Chapter 12
Luffy frowned. He had been in the forest a second ago, but now he was in an office, standing before a blue haired boy. The boy looked bored, tapping the papers on his desk, yawning into his palm.
"I can't wait to be an adult again," the boy complained.
Luffy couldn't blame him. Being an adult was so much fun. Adults got to go on proper adventures!
The doors slammed open, and the kid grimaced. Luffy brightened up though.
"Father!" he greeted happily.
His father didn't react though, he passed right through him. Luffy gasped, and then waved his own arm through himself.
"I'M A GHOST?!" Luffy screeched.
"Crocodile," the child greeted. "What do you want?"
"Wait," Luffy gasped. "Does this mean I can fly?"
He jumped up on the kid's desk, and threw himself off it. Luffy beamed, for the two seconds he was in the air for. He hit the carpet face first, bouncing off it with a yelp. It didn't disturb his father, who stared right through him.
Luffy waved his hand in his father's face. No reaction either.
"Where is the Old God of Darkness, Old God of Mischief?" Father asked sharply. "I know it's you, Buggy. Robin figured out that you were alive. So tell me-"
The child's eyes hardened. But Luffy froze when he saw a blade bite into his father's neck, and gasped at the familiar figure behind his father.
"Shanks!" Luffy breathed out.
Shanks saved him from bandits when he had been a dwarfling. He had been tiny, barely reaching Shanks' knees, but had wanted to join him in his adventures. He was the reason Luffy wanted to travel the world. But Luffy wasn't impressed with the fact Shanks was holding a sword to his father's neck.
That deserved a punch.
"Back off, wolf." Father raised his hook, a snarl on his lips.
"If you don't want me to cut off your head, you better step away from my friend," Shanks growled lowly, eyes flashing gold. "I dislike people threatening him, especially when he's stuck as a child."
Buggy huffed. "I don't need you protecting me, Shanks. Besides, Crocodile's here in regards to his family, and if what I've heard is correct, your son was in Loguetown just shy of two weeks ago."
Luffy blinked. "How does he know that?"
"Luffy was in Loguetown?" Father softened, lowering his hook. Shanks lowered his sword in response, but Luffy's old friend didn't sheath it, much to Luffy's annoyance.
He really was going to punch Shanks for threatening his father next time he saw the Werewolf Lord.
"Yes, travelling with his fellow Chosen Ones. Although, there has been no sign of Dragon," Buggy admitted. "I'm not sure if he ended up separated or not."
Luffy deflated. No. His dad had protected him from Teach. He had been recaptured.
"I'll find him," Father said firmly, eyes narrowed. "But first where is Teach? You have some type of connection, right?"
"If you really think he and I are still connected then you're crazy. I wouldn't be here if I hadn't. Teach would have taken me out. There's a reason I gave my power to the New Gods."
"Bait?"
"Pretty much yes. I don't want Teach coming after me. He took the other Gods powers-"
"I thought he killed them except from you and the Old God of Light."
"She was a Goddess," Buggy snapped. "Not a God. And she's dead too."
Father blanched. "Goddess? But, what? I don't understand... And I thought she had been kept alive!"
"He didn't kill her. She killed herself."
Luffy didn't know why. But hearing that made his chest twist in pain. His father looked just as horrified, and he took a seat opposite of Buggy's, slumping into it. Shanks ran a hand through his red hair, sighing heavily.
"Then how are there still Chosen Ones?" Father asked weakly.
"She didn't kill herself out of despair," Shanks said softly. "She killed herself out of love for her people. She wanted to save them, and the world."
"I thought all of this was to get to her. If she's dead-"
"Teach would take over the world regardless," Buggy said. "She was a big motivation in all of this. But this isn't what you want to know. You want to know where Teach is."
"Yes, tell me."
.::.
It burned, icy cold and sharp. It tore through his veins, twisting and turning. Zoro screamed, clutching his arm. The darkness continued to seep in, clawing and tearing.
