Hello everyone, here is the next chapter!

Some things will come to light in this

Hope you enjoy

Read and relax

Whitebeard sat out on deck, everyone enjoying a good day. Whitebeard looked at Ace when he heard him talk, who was looking at Lance. "Is there a reason the Dread Doctors come after me? I feel like I am a target." Lance sighed. "You are a target, someone must have told them you are a hybrid, those are pretty rare. So it's sadly not surprising they want to learn and do experiments. This is what they do. I am very sorry, but hopefully they will stay away now. It will most likely be too dangerous for them to go after you again. Not worth it for them to maybe die. You're a hybrid, many are that, just not vampires usually." Ace nodded, seeming okay with that response, glad he would most likely be left alone. And Whitebeard hoped for the same himself.

The next days were spent with everyone having fun and enjoying themselves. Aoba often joined in on the antics of Ace and Thatch, which wasn't the most fun to Marco, who was often at the receiving end of those antics. When the clock was past noon, he suddenly heard a crash, before Thatch, Aoba and Ace came running from around a corner, Thatch was in front as the two vampires ran after, all smiling, Marco hot on their heels, now full of glitter.

As they ran while Marco chased them, Ace suddenly stopped dead in his tracks as he grew pale, which caused Aoba to run into him, or more like crash, before Aoba gave a mad look. "Ace! What the-" Aoba cut himself off as he saw the pale and terrified look on Ace's face, and Whitebeard felt worried as well. Marco had now caught up to them and looked worried himself as he moved a hand to Ace's shoulder. "Ace, yoi?" Ace swallowed, turned and looked over at Lance. "They're coming for me again. I can feel them. They are close."

Lance blinked and walked up to Ace. "Are you sure?" Ace nodded, seeming panicked. "Yes! I know this feeling now! But you said I was safe!" Lance looked unsure and looked over at Trevor, who looked stunned himself as he spoke. "But why. I don't get it. You're not that special. Is there something you haven't told us?" Ace shook his head. "No! There isn't! I don't want this!" Whitebeard moved a hand to Ace. "Son, we will do everything we can." Ace still looked upset. "But that won't be enough! Last time they still got me!" That was true. Trevor spoke. "But now we can fight them. We are better equipped." Aoba nodded as he also looked worried and placed a hand on his friend's back. "We are, and I can call Vincent again, so he can help us too." Ace nodded, looking upset and scared, and the captain got it.

They then got ready, preparing everything as best as they could. Them also deciding to dock at a nearby island, to have a bigger area for the fight that would no doubt happen. They also called Shanks, who changed course to come and help them as well as Aoba called on Vincent, and when he had, he could tell them that both Vincent and Clear were on their way. Clear took over with the Level Ds and they needed all they could to stop the Dread Doctors. They then got ready and Ace was very upset now and they all stayed close to him in case. Now he just hoped everyone would arrive before the doctors did.

It was a couple of hours later that Shanks and his crew came, then they could see Vincent and Clear on their way too, Clear flying this time instead of walking, as this was serious. Aoba had also said Clear was generally more angry at witches than Vincent, so it would be good for Lance and Trevor to stay a bit away, which they said they would, Trevor more reluctantly than Lance, but Lance made him. Then they got ready. Ace was very upset and scared now as he said they were even closer now. But they were ready. Trevor had this one device to stop the glitching of the Dread Doctors, and it was set close to Ace, who himself was in the middle of the island. Then Ace said they were so close. They then readied their stances and Vincent used the opportunity to say that they, vampires, could handle a lot, so they rarely bled. But if they did, it meant they were actually hurt badly. A normal bullet or seastone wouldn't make them bleed much. He would remember that.

They then once more told Ace to stay close to the device, which he said he would. Then not even an hour later, they saw the Dread Doctors closing in, and they involuntarily tensed at the sight, ready for what was to come. Trevor had said he didn't know for sure exactly how far the device worked, but it would have some range, and to try and stay inside it. Then the doctors were at the shore and walked towards them, before they stopped, most likely just before the device worked as they still somewhat glitched. Whitebeard then asked why they wanted Ace, to which the one with the cane said. "He is special, and we need to awaken him." Whitebeard didn't know what that meant, but was sure it wasn't anything good.

Then the doctor with the cane moved said cane up a bit before bringing it down hard, which made a sort of earthquake happen, and the device fell down in a hole the doctor somehow created beneath it. Trevor reacted fast and jumped right after it, shouting he would get it, while the doctors went at them and the fight started. Even if they kept their distance to stay out of the now narrowed down sphere of where the device still worked, they used some kind of spell to create more, other fighters. Which looked like normal people equipped with swords and other kinds of weapons. And while they were weak, they were many, and therefore threatened to overwhelm them by their numbers. The doctors did something that seemed to disorient the vampire Lords, same with Ace and Aoba, but it only affected them if they were out of what now was a small spot where the device still worked. Whitebeard could see that the one who did the most damage in a way, was Lance, who casted spells to counter others and keep them safe, which the Dread Doctors seemed to get too, realizing that Lance was the most powerful right now.

