Good morning, One Piece Wiki!
Last week, I made a mistake on my prediction in the Elbaph Arc regarding Loki as an antagonist and the fate of Shanks and his Red Hair Pirates. Still, since our next chapter, Chapter 1131, will be coming out on November 11, 2024, I have been able to once again update the three final arcs, and their descriptions as promised:
Elbaph Arc: The Straw Hat Pirates travel to Elbaph with the Giant Warrior Pirates. Meanwhile, as the world reels from Vegapunk's shocking announcement, the Red Hair Pirates, Cross Guild and the Blackbeard Pirates actively search for the One Piece. Along the way, half of Luffy's crew gets kidnapped by Road, with Luffy lured before Loki, who is actually Imu in disguise trying to coax him into joining the World Government to recreate the world in his own image (while using the hypnotized Red Hair Pirates as a forefront to make Luffy surrender his hat)—and all it takes is a trump card from the Straw Hat Pirates, in the form of their former member Nefertari Vivi, to bring the crew together again and rescue Luffy in exchange for her full-time position as their official diplomat, and then drive Imu from Elbaph for good. Consequently, Vivi is now wanted by the World Government for her involvement in reuniting the Straw Hat Pirates under the new title of "Spy Princess Nefertari Vivi" despite staying with Morgans and Wapol according to the Alabasta Royal Guard led by Igaram, Chaka and Pell. (NOTE: This arc is based on the first episode of the 1994 Gatchaman OVA.)
Laugh Tale Arc: Having fully recovered with their ship fully repaired, along with a permanently recruited Vivi as their full-fledged diplomat (as well as Vivi's pet duck Karoo as the crew's mascot), the Straw Hat Pirates finally set out to Laugh Tale, a place where Luffy's now deceased role model, Shanks, told them where the One Piece is in his last words before he dies peacefully along with his Red Hair Pirate crew. There, they must face off against the Blackbeard Pirates and the Cross Guild in a race over who claims the One Piece—Luffy, Teach or Buggy.
Mary Geoise Arc (the last arc of the Final Saga, as well as the final arc of the whole manga series itself, also known as the Final War Arc): With the One Piece (the legendary treasure itself that actually looks like a sword—the one weapon forged by the heavens that can harm Imu and the Five Elders with) in their hands, the Straw Hat Pirates led by Monkey D. Luffy, now the new king of all pirates, lead all other pirates around the world to battle as they march their way to Mary Geoise for the ultimate fight to determine the fate of the world as the devastating global war between the forces of good and evil is finally underway. There, they must face off against the omnicidal Imu, who seeks to destroy all life in the world (all which he deems inferior) using the Mother Flame, and then recreate the world in his own image from scratch as a world of darkness—with Vivi as his better half.
And now, here are some predictions from Chapter 1131 and beyond:
Loki tries to coax Luffy into helping him end the world as he theorizes that the latter's power is one of the strongest in the world, but Luffy insists on saving the world; Loki proceeds to explain to Luffy about the wickedness and barbarianism of humanity he decides to destroy with a global flood—leaving those who are stronger than others as survivors. As proof, he shows Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates, who try to get Luffy to surrender his straw hat back to Shanks since he "became a great pirate long enough". Luffy confirms Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates hypnotized and blames Loki for it when he tries to get him to join him again—and he means for Luffy to work for the World Government—only to reveal Loki as Imu in disguise (so says the quote from Loki: "Oh? Did you just reveal my true identity? I knew you would be chosen one! (「あら、私の正体がばれちゃったの？やっぱりお前は選ばれし者だ！」)"). That is when Imu debuts his full appearance before Luffy and forces him to watch Egghead get destroyed by the Mother Flame to finish the Buster Call there, a final operation which Imu approves (once York's further replication of its technology is fully complete) (so says the quote from Rob Lucci: "All units who participated in that Buster Call on Egghead, listen well. Now that the World Government has been compromised of its most precious secrets, Dr. Vegapunk should not have studied the Void Century to begin with - and neither did Bartholomew Kuma possess the blood of the Buccaneers...nor did the Straw Hat Pirates awaken the legendary Nika the Sun God. But starting today, Egghead is done and outlawed. So, let no one ever speak its name from this time on - because it doesn't even exist anymore. (「さて、海軍たちよ、よく聞け。世界政府は危険にさらされている。Dr.（ドクター）ベガパンクは空白の１００年 を研究すべきではない。バーソロミュー・くまはバッカニア族 の血を継ぐべきではない。麦わらの一味は太陽の神ニカを目覚めさせるべきじゃない。『エッグヘッド』？─── そんな国は...元々...