3D2Y

''' 3D 2Y: Overcome Ace’s Death! Luffy’s Vow to his Friends' is a TV Special of the One Piece'' anime. It tells the story of the two year training period of Monkey D. Luffy.

Short Summary
The special takes place during the two year before the Straw Hats reunite on Sabaody. Luffy is currently in Rusukaina training to get stronger to take on the New World. However the training is interrupted when Hancock's sisters, Marigold and Sandersonia, are kidnapped by the Byrnndi World, a pirate who was locked away on Level 6 of Impel Down but escaped during Luffy's invasion to save Ace, in order to lure Hancock to him and use her as a hostage against the World Government due to her Shichibukai status. Thus Luffy and Hancock head off to confront him and save Hancock's sisters.

Long Summary
The special begins with Luffy and Portgas D. Ace when they were younger, vowing to get stronger and go sail the seas. It then flashes forward to a recap of the Marineford Arc. Luffy rushes in to save Ace, aided by Jinbe and Ivakov, as the Whitebeard Pirates battle the Marines. He succeeds in reaching the gallows and freeing Ace. However in the escape, Ace protected Luffy from a fatal attack by Sakazuki and died in Luffy's arms. Luffy then awakens from the memory, revealing he's currently on Rusukaina training after ordering his crew to get stronger within two years so they may take on the New World. Rayleigh is with coaching him on how to use Haki by surviving the hostile environment of the island.

Meanwhile a pirate crew known as the World Pirates are attacking a World Noble transport ship. The captain, Byrnndi World, however isn't satisfied with the time his crew is taking in destroying the ship. He sends his three subordinates, Gairam, Nightin, and Sebastian to speed things up before personally jumping in to finish off the job, despite the fact that his own crewmen were caught in the line of fire as well. This doesn't go unnoticed by his older brother and vice captain, Byojack, who tries to convince him that their crewmates were doing all the can but Byrnndi refuses to listen.

On Amazon Lily, Boa Hancock, worried for Luffy, has her crew go deliver some food to Rusukaina despite Nyon's objections and having promised Rayleigh not to interfere with Luffy's training. As this goes on, the World Pirates have finished making a cannon capable of wiping out an entire island which Byrnndi hopes to use in destroying the World Government in conjunction with his Moa Moa no Mi powers. Byojack however mentions that because of his earlier attack, the Marines are now on the look out for him and are gathering the Shichibukai to go after Byrnndi. Byrnndi however decides to strike first and asks which of the Shichibukai is closest near their location which turns out to be Amazon Lily.

Luffy continues his training but follows a scent to a buffet laid out for him by the Kuja (save Hancock still back at Amazon Lily). They prepare to greet him but run into Byrnndi who defeats Sandersonia easily. Byrnndi at first shows no interest in them but upon Marigold announcing that Sandersonia and she are sisters to Hancock, decides to kidnap them in order to lure Hancock to him. Luffy eventually notices the scuffle and tries to attack Byrnndi himself but is easily beaten. Hancock hears all of this on a Den Den Mushi with Byrndi challenging her to come after him for her sisters, leaving a Vivre Card for her to follow.

Rayleigh, Hancock and Nyon manage to find Luffy and revive him. Hancock naturally wants to go save her sisters and Luffy decides to tag along despite objections from Rayleigh since he's still in the middle of training. He eventually agree though only after Luffy promises not to make too much of a scene to keep himself hidden from the Marines. As they sail off, Nyon reveals some backstory on Byrnndi while at the same time at the current Marineford, Tsuru is likewise telling this tale to Borsalino and Sakazuki. 30 years ago the World Pirates were indeed one of the more feared crews around. However the World Government hatched a plot by gathering their enemies and slipping in spies within the World Pirates crew. They eventually sprung their trap and managed to capture Byrnndi. He was sent to Level Six of Impel Down and frozen but during the breakout caused by Luffy, he managed to escape in the chaos. Upon hearing this, Sakazuki prepares to move out.

On the World Pirates ship, Byojack tries once more to get Byrnndi to reconsider his plan, stating that their true goal was just freedom on the seas. But Byrnndi is dead set on getting revenge on the World Government in the hopes of capturing Hancock and using her as a hostage against them. The Kuja Pirates eventually reach their ship which is revealed to be a massive island base submarine. Luffy and Hancock jump aboard to begin their rescue with the two first fighting against Sebastian, a fishman and strongman of the World Pirates. Despite some difficulty they manage to beat him. In the middle of the fight Buggy the Clown arrives in the area by coincidence and is informed about the World Pirates from Mr. 3. Prompted by his crew, Buggy decides to let Luffy beat Byrnndi so he can take credit for it. Also on the island is Perona whose come along with Mihawk.

Meanwhile Luffy and Hancock fall into a trapdoor into the interior of the ship. After running for a bit they wind up in an open area and are separated when they try to go down a hallway. Byrnndi confronts Luffy once more, mocking him on his failure to save Ace. Luffy fights but finds he's no match for Byrnndi who knocks him around mercilessly, ending with him nailing Luffy to the floor and knocking him out with a Haki punch. Byrnndi heads off, remembering the day he was captured. When confronting some Marine ships headed by Garp and Sengoku, Cipher Pol happened to be on board with them. They sprung their trap by convincing Byrnndi's crew (save for Sebastian, Nightin and Gairam) to turn against him. As Byrnndi dealt with the traitors, the Marines launched an all out attack on his ship. With Byrnndi weakened the Cipher Pol made their move and knocked him out. Byojack along with Sebastian, Nightin and Gairam were forced to abandon him to save themselves, though did plan on saving him later. However Byrnndi took it as another form of betrayal which in the present time, he now sees no use anymore for friends.

