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lllluffyvert · 3 months

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It’s funny how the entire trajectory of one’s life could be completely and utterly changed by a singular event. A chance encounter with a living whirlwind, a sunbeam in human form. An extended hand and bright, brown eyes that sparkled with the promise of an adventure and despite himself, Zoro was utterly captivated.

“I’m gonna be King of the Pirates!” Luffy, the kid who saved him without a thought for himself, without even knowing him, declared with utmost conviction, as if it were a fact, already set in stone. “I need a strong crew, the best of the best! And you’re amazing, Zoro!” A huge, toothy smile split across his freckled face and his eyes crinkled at the corners. “I want you to be my first mate. Let’s help each other achieve our dreams!”

And it’s with the idea of pursuing his dream alongside someone this dazzling and so wholly determined that Zoro, the pirate-killer, the bounty-hunter, a man of self-imposed solitude, grasps Luffy’s outstretched hand in his own, catalogs the warmth of his sun-kissed skin, and swears his swords and his loyalty.

Just like that, Zoro finds himself whisked away to sea, sailing the East Blue with Luffy at the ship’s bow and their 3rd member, Nami, at the helm.

“She’s our crew’s navigator, the best there’ll ever be!” Luffy had announced by way of introductions, tipping his straw hat and throwing Zoro an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

“Not part of your crew,” Nami replied firmly while crossing her arms. The sleeve of her shirt shifted with the movement and a bandage wrapped around her right arm peeked from underneath the fabric. “Just hitching a ride.”

“I know,” Luffy said with a knowing wink and a winning smile. Zoro eyed Nami with some suspicion, but he could tell that Luffy had already made up his mind to trust her, and he wouldn’t question his captain.

It didn’t take long for Luffy to secure the fourth member of the crew: Usopp, an incredible sniper and an even worse liar. Zoro’s eyebrow twitched every time he called himself “Captain Usopp”, but along with Usopp came the Going Merry, and Luffy finally had his ship. Zoro would let Usopp spin all the tall tales he wanted as long as Luffy was happy.

The sun is high in the cloudless sky now as they skim over calm ocean waters. Zoro reclines against the ship’s wooden railing, nurses a bottle of beer and kicks his feet up. He contemplates taking a nap when he catches sight of Luffy, perched atop the sheep’s head of the Going Merry and basking in the sunshine. He holds his straw hat in his lap and hums a jovial tune as the salted breeze tussles his brown curls in a way that has Zoro feeling short of breath.

Luffy turns like he feels the weight of Zoro’s gaze and meets his eyes. He smiles, bright and warm like a ray of sun. Beautiful, is what Zoro thinks, as he sends up a silent prayer to the gods he doesn’t believe in that he would be deserving of such an expression, quietly devoting himself to his captain as his first mate, as his sword, as anything Luffy wanted him to be.

I’ll become the world’s greatest fucking swordsman, he vows with rekindled resolve, his hand a tight fist around the hilt of his sword. Whatever it takes.

Zoro is tested much sooner than expected, when only days later he, Nami, and Usopp are confronted by Dracule Mihawk, one of seven Warlords of the Sea, a man that Zoro simultaneously idolizes and strives to surpass. As Mihawk tersely questions their captain’s whereabouts, Zoro unsheaths his sword and points the tip at Mihawk’s chest.

“I, Roronoa Zoro, challenge you to a duel.”

“Zoro,” Nami hisses, her expression tense. “Please, don’t do this.”

Mihawk looks him up and down with eyes full of contempt and scoffs. “I don’t waste my time with children.”

“I’ve followed your career since I was a child,” Zoro doesn’t waver, adrenaline pumping in his veins and blood rushing in his ears. “And it’s my dream to be a greater swordsman than even you.”

One of Mihawk’s perfectly manicured eyebrows raises inquisitively as he stares at Zoro for a moment before nodding once. “Fine,” he says, “I’ll humor you, because you’ve piqued my interest, Roronoa Zoro. We’ll meet at dawn, and do try your best not to disappoint me.” He turns and strides away with a flutter of his dark cloak and disappears into the night.

“Why did you have to do that?!” Nami’s voice shakes with anger. “He’s going to kill you!”

Zoro sheaths his sword and looks to Nami. Her cheeks are flushed and her eyes are filled with apprehension.

“It’s a chance at my dream,” he says with conviction. Nami glares at him. “And why do you even care?”

“Why do I–” Nami sputters, and punches his arm hard. “Because you’re my friend, you idiot! I’m telling Luffy about this!”

She storms off and Usopp follows quickly, but not before he casts an apprehensive glance at Zoro, in agreement with Nami but afraid to speak his opinion.

Luffy will understand, Zoro thinks, and the idea provides him a modicum of comfort. Out of everyone, he knows his captain will understand because they’re the same. It’s what drew Zoro to him so easily; that unbreakable spirit and unshakable resolve. It might’ve also been the beaming smiles that sometimes seemed to be just for him, or maybe those big, sparkling brown eyes that only ever looked at him with adoration. He made Zoro want to be better, to be the best; he’d do anything to make his captain proud and dueling Dracule Mihawk was only the first step.

The hours seem to crawl. Zoro doesn’t sleep, choosing instead to cycle between meditation and polishing his swords, clearing his mind and steeling his nerves up until his crewmates barge into the room with only a few minutes remaining before dawn.

“Okay, now tell him to back out of the duel, Luffy!” Nami demands.

Luffy looks a little unsure, glancing back and forth between Zoro and Nami and biting his lip. “I’m not sure this is such a good idea, Zoro,” he says finally, pushing his hat back to scratch at his forehead, an anxious movement as he’s suddenly forced to make a decision as captain.

“I have to,” Zoro says, a bit desperately as he holds Luffy’s gaze. “To achieve my dream, I have to do this.” Understand me, Captain, is his silent plea.

At that, Luffy’s hesitant expression shifts into one of comprehension, and he immediately straightens his posture and nods firmly. “I’ll support you, Zoro,” he states resolutely.

It’s like a weight is lifted from his shoulders, and Zoro’s devotion grows ever deeper. His captain was at his side, and nothing else mattered.

Nami makes a noise of protest and her eyes begin to well up with tears. “Luffy, why?”

“I can’t get in the way of someone else’s dream, Nami.”

“Even if that dream will get him killed?!”

“Zoro is strong,” Luffy says simply, causing Zoro’s heart to skip a beat.

“I won’t let you down,” Zoro promises, as time runs out and the sun begins to peek over the horizon.

“I know,” Luffy replies with a reassuring smile and a confident gleam in his eyes, believing entirely in his first mate and filling Zoro with a fiery determination. He picks up his swords, ties his bandana around his head, and marches outside to the docks where Dracule Mihawk awaits.

“Ah, you actually showed up,” Mihawk says dully, looking rather bored. “Bravo.”

Zoro says nothing. He stands before Mihawk and pulls out his swords, biting down on the hilt of one and the other two in each hand.

The duel is quick. Zoro breathes heavily, Mihawk’s dagger in his shoulder and blood trailing down his arm to drip from his fingertips. He hears Nami cry out and Usopp gasps. Luffy makes no sound but watches him with wide eyes, features drawn with apprehension.

“Why don’t you retreat?” Mihawk questions, looking pointedly at the wound he’d created.

“If I do,” Zoro says through gritted teeth, “My dream will be lost forever.”

Mihawk hums appreciatively and pulls the knife from Zoro’s shoulder with a wet schlick. “Not bad, Roronoa Zoro,” he says, and a metallic ring echoes in the quiet of the morning as he unsheathes his greatsword from the holster on his back. “I believe you deserve to die by Yoru.”

Zoro rushes him, but his attack is parried easily; Yoru slices into his skin and ends him flying backwards. Two of Zoro’s swords shatter, leaving him only Wado Ichimonji, which he removes from his mouth to grasp firmly in his hand, standing despite his injuries.

“You’ve been defeated,” Mihawk says, “Why do you still fight?”

“Wounds on the back are a swordsman’s greatest shame,” Zoro responds honestly.

“Magnificient,” Mihawk murmurs.

Zoro opens his arms wide and closes his eyes as Yoru slashes across his chest, throwing him onto his back as blood pours from the gaping cut and pools around him, soaking into his shirt.

I’m sorry, Luf, is the only thought in his mind as his senses are wracked with pain and his vision fades to black. He thinks he hears Luffy cry out his name, but it’s faint under the ringing in his ears. Mihawk’s blurred silhouette stands above him, and it might be the blood loss, but he thinks he catches a gleam of respect in his enemy’s eyes.

“When you’re stronger, come and find me,” Mihawk says quietly, before he turns towards Luffy, who’s already running past him to drop to his knees at Zoro’s side, and Zoro’s focus shifts to where his captain’s warm hands touch his cheek, his arm, his chest, burning hotter than the pain in his body. It grounds him for just a moment, and he opens his eyes to meet his captain’s, huge and round and glistening with unshed tears.

Don’t cry for me, he silently begs, I don’t deserve it. I failed.

“Luffy.” Zoro’s voice is solemn, penitent. “If I fail to become the world’s greatest swordsman, you’ll be disappointed in me.”

“Never,” Luffy says immediately, and he leans forward to press his forehead to Zoro’s, balling his fists in his blood soaked shirt. “You could never disappoint me, Zoro.”

Zoro briefly considers what might happen if he were to tilt his head and catch Luffy’s lips, which were so, so close, in a kiss, and he blames the intrusive thought on blood loss induced delirium, before his vision goes black and he fades to nothing.

It’s dark outside when he comes to, without any idea of the time or day. He blinks to clear his eyes and gathers his bearings. He’s lying on a firm cot, the laceration to his chest has been cleaned and bandaged, and the pain is down to a dull sting. There’s a soft blanket around his upper body, and he can see Wado Ichimonji propped up against the opposite wall. His head throbs and right hand is asleep, prickling uncomfortably. He tries to move it, and hears someone shift beside him. He turns his head and catches his breath at the sight of Luffy. His captain’s hand is wrapped tightly around his own even as he stirs from his slumber, his hat around his neck and his brown locks sticking to the side of his face, and Zoro wonders how long he’s been sitting there, waiting for him to wake up.

His heart aches at the thought, and he hates himself for causing Luffy any grief.

“Eh? Zoro?!” Luffy is suddenly wide awake, and he drops Zoro’s hand, choosing instead to hop up onto the cot and hover over Zoro on all fours, straddling his hips. “Zoro! How are you feeling? Are you okay?”

He’s always so warm, Zoro thinks, and as his right hand regains feeling he lifts it to stroke his captain’s flushed cheek.

