Summary: "That's some impressive presence you've got there, kid. Tell me, how come you're not a commander yourself?"

After the dreadful events of the Zero Requiem, Lelouch Lamperouge wakes up in a very different world where he quickly understands there is nothing to restrain him from being whoever and whatever he wants to become. So he finally tastes freedom for the first time. No revenge to accomplish, no Holy Britannian Empire to obliterate. And he'll enjoy it... as he grows up once again after being reborn as a seven-year-old boy.

Genres: Drama/Adventure.

Fan-Fiction: Crossover One Piece/Code Geass.

Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece and certainly not Code Geass (Mmpf. Those masterpieces are way beyond anything. But we can try on our own.).

/!\ Warning! /!\ Truth to be told, I still don't know if Lelouch's Romance Dawn is going to work... I don't know, but I won't if I don't try. If it sucks, tell me honestly. There will be mostly Drama and Adventure – some humor within the story, because of the crazy and the Strawhats. And all the characters Lelouch will get to meet. Oh, and Lelouch might be OOC sometimes... just warning ya!

OK, enough blabbling and on with the story!

Chapter One: Reborn.

He, who destroys worlds.

He, who creates worlds.

He, the boy who wanted to create a world to his liking,

Fell in disgrace when the world turned against him.

He opened his mouth in a jerky movement, greedily filling his lungs with the welcome air around him. Breathe, he scolded himself as he began to cough violently with his hands around his throat. Breathe. His eyes were wide in muted disbelief and shock, for they couldn't assess the fact that he was actually breathing. His body ached with the painful, familiar sensation of an open wound in his chest. After a moment, he finally managed to regain control of his breathing and, with some hesitation, reached down to feel the wound... only to feel smooth skin beneath his fingers.

What on earth...?

That jerked him completely awake as he hastily sat up, not believing this 'miracle'. Because there was no miracle in the world he lived in, he had had so many examples of that when he swore to protect his mutilated sister from any harm. That simply didn't exist. Was this some kind of sick joke? Was God playing him? There should be a scar in his chest, right where he'd been stabbed by Suzaku – but there was nothing. He felt nothing but smooth, unscathed skin. Not even a smear of blood on his imperial clothing when there should be a lot of –

"W-what?" Lelouch Lamperouge croaked, checking his attire. This wasn't his imperial costume he'd been wearing in his last moments, but modest clothes that reminded him of his younger years when he and Nunnally were trying to survive in the rough Area Eleven after having been banished as political hostages; a plain brown shirt with long sleeves and dark pants. But that truly wasn't his clothing that was making him panic.

It was his hands. They were... smaller. As if his body had somehow turned back to its younger years or something twisted like that. Was it even possible? His eyes looked wildly around for a mirror, his thoughts racing in his confused mind. This can't be real, he thought, feeling faint. His surroundings were unfamiliar and, as much as it comforted him, it wasn't a tomb either. When he spotted something shiny in a bag on the sand – sand? –, Lelouch sprung from the mattress he'd been sitting on, only to fall on his knees into the sand.

He couldn't muffle the small yelp of pain when his strained muscles heavily protested against the rushed movement, and he shut his eyes as the world began to spin around him. Was his body reacting to the lethal wound he'd received from Suzaku during the Zero Requiem? Because feeling like he'd been drained from his energy until he was forced to crawl was just plain pathetic, and even if he was back into his seven or eight-years-old body, he'd rather have the strength to walk. Groaning painfully, Lelouch cracked his lids open and dragged himself toward the bag, using his arms even when the muscles were still exhausted. By the time he made it to the bag, he was already breathing hard – which showed how tired his weak body was. How ironic. He had never been the sportive kind back when he was Lelouch vi Britannia and Lelouch Lamperouge, the afterlife wasn't going to change that. Grabbing hold of the mirror, he barely managed to hold back a shocked scream when he got to see his face.

This was him alright, Lelouch Lamperouge – in his seven-years-old body. Which absolutely didn't make any sense: why and how would he be back in his seven-years-old form? Was this how the afterlife dealt with people when they die? If so, then somebody must be laughing at him right now and Lelouch wasn't pleased. At all.

His first thought about his new form was to think things through without panicking – which also proved to be quite the pain when his heart was racing and beating with so much force against his ribcage. Lelouch knew there was no logic in this, and the most logical fact he could think of right now was that he may have been given another chance to live; as a fallen prince of the Holy Britannian Empire and a fallen Emperor, he knew beforehand that attoning for his many sins would be a one-way trip to hell until the end of all times, but... was this hell? Lelouch had always pictured hell as a place engulfed in flames where the air was so hot that you could die of asphyxia – the ultimate punishment for all damned souls. But another chance at life? That seemed so far-fetched and too messed up to believe.

Calm down, he scolded himself mentally. His purple eyes traveled around, taking in his surroundings at last. The room he was in was small and quite full of furnitures that looked quite foreign – like those big earthenware vases, he'd never seen those in Area Eleven except in books about the other countries and areas conquered by Britannia. But if he were to gaze at all the charms hung on the walls, the sand on the ground and feel the hot air, Lelouch would say he was in the Sahara desert or even the Colorado. And none of these guesses made any sense to him! He almost groaned in frustration, replacing the mirror into the bag. Where was the damn logic in this messed up situation?

"Oh, awake at last?" somebody grunted behind him.

"H-huh?" Lelouch let out a startled sound, jerking. The former Emperor-now-reborn-as-a-boy whipped around, falling on his butt as he stared at the person who sneaked up on him without him noticing. It was a middle-aged man with tanned skin, sharp black eyes that seemed to have seen too much in his life and a stern expression on his face. He was wearing white robes that match the desert heat, heavy but essential in such weather (if you don't want to have bad sunburns, it would be best to wear this.).

The man eyed Lelouch with the same, stern expression. "Hey, child," he said. "I found you passed out in the desert, near my house. You were out for five hours straight, I was starting to get worried." Even though he didn't sound or look worried, Lelouch suspected there was a hint of truth in his words. "Care to explain what happened to you?"

