Where he was from, every day was almost too peaceful. There were absolutely no conflicts, everyone was overly nice, there was not a thing to worry about. It was totally different from the world below. How did he know that? He had been watching the world beneath him while growing up, through the gaps of the clouds in which his feet rest upon.

The world below was certainly an odd one. There would always be a war going on in some parts of that world, fights and arguments were like breathing to the people. He could see something within each human living on the earth surface, something absent in the people living on the clouds. If he had to describe it, it was dark and muddy. Perhaps that was the reason for all the disputes happening down there.

There were also more differences between those living above and those living below. For one, earth dwellers did not have wings. He could not imagine how they lived without wings – wings were such an important part of his life! He was extremely proud of his own pairs of wings, cloud dwellers usually have only one pair of wings, and yet he had two! He could fly the fastest amongst his peers; well, not that it mattered anyway. Cloud dwellers did not partake in competition and the pace of life was slow.

At age ten, he peered over the gaps of the clouds yet again. Cloud dwellers were blessed with excellent eyesight: despite the distance between earth and the clouds, he could see clearly what was going on.

He saw a little boy, crying. He thought it was strange, because the boy was all alone in the middle of a forest. He scanned the area and spotted a cottage a few kilometres away from the boy. Was the boy lost?

He hesitated a little.

It was not a custom for a cloud dweller to contact an earth dweller. But the little boy…he was bawling his eyes out, snot dripping from his nose, wailing for help.

He sighed. It was a cloud dweller's job to guide a lost human, wasn't it? To spread peace and harmony, for the goodness of the world, yada yada.

"Hey."

He spoke and the little boy looked up. The boy turned his head in search of the source of the voice, but poor humans, their eyesight were not on par with the cloud dwellers'.

"You can stop turning your head, you can't see me."

The little boy halted his movements and blinked twice.

"Who…are you?" The boy asked innocently. "Where are you?"

"Well…let's just say I'm standing on the clouds right now. You… are you lost?"

The boy immediately stared at the clouds. "Are you an angel?"

He could have sworn that their eyes met, but he knew very well the boy could not see him. "I guess that's what you humans call us. Say, are you lost?"

The little boy's eyes suddenly sparkled and he did not think that was possible, even for a cloud dweller. The boy chirped, "Cool! It's the first time I've seen one!"

He almost let out a laugh. This kid was hilarious. Just a moment ago, he was crying so loudly, and now he was smiling so brightly. It was rather comedic, given that his face was still stained with dried tears.

"Technically you can't see me," he joked with the boy. "Okay, tell me whether you're lost or not."

"Uh…" the boy glance around him. "…no."

He raised an eyebrow. "Hm? Then why were you crying just now?"

"I just…! I just didn't know the way home!" The little boy protested.

He almost laughed again. "That's called being lost."

The boy pouted. "Nu-uh!"

"Yes, it is. Do you want to know how to get home?"

"Yes!" The boy nodded vigorously.

"Is your home a cottage with a big 'x' sign on the roof?"

"Yes! Wow…! How do you know that?" The boy was in awe.

He chuckled. "I can see everything from up here. C'mon, I'll tell you the directions."

"Okay! Thank you, mister angel!" The boy grinned the cutest grin he had ever seen.

He felt his heart skip a beat. What was that?

"Alright, now turn left and walk forward."

The boy followed the directions obediently and started humming happily.

"Hey, mister angel!"

"Hm?"

"What is your name? Mine's Luffy!"

Names. Yet another difference between earth and cloud dwellers. Cloud dwellers had no need for names. They were clear on who they were referring to when communicating. Names would just be useless labels.

"I don't have a name," he said blatantly.

"Whaaaat? That's so sad!" Luffy pursed his lips. "I know! I'll think of a name for you!"

"Ah, well, I don't really need…" He trailed off once he realised there was no stopping this boy from giving him a name.

"How about…Ace? I think it means 'number one', and you're the first angel I've met!" Luffy suggested excitedly.

"Hm, sure."

"Hehe! Ace! I can't believe I made an angel friend!"

Friend…?

"Wait, I'm sorry, friend…?" Since when were they friends? They had just met!

"Yup! Ace is now my friend! Nice to meet you!" Luffy giggled.

"Uh, okay…"

Well, he could just entertain the human, at least for now. The boy was still very pure, free of that darkness that shrouded other adult humans. But he was sure…once Luffy was grown up, he would be the same as the others.

"Hey, Luffy…could you do me a favour and not tell anyone about me?"

"Why? I want to tell everyone about Ace!"

"Us cloud dwellers, I mean, angels, aren't supposed to talk to humans. It would be a problem if word got out, you know?"

"…would Ace hate me if I told anybody?"

"I mean," he paused. No cloud dweller ever used the word 'hate'. 'Love' was the more common word. "…I just won't like it if you told anybody."

"…okay. I won't tell anyone. I promise."

Luffy went quiet for a moment before opening his mouth again.

"But Ace, can you promise me something too?"

"What is it?"

"Can you talk to me again tomorrow?"

Luffy's voice had a hint of sadness, he wondered why.

"I don't mind."

"Thank you," Luffy whispered.

There was it again.

"Cheer up. Look, you're home."

Before Luffy knew it, he had already walked all the way to the cottage where he lived.

"You're right! Thanks, Ace!" Luffy was suddenly bubbly again. "Well…talk to you tomorrow!"

With that, Luffy opened the cottage door with his small hands and slipped inside.