“Barely a papercut,” he quips softly with a smile only ever for his captain. Luffy’s laugh rings like a bell, a pretty sound that Zoro will never tire of hearing, and he drops to wrap his arms around Zoro, burying his face in his neck. Zoro’s heart hammers behind his ribs and returns the embrace, barely registering the pain his movements induce to his very recent injuries and thinking only of how Luffy smells of sea salt and fresh air, and how perfectly he fits against him.

Luffy lifts himself onto his elbows and meets Zoro’s eyes, his own filled with conviction. “You’ll grow stronger for me,” he says quietly, confidently. “And you'll be the greatest swordsman ever.”

Zoro’s hands move of their own accord, sliding his fingers up Luffy’s neck and into his hair, and he marvels at its softness for a moment before he brings Luffy’s head down and kisses him gently.

Fuck, is his desperate thought as the contact lights a fire in his stomach and he suddenly needs more, craves it.

“Captain,” he breathes reverently, and Luffy’s lips are slightly chapped but pliant against his own as he kisses him again, tenderly, trying to hold himself back and failing miserably. Luffy hasn’t moved, but he hasn’t told Zoro to stop either, so Zoro kisses him yet again, even goes so far as to suck Luffy’s bottom lip into his mouth and swipe his tongue over his velvety skin. That seems to shock Luffy to his senses, as he makes a soft noise that Zoro swallows up and tentatively, awkwardly returns the pressure, like he’s not sure what he’s supposed to do, exactly.

The idea of being his captain’s first kiss sends a thrill up Zoro’s spine, and his fingers tangle in Luffy’s hair as he deepens the embrace, tilting his head and licking into Luffy’s mouth like he was dying of thirst and his captain was life-saving water, only breaking the contact to gasp for air.

Luffy looks down at him with twinkling eyes and Zoro’s heart aches, this time with adoration for his captain. He pulls Luffy down against him, wraps his arms around his waist, and buries his face in his curls.

“Now let me get some sleep,” he mutters, and Luffy chuckles against him, snuggling deeper into his chest and sighing contentedly. He’s asleep within seconds, his warm breath puffing against Zoro’s neck and if he wasn’t wounded, he might’ve done something about it, but instead he follows his captain's lead and lets sleep take him.

#one piece #roronoa zoro #monkey d luffy #zolu #nami #Usopp #opla #my fic #guys you don’t understand they mean everything to me

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roy-dcm2 · 1 year

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The Straw Hat's Journey

One Piece is my favorite anime. I started reading it in the early 2000s, and now the manga is steadily approaching the final arc. It might be a bit early, but I decided to commemorate the launching of this Tumblr by making another one these Hero’s Journey essays.

[I worked really hard on this, so Reblogs are appreciated]

Like before, I’ll start off by reminding people that the Monomyth is not a concrete list of steps that MUST appear in SPECIFIC order. You’ll find that the more complex heroes have phases that overlap and interweave with each other. There are steps that appear on the journey, are skipped over, or apply in a different way. Also, keep in mind, that due to the comedic aspect of One Piece, there are moments that subvert our expectation for a joke.

For starters, as I ruminated about the Hero’s Journey as it applied to the main protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, I realized that, in a way, the entire Strawhat Crew is also experiencing the journey with their Captain. Luffy, himself, is their Call to Adventure, and they all cross the threshold together. But, I’m getting ahead of myself…

The ordinary world of One Piece is the East Blue. It is a simple world where it functions that the Marines are Good, and the Pirates are Bad. When we meet Luffy he is already enamored with the idea of life as a Pirate, but he is not set along his path until he meets Shanks. It is really Shanks that is his Call to Adventure. It is not enough to just be a pirate, Shanks tasks Luffy to become a great pirate by giving young Luffy his signature Strawhat as motivation.

Shanks is also Luffy’s mentor figure, and he provides supernatural aid in the form of the Strawhat, but also the Gum Gum Fruit, which would become more significant in his quest later.

You could interpret the first manga chapter as serving as Luffy’s Departure Arc, the first part of the Heroe’s Journey, but as stated before, I think the entire crew is on the journey with him. So, as he travels the East Blue, Luffy represents the Call to Adventure for the other original four members of the crew. (And this also applies to the future members that will join the crew on the Grand Line.)

Zoro was a bounty hunter. Usopp was scared of pirates. Sanji had no interest in anything outside his restaurant. And Nami hated pirates. They all had ordinary lives, had mentors and things they were beholden to. They refused the call of the stranger in the Strawhat, at first, until they decided to take the chances and follow their dreams.

As I reflected on the journey ahead, I couldn’t help but wonder did Luffy ever refuse the call? It would be easy to say no - Luffy has always loved adventure. But, refusing the call, is not just not wanting to go on an adventure, it’s more about weighing the consequences of your actions.

If you keep in mind Luffy’s later flashbacks, when Sabo “died” – it was there that young Luffy saw the real risks of going out to sea, as Dadan said it was the cruel (oppressive) World that killed Sabo. In a way, his brother, Ace, served as a second mentor to Luffy that also guided him on his path to find real freedom in the world.

So, together the Strawhat Crew must leave the ordinary world. They won’t find the All Blue, chart all the oceans, become a brave warrior, etc. piddling around in the East Blue.

But before leaving the familiar world, there are “threshold guardians” that bar the way. This is the incident at Loguetown, where the Buggy’ pirates (and Smoker) try terminate our main characters. Captain Buggy is not just any ordinary pirate either, not only was he BORN on the Grand Line, but he served on the crew of the King of the Pirates. But, the hero is often (secretly) chosen by the Gods, so the wind blows in his favor, and the Strawhat Crew escapes.

The real crossing on the threshold from the Ordinary World to the Special World is known as “the Belly of the Whale,” and this is very clearly represented in Reverse Mountain. Once crossing Reverse Mountain, they cannot go back the East Blue, and are very firmly in the “Special World,” that is the Grand Line, where the real adventure begins. (As if to drive the point home, Oda literally puts them in a belly of a whale, right after this.)

The first half of the Grand Line represents a “Road of Trials” in the Hero’s Journey. Here the cast is learning about this special world, experience new things, find challenges. You meet enemies that become friends, and friends that become enemies. It serves to temper our heroes and is the beginning of transformation.

Once the trials are behind them, the next important step is sometimes called “Approaching the Innermost Cave” or alternatively, “Descending into the Underworld.” All of the trials have been leading to this. This phase overlaps with a few other themes.

The greatest challenge for the Strawhat Crew begins when they arrive in Sabaody Archipelago. This is where we get the first glimpse of the true darkness at the root of the World Government – there is slavery, prejudice, and injustice that the self-styled protectors of the world are not just turning a blind eye, but they’re beholden to in this rigid class system.

Then the crew is separated, and Luffy must continue on his own into the darker depths of the Underworld… fittingly Luffy eventually travels a version of Hell when he arrives at Impel Down, but I’m getting a head of myself. Being separated from his “community” likens this part of Luffy’s journey to a Vision Quest, where he’s going to find the knowledge that they will need for the future.

During his time alone, does experience a few more key events. Arriving in Amazon Lily, Luffy has an encounter with the Goddess / Temptress as Boa fills both rolls at the same time.

The Goddess represents the knowledge that the hero lacks. Not only does she have firsthand experience of the dark side of the World Government, but as one of the Seven Warlords, she is privy to information that others don’t know. It is she that tells Luffy that his brother will be executed, which becomes the actual driving force of these next arcs. And only with her connections and resources can the Hero continue on his quest. But, Boa is also the Temptress. Any lesser man would have fallen for her feminine wiles, but our hero remains immune.

So, in the next arc, Luffy passes through Hell in Impel Down, then emerges at his Supreme Ordeal when he arrives at Marineford.

It is established that the One Piece World is held in balance between three great powers – The 3 Marine Admirals, the 7 Warlords, and the 4 Emperors. So, at the Marineford War, nearly all of them are represented. This is the Abyss, the lowest point in the Hero’s Journey, and represents Death.

To escape the Abyss, the Hero must reach “atonement with the Father.” Again, “Father” is not literal, here the hero must come to a new understanding about the forces that shape the world, and life / death. On one side of the war, we have Whitebeard, whose followers call “father,” and has the power to destroy the world, and on the other there is Sengoku the Buddha, who transcends life/death, and as Marines, fancy themselves as the shield that protects the lives of ordinary people. Then there’s Luffy’s mentor/ father figure who steps in at the last moment to actually preserve the life of everyone.

Of course, Luffy experiences psychological death after the traumatizing experience of watching his brother die. To recover, the hero must answer the questions that started his quest. Luffy wants freedom. (He thinks the King of the Pirates is the freest person in the world.) But freedom is limited by those strong forces that dominate the world. He doesn’t just want freedom for himself, but for the people that he treasures. So, Luffy recovers by remembering that he still has his friends. But, also sets himself to a new path of becoming stronger to match those great forces and protect those closest to him.

After his experience in the Underworld, the hero receives a great boon. In this case, it’s KNOWLEDGE. If he hopes to stand a chance in the last half of the Grand Line, and fulfill his actual quest of being King of the Pirates, he needs to learn Haki.

At the same time, the rest of the crew experiences their own mini “Vision Quest.” In each of the places they ended up, there is knowledge, but also temptation. It would be easy to embraces where they ended up, and abandon the rest of the crew. No one would ever know. But where they ended up is not their dream or goal. So, they’re going to absorb the knowledge for two years, and then return to the real quest.

The two year training arc coincides with what is called “Refusal of Return.” It’s at this point where the Hero is in a special place outside of the world – growing, learning, experiencing bliss – but not really moving forward, and ignoring the world, which is steadily growing worse. Eventually, they are going to return to the main quest, which they do in the post time skip.

Next half of the Hero’s Journey begins with what sometimes called “The Magic Flight,” and is like a mirror of the original Road of Trials. In many myths, the Magic Flight involves STEALING something from the Gods. And in the last half of the Grand Line, the Strawhat Crew is stealing the Poneglyphs that will open the way Laugh Tale and reveal the One Piece.

Also, at this point, the Heroes receive “Recue from Without,” which is more like receiving aid from other allies. We know that to survive in the Grand Line, you need allies. Luffy allies with Law, creates the Strawhat Grand Fleet, also allies with the Minks/ Samurai, and eventually even the Kid Pirates (albeit briefly).

And that’s technically where we still are.

To complete his quest, the hero must achieve Apotheosis, becoming what the world needs him to be. Luffy wants freedom but he needs to bring that to everyone else in the world. Obviously, Gear 5th is the beginning of Apotheosis, but it’s too early to declare Luffy’s journey as complete. Eventually, they will find the One Piece, and bring the truth of the Void Century to the rest of the world, and deal with the reproductions of that.

So, here is where this essay will end. (I’ll probably update it when the series is over) But I’ll remind you that the audience is also on a journey with the hero. We tell these stories over and over again because they resonate with us and remind us of the values that we treasure as a culture, whether that be something as broad as freedom or as personal as friendship.

