Hello everyone. Here is a new story

I need to thank everyone who voted or said what they wanted. I am so happy for all the support and for those who want me to continue writing

So, this alternative won by a long shot (It got 12 out of 21 votes. The runner up had 7 votes) I won't say up here what it is about, but I hope you enjoy. I also ended the Poll a bit early since it was so one sided and no one have voted for a few days, meaning the new story was also posted a bit early

Read and relax

Marco gave a sigh, seeing Thatch and Ace running around and laughing. The fire kid had joined them last week, officially so; he was a part of their family before, but he had kept the assassination attempts up until the last day, the same day he got his tattoo. The kid had gotten the tattoo in the night, surprising everyone. Even more so as it was on his entire back. Everyone seemed to love the kid too, he fit perfect in their family, and he was just as annoying as some of them. But, it was good to see Ace and Thatch being friends, doing pranks together, even though it annoyed the first commander often. Ace was also good friends with him, Haruta, Izou, Rakuyo, and Jozu.

There had been a small while at the start, after the kid got on their ship, that something had bothered Marco, but he never knew why. Especially when he was close to the kid's room, or sometimes out on deck. The first commander had blamed it on the fact they were close to a weird island then, which suddenly disappeared, seeing as he didn't feel anything now. But, he still couldn't keep away the thought it could have been the kid then, seeing as he was trying to assassinate Pops, which the first commander really didn't like. He disliked it especially much seeing as his phoenix was protective of his family, or what he viewed as his family. He did feel the same when people attacked Pops.

They had quickly learned Ace ate a lot, especially meat. The chefs, especially Thatch, had nearly gotten a heart attack when he saw how much, Ace having a small guilty look as he said he could eat less if it was too much. But, that had Thatch immediately hit Ace over the head, saying to never think that. No one went hungry on this ship. But, they did need to get much more food when they restocked, much to Curiel's annoyance as he didn't like to spend too much money. But, he did agree Ace needed to eat what he needed. After all, Ace was a D; they ate a lot.

Marco gave a sigh as he saw Thatch holding a Kimono bow, clearly taking it from Izou, Ace not far behind as they ran. Izou would not be happy when he found out. Ace had probably been the one to get it. For a normal-sized person, Ace could be as silent as a moth at times, making no sounds when he didn't want to. This still baffled them, Thatch using it to his advantage to play pranks, not that Ace seemed to mind.

When it was dinner an hour later, both Ace and Thatch had a bruise on their cheek, most likely from Izou dragging at them as he lectured the two. Izou was stern and no one messed with the crossdresser's things. Maybe the two troublemakers had learned to not mess with Izou. Izou was known to be one of the harshest one when it came to lecturing.

As they sat and ate, Haruta looked at Ace, head tilted. ¨Ace,¨ Started the twelfth commander, making Ace look up from his food. ¨You are out everyday, basically naked. How are you not tan or sunburned?¨ That was a good question. Ace was pale, not sickly pale, but looking like someone who weren't in the sun much. Ace gave a shrug. ¨It's because of my devil fruit. Fire can't get tan or burned.¨ Haruta gave a nod. ¨I wished I didn't get sunburned. It hurts.¨ Ace gave a nod. ¨I can imagine.¨ Thatch sputtered. ¨W-what! You've never been sunburned?!¨ Ace gave a shrug again. ¨I got my fruit when I was 10. I don't remember much before that.¨ Everyone gave a nod; that did make sense. One didn't remember much when they were young.

Izou looked at Ace next. ¨Since we are already speaking about you. Where did you get the ring? It's magnificent.¨ Marco looked at Ace's hand, now noticing the ring, usually not paying much attention to the hands of people. Ace's ring finger had a silver ring, wide in width, a blue stone. In the middle of the blue stone was more silver, formed as a square. The square had a red color in the middle, more silver in the middle of that, the silver creating something close to a quatrefoils shape. The entire ring has markings and cravings. It was beautiful.

Ace lifted his hand and looked at it, having a smile as he did, the ring looking like it meant something to Ace, maybe a lot. ¨I got it from a friend, who got it from my mum. He fixed it as it was broken.¨ Izou gave a nod, asking to look at it closer, Ace letting him. Izou moved a finger over it. ¨It's really magnificent. Perfectly made.¨ Ace gave a nod. ¨I think so too, the reason I wear it. Same with my hat; I got it from my brother.¨ Everyone nodded. They had heard about Ace's brother, Luffy, who was younger than Ace. The brother, Luffy, if Marco remembered, had said Ace needed a hat.

The dinner continued calmly, a few more asking about Ace and his past, more asking to see his ring, everyone saying it was beautiful. When it was nearing night, many starting to head in as they would reach an island tomorrow, also meaning they would need to be completely sure on what to restock. As Marco was thinking of heading in for the night, Bay came towards him, which had him halt as Bay always had a reason to be out. ¨Bay, yoi. Why are you out?¨ Maybe they needed something for the infirmary. Bay gave a nod. ¨I came to inform you that we need to think about restocking the blood-packs for Pops if it's possible at the island we're docking at.¨

Marco gave a frown, restock on the blood-packs? They should have enough for a couple of months or so. ¨What do you mean, yoi? I thought we had enough. You said 24 three weeks ago.¨ Bay gave a nod. ¨I know. But we must have counted wrong. We currently have 16.¨

Marco blinked. That was way off. Pops needed those as he was getting older, being a bit sick at times and needing the help from the fresh blood. Bay said Pops also didn't make enough blood at times, therefore needing the extra blood. And, they needed to have at least 18, in case it took a while to get to an island or there was a hard fight Pops got injured in. They could suddenly be at the sea without visiting any island for months. Like now, they had not visited any island for almost three months.

Marco gave a nod. ¨I will make sure we look after it, yoi.¨ Bay gave a nod. ¨Thank you, Commander Marco.¨ Then Bay left, leaving Marco to pounder. It didn't sound right that the nurses had counted wrong, especially that wrong. At the lowest, seeing it had been three weeks and what Pops used, they should have 20 at the worst. But, who would steal blood? On a ship no less? Maybe the nurses had counted wrong, or one of the less experienced ones had messed up, needing to use more than one.

There had to be a logical explanation. He would still make sure Bay kept an extra eye on the blood packs and nurses, making sure at least one who had more experience was with the procedure to make sure they didn't use too much. With that thought, Marco headed to bed, knowing he needed to do a lot tomorrow.

-x-

When the deck was basically empty, the clock closing in on 2 at night, the only ones out were those on watch and close to the railing. A person with short black hair snuck close to the railing, heading for the infirmary and sneaking inside, sneaking in the dark to the medicine room, taking a blood pack before sneaking back to his own room.

When the door closed behind the dark-haired person, he opened his mouth to let fangs come out, biting into the blood-pack, finally getting what he needed for this week. He tried to eat as little as possible, but it was hard. When Ace was finished a few minutes later, he burned the now-empty blood bag, to be sure no one found it.

He hoped the pirates never found out about his secret. They could never know. He could continue in the dark like this.

So, that's the chapter, hope you enjoyed

And yes, the one who won was Vampire Ace! Hope you got what you chose or are still okay with it

This was just a short first chapter to reveal it and such. I am not sure on how often I will update, But I will try for once a week. I'm not entirely sure of the length of the chapters either. But, it will be longer than this, by how much I don't know. The chapters won't be as long in the beginning, they might get longer with time

If you have the time, I greatly appreciate feedback. And, if you want to, don't be afraid to come with request to this new story of scenes you want to happen

And, over at Ao3, there is a picture of the ring Ace have as it is still not okay to have pictures in the stories here