Won't Windmill turn into another Ohara?

Probably not. Ann keeps forbidden knowledge to herself (and to a lesser extend the ASL trio). The school isn't a threat.

Why didn't you show the boy's bonding moments in chapter 10?

Ann isn't can't multiply herself to follow everybody. Being 'the eldest', she was too busy daydreaming with fruits, I mean, working to do anything else.

Are you hinting about a side fic?

It happened. And another, a multi-outsider PoV (what I've been doing in the last year, actually). Both can be found in my profile.

Is this really a darkfic?

Darkfic and humor aren't mutually exclusive. Although it really is more of a dorkfic most of the time... gah.

Any other questions will probably be answered in the story, so that's it, really.

000

Golden Midday Sun

One thing I like is departing

With nary a plan;

Even better,

Returning whenever.

000

"Here's an important lesson: search for as many sources as possible, preferably from different sides. It's impossible to get unbiased accounts, but comparing them is the next best thing. We're in the privileged position of being in good terms with two opposing sides, with granddaddy and Shanks!"

"Admit it. You just like to hear his voice." Sabo teased.

"He's got a damn sexy voice, that's true. But that doesn't mean my advice isn't valid." Half a year of (somewhat) constant exposure to the object of my crush had done wonders for the more… fangirlish impulses. Of course, I wasn't saying those things to his face.

"Do we really have to listen to stories about that person?"

"Like it or not, that man was the most influential person in modern times. Learning about him is crucial to understanding the modern world." I knew better than saying father's name when Ace was already irritated. "Now, help me carry the soup to the counter."

"It happened three years after I had been picked up by Captain Roger. We were surrounded by dozens of ships, with no way out." Shanks mused wrily, "I say that, but it's not like the captain would back down anyway."

That night, Shanks told the story of a great battle, adding facts he witnessed with his own eyes to testimonies from other crew members.

"And that was the end of what was later known as 'Edd War'." Shanks finished with another gulp of his beer.

"That was so cool! Pirates are awesome!" Luffy's eyes were shining so much he might as well have stars in their places. He was at an impressionable age. Ah, to be young...!

"Hmph."

Sabo was too busy writing everything down to offer input.

"Now, it's your turn to tell a story, Professor Ann."

I thanked the gods I had stopped eating and couldn't really choke. The expectant silence got a bit too thick, so I was forced to break it. "How did you find out about that?"

"Difficult not to, considering the signboard on the building across the bar…"

"Ahaha. That was so not my doing."

For simpler classes like literacy and basic Math, I had enlisted Sabo's help. To organize the schedules, someone stuck a signboard with information about classes, teachers and the rules of the library—that amounted to: write down your name, book and date so we know who's got what, and could easily retrieve them if needed.

I closed my eyes. This was more nerve-wracking than the inauguration class (a class of four, so that may have something to do with it).

'Imagine they are all naked.'

An image of Shanks, shirtless and—

'Not helping!' I shook my head and tried to focus. 'Breathe. In. Out. In…'

"Okay, I can do this." I grabbed the script and walked to the village square. By then, there wasn't a single unoccupied seat. The crowd ceased all conversation on my arrival. So many people—

'Breathe!'

"Why do we exist?" I pointed my hands skywards. "Why does it rain? Why is there day and night?

"These question remained unanswered for a long time. And things you can't understand… they are intimidating. That's why people created stories to justify the existence of those phenomena.

"Each culture has its own versions of how the world came to be. But one, in special, was always held dearly in my heart…"

"Was it a good idea?"

"What was what?" I replied distractedly. Makino made embroidering sound so easy…

"Telling that story."

"Ouch! Evil needles." I set the tools aside and turned to face him. "I was wondering if you'd recognize it."

"Although there were many differences to the version I'm familiar with." He plopped down next to me. "Starting with certain names."

"This is an older version of the tale. I don't know why only a few of the old names remain, though, and probably will never know. All memories fade with time."

He smirked. "You talk like an old woman."

"Oh? You must be mistaken. I'm nothing but an innocent little girl." I batted my eyes and gave him a sweet smile.

He patted my head. "See, that's what I'm talking about."

Before I could protest, Shanks grabbed my embroidering hoop from the table and inspected it. "Nope. You're really a kid after all."

"Hey, are you insinuating something?"

Exchanged glances when the other (apparently) wasn't looking.

Lingering touches.

Little smiles.

"Argh! I can't stand it anymore!" I shouted, pulling up my hair into an even worse mess.

"What's wrong, screechy witch?"

"Those two! Their constant flirting is going nowhere! It's maddening!"

"They're adults. Adults are stupid."

"Annie, I'm hungry."

A light bulb lit up in my head. "That's it! Operation match-making, commence!"

