Chapter 15
Law blocked the strings heading straight for his head with a swing of Kikoku, his demon sword sang, eager for blood, all while Luffy charged in, only to be caught by the strings. Ace's fire freed him. Sanji was still before Vivi, his face carefully blank, before he transformed.
A rhino slammed into Doflamingo from behind, but Doflamingo twisted round, getting away. Sanji transformed into a sparrow and flew out of the way of more strings.
Ace startled. "He's the Vinsmoke witch?"
Sanji transformed, landing beside them. "Don't call me that!"
"Fufufufu, as amusing as all this is, I want you to come home, Law." Doflamingo tilted his head. "You're the last of your kind, and your dosage won't last forever. You'll be ill again soon."
Law snarled. "I told you I won't take it again. Not after I found out how you made it!"
"You shouldn't care about that. He's a traitor-"
"You're killing him!"
"So?"
"Ill?" Vivi startled. "I thought you were fine! It's not the Amber Lead, right?"
Sanji grimaced, glancing back at him. Law glowered. It was, and it was killing him slowly. But his life wasn't worth the cure, at least not to him.
Luffy frowned. "You're sick? Is it bad? Nami had a fever once and it was bad."
Law scowled. "I'm fine right now. Besides, why are you so worried, Doflamingo? Surely even a Fallen Angel could create another Spirit Healer."
Doflamingo smirked. "Fufufufu, sadly not. I might be a Fallen Angel, and now a New God, but even we have our limitations when it comes to pure beings of light. But when I become a true God? Nobody will be able to stop me."
"He can't just create another you!" Luffy scowled. "There's only one of you, and I like you. You should take this cure and then come back and help us beat up Teach!"
Law grimaced. "You don't understand what this cure costs, Luffy."
"And he doesn't need to!" Doflamingo lunged, but fire swarmed up, shoving him back.
He had been an inch away from getting to Law, so Law threw a thankful look back at Ace. Ace who seemed much more clear headed now that Law had healed him. That was a good sign. Ace had looked just about done with everything, and Law couldn't blame him.
Everything was way too confusing these days.
"I wouldn't trust a New God of Manipulation to hold Law's best interests at heart, Luffy." Ace frowned. "This could all just be a trap."
"I really don't appreciate you interrupting-" Doflamingo paused, he tilted his head, considering Ace, before he burst out laughing. "By the Gods, you really are her spitting image! How many times have you Portgas' reincarnated?"
Ace seethed. "Don't start with that bullshit. The vampire is crazy enough as it is."
"Fufufufufu, and no memories. How interesting. Strange though, you aren't a Portgas witch. You're of the clan, but no witch-"
"Of the clan?" Vivi startled. "What clan?"
Doflamingo paused, and Law could see the curious glint in his eyes, despite the sunglasses. He could picture it. Doflamingo studied Vivi, before laughing again.
"Your memories. Oh this is interesting indeed! She always makes things more entertaining, doesn't she?"
"I have no idea what you're fucking talking about." Ace scowled. "And all this talk of this crap is really getting on my nerves."
"Fufufufufu, fair enough! Back to business I suppose-" Doflamingo struck again, but Zoro leapt down from the rooftops, blocking the string with his swords.
Sanji grinned. "Mosshead! Surprised you managed to make it here."
"Shut it, shitty cook!" Zoro snarled.
A lightning bolt struck, but Doflamingo dodged the blow, grinning wickedly. Nami cursed, standing protectively in front of Vivi and Tama while Marco lunged in, kicking Doflamingo back. Doflamingo hit the wall, and Luffy charged in, throwing punches.
Doflamingo booted him back, laughing.
"All the Chosen against me huh? Would be such a shame to kill the Lady's minions." Doflamingo raised a hand, his face darkening. "But I suppose she can't do much, with her death and all."
Law paled. That gesture, he was about to summon the bird cage, and kill everyone. But before Doflamingo could a shadowy figure appeared at his side, grabbing his hand and yanking it back down.
A woman's shadow.
Doflamingo startled, before bowing.
"Fufufufu, heard me talking about you, my Lady?"
The shadow tilted her head.
Nothing was said, but Doflamingo responded anyway.
"You've been looking for a cure for a long time." Doflamingo frowned. "I have found one. Unlike you. And I am willing to sacrifice a traitor's soul to save my own."
Law scowled. Like hell.
"You say I'm one of yours when I always runaway from you," Law scoffed. "The only reason I ever stick around is when you put one of your threads in my skull and control me."
