It's been two days since she visited Ipraecia. In those two days, Luffia and Sab visited her in Chopper's manor along with Zoro and Kidd tailing the two of them.

She notices the lack of marks or changes from Sab which indicates that she is not mated yet to Kidd.

"Why are you not mated yet?" Luffia asked the question to Sab, making her blush.

"My injuries are healed yet, so I guess, he's waiting for my full recovery." She answered, still blushing at the thought of mating. "What about you, Ann? I am quite surprised that you're here instead of Ipraecia."

"Izou said that Marco's in a process of rebirth." She answered with a voice filled with worries at that cycle. It's been in her mind and she feels as if something is wrong, something she cannot explain.

"You didn't get to see him?" Luffia asks.

"No. They said that I can't see him just yet. Anyway, I'll see him when he's done with the rebirth."

From then, she diverted the topic to a different one, about Cresta and the enemies. They still can't believe that Akainu is Sakazuki - the man who betrayed Raftel several centuries ago. They now know that Cresta and Raftel have the same enemies. It is only a matter of time before the war will come knocking at their doors.

They have yet to fully discuss the preparation for the war as Marco is still in the process of rebirth. Once he's done, the war council will commence.

While they are discussing their plans to visit Cresta once they are well enough, Robin arrived in the manor, greeting the three sisters. She told them about everything that happened while they were gone, including the attack in the Purgatory which forced the High Princes to return to get things in order. This just made them realize how powerful the High Princes are.

They left Raftel just to find their mates. This just made Ann feel guiltier. What has she done for Marco? Nothing. She's done nothing but pushes him away. And him? He's done everything he could for her.

Being reminded of Marco, Ann mustered the courage to ask a crucial question to Robin.

"Robin..." Ann calls to her. "I've been wondering about this, how long does rebirth take?"

"You mean how long does it take Marco to complete it?" Robin inquires.

"Yes."

"The first rebirth took him 2 days but the following ones only took him a day. He's the fastest Phoenix to ever complete the process in just a day." This made Ann frown as she counts the days since Marco started the process.

Almost three days now. Something is wrong.

"Is there a reason why it's taking him this long to complete it?"

Robin is silent for quite some time before mustering the courage to answer the urgent question. Just one look at Ann, anyone can tell that she's demanding answers.

"The process of rebirth happens every century for a Phoenix. In the one-hundredth year, they usually avoid using their powers as much as they can to prepare for the rebirth. The rebirth is a very complicated cycle for them."

Ann let the information sinks in, thoughts in shambles when she remembered what happened in the last several days - the battle with the prisoners of the Blazing Inferno as well as rescuing Ann.

"Will the process of rebirth be affected because he gave his blood essence to me?" She swallows the lump in her throat, sweating profusely while waiting for answers. Her heart is beating erratically, nervousness creeping in her mind at the assumptions forming inside her head.

"It probably did. He probably used his life essence when he saved you from dying." This made Ann clench her fists.

"Is he going to be okay? If the rebirth takes longer than usual, what will happen to him? Will that put him in danger?"

"Their rebirth is complicated. If it takes too long, they may not go back to what they used to."

"What do you mean by that?" Ann is shaking while looking at Robin, not liking what she's hearing right now.

"It means that they could be reborn with no recollection of their lives before the rebirth or they could never go back to their previous forms and retain their beast forms forever."

"Is there a way to help him with this? Why did no one tell me that he's in danger?!" She shouted, sounding so desperate. Her sisters looked at her worriedly. They can feel the tension on her shoulders just by looking at her.

"He probably doesn't want you to worry about him." That only made her madder, not at Marco, but herself. She should have followed her instincts when she felt that something is not right. It was her instincts telling her that Marco could be in danger.

"I have to see him."

"Wait, I thought Izou told you that you can't see him just yet?" Luffia asks. That made Ann stop in her tracks.

"That doesn't matter." She answered firmly.

"If you see him now, it only means you've come into terms of what you are to him and what he is to you. I remember you being adamant in your connection with him before." Robin said, eyes challenging Ann's resolve.

