Hello everyone, here is the next chapter
I know the last chapter ended on a small cliff hanger and I hope everyone will enjoy were this goes, as we meet some people from the past
Hope you enjoy
Read and relax
Marco sighed, trying to figure out were to look. There were 2 islands close by, and Ace could have gone to them. Or, he could have taken off with someone. Marco just didn't know what to think, and hoped Ace was fine. As they had many times when dealing with issues with Ace, Marco gave a call to the red force, who said they would come and help, as they were close by. Marco did wonder if they knew something was up as they were close by, as they had been so many other times when they had needed their help. Maybe Aoba could feel it. Anyhow, the red force was on its way, and Aoba, as usual, called for the older vampire, Vincent, as he could help a lot if things was bad. Vincent could control a raging vampire easy. It would take the man an hour to get to their location, the red force already in view.
After the red force had boarded and been filled in, Aoba trying to sense for Ace, but had lo luck- although he said he smelt something good, but couldn't place it. It was probably nothing. It was a few minutes later that something progressive happened. "What is that?" Marco turned to Thatch, seeing him looking up. And when he did, he saw an origami bird? It was a regular blue origami bird that actually flew. How? Before he could try and make sense of it, it flew towards him and landed on his hand, Marco curious of what this was. As it landed in a way, the origami bird unfolded itself, Marco seeing it was a note. What was this? "Son?" Marco shook his head, reading the note, making him shocked.
Commander Marco, it's Lance, the witch you helped some months ago. I have Ace, the vampire, I think he will be fine. Throw the note up and it will show you the way.
Marco looked at Pops. "It's from Lance, yoi. He has Ace." Pops got a thoughtful look. "Lance? The witch?" Marco nodded. "Yes, yoi. He thinks Ace will be fine." That had Pops looking relieved. "That's good. Where are they?" Marco gave a breath. Well, he hoped this worked. Marco moved his hands down and threw the note up again, surprised to see the note turning back to the origami bird, flying in place, as if waiting for them to move. This was a neat trick. "We follow this bird, yoi."
"Wait," Marco looked at Aoba. "A witch? I mean, Vincent is on his way." That was right. Vampires and witches didn't like each other. But still. "I know, yoi. But, Lance is nice. He saved Ace from other witches. We can trust him, I promise." Aoba still looked sceptic, but nodded nonetheless. They then started to follow the little paper bird, and did for about 20 minutes, coming to a decent size house. Marco could see it would be hard for Pops to go in there, but maybe he could, it all dependent on how it was inside. When they were close to the door, the bird flew into an open window, while Marco knocked on the door in front of him, which opened a couple seconds later, Lance giving a smile to them. "That's good, that you're here. Ace is doing much better. Come inside, let me just." Lance then turned around and said something quick, before turning to them and opening the door more for them. When they walked inside, Marco was shocked when he noticed how much higher it seemed inside than outside, something Lance seemed to get as he chuckled. "A spell. Makes a room larger on the inside, but small on the outside." That was a neat thing. Lance then started to tell how Ace had been when he found him. And Ace had been worse then, Lance telling his skin had started to fall off by then. And how the only reason he managed to calm Ace, was because of a quick spell, and now he was being treated in an another room. Before Marco could ask about that, a voice spoke up behind them.
"Hello there," Marco turned to the entrance, seeing Vincent there. The man was fast, but he was a vampire Lord. Before they could say anything, even Aoba, Lance moved forward, giving a bow. "I'm Lance. I'm sorry we have to meet like this, but I know we're not on speaking terms, but I hope you can look aside, for Ace." The vampire lord nodded. "I hope we can too. I have heard nice things from Ace, the reason I hope this will go fine. How is he?" Lance sighed. "He's doing better. I have, thankfully, dealt with victims of Dread Doctors before. But, that was a water Nymph. However, we managed to save her. I'm trying the same thing on Ace." Vincent nodded. "And what might that be?" Lance moved to open his book, showing it to Lance. "Since she was a Water Nymph, her body being mostly seawater, keeping her in water and injecting it into her made her well. I hope the same will work with Ace, but with blood instead." Vincent read what the book said, before giving a approving look, turning the page. "This is well made and informative. Who made this?"
