High Town of Goa Kingdom actually had many places to hide. It was natural, she supposed. Everyone in the kingdom shied away from the dirtiness of humanity. They hid from their heart and grew up like that. Uncaring of their heart after a while. It was what was considered 'normal' in these parts.

Of course, there was the occasional person that stuck out like a flower among a cabbage garden. Fresh, naive, colorful in their own aspect… but weeded out for being different. They were the people who didn't go with the flow waving among the wind along with the others. Instead, they tried to stay still by their beliefs against the currents, futilely trying to be themselves. That was natural too.

More importantly, it were those type of people that needed the places to hide. Like this one. A loud voice screaming to the well. A loud voice filled with despair, hate, loneliness, tears… pretty much anything the opposite of the elusive 'love' or perhaps even elusive 'happiness'. The voice was childish and now broken, filled with hoarse cracks and mournful keens of 'why?'.

No matter how much she wanted to get out of that very well right now… She couldn't just well do that. It was a cry that none should interrupt, even if it spoke of unhappiness. It just shouldn't. Because the cry, too, spoke of stories that needed to be listened.

So she waited.

And waited. And waited.

Tears dropping down from the opening like rain. Her vision only able to see an inverted circle of darkness surrounding the midnight hues of sky and a single dim but golden light. A plop and another and another until the voice stopped only because the owner ran out of strength.

And then, the voice of a young boy left, followed by the very heavy footsteps as if he staggered from a world's fill of burdens.

She stared down at the herbs she could only find in this particular well. They grew only once a month under the moonlight. They grew pure, innocent, ignorant of the world beyond its little home of an isolated well. And now, they were stained by tears of the world.

Her head shook before she climbed out of the damp darkness.

…

Alleys of Goa Kingdom were the best ways to find random information of people. Arguments sang from those with fights and affairs as common as butter. Gangsters and the homeless dealt within them shady drugs and other miscellaneous items. Nobles never entered them out of disdain for them.

However, they always did their shady stuff near them, he noted.

Blue eyes dully watched amidst the darkness; the darkness comforting him. It never acknowledged him… yet it was for that reason he took ease in the shadows of what was called the most beautiful and clean town in East Blue. After all… If it did not acknowledge him, then it also did not scold him, criticize him, hate him. It did not shout at his every mistake. It did not stare down apathetically, condescendingly at his every success.

His blue eyes took in the clear skies, a mood completely contradictory to his turbulent feelings. His hand absently touching the bandages that covered his marred skin from a scuffle with another noble's boy.

His parents didn't care.

No…

Correction. His parents only cared about the jerk who started the fight, even fawning and endlessly apologizing to him.

He was… nothing to them.

He had nothing. No love, no talents, no anything - he even gave away what little emotion he had to the well just a little outside of town. He didn't need such painful things.

"You idiot!"

His eyes shifted to see a noble slap a frail-appearing girl. Both wearing the emblem of the snowdrops. Galanthus, he recognized from his studies. They were the only doctors to be trusted in the medical field, even if there was an accident a few years ago.

The girl looked submissively at the ground. Eyes as dull as his, even if a wine red - probably the only color on her. He watched listlessly as the man spat with profanities and how the girl should not have ever existed if she was going to be so useless.

Sabo observed apathetically… hating that spark of joy within him at not being the only one in the world hated by 'family'.

…

Galanthus Hospital of Goa Kingdom was actually the only medical building one could trust. Not so much as to trust the family who owns it, but rather trust the skills of the doctors within. Everyone else were quacks. Everyone else didn't understand anything, still primitively thinking that bleeding was a way to heal.

To her, though, bleeding was a way to heal. She watched the streams of life flowing from the slit on her wrist. One more cut and one more stream. And more to add to the puddle of red. It may not be the best way to heal, but the crimson red soothed her heart. The sound of slow whispers trailing down her skin made her close her eyes with bliss. Just one more second and she could really be at peace with the rush of blood.

But then, the door pounded and she jerked up, staring at the metallic white.

"Aster! Get your ass out here! There's been a carriage accident!"

