#spoiler: fishman island

[onepiece-oc-archives]

A Condensed History of the Roger Pirates

I'm only about... three months late? Either way, I promised I would do it, didn't I? So, here you go @starcrossedjedis

Obviously, this history of the travels of the Pirate King and his crew is going to involve some spoilers, so be prepared.

First of all, some quick info on the crew's most important members:

Gol D. Roger, also known as Gold Roger, the Pirate King: Roger was the crew's captain and namesake, as well as a former owner of Luffy's straw hat as he was the one to pass it down to Shanks. He was known to be fearless, prideful and quick to anger, but also humble and kind to civilians and children. His public execution in Loguetown 22 years ago was supposed to end piracy but brought on the Great Age of Pirates instead.

Silvers Rayleigh, the Dark King: Rayleigh was the crew's first mate and has now retired to Sabaody Archipelago, where he lives with his wife Shakky. He is a light-hearted and casual man, but he does take his position as the crew's disciplinarian seriously, especially towards the younger members. Generally, he is a strategist and can remain calm and collected even in the most dire of situations.

Crocus, the current lighthouse keeper of the Twin Cape Lighthouse, which guides ships into the Grand Line.

Kozuki Oden, the heir to the shogun of Wano Country, and Kozuki Toki, his wife: Oden, originally a member of the Whitebeard Pirates, was a confident and carefree man. One could even describe him as violent and selfish. But truly, his badly planned attempts at helping people always meant well, despite often having the opposite effect. He became more responsible and mature after sailing with the Roger Pirates but could still be considered naive. Still, he returned to Wano Country to take his father's place as shogun but was then executed by usurpers in an event called the Legendary Hour. His wife, Toki, was a very kind woman and also very humble and caring. She met Oden during his time on Whitebeard's crew and the two of them had two children. Later during their journey, when they were already part of the Roger Pirates, Toki became ill and had to stay behind in Wano. Toki was murdered shortly after Oden's execution.

Red-Haired Shanks: Yes, this is the Shanks, the one we all know and love. He was found in a treasure chest by Roger and was with the crew as an apprentice from at least when he was nine years old until the crew disbanded a year before Roger's execution. He got the straw hat from Roger at the very latest when he was nine years old.

Buggy the Clown: Buggy was an apprentice of the Roger Pirates at the same time that Shanks was and they became more or less friendly rivals during this time. Shanks is directly or indirectly responsible for Buggy accidentally eating his devil fruit at least 25 years ago.

Inuarashi and Nekomamushi: Dogstorm Inuarashi and Cat Viper Nekomamushi are the current rulers of the mink tribe. They originally became shipwrecked at Wano Country and then followed Oden first to the Whitebeard Pirates, then to the Roger Pirates.

Now, time for the actual topic of this post:

The History of the Roger Pirates

The Roger Pirates were formed 50 years ago when Roger met Rayleigh. Though Rayleigh initially laughed at Roger's request to join him, he did end up sailing with him either way. They gathered many friends and crewmates on their voyage and Roger developed a personal rivalry with Monkey D. Garp.

37 years ago, the Roger Pirates reached Lodestar Island, the last island on the Grand Line that can be reached by regular methods via a Log Pose. They are the first crew to make it there in 800 years and become aware of the existence of a final island in the Grand Line that cannot be reached without the information on the Road Poneglyphs. Roger had previously stolen the information on the Road Poneglyph owned by Big Mom, meaning they already owned one Road Poneglyph out of four.

36 years ago, the Roger Pirates were involved in an event called the God Valley Incident, taking place on the island of God Valley in the West Blue. The existence of a manhunt against the native population there was leaked to the outside world, which prompted the legendary and legendarily vicious Rocks Pirates to travel to the island. The Roger Pirates and Monkey D. Garp went in pursuit, and a large, chaotic battle ensued with long-reaching consequences for the entire world. Nonetheless, knowledge of these events is restricted and the island was mysteriously erased from existence and from the maps of the world. The Rocks Pirates were defeated at the hands of an alliance between the Roger Pirates and Monkey D. Garp, leading the Rocks Pirates' former members to form powerful crews of their own that still have a big impact on the world, though not many people acknowledge their connection through the Rocks Pirates nowadways. The Roger Pirates found Shanks during or after this very incident.

26 years ago, Roger discovered that he had a fatal and incurable disease. He then recruited the doctor Crocus from Reverse Mountain who was supposed to keep him alive as long as possible as he led his crew on a final voyage across the Grand Line.

