bopdog111: They had a bad run in with Ernesto.

Ulrich362: That's putting it lightly, he wants to kill Ace.

bopdog111: Good thing Ray, and Dawn were able to keep him from doing the deed.

Ulrich362: Definitely, but the others need to know what happened.

bopdog111: Indeed.

Ulrich362: Enjoy the chapter.

Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V or Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS but we own the OCs!

Dawn watched until Ernesto was gone before starting to tremble in fear. "Acey..."

Ray hugged her.

"Why do bad things always happen to us?" Dawn asked as she started to cry. "Are we still being punished for what happened?"

"Of course not." Ray assured her.

Dawn just hugged Ray closely.

"Mrs. Akaba?" Mason asked walking up to them.

Ray turned to him.

"Something happened in the Xyz Dimension." Mason told her.

"What?" Ray asked him.

"He's gone, all his sons found were four Xyz Monster cards, Heraldic King Genom-Heritage, Heraldry Patriarch, Heraldry Crest, and Heraldry Crest of Horror." Mason answered.

Ray grunted, "No doubt this was Dark Mist."

"Except why'd he leave the Numbers?" Lance asked.

"He might already have another power source." Ray guessed.

"Great, as if we didn't have enough to worry about." Lance mentioned. "What now?"

"We need to care for Ace." Ray answered.

"Has anything changed?" Mason asked hopefully.

Ray shook her head.

"Oh." Mason whispered sadly.

"We've just dueled Ernesto." Dawn cried softly.

"Huh?" Mason asked in shock. "Why was he here?"

"He wanted to kill Acey." Dawn sobbed.

Mason froze in horror.

"... What?" Lance questioned. "Where is he?"

"I don't know." Dawn sobbed.

"Come on, we need to tell the others what happened." Mason said despite looking incredibly scared.

Ray nodded.

Meanwhile...

"Judgment Dragon's special ability activates." Jin stated. "I pay 1000 life points to destroy every other card on the field. Now attack Lightning directly!"

A white dragon charged as it attacked the Ignis.

Lightning: 0000

Winner Jin.

"Dueling our Ignis was a great idea Miyu, it really is helping us make sure we're ready." Takeru smiled.

Miyu smiled, "Doing what we can to be ready."

"Right, so who's next?" Yusaku inquired.

"I'll take a chance." Earth answered.

"Ok." Larsa nodded just as Mason, Ray, and Dawn arrived.

"Hey. Miyu had came up with the idea of us dueling the Ignises." Kolter smiled to them.

"We have a problem Zarc." Ray told him. "Do you remember Ernesto Gotham?"

"That kid that tried to take over the park who Ace beat?" Zarc asked. "Why?"

"He was trying to kill Ace." Ray told him before explaining what happened.

Zarc looked horrified at this.

"Acey..." Dawn choked out before tearing up. "Why is this happening?"

Zarc hugged his daughter. She broke down into tears as she hugged him back.

Larsa told her, "Don't worry. We won't let creeps like that guy get him."

"... Should we card him?" Yuri questioned.

"No. We gave that up." Celina answered.

"Yeah, I remember." Yuri frowned. "So what do we do?"

"Call his daddy?" Alex suggested.

"Maybe." Yugo nodded.

"Duel him with him to leave us alone?" Terri asked.

That's when they noticed the cut on Ray's arm and Dawn's face.

"Hey what happened?" Lulu asked shocked.

"He had the safety features deactivated. Natural Parakeet turned them back on though." Ray answered.

"He should be an illegal duelist for that act." Lilly said angered.

"Who's with Ace now?" Erika asked suddenly.

They all looked around hearing that.

Ace was alone.

"My god!" Ray ran to Ace's room.

Ace hadn't moved but he looked worse.

"Ace." Ray took his hand in tears.

It burned her to touch his hand. She was too worried, and too sad for Ace's condition to care that his hand is burning her.

"Excuse me miss." stated a voice from behind her.

She turned.

It was a doctor. "I know it's hard, but you should honestly consider letting your son go. He's clearly in agony."

"No I'm not letting him go!" Ray protested.

"Can't you see he's in pain? I know it hurts but think about what your son would want." the doctor told her.

"He thinks we can help him. And not by ending him." Ray told him.

"Listen to yourself, look at your son and tell me anyone deserves to suffer like this." the doctor told her.

"The person who did this to him." Ray answered. "We can help him but we don't have much time."

"Actually Mrs. Akaba, you're out of time. We'll be disconnecting the life support tomorrow morning." stated an older doctor. "As it stands your son's condition hasn't improved since he was brought in and we simply can't continue utilizing resources on someone who simply will not recover."

"He will recover!" Ray yelled. "I won't let my son down!"

"The decision is out of your hands." the older doctor told her. "If you continue this behavior your daughter will be placed in a more stable home... You're clearly unfit to raise a child."

"If you dare take Dawn out of my care, and cut off my son's life support I will sue you, and your hospital!" Ray yelled.

"Ray!"

"Dr. France!"

