Chapter 6
"Which one of you is Arlong?" Vivi hissed.
"Arlong would be my name," the long nosed guy said.
"Leader of the crew," Vivi scowled. "The crew who has been making my witch suffer."
"Your witch?" Arlong spat. "Nami belongs to me-"
Vivi yowled, her hair bristling, but before she even moved Law saw Luffy race in, punching Arlong across the street.
"Don't upset our witch!" Luffy snarled.
"Luffy!" Vivi complained. "I was going to fight him."
"Too slow," Luffy said, cracking his knuckles.
"You punched him, so I'll claw him to death."
"I'm kicking his ass, Vivi!"
"Back off, Luffy! I've been waiting for this moment for years," Vivi huffed.
"You're the Princess, I'm the Fighter!"
"That's a stupid argument. I was waiting for this fight long before you."
"Well I'm pissed off because my dad's been kidnapped!"
"That's not my fault!"
"I didn't say it was!"
"Oi, Luffy-ya, Vivi-ya," Law sighed. "Fishmen charging at you both."
The crew were rushing at them, so the Princess transformed. A yowl echoed across the entire village, halting some of the fishmen while Vivi pounced, tackling a pair of them down. Law cut down one who charged his way, while Luffy kicked down another. Zoro lunged in, slicing other fishmen down.
Arlong scurried off, yelling about their superior strength in water. Luffy began to chase after him.
"I'm kicking his ass!" Luffy insisted, rushing off.
"Get back here, Luffy!" Vivi yelled, chasing after him.
Nami stood there, dumfounded. "I'm not sure if I should be happy about this or not..."
"I'd take the happiness," Law sighed. "You've got two people who want to murder your abuser, and will probably succeed. That's a good thing."
"Nami, you traitor!" one of the fishmen snarled. "Why aren't you helping us?"
Nami scowled. "Helping you? You who enslaved my village? I only ever helped you because you threatened everyone I knew and loved!"
Nami drew out some kind of blue pole arm, and Law felt the magic build up. The clouds around them all darkened, and Nami threw her pole arm down. Lightning came crashing down on the fishmen. Zoro cursed, barely throwing himself out of the way in time.
"Oi, you witch! Don't zap me too!"
Law paused when he heard the sound of a sickening crack of a bone. He glanced back, and saw Marco holding Ace with one arm, while breaking the arm of a fishman who had obviously picked the wrong person to try and ambush.
"I don't have time for you unfortunate creatures right now yoi," Marco drawled. "My pet is tired out and needs to rest. He doesn't need the likes you people hounding him."
"You're still calling him your pet?" Nami grimaced.
"He's mine yoi."
"I'd be surprised if the hunter ever appreciates being called that," Law said.
"Nobody asked him yoi," Marco smirked.
A distant boom startled them all, and as one they turned the way Vivi and Luffy had ran off too. A large building collapsed to the ground, blue flames enveloping it.
"Wasn't me yoi," Marco said instantly.
They all looked back at him, baffled, except Zoro.
"Well, looks like Vivi and Luffy wrecked the place then," Zoro mused.
.::.
Magic clouded around the darkness, fire and light pressing into it at all sides. It was cold, yet warm, simple, yet so complicated. It was endless, yet contained, all at the same time. It was a time that existed, yet did not.
"So, you died again."
"Yeah, I did. Why do you think I said my goodbyes?"
"Because you've always been a sentimental fool. You and your family. We always end up this way. You always seal me away, with or without help. Sometimes you live, and sometimes you die. This time you were alone."
"It's a rather interesting repeat of events. Isn't it?"
"You're stuck in here with me though. I doubt that went to plan. Now you get to keep me company. Just like old times."
"Not if I have myself sleep for thousands of years."
A flicker of distress. Drowned instantly in anger.
"Don't leave me alone like this."
"If you stopped trying to drown the world in darkness, then you wouldn't have to be alone."
"Zehahahaha! You're as cruel as ever."
"You started this."
"And one day, I'll end it. Zehahahaha, and then I'll make you watch as I destroy everything, with only you and I left by the end of it. You're the last piece, and I intend to save it."
"We don't need saving. Especially from the likes of you. Have fun by yourself, Teach."
"Wait!"
A piece silenced, falling into slumber, leaving the darkness alone.
"...You always have to leave me behind... Damn you..."