At about this time, the Roger Pirates raided another ship at sea and found a treasure map and a devil fruit, the Bara Bara no Mi or Chop Chop Fruit. Buggy kept the treasure map for himself as it led to a treasure at the bottom of the sea. When he found out about the devil fruit, he was initially put off by it as eating it would make him unable to swim and thus unable to get the treasure. However, when Shanks told him that it was worth 100,000,000 Berry if sold, he became very interested in it and planned to steal it, so he made a fake devil fruit and ate it in front of the crew. He then planned to sneak off the ship with the real fruit and the map, get rich, and form his own crew, but Shanks startled him and he hid it in his mouth. Shanks then startled him a second time and Buggy accidentally swallowed the devil fruit. As he shouted at Shanks over this, the treasure map fell into the water. Without thinking, Buggy jumped after it but, due to the effects of the devil fruit, was unable to swim. He would have drowned, had Shanks not saved him.

25 years ago, the Roger Pirates fought the Golden Lion Pirates in the Battle of Edd War. The captain of the Golden Lion Pirates was Shiki the Golden Lion, a former Rocks member. He had asked Roger to join him so they could rule the world together, but Roger had turned him down as he had no interest in world domination. What ensued next was a fierce sea battle fought on the sea called Edd War, a part of the New World, the second half of the Grand Line. Initially, it looked as if the Roger Pirates were bound to lose because they were vastly outnumbered by Shiki's armada, but then, a storm hit Edd War and half of Shiki's armada sank. As such, the battle was broken off and declared a draw. Shiki got a piece of a steering wheel permanently lodged into his brain during the chaos caused by the storm.

24 years ago, the Roger Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates met on an island in Paradise, the first half of the Grand Line, and Whitebeard reluctantly agreed to allow Oden (who, as a member of the Kozuki Family, could read Poneglyphs) to join the Roger Pirates after both Roger and Oden himself had asked him for permission. Toki came aboard with her husband, along with their two children, and Inuarashi and Nekomamushi snuck on as stowaways. The crew celebrated Oden's induction into their ranks with a party.

Within the same year, the Roger Pirates ventured to Skypeia and Fishman Island, where they found their second Road Poneglyph. Oden, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi then revealed that the final two Road Poneglyphs were in their home countries, Wano and Zou respectively, and the Roger Pirates successfully found them there. Kozuki Toki fell ill and was left behind on the island of Wano, along with her and Oden's two children. Oden wanted to give up his dream and stay behind with her, but she threatened him with a divorce if he gave up because of her. As such, Oden continued with the Roger Pirates as they travelled to the final island.

23 years ago, the Roger Pirates charted the location of the final island using the four Road Poneglyphs. Buggy fell ill and, as such, he and Shanks stayed behind on another island. The rest of the Roger Pirates made it to the final island and decided to name it Laugh Tale. After returning from Laugh Tale, Roger disbanded the crew and sailed off on his own. The now former crew brought Oden to Wano before everyone started going their own ways. Buggy and Shanks presumably stayed together until Roger's execution.

Notes:

22 years ago, Roger turned himself in to the Marines and was publicly executed in Loguetown, his birth town on the Polestar Islands in the East Blue, giving it the epithet The Town of the Beginning and End. Shanks and Buggy were both in attendance and most likely split up after this event, forming their own crews, the Red Hair Pirates and the Buggy Pirates respectively. Gol D. Roger's final words set off the Great Age of Pirates with thousands of pirates taking to the seas to find the Pirate King's legendary treasure, the One Piece.

So, that's it! I hope this helped, even if it’s a little late. Have a nice day!

"Dogstorm" and "Cat Viper" are not the actual epithets of Inuarashi and Nekomamushi but rather the translations of their names that they are referred to as in some translations. Still, I decided to treat them as epithets because they seemed the most expressive.

Some translations refer to the final island as "Raftel" instead of "Laugh Tale". This is wrong and stems from bad transliteration. BUT you can use it for fic purposes as the World Government has a habit of changing the names of people or things to hide the truth about them. For example, referring to Gol D. Roger as Gold Roger. Because of the nature of the things to be found on Laugh Tale, it's very possible that the World Government would want to change to island's name. Thank you to the people on the Discord server for sharing their brilliant thoughts on this with me :)

[maximumqueer]

Luffy not wanting to be viewed as a hero is actually so important to me. Because while the first reasoning we get for this is him not wanting to share his food

We also learn later on that Luffy also doesn't want to be viewed as a savior, nor does he ever want to present himself as such. He doesn't want to be placed on a pedestal or (ironically) be deified by the people he helps.

