The world was on fire.
As far as the eye could see the once mysterious island burned, engulfed in flames. It was not the only one.
Other islands burned or had now become naught but ash. Millions of lives were lost. Pirate, Marine and civilian alike, all dead or dying their screams echoing in the night.
Amongst the flames three individuals stood against the onslaught. Once enemies, now allies they were all that remained to face the wrath of the world. To face the champion of the so called "Gods".
The towering figure of molten rock and rage emerged from the fires and stood before the last of the resistance, his eyes burning with hate. He was more savage beast than man, consumed by his fiery conviction that he and he alone was right in all things. That to defy him was to defy justice and order.
The last three survivors were dwarfed by his overwhelming size and might, but they remained insolent. Even though this would most assuredly be their end they stood tall, proud and free.
Without hesitation or doubt the Admiral, Emperor, and King charged at the beast of justice and order yelling their defiance to the heavens.
It was over. They had won. If only just barely. The three survivors lay around the clearing, the fires not reaching them. Though it was doubtful they would even be able to feel the flames even if they did. Their bodies were burned beyond recognition, barely hanging on to life.
The King crawled towards the white sword, shattered on the ground at his enemy's feet. The bastard had taunted him with it, with the knowledge of its owner's death. The going was rough with only one arm left and a missing foot, but he pushed on ignoring the agony he felt until at last he grasped the hilt. He pulled it tight to his chest and held on to the last remnant of his best friend.
The Emperor watched his ally from his sole remaining eye, it hurt to see the once proud man so broken, but he could not move from his seated position to aid him, it was all he could do to keep breathing.
The Admiral did not move, his eyes remained closed and would have passed for the dead were it not for the occasional wet cough and ragged breathing.
This was truly the end for the three, there was no one left to heal them and even if there were, their wounds were far to severe. Death would soon claim them, in truth it was astounding that he had not yet done so.
Absorbed in their own pain they did not notice the figure emerging from the towering flames. It was the Emperor who first noticed the presence and turned his attention to it.
"Who…are…you?"
His rough words drew the attention of his compatriots to small female before them.
She was tiny, barely five feet tall, dwarfed by the rocks all around and the towering flames seemed to engulf her form, yet she appeared completely unaffected by them. Her skin was as pale as moonlight shimmering in the firelight, her small frame rounded by generous curves. The female's hair was perfect black with silver streaks and fell in waves to her feet even with the numerous braids he could see plaited throughout. Upon her head a diadem of diamonds glittered. Her beauty was incredible, but her eyes made her otherworldly.
They stared back at the three mortals like two glowing moons. The irises were pure silver and had golden slits for pupils blown wide to see in the dim light.
"Who I am is of no importance." She replied, her voice beautiful but echoing eerily in the night air.
The Admiral blinked once as if to assure himself that what he was seeing was real, when the ethereal vision did not disappear, he asked; "What do… you want?"
"A much better question." Her face remained passive as if the fire, blood and gore all around were completely inconsequential.
"Truth be told, I don't really want anything. But tell me Admiral what do you regret?"
"What?" He looked at her as if she were crazy.
"What do you regret, Admiral?"
He took a moment to really look at her, she was not human that was quite apparent, and it really did not matter he supposed, he was dead or at least most of the way there.
"The innocent lives lost."
Her cold eyes seemed to soften just barely at his answer before she turned to his companions.
"And you, Emperor, you have gained that which you sought. Do you have any regrets?"
The Emperor blinked his one eye and took a moment to ponder the question. In many ways he had accomplished all he had set out to do, completed all of his goals, but did he really have no regrets? He looked to his longtime ally and friend and remembered the man who had been, and yet was not, his father and his desires for the lost little boy without a home and he knew his answer.
"Yes, many. But most importantly I broke a promise." He had not lived free as he had once promised, too bound up in pain and rage and revenge, the lost boy had never been happy for all that he had gained.
She nodded her head and turned to the last and youngest of the three.
"And you, King of the Pirates, you have achieved your dreams. Have you lived with no regrets?"
"No," the young man hiccupped through his sobs, still clutching the shattered sword. "My friends…my friends are gone. They n-never saw their d-d-dreams realized. They d-died before they could. My dream means n-n-nothing without them."
"This is true, it seems there are many who refuse to move on. So many are filled with regret." She waved her hand and suddenly the ghostly figures appeared.
The three survivors stared wide eyed at their beloved dead. The Pirate King crawled forward, attempting to grabbed hold of his friend, but his hand passed through him.
"They are dead, and so cannot be reached, young King. They like many others were taken before their time."
The otherworldly being's entire demeanor shifted, gone was the apathy and insouciance, replaced by burning rage so fierce the world trembled and the three mortals who had stood tall against a raging beast coward before her.
"You have defeated your enemy, but you have lost the war. You three will die here today and with you all resistance, all freedom will die as well. The Government has destroyed all that stood against them the future will be one of oppression and subjugation for all those who yet live. Generations to come will never know the freedom of adventure, the joys of an open ocean, only the shackles of the world."
The three men awaited the outcome of this terrible creature's rage. But it never came.
"The world as it stands has no hope, but not all hope is lost."
The rage in her eyes cooled, her expression calmed, and the world stopped trembling.
"There is a chance, a single chance, to change this terrible fate of yours. To change what has been done and in so doing save countless lives. And maybe live without those regrets that weigh so heavily on your shoulders."
"Wh-what?" the King stuttered.
"I am offering to turn back the clock for you. To give you a chance to relive your lives with memories intact so that you may change the outcome of this terrible war. But be warned there are consequences and a price to pay for such a thing."
"Like… what?" the Emperor asked.
"Somethings will be different in this new life of yours, while others will remain unchanged. Some lives may be saved, but not all of them can be. And you will have to live with the memories of this world, with the knowledge of what your failure will cost, not only yourselves but the whole world."
"I'll do it. Please." The King said. To have a chance to save his friends he would do anything.
The other two nodded as well.
"So be it." The raven-haired beauty snapped her fingers and they were gone.
The world was at peace.
The cool night breeze blew across a mysterious island at the end of the world and a lone figure stood on the shore looking out across the open sea.
"I had just finished collecting all those souls when they suddenly vanished. I assume this is your doing." A man's voice shattered the calm night air.
The ethereal beauty only nodded her head at the towering shadow man that appeared beside her. Though he stood nearly double her height and was made of twisting shadow she did not flinch from his presence.
"I hope you know what you are doing." The being sighed. "Do you know how difficult it is to capture a D. soul? So many were there for the taking and are now gone."
"It can't be helped. They are still needed here. Their times will come eventually."
"But not for a good long while if you have anything to say about it. You are so benevolent, my Goddess. It's unlike you."
"To many died who weren't supposed to. But their task is not an easy one and they will face many surprises along the way."
The black creature enveloped the smaller one in his arms and pulled her close.
"Is that so? What kind of surprises?"
"Oh, just a few of my more fun ideas." The Goddess smirked.
"There's that wicked beauty I know and love."
"Of course. It can't be too easy. Afterall I am all about balance."
The shadow man threw his head back and laughed. Oh, he loved her devious mind and could not wait to see what was to come.
"Shall we go watch then, my love." He said. She only nodded.
Thus, it was that Death enveloped his lover in shadows and the two vanished, leaving behind only the echo of Eternal Night's laughter on an otherwise pristine beach.