Phoenix secret ability

"So..." Thatch wasn't really sure how to begin this conversation. To his relief the teen began it, "I'm sure you need answers to your confusing questions."

Thatch can't help but smile shyly, "Y-yeah... but other than that well... thank you for saving me from Teach's attempt of killing me. Oyaji also gave his gratitude and wish to meet you when you had decided to see him. To give you assurance I didn't tell much other than you saving me."

"Thank you." Phoenix can't help but say it because he's not ready to face his previous life's family. He faced Thatch, "I think it's better for me to explain everything first so you can collect your questions later on." Thatch nodded knowing it's the best action. Taking a deep breath, he began.

"I live in the island called Bud Bud Island in North Blue, been raised by a woman named Anna and taught me almost everything I know. Ever since I was little I felt really different and the reason of it is this." By bringing up his left hand, a blue flame appeared before it and Thatch wasn't faltered, he looks nostalgic by just seeing it. "I had questioned Anna multiple times why I have this power and merely told me I should find out on my own and I did. I soon found it might have something to do with Devil Fruits that were rare to find, but I don't remember eating one which confused me so Anna gave me a deal, if I could defeat her even ones she will answer everything I needed to know."

Phoenix paused for a moment before continuing.

"For that reason I had trained myself really hard in hand-to-hand combat, swordsmanship and my devil fruit power just to surpass her. I even follow her rules such as never showing my capability to the villagers, more so my devil fruit power for my own safety... but..." He gripped his hand that immediately noticed, "A disaster happened, giving me no choice but use my strength... but then I act careless that someone able to stab my arm, that's when my devil fruit power is revealed. They were all shock by it, not really expecting me to have some powers."

Phoenix really didn't like recalling that day, but he has to do it.

"After witnessing my power, that Tenryuubito bastard ordered to capture me and I fought back but... they made a dirty move, taking a child as hostage if a fought back the became a reason for them to successfully trapped me. Before everything could turn out worst, Anna appeared and save me and that child from them. Before any of those knights could speak out loud, Anna began killing them, not caring if those villagers actually saw her doing it. Because of this, we are forced to leave. We kept running until more of them found us. I wanted to help but Anna persist me to stay hidden and kept fighting."

Phoenix showed him the small notebook.

"On her last breath, she had given me this and her last words before dying. One of her dying wish is to prevent a certain tragedy that's about to happen, which happened to be your faithful death Fourth Commander."

Thatch gulp knowing what he means.

"And you are here now and alive, I had succeeded my mission." Phoenix took a breath to release his tension before eyeing the fourth commander. "This is the reason I am here, just to prevent your coming death and subdue Marchal D. Teach as Anna wished for me to do."

"So..." Thatch began as he absorbed everything he had heard about his life, "This is the reason huh..."

Phoenix nodded for his confirmation.

"The-then... how about your devil fruit power? How come you..." Thatch became hesitant but still kept going, "Look almost like... our Marco...?"

Phoenix became sadden knowing he's hurting and seeing him hurt also hurt him too and he knew the reason why.

"Wha... what do you know about Tori Tori no Mi model phoenix?"

"Eh?" Thatch wasn't expecting that question. "What I... well... it's the rarest devil fruit even for Logia type. Had a great regeneration ability, could fly by turning into a phoenix."

Phoenix waited for him to tell more but sensing that's all he knew, he can't help but smile a little. "It's true that phoenix had those abilities. But..." His eyes turned little harden, "Do you know there's more of it, especially about death?"

That shocked Thatch, not knowing there's more that maybe even their Marco doesn't know himself. Phoenix smiled sadly, finally figuring out the reason they kept believing he's dead because they didn't know, who could blame them, even he doesn't know it.

"The other ability is called rebirth."

"Rebirth? As in... something like resurrection?"

Phoenix nodded, "Anna told me in this notebook, about my ability ones I met death. My body itself will burn, returning me to ashes and before you knew it, a toddler self shall appear. Its resurrection."

Slowly but surely Thatch could see where this conversation was heading and he knew well what it means. The person is indeed his supposed to be dead Marco, the person who had return back to life, his best friend.

"Marco..." Ones again Thatch lunched himself and hugged him. This time Phoenix was no longer surprise but what he had seen in the fourth commander's eyes kind of hurt him. His words only add the pain in his heart. "You are alive... you return back to us... Marco..."

Phoenix bit his button lips before continuing, "There's more about it unfortunately."

Thatch pulled himself away, knowing Marco would have wanted him to hear it but his eyes were already blurry, he's crying again.

Phoenix had no choice but to look away as he admits the painful truth. "This fruit indeed have a power to resurrect the user by returning them back into a baby... but that also means resetting."

"Resetting?"

"It means I will know nothing like everyone else who are born in this world Fourth Division Commander." His address had jolted Thatch and his next sentence felt like his world had torn apart. "I do not remember you nor everyone else. I am also not the same as Marco you all know, I am different with no recognition about my past life." He closed his eyes, "And my name... This whole time I thought my name is Phoenix, not Marco. I just learn that's actually my name when Anna told me in her dying state. Not counting Anna's revelation toward my real name, none had ever called me Marco, nor someone called me by that name, you are the first."

It was hard to process, he really can't believe what he's hearing. So Marco forgot them? He forgot him and the Whitebeard Pirates? About Oyaji? About himself?

Phoenix could see Thatch's disbelief and pain and he knew it's hard to accept such fact. 'But it has to be done.' Phoenix thought, 'This way we can both part ways. I will continue living as well as doing everything I can to never across them again, for both side's sake.'

It was a long silence until finally Thatch began to speak.

"So you don't really remember everything? Not even me?" Little nervous but Phoenix answered, "I'm sorry."

This made Thatch cry even more, "Is... is there a way to return them back?"

"I had been following your ship and watching you people from afar. Nothing had jolted my memories of my past. I'm sorry but I believe it's impossible, just like the people out there don't remember their previous life before they became a who they are now. If I ask you surely you won't be able to answer my question."

Thatch looked down as he gripped his fist tightly, this is too much.

"You should rest." Phoenix told to the fourth commander knowing he had gone so much in just one night. Not only he was betrayed and almost die but also learn the fact the supposed dead friend was actually alive but with the twist of resetting life.

Thatch shook his head like a stubborn child, "N-no... I..."

"I won't leave." Phoenix assured knowing that's what exactly he's worried about. "I don't think I could leave anyway... after what happened."

Thatch looked at his eyes to search for any lies but found nothing but honesty. It made him relief, "Please do." He whispered which Phoenix heard clearly, giving a smile.

Soon Thatch used his own sleeping bag to sleep in while Phoenix used the bed. Phoenix really didn't mind using sleeping bag or the floor to sleep but Thatch insist so before anything could escalate Phoenix had no choice but to agree. Now Thatch was in deep asleep, tiredness was too visible to see and Phoenix won't be surprised if he woke up cranky.

'He acts like a child.' Phoenix thought as he remembered his little time with him.

Softly he went out to bed and approached Thatch to make sure he's deeply asleep before gently carried his body in bridal way. If anyone saw this, it would either be funny or surprising because a young teen actually carried an adult in ease. Phoenix placed Thatch's unconscious body to his bed gently and put the cover around him.

"May you rest without nightmares." Phoenix whispered gently with a smile. Soon enough he began to sing a smooth lullaby in hope Thatch wouldn't be having any bad dreams, not noticing a twitch in Thatch's lips.