Buggy and his crew, who were watching the fight from outside the room try to help Luffy recover while Hancock continues on, confronting Nightin. The World Pirates scientist proves to be pretty formidable using her medicine to try and counteract Hancock's Mero Mero no Mi powers and even regressing back into a younger state to combat her. Ultimately however Hancock's powers break through Nightin's defenses and Hancock manages to turn her to stone. Meanwhile Luffy manages to revive himself after remembering the promise he made to his crew and Rayleigh and heads off to find Byrnndi. However he's hampered by Gairam's Kyubu Kyubu no Mi powers which allows him to shift the ship's hallways around to his whims. He eventually leads Luffy to him and they battle with Luffy briefly incapacitated. Buggy's crew happen upon the area and Buggy buys Luffy time for him to run ahead. Gairam uses his powers on Buggy with the Shichibukai forced to dodge his attacks. Eventually Buggy uses a Muggy Ball to create a smokescreen with the intent to escape. Hancock arrives in the room during this and swiftly knocks out Gairam before demanding Buggy point out where Luffy ran to. When the fog fades Buggy's crew think he was the one who defeated Gairam and cheer him on.

Byrnndi arrives in the control room, sees his subordinates defeated and chastises Byojack for their failure. Byojack reminds him that they fought for him and recounts their original dream together. When they were kids, Byojack always wanted to set out on their own and Byrnndi decided to accompany since even then he was frail, sickly and weak, to make their dreams come true. They eventually did set sail once old enough. While Byrnndi did take his combat a bit too far at times they managed to form a crew and have many adventures. But as Byrnndi's crew so did his lust for power and eventually, when it was discussed on making a submarine base, Byrnndi was the one who suggested they put on a cannon, dismissing Byojack's objection that the ship was suppose to be a symbol of their freedom. In the present Byrnndi once more ignores Byojack's pleas and goes down to the room where Mari and Sonia are being held. Luffy arrives there and once more confronts Byrnndi in battle. He manages to stay on even ground against him but Byrnndi's speed and experience in Haki leave him at a disadvantage, leading once more to Luffy's defeat.

Buggy and his crew make it outside just as the Marines arrive, led by Sakazuki who beings opening fire on the base. Byojack reports this to Byrnndi who sees it as a opportunity to get his revenge on the Marines. When Byojack objects, Byrnndi reveals he was just using him and the ship to carry out his objectives and sees no more use for him. Luffy, overhearing this, revives and saves Byojack, angered that Byrnndi would treat his brother and friends so callously. Managing to form haki over both his arms, he manages knocks Byrunndi down. Hancock soon arrives in the room to which Luffy orders her to get her sisters off the ship while he deals with Byrnndi. She does so with an order of her own for Luffy to survive.

Luffy and Byrnndi engage in one final battle with the latter once more mocking him for being unable to save Ace. Luffy acknowledges this but counters he has friends waiting for him that he still can protect. After trading rapid fire blows many of which manage to break through Byrnndi's defenses. Byrnndi rushes Luffy, only for Luffy to stretch his arm and hits him with a Gomu Gomu no Red Hawk, which is finally able beat Byrnndi. With this, Luffy makes to escape the ship. Buggy's crew likewise jump ship and swim for safety as the Marines continue their bombardment. Byrnndi recovers and decides to use the cannon despite Byojack telling him he's too weakened from his fight with Luffy. Byrnndi knows this however and apologizes for his treatment of his crew before heading off. Using his powers, he launches a gigantic cannon at the Marines. But just as it's about to hit, it's sliced in half by Mihawk. Having used the rest of his strength in that attack, Byrnndi falls over, dead. Byojack, still loyal to his brother after everything, stays by his side as the Marines inevitably blow up their ship.

Hancock and the Kuja Pirates wait anxiously for Luffy, thinking him lost in in the explosion. But luckily he managed to get out and jump to their ship in time to their joy and relief. In the aftermath, Luffy returns to Rusukaina to continue his training and Buggy is given credit for Byrnndi's defeat. Time passes and a year and half has gone by since then. Rayleigh has taught Luffy all he can about Haki and plans to head back to Sabody. When asked what Luffy plans to do with the six remaining months left. Luffy decides to continue training since that's what his crew are still doing as well. Six months pass and Luffy leaves Rusukaina and heads back to Sabaody Archipelago where he reunites with the rest of the Straw Hats. They soon head off for Fishman Island to continue their journey with their new-found skills and strength.

After the credits, a blonde haired figure in a top hat and carrying a pole pours three sake cups near Ace and Whitebeard's grave, smiling to himself once he finishes doing so.

Anime Notes

 * The special includes completely remade scenes of Ace and Luffy from the Marineford Arc.
 * A new villain designed by Oda himself named Byrnndi World appears in the special.
 * Sabo also makes an appearance visiting Ace's grave during the ending credits, marking his anime debut as an adult, which could potentially be major spoilers, as the special aired before his debut in the anime.
 * The remade scenes more closely resemble the manga.
 * Sakazuki is seen in his post-timeskip appearance in the special.
 * Chronologically, this TV special shows black-skinned Busoshoku Haki for the first time.
 * The battle against Sebastian is the first time Luffy doesn't shrink after using Gear Third.
 * The special also shows the non-canon origin of Gomu Gomu no Red Hawk.

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