Lelouch gulped, not knowing how he should answer that one. Tricky question, considering the fact that he didn't even know where he was himself. "I... don't remember," he mumbled miserably, casting his eyes down. He had died and had somehow come back to life as a seven-years-old boy with no throne, no title. Nothing. And he wasn't that stupid to say such thing. "You said you found me in the desert? Which desert, may I ask?"

The man looked at him as if he couldn't believe what he just heard. "... you really don't know where you are, boy?" his savior asked slowly, as if making sure he wasn't imagining things.

Lelouch had the decensy to frown a little, not scowl, to prove his point and to show that he was a bit offended. The older man hummed, standing up.

"Don't look at me like that, I had to make sure you weren't trying to fool me," he defended himself, raising his brows. "Fine, let's say I believe you really don't know your whereabouts. Most people cannot lie properly but you look so genuine that it's hard to say if you're lying or not. Well, boy, you're in the outskirts of Nanohana in the desert kingdom of Alabasta." he turned toward the entrance of his home, not noticing the confused expression on Lelouch's face as he followed the man's movements with his eyes. "An arid island where the temperature is so hot during the day that you almost end up fried like a fish in the open air, and when night falls, it's practically a winter island." He pointed toward a table, where a tray of food and two glasses of water lay. "Eat up and drink, you need to stay hydrated and rest. Be thankful that I found you at this hour of the day, boy. Others aren't so lucky..."

With that last, grim sentence, he was gone outside. Lelouch was able to catch a glimpse of a plain, desertic land before the door was shut on his face. When he realized he was alone once again, he released a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.

Although his genius mind was racing to remember where he could have heard of this place, the young boy knew from the bottom of his stomach that the desert kingdom of Alabasta was nowhere in the map of the world – he would have known right away. Since those names didn't ring any bell, Lelouch was seriously starting to panic; 'Alabasta' didn't sound like any other exotic language he knew, so its kingdom was a new discovery. It was also an island. An island! He clutched his head in impending frustration, also trying to choke down the rising tension in his chest. This didn't make any sense: history never recorded anything about this kingdom on an island, how could it exist? And what's more, that didn't explain why he was back in his seven-years-old body with all his memories. That theory he made up earlier, about getting another chance at life? Sounds awfully a lot like a miracle to him. And Lelouch Lamperouge knew for a fact that miracles never existed. If they did, Nunnally would be living in the ideal world he'd have created for her.

After gathering his senses, Lelouch stood up from his sitting position to walk toward the tray of food. His stomach was grumbling loudly, reminding him of how long he'd been out – five hours straight! He needed to eat, then he should start asking questions about Alabasta, Nanohana... and pretty much everything he had to know to pinpoint his exact whereabouts. Because if he truly was reborn – he tried not to wince at the word – somewhere else than Area Eleven or Aeries Villa in the Holy Britannian Empire, then the most important things to do was to learn everything about this place. Better here than Pendragon and in the den of all the snakes he had vowed to destroy.

Lelouch hissed in pain, doing his best to keep his eyes open despite the envious need to close them and sleep. It turned out that he'd been exposed to the harsh sun of the desert way too long before his savior discovered him, so it gave time for him to fall sick and run a damn fever. While he lay helpless and brooding in his cot, Lelouch tried to extract as much information as his pitiful state allowed at the moment (who knew when he was going to fall asleep?). But the man, whose name he soon learnt was Sphinx (Lelouch had done his best not to sound sarcastic when he repeated it, feeling quite itchy to ask Sphinx if he liked riddles like the mythical creature. That would be interesting to know...), didn't seem this thrilled to answer Lelouch's questions but did anyway.

"Where is Alabasta on the map of the world?" he asked, staring at Sphinx with bleary eyes. "Is it somewhere near another island named 'Africa'?"

Sphinx looked confused as he settled a fresh serviette on the boy's boiling forehead. Then he looked down at him with slightly concerned eyes. "What are you talking about, boy? What is an 'Africa'?" he asked back, his brows furrowed. "I've traveled around the world a bit and never once in my life I've heard of an island called 'Africa' in the Grand Line. Are you sure you didn't hit your head on a rock before passing out?"

This was one of the answers Lelouch dreaded: if his savior was lying, he sure was damn good at it. But the pure confusion in both his words and expression was just too genuine to be fake. Sphinx was telling the truth. He'd never heard of Africa before – a country with areas just as arid as Alabasta – and had stared at him with this concerned expression you'd only give to people who could have concussions. And what was the Grand Line?

"I'm not sure if anyone has managed to draw a map of the entire world but if there had been someone, history would remember that person forever. As the biggest ocean of the world, the Grand Line is crawling with countless islands and loads of mysteries that have yet to be solved. People navigate in this ocean for various reasons but, in this age, you'd see more pirates lusting after the legendary One Piece than humble travelers hoping to discover the world we live in."

Despite being in this comatose state, Lelouch managed to look startled. "P-pirates, you said?" he croaked out before coughing.

Sphinx turned his unreadable dark eyes toward him. "Surely you must have heard of the late King of the Pirates, Gol D. Roger? He was executed six years ago, but he still was the only known pirate who traveled all over the Grand Line. Everyone has heard about him at least once." When he was met with Lelouch's blank stare, he couldn't help but blink in utter surprise. "...really? You struck me as a bright child with those eyes earlier, I thought you'd know more than common facts."

It was Lelouch's turn to look confused. "'Those...eyes'?"

But Sphinx said nothing, only stared down at him. For a long moment, the two stared at each other, the silence only broken by Lelouch's bated breathing. When the older man chose to speak once again, his words managed to chill the former prince's insides.

