DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ONE PIECE. (OBVIOUSLY)

"Hey! Someone stop that kid!"

The village chief's voice rang throughout the market, attracting attention.

"Dammit!" cursed 9 years old Dragon while dashing through the streets, trying to find a hiding spot.

He could feel more and more people starting to identify him as the 'thief', some had even started to chase him. Let's just hope that Old Betty is away. Dragon thought to himself as he climbed the stairs in the dark old alley, and into Old Betty's shop.

He made no movement until the commotion outside subsided. Phew, all safe now. He blew out a breath and walked out of the shadow.

"Who's there?!" Old Betty's voice. Busted.

Dragon turned around slowly to face the old lady. "Hey, Betty" He tried to put on his best pleading smile. "It's just me. And would you put the broom down, seriously."

The old lady looked both relieved and annoyed, but she did drop her 'weapon'. "Dragon." She glanced outside before directing her gaze at him again. "Have you been causing mischief?"

"No." Dragon felt sweat started to trickle down his face. The pain of being a sucker at lying.

"Yes, you have."

"No. I was just—"

"Then what are you doing here?" The old lady crossed her arms and looked at him.

"Nothing, just…looking around! Since you sell some really good, uh, flowers."

"Flowers?" She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Y-yeah. I mean, look at that! Those are really fresh flowers!" Dragon stammered.

"My cousin sent those flowers to me. I don't sell flowers."

"Really? Oh, uh…" Dragon laughed nervously. Busted busted busted.

"So you have been causing mischief." Old Betty sighed. "What would Garp say to this?".

"Fine, but I only took a ham sandwich." Dragon relented and opened his palm to show her the evidence. "And it's not like I'm stealing, since I'm gonna pay the village chief back with the treasures that I'll steal from the pirates.

"Pirates? Honestly, child." The old lady said exasperatedly.

"What?"

"Don't you think that it's time to join the marines training already, Dragon? Look at your father and brother, they are the pride of this village!" Betty scolded.

Dragon's normally calm and laid-back demeanour slowly changed and his face contorted in an all - consuming anger. He hated when people compare him with dad and Rowan, and how he should try to behave like them. "Well, don't you think it's time for you to stop sticking your nose into other people's problems?" He replied rudely.

"How dare you say that to your elder, you wretched child!? Hey, don't you turn your back on me while I'm talking!" Betty's wrinkled face turned tomato red as she yelled after Dragon, who was already getting out of the window, and not forgetting to give her a middle finger.

The streets were quite by then, leaving only the chirping sound of birds. Safe at last. Dragon thought as he headed towards his house, which was located around the isolated side of the village. His house was the nearest to the forest, dad's idea. The forest can forge you into a stronger person, dad said. Surely, nobody knew that their beloved vice admiral was also a father who thinks that letting his 9 years old kid to train with wild forest beasts is a good idea.

The house's lights were off, which is a sign that no one was home. Dragon felt like he should be glad, that neither Rowan nor dad would find out about the ruckus he caused, but he just couldn't shake off the loneliness that crept inside him. Stop it. Dragon scolded himself, angry that there was still a part of him that felt empty and alone. This is not the first time that they aren't home anyway.

He entered the house with a sigh.
"Knew that I would find you here." A voice was heard as he switched on the lights.

Across the room, sat his big brother—Rowan. Rowan was a marine officer, he was 7 years older than Dragon and responsible for keeping the peace inside the village. His shoulder length hair was in the color of the midnight sky, he had bronze tanned skin that resulted from hours of training outdoor. His marine uniform sleeves were rolled up above his forearms, which were corded with muscles. He carried a rifle on his back along with a belt full of equipments. He was a tall, handsome, and proud young man—the kind of guy girls love to flirt with, but what strikes people the most about him was his eyes. He got their mother's eyes, they were in the color of striking green, the type of green that you would want to gaze on forever.

Aside from his eyes, what really differentiated him with Dragon was his personality. If not for the same type of humor they both had, he was the polar opposite of Dragon. Rowan was calm and calculating, while Dragon was repulsive and reckless; He was very responsible, while Dragon always abandon his responsibilities to have fun. On top of all, Rowan was loved and favoured by the people in the village, while Dragon was considered as the 'crazy child of Garp'.

"Hey! I-uh, have been trying to find you everywhere." Dragon attempted to lie. Didn't work out.

Rowan sighed as he stood and ruffled Dragon's hair. "Honestly, do you know how it feels to get the order to arrest your own brother?!"

"Then just don't do it."