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danwhobrowses · 2 years

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One Piece Chapter 1049 - Initial Thoughts

And we're back, we've been asking for it

So now we're gonna get it! What's 'it'? Well read the chapter and find out

Spoilers for the Chapter, Support the Official Release too

Starting with the cover story and a sudden fire has set the brothers free, we still dunno who has arrived in Chocolat town but it'd have to be different from this lab. I still don't buy that it's Blackbeard though

Starting back with the clash and Kaido's back on his confident 'commending but I'm still winning' speech

And we finally get that Kaido flashback

Angry lil fish boy

10 years old and he's already taken down the US Capitol

Ironic since he's apparently from the Vodka kingdom, may explain why he likes the booze and is obsessed with military might...

It is a dark outlook on the world though, since the Vodka kingdom needs to wage war to loot enough cash for the Celestial Dragon tributes

Kaido of course is miffed by this, and then later the kingdom tries to sell him off to the marines, so you can see why he didn't really trust people - but no reason to be a shitty father and a subjugator

God though the What If scenario; Big Mom, Kaido, Ace, and Luffy could've all potentially been marines...

Of course, Kaido didn't become a marine, he busted out and took to piracy. And it seems he got captured intentionally to grab some food

I guess the fact that Rocks had Whitebeard headhunt Kaido in Fullalead confirms that Blackbeard did indeed take over Rocks' old base, it is indeed their Port Royal

Rocks definitely had a fancy looking ship as well

Of course, we gloss over God Valley, even the skull in Fullalead looks like its crying

Linlin seems angry, looks like Kaido went walkabouts in the decisive battle, so why does Kaido owe her a life debt for giving him a DF at the end of God Valley?

He's not drawn well but Queen sure looks different

Kaido already had a massive army even back then, but his philosophy is pretty warped, and hypocritical compared to Wano where there's anarchy but still inequality

Then we get to Joy Boy mentions, Yamato using it to peak Kaido's interest on how Yamato learned it, but his dialogue is left on a cliffhanger with King over who he thinks Joy Boy will be

CP0 dude is bouncing, guess Maha and White-Eye are indeed gone

Believing in Luffy and encouraged by Yamato, Momo calls for the clouds once more, but some kind of energy seems to emit from the Fire Festival instead, and in the Performance Floor Kid seems to perturbed by something, did Momo use the Voice of All Things?

The deluge continues to flush through Onigashima too, taking out Brook, Robin, Apoo and Bepo as it also comes towards a worried Law

Usopp managed to cling onto Kiku and Kin'emon at least and Nami, Chopper and Tama are staring down the wave too - Zeus could lift them just saying

Sanji and the Oiran are being swept up too, the simp in Sanji cannot resist the fact that Osome has clung to him

Franky meanwhile holds his ground, I may be clutching at straws but does Zoro look like he could be stirring, those eyes look a little open

The deluge won't reach Hiyori, Denjiro and Orochi'd head though, since it's higher than the water

Denjiro does commend Hiyori for enduring 20 years of torment, but it's probably not the satisfying conclusion people hoped for

On top of the flood though Onigashima is tilting, the fire clouds have gone!

On the one hand this means Kaido is using all his energy now, but this also means PANIK

Luffy is still squeezing as much force as he can too, while Kaido asks him what kind of world he wants

Momo finally does it though! Summoning a large nimbus cloud to envelop and move the Island away

And the Bajrang Gun has now come alive properly, forcing its way through the flaming dragon and making it to Kaido himself as Luffy declares his core mission in Wano, to make sure everyone he likes can eat as much as they like

And the force truly does send Kaido down into the ground as the flashback concludes: Joy boy would be the one Kaido thinks can beat him

Like with Orochi, a lantern shows the wish to vanquish the dragon as Luffy and Momo fall to ground with Onigashima gently placed next to the Flower Capital

Well that was a whirlwind of a chapter for sure, but like last chapter, I can't be certain Kaido's finished. I mean it's taken a lot out of Momo and Luffy to do this, if Kaido gets back up we may have one more twist in the tale, 1050 is one of those big number ones after all.

But still good on Momo finally getting it done, and with Onigashima safe it's possible that most of the alliance can come out as reinforcements. I think Kawamatsu could move the water to spare the performance floor serious harm.

Kaido's flashback was brief and glossed over a bit, but at least we get a clue into what turned the fish boy into who he is. God Valley seems a key part though, his absence must've been due to a turning point we'll have to see later.

Alas, now we have another break, I saw this one coming but it doesn't make it sting any less. 27th May will be 50 chapters since the 1000th Chapter at New Year's 2021 when Roof Piece begins, will Roof Piece now end?

Only time will tell.

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kaizokuou-ni-naru · 3 years

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The Voyage So Far: Dressrosa (Part One)

east blue (1 | 2) || alabasta (1 | 2) || skypiea || water 7 || enies lobby || thriller bark || paramount war (1 | 2) || fishman island || punk hazard || dressrosa (1 | 2) || whole cake island || wano (1 | 2)

fujitora’s introduction is so memorable. we don’t even know he’s an admiral until a little while after this, but the way he’s introduced makes him both immediately intriguing and tentatively likable, and also shows he’s terrifyingly powerful. similar to wano, dressrosa is a very twisty arc with a lot of hidden identities and things and people that are not what they seem, and fujitora’s introduction establishes that right off the bat.

it’s no secret i really like law, and i think his relationships and dynamics with the strawhats are some of the reasons why. it’s very good. the way he usually interacts with them (read: suffering) contrasts against the very real respect and faith he develops for them, and for luffy in particular. he refuses to call luffy his subordinate, here, even though it would be basically a get-out-of-jail free card when it comes to dealing with fujitora, and it comes up again more than once later in this arc too (though never to the strawhats themselves).

genuinely the tournament subplot is one of my favorite parts of this entire arc, especially because it happens while the action in the rest of dressrosa is mostly still setting up. it’s so fun to watch luffy go completely ham with minimal consequences, especially because we know more or less from the beginning that he’s not really likely to face a challenge from anyone here.

it allows the supporting cast to be built out as a pretty entertaining group in their own right, too, especially bartolomeo and cavendish, and sets up most of the future grand fleet without being too obvious about it.

i may as well say now, because i’m sure i’ll be talking about it a lot: kyros is one of my favorite one piece parents, and his and rebecca’s relationship hits me in the fucking chest. i’m consistently upset that they got so much stolen from them, and very very glad that they got the happy ending they dearly deserved.

i really like rebecca. and i like her story, too. i know there are people who want her to be more of a fighter, more violent, but i think that’s missing the point. rebecca is someone who has been victimized and commodified and put on display to die in front of a country that hates her again and again and again, and she still stays gentle and good, and i think that makes her one of the strongest characters in this arc.

obviously in isolation ‘damsel in distress’ is not really a good trope (and i’ve complained about it before with regards to tashigi in punk hazard), but i also don’t think it’s really at play here. rebecca is someone who deserves to finally lay down her sword and rest and be happy and safe, and her father deserves the chance to give her the protection he hasn’t been able to.

i really like when oda does things like this with paneling, i think it’s tremendously cool. there’s some similar examples with law’s powers in this arc and punk hazard as well, and it’s cool as hell every time.

this is one of my favorite panels in all of dressrosa.

kyros has a line a lot later on about ‘restoring the true dressrosa,’ and that’s what this scene makes me think of. this is the true dressrosa- the broken and forgotten and lost, down in the darkness beneath the city. and no matter what he may think of himself, riku is still their king.

this panel also reminds me of the similar scene in udon in wano, where the prisoners kneel before momonosuke. which is, incidentally, another favorite of mine. i really like whenever one piece deals in themes of loyalty, i feel like it always hits very hard.

[spoilers for recent wano chapters]

i think some parts of dressrosa line up very nicely with the recent reveal in wano that law’s new goal is uncovering the mystery of the will of d. it’s something that feels very natural and fitting for him, and i think this is one of the reasons why.

of the Ds we’ve seen, law is the only one who’s been really shown to be actively aware of the name and the weight it holds (and thus, the only one to bother to keep it secret), and he even weaponizes it against doflamingo throughout dressrosa in order to throw him off balance, and succeeds. it feels like a very natural progression from that awareness to trying to understand its mystery, at least to me.

barto is a great character because he’s introduced as being a completely unlikable shithead, and like, that’s not inaccurate, he totally is, but he also somehow winds up being likable anyways. part of that is his idolization of the strawhats (because, let’s be real, all of us can relate), but part of it is also that he’s kind of honorable in his own way, and i think him saving bellamy from dellinger despite having no stake in the situation just because they fought together is probably the best example of that.

i really like how the sabo reveal is handled. all the focus is placed on luffy and his reaction, and then we get our actual introduction to sabo as an adult slowly over the course of the next few chapters in how he acts and interacts with other characters throughout the tournament, culminating in his proper introduction after it’s over.

the actual explanation of what happened to him, how he survived and the entirety of his reunion with luffy is saved for the end of the arc, and i think it’s good that it happens there, in a quiet time after the dust is settled, rather than being smacked in the middle of the rising action.

of all the many many devil fruits that have appeared in one piece, i think sugar’s is the scariest, and also one of the ones i’ve probably thought the most about, if only in terms of its sheer inherent horror. the moment her spell is broken is, in my opinion, one of the most satisfying in the entire story. doflamingo’s hold over the entire country snaps, just like that.

the entire sequence of dressrosa’s great panic is one of my favorites in the whole series. i’m a really big fan of moments where the tides are all at once turned, and this is so very much one of those- sugar is knocked out; all the toys revert to human all at once, including kyros, who promptly decapitates (unfortunately not the real) doflamingo; sabo wins the tournament, eats the mera mera no mi, and obliterates the colosseum; and usopp becomes god.

it’s really really good.

even though this is a fake doflamingo it is very satisfying to see him get wrecked, and even though i love the outcome of the luffy and law versus mingo and trebol fight i do think kyros deserved to decapitate the real thing also.

usopp’s role and development in dressrosa is really great. it’s the most focus he’s gotten since water seven/enies lobby, and it comes at a time right when he’d been in the background for a rather long time. in dressrosa, he gets to be a proper hero- he indisputably saves the entire day not once but twice, and even doflamingo recognizes him as by far the biggest wrench in his plans- and more importantly, he gets to do it for the first time as himself, instead of having to hide behind a mask, as he did at both thriller bark and enies lobby.

the way a lot of the fight panels with doflamingo specifically are drawn is very cool, i think. there’s a real sense of speed and danger to a lot of them, which makes sense, as doflamingo is a very dangerous opponent fully capable of slicing off limbs and heads with ease if his enemies make a wrong move, something both the characters and the audience are fully aware of by this point.

to be continued in the next post with the rest of dressrosa!

