Hi guys! Here is the next chapter!
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Ace gave a sigh, as he had just finished an assignment, and he was done early for once, and it had gone fine. He had about two hours before he would need to head to the boat again, as he had said 19 hours to a day, and it had just been 17 hours. It was also early. So, he could just go back to the Moby and relax, but he decided he could visit Mara island and his horse. Ace chuckled. He couldn't believe his horse now had a name, Equinox, which fit him perfectly. He hadn't seen him and Stacy in a bit now, so that would be nice.
He then took a step forward, as he teleported to Mara island, and when he landed, he was glad to see the weather was good. He then walked a bit. He was still in his assassin outfit, not seeing a reason to change right now. He would have used Dust, but he was busy grabbing requests right now. As he was walking around, he soon heard hooves stomping on the ground, and turned to see Equinox coming towards him, and Ace smiled. But his smile soon faded as Equinox was closer, something seemed off with him. Usually he was happy to see Ace, but this gallop seemed more… frazzled. Nothing was behind him either. He wasn't running from anyone.
Ace walked towards Equinox, and when they met, the horse stopped and stomped his left front leg, before he bowed down, and Ace got it and mounted Equinox, before he took off at full speed, obviously going to show him something that was urgent. Was someone here? If yes, they would die. It was good he was in his assassin outfit then. But after a bit, they got to the clearing where the horses usually relaxed, and all of them were there and looked at him when he appeared on Equinox's back. Ace looked down at Equinox. "What is it?" Equinox stomped his leg, head motioning to something, and then he saw all the horses looking that direction, before Ace blinked as he looked too, before he felt panicked.
On the ground a bit away, laid Stacy, head resting on the ground. It wasn't that her lying down was weird. Or, maybe it was a bit as horses rarely laid down, they could even sleep standing. But Stacy's once beautiful white coat was patchy, he could see her ribs protruding through her skin as she was so skinny, her breath was labored and shallow, and her legs looked weak. He dismounted Equinox and ran over to her. "Stacy!" He said as he got to her and moved a hand to her neck, feeling how rough the coat she had left was, it used to be smooth, and now it was all rough and patchy. When he touched her, her eyes opened, and they looked tired and worn. She tried to lift her head, but she didn't manage more than a few inches before she laid it down again.
Ace felt like he couldn't breathe as he stroked her neck. "Stacy…" He said, wanting her to just get up and be fine. Stacy couldn't be sick, she couldn't be this sick. Ace swallowed and moved to stroke her head. "I-I'll get help, I will. Hang on, okay?" Stacy gave a breath with her nose, probably the only thing she managed. Ace nodded. "I'll be back soon, I promise." Then Ace stood up, called on Dust to come here, so he could just teleport here, before he disappeared and went to the Moby to get help.
-x-
Marco stood out on deck, enjoying a good day. The sun was high and warm, even though it was early, and everyone was in a happy mood. Ace was also due to return soon, and Ace probably wanted to relax a bit as he had been gone for almost a full day, and been up before that as well. But as he was relaxing, he heard a sound to his left and saw a cloud of smoke, which made him smile. Ace was done early, and seeing how he appeared out on deck, it had gone fine. If it hadn't, he would have gone to his room with Dust's help. But as the smoke faded, Marco's smile fell. Ace looked… panicked. He also had on his assassin outfit. That didn't fit. Ace never showed up out on deck in full assassin outfit. He always changed.
The others who noticed Ace seemed to notice this too, before Trevor spoke. "Bunny?" Ace swallowed and looked at Trevor. "I- I need Bay." Marco blinked. Ace stuttered. Ace never stuttered. And he asked for Bay. Ace also never asked for Bay. What had happened? Trevor moved towards Ace. "Who's dying? Are you dying? Is Luffy dying? Is Sabo dying? What's wrong?" Someone had to be dying, why else would Ace look like this and ask for Bay. Ace swallowed again. "Stacy is…." Ace looked at Trevor with tears in his eyes. "Stacy is sick. I need Bay." Trevor blinked. "Stacy? Azu's horse?" Ace nodded. "Yes." Trevor was now close to Ace and moved a hand to his back. "It will be fine, Bunny. Someone will get Bay and she will check out Stacy." Said Trevor calmly, probably to calm Ace as well, who really did look like he was on the verge of panicking. Which he kind of got. Stacy was Azuruko's horse, so it was a memory of him.