"Children are naive and innocent – their eyes reflect this aspect of their personality, because eyes are the mirror of the soul. But yours show something much more... mature. Older. Those aren't the eyes of an innocent child but of an adult who saw horrors and had scarring experiences. You may have the body of a child, but a feeling in my guts tells me that you're hiding something; whatever it is, it must pretty big, isn't it? The fact that you seem so lost and confused is a giveaway." He leaned in, invading Lelouch's space. The latter tried to move out of his way, only to remember that he was lying in a cot and unable to do so much as move. "Something happened to you, child. Something that you're willing to keep a secret as long as there's breath in your lungs."

Lelouch knew he should be panicking right now, but somehow forced himself to relax. In his state, being stressed wouldn't do him any good and would just get him sicker. But Sphinx's words did manage to shake him a lot: should he come out clean and say that he was somehow reborn in another world – Lelouch had come to the fact that he wasn't on Earth anymore, since the very idea of pirates had long become history in the world he used to live and died in. – after dying? How could he see so much just by looking into his eyes? The 'assassination' of his mother, his precious Nunnally's crippled state, wandering into the bloody warzone that had been Area Eleven while carrying his blind sister until his very last moments before Suzaku plunged his sword into his chest – all these events, all events he could recall from the second Marianne vi Britannia was murdered to the second he realized he was going to die had been stressful.

So he'd seen and experienced things that children and young teenagers weren't supposed to see. So he'd known how death could change someone's world at a very young age. So he'd felt rage and hatred, feelings that children shouldn't even know because it would ruin their innocence. So he'd wanted to destroy what made his detestable father. And he did.

He pursed his lips, finally letting his eyelids close on their own. Then he relaxed, sighing.

Lelouch chose to sleep. His body and his mind needed that, so that he'd be able to think once he was nursed back to health. Not even a minute later, he was asleep.

In all, Lelouch had been sick for four days straight. He spent so little time awake and this was just to ask questions about Alabasta and the Grand Line – mostly about pirates, the system of the World Government and the Marines. Sphinx, while still being very suspicious of him, answered all of these questions as much as possible. And even though there were complex things to explain, Lelouch managed to surprise the older man by completing his explanations by himself. His intelligence, his view of things and his sharpness couldn't be found in a normal child, Sphinx was sure of it.

He just... couldn't know why. If only he could know why.

Despite the boy's condition, Sphinx had quickly made out a small description of him when he found him passed out in the desert; Lelouch looked quite frail for his age, but there was something pure and royal about him. He looked no older than seven but had the mind of an adult – a genius one, what's more. Being this sharp at such a young age was so rare in this corrupt world. Lelouch didn't strike him much of a fighter, given his looks, but he compensated with his brain. Figuring out that the World Government ruled over the world like some kind of tyrant that wouldn't hesitate one second to execute people who would be a problem, without so much as blinking, wouldn't even cross a child's mind.

Still, there was something about Lelouch that made him regal; he didn't know if it was his princely looks or his sharp intelligence, but it definitely made him very interesting. His curiosity was also a bonus, since he seemed somewhat eager to know more about Alabasta, the Grand Line, the Three Powers – Lelouch had looked disgusted when Sphinx explained who were the Celestial Dragons and how mighty they thought of themselves, but otherwise hadn't said anything. A flash of anger had shone in his violet eyes when he understood that the World Government would be willing to wipe out an entire island and its people. For the world's sake, they'd say.

"How familiar," Lelouch had growled, his eyes cold.

"What is? Something from your native island?" Sphinx had mused out loud, perky.

"Kind of. There was someone I once knew who shared the very same mindset about things and people."

Not that Lelouch was particularly willing to share his origins with him, anyway. But Sphinx was still far too interested to give up on learning anything juicy about this young boy, might it be good or bad – almost everyone the older man knew had turned out to have had a dreadful childhood before becoming someone else, someone much stronger. What had Lelouch experienced to be this cold and snide when it came to politics and laws? Would he open up to him if he were to ask? Because his eyes...

They shouldn't be this cold and burning with fury at such a young age. He was hiding something and, whether it was freaking awful or not, Sphinx wouldn't try to pry. He may be a gruffy middle-aged man, but he still remembered his manners very well and respected privacy above everything else.

When Lelouch felt better in the morning of the fifth day, he'd asked about books so that he could read and learn more about Alabasta and – unsurprisingly – the world. Now that got Sphinx's interest. Why would a child want to know more about the world? Children of Lelouch's age would only think about playing with each other until they were called by their parents to come back home, to which the young boy had responded coldly by stating his parents' death. And he hadn't even looked remotely mournful to reveal that he was an orphan, which could mean that he must have had an unhappy childhood.

So he'd complied and given Lelouch books. A lot of books that talked about the history of this kingdom, other islands he had once visited at some point in his life, navigation books and even a Log Pose (so that he'd know how to use it properly and how that thing worked in the Grand Line as the compass.), history books about the creation of the Marines' corps and the World Government. Lelouch had taken them all with a thankful nod, had settled down on his bed to start reading – Sphinx had noted that he had started with the history of the World Government and the Marines' corps.

He spent the whole day reading, only getting a break to eat and sleep a little. While he's been reading, Sphinx had been able to hear some words of utter bewilderment or noises of disgust like 'I can't believe they'd be willing to go to such lengths...', 'So this world might just be as multi-faced as Britannia was when this bastard was still on the throne. Not so different after all.', 'Justice, justice... how intriguing.'. But after he finished the heavy books about the World Government and the Marines' corps, he had come to Sphinx with a question.

"I've read that many soldiers in the Marines have 'Devil Fruit' powers," he said casually, but the older man could just read the question in his violet eyes. The eagerness to know was even harder to miss. "The three Admirals all have one in a common category: one that is categorized as 'Logia'. Magma, ice and light. It's incredible. What are Devil Fruits? Are there different categories?"

Ah, this curiosity of his was so fascinating. Children like him were so rare to find this day. That was one of the reasons Sphinx decided to answer him.