Sabo stared. "I'm almost afraid to ask…"

Ace took Luffy's hand and slowly retreated… but not fast enough! Before any of them could make a run for it, I dragged the trio to the kitchen.

"We're going to prepare a special candle-lit dinner near the cliff by the sea, and forge letters in both their handwritings so they'll think one invited the other!"

"That's oddly specific…" Ace muttered dubiously. "Wait, we?"

"That's convoluted! And ridiculous!" Sabo pointed out. "Why not just invite them or something?"

"That's… against the rules!" I argued.

"All's fair in love and war. Sounds familiar?" Before I could answer, Ace continued on, "Of course it does, since you are the one who's always saying that in the first place!"

"But, but dinner by the cliff under the moonlight…"

"We can do that. Just forget about the letter."

"Sabo, when did you become so reasonable…?"

"Someone has to be."

"Annie, can we make pie?"

After a few more arguments, the menu for the night was settled:

Watercress Strawberry Salad, Taglierini alla Besciamella and Cherry tartlets for dessert—all of them were things that seemingly screamed, 'Spring is here!'

These sophisticated dishes were only possible because we'd only have to prepare enough food for the (unsuspecting) couple and ourselves. That particular night was very convenient, as the pirates had plans of going hunting for meat and herbs. Shanks didn't know it yet, but he was staying in the village.

"Why can't we join them?"

"Shh! Be quiet, or they'll see us," I whispered from my spot behind some bushes and put a tartlet in Luffy's mouth to appease him. "As caterers, it's our duty to see to it that clients are satisfied!"

"I don't get it either. Do you, Sabo?"

"I'm just here for the blackmail material."

"What blackmail? That man is shameless!"

"This is boring…"

I stuffed Luffy's mouth with another tartlet. He munched happily, complaints momentarily forgotten.

At that moment, the target—I mean, Shanks pulled out the chair for Makino and they sat down by the candle-lit table. In another effortless show of chivalry, he poured her a glass of white wine (a special vintage from a small island in South Blue), and then, another for himself.

A soft breeze deposited a single apricot blossom on Makino's shoulder. Shanks gently placed the flower on her hair (and if his hands lingered a bit longer than needed…)

Makino opened the salad container and smiled. "Those children…"

They had just finished unwrapping the tartlets (ugh! And feeding each other and touching their arms as much as possible and… sigh…!) when I decided it was enough and shook the boys awake.

Shanks turned to our direction and I froze. But he simply winked and mouthed a few words. 'Do you have a fixation with hearts?'

So what if I had carved hearts in each strawberry slice?

"He has a point, you know?"

I kicked Ace's shin.

"Close your mouth and expel air through your nose. That's it!

"Your turn. I did it last time," Ace informed me resignedly.

I nodded. The moment Luffy's head submerged, I ran to the water, dove and quickly dragged him out.

"Hah—I'm… gasp… dying…"

"Don't speak right now, Luffy darling! Breathe!" I held his head in my lap.

"Cough… cough…"

"Sorry. I didn't think it was that bad…"

"Yasopp, just give up already. The kid's a complete anchor!" Lucky Roo commented in between bites of grilled meat—he and a few others had decided against swimming and were happily eating under the shade of palm trees.

"See? I told you." Ace remarked. "Even gramps gave up on him ever learning how to swim."

And then, grandfather dearest went on and on about how some of the strongest marines couldn't swim either. Although in their cases, the problem was with devil fruits, not ineptitude.

"That bad?" Shanks asked incredulously.

"Yeah, that bad." I nodded solemnly. "Anyway, where's Sabo?"

"Sabo's resting right now—said he woke up with a headache from your screechy voice." Ace grinned.

"That idiot... I'll go check on him later."

Sabo's headache didn't get better after a few hours. No, that minor annoyance decided to invite its friends and party hard inside his head. Er, that is, he caught (or rather, was caught by) a cold.

For that reason, I went to buy medicine in Edge Town, while Ace and Luffy cooked a simple congee.

"What was I thinking? What was I thinking?" The wall had a sizable crater with a very distinct shape by now. "Stupid! Stupid!" That was probably not good for my neurons, but I didn't even care anymore.

"That weird fruit tasted really gross! And medicine is supposed to taste gross!"

Luffy logic.

I had no words. No words.

The wall crumbled pitifully.

Devil Fruit Chicken Congee! Why, gods…? Why?

"…Ace, hold him down. Now."

From what I'd been told, it was only the first bite that counted. But I wasn't risking it. If eating the whole damn thing made Luffy stronger, then so be it!

'I'm sorry, Lulu…' I mentally prepared myself for…

"Wait, what are you doing with that spoon? No! Don't wanna! NOOOOO!"

