Cherry J Boot watched his mother die. She looked peaceful as sleep took her indefinitely, yet even though she went to a better place Cherry felt his heart breaking. His father had not come back, his mom had lied about that. She didn't lie, so his father made her. Cherry didnt go back to that home after that. He left to find somewhere else, somewhere where his mothers ghost wouldnt watch him.
The island of Galliard served as the home for the lower Celestial dragons, one of the many that had become popular in the ever changing Celestial dragon fashion sense. It was inhabited by Celestial dragons that were just slightly too small of status for Marijua. The island was in the West blue, one of the most protected areas in the blues. While having Celestial dragons should have boosted the islands economy it instead caused a divide. The island was split directly in half, one side was the habitable city of Ruax, while the other was the waste land left abandoned after the Celestial Dragons had burned down what used to be on the island.
Cherry trudged through the pile of ash that had built up to his ankles due to the sea breeze. Once, people would shovel the ash off the main walkways of the burned down streets, but they had given up long ago. Buildings stood as charred husks, peeks of several story tall buildings were burned away, blackened fingers of supports reaching up into the sky seeking their lost limbs.
People huddled in what remained, basements that had escaped the fires, base floors of buildings that threatened to collapse any day. The people of Galliard were once a hardy people, the type who would lose their city and rebuild it from the scraps, that changed when the Celestial dragons broke them. They took the hardy peoples and made them slaves, leaving just the weak to rebuild, and they had given up. Now the city would remain as a scar on the world, a reminder of the cruelty of this world.
It had been sometime since Cherry had left his mother in their burned house, and he had not said much of anything since. Whenever he found scraps of food, and someone would approach, he would respond with growls of feral hunger. He felt himself becoming less and less human as the days went on. He didn't not even care to clean the ash from his skin, leaving him a gray savage. He began to convince himself of delusions, anything to bring him some escape from this life.
The main one was that his father went out and had remarried to a rich family and would arrive any day to take him away from this life. He would have a step sister named Cassidy, his new mother would be named Charlotte. Joseph Boot would arrive and give Cherry a hug, and they would eat a huge meal, something like a whole chicken, a loaf of bread, and fruits that were sweet and juicy. Cherry kept those images in his mind as he gnawed on a bone, breaking in to suck the bone marrow out.
It was a year before Cherry made the suicidal desision. He approached Ruax, the walls of the city stood tall, serving as a reminder of how different the people on both sides of the wall were. A forest had been planted along the wall to hide the scars from the residences inside the city. Most were kept a good distance from the wall, though some edged close either way. Cherry hoped to find some food on those trees, he would eat acorns if he had to.
He moved like a ghost along the base of the trees, eyes darting from the ground to the tops wildly, seeking any sort of edible foods. He was no longer a human, he was a hunter, seeking his next meal, not worried about tomorrow, just today, just survival, just survive.
Hungry was his leading cause, he chewed on tree bark that he had ripped off, staving off his hunger as his teeth tore into the woody treat. If he were caught here by guards he would be killed, made an example for the people in the scar, but he didnt care. Food was none existent, it was all he could do, he had to take the risk and plunge into the forbidden garden.
There was a whistle sound, instincts told Cherry it was an arrow, and he accepted the pain. Instead, something hit his head, causing a sense of shock and alarm. The object fell to the green grass below, then rolled. It was a bright red apple, large and now with a single bruise.
Cherry crouched low, pressed his back to a tree and began to look around wildly. He was caught off guard by a small giggle from above. He turned his attention upwards and spotted an angel. She had bright blue hair, black eyes, pale white skin that seemed untouched by the sun, and a smiley that could melt hearts.
“Hey, you can have that.” She said with a smile down at Cherry.
Cherry growled, eyes darting between the girl and the apple. He could dive for it, then run like hell. He could hide, they couldn't catch him. This apple would last him days if he got away. He just needed to run.
“Don't worry, no one will come after you for it. If anyone has a problem with it ill say it was a charitable donation, the guards eat that up.” Her voice was smooth, warming, and comforting.
Cherry felt his nails digging into the tree, don't trust her, she's one of them, a Celestial Dragon. She will kill you, she will..
“What's your name?” She asked, cutting off Cherry’s thoughts. “Oh sorry, its rude of me to ask without giving mine first. I am Annabelle Dufort. Whats your name?”
Cherry watched her hesitantly, he felt his grip loosening.
“If you tell me your name ill give you another apple.” Annabelle said. She reached out to the tree that was above Cherry, it was covered in apples. “My family has alot of these on our property, a seed must have fallen and grown here. So what do you say?” She held up another glorious apple for Cherry to see.
“Ch-Cherry. Cherry J Boot.” Cherry said, his voice dry and horse.
“Cherry?” Annabelle said with a smile. “Like a fruit. Cute. Here you go.” She tossed the apple down to Cherry. He watched it soar towards him, and desperately tried to catch it. He fumbled it and it rolled next to the other. “You'll get it next time.”
Cherry scrambled for the two apples, clutching them close to his chest.
“Wash those before you eat them okay?” Annabelle said. “Oh and come back tomorrow, ill give you more.”