Lance gave a breath. "You will not like it. It was Fergus Argent, my father. He tried to take on the dread doctors and found a victim and somehow healed her. This is his book, he died later by the dread doctors' hands." Vincent frowned. "Fergus Argent? He was a world-famous hunter," Lance nodded. "Yeah. Not the proudest when he found out I became a witch. But, his research made me able to help others. It was because of him I changed my views when I became a witch; he really was an atrocious man." Vincent hummed. "I see. Did he get anywhere with the dread doctors? They are causing havoc." Lance shook his head as he turned some pages. "Not anything I can go on. Something about 'frequencies', but I don't know what it means. He did get killed, so I can't know if he even was on the right track." Vincent gave a nod, looking at Vincent with acclamation. "This seem well done and I trust you want the best for Ace. How did the water nymph recover?"
Lance sighed. "That is the worrisome part. From what I have gathered, they do a first test, a small one. Then this, a second test." Marco felt his stomach drop. "They will get him again." Lance nodded. "They will. I don't know what happens then, none are found. But it will be a while until it happens, and Ace will know when." Vincent sighed. "Is there anything we can do?" Lance shook his head. "Not really; no one has stopped them. But, our best hope is to track Ace, and maybe we can get him. I hope to find something in my dad's notes." Vincent did not at it, same with Marco. Lance was a good guy, and the first commander really hoped the witch would find something that could help. Lance then said they could follow him to a room close by, where Ace was currently, Lance having left the room a bit ago, from around when he sent the bird. Marco did say he thought it to be extraordinary, making a origami bird that could fly. Lance just waved his hand at it, not giving a response back as he started to move towards a door.
Marco frowned when they moved into a room with a big pool like thing, most likely filled with blood as it was a deep red. But not Ace, and not blood tracks, suggesting he had gotten out. It had Lance frown. "He was just here." Aoba was the first to move closer to the pool, Marco feeling a bit hesitant as it was a pool of blood. It wasn't exactly something you saw every day. And he wondered how Lance had even gotten so much. As Aoba was close to the edge, looking down, he had a sort of frown. "Smells good though, but wrong." Lance laughed. "I didn't kill thousands of people. Fake blood, but do the same thing as real. You can't survive on it, though, but works." Aoba nodded. "Make sen-!" Aoba didn't get more out as something suddenly moved in the- Marco wanted to say water, but it was blood- and jumped up and pulled Aoba into the bloody mess. After a second, two heads popped up, one laughing- obviously Ace- and the other giving some sounds, before joining in on the laughing. As the two splashed a bit around, Benn clapped his hands. "Okay! Children! No playing with the food!" The fact Benn called it food just sounded wrong. It was right, for Ace and Aoba it was food, but it was still blood.
Izou, obviously being braver than him, walked a bit closer to the edge of the pool. "Didn't know blood could be so… watery? Isn't it thick?" That was a valid point, and as the crossdresser was close, Ace hummed. "You're right, it is a bit watery. Come feel it." Izou did, and Marco already had an idea what was about to happen, and it would make the sixteenth commander annoyed.