"What was all that commotion?"

"Benn!" I put the spoon down and kneeled. "I'm sorry for my brothers' stupidity!"

"…do I even want to know?"

"Devil fruit soup happened! That's what!" I screeched in barely contained hysteria.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. "Of all the idiocy in the world… Are you sure Luffy's not the captain's secret child?"

"He's Garp's grandson."

"Ah. Yes. There's that."

To make the day even worse, that afternoon, a group of uppity bandits came to the bar. Due to Sabo's condition (and the commotion caused by my darling Lulu), we had had no time to restock. What followed was something that made my admiration for Shanks skyrocket. As in, it surpassed the moon and reached the Sun.

"See? That's what I mean with 'don't look for fights!'"

"I still think he was a wuss," said Ace, for the sake of being antagonistic.

I kicked his shin.

From his corner of misery, Luffy gave me a dirt look. Sabo moaned in pain and put a pillow over his head.

"Haha, it's so good to see all my grandkids together! Today, I'll teach you precious skills that will certainly make all other recruits jealous when you become marines!"

Bear wrestling was a thing back on Earth. We could survive that.

…if not for the fact the average adult bear in Dawn Island weighed over a ton.

That week, not only had we to fight for our lives (quite literally, unfortunately), but also make sure Grandfather didn't suspect anything.

"Funny. I don't remember you being this flexible."

"We all have been training! See?" I had to suppress a tear as my muscles screamed, 'this is not how we're meant to work!'

"Have you been doing your stretches? Good!"

"I could swear Luffy's arm just…"

"Really? It looks normal enough to me." (Sabo, couldn't you find something better to say…?)

"Ah, must have been my imagination." (Grandfather, did you fall for that?!)

…considering the nature of his powers, it was a miracle we managed that. At all.

"Surprise!"

"YOU! What are you doing here, monster brats? Wait, there's more?"

"Aw, Dadan! We missed you too!" Sabo quipped.

"Seventeen, eighteen… huh, you've got more people here!"

They were suitably flabbergasted at seeing our interaction... ah, it had truly been too long since our last visit.

"Ever since you three went away, we had a vacant room." Magra explained. "It took a while, because Dadan didn't want to—"

"Enough, idiot!" She punched the poor man's head.

To celebrate, we skinned and roasted an entire bear (ah, revenge was so sweet!).

For the first time, Ace saw some use for Luffy's powers: the ability to eat ten times his size. In one bite.

"That was awesome. Gross, but awesome."

The newcomers were frozen in horror. As I had learned to ignore those reactions long ago, that didn't really register. Ace didn't really care, Luffy was basking in all the attention. As for Sabo...

He was too horrified to speak. Or move. He did snap out of it when a rubber hand extended to steal the meat from his hands.

We were putting the last touches on the decorations for Luffy's birthday party when a certain group of bandits barged into the bar.

"We're back."

Before either Ace could say anything, I elbowed him discreetly.

"Good morning, sir. What would you like to order? As an apology for last time, would you like to do the honors of being the first clients to try our newest wines? It's on the house." I gave him the Waitress Smile variant 2: Genuine Bliss at Seeing a Treasured Customer. Makino had taught me dozens of those smiles, for all occasions. That woman had skills to put a diplomat to shame.

"Bring us the best barrel you've got, then. I can't refuse such a sincere apology!"

"Right away." I dragged Ace to the kitchen.

"What's it, Ann?" Makino paused mid-stirring. "Customers?"

"Nothing we can't handle, Miss Makino."

In the storeroom, Ace roughly pulled his hand from my grip. "What was that about, Ann? Those guys were the ones who—"

"I know. But what can we do? We're outnumbered right now, and those people won't play fair."

"So? I could beat that boss easily enough!"

"And then what? They'd get desperate and take hostages! We're not the only people in the village! Acting without thinking of consequences... Shanks knew that—"

"Shanks this, Shanks that! What's so special about the guy, anyway?!"

I recoiled in shock. That was the first time Ace had shown so much contempt. But he made a valid point…

Shanks may not come to save the day. My existence had altered many things, I couldn't rely on chance.

Incorrectly interpreting my reaction, he deflated. "Ann, I…"

"No, you're right." I looked downwards. "We can't let them walk free. After all, letting those who hurt others go free also has consequences."

"We're fighting them?"

"No." Before he could protest, I continued. "Not like that. Here, take this barrel and go ahead. I have something to do."

For a moment, optimism had blinded me. But… they wouldn't hesitate like me. If they could even think of selling a young child… no. No, not even going there.

But… what could I do?

I didn't have the strength to fight head on.

"Hey, Makino? Where did you put the medicine box?"

Serve this special drink with a smile.

Golden Midday Sun end_