Hello everyone, here is the next chapter

Stuff will happen, and this chapter is a bit short (Sorry) and fast paced (Again, sorry)

Hope you enjoy

Read and relax

Ace gave a sigh, feeling pleased as he had just eaten, getting some fresh and warm blood.

They were still at the island, and Marco was waiting for him a few feet away. Ace had found a horse- there wasn't any other large animal on the island, just boars and small critters- and had taken that. He had been a bit worried Marco would react to it, seeing as horses were animals many viewed as pets of sorts, not just a wild deer or something. But, Marco had been okay with it, even mentioning he had heard people talking about there being horses in the forest. Marco was a good guy and didn't seem to react much to this, which was good. He did feel safe around the other.

Ace still hadn't opened or read the book he had bought, much of the weird feeling disappearing after he had bought it.

He had asked Marco, since he was also in the shop, when they came out of it, if he felt anything weird about it. Maybe there was a reason he was in the shop too. The man had shaken his head and said no, taking a quick look at the book, half skimming a few pages in it. He had said there was nothing wrong with it, looking like a normal book. He was sure Marco knew that, as he was fond of books. Ace had placed the book in his room for now, not seeing a reason to read it, just feeling he needed it, but the weird feeling now being away. Maybe he was just worried about something and the book might have a scent on it, which was gone now. That made the most sense.

When he came up to Marco, the man gave a small look to him. "You good, yoi?" Ace gave a nod. He felt full, the horse being a bit large, and hadn't a reason to need extra. He would be sure to remember Marco, or the phoenix, could sense his hunger. Why the man still even dared to be around him was a mystery. He should be afraid, but he wasn't. Not that he complained, he liked it. It felt good not to be feared.

He still felt many of the others on the ship had fear for him, his vampire smelling and feeling it. He hadn't dared to say that to anyone, knowing it was logical. Things would calm down by itself, he hoped. He was sure bringing it up would just make it worse. He could handle the whispers and looks, as well as what his vampires picked up. He knew it would be like this.

He and Marco walked a bit around, enjoying the calm of the night. Vampires were usually night creatures, but Ace had trained himself to sleep at night, especially since he now had the sun ring, meaning he could be out in the sun. This was harder when he was younger, before he got the ring. He didn't get it before he was 7; he still remembers wanting, and trying, to be out with Luffy and Sabo, winding up injured a lot. He even still did it one time he heard Luffy in pain but had managed to shield himself in the woods a lot. But, he was still stuck in bed with bad burns for 3 weeks. Luffy had apologized a lot for it, but Ace was just happy Luffy was safe.

The next time he got bad burns was when he tried to go for Sabo, but Luffy and Dadan had stopped him before it got to bad. He had been close to dying then. He still felt the pain from that.

They walked around for a few hours, walking back to the ship when the sun rose. He bid goodnight to Marco, before heading to his room to sleep. He had gotten used to sleeping a bit every night.

He felt at home here, and he would try and keep himself calm for everyone to be okay with him.

-x-

Marco gave a small sigh, seeing the sun being high up on the sky, warming the boat and everything. It was a good day.

They been sailing for almost 2 weeks now, not docking since the last island when Thatch had been allowed out. He was much better now, just having issues with certain movements, and he easily got breathless when doing things, especially when they were dueling. They were dueling every day, or every other day if it was too much one day, to train it back up. Only commanders were allowed to train and duel with the chef for now, at least until he was better. Bay had said he would most likely get back to normal, but only if he trained and exercised a lot, but not too much. They were trying their best to make Thatch get back to normal.

As everyone was out relaxing, Marco looked over at Ace, who was at the railing, looking out at sea, having a frown. Looking troubled.

The first commander made his way over. "Everything okay, yoi?" Ace turned to him, seeming a bit startled by him, before giving a slow and half-unsure nod. "Y-yeah. I just feel something…" Marco gave a frown himself. "Like last time?" Maybe it was something like the book again. Ace shook his head. "No. This is more… human? That sounds weird. But more like someone is coming closer… like enemy?" Marco gave a frown, not liking that either. That sounded bad, and he knew Ace had amazing senses.