It was consuming him.
It crawled up his arm, so slowly, the vines creeping up beneath his skin. Zoro bit down another scream, whimpering as he dragged its way up to his shoulder. It slithered up his neck, choking him as it wrapped round his neck. He felt it climb up his mouth, and choked on black ooze.
It kept tearing him apart from inside. He couldn't scream. He writhed. Choking, gasping, whimpering.
Teach's darkness was ripping him apart from the inside out.
A warm hand grabbed his own, and suddenly the dread and terror fled from him.
"What the hell happened to you this time, Marimo?"
Zoro opened his eyes. He stood in a kitchen, Sanji's kitchen. Sanji leaned against the counter, holding his hand, eye hard and filled with fury. Zoro choked on a laugh of relief. The darkness was receding.
"Curly-brow-"
"You have to calm down." Sanji's fingers traced over his hand, the blonde frowning. "You're making the darkness worse."
A hand trailed the scar on his face, curtsey of his father.
"Mihawk didn't cut out your moss filled brain. He sliced your eye, remember? So use your head."
Zoro snorted. "Such soft things you say to me, blondie."
"As if you say soft things to me, Zoro." Sanji rolled his eye, but softened. "I can feel you sinking. Right now I can't even come find you. I'm on the run."
Zoro scowled. "I got attacked by the Paladin's little hunters-"
"Don't concern yourself over them."
"They're looking for you. The last Vinsmoke witch!" Zoro spat. "Of course I'm worried!"
The darkness drew in closer. Sanji growled lowly.
"And I can out smart them. I'm not stupid or weak-"
"Of course not-"
"Then stop worrying about me and focus on keeping yourself calm. If this darkness keeps pressing in-"
"What does it do?"
"It-" Sanji flickered, then cursed. "Shit. Not now!"
"Sanji!"
"I've got to go. Stay safe, Marino! And snap out of it!"
Sanji clicked his fingers, and vanished. Zoro reached out to him, but found himself ejected from whatever dream he had been cursed into.
.::.
"Careful, sweet."
But this child was never careful. They were wild and daring, as all of their family were. An elfling full of fire and passion. The child leapt from stone to stone, before slipping behind the waterfall, laughing loudly. Their mother groaned. The little one kept going however, now wandering deep into the dark cavern, soaking wet. They shook their head, sending droplets of water flying, before grinning wildly.
"I'm entering the dragon's den," they whispered, pressing in close to the walls, holding their wooden sword up high. "Ready to challenge it for all it's jewels."
They crept further into the carven, letting a flicker of fire light their free hand. They played inside for a while, battling their own shadow before a shiny glint caught the corner of their eye. The child turned, and saw some kind of rock sat upon a boulder near the back of the cavern.
It was a tiny thing, about the size of their palm. A bird looked as it was carved into it, and the elfling couldn't help but squeal in glee and run out the waterfall.
"Mum! Dad!" they yelled. "I found some treasure!"
"That's a pretty fossil." Dad grinned.
"Yeah, I got a birdy!"
That was when the fossil burst out into blue flames. It was dropped instantly by the startled child. The mother grabbed their child, dragging them bodily back while the father moved protectively in front of them, drawing his sword. The fossil landed on the grass, but instead of the fire burning it, the blue flames formed into a young teen.
The family of three stared at the teen, astonished.
Then the father threw his head back and laughed.
"I didn't except you to run into the Portgas family of all people," he said merrily.
Ace had watched all of this. But the problem was, all the faces were made of shadows, and it left him aching in a way he hadn't felt since he had been told of his mother's death. He sat down on the rocks by the waterfall, and wept for reasons unknown to even him.
He felt like an outsider, despite also feeling like he had a place here.
.::.
The battle was long and bloody. Luffy, Zoro and Ace remained out cold, lost in hallucinations. Tama and Nami couldn't wake them up. Marco didn't get it, the necromancer was far too powerful to be any normal creature, and Law despised him for it.
