Ugh... I'm really sorry about my lateness again... but I might have a good reason. I'm supposed to update on Wednesday, but you see, Tuesday I kind of forgot my composition book at school, so I couldn't publish anything. I brought it back home yesterday, and during my 3 hours pause, I typed it all on my computer, but strangely I couldn't publish it because my school's wireless internet is really slow... and I was too tired once back home to publish anything. Instead, I updated this morning, really early, first thing I do as soon as I wake up, because I love you all so much!

He couldn't see her face anymore. Did he simply forgot what she looked like? He knew, remembered, she had long golden hair, and he could still feel her warmth enveloping him with love.

Luffy woke up the next morning completely relaxed. As he took in his surrounding, the boy blinked the sleepiness away and the dream rapidly vanished as he came back to the real world. The room was dark, only lit a bit by the weak fire in the corner. He heard a bit of shuffling and noticed it was what woke him up. Although it was a lot earlier than usual, the boy felt more reposed that he'd ever been before. Sitting up in his bed, he could now see the sound came from Sanji looking through the wooden chest to find today's outfit. He turned around to put the clothes he'd chosen on the bed and his eyes widened a bit when he found the prince awake.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up yet..." He muttered before hurrying to revive the fire to make the room warmer. They were in the middle of autumn, and although they still had wonderfully warm days, the mornings and evenings were quite cold, proving they were nearing Winter very fast. He didn't want the child to get sick. As the boy laid back down in an attempt to go back to sleep, the blonde remembered the reason why he got up earlier that morning. "Luffy," he called, a little bit of excitement present in his voice, "you have to get up." He couldn't help but wonder what his reaction would be. The boy sat up again with an eyebrow raised, silently asking why he had to. Sanji chuckled at this, knowing the heir's brain always ran slower in the morning, then proceeded to the explanation.

As the servant told him about last night's events, Luffy remembered their promise and jumped out of bed with pure eagerness. He wanted to see the awesome thing now! He hurried to put his clothes on and writhed with impatience while he waited for Sanji to tie all the ribbons that annoyed him so much. He knew his mother would want him to take a bath before going to his classes, but at the moment, the bath could wait. The surprise his friend planned for him was much more important right now.

"I want to see it now," he said again while the blonde laced his boots. The servant got up and dusted himself off then headed for the door.

"Follow me. It's a bit of a long walk..." he started as he looked at the stars shining in the youngster's grey eyes, "but I'm sure you can do it." With the determination he was showing, there was no doubt he'd do anything to see it.

Sanji led the way through the maze, and Luffy wondered how he ever could remember his way. The halls were the same; the same colours with the same doors and the same carpet and the same flowers as decoration and the same candles to light everything up in the early and late hours. He was quite glad to always be accompanied. After a while, though, the hallways were starting to get different. No flowers were visible, the walls and ground were dusty and unkempt, and Sanji had to bring a candle to fend the darkness away and move on to the destination. Eventually, they reached the bottom of stone stairs that raised in a circular fashion. Luffy couldn't see the top, but it only served to excite him further.

Both children climbed the stairs in silence. Sanji was lost in his thoughts while Luffy only tried to imagine what could wait for him up there. They stopped a few times for several minutes to catch their breath, and when they reached the top of the stairs, Luffy's legs almost gave in out of exhaustion. He stood in a single wooden door, eager to push it open and see the surprise. He could feel cold air seep in through the bottom of it and into his clothes, sending a small shiver up his spine. The servant grabbed one of his shoulders and pushed him forward as an encouragement to open it. He grabbed the handle, turned and pushed, before heading outdoor.

It was amazing. The mountains were high and proud, standing in a never-ending night sky prickled with lots and lots of shining stars. The wind was blowing harder and was colder than it was it the castle's yard, and as the prince deeply breathed in, he could smell the salt of the sea a lot more than ever. And he liked it. It ruffled his black hair lightly, as if to welcome him in this wonderful place. Sanji looked at the boy and couldn't keep the small smile away from his lips that automatically came when he saw the bewildered look on the child's face. His grey eyes were big with wonder and his mouth slightly agape. He let him admire this view before walking to him to the middle. Turning back to the heir, he motioned him to follow him to the middle, which he did with slow steps, too amazed to go any faster. When he reached him, Luffy silently looked at where he was standing and he could easily tell they were on top of a tower. However, it was not any tower, it was the highest one, in the middle of the whole castle's territory. It stood tall and proud, and the prince felt extremely good up here. He had this feeling... an unknown feeling he couldn't put his fingers on.