His thoughts were proven right, as Izou almost touched the surface, Ace moved and dragged the other into the pool, Izou moving to stand with a startled yell, Ace just laughing. "See! Fluid! Or watery. I don't know if watery is a word. Or fluid. I don't know." Izou gave a stare to Ace. "I will kill you! My clothes!" Ace shrugged. "You do that, and you'll only make more blood." That had Izou blinked, before he moved to splash some- again, Marco wanted to say water- at Ace, actually giving a laugh. "I hate you. Is this hard to wash off?" Ace shrugged, looking at Benn. "I don't think so. Do we need to shower?" What kind of question was that? Of course they would! Benn just sighed. "Yes. You're not a cat, and therefore can't sit and lick it off." It had Ace grumble, moving a bit down to the water- blood-, annoyed. Aoba however, gave a queasy look. "I'm glad about that. It tastes… bad. Rotten." That had Ace frown as he stood more up. "What? This tasted really good! You don't think so?" Aoba shook his head. "No. I just want to shower it off. Tastes awful." It had Ace looked worried, same with both Shanks and Benn. But Lance moved his hands in a 'don't worry' manner. "It's normal. For those who aren't... born a vampire, it tastes stale and rotten." That did make sense, and had Ace tilt his head at Lance. "We're different? Even when he's fully a vampire?" Lance nodded. "Yes, from what I have gathered, those who have been turned feel different about blood, as they had it flowing through their veins before, so this feels artificial. Feel free to correct me, Vincent." Vincent shook his hand. "No, it's fine. Not even I knew that." That was some interesting information, and also made a question pop into his head, but he didn't want to ask it now, seeing as so many were around.
It wasn't long before a word from Benn had both Ace and Aoba coming out of the pool, heading towards where Lance said there was a shower. Aoba was quick to head that way, Ace moving a bit slower. As the two were gone, leaving a small trail of the red water, Lance said they could go to the living room, which was a door to their right, where most headed. Marco waited a few seconds, before he walked towards where Ace and Aoba were, waiting outside a door he felt was the actual bathroom, hearing a shower running. It wasn't long before Aoba came through the door with damp hair, looking at him with curiosity. "Marco, why are you here?" Marco shrugged. "Wanted to make sure you two got back safe, yoi. Or Ace mostly, he's a bit of a brat at times." Aoba chuckled at that. "Sounds right. He'll probably use a bit of time, I just needed to get the smell away. Smells good, but tastes so wrong." Marco got that, and since they were alone out here, it gave Marco the opportunity to ask what he wanted to.
"Aoba, I don't mean to step into something wrong. But were you turned, yoi? You aren't born like Ace?" Aoba blinked at him, looking a bit shocked, which had Marco thinking of taking it back, when Aoba nodded. "I was. I thought you knew. But yes, i was turned when I was 5. I met- or he found me- Vincent, the reason I didn't lose myself to bloodlust, as many do." Marco nodded, taking that in. "Yes, because you either need to feed of the one who… bit you, or a higher one, yoi?" Aoba chuckled. "You look so uncomfortable, Marco. Relax, I don't bite, much. And yes, but not higher, they're Lords." Marco nodded. "So there's more than Vincent, yoi?" Aoba nodded. "Yes. I have met 3, but have heard there is 5. They keep peace, and actually are a sort of hunter themselves; they handle those who forcefully turn others and make them lose themselves to bloodlust, and just helps. I was lucky. Vincent is the one who roams much and actually speaks to us, the others are… they are more serious in a way. If they come to speak with us, we know it's bad, or something serious. They just… keep things calm."
Marco nodded, it made sense. "Who are they, if you know, yoi?" Aoba hummed. "Vincent- of course-, and there's Clear- he's awesome but rarely seen and really calm; Vincent can get mad-, then there's Sienna- she's a stern and serious one-, and last is Walter and Vivian, I've never met them." Marco nodded. "Good to know in case our paths cross, so I have a name, yoi." Aoba snorted. "Believe me, Clear, you can't miss him; he's special. And Sienna is stern and serious, but nice; she's Vincent's sister. Also, Vincent is mostly on island- as most of them- but Clear roams the ocean, so you might meet him." Marco nodded, finding that interesting. "What kind of boat or ship does he have, yoi?" Aoba chuckled. "No no, he doesn't have a boat. He walks." Marco blinked confused, trying to make sense of that. "He… walks on the ocean, yoi?" Aoba nodded. "Yup. Didn't believe it myself until I met him. So believe me, if your paths cross, you will know." If he walked the ocean, Marco was sure of it. "I get that, yoi. Thanks for telling." Aoba nodded with a chuckle. "No prob. I need to get Ace, he's probably trying to not shower I think." That sounded like Ace in Marco's opinion. "I can do it if you want to do something else." Aoba lifted an eye at him. "Eh, no. Ace doesn't like to share, so I'll do it." Marco wasn't really sure why that was an issue, before he remembered Ace was covered in blood. Marco gave a nod to Aoba, before he walked out to the rest, telling the two vampires would be back soon.
