So it took me a long time, but we're finally back in the flashback arc where (hopefully) all our questions shall be answered. It will be quite a bit of a journey, but I hope you all enjoy it. We're going back to the time of the Old Gods and Goddesses where an Old King Reigned.

Chapter 19

The Old King's Reign – 0 Years In

Kureha struggled frantically. Marco was gone. Joy Boy was dead. The head witches were being dragged down, one by one, bound and gagged, their freedom torn away. She cursed and screamed, but she was muffled and iron bound her, just as it bound her brothers and sisters.

Portgas D. Yuko and Soul Rose were the last ones standing. The Elemental Witch and the Illusionist. Rose protected Yuko from capture, using her illusions to replicate herself and Yuko, but when the 'King' himself stepped into the fight, the blood of Joy Boy dripping from his blade, he banished all illusions.

Rose was captured by his guards almost instantly. Her hand-to-hand combat was pitiful. She relied heavily on her magic. Yuko however, broke past Xebec and attacked the King, despite knowing it would be a losing battle.

The blonde did manage to leave a scar on Imu before his men brought her down, chaining her with iron and gagging her.

Kureha seethed within her restraints. Joy Boy, Marco, bloody hell, everyone. All their friends and allies were dead, and the idea made Kureha want to scream in fury. And now they were to be enslaved, all the head witches. The twelve clans would be forced to bend their knees.

And they would never forgive Imu for it. They would destroy him the moment they had their chance. All they needed to do was wait for that moment.

The Old King's Reign – 0 Years In

"We've done it, my King."

Imu glanced down at his men, his disciples, who fought and bled for him. His dark witch, Basil Hawkins, stood proudly at their side, head bowed as Imu passed. Imu couldn't help but smile.

The bastard was dead.

Joy Boy was dead and gone, and no longer tried to rule his Raftel. His Kingdoms were once again reunited, and the twelve head witches of the Head Clans were his. Joy Boy, his bastard brother, born from his brute of a father's foolish impulses and the bastard's generals had fought long and hard, but they had been defeated and executed at the flame.

It had been satisfying, watching them burn.

All apart from the Phoenix, who was nowhere to be found.

Now he was the one and only God of this world. The rest were ash and dust, scattered across the world. He would choose his people now, to rule in Godhood by his side, if he wished to. But first, he had to bring about order, after all the chaos Joy Boy brought in.

"Jaygarcia, has each witch drunk of my blood?" Imu asked.

Jaygarcia nodded. "I saw to it personally myself. The immortal witch nearly escaped, but Kureha was restrained once more."

Imu smiled. "Good. I want them all connected to me. They will no longer rebel against my will."

"Do you still wish to implement the plan?" Topman asked.

"Yes." Imu nodded. "Once the heads have their children, they are to be executed. The children will not be tainted with their parents' ill will. They will flourish under our care instead."

"Very good, my King," Shandora hummed. "And one day, generations away, none of the heads will know of any of this. They will be your loyal subjects, as your witch is to you."

"Indeed. Thus, as my Generals, I wish to give you and Xebec a gift."

Xebec, who of course was leaning against a wall, and not kneeling, tilted his head. Now curious of course. Shandora looked delighted.

"Am I being gifted more golden jewellery? Or a dress? Perhaps a cloak or shoes?" She beamed. "You do show me such care, my King."

He chuckled. "I am giving you more than jewellery, my golden spear. You and my bloody sword deserve far better. No, I would like to offer you Godhood."

And thus, his reign begun. He had his court. Two Gods, a Goddess of Gold, and a God of Pain. His dark witch, who would later pass from old age, and his five Elders. He made them immortal, to serve him forever as they begged of him to. His dark witch however? Well, he had let him die. He had twelve head witches now after all.

The Old King's Reign – 288 Years In

"Careful, sweet."

But the child was never careful. She was wild and daring. An elfling full of fire and passion. The girl leapt from stone to stone, before slipping behind the waterfall, laughing loudly. Her mother groaned. The little girl kept going however, now wandering deep into the dark cavern, soaking wet. She shook her head, sending droplets of water flying, before grinning wildly.

"I'm entering the dragon's den," she whispered, pressing in close to the walls, holding her wooden sword up high. "Ready to challenge it for all its jewels."

She crept further into the cavern, letting a flicker of fire light her free hand. She played inside for a while, battling her own shadow before a shiny glint caught the corner of her eye. The little girl 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 her 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!" she yelled. "I found some treasure!"

"That's a pretty fossil, love." Dad grinned.

"Yeah, I got a birdy!"

That was when the fossil burst out into blue flames. The mother grabbed her daughter, dragging her 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 fire formed into a young teen.

The family of three stared at the teen, astonished.

Then the father threw his head back and laughed.

