Hearts of Stone

He did not come by ship. Through the crashing waves, he rode atop a rising tide but as the guards at the harbor peered they saw massive writhing shadowy mass with twin gleaming eyes glowing faintly gold, obscured by the sea. Its speed was terrifying, closing a distance no ship could reach in the time it took for them to sound the alarm. The heavy thunder of footsteps pounded upon the pavement as soldiers raced to their battle stations.

But then, the figure, with hair as crimson as the sunset, a heavy cloak fluttering in the wind, leapt from the leviathan monster and landed in the harbor. His arrival was punctuated by a surge of wind blowing them down, many scuttling to their feet. He paid them no mind. Turning to face the creature hidden in the ocean, he gave it a cheery wave. And off it went, disappearing beneath the surface, until not even its shadow remained.

Meanwhile a squadron of guards had rushed off, near crippling fear lapping at their heels as they made a mad dash towards their King. For any man capable of taming such a beast, was not to be trifled with. Only the greatest warrior of Dressrosa could challenge such a being. Back at the harbor, the unknown man stood unmoved as he was surrounded by the guards, their blades drawn, their guns aimed true. A frantic commander barking orders over the cacophony of stampeding feet as they scrambled into formation. The man stepped forward, and the collective soldiers retreated as one.

His smile at their response was far too wide, and showed far too many teeth.