The two turned to see a man with the man who called Ray's name. Ray hugged him back in tears.

Meanwhile the man looked sternly at the older doctor, "Dr. France if you want to keep your job here as a doctor then keep the Life Support System for Ace Akaba connected no questions. What she says is the truth, and clearly I was rather disgusted by you saying to take her daughter out of her care, and saying she was unfit to raise a child when you seen she was really concerned, and was crying to her son."

"In all due respect sir, his condition is rapidly deteriorating for no explainable reason and beyond that his heart has temporarily failed multiple times. It's inhumane to keep him in this condition." Dr. France pointed out.

"Don't you think I see that?" The man asked him. "Sure but last time we had this I announced to disconnect the Life Support, and then sometime after his mother had brought it with the antidote to his condition. That was a mistake I will not make again. You said the decision is out of her hands, and from now on it's out of your hands. Get on with your other duties."

At that moment Ace's vitals failed again setting off an alarm.

"Ace!" Ray cried hearing that as they turned their attention to it.

"Dr. France get him stable, and keep him breathing!" The man ordered Dr. France.

"It's out of my hands sir." Dr. France stated.

"Fine I'll talk with you later." The man told him. "Dr. Hollingsworth keep him breathing, and stable!"

Suddenly Ace's vitals started again but they were incredibly weak.

"Zarc, Ray you both don't have much time. You need to get the cure now, or he'll be dead." The man told the two.

Elsewhere...

"How long do you think until the boy perishes?" Viper questioned. "Another day perhaps?"

"Perhaps, or better half of a day." The Doktor smirked.

Specter stayed silent seeing Ace's condition as he thought, '...He is suffering badly like I did when I was young, I want to help but...'

"Reminds you of your own son doesn't it Viper?" Yami Marik smirked causing the aura around him to fade as he glared at Yami Marik.

Master Gus said, "Now now. No need to start fighting like rats. What is important is that one of the troubles will perish soon. Doktor, while him not being under the Parasite's control is unfortunate, your Parasite was not a total loss. You know great handiwork when we see it."

"Forgive my insolence Master Gus, but I have to disagree with that statement." Specter pointed out. "If the boy were to perish by the Doctor's hands, or rather by his Parasite's hands it would reinvigorate the others to seek revenge on us, and as the Hive General's memories revealed enough of them working together can prove unexpectedly powerful."

That made Master Gus think at this. True if he let this condition Ace would be killed but Specter did made a good point. Good people or not revenge always finds a way into the hearts of those with good intentions. So now Master Gus is starting to have second thoughts on the Parasites with that statement.

"Of course, it's ultimately what you think is best." Specter stated respectfully.

"Indeed." Master Gus agreed. "Doktor I have reached a new statement. Disable your Parasite."

"What?" the Doktor questioned in shock. "You can't be serious. It would take years to recreate this perfect parasite and disabling it now will kill it!"

"Specter made a very good point." Master Gus pointed out. "If we let this Parasite kill Ace then his friends, and family would hunt us down. If unprepared they will overwhelm all of us. If you disable it, Ace will live, but at the least we will stay clear on their path of revenge."

The Doktor looked disgusted before kneeling. "I... understand."

With that he took a card before destroying it and walking off spitefully.

"Specter with that point I hereby made you my second-in-command. Use that role wisely." Master Gus told Specter before saying, "For now I must get back to my work."

He walked off to do what he needs to do. Specter's eyes widened hearing that before closing his eyes.

Back at the Hospital...

Suddenly Ace's vitals started to beep up looking strong catching the room's attention.

"Ace?" Ray asked in shock.

The man told Dr. France, "What did I tell you? See he lived through."

"That... how?" Dr. France asked in shock.

Ace started to slowly open his eyes. Ray immediately pulled Ace into a tight hug while Zarc sent a message to everyone else telling them to come to the hospital immediately.

"Acey... oh Acey." Ray choked out.

"M-Mommy, Daddy...?" Ace asked weakened. "What... Happened to me?"

"We'll tell you when everyone gets here Ace." Zarc told him with tears in his eyes.

The man walked over smiling, "Your son sure is a special one Ray. Forgive Dr. France on his assumptions. I did what I could to make sure your son still lives."

"Thank you." Ray choked out.

A few minutes later...

Everyone arrived only for Dawn and her aspects to see Ace and run to him with tears as they all hugged him tightly.

"Ace your alive!" Terri sobbed.

"Your okay!" Alex sobbed.

"What... what happened?" Ace asked weakly.

Sandy took his hand crying, "Little Ace! Your awake!"

Ace turned to her before blushing and trying to sit up only to wince and fall back onto the bed. "Why does everything hurt?"

"You remember the Doktor's Parasites?" Stacy asked with tears.

Ace shuddered before trying to get up again only to fall against Sandy.

"Wait, but we still don't know where he is... so who helped Ace?" Yuri asked suddenly.

"When we meet whoever we are so giving the person a huge thanks!" Mason smiled seeing his best friend had is still alive.