"Devil Fruits are unique-looking fruits that will give incredible powers once you've eaten them," he revealed to one serious-looking Lelouch. "You could recognize them by those swirls they got as patterns on them. It could be anything since there are so many of them, scattered all around the world. No one knows where they come from, but you'd become someone else if you ever ate one. That depends of the power a Devil Fruit could give and how you'll use it; one may know how to make use of his powers to be deadly and dangerous, but another may be too stupid and will only end up weak and easy to beat despite being a Devil Fruit user."

Lelouch seemed to consider this for a moment, frowning. Then, another question came. "But if you're a Devil Fruit user, there's a chance that you'll only rely on your acquired powers instead of also using normal combat skills to defeat your enemies, right? That's what I'd do if I were to have one, since I don't have combat skills..."

The last part was said dejectedly, but Sphinx overlooked it to appraise the kid with a smile. "That's correct. Most Devil Fruit users tend to rely on their powers because it gives them advantages on their foes, but there are some who are very talented fighters without having to use their powers. Take the three Admirals for example: they're really powerful and even if they have Devil Fruit powers, they had to work their combat skills really hard to be in the position they are."

"What other powers do they have in store?" Lelouch asked, frowning even more in confusion. "You mean there are other things you could learn to hone your combat skills?"

Sphinx nodded. "Absolutely. But only those who wish to sail the other half of the Grand Line and face greatest dangers – such as the Four Emperors – in their quest know the importance of said skills. They are even essential to counterattack Logia Devil Fruit users because their body become the element of their power – Aokiji, Akainu and Kizaru are living examples of Logia Devil Fruit users you might not want to fight, but with a very specific skill you'd acquire after going through stressful and hard training, only then you'd be able to fight evenly."

"I see," the boy nodded sagely, his frown disappearing. "And what about the different categories?"

Sphinx paused in gathering buckets of water, using this break to sit down in the shadows and answer the ever curious, but so bright child that appeared out of nowhere. "There are actually three categories of Devil Fruits repertoried in the world, as you must have assumed: 'Logia', as you already know, give people elemental powers – light, ice, magma, fire. So it's listed as the most powerful and dangerous kind of Devil Fruits, depending on the user and how he'll use it. 'Paramecia' is a bit more focused on the fact that the human is mostly targeted by modifications brought by a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit. The last one is kind of more special than the other two – in my opinion, that is."

Lelouch perked up, his violet eyes shining a little in eagerness. "What do you mean?"

"The last category, 'Zoan', will give someone the power to turn into animal. Any animal existing or even believed to be mythical – those Zoan-type Devil Fruits are rarer than normal Zoan-type, but they still exist somewhere in the Grand Line. However, Lelouch," he said sternly as he regained his serious expression. He waited until he had the boy's attention to speak. "Eating one Devil Fruit comes with a price."

His eyes narrowed. "I knew it. There's always a price for everything, so it's an equivalent exchange law. So, what's the catch for eating a Devil Fruit? What do we have to give up on?"

"You'll never be able to swim again. Yes, that's the price for those who ate one," he nodded to Lelouch's slight expression of surprise. Sphinx chuckled. "And there are Devil Fruit users who are pirates, sailing the sea with the knowledge that they'll kick the bucket should they ever fall into the ocean. They'll sink like anchors, helpless and powerless since the water drains their energy. Not advantageous, is it? And pretty ironic too, now that you think about it: pirates sailing the sea but unable to swim."

Lelouch silently agreed, thinking that this was quite twisted and unfair for a pirate; sailing the seas while being unable to swim was a joke but, if they somehow found a way to pull it off while remaining criminals, then maybe it was worth it. After all, being a Devil Fruit user might have its qualities and defaults. This was something he'd like to experience, should he find a Devil Fruit one day; he'd never taken swimming sessions during his time as a prince of the Empire and not even as a student at Ashford Academy. He shuddered. The fear of drowning must be quite terrible for someone who has forsaken his ability to swim. But one question bothered him.

Now that he was one-hundred per cent sure he was reborn in another world, what should he do? What should he become? There was no Holy Britannian Empire to hide from, there was no need to take part in a rebellion, there was no revenge to accomplish – after discovering what kind of mother Marianne vi Britannia truly was, Lelouch was now pondering if hanging on his revenge had been good. There was no burden of being branded as the exiled prince, there was no fear of being discovered by another member of the Imperial family. There was nothing in this world to restrain him. Lelouch Lamperouge was free.

So yes... what should he do? Who should he become?

There were so many choices in his hands, he realized with an incredulous shake of his head. Back in Area Eleven, it had been his choice to become a student in Ashford Academy, so that he could be safe with Nunnally. Blending in the mass of other students, albeit being Britannian, was something he hadn't hesitated to do because there had been the Ashfords. And Suzaku. But now that he was reborn in the Grand Line, Lelouch wondered what he could become if he were to choose. He looked at his body, frowning. Back when he met Suzaku, the boy already surpassed him when it came to endurance, martial arts and speed. Lelouch had never been trained to such things, and he was sure his 'mother' had never intended for him to become a Knight or a soldier. But if he were to become someone in the Grand Line, he should try to train himself into martial arts – several ones – and harden his body even more. Suzaku had been amazing, but Lelouch had always preferred mind games and tactics.

Well, maybe it was time to become both. He couldn't just be all brains and no brawn. So what if Lelouch Lamperouge could be brains and brawn? What would be the outcome of such training?

Sphinx was in the process of dragging two heavy bags of seeds when he noticed Lelouch's thoughtful expression. "Say, why did you want to know all this?" he asked curiously. "Surely it can't be just curiosity."

The boy sat down on his cot, shaking his head. "I'm just weighing my options," he said, crossing his arms. "I'm wondering about my future. What should I do? What should I become?" He raised the book about the history of Alabasta. "The books I've read about this kingdom are fascinating, but those talking about navigation, the World Government and the Marines really held my attention. Enlisting in the Marines would be quite the challenge – if not suicide considering how dangerous their assignments must be when it comes to dealing with pirates – but I'm sure that becoming an agent of Cipher Pol is just as hard and gruelling. No, in fact, whether you decide to become a pirate, a Marine soldier or an agent of the World Government, it's just this demanding.

