Chapter 11

Two weeks had gone by, and each day Sabo grew more and more frustrated. He had arrived back in East Blue, only to have missed Ace in Loguetown. Ace who was travelling with his fellow 'Chosen'. Smoker had reported all this to Akainu by letter, Akainu who was furious that he and Tashigi had simply allowed Ace to leave.

Sabo stood stiffly in front of his desk, all while Akainu scowled.

"He is travelling with an ancient vampire-" Sabo's stomach plummeted. "A demon, the cat demon Princess of Alabasta, a healer, a witch and Monkey D. Luffy."

Sabo scowled. "Monkey D.?"

"Yes," Akainu growled. "That family. You're a Guardian of the Portgas hunters. You have been told all about Dragon's failure in regards to Rouge."

Sabo nodded. "He was her Guardian. They created a blood tie to one another, just as Ace and I share as his protector. But he failed his mission. He didn't protect her." Sabo almost snorted in disgust. "All because he fell in love with a sand elemental."

"Yes, and that was when the Ultimate Vampire struck. He got her pregnant, and it was only by divine intervention that Ace was born fully elven. If his family had been cursed with vampire blood..." Akainu trailed off. "I would have to beg forgiveness from the holy Lady as I drove a stake through him."

Sabo shivered. The idea that Ace could have been a half breed, or born a full vampire. To be one of those things. It would have been a mercy to stake him as a baby. But no, the Lady was good to them. Always kind to them. She had made sure Ace was gifted to them fully elven.

"We must have Ace brought back," Akainu said. "Before he remembers anything about his previous life."

"That was the life as a witch, yes?" Sabo's brow furrowed. "Not the others?"

"He can't remember any of them. But yes, his last life was as a head witch from the Portgas Clan. He was the one who sealed the Old God of Darkness away," Akainu said, nodding. "A true hero for our kind. But a hopeless endeavour. If he had survived longer, we might have been led to a path of greater good. Thankfully now though we have his reincarnation at our side."

"Praise the light," Sabo breathed out, smiling. "Praise for the protection and care we have been given."

"We have been given a sacred task." Akainu's eyes hardened. "We need to bring him home. Before the outsiders learn too much."

Sabo bowed. "It shall be done. In the name of the light."

Akainu nodded, fire flickering from his eyes. "In her name. Go forth and succeeded."

Sabo straightened up, turned on his heel, and marched out. He'd get fully armed for this mission. He'd tear down the dark creatures around Ace. Purify them through flames. Of course, leaving the Princess alive. She had a special connection. The light was in her favour.

The light demanded them to protect Ace, and as her hunters, they would.

Willingly or not. He'd rescue Ace and bring him home.

He was his Guardian. Through this life and the next.

.::.

"You don't sleep much these days."

Marco's brow furrowed. He avoided sleep, but sadly, there were days he still slipped into slumber. Tonight Zoro had forced him off night watch at their camp, and without the distraction, Marco must have fallen asleep. He had been injured these past few days. Now all of that was catching up to him.

"I try not to yoi," Marco sighed tiredly.

Bitter laughter. "Don't miss me at all then? I suppose I understand-"

"Shut up," Marco growled. He opened his eyes, swinging his feet off the couch he lay on.

Around them was a forest, one as familiar as the back of Marco's hand. Of home. The grounds of the greatest vampire shielded them from the world, and he and his witch stood right in the middle of it all. As always, his witch's body was of shadows, and their voice distorted. It hurt. He hated it here. He hated the damn dreams. No matter pleasant the breeze that brushed against his skin, or the soft blankets beneath his fingertips. The gazebo was so damn familiar, right outside Marco's part of the manor. Where he had spent so many days painting, laughing, and loving.

Until Teach stole all that from him.

"I miss you everyday yoi. So don't you dare think otherwise. I'm angry, I'm furious. Teach took you from me, and all I have left are these dreams! I don't even have my memories of you left anymore. And you! You never came back to me yoi." Marco grabbed the glass of wine from the table, throwing it across the gazebo, far away from his witch. He ignored the shattering glass. "WHY DIDN'T YOU COME BACK YOI?"

His witch remained silent for a moment. That moment strung on forever, painful and so tangled up. Marco almost whimpered. By the Gods. He needed his lover to talk to him again. To hold him. Why wasn't he back yet? Why was he still making Marco wait?