"Welcome back, Marco!"he greeted fondly, grinning widely. "I didn't except you to run into the Portgas family of all people."

And thus, the family of three gained another child.

The Old King's Reign – 300 Years In

Teach drummed his fingers off the railing. The balcony he was seated in was of course luxurious, filled with all the comforts anyone would desire, but as usual, Teach was bored. After the war between Raftel and the twenty Kingdoms ended, all that happened now were parties. And not the fun kind either. It was all formal and stuffy. Teach could lounge about sure, he was a God, but the rests of the guests had their backs straight, and acted as if they had sticks shoved up their asses.

All trying to show how 'worthy' they were of being ascended into Godhood. Teach had been ascended by Xebec, the God of Pain. They had gathered Imu's witches, the twelve head clans, and with their magic, they melded Teach into his immortal life. Funny how not long ago the witches sided with Joy Boy. Now they had been forced to bend the knee to Imu. Their blood was tied to his, their fates bound together.

Imu had been ruthless in taking their blood into his possession a hundred years ago. Now each witch in the clans would forever follow his rule. The witches were why they had been gathered here today, much to Teach's annoyance. They did not need some parade over some magical girl or boy. But no, Imu liked to have them introduced to the court when the witch reached their age of 'full potential'. Teach could have been drinking and partying in a nice bar somewhere. Or enjoying the kitchens. But no, he had to watch some kid stumbling about the place with wide eyes.

"Xehehehehe! You look bored, Teach."

Teach grinned. Xebec emerged from a puff of magic, and was now seated comfortably on the lounger by Teach's side.

"Zehahahaha, these things have never been all that entertaining for me!"

"I'm really interested in this witch actually."

Teach paused. "Interested? You've never cared before, well, except that last Portgas girl."

"This youngling is to do with two of my rivals. I'll be keeping a close eye on this one," Xebec said, eyeing him. "Watch closely."

Teach frowned, but then the starlight brightening the ballroom glimmered, flickering before they burst open into balls of fire. The fire whirled carefully down from the ceiling, swirling round the figure approaching the centre of the room from the main doorway.

Teach froze.

A young elven lady strolled out, hands out. The fire balls drifted slowly into her hands, and with a clap, the ballroom flooded with light once more. What she wore was not what any woman standing in the royal court would wear. Her dress opened up at the legs, showing off her heels and the smooth skin of her legs. Fire flickered off the ends of the dress that trailed the floor behind her. The dress as dark as night. Her dark locks of hair glittered with white crystals, and two single crystals hung upon her long elven ears.

The girl had grey eyes, that sparked silver as her magic speckled the room in light. She dismissed it as she approached the throne, allowing the starlight to illuminate the ballroom once more. The lady curtsied once she stood below Imu.

Teach took everything in. The waves of her hair, dark as a raven's, her eyes, grey as a stormy cloud's, and the freckles. They dusted her cheeks, bringing out her cheeks and lips. Teach shivered, stunned. He had never seen anyone so beautiful.

"Greetings, my newest child," Imu greeted warmly. "You most certainly are the spitting image of your mother."

"Thank you for the kind words, my Lord." A strawberry blonde haired woman, a clone in all but colour of the girl before the throne, strolled into the room.

Her dress was the same as her daughter's except white, one that fitted not a modest, shy woman, but of that of a warrior. The older woman bowed. Teach swore he saw a flicker of amusement in Imu's eyes, especially as the woman knowingly smirked.

"I am Portgas D. Rouge," Rouge said, voice hard as ice. "Many of you know me as the Wildfire, but I am here today to present my daughter! She is born of the elements. Portgas through and through. My blood runs through her veins-"

"And yet you laid with a lowly human to conceive her," Alvida snorted. "Certainly an interesting choice."

"Aw," Rouge cooed. "Are you sad I didn't mate with you? I could have used my magic, but I prefer the main course to the side dish."

The dark haired girl choked, cheeks flushed. "Mum!"

Alvida bristled.

Imu definitely smirked this time. "Now, dear Rouge. Do not bully the other members of the court. We are curious as to why you would lay with a simple non-magical human of all creatures. But that is not why we're here."

Rouge nodded. "Indeed, I am here to present my daughter to the court. Your youngest child to your witch circle."

"And what is your name, sweet girl?" Imu asked, staring down at the dark haired beauty.

The girl lifted her chin, grinning. There was no fear or nervousness to her. No hesitation. A rare thing indeed, in front of the Gods.

"Portgas D. Ann."

Even her voice lured Teach into a sense of wonder. He clutched the arms of his seat, not realising when he had sat up straight to stare at the young lady. He had no idea why he was so drawn to everything about her. Hell, Rouge looked just as beautiful, but Teach swore his gaze was locked on Ann.

"The human Rouge mated with is Gol D. Roger," Xebec said dryly.

