Allen strolled down through the castle grounds. It was a perfect day; the sun was shining and the leaves had just started to bud on all the trees. The air was starting to get warm again, and it was clear that it was going to be a beautiful spring in the European country of Innocence.

It was still cool, even at midmorning, so Allen was wearing a coat over his usual shirt and vest. On the left lapel, there was a fist sized hole that looked as though something had been cut out of it. Allen knew that his father, his steward, and his master would not approve, but he didn't like wearing the green cross that was the symbol of his country, Innocence, so he had cut it off the long coat.

"Morning, Prince!" Two guards jumped to attention and saluted as Allen walked past.

Allen nodded slightly to them and kept walking, in the direction of the gate.

It was unfortunate for him that he had such recognisable features. No fifteen year old had hair so blond it appeared white, nor would they have such a vivid red scar down the side of their face. And no fifteen year old save the prince of Innocence would have had his whole left arm dyed red at birth.

Yes, it was indeed unfortunate for Allen. He didn't want to be the prince. He didn't think he could shoulder the responsibilities, but in just three short years, when he turned eighteen, he would legally become the king of Innocence.

Having such a recognisable, well-known face made it hard for Allen to go out into the town and help people, which is what he liked to do. He often joined in building projects, or helped merchants carry their wares. He was extremely popular with the people of Innocence, so none of them would have any problem with Allen becoming their king. It was just Allen himself that didn't want to take on the responsibility.

"Morning, Prince!" the guard at the gate said as Allen passed under the castle walls and out into the main town.

Although the capital city of Innocence, also called Innocence, had never been attacked in living memory, the wall separating the royal castle from the rest of the village still stood. Allen smiled ruefully to himself. Though his steward often raged at the annoyance having the wall caused, Allen's master refused to let the wall be removed.

"We might need it one day," he always said, though Allen couldn't imagine a situation in which they would need a ten foot high wall around their castle. Whenever Allen asked why, his master jabbed him unnecessarily hard with a sword.

Allen smiled ruefully at the thought of his master. The real reason for being up this early was not to get into town as soon as possible, but to escape the castle before his master woke up and thought of a new way to torment him. This early in the morning, Allen's master was sure to be hung-over from the night before, giving Allen a chance to escape.

"Gah!" Allen stuttered, stumbling over a sticking up flagstone. He shuddered. Why waste the day with scary thoughts of… "master"… when he could be out in the world helping people?

"AAAAllen-chan~!"

Allen froze in mid-step. Only two people in the world called him that, and both of them were people… indescribable characters, truthfully. Truly individual in that way that only some people are.

Robotically, Allen turned to face the voice and breathed a sigh of relief and frustration. It was Lavi, the castle's Fool and his best friend. Out of the two people who called him "Allen-chan", Allen was glad it was Lavi. Because if it had been the other person… well, he didn't want to think about it. With time drawing closer to his 18th birthday – three years! Just three years! – Allen was beginning to feel awkward around the person that came with the person that called him Allen-chan.

"Hey, Allen! What's with the dumbstruck face?"

"Do you always have to announce yourself as loudly as possible?" Allen asked in an exasperated voice. It didn't help his attempts to go unnoticed when a loud, red-haired guy shouted his name loudly across the town square.

"Well anyway, Komui wants to see you," Lavi told him, completely ignoring Allen's question.

"Ahh, but I'm busy now."

"It's Komui."

Allen's eye twitched. "That's true…"

"It's about Lenalee…"

Allen shuddered again. "Then I'm not going!"

"OK!" Lavi gave a huge grin with his eye closed. The other was hidden beneath an eye-patch that no-one had ever seen beneath. No-one knew why he wore it, either.

Allen rolled his eyes and went back to helping the city's brewer roll a barrel of ale across the market to an inn on the other side of the square. "How did you find me, anyway?"

"It's not hard." Lavi mimicked a scene. "'Have you seen the Prince near here?' 'Yes, he went that way.' 'Thank you, mam.'" He stopped and straightened. "Everyone knows your whereabouts at all times!"

