The sun rose and the phoenix walked out of his cave in the mountain and looked down smiling at Edward and the mayor who were still sleeping. " I don't wanna wait
anymore! " said the phoenix and he jumped turning his arms into wings and flying down to Edward. He flew straight at them and the mayor woke up to see the phoenix
coming towards them. " AHHHHHH! IT'S THE PHOENIX! HES COME TO KILL US! " yelled the mayor and he ran behind the sleeping Edward. The Phoenix rammed his feet right
into Edward's stomach causing him to wake up. " Huh? Thats weird i don't remember having a rock on my stomach…" said Edward and he saw the phoenix standing on his
stomach. " Oh...it's just a man with wings…" said Edward and he went back to sleep. " Eh!? Just a man with wings!? Don't you know who i am old man!? I'm the PHOENIX! "
screamed the phoenix and he flew into the air to prepare an aerial attack and Edward woke up again to look at the phoenix in the sky. " Well that's disappointing...i was
hoping you would be fierce and strong...but instead you're just a brat! " said Edward mocking the phoenix. " Oh trust me old man...you haven't seen anything yet! " said the
phoenix and he flew straight towards Edward ramming his head into his stomach. Edward laughed and stared at the small bruise on his stomach and he threw his fist right
into the phoenix's face causing him to get a giant bump on his head. " OW DAMNIT! " said the phoenix changing his wings back to hands and holding his head in pain. "
Gurarara...thats a shame...i actually thought you would be a challenge...i mean sure when i first saw you.. I was shocked to find you were a skinny little brat...but i didn't
expect you to be this weak! " chuckled Edward and the phoenix turned his hands back into wings. " I'm gonna make you regret every single word you said old man! " said the
phoenix and he charged at Edward punching him in the stomach causing it to be burned. " Guarara...that's more like it brat! " said Edward smiling and he swung his fists into
the phoenix's stomach causing him to fall to his knees. " You're stronger than you look…maybe i'll have to use my full power after all..." muttered the phoenix and he
transformed into a phoenix and rammed his head right into Edward's stomach making the burn even bigger and Edward chuckled picking up his tree. " Finally...your true
power! Maybe you really can be my son! " said Edward as he swung the tree at the phoenix. " Your son? Heh! In your dreams old man! " said the phoenix dodging the tree
and flying right into Edward's face causing flames and smoke to surround his head. " Sorry old man, but i work along…" said The Phoenix and he turned back into a human
beginning to walk away. " Not so fast brat! " said Edward smiling through the smoke and The Phoenix's eyes widened. " You're alive!? But how!? I burned your face! " said the
phoenix and he turned around to see Edward standing in front of him with burn marks all over his face. " Guararara...haven't you wondered why your attacks aren't affecting
me? " said Edward picking up The Phoenix by his shirt. " Its because...i filled my bottles with water before i came up here! " said Edward smiling and water dripped from his
face and stomach. He then opened another bottle and poured it on The Phoenix's face. " Dammit! What did you do that for! " said the phoenix trying to get free from Edward's
grasp. " You can't use your powers now! " said Edward smiling and he threw The Phoenix in the air, picking up his tree and slamming it right into The Phoenix's side causing
him to fly into the mountain. " Well that takes care of that! " said Edward setting down the tree and wiping his hands. " I...I...dont believe it! You actually beat the phoenix!
Just who are you old man! " said The Mayor looking at him. " I'm...Edward Newgate! " said Edward heading up to the mountain and the mayor ran back to the town to tell
everyone the phoenix was defeated. The Phoenix got out of the mountain and coughed up a little blood. " Damn that old geezer...i'll fucking kill him! " muttered The Phoenix
and Edward stood in front of him. " Kill who? " asked Edward and the phoenix shrieked backing away from Edward. " Calm down...i'm not gonna fight you
anymore...however...my offer still stands...become my son and sail the seas with me! " said Edward holding out his hand and The Phoenix refused to touch it. " No thanks old
man! I'm doing alright by myself! " said the phoenix looking away from him. " Don't lie to me brat i can tell that you haven't mastered your devil fruit! If you actually had it
mastered then i probably would've died " said Edward. " So? I only lost to one person..i'll just make sure it doesn't happen again.." said The Phoenix. " And what will you do if
someone stronger comes? " asked Edward looking at The Phoenix's wounds. " I can handle it...i just went easy on you because your old…" muttered The Phoenix and Edward
chuckled. " Im not that old...im only in my forties going on my fifties besides maybe i have a devil fruit of my own.." said Edward smiling and The phoenix looked at him in
shock. " You do!? " asked The Phoenix eagerly. " Nope! I was joking! " chuckled Edward and The Phoenix got mad and yelled at Edward. " HEY YOU CAN'T GO AROUND
GETTING PEOPLE EXCITED YOU JERK! " yelled The Phoenix and Edward laughed. " You really would make a great son, so please...become my son and sail on the seas with
me " said Edward holding out his hand again. The Phoenix sighed and pushed his hand away starting to turn his hands into wings to fly off the mountain but Edward grabbed
his leg. " Hey! What are you doing!? " asked The Phoenix and he looked at Edward. " I don't care if you don't join me but...promise me you'll never harm the innocent ever
again! " said Edward with a serious look in eyes and The Phoenix gulped, promising to never harm anyone innocent ever again and Edward let him go. " Now go on you're free
to go ya damn brat! " said Edward sitting down and The Phoenix flew down in front of him holding out his hand. " Let me...become your son! " said The Phoenix smiling and
Edward's eyes widened. " What changed your mind? " asked Edward curiously. " since i was ten years old i've been called a freak and treated like dirt, no one in my town liked
me and everywhere i went people treated each other but garbage expect for this village they were nice but not to me...and then you came along and you didn't care that i was
a freak...but i thought it was a trap until you made me promise to never harm anyone ever again and now i know...that you actually have a heart " said The Phoenix smiling
and Edward got up raising his hand and swinging it towards The Phoenix. He watched as the hand came towards him and suddenly wrapped around his back and Edward's
head was on his shoulder, he was hugging him. "I'll never let anyone treat you like trash again! That i promise! " said Edward and The Phoenix's eyes widened and he began
to cry. " I...I...love you pops! " said The Phoenix hugging Edward back. " I love you too Phoenix " said Edward and he stopped hugging him. " My name isnt
Phoenix...it's...Marco" said Marco looking up at his new father. " Well then Marco let's go down to the town and get you patched up! " said Edward smiling and they walked
down the mountain together to start their new adventure!