Teach startled. "The human who fights against you?"

"The very same."

Teach scoffed. "Why would the Wildfire mate with a lowly human? He might be able to fight you, but human blood. It's so boring, breeding with one of them."

"Who knows." Xebec shrugged. "What I do know is that all the Portgas children have this charm to them. I can see it on your face right now. You are fascinated by the girl."

Teach faltered.

"It's only natural," Xebec said. "I am too. Just as Imu and Shandora are. All the Portgas children have attracted our attention. Half the time the Portgas family doesn't realise how charismatic they are. At first we are confused, then we come to the realisation that we wish to befriend them." Xebec leaned closer. "You then realise that you love them."

Teach startled.

"Focus, boy. Love isn't always romantic," Xebec spat. "None of us would ever be seeking Rouge's bedside. But we will always seek to make her happy, one way or another. I believe Portgas D. Ann will be exactly the same."

Teach hadn't even met the girl yet and he wanted her to be happy. He stiffened, because what the Portgas family had was a dangerous ability in that case. To charm anyone on to their side, even the Gods themselves, was a worrying thought.

That left him with only one choice then.

He had to meet Portgas D. Ann.

.::.

Rouge pilfered the jewels of noblewomen and noblemen alike as Imu led Ann to the ballroom floor. All eyes were on them, so really, Rouge had it easy. The dance was a tradition. Imu had declared the witches of the head clans as 'his children', and thus he gave them their first dance within the court. She remembered her father giving her away to the court for the first time, how Imu held her hand and waist, and glided them across the dance floor.

And now here her daughter was. Imu always led the dance, and the presented witch always followed. But every so often, a witch would take Imu off guard. Rouge had, she had managed to spin him, and Ann followed her example.

She caught a brief look of bafflement in Imu's eyes, before the amusement kicked in. He wouldn't have tolerated that off of anyone except his fellow Gods and his witches. The ballroom was filled with startled whispers, but Imu had already retaken control of the dance and led Ann through the ballroom once more. Rouge softened at her daughter's grin, how her eyes burned with excitement.

The necklace around Ann's neck trembled. Rouge's brow furrowed, and she almost tutted. She had told Ann to leave her necklace at home, but her daughter was far too proud of her find to hide it. A bird of fire, a legendary Phoenix.

They had burnt out a long time ago, but somehow, her daughter had brought one back to life from a fossil when she had been twelve years old. It was attached to its old fossil, and slept within it. The tiny rock had thus become Ann's necklace, and she carried it everywhere.

She saw Imu tilt his head, and mutter quietly to Ann, who flushed, laughing sheepishly. Rouge rolled her eyes and waved her hand, forcing the bird to quieten down. Marco was such a damn troublemaker. Seriously. He knew exactly where they were and was trying to cause some mischief.

He needed smacked across his fluffy head.

She'd have to wait until he turned into his human form, because otherwise he'd give her those big sad bird eyes and coo at her. And honestly, Rouge was far too soft at times.

Rouge's eyes caught something that made her pause. The God of Darkness was staring at her daughter, eyes wide, full of astonishment and wonder. The same look Roger always gave her. But then Rouge met Xebec's gaze, who bowed his head towards her, then nodded to where Rouge had left Roger.

Xebec then drew his arm across his neck, smirking wickedly.

The cut-throat gesture.

Rouge smirked, tilting her head, and twisted her hand, letting a flicker of fire out of her palm.

He could go right ahead and try.

Xebec threw his hand back and laughed.

"You really did mate with a human then?"

Rouge startled and glanced over at Ryuma, the wandering swordsman, who leaned against the balcony railings beside her. He was a tall demon, towering over her, and littered with scars from his fights. Rouge could see the scar she put on him on his shoulder, and felt her own scar on her leg throb in response. Rouge grinned wolfishly.

"Jealous?" she teased.

"Curious," Ryuma huffed. "You shouldn't be stealing either, Rouge. It isn't very honourable."

"I don't have an honourable trait in my body," Rouge scoffed, then smirked. "When is the last time you ate?"

Ryuma chuckled. "Got some food here."

"So you here for company or looking for someone?" Rouge asked.

"Mr. Prince was around here somewhere," Ryuma mused.

Rouge laughed. "You two are so weird."

"He's a good rival to have," Ryuma said, then eyed Xebec whose attention was back on the dance floor. "Be careful with that one."

"Duh," Rouge muttered.

"You're being deliberately annoying," Ryuma sighed, pulling back. "I'll leave you to it then."

"Later, skin and bones." Rouge waved.

.::.

"It's a beautiful necklace," Imu said, twirling her. "But I sense a powerful creature within it. What did you find, my girl?"

Ann smiled. "A Phoenix!"