When they did walk through the door 15 minutes later, Ace gave a bewildered look to Lance. "What happened with the blood?" And when Marco leaned a bit back to see into the room Ace came from, he was amazed to see the pool being filled with actual water. How had it changed so quick? Lance however, just chuckled. "Easy to make, easy to fade. Just a simple spell. I can't have a pool of blood all the time; make people nervous." Ace gave a small pout to it as he sat down in a chair, making Marco chuckle as he looked at Lance. "What do you do during these days, yoi?" Lance hummed. "Cleaning things up. The supernatural. Learning things, trying to find things and people. Moving around every now and then when I get a ride." Before Marco could respond to that, Ace tilted his head at the witch. "Ride? Can't you just do a small swish with your wand or just fly on your broom?" Lance laughed. "No, i can't. No witch can do that, we don't have flying brooms, and we don't use wands. I can make an opening, but it can only be used once ,and I need to place something each place." Ace blinked. "Huh. Lame." Lance lifted an eyebrow. "Shall I remind you I just had a pool of blood?" Ace just shrugged, which had Marco chuckle, looking at Lance. "Sounds interesting, yoi. If you want, you can take a ride with us." Marco hoped Lance would, not only so they could help him out, but as he actually knew something about these dread doctors and could possibly help.
Lance seemed to think about it for a couple seconds, before he nodded. "I might do that. And if I would be allowed, stay a bit. For Ace's sake, knowing what will happen." Marco nodded; glad Lance was on the same page as him. "Sounds good, yoi. We can probably leave tonight, after rounding everyone up and such." That always took some time, but Marco hoped it would go fast. As those in the room agreed with that, both to have Lance come and to leave tonight, Vincent clapped his hands. "Well, you're all taken care of, so call if you need me." Both Ace and Aoba nodded at that, smiling at the older vampire. As Vincent was on his way to turn, Lance spoke up, having taken a piece of paper and a pen. "If you could hold for a second, Vincent." The other did, and after writing something down, Lance folded the paper and handed it to Vincent, who carefully unfolded it and read it, looking thoughtful. "And this is legitimate info?" Lance nodded. "It is. You can burn the note, it's same for me, but it's a common enemy." Vincent nodded, before he bid goodbye again and left. Marco was curious on what Lance had written, but it obviously wasn't for them to know.
As the man had left, Aoba looked at Ace. "Lance gonna go with you guys?" Ace nodded, not seeming at all worried. "Yeah. Lance is nice. You should stay a bit too." Aoba hummed. "If Benn say yes, I probably can." That had Ace move to look at the first mate to Shanks crew, who sighed. "We can stay a couple days. But no more, okay? We have places to be too." It had Ace cheer. "Yay! We gonna have so much fun!" Aoba chuckled. "It is boring at times on the boat, so yeah. This will be fun." Marco didn't mind, sure Ace could use the other so he could relax after all of this. Ace looked… unfazed by all of this, and the first commander wasn't sure what to think of that. But he had a feeling things would be fine. Hopefully, Lance would find something that would help them in keeping Ace safe with them, and the dread doctors away.
-x-
Nothing did happen for the first couple days. Lance had become accustomed with them quickly. Marco wasn't sure if everyone knew he was a witch, but most probably did. And no one seemed to mind it, thankfully. During the time Lance had been with them, he hadn't done any witchcraft, at least to his knowledge. But on the third day, the clock having just passed 4pm, Marco blinked when he heard someone yell, recognizing it as Ace's voice. He hoped everything was fine, seeing the others out on deck looking worried, even Aoba. "Look look look look! Oh my God! Aoba! Look!" Marco was surprised when Ace was suddenly in front of Aoba, face morphed in a euphoric look. But, what had him most shocked, was on Ace's back.
