Arranis watched the way the dogs sloped down on their gruel. They ate it ferociously, as if it would be the last thing they would eat for weeks. They bit at each other, trying to get their share that was not devoured by their brothers. 

“Now now.” Arranis said, pushing one dog off the other. “You had your fill.” 

“Arranis?” a voice called out. Arranis turned, finding his father standing at the edge of the kennel. He was a skinny man dressed in his slick gray suit and his equally graying hair was brushed to the side and held by a gel that gave it a glistening sheen. “Ah there you are, are you ready?”

Arranis stood up tall, as tall as an eight year old could. “Of course father.” he brushed the straw from his knees and followed his father out of the house. 

The carriage sat open in front of the Mayor’s mansion, a large building that was built along the edge of the forest on the island of Mousee. Arranis climbed in swiftly, then took a seat in between the orphans. 

“Arranis stop shoving!” Irulan said, shoving Arranis. She was only a year younger than Arranis, yet she was the smallest of all the children that Arranis’s father took care of. 

When Arranis’s father, Geidi, had the mansion built he specifically made sure that half the building was given to the orphans of the men who had died protecting the island from pirates before Geidi had arranged for the navy to protect them. Thanks to Geidi’s business mind he had brought the island to prosperity, affording the Heavenly Tribute to afford their safety. 

“Irulan, stop being rude.” The skinny Lero said. He held his hands on Arranis’s shoulder to keep him from bouncing into him. Lero nervously looked through the large pair of spectacles that Geidi had gotten made for him. 

“I'm not rude! He shoved me!” Irulan said, her small nose seemed dwarfed on her face. 

“He was making space.” Vladim said, sitting across from the rest of the group. He was a bigger boy with a round head and crooked nose. “Just hush will ya.”

Irulan stuck out her tongue at Vladim. 

Chani sat quietly, fiddling with a small puzzle box that Arranis had crafted for her. She was darker skinned, with deep black hair and eyes to match. Ghaim stared out the window of the carriage, his shaggy unkempt hair like the mane of a lion. 

“Where is everyone else?” Arranis asked as his father and mother climbed in. 

“They are in a separate carriage, do not worry.” Geidi said. 

“Lets all try to get along now.” Arranis’s mother, Yor, said with a calming gesture to the children.

“K.” The kids said in unison. 

Arranis looked as they rode, in the other carriage would be Dunc, Genry, and Yueh. He wished they all could have shared a carriage together. Dunc and his funny accent and green hair, Genry and his terrible poetry, and Yueh and his hyperactiveness. 

The carriage came to a stop outside the town hall, where a cluster of residents had come. Arranis could see the tension before the carriage door had even opened. It made sense, Opo had been trying hard to win the mayoral election, but it was no matter, Arannis’s father was a good man, no one would beat him. 

How could he lose? Opo was an ex-Marine, sure, but now he was just a fisherman. Meanwhile Geidi was the hero of the people, bringing them to prosperity, taking care of orphans, and helping out the poor. 

“Everyone stay together.” Geidi said as he looked out the carriage door.

“Why father?” Arranis said, confused at his fathers uncertainty. “The people love you! You're a great and kind man!” 

Geidi looked out the window another minute, then turned and smiled at his son. “Yes of course, I just don't want anyone to get lost in the crowd.” 

They marched through the crowd, yet they felt resistance the whole way. Dunc had run up and walked alongside Arranis, Lero on the other side. The two helped protect Arranis from any loose shoulders. 

“Why are they being so rude?” Arranis asked to no one in particular.

“Probably cause of what happened recently.” Dunc said in his accent. “See, heard a tale that pirates been attacking ships in the harbor.” 

“What! How we are protected by the Navy!” Arranis said suddenly.

“They say it's the start of the Great Pirate era.” Lero said, taking an elbow to the chin. He carried on without worry. “Since they killed the pirate king a month ago all sorts of people are heading out to sea.” 

Arranis had a strange feeling as he watched the eyes of the villagers follow Geidi. He felt animosity, a word he had only learned of from his studies recently. He balled his fist, they were blaming father for the raids weren't they! 

They arrived at the podium where the election would take place, sitting at his seat with his goons was Opo, the sailor men staring daggers at Geidi. Arranis took a seat near his fathers, the orphans seating themselves close as well. He was close enough that he heard Opo lean over to speak to Geidi.

