The years flew by. Sabo and Ace continued to grow stronger and faster and more clever.

Sabo kept his coat off for the most part nowadays. Only put it on for half his training bouts with Ace and when they went down to the Grey Terminal to scrounge. His wings didn't get anywhere near as gross now that they were mostly free, but Ace continued grooming Sabo's feathers every night before bed. They wouldn't say so, but the routine was incredibly soothing to both boys.

He still hadn't managed to fly, but Gramps said on his last visit that it was only a matter of time at this point. Sabo definitely could feel lift when he flapped, and he'd finally figured out gliding when he jumped. Ace and he were incredibly excited at the prospect, even wondering if Sabo would be able to fly with Ace if he got strong enough! (Gramps didn't think so, but they were determined to prove him wrong!)

Their treasure trove continued to grow from their findings and fights in the Grey Terminal, though they didn't dare go into Low Town to steal any more. Sabo was pretty sure he wouldn't be recognized, but after Gramps' warning about bounty posters he didn't want to take the slightest risk.

The treehouse improved as well, especially after they found some discarded architectural blueprints and books that explained basic construction methods. Apparently it did matter what type of wood they used and how far apart they spaced the nails - cool!

(Sabo was relieved to find out Ace could read, though he wasn't great at it. He rapidly improved as Sabo shared his scavenged book collection, and the two would spend hours with said books, discussing various ideas and any illustrations.)

Time probably would've continued on like that up until they were old enough to leave Dawn, but one day Ace and Sabo spotted the most fascinating thing from their lookout.

An actual pirate ship! With a jolly roger and everything! It looked to be heading towards Foosha.

The two exchanged excited looks, both grinning and knowing exactly what the other was thinking. They just had to check that out!

Ace and Sabo had never actually snuck down to Foosha before, though they knew that's where Garp docked his ship when he came on vacation. A sleepy little village didn't hold much appeal next to a mountain populated by giant animals, or a forest filled with amazing things to eat, or even a trash heap stuffed with treasure and danger around every turn.

Foosha was technically part of Goa Kingdom too, another point against them, though it seemed pretty isolated from the city itself. The small town was clear across Dawn Island, on the opposite shoreline. Garp and the bandits informed Ace and Sabo that it was mostly a sort of town center for a handful of farmers and fishermen, with just one doctor, one inn/bar, a little town hall, a few tradesmen, and a general store.

If the pirates were looking for a place to raid, they really picked the wrong port. Though that seemed more and more unlikely, as the town seemed awfully relaxed for a pirate ship pulling in. Maybe this was just a normal supply stop? Maybe these pirates had even been here before?

Ace and Sabo prepared for a fight anyway. You know, just to be prepared.

There was one little brat, maybe a few years younger than them, running around screaming that "SHANKS IS BACK!", whatever that meant.

"Maybe one of the pirates? I mean, to shank someone means -" started Ace, looking hopeful. The two were hiding behind a bunch of barrels near the docks. Their pipes might be sticking up a bit, but they were pretty sure no one noticed.

"There's other meanings too," whispered Sabo. "Not everything's about stabbing people! But yeah, I guess that's the most appropriate for a pirate."

The ship was being tied down by various crew members. It was a strange crew, hard to tell who the officers were, all mingling and talking together freely.

The two brats eyed the jolly roger again. Then returned to eyeing the different pirates climbing out of and around the ship. Two red stripes, bordered by three black lines, across the left eye. Two crossed sabres behind the skull. So maybe someone with a weird or scarred left eye, and/or someone using two swords or -

"Captain!"

Or whoever the crew greeted as captain. That worked too. Sabo pouted slightly at not getting the chance to figure it out himself. Ace snickered at him.

They both turned to look at the man just swinging himself over the ship's railing and -

And -

The man had wings. Huge, amazing, bright red wings. That he was using to fly down to the dock. The man landed neatly and flapped once, twice, before folding them neatly against his back.

Both boys were so stunned they barely took in the rest of the details. The bright red hair, the same shade as the wings, sticking out beneath a straw hat. The three scars, which must have inspired their flag, slashed across his left eye. The huge smile and twinkling eyes as he knelt and held out his arms to the brat from before.

"SHANKS!" the kid screamed, literally flinging himself into the man's arms.

Ace wanted to see more, but a glance at a trembling, huge-eyed Sabo told him it was time to leave.

They slipped out from behind the barrels, Sabo's right hand clenched firmly in Ace's left, and made a mad dash back towards the mountain. Neither noticing the winged man's sharp eyes following them over the kid's shoulder.