With experienced hands, she quickly ebbed the flow of blood, washing the trails of blood and bandaging her twin wrists with white. Her eyes stared at the reflection in the mirror with trained indifference. Her white locks framing her face; long strands of hair reaching her waist even when tied back. The usual white doctor uniform ― except significantly shortened to fit an almost teenaged body ― covered her smooth vanilla skin… or at least visually smooth due to the scars decorating her wrists being delicately hidden. And… red eyes colored with the same red of blood stared into the red in the mirror. She nodded once. Any signs that she just cut herself gone from view. Now, she was a professional trained to be wise, emotionless, and obedient ― though there would always be one unprofessional thing that would remain on her.

Bulky white headphones that blocked the sounds only she could hear. It was the only personal thing that her parents allowed on her. If only out of fear for what she could hear.

Once finished with checking her reflection, she unlocked the door to head out. Her eyes flinching just a second before the actual slap of her cheek. Already conditioned to the once-stinging action. Eyes stayed trained to the speckless ground as the man called her father shouted profanities at her,

"How many times do I have to teach you promptness?! When I tell you to get out, I don't mean to take five hours ― I'm telling you to fucking stand here within the minute! Every second fucking counts! You could have cost us thousands of Beri's with your slacker uselessness! What the hell did I do to get such a stupid, burdensome child?! First, albinism and then voices and then this ― you should have never been born! Now, hurry up and get out there!"

With that, he strode away. His walk slowing down to purposeful professionality once turning the corner. Her pursed lips didn't tell him how she did take a minute to bandage her arms, check her appearance, unlock the door, and get out. Her pursed lips didn't tell him how his own daughter just cut herself twice and again. Her pursed lips didn't tell him that she was more useful than her brother, who laid deep underground dead because of a careless mistake costing him the life of a royal… and later him himself.

And she didn't remind him that he needed her because while Galanthus Hospital was the only good medical place in East Blue… Galanthus Hospital was really just a medical clinic of five doctors: her father, her mother, her uncle, her older sister, and herself. She didn't remind him that carriage accidents usually involved at least six injured. Almost always as at least two of them were the horses themselves. She didn't remind him that she was the only one among the family knowing how to treat them due to being the only one actually caring about animals. Only her being able to do the veterinary service that only Galanthus Hospital offers.

Though she still had to treat the humans almost every other time one came. Her sole existence seemingly for her family's avarice for money. If she couldn't learn how to treat every single thing in the world, then she might as well be dead to them. Just like the one sibling that really cared about her.

She walked silently to the operating room.

To this town, she supposed, she was just another doctor heading to do her job. Maybe to somewhere else, she wondered, she would actually be a little girl.

But she had no time to think further of it as her mother whopped her on the head, hissing while keeping her pace to the end of the hall,

"Dolt. The money will be done for if the horses expire."

And she strode away to her own place.

Aster stared at the white coat, too, disappearing about the corner. Her hands did not reach for the cloth, the dangling fabric, like she used to before. Long since, she has learned that she could never reach it. And even if she did, her hands would just be batted off coldly and she would fall once again out of reach. The red pupil in her eyes shrunk away as she strode forward.

She hated how much she wanted the innocent horses to die just out of childish spite…

…

Low Town of Goa Kingdom was normal. But in that normalcy was peace, security, and true happiness, he saw. The young noble had sneaked out of the manor to see the world of commoners. What he saw was a world beyond just that. His eyes watched, fascinated by the genuine smiles and kindness shown by everyone around. They were content, even if middle class.

It was astonishing.

It was inspiring.

It was beautiful.

They didn't need money to be happy. They didn't need servants to care for the children. They didn't need masks in every single conversation outside the personal.

For once, Sabo was glad for the walls. At least they shielded the honest from the lies. The commoners could wish all they want to be rich… that dream was so beautiful and ideal that he didn't want it to be ruined by the true reality.

And as Sabo looked at the next outer wall, he wondered… if these were the commoners… then what were the people who lived in the trash mountains like?

…

Fuusha Village of Goa Kingdom was far away and poor. Even then, her family, who loved every single owned and potential penny, made the once in awhile trip to aid the ill for a price. Since she was now integrated in the medical field, they sent her to work on the poor instead. Feet too lazy to make the trip. Heads literally too into their mountains of money to care about the village anymore.

She was their convenient worker, who would obey their every word. And thus, it was for these types of things that her family loved her the most.

