That night, Luffia dreams of darkness. She's alone, her voice echoes in the void with no one to answer. Her heart beats rather loudly that it rings in her ears along with her heavy breathing.
She can smell blood in the air, it reeks, overwhelming her senses. Just how realistic this dream can be?
Then, she hears it, the laughter that she heard before.
An evil laugh.
Zehahaha!
A burst of familiar laughter made her blood boil in anger. It's a reminder of the times when she and Sab were taken away, almost executed. It serves as her shackles to an endless pain that their parents died because of them.
A grumbling sounds echo in her ears.
'Damnable creatures. You're one of them. You stole what is mine. You have the power to rule, yet you all refuse to do it. Useless! That power is wasted on all of you!'
Luffia turns to where the voice is coming from but regardless of how many times she turns around, looking for exactly where it is, she can't find the source. What's around her is nothing but darkness, as if engulfing her entire being.
Then she feels it, the approaching figure, his blazing fist is raised with an intent to kill.
With that, she wakes from her slumber with a start. As if on instinct, she looks at the sky above, expecting the light from the moon only for it to slowly disappear, replaced by darkness.
"No..." She shakes her head as she hurriedly gets out of her bed to wake her sisters up. They stayed in the villa in the Valley of Xavaria where they were born.
"Luffia?" Zoro wakes up.
"It's dark." She says. "We need to go back to Raftel." She's panting as if she just run miles of distance.
Without asking, Zoro looks up only to see what she means. Nervousness creeps into his chest for he knows that what he fears the most is coming at them.
"They're attacking." Both do not say anything and walk out of their shared room only to meet the others. They must have felt the impending doom.
No one says anything. It's as if their minds are in sync, they walk out of the villa, meeting the others outside. They are all silent, nodding in understanding before the High Princes summon their wings, carrying their mates as they fly towards Raftel.
On their way, they see the skies turn darker each second and the breeze of the air turns cold, murky that sends a shiver down their spines. They can feel the evil surrounding them, almost swallowing them into an endless pit of darkness.
"We need to warn everyone, yoi," Marco says and the other High Princes understand. Each of them gathers enough power on their free hands, sending light towards the sky till it explodes, almost shaking Raftel to the ground.
And just a second after they send the signal, the dark clouds suddenly gather into a whirlpool, revealing sparks of lightning in between. Almost instantly, their eyes turn wider, getting a bad feeling from the sight.
"Hide!" Zoro is the first one to shout, willing his wings to flap as fast as possible to fly to the ground, away from the bolts of lightning that came their way.
The other High Princes did the same but the impact of the bolts of lightning is not minuscule to be ignored. With their senses, they hear several cries from the Raftelians, shouts of pain echo in Raftel, and with each strike from the lightning bolt, it turns louder.
"Damn it," Kidd swears. They can resist the effects of lightning but not all of the Raftelians. "Why didn't the shield activated?!" They move on the ground, running as fast as they can, dodging the lightning as they go.
"It's them." Marco answers and they arrive at Central Palace where most of the Raftelians gather.
"You're all here. They're starting." Thatch is the first one to greet the High Princes and High Princesses.
"We're working on activating the protective shields. The elves are casting spells as fast as they can, but we are caught unprepared." Izou says, shaking her head in the process.
Everyone thought that they are prepared enough in case their enemies will catch them off guard, but said enemies are too crafty. They underestimated the amount of magic power they hold.
The lightning bolts are one thing and the dark clouds seem to seep their magical prowess, leaving Raftelians some of the Raftelians unable to defend themselves.
"We can't have our people flying out of Raftel to look where the enemies could be. The dark clouds are preventing us from scouting." Vista voices out.
"Any we do not have anyone who can use clairvoyance to know where they are, yoi?"
"The interference from the dark spell must be preventing that as well." Ann is starting to get worried. It was only a few days since they found out about their heritage. They thought they will have weeks before their enemies start attacking, but they are wrong.
"This is Big Mom's attacks," Whitebeard says while looking at the sky. "We must retaliate." He adds, slamming his bisento on the ground.
He steps right in the middle of the palace grounds, hands gripping on the handle of the enlarged bisento. The air around him starts shaking, it rumbles, startling most of the creatures nearby.
For those who have known the prowess of the Peacekeeper, they are aware that the rumbles they hear are from his power. All the Warrior Commanders gathered warn the others not to get close lest they will be caught in the aftershock.
The High Princesses watch how the tip of the bisento starts gathering white magic. It looks like a ball of pure power that can explode anytime it is released.