"I ran away because I was scared. I was scared for the history to repeat itself, I was scared to be part of a world that I never thought I would. And above all, I was scared of possible betrayal. That was stupid of me, I realized that now." She was full of 'what ifs' in her mind, ignoring what Marco must be feeling.

From what she heard, it has been centuries since he came of age. Centuries of wondering who his mate is and where that person is. Then, she came. He must have been so happy to finally find someone he's been waiting all this time only to be rejected by that person - by Ann.

She left with her sisters, ignoring what Marco might feel, selfishly throwing themselves into their desires for revenge that placed them in danger.

Despite her rejection and running away from him, he still chased after her, saved her from death even while knowing that it could endanger himself. How selfless could he be?

"I'm not running away again. Not from him, not from this fate." Then off she goes to get the pegasus, on her way to Ipraecia.

"Good luck, Ann!" Luffia shouted, waving her hands at her sister. When Ann left, Kidd and Zoro arrived, just in time to fetch Sab and Luffia.

"Where's your sister?" Kidd asks.

"She just left to go to Marco." Sab answered.

"Yeah. She might be the only one who can help him."

===XXX===XXX===XXX===

Ann's mind is empty except for the thought of Marco. She doesn't know what she can do to help him if he is in danger, what she knows is that she needs to see him right now.

The pegasus landed on the grounds of the Royal Palace of Ipraecia, surprising the guards that she bypassed. She used to land just right before the huge gate, but she didn't at this time, not caring if they think she's being rude for not going through the gates.

Her arrival surprised the Warrior Commanders who instantly welcomed her.

"Ann - "

"I don't have time for pleasantries, Thatch." That came harsher than she intends to but at this time, she can't waste any more time than she already did. "I need to see Marco."

She looked at the red-haired Dragonoid, daring him to go against her demands.

"Marco is still not done with the rebirth, Ann." Izou answered. "You cannot see him until he's done."

Ann sighed, trying to calm her nerves that are about to explode at any given time.

"If you think I am asking for your permission to see him, you're wrong." Refusals are not an option for her, no, not this time. It could pose as rudeness especially she's in front of Warrior Commanders of Ipraecia, but none of them looked offended at her words.

"At what grounds do you think you have not to ask for our permission?" Izou did not back away, looking at Ann, challenging her to answer this question.

This made Ann think. At what rights and grounds does she think she has to demand from them? She's nothing but just a princess from the Human Realm, an honorable guest in Raftel, outside of that, nothing else.

But then, she was reminded of what Marco told her some time ago.

'You don't need to ask.' He told her that all she needs to do is command and it shall be done. This is not an act of hospitality because she's a guest. This is a right given to her because of her connection to him - as his mate.

"I do not need to ask for your permission because I am his mate." She answered, looking straight into Izou's eyes, daring her to counter her words, but she didn't. The elf smiled, satisfied with the answer.

"Very well. Follow me."

Izou guides her to the back of the palace where the waterfall used to be. As soon as they got closer, Ann is surprised by the wall of blue flames surrounding the waterfall. The warmth of the flames is different, it's harsh, not the same feeling she is used to.

"We cannot get any closer because the flames will suck the lives and souls of those who come in contact with it. This is why it's dangerous for anyone to get close to Marco. To be specific, none of us can." Izou explained while looking at the blue flames.

Behind these blue flames is Marco, alone and probably in danger, she can feel it, his heartbeat slowly fading away, his soul is molding into something different, and she does not like it, not one bit.

As if in a trance, she walked closer to the blue flames, ignoring the harsh cold and hotness it provides. This is not the blue flames she's used to.

"Ann, don't! It's dangerous!" Haruta shouted from her position, several feet away from Ann. "You could get hurt!"

The Warrior Commanders of Ipraecia are now worried about Ann. If something happens to her, Marco will never forgive them.

"His powers will never hurt me." Ann said. "Because I am his mate." Without hesitation, she stepped closer to the blue flames, standing before it.

It should be scary given the blue flames of the Phoenix can burn one's soul, one's life, but not to Ann, never to her. She closes her eyes before stepping inside, blue flames engulfing her body.