#the voyage so far #one piece #opmeta #arc: dressrosa #long post #not japanese

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zedzedzeddasd · 3 years

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Skypiea

Skypiea is an island located in the sky above Paradise. It is the primary setting of the Skypiea Arc, and the sixth island visited by the Straw Hat Pirates on the Grand Line.

History

Four hundred years ago half of Jaya, subsequently called

Upper Yard

, was knocked up into the sky. By that time it had been homeland to Shandia for many centuries. Upper Yard presented an amount of earth never seen by Skypieans before, and that is why they wanted it so badly that they fought off the Shandia to claim it.

Kalgara

, the Shandia leader, fought bravely to defend his home, yet he was killed in battle. The Skypieans successfully drove off the Shandia and claimed the Upper Yard. For 400 years, Skypieans and Shandia were at each other's throats. 6 years ago, Gan Fall wanted to return the Upper Yard to the Shandia to end the 400 Years War, but his negotiations failed to take place due to

Enel

taking over.

Under Enel's Rule

Six years ago, Enel came to Skypiea with his men, after destroying his homeland Birka. He overthrew Gan Fall, claimed his position as God and became the despotic ruler of Skypiea himself. He settled in Upper Yard with his warriors and servants, but for Skypieans and all other people this island became a forbidden land on death penalty. After Enel took over, all the citizens of Skypiea lived in constant fear of him. His highly developed mantra and ability to sense electric fields allowed him to hear conversations and thus made him aware of almost everything happening in Skypiea. If anyone dared to speak out against Enel or challenge his list of commandments, he would shoot a giant column of lightning down from the sky to effectively eliminate the dissenter. Enel made foreigners out to be criminals by imputing a crime for almost any of their actions (even snoring). Until they arrived for the Judgment, the inhabitants of Skypiea were responsible for guiding them there. Anyone would become criminal themselves upon helping a criminal. This gave birth to the citizens' sense of crime and they became feeble and weak

Main Areas of Skypiea

Angel Island

Angel Island was Skypiea's main residential district, composed entirely of Island Clouds. Bisected by the famous Lovely Street, it contained a wharf, houses, and many shops, and was usually patrolled by the White Berets. It was ultimately destroyed by Enel.

Lovely Street Lovely street is a rather well-known and well-traveled part of Angel Island. It is the main marketplace. The road has many shops, and is a sort of Skypiean main street. Shops of all kinds line the road of Lovely Street, including many Dial and food shops. There, Conis confronted the citizens of Angel Island, and gave her announcement regarding Enel's plan.

Upper Yard This is the other half of Jaya, blasted up by Knock Up Stream 400 years ago. It is much larger than Angel Island. As a great amount of Vearth it is of high value for the sky inhabitants, being called "holy land". It had become residence for rulers of Skypiea, including Enel. The trees and Animals on Upper Yard have grown to huge sizes, due to the decrease in the atmosphere. Enel's priests ran their Ordeals here. A giant beanstalk, called Giant Jack, towers up in the center of the island, piercing through the ruins of ancient city Shandora and the God's Shrine. The Shandorian Golden Belfry resides on a cloud nearby. The Sacrificial Altar is also located in Upper Yard.

Chopper Chopper and a character like one piece a lot he and a reindeer. He is the doctor for the Straw Hat Pirates crew. Chopper is a reindeer who, after eating Hito Hito no Mi, acquired the ability to transform and reason like humans. He is the sixth member and one of the few members of the crew that was born on the Grand Line, on an island called Drum.

First Part of the history Chopper is a reindeer with an abnormality of a blue nose that motivated other reindeer to treat him like a problematic reindeer (always making him follow the herd behind them from afar). However, when the young reindeer ate Hito Hito no Mi, he was even more recent to his herd (and with the increase in intelligence granted by the fruit, now very aware of it) he was abandoned. Unfortunately for Chopper, his latest in communicating with humans on Drum Island proved to be disastrous. He was wounded by villagers who mistook him for the Abominable Snowman. However, he was saved by the healer Dr. Hiruluk (Hiriluk in the English version) who gave him a name and adopted him as his friend and assistant. Although his achievements were of dubious medical value, Dr. Hiruluk became Chopper’s exemplary model.

Second Part of the history Hiruluk taught Chopper his philosophy of life, that all diseases could be cured and his strong faith in the Pirate Flag as a symbol of conviction, which defies what was considered impossible. The two went from house to house, administering their “cures” in a country where all doctors not authorized by King Wapol were banned.

When Hiruluk’s health deteriorated, Chopper thought he had caught a cold again because the old man did not want Chopper to see him die. But once Chopper found out what was going on, he was determined to find something to heal his mentor, his only friend. Third Part of history Before long he found what he was looking for: a special type of mushroom with a skull and crossbones prominently displayed in the medical book, unaware of what that sign meant. Recalling that he overheard by some villagers that a “certain” type of mushroom can cure any disease, Chopper steals Hiruluk’s favorite medical book to find the mushroom miraculous. Chopper’s arduous journey was a success, although he risked his life and suffered many injuries, such as a broken left horn.

Fourth Part of history Hiruluk, filled with tears of gratitude, ate the mushroom to show his love and appreciation for Chopper, but Chopper would later find out from Dr. Kureha that he gave Dr. Hiruluk a fatal dose of poison. But Hiruluk would not live much longer anyway. Declaring that he had a wonderful life (in the English dub he declares that he is a doctor), he commits suicide by blowing himself up outside Drum Castle (before being killed by the poison because of Chopper). As Hiruluk’s last wish, Dr. Kureha (the last remaining doctor who did not belong to King Wapol) adopted Chopper and taught him ‘real’ medicine for the next 6 years. Chopper worked as hard as he could to become a doctor like his idol, Hiruluk.

Arlong Park

The Arlong Park Arch also known as the Arlong Arch is the fifth arch in the history of the East Blue Saga. After recruiting Nami and getting Going Merry, recruiting Roronoa Zoro, Usopp and later Sanji, they leave (along with Johnny and Yosaku) for Vila Cocoyasi, Nami's hometown ruled by the tyrannical Arlong. This is where Nami's real motives will come to the fore. At Arlong Park, Arlong, the leader of the fishmen, who was negotiating with a corrupt navy captain, Nezumi. The latter received a special payment from the fishman to not intervene militarily in Arlong's criminal operations on that island. When Nezumi leaves, Nami returns to the fishman band, richer (with Straw Hat money) and is well received by Arlong and his companions. In Vila Cocoyashi, Usopp learns that Arlong has dominated all the villages on the island and demands high monthly taxes in order for the locals to stay alive, so Usopp gets angry and goes to the center of the village to analyze the situation and sees Arlong arriving in Vila Cocoyashi to demand a very high payment from Mayor Genzo due to his illegal possession of weapons, as he could not pay.

The people are prevented from invading Arlong Park by Johnny and Yosaku who say that only the Straw Hats could defeat the fishmen.

Arlong summons Mohmo to attack Luffy, but Luffy throws him back to the sea. Arlong throws Luffy into a pool and he is trapped in a drowning rock, while Genzo and Nojiko jump into the water to save Luffy. Genzo and Nojiko free Luffy from the water and he starts a great duel against Arlong, in one of Arlong's blows, Luffy stops at Nami's work room and destroys everything, because there she suffered a lot, Nami is very happy. Luffy is not satisfied with destroying only that room and destroys the whole of Arlong Park, whose fall led to Arlong's defeat.

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neverwatchedonepiece · 5 years

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652-654: "The Last - and Bloodiest - Block! Block D Battle Begins!", "A Decisive Battle! Giolla vs the Straw Hats!" and "Beautiful Sword! Cavendish of the White Horse!"

“Complication?”

YOU ARE A CELESTIAL DRAGON!!

Or is he...?

Shins of Steel

Usually leave the huge reveals to the end but I can’t wait to talk about this major plot point, since it’s knocked a dent into my immovable “All Celestial Dragons Are Wet Lettuces” viewpoint. It’s like I smugly posted a “Change My Mind” meme and Doflamingo cracked his knuckles and proved me wrong.

Or did he?

After opening with Rebecca and Cavendish in the Colosseum (more on that later), the story veered back to Law, Doflamingo and Fujitora. I thought, “This is nice. Haven’t seen Law in a while. Let’s see what the rascal is up to.”

He was pretty much where Oda had left him: running like hell from a chuckling Doflamingo. And he was still reeling from Doflamingo’s deception.

“I have no interest in your past!” Law proclaimed. Which was totally unfair because I was definitely interested. “The only people who can use the World Government to deceive us are Celestial Dragons!”

“So what?” Doflamingo answered.

At this point I figured Doflamingo somehow had them in his pocket. That Doflamingo was so wealthy and well-connected he could even manipulate them.

There was a flurry of attacks. Doflamingo pulled a Sasuke vs Orochimaru in the chuunin exams: wired up Law and pinned him to a tree. He was like, “You can’t buy any more time, Law.”

“You said it’s complicated before,” Law said, (buying time). What do you mean?”

But Doflamingo is not so easily led into talking.

“If you wanna chat, hand over Caesar and his heart first.”

“Caesar... no, those SMILEs are that important to you? I guess they are,” Law laughed. “Without the SMILEs, Kaidou’s gonna kill you and it’s all over for you.”

A different sort of attempt at buying time, as Law’s shit-talking made Doflamingo lose his temper and attack. Law shambled his way out of the literal bind but Doflamingo was too quick. It was lucky Fujitora was there because Doflamingo was ready to kill and loot for Caesar’s heart.

Boom went the gravity. Law was pinned to the ground beneath crushing force. (I think I’ve said this before but Fujitora’s power is... it’s just great.)

Doflamingo was like, “Wtf, Fujitora? I almost had him, you party pooper!”

Fujitora, who has played this entire situation suspiciously by-the-book, just said, “Gotta stop you right there, Heavenly Yaksha. I am here to arrest, not execute. Soz.”

Doflamingo had a quiet seethe to himself, then said, “FINE! But I need Caesar’s heart back.” Once Doflamingo stringed the heart into his hands, he cheered up a bit. The odds seemingly in his favour, he was more willing to talk. “By the way, you seem quite curious about that complication I mentioned. You wanna hear about it?”

At this point, I was thinking, “Law, if you do not say yes, I will start flipping tables.”

Luckily, Doflamingo was now in a talkative mood.

“A long time ago - it goes back eight-hundred years, Law - twenty kings from twenty countries came together at the centre of the world and formed one giant organisation. The World Government. The kings who created it decided to move to Mariejois and live there with their families. The Nefertari family of Alabasta refused, so there were nineteen, to be exact. The descendants of those creators who still live there and reign over the world are known as the Celestial Dragons. It means, however, that those nineteen countries lost their royal families eight-hundred years ago. In those countries, they elected new kings out of necessity and new royal families arose. In the case of my country, Dressrosa, the new royalty was the Riku Family. And the old family who moved to Mariejois as the creators of the world was the Donquixote family.”

