Chapter 2: Celestial dragons
The routine between the two continue, until two years had past and Phoenix was seven years old when Anna announced she'll be out on the island for a while. Anna didn't even think about leaving Phoenix to someone's care saying he could take care of himself even in young age. To Phoenix's point of view, he agrees to Anna as well. Still the uneasiness of her leaving bothered Phoenix so much that he actually begged for her to stay.+
Anna laugh softly which it sound really weird but angelic to others view, she knelled down and stroke his head. "I won't be long Phoenix." She assured, "Believe me of this okay."
Phoenix tried to control the tears that's about to fall before nodding, telling he'll be waiting for her.
Anna giggled before hugging him, "I'll return before you knew it, I promise." Phoenix immediately return the hug tightly, an action telling she better be.
After that Anna left, leaving the seven years old to their lone home. It wasn't really hard but he can't help but feel strange due to not being used of being alone in their house. He trained, study and hunt to occupy himself, he even went to the village to waste some time but by the end of it, he's alone.
Phoenix curled himself to his bed and before he could close his eyes, he mentally voiced his wish. 'Come back soon... Anna...'
A month had past and to Phoenix's joy, Anna came back with few souvenirs. Phoenix actually tackled her with a hug ones she's safely anchored. Anna didn't hide her happiness seeing him again.
"How's the little birdy?" Anna teased that made Phoenix immediately pout, "I hate you."
"I love you." Anna return the affection before kissing his forehead, making him feel warm within him as finally she returned. "So... any stories?"
"Not really exciting but yes I have some. Come on Phoenix, better help me with this luggage."
"Okay."
Then the normal routine continued.
. . .
Three years later and Phoenix was ten when Anna ones again left. This time Phoenix felt fine being left alone and continue his routine, mostly training in both swordsmanship and devil fruit power. It really took him really long until he finally mastered full transformation. Now he wanted to improve it by trying to control the transformation to his choosing, like transforming his only arms into wings or feet as talons.
Seven months later, Anna returned back and their normal routine continue with additional stories of her adventure and new training regimen which Phoenix had never heard before, haki.
Phoenix's whole life was happy and normal, not expecting something big will happen soon that will cause huge changes to their lives, especially to him.
. . .
An unexpected visitor arrived in the island. It was huge and very noble like ship. Curious, Phoenix who's now eleven years old near twelve took the peek and noticed the flag proudly swinging around the pole. He heard the exclaim beside him.
"Hey isn't that... Te-Tenryuubito ship?"
"Is it?"
"No mistaking it, it's a Tenryuubito ship."
"Why did they come here?"
For some reason Phoenix doesn't like them, not one bit. 'I should warn Anna.'
Making up his mind, he left.
Far on mountain, Anna who's busy cleaning her sword noticed the sound of commotion from the down mountain where the village was located. Since the place was high enough she could see the reason which made her eyes harden.
On the village, Phoenix was about to exit when his classmate stopped him.
"Where are you going Phoenix?"
"Home, I need to tell Anna about them."
"Are you insane, that's a tenryuubito. You can't just turn yourself back on them."
"But-"
"No but Phoenix, come on!"
His classmate began dragging him as they see the World's noble who's wearing some kind of bowl around its head and so oversize clothes on deck while noble knights walked down the island with weapons which were spears in hand and gun on the waist. Seeing the world noble, everyone knelt down all except Phoenix who was forced to do as well because those near him had actually drag him down to the point his head slammed on the ground. Thankfully his power prevented any damage nor pain for him to feel.
'If I'm normal like everyone else I wonder how much blood will come out to my head.' Phoenix wondered mentally.
The world noble spoke, "So this is the island huh." The world noble didn't even go down to greet the villagers, totally looking down on them as if nothing but trashes.
The mayor of the village spoke, face never leaving the ground. "Humbly noble, wha-what business d-do you have in our small vi-village?"
Instead of the world noble who's still look down upon them, the knight answered. "It's because of the poisonous crops your island had been shipping."
The news confused everyone. Their island, bud bud island was an island good in planting crops and they really pride it. How come there will be poison in their crops?