He turned to the sea, looking it over, seeing absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. Just a waste ocean, no ship or anything.

"There is nothing." Ace gave a small nod, looking a bit down. "I know…" Marco shook his head. "I trust you, Ace. I know you're not making this up. It is a worry. I will go and notify the ones in the crows nests to keep an extra eye out, yoi." Ace gave a nod, agreeing. This could be something; it had been way too calm the last weeks, seeing as they were in unfriendly territory in the New World. Things shouldn't be as calm. Ace might be picking up on something that would happen. As Marco was on his way to turn, to head to the ones in the crows nests, he heard Ace speak up, mumbling. "Should the birds act like that..?"

Marco turned around again, looking at where Ace was looking, seeing a group seagulls not too far away… circling in the air above nothing?

Marco shook his head. "No, yoi. They shouldn't." Birds, seagulls, only circulated when there was something in the sea, like a wreck, loot… or a ship. Marco looked at the birds. They were high up, like there was a mast there.

There was something there. There was a ship there. Somehow hidden.

Marco was just on his way to turn and tell everyone to get ready, that there was an enemy close.

But, before he could even get a word out, something landed on the deck behind him, him barely managing to turn a see something defusing, before an explosion was heard and smoke filled the entire deck. Everyone started coughing, Marco noticing many falling down unconscious. No, asleep. It was sleep gas. Marco moved a hand to his mouth, needing to try and keep awake, looking out in the ocean again.

But now, there was a big ship there, close by, even seeing the people on board. It wasn't marines, but pirates. And worse, behind the boat was an island. How had this happened? How had they not seen a ship or island?

Marco felt his sight getting blurry, the gas getting to him. He let out a small curse inside his mind, needing to find an escape, to find a way to stay awake and fight whatever pirates it was that were attacking them. It couldn't be someone big, the flag not being one he recognized, the flag having a skull and three blurry lines behind it. This was obviously how they worked.

Marco let out a small cough as he his sight got more blurry and dark, seeing a grinning man on the deck of the pirate ship, before Marco fell unconscious himself, barely managing to utter a small curse.

-x-

Marco felt himself waking up, sight being blurry, the last events coming back to him, making him want to stand up and see what was happening, but he found it impossible as he was chained, chained with seastone.

He managed to open his eyes, seeing many from the family around, being in the same situation.

Marco blinked a few times, getting his bearings right, whatever kind of sleep gas it was really working well. "Marco?" Marco opened his eyes to see Kingdew looking at him, looking worried. Marco managed a nod. "Yeah, I'm fine, yoi." The man nodded. "Good. The ones with Devil fruits are having the most issues waking up." Marco gave a nod, blinking a few more times, seeing many awake, most being without a devil fruit, still a few still unconscious, most being the ones that weren't a commander, almost all of the commanders starting to wake now.

He looked over at Kingdew. "What happened, yoi?" The man shook his head. "I don't know. The deck was suddenly filled with smoke, and everyone fell unconscious, barely managing to see a ship." Marco gave a nod. Someone on the ship clearly had a devil fruit of sorts. The only one noticing them was Ace. Marco gave a frown, looking around himself, seeing many, most, from the family, but many still missing, Ace being one of them. "Where are the others?" Kingdew shook his head. "I don't know. I've barely been awake a few minutes myself. It was a strong gas." Marco gave a nod. They looked to be in a prison of a sort.

Marco used a few minutes to just gather himself, most of the others waking up now too, only a few of the weaker ones still unconscious, all of the commanders here now awake, even Pops.

As all was awake and seemed to have gathered themselves, they were just about to start figuring out how to escape, when a door opened and a man came out, the same Marco had seen grinning on the ship.