"Well, I don't mind letting it pass, but the village chief won't." He averted his gaze to meet Dragon's. "Dad would probably let it slip, but not without the fist of love."

"Crap." Dragon pressed his palm over his eyes, imagining the pain of dad's so called 'Fist of Love'. More like using the word love to validate child abuse.

"You're lucky you got me on your side." Rowan gave him a sideway grin. "I talked with the village chief, and Old Betty—who claimed that you insulted her, to let this slip. You still have to say sorry, though."

"Right." Dragon was not surprised, his big brother always had a way with words, and a way to charm people.

"What, no thank you?"

"Thank you, Mr. Perfection." Dragon huffed.

Rowan shot him a confused look, his little brother was repulsive, but almost never grumpy and bitter. He let it slip anyway. "Well, you probably have to start apologising now, it's getting dark."

Dragon gave him a thumbs-up and strode through the door without a backward glance.

It was the longest and most painful hour of his life.

Apologising to elders were harder than he thought, both the chief and Betty gave him endless lectures and occasionally, some not-so-pleasant words. Still, Dragon swallowed his pride and bit down his traditional endless trait of cursing.

He was walking down the riverside by then, trying to clear his mood by throwing some pebbles and rocks. He sighed and grunted for the hundredth time, he normally never let all those lectures and insults get to him, but today was different, maybe this was what people always call 'the breaking point', the point where a person just could no longer ignore his/her pain. Dragon was fully aware that the life of a marine was the best for him, he could see himself being respected by the villagers if he was one, but he understood himself well enough to know that he could never live with the boredom and emptiness of a marine's life. Working under an organization, uniforms, the same routines day after day, just the idea of being a soldier could make him gag. But if he won't be a marine, then what? Pirates? Granted, he thought pirates were fun, they always seemed so happy with their treasures and booze and meat, but he still couldn't see himself ending up anywhere or becoming someone significant as a pirate, it would just be another never-ending stream of days filled with golds and duels and endless stretch of sea. He sighed again, this time with a frustrated kick to one of the huge boulders, and he regretted his decision almost immediately.

He was clutching his feet when someone's footsteps were heard behind him. A familiar, easy and laid-back voice was heard. "Arara, Dragon. Feeling gloomy today? That's unlikely of you."

Dragon peered behind him, Kuzan was dressed in his usual dirty clothes that was filled with holes and a pair of purple striped baggy shorts, his black afro hair was as wild as ever, topped with his signature sunglasses.

"I heard you got into trouble again." Kuzan set himself beside him and lean his body to the huge boulder, most probably trying to find the most comfortable spot, in case he accidentally fell asleep.

Dragon scoffed, his energy too spent to even answer.

"What did you do?" Kuzan asked lazily.

"I stole a ham sandwich." Dragon took the sandwich out of his pocket and gave out a frustrated groan. "And shit. It's crushed."

"So you got into trouble for food again." Kuzan laughed while yawning, making some choking sounds.

"Want half?" Dragon asked. Kuzan raised an eyebrow, his one friend never offers anyone food. "I'm just a little too pissed right now to eat a lot." Dragon shrugged and teared the sandwich into half and handed it to him.

"Are you on drugs?"

Dragon gave him a weirded look. "What?"

"The Dragon whom I know would kill anyone who takes his food."

Dragon laughed dryly. "I'm just being nice."

Kuzan smirked and took the sandwich. "Cheers then, to the renewed Dragon who turned kind enough to share his food."

"Wohoo, yay." Dragon cheered mockingly between bites.

"I don't think Garp-san will let this slip." Kuzan said after a while.

"Sure, being that 'marine hero' he is." Dragon's tone was bitter.

"He's just doing what he thinks best for you." Kuzan defended. Of course, Dragon knew better than anyone that Kuzan will be on dad's side. Dad was literally his saviour, the hero who saved and brought him back to this peaceful village from his destroyed country, the country that was ravaged by disease and famine. Dragon still remembered the skinny boy dad brought years ago, the boy had been so frail that he could barely stand on his own feet. Dad gave him a home, a new life, and most importantly, a future. Still, the fact that Kuzan always took dad's side and agree on his every decision didn't irritate Dragon any less.

Dragon bit lips until he could taste blood, stopping himself from hurting his friend with sharp words which he intended to utter. He would never want to bring up Kuzan's past, he did that once, and regretted upon seeing the pain etched on his friend's face.

Dragon pressed his palm to his face, he felt extremely frustrated and angry, and the worst thing was, he didn't know why. His inevitable future, the countless insults, everything in this world world felt as if it was closing in on him. He had no idea what he wanted, what his dream was, what he thought was the best for him—to the point where he felt like loosing himself, as if he was a stranger towards himself.

