GOLDEN SKIES BECOME BLINDING IN THE MIDST OF A SETTING SUN, shimmering blankets of gold now pierced by anchors as a whale of a ship halts at the port of a quiet island, seemingly empty of inhabitants ——– A world of overgrown ivy crawling along stone walls and rotting wood resembling what looked to have been a sign now much too obscure to decipher the use for. Perhaps a world untouched in many decades; abandoned for reasons unknown to the group of pirates freely roaming the site today.
It had been perhaps, months in the making since discovering the vacant island. Having embarked solo on a journey one day, the Fire Fist stumbled upon the potential fruits the island could provide him, that is to say, had the right person decided to plant the seeds and put in the labor.
A vision was formulated and put into action in secrecy. Days he would keep from his beloved hummingbird as he ventured off with a select few others when the need of assistance caught up with one ever so typically determined to work independently on his project ——– Physical work he was always more than capable of, but what could one man achieve within a set deadline and without the tools and brains required to make his vision come to fruition?
❛❛ I’ve got you, Rosa. ❜❜ he speaks softly whilst guiding the hand so much more softer and smaller in comparison to his own. Doe-eyed indigo blues ensured to be blinded temporarily; petite digits having been instructed to hold in place the tilting of his signature hat over delicate features until given a signal.
A pathway was cleared prior to this special day, ensuring it to be nonhazardous for the very person he bothered creating this for at all ——– but useless it was, really. Especially when impatience got the better of him quarter of their journey through overgrown green. Ace backpedals in a manner quite abrupt, releasing of her hand momentarily before sweeping the petite off her feet entirely ——– and readily, after giving a quick word of warning, the male springs through the forest with quick ease, holding tightly onto his princess in arms, of course.
It is only once he slows ( which doesn’t necessarily take long considering his speed ), that the birthday girl is carefully placed back onto her own footing and that the very hat serving to conceal of her sight was finally retrieved by the owner.
❛❛ You.. like this sort of thing, right? ❜❜
Before indigo irises, there stood a bridge of stone above a running river, as if a scene stolen from right out of a fairy tale. One leading out to a clearing, contrasting the messy forest behind them.
Beyond the bridge was where the magic truly began ——– Soft lights of pink and redish hues decorated the scene. Few shipmates caught enjoying the little wonderland in the distance, having already prepared a banquet of sorts ( including a grand table of luxurious desserts for hers truly ) and awaiting for the rest of the party to arrive; particularly the princess of the very world Ace worked so hard to create ——– but the most brilliant, most magical of the scene? There stood in the very center a carousel of vibrant colors, emitting music so nostalgic, so similar to what you would so often hear from a music box.
❛❛ I found it abandoned a little while ago.. It was in rough shape, but for some reason I couldn’t leave it alone out here. ❜❜ A heartfelt smile is presented to her, speaking as if the ride itself was alive. The truth being he couldn’t so much as ignore it when the vision of her smile had followed him everywhere just simply entertaining the possibility that he had he could actually bring it back to life.
A hand swiftly catches her own, wanting to simply join her across the bridge before she proceeded on her own towards the scene resembling the pictures inside the fairy tales he always knew his girl loved so much.
The others merely observed in delight when the couple made their way towards them. A few cheers towards the birthday girl before it was her partner that gingerly, however swiftly seats her upon the back of a glowing hummingbird. One not originally there, but crafted just for hers truly.
❛❛ It’s a little stubborn, this one.. Hold on. ❜❜ He explains, half circling the carnival ride of restructured and repainted animals. The mechanics behind it having been inspired, and therefore similar to his Striker. Meaning a line of wild fire would be needed to be lit so as to propel the acceleration of the carousel itself ——– it quite irritated Ace initially to learn it couldn’t so much as run without his flames, thus a brief, disappointed frown is visible across freckled features at the reminder before brushing such off once the ride began.
Lights danced, as did the animals of various colors. To witness of any expressed happiness from his beloved delighted him immensely. In fact, the pace of which the carousel spun was dependent on the strength of his wild flames. And during the fun, he would be laughing, either accelerating the ride or the complete opposite, simply for the birthday girl’s entertainment.
Sooner or later, after the first ride, the rest of the party would join in on the fun. Some either complaining of the nauseating spinning or thriving off it. Eventually, as the golden skies transformed into a night of glowing stars, the crowd finally dispersed, leaving the two alone once more.
This time, the male spent his first and Rosa’s final ride right along with her. Both perched upon the back of the hummingbird with his arms laced around her petite waist protectively, as though she were treasure. And tiredly, his chin would lean upon a crown of strawberry blond curls whilst a soft tune follows the couple, his tamed fire visibly glowing as they propel the carousel from beneath.
❛❛ Never thought I’d ride something like this, even as a kid. ❜❜ Being that as a child, he didn’t have the luxury to do so. Nor did he ever want to entertain the thought due to the ride being deemed only for girls by a ten year old boy ——– To think, several years later, that same aggressive child now a grown man would willingly rebuild one for the sake of a woman’s smile.