He noticed someone went to get Bay, so Marco walked over to Ace as well. "How sick is she, yoi?" Ace shook his head a bit. "I don't know, but sick." Not good. Pops also looked worried, probably not sure what to say to make Ace feel better, and they couldn't say she would be fine, as they didn't know, and that could be a false hope, and he didn't want to give those. Bay then came from around a corner and looked at them. "Who's Stacy? Is she here?" Trevor shook his head. "No, and Stacy is a horse." Bay blinked as she stopped in her tracks. "A horse… A real horse? I am not a veterinarian. I am a doctor. I treat humans." Trevor nodded. "I know, what we need is just for you to take a look, and see how bad it is, until we can get a veterinarian."
Bay blinked, before she nodded and walked over. "Fine. Take me there." Trevor nodded and looked at Ace with a comforting look. "See. Now, let us go. I will join, and so will Marco." Marco was glad to be included in this, as he liked Stacy. Ace nodded, still looking panicked, but better. Ace then moved a hand to Trevor's shoulder and one to Bay's, while Trevor grabbed onto Marco's shoulder. Then they disappeared and then landed a second later. Bay lost her balance, but she had never traveled with Ace before either.
When the smoke faded around them, he could see they were on Mara island. Some horses a bit away, but he also saw Stacy lying on the ground, and he knew horses rarely laid down. And since the last time he had seen Stacy, she now looked deadly sick. Her coat was ragged and patchy. Her breathing was labored and shallow and she looked weak. Ace was the first to move and moved over to her, crouching down as he touched her neck. "Hey, I'm back. I brought help. You'll be fine, Stacy." Stacy opened her eyes, and they looked… dull and empty.
Ace then sat down on the ground, and he could see Ace having pleading eyes as he turned his head to look at them. "Bay will check you, Stacy. And then she can help." Bay took that as her cue and walked over, looking worried, before she started to check the horse the best she could. As she did, Stacy moved her head to be in Ace's lap, making Ace stroke her forehead and bridge of her nose as comfort. And as Stacy moved her head, it seemed like it took all her strength, barely managing it. Stacy was so weak she could barely lift her head. That couldn't be good.
After some minutes, Bay took a step back from the horse, Trevor and Marco having walked over and standing a bit behind Ace to give Bay space. As Bay took a few steps back, she took a breath. "I'm… sorry." Ace shook his head as he spoke, still petting Stacy. "No. You're wrong. There has to be something you can do. Something you can give to heal her, make her feel better." Ace's voice was shaking by the end, the hand that was petting also shaking a bit. Bay sighed. "There is nothing anyone can do. I don't know a lot about animals, but I've seen this before once, more common in animals than humans. It is the wasting sickness, she ha-" Bay didn't get to finish as Ace moved his hand up, and Bay was gone in smoke.
At first, Marco honestly thought Ace killed Bay, but then he gave a breath as a feather fell down to the ground where she had stood. Dust teleported her, most likely back to the boat. Then he looked back at Ace, whose eyes were wide and fearful, entire body shaking, breathing hard, eyes looking down at Stacy, wide with fear and horror, as well as sorrow. Ace shook his head a tiny bit. "...She's wrong… S-she has to be wrong…" He said almost in a whisper, voice shaking and breaking. Then Marco closed his eyes for a second as he remembered something. Stacy had the wasting sickness. The same sickness which had taken Azuruko's life. And it would take Stacy's life as well. Based on her state, she didn't have long left.
Ace shook his head and looked down at Stacy. "Y-you'll be fine. You- you can't di-" Ace moved a hand to be over his mask on his mouth, suppressing a sob that came out of him. Marco felt with Ace. This was Stacy, Azuruko's horse, who had a lot of memories of Azuruko with her. Happy memories of them relaxing and training her and Ace's horse. Ace probably felt if she died, those memories would die. But there was no cure against the wasting sickness. He knew as much. And it had progressed far as well. Stacy gave a breath, opening her eyes and looking at Ace. It had Ace move his hand from his mouth to her head, probably going to try and pet her, but it just shook. It was clear Ace was barely keeping together. He was hanging on by a thread.
Trevor looked somber as well, but it was clear he knew Stacy would die as well, and it would be soon. Trevor moved a hand to Ace's left shoulder, but didn't speak. And Marco moved his hand to Ace's right shoulder. Ace shook his head, on his way to speak, but only a sob came out, before another, as tears made their way down his face. Marco could almost see the thread holding Ace together snapping as Ace broke down, before Ace leaned a bit forward and hugged Stacy's head as he sobbed out loud, his breath being wet and ragged, even seeming like he couldn't breathe at times as he sobbed so hard.