And it did.
He points his bisento to the sky, deflecting the bolts of lightning that are sent down their way.
"Support him!" Izou shouts at the elves nearby. They are quick to cast spells to provide Whitebeard an additional boost he may need. The clash of power mid-air made the atmosphere tremble.
Whitebeard spearheaded the counterattack. The muscles in his body twitch when the lightning bolts are striking him back with more force than they already did as if Bit Mom knows it is Whitebeard that is blocking her attacks.
"I'll help." The High Princes look at who was offering help. Surprisingly, it's Rayleigh. "This is also the best time to show you how to use your powers." He says, taking out his sword.
No matter how everyone looks at it, there are no magical elements in the sword, but for some reason, the more they look at it, the more they can feel a certain power gathered in it.
"This is just channeling your power to an object. Watch." He tells the High Princesses, demonstrating how to use Al Draig in a certain situation.
He steps closer to Whitebeard as if he's waiting for the half-giant to release the power he's been holding on to.
Drawing out the power inside him, Whitebeard managed to deflect the lightning bolts back to the dark clouds where they came from. Just as soon as the power is released, Rayleigh is quick to release his attack, joining with Whitebeard's, slashing the air coiling in front of them.
His eyes spark with determination, of will.
Even if the attack is directed at whoever is controlling the dark clouds and lightning bolts, everyone can feel the will behind it, Rayleigh's will of retaliating - to protect, to fight for what he believes in.
It's a power that is filled with sincerity and danger. It attacks the subconsciousness of anyone, pulling them into submission. At the hands of anyone with malicious intent, this power can be used to do evil deeds.
The attack split the dark clouds, temporarily clearing the sky but the dar clouds start gathering again, darker than ever.
"We cannot waste our time attacking this when it can reform. We must attack the spellcaster." Rayleigh voices out.
As soon as he says that, a mist in front of the High Princesses appeared, revealing Shanks' face.
"I am glad this tool is working!" He smiles before said smile fades away, replaced by a frown. "The enemies are moving. We've received reports of the borders getting attacked by the kingdoms. Most of them have black magicians in their ranks. They're burning villages to the ground."
Instantly, the High Princesses' eyes widen at the thought of innocent people getting into the fray. Vaguely, they can sense the cries of children running, asking for help. Or the sleeping elderly that will never have a chance to shout for help when they are killed.
They have no time to be angry because as soon as that was said, explosions after explosions started happening everywhere, not just in Cresta, but all over Raftel when enemies started appearing from the dark clouds above led by Sanjuan Wolf and Avalo Pizarro.
The attacks coming from them came too quickly, unleashing their power to the Berserkers and faeries nearby. Blood is spilled on the ground, dying it red.
It's chaotic.
Just where are they supposed to focus?
Screams echo in Raftel, battle cries from the Raftelians mixing in the fray. The High Princes are quick to command their Warrior Commanders to take a position and kill the leading armies of the enemies.
The High Princesses won't stand and just watch this war unfold without doing anything. Sab issues an order to a couple of elves to assist Cresta.
"The wolves will be your guide. Go. They have dark magicians in their ranks."
Ann does the same. Sending dozens of magical creatures from Verid to accompany the elves.
"They won't get away with this." She mutters to herself, letting her instincts think for her. With a thought, she unleashes her fire, wings spread on her back as she flies to where Marco is, joining him to battle Sanjuan Wolf.
Sab is about to do the same but the Warrior Commanders prevented her from doing so.
"You must conserve your energy as much as you can. The enemy leaders are still out there. Leave the soldiers to us." Vista reasons out, calling Marco and Ann afterward.
Looking at the battlefield, even though Raftelians are slowly gaining the upper hand, the royalties still feel unease for they know that this is just the first wave. How many more will they have to face to win this?
Thatch and Vista are fighting against Sanjuan Wolf while Killer and Wire are locked in a battle with Avallo Pizarro. The rest of the Warrior Commanders are on the battlefield, supporting their people, being at where they are needed.
The invaders are easily defeated yet none of them are rejoicing for another wave is coming. This time, it came from all directions, surrounding Raftelians in the Central Palace grounds.
But still, no Akainu or Teach anywhere.
"Are we still not moving?" Ann asks Marco. They retreated at a distance, watching their people fight against their enemies.
"Our target is to kill Akainu and Teach. Not all of the prisoners from the deepest levels of the prison are here. We must preserve our energy." Marco grits his teeth while answering, anxiety is evident in his eyes.
