Hey Sapphire here I wrote this chapter, I was thinking and playing a game called Metroid Fusion.(I'm not that old but I have a great love for the classics.)In the game it had different sectors for the species they had there but environment, if you get that.

Oh and someone brought up the subject of what I meant by hybrid. What I mean is that Ace can turn between his two genes. Human and Dire Wolf.

I hope this clears that up, I don't want you guys to be confused, that's not my intention so if you have anymore questions just ask me. I hope you enjoy this chapter. :D

Ace was looking at the human who called himself Thatch. Ace had not only been told that he shouldn't trust anyone by his father, but had learned the hard way not to after his time at the lab. When Thatch started to approach him, Ace snarled his distrust, telling the man exactly how he felt about his presence. Thatch put his hands up in surrender.

"I see...You're one of those kind of people. You distrust me. Don't blame you one bit! After all that you must have went through or seen some stuff to put that distrust in people. I'll sit right here, ok?"

Ace was untrusting but he wasn't beyond reason. Whitebeard took him here after all, and to some extent he did trust his father. He just didn't know if this place is somewhere he could call home yet….

Ace was pulled out his thoughts by someone else entering the sector. It was man with a purple jacket wearing the mark of Whitebeard! Ace knew he could trust this man, but he would still be on guard just in case….Ace ran to the man before skidding just in front of him. Ace remembered when he had asked to sniff Whitebeard when they were making their way to The Sectors.

After leaving the Lab. A ? hours earlier.

Ace was trusting of Whitebeard but still not sure about his decision to become the man's "son". Ace had a lot on his mind and body. Could he afford to trust anyone after the lab? He didn't want to but he had no choice. If he didn't then he would no doubt be caught by the man again...Ace never wanted to be in that hell ever again.

"What are you troubled by my son?"

Ace looked up at the man. Could he trust this man? Should he believe his father and stay? Or should he try to escape? Would Whitebeard even stop him? Does he know that….?

"Do you know my father? He said I could trust you...After that I can't-"

Before he even finished his sentence, he was enveloped by a arm. Ace struggled but realized he was being hugged and went limp.

"My son...I know after the hell you have been through, I won't blame you if you wouldn't trust my family. Hell, I wouldn't blame you if you didn't trust me neither! I don't care where you come from or weather you're the son of Gol Roger, my enemy! You are my family now as I am yours!"

Ace was not surprised, but at the same time he was shocked! His father had told him of Whitebeard's personality but this was more than he expected….Ace put his arms around Whitebeard. He wasn't quite ready to trust anyone yet...but for Whitebeard he'll make an exception….

A ? hours into the trip.

Ace pawed at the giant man's coat. Ace wasn't naive at all, he knew of the technology and things that could trick and harm him if he was not cautious enough. That was why he mainly relied on his sense of smell. He could tell if someone was in disguise of another person he had sniffed or smelt before.

Whitebeard turned to the wolf.

"What is it my son?"

Ace was not shy by any means but...he did have manners.

"Can I sniff your coat? I-It's so I can memorize your scent in case something comes up…."

Why was he stuttering?! There was no need for that! Whitebeard just started to laugh, but soon grew a serious face.

"Of course. I know that having a safe scent can make a wolf more calmer than anything else. If you need to scent anyone else at the house then tell them I gave my permission too."

Ace nodded then gathered Whitebeard's scent. After that was done he realized just how tired he was and how little sleep he got at the Lab. Ace went to sleep next to Whitebeard and his comforting scent.

Present. ? hours later.

The man looked down at him in his eyes and Ace the same thing. Visa Versa. The man kneeled down in front of him, unwinding the sash around his waist and holding it out. Ace was puzzled for a moment before he remembered that Whitebeard had given him his coat to scent, this man must have talked to Whitebeard already, or knew his species.

Ace took the step forward and quickly got the sash from the stranger's hand. He put it on the ground and wrapped himself as much as he could in the sash, which was fairly large. Ace laid down and inhaled the scent, closing his eyes. This scent was like the forest here, smelling of apples and pineapple,it smelled heavenly.