"And I'm currently trying to choose whoever and whatever I want to become, which is proving to be just harder than I originally thought." Lelouch allowed his body to fall back on his cot, casting his thoughtful gaze up to the ceiling. His frown deepened a bit. "Being given a choice... back home, I've never thought it to be actually possible for me to choose whoever I wanted to be. It was 'Do this, and you'll be good for the rest of your life. Do that, and you might know what hell would look like.'. How magnificent." He was careful not to let anything slip past his tongue; his bloodline, his origins and the old world he used to live in – all these must be jealously and zealously kept from everyone, Sphinx included. "But a pirate's life is also dangerous and the chances of dying are high in the Grand Line, if it's as perilous and nerve-wrecking as the books say. You're an outlaw, judged and most of the time scorned by those who despise pirates. But the Grand Line seemed to be an ocean born for people with dreams, as foolish as they might be, yet reachable if they try hard. And that... that is something I'd like to experience."

Lelouch was no fool, for he was sure that the underworld also existed; making business with human traficking was a possibility as well but, as the late older, loving brother of a crippled girl he loved with all his might, he'll never allow himself to sink that low. Never again. He'd deemed his time on Earth as an excruciative failure when the Code failed to bring him back to life after bleeding to death from the stabbing wound, so this time... this time, Lelouch Lamperouge was going to live. Be it as a pirate or a Marine soldier, whatever. He just wanted to live.

As for a dream? He didn't have one right now. Most pirates sailing through the Grand Line, who came from the Blues, braved the Reverse Mountain to face the terrible dangers of the greatest ocean of this world and try their chance to become the new King of the Pirates. The One Piece, though it might just be a legend, truly spurred this Great Pirate Age. But Lelouch was sure about one thing: he wasn't going to stay in Alabasta forever.

"... if I want to become someone in this world, then my intelligence alone won't be enough." The Code may have backfired on him when it failed to bring him back to life and give him immortality, but it somehow did give him another chance at life. It might even have rid him of the Geass. Whether it was to atone for his sins or else, Lelouch wasn't going to waste it. There was too much to explore, too much to learn and experience. He was going to taste everything this world had to offer.

With resolution and determination burning in his violet eyes, the boy jumped to his feet and turned toward Sphinx, who had long abandoned his sacks of seeds to look at him in a new light.

"Sphinx, what can you teach me to become a skilled fighter and survive?" Lelouch asked politely, his gaze unwavering.

It was the older man's turn to look surprised. "...how could you tell?" he wondered aloud.

"These robes might be baggy-looking, but those broad shoulders and those muscled arms are the result of hard work. I'm sure that you're hiding muscles under your clothes, which are the result of an intense training you must have had in your younger years. Plus," Lelouch added as he pointed to the two heavy sacks of seeds. "those sacks of seeds weigh so much, and I haven't seen you falter one single time when you carried them so easily outside. You never pant, which also means that you have endurance. You have speed, incredible reflexes for someone your age. Whatever your skills are, I'll need them to become to explore the Grand Line."

Despite his shock at Lelouch's thorough analysis, Sphinx managed to gasp out. "So you've decided to sail the sea? What will you become?"

"I don't know yet, to be honest. But I've already made up my mind, Sphinx." He narrowed his purple eyes at his elder, squaring his shoulders. "Will you help me? Please?"

There was so much in those young eyes – eyes that had seen more than they should have and knew more than their share. This child... Lelouch... Sphinx had a feeling that he could become someone powerful with his intelligence one day, if he also decided to train his body in order to harden himself. Both in mind and strength. He could.

Sphinx's lips quirked ever so slightly. The boy knew he was very inexperienced and would die really early if he didn't take his precautions first before sailing the Grand Line; that was why he had asked for books about almost everything – getting knowledge about the Three Great Powers, the World Government and all other dangers he might have to face, should he decide to become a pirate... or a mere explorer. He had common sense, he was intuitive, he had a brilliant mind he could use to its full extent...

And he also had a sort of presence. In his eyes, there was an unwavering determination burning like the sun. However, it was this presence that made him look impressive; Sphinx could feel it around him, in this very room. It was shaking it, ever so slightly, but it still managed to make the feathers he had attached to the ceiling flutter. He may have only seen it once in his whole life, but he couldn't tell otherwise. There was no mistaking it – he definitely hadn't imagined that presence.

"Heh," Sphinx snorted, his eyes glinting in the small ray of sunshine that passed through the window. "I think I like you, kiddo."

It was during this particularly chilly night that Sphinx decided to contact one of his friends, when he assured that his brand new student was sound asleep. He couldn't help it, he had to share it with someone, he was sure, would be greatly interested in this kid.

"Make it quick, Sphinx," the voice in the Transponder Snail said, its expression devoid of emotion. "I don't have much time to spare you, especially in this kind of assignment I've been given."

"Ever so busy, eh?" Sphinx said sarcastically, rolling his dark eyes. Then he sighed. "This impatience of yours will get you someday, you know."

"Sphinx." There was a hint of warning in the other male's voice.

"Sheesh... I found a strange boy passed out in the desert days ago. Don't know where he came from, but he just seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. You must be annoyed by now that I called you to talk about some random kid but, if I were to trust my instincts and my guts, I'd say there's something about this boy. And you know that my instincts and my guts have never failed me, right?"

The second man at the other end of the Transponder Snail was silent, only staring at Sphinx with the same stony expression, but the Alabastan man knew he got his attention right now. So he proceeded, spurred and smiling all the way.

"There are so few exceptions in this world, and children releasing this kind of aura are so rare these days. Ever since Gol D. Roger died six years ago, we haven't seen many talented people roaming the seas – in fact, they were so limited and pitiful that I've lost interest in piracy. But now, Lelouch just arrived. He was able to tell that I'm a well-trained fighter just by looking at me, even though all I knew is that he's been reading book after book. This kid has such a bright mind, it would be a great waste if he were to remain in this desert kingdom."