Law who was on the ground, coughing up blood. Marco swore he saw a white patch crawl up his neck. Marco himself was tearing down skeleton after skeleton, the one that had been hit by Tama's golden light helping. But they were getting overwhelmed. Vivi was trapped by the collar, and her peacock slashers were barely keeping the skeletons back.
Basil kicked Law's side. Law snarled, drew his dagger, and stabbed Basil's side. Basil cursed, yanked out the dagger and stabbed Law's hand who yelled.
Vivi was suddenly there, slashing at Basil who ducked, raising his sword. The extending sword.
"VIVI!" Marco screamed, lunging for her.
"No!" Nami cried out.
Vivi wouldn't dodge in time. Not as restrained as she was by the collar-
Basil's sword clanged off of another, the sword deflected. Basil stiffened, his eyes wide.
A very familiar shadowy person stood before him. Marco froze, staring just as wide eyed.
His lover was here.
"Enough," his witch spat, and clicked their fingers.
All the skeletons crumbled to dust.
Basil backed away. "You shouldn't be here. You shouldn't still be this powerful," Basil sneered, shaking his head. "I don't understand how-"
His witch laughed, a harsh, nasty sound. It made Marco shiver, because it had a dangerous note to it.
"As long as a piece of my soul exists in this world I'll never truly die. You should know that by now, Basil. You're supposed to be the clever one," his witch mocked, before their voice darkened. "Now go. I can't kill you due to my orders, but you could never defeat me either."
Marco startled. His lover had orders? What orders? And from whom exactly?
"Don't be so cocky. I've stolen so many of the head witches' magic. I might be able to defeat you now," Basil said, eyes glinting greedily. "And then I could finally claim your powers."
Marco bristled, but his witch laughed merrily.
"Aw, that's adorable, Basil," his witch cooed, but Marco felt the deadly intent as the skies darkened around them, thunder rolling through the skies. "But nobody touches my brothers and sisters and gets away with it. Not on my name as a witch. And even worse? You're fucking with my Chosen Ones. Vivi, Zoro and Marco were my group. And I hate anyone who messes with my friends."
"Wait-" Marco called out.
"We've had our discussion already, Marco," his witch sighed. "It's time to go."
Marco deflated, but nodded. His lover wasn't truly here. He could see through them. This was a ghost.
"Wait, you said you were apart of our group!" Vivi said. "And you smell so familiar. I don't understand-"
"Because all of your memories of me have been erased from every timeline I've been in," his witch said, huffing. "But now is not the time for this. Go to Pops, Marco."
The grounds before them grew darker, and Basil chuckled. "You're allowing me too much time."
"Take all the time you need, asshole. You won't be laughing when I turn my attention to you," his witch snapped, glancing back at them. "Look, just stop overthinking things. I'm with you, all of you, right now. This whole reincarnation thing has been complicated as anything, and only certain people have been able to do it. Even if I had the time to explain it all, I'd just confuse all of you!"
"Reincarnation?" Law groaned.
"Oh for the love of the Gods," his witch groaned, and waved a hand. "Stop being sick, dammit. Stupid asshole King and his stupid god damn jealousy fits-"
Marco blinked. He had no idea what his lover was talking about. Law sat up, the white patches fading away, he coughed roughly as few times. But soon shook it off.
"And you all just look even more confused. Okay, just stop. Just focus on what you're doing right now. Go seal Teach. That's your jobs," his witch ordered dryly. "Not 'delve into deep histories that confuse everyone'."
Marco didn't like how sarcastic his witch was being right now. He sounded annoyingly smug.
The world around them was darkening further. Basil was laughing, but his witch ignored him entirely.
"I wasn't sick until that fucking cackling asshole grabbed me!" Law snapped.
"Yes, yes, he stopped your connection to your New God or whatever-"
"How did you-" Law startled. "Do you know how to get him back?"
"Without your death? No."
