Chapter 3
Vivi hummed, but sat down at the edge of the room, watching as everyone kept screaming. The Temple of Light was the same as ever, the centre piece where a familiar face sat, the Banshee, who if Vivi remembered right, was named Robin? At least it was some type of bird Olvia had named her daughter after. The room while rather big, was filled with mostly new people. Although two people from the last time they had been summoned also stood before her, and the sight made her smile, yet ache, at the same time. Not everyone from their last gathering was here anymore, and that hurt. She sighed softly, but kept her smile, because this meant she would just have to make some new friends instead.
Vivi blinked down at the dark haired man trying to strangle Marco, and odd. Vivi tentatively sniffed the air. The boy smelled familiar. Felt familiar too, but perhaps younger? She tilted her head, but couldn't quite place where he was from.
Zoro was in a suit, and he looked livid. He was snarling at Dragon, who looked as if he wished to be anywhere else in the world right now. His son, Luffy, was sulking in the corner of the room, whining. Vivi paused, because both Dragon and Luffy became Chosen ones. It was a rare thing, having two blood tied family members being Chosen at the same time, but not unheard of.
Another dark haired man stood, looking around in complete, and utter confusion. He looked curious, and Nico Robin, the world's archaeologist, began chatting to him.
Vivi's eyes then met Nami's who blinked, startled, before she grinned. "Vivi!" Nami squealed, and Vivi leapt up, purring when Nami's arms wrapped around her for an embrace.
"I've missed you so much!" Nami smiled, and Vivi melted when soft lips pressed against her own.
Vivi's mind sang, purring mate, over and over again. Her thief, her thief, her thief. Nami was hers. Her witch. Vivi smiled into the kiss, tugging Nami closer. Vivi took in the scent of tangerines and money, and groaned. Her tail curled around Nami's leg, and she almost went limp when Nami's fingers stroked her ear.
They pulled away reluctantly, because there were other people in the room. Not that anyone had been paying them any mind. Marco had the dark haired boy pinned to the floor, glowering around them, anger seeping off him. Vivi smiled when their eyes met, and while Marco's gaze softened, that slightest bit, they still remained cold.
.::.
Marco had been enjoying his sweet rose's company, the beautiful red haired girl had been melting in his arms, gasping and begging for more, and he had enjoyed her sweet blood in return. Her blood was something to savour, so he never drank too much. No, he didn't want to waste her, just like he wouldn't waste the Portgas boy who had been locked away nicely in his dungeon.
Yet here he was, now back with his fellow 'Chosen ones' who had already gotten his soulmate killed. He just remembered that they said they'd be back, but they never returned. Ace wriggled beneath him, hissing, but Marco ignored him for now. His new pet wasn't getting away either way. Marco was seated comfortably on his waist, while he had the little one's wrists pinned beneath one hand.
"Who is the new Leader here yoi?" Marco frowned.
Because the old one had died. Roger and Sora had died recently, their Leader and their Healer. Roger had hated himself for their witch's death, though Marco couldn't even recall what their connection was now. Just that he had taken it was badly as Marco had. Olvia had died during the war, taking a blow meant for Sora. Big Mom having aimed for her in a sneak attack. Oden had died back then too, against the Dragon Kaido.
He only remembered those names because of Oden's children and Olvia's daughter. They carried on their bloodlines now, and it made Marco ache that he had nothing to remember his mate by.
"That would be me," Dragon said, raising his hand.
The Leader's symbol, dark and red, was etched upon it. Marco had the Vampire's black symbol upon his hand, and checking Ace's, he saw the orange mark. Vivi had pink, and the red haired girl had blue.
"I wanted nothing to do with this again yoi," Marco scowled. "So let me take my new pet and go."
"I'm not your pet!" Ace spat. "And what the hell is going on anyway? I don't understand any of this!"
"Tsk," Zoro grunted. "You know better, birdy. We're Chosen until the day we die."
"We've all been Chosen by the Old God of Light to defeat the Old God of Darkness," Dragon said. "You know of the old legends, don't you, Portgas D. Ace?"
Marco felt the little firefly stiffen beneath him.
"How do you know who I am?"
"A hunch," Dragon lied, and Marco tilted his head, curious.
"The Old God of Darkness murdered all the other Gods except one, the Old God of Light," Nico Robin began.
Marco recalled long white hair, and blue eyes, before blinking the vision away. Nico Robin looked a lot like her mother. He barely could remember her now, but he remembered those two colours of Olvia. The Banshee had been around for countless years, and now her daughter was taking up her mantle, to discover the old world.
