ALONE AT THE EDGE OF A UNIVERSE HUMMING A TUNE

Origin story

I know this is incredibly specific but *every single time* I see Marco the Phoenix's post timeskip design all I can think of is this:

Luffy, using shot glasses and plates to match the layout of the base: Okay so the best way into a Marine base is usually by knocking down walls just to the left of the doors-- Coby: wh-what? Luffy: Yeah? Because Marines replace doors every time a stronger lock's invented but all the construction means the walls get weak. Coby: Wh... how do you know that?? Luffy: Wow, Coby, you're really dumb. I thought everyone knew that!

*meanwhile, somewhere in the New World* Thatch: I thought you left to raid a Marine base? Ace: I... did? And now I'm back Thatch: within the hour??? Ace: what, like it's hard?

*meanwhile, at some other Marine base* Marine 1: Commander, the Revolutionaries have breached the exterior walls! Marine 2: Damnit! We must have a mole in the ranks. How did they know exactly where to attack??? *10 years earlier on Dawn* Monkey D. 'Wrecking Ball' Garp, zero excuse, completely sober and spilling military secrets around like loose change: Brats! When you join the Marines, you'll have to make sure they fix those damn fortress walls! They can never stand up to more than a single knock from my Fist of Justice! Ace, Sabo, and Luffy: