Of Ashes and Stardust

Prologue

Crash! Shatter!

Screams bounced off of the stone bricks and echoed into the night. The air was thick with smoke and ash, the ravaging orange flames casting light throughout the once sleeping town. Silhouettes danced across the walls, falling down one by one as the dirt was painted a deep crimson.

Cackles rang out from the plaza. Dirtied figured emerged from the buildings, stolen treasures and bloodied bags slung over their shoulders. Flashes of light reflected off of the metal that was holstered at their hips or shoulders. This was not the first time they had done something like this, and it would not be the last.

Just outside of the town's walls a young man clutched his right side. He had not seen any familiar faces in the past hour. Was he the only one left? Were the heavens really so cruel as to— Snap!

What was that?

Sucking in a breath that sent pricks up his spine, the man's gaze panned over to the bushes just before the tree line. He could feel his eyes burn at the aspect of being caught after everything. He did not even have time to start a family. He has not become successful. He did not even get the chance to propose to his best friend...

Before the man could spiral even further, the head of a child emerged from the bushes. She did not even seem to notice all of the leaves and twigs that were sticking out from her hair as doe-like eyes began scanning her surroundings. The man did not recognize this child, but that did nothing to quell his pounding heart.

"Hey!" He hissed, eyes wide as they darted back to where he could still hear distant laughter, "You need to get out of here! It's dangerous!"

The child merely blinked before turning to look at the man. She said nothing, but stepped out of the bushes to walk even closer.

"No... No. No. No. No! No!"

Tears were building again, more out of fear than sorrow.

"Stay away! You need to get somewhere safe! Please!"

The man's pleads seemed to go right over the girl's head as she knelt beside him. Head tilted to the side as the white frills of her dress came in contact with the muddy ground. A frustrated cry left the man's lips as she pressed a gentle palm into his side. How the hell was this child not understanding a word he was saying?!

Just as the man opened his mouth to try again, he felt a cooling sensation against his side. The words died on his tongue as he saw the soft, purple, glow that emitted from the child's hand. The pain from his side faded into a slight discomfort, then disappeared completely. When the girl removed her blood-stained hand, the wound he had sustained was completely gone, replaced with smooth flesh.

"I- You—"

"Princesa, what are you doing down here? I thought I told you to stay on the ship?"

The man tensed as she child jumped to her feet. He felt a bead of sweat forming at his temple, but she wore a bright smile on her face as the owner of the gruff voice stepped closer.

A large man with a roughed up trench coat stepped forward with a trunk slung up on his shoulder. His gaze was sharp, but the girl ran up to him with a large smile as she called, "Uncle! You're back!"

The man said nothing, opting to shake his head before ruffling his hair. A sigh left his lips before he replied, "Aye, and you're not where you're supposed to be."

The girl stuck out her lower lip in a pout, going on about how she had been lonely on the airship, but the man was no longer looking at her.

Cold eyes cut into the townsman as the pirate took notice of his presence.

"Go back to the ship, Princesa," the imposing figure started, "I'll catch up with you in a few minutes. Go help the others load the haul."

"Okie!"

The townsman could only watch in silence as a pair of wings sprouted from the girl's back, unfurling to reveal white feathers, before beating against the air. Two beats and the child's feet had left the ground; another three, and her form had raced towards the large vessel that was flying overhead.

"This ain't personal," the pirate spoke as he took the pistol from his belt, "It's just life."

Bang!