His wings had changed. They were considerably larger than they had been, his wings having a dark shade at the top, which faded to a deep red as it went down. The edges looking more denser, like bones, and spikes, like claws, at the top where it started to bend down, the part that looked like spikes had bone like part that went from it and downwards, before disappearing inside the wings and following it down to the end, before coming back outside as a claw. His wings looked strong and tough, but where the bone like things were, the wings were thicker. The top of the spikes and closest to Ace's back had markings on them, the one on the spikes being black against the golden color, and the ones at his back being golden against the darker red one. They looked magnificent. Why had they changed?
Aoba gave a gasp, moving to touch the wings. "Oh my God! You got them! Your wings are developed!" Developed? Oh, right. Both Ace and Aoba has mentioned that. It was the wings an adult vampire got. Ace had been unsure if he would get them, seeing as he already was 20 years old. Not that Marco knew when one usually got them. Ace clapped his hands as he looked overjoyed, Aoba looking glad on Ace's behalf too. "Oh! We should fly together Ao-" As Ace spoke, he had lifted a bit off ground and looked to be on his way to ask Aoba to fly with him. But it was cut off as Ace suddenly ram into the wall beside him, shaking his head as he stood on his feet, Aoba laughing. "You get used to it. They are bigger and you move much easier and faster." Aoba then suddenly had his blue wings out too, moving a hand to Ace's as he flew a bit above deck. "Come, I'll help you get used to it." Ace gave a nod and the two were gone, probably heading to fly somewhere.
"Did-" Marco turned to Thatch, who looked shocked. "Did Ace just fly into the wall?" Marco nodded. "Seems so. From what Aoba said, I think he's faster, yoi. His wings are bigger." That had Thatch nod. The first commander did see everyone out looking as shocked, which he got. Ace had just rammed into the wall. As the two were gone, Marco turned to look at Pops when the man spoke. "Lance, why do you look so confound?" When Marco turned to the witch Pops was speaking to, he had to agree. Lance looked thoughtful and worried.
Lance sighed. "i don't want to worry you, but wings don't just change overnight. It takes about a year of slow change. Not just two or three moons." Marco blinked, not sure what to make of that. "What does that mean, yoi?" Lance hummed. "It means I don't like it. It's wrong. And I especially don't like it since it has changed after coming from the dread doctors." Marco felt worried with that, hoping it wasn't anything concerning. Ace was so excited, and he didn't want to take that away. Lance sighed. "It might be nothing, he is a hybrid, it might be because of that. Was he a normal vampire- not that he isn't normal, but if he was fully a vampire- he would have had his adult wings. The timing just seems off. Especially with the mercury." Marco frowned. "Mercury?" Lance looked at him with a contemplative look. "The silver liquid that made Ace's body… react, let's call it that. That was mercury, potent and clean mercury." Marco wasn't sure why mercury was so special. "Why would that worry you, yoi?" Lance gave a serious look at him. "Because mercury is the most lethal thing there is to a vampire. And he had it in his body." Marco felt those words hit him and had him worried. Ace's body had sort of disintegrated it had looked like. Then Marco remembered something. "Months ago, yoi. The first visit, that was with some silver liquid they injected." Marco still felt chills when he thought back to that memory.
Lance gave him a searching look. "Administered through the eye?" Marco blinked, before he nodded. How did Lance know that? "Does that mean anything, yoi?" Lance sighed. "Maybe, I don't know. But the mercury, it was too potent and clean." Marco didn't get what that hinted at. "Which means?" Lance sighed again. "It wasn't normal mercury. And I don't know what it means, but it means something." Marco felt troubled with that. "Is it dangerous? Should we be worried, yoi?" Lance sighed. "I don't know. For now, try not to be. I've both met and heard about people, often creatures, that was seriously and deadly ill. Then the dread doctors got them, and they returned healthy, stronger- if they survived. Then they were gotten again. They do something, I don't know good or bad, but it did something to Ace, and I don't know if it's a good thing or not." Marco didn't have a good answer himself. "Maybe they did something to his devil fruit, yoi?" Lance looked confused at that, before he looked mindful. "Maybe. I need to check something." Then the man left, leaving Marco worried for Ace and all of this. "Son," He heard Pops start, the first commander looking over to him. "Ace is fine for now. That's the most important." It was, and Marco took a breath, not sure what to make of all of this. But he would relax for now, hoping Ace would be fine onwards.