At the end of Fishman island, he was fully ready to leave without fanfare because he did not want to be treated by the people in that way, and only agrees to stay because he is promised food. The same thing happens at the end of Wano, where he refuses to take any credit for the downfall of Kaido and instead simply enjoys the festival with everyone else.

I cannot overstate how much I love this decision for Luffy as a character. It is incredibly common for stories like Fishman Island and Wano to have the main character swoop in and save the oppressed people, with said character being to sole person to rally them and "teach" them how to fight back. We don't get that with Luffy.

In Fishman Island, he tells the people that its up to them to decide whether or not he is their friend or foe instead of swooping in playing the role of the hero. In Wano, he understands to importance of who begins the fight with Kaido, and stands back to let the Red Scabbards (Wano natives) get the first major hit on Kaido

Even in the prison when Luffy gives his speech, he is asking the people to let him help, to have faith that they and their country can be free again, to fight for the freedom that had been cruelly stripped away from them. And even then, it is Momo and members of the Red Scabbards that fully restore the Udon prisoners faith.

Hell, we even see this all the way back in Arlong Park, where Luffy waits to take action until Nami asks him for help. He doesn't come in guns blazing and save her like some sort of white knight, but instead waits for Nami's go ahead, placing the power in her hand.

It's just such a refreshing way of seeing a protagonist in this type of story be portrayed. To have him understand the importance of the people he fight's side by side with, and not place himself as the fixer of all problems, but rather as an aid to these people (often times an aid that they explicitly asked for). It actively rejects the white savior/white knight trope(s) and allows for the people native to the island to have agency in these large battles instead of being sidelined. It is their lives and stories that are centered as being the most important in these moments, and Luffy is simply there to help them.

[garbagegarbagefruit]

eye for an eye

Zoro x Sanji

✦ Summary: Sanji finds Zoro on Sabaody. Zoro realizes that something about the cook has changed, but he can't put his finger on it. His determination to find out exactly what it is pushes them to share a few moments that neither of them would have anticipated two years ago. But a lot has changed since the last time they were here, hasn't it?

✦ Word Count: 3.7k

✦ Warnings: light spoilers for the time skip and fishman island, light angst, references to past fights (Thriller Bark, Sabaody)

✦ Notes: I saw this beautiful art of Sanji with heterochromia and I wanted to write the moment that Zoro realizes this about him. I'm not up to date yet (just finished dressrosa) but if you like it pls let me know and I'll think about writing a part two once I've got all the lore from Sanji's backstory!

this is my first piece of writing for one piece - critiques welcome but pls be nice:)

✦ AO3 Link

divider by @drinkthesky

Zoro caught a glimpse of something golden, glittering in the sun above the surface. The pirate ship he had so unceremoniously slashed in half parted the water around them and released a flurry of bubbles as it pushed its way up. The two halves of the ship emerged, sending furious waves and a shower of salty droplets in every direction. 

The source of that opulent shimmer stood on the cliff side, staring down at him with an insufferable smirk. The crew of the ruined ship were trying to give Zoro an earful but he ignored them. He was busy studying his crewmate, cataloging every change, utterly overwhelmed by the sheer relief of seeing one of his family again. 

The cook had gotten taller, bulkier - rigorous training evident in the fit of his clothes. He had the same nonsensical, curling eyebrows and signature cloud of cigarette smoke circling his head like a misshapen halo. The sun gilded his shaggy blonde hair and illuminated his one visible eye. It was Sanji, unmistakably. 

However, amidst the familiarity, there was some change that Zoro couldn't put his finger on. Something striking, and yet he couldn't name it. He wondered, briefly, if his scar had struck the cook in the same way. But Sanji didn't mention it. Flicking his gaze over the cook's form, he checked for new scars and found none.

There was no time to dwell on it. A barrage of classic insults and scolding greeted him from the blonde’s mouth and he found himself falling into old patterns like they had never been separated. Whatever the change was, though, it lodged itself in the back of his mind and insisted on resurfacing periodically even as the pair found themselves running toward an explosion that almost certainly meant Luffy was close. 