ないではないか...」)"); this is the first Buster Call that successfully destroyed an island (i.e. Egghead via Mother Flame) after the last one failed on Enies Lobby two years ago, and the one before that partially succeeded on Ohara twenty-two years ago (so says the quote from Imu: "Dr. Vegapunk has declared an all-out war against me - and has forced my hand. So, here is my reply. And Straw Hat, allow me to re-state my intention: All inferior life on this world...must cease to exist! And I would've gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you and your crew. Thankfully, my plan has only begun. Therefore, I will remain hidden from this world for a time being - but a Day of Reckoning is still near. And when that happens, it will mark the doom to all those who defy the World Government! As proof of my power, I shall now use the Mother Flame to finish the Buster Call on Egghead by reducing it into nothing more than a mountain of rubble! ("...") Gaze upon your future, Straw Hat! Once the Sea Level rises to the highest peak, I shall use the floodwater to wash away all inferior life from every region of the world, and then restart the world in my own image - with Nefertari Vivi by my side as my wife. (Luffy: "Vivi will do anything for my crew besides marrying some dictator like you!") So be it, fool! But soon, everyone will know the World Government is always right!") After the Straw Hat Pirates later save Elbaph, the captive Luffy taunts Imu for his failure (so says Luffy's quote: "Well, Imu? Is this not the checkmate you hoped for? (「どうだ、イム？これはチェックメイトではないのか？」)"). Realizing that Luffy is too dangerous to join the World Government, Imu tries to kill him when the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates confront him, with Vivi leading the raid to rescue Luffy (so says another quote from Luffy: "The tables have turned now, Imu! We're gonna kick your ass! (「立場が逆転したんだ、イム。俺たちはお前をぶっ飛ばす！」)"). Outnumber eleven against one, Imu is forced to leave Elbaph, but not before giving the Straw Hats a message saying "FOOLS! Your time is running out! Very soon, everyone will learn what happens to those who defy the World Government! I am the world—the past, the present, and the future! So, don't change history! (「馬鹿ども！もう時間がない！もうすぐ、世界政府に逆らった者がどうなるか、誰もが知ることになる！私は世界だ！過去であり、現在であり、未来でありだ！だから、歴史を変えるな！」)", leaving Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates free from his hypnosis, only for them to die from the same poison Shanks gave Bartolomeo in the process; after making a speech to the Straw Hat Pirates, Imu disappears, leaving them in question whether all he says is true or not (so says a quote from Chopper: "Wow, a real hologram!"). On the whole, the full character design of Imu is similar to Gargoyle from Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water. This, as well as, on the other hand, his face would be a tribute to the late manga artist Akira Toriyama, who was lost to us all at the start of March.
After escaping from the World Government and its supreme leader, Imu, Nefertari Vivi eventually comes out of hiding from Morgans' airship to reunite with the Straw Hat Pirates so she can reintroduce herself to everyone, officially swearing her full allegiance to them as their official permanent diplomat in the process (the tenth and final person to join Luffy's crew) (so says the quote from Vivi: "Communists of the World Government, if I may speak freely to you; I was born and raised in royal blood in the Kingdom of Alabasta, a majestic desert kingdom in Paradise located in the first half of the Grand Line. I know why you are looking for me, so you can take me back to Mariejois and make me your sexual slave for all I care, and my father's spirit will still live on inside me for all time. However, good reason or not, nobody frames Monkey D. Luffy, captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, of a murder he did not commit on Egghead and gets away with it, or my name is not...Vivi Nefertari, Princess of Alabasta! (Morgans: "No, this can't be true! (そ、そんな！)") (Wapol: "Princess Vivi just swore her full membership in the Straw Hat Pirate crew! (「ビビ姫は、麦わらの一味の永久会員になることを誓った！」)") Let this be a warning to communists everywhere: the time has come for us, the Straw Hat Pirates, to rise up and resolve that issue once and for all! (Sanji: "SHE'S ALIVE!!! (「ビビチュワーーーン！」)") (Usopp: "Alright, Vivi! Welcome back! (「ビビ、また会えてよかった！」)") (Nami & Chopper: "We missed you! (ビビ！)") (Franky: "Ow! A super family reunion, I'll say! (「スーパー家族の再会だ！」)") Sorry to keep you all waiting for two years, but you're all a wonderful homecoming audience. So, shall we go rescue Luffy together?"). As the Straw Hats later rest in Elbaph, Vivi gets her first official wanted poster (with a bounty of thirty million berries) for helping the crew escape from Egghead under the new title of "Spy Princess Nefertari Vivi" (presented by the Alabasta Royal Guard led by Igaram, Chaka and Pell). Even so, Vivi reassures Igaram that things will be different the way she sees it, revealing her new dream to succeed to her father's throne as the new Queen of Alabasta after she helps Luffy claim the One Piece. Meanwhile, having reunited with Vivi after recovering back in Alabasta, Karoo, her pet duck, also joins the Straw Hat Pirate crew as their permanent mascot (under the title of "Mascot Karoo" with a bounty of fifty berries) after Chopper temporarily took the role of the Straw Hat Pirates' mascot over the last two years.