THE DONQUIXOTE FAMILY.

“But, but, but....” I thought. “Weren’t all Celestial Dragons useless, dangerous spoiled brats like St Charloss and What’s-His-Face who washed up on Fishman Island?” Doflamingo is hyper-competent. How could this be?? Muh prejudices!

I guess that explained the Heavenly Yaksha nickname. Heavenly is similar to celestial, right? I suppose Vergo’s warning to Law, re. lack of knowledge on Doflamingo’s past also makes sense now. Law was technically pitting himself against a Celestial Dragon who can pull World Government-level strings.

Not only that, but it seems the situation really is complicated.

Because Doflamingo had a bit more to say.

“So you’re called a Celestial Dragon, Doflamingo!” Law raged.

“I was. But not anymore. What is bloodline? What is destiny? I don’t think there are many people who have lived such a chequered life as mine. I wish I could tell the story of my life before I met you, over drinks. But I don’t have time for that. I’ve got to do something about the Strawhats in Dressrosa. I know there are quite a few people who underestimated them and got hurt.”

THANK YOU, ODA!

The plot gods have answered my plea. But these answers have raised only more questions.

1. Doflamingo used to be a Celestial Dragon. Not anymore. What happened? Did he abandon the rank willingly or was it taken from him? The whole “What is bloodline? What is destiny?” stuff is highly suspicious. Makes me think Doflamingo is not a fan of the Celestial Dragons.

2. The Riku Family. They were the ones who took over. They were elected fair and square. Everything seemed to be fine. Until Doflamingo came back to claim the territory his family abandoned eight-hundred years ago. Why return to Dressrosa? The answer to this question is probably tied up with point one.

3. The Nefertari were Originals. Even back then, the future Celestials must have been total moonfruits because the Nefertaris were like, “Ehhhh, nah, you guys go and have a good time on your island.” Imagine being stuck with those losers for eight-hundred years? No thanks.

4. Not underestimating the Strawhats. Doflamingo is smart. He has seen these new whippersnapper pirates topple too many Big Names and institutions to ignore the threat they pose to his territory. I actually cheered when he said this. A villain who can lay aside ego for the sake of the task at hand. I suppose Doflamingo does have the benefit of hindsight. Crocodile never had that luxury.

After that, there was a funny scene with Caesar and a heart-swap (Law still has his heart! Those heat-seeking Karma missiles are locked on Caesar. (LOCK ONNNNN!)) Fujitora also heard a KABOOM of thunder from the direction of the sea, even though the weather was perfectly calm. Law knew that would be Nami. The Strawhats were heading his way.

This was not a good thing.

Amid the chaos, Law made a desperate bid for freedom. Doflamingo pursued. He tried to lure him away but unfortunately, Doflamingo is smart.

Which leads us nicely to...

Debatable, But Okay...

(Side note: I loved how Toei segued seamlessly from Doflamingo’s sinister villain reveal laughter to Brook’s cheerful deceit laughter in 653. Did me a big lol there.)

And at first it seemed like Brook had found a new pal on Sunny. Not only that... he had betrayed the Strawhats? Surely not?

Had Soul King placed his art above his solid gold friendships with Nami and Chopper? Why was he hanging with Giolla? This was an outrage!

Giolla wanted to surprise Law (and gain Donquixote points) by picking up Caesar in Sunny instead of the Strawhats. Oh, what an excellent day it had turned out to be. Her latest art transformation depicted the tragedy of Dressrosa so perfectly! And it would only take ten more minutes for Nami, Chopper and Momonosuke to become part of her art and suffocate.

Like a total rookie, she babbled her plan to Brook, who smiled (if he could smile) and nodded and played the perfect gentleman. In the background, the others wailed and lamented Brook deserting them for art.

“May I play a song to celebrate?” he asked.

“Of course!”

“Then could you turn my violin and bow back to normal, please?”

Oh, Brook, you absolute legend. As soon as Giolla made that fatal error, Brook said, “You see this violin? There’s a cane sword inside. I already cut you.”

Suddenly, Brook was the hero! (Brook is always the hero.) Imagine doubting him, Nami and Chopper, you silly sausages!

There was a bit I didn’t like much that followed when they bickered over who would cuff Giolla. Nami demanded that Brook or Chopper did it, which was ridiculous because they are Devil Fruit eaters. If they touched those cuffs, their strength would sap and Giolla could overpower them. Nami, you should have done it. Doesn’t matter if you think you’re a coward or you view yourself as weak, you should have taken one for the team there. Not cool.

They spent so much time bickering, Giolla woke up and they missed the opportunity to restrain her. They were forced into fighting. Which was actually kind of good, in the end. Nami, Chopper and Brook used their heads to outsmart Giolla’s Giant Picasso Form and fire a Gaon Cannon bolt. Then Momonosuke shanked her from behind when she was down. Nami finished her off with a thunderbolt.

Teamwork, amirite?

Unfortunately, Fujitora heard the thunderbolt and told Doflamingo. So when they sailed round to Green Bit to collect Law and Caesar, Chopper saw the horrendous sight of Doflamingo approaching at speed through his binoculars.

I hope he recovers soon.

Who Says Zoro Can’t Compromise?

Once again, the Strawhats have split up. Usopp and Robin have reunited with Franky at the King Riku Army HQ beneath Flower Field. Zoro originally left with Wicka to check in on Sunny and rescue the others from Giolla, but met Sanji and Foxfire on the way.

Wick was like, “Who dat?”

In keeping with the Legendary Heroes names, Zoro introduced Sanji and Foxfire as Spiral-Brows-land and Topknot-Land (lmao)

Zoro updated Sanji on the dire situation on Sunny. Of course, Sanji was intent on rescuing Nami and the others, so Zoro stayed behind with Foxfire to find Luffy.

Then Violet appeared like a ninja from the shadows to tell him Giolla had hijacked Sunny. How did she know this?

Turns out she has a Very Useful Power.

Clairvoyance. It usually means seeing into the future, but it can also mean gaining information about a person, including their location, through extra-sensory perception. Nice. For Violet, this means she can see things within a 4000km radius, top-down, as a bird would. She is a walking surveillance satellite and can see everything going on in Dressrosa. She guided Sanji to Sunny and updated him on what was going on in Sunny.

Like I said, a Very Useful Power.

But, since it is a Very Useful Power, the Donquixote Crew are not pleased that she’s betrayed them. Back at the palace, a new character called Gladius is Very Upset. Since he despises and wishes death upon people who cannot follow plans and are not punctual, I’m guessing Violet has used up her two strikes already and is dead to this hilarious weirdo.

(Why does his hair explode?)

Violet eventually picked up Sunny and informed Sanji the dreadfully bad news that Sunny had been struck by lightning. She was puzzled when Sanji did not react as expected. Instead, he boosted with fury to the ship, where, I expect, he was surprised to find Doflamingo doing the exact same thing.

“Watch this, Law!” Doflamingo laughed. “I will viciously slay your allies right before your eyes!”

Doflamingo sure knows how to turn the thumb screws and punish people, doesn’t he?

But Sanji was like, “NOT TODAY, SATAN!”

He smashed shins with Doflamingo.

And I cheered.

Sanji, you have just gained all your cool points back. I forgive you for being distracted by Violet.

(Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that Bartolomeo recognised Zoro and totally splooshed on sight.)

Rebecca and Cavendish: You Beautiful Legends!

Now Doflamingo has spilled some of the beans on his past, his treatment of Rebecca is odd. If he wanted to get rid of the Riku Family, he could have easily killed her years ago. It’s almost like he wants to drag their memory and reputation thoroughly through the mud. If it’s a propaganda campaign, it makes sense. Keep the people blind to what’s been going on by dangling the scapegoat in front of them. But this is a cruel and unusual punishment. It’s almost like he actually *hates* the Riku family. Or am I reading way too much into this?

In the first scene of 652, Rebecca walked out into the ring. The way Oda had the crowd behave - reduced to shadows, red-eyed, shrieking, inhumane shapes - might be a dig at the sorts of people who love blood sports. Animals and humans risking their lives to entertain uncaring humans and prop up gambling industries.

The insults they hurled at Rebecca were harsh. “Drop dead, Rebecca!” “Foul blooded!” “Today’s your execution day!” “The shame of Dressrosa!” And the worst one, for some reason, “Set her on fire! That’ll make her pyro grandfather happy.”

Ooft.

Well, it was pretty disgusting, and I wasn’t the only one who thought so.

Enter Cavendish on his Farul, his white horse.

Ohhhhhh, he was not happy. Not happy at all. He heaped abuse on the crowd and called out their rank hypocrisy.

“ENOUGH! I don’t care why you hate her so much but she’s a young woman who stands in the ring putting her life on the line. You guys are not risking yoru lives so you have no right to jeer at her. If you really want to kill her, take a weapon and come down to the ring yourself! The voices of people who have no guts are nothing but irritating noise! I have my reasons for entering this competition, but even so, I cannot stomach it. The lives and deaths of warriors are not a show!”

Well, Cabbage just earned himself some major cool points there. I was like, “YOU TELL ‘EM, CABBAGE! NO MERCY!”

Even Luffy agreed. “Oh, Cabbage spoke up and said the right thing. I’m impressed!”

Well.. sort of.

“Still don’t like him, though.” (Lmao, Luffy.)

Cavendish’s impromptu speech had an interesting effect on the crowd. They still hate Rebecca but instead of focusing their abuse on her, they decided they would use all that energy to support Cavendish, instead.

It’s a win-win situation. Rebecca can kick-ass in peace and Cavendish, well, since the crowd started chanting his name, he had a tear-filled, “YOU LOVE ME! YOU REALLY LOVE ME!” moment.

He’s already contemplating his media strategy.

Classic Cavendish.

When Doflamingo’s here, and you feel the end is near.

Diarrhea. Diarrhea.

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bearxclaws-archive-blog · 6 years

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Arc Headcanons // PRE-SKIP PT.4

It’s been two weeks since I did one of these ‘cause I was on vacation, but here we go again! Sorry for being repetitive, but there will most likely be mentions of Sanji x Anita.

DUVAL / SABAODY ARCHIPELAGO

— ARC OUTFIT

— After almost watching Sanji’s upper half disappear on Thriller Bark, it’s going to become a habit for her to touch a bit more. Not that she was why about it before because she’s just a physical person, but she’ll touch his arm, chest and anything from the neck up as a weird way of making sure he’s there. Totally brushes it off as just making sure he’s still mostly intact.

— She doesn’t know him, but Anita is worried about Ace too. She doesn’t like that his Vivre Card is burning. Still, she trusts Luffy’s judgement and doesn’t insist that he go after his brother. By the sounds of it, Ace is perfectly capable of defending himself.