When her eyes opened, she finds herself inside the enclosed space, the waterfall right in front of her. She almost yelped when she found herself naked. The blue flames must have burned her clothes but this is the least of her worries.

She steps closer to the waterfall upon seeing the blue flames that are coming behind it. Marco must be inside that little cave behind the waterfall.

Is he okay? Is she too late? She hopes not.

Her body felt the coldness of the water while she walks closer to the waterfall where Marco is. She ignored the tingling sensation while being submerged in the harsh cold water. This is nothing. This is nothing compared to what Marco is going through right now.

Now that she's nearby, she can feel him more. She can feel that strong connection that she used to refuse before, but never again.

Soon, she finds herself in the cave, underneath the waterfall. There, she finds Marco, sitting on the ground, his body is no longer what it used to. His body is just flames, no traces of her previous human form.

The flames flickered dangerously changing from blazing blue ones before it turns back to the calm state.

She approaches him, kneeling before him before she whispers: "Marco."

His eyes opened but Ann knows that he's still not back to what he used to be. His eyes are blank, staring at her but not recognizing her.

"Marco, it's Ann. Can you hear me?" He does not answer, making her frown in pain, refusing to think that he will be reborn with no memories of her. "I'm here. Just come back. I promise you, I will never run away from you again. Never. Just please, come back..." She hugs his body of flames, crying at the possibilities in her head.

She may not want to think about it but she can't help it. She's powerless at the moment, powerless to help him. What she can do is wait.

===XXX===XXX===XXX===

Marco finds himself in a dream-like state, struggling to keep his sanity. The power within him, the power of the Phoenix, is out of control, almost consuming his being.

This is the first time that it happened, for his powers to go out of control. It's angry, sad, furious. It's consuming Marco, his memories, his soul, and the way he is, there's no way he can control this.

He's at the point wherein he finds himself in the middle of the blue flames, being consumed by it, tired of keeping his sanity, and wants to just give in. The flames are pulling him in, drowning him into an endless power.

He almost did but he heard that voice calling out to him.

"Marco." The voice is familiar but he wonders if he's just hearing things. There's no way for her to be here, right?

"I'm here. Just come back. I promise you, I will never run away from you again. Never. Just please, come back..."

Her voice became clearer to Marco, asking him to come back. He's not hallucinating, is he? The Phoenix in him cried in satisfaction after hearing the voice as if that's the only thing it's waiting for before it calms down. Was it out of control because of his mate?

When his powers started to stabilize, Marco finds himself being in control again, completing the process of being turned into fire and being reborn, just like before. He does not understand what happened but that doesn't matter now.

He finally opened his eyes, back to himself, but was surprised by the pressure on his lap. He has to blink a few times before finally realizing that what he's seeing is true, that she's here with him, on his lap, eyes closed, arms around his neck, her head nestled on his shoulders.

The voice he heard is not a hallucination, it's true.

Marco stilled, eyes wandering to her stat - naked as the day she was born.

"Ann..." He whispers, trying to wake her up from her slumber. "Ann..."

"Hmm..."

"Ann, wake up."

The woman opens her eyes, looking up at the blue eyes that are staring at her.

"Marco? You're awake! Do you still remember me?" She sits up, grabbing his face closer to hers.

"Yes, I do, yoi."

"Thank goodness." She almost cried as she hugs him, relieved that he's fine. Her actions only made Marco a little conscious of their current state. Both are naked, chests pressed together while she hugs him tightly.

Does it bother him? Marco would be lying if he says he is, so he wraps his arms around her naked back, feeling the warmth of her skin against his palms.

They stay like that for a few minutes before she mumbles an apology to him, apologizing for pushing him away and for endangering him.

"If it means you will be safe, I will gladly offer my life if needed, yoi." He answers before kissing his hair.

Ann disentangles herself from the comfort of the embrace just so she can look at him. Looking into his blue eyes, she opens her mouth, wanting to say something but closes it when she can't find the right words that best describe what she's feeling right now.

Marco is patient, waiting for her to gather her thoughts, his hands are rubbing her back, encouraging her.