"Love-" Marco tried.
"Hush, Marco. I'm not coming back, I'm just here as a ghost. Apparently the world's magic is stronger here right now because of all the energy lingering about from two head witch clan members, and a disgusting weasel of a thief."
Marco frowned. Two head witches? Tama was one, but where was the other?
"Speaking of thieves, he's trying to cast something-" Nami said nervously.
His lover sighed, and waved a hand.
Thunder continued to crackle across the sky, and lightning struck down, hitting the darkness. One single stroke destroyed the gathered darkness, sending it retreating back into Basil who stumbled back, gasping.
One single bolt of lightning defeated all that darkness?
Marco blanked.
Was his witch really that powerful?
Everyone just stared, stupefied.
"Y-You're just a descendant. You aren't the real deal-" Basil choked out.
"I'm a piece of the puzzle. And you're not the God of Darkness. I sealed him away for thousands of years. So what do you think I could do to you?" His witch rolled their eyes. "Now, Basil. Join me in the afterlife for a play date. We have a lot to discuss for however long you linger about for this time."
"Wait-" Basil backed away, paling even further.
But another zap of lightning struck him and he exploded into ash.
Nami wailed. "Why can't you just defeat the Old God of Darkness if you're this powerful?!"
Tama gasped. "That was amazing! You must be a very powerful witch, especially if you're a ghost!"
"He's an Old God and I'm a witch," his lover said dryly. "I'm also dead and no longer a Chosen One."
"You just said you were-"
"I was. Then I died sealing Teach away the last time he was lingering around," his witch explained, while Marco ached at the thought.
He didn't understand why his lover was being so blunt about this. They died. They died and left Marco alone and he couldn't even remember them properly.
"But you're here now!" Nami said. "Can't you just do what you did a second ago and weaken him at least? That way we could try get back our Leader at the very least!"
"No, because I am no longer chosen by the Old God of Light. You're the chosen witch now. Not me," his witch groaned, shaking his head. "I should not be having to explain this. I died, dammit. I've died throughout so many lifetimes. Okay, listen, you were all Chosen by a literal God who died to create your group."
Lifetimes? And the Old God of Light was dead? All of this was making Marco's head spin, and his chest ache. He just wanted his lover back.
"How is the Old God of Light dead?" Nami cried.
"I don't understand," Vivi admitted, shaking her head.
"Yes, the Old God of Light died. You would have remembered this, Vivi, but your memory is gone. Anything regarding all these incidents with myself, and my family, is wiped away."
"Why? Who wiped our memories? What is going on yoi?" Marco yelled. "Stop messing with us, love!"
"I can't tell you anything. You won't remember," his witch spat. "Nobody remembers anything. I have had to try and fix all this shit on my own! Every time I keep dying, and Teach never dies with me. He has too much power, and no matter how hard I try I can't get rid of him. And now I'm in the worst state I've ever been in. I have no memories, I've only just started to dream of those lifetimes again, and I am nothing but a child with dangerous people who would stop me from fighting by my people's side!"
Marco shivered. His lover was a so angry and upset. The thunder began to crackle across the sky, and rain drizzled down, soaking them all to the bone. He didn't understand what his lover meant by 'lifetimes' and 'reincarnation'. This had been the first time he had died, right? Reincarnation wasn't exactly a common occurrence in any of the races.
Marco couldn't even think of any that reincarnated. His mind was drawing a blank.
"So no, I will not start explaining things," his witch said, ever so softly. "All I will do is send you to Sabaody. You can get yourselves to Pops after that."
"I love you yoi," Marco said softly, reaching out for them.
He could feel his witch's smile. "And I will always love you. No matter what life I'm on next."
Magic brushed over him, and Marco's world disappeared.
I've got a new story from the witch au in the Fire Fist Collection up and about that. It's called The Portgas Clan, so if you're interested in reading witch!Ace and witch!Rouge with a son and mother relationship then I hope you'll enjoy it :)