"The sealing," his witch said, choking quietly, voice thick with emotion. "It... I gave everything. I wanted to lock him away with everything I had. So I did. I threw all of my magic into his imprisonment, and I slept afterwards. There were no half measures to be given. I held out for all those years, and it gave the Old Kingdoms a time of peace. A long time of peace."

"I wasn't at peace. I went on a rampage," Marco admitted, slumping against the couch. "I tore through villages. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't think, and worst of all, I couldn't remember you. I forgot your voice, your laughter, your face and body. All I have left are faded memories, where you just remain a shadow. It broke me yoi."

The shadow approached, sitting down at the edge of the couch. The hand that took his was soft, but his witch's grasp was tight.

"I wish you could remember me."

"Then don't leave me again yoi."

"I'm right by your side." His witch smiled shakily. Marco could sense his smile. "Think. Teach is back, but who else has entered your life since his return? I'm no longer holding the seal. It no longer exists to hold. My soul has moved on, just as it always has."

Marco frowned, because most beings within the world didn't reincarnate as far as he knew. But something twinged at the back of his head, like an inch he couldn't scratch. Like Roger's lover. How he didn't remember her.

What the hell was going on?

"There are so many people to think of." Marco settled on that, grimacing.

"Then think of the important few," the witch laughed softly. "You're overthinking, Marco. Sometimes you just have to go by instinct."

Marco hesitated. "And if I'm wrong?"

The witch softened. "Then remember one thing. I will love you through all my lifetimes."

"You aren't here though!" Marco cursed. "You left me alone."

"I honestly didn't think I'd hold out this long..." the witch admitted, still holding his hand, just as tightly as Marco held his. "And my being has entirely changed this time. There is always one familiar part of me though. You just have to find that spark."

"Why can't you just come back yoi?"

"I already am back. Just as another."

"That doesn't make any sense yoi!"

"Of course it does. But you've always expected me to come back to you the way I was then," the witch scoffed. "You've always been so stubborn, which is strange, coming from me."

His witch's hand tore free from his grasp, and both hands cupped Marco's face. Marco barely bit back a sob. They were soft and warm against him. He could feel them.

"Silly bird, you never learn. You have to look. Not just linger in lost memories."

Marco stiffened. "Why are my memories lost? Not just the old ones. But ones I should have now," he asked, before adding a touch of coldness to his voice. Despite how much he hated doing that to his lover. "Was it to do with you?"

His witch flinched, but Marco grabbed his arms, rubbing them gently with his thumbs, to reassure and comfort.

His witch grew calmer in his grasp, voice soft. "In a way, I suppose so."

"What does that even mean yoi? I asked Law, a Spirit Healer, and he says he'll try look into it. But with the darkness in our hands-"

"What?" His witch startled, grabbing his hands, searching them. "No, no, why has he done this? Shit! That son of a bitch!"

"What is Teach doing?" Marco asked, freeing his hands, grabbing his lover's in return. "What is he doing, sweetheart?"

"It's a corruption. If it reaches your heart-" His witch froze, startling.

"Love-" Marco tried.

His witch stood up, pulling away. Marco could feel his frown, and feel the glimmer of energy stirring. He felt teeth bare into a snarl.

"Necromancer," his witch hissed, turning to him. "Wake up, Marco. Wake up now! Before you lose your way. And don't you dare let him hurt my sister!"

.::.

Law's eyes snapped open. He sat up, summoning his demon blade Kikoku to hand. Zoro was rising to his feet, eye trained on the forest. Law could feel the souls, twisted and angry, stalking their way through the foliage.

"Law?" Zoro called quietly, drawing his swords.

"Undead," Law hissed. "Undead and a necromancer-"

Law shook Luffy awake, who blinked, before bolting to his feet when he saw his sword drawn. Luffy looked about, frowning, as Law slipped around, quietly waking the others. Marco sat up abruptly, without Law even needing to touch him. Marco seemed distressed, eyes burning with tears, but he shook them away and stood up.

A young girl's scream startled them all as the commotion in the forest grew closer to them. A small child burst from the trees, hand glowing golden. A skeleton clawed it's way from the foliage after her, but before any of them could do anything, the golden energy enveloped it.