Doflamingo smirked. "It does make you behave so much more nicely."
"Bastard! How dare you try to take Law's freedom!" Luffy snarled. He charged in, throwing a punch at Doflamingo but the shadow caught his fist and flung him into the wall, shaking her head. "What the hell? Stay out of this, I'm beating Mingo up!"
Law could feel her rolling her eyes before she faced Doflamingo again. Doflamingo who stared down at her, a thoughtful look upon his face.
"I'd rather not fight you."
He jerked his arm free of her grasp, about to retreat back but she moved her hand and a flash of light blinded them all. Law managed to blink the stars out of his eyes, long enough to see the shadow grabbed Doflamingo before he was teleported away. She faded away immediately once he was gone, but not without staring at Ace before she did so.
"That's a powerful spell!" Tama cried out. "Was she another elemental witch ghost?"
Law had no idea, and honestly, he wasn't sure if he wanted to know at this point.
Just what the hell had he gotten himself into?
"I wasn't done with him yet!" Luffy scowled. "I need to pummel him!"
Law rolled his eyes. Somehow he found that endearing, and by the Gods, was that a terrible thought.
.::.
"More importantly," Zoro cut in. "Sanji, what the hell are you doing all the way in Sabaody? I thought you would have waited back home for the wedding-"
"The wedding wouldn't have happened anyway," Sanji said, scowling.
Zoro frowned, shaking his head. "Why? What's wrong?"
"Because we were attacked right after you disappeared. The five Paladin Knights and their agents, Cipher Pol, ambushed us."
"Paladins of the Holy Order?" Zoro scowled. "What did those bastards want? Where they trying to pick a fight with my father again?"
"Not this time. They weren't trying to kill one of the New Gods." Sanji sighed heavily as he shook his head. "They were after me. Mihawk bought me some time to get out of there before they could capture me. I've been running from them and Doflamingo's slavers ever since."
Zoro gritted his teeth. The Paladins had been trying to kill off the New Gods for a long time now. Mihawk enjoyed the fights, so they never really bothered Zoro, but the fact they were after Sanji made his blood boil. Everybody seemed to want Sanji and it was really starting to piss him off.
"Why would they be after you yoi?" Marco asked, frowning.
"Have you heard the news that all the witch clan leaders are disappearing?" Sanji asked instead.
Zoro's face darkened, while Ace blinked, startled.
"They are?" he frowned. "Why?"
"The Paladins have been taking all the known ones away." Sanji scowled.
Marco paled. "Izo."
"Of the Yusei Clan?" Sanji tilted his head. He closed his eyes, as if listening to something, before shaking his head. "No, I don't think he's been taken yet. Izo's not stressed. But the Paladins have been right on my heels."
"Why are they after all of you?" Nami frowned. "What do they want?"
Sanji sighed. "I'm sorry to say I don't know. I have no answers to give you on that regard."
.::.
Something nagged at the back of Ace's head. Something about the heads of the witch clan. A spell... No a ritual of some kind... There was something they all performed together...
"It's probably because I'm the head of the Vinsmoke Clan." Sanji said, grimacing. "Not that the Vinsmoke bastards ever realised that. They still don't know they have a witch."
"You think the Paladins want your magic?" Zoro frowned.
"Must be. I see no other reason why they're chasing me so hard." Sanji scowled. "Shitty bastards."
"Ace..."
Ace frowned. Marco was approaching him, suddenly hesitant and wary, but that only annoyed him. He had no idea what the bastard was playing at. Drinking his blood then feeding him visions, now acting all worried about it. Vampires really were just damn pests that toyed with everyone, even their own team apparently.
"What do you want, vampire?"
"Ace, I don't know if you saw what I did when I drank from you-" Marco said softly, reaching out to Ace.
Ace stepped away, features twisting into a scowl. "I was under an enchantment. I saw nothing you didn't make up."
"I might be a powerful vampire, but not even we can do illusions," Marco insisted. "Ace, we need to talk about this. You were reincarnated-"
Ace snorted. "I might be somewhat magical, but that's only in the line of nature's abilities. Which of mine are fire and light."
Marco startled. "You can use light magic?"
Ace scowled.
"Okay." Marco shook his head. "Sorry, not the time. But still. We need to talk about this yoi-"
"We have nothing to talk about." Ace huffed.
"I told you I lost my mate, or more specifically, the memories of them yoi." Marco frowned, running a hand through his hair. "They were the last Chosen witch, the one who sealed away Teach. He was a member of a powerful witch clan, one of the heads, and now I can tell you his name."