Marco felt his heart break with Ace, to see him like this, and couldn't help but squeeze his shoulder a bit as comfort. But he didn't want to speak, he would let Ace mourn in peace, but not alone. He was here, and the same was Trevor, who held Ace's other shoulder as Ace sobbed and cried. Ace's horse had also come a bit closer and moved his head to Stacy's neck and closed his eyes, as if grieving himself.
He didn't know how long, maybe 20 minutes had passed and Ace hadn't stopped sobbing, when he noticed Stacy opening her eyes again, taking a breath, before he saw her eyes grow even duller and lifeless, and he knew it was her time now. This would be her last breath. He knew many held out until they were around loved ones, and now Ace was here and she could let go. He squeezed Ace's shoulder as he watched Satcy's chest move up, before she breathed out, which lasted longer than the other exhales, as this time, she wouldn't inhale after, this was her last breath. All the air in her lungs would leave her, and her eyes remained open and lifeless. Stacy was gone.
Trevor seemed to get this as well and saw him also squeezing Ace's shoulder, and Ace shook his head as he sobbed, closing his eyes as he hugged Stacy harder, sobbing even louder. After a few seconds, Marco blinked as he saw smoke coming from Ace's shape and slowly started to envelop Stacy.
-x-
Whitebeard sat out on deck and watched as Ace disappeared with Bay, Trevor, and Marco. Ace looked panicked, which really didn't fit at all, and he had instantly known something was seriously wrong. He didn't know what it might be, but took some comfort in the fact Ace didn't look injured. When Trevor had asked who was dying and Ace had said Stacy, Whitebeard didn't know who that was, before Trevor had asked if it was Azuruko's horse, and then it made sense. Azuruko's horse was sick, and that horse meant a lot to Ace, that was very clear right now. He could also see and hear Trevor speaking calmly, most likely to try and calm Ace, who looked so close to panicking.
As Claus went to grab Bay, Trevor still tried to calm Ace down, before Bay came and he got she was confused when they wanted her to check on a horse. As Bay said, she wasn't a veterinarian, but a doctor. But the words from Trevor made her probably take Ace in, who honestly looked distraught, so she went along with it, and then they left. As they were gone, Izou spoke. "I hope Ace is okay." Whitebeard nodded, he did as well. Vista blinked. "But… it is just a horse, right?" Whitebeard looked at Vista. "Yes, but Ace has a bond with her. Wouldn't you be sad if Stefan died?" Vista blinked. "Well, yes. I would be. But still, it is an animal." That was true.
Mika hummed. "How would you feel, if Whitebeard died, and the only thing you had left of him was Stefan. Who hold so many precious moments and memories. And then Stefan gets sick. Wouldn't you try everything to keep him alive? This isn't just a horse, it is Azuruko's horse." Vista blinked, looking to feel bad. "You're right. I'm sorry." Mika shook her head. "No, it's fine. But don't say that to Ace, that it is just a horse. Because to him, it isn't." Everyone seemed to get it. And they all probably empathized with Ace, and he hoped Stacy would make it.
After a bit, there was a cloud of black smoke and Bay appeared, losing her balance as she landed, seeming shocked and mouth open, if she was just speaking. She then looked around as she blinked, before Whitebeard spoke. "Can you do anything?" Bay shook her head. "No, I can do nothing, no one can do anything. It is the wasting sickness, no cure. I would be amazed if the horse lived to see the sunset today." They all blinked, Mika speaking. "You're joking, right? The wasting sickness?" Bay nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. The horse is as good as dead." Mika moved a hand to her face, seeming upset, and then it hit Whitebeard like a brick. This was Azuruko's horse, which was dying from the wasting sickness, the same which took Azuruko's life. Right now, he felt the world was being very cruel to Ace.
Whitebeard looked at Bay. "How is Ace?" Bay sighed. "I didn't even get to finish my sentence before I was suddenly here. But I don't think he's taking this well at all." Whitebeard got that, and would do his best to support Ace when he returned. But he knew Ace wasn't alone. He had Marco and Trevor there as well, which was good.
Whitebeard sighed. Ace losing this horse would be hard for Ace.