— While Chopper and Usopp are relaxing and the rest of the crew is dealing with the submarine, Anita is in the kitchen pouting because she wanted to go underwater. With her Devil Fruit, she can’t. Oh, well, it’s sort of given her the chance to indulge in her stupid crush and watch Sanji work.

— Him getting decked by Keimi’s whole body when she lands on him cracks her up, though. She really needs to stop laughing at other peoples suffering. Not really sure why she does, but I feel like she just would.

— Having not been there during the Arlong Park chaos, she isn’t sure who Hachi is. Learning about it infuriates her, and so does learning that mermaids are sold.

— A thing I am realizing; when her island was taken over, her and her troupe were basically turned into slaves. They were a little cleaner and happier looking, but it was part of the act to lure pirates in. If they disobeyed, they were beaten or even put to death. They were scared of the man that had put himself in the position of master. So the entirety of this arc, Anita will likely be pissed and slightly afraid in a ‘ does he realize I’m gone and has he told other Marines so they recognize me’ way. She doesn’t want to be dragged back home yet when she can’t help. Didn’t have the smarts to think that it might happen until now. Whoops~

— Anita goes with the flow, so she doesn’t care who they’re saving as long as Luffy’s the one that ordered it. Although a large part of her wants to meet a talking octopus-man.

— Duval’s existence almost kills Anita. She will be doubled over despite being attacked with poisonous harpoons, holding her stomach and wheezing for breath.

— Because she’s stupid and obvious, I feel like the ones that know she has a crush on Sanji would be Nami, Robin and Usopp. At least one of them is going to be a shit and make a joke about her liking Duval because what’s the difference between him and Sanji? Rude as fuck, but it only makes her start laughing again.

— Flips her shit when they trap him in the water and announce they’re going to drown him. God, sometimes she hates that she has a Devil Fruit. When he does get rescued and has his dumb little nosebleed, Anita will poke him with her foot. Moron.

— Luffy and Anita have a contest to see who can put the most takoyaki in their mouth at once. Anita loses, obviously, and ends up almost choking. Sanji goes to help but Luffy smacks her hard on the back and ends up coughing it up. Ew.

— I’m wondering if Anita would know who the Celestial Dragons are. What I’m thinking is that their conditions at the circus were a lot worse than I first made them out to be. That they were treated like slaves, and that because the corrupt part of the government turns a blind eye ( and sometimes encourages ) the buying and selling of people. So if they were treated and seen as slaves, then I wonder if Celestial Dragons visited the island to be entertained and buy some of the troupe members.

One day she will have noticed that a certain member has gone missing and not come back. Would destroy her to see them being treated poorly years later while visiting Sabaody. Not sure if that’s giving her too much personal involvement in the arc, though. But, honestly, I’m liking this idea because she’s not going to get a major arc of her own like the canon Straw Hats to. This is the only personal things I can think of to make up for her lack of an arc and a slight foreshadowing that she won’t have a home to come back to.

— Anita debates being a love-struck idiot and staying on the ship with Sanji while it’s getting repaired by Franky and Usopp. Decides against it because she knows she’s being stupid and doesn’t want to look at his dumb, handsome face. Stupid cook.

— Like Zoro, she wasn’t there for the briefing about not dealing with Celestial Dragons. She’s off on her own thing, probably notices someone that used to be in her troupe but sees they have a collar and are being treated like an animal rather than a person. Follows after them, tries to call their name and get their attention. Might get a small, frantic look as the only warning not to say anything else! Gets confused and ends up losing them before she realizes that she’s where the rest of the Straw Hats are. Is yanked down onto her knees by one of them and doesn’t get why. Learns real quick and decides just as swiftly that she doesn’t like this place.

— Doesn’t care about Law’s crew, except for Bepo. Bear! Walking, talking bear! If they weren’t trying so hard to get Keimi back, she would have scrambled over to talk to Bepo. Wants so badly to be his bear-buddy.

— Adds a kick of her own when Sanji asks if they can buy the dancing girl. Come on, Sanji. . . Really? You’re my most beloved muse and I wanna kick your ass for that.

— Anita doesn’t get why people are reacting so badly to Hatchi. She isn’t the least bit against other races because there were too many different kinds of people that worked for the circus, so she only sees them all as people.

— She’s secretly enjoying learning about all these old pirates because she never met Crocus, and she doesn’t hear about Roger much. Always a sucker for good stories.

— The idea of splitting up doesn’t appeal to her. She has a bad feeling in her gut that she blames her animal-like instinct on. Assume Chopper can feel it too even though they’ve got got human in them too. Doesn’t mention it and almost approaches Sanji to ask if she can tag along with him wherever he plans on going.

— Anita can be incredibly dumb sometimes, but I feel like she would quickly notice that it wasn’t Kuma they were fighting. Or, at least, notice that he doesn’t have the paw-pads. Kind of hard for her to forget those when she’s so closely associated with bears.

— Probably tried to bite at the Pacifista’s and only managed to get through the ‘skin.’ I know Brook couldn’t get through it, but she’s a gigantic bear, come on. They’re supposed to be able to bite through iron, so she’s going to get her jaw into PX-4 and shed some of that outside layer.

— Running would be so easy for her in her bear form, but she doesn’t flee like she’s told. She’s taking on too much responsibility as a tank and trying to protect the groups that look like they’re under attack the most.

— Because of that, I feel like she would end up being the first one ‘erased’ because she would make every attempt to lunge in front of Zoro when the real Kuma comes. I know Zoro disappearing first was important, but she’s the one that jumps out first to do her job. She won’t get to see what happens to Chopper while he’s rampaging again, and doesn’t get to see what happens to everyone else. I wanted to be more despair inducing for her, but she would be one of the first gone and won’t have time to see them vanish.

URSA ISLAND / TWO YEAR SEPARATION

— Anita crash-lands on an island inhabited entirely by large, beastly bears. They’re all larger and stronger than she is, and they aren’t the least bit welcoming to find a human on their island. Unlike actual wild bears, these ones are barely smart enough to have a system of roles, the most important being tribe leader.

— The tribe leader, Anita dubbed King. He was a large, black, monstrous bear with nasty scars and gnarly teeth. He looks like a cruel leader, but he’s actually as kind as they come. He only wants to frighten her away because they can’t stand humans. He seeks only to protect his people. That’s what she’s come to understand, at least.

— There’s only one place that’s safe on the island, and it’s the largest tree in the entire place. They can’t climb to the top, and she can in her human form. Discovers, however, that she’s not the only human stuck on that island. A young girl is also trapped there. She doesn’t know herself very well and is nameless. She lives in the trees to avoid the bears and has lived there so long that she smells like them. Eventually, they agree that she will be called Ylde. Pronounced like ‘wild’ but Anita can’t spell and just went based on the sound.

— Ylde: Isn’t it spelled w-i-l-d? Anita: ...How the fuck does a two-year-old stuck on a bear island know how to spell better than me? Ylde: I’m thirteen. Anita: Silence, small baby.

— Ylde attempts to convince Anita that there’s no point in trying to integrate herself into the tribe. Even as a bear, they’ll know she doesn’t belong from her scent and size. Anita corrects her and says she only wants to get off the damned island so she can get back to her friends.

— Because it will be a while before she gets the paper and she’s determined to leave, she gets into her bear form and readies herself to fight through the swarm of bears just to get to shore and find one of the many boats Ylde says have washed up over the years.

— End up coming back to Ylde’s tree because she gets her ass kicked. Tries this every single day until the moment the News Coo comes with the paper saying. She understands the hint given by Luffy and is immediately relieved to see he’s still alive. Doesn’t know if the rest are, but she’s hoping so. Didn’t even occur to her that they might be dead because she managed to survive the crash.

— Spends the next to years fighting and learning on her own. Ylde doesn’t stick around when, during the first year and a half, an intact ship is discovered. She insists Anita come with her, but she refuses. Ylde, having gotten attached to her, promises to come back to that exact spot in two years to pick her up and take her where she wants to go.

— Anita’s goal, like everyone else, is to get stronger. She realizes after being beaten again and again that she’s too weak in her bear form. Seeing as how that’s the part she wants to strengthen most, she dedicates herself to staying a bear as long as she possibly can. Day in and day out, from sunrise to sunset, she wants to stay a bear. She does this and does get stronger, but doesn’t realize that in the process she was inching closer to becoming the tribe leader herself.

— Over the two year separation, the following happens; she learns armament haki that she uses only on her teeth and claws, gets even larger than before, earns more devastating-looking scars, gets even greedier with food because of how unfair the tribe was to her before she became leader, eventually becomes the leader and earns the respect of the entire island.

— But because the rest of the tribe refuses to fight her, she becomes lazy and antsy. She will absolutely crave a fight whenever it feels like one is brewing now.

— New moves: Mighty Roar: Can either a. instill fear in an enemy and send them fleeing or b. temporarily disable them because the intensity of the sound is mind-numbing. Not to be confused with Conqueror's Haki ;;

Bear Trap: Bites through any part of an enemy that she can and fuses her jaws together with her Armament Haki as long as the teeth are touching, leaving it nearly impossible to shake her off.

Bearrel Roll: Yes, it’s a pun to barrel roll. Doesn’t actually suit the move because she’s not doing a barrel roll, but she does curl up and roll into her target to catch them off guard. Is a good move to use with people she trusts to throw / kick her.

#🐻;「 still learning and growing ( headcanon ) 」#🐻;「 v. they remind me of home ( strawhat ) 」#sanita #( her arc feels too similar to zoro's but i cannot think of anything else )#( cause she doesn't have anyone train her like he did so it still felt different enough )#( idk )#( i love that it keeps warning that there will be sanji x anita mentions but )#( honestly it's one sided because i don't wanna assume sanji's feelings even tho i write him too pfft )#( i need a sanji OTL )#arc headcanons

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bux-blurbs · 5 years

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Genre: comedy, action, adventure, fantasy.

It is an ongoing anime. 1. EAST BLUE SAGA The saga starts off with a flashback of Gol D. Roger's execution. Whoever claims the "One Piece" will be named the new pirate king. Before he dies, he tells the crowds to go out and search for his treasure. This sparked the Golden Age of Pirates in which countless pirates raise their flags and set off to find One Piece.