"Lelouch... is that the kid's name? It sounds... royal. You said he seemed to have appeared out of nowhere? How can you be so sure of that?"

"Because he was stark naked when I found him," Sphinx drawled casually. "If I were drunk, I'd say he fell from the sky or something like that... but besides that, he has qualities that will make him someone into both the Grand Line and the New World, should he decide to become a pirate. I'm going to train him. It will take two or three years, give or take, to teach him all the secret martial arts of Alabasta and if the Conqueror's Haki manifests in him when he's in a great deal of stress –"

"I'll take him."

"– I'll make sure to – wait, what?" Sphinx stopped short, blinking as if he heard wrong. "What did you just say?"

"Don't make me repeat, Sphinx. You heard me right. Back when you were still with us, your instincts and guts have never failed you – not even once. So, if you're right about this Lelouch, then I'll come to take him and complete his training myself." There was a small pause, during which both men seemed to be reaching a silent understanding between themselves. "You did say you still had about four years and half, right?"

Sphinx's expression darkened a little bit, and his eyes were shadowed as he lowered his head under the moonlight. So he remembered alright... needless to say, the Alabastan was rather surprised that his friend seemed to care about his decreasing health (or maybe he was just imagining things once again, because that wasn't his friend's style to actually care about his well-being.).

"Yeah," Sphinx confirmed dejectedly. Then he swallowed, shaking himself out of it. "That's correct. But I won't waste this time any more than I already have; Lelouch will become my student and I'll watch him grow under my supervision. But when you say that you'll complete his training..."

"I meant that I'll help him awaken completely," the other man declared. "I trust you to make him strong enough by the time I'll come to fetch him, Sphinx. I'll test his skills, and if he's able to keep up with me, I'll take Lelouch as my student."There was a snort on the other end of the line, followed by a slight frown imitated by the Transponder Snail. "Now that's a first... me, taking a boy as a student. I've never taught anyone."

Sphinx chuckled, amused. "There's a first for everything, my old friend."

Then he turned around, his eyes searching for Lelouch's form on his cot. The boy, still sound asleep, managed to give off a feeling of royalty even in his sleep despite his current position – arms spread wide, his mouth hanging half open while Sphinx could hear a faint snore coming from him. The older man stifled a small laugh, amused at the little man's antics. Even if the sight was amusing, there was still the fact that he could feel this presence around Lelouch.

He was still seven. Seven, but his will seemed to be really strong, willing to become stronger.

Turning back to the Transponder Snail, Sphinx cleared his throat. "Well, I'll leave you to your duties, for I'm need of sleep to start training the little boy... ah, do you mind giving your captain my salutations? I certainly miss hearing from him since Roger died, except from the reports."

Finally, a slight smirk adorned the chapped lips of the Transponder Snail, signaling that the correspondant was showing his amusement. "Must I understand that you somehow miss being one of us, Sphinx?"

The Alabastan snorted. "Where did you get that idea?"

"Fine, be that way. Consider it done. Train Lelouch hard, and don't go easy on him just because he's still a kid. That's how one can surpass his master."

Then the phone call ended, putting the Transponder Snail back to sleep.

Lelouch will always remember Sphinx's training sessions, since this was the first time he ever had to work his body this hard; after discovering how tame and weak he was, the older man had therefore made it his mission to train his new student. As he promised his old friend last night, Sphinx wasn't going easy on Lelouch.

"The Snake & Dance technique is an Alabastan martial art that requires strength, speed, grace, endurance and suppleness," he said to an exhausted-looking Lelouch, but with eyes still open and focused. The fire in his eyes was burning brightly. "So few practice it, due to its extreme difficulty, and many abandoned teaching or learning this style. It pushes your body past its limits but also gives you strength when you use it sagely. Have you ever observed how supple and fast snakes are? How they can bend their body? Well, the Snake & Dance style will offer you the same abilities if you can endure them."

Push-ups, pull-ups and laps in the desert under a scorching sun or an impressive hail were also part of the training. Lelouch needed to build up his endurance to keep up with the insane pace Sphinx indulged him to follow; the desert itself was a challenge, since Sphinx had deemed it as the place of his training sessions. The heat was... were army men obligated to go through such length to become strong? That was crazy. Lelouch's body ached everywhere, he'd crawl to make it back to bed, he'd barely get any sleep. But somehow, the fallen Emperor felt the will to get up every damn morning, go through Sphinx's nerve-wrecking training and learn what the man wanted him to remember and use.

Lelouch briefly wondered if this was the kind of training Suzaku went through in his childhood, but he quickly shook those thoughts. Suzaku Kururugi was... gone. Gone from his life, gone forever. He shouldn't think about him and everyone else back in his world.

Besides, he thought bitterly as he wiped off some blood on his lip, he must hate me more than his own family who disowned him after what he did to his father. The least I can do is forget about him. And Nunnally...

So he indulged himself in his training to forget about his past memories, all the good and the bad ones – they just didn't belong here. With a cry of rage, Lelouch launched himself at Sphinx, performing a kick aimed at his ribs by adding speed and the little strength he acquired so far. However, his master caught it effortlessly with one hand wrapped around his foot and flipped him over. Seeing this, Lelouch contorsioned his body on 90° to send another kick with his other foot to his temple, doing a one-handed headstand and launching himself up to gain both high and speed. Again, it was avoided gracefully.

But Sphinx was smirking. "Nice, kiddo," he complimented in a low voice.

Days, weeks and months went by as Lelouch learnt to move like a true snake – good thing he remembered his dance lessons at the Aeries Villa with Nunnally and their dance teacher very well, because they had their use here. He needed to be strong, fast, endurant, graceful and flexible beyond limits to practice the Snake & Dance perfectly like Sphinx must have in his younger days. It was as if he was both fighting and dancing at the same time; his punches and kicks all depended on the way he moved, how fast he moved, how graceful he was, how supple he was, how strong he was and how endurant he was. Snakes' bites did hurt, but maybe not as much as their poison. And he still had so much more progress to make to surpass his master.