Foosha Village was weird. Not as bad as Shanks suspected Goa Kingdom would be, and the villagers did lighten up eventually, in large part thanks to a certain little anchor following him around. But every now and then they got a bit too starry eyed looking in his direction, and Shanks wasn't quite vain enough to blame his dashing good looks or suave, debonair charm.

He did not want to be worshipped.

"You're such a loser, Shanks!" laughed a certain little brat that shall not be named. Maybe he would slip the kid a sip of beer, just to see him whine and pull more disgusted faces.

Speaking of brats…

"Makino? Whatever happened with that winged kid Goa was looking for? He'd be, what, around ten now?"

"The True King?!" interrupted Luffy excitedly. "They say he's got pure white angel wings! Isn't that awesome?! They must be so pretty! Do you think they look like yours, Shanks?! Other than the color! And they gotta be way smaller 'cause he's way younger so -"

With the ease of experience, born of ignoring the drunken singing of the more tone deaf among his crew, he tuned out Luffy's chattering and turned his attention back to the pretty green-haired bartender.

"Oh, yes. Goa celebrated his tenth birthday just a couple months ago."

Shanks paused. "The kingdom celebrates the birthday of a kid that disappeared five years ago and could be dead for all they know?"

Makino's hand clenched where it gripped the towel she used to wipe down the counter. "He's not dead!" she almost-shouted, sounding horribly insulted. Then she caught herself. "Oh, I'm sorry, Captain. But the True King isn't dead. And of course his birthday is a national holiday. Why wouldn't it be?"

Yeah. Goa Kingdom was weird.

And he certainly wasn't going to mention any boys that looked to be about ten years old running around. Especially ones that would take off running at the sight of his wings.

Shanks tipped his straw hat at the pretty bar owner, then slipped away from a still chattering Luffy over to his first mate. The smartest man he knew, and the only person he trusted with this sort of query.

He didn't even need to ask. Benn Beckman already was glancing around to make sure their crew was too busy drinking and partying to notice as he drew a folded wanted poster from a pocket. Handed it to his captain.

Shanks casually unfolded it.

A five year old boy with a blank, doll-like glaze to his eyes stared back at him. Sitting on a tiny throne, small white wings spread wide behind him, absolutely dripping in gold and jewels.

Wanted. Alive Only. Outlook Sabo, True King of Goa Kingdom. Ten million berries for information. One hundred million berries for his safe return and the dead bodies of his captors.

Hmm. Curly blond hair. Light skin. So the one wearing the top hat, not the one with the dark hair and tank top. Makes sense, since top hat was wearing a coat, despite the heat and humidity.

He folded the wanted poster back up and slipped it back to his first mate. Who'd definitely also seen the kids. Nothing got past Benn Beckman.

"Orders, Captain?"

Shanks frowned, tipped his chair back and balanced that way as he thought over the situation. Slipped and crashed, to the hysterical laughter of his crew and a certain little anchor.

Once the laughter settled down and his chair was righted, Shanks replied softly. "For now, nothing. If they come to us, we'll play it by ear. I wouldn't be opposed to giving them a lift off this island, though I'm not sure anywhere else is any safer."

Benn shrugged. "They've managed to hide for this long. And there's at least two of them. Not weak either - they both had haki signatures already."

"But can he fly?" whispered Shanks under his breath, where no one could possibly hear but Benn right next to him. He lowered the brim of his hat, remembering how long and hard and confusing learning had been, with no other winged around. Marco the Phoenix had helped, whenever Roger's crew had partied with Whitebeard's (usually after they fought), but Marco was a devil fruit eater, which made quite a few things different.

Shanks suddenly smirked as an idea flashed into his head.

"Hey, Luffy! Did I ever tell you about when I was learning to fly?"

Ace and Sabo didn't usually hug, despite all the time they spent together.

Sabo wasn't used to touch meaning anything affectionate. Touch was cold, often painful, either punishment or forcing him into uncomfortable costumes.

Ace had been raised by bandits, where any sign of affection must be denied and hidden behind aggression. They cared, yes, very much so, but like hell would they ever admit it.

Thus why their daily grooming sessions had come to mean so much to them. Gentle hands through soft feathers. Sabo allowing, trusting someone with his back, his wings, his weakness. Ace's acceptance of the vulnerability and rising to the occasion, letting himself express kindness and care with every feather he straightened and brushed over.

But that was really the only time either boy could be described as soft, trusting, kind, or gentle. Any other time, from their fighting to general mannerisms, the two were usually harsh, aggressive even. Almost feral, all teeth as they charged and wrestled and swung at each other with steel pipes. If anyone other than each other entered the picture, that aggression doubled for Ace and turned defensive for Sabo.