He got up before his frustration could kill him, and he ran. Ignoring Kuzan's calls, he ran, and ran, and ran. He ran until his lungs ached and his body went numb, his earlier controlled inhale and exhale to uncontrolled gasps and spurts. He didn't stop even until every single ounce of his body was focused in propelling him forward, leaving his attention solely onto his next step. He had never run this far before, he didn't even bother to look back and see how far he has come. Despite the terrible aching his body was currently in, his mind and never-ending thoughts still didn't stop and shut off. He attempted to run further until he could reach that desired point, only finding himself falling down soundlessly onto the grass.

The sky was completely dark by then, leaving only the starlights and the constant quiet chirping sound. For how long and far he had run? He had no idea. For all he knew, he was in an unfamiliar area, nothing in this place managed to trigger any kind of knowledge and familiarity from him. He cursed, he should know better than to wander off in the dark, since he was never good in directions.

He waited until his breath turned even and his heartbeat goes less frantic, and he forced his way up, ignoring the fact his body felt like it was ripping apart.

He began walking when he heard a gruff voice spoke up from behind him.

"Hey, you."

As if this day could have been any worse, he slowly turned around and found a group of bandits looking down on him. Not just any bandits, the particular group of bandits whose treasures he stole days ago.

"My, my. Your face looks familiar, kid." The leader, a dirty middle-aged man in clothes that was caked with dirt and a brass knuckle on each hand stated mockingly. His lips turned into a cold snarl. "Oh, right. You were the brat who stole from us."

Dragon was frozen in place, he couldn't run due to his fatigue, but it was much more impossible to fight in the state he was in, especially against a group of grown man bandits. He was alone, and no one could save him. But better going down with a fight, and so he planted his feet and glared defiantly.

The leader narrowed his wrinkled eyes, not satisfied with the reaction he got. "I'm feeling generous today, so you tell me where the hell my treasures are, and I'll let you go."

Dragon could have laughed, he fully spent the entire box of treasures on meat. Knowing that there's no difference in answering and not telling him anything, he kept his ground and sharpen his glare at the bandit leader.

"Headstrong, aren't ya?" The leader fixed his brass knuckle gloves with a cold animal-like grin on his face. "Then we will make you spit it out." The bandits started to circle on him, five on each directions, and in the center, Dragon. Alone.

His surrounding turned inaudible, all he could hear was his pulse and ragged breathing. Perhaps he himself was accepting the fact that he was going to die this pathetic death, and that nobody would come and help him. The leader swung his left hand up and brought it down, and in that very brief moment, his survival instinct kicked in, he dodged and rolled left.

Funny how when you thought you finally are ready to die, your heart would interfere.

Something hit Dragon from behind, hard. Warmth spread out over his neck and back, he stumbled, but there was no pain. He kicked the bandit behind him, toppling him off, opening up an escapee. He directed his strength and sprinted blindly towards that direction. A weight slammed to his temple, and he stumbled again, but this time the bandits didn't give any chance of escape. A punch landed on his ribcage mercilessly, and for a moment he could see nothing but white and black spots. Still, he barely felt any pain, for all his body was thinking about was run. A face filled his vision, he could see the bandit's raised knuckle, preparing to give him the finishing blow. His hands shot out, slamming into the bandit's jaw and freed his weight off him. Before he could get up, the leader caught him by his hair and slammed his skull to the ground again. Dragon could feel a cold, metallic material rested on his temple, a gun. No coaxing out informations now, seems like the bandits would be happy in just seeing him finally dead.

Dragon's inner guts screamed and screamed. I don't want to die, I don't want to die. He could see the trigger started being pulled.

I don't want to die.

The last thing he remembered, before the bloody red haze finally melted into darkness, was the image of the bandits falling onto the ground, one by one. Their eyes seemed to somehow roll to the back of their heads as their snarling faces grew rather expressionless and blank.

Then the world went black.

PHEEWW IT'S FINALLY DONE. ^^

I had this story and scenario in mind for a while, I wrote this way back in 2014, but stopped midway since I thought the events that come after that are too far off, but now after a few month I reread this fic again, I felt the need to finally finish it. (Chapter 2 is coming really soon). The next chapter will unveil on the aftermath of the awakening of Dragon's Conqueror's Haki.

I really, really hope that you enjoyed it, sorry that it's a little long! The next chapter will be shorter :)

Please fav/follow! And don't be shy, please review! :)

THANKS GUYS xx