She didn't say anything, instead, she acted, pulling his face closer to hers so she can kiss him.

This is not their first kiss, the first one had been in the cave of darkness but at that time, Ann wasn't in her right state of mind, constantly in denial about her connection to Marco.

Right now, that she's finally come to terms with this connection, the hesitation is gone. She's kissing him because she wants to.

Their lips move in sync with one another, savoring this feeling of your fated one in your arms.

Marco didn't hesitate to respond, grabbing the chance to kiss her deep, tongue begging for an entrance. He just came back from being reborn, his instincts are shaking from being consumed by the ancestral power of the Phoenix, he's still not in control yet, not when his fated one is here, initiating a kiss, naked on his lap.

Years.

He waited for years for his mate and she's here with him. Just that thought is enough to send Marco's instincts in disarray, wanting to claim her, to mark her as his.

He grabs her neck to pull her closer to him while his other hand is on her waist, chest pressed against each other as they moan under the pleasure of feeling each other's tongues in the heated kiss.

Marco can feel the itch in his hands to explore more of her, to caress her skin, wanting to know how it will feel against his palm. When Ann moans again, Marco lost the little inhibition left in him.

His right hand started to explore, caressing her waist before it slides down to her hips, to her thighs, to her buttcheeks. He gently squeezes it, making her yelp in surprise. This made him hesitate a little, questioning if he's going too far.

Their lips parted, both needing time to catch their breaths. Marco was about to apologize for his bold actions but when he saw the desire that is reflected in her eyes, he knows that an apology is not needed.

She is blushing, lips parted, panting heavily from the heated kiss they just shared.

"Mark me." She whispers with eyes full of sincerity. It took Marco by a surprise to hear this from her.

Silence followed those words. They're just sitting there, staring at one another.

Just by looking at her eyes, Marco knows that she means this, she's permitting him to finally claim and mark her as his. He rejoiced at this, growling in satisfaction before claiming her lips once again into a bruising kiss.

There's no need to hold back at all.

He stands up, carrying her in his arms to take her to a mattress that is inside the cave. His eyes freely absorb the sight of her naked body in front of him, lying beneath him.

His desires are evident in his eyes, like a hungry beast that is ready to devour. Ann's heartbeats are racing, not from the nervousness that she felt when she first came here, this time, it's because of the excitement of what is about to happen.

He kneels between her spread legs, naked as she is and her eyes just can't help but appreciate how breathtaking he looks. Never did she ever imagine to find someone like Marco in her life. Just looking at him makes her feel the pool in her stomach twist in anticipation.

Her eyes travel lower. The sight only made her blush, seeing his erect member, and just the thought of having that inside her made her wet in anticipation.

She bites her lips before looking back at his eyes that reflect the same anticipation as she does.

He closes in, claiming her lips again and she opens almost instantly, welcoming his probing tongue.

Both moaned in ecstasy, more so when Ann felt his hand traveling from her arm to her left breast, massaging the mound. His other hand grabbed one of her legs, hooking it on his hips.

They part ways for a moment so he can kiss her neck, sucking on the pulse, eliciting a moan from her. He continues, mouth traveling downwards.

Marco licks his lips in anticipation while staring at the erect nipples in front, his hand massaging the other while his mouth approaches the other, tongue out to get a taste of the bud.

"Ah!" That's music to his ears.

More. More.

He sucks on her nipples and the pleasure is making her scent stronger especially the scent coming from between her legs.

Ann can only grab Marco's hair, pulling the strands while he buries his face on her mounds, enjoying the taste of her breasts.

"Marco." She moans her name, taking his attention back to her. He abandons what he was doing so he can kiss her again. While sharing another heated kiss, his hand starts moving downwards, caressing her stomach, her waist, her hips, her thighs before it slowly creeps closer to the most sensitive part of her body.

"Nnggh -Marco!" She shouted his name when she felt his finger probing on her wet entrance.

"You're so beautiful, yoi." He whispers into her ears before licking it, eliciting another moan that he swallows by using his lips to cover her mouth as he inserts two fingers inside her.