And… thus, like any other child, it was also for that one simple reason that she loved these types of jobs the most as well.

They genuinely loved her.

Even if it was for the riches she brought them.

They loved her in these little moments.

She relished in her mother's smile as she began the trip to the small, isolated village. What met her there was something somehow more sublime. It amazed her.

That smile of pure happiness.

"Thank goodness!" Makino sighed in relief as she watched the little girl quickly diagnose the five year old boy and begin on treatment. It scared her to think that he was going to die. A boy that she knew for years due to a certain someone behind her dropping him off with money and a quick leave. At first, she was stunned that someone could do such an insanely abrupt and stupid thing. Then, she slowly watched as she bonded with the adorable baby, nurturing it like her kin. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

Perhaps, the only thing that lessened her heartfelt thanks was the mere idea of who the doctor was. It amazed her to think that such a little girl already expertised in the difficult art of medicine. She must be a prodigy! As expected of the Galanthus Family!

Meanwhile, the Marine Hero laughed boisterously out loud while picking his nose, "Bwahahahahaha, I knew he wouldn't die that easily~! You're not bad, little girl!"

To her credit, she didn't even falter from the loud noise as she continued concentrating on her patient. Concentration was one of the first things enforced into her being when she first started. ("The patient's health comes first! I don't care if you're having an existential crisis. The patient has all the money and that's all that matters!"

"B-but… what about if you or Nii-sama dies?" She cried out at the harsh slap across her cheek.

"Don't stutter! Professionalism. Professionalism. If I ever see you act less than a noble or professional, then…" She flinched at the promise of worse and quickly nodded. The man smiled,

"Good. Never lose your credentials, Aster. Now, even if I'm on my deathbed, you have to get that money. Money is all that matters in life. It's what makes the world go round. It's all the happiness in the world, Aster. As a Galanthus, never sell yourself free. Cheap, maybe. But never free. Everything must have a price and you must make sure of that." She nodded, but he wasn't satisfied so he shouted,

"GOT IT?!"

"HAI!")

Makino, on the other hand, heard the laugh and snarled at the old man, "How dare you nearly kill Luffy?! What kind of grandparent are you?!"

"A serious one!" Garp laughed, picking his other nose without a single thought for the ladies in the room, "He's going to be a marine!"

"I don't care if you want him to be a marine or not! You don't throw kids into the forest to survive on their own for a week! He's only five!"

Garp laughed it off again, "Nonsense. You women are so―"

"It's being reasonable! Responsible, even!" Sometimes, Makino wondered how she got pulled into taking care of a kid not even hers. Even if it was for the Marine Hero and she got a lot of money every visit…

"Oh please. Reasonable unreasonable, same thing."

"They're the complete opposite!"

"Bwahahahaha, so they are!" Makino groaned once again at the old man's too carefree-ness. Garp took the cue to ask the other one in the room, "What about you, little girl? It makes sense right?"

Makino rolled her eyes; a hundred percent sure that it wouldn't. Honestly, what person would think that―

"...If you would like to hear my honest opinion…" Garp nodded eagerly with a grin,

"Of course~!"

"...then I agree with Monkey-san. Parents have the right to shape their kids for the greater goal of their future profit. We are made for our parents."

At that, even Garp's face fell. The old man's features changing into a solemn thing unbefitting for the wild man who many thought an irredeemably cheerful idiot. The wizened eyes seeing the girl for the first time and recognizing it,

"Where did you say you come from again?"

The girl blinked before curtseying, "How rude of me. I am Galanthus Aster from Galanthus Hospital of Goa Kingdom."

"Sou ka." Garp nodded thoughtfully. Something Makino had never seen since the old man first brought the little infant to the village. After a while, his hand (the non-snotty one) dropped to pat her shoulder, "There are times when people shouldn't listen to anyone ― even their own family."

"?" She tilted her head in confusion, "I am afraid I do not understand. I love my family. Why would I not listen to them?"

Garp eyed the product of what his son hated. The beginnings and near end of that process on the other side of the island. He softened,

"I guess. Just remember what I said though."

"Father said that everything must come with a price. Does this count too, sir?"

Garp contemplated before grinning down at the little girl, "Tell ya what. It does. However, I'll only pay you after you understand my words."