"Urgh," Allen grunted, both in frustration and exertion as he tried to roll the barrel in a straight line. I knew I should have worn the hooded cloak…

"And anyway, Allen, why do you always do all this stuff out here in the town? That's why we have servants." Lavi scratched his bright red hair in puzzlement.

"Because I like doing it. I like to help people."

Lavi rolled his eye, adjusting the headband that held back his short hair. "How you're ever going to manage when you have to be the king, I'll never know."

Allen shrugged. "Maybe I'll just do what Komui does and pretend the country can run itself."

"You mean just leave all the stuff on your desk and see what happens?"

"Just like Komui."

"But Komui has Reever to save him whenever the country tries to explode because he's not doing what he should be."

"If Komui – this is Komui, Lavi – can keep the country running, then surely I can. Besides, if Komui can spend time doing whatever it is he's doing down in the dungeons, surely I can take time off to do what I want to do in the town."

"Wellll, you can say one thing, Allen, you'll be the most popular king ever. The people love you!"

"Thanks, Lavi." Allen sighed. Lavi was right. The people of Innocence really did love Allen. He was a prince that cared about the people of the country, not anything else. He was one of them. He might have been born royal, but he was one of the people.

Lavi cartwheeled along side Allen until they made it to the inn.

"Thank you, your highness!" the brewer said, giving Allen a mock salute.

"You're welcome, but please, call me Allen. It's my name, after all." Allen shook hands with the man and left the inn with a smile. It felt good to help people.

Lavi continued cartwheeling, seemingly able to keep doing it endlessly.

Eventually Allen stopped walking and shook his head. "What are you doing?"

"Cartwheeling."

"Why?"

"Why not?"

"You're making me dizzy."

"I'm trying to make you laugh."

"Why are you out here anyway? Shouldn't you be studying?" Lavi was the castle minstrel and technically the castle Fool, but he was also the apprentice Bookman and had a duty to study and learn about all sorts of things and secrets that Allen either couldn't understand or wasn't allowed to know.

Lavi stopped moving mid-cartwheel and landed on his head. "Well, the old panda told me to go and get some fresh air. Plus your master told me to find you and give you a beating, but I decided to let him do the beating and just bring you home."

"Unhh…" Allen groaned in anticipation. "He's furious, isn't he?"

Lavi grinned, much too happy with his friend's predicament. "Yep! He's told you to stop sneaking out several times."

"I'm the prince; I don't see why some drunk commoner is allowed to boss me around," Allen grumbled.

"And here you were complaining about being royal!" Lavi teased. "Come on Allen-chan, I really think you should hear what Komui has to say about Lenalee."

"Nuh-uh!" Allen shook his head vigorously. "It's bad enough having to deal with Master, but if I have to deal with Komui whining about his sister marrying me in three years, I'll go completely insane!"

They reached the castle walls and went inside. It seemed a lot darker inside the castle grounds, even though it was mid afternoon, because the walls blocked out the sun.

Lavi and Allen strolled across the grounds, chatting amiably. The ground was starting to green up with the promise of spring, and a few birds had come to nest in the newly budding trees once again.

Suddenly Lavi dashed away, shouting back over his shoulder, "I'll have a nice bath ready for you when you're done!"

"Wha-?" Allen started, reaching out a hand after his friend. But then he felt an ominous presence behind him and turned to face his master.

General Cross, the well-known commander of Innocence's army, and lesser known gambler, womanizer and drunkard, was also Allen's swordmaster. Famous for his fighting skills and less famous for his not-so-excellent teaching techniques, he stood menacingly taller than Allen, holding his sword "Judgment" with the point on Allen's nose.

He didn't need to say anything for Allen to know what his intentions were. "But, Master, I don't have my sword with me… Gyaaah~!"

A/N: that's right. Allen's country is called Innocence. Because I simply couldn't think of anything else. Although I have ideas about who all the characters will be, I don't mind people making suggestions… although Mana, Kanda, Lenalee, Lavi and the Earl's positions are set solid so please only make suggestions for other characters!

Also, I happen to mostly dislike the stuff that people wore back in medieval times, so they are going to wear whatever I want! Or maybe just nothing at all… mwahahah!