Hello everyone, here is the next chapter

I hope everyone liked the last one as things got intense at the end and that continues now

Hope you enjoy

Read and relax

Marco still felt the tingling pain in his legs and lips, moving and making sure everyone was fine, needing to be sure. Everyone was shaken up, scared, and panicked, but no one was injured, thankfully. He didn't understand how this had happened, how those three men- or whatever they were- had managed to make that illusion, or what he should call it, and take Ace. Why was they after Ace? How did they just walk through the railing and in the air? It was like they weren't there, but also were, like a bad signal.

When he was sure everyone was fine, everyone gathering themselves slowly, a few slower than the others, he tried to think, think what to do now.

They obviously were after Ace, and since they only took Ace, not even seeming interested in them, meaning they were after the vampire. As they were sure everyone was fine, Bay and the nurses helping those who still was panicked, he sent a look at Pops and gathered the commander's, going to the meeting room, needing to make a plan or find out what to do now. As they were walking to the room, he got a person to get a Den Den, having a feeling he would need it. As everyone was seated and he moved to sit down, he looked at everyone. "Are everyone sure you are fine, yoi?" It had happened, more than once, that a few commanders had hidden an injury to not seem weak in front of the others. Everyone gave a nod. "Y-yeah. But, what in the world was that?" Thatch sounded shaken up still, which was no surprise, he felt himself shaken up still, too.

Marco shook his head. "I don't know, yoi. But who- or what- that were, they were after Ace, and he felt them."

Pops gave a nod. "That was what had him shaken up earlier." Marco gave a nod. "Yes. And he specifically said it wasn't human, yoi." Everyone gave a frown. "Did he say anything else?" He shook his head and looked at Pops. "No. But whatever it was, had him really scared. He looked almost terrified. It might be a creature or something." Damn, they didn't know how to handle creatures. Everyone gave a nod, Jozu looking at him. "What should we do? We have no idea who- or even what- that was. Can we even do anything?" He gave a sigh.

"I don't know, but we need to try something, yoi. My first thought is Aoba." They needed to get something, and he could hopefully help.

Everyone gave a nod to that, agreeing to that, that they should get in contact with The Red Hair Pirates, to get to Aoba and see if he had any idea what this was. They needed to get Ace back, but they needed to know who or what took Ace to do that. as everyone had agreed, the door opened and someone from the sixteenth division came with a Den Den, everyone understanding he had prepared to call the blue-haired pirate.

As he had everyone agreeing they should call, he plotted the number in and waiter for an answer, hoping it would go fast.

After a few seconds, it was picked up. "Red Haired Pirates, Rockstar here." Marco looked at the Den Den. "Rockstar, it's the Whitebeards. We need to speak to Aoba, yoi." The man gave a hum. "He's not here. He's out hunting. I can give you Shanks." Well damn, of course the blue-haired man was. He gave a nod. "Yeah, that sounds okay." They at least needed to speak to someone. It was silence for a few seconds, before Shanks answered in his usual manner. "Yosh! It's Shanks, wadda ya want?" He really wished Aoba was on the ship.

"Shanks, we need help, yoi. Someone took Ace."

The Den Den blinked. "What? Someone took Ace? Who?" He shook his head. "We don't know. But whatever it was wasn't human, Ace said so, and they literally just walked on the boat and took him." The Den Den blinked. "Where were you? You just let someone take Ace?" He gave a small glare. "Of course not! They did something, an illusion or something. They took us all out, and then just took Ace, yoi." The Den Den blinked. "They managed to take you all out? How many?" He gave a sigh. "Three, yoi." The Den Den gave a nod, hearing some faint talking, before the Den Den got a frown.

"When Aoba is back, we'll head to you. That's not normal, no matter what. What's your location?"

Marco gave a small breath, glad the man took this seriously, and they would be here and see if they could help. He gave their location and heard someone, Benn, talking, hearing it would take a bit over a day, having great wind and such, which was good. They really needed to know what had happened.

As they hung up, knowing the other pirates would be here to see if they could help, which was a great help. As they were sure they would come, he went and told the ones on watch to let the other pirates get to them and board, needing their help right now. As that was done, he still went and asked if everyone was fine, needing to be sure. What had happened was just unbelievable and he wasn't even sure how to explain that to the other pirates when they came. They had no proof. He only hoped Aoba could shine some light on this.