Before dying from poisoning, Shanks tells Luffy that the legendary treasure, the One Piece, is left in Laugh Tale by Gol D. Roger, and Luffy, determined to turn the tide of the coming global war, agrees to find it there once he and his crew recover from either the Egghead Incident or the battle for Elbaph despite asking himself in confusion if Shanks's legacy will actually live on in his heart for all eternity (even though Luffy was supposed to give his prized Straw Hat back to Shanks once he becomes a great pirate).
In the anime adaptation of Shanks' and the Red Hair Pirates' funeral scene, Brook plays "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes during the funeral for Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates.
In the anime adaptation of Shanks' and the Red Hair Pirates' funeral scene (during its climax), we look back at Luffy's past with Shanks from 12 years ago (including the scene where Luffy stabbed himself in his left cheek) once again.
Franky finally gets a new wanted poster depicting his face after the last ones depicted the General Franky and the Thousand Sunny instead, while Sanji gets his last wanted poster depicting his real face back despite his increased bounty for his involvement on Egghead.
The Kuja Pirates, the Giant Warrior Pirates, and the Bonney Pirates become the newest additions to the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, with their captains, Boa Hancock, Dorry, Brogy and Jewelry Bonney, taking their roles as their representatives.
The climax of the final arc focuses on the Straw Hat Pirates hunting down Imu in Mary Geoise, only to be thrown around like playthings; they manage to track Imu to his last refuge, the Empty Throne, where Luffy, supported by his crew, manages to destroy Imu and the Mother Flame with the Gomu Gomu no Flaming Sword using the One Piece while in his "Gear 5" form (before Imu ends the world with the Mother Flame) (so says the quote from Luffy: "Leave us alone! GET THE FUCK OUT OF OUR WORLD!!! (出て行け！！！こんな世界から出て行けーーーーーーー！！！！！)") - only at the cost of his and his crew's lives. The spirit of Shanks appears and pulls the fallen Straw Hat Pirates to safety in heaven (so says the quote from Shanks: "Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook, Jinbe, Vivi, and Karoo - thank you, my friends. All your strength, all your power, all your love - everything you had - has freed the light from the darkness. With that, you are the ones to create the future. Now, live on with your dreams. I know you can do it. Fly, Straw Hat Pirates - spread your wings wide. The new age of peace starts now! (「ルフィ、ゾロ、ナミ、ウソップ、サンジ、チョッパー、ロビン、フランキー、ブルック、ジンベエ、ビビ、カルー...... ありがとう、諸君。君たちの強さ、力、愛、全てが闇から光を取り戻した。それによって、未来を創るのはあなたたちです。さあ、夢に向かって生きてください。君ならきっとできる。飛べ、麦わらの一味！翼を大きく広げろ。平和の新時代が今始まる！」)"). In the end, the spirit of the Red Force, Shanks's ship, frees the Thousand Sunny and the Straw Hat Pirates aboard as both ships and its crews ascend to heaven together. This climax is based on the final episode of Gatchaman Fighter.
In the aftermath of the Straw Hats' final battle with Imu, there is a conversation with between Koby (who is unable to stop Luffy from obtaining the One Piece) and Monkey D. Garp (who is now free from the Blackbeard Pirates (based on a post by @Panda D King ), ending with Garp giving a eulogy to Luffy that ends with, "The One Piece was a legendary sword forged by the heavens long ago to protect life - and at the hands of a hero, it has fulfilled its purpose. (「ワンピースは大昔、生命を守るために天が鍛えた伝説の剣であり。勇者の手によってその目的を果たした。」)"
In the epilogue of One Piece, Garp becomes the new president of the reestablished World Government to restore the entire world to its former splendor by reuniting all twenty kingdoms, along with Koby as his prime minister, while the One Piece is kept safe within the forbidden vault of the rebuilt Mary Geoise, never to be released unless darkness may rise again. At the same time, the reestablished World Government is looked down upon from the heavens by Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew, whose dreams are now beyond reality.
So, what do you think of my updated predictions for the final three arcs for this manga series? Please let me know on the comments below.
Until then, take care of yourselves and each other.