-x-
Marco blinked as he saw the smoke fully covering Stacy, and it didn't even seem like Ace noticed it or meant to do it, still sobbing loudly as he hugged Stacy's head, her eyes hollow and she was no longer breathing. But as the smoke was covering her, he had to close his eyes as a gust of wind came and blew the smoke away. When he opened them, he had to blink. The horse in Ace's lap was no longer white, but pitch black, the mane looking like black fire, or black smoke, which got thinner the further away from the body it went. Was this Stacy? What had Ace done? Maybe the smoke just covered her perfectly? But then, the horse's chest moved as she breathed, eyes blinking. Marco blinked, before he looked at Ace, who was still sobbing his heart out. "Ace, yoi?"
That made Ace open his eyes as he moved his head to look at Stacy, before Ace blinked as he leaned a bit back, tears still going down his face and half sobbing, as he took the horse in, which had to be Stacy somehow. Stacy moved her head and stood up, seeming to have all her strength back. When she was up, Ace spoke. "Stacy?" Stacy nodded her head as she stomped her front leg, making a small amount of smoke coming from her hoof as she stomped it. Stacy then shrugged her entire body, and it was like she shrugged the smoke away as she grew white again. But this time, her coat was shining white and full, no longer patchy. She was no longer looking deadly skinny. Her eyes had life. And she breathed normally.
Ace then moved a hand to his mouth as he gave a chuckle mixed with a sob, before he stood up and hugged her, now having a few stray happy tears going down his face. Ace also moved his mask down from his face and he had a smile. "You're okay, Stacy." Stacy nodded her head and gave a breath through her nose. Ace then leaned back and took her in, looking so happy she was fine. Marco then spoke. "What… did you do, yoi?" Ace shook his head a bit. "I… don't know. I think I did what I did to Dust." That maybe made sense. He knew Ace didn't know what he had done to save Dust, but he had done it again.
Stacy then shrugged a bit and moved a bit to the side, before she bowed, and Ace blinked. "You want to ride?" Stacy nodded, staying bowed. Ace nodded and mounted her, got himself seated, before he snapped his fingers and Stacy started to run in a large circle around them. After a few seconds, Ace's horse also joined in, outrunning them. But then, Stacy shrugged her body a bit before it grew completely black, her mane smokey and left a faint trail of smoke as she ran. When her hooves hit the ground as she galloped, they left a small black oozing hoof mark, before Stacy picked up her speed and outrun Ace's horse, Ace laughing. This was so amazing to see. Stacy was fine, Ace had saved her.
Ace then galloped around a bit, maybe for 5 minutes, before Stacy slowed down and moved over to them and Ace dismounted her and had a smile as he looked at him and Trevor. "Stacy is fine." Trevor nodded. "She is. And she looks healthy. And so majestic when black. I love her mane and the hoof marks." Ace nodded. "I do too." Ace then petted Stacy a bit, before Stacy shrugged her shape and went black to white. It was amazing that she could change between colors, almost like changing forms. But she was fine, which meant Ace was fine, which was all that mattered. They then stayed there a bit longer, Ace just being so happy that Stacy was well again.
Stacy did change into her other form and they got to see her more up close, and in her mane and tail, she did have a faint hue of purple, a dark purple. Which Marco found to fit very well. If he remembered, the color purple had a spiritual meaning, and dark purple represents sadness. And Stacy had died, which Ace found very heartbreaking, which he got. It got him curious if Dust had any purple on him. But then again, Dust didn't have two forms. He would bring it up later with Ace, as he didn't want to ruin the moment.
When Marco asked if they were connected like Dust, as in if they could talk and teleport, Ace said he didn't know yet. It took a bit of time before the bond between Ace and Dust had developed. But Ace hoped he would get a bond with her, and Marco did as well. But he was just glad Ace was fine. After a bit, they then left back to the Moby.
When they appeared, everyone looked a bit shocked to see Ace in a good mood, and when Thatch asked how it went, Ace smiled as he said Stacy was fine and well. Which had everyone blinking, and Marco was sure Bay had updated everyone on Stacy's state and that she would die. Pops did ask how, as Bay had said she was deadly sick, which made Ace give a small hum. "I don't know how exactly, but my powers saved her. Like how I saved Dust as he also died. So now, she apparently has two forms." Ace then explained about the two forms, that she still could look like she used to, but also turn pitch black with a smoky mane and tail with a bit of purple in it.