The man gave a grin to them. "My my, finally awake. You know, when I was told the knock-out gas was strong, I didn't expect for you to be asleep for almost 7 days. Amazing." Marco gave a stare to the man. That was why he felt weak and thirsty, having been here for that long. Just what kind of gas was that? The man gave a chuckle. "I was almost worried when I saw you were getting suspicious of the water, but it still worked. The credits for that goes to Josh and his Reflect powers. But that vampire obviously was the one to alert you. He even woke up after a day. But no worries, he is taken care of like the beast he is, in a single room in appropriate chains."

"Where's the others?!" Marco wanted to hush Thatch, no use in screaming like that. They needed to find a way out. The man gave a chuckle. "No worries. None of you are hurt, just chained. We have called the marines here, so we can get the bounty. I will be rich!" That was, in a way, good. It meant those here wouldn't hurt them. The man laughed, turning and walking out. "Enjoy your stay here! The marines are appearing in 2 days!" Then the man left, the laughter echoing.

When the man was gone, Marco gave a small sigh, looking at everyone. "Everyone okay, yoi? As in, not injured?" Everyone nodded. That was good. Pops looked at him. "What did he mean that Ace almost revealed them?" Marco gave a small sigh. "Ace felt them, with his senses. He didn't tell since he most likely thought we wouldn't believe him, and tried to search for it in the sea. He must have felt it for some time." Pops gave a nod, the man having a frown. Marco would be sure to speak to Ace when they got out of here, to tell to always tell when his senses picked something up, no matter if he was sure it was something or not. This could all have been avoided if he had. He did get why Ace didn't, as he was still wary around them with his vampire, he didn't blame him for this.

Before he could say anything, Izou spoke up, looking at Vista. "Vista, you have your comb still?" The man nodded. "Yes. Why?" Izou nodded.

"Get it out and kick it here. They took my pins. Maybe I can pick these chains with it."

The crossdresser was amazing at lockpicking, so that might work. VIsta nodded, moving and somehow making the comb for his mustache fall out of his pocket, kicking it over to Izou, who moved it to his back, clearly breaking the comb, giving a promise to buy a new one. He then started to work on picking the lock, Marco hoping he could make it. They needed to get out of here. The ones who captured them didn't seem strong, most likely being bounty hunters, and obviously managed to catch their prey with the illusion and sleep gas. It was cheap.

It took the crossdresser a few hours, no one coming and checking on them- amateurs, they should have a guard or two at least.

When the crossdresser was out of his chains, he went to release the ones who could also lockpick first, to get everyone free faster. It took an hour until all of them were out of their chains, and when they were, Izou, and two others, worked on opening the cell door, which was tougher, but managed after 15 minutes, all of them getting out, and moving to find the others. There were other cells in the hallway, and they opened the doors and let them out of their chains.

They would get out here, they just needed to find everyone first.

-x-

Ace looked up when his cell was being opened, shocked. Someone was coming for him? He was sure he would be left here, left to rot and die alone. It had been days. He was sure the others had left.

When the door opened, he saw Izou and Rakuyo there, making sure he was fine and able to walk, before moving on to release the others, Rakuyo helping him out of the chains he was in. The ones here obviously knew he was a vampire, the chains having both seastone and pure silver, which weakened him, both his devil fruit and his vampire. He felt weak because of it.

When he was let out, he felt his senses kick back in, the chains making it hurt to be his vampire self and tried his best to ignore it and stay in his devil fruit. It felt better being weakened by seastone than silver. It still affected him, but he could ignore a lot since he was a hybrid. He could ignore a lot until it was too late to get back.