Then one doctor was gone, before he heard something to his left and turned to find the doctor there, a gun out, as the Dread Doctor shot at Lance. But Aoba got in the way, and the bullet hit him in the chest, based on where, probably in the heart even. And Aoba looked shocked, which he felt was a bad sign, before he looked down and saw his shirt growing red with blood, before Aoba fell down. That's when Whitebeard remembered what Vincent had said. A vampire won't really bleed if it is a regular bullet or seastone. But if it was silver or mercury, deadly to a vampire, they would bleed like a normal person as it would kill them.

As Aoba fell, Ace looked shocked and horrified and gave out a scream as he charged at the Dread Doctor with the gun, being in front of him in a second and slashing at his throat, which made him fall down as he bled a lot, before the other doctors tried to take on Ace, when Ace screamed "Leave!" which had every one of the enemies the doctors had created disappear, and the Dread Doctors disappeared with a snap, even the one who Ace had sliced at. Then Ace ran over to Aoba as he screamed Aoba's name, but Aoba didn't move.

When Ace got to Aoba, he tried to rouse him, but it didn't work. And Whitebeard felt it should have worked. Ace moved his hands to the bullet wound and got the bullet out, he gave a sound of pain as he threw the bullet away and it looked like it hurt him, which means it was something that hurt vampires, and it hit Aoba in the chest. And the fact Aoba wasn't getting up or moving, the way everyone looked, he felt Aoba was dead. Shanks gave a breath. "He should be up by now…" Whitebeard felt so bad, Ace would be heartbroken, and Aoba was so nice and kind. He was so young as well, and he was now dead.

Whitebeard wasn't sure what to do now, Ace would be so devastated.

-x-

Marco saw Ace running over to Aoba after taking out a Dread Doctor, who was still unmoving. "Aoba!" No reaction. Ace then moved his hand to Aoba's chest and tried to get the bullet out, and as it seemed his hands touched it, Ace gave a hiss as he threw it away, and he could see Ace's hand had burn marks, but he didn't get why, and then Lance spoke, having gone and picked up the bullet. "Mercury. He's dead." Marco blinked, looking over at Ace, who tried to rouse Aoba, to no avail. He knew a vampire couldn't survive a mercury bullet, even worse as it hit Aoba's heart. He was dead. He moved a hand out. "Ace…" Ace shook his head. "No! He's okay! He needs to be okay!" Aoba made no reaction, and he could see Shanks to the side looking sad as well, same with his entire crew. Shanks gave a breath. "He really should be up by now." Marco closed his eyes. Aoba was dead.

He made his way over to Ace, wanting to go and comfort him. He knew Aoba meant a lot to Ace, so this would crush him. But as he was nearing, Marco saw Ace breathing hard, leaning over the dead body, before he closed his eyes and gave an emotion-filled scream, and he felt devastated as well.

But as Ace's heart shattered, it was as if the time stopped around them, the rain stopped, he could see birds in the distance being frozen in place, and suddenly 2 sets of wings unfurled from Ace's back. But then, there was a blinding light that came from a bit away from Ace's form, and when he could see again, a woman had appeared, floating in the air. She had fair skin, lush ivy spread over her skin and leaving little to the imagination. She had long magenta colored hair wrapped in a half updo on the top of her head, some ivy threaded through her hair. She had glowing sapphire eyes and the only actual clothes she had were black knee high boots. She was about twice the size of Ace.

The woman moved to float sideways, giving a small chuckle, and Ace looked at her shocked, probably having no idea who this was based on his look, just like everyone else probably. But what was weird, was how Vincent and Clear gave a bow. The woman gave a small hum. "Do you want to save your friend?" She said, her voice sounding as if he would have believed angels spoke, or maybe fairies; it was light and had a tinge of music to it. Ace still breathed hard, and looked down at the body, before he just looked up, and the woman nodded and moved to float straight, hands out in front of her, creating a sort of circle of light around the body on the ground, before the woman moved her hands to her side and gave a nod. She then turned around and disappeared in a blinding light with a sort of laugh. (AN: If you have played Zelda Ocarina of Time or Majora's mask, same exit as the great fairy)

Whitebeard blinked as the woman who had appeared disappeared again. As she was gone and things went back to normal, he heard a sort of groan, which had him blink, before he saw Aoba move a hand to his head, before sitting up with his eyes closed. How? He was dead. Ace breathed hard, before he threw his arms around Aoba. "Oh my God! You're okay!" Aoba blinked, but hugged back. "What… happened?" Ace shook his head. "I-I don't know, you… died." Aoba frowned. "But… I'm not dead?" Ace shook his head. "I… don't know. This woman showed up…" Vincent hummed. "Ace," Ace turned to look at the older vampire. "That was Mother Nature." Ace blinked. "W-what? H-how? Who called her?" Vincent moved his hand a bit. "You did. Only very few people in the world can contact her. Descendants." Ace frowned. "But- but, I am not a descendant?" Ace wasn't, he was a hybrid.