Marco can feel his cock almost exploding, aching to feel the warmth that she can provide. He wants a taste of her, so he pulls away from their kiss so he can explore more places he has not.

He kisses her chest, her stomach, her inner thighs...

Looking at him worshipping her body made Ann blush and nervous especially when she finds him between her legs, sucking on her inner thighs while his fingers are still inside her, moving into a pleasurable rhythm that almost sends her to reach a climax.

"Ma-Marco, ah!" She threw her head back when she felt him pull out his fingers before replacing it with his tongue. She was shaking when she felt his tongue moving inside, tasting it.

The pleasure is too much, her thighs are shaking and she can almost see stars just by feeling his tongue.

Marco enjoys this and wants more, but his instincts are already telling him to claim her. He pulls away reluctantly, earning a curious stare from Ann.

He positions himself between her spread legs. Their eyes locked, Marco's eyes may reflect desire he's kept for so long but he still wants her agreement, that she's okay with this, that she's okay to be with him.

She nods, anticipating the union.

He smiled sweetly, almost thanking her. His expression just made Ann felt so loved by him. He's done so much for her that she doesn't know how to return it. What she can offer is her promise to be by his side and to care for him as much as he does.

Marco's almost shaking as he feels the tip of his cock come into contact with his wet entrance. The contact made both groaned. Slowly, he pushes it inside, slowly penetrating his tight walls.

A groan escaped Ann's throat as she murmurs his name, feeling the penetration that she has not felt before. It hurts a little but his whispers, caress, and kisses made the pain go away.

He remains still, cock buried deep inside her. It took everything in him not to start moving until she's fully adjusted to his girth.

"Marco..." She calls him. "You can move now." She almost begs for friction inside her.

He moves slowly at first, testing her reactions. Every thrust he did is answered by a moan of his name.

"I love you." He whispers before kissing her again, swallowing the groans as he builds a steady rhythm. It feels surreal, to have her in his arms, to finally be her mate.

He grabs her hips before thrusting his cock inside, trying to target her most pleasurable spot.

"Ah!" She tightens around Marco's cock it hits her most pleasurable spot inside her, making Marco flinch. He wants to cum right there and then but he wants to do it with her.

He starts thrusting faster and harder.

"A-Ah! M-Marco! T-There, Ah!"

Her nails sunk into his back, leaving scratches upon feeling her entire body succumb to endless pleasure.

"Ann. Ugh." Marco's senses are taken over by the beast inside him, he's gone feral by the sensation of finally mating with her.

And when they climaxed, he sinks his teeth on her shoulders and she did the same to him, finally completing the union.

Ann felt a sensation as soon as Marco bites into her neck while cumming inside her. It's as if a surge of power is coursing through her veins, it's cold but at the same time warm.

They panted, catching their breath, Marco's cock is still inside her. They stayed like that, embracing each other.

When Ann raised her hand, she sees it, the mark on her arm, blue wings of the Phoenix.

She stares at it for quite sometime before Marco moves, pulling out of her, making her groan in frustration from the lack of warmth. He smiles before grabbing her hand, placing it side by side with his to show her the same mark on his arm.

"It's beautiful." She murmurs.

"It is, yoi." Marco answers, smiling lovingly at her.

Ann grabs his face so she can plant a soft kiss on his lips. They bask in the afterglow of finally mating through soft kisses, but that soon turned into a heated one.

It didn't take long before Ann can feel him erect again. She pushed him off her before she straddles his hips, her hand is on her chest while the other is slowly creeping its way to his erect cock. He groans in pleasure while he lies there, letting her do what she wants.

One union is not enough for her, it seems. She wants more and Marco feels the same, loving the view of her on top of him as she rides his cock into another pleasurable union of their bodies.

===XXX===XXX===XXX===

AN: Brains empty, grinded it too much for this. It's hard to write sex scenes when it's for a Fantasy Au, definitely harder than writing the modern ones. Or maybe, I'm just used to writing male x male scenes that it's become hard for me to write male x female. Ughh.. Anyway, here's the chapter!