"That's not all, Luffy," Sanji whispered, almost scared of breaking the moment that seemed so magical from the youngster's point of view. He lifted his arm and pointed behind Luffy, silently telling him to turn around. When he did, he almost fell to his knees at the sight before him, surprising his servant with his reaction. He stopped breathing as he took in the night sky slowly and beautifully lighting up as the sun progressively rose from its hide-out. Not only were the mixed colour highly easy to get addicted to, but the reflection of it on the calmly moving sea water was mesmerizing. The prince could see the ocean and the sky stretch eternally, and that's when he realized how big the world really was. How big, how different it was, and that's when he also realized he didn't know a thing about it. And looking at the horizon, he started to dream. Dream about things that could be, things he could see, things he could learn about, things far away. And he wanted to explore everything he could. He could see the sea making love to the sky, and he wondered if it ever touched each other at one point to form a wall, and he wondered if he ever reached that would, whether it would mean he had seen everything or if something was hidden behind it. Maybe something bigger. And he wondered, if it never touched, whether or not it really went on forever. How many places would he have to visit before reaching the end if there was one? How many things would he see before then? How much time would it take him to learn everything there was out there? How many things would he experience in one lifetime? How many lives would he need to know everything? And he started to dream. He dreamed about adventures as his eyes lingered on the rising sun. H dreamed, and again he felt that unknown feeling, that strange thing he couldn't get his fingers on, that warmth and lightness that enveloped his being. He was a bird, an eagle, flying in slow circles not too far above his head, and he felt like it. Up there, seeing the whole town, the harbour, the boats, the small dots that were people walking in the streets as the opened their shop for the day and prepared their stands on the main street, feeling the wind gently fingering his skin, smelling the salty odour of the sea. He felt... free. This was... freedom.


Today was a good day. No cloud in sight, sunny and warm; the perfect autumn day. The leaves fell from the trees when a gentle chilly breeze passed through them, and the colours they had were bringing some kind of wonder to the world. But that's not the only reason he thought it was such a good day. No. Today, he would spend the afternoon at his little sister's home and meet his nephew for the first time. The boy seemed to be a good kid, a happy one, with a lot of energy that he could transfer to the people around him. Truly a wonderful child. The man couldn't wait to meet him; he was sure they'd get along very well and become friends in no time.

That's why, at the moment, he was overly shocked. He couldn't believe it. Roger had brought him to the Queen's quarters, and there the boy, who was previously playing a simple card game with his mother, stopped everything he was doing to glare at him wearily. That alone wasn't much a surprise. After all, the kid had never met him, and his appearance had been sudden. He was a complete strange for the moment, and the man didn't mind the grey eyes looking at him intensively.

Alerted by the wound of the door closing behind her husband and her brother, Rouge raised her gaze from the game to look at them and welcome them with a warm smile. She truly was beautiful. If it weren't for the fact that they were family, he would have definitely fallen for her.

It is such a pleasure to see you, brother," she said first, walking up to him before wrapping her arms around him in a friendly hug. "I thought you were too busy to visit, so what brings you here?" He had come unannounced and wasn't surprise of his sister's ignorance.

"Doflammingo's heir, who recently became the new lord of the Feather Land, asked for my advice and assistance on how to deal with the management of the territory he inherited from his deceased father. Since I had to pass through the Kapital to get there, I thought I'd stop for a short visit. I hope I'm not too much of an inconvenience," he explained after kissing Rouge's cheeks in his usual greeting.

"Don't worry about that, old man," the King teased, referring to the news he got about that Landlord's daughter having given birth to her first child. Teach was now a grandfather, and although he felt happy of being one, he also felt that much older. He laughed loudly at the teasing, finding nothing to say as a comeback, but stopped abruptly when he saw the prince flinch.

Luffy didn't dare to move. He didn't like the man, like many other men in the castle, but this one was big and his eyes were threatening. He was relieved when his mother came to picked him up, and he instinctively wrapped his tiny arms around her neck as if to make sure he was now in security.

"Luffy, this is the Hibiscus Landlord, my big brother. He's your uncle; uncle Teach," the Queen presented while the black-bearded man walked up to them. As soon as he took his third step toward them, the prince's heart started beating fast and his breath got trapped in his chest with anticipation. Anticipation of something bad. Because the man who was now smiling down at him only a meter away in front of him, screamed danger. He saw his big hand raise up from the man's side, and suddenly it became a threat, a weapon, something bad that could hurt.

Luffy instinctively closed his eyes and hung at his mother for dear life. He was scared. He didn't know what the man would do. He never knew. But it always hurt. He felt the hand come nearer and nearer, seeming to be in slow motion, and every millimetre it made toward him made his heart beat faster, his breaths become pants and his arms clutch the neck tighter. He felt the hand – no – the danger it held, hovering right above his head, and the boy couldn't tolerate it anymore. His instincts pushed him to scream, and he did, louder than he ever had, with a high-pitched voice that pierced through the adults' ears, and felt the hand retract instantly. However, it wasn't enough. The man was still in the room, the bad thing was still there and could still hurt him. He wanted to run, and the arms holding him, the gentle, loving, and caring arms, were now acting as bars, a prison that made him vulnerable. He had to run, free himself so he could either use his legs to get away or his arms to defend himself.