The skeleton froze, then knelt. The girl stumbled to a stop, gasping for breath, but when her eyes met theirs they widened. The purple haired girl cried out in relief.

"Ace!"

"Tama!" Ace sprinted for her, eyes wide.

A long blade shot out in the dark, but Luffy got there just as Ace did. Luffy blocked the blade, just as Ace dragged Tama back, drawing a knife. The long blade pulled back, forming into a regular longsword, just as a vaguely familiar man stepped from the treeline, more skeletons shambling after him.

Law stiffened. Hawkins the Necromancer. The energy he emitted made goosebumps spread across his arms. He barely held back a shiver. Luffy growled lowly, fists up.

"What the hell are you doing?" he spat.

"He's after her magic," Law answered for him coldly. "Aren't you, Hawkins?"

Hawkins glanced coolly at him. "Hello again, Trafalgar Law."

Luffy blinked. "You know him?"

"This is Basil Hawkins. A famous necromancer who steals the magical energy from others," Law explained, even as Nami hissed at his side. "Still not satisfied with your own magic, Hawkins? You're a necromancer. Stick to your death magic and energy instead of corrupting other sources."

"Still upset that I almost had your energy?" Hawkins mused. "You wouldn't have died. Not as a being descended from the Angels. Besides, your Master protected you. I had to flee once he left his scars on me."

"You tried to steal Traffy's energy?" Luffy snarled, fists up. "I'll pummel you!"

"He knows what you are, Law?" Nami paled.

"I'm more concerned about the 'Master' part yoi," Marco said, grimacing. "Do you need help Law?"

Law scowled. "I'm not a slave. And I'm fine. This bastard tried and failed to steal my magic."

"I have a ninety-nine percent chance of doing so once more," Hawkins said. "But I'm not here for you. I'm here for the Megumi Clan girl. She is the last of her clan, and I intend to have her power over Joy."

A blast of fire swarmed him. Law startled, whirling round to Ace who had handed the girl over to Nami. Nami clutched Tama tightly, her eyes sparking with lightning, while the girl clung tightly to her. Face ashen. Ace drew his daggers, flames flickering off them, eyes burning.

"I'll tear you to shreds before you lay even a finger on Tama," Ace snarled.

The fire slowly died off, Hawkins stumbling to his feet, hands flickering with magic. Healing magic. All the burns evaporated with a glow of pure light. Law shuddered, because that magic, it was the magic of Angels. It was Law's magic.

Nami and Ace both paled.

"I have been taking the Clan Witch's magic long before you were born, fire elf," Hawkin said coldly. "The Healing, the Illusions, Immortality and Knowledge. All of their power now resides in me. I now know where the Shapeshifter's magic went to, the Vinsmoke family's missing lineage. I have now also found the last legacy of the power over Joy."

"You've been stealing the from the Heads!" Nami screeched. "You bastard! How dare you lay a hand on them. You aren't worthy of their magic!"

"But your magic I am curious about, elfling," Hawkins admitted, ignoring Nami. Law stiffened, because Hawkins' eyes were gleaming. "You're powerful, and you remind me of someone."

"Never mind him," Zoro growled lowly. "You just said Vinsmoke, didn't you?"

Law grimaced. That he did.

A sliver in Zoro's hand caught Law's attention. The darkness moved, creeping further upwards.

Wait. Zoro. All the times it moved, it was to do with Zoro-

Hawkins smirked. "Indeed I did. I know who the witch is exactly."

Zoro's face darkened. "You better shut your fucking mouth before I do it for you. Got it?"

More movement from the darkness. Law reached out, about to grab Zoro's wrist, but Hawkins' distracted him.

"No. In fact." Hawkins hands glowed, a deep, pinkish magic. "I need you all to dream."

Law startled. Illusion magic. He could feel it, prodding at the edge of his mind, trying to smother it gently, but Law shoved it aside. Luffy collapsed instantly, snoring away, while Ace stumbled, flames retreating from his daggers. Marco instantly was at his side, grimacing as he dragged Ace back, who went limp. Marco's eyes were glazed, but he was fighting off the affects.

Zoro went down, but Vivi and Nami remained standing. Vivi stumbling slightly, shaking her head.

Law ignored them, and blasted Hawkins with a sharp, piercing ray of light.

The bastard healed from that too.

Damn healer's magic.