“Your too weak, Geidi.” Opo said in his gruff voice. “We need someone strong, the strong are the ones who rule this world” 

Geidi sat still, eyes on the crowd as they all began to cast their votes into the box. Opo just smirked and turned to the crowd. Arranis watched angrily. Yueh rushed up to the stage, Arranis hadn't even noticed him sneak off. The small boy panted as he returned to the group. 

“Guys guys.” Yueh said, breathless. “I went to talk to the Mcormy boys right? And they were angry at me!” 

“What you do?” Vladim said, cleaning his ear with his pinky. 

“I didn't do anything. They said they were mad at Mr Geidi!” Yueh said. 

Geidi turned to Yueh in confusion. “Whatever for? I have been doing my best to get rid of the pirates?” 

“Probably has something to do with that letter we found on that pirate ship.” Opo said with a sense of satisfaction. “The one that says that you paid them to attack their ship, so you could make a larger profit off the goods.”

Geidi shoot a paniced look at Opo. Opo looked quite pleased with himself.

“You planted it!” Arranis said, jumping up. He balling his fist and charged at the large man. Before he could hit the man Arranis was lifted by Howit, Geidi’s head guard who was only twenty years old. “You bastard!”

“Arranis!” Yor yelled out. 

“Arranis sit yourself!” Geidi said sternly. 

“But father.” Arranis said, deflating like a balloon.

“We do not rule by force, my son, but by compassion and respect. The people will see through this lie.” Geidi said, staring into the crowd. 

They did not. 

Arranis sat in his fathers study that night. Only his mother, father, and Howit were with them. Arranis felt lost, how could the people of this island turn on his father? He was a good man, he treated everyone with respect. He watched Mr Tert glare at Geidi as he cast his vote, even though Geidi had loaned him money to keep his bakery up. He engraved the faces of everyone in that crowd, remembering the injustice they had shown his family today. 

“We will be fine.” Geidi said, staring out into the night through the window. “We will earn back their respect and run in a few years. We have the funds to keep the island whole.”

“You still want to help them after they betrayed you?” Arranis said suddenly. “Father, why?”

“They were deceived, I do not blame them.” Geidi said. “Lies are a powerful tool against the trusting. We made our island trusting, we did this to ourselves. However, they will see that Opo is not the kind leader they believe he is. Just give it time, they will beg for me to return to power.”

“We're playing the long game sweetie.” Yor said to Arranis. “It will all work out, justice and goodness always succeed, remember that.” She gave a warm smile that made Arranis think of a fresh baked pie. 

“Howit.” Geidi said, drawing Arranis attention back to his father, who had gone stiff. “Gather the orphans and staff, get them out the house and to our warehouse.” 

“Sir?” Howit asked, gripping at a sword at his hip.

“NOW!” Geidi demanded in a tone that Arranis had never heard before. 

“Father, what is.” Arranis did not finish the thought, as he could see the torch light growing closer. 

“We must go.” Geidi said, turning sharply and pulling his children along. They rushed towards the stairs of the main hall, just as the large double doors of their mansion were broken open. “What is the meaning of this!” 

Men with barred blades and masks rushed into the house, spotting Geidi and his family and charging after them. 

“Yor, take Arranis and run!” Geidi yelled out, pulling off a display halberd he had hanging on the wall. It was blunt, and would not slash anyone. 

“Geidi!” Yor yelled, tears welling in her eyes. 

“Go! I will be okay, just stay safe!” Geidi yelled out. 

Yor lifted Arranis and ran. From his perception Arranis could see his father struggle to hold off these men, he was no warrior, he was just a good man. 

“Don't look sweetie it'll all be okay.” Yor began to repeat, pressing Arranis face into her shoulder, blocking out his sight as his father yelled out in pain. “Don't look sweetie it'll all be okay. Don't look sweetie it'll all be okay. Don't look sweetie it'll all be okay.”

He didn't know when they got outside, not until his mother had tripped and Arranis tumbled across the ground. His cheek split on a root, causing blood to drop down his face. Arranis ignored it, looking at his mother who was on the ground, she had hit her head on a rock and it was bleeding. 

“Mother!” Arranis yelled, rushing to her side. 

“There they are!” A voice called out from the house. 

“Arranis.” Yor said weakly. “Run, please, you must live, run.” 

“I won't leave you!” Arranis said, wiping away the blood from his mothers face. “Please mother, you have to get up, we can run together, we can find dad, we can all go away, with the kids and everyone else. We can meet with Howit, we can run! We can go anywhere just please.” Tears bled together with the red lifeblood that trickled down his cheek. “Please don't leave me alone.”