"Do you know which is the world's fastest snake, Lelouch?" Sphinx asked him one evening, as they were running at a rather fast pace toward Yuba. The Alabastan told his student that they'll travel around the kingdom to visit the whole island, so that he could see all of it. So they started by Rainbase, going through the oasis of Yuba.

Lelouch glanced at him, panting but keeping up. "I've heard it was a smiling snake labeled 'black mamba'," he answered steadily. "That snake isn't even black, but only the inside of its mouth is. Its speed is unbelievable. But what's the point?"

The Alabastan chuckled, giving Lelouch a slap behind his head. The boy practically snarled back at him. "What was that for?!" he demanded hotly, his eyes flashing.

"For not guessing what I truly meant by that," Sphinx retorted back, a mocking smile quirking his lips. "I thought you were a genius, Lelouch. Why don't you try guessing? You're very good at that... at least, when you're not trying to tear me apart with the techniques of the Snake & Dance."

All Lelouch did was growl, which greatly amused his master.

"If you ever become a pirate and if you wreak enough havoc, I'm ready to bet that the World Government will give you a nickname related to a snake," he declared, smirking. "That will depend on the way you use the martial arts I'm teaching you but, judging from your progress those past few months, I'd say you're on the way to become one fine, fast snake. You'll bark and bite, because only pirates who can fight for what they hold dear can back up their words."

From their position, Yuba was finally in sight; night having fallen during their trip from Nanohana, the two of them will be happy to rest in real beds for the first time since they left the port town. Lelouch may not show it, but he was inwardly cheering. He made it! Those first eight months spent training, suffering from the dangers of the desert kingdom, were a huge first step into becoming someone else; since he wouldn't be Zero, Lelouch vi Britannia or even Lelouch Lamperouge anymore, he just had to become someone for himself. Not for Nunnally's sake – for himself. The Grand Line was so different from his world, even if he was sure he could find some similarities with the way Britannia used to rule and dictate under Charles zi Britannia. But he could bite, leave his mark, and live until he died once again.

What should Lelouch become? A pirate? A Marine? An agent of the World Government? He was still trying to choose whatever path would be most beneficial for him. If he had to guess, whether he became a Marine soldier or even an agent of the World Government, there was corruption everywhere – in the Marine's Corps and within the World Government itself. Lelouch was no fool. This would be easy to recognize. Try as they might, true justice could also be as fallacious; he was ready to bet that even pirates must have infiltrated the Marine's Corps and 'embraced' their plight, careful to conceal their true identity. After all, Marianne herself had revealed to be ready to dispose of him and Nunnally, should they become a hindrance to her goals. And Britannia...

He'll think about it.

"Rokushiki, huh?" Lelouch repeated, tasting the name of the martial art he was now bound to be taught. He looked at the manual, reading some descriptions of the Six Powers of the Rokushiki. Each technique required strength, speed and grace, but... "Sphinx, is this some kind of sick joke?" he asked as he glanced at his master, who was returning from his bath and currently drying himself with a towel. The boy's eyes narrowed. "These techniques are so insane that only people born with inhuman tolerance and endurance can survive the training sessions, and I'm not that kind of person who can learn this."

"The Snake & Dance technique is barely human, my dear student," Sphinx chirped, smirking as he dressed into his pants and shirt. "And this," he pointed to the manual in Lelouch's hands. "is a deadly technique that all branches of the Cipher Pol are allowed to use, even though not all of them are allowed to kill. That will certainly be a plus in your training."

Lelouch raised one brow, intrigued. "How so?"

"Well, if you ever become an agent of the World Government, you'd probably be able to skip the training sessions of the Rokushiki, since I'll be teaching you everything about it. That is, if you're skilled enough to use all of the Six Powers perfectly. It will be a real pain for you, Lelouch, so..." The older man sent his young student a toothy smirk, walking toward his bed. "...I hope you're bracing yourself. The Snake & Dance technique is already tough, but for some reason, I've always thought the Rokushiki technique to be the ultimate suicide."

Lelouch paled, gulping. Damn, was it this demanding? But as he was about to ask Sphinx if this technique would ultimately result to a painful death, he stopped and frowned, thoughtful all of a sudden.

Sphinx seemed to know a lot about the World Government and their way to train their agents; the training sessions all of them were bound to go under, how tough it was and how powerful they seemed to be. Lelouch looked down at the concise description of the Shave technique and read it all, then another. Then another. It was so precise that it must have been written by an expert. How in the world did an 'Alabastan civilian' acquire such book about a deadly technique used by the Cipher Pol only?

Lelouch discreetly glanced at his master, silent. The likelihood of Sphinx having been a Cipher Pol agent was high and certainly not impossible, but he did tell him that even pirates could learn the Rokushiki technique and use it for themselves. But acquiring the manual about all of the Six Powers? There was something about this old man Lelouch couldn't figure out.

"Say, Sphinx," Lelouch asked carefully. "Were you an agent of the World Government before coming back to Alabasta?"

His question was met by a light snoring sound – the master fell asleep during his nocturnal thoughts. Lelouch scoffed, falling flat on his bed after turning the lights off. That was fine, he could still try tomorrow. He had about two or three days off before starting to learn the Rokushiki technique, he'd use his time to read and learn even more about other nations, the World Government and navigation.

For now, he needed to rest before even thinking about knowing more about his master. Everyone had secrets that were better off buried with their owner in the tomb. Lelouch wasn't sure about Sphinx, but he seemed like the type of guy who would do anything to protect his darkest secrets; living like a hermit in a desert matched the description of those who desired nothing more than peace and quiet for the rest of their life.

But somehow, Sphinx was also one of those who wanted to see how far the next generation would shake the world. Somehow, Lelouch had a hunch about that fact.

The Rokushiki technique itself turned out to be another challenge of another league of its own. If anything, it was invented to turn people's body into superhuman living weapons; Lelouch honestly couldn't remember how much in pain he could have been when Sphinx taught him the Shigan and the Rankyaku – he remembered yelling at his master, trying to bash some sense into him. All in vain, he sighed to himself as he dragged his aching body to a wall, shading himself.