She considered it seriously before nodding, "Hai. I still require money for the medicine though. I am to make a decent profit before I am allowed to leave."

He laughed, "Of course, of course~! I'll take you across myself~ Heck, I even got the perfect job for you!"

"?"

"Of course, it's a secret though - BWAHAHAHAHA!"

Aster shook her head slightly at the recurrence of the old man's less serious side. While Makino eyed the little girl softly, wondering how much work and studying she had to do to be as good as she was now. So young too…

And here she thought that being geniuses and nobles were good things.

Makino also stared at the old man, deadpanning at the sudden feeling of sympathy she had for the girl. Yet another one about to fall to the whims of the more than annoying geezer. Marine Hero or not, there had to be a limit to how confident, idiotic, narrow-ish-minded, silly, stubborn, and all-the-other-words-designed-for-the-sole-purpose-of-describing-Garp one can be.

Luffy whined at the bitter taste of medicine as Aster poured it into his mouth. Garp remembered,

"Oh right. See, Makino? I was right! There's nothing wrong with tossing presumptuous brats into the forest. Bwahahaha-"

The barmaid muttered under her breath, "No one counts here. All of you ― all of you are insane."

Of course, Aster could hear her though. Despite the heavy headphones she always wore. The girl wondered if she could comment on how she was normal. She smiled though at the sense of freedom and calm in the village. She… she honestly never felt so energized before. There was just something about his laugh and their honest banter…

Just a few days later, she wondered if she really did once thought that she liked his laugh as he roared louder than even the marine ship's sails furled open and the waves crashed against the wood. When she eyed her parents' proud smiles at having a Marine Hero sponsor at their hospital, though, she found it satisfying.

…

Grey Terminal of Goa Kingdom was every shipwright's and boy's dream. Sabo stared in amazement at the looming mountains of trash.

"All this junk could actually be used… yet we throw it away so easily with a single use." He whispered in sudden realization of all those things he himself had wasted so easily and thoughtlessly. While it was amazing to see the result in front of his eyes, it did make him feel bad about how horrible of a being he was. His blue eyes trailed over to the homeless rummaging through the mountains. Their body impossibly skinny, stinky, and small.

He would have never thought it possible with the number of fatass nobles in the town. And then, he stopped his breath as even in such a hellish situation and place… the people were smiling.

"No way… you can't live here! It's got to be impossible!"

It was like a planet hit him. He would have never imagined it. His legs abstractedly ran forth; head craning everywhere to see all the junk and smell all the smells.

"Hey guys!"

Days later found Sabo running excitedly towards the outskirts of town, sneaking out past the guards with a dirty cloak he found in the alleys. An ear-splitting loud laugh escaped his face-splitting upturned lips as he let loose and roared to the world from his peak of garbage. It was all so free and fun out here. No expectations, no rules, no stuffiness.

How had he never known such a feeling before?!

Just one day and he was hooked like that shady noble that made a fortune selling laughing gas. He ran across the trail of rotting food and ripped packages, not caring that his polished shoes got scratched and dirtied.

He even twirled for good measure as he dashed. He joined the dumpster-divers. He found treasure with every dig and pull. He explored the edge of the giant forest filled with impossibly large animals that none could hope to defeat. Even the small monkeys able to kick butt.

And the best part of it all was at night. He sought out that same group of Grey Terminal inhabitants, grinning widely at the sight of the unrestrained fire in the middle. The people all sitting together and honest with each other when they talked. When they insulted, they did it face to face. When they were happy, they smiled! When they were sad, they frowned! It was nothing like he ever seen before.

No lies.

It was beautiful in its own way. Even the piles of garbage around. Even the smell of burning garbage. Even the skinny, dirty humans with no jobs ― nothing. It was simply amazing.

The crowd seemed to have expected him. He blushed mildly, remembering all the awkward questions he asked the other days. But that too was a new experience all on its own. Their speech was not rigid like his or any of the nobles.

"Oi. It's the brat," One recognized him with a fond smile, "Sabo! Whatcha want today?"

Sabo grinned, pumping his fists up in excitement, "Let me hear your stories today too! The ones about the different countries you have seen and visited across the seas!"

And the next day… he ran away from home for the first time, vowing to never come back.