Yor looked at Arranis, begging eyes. Eyes full of pain at what she had to say. She shoved Arranis back. “Run, please.” 

Arranis took one last look, then ran.

“I love you!” Yor yelled out. “Your father loves you too! Never forget that!” 

Arranis ran hard through the blackness of the wood, his directions were distorted, he could not see the sky, just the blackness around him. The shadows began to move, trying to steal away his life. His eyes darted around wildly, looking for the enemy that was there. He ran in what he hoped was the right direction. Then, he came across the clearing. 

The orphans had been chased, three men with blades stood before them. Dunc and Lero stood in front of the kids, protecting them with a broom and a rake. The swords of the men dripped with blood that seemed to glisten in the full moon's light. 

Arranis could not watch this, his family was taken, possibly killed, and his friends stood before impending death. Irulan grit her teeth, holding Chani to her chest protectively. Vladim had a gash across his right arm, which hung limply and was stained red. Genry and Yueh stood in shocked horror, unsure what to do. They were about to die, and there was nothing he could do about it. 

They will die

They will die

They will die, if I dont do something. 

Gritting his teeth, Arranis charged. He summoned whatever he could. “Be it god or Devil, just give me the strength to save them!” As he entered the clearing the attackers turned to see Arranis, as did the children. 

Arranis felt it happen then, the snap in his mind that broke away the limiter natural to humans. He focused hard on the man nearest him, and felt a wave of mental energy shoot out from his mind following one order. ‘Get away’

The man flew into the second man, whose sword dug into the first’s throat. Arranis was not sure how he had done it, but he dont something. The Third turned on him now, raising a sword to strike. 

“I'm not afraid of you!” Arranis yelled out, still charging, it was dumb and he knew it but he would not let anyone else die. He lifted his tiny fist, but had no need to. Foam billowed from the man's mouth and he collapsed. Arranis fell to his knees, his body and mind felt weak and his vision blurred, yet he knew he had done something to knock out that man. 

The second attacker had recovered and now stood over Arranis with his bloody sword. Arranis tried to move, but his body wasn't responding right. He was about to die. 

Two blades emerged from the attackers chest. The blades were from the other attackers, and were held by Lero and Dunc. The final attacker collapsed to the ground, his death blow going unused. 

“Dunc, Lero.” Arranis said, wobbling to his feet. 

“You saved us, with whatever that was.” Lero said. “It was amazing.” 

“If you can do that again, we could save everyone!” Dunc said. 

“Father, Mother, I can save them.” Arranis said, his mind a jumble. He wasn't thinking clearly, yet he ran back towards the house. He could save them, he could save them. 

The fire had started before he had even arrived. His father and mother were tied to crosses that’s bases began to burn. Yor yelled out in fear, and Geidi begged for his wife's life. The people before him had removed their masks, revealing the people of the town. At their head, was Opo. 

“I told you Geidi, this is a world for the Strong, the weak have no place here.” Opo said. 

Arranis fell to his knees at the edge of the tree line, he couldn't muster the strength to do anything. His body couldn't replicate whatever he did to those attackers, he was weak, pathetic. He couldn't even run out to them, join them in the flames. His father turned and saw Arranis, relief filling his eyes before he returned them to Opo.

“I helped you people! I did everything I could for this island! And this is how you repay me!” Geidi yelled out. “You are monsters! Monsters do you hear me!” 

“No.” Arranis said, staring weakly ahead. “They aren't monsters, they are people. Humans, pathetic humans.” The tears were running like a river now. He screamed silently as he watched, pounding on the ground, unable to tear his eyes away from his parents final moments. His fist bled from the knuckles where he had smashed rocks with his punches. 

“Arranis.” Howit said, kneeling next to Arranis in the darkness. He hadn't noticed the guard join him. “Come, we have to leave.” 

Arranis could not stand, instead Howit had to lift him and carry him off. 

“I hate them.” Arranis said angrily as the fire began to die away, his family's screams still echoing in his ears. “I hate them.”

“I know.” Howit said, holding Arranis tightly. 

“Howit, I need to get stronger.” Arranis said through gritted teeth. 

“I will teach you what I can.” Howit said. “We just have to run for now.” 

“I'll come back, and I'll tear this island apart.” Arranis vowed. 