'Not again' he mutters to himself. War is tiring. It claims the lives of his people, leaving others in agony as they watch their loved ones die bleeding on the battlefield. How many times must he need to witness such tragedy? Shouts reverberate in his ears and every time he hears them, every life that is lost serves as his scar to bear for eternity.
Ann can sense Marco's emotions as well. Their bond is deep enough to know what the other is thinking. This is a must in a war but it does not mean she likes it. And if she can do something, she will.
Just as she's about to sigh in frustration, a sensation creeps in her soul, reminding her that she can do something to this battle.
"Tell our people to step back a little." She tells Marco, voice filled with conviction.
"Ann, what are you - "
"If I don't do something, I will explode. Please, just tell them to step back a little." Marco doesn't need to be told twice when he can sense the fluctuations of Ann's magic power. The fire flickers on her body, warning everyone not to get close, lest they will burn.
And might as well burn the enemies if they can help it.
With a nod, Marco closes his eyes, reaching out to their Warrior Commanders to tell the men to step back, retreat a little.
The command startles almost everyone on the battlefield. Just when they are fired up to beat the hell out of their enemies, the royalties told them to step back for a while. This confused them. Just what are they trying to do?
Soon, their questions are answered when Raftelians see Ann and Marco fly, landing in front of the startled enemies whose faces reveal a bloodlust. Marco's face is not amused, not when the eyes of the enemies are directed to his mate. The instincts of beasts are always sensitive to danger. Even so, he chose to stay with Ann, supporting what she's about to do. His eyes are alert for anyone who will harm Ann, attentive to jump at any given chance.
Ann looks at the creatures in front of her. They may be Raftelians when they were born, but their eyes have lost that light she once witnessed when she came to Raftel and got to know the people in this place.
Their powers are tainted with dark magic, favoring blood over bond. Their desire to kill clouds their eyes, filling their minds with nothing but endless catastrophe.
Seeing this first-hand, Ann shakes her head. At first, she was angry at them, she still is, but now, her anger is mixed with pity to these creatures. They've lost their way, following darkness over what could have been a peaceful life.
Regardless of the pity, she feels, that won't stop her from killing anyone who will harm her loved ones and people. With conviction, she spreads her wings, surprising the enemies that begin being wary of her.
As they should for the next thing that happens is her entire body burning ablaze, lighting the darkness surrounding Raftel. Her entire body is shaking, so is her soul. The cries of the Firebird inside her reverberates, humming in pleasure to once again be released.
Ann never understood what it meant to get this power, neither does she have time to explore it. Days of trying to control Al Draig kept them from questioning what powers they have.
It seems there's no need because it came to her as naturally as the wind blowing.
'I am you. You are me.' That's what the Firebird spirit was whispering to her. Centuries of memories start flowing in Ann's mind - the First High Kings, the fire burning the prisoners to eternal punishment, the same fire that became the source of Verid's powers - everything.
'Centuries. Countless centuries and I shall rise again.' The Firebird spirit appears in Ann's mind, staring at her, blazing with intensity.
As for why it chose Ann, she has no idea, but this power is what they need now. Within her subconsciousness, she extends her hands, touching the spirit. Its body transforms, coiled on her arms till it slowly disappears - absorbed within her soul.
"Marco, I cannot control it." She says as soon as she opens her eyes, looking at her mate.
"Do not worry. I am here, yoi." The conversation confuses everyone but no explanation is given. Instead, they just watch Ann walk further, arms blazing and she starts speaking:
"I am the flame of Verid, daughter of Roger and Rouge of Cresta."
Every word she speaks, the flames gathered in her arms are growing hotter. Every second that passes by, her wings start flapping, lifting her body to the ground till she's mid-air.
"I command these flames to burn you to the ground!" She amasses flames to cover her entire body, then she spins mid-air at a speed that is almost impossible to see. "Burn!"
The gathered fire came shooting down the ground, targeting the enemies. Just as soon as Ann releases her attack, Marco is quick to summon his fire, building blue-flamed walls that separate the Raftelians from the enemies, protecting them from Ann's fire that consumes not just the body but also the soul.
The falling pillar of flames is filled with anger - Ann's anger at the situation. Thinking about her parents' passing, the prophecy, the war, deaths - everything. It's as if she's taking her emotions out by releasing them through her fire.
Shouts of creatures once again echo in Raftel. As soon as the fire touches them, all they can feel are the burn etches into their souls. It's painful, unbearably so. The sight of the fire engulfing the trees of the forest almost look beautiful, had it not been for deaths that come with it.