"What most people don't know," Robin continued. "Was that the Old God of Darkness kept the Old God of Light alive for a reason. He wanted to marry her, and she refused. Her family created the eight Chosen ones, to be passed on, from person to person, each portraying a Champion Light herself chose. The Leader, the Witch, the Hunter, the Vampire, the Demon, the Fighter, the Healer and the Princess."
"And we were chosen?" Ace frowned, before scowling up at him. "Couldn't they have found a less annoying Vampire to chose?"
Marco snorted. "Trust me yoi. I don't want to be here either. I've lost enough."
"You'll lose even more if the Old God of Darkness wins," Dragon reminded him.
Marco scowled at the thought, but they were right. If the Old God won, his entire family would be destroyed. His siblings, young and old, and his Pops. He never wanted that to happen, no matter how much he missed his soulmate.
"He's right. All we need to do is stick together at the final fight this time," Zoro grunted. "And not get all split up by other fighters. No matter how tempting it is to fight them. That way, Raftel is saved, and we get to do whatever we want until the old darkness bastard comes again."
"So, who is who then?" the other dark haired one asked.
Marco felt unsettled by him. The guy felt almost overwhelming, and it took him a moment to understand that this was a creature of Light.
"The symbol of your hands are all different colours," Dragon said. "I am red, the Leader. Black is the Vampire-"
"Dark as your soul then," Ace growled up at him.
Marco smirked.
"Orange is the Hunter, the Demon is green, pink is for the Princess, white is for the Healer, the Witch has blue, and yellow is for the Fighter."
"That's me!" the straw hatted kid in the corner grinned.
"You're in time out," the sand elemental scolded, slapping the back of the kid's head. The young dwarf sighed, before turning to face the wall again, tapping his foot impatiently.
"So, you brought us altogether then, Dragon?" Vivi asked.
"I didn't. No. My son did," Dragon sighed. "I had hoped to get your attention the quieter way, instead of lighting the beacons, alerting everyone that we're together again."
"Time's up," the sand elemental said.
Marco blinked. That had barely been two minutes. Instantly the younger dwarf was by Marco's side, peering at Ace who raised a brow in return. Marco frowned, ready to ask what the kid wanted, but he spoke first.
"Shishishishi, I feel a funny connection to you."
"You're weird. Get lost," Ace scowled. "And let me up, you asshole!"
Marco smiled, leisurely stroking Ace's side. "Promise not to attack me again yoi?"
"You're lucky I don't have any stakes to stab you with, Vampire."
"Why would you stab someone with a steak? You eat steaks," the dwarf said.
"Not that kind of steak , Luffy," Dragon sighed. "Everyone, some of us already know each other, but we should make introductions nevertheless. Marco, please get off Ace."
Marco snorted. "He's my pet."
"I am not your pet!"
Vivi huffed. "Marco, stop playing around."
Marco rolled his eyes, but stood up, offering his hand out to the young hunter. Ace merely growled, and scooted back, standing up himself.
"I wasn't playing around," Marco complained. "I had all my people set up back at home, and my firefly here was the newest to add to my collection yoi."
Vivi threw him a disapproving look, but Marco ignored the demon cat's glower. He needed the distraction, and besides, his 'victims' were left alive, usually. Just worn out and with less blood than they were used to. It wasn't like he was going through a blood frenzy and tearing apart villages anymore.
Pops had intervened after all. Calmed his racing mind down, and soothed the ache left behind by Marco's deceased lover. The fact that so much time had gone past that he couldn't remember their name or face. It was agony, and each day was hard.
So he needed his little distractions. Playing with simple humans was fun, and teasing the Hunters was even more enjoyable. Normally he'd have them chase after him, but to be given a Portgas hunter was a gift. One that Marco intended to savour.
"I am Monkey D. Dragon. I have been Chosen as the Leader," Dragon said. "Obviously, I'm a dwarf."
"Don't dwarves have beards?" Zoro raised a brow.
Dragon sighed. "You don't grow a beard around Luffy. Trust me."
"Shishishishi."
The kid was lingering by Ace, who looked very weary.
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy! The Fighter."
"He's the Fighter?" the orange haired girl grimaced. "I was expecting someone more... Muscular?"
"My punches are like pistols!"
"I'm Roronoa Zoro, the Chosen Demon," Zoro grunted. "I'm obviously a demon."
"Trafalgar Law, I have a white symbol on my hand, so I assume I'm the Healer?" the dark haired man mused.
"Indeed," Dragon nodded. "And I take it you are human?"
"Yes."