When they were sure the other pirate captain was headed to them soon, hoping Aoba could help, they spoke a bit more in the meeting room, before they went out, trying to see if everyone was fine for sure, glad to see Bay and the nurses checking everyone, no one having injured, just really shaken up. They needed to do something, but they couldn't. A few went to the infirmary, Bay telling it was since they were in a sort of shock, which he understood, being sure to tell everyone not to be afraid to tell they were in shock or needed to relax, needed to speak, or anything. All duties, aside from watch, was now off for now. As things calmed, which was good, they stayed out and hoped they could understand more of this or see any signs or anything of what had happened or who that were, but nothing happened.

Nothing happened that day, and the next day, around dinner, Marco gave a breath, seeing the Red Force boat coming towards them, not far away.

He hoped they could help figure this out. They all waited out on deck, waiting for the ship to get close enough so the other pirates could board their ship, so they could explain. As they were close enough to board, Shanks came on first, looking around. "Not much damage anywhere. How can one come and kidnap someone, taking you all out, and nothing is damaged? That make no sense." The man was right, they would never had let anyone do that, but everything was just unbelievable.

Before he could even start to try and tell, he looked behind the red-haired man when Benn spoke, sounding worried. "Aoba?" When he looked at where the man was looking, he saw Aoba standing on the Red Force ship still, looking at the plank to their ship, having the same look as Ace had had.

That didn't sit well, him now worried whatever that had been, who that had been, would come back, maybe after Aoba. They didn't want that, they couldn't lose the other who might know anything. Aoba had to know something; he reacted the same way Ace had, and that was telling something. "Aoba? What's wrong?" Asked Shanks, walking towards the other, everyone looking at the blue-haired male in worry. Aoba shook his head, looking up at Shanks.

"I can't. I just can't walk on the boat. Something has been there."

Shanks frowned. "You're... scared...?" Aoba shook his head. "No. I'm terrified." It was spoken with the same look and way Ace had. Aoba felt who or what it was that had taken Ace. Shanks looked at him, now looking worried and serious. "Just what have happened here?" He gave a sigh, before doing his best to explain, explaining what had happened to his best ability.

When he was finished, Shanks had a frown. "All an illusion? That felt real? And just 3 men?" Marco nodded. "Yes, yoi. It felt real, many even passed out from the pain. They made a weird clicking noise, and moved as if not here. Ace felt them too, yoi. He had the same reaction as Aoba has now." Shanks looked at Aoba, same as them, the blue haired man having a frown, still on the other ship. "Do… do you have a feeling you're… missing something? A memory, something feeling wrong?" Marco frowned. He had before, more now after this, the same time Ace had earlier. "Yes, yoi. At times. Ace did too, suddenly a day, for some reason being dragged towards a book, no-."

"No. Please no." Said Aoba suddenly, looking absolutely horrified. "Aob-" Aoba cut Shanks off. "No. Don't tell me it was a book called 'The Dread Doctors?"

Marco blinked. "How did you know, yoi? Ace found that 2- or so- months ago." Aoba looked more distressed by that, making Shanks walk closer to the blue-haired kid. "Aoba. Who's the Dread Doctors? What does that mean?" Aoba looked at Shanks in small panic. "We need to call Vincent. This is bad." Vincent? That was the one who had calmed Ace down when he had lost control. Shanks looked at Aoba in worry. "Why? Is it that bad? What are the dread doctors?" Aoba swallowed.

"They were doctors, humans, but they aren't any more. They worshipped the supernatural, now being known as the dread doctors, no one knowing how they work or move, where they are." Aoba looked at him.

"One rarely never survives being taken, often dying after they come back. They do tests- experiments- bad ones, often killing. Someone sent them after Ace. This is not a coincidence."

That was a big thing, someone sent these things at Ace. Before he could speak, Aoba spoke again, still looking at him. "Do you have the book here?" He nodded, and Aoba continued. "Read it. If it's them, they have been here, that will unlock the memory." He gave a frown. "Unlock, yoi?" Aoba nodded. "No one knows how they work. But, they visit and see if they are worth it, and only reading the book can make one remember. That was why Ace was dragged to it, he knew. But, I am sure he hasn't read it. We are too scared to do that if we have seen them, been targeted. We need to be told to read it, or we won't."

Marco wasn't sure what to think of that. This was all confusing in a way. They were way over their heads he felt like. He needed to read the book, hoping it could help.

-x-

Ace couldn't move, his body hurt, everything hurt, just pain.

He saw small movements around him, seeing something moving, hearing clicking noises and loud breathing. He felt a hand move to his back, something being pushed in, making him want to scream in pain, but only an inaudible whimper came out, feeling searing hot pain spreading through his body, feeling something drip down from his eyes, not being blood, it was too heavy.

