the cooking so much it upgraded everyone's meals. Except, before reaching the meeting room where the higher ups were to meet, he ran into a commander finishing his meal with disheveled clothes.

Probably because it wasn't an actual commander but an intruder passing for one after taking the clothes of the actual owner.

Sanji's pretty sure of that feeling because he recognized the man to be Portgas D. Ace. The dine and dash man who happened to be in his neighboring room of the inn he had fed at Nanohana, Sandy Island. The Mera Mera devil fruit user who will lit his smoke to thank him for treating meals, allowing him to go without having to purchase a lighter or matches for a few days. The 2nd division commander of the Whitebeard pirates, whose captain's one of the four sea emperor that ruled in the second half of Grand Line.

The big question would be why was he here, in Paradise, and more precisely, in the marine base where his head was wanted for 550 000 000 bellies.

Upon being recognized too, he was immediately flattered when the man complimented the food in the dinning room, saying that no surprise it was so good if he was working there.

Letting himself preen for a moment, Sanji recomposed himself quickly and demanded why a pirate like him was there, in the clothes stolen from an actual marine officer. Ace pulled out a letter that he had to give to the commanding officer of the base as thanks for a girl that saved his life. Knowing that letting Ace get into the meeting room wouldn't be a good idea, no matter how he insisted that drawing a mustache would be enough (and it wouldn't), Sanji insisted to be the one who delivered the letter.

Also, seeing that it was his chance to see new horizon after learning all he could there, he asked Ace to help him get out of the base since he had to leave too anyway. Ace agreed easily, telling him that he had to follow because he won't wait for him and only once he got some answer for his research. 

They said to reunite at the base entrance once they both did what they needed to do. 

When Sanji showed up at the meeting point with his stuffs packed and in a marine uniform he borrowed so to blend easily (and some supplement items he took from the base as paycheck for his wondrous job because he knew he won't be paid by cash after this little stunt), also a quick goodbye to the couple after assuring them that they will eventually meet their daughter again (probably, with the letter he dropped), it was to see a commotion to rescue the scout ship outside of the marine base that was attacked by pirates. He sneakily joined the rank into the battle ship just to see Ace jumping into said burning scout ship. Thanks to that, he saved a soldier locked inside and took some top-secret document in exchange before making his exit by avoiding being gunned down thanks to his devil fruit. Using the shock, Sanji also took one of the life boat some soldier ride to escape the fire for the two of them. After rowing crazily sometime to be out of reach of the marines, Ace found back his own raft that could be powered specially by his devil fruit and let Sanji tied his boat to the mast so they could put some more distance between their chasers.

Eventually, they deemed they were safe enough to just let the wave took them and they each checked their belongings.

"So, what are those documents for?" 

"Info about the man I'm hunting." 

"Oh, that explained your presence in this part of the sea." 

"Knowing much about the pirates politic, pretty boy?" 

Surprised by the moniker, Sanji tried to hide the flush invading his features by asking his cigarette to be lit.

"Well, I did work in a marine base as cook. And the staff were gossipy about everything they heard from the soldiers. Are you heading to where he is then?"

"Yeah, sorry I couldn't drop you at Lulusia as promised." 

"No worry. I'm sure wherever you stopped would be good enough. I don't intend to put you back when you're giving me a ride."

"Sweet. Would you happen to have something to eat?"

Sanji did. In fact, after spending the short amount of time with Ace at Arabasta, he predicted the man's hunger could match Luffy's so he prepped some victuals for the duration of their journey. Only, it was raw as he took it directly from the fridge.

"No biggie, I could roast it like nothing." 

Being a devil fruit user sure was handy.

Sanji watches the man swallow merrily the piece of cooked meat, somehow regretting not having a kitchen at hand. He could have done more tasty foods or just seasoned the meat better. 

"So, how long would it take for you to arrive at destination? Ace?"

A snore answered him.

"Oh, come on. How do you expect me to navigate us without knowing your destination?"