The morning sun felt like a betrayal to the night's deeds. The cove Arranis and the kids were hiding at gave a sea breeze that made Arranis feel awful. His world had fallen apart, yet the sun shined, and the breeze blew. Almost as if the world was glad for his parents death. 

Howit dabbed the alcohol filled cotton ball to Arranis cheek. He had already treated the other kids, stitching Vladim’s wound closed. Arranis sat on the edge of the rock staring, the pain of the alcohol almost felt relieving. 

“How did you do it Arranis?” Irulan asked curiously. “You knocked that man out, and threw two others.” 

Howit looked at Arranis curiously. “Is that true? You knocked a man out?”

“His mouth foamed.” Arranis said, his voice hoarse from sobbing. “He fell down before I even touched him.” 

“That would be Color of the Supreme King.” Howit said, beginning to stitch Arranis’s face. “It's a form of Haki, I know a bit about it, not Conqueror's haki as it's called, but Armament and Observation.”

“Will it make me strong?” Arranis asked. 

Howit stopped. “The pirate king didn't have a devil fruit, he only had Haki. it is strong enough to overcome any weakness.” 

“Teach me.” Arranis said. “What about you all?” He asked the kids.

“Arranis, we talked about it.” Dunc said, his hands in his pockets. “Well follow you to the ends of the earth, we will help you.” 

Howit sighed. “It's not much, but it's the beginning of an army.” 

“Alright, we prepare to fight back, we will destroy Opo and the people of this island.” Arranis declared .

Arranis thought about it, Howit didn't say anything about the launching ability. Was there something beyond Haki’s abilities? He would need to master these powers, that way he could master everyone who got in his way. 

5 years later. 

Opo grit his teeth. His mansion was under attack. It was those damn hooligans from the beach, they had been robbing people, stealing ships and cargo, they were pretty much pirates. Yet they couldn't pay the Heavenly tribute, so the Marines were nowhere to be seen. He should have done something about them before now, but he couldn't spare the men. 

A door creaked open behind Opo. he turned quickly, looking into his bed chamber. It was dark, he couldn't see anyone. Opo inched in, drawing his cutlass from his hip. He turned the ignition for his lantern, filling the room with light. 

A chair that Opo had close to his bed now sat in the middle of the room. A man sat their, rugged wavy black hair with deep blue eyes and sun tanned skin. He sat casually on the chair, a knife in his hand that he played with. Digging the tip into his finger, yet not drawing blood. 

“Hey there Opo.” The man said, no he was a boy, a teenager, but he gave the airs of maturity. “Remember me?” 

“A-Arranis?” Opo said, inching closer. He had the advantage in combat experience and sword play. “The hell are you doing here?” 

Arranis wasn't even looking at Opo, just sat there looking at his knife. “You know, I dreamed of this day for five years now. Thinking of all the things I would do when I got to you. Yet, looking at you now, I am disappointed.” 

“You're here to get back at me for what happened to your parents, then let's duel boy!” Opo shouted, hoping to draw attention from a guard.

Arranis finally lifted his eyes and looked at Opo. “Duel? Haha, no no Opo you don't understand, I can't duel someone so far beneath me.” 

Opo felt his emotions flare, he charged Arranis. Arranis did not even shift, yet Opo felt his legs fly back, his face going forward until his nose smashed into a bloody mess on the boards. “You cunt!” Opo shouted nasally. 

Opo felt a foot be pressed on his head, pushing him back into the floorboards painfully. “You see, Opo, in order for a duel to happen the combatants must be on even footing. And you see, I am just so much stronger than you, you're like a worm.” Arranis snickered a little. “You told my father something before you killed him, do you remember what that was? No? You said, This world is for the strong, the weak have no place. Your not completely wrong. But you see, the weak do have a place in this world.” He dug his heel into Opo’s skull. “Their place is beneath my feet.” 

“Just kill me and be over with it!” Opo shouted. 

Arranis removed his foot, and stepped back. “Oh Opo, you don't understand, death is to great a mercy for you.”  

Opo lifted his head, and saw the tip of Arranis boot near his face. 

“You see, Death releases you from punishment. No, you, and all the other people on this island, are my dogs now. Now be a good dog, and lick my boot.” 

Opo began to cry and he stared up at the pure blissful look that covered Arranis’s face. When he didn't respond right away he was met with a swift kick to his broken nose. Arranis kept doing it, until finally Opo licked his blood from his master's boot. Truly defeated.