Marco felt Law's heart rate bump a little, and frowned. That was a lie. The guy felt like a light being, but which light beings looked like humans? Angels, Spirit Healers (but they were mostly extinct), Fairies, Elves (depending what nature they chose), though of course, Law was missing the pointy ears.
"I'm Marco," Marco offered when everyone glanced at him. "The Chosen Vampire."
"I'm Portgas D. Ace, Chosen Hunter?" Ace asked, tilting his head at the mark on his hand.
Marco smiled. Ace had the most cutest, puzzled look on his face, while Luffy nodded eagerly.
"I'm Vivi, the Chosen Princess. I am a Demon Cat," Vivi smiled.
Marco glanced at Ace. "Not getting offended by the demons, firefly?"
Ace twitched. "You're the most offensive bastard here right now."
"I'm Nami, the Chosen Witch," the orange haired girl finished. "And is it wise to have a Hunter here? I thought they hated most magical beings?"
"Dark beings. Like Vampires and Demons," Ace huffed.
"Heh, does that mean we've gotta fight?" Zoro smirked.
Marco felt the sudden urge to kick Zoro away. Ace was his. The sweet thing belonged to him, preferably in Marco's room, secured to his bed, flushed red and obedient to his whims. Ace had been lovely against the wall, and he wanted to see that again.
"I understand the Chosen rules," Ace grumbled, crossing his arms. "It doesn't mean I like them."
"At least we're agreed on that," Dragon sighed. "I know this situation isn't ideal for everyone, and I know some of the previous Chosen ones who helped defeat the Old God might be frustrated at having to return, but this is our duty."
"There are people here from before?" Law frowned.
"Yes," Vivi smiled. "Zoro, Marco and I faced the Old God last time."
"Did he kick your ass, Vampire?" Ace asked sweetly.
Marco almost growled, because he has lost his lover in that fight, but the growl died the moment he looked at Ace. No, here merely rolled his eyes instead.
"You're being very cheeky, little one. Just remember that I had you at my mercy earlier yoi."
"Never mind that," Luffy grinned. "I still feel a weird connection to Ace. We could be brothers. Shishishishishi!"
"I'm an elf and you're a dwarf. There is no way we're related," Ace snorted.
.::.
"Roronoa-ya."
Zoro frowned, glancing over his shoulder back at Law who approached, he looked curious, and a little bit annoyed. Not that was anything new though.
"I thought you were getting married to Sanji-ya today?" Law asked.
"I was. We had said those long drawn out vows, and then we were about to kiss when I was hit by this bright light and flung back here," Zoro explained, but frowned. "You never showed up."
"No, I tried to, but I ran into Doflamingo," Law frowned. "He and his family chased me for days, and I got backed into a corner."
"Fuck, how did you get away?" Zoro grimaced.
"Luffy-ya hitting that teleport button was a very lucky thing on my part," Law admitted. "Doflamingo had me pinned up against a wall, and was about to put one of his threats in my head again, but then I got engulfed by that bright life and thrown over here instead."
Zoro chuckled. "Talk about good luck then. One second later and you would have been his thrall again."
"Don't remind me," Law groaned, rolling his eyes.
"Okay, why is your kid sticking to me like glue?" Ace complained.
Zoro glanced over and blinked. The kid was wrapped around Ace's waist, and the dwarven kid was laughing away as Ace tried to shake him off. Marco didn't look impressed, in fact his eyes were darkening, and they remained locked on Luffy. The guy with the golden hook, he came up and untangled Luffy, who's limbs stretched.
"What the heck?" Nami gasped. "How does he do that?"
"When Luffy was a child he was cursed by a witch. The witch tried to turn him into a rubber band, but I managed to stop the spell from entirely taking hold just in time," the golden hooked man explained. "The spell did leave some lingering affects on my son though."
"Ace, Luffy," Dragon called. "You two will always feel a lingering connection together. It is a connection bound entirely by blood, and all because of Rouge and I."
"You knew my Mother?" Ace frowned.
"Yes, she-"
Zoro stiffened, instantly drawing his sword, and Vivi yowled. A wave of dark magic was suddenly all around them, and Nami screamed. The Banshee at the table yelled, but before Zoro could do anything, the world was consumed by darkness.
Within the darkness, he heard a laughter that haunted his nightmares of a time when the Old God ran rampant across the world. Suddenly he was thankful Sanji had not been chosen with him, and that they hadn't married just yet, despise the fact it left Sanji open for Big Mom's daughter. It meant the Old God would find no weaknesses on him.
He would never forgive himself if Sanji had gotten killed because of his destiny. Zoro never wanted to suffer the way Marco did everyday.