Ace felt more pain spread and his eyes rolled up, before he passed out.

-x-

Whitebeard gave a breath, sitting in the meeting room with most of his commanders, Shanks, Benn, and Aoba here too, the latter needing a lot of help to get onto the ship, needing a cloth with smelling salts for now. Whatever this was, had left their mark here, which would keep everything who could feel or smell them away.

When they were now here, and Aoba seeming to know something about this, not even Benn or Shanks knowing anything, Aoba made a call to someone in private, most likely the Vincent guy. He wondered if it was the same as the one who had helped when Ace lost control. When he had said he could make the call, having watched what had happened, Aoba said no, telling only vampires could do it, needing to do something special with the Den Den, which he didn't explain- not that he asked either- and let the blue-haired kid do that in peace. The vampire had just gotten back to the meeting room now, telling Vincent would look and help if he could. The man, Vincent, could apparently feel and smell vampires really well, which was why Aoba was worried when he mentioned Vincent couldn't find Ace right now.

The captain didn't like any if this at all. This was all too much. He had barely believed there existed vampires a few months ago, and now, he was in all of this. Aoba did explain what he knew of the Dread Doctors, which was much, but shined light.

Whitebeard wasn't sure what to do right now.

One of his children had been kidnapped, by some deranged doctors, being experimented on, barely anyone surviving, which had him more worried than anything. Marco had gone and found the book called The Dread Doctors in Ace's room, not seeing or feeling anything special about it, which had him hope this was wrong, that they hadn't been here, that this was something else than them, something not as bad. There was a chance. Marco also didn't seem to react much to the book as he read, looking bored as he did, giving a shrug when they asked about it. "I feel nothing, yoi." the man had said, which made the hope rise a bit. But, when the first commander was half-way, the book being short, he halted mid-turn of a page. "Marco?" No reaction. "Son?" He moved a hand to touch him, to see what this was, he didn't like this.

-x-

Marco blinked, looking around. He was in the galley? How? He was in the meeting room reading a book.

He looked around, seeing everyone around him, eating. Wait, he remembers this, this food and where they sat. This was dinner a couple months ago. As he was about to try and ask what was happening, he found himself unable to speak, just as if just looking, not really being here. Was this… was this a memory? As he was thinking, everything suddenly went silent, no one speaking, stopping every movement everyone in the room did. But, he still saw stuff move, saw birds flying outside the window, they were the only ones frozen. This hadn't happened, they would have noticed, he would have remembered.

The he heard it, the clicking and breathing, turning to look at his left, seeing the three from earlier, the dread doctors, walking through the door, not seeming to be here as they almost glitched in place.

No one was reacting, as if not seeing them. But, none of them moved, just being frozen. It felt unreal. As the dread doctors moved closer to the table he was at, he saw Ace moving his head towards them, face neutral, not able to do anything. When the dread doctors were close to Ace, the one with the cane grabbed Ace, lifting him and smashing him to a table behind them, back down, hand on his chest, keeping the vampire down not that he could struggle anyway. Then, the one with the smooth mask moved to take something out, a syringe, moving it to Ace's face.

Ace looked unable to move as the needle was pushed inside Ace's eye, deep, before the dread doctor pushed down on the syringe, injecting something silver-grey looking, fast.

As the dread doctor did, Ace screamed.

Ace screamed the most hurtful and painful and desperate scream he had heard. It went straight to his spine, making him want to move, but unable. Then Ace was suddenly back beside him at the table, sitting still, dread doctors gone, eye bleeding, before healing, the hole in his eye disappearing, moving a tense hand to dry the blood away, seeming to be in a trance. How had they not noticed?! Ace had screamed! As he was about to try and reach out for Ace, to check on him, he felt startled as something touched him, suddenly being back in the meeting room, book on the last page, Pops having a hand touching his arm, everyone looking at him worriedly.

-x-

Whitebeard gave a breath, glad Marco at least now reacted, blinking at him. He had tried for a few minutes to get his attention, Aoba telling him to let this go its course.

"They've been here, right?" Said Aoba, Marco giving a nod, looking distant, shocked. "Yes, yoi. They just walked in during dinner, grabbed Ace, and injected something into his eye. Ace screamed, and we didn't do anything."

He closed his eyes. They had just walked in? During dinner, and did something to Ace, and none of them had even batted an eye? How had they not noticed? He felt horrible for this, they should have known. When they found Ace, he would apologize his best.