"Your crops had killed a noble's family in a single day and that sin is very unforgivable." The Knight continued and the World Noble ended, "For that sin, all of you will now become slaves to serve us."
The announcement had shocked everyone.
"Separate the man, woman and children. Kill the old and ill ones. Never let anyone escape." The Knight ordered which the followers obeyed, "Yes sir!"
That's how the harshness began, those parents tried to plea their children were only caught by them and those who struggle were killed even children. Some had started to drag Phoenix as well and he struggle from his grip.
"Let me go!" Phoenix shouted as he pulled himself away from him but the knight who's holding him not only tighten his grip but also was about to smash him with his spear, "Stop struggling brat!"
Having enough, Phoenix grabbed the pole of the spear using his free hand then used the opportunity to kick his jaw, causing to be out of cold.
Phoenix's sharp hearing heard the exclaim of an old woman, turning to see the grandma who was really nice to him was pushed down the ground and about to be stabbed by a knight. Without thinking he dashed forward and used his arms to block the spear from piercing an innocent old woman. However, it also caused for his long secret to be revealed.
His arm that he used to block the spear was burning in blue flame, no facial expression telling he's in pain. Using the shock state that he punched the man's face so hard thanks to his continues training that not only broke his nose but also put him to unconsciousness.
Those who had witness were shock in disbelief, they had never seen that ability before. Phoenix who's more concern about the grandma swift to her and helped her up, arms fine and no bleeding.
"Please go, run in the safe place I'll try to handle them." Phoenix plead.
"Wa-wait Phoenix-"
"Please go!" Phoenix took the spear that's been used against him and attacked the nearest knight to save a villager.
"That young man... a devil fruit user huh." The World Noble murmured before addressing his orders, "Prioritize that kid and bring him to me. Make sure no one especially him escape."
So the other knights left the villager as they began charging the young teen. Phoenix took them on.
He either, swing to attack, block the attack or dodge it. He really didn't find any difficulty and he couldn't help but thank Anna for their everyday mock battle. The villagers were now running on the side but not too far as they're too mesmerize as to how Phoenix whom they only knew as mountain hunter with his Guardian were capable of fighting against World Noble's knights.
At that moment Phoenix was able to slash a man leading to his death. Phoenix started the first kill as far as he could remember found something really disturbing. He didn't feel anything, only natural like everyday life.
'Did I ever kill someone before?' He mentally questioned before breaking to his musing as he dodged an attack.
It took a while until the knights made a dirty move which was to take a child girl from the villager and used her as hostage.
"More struggling brat and this child die!" The Knight threatened and the child was now crying calling her mommy while the said mommy was crying, begging to let go of the child.
Phoenix froze and the knights took this opportunity to hit him and slammed him down. Phoenix didn't expect one of those knights had a kairoseki with them and stick it close to Phoenix that gravely took effect as his body weakened and strength leaving him. 'Damn it!'
The World Noble laugh in amusement, "You will become the greatest entertainment kid."
Phoenix glared as much as he could even in weaken state although deep within he's completely panicking because of Kairoseki that he had no strength to fight back anymore. Seeing his glare, one of the knights was about to hurt him when an arrow suddenly pierced his armor through his heart, leading to instant death.
This alarmed the other knights and before they knew it, someone really fast had slashed the knights surrounding Phoenix and the one holding the girl, killing them at the same time revealing the assaulter. Phoenix can't believe who not only killed them but also save him and that child. "Anna" He could feel his strength returning back after Anna took it away from him.
Anna glanced to Phoenix and grinned before turning back on the Tenryuubito who's still on the ship looking down on them. She became cold as she spoke, "Who knew someone dirty and stupid as you to come in this small village."
The World Noble glared down at her, "Do you know who you are speaking off?" It gave chill to the villagers but not her and Phoenix.
Anna smirked mockingly, "A dirty little brat who could do nothing for himself." She shrugged in disappointment, "Ahh if only I had witnessed those deaths. Tell me, how many died because I'm visiting them to laugh at their graves. Although now that I think about it, someone will be very mad at me ones he learned what I did."
