Chapter 21: The Pineapple and the Poor — The Orphan of Sphinx
The warm, golden sanctuary of Sabaody faded into a hazy, washed-out blue. The screen didn't show the grand decks of the Moby Dick or the chaotic battles of the New World. Instead, it showed a desolate, rocky island where the wind whistled through empty buildings and hungry children sat in the dust.
[System: The Origin of the Undying — The Island of Sphinx.]
[Status: Non-Affiliated Territory. Reason: Too poor to pay the Heavenly Tribute.]
The Scene: The Little Healer
A young boy, barely eight years old, with a mop of blond hair shaped like a pineapple, was huddled in a broken alleyway. He wasn't crying. Instead, his small hands were glowing with a flickering, ethereal blue flame.
In front of him sat a stray dog with a mangled leg. The boy pressed his flaming palms against the wound. The dog whimpered, but as the blue fire licked the fur, the bone knit back together and the skin closed.
> [Marco]: "Yare yare... I almost forgot how much of a brat I was-yoi. I used to think those flames were just for fixing neighborhood pets."
> [Whitebeard]: "Gurarara! I remember that look in your eyes, Marco. Even back then, you were trying to carry the weight of that whole island on your tiny shoulders."
> [Rocks D. Xebec]: "Bwahahaha! Look at that hair! Hey, Newgate! Did you pick him up because he looked like a tropical fruit?! I knew you had a soft spot for orphans, but this is ridiculous!"
> [Big Mom]: "Mamamama! A Phoenix at that age? If I had known, I would have added him to my collection long ago. Such a waste for him to be wasting those flames on a mutt!"
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The Chat: The "Medical" Experts
The world watched in fascination. Most people only knew Marco as the terrifying First Division Commander who could clash with Admirals. Seeing him as a scrawny, barefoot kid in a "tax-haven" wasteland was a shock.
> [Trafalgar Law]: "Wait... the flame doesn't produce heat? It's pure regenerative energy? System, is there a limit to the cellular restoration at that age? I need data."
> [Tony Tony Chopper]: "WOW! He's like a walking doctor! Can I have blue flames too?! They look so pretty and warm!"
> [Buggy the Clown]: "Hey, if he can heal for free, why is he a pirate?! He could have opened a clinic and made millions! HONK! (Okay, I'd probably just use it to fix my nose after people punch me! HONK!)"
> [Marshall D. Teach]: "ZEHAHAHA! You don't get it, Buggy. On an island like Sphinx, a 'gift' like that makes you a target, not a doctor. Look at the shadows in the background."
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The Conflict: The Kidnappers' Greed
The screen zoomed out. A group of rough-looking slave traders were creeping toward the young Marco. They had seen the blue light. A boy who can heal himself and others is worth a fortune in the Underworld.
The young Marco stood up, his pineapple hair swaying in the wind. He tucked the healed dog behind him. His eyes weren't scared; they were tired.
"You guys again-yoi?" the little Marco sighed. "I told you yesterday. This island doesn't have any money. Leave the other kids alone."
> [Eustass Kid]: "Kick their teeth in, kid! Use the fire! Burn them to a crisp!"
> [Benn Beckman]: "The fire doesn't burn, Kid. That's the irony of the Phoenix. He has to fight with his limbs while his body refuses to stay damaged."
> [Sanji]: "He's protecting the neighborhood... while being an orphan himself. Respect. Even if his hair looks like it belongs on a pizza."
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The Sudden Shadow
Just as the traders lunged at the boy, a massive shadow fell over the entire alleyway. It wasn't Kuma, and it wasn't the Marines. A pair of giant, black boots stepped into the frame, followed by the sight of a massive, white mustache that defied gravity.
The world gasped as a much younger, more vibrant Edward Newgate leaned down, casting a shadow that made the traders look like ants.
> [Random Citizen #303]: "IT'S HIM! The young Whitebeard! He looks like a mountain!"
> [Morgans]: "KWA! THE FIRST ENCOUNTER! This is the moment a legend was born! The Phoenix meets the Whale! Get the cameras ready, this is going to be the top-selling issue for a year!"
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The Silent King's Observation
[Monkey D. Luffy]: (Luffy is leaning against his ship, a piece of meat in his hand, watching the screen intently. He finally types something for the first time in ages.)
> [Monkey D. Luffy]: "Hey Pineapple! Why do you say 'yoi' at the end of everything? Is it because you're a bird?"
> [Marco]: "It's just a habit, Straw Hat-yoi. Don't worry about it. Just keep watching. The Old Man is about to do something very 'Newgate'."
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[System Note: The flames of the Phoenix are not fueled by fuel, but by the desire to protect the nest.]