Aoba did say there were rumors of people surviving the Dread Doctors and living, but the blue-haired vampire couldn't tell if it was true or not. But, the fact there was a chance Ace was okay- which he would be- they would take it.

Nothing much happened the next day, them updating what they now knew, asking if anyone had heard anything about someone called 'The Dread Doctors', which none had. This seemed to be a thing for vampires, maybe other beings too. He was really worried that something this strong could go unnoticed. It wasn't until the morning of the next day something happened, nothing with Ace- unfortunately- but that he learned more about vampires.

The captain had heard Shanks give a sigh, looking at Aoba. "You should try and fly a bit, Aoba. I know you're worried, but you should."

He gave a small frown, before he got it, looking up at the sky, seeing the moon far away, having a small tint. It was a blood moon again. Ace had said Aoba could hide them, and did it either because of them, or because Ace was gone. Aoba shook his head. "I don't want too…" Shanks sighed. "Aoba, you know you should stretch them, it's important." He didn't know that, and would remember it for when Ace returned- which he would- that he needed to stretch his wings. It was closing in on dinner, meaning the blue-haired male had not had his wings out at all. Aoba gave a small sound, not seeming to want to. He was probably really worried for Ace, and that didn't help, but it might also be because of them.

He looked at the vampire. "Aoba," He started, getting his attention. "If you want, Marco can fly a round with you. He and Ace have done that, so he knows how it is." He saw Marco also giving a nod, agreeing. Aoba gave a small sound. "Maybe later…" Shanks sighed again. "Just, at least have them out, Aoba. You need to stretch them." Aoba gave a small nod, Shanks giving a small breath at that. "Here, I'll make some holes for them, I know you won't miss this shirt." Aoba gave a nod, and turned around, Shanks using his sword to make 2 holes on the shirt, for the wings that would be there. As the red-haired captain said he was done, Aoba closed his eyes for a second, before wings unfolded from his back.

They were big, a bit bigger than Ace's, and had thicker parts, like bones, even a few claw-like points at the top of the bone-like part, that also went down the wings, seeming to be like bat's wings, having bones in a way, and each had a claw-like part at the bottom of the bone-like part.

And they were amazingly blue, the wings being light blue, and the thicker parts being a few shades darker, looking like bones with scales.

He blinked, looking like at the amazing wings. "Aoba," He started, getting the others attention. "Why are your wings blue? Ace's was deep red. Not that they don't look amazing, that's not what I mean, just curious." He wouldn't mind if the other didn't answer. Aoba gave a small nod, the wings moving a small bit.

"Mine are… developed. Ace still has his undeveloped ones. They grow more to your personality when they develop."

He gave a nod, understanding that. "They look amazing. They fit you." Aoba gave a nod and small smile. "Thank you…" He gave a smile, hoping things would be better, that Ace would be well and come back, that they found him. He would love to see Ace and Aoba fly together.

They would get Ace back.

-x-

Ace gave a whimper, feeling someone drag at his wings, feeling something being pushed inside his back, between where his wings come from, making him whimper.

He didn't like this, he wanted away. After a second, he felt something being injected to his back, making pain burn through his back and wings, before moving to his entire body, feeling something start to drip from his eyes and mouth, seeing it had a silver color.

It hurt. It hurt so bad, but he couldn't do anything. He wanted out, he didn't like this he didn't want to be here, but he couldn't move.

"His condition is worsening." Ace tried to look to the sound, to the voice, hoping someone was here, but couldn't feel or see anyone, just those things.

Ace didn't want to die here.

He felt something being pushed inside his wing, making a small whimper sound from his mouth, wanting to scream.

It hurt so bad.

-x-

"Aoba?" Marco heard Shanks ask, looking over at the vampire that stood still, head looking to the side, to the ocean, not reacting at all.

He knew this was all hard on the other vampire, really caring for Ace, not even wanting to fly yesterday, just having his wings out to stretch them since that was needed. He could both see and feel the vampire was on edge, so this, Aoba not reacting at all, had him really worried, eyes seeming hazy in a way. What if the things, the Dread Doctors, came back? As he was about to move a hand to see if he could get Aoba's attention, being close, Shanks stopped him.

"No. It's nothing dangerous. He's getting a message."