Her words make sense to everyone, so she's the one responsible for poisoning the crops.
The World Noble glared her in hatred as he exclaimed his order, "KILL HER!"
The Knights attacked. Anna could only smirk in coldness as she dashed and slashed every single one of them then switching to her bow and arrow as she shot the ones on the ship who were about to shoot down using guns. Taking them out she immediately run heading to the ship. Of course those knights tried to stop her were dodged so easily by Anna until she got on board the ship.
The World Noble glared her hatefully, "How dare you step on my ship!?"
"Well this is a ship, people get on board dummy." She teased, clearly mocking the World Noble to make it angrier.
Furious, the World Noble took out his gun and was about to shoot when Anna shot him with her arrow. He shouted in pain, blood staining his clothes.
All the remaining knights could think one thing, she's out of her mind. She just hurt a Tenryuubito, that would actually mean she'll be hunted by everyone, even marines to death. Anna however didn't mind, she kept mocking not only the Tenryuubito but also the knights.
"See what I told you brat? You are nothing. The only thing you have is the royal birth but other than that you are completely nothing, how pitiful." She said smirking, "I hope you realize because not even your prideful knights can't stop me from hurting you."
The World Noble's wrath had increased and shouted, "KILL HER YOU FOOLS! GIVE HER THE EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS FOR MOCKING ME!"
With that the knights attack. Anna's smirked disappeared, all that left were cold expression as she switched to sword and charge forward. She didn't waste any move as she kept killing every single one of them, switching to bow and arrow to shoot them without forgetting to shoot the Tenryuubito as well to add more scratches, pain and mockery. Some who could see they're only meeting death was about to head down and get a hostage when Phoenix got them first before they could harm the villagers.
The Knights were falling one after another and it made the World Noble feel fear, every shot he was hit, he's bleeding in all parts of his body and now that assaulter was approaching in cold eyes piercing his soul. Phoenix whose finish dealing with them came on board to see what's about to happen.
He's now crawling back but trying to be brave, "Y-you will pay for this. You will be sentenced to death! YOU WILL DO NOTHING BUT RUN AND RUN UNTIL YOU DIE IN OUR HANDS!"
Instead of being frightened, she actually frowned. "You mean our dog Marines not our dirty Tenryuubito." She raised her blood soaking sword on the side, now her expression was nothing but coldness. "I hope you realize now, how weak and nothing you actually are."
Before the World Noble could resort, he was silence when he felt something cut his neck. He was too late to realize his head was cut by her before falling to darkness, never forgetting the cold eyes of the girl who killed him.
Afar, Phoenix was little stun about the outcome. He turned to Anna in concern just to see how cold she's looking down on the dead body. It took a courage for him to call her.
"Anna"
As the name called, Anna took a deep breath to regain herself before turning back to Phoenix with a small smile. "I'm fine in case of question." She began collecting her arrows and questioned, "Are you hurt?"
"N-not really." Phoenix answered as he too helped her to speed up her work. She smiled, "Good."
After gathering the arrows, Phoenix hand it over to Anna who muttered her thanks before walking out the ship to see the villagers were all gathered. Anna could see the fear within their eyes and to be honest she's very used to it.
"I'm getting out this island if I were you." Anna said as she slashed her sword to take off the soaking blood then sheath it back to its scabbard. "Everyone are no longer safe. Since there's a Tenryuubito here an hour or two before the Marines with an admiral arrived. If they saw this, I won't be surprise if they ordered a buster call to destroy this island."
The young ones who dreamed to be Marines were widen in disbelief and fear, even Phoenix. After all, Anna gave some few knowledge to those who wanted to become Marines some tips to pass and be qualified to their registration.
"B-buster call... are they... just going to kill us without mercy?" The frightened teen questioned that made everyone tremble in fear.
"Yes." Phoenix can't help but mentally complain Anna's bluntness. Before he could speak, Anna addressed everyone. "Gather all your belongings and leave the island in thirty minutes. Everyone will use the Tenryuubito's ship to sail away to escape."