Ace frowned. "I am not..." Vincent gave a comforting look. "Look at your wings." Ace frowned. "What win-" Ace looked behind himself and looked shocked. "What the- how? Why do I have 4 wings? Why are they so colorful?" Whitebeard took in the wings himself. The two on the top were a mix of light blue and pink/purple, but the lower set was indeed very colorful. It had red, turquoise, yellow, dark purple, and they were shining, as if they were magical. Ace looked utterly shocked.

Ace blinked. "B-b-but what? I'm a hybrid!" Vincent hummed. "Your mother was secretive, always knew she was special. But I never believed it would be this special." It looked like Ace couldn't breathe, and he got it, this was special. And a lot to take in. Ace moved to look at Aoba, who looked shocked himself, and Ace blinked. "W-wha- Aoba!" Aoba frowned. "What?" Ace shook his head, looking shocked. "I- I can see your heart… You're… human." Aoba blinked and moved his hands over his body, before he moved it to his neck, and looked shocked. "I have a pulse." Ace nodded. "You do. How?" He asked, looking at everyone, hoping for guidance, and Vincent walked over. "Never seen this. You made him human again?" Ace swallowed. "I think so…" Clear hummed. "Mother Nature works her way, you wished for him to be alive again, and now, he is." Ace gave a breathless laugh, before he gave a half sob and moved to hug Aoba, just being glad. Aoba was alive and well.

Things then calmed down, and as everything seemed to be going well, no one else terribly injured, Aoba alive, Whitebeard decided now would be a good time and looked at Lance. "What's a descendant?" He believed he had heard the term before, but he wasn't sure. Lance hummed. "The purest of the pure. Lords are known to be pure, but these are purer. I didn't know they could be hybrids, probably no one knew. Hybrids are rare, very rare. But it actually makes sense, that he's a descendant, that would make him more easily able to have two genes, the human one and vampire one, but the vampire one is more potent, stronger. I think I know why the Dread Doctors came after Ace now, they wanted to awaken this." Whitebeard frowned. "But why?" Lance nodded. "Descendants are strong, stronger than the strongest. And as you saw, they can speak to Mother Nature herself, no one else besides the purests can do that. Many want that power." Made sense, he could get that.

He looked at Lance. "How many else can do what a descendant can do?" Lance hummed. "I don't know of everyone, it is hard to summon Mother Nature. But the purest wins. The purest fairy, the purest nymph, and so on. But bring someone back to life? I didn't even know that was possible. It is not enough just to be strong, you need to be the strongest and purest to do that, summon her. But not make miracles happen. Most can just speak to her, not summon her and make her bring people back to life, that's a new one." This was extraordinary. He could see Ace going a bit away with Vincent and Clear, the two obviously wanting to speak with him, which he got.

They then did their best to get back on their feet. Those who needed medical attention , were sent to the infirmary or brought there, and the rest helped where it was needed. He didn't see Ace for a while after that, but as he was heading to his room to relax a bit, Marco and Bay forced him, Marco also following him to make sure he really did relax. But as he was closing in on his room, he felt someone was inside his room, and he had a feeling on who it might be.

Whitebeard walked into the room and saw Ace sitting on a chair, touching his upper left wing, looking up when they came, and Ace sighed. "I- I can't believe this. I am a descendant? I don't want to be that! I want to be Ace!" Whitebeard smiled. "You are still Ace, son." Ace shook his head. "No! I am not! I am a descendant! I don't want to be more special! I don't want to be thousands of years old! Millenia years old! I want to be me!" Ace gave a helpless look to him. "I'm scared." He said as a bloody tear made its way down his face. Whitebeard shook his head, moving over and crouching down in front of Ace. "Son, you are allowed to be scared. But, we will handle this. Your whole family is here for you." Marco nodded. "We are, yoi." They would never let Ace be alone in this.