"Son," Started Pops, looking at Ace that was flying a few feet above ground, lying on his back in a way. "Can I look at your wings closer? They look magnificent." Ace gave a nod and looked to be on his way to turn to be upright by tuning to his left. But instead Ace rammed into the wall again, this time falling to the ground as he held his nose, giving a groan.
Aoba chuckled, looking at Ace. "You will do that for the next few times, until you get used to actually moving when you just think about it." Ace gave a nod as he sat up, moving his face a bit, before standing up. "I wish I could get used to it now." Aoba laughed. "I rammed into walls and trees for 3 days. I once even crashed into Shanks and sent him crashing into the water; he broke a rib." Marco blinked. Aoba had what? Benn chuckled. "I remember that. Rockstar had to fish him out. Shanks also banned you from being close to the railing for the next times, in case you did it again." That was something Marco would remember, in case Ace did the same accidentally. Ace shook his head as he walked over to Pops, showing his wing as he stretched it.
Marco was curious too and walked up beside Pops, looking at the huge wing Ace had stretched out. It had to be almost 10 feet long. That was a bigger wingspan than he had had earlier. It also felt soft and somewhat warm. He had expected them to be cold and feeling like bones. But it felt like flesh, strong and firm. The parts were the spike or claws were, were had as bone, same were the bone part inside the wing went, before coming out as a spike at the bottom. They were amazing. "Do you move easier, yoi?" Ace gave a snort. "Yeah. That's why I keep hitting the wall. It usually takes a bit of effort to fly, but not now." Marco nodded. "Do you feel different too, yoi?" Marco was still a bit on edge from what Lance had said, but hoped it was nothing, and he hadn't seen the witch since then. Ace hummed, seeming to think, before he shook his head. "Not really. I mean, I feel it's easier to move, and sort of more confident in my wings, but that's it." That was good to know, and Marco hoped this was nothing worrisome, and Lance was just taking sort of precaution with this situation and wanted to make sure Ace was fine. "You know," Started Aoba to their right. "You should practice folding them, you know, hide them. Always good when you're on islands and such. Hiding your baby wings is hard, but easy with the adult ones." Ace nodded. "Yeah, I should. How do I do it?" Aoba hummed. "It can be hard to explain. Come and I'll show you and try to teach you. I suck at teaching." Ace just laughed at it with Aoba, before the two headed somewhere, probably to a place where it was quieter than out on deck. Marco didn't see the two vampires for the rest of that day, not that he was worried. Or he was worried, or more concerned if what Lance had said might be a bad thing. The timing was a bit suspicious when he thought about it himself. For now, Ace was fine, and that was what mattered the most.
-x-
The next day started as normal, duties being handed out and people waking up, some with a hangover as booze was a thing they drank often. Marco did notice the red force pirates being out and planning their day, or everyone beside Aoba. The blond thought it to be a bit weird, especially as they were a small crew, and Marco was sure Aoba wanted a say himself. When there seemed to be an opening, Marco did voice it to them, Benn speaking first with a hum. "Easy; not a morning person. Vampires have issues with mornings, as they are up all night. Aoba is not ready for duty until it's passed 12am. I don't want to mess with it as I've heard- and seen- what forcing him up early does." It had Marco feel guilty, knowing he had forced Ace up for morning duty more than a few times. The first commander needed to speak with Pops about it, maybe even Ace. Ace had said a few words on it, but that was it. Maybe Marco could ask Aoba a bit around it, to understand it better. Ace did come out on deck a bit later, when the clock was close to 11am, seeming to be in a good mood. Marco also didn't want to ask about the morning thing now, seeing as so many were around. Some things needed to be taken in privacy.