"If the Tekkai can give you a body of iron, then you'll need to feel it through your flesh and veins, as if you were wearing some kind of armor," Sphinx told him one hot afternoon, as he and Lelouch were working on the Soru. "Though using it at sheer will is difficult, I have faith you'll eventually figure it out. Now, go back to practice, little genius. Knowledge may be power, but raw power is also good for you."

That, Lelouch did know. So he just growled, got up, and went back to trying to tear his master's face with a cry of anger.

"Even though I'm certain you must have guessed it by now, you still ought to know that the World Government is the most corrupted organisation in the world," the master remarked to his student as he was evading and blocking his blows, fast or purposely slow to conceal one hidden attack. Those purple eyes were burning with passion as Lelouch kept attacking him, but Sphinx could tell he was listening to his words. "There are people whose existence was deemed forbidden or sinful by the Government, thus they send their assassins to bring them Enies Lobby, the judicial island, where they'll pass through the Gate of Justice. After this, they will never be seen again."

This new piece of information startled Lelouch... only for a few seconds. But those were precious seconds that resulted in him being disturbed; Sphinx used this distraction to land a sharp blow in Lelouch's stomach, sending him flying until he landed on his back, coughing and clutching his throbbing stomach.

"B-bastard!" the boy hissed, struggling to sit up. "D-dirty trick..." Using a distraction to get the advantage was a move only used by those who had no care for rules – pirates or cheaters, in other words. Lelouch glared at his master. "Really?"

Sphinx only raised an unimpressed brow at the petulant glare his pupil was sending him. "Really," he said bluntly. "Like hell pirates ever gonna obey rules when there aren't any. You expect them too? Wake up, Lelouch: I was a pirate, pirates always play and fight dirty no matter what. You might want fair-play, but that's not how it works in piracy. If you want to make it as a pirate or a Marine soldier, you have to remember that dirty tricks and foul play may save your life at some point."

Foul play was Zero's speciality, Lelouch mentally mused as he got up, wiping some blood off the side of his mouth. He took three big breaths, closing his eyes and clearing his mind... a clear mind with no more thoughts...

"With a clear mind, you could take on your opponents and even bring them down. When everything is clear, you can see which path is the safest and make your gateaway without any trouble. That's the mind of an excellent tactician, Lelouch. And a king's. If the king doesn't lead, his subjects won't follow. Will you be an excellent tactician and a king, little brother?"

If there was anything Lelouch owed Schneizel, it was his genius at tactics. After all, he did think like a demon.

Lelouch looked back at his master's house with some nostalgia, a faraway look in his purple eyes. If he hadn't asked Sphinx, he wouldn't have believed that three years passed since he arrived in Alabasta after dying. Had so much time passed this quickly? Lelouch could hardly believe it; Alabasta being an arid island, there wasn't any winter or spring – when he had learnt that islands had their own climate and never went through all four seasons once a year, he'd been shocked and fascinated. He'd have to study navigation a little more to know what to expect when he'll come across different islands during his journey into the Grand Line. From what he'd gathered in the books, everything could happen and especially the most unbelievable things.

And here he was, training harder than he ever had back when he was still Lelouch Lamperouge or Lelouch vi Britannia, three years later. He was ten (he reluctantly celebrated his birthday because Sphinx and some of his friends wanted to spoil the 'suffering brat who was crazy to be taught by such maniac'. Period.) and waiting for the man Sphinx had called three years ago on the Transponder Snail. It took him seconds to realize what was going on, right now and after.

Lelouch would leave the kingdom of Alabasta. Soon.

Funny how time flies, he mused mentally, looking back toward Nanohana. Back in Area Eleven, he hadn't really paid attention to the flow of time due to his adaptation into another conquered country by Britannia – giving up on his status was one thing, but adapting himself to another lifestyle had proved to be quite the challenge. Lelouch and Nunnally had been quite happy, now that he reflected on his previous life; away from royalty, away from the lion's den and the snakes. His precious little sister would have been a target, anyway. Starting anew in the annexed Japan with new friends at Ashford Academy had actually made him happy, so happy that he hadn't seen the years pass by. Shirley, Milly, Rivalz – God, he missed Rivalz! – and Nina... they had become his friends, one of his precious treasures. And C.C appeared in his life, changing everything (the Geass, the power to fight Britannia and bring the entire empire down... until his death.).

Creating an ideal world was the best visionary goal that would likely never happen in a lifetime, but it was worth trying for someone you love dearly. It had been worth trying for Nunnally.

Lelouch's eyes squinted, noticing someone walking confidently toward him under the hard sun. He could make out a Marine's uniform – different from a regular Marine soldier's – with a long coat, hanging on the man's shoulders. He had black hair reaching his ears and looking like some kind of semi-afro-bowl-cut, sported black sunglasses, a finely cut beard... and there was spaghetti leftovers stuck on his left cheek (which almost prompted Lelouch to scowl in disgust. Couldn't he feel the stickiness of that spaguetti?).

But otherwise, there was a powerful aura emanating from that man. Lelouch could practically taste it as he nervously watched him approach, half-tempted to shout for Sphinx. But he bravely held it together, flexing his fingers. When the mysterious man stopped in front of him, about two feet away, they stared at each other for a few seconds. Lelouch couldn't see his eyes, but he knew they were assessing him, judging him. So he refused to look away or down.

That seemed to pay off, since a slight smirk appeared on the man's face. "Sphinx was right," he said as he walked closer to crouch down in front of Lelouch. "There is something about you. Most children don't develop such a strong presence such as yours at that age. What's your name, kid?"

This is it. Lelouch took a breath, released it, and answered. "Lelouch. Canterbury Lelouch," he said, staring right into the man's eyes.

The older man's smirk never disappeared. "Royal indeed, as I thought. Well, hello Lelouch. You can call me Vergo-san."