That had Marco frown. "Message, yoi?" Shanks nodded. "I have no idea how it works, but Vincent, being a Lord, can speak to the other vampires like this, they can feel the Lords at all times. If anything happens, they know. I have no idea how this works, just let it go and Aoba will tell if it's relevant." Marco nodded, never having seen Ace like this before. "Vincent is a lord?" Shanks blinked. "You didn't know?" Marco shook his head. "No, yoi. When we asked Ace who Vincent was, he just said he was Vincent. We never pushed it." Shanks gave a nod, telling it was not unusual for Ace not to tell. Shanks also admitting he didn't know how this worked at all, how Vincent could do things since he was a Lord. It was all a lot to take in, but that Vincent was one they could really trust with Ace.

After a few minutes, Aoba looked at them, eyes big.

"Vincent found Ace. He's alive."

Marco gave a relieved breath at that, feeling this was the best news he could ever have gotten. "Where is he, yoi?" He asked, walking closer to Aoba, hoping they were close so they could get to Ace. They needed to get him back. Aoba gave a nod and told they were at a half-abandoned island not far away, maybe a half a day with sailing away, Vincent taking Ace there since he knew they were here. Marco quickly went to change their directing, before going and updating Pops, the man happy about this.

They would get Ace back.

-x-

Whitebeard gave a frown, waking into the abandoned looking building, a huge mansion. He could even walk upright into the mansion, the ceiling and doors being tall enough. When they got inside, Aoba walking in front, not seeming worried at all, which helped, they followed after the blue-haired kid. As they walked into the mansion, he got more and more worried as he saw pools of blood here and there, holes in the walls and ceiling, looking to be abandoned and fighting happening here. Was Ace really here?

After they walked more, going through a set of big doors, Aoba looked up and gave a happy sound. "Vincent!"

The captain looked up too, seeing what he first believed to be a wall with stairs, was a way up to a throne, on top of the throne sat a man he remembers as Vincent, sitting calmly, legs crossed, and leaning on an arm. What had him blink, was the gigantic dark red wings from his back, at least 3 times the size of Vincent, in the air and spread, looking to be showing it off, wither to protect or defend. How did he have wings now? It had just been a blood moon, maybe he was able since he was a Lord? He would ask Ace later. The man also had a long cape on that went down the throne. It was an amazing sight, and it had him a bit worried of walking closer, especially when he noticed Marco- who was looking uncomfortable since they stepped foot here- taking a step to the side, moving closer to him. Marco didn't like this, or his phenix at least.

"Hello, Aoba." Started Vincent. "How are you?" The man didn't change his demeanor, looking down at them in a way. Aoba gave a smile. "I'm good! Is Ace here?" The last was said with a tilt of the head. Vincent gave a nod. "He is." The captain felt glad Ace was here. "How is he? Where did you find him? Is my son fine?" He asked, needing to know. Vincent gave a hum mixed with a sigh.

"Young Ace was walking confused in a forest not far away, scared and injured. I made him forget most of what he was through, just being pain. He looks fine, but something does feel off about him."

He saw Aoba tilting his head. "Something off?" Vincent nodded. "Yes. Something feels wrong, but I am not sure what." The man looked at him. "Be sure to watch him for a while. Those doctors let him go for a reason, he didn't escape." He gave a nod. "We will. We will always care and be sure our family is fine." He remembers Aoba telling no one escapes from the Dread Doctors. He had though the man had gotten Ace out, but this was not the case. He hoped everything was fine and would make sure Ace visited Bay.

Vincent gave a nod, before he looked to his side, to an opening to another room. "Ace. You can come now." After a second, a head peeped from the left side of the opening, before a big smile was on Ace's face. "Aoba!" Aoba gave a big smile too and the two vampires met in the middle to hug each other. The captain was glad Ace looked fine, acting like he did usually. As the two had hugged, Ace looked at him, smiling even more. "Pops!" Whitebeard felt glad Ace was safe and okay, smiling as he moved down to hug the kid when he came to him. Ace looked to be fine, which was everything he had hoped for.

When Ace let go, he clapped his hands a bit, looking happy, looking up at Vincent, waving a bit. "Bye, Vincent! Thank you for getting me." The man just gave a chuckle, still leaning on his arm calmly with legs crossed. "Bye, Ace, Aoba. Be safe." Both vampires gave a nod, looking glad. Both vampires gave a happy laugh, before they started to head out, the captain glad Ace was fine. He hoped this was all a thing that was over, that nothing more would happen with those dread doctors.

He was glad Ace was fine, and hoped it would stay like that.

And that's the chapter, hope you enjoyed

I know this is really late and I apologize for that. I hope that chapter was good and not too rushed. Let's now hope Ace is fine and nothing more terrible thing will happen to the poor kid

If you have the time, I greatly appreciate feedback

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