Cherry didnt believe that, it was a trap she would lure him here, then make him a slave.
“Oh, or you could have as many as you want, assuming you can climb this tree.” Annabelle said, pointing to the apple tree.
Cherry began to back away, to much risk, he had to run.
“Okay, see ya tomorrow Cherry.” Annabelle said. “Try to clean up a bit, okay? You look like a ghost.” with that, she ducked behind the wall.
Cherry ran, he hid in a collapsed building, in the place he had been sleeping below rubble. He tore into the apple, his hunger consuming him he couldn't hold back, he ate the apple stem and all. He eyed the second apple, then thought of the girl. He let the apple sit there and just stared until sleep took him.
He awoke long before the sun had risen, a habit he had learned long ago. The people of the island went to the Celestial Dragon disposal area early to get any scraps they could, the earlier you got there the better chance you had to eat. He didnt know what compelled him to, but instead of going to the disposal area he went to the polluted river that ran out of the city, and dived in.
“Woh the ghost came to life!” Annabelle called down.
Cherry felt his cheeks turn red, he felt awkward standing there. His clothes felt funny, probably because the sun dried him weirdly.
“As promised.” Annabelle said, tossing down an apple. “Hey, is it true? Are things really bad over there?”
Cherry picked up the apple. Then he looked up at the Celestial dragon. “Yes.” He called back. “Starving, all of us.”
Annabelle's eyes became sad. Cherry hated that, he didn't like seeing angels sad. “I see.” She said. “I'll do what I can, why don't you guys fish?”
“They try, not easy. All tools burned.” Cherry said, he remembered trying that, the people had lost the tools needed to fish, and most had lost the knowledge to do it.
Annabelle was thoughtful. “Come back tomorrow okay?”
He did, when he arrived Annabelle was lowering a large bundle with a rope. He rushed and helped to lower it, as it was clear she was struggling.
“Woo. That was heavy.” Annabelle said, laying across the wall flat on her stomach, arms dangling over the side. “Hey Cherry, give those to the people trying to fish okay? Take the rope too, the bottom of the bundle is a sled so you can pull it easy.”
Cherry undid the bundle, revealing a mess of junk, and some books. “What is this?”
“Fishing line, collapsible rods, a box of bait, some hooks, some sharp rocks you can make into fishing spears, and some books on Aquaculture.” Annabelle explained.
Cherry looked at her. “Why?”
“Well, give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he can eat for a lifetime. You should learn to fish too, but you should still come by every day okay?”
“Why do you do this?” Cherry said, looking at the bundle.
Annabelle looked at Cherry. “When I saw you I realized everyone over there is probably like that, skin and bones, struggling to just survive. We are all alive on this world, we deserve the freedom of life, the pursuit of happiness.”
Cherry looked at the bundle, there wasnt alot, but maybe it would help. “Thank you.” He said.
Annabelle smiled.
“Annie!” A small girlish voice yelled from over the wall. “What are you doing up there!”
Annabelle turned around. “Ill be down in a minute Luvie. “ she called back, she turned to Cherry, then tossed him an apple. “See you tomorrow Cherry.”
Cherry had to fight people to get the bundle to the edge of the island, he found some fisherman who were thrilled to see the bundle. Cherry saw a light in their eyes, what was that?
The next day he arrived too another bundle. “Hey Cherry, can you climb?” Annabelle asked.
“Of course.” Cherry lied.
She smiled. “Okay, climb up this tree then.”
Cherry eyed the tree, he didnt think he could climb it, but he tried anyways.
“Wow he sucks.” A girlish voice said as Cherry slid to the base of the tree.
He turned to see a new person atop the wall near Annabelle. She looked like a younger Annabelle, but she held disgust on her face.
“Luvie! Don't be rude!” Annabelle said. “Keep going Cherry, ignore her.”
“I'm just calling it as I see it, doesn't make me rude.” Luvie responded, shrugging. “I cant help it he sucks.”
“Luvie!” Annabelle said in an annoyed tone.
Cherry felt embarrassed, but he tried again.
“And down he goes.” Luvie chastised.
“Come on Cherry, you can do it!” Annabelle cheered.
“Oh he got a foot up that time.”
“Everything takes time Cherry you'll get it!”
“Hey Annie he's been at it for like two hours, he should give up at this point, we should go inside.” Luvie moved off the wall, back inside.
Annabelle looked down. “Let's try again tomorrow, okay Cherry?” She tossed down an apple to Cherry.
Cherry didnt try to catch it, he let it fall to the ground and rolled away. “I can't take that one.” He said, feeling defeated. “I can't take it until I climb that tree!” With that, he pulled the bundle away, leaving Annabelle stunned, and the apple untouched.
“Woh, he's getting it.” Luvie said. “Hey bad tree climber you're over half way, took ya three days though, can't praise ya too much for that.”
Cherry felt his stomach aching, a pile of three apples sat untouched below him, waiting for him to succeed. He figured it out, he found small handholds that he could get the tips of his fingers into, his toes latched onto other handholds and he began to rise, one step at a time. Soon he would reach the branches where he would pull himself up.
