Deadly Valley

Flames lit up the dark valley as the sounds of swords clanging created a beautiful orchestra of destruction.

A loud crack echoed through the valley as a chuck of a mountain snapped out of place and tumbled hundreds of feet before crashing into the ground.

"Watch out!" a little boy with red hair yelled as he tackled another boy to the ground.

The rubble from the mountain crumbed around the two, blocking the path behind them.

The boy who was saved watched the world in awe without a word. His head turned around analyzing the situation in front of him and looking for an escape route. His hopes dimmed as he spotted a roaring fire, steadily growing in size after consuming the wildlife around them.

As the fire crawled towards the boys they slowly backpedaled towards the rubble-blocked path. Eventually they had their backs against the wall with nowhere left to run.

As if the heavens willed it, a huge shockwave rolled over the entire island, dosing the fire in the process.

The two boys looked up as the clouds parted for hundreds of meters, finally the sun illuminated the dark valley rather than the flames of destruction. The two boys looked at the now blue sky in awe, it really felt like a miracle.

One of the boys sighed in relief. He had dirty white hair due to the dust constantly falling off the rubble and crimson red eyes that seemed to glow in the dark before, but now looked more ordinary. He clutched a small book close to his chest with a smile on his face as he looked at the boy with red hair. "Thanks for the save."

The boy with red hair gave a large grin. "No problem! I'm Shanks, nice to meet you!" He said as he presented his hand in a show of friendship.

The boy with white hair smiled. "I'm Dr. Alex. Nice to meet you." He replied while taking the hand offered to him.

Shanks's mouth fell wide open. "You're a doctor!?"

Alex pursed his lips. "Well… not yet. But I will be someday!"

Shanks looked at him and scratched his cheek with one finger. "You're… kinda weird."

Alex looked down, upset.

"Let's be friends!" Shanks exclaimed with a smile.

Alex looked at him with wary eyes. "Didn't you just call me weird?"

Shanks laughed. "Dahaha! Normal people are boring! Who wants to be friends with them?"

Alex looked at Shanks as a smile slowly creeped onto his face. "You're pretty weird, yourself… But you're also right… normal people are boring…hmmmm." Alex seemed to be mulling over something before smacking his palm. "Alright! You can be my first friend, Shanks!"

Shanks laughed. "Then you're my first friend as well, Alex!"

The two new friends somehow completely forgot they were in a warzone until a cannonball landed in between them.

"Gah!" They both called out at the same time and jumped back.

Alex's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he looked toward the sky. "Run!" He yelled as he grabbed Shanks's hand and ran away from the barrage of cannon fire that rained down all around them.

Shanks laughed as they ran while buildings and trees were crumbling around them, the whole island was being razed and this kid was laughing.

Alex shook his head. 'What an idiot.' He thought while a smile even he didn't know was on his face.

The two finally got away from the ongoing battle and saw an evacuation ship lifting in anchor.

"Wait!" Alex called out to the man currently boarding the ship who was dressed in a white coat that said justice on it.

A fat man with a bubble helmet ran out from an alleyway and cut the two kids off. He shoved the man Alex called out too off the side of the boat. The marine hit the water and started flailing his arms.

Alex looked at the world noble in disbelief. He just killed a marine who was protecting him! And he clearly had a devil fruit!

Shanks didn't seem to care about just witnessing a murder as he continued running toward the ship with Alex in tow.

"Let us on!" Shanks yelled.

The world noble turned towards the two kids and cocked his gun, instantly firing two shots. One of them grazed Shanks's cheek.

Shanks gasped and fell backwards as he clasped his bleeding cheek. "W-why?" He asked.

The world noble just snorted and turned around as the ship took off.

Shanks watched as he punched a marine in anger. "You let my slaves die! They were my 5th and 17th favourite!"

Shanks clenched his hand and trembled in anger. "You bastards!!!" He screamed at the ship sailing into the distance. As their only hope of escape grew smaller and smaller in the distance.

It was only then that Shanks realized he wasn't holding Alex's hand anymore. Shanks turned back around and fell to his knees.

"A-alex?" Shanks mumbled as his eyes started to water.

Alex was clasping his stomach as a pool of blood had already started to form around him.

Alex faintly heard Shanks's voice as he looked to the sky gasping for air. His ears were ringing and his whole body felt like it was on fire other than his abdomen, which was cold as ice.

His vision blurred and he started falling in and out of consciousness. He barely had the strength to even think, yet somehow his mind felt like it was racing, tracing through every single regret he had. Until it finally settled on one.

'So this is it… disappointing.'

His consciousness finally slipped for good and his hands relaxed before falling to his side.

Shanks panicked and started to hold the hole in Alex's stomach, trying to keep the blood inside his body as tears fell from his eyes and he shook in fear.