He heard Thatch's voice but didn't react to it even as he came closer. He was too caught up in the light blue sash that was curled around him, at the moment.

"Awww! That's no fair, Marco! He was snarling at me just a few moments ago! How did he warm up to you and your sash in five seconds!"

The man's name was Marco?

"That's because I talked to pops and you should know better than to approach a wolf, they're very cautious about people around them and their territory. You have to let him scent you first. Pops told me he gave his jacket to the Dire so I just gave him my sash."

"Really? That's all you did? Man if I would have known that I would've done it! He looks peaceful like that...are you going to get your sash or not?"

"No I'm not. I 'm here most of the time anyway and I'm not going anywhere so It's best if I show him around for now. It'lll have to wait until he is ready."

Ace was really…*Yawn* sleepy...He would just close his eyes for a while….

Ace eyes flew open as woke up and started to scan the area. Ace gave a breath he didn't realize he was holding in. He wasn't at the lab but where Whitebeard took him. Ace got up and saw the sash was still with him, Marco must have left it here.

Ace got up and picked the light blue cloth up with his muzzle, sliding on it. Ace was getting frustrated, he was stuck in this form for a while since they did the experiment on him before Whitebeard came.*sigh*

They had wanted to see if they could make one part of the animal gene dominant and they succeeded. The only problem was that they couldn't get him to stay him in one form. They had tried human first but ended up doing the reverse. He had become into a wolf and couldn't change between

To the best of his abilities he pawed the cloth around his neck and started more into the tropical sector. Ace was always curious but not to the extent that he would be in danger. He looked up and it seemed as if the ceiling has no end for the trees. Ace squinted at some of the trees above him. He saw some fruits...and feathers coming down?

Ace quickly jumped back as something landed on the floor. Ace slowly approach the shadowy figure covered by a cloud, it suddenly jumped up at him and he couldn't dodge in time, but only landed on his back and seemed to be cowering away from something, it had a broken wing….

Ace heard the grass crunching around him, his ears moving in each direction of each crunch. Something leaped at Ace but he was faster. Ace jumped back and faced his opponent. His eyes widen at the animal in front of him. It wasn't something that you found in the tropical bird section. Ace went back a bit to try to put the bird down but the Saber Tooth stepped up to in counter to his steps.

Ace growled he had no choice. He went forward one step and so did the Saber Tooth. Ace ran forward to the side of the big tiger, but the Saber sensed his intention and skidded to to the side of Sce and raked his claws forward, Ace barely dodge it. The bird fell off of Ace's back and Ace quickly grabbed the bird and quickly faced his opponent.

Ace wasn't feeling good. His wounds from a few days before were reopening started to breath heavily due to his wound. Ace growled but before he could get a hit, he himself was hit in his wound and sent flying. Ace looked up to see a young boy wrapping his arms around the next of the Saber.

He glared at Ace.

"I don't know how you got in but, I'm going to put you down! *Gasp* And you have one of Marco's birds and his sash!"

Ace knew whatever he said wasn't going to be listened to, so he ran with the bird. Ace couldn't look behind him but by the sound of the ground being ran on by two sets of feet, Ace knew the boy was chasing after him. Ace started to take turns and go faster. Ace after a while started to slow down and hid himself in a hollow tree stump.

Ace was slowly starting to regain his breath and put the bird down, turning it's wing to check it. The bird let out a weak chirp. Maybe Ace was a bit too rough while running with the bird….Ace went out and tried to look for some herbs or something to wrap it with.

Ace found some long grass stalks to make a split with. Ace huff, now how to get them on was the next problem. Maybe if he went for Marco's help he could get the bird so help. Ace went back to the stump and briefly explained that he was going for help.

"O-ok, d-d-on't be lo-ong…"

Ace could clearly tell that the bird was in pain. Ace nuzzled his muzzle against the the bird's cheek.

"I won't be...don't worry…."