He felt adrenaline rush inside him as the helped free the others, before they ran out of the prison, alarms sounding as they crossed to the outside, guards being there, the ones in front of him trying to fight them off and get away. He saw Marco in the air when the man spoke, telling the Moby was in sight at the dock. That was good, they just needed to get a bit further. They would manage this. These people only had the upper hand when they were unconscious and chained, managing a surprise attack. They were nothing compared to them, to Pops and the commanders. They would lose. Ace felt the sun bothering his wrists a bit as he came out into the sun, having a small rash there from the silver chains. But, it would be fine, they were so close to the ship, he could go and be in his room for a small while, the others most likely going to give him extra food... to make sure... he was well...

...Food..? ...Blood..?

Ace felt his body give a strong pound, his entire body freezing. Ace moved a hand to his mouth. Not now. He pleaded, pleaded the best he could. It had only been 7 days.

His body gave another pound, making him fall down to his knees, both hands over his mouth now, eyes closing. Not now. Please, not now. They were so close, so close to home. Ace could last longer, he needed to last longer.

A beautiful scent filled his senses, making his body pound stronger, feeling his entire body reacting. No. Ace tried to see Pops, to keep himself together, imagine the smile the man had, telling that Ace would be okay, he was okay, he would be okay. A yell was heard, in pain, more perfectly smelling scents filled his senses. No. Ace felt his body trembling, trying to ignore what happened around him, trying to imagine Pops, to imagine the calm look, telling him it would be fine.

Imagine Pops… being happy… Another pound had Ace move his face to the ground, on his knees and hands on his mouth. Pops wouldn't want this to happen. Pops... The image of Pops started to fade. No! Ace tried to hold on.

The image of Pops disappeared and Ace remembered seeing only red, before nothing.

-x-

Marco tried to dive and keep a man from shooting his gun. But, he was a second too late and a bullet was sent and hit Izou in the leg, making the man yell out in pain, falling to his knee. Pops went to protect him, shielding him from another bullet that hit Pops in the hand, making him give a grunt of pain, before Marco managed to take the man out. Pops used his Tremor power to take out a bunch of men, which helped. But, they still had the stronger ones left.

Marco was about to head for another guy, when Thatch's voice had him look to his left. "Ace!" Marco looked to the left to see Ace, who was on his knees and hands on his mouth, body trembling. Something was wrong. Marco saw Pops looking Ace's way too, looking worried, and Marco was on his way to fly and make sure Ace was fine, when his entire body froze, his phoenix screaming in fear. It was so bad it forced him to transform to his human form, making him fall to the ground, the bad fear still in his mind, Marco recognizing it from before.

Ace was starting to lose control.

Marco was about to stand up and force his phoenix to comply, when he noticed a guy having a gun towards Ace, on his way to shoot. "Die, vampire." Marco felt a bit of panic, sure that man had something to easily kill vampires as ammo, knowing Ace was a vampire, and Ace looked unable to move. As the man's finger moved towards the trigger, Marco was on his way to stand up, to transform into his phoenix and stop the man from shooting Ace.

But, before Marco could transform, the fear from his phoenix grew, and Marco looked over at Ace, seeing he had moved hands away from his mouth, fangs clearly showing, eyes red. "Ace, yoi!" They needed to try and help Ace from going too bad. But, half a second later, the trigger on the gun being pulled, Ace jumped, doing a twist in the air. When Ace stopped, 30 feet up in the air and upside down,

Gigantic red wings appeared from his back, Ace opening his eyes as they had closed, eyes completely red, even the white, glowing. Fangs were longer than he had seen, nails out, giving a hiss and growl. Marco swallowed.

Ace had completely lost control. This was bad.

And that's the chapter, hope you enjoyed

This ended on a small cliffhanger and what happens next will be in the next chapter. Feeling a bit evil for this, especially as the chapter even is a bit short

If you have the time, I greatly appreciate feedback

Also, if you're interested and have it and maybe want to share something or anything with me, come join my Discord server. It's called Azuruko's Fiction. It has a small channel for all my stories, and one main channel that's general. Pictures related to stories will be posted there too, like Ace's braids and clothes. (Instant invite: discord . gg / 6hzMhbR) Link also at my profile