Imu startled. "Really? My, that is interesting. They are very rare creatures."

"I found this one in a cave trapped in the fossil when I was little," Ann admitted.

"I once had to kill one." Imu frowned. "An unfortunate affair, but that Phoenix was far too dangerous to live."

Ann softened, but tried to lighten the mood. "This guy just likes to prank people."

Imu snorted. "Well don't unleash him on my Celestial Court then. They will freak out entirely. Entertaining for sure, but the fuss afterwards would not be worth the hassle."

Ann laughed. "I'll try my best to keep him at bay."

.::.

Ann slipped out on to the balcony, enjoying the cool night air that brushed against her skin. The ballroom was full of soft laughter and talk. Couples dancing slowly, swaying to the music. She hadn't been able to steal anything tonight, not with all the eyes on her, but she had gotten plenty of food to snack on.

She held up some pineapple pieces. "Marco?" she called.

Her necklace brighten with a burst of blue flame. The blue flames transformed into the fire bird, who crooned happily and munched on the snacks.

"I wouldn't transform here," Ann said, frowning. "Imu said it would raise a lot of questions with the court."

Marco gave her a look.

She threw up her hands. "I know, but he told me to call him that. Apparently he doesn't like being formal with his witches?"

Marco crooned lowly.

She rolled her eyes. "Well I don't know why he treats his witches so personally. None of us were there during the war between the Old Kingdoms and Raftel, remember?" At his coo she shrugged. "Okay, maybe you were, but it's not like you know everything that happened right?"

Marco tilted his head, but shrugged with his wings.

"You're such a tease," Ann huffed. "And Mum trusts him. I don't know why you don't like him at all."

The bird gave her this look that made Ann twitch. The little shit.

She heard footsteps approach the balcony and gestured back to her necklace, alarmed. Marco quickly dissolved back into flames, seeping back into the fossil.

"Ah, this balcony is already occupied huh?"

She turned round, spotting the tall dark haired man before her. Ann curtsied, because she had seen paintings of him before. This was the God of Darkness.

"Ah, sorry," Ann laughed. "I could leave if you like, my Lord?"

"No need for that," he said, coming over to lean against the balcony's stone railing by her side. "It's good to meet you, Ann. I'm Marshall D. Teach."

Ann snorted. "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?" Teach laughed.

"Hard to say." Ann grinned, jumping up to sit on the railing. Not very lady like, but she didn't care. "I'm only eighteen."

"Very young for an elf," Teach said softly. "Almost none would have left home yet."

"The Portgas Clan have always been very unique in that circumstance," Ann admitted. "I'm not considered an adult as an elf, but as a Portgas, I am now a witch."

"Always so complicated for races and their abilities, isn't it?" Teach grinned. "I was a darkness elemental before I ascended into a God. The highest of honours, of course."

"Showing off to the little mortals are you?" Ann teased.

"Zehahahaha! Cheeky young lady, aren't you?"

Ann laughed. "Me? Cheeky? I don't know what you're talking about."

.::.

Marco's Phoenix hated the Gods. He loathed being in their presence, and he despised them whenever they came close to Ann. All his danger senses went off and he wanted to tear the offenders to shreds with his claws. But Rouge might actually carry out her threat to cook him for dinner.

Marco wasn't sure if it was possible to cook a Phoenix, but considering that it was Portgas D. Rouge who had threatened him, he wouldn't chance it. No, instead he'd watch, and if anyone dared try to harm Ann he'd murder them.

Or crap on their desk at the very least.

That would mess with them.

He might still do that actually.

Once the Portgas family were far from the palace he transformed into his human form, sitting by Ann's side. The carriage driver wouldn't notice, all the windows were closed and he was focused on the road. Ann grinned at him, nudging his side.

"Enjoy the party, birdy?"

"Too many snobs yoi." Marco smirked. "I wanted to give them a scare, but Rouge wouldn't let me."

Rouge rolled her eyes. "Of course I didn't. Don't annoy the Celestial Court, Marco. They get ever so fussy when that happens."

Roger laughed. "You were messing with them when you introduced Ann to the court."

"Alvida needs someone to drag her off her high horse." Rouge rolled her eyes. "I just happen to be the one to do so today."

Ann sniggered. "Uh huh. Honestly, Mum, you've been waiting for the right moment to mess with her."

"Always." Rouge winked.

Marco grinned, shaking his head fondly. He loved the Portgas Clan, he really did, but some of them were insane.

So here we are at the beginning of the past. I hope female!Ace wasn't too much of a surprise, or if it was a good one! So right now Marco is not a vampire, he is a phoenix, but we'll see why he becomes the undead at another time in this flashback arc ;) Btw it was such good timing for the names of the Five Elders to come out. I had been planning to use their voice actor names so I'm so relieved their real names are out and about now xD