When Monkey D. Luffy was young, a group of pirates came to East Blue and used the place as their base. The captain of the pirates, "Red Haired" Shanks, became Luffy's role model.One day, Luffy ate the Gum Gum Fruit, a treasure Shank's pirates discovered. The Gum Gum Fruit made his body rubbery so he can stretch and twist his body out in any way. He loses his ability to swim though. The same day, mountain bandits came and kidnapped Luffy because he made fun of them. The mountain bandit threw Luffy in the sea and was about to get eaten by a huge sea monster. But Shanks saves him in time, losing his left arm to the sea monster. After that, Shanks crew decided to leave Fuisha Village. Upon leaving, Shanks gives Luffy his prized straw hat. He asks him to one day give it back to him when he becomes a great pirate. With this promise, Luffy is determined to become the Pirate King!He sets off sailing to the Grand Line while recruiting members of his crew.Luffy gets acquainted with an oppressed cabin boy, Coby, who was later set free by Luffy. Coby’s dream is to become a Marine. [Shells Town, a Marine base] Luffy meets the famous pirate hunter Roronoa Zoro who hunted down pirates’ head for money. Luffy and Coby bid farewell as the latter wants to pursue his dream to be a Marine. Zoro becomes Luffy’s first crew mate. He wants to become the world's greatest Swordsman because a promise he made to his friend.[he uses Three-Sword-Style, in other words, he uses three swords in combat. He wields the third sword in his mouth, which could be very deadly.] [Orange Town] They meet the pirate Buggy the Clown and his crew. Buggy is also a Devil Fruit eater giving him the power to detach his body parts, separating into sections, rendering him invulnerable against sharp objects such as swords. They also met a girl named Nami who happened to be a specialist at robbing the pirates. Nami "join forces" with Luffy and Zoro shortly after the defeat of Buggy. She didn't want to become a pirate because she hated them (see her past). The reason why she "joined forces" is because they were after the same goal: treasure. But making friends with Luffy changed her view on pirates and officially became part of her crew after the Arlong Arc. Nami becomes the crew's navigator and helps them through the ocean. She dream, when she was young, was to back a map of the whole world.Nami lived in the village of Kokashya, with her foster mother Belmeil and sister Nojiko. One day, the Arlong pirate group invaded the village and took over. Arlong made them pay him money every month, or they would get killed. It was 50,000 berries for a child and 100,000 for an adult. Nami's family was poor, and they only had 100,000. Her mother used that money for her two daughters and she was killed. From then on, Arlong took Nami captive because he saw her map making skills. So she was forced to become a pirate. To save the village, Arlong and Nami made a deal. If Nami could collect 8 Million Berries, Arlong would leave the town for good. So she's been collecting treasures from pirates for 8 years to achieve this goal. [Syrup Village] The trio went there looking for a ship and also met with the local village liar,Usopp whom they befriend with when Luffy discovers he is the son of Yasopp, one of the pirates in Shanks' crew. Usopp’s friends Kara rewarded Luffy’s crew with a ship ‘Going Merry’ for saving the village from the bad pirates.Usopp wanted to sail with Luffy because he wants to meet his father one day. Usopp is the crew's sharpshooter. He can take any sort weapon (gun, cannon, slingshot etc.) and hit its target with ease. Usopp's main weapon is a slingshot with all different kinds of pellets, like smoke, fire, and pepper. [Baratie Arc] the restaurant ship Baratie, a sort of "floating oasis" in the middle of the ocean where they meet Sanji. However, a pirate admiral named Don Krieg sets his sights on the Baratie as a replacement for his devastated fleet, and the restaurant soon comes under siege. Sanji remembers his dream of the All Blue and finally agrees to join Luffy's crew.He becomes the cook of the Straw Hat crew. Sanji has an amazing talent to make fine dishes, though he very touchy about how you treat his food. Also, he'll do anything for any cute women which sadly is his main weakness. When it comes to fighting though, Sanji lets loose with his impressive kickboxing skills thanks to training his legs to have become lethal weapons. After all, he does need his hands to make his fine cuisines.They met Dracule "Hawk-Eyes" Mihawk, one of the Shichibukai, and the best swordsman in the world. Zoro decides to try and defeat Mihawk to gain the title of the best swordsman in the world but is clearly outmatched by Mihawk's strength.Nami double-crossed them and stole their ship and treasure, to eventually land on a dangerous island. [Arlong Park Arc] The crew pursuing Nami, also land on Cocoyasi Village, Nami's hometown ruled by the tyrannical Fishman Arlong. There, Nami’s past and true motives come into light. [Loguetown Arc] The Straw Hat Pirates stop at the island that the city of Loguetown is on, the birth and death place of Gol D. Roger, to get supplies before heading to the Grand Line.Luffy goes to check the execution stand where Gold Roger was executed. While he climbs and admires the view from the stand, a woman calls out to him, seemingly recognizing Luffy, though he has no idea who she is. When part of the fountain in the town square breaks off and hits her, the debris just slides right off her. She then reveals herself to be Alvida, the first pirate Luffy came across on his trip. Only now, she has eaten the Sube Sube no Mi, causing her figure to change dramatically. She is not alone either, as another familiar pirate makes himself known: Buggy. Cabaji ambushes Luffy on the platform and puts him in shackles, while Buggy's pirates hold the town square hostage. Buggy then explains that this is Luffy's execution.At the Marine base in town, one of the men reports to his captain about the pirate ongoings in town. It is here where we meet Captain Smoker, who never lets a pirate leave his town uncaptured. He decides to wait for Luffy to be executed before moving in.Monkey D. Dragon saves Luffy from Smoke anonymously.

2. ALABASTA SAGA The Straw Hat pirates finally enter the Grand Line only to be targeted by the criminal organization Baroque Works. They meet Nefeltari Vivi, and decide to help save her country, Alabasta. Making their way across the Grand Line, they fend off Baroque Works' assassination attempts while meeting Luffy's older brother, Portgas D. Ace, as well as a pair of giants named Dorry and Brogy, and gaining a new crew member: Tony Tony Chopper.Tony Tony Chopper, also known as "Cotton Candy Lover" Chopper, is the doctor of the Straw Hat Pirates. He came from Drum Island where he learned how to be a doctor, which also makes him the only member of the Straw Hat Pirates who was born on the Grand Line. Chopper is a reindeer that ate the Hito Hito no Mi (Human-Human Fruit) which is a devil fruit that allows its user to transform into a human hybrid and a full human at will. He is a Zoolingualism since is originally an animal, Chopper can understand and communicate with other animals, thus allowing him to serve as a translator between animals and humans. Like all Zoan Devil Fruit users, Chopper possesses the ability to turn into three forms. These forms are called Walk Point, his normal form, Brain Point, his human hybrid form, and Heavy Point, his human form. In addition to his three forms granted by his Devil Fruit, Chopper has also invented a yellow jaw-breaker like drug called the "Rumble Ball", through some research. This drug has the power to distort the wavelengths of the Devil Fruit's transformation, allowing him access to additional transformations for three minutes.

3. SKY ISLAND SAGA Nico Robin joined the Straw Hat Pirates in the beginning of this Saga. In the royal crypt, Nico Robin had lost the will to live when her dream to know about the True History was not realized. But Luffy saved her anyway by taking her away from the crumbling room in the Alabasta royal palace. As a payback, she asks them to join their crew. Robin is interviewed by the Straw Hats in order to know if their former enemy can become one of their crew. Being a clever woman, she succeeds easily.Nico Robin, also known by her epithet "Devil Child" and the "Light of the Revolution", is the archaeologist of the Straw Hat Pirates. She is the first member to have once been an antagonist (in the Alabastar Saga). Her dream is to find the Rio Poneglyph which tells the true history.She ate the Hana Hana no Mi (Flower-Flower Fruit). The Hana Hana no Mi is a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that allows the user to replicate and sprout pieces of their body from the surface of any object or living thing. As further allusion to this, pinkish-white petal-like particles form at and then swirl away from where the parts sprout and vanish, as well as around the user itself. "Hana" is the Japanese word for "Bloom" and "Flower", and reflects the nature of the user's power to sprout their body parts like a blooming flower. A ship hundreds of years old falls from the sky, and from the evidence contained inside, the crew begins to wonder if an island in the sky can really exist as the legends say. With help from Montblanc Cricket in Jaya, the Straw Hat Pirates manage to reach Skypiea. There they face the false God that rules the sky, Enel, who is later defeated by Luffy.

4. CP9 SAGA (WOLRD GOVERNMENT SAGA) After their adventure in Skypiea, the Straw Hat Pirates land safely back in the Blue Sea, only to find themselves confronting Foxy the Silver Fox in the Davy Back Fight, and soon after, Aokiji, one of the Navy's three Admirals. Narrowly escaping Aokiji, the crew reaches Water 7, a city of carpenters, and begins searching for a shipwright to join the crew.They soon fall into trouble though, making enemies with both the Franky Family: a ship dismantling group, and the Galley-La Company: a shipbuilding company which employs some of the top carpenters in the world. They also learn that the Going Merry is dying, and because of this, Luffy decides to get a new ship. Usopp disagrees with the decision and leaves the crew. Meanwhile, CP9 of the World Government captures Robin by her will and flees to Enies Lobby, while the crew attempts to get Robin back. Finally, they get her free and get a new crewmate: Franky, who is their shipwright. As they are leaving, Usopp apologizes and is welcomed back into the crew, and so the Straw Hat Pirates are ready to set sail with a brand new ship and shipwright, Thousand Sunny and Franky, along with Robin and Usopp back in the crew.

5. THRILLER BARK SAGA The Straw Hat Pirates travel to the ghost island of Thriller Bark, where they encounter the Shichibukai Gekko Moriah. Using his Devil Fruit abilities and the surgical skills of his subordinate, Dr. Hogback, Moriah uses Luffy's shadow to revive a legendary giant, Oars. With the help of a skeleton named Brook the Straw Hats fight and defeat Moriah and Oars. Brook also reveals himself to be the former captain of the Rumbar Pirates and longtime friend of Laboon, a whale who the Straw Hats met at Reverse Mountain. After Moriah's defeat, Brook joins the Straw Hat Pirates as their musician.

6. SUMMIT WAR SAGA A massive war unfolds between the World Government and the Whitebeard Pirates, which was set in motion by the defeat of Portgas D. Ace at the hands of Marshall D. Teach, and climaxing at Ace's execution at Marineford. Upon reaching Sabaody Archipelago, they are separated and sent to different parts of the world by Bartholomew Kuma, another Shichibukai. Luffy is sent to Amazon Lily, where he befriends the Shichibukai Boa Hancock, who falls in love with him. Upon learning of his brother's impending execution, Luffy makes the difficult decision of rescuing his brother first before reuniting with his crew. Hancock takes him to Impel Down where Luffy breaks in and, upon discovering he is too late, breaks out of the great prison with the aid of Emporio Ivankov with his Okama party and two former Shichibukai, Crocodile and Jinbe. They escape and arrive at the battle at Marineford, with Luffy allying himself with the Whitebeard Pirates. The war ends with the deaths of Ace and Whitebeard, the former breaking Luffy physically, mentally, and emotionally and the latter creating a change in the world forever. After being rescued and taken back to Amazon Lily, he is shaken away from his depression by Jinbe. Luffy decides to train and become stronger with the aid of Silvers Rayleigh in order to go to the New World. However, before doing this, he sends a message to his crew mates that they must become stronger too, and that they will reunite again at the Sabaody Archipelago after two years of training.

