Chapter 14

Ace couldn't think straight. His thoughts were a whirl wind, twisting and struggling and blinding him to what the fuck had just happened.

"I would prefer it if you didn't zap everything, but I am happier that you aren't losing anymore limbs." A man's voice, it was comforting but it also infuriated Ace to hear it.

Ace stumbled, leaning against a wall.

"Welcome back, Marco! I didn't except you to run into the Portgas family of all people." Another man's voice. This one sent warmth and safety through him.

There were so many voices in his head. By the Gods, it was too much. He couldn't think. He could barely breath.

"I'll be back. I love you, Marco." His own voice.

"Ah, this balcony is already occupied huh?" The God of Darkness' voice.

"Ah, sorry," A woman's voice. "I could leave if you like, my Lord?"

"No need for that. It's good to meet you. I'm Marshall D. Teach."

"I doubt you need to introduce yourself to many people, my Lord."

"Zehahahahaha, being around for about a hundred years has it's benefits huh?"

Ace felt his knees buckle, but before he could hit the ground a pair of arms caught him. He looked up, and Luffy looked horrified, all while Law stared at him grimly. Ace cursed.

"That vampire fucked me up..." Ace whispered hoarsely. "Whatever enhancement he used... I can't think straight... Please, help me?"

Could a Spirit Healer even fix this? He didn't know, but Ace needed help. He wanted the voices to stop.

"Law." Luffy stared at Law, voice completely serious, something that took Ace aback. "Can you help him?"

"I don't even know what's going on." Law raised his hand, glowing with a white light. "But I'll try."

.::.

Vivi knelt down beside Marco, squeezing his shoulder gently. "Marco..."

"How did I not know it was him, Vivi?" Marco whispered hoarsely. "How could I not? He's my mate, and I didn't know he was right next to me yoi. I treated him like any other person."

Vivi frowned. "If Ace was our witch all those years ago, Zoro and I should have at least known. Something's wrong. Our memories have been tampered with-"

"Apparently Ace has somehow locked up our memories yoi." Marco shook his head. "I don't know how or why, and this Ace won't know either. I don't even know if he saw what I did when I drank his blood."

"What did you see exactly?" Vivi frowned.

"I saw us with Pops. My witch and I, and we spoke about how he always died and how much I hated it. We spoke upon how he locked away my memories because I'd do something reckless yoi. But for once he was no longer a shadow within my visions, he was Ace." Marco gritted his teeth, clutching the strands of his hair. "What the hell am I supposed to do?"

"First things first," Zoro said coldly.

Vivi looked up. Zoro was approaching the slaver, drawing his sword. The man was cowering against the wall, and almost screamed, just as Zoro slit his throat. Nami gasped, just as the little witch at her side did. Tama buried her head into Nami's side, whimpering.

"He knew too much," Zoro said, scowling deeply. "And now the little witch does too. So what do we do with her?"

Nami hoisted Tama up on to her hip, earning a gasp. "You can't be seriously about to hurt her!"

Zoro scowled. "I said nothing of a sort. However, we can't just let her run off. If the Old God of Darkness finds and interrogates her he will know how divided we are. This bastard." Zoro kicked the dead man's side. "Would have sold out that information in an instant."

Vivi frowned. He was right, but she hadn't wanted to kill any mortals. Their destiny was to fight the Old God of Death, not those they were to protect.

"You need to talk to Ace," Vivi said softly.

"I don't even know what to say yoi... How can we possibly go through something like this? It should be impossible! I know I felt different around him but... I never expected this..."

"If magic has affected our memories then there would be no way you could have known," Vivi soothed, rubbing his shoulder. "What matters now is making amends. You and I both know our witch wouldn't have liked everything you started doing after he died-"

"I was a monster," Marco spat, his voice choked up and heavy, eyes burning with tears. "I lost my mind, I couldn't remember him so I took it out on people. I butchered villages, not that I remember even doing so, all I can remember is being so lonely. Pops managed to bring me back, but I'm still not entirely myself yoi. I still feel alone, despite having all of you."

Vivi softened. "I know. You love him more than anything in the world."