"HEY! HOW CAN YOU BOSS US AROUND WHEN ITS YOUR FAULT THIS IS HAPPENING TO US!" One of the male villager shouted causing everyone glared Anna in anger and hatred. Phoenix flinched from their gaze and was about to call her name when Anna approached the male and actually punch him hard to his cheek.
Before the body could fall, Anna caught his collar and raised him up to have an eye to eye talk. "For starters I don't care, second I'm giving you a chance to escape and lastly," In the speed like a lightning, Anna brought out her blade and pointed it to the man's neck. The man felt totally fear and sweating, looking to her eyes he felt really chill because her gaze could be compared of to the death itself. Anna ended in a very deep voice that could be compared to a death reaper, "If you don't do as I say, I might as well kill you myself."
The message was conveyed not only to the man but also everyone else. Phoenix froze, so stun to actually hear something very cold that he had never heard in his entire life.
Anna pushed down the man harshly, a cue for everyone to get to their homes and do as she say before she killed them. Anna sigh as she sheath it back to her scabbard again before ordering Phoenix but not facing him, "Pheonix I want you to fly and take out all the flags in that ship."
Phoenix need to blink for a moment to recover then nodded numbly as he transformed both arms into firing blue wings and flight off to take down the flags. Anna sigh ones again before observing each villagers gathering their belongings and immediately put it on board the ship. Noticing the Mayor, she immediately yanked him out the crowed.
She could see the fear in his eyes, "Wha-what?"
Anna brought something out and gave it to the mayor. It was an Eternal Pose.
"It's pointed to your new island, more rich in soils than here so surely you and everyone else here can survive. No one lives there and the animals were same as this island so surely everyone could easily adapt it." Anna explained, calm tone that relief the Mayor a bit. "I believe this island wasn't discovered yet so better sure to do something about your history and culture so you won't be found. Especially your trading because you can no longer trade with the nobles due to my action that I don't regret except my method. The travel will take a week, hopefully no storm will be coming your way."
Anna turned around and was about to leave when the Mayor called her. "Wait Anna." She glanced to him to hear what he's about to say. Mayor gulped before asking, "Why are you doing this... if you never care about us?"
Anna thought for a moment before answering honestly, "Because it's all I could do as my own repentant toward to this village." Her eyes became harden, "It has to be done after all."
The Mayor knew there's more about the It but decided not to push more fearing for his life. "Then thank you."
Anna nodded before glaring, "When arrived, burned the ship, don't make any stop to any island until you arrived to your real destination unless you all wanted to be dead in different hands."
That frightened the Mayor, "Ye-yes sir."
Phoenix whose long finish taking off the flags heard the last conversation between them. 'I wonder what it is...ah.' He saw Anna approaching him, grabbed his arms and dragged him somewhere. Phoenix didn't question where they're going, knowing her surely she'll explain ones they arrived.
He was little surprise to see a boat ahead, recognizing some of the things were from their home. Anna let him go and faced him, "For now we're parting ways."
That shocked Phoenix, "Wha-why?"
"I have something to do before leaving and I want you to head out now. There's a log pose in the boat, sail as far as you can without being seen, got it."
"B-but how could you catch up with me?"
Anna smirked as she showed a vivre card, "This is your vivre card, with this I could follow you wherever you are." She showed the vivre card already torn on the side and gave it to Phoenix, "We will talk about it later. For now, leave."
"Anna"
Anna smiled kindly as she went to the boat and take something before coming back with cloak on hand. "This is a special kind of cloak that hide auras, very best against with powerful observation haki." She wrapped it around Phoenix and put the hood on his head. "Remember, do not turn back and do not be seen."
Phoenix could only nod, knowing ones she made up her mind there's no turning back. Anna nodded back before pushing him to the boat.
"You better catch up Anna, I'll be waiting." Phoenix said as he began sailing. Anna nodded as she watched him going further away.
Anna turned back and this time have the villagers hurry with their supply so they could leave because she could sense it, a ship of Marines was getting nearer and they don't have much any time left.
'Better be safe, Phoenix.'
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