.::.
Law rested his hand on Ace's forehead, seeing the elf beginning to grow uncomfortable, gasping for breath. The vampire, Marco, frowned, staring down at Ace, eyes full of worry. Ace's temperature was spiking, but Law could feel the magical flames the elf was connected to whirling to life.
The doctor in Nami's village allowed them to bring Ace into his work to rest, while everyone else partied outside.
"I can feel his magic building up again," Law said. "Ace-ya will be fine. He just needs to let his magic reassert itself against the darkness."
"What do you think the darkness in our hands is for?" Zoro asked.
He had been lying on another cot, drinking away. Law had examined everyone's hands, except Nami's, the only other one Teach hadn't infected. Law couldn't get rid of the darkness, no matter how much healing magic he poured into their hands. He was only tiring himself out trying.
"We'll just have to monitor them," Law said. "The only things I saw that were noteworthy were the fact that yours, Vivi's and Luffy's have changed."
"Changed yoi?"
"Yes. The darkness in yours and Ace's hands are smaller, while the tribal pattern on the other three grew larger in such a short period of time," Law explained. "I'm not sure what causes it just yet, so we'll need to keep an eye on that."
"Traffy!" Luffy raced into the room, he paused, gently poking Ace's cheek. "Is he still sick?"
"He'll be fine by tomorrow," Law said.
"That's good news," Luffy grinned, and Law blinked when his wrist was grabbed. "C'mon, let's go get some meat! You need to eat plenty to keep healing us."
"Wait-" Law tried.
But he was dragged out the house. Luffy instantly had them both by a table, and began stuffing his face. Law managed to grab a bowl of rice to munch on while Luffy kept wandering around, putting his stretching abilities to good use.
Honestly, Law wasn't sure if he was disgusted or impressed at how much food Luffy could actually fit in himself.
.::.
There was a bright soul that lingered on the outskirts of town, towering over the seaside. A grave stood alone at a cliff, and Vivi had sat by it for an hour now, telling the soul how she had met Nami.
Because this had to be Nami's mother. No other soul had such a connection to Nami. It was a loving, painful ache that filled the tiny life still clinging to this world, filled with pain, anger, distress, pride and joy. Vivi smiled.
"I love her," Vivi admitted, before deflating.
She didn't usually linger between her two forms, but for now she couldn't find the energy to revert to either a cat, or to her full human form. Her ears drooped, while her tail curled round her body protectively.
"But one day she will grow old and pass on. I'll have to wait like Marco for her to return. Marco is the Vampire Chosen, and during the last war against the Old God, he lost his lover. It's been so long, and none of us remember him anymore," Vivi frowned. "I am forever. I have no lifespan as a demon."
She tilted his head, hearing the faint whispers echoing around her. The soul trying to communicate, in it's own way.
"Nami won't get the chance to seal away Teach. I swear, I won't let her end up like our last witch," Vivi said firmly, biting her lip. "The one thing I remember about the last witch was that they were from one of the lost head clans... Unlike Nami, the head clans have a lot more power behind them. So I don't think Nami would even be able to seal Teach away. It's strange... My memory is usually very good... I don't understand why I can't remember our witch..."
"Vivi?"
Vivi paused, glancing down the trail to see Nami making her way up, blinking.
"I could hear you mumbling. Where you talking to someone?" Nami asked.
Vivi glanced back, the tiny soul was there, but Nami wouldn't be able to see it. The soul's pink tinge brightened, delighted to hear their daughter's voice.
Nami paused, her eyes widening, before she softened, staring at the grave. "Where you talking to Bellemere?"
Vivi smiled. "Yeah. I was telling her how we met."
"You..." Nami began, but shook her head and approached her side, sitting by her. "You're such a beautiful soul."
For a moment Vivi blinked, thinking Nami meant Bellemere's soul whom Nami couldn't possibly see. But no, Nami was staring straight at her, smiling warmly. Vivi's cheeks burned, and she grinned.
"Talking to your mother makes me a 'beautiful soul'?" Vivi asked, her tail curling round Nami's back, feeling the warmth against her fur.
"Yes," Nami said. "A lot of people wouldn't have taken the time to seek her out like you did. Honestly, most people would not have taken on a strong fishman, and tore down his entire park."