"I'm... sorry." Ace apologized.

"No don't be." Kelly cried. "It wasn't your fault."

Ace nodded hearing that before frowning. "Mommy, can I go home? I want Amy."

Ray turned to the man. The man smiled, "Go on ahead Ray. Just make sure he stays in bed for a day, and make sure he's hydrated so he can recover."

"Right." Ray nodded while Zarc picked up Ace.

"Come on, let's go home Ace." Zarc told him.

Ace smiled leaning against his father.

At the Akaba household...

"Mew... meow."

Amy was calling out. The door opened and Ace smiled seeing her.

"Hi Amy, I missed you." Ace smiled.

Amy meowed seeing him. Ace smiled even more at that before Zarc put him in his bed and Amy jumped up to lie down next to him. Ace scratched softly behind Amy's ear. Zarc smiled, "Stay in bed Ace. I'll get you some Orange Juice."

"Thanks daddy." Ace smiled.

Zarc nodded before walking off. He walked downstairs where Ray and Dawn were crying.

"He made it." Dawn sobbed.

"I was... so... scared." Ray choked out.

"Me... Too." Dawn also choked out.

The two of them hugged each other as Zarc closed his eyes.

'Whoever you are... thank you for saving my son.' Zarc thought.

He got the Orange Juice before walking back.

Ace looked really upset.

"Ace?" Zarc asked seeing that.

"I lost it." he said sadly. "I made something special for big sis Dawn's birthday but it's gone."

Zarc smiled, "It's alright Ace. Dawn already has it."

"Oh... daddy how long was I..." Ace started before looking down. "Dying?"

"Few days." Zarc answered.

Ace frowned hearing that. "I'm sorry for scaring everybody."

"It's okay Ace. Don't worry." Zarc smiled.

Ace nodded before taking the orange juice only to frown. "Daddy, can big sis Lilly start helping me tomorrow?"

"Fusion?" Zarc guessed.

Ace nodded. "Big sis Terri helped me learn how to Xyz Summon, big sis Alex helped me learn how to Synchro, and I want to learn the others too so I can help everybody."

Zarc nodded, "Okay. Get some rest."

Ace nodded before lying down and closing his eyes. Zarc kissed his son's forehead before walking out of the room closing the door. Ray and Dawn were still in tears in the kitchen as he walked down.

"He's... okay." Dawn sobbed.

"Yeah, he is." Zarc smiled only to frown.

Ray hugged him. He hugged her back. "How do you think the others are?"

"They'll be just as relieved as us." White Wing smiled with tears in her eyes walking in.

"Do we assume the best, that the Doktor was defeated too just like One-Hundred Eyed Dragon?" Purple Poison asked.

"Yeah. The Parasite wouldn't be destroyed unless he is gone." Double Iris pointed out.

"That's good." Blue Frost smiled.

Dawn hugged White Wing's waist. White Wing hugged her back as Zarc walked over to call Yuri, Celina, Lilly, and Larsa.

"Zarc?" Ray asked him.

"Ace asked if Lilly could come over tomorrow to help him out." Zarc explained. "He wants to be able to help us by learning all the methods just like the three of us."

"He learned Link, Xyz, Synchro, and now Fusion..." Dawn smiled with tears in her eyes. "Pendulum, and Ritual are next."

"Yeah. Mason, Amy, and Sandy really changed him a lot." Ray agreed.

Blue Frost smiled rubbing her stomach, "And he'll be a great cousin for my baby."

"Our baby." Purple Poison clarified with a smile.

Blue Frost giggled. Zarc suddenly frowned. "I'm still worried though, about what happened to Byron."

"We will find out what Dark Mist did." Ray told him.

"Yeah." Zarc nodded before calling his Fusion aspect. "You know what, I think after Ace's practice we should all spend some time at the park together like we did on his birthday."

"Sounds good." Ray agreed.

Zarc smiled at that. "Oh, Yuri hello."

"What is it Zarc?" Yuri asked curious.

"Ace wanted to know if Lilly could stop by tomorrow to help start his Fusion lessons." Zarc answered.

"Fusion huh? Alright she, and Sora would be there tomorrow." Yuri smirked.

"Ok, oh yeah and what do you think of getting together after that to celebrate Ace waking up?" Zarc asked.

"Sounds great." Yuri answered.

"I thought so too, see you then." Zarc smiled before hanging up.

"Dad... I'm not letting Ace out of my watch anymore." Dawn decided.

"Dawn?" Zarc asked in surprise before smiling. "Yeah, I know how you feel."

Dawn nodded back.

Ulrich362: Well things are looking up... slightly.

bopdog111: Ace is back.

Ulrich362: Yeah, he's probably not up to fighting Dark Mist or the others yet but he's home and safe. Then again, Byron Arclight better known as Vetrix is missing so... who knows what that could mean for everyone.

bopdog111: All they know is that Dark Mist is the next one for the group to face.

Ulrich362: More than likely. Well until then, see you in the next chapter.

bopdog111: Be sure to review!