Now that they were reunited, he had all the time in the world to spend with his crew, because he was never going to let them be separated like that again. The problem was the desperation crawling under his skin. The need to know every change that occurred, even though each one would settle heavy in his belly like a stone. Weighing him down with the knowledge that the time they had spent apart was simply gone.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

It was still bothering him, hours later. After the crew had reunited, escaped attacks from seemingly all sides, and begun their descent into the sea. 

Beneath the ocean, the world was surreal and beautiful. It was like they were being rewarded for all their hard work, all that time apart. They had hours to bask in the scenery and simply be together. So many days out of the last seven-hundred-something were spent wondering what the crew was up to, and now those empty spaces could be filled in.

Sitting on the grass of the Sunny, Zoro watched the filtered sunlight shift and change with the moving water as they continued to sink deeper into the ocean. Shadows of fish and seaweed danced in a rhythm with the wavering light, the resin coating casting its iridescent glow across every inch of the ship. He was filled with nothing but quiet contentment, as the thing that had been driving him for the last two years had finally been satisfied. He was with his family again. 

That should be the only thought in his mind, and yet every time he looked in Sanji's direction, he was reminded of that thing he could not figure out. He didn't particularly want to give Sanji any extra attention at the moment. He lay pathetically sprawled on his back with blood pouring out of his face from his stupid perverted tendencies. But then the blonde opened his eyes, gaze following Chopper’s pointed hoof to a school of fish as it crossed above their bubble. A beam of light kissed his features, catching his uncovered eye and illuminating the iris like a gemstone. 

Zoro's breath caught in his throat, his lungs filling with something angry and burning. So, he did the only thing he knew to do when he was feeling bothered - he picked a fight. 

Some senseless, muttered remark thrown the cook's way escalated seamlessly into a shouting match and from there into sparring. Zoro was immediately scolded by the little doctor for going after Sanji in his injured state. But that only spurred Sanji's ego, and Chopper left them to it with a sigh. 

From the start, it was obvious that Sanji was not at his usual strength due to the blood loss. He was not weaker by much, just enough for Zoro to get what he wanted. Later, they'd fight for real and find out just what kind of training had occurred during their time apart. But right now, Zoro had a single goal.

However, the cook had started to suspect that something was up from the oddly determined look in the swordsman's steely eyes. He fought to keep distance between them as Zoro's advances invaded his space and pushed him further and further back.

Zoro regrouped and attacked with more fervor, leaving no room for retaliation. He kept his focus on Sanji's face, determined to catch another glimpse of crystalline eyes. Sanji only grew more defensive under the extra attention, desperate to get out from under the swordsman's stare. 

"Just let me see," Zoro grumbled, growing sweaty and frustrated as the cook evaded him again. He had not intended to say the words out loud. 

"See what? " Sanji demanded. 

He faltered for a split second and his fate was sealed. Zoro gained the upper hand and Sanji went flying backwards, landing at the edge of the grass with a dull thump. Zoro wasted no time, throwing himself down to sit on his legs and hooking his own knees and ankles under and around to keep the cook from escaping. Both wrists were caught and held tightly in Zoro's grasp, and he let out a triumphant huff as Sanji cursed. 

"Why are you being so weird?" Sanji barked, wriggling in Zoro's grasp. 

His legs may be strong, but Zoro had placed his full weight on them and he had certainly gained more muscle in the last two years. Sanji noted this with irritation, resolving to find out exactly how much Zoro weighed these days so he could make that his new training goal. 

Zoro didn't answer the question. The intensity in his gaze did not waver as he leaned forward and pushed Sanji's bangs to the side with his free hand. It was a little rougher than he meant, though he upheld the belief that his hands were not made to be gentle. 

"What the fuck?" Zoro scowled, eyebrows drawn tightly together. 

The answer to his own burning question lay beneath him, flushed and swearing under his breath as Zoro studied his features. It was strange and almost startling to see his whole face at once. Framed by those ridiculous curling brows, one eye glittered a beautiful green-blue, a perfect match to the ocean surrounding them. One was brown, lit up in tones of molten honey by the meager sunlight. The swordsman's eye widened, his grip on Sanji's loosening. 

He was more surprised that he was right than anything - he had been certain he'd never seen that shade of amber before. When he closed his eyes and pictured Sanji, it was always with that teal-blue. 

Not that he was picturing Sanji with his eyes closed, ever. 