7. FISHMAN ISLAND SAGA It takes place two years after the Straw Hat Pirates are separated after the events that took place at Marineford. It begins with the Straw Hats reuniting with each other at Sabaody Archipelago to prepare to set sail for the New World, but in order to enter there, they must first go through Fishman Island. They defeat the New Fishman Pirates and Flying Pirates, who planned on conquering and destroying the island, and make a declaration of war to the Yonko, Big Mom. 8. DRESSROSA SAGA The Straw Hat Pirates finally enter the New World, but soon receive a distress call from Punk Hazard island, home to a former laboratory of Dr. Vegapunk. They become entangled in the illegal experiments of Caesar Clown, and form an alliance with Trafalgar Law in preparation for dethroning Kaido of the Yonko. They challenge Donquixote Doflamingo and uncover a decade-long conspiracy on Dressrosa island. Their resulting actions against the Shichibukai send a massive shockwave throughout the world and result in the birth of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet.In this saga, Luffy met Rebecca, a female gladiator, during the tournament at the Corroda Coloseum. He decided to participate upon hearing that the prize is Ace’s Devil Fruit Mera-Mera no Mi. He also made acquaintance withCavendish, the Captain of the Beautiful Pirates. Luffy also met up with his childhood friend and brother, Sabo who claimed to win the Devil Fruit. Sabo and his girlfriend Koala, who is Robin’s sister, turn out to be from the Revolutionary Army. 9. YONKO SAGA The Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance is formed to take down Kaido of the Yonko and the shogun of Wano Country, and Luffy becomes entangled with another Yonko, Big Mom, as he seeks to retrieve his crewmate Sanji from her plans.

[ongoing saga] - To Be Continued

#anime #one piece

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neverwatchedonepiece · 6 years

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526-528: "Undersea Volcanic Eruption! Drifting to the Fish-Man Island!", "Landing at the Fish-Man Island! Beautiful Mermaids!" and "Excitement Blow-out! Sanji's Life Under Threat!"

HOORAY! :D:D:D

Will this be one of those arcs that’s filled with sympathetic villains? The kind of characters who... well, you get where they’re coming from because they have a cast-iron reason for their villainy and you feel conflicted about cheering for the heroes? Or will it be more complicated than that?

I hope I like this arc. Ever since Arlong Park, since I learned about the Sun Pirates from Hachi and the racism Fishmen experience I’ve been hoping Oda might dig deeper into the theme. It’s early days yet, but from what I’ve seen in this episode, I’m quietly confident he’ll deliver.

Cthulhu Is... Friendly?

Must admit the Flying Dutchman action was a bit of a let-down. I thought Captain Vander Decken would be the next villain (or at least the henchman of the next villain). It was built up so well. The creepy “Dead men tell no tales” speech, Brook confirming he was the Real Deal, that the legend told of how the captain lost his mind, killed his crew and cursed the gods (who got their revenge by cursing him to drift forever).

I thought that might make a good plot line (that was before Hammond appeared and the Real Plot kicked in).

The Kraken coming back and sucker punching the Sea Bonze was so worth it. I laughed like a drain and could not believe I was cheering a Kraken like it was Hell in a Cell. Top it all off, Luffy, Zoro and Sanji came paddling back in a single bubble. And Luffy had made the Kraken his pet and named it Surume! Only Luffy can get separated from his crew and return with a pet Kraken. And laugh about the fact that he almost died.

The volcanic eruption action scene was fun. The Flying Dutchman crew and the Kraken would not mess with nature. The water glowed an ominous red and before Luffy gave any orders, Surume the Kraken was already checking out. Nami made the call for them to leap into the deep trench ahead to avoid the pyroclastic flow (is that even possible underwater? I have no idea.)

Usopp got to show off some of his skills by shooting a net-like plant weapon that stopped the debris from the eruption from smashing Sunny to pieces. (Could be good in combat for subduing bad guys.) I liked how Luffy was a good captain and praised Usopp and his cute Kraken pet for doing a good job. There’s that leadership shining through.

This was just before a stray rock bonked Surume on the head and the Strawhats woke up... ten thousand meters under the sea?

But... how? I thought.

It was bright. There was natural light and vivid colours. How?

Because it was Fishman Island! :D

Cannot lie. I was excited to finally see it. I wonder how it was for manga readers then to see that place brought to life after so long. I mean, how many chapters was it since it was first mentioned in Arlong Park until now when it was animated. I mean, it was huge! And there were entire massive trees inside the bubble. I still have no idea where the natural light was coming from, but pffft, did I care? It was FISHMAN ISLAND! :D

Then the Border Patrol Arrived?

At least, that’s who I thought they were at first.

And they brought Plot, which, let’s face it, is always good.

Three shady-looking Fishmen rode up on massive Sea Kings. They were so tough, they spoke to Surume the Kraken like it was a disobedient pet. Or... more accurately, as if it was a race traitor. “Why are you obeying such fools as humans, Kraken?” Surume fled the scene (obviously scared of these guys).

They recognised the Straw Hats too. I love how Luffy said, “Who are you? How do you know about us?” Um, Luffy... everyone knows about you now. xD

But these guys went way back. Much further than Alabasta, Enies Lobby, Impel Down or Marineford.

“You are the ones who foiled the Arlong Pirates’ plan. You stood up for Hachi and knocked out a hateful Celestial Dragon, just like Fisher Tiger, the hero of Fishman Island.”

They claimed they were the New Fishman Pirates and demanded the Strawhats enlist under their banner or be sunk.

Hammod did most of the talking but two others tagged along (Hyouzo and Kasagon).

Nami and Franky knew Luffy would say no (and possibly put them in danger because they couldn’t fight back). They took a huge gamble and spent the last of Sunny’s air crashing through Fishman Island’s protective bubbles.

The dramatic tension when the coating shrank, pinning all the Strawhats to the deck was great. But it really ramped up when the first bubble ripped off the coating and the second one turned out to be full of water. I didn’t expect that twist.

Was that the closest the Strawhats have been yet to almost dying?

Camie to the Rescue!

Luckily, they have a friend who was sort of expecting them. Luffy, Usopp, Chopper and Sanji woke up at none other than Camie’s place! (The others were separated. Franky, Nami and Robin are together. I have no idea where Brook is and Zoro is on his own.)

Turns out she works at a Mermaid Cafe on the sea floor of Mermaid Cove. The dorms are more affordable on the sea floor, as opposed to the ones higher up with more natural light. I liked that Oda has imagined an entire class system here. Mermaid Cove seems an okay place. Pappagu the starfish is in the fanciest district: Fishverly Hills (lol!) and is a famous designer. Hachi lives in Fishman District, which Camie said was a ‘rough place’. Luffy still thinks Pappagu is Camie’s pet. I don’t think Luffy completely gets how Fishman Island works yet, but Camie was nice and didn’t say anything. Hammond also hinted at another Fishman Island faction: Neptune’s Army, who were introduced later but I don’t know which side they’re on yet, so they seem like a neutral third party so far. 10/10 world building from Oda there.

Camie showed them around. They took a cute turtle elevator up to the “surface”, where there were clouds, blue sky, trees and rainbows. Luffy mentioned reuniting with Jimbei because “when Ace died two years ago, I didn’t lose heart thanks to him” (yes, Luffy. I’m glad you realise just how much Jimbei did for you!)

But Jimbei was not on the island. Camie seemed to hint the War in Marineford caused a bit of trouble in Fishman Island. She didn’t go into it, damn it.

Then, the royal family’s Fish Boat swam into view, heading straight for them, carrying the Neptune Princes (Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi and Sanboshi). The mermaids hid the Straw Hats, in case they were arrested for illegally entering Fishman Island. One mermaid made the mistake of holding Sanji... let’s just say a little close to her chest.

And Lots of Beautiful Mermaids

You know what, I didn’t want to say but over the past couple of episodes, Sanji’s weakness had been annoying me. Not really badly. Just that the joke was getting a bit thin because it’d been played so many times for laughs.

Now I know why.

Does Oda do nothing without a purpose?

He had to set up all the blood loss stuff because blood transfusions are a central tenet in the hatred a lot of Fishmen have over humans.

When Sanji had his Vesuvius Moment, Dr Chopper bravely came to the rescue. Just as the Princes seemed about to take the Strawhats (though they didn’t want to arrest them. Still not sure what their deal is), Chopper placed himself in harm’s way and shouted, “Stop! I’m a Doctor! Can anyone donate S RH negative blood? If Fishman blood is the same, would anyone be willing to donate?”

Chopper unwittingly referenced an Old, Highly Politicised Grudge.

Fisher Tiger: The Hero of Fishman Island

Hammond, who had been lurking, waiting for an opportune moment to catch the Strawhats, couldn’t stay quiet at that point.

“No one on this island would give blood to lowly humans,” he scoffed. “If anyone did, they’d risk punishment from the Dark Night, from human haters. The Old Law in the kingdom states that donating blood to humans is prohibited.”

When the Strawhats protested, Hammond fired back with some Context.

“You humans set that rule first! You people have a long history of fearing us. Didn’t want your blood mixed up with ours. That’s how the hero, Fisher Tiger, died. He risked his own life to free slaves of all races. But after a bloody war, he died. He could have lived if he had a transfusion. The heartless humans refused to give their blood to him.”

I was gobsmacked by that. Honestly. What a great twist, in terms of both plot and morality! How are the Strawhats going to fight against years of racism, abuse, toxic politics and the veneration of a martyr-like figure who means so much to the people of Fishman Island?

This is going to be a wild ride.

Usopp dismissed the old law. He begged someone, anyone, to help Sanji. Hammod tried to take Luffy by force but severely underestimated how much stronger he’d become (that Haki, honestly... it is so badass).

Camie hijacked the Royal Fish Boat (the royals here seem pretty laid back because if that was real life, you’d be in your local Impel Down faster than you can say, “But I need a blood transfusion!”)

And it seems something is rotten in the state of Fishman Island. Not only are the Strawhats the first human visitors in a while, the Princes were unable to deliver a message to Jimbei.

I wonder if it’s anything to do with this shady character?

This is the guy who wants to see Luffy. The one Hammond calls “Boss.” Hordy Jones, I think his name was? And here we have a shady face, not entirely revealed, sharp teeth and a good voice actor? This has happened before with Moria and Crocodile. Could this be the villain? Is this Hordy Jones, or is he higher up the chain?

I hope so. Was blue-balled with the Flying Dutchman stuff. Don’t want it happening again, haha.

Also, who or what is Noah? Was confused as to whether it was a location or a person.

*insert Rocky Theme tune*

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