"Hey Ace," Started Lance, coming from around a corner. "Could you help me light this?" Said the witch as he held out a smoke, Marco not sure why Lance needed Ace for that, as many of them could help with it. Ace just shrugged, before he moved to flick his fingers at the smoke, as he had done hundreds, if not thousands, of times for them. But Ace blinked when nothing happened, looking shocked, before he tried again. Still nothing, and Ace's hands started to shake a bit as he just tried to make flames appear on his hands, but nothing was working. "W-why c-can't-?" Before Ace could work himself up, Lance held a coin out. "Hold this, okay. Just relax, just breathe." Ace took the coin carefully, looking at Lance for what to do next, Marco sure the coin was some witch voodoo, and Ace would be fine.
As Ace held the coin, Lance just looked at Ace for a couple seconds, before looking astonished. Lance moved his hand and took the coin back, looking at it himself. "I am positive this is the right one." Lance said as he looked at it. Ace did try and light his hands without luck, making him give a small whimper as his hands was shaking, obviously scared, looking at Lance for guidance on what to do. "Am I- am I dying?" Lance shook his head and his hands. "No, no, you're not. Let me just," Lance moved to look at Jozu. "Diamond Jozu, come here, I need you to hold the coin once too." Jozu did just raise his hand, signaling for Lance to throw it, which had Lance sigh. "No, I won't throw it. Come here." Jozu did, and when he was close enough, Lance moved his hand to give the coin. When Jozu got it in his hands, already a bit before even, it was clear what Lance handed Jozu; it was seastone. Before Jozu fell, Lance took the coin back, before throwing it towards Ace, who reacted on instinct and caught it, blinking himself when he had no reaction. Ace just looked at the coin he held, looking distraught.
Lance walked calmly up to Ace and took the coin. "Ace," Started Lance, sounding amazed and perplexed. "You aren't a devil fruit user anymore; you're a vampire. A fully vampire. That's why your wings changed. You aren't a hybrid anymore." Ace blinked, before looking down at his hands. "W-what- w-why- I- what?" Lance seemed to try and figure that out himself. "I don't know why, but for some reason, this was what the dread doctors wanted to do. What do you think about that?" Ace tried to speak for a couple seconds, before he managed. "I- I don- I mean… I always wanted to be a fully vampire, not a hybrid… but I enjoyed it too…" Lance nodded. "Yes, especially with the devil fruit, a wild card." Lance moved a hand to his chin, looking to be thinking. "But it also doesn't fit. Being a hybrid made you special, especially with the devil fruit, so I don't get why they did this. There must be a bigger plan here, I just need to figure it out. Try to relax, okay?" Ace just nodded, looking to be on edge, which Marco got. Why would the dread doctors do it? Ace was special as he was a hybrid, so it didn't sit well.
Marco just hoped it wouldn't be anything concerning, hoping that maybe it was just a temporary thing. Ace did leave after a couple minutes staring at his hands, having tried to do movements with them, obviously trying to make his flames appear, but nothing happened. Marco would let Ace be for a bit, and check on him in an hour or so if he didn't see or hear anything from him. The first commander just hoped this wouldn't turn into anything bad, that Ace's body would just disintegrate like that again, or that nothing else happened. Ace had been through enough. But, Marco had a feeling this was just the beginning.
And that's the chapter, hope you enjoyed
If you have any ideas, don't be afraid to tell them, I love hearing others ideas
And I love feedback too; it is what keeps me going
And I am incredibly sorry for the long wait, things have been hectic, and I was admitted to a psych ward for a small period to relax, which have helped a lot (And I was able to write during the stay)
If you want to, come follow me on Twitter, where pictures and such will be posted, as well as updates, and if I'm late. My twitter is Azuruko You can leave comments, requests, ideas, or just say hi (Link also on my profile)
Or, you can join my Discord server, Azuruko's fiction, for the same reasons as my twitter. Instant invite: discord . gg / 6hzMhbR