Marco laughed weakly. "Apparently through lifetimes even yoi. I don't know how to fix this..."

"You can't fix it," Vivi said firmly. "You have to make amends and gain his trust. He's a hunter, Marco. His life must have been completely different to what I assume our witch had. He was raised by the Hunters Guild, and knows us to be monsters. You have to get to know this Ace now."

Marco snorted, but again it was weak. "He's a feral gremlin who doesn't like to be flirted with and will headbutt you if you try yoi."

Vivi blinked. That was oddly specific.

"I do want to try though." Marco softened, holding his chest. "Around him I feel better, happier even. And I hope I can make him happy too."

"That's the spirit." Vivi smiled, standing up. "Take a few moments to relax, while I go check up on Ace. Luffy and Law should be with him, but it's Luffy, and he tends to wander, and Law is far too entertained by his antics sometimes."

Marco shook his head. "No, wait."

Vivi frowned. "What is it?"

"It wasn't just Ace and I with Pops that I saw..." Marco grimaced. "I saw another memory, but with Roger within a palace. It was full of so much magical energy and the other Old Gods had been there."

Something within Vivi recoiled at the thought.

"But that was thousands of years ago," Marco said gravely. "And Roger wanted to kill them yoi."

Zoro choked. "What the fuck?"

"Why would Roger be in a lifetime thousands of years ago?" Vivi gasped. "Why would you be there? And why would he want to kill the Old Gods?"

"I don't know yoi. Something about a Joy Boy?"

That name sent a jolt through Vivi, a bolt of warmth and happiness but also despair.

What was going on exactly?

"What are you talking about?" Nami asked, her brow furrowed.

"I don't know." Vivi shook her head. "And now isn't the time. We need to regroup and figure this out somewhere safe."

"True yoi." Marco frowned. "But none of this feels right."

Vivi grimaced. "No. It really doesn't. I'm going to find the others. I'll be back soon."

Vivi headed off out the alley, but there was no sign of the three. Vivi tsked, because she couldn't even use her demon self to find out where they went off to. Her senses were all dull and muffled. She walked out on to the streets and strolled around the corner to check if the three had wandered off that way, only to gasp when something solid collided with her.

She fell, but hands immediately caught and steadied her. The hands sent a pleasant tingle through her, the same way Nami's hands did when they brushed against her skin. That baffled her.

Vivi smiled when the man pulled her up, settling her back on her feet. Before her stood a tall elf, red eyes gazing down at her, surprisingly soft. He wore robes, a long, comfortable but elegant looking black set, with his hair neatly tied back.

"Are you alright?" he asked, steadying her.

Vivi was definitely not used to her reaction time being so slow.

"I'm alright," she reassured, smiling. "Thank you! I'm not usually so clumsy."

"No need to worry." He smiled warmly. "There's been no harm done."

He pulled away, bowing his head. "It's good to meet the Princess of the Chosen Ones. I hope your fight against the Old God of Darkness goes well."

Vivi startled. "How did you know-"

"Your hand." He gestured to her bare hand. "You have the pink symbol of the Princess, do you not? Or have I misread? I thought pink was the Princess..."

"No," Vivi laughed. "You're correct. It's just that no one usually notices."

The man snorted, shaking his head. "People never seem to notice what is right in front of them. That makes the world a dangerous place, sadly."

Vivi softened. It did, and the man seemed pained by it, his face twisting. She laid a comforting hand on his arm, to try reassure him. "We'll do our best to get rid of this darkness and save the world from the Old God of Darkness. I promise."

He smiled, before picking up her hand and kissing it. "I hope you do, Princess."

She felt a strange ache when he lowered her hand, releasing it and turning away.

"I'm afraid I must continue on with my business," he said, almost sadly. "Otherwise I would have happily bought you and your comrades a drink. You do good work after all for the Old God of Light. But my business is too important, and I fear yours is as well."

Vivi nodded. "Sadly, yes. But thank you."

When he turned and walked away, something made her stumble forward after him. "Wait!" She stopped when he began to turn, smiling sheepishly. "I'm Vivi."