Ace nodded, giving a sniffle as he wiped the tear away, "...okay…" Whitebeard moved a finger to lift Ace's half lowered head. "Cheer up, things will be fine. We will handle this, as a family." Ace nodded. "...Okay. But…" Whitebeard frowned. "But what?" Ace sighed. "Vincent… he wants to teach me how to be a… descendant. He wants to take me away from you." Whitebeard shook his head, stroking Ace's cheek. "And I would never allow that. I will speak with him." Ace nodded. "Yeah, thanks." Whitebeard shook his head. "It is nothing. I want the best for you." Ace nodded. "I know, this is just… a lot." Marco nodded, moving a hand to his leg. "I know, Ace, I know. But we will manage this, yoi." They would.

He then looked at Marco. "Keep him some company, and I will go and have a quick chat with Vincent." Marco nodded and moved to sit next to Ace. And Whitebeard headed out as the two started to speak. When he found Vincent and Clear a bit later, the two talking, he walked up and looked at them. "You want to take Ace away?" Vincent nodded. "To learn how to control his powers." Whitebeard nodded. "I see. But, I can't allow that. Ace belongs here, with us, and doesn't want to leave." Vincent hummed. "And how will you manage to teach him his powers?" Whitebeard shook his head. "I can't. But, my idea, you teach Lance, and he teaches us and Ace. Even Marco can join, he is quick to get things." Clear frowned a bit. "We will not be teaching a witch how to be a vampire Descendant." Whitebeard hummed. "That's too bad, then you won't be able to teach Ace anything then. We are leaving in 2 days, taking Ace with us." He wouldn't hand Ace over, Ace belonged with them.

Clear was on his way to speak, when Vincent stopped him with a hand, before looking at him. "Do you trust this witch?" Whitebeard nodded. "Yes. I would trust him with my life. He has helped us a lot, helped Ace. He is no threat to us, or you." Vincent nodded. "I see. I have seen him help. I will give him a chance, but he is only allowed to take notes." The captain nodded. "That is okay. We can work with that." They could. Clear blinked, looking at Vincent. "Are you serious? He is a witch." Vincent nodded. "I know. But he is good." Clear didn't look so sure, but Vincent did, so things would work out. They had 2 days to teach Lance and Marco, which he hoped would be enough.

He then went back to his room, and looked at his two children. "Clear and Vincent will use the next 2 days of our stay here to teach Marco and Lance, who will then teach you. You are coming with us, your family. " Ace nodded a bit. "Okay, good. This is so… much." Whitebeard nodded. "I know. But we will handle this." Ace looked thankful. And he was sure things would be fine. Ace stayed a bit longer there, before he left for his own room.

-x-

The next day, Marco stood out on deck and almost everyone was outside. Marco looked at Vincent. "I am also a bit confused, yoi. I thought Descendants were pure? Ace's father was not a vampire." Vincent nodded. "A good question. While being a Lord can be tainted by vampires that are not pure, or with other non-vampires, that isn't the thing with Descendants. They will always be pure, it is in their DNA, not blood, as in us Lords. A Descendant usually stays with Lords, but it has been seen that a child between a Descendant and someone un-pure still be a Descendant. It might always be, as being a Descendant isn't based on blood, but DNA. But there are very few Descendants, so it's hard to say, we know little about them." That made sense.

Ace looked at Vincent. "What if I don't want to be a Descendant!" Vincent looked at Ace. "I am sorry, but you have no choice. You are one." Ace placed a hand to his chest as it seemed like he couldn't breathe. "I can't breathe." Said Ace, and Vincent sighed. "You don't need to breathe." Ace gave a look to Vincent. "Then why can't I!" Vincent shook his head. "Just stop breathing. Don't overthink it." Ace tried, and it worked, making Ace blink. "Oh…" Vincent nodded. "You have a lot to learn now." Ace looked at Vincent. "Can I learn how to summon Mother Nature?" Vincent hummed. "I don't think so. That is hard, and no one really knows how they do it, but strong emotions are known to help. But you will be able to speak with her." Ace blinked. "I will…?" Vincent nodded. "Yes, you will, you will learn how." Ace nodded. "Can I ask her questions?" Vincent nodded. "Yes, but she is known to speak in riddles, but she is kind." That was good.

Ace took a deep breath, before he looked at Vincent. "When… when will you start teaching me things?" Vincent hummed. "When you're ready." Ace blinked. "I am ready." Vincent hummed. "Are you? Are you in the right mindset? This won't be easy." Ace blinked. "I think so… I mean, I want to learn, I need to ask her why… how…" Vincent hummed. "We can start in an hour, okay? Lance will also join, but we'll do it in private." He got that they wanted that, so they wouldn't overhear if anything special was said. He really hoped this would work out.

And that's the chapter, hope you enjoyed!

I hope this was interesting! Things are making more and more sense I hope

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