"Damn this! Extinguish the flames!" Shouts from the enemy leaders ring through the battlefield along with the frantic shouts of curses directed at Ann, calling her damnable Faery. With the display of power right now, the Raftelians now finally understood why they were asked to step back. Even if it's not intentional, they might get hurt in the process.
Just that thought made them shiver. It's been a while since they've seen the Magical Kingdom's prowess especially from one of the Royalties, a High Princess. They almost forgot Faeries are deadly the more beautiful they look.
"We must take advantage of this," Kidd suggests, calling out the Berserkers from his side who can resist this fire. Any advantage must be exploited when winning the war. If they can win the first wave, they will have chances to retaliate and win the next waves that enemies will throw at them. "Marco, take down the wall. We will finish those that did not fall."
"Not yet," Zoro speaks. "The fire is not enough." He adds, nodding to Yosaku and Johnny who immediately understood what he means.
Kidd is not sure what Zoro wants to do, but that confusion disappears when he hears the flap of wings from the sky above. With the help of Ann's fire, the dark clouds slowly dissipate which gave way for the flying creatures to fly as fast as they can.
"Dragons!"
Dozens of dragons are circling above the enemies that Ann attacked earlier. Some have escaped the worst, but soon, more fire come their way for the dragons' mouths are now wide open, ball of fire gathered from their throat.
With nothing but a signal from Zoro's telepathy, they start burning their enemies, not even caring for the shouts of pity and mercy. It's brutal, but it must be done. No beasts will feel pity for those who dare to destroy their home.
"Damn it!" Avallo curses out loud. "Call out the others! Akainu!" He calls out that alarms the Raftelians, rightly so for the next thing that happens is the shift of the dark clouds above. From black, it starts being dyed of red coloration, almost as if it is turning into a lava mist.
Almost all Warrior Commanders are wide-eyed for they know what is coming - raining lava.
The first casualties are the dragons that are flying nearby that didn't manage to dodge the balls of lava. As soon as they were hit, they fall to the ground with a loud thud.
Seeing his dragons fall to the ground, dead, Zoro's heart burst in anger. He takes his two swords who are humming in joy to kill enemies, as if they are alive, resonating the anger of their master.
"HAHAHA! Here it comes, you damnable Raftelians! You will die!" Sanjuan Wolf's ominous laughter soon dies when the raining lava never stops, indiscriminately killing anyone, friend or foe.
"AKAINU! What is the meaning of this?!" Avallo is angry, blood dripping from his head, staining his body red. "THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU PROMISED!" But there's no answer. Nothing but another ball of lava coming his way along.
An intentional attack against an ally. If that is not enough, a lightning bolt came his way. He's stunned, unable to move out of the way to dodge a particularly large boulder of lava.
'Useless. Can't even wipe at least half of them the voice is coming from the red skies above, the creature controlling the raining lava.
"Bastard!" Kidd is grinding his teeth in disgust and hatred towards Akainu. How cruel can he be to kill his allies? He's not the only one that is angered at the situation, everyone on their side is, but they must put that aside to focus on defending.
"Shields! NOW!" Whitebeard shouts. Raftelians are quick to cast a spell to defend against the barrage of attacks coming from the sky. The magic shields may be enough to hold off a few minutes, but it will deplete the casters their magic powers.
It will not be enough.
Akainu must have known this for he is focusing on sending attacks at a certain spot of the magical shield, fully intent on cracking it till the Raftelians will be left defenseless for him to kill.
That's what he always wanted to do, to wipe them out till there's nothing left of them.
Seeing the situation and Ann's lead, Sab decides to step in, gathering the courage to call on a creature that no one knew existed till recently - The nine-tailed white fox.
'Your Highness...' Achilles is right beside her and Kidd, watching Sab close her eyes.
'Come to me.' She commands not knowing if this creature from legends will heed her call. Ever since she found out about their heritage and powers, never had she tried to reach out to this creature even though she often sees her in the shadow, always watching her.
It is always a puzzle to Sab how Elves cast their magic. Perhaps given time, she can somehow learn how to do so, but time is not her ally. It cuts off her advantage to learn how to control her powers.
Like everyone, she's desperate. They cannot afford to lose this war, not when the world is at stake. At this moment, she knows her people in Cresta are also fighting against the attacks of enemies. Deaths are coming.
She will avoid it if she can and it is her time to do so.