The man smiled warmly. "It's lovely to meet you, Vivi."

He turned and continued on his way, despite how it left Vivi feeling distant and worried. Dangerous. That's what she felt. He was dangerous but safe and by the Gods that was an odd thought.

Vivi shook her head. "What was that?" she muttered, before turning away and rushing off.

But her body halted a minute later, leaving her stuck in place. Vivi startled, but then her eyes caught a flicker of light glinting across her arms and legs.

Wires.

She paled. Her body turned, and Vivi found herself staring down an alley where Doflamingo Donquixote sat, cross legged on a barrel.

"Fufufufu, how lovely to see you again, Princess."

The New God of Manipulation. The King of Dressrosa. He ran the slavery business with an iron fist, and always with that damned smug grin. Her blood boiled just at the sight of him.

"Let me go," Vivi ordered.

"You have a pretty collar around your neck," Doflamingo mused, forcing her closer to his side.

He grabbed the collar, brushing his thumb over the metal, surprisingly frowning. "A pretty golden collar. A rare thing to see, usually all I see are explosive ones for slaves. This one is magical though, locking aside your demon counterpart. You must feel so much more mortal than you ever have in your life."

"Did you create it?" Vivi hissed.

"No." Doflamingo shook his head, chuckling. "I have my own ways of enforcing obedience. Speaking of which, one of my precious family members seems to have been chosen to defeat the Old God of Darkness."

Vivi's brow furrowed. Zoro was a demon, in no way related to Doflamingo. Luffy was Crocodile's and Dragon's son, Nami was a witch, adopted by her family, sure, but looked nothing like Doflamingo. Marco was probably older than Doflamingo himself, and Ace had been raised by the Hunters Guild-

Law. Trafalgar Law.

But they looked nothing alike. How were they related?

"What do you want with a Spirit Healer?"

Doflamingo laughed. "Sharp as ever, even with that collar on. I've pretty much raised Law since he was a child after Flevance was destroyed. He's like a little brother to me or maybe even a son, but a very misguided one. He's always needed a strong, guiding hand to keep him safe-"

Suddenly flames were between them, a blonde haired man kicking his way in, booting Doflamingo back. Doflamingo barely blocked the blow, grinning wildly, while the strings holding Vivi in place scattered. They attacked the blonde man, but he twisted between them, the fire from his legs melting them.

The blonde landed before her, puffing out a cloud of cigarette smoke.

"Law missed my wedding because of you, shitty bastard."

"He's still friends with you and the demon?" Doflamingo chuckled. "Interesting."

Vivi smiled. "Sanji!"

Sanji glanced back at her and grinned. "Hello Vivi, you look as beautiful as ever."

"Fufufufufu, as amusing as this is," Doflamingo said. "I must ask, where is Law?"

"And here I thought you were still chasing me." Sanji scowled.

"My men, are sure. But Law's gotten himself into quite the dangerous situation, going by the state of your arm, Princess."

Her arm wasn't the important topic here. The man who led the slavery market wanted both Law and Sanji. The last Spirit Healer and a Head Witch. She didn't buy his bullshit about being Law's 'big brother'. There was no way someone like Law, quiet, reserved Law, had been raised by Doflamingo.

It just seemed impossible.

Vivi bristled. "You're trying to enslave Sanji?"

"The last Vinsmoke witch is very important, but not for slavery." Doflamingo smirked. "Someone very special wants to see him, and if I give this special person what he wants, I get rewarded."

"Why what exactly?" Vivi hissed.

"He's wants to become a God not set back by the Old God of Mischief's power."

They all startled, and Doflamingo glanced back, grinning happily.

"Hello, Law."

Law stood at the end of the alley, sword drawn and eyes cold. Ace and Luffy stood at his side, Luffy cracking his knuckles while Ace drew his daggers, flames flickering off them.

"Hello, Doffy."

My fantasy book cover is now out. The Wardens of Strar finally has a book cover! Yey :D If you want to check it out, you should be able to find it on The Wardens of Strar facebook page. The book's release date is the 28/09/21 so we're pretty close now o.o