Ace snorted. "Don't say it-"
"You, Ace. His name was Portgas D. Ace, and you're his reincarnation. Something which you've apparently done for quite a while now-"
"We're not a witch clan. We're a hunter family." Ace shook his head. "And you're a lunatic-"
"But I feel a connection to you," Tama said suddenly, startling them both. She was staring up at him, confused. "That was how you saved me last time, because of our connection, right?"
Ace frowned, about to speak, but he realised he had nothing to say to that. Tama had been getting kidnapped when Ace had come across them and rescued her. Something had called to him that day, something he hadn't understood, but Sabo had called it 'hunters intuition'. It had felt more like fear and distress. Her fear and distress.
Ace still didn't understand it.
"I feel it too." The Vinsmoke guy said, approaching them. "I'm Sanji by the way. Sorry, I didn't get a chance to introduce myself earlier."
"Portgas D. Ace," Ace said mildly. "And don't be lured in by the vampire. He's insane."
"I know you're angry with me," Marco said, deflating. "I'd be angry too. I'd be furious. But this isn't a trick. There is something going on with most of our memories, and we have to figure it out. We need to talk this through-"
"No. Right now what I'm doing is walking away before I lose whatever hold on my temper I have left!" Ace spat, storming away. "And don't follow me!"
He needed to clear his head.
Ace never thought he'd go and willingly meditate, but right now he needed to. Otherwise he was going to explode. Literally at this point.
Explode into a fiery rage and burn everything around him.
Except that stupid vampire who couldn't be set on fire!
.::.
Silence reigned after Ace stormed off, only to of course, be interrupted by Luffy.
"Hey, my tattoo got bigger." Luffy announced, staring at his hand.
Law groaned. "Dammit!"
"Heh, for once mine is okay." Zoro grinned.
"I hate you all." Law sighed.
"Shishishishi, sorry, Traffy."
.::.
"You're far from home, hunter."
Sabo finished staking his last vampire to a cross and pulled the cross up so it was high in the sky. The entire vampire clan hung in the sunlight, screaming as they were burned alive by the holy light of day. Ten vampires in a row. It was a good day. Sabo smiled at the sight, before turning to his guest.
"Lucci, was it? One of the Cipher Pol guys, right? The Paladins' minions." Sabo tilted his head. "You have business with me?"
"The leader of my current mission does. Stussy wishes to share information you may find of interest."
"Oh?" Sabo glanced back up, noticing the child vampire gnawing on her ropes.
He had been kind to not stake her to the cross, yet she was still trying to escape? Little bitch. Sabo pulled her cross back down, and ignored her cries as he staked her wrists and ankles in place before putting her back up. The idiots. He was trying to cleanse their souls and yet here they were, fighting him the entire time.
These were weak newborn vampires. They should be relieved Sabo was saving their souls so quickly from their tainted lives.
"Portgas D. Ace."
Sabo perked up. "I'm listening."
"He was seen heading towards Sabaody with the Chosen ones. It seems to plan to use the teleportation runes there to see Whitebeard."
"The Grand Vampire," Sabo breathed out. "He'll know."
He will know Ace. He will ruin everything they achieved to protect Ace and the Holy Lady.
"Know?" Lucci frowned.
"Never mind that." Sabo stalked away, gathering his equipment. "I've taken too long purifying people's souls on my way to find Ace. I must catch up."
"We have another offering," Lucci said, holding out a rune stone. "Together we can teleport to Sabaody and defeat the Chosen ones."
"And why are you lot feeling so cooperative all of a sudden?" Sabo couldn't help but ask.
"We need the demon Chosen to tell us where Vinsmoke Sanji is. The last witch of his clan," Lucci explained. "However, the Chosen keep getting in the way-"
"And it will help if I get Ace out of the way," Sabo finished, smiling. "Alright, I guess we can be friendly then."
"Then let's go."
Sabo grabbed the rune and left the burning vampires behind to enjoy their purification. Ace hated purifying souls this way, and usually resisted unless they acted truly monstrous. Ace preferred giving them a 'clean' death. But Ace was naive. He didn't understand that they were all monsters.
That's why they had to burn in the holy light of the Lady. For the sake of the light and their souls. The light purified them, and brought them back into her good graces.
But his brother was too kind, and that was why it fell to Sabo to do the heavy lifting. It was understandable though, Ace was a child of the light. They always wanted to help, even if it lead to their own deaths.
That was why the Guild had to keep Ace safe.