“Come on Cherry!” Annabelle said happily.
“Lets fruit boy, speed it up.” Luvie called.
He pushed himself more and more, he could almost reach a branch, but his feet were giving out. He would fall, he knew it, so he did what he had to. He took a leap. Kicking off the tree Cherry darted up, reaching and grasping at a branch. He caught it, pulling with all his might till he sat atop the branch.
“You did it!” Annabelle cheered. Cherry sat at eye level with her, his goal reached, he could finally look at her on equal footing.
“Whatever.” Luvie said. “You congrats, you climbed a tree, something any monkey could do.”
Cherry breathed deeply, pride filling him.
Luvie jumped down and headed inside. “I'm bored, i liked watching him fall.”
Cherry looked past the wall for the first time and it was amazing. A large mansion stood, blocking the view of the greater city, a large garden separated the mansion and the wall, every inch covered in fruit trees. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Before he dreamed of eating acorns and tree bark, now those dreams felt small compared to what was before him. It was all beautiful, but Annabelle was far more beautiful than all of that combined.
She reached out a hand. “Come on, let me sneak you inside.”
They snuck through the garden like a couple of thieves. Against the edge of the mansion was a set of vine supports.
“That window there is my room, climb the support, it's easier than the tree.” Annabelle said, and it was. He sat in her room, it was large and spacious, with a feathered bed. Book shelves lined the walls, filled to the brim with books.
“Hey this is my favorite.” Annabelle said, pulling a large book from the shelf. “It's called the Monster and the Princess, it's a classic story over in the South blue.” Cherry sat awkwardly on a cushioned chair as Annabelle approached. “Can you read at all?”
“No.” Cherry said painfully, he hated admitting weakness to her.
“Alright, i'll teach you.” Annabelle said, pulling up a seat next to his. “We can read this story together okay? Oh and ill get us some chicken, though when the servants come by you gotta hide under the bed okay? Cant let people know you're here.”
That became Cherry’s daily routine, climb the tree, spend his days with Annabelle. They read stories, she taught him to write in her fancy writing, Cherry learned alot about the world and about her. Some days they would just play, Luvie would join, but she would just call Cherry names, though she always was willing to join in on board games. After he would sneak out with a bundle he would bring to the people in the scar, slowly improving life there. People began to get that light in their eyes again, buildings began to be built, food was becoming more common, even farms were beginning to be grown. Years went by like that, at 4 years old Cherry's mother had died, at 7 he met Annabelle, and at 14 he had made his choice.
“I'm going to leave.” Cherry said as the two sat in her room, eating pastries.
“Huh?” Annabelle said confused. “It's so early in the day though. You sure you don't want to stay longer?” SHe had grown so much more beautiful, puberty had treated her well.
“I meant i'm going to leave the island.” Cherry said. “I've been thinking about it, and I need to make money, and when I do, I'm going to come back and we can make a life together, one where we don't need to stay secret.”
Annabelle smiled. “I'd like that, alright, ill pack my bags.”
“No, you can't come with me.” Cherry explained.
“Why not?” Annabelle said, her tone becoming annoyed. “You want a life with me, let's have it.”
“Not yet.” Cherry said. “I'll come back, when I can afford to give us that life. And I will come back.”
“What are you going to do?” Annabelle asked.
“I'm going to become a bounty hunter, I'll hunt pirates, it'll make me strong, strong enough that I can protect you no matter what threatens you.” Cherry explained.
Annabelle looked nervous, but she didn't voice it. She got up. “In that case, give me one second.” She left the room and returned shortly after, Luvie trailing behind him.
“Dad will be pissed when he finds out Annie!” Luvie said.
“I doubt he will notice for a year or two.” Annabelle said, a long bundle under her arms. “Cherry needs them, something to help him out.” She held out the bundle for Cherry to take. “Here, this should help you.”
Cherry took the bundles reverently, unfurling it. Inside was a rapier, sheathed in a plain scabbard, as well as two unadorned pistols with small bags of ammo, and a small pouch of berries.
“Dad tried fencing, but got tired of it quickly, and the pistols he dropped cause he got fancier ones. These should help, if you're going to hunt pirates.”
Cherry looked at Annabelle, and smiled. “Alright, give it time, before long im going to become the most notorious man in the world, then no one will mess with us when we start our life.”
Luvie made a gagging motion, Annabelle smiled warmly. “You don't need to go that far, as long as you come back to me i'll be happy.”
Luvie continued her gagging motion.
CHerry began to leave, but before he climbed out the window he was forced to turn around as Annabelle grabbed his face, and pressed her lips to his.
“Annie!” Luvie yelled out.
“By Cherry J Boot, until we meet again.”
Cherry smiled. “Good by, Annabelle Dufort, well see each other soon.” He didnt voice his true farewell. ‘Until I can stand truly as your equal’. With that, Cherry set out to find his dreams. Sadly, he washed up on a nearby shore. Before long he reached the island of Torrent, having tracked down a high bounty target, Sassy Tallahassee, Captain of the Cowboy Pirates.