When someone asked if they had a bond as well, like Ace had with Dust, Ace did say that yes, it would most likely turn into that, but it took some days for it to fully form. It had with Dust. And everyone thought it was amazing. And everyone was glad Ace was okay as well and not upset, which he would have been if his powers hadn't saved her.
-x-
Whitebeard sat out on deck. Ace, Marco, and Trevor had returned a bit ago and things were calm again. Whitebeard was also glad to hear Stacy was fine, but also shocked Ace had saved her with his powers. Ace shouldn't lose Stacy to the same sickness which took her rider, which was Ace's mentor. Whitebeard sighed as he thought of something. He was currently repeating the cycle to Ace. Ace had lost his mentor and father figure to sickness, and Azuruko had kept it a secret from Ace, much like what Whitebeard was doing now. Should he tell Ace? Whitebeard sighed internally. He couldn't just tell Ace. Then the others would be in the dark. Whitebeard just hoped Ace could forgive him for this, for repeating the cycle once again. Because there was no hope for him anymore.
The rest of the day went on normally, and when they ate dinner, Thatch looked at Ace. "Didn't you say Stacy was now all black with a smoky mane and tail?" Ace nodded. "Yes. And her hoofs leave a smokey mark like I can do." Thatch hummed. "You so need to use that to terrify others." Ace blinked. "How?" Thatch gave a small grin. "Ever heard about the four horsemen of the apocalypse? One of them is legit death, and your nickname is Death. And you can both teleport, she leaves hoof marks and looks probably terrifying if you don't know her. Imagine you just randomly showing up places and scaring others while you also look menacing. I am sure Iz can make some amazing clothes that fit with this theme. And so starts the legend of the horseman Death."
Ace blinked. "Okay, I will do that. Because damn, I love to terrify others. Maybe I can randomly show up places to some of my victims and this is a sign death is coming for them. And it is kind of like a warning, and if they don't heed this warning, they die. I don't mean for everyone I head after as some just deserve to die, but those who have a chance to redeem themselves." Trevor hummed. "If you don't do that, I will be pissed. Because damn, that sounds awesome." Ace nodded. "Agree. It might take a bit of time to get the word out, but it will be so worth it." Trevor nodded and looked at Thatch. "Amazing idea." Thatch smiled and looked glad and it sounded really amazing and Whitebeard hoped he could see how this turned out.
The rest of the day went by fine and when night came, Bay came and did some tests on him and she didn't look happy with them, but there wasn't much they could do right now. The best was palliative care she said, which was to make sure he was comfortable and not in pain, there wasn't more she could do, or anyone could do. When she left around 2am, Whitebeard went to sleep as they had the meeting in the morning at 8am and he should try and get some sleep.
When he woke up, he saw the clock was almost 8am already, so he got up and got ready and headed to the meeting room. He didn't meet anyone on the way, and when he got to the meeting room, he walked in and saw almost everyone was there, the only ones missing were the assassins, but there was still about 5 minutes left before it was 8. But as he walked in and gave a smile to his children, everyone at first smiled back, before they all looked horrified, which he found weird. Thatch spoke first as he sounded shocked and worried. "You're yellow!" Whitebeard blinked. Yellow? Then he felt his stomach sink. Bay had warned about this.
Marco spoke next. "You need to head to Bay, Pops! You're jaundice. That means something is wrong with your liver, gallbladder, or pancreas, yoi. And something is seriously wrong." Haruta stood up. "I'm going to get her!" But before she could move, Whitebeard moved his hand up. "Sit down, daughter." Haruta blinked. "But-" Whitebeard shook his head. "She can't do anything. She has tried." Haruta sat down with large eyes. "You're… sick?" Whitebeard nodded. "I am." He could see all his children taking that in, everyone looking horrified and scared.
Thatch swallowed. "W-what is it?" Whitebeard took a breath. "It is liver cancer." He could see his children taking this in. "But…" Started Haruta. "You can treat cancer. Right?" Whitebeard gave a breath. "Normally, yes. But it is in the last stage, there is no cure anymore. Even a transplant wouldn't be enough. I am dying." He could see the fear and sadness in all his children. "How… long?" Asked Izou, the question everyone had. Whitebeard took one more breath, as he knew this would be tough. "Bay says, between 3 and 7 months." Everyone looked horrified and sad, and he got it. He didn't want them to figure out like this. But there was no hope anymore. It had progressed too far.
And that's the chapter!
I also know I am a very mean person yes
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