"Luffy did," Vivi reminded. "And I did it because I love you, and when someone hurts you, it hurts me too."
"I love you too, Vivi," Nami said shakily, her eyes watering. "You just freed me from years of slavery, and yet you're sitting here, not asking me for anything in return. You're... I don't get how you can be so kind..."
"Kind?" Vivi chuckled. "I tore through Arlong with my claws. I was anything but kind towards him. But you? I would always be kind to you, because you're mine, and I am yours."
"Always," Nami grinned, leaning forward.
Their lips met for a soft, sweet kiss. They cuddled into each other, and began to tell the small soul of how they saved Alabasta together, with the help of the Monkey D. family, along with a very pissed off Crocodile. Vivi was the only one who saw the soul go to Nami's side, nuzzle her cheek, then disappeared with one last flicker of energy.
.::.
Ace woke up to fire burning through him. It was a comfort, after the cold darkness that had buried itself into his arm, causing a blinding burst of pain that had made Ace pass out. The room he was in was dark, and Ace sat up, pushing back a set of blankets.
His fellow Chosen were scattered around the room, Luffy sprawled on the floor, Law using Luffy's stomach as a pillow. Zoro was sat on the floor, leaning against the wall, snoring deeply. Vivi, Nami and Dragon were missing, while the vampire sat by the window, staring out into the night.
"Hello, firefly," Marco greeted softly. "You look better yoi."
"Asshole," Ace scowled.
He looked around, seeing the cramped room. It was the complete opposite of the Old God's throne room, or at least what Ace thought was the throne room.
"What happened?" Ace frowned.
The vampire blinked, before nodding. "Ah, yes, you had passed out before we made our escape. Law, our healer, is actually a light being, a Spirit Healer to be exact yoi. The moment Teach tried to corrupt him with his darkness Law blinded everyone in the room. The witch, Nami, then teleported us out of there."
"A Spirit Healer?" Ace startled. "I thought they were all gone except the Royal Family?"
"Not quite yoi," the vampire mused. "It appears one escape."
"And..." Ace frowned, tilting his head as he gazed at Law. "He wasn't infected like the others were? By Amber Lead?"
Marco chuckled. "It wasn't an infection, little one. It was a poison."
Ace blinked. "What?"
"Amber Lead is poisonous to most creatures. It poisoned the Spirit Healers. It was never contagious unless the rest of us touched the actual material itself yoi."
"You expect me to believe you over my Guild?" Ace snorted. "Get real, vampire."
"Still don't trust me?" the vampire chuckled. "A shame. Really yoi."
Ace rolled his eyes. He needed someone more serious to deal with here.
"Where's Dragon? I take it he's scouting or something then?" Ace asked, tilting his head.
Marco grimaced. "No, he got caught by the darkness just before Nami could finish teleporting him out. He is still Teach's prisoner."
They had already lost their leader. Ace tried to think of any Chosen heroes who had lost their leader so early, but he couldn't think of any. Not even any of them being captured so early.
"So not only did we proceed to be captured immediately," Ace scowled. "We also lost our leader? Wow, we're doing a fan-fucking-tastic job here, aren't we?"
"So sarcastic yoi," Marco smirked.
"Shut it, vampire. What happened next? Where are we?"
"We're in Nami's home town, Cocoyashi Village."
"So we're in the East Blue region?" Ace grinned. "Oh, I should go visit my Guild then."
The vampire snorted. "As if I'd let my pet go wandering back to them yoi."
"I'm not your pet!" Ace hissed quietly, trying not to wake anyone. "Now tell me about the darkness in our hands."
He raised his hand, frowning at the infected limb. He didn't hear Marco's approach, and only blinked when the vampire cupped his face, turning his head until their eyes met. The vampire smirked, eyes gleaming.
"I've been answering a lot of your questions, sweetheart," Marco said. "I think I've been really good yoi. So how about you give me something in return?"
Ace scowled, slapping the hands away. "Like what? You try bite me and you'll get a mouth full of poison."
Marco leaned forward, to the point where their noses almost brushed. Their breaths intertwined, and Marco's smirk grew. Ace shivered, his fire stirring in interest, and Ace tried to hush it, but it called for the blue flames beneath Marco's skin.
"I know. How about a kiss from you instead then?" Marco asked, leaning closer.
Ace scowled, and headbutted him.