Ace went out the tree stump, and looked around for something to cover the entrance and could be recognizable. Ace saw some colorful flowers and and a blueberry bush. Ace slowly walked over and uprooted the plant all together. This was a good idea, after all the bird could feed off this plant and be concealed. Ace put it down in front of the entrance.

"I'm going now ok? This is for you, so it conceals you and you can eat these right?"

"Yes, thank y-you."

Ace turned before venturing out. He needed to lookout for other predators that could come out, but it could have been a stray Saber from another sector. Ace felt as if he was walking for a few hours but finally came upon Marco and the boy from before. Ace sneaked around in the forest vegetation and quickly darted behind Marco, at this point Ace couldn't take anymore blows.

"Marco behind you! That's the animal that took Pheonix away, and your sash!"

Ace looked up to see Marco looking down at him. Marco kneeled in front of him and Ace stepped back a little.

"Do you know where phoenix is?"

Ace nodded to Marco.

"B-but Marco, this wolf probably ate him."

Ace looked toward the boy.

"I didn't. YOUR Saber was trying to eat it and it injured their wing in the process. they hid behind me and I tried to fight off the Saber but my wounds prevented my from fighting at my top condition. You came in and hit my wound and me having to run away from you made it worse. Phoenix's wing is hurt and I made sure they were safe. I-"

Before he could continue, black spots scattered in his vision and he stumbled. He was about to hit the floor when he was caught by Marco. He was laid on the ground as his vision and world started to fade.

"Hold on Ace, I'll take you to our doctor…."

Ace fell unconscious.

At the healing bay. A few minutes later.

Ace opened his eyes only to try and cover his eyes because of some bright light. Ace's mind started to recede back at his time at the lab, he started to thrash and extended his claws to scare away the people who were around him. Ace quickly tried to get up to escape but hands started to press him down. Ace growled and moved to get back up.

"Stop! Don't push him down, you're only making it worse!"

Ace continued to struggle until he felt something wrapped around him. It had the scent of a tropical forest. Ace started to lay down and paw the scent around his front. It greatly reminded him of his mother who had always smelled like flowers.

"H-he cal-m-med down?"

"Pops informed me of Ace's past and his species. The Direwolves are very violent to those it finds its enemy. Ace was experimented on while he was in the possession of the government. Being here probably reminds him of his time in the labs they had there…I won't be surprised if he went berserk sometimes…."

Ace found comfort in the man, Marco. His scent and person gave him great comfort...he wondered why? He had never trusted anyone or even taken to anyone, much less one of where he lived….

"How is this fair? The new comer instantly takes to Marco but wants to kill everyone else!? You know what? On a serious note, I think Ace maybe be best living with you Marco. You can calm him down and he seems likely a loner like you anyway! Hahahaha!"

*Thump*

"Oooowwwww!"

"Hahahaha! You should have known better Thatch!"

*Thump*

"MARCO! WHAT WAS THAT FOR!"

"Keep a better eye on the inhabitants in the felines sector or this happens...I was lucky Ace was there or Phoenix would have been Saber's lunch."

Ace felt a hand on his body, stroking it. Ace breathed in and exhaled out. He suddenly Phoenix he needed to get up and bring Marco to him but when he tried to get up, he fell down, the nurses rushing to him.

"You can't move yet you're going to reopen your wounds!"

Ace opened his eyes for the first time that he woke up and looked at Marco.

"Phoenix is waiting for help...He is in a tree stump covered by flowers...please go get him…."

Marco nodded, he then turned to Haruta.

"Can you go get Phoenix please?"

Haruta nodded.

"Since it was Saber's fault, I'll go get him!"

Marc turned back to Ace as Haruta ran out the door.

"Back to the subject of where Ace will live, he can live with me...if it's ok with Ace, then he can live in my sector and my home."

Ace thought about it and he opened his mouth.

"I want to-"

I know, please don't kill me. XD I never liked cliffhangers but it seems really appropriate. So please tell me what you think, and next chapter Marco will take Ace to see more of the sectors so you can either give me animal suggestions or environments that you like or would like to see. Thanks again.

Sapphire~