Teach had brought both his hands to his ears as soon as the loud scream left his nephew's lips to protect them. The hurtful sound was soon replaced by sobs and cries, leaving him stunned. What kind of reaction was that? Sure, he was a stranger, but he told him he was family, and he smiled at him, was gentle and did not move harshly to make sure to not surprise him. He didn't understand what he did to make him this scared.

The prince started the squirm in Rouge's arms, as if trying to run away, and the Landlord could do nothing but watch perplexedly as the child pushed himself away with his small hands.

"I am so sorry about that, brother," the Queen apologized as she held Luffy tighter. She turned around and walked away a bit, holding her son's head firmly on her shoulder and doing her best to ignore the flailing arms. She made shushing sounds, cradling the boy in her arms while pacing slowly from the couch to the window and back to the couch.

Roger put a heavy hand on his brother-in-law's shoulder, gaining his attention. The black-bearded man looked back at the King with questioning eyes, then was answered with a sad apologetic smile.

"Really, Teach, we're sorry about that. It's best to leave him alone for now. He will calm down after a while." The hand pulled a bit, silently ordering the Landlord to back away and exit the Queen's quarters.


The prince's eyes were puffy and red, showing he had yet again have a crisis. He had heard the boy's scream and cries and hour earlier, and he knew it took all that time for the Queen to calm him down from the sweet voice that came from the other side of the door. Now, however, the blonde had left her son to Roger's care, and he couldn't help but smirk as he saw the younger man play with the child and bring a smile back on his lips. The King was giving him a piggyback ride, jogging a bit in his own huge living room he rarely used. Now, the heir was laughing loudly, and except for his still red eyes, there was no proof at all of the previous event.

"Higher!" The boy exclaimed gleefully. Not even a second after, Roger was holding him up and turning in circles. Rayleigh was surprised by his own chuckle. Honestly, that pair was too adorable. No one would be able to keep a scowl on their face with such a scene playing in front of their eyes. The swordsman stared intently at the King's face, seeing all the joy that had disappeared a few years ago. Luffy definitely was the best gift the royal couple could have. And he was the one who had to protect this happiness. Something flashed on Roger's face, and excitement suddenly burned in his eyes. The guard mentally sighed, knowing that whatever idea he had just come up with wasn't going to end well. As if hearing his thoughts, the moustached man flashed him a big toothy grin, and his son looked at him questioningly at his sudden stop.

"Luffy," Roger started, a mischievous grin plastered on his face, "do you want to accompany me and Ray on a horse back ride?" The boy widened his eyes, as if he never imagined such a thing.

"Adventure?" He asked with hope, wondering if he would finally be able to explore the world behind the gate. He was answered with a firm nod, and the child's face lit up even more, if that was possible.

Rayleigh couldn't totally agree with this idea. Surely Rouge would never allow it, but when he tried to reason with the King, he was answered with a confident: "If she doesn't know, there won't be any problem!" The guard knew it was an order to keep silent, and he had no choice but to follow him. Still, what really pushed him to accompany the King in this absurd idea was not the order, but the excitement clearly showing in the prince's eyes with anticipation of an adventure.

And the strong wish to protect their smiles.

I know this chapter is not as long as the last two, and I was actually planning on something longer. Sadly, though, school is really tiresome and I still have to get used to my shitty schedule (because 3/5 days I start at 8 in the morning and finish at 6 in the evening, so I don't get much sleep, maybe around 5 to 6 hours per night. And yesterday I got 4 hours... I wanna die...) so I decided to publish the small part that was supposed to be following this next week instead of the next chapter. So it won't be a really big update next week, but at least you'll have a small something while I try to get used to my shitty schedule and start writing the next real chapter.

Anyway, I still want to get your review, as usual, because I love it when you do, and if it were not for your reviews, my weeks would be boring and my English class would be useless.

I want to give a BIG special THANK YOU to TheLonelyAbsol for editing the previous chapters of Dark Ages, all up to at least chapter 5. English is not my mother language, so I tend to make small mistakes that I am not aware of, but this wonderful Golden Reader help me correct them and explains why it is wrong and how to not do the same mistakes again. I didn't correct everything yet, but it should be done soon enough. Thanks again, my friend!

I also still have a poll on my profile, and even if you don' read 100 Themes Challenge, it will be a great help to receive your votes. The results are really tight so far and I don't think I can work with ties.

For those who did not know, 100 Themes Challenge is on vacation for about 2 weeks, while I continue writing the following chapters at my own rhythm without too much self-pressure, and I was wondering if you would mind if I did the same with Dark Ages. I am not talking about putting it on hiatus, not at all. It's really a small pause, because of school and such. Seriously, it's only the end of the second week and I already feel sick because of lack of sleep. Rejoice though, because I will soon delete one of my course that really burns me out, and I will, starting next week, have at least 8 hours to write leisurely at home instead of only 3 at school!

So, next week will be titled: "Chapter 7 (part 2)" And although it is going to be really short, I'm sure you'll like it!

So... now... REVIEWS! PLEASE!

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