Cue a loving smile of his own, silver irises ever so gentle beneath the moonlight as a hand gingerly guides feminine features to one side, himself moving in ever so slowly to place a kiss upon what was deemed the softest, most delicate and most heavenly touch he’d ever been given the luxury to taste.
❛❛ Happy birthday, Rosa.. ❜❜
VACANT LAND BATHED IN WARM TWILIGHT HUES, light bouncing off the stone walls resembling picturesque images straight from worn out pages of ancient fairy tales and stories from untouched worlds of fantasy — an enchanting view but one which is as quickly taken away from mesmerized and blinking indigo blues as instructed by her most beloved to temporarily conceal of her vision.
His signature hat he entrusts the petite with and she clings to it protectively over strawberry blonde waves, not daring for a moment to steal a single peak —— all the while digits interlock with the one she trusted to always keep her safe and guide her way, a promise she knew to be as true as the ring he adorned around her finger.
Peacefully they march together, when an abrupt halt draws confusion, his name echoed through the vast space in question. ❝Ace?❞ she softly inquiries but the answer is given before she could even ponder on it —— in swift movements, the ground is taken from below her feet, instead replaced with the feel of strong arms securing her tightly within their hold prompting a loud squeal to escape in surprise, however, almost instantly it is followed by timid giggles and ecstatic laughter.
Rosa had been no princess and her man no royal prince, rather both but mere pirates yet in his arms, she could almost swear she had been one —— rather more than any princess, she had been certain, no girl in the history of time had ever been as blessed as she is, simply to have him be the love of her life.
A short journey it had been, but finally indigo hues are granted their sight again, and they couldn’t have possibly unveiled to a more breathtaking view; a gasp escapes glossy lips, clumsily losing her footing in all her awe as she clings to him for support. ❝Ace, it’s… — ❞ lost for words, she turns to freckled features and the stunned expression upon her own delicate ones say it all as she vigorously nods to the query voiced.
❝I do —— ❞ more than simply like ❝It’s like a fairy-tale —— I love it so much❞
For long months, days in and out would be spent occasionally deprived of her firefly’s warmth with no hint nor clue where his adventures would take him, only that it had been far away from herself — perhaps a cause for concern when particularly seeking the company of a select few individuals but never her among them, however, Rosa had not been of little faith for her man and any worries which may arise are almost instantly forgotten the second he is back safe into her loving arms.
Now before her, stood in luminous vibrant colors the source of her king’s distraction and absence all this time, emitting melodies so soothing to the hummingbird’s heart which had been about to burst in joy, unable to quite contain its excitement.
❝That’s.. that’s where you’ve been going, all this time — ❞ she speaks softly as realization slowly sunk in — indigo glistening with love, touched beyond words. ❝You fixed it up.. all for me?❞ the hand she is holding is given a gentle squeeze before her gaze is redirected to the ride he had worked hard to prepare, just for her.
Grateful loving words would undoubtedly follow had the petite not been too taken by the scene to rush on with innocent enthusiasm —— so much she resembled no more than a little girl, the very same one to spend years coped up inside her small room keeping busy with picture perfect fairy tales yet now they paled in comparison to the real thing surrounding her.
Cheers of their loving family drew shy giggles from the musician as she hides of embarrassed rosy features in her lover’s chest but it is not enough to conceal of her happy giggles and laughter, evidently thankful for everyone’s love and hard-work, before she is but swiftly carried away by her prince again, this time guided to her throne, or rather what resembled it to her —— a seat evidently made just for her.
❝It’s a hummingbird..❞ she states the obvious in awe, soft digits gently touching of its glowing surface as she did not for a moment believe this particular seat could have been here out of mere coincidence —— a realization prompting her to lean in and greedily steal a loving kiss then another from his lips just before his flames could bring the wonderland to life.
After that it had been nothing but innocent laughter bubbling through the clearing all the ride long —— her heart held by none other than him as though through his flames not only did he control the carousel but her happiness as well, at which at some point she’d clearly voice. ❝I feel like a princess..❞ one riding in her own kingdom — or rather the little piece of heaven her prince had constructed for her.
With the royal couple of the day left alone, basking in the starlight, Rosa rests her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat in the silence of the night, only pulling away when hearing of what had been deemed the most adorable confession. It prompts the softest smile to her lips. ❝Me neither..❞ she confides slowly; growing up to sounds of gunfire and explosives, it had been difficult for her to so much as believe in the possibility, but she could only ever fantasize about a better life, one of bright colors and happiness as the one he showed her today, or rather every day of her life since coming into it. ❝— I never thought it could be possible.. but I’ve always dreamed of it… every day reading those stories..❞
Captivated by the beauty of silver brighter than the moonlight above, she gently leans into his touch, welcoming the delicate kiss of the only lips she’d ever touched yet forever the only ones she’d ever crave —— deepening it further until he could taste her overwhelming emotions of rapture through tears of joy.
❝ Ace, YOU were my dream come true.. ❞
