Sapphire Scales

Sapphire Scales is an extremely rare and seemingly incurable disease which causes sapphire-like stones to grow on the victim's skin.

Description
Sapphire Scales causes the victim's skin to grow sapphire-like stones, which can accelerate from exposure to natural light, whether sunlight or moonlight. Although the growth of the stones can be stalled by avoiding light, these stones will eventually cover the victim's entire body, leading to their death within a few years.

It is currently unknown how the disease is contracted, but it seems to be hereditary, considering Bonney developed it after her mother. The cure for it, if there is any, is also unknown.

The disease is extremely rare and it is stated to be even rarer than Amber Lead Syndrome, which the majority of doctors throughout the world are completely unaware of it, saving only a very few.

History
Ginny somehow contracted the disease during her slavery in Mary Geoise. Because of this, she was released and returned to Sorbet Kingdom. However, due to prolonged exposure to sunlight during her trip back to protect the infant Bonney, she passed away soon after arriving.



Ginny's daughter, Bonney later started developing the symptoms of the disease and was forced to stay indoors during her childhood. This made her a target of mockery from other children, who called her a "vampire" for not being able to go out in sunlight. In order to make Bonney feel better about her condition, Bartholomew Kuma would refer to her skin stones as "jewelry" and frequently reassure her that she would eventually be cured. All the doctors from the contacts of Revolutionary Army unable to diagnose her condition due to the extreme rarity of the disease.

When Bonney was five years old, Dragon finally managed to find a doctor who has the knowledge of the disease to give a correct diagnose to Bonney. He estimated that she had five years maximum left to live. However, Bonney has currently exceeded this estimate by two years and no longer shows any symptoms of the disease.

Trivia

 * Sapphire Scales may take inspiration from a number of different diseases, both real and fictional:
 * Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP), a disease that causes photosensitivity and in which sun exposure causes swelling, pain and burning. Like the Sapphire Scales disease, EPP can be inherited, and primarily affects the face, hands, and feet (similar to how Bonney and her mother developed scales on their faces and hands).
 * Ichthyosis, also known as "Fish Scale Disease", which is characterized by dry, thickened and scaly skin.
 * Porphyria, a disease that also has a reputation to vampirism.
 * Greyscale, from A Song of Ice and Fire, as both diseases are fatal and cause stone-like skin to cover the body.

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