Grumbling, he still made sure to place the man in a position that won't made him fall accidentally. At least, this time, he finished eating before falling asleep without notice. Sanji had wondered how Ace survived until now as he fell suddenly in the middle of eating his cooking. He first thought his cooking was so good, it killed the man, before worrying about him catching a cold in his poor (or lack of) gear once he realized he was still alive. But after learning that he had the power of fire, so always get to be warm, Sanji started criticizing the way he lived. Like, stop eating in the middle of the meal and falling head first in the plate, spoiling the taste, or straight up snoring during a conversation.

Of course, narcolepsy was no joke and Ace was hardly to be blamed, and since it wasn't due to high emotion Sanji could dismiss cataplexy. Because he would fell asleep at anytime, he conclued it was excessive daytime sleepiness and questionned how anyone could let him live without assistance. he's not going to propose to be that person because he has his own purpose, but for the time being, maybe he could assist him and make sure he won't, like, drown for that very stupid reason.

When Ace came back to him, Sanji had changed into his suit and was checking his rations again. As he took lot of foods, he had to compartmentalize cleverly what he's going to put in his bag and what in his interior pockets. The pictures of the Strawhats went there unquestionningly and his wallet even though he didn't own much. He debated keeping the marine uniform as it could help him getting out of problem but it was taking too many place along his change of clothes and the new skincare and cosmetic products he got from the base.

While he was mulling, Ace yawned and asked to be feed again, which helped him lighten his bag. 

"So, how long till we arrive?" He asked again, not waiting Ace finished eating.

"Not sure, it depended the wind on our way. I'd say four days, but Deuce always said I'm too optimistic."

"Well, maybe you should listen to him and consider a better solution than count on the wind of Grand Line, known to be restless."

"I know, chill. I've been in this sea longer than you thought."

"Ok, so?"

"You're the anxious type, aren't you? Stop torturing that pretty brain or yours and just take the time to sightsee while you can."

"Look, I'm not saying that I'm not trusting your experience, but I am. You may be able to speed up our boats thanks to your power, but you can't expect me to believe that we're going to nourrish ourselves by fishing. We don't even have the tools for in a calm water like now."

"You're right, we're not gonna fill our stomach in that situation, especially knowing that fishes in this area are rare. But as I said, you don't have to worry, we're gonna have the supply to survive in no time."

Sanji wanted to argue again, just so he can drown the worry and dread of being starved he's feeling by seeing his travel mate's nonchalance, but the man had stop eating and was looking expectantly at him. Maybe he should believe more in the man known to be the 2nd commander of an important pirate crew. Surely, he'd know how to survive in the harshness of the sea. Besides, they still had some supplies for some days. Finally, he nodds slowly, earning him a blinding smile.

It's going to be ok.

 

He eventually got how Ace survived so long.

He watched the pirate ship they were closing quickly thanks to Ace's striker being powered by his devil fruit (he's actually surprised that he had the mind to roll up the Whitebeard flagship to not attract unwanted attention) and thought idly that the jolly roger was a funny one, a skull with long hair and lipstick with one extremity of the bone being eaten. Feeling the encounter will happen in a second, Sanji prepared the rope to harness to the bigger boat they will be staying for some time before taking their leave.

Ace used to tag along on other pirate ships so to assure he could eat and sleep without being constantly on his guard. 

One would thought that being so infamous, every pirate ship he hitchhiked would use him letting down his guard to give him to the marine and take the bounty, but Ace was a good sweet talker and everyone would let him go. Sanji wondered wryly if he was talking with his fists and the other only letting go because they were too battered for the contrary. He's thankfully shown the opposite once they jumped onto the ship.

The captain was an attractive lady with pink hair.

Sanji recognized her instantly for having seen her wanted poster (even owning it in his bag along some others), and started to swoon around Jewelry Bonney, captain of the Bonney pirates.

Sweet Bonney was annoyed by their sudden presence on her ship and batted him away to question Ace accusingly, having recognized him immediatly too.

"Nice to meet you, miss. I'm Ace and this is Sanji, we would like to stay on your ship for some time till we arrive to our own destination."

"Why the hell would I let you on?! I may respect Whitebeard, I'm no samaritan to let anyone on my ship freely!"

"Of course, we had some foods as offering for your hospitality."

Sanji didn't even take offence of the compromise to let the little foods left because he would have offered his life to sweet Bonney if she asked. Besides, Jewelry Bonney's moniker was 'Big Eater' so foods was the best offer. Sanji also heard stories behind her name, that every ships she met and took out were robbed of treasures and foods, giving her a first bounty of 48 000 000 bellies. More than Luffy, though it could be explained as she came from South Blue.

"I can cook for you too, Bonney-chan!"

She only took half second to came to her decision and Ace and Sanji strike themselves a sweet deal.

They spent the first hours to party and welcome the two men aboard, enjoying Sanji's first-rate cooking and for Sanji to perfect pizza recipes of all foods as it was Bonney's favorite food.

During the celebration where the alcohol flowed in some amount, Ace and Bonney talked about the feats of Whitebeard. And because in vino Veritas, Sanji learned that Ace respected the man so much that he would take down anyone badmouthing him and he's the reason Ace's looking for the person he's hunting, a former crew member who dirtied Whitebeard's image by killing a crewmate. That Bonney only turned into piracy because she admired a warlord and wanted to meet again, which became more deep once she told them that it was actually her father.

"What? Your father's a shichibukai? It's not Jinbei, right?"

"Don't be stupid, he's a fishman! And Bonney-chan may be beautiful, she's not a mermaid!"

Sanji almost feared that the captain had a tragic history with fishmen like dear Nami had.

"Nah, it's Bartolomew Kuma."

"The tyrant? Wasn't he the former king of Sorbet Kingdom? He's your father?"

"Does that make Bonney-chan a princess??"

"Former, I'm a captain pirate and a proud one! My father may have the title of the tyrant for his piracy time, he was a fair king to the kingdom. I'm not sure what turn him into his new life, but I'm determinated to find out!"

"Of course, Bonney-chan, I believe in you!"

Since they were talking about themselves, Sanji also talked about his dream and how he's looking for the legendary All Blue, overjoying the two big shot that loved to eat and his cooking.

The boys stayed on the Jewelry Margharita for three days, sometimes participating on the pirate activities like looting other crew the ran into, often fighting the marines (though Sanji would always stay uninvolved for the latter as he wanted to keep his name clear so he would wear his marine outfit and pretend he got caught to shake them). And the ship rarely set to an island wanting to reach Sabaody the faster they could.

Everytime after the fight, Bonney would be true to the rumors on her name and take all the foods on the other ship, but while Sanji was there, he made sure to always cooked something for the other crew to not let them starve. So, once replete, they could find a way out of their misery. And just after, the Bonney pirates would celebrate their victory with Sanji's cooking, who was way too enamoured by Bonney good-look to even judge her lack of table manners, though always critisizing Ace because he can.

Oh, and because Sanji carried around wanted posters of female pirates and the Strawhats, because he's somehow fond of them, Ace revealed his relationship with Monkey D. Luffy. Sworn brothers.

Funny how Sanji was travelling with one brother after rejecting the offer of the other. Besides, watching them eat, he wondered why he did not make the connection earlier. Even without being blood related, the two bore such uncanny resemblance, physically and bottomless appetite wise. 

On the last day, they met another pirate crew with a jolly roger of fox ears, red nose and the letter forming foxy who challenged them to a Davy Back fight. Not wanting to be involved in such problem, Ace bidded farawell to Bonney by taking Sanji with him who was hesitating because he's not a pirate but he would defend ladies till the very end. Foxy 'the silver fox' played dirty and tried to attack Ace while he was joining back on his Striker by using his devil fruit power, but Ace was faster and throw them a huge fire to scare them away. Guess that a 24 000 000 bounty could not mesured up against 550 000 000 one.

 

Neither Ace nor Sanji knew that their stay with the Bonney pirates had built some image for the female pirate that was already signifiant. Because of the looting on pirate ship and marine alike and the association with Whitebeard raised Jewelry Bonney's bounty to 140 000 000 bellies, making her higher than Luffy (100 000 000 bellies after Arabasta's shit show) once again.

But now, Sanji was waving at the Jewelry Margharita till they couldn't see it in the horizon.

And they arrived to Banaro Island, where the Blackbeard pirates were last sighted.