So Ace had no clue what to do, because right now Sabo couldn't stop shaking. Had curled himself into a tiny ball at the base of their tree and wouldn't answer any of Ace's worried questions. Didn't seem capable of answering, barely seemed capable of breathing.

At his wit's end, half in a panic himself, Ace lowered himself to his knees in front of his best friend and gathered him up in his arms. And just held him.

Neither spoke a word. It didn't magically make everything better. But slowly Sabo's shaking slowed to an occasional shudder and he began to uncurl.

Ace didn't say anything. Had no clue where to even begin, even as Sabo gently pulled away and began wiping at his eyes angrily. They were red and he was clearly trying hard to stop crying.

"I'm a horrible person," finally confessed Sabo.

Ace blinked in confusion. Tilted his head. Waited.

Sabo laughed weakly. "Not going to argue with me?"

Ace tried out a smirk, ever so slight, but growing as Sabo didn't take it seriously. "Well, maybe a bit?" Ace tried to tease.

His friend didn't smile back. Stared at the ground for a bit. Took off his coat. Shook out his wings, which were beginning to get too big to be hidden under there much longer. Stretched them out so he could see his own white plumage.

"I should be happy, shouldn't I? That I'm not the only winged? Instead, I…" He turned nervous eyes to the only person in the world he trusted. Who he desperately hoped could understand. Or at least would try to.

"Ace, I'm so jealous. And I know it's pathetic. He's an adult. And a pirate. But he's strong and brave and free. I can't even imagine ever being like that. But I want it so, so bad. Not to have to hide, not constantly terrified of being caught and hauled back."

He was starting to tremble again. Ace took his hands. His own eyes were getting wet as Sabo poured out his heart, still with no clue how to help him.

"I have nightmares of being locked in a birdcage," Sabo continued, one confession rolling into the next and the next, the tears now incapable of being held back. "I've never even been chained up, let alone caged! Why? Why am I such a coward?"

Ace knew Sabo had nightmares sometimes. So did Ace. But they'd been sleeping so well lately. Ace was pretty sure Sabo hasn't had a nightmare in months. But Sabo's thoughts and emotions were clearly reeling and tumbling in self-disgust, something Ace knew all too well didn't always follow logic.

So he didn't argue with him. Just pulled him into another hug and made a vow.

"We'll get just as strong as him, Sabo. Even stronger! And you'll fly free and we'll be pirates together and no one will ever be able to stop us! We'll kill anyone who tries! And if anyone ever does dare to lock you in a cage, nothing will stop me from ripping it open and getting you out! Nothing!"

Sabo stared at Ace, desperate hope in those big round eyes.

"You think I can't do it?"

Sabo finally smiled. "I think you can do anything!" And he meant it. He really, really did.

"Then, whenever you get scared, you just tell yourself, I'm not alone. I have Ace. And he's always going to come for me."

This time Sabo yanked Ace into a hug. "You'd better," choked Sabo, clinging tight, desperately relieved and comforted and so, so happy.

It was a week or so before Ace suggested, and Sabo agreed, to sneak down to Foosha again. They weren't even sure if the pirates were still there, but it was worth a shot to spy on an adult winged. Maybe they could pick out some tips to help Sabo figure out flying.

It was not a good day. Bodies of bandits on the main road. Half the pirates running towards the docks, the other half helping the townspeople clean up and checking if anyone had been injured by the bandits.

The winged captain was nowhere to be seen, so Sabo and Ace followed the pirates running for the docks. Were just in time to hear screaming and see a small boat capsized by a sea monster. It was too far away to swim or help, at least for most people.

The details were hard to make out, but those red wings diving towards the sea monster were unmistakable. As was how the monster surged forward and the following screams from the pirates and the kid the captain was now cradling as he treaded water.

The sea monster was running away. The pirates were desperately leaping into a rowboat and charging out to rescue their crippled captain and the little boy.

Blood stained the water. Visible even from here.

One wing was just gone.

Garp's lecture rang in Ace's ears.

" - having your wings out is also incredibly risky - terrifically fragile - I do not want you to find out the hard way -"

Ace couldn't tear his eyes from the disaster unfolding in front of them. The inconsolable kid still screaming. The pirates now pulling the bloody and limp one-winged body of their captain into the boat. The people here on the dock shouting and running back to town for a doctor.

It wasn't until Ace felt Sabo grab his arm for balance that it hit him how much worse this had to be for his best friend. What must be going through his head. Sabo's eyes were glued to the grisly scene, face pale and sweaty, body trembling, leaning against Ace for support.

Ace had no idea what to say. Instead he smacked a hand over Sabo's eyes, grabbed him with his free arm and physically lifted him up into a carry, then took off.

Maybe they should just give up on visiting Foosha.