" What? " Sanji spat. He used Zoro's momentary shock to wriggle out from under his grasp and scramble out of reach, hair falling back into place. He panted, catching his breath as he matched Zoro's scowl and waited for an explanation. 

"Why are they different?" Zoro's frown did not ease.

"They've always been different," Sanji rolled his visible eye, voice dripping with disdain and something that sounded a little like surprise. "You seriously never noticed?"

"How was I supposed to? You always have your hair in the way!” Zoro retorted, standing to his feet and crossing his arms over his chest. He refused to accept the embarrassment that was attempting to sink its way under his skin. There was no way Sanji had two different colored eyes and he had never noticed.

Then again. When he thought back to any time before Thriller Bark, there was a film over his memories. As if, before he'd thrust his hands into that bubble, he'd only ever been half awake. Indeed, there was something about Sanji now, whether it be the surreal lighting of the deep sea, or the new information, that made him seem so much more vivid than before. 

"Figures, idiot marimo," Sanji sat back against the deck railing, procuring cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket. Zoro's eyes followed his movements, a little dazzled by his vibrancy. "The only things you notice are booze and swords."

Zoro scoffed, but didn't try to refute it. It was true. At least, before . Not now, though. He had spent the last two years painfully conscious and he would not be going back to sleep now. 

"Why'd you switch your hair like that anyways?" Zoro heard himself ask. 

He leaned his hip against the railing, staring down at the cook through a haze of smoke. It was quiet for a minute, that honey eye focused on something far away. Zoro had started to wonder if he'd really spoken his question out loud when he heard a quiet, resigned sigh. 

"Never liked my brown eye," Sanji shrugged one shoulder, a delicate pink creeping over his cheeks and ears as he continued, "But while I was gone, someone told me they liked it. I just thought I would try something new. It's not a big deal."

The averted gaze and slight waver in his voice gave the cook away. Zoro would have known anyway, without those clues. It was a big deal. When had he ever seen Sanji change his routine? His mannerisms, turns of phrase? Even his suit was the same style that he had always worn. It may have even been one of the same ones from two years ago. 

There was something there to be pieced together, taking shape in between all of the things that hadn't been said. Sanji was saying the same thing Zoro had been thinking for two years. This small change had been made like a vow. That nothing would ever be the same. 

Zoro opened his mouth, words hanging off the tip of his tongue. A compliment. A thank you. Something to acknowledge the weight of this exchange. An offering of his own vulnerability - anything he could give to even things out. Sanji did not give him the chance. Whether he had someone read his expression or not, Zoro didn’t know. But he cut him off, the words coming out in a rush. 

“You owe me for this.” 

“For what?!” Zoro sputtered, indignant, certain that he had not done anything wrong.

“For getting in my personal space,” He said, matter of fact, “And being a freak.”

He stood with a huff before the swordsman could respond, shoving his hands into his pockets and angling his body away. He threw over his shoulder in a tone of pure ice, 

"If you tell anyone else or try to tease me for this, I'll break your fucking swords over my knee.”

With that, the blonde returned to the others, clothes smoothed and posture straightened like nothing of importance had just passed between them. Nobody questioned him, chalking up the fight to their typical bickering. It was so convincing that Zoro started to second guess himself. Maybe Sanji really didn't care.  

But either way, Zoro himself was stunned, scrambling to figure out how to move forward while balancing the delicate thing that Sanji had placed in his hands. The cook may have tried to veil its importance but his hollow threat betrayed him. If there was no trust between them, there would have been no confession at all. 

That small secret had already burrowed itself deep into Zoro's chest, close to Kuina's dream. 

Kuina's dream, in contrast, was heavy like a boulder. A boulder that had been thrust upon his shoulders and that he carried with him each day, pursuing with ferocity and equal measures of blood and sweat and tears. 

This was something else. Smaller, softer. Something that wouldn't be heavy so carry. Like a pearl, made of glass and fished from the mysterious depths of the ocean. 

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Zoro closed his good eye and leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. Behind him, the bacchanal carried on. He breathed deep, grateful for the respite offered by this alcove. The tall windows of the palace painted the balcony with patches of warm light, glittering against the empty glass bottles strewn over the stairs. 

The crew, in various combinations of duos and trios, made their way out here throughout the night for a breath of fresh air. Nami and Usopp had gone back to the party a while ago, but Zoro had remained on his own, appreciative of the cool quiet. If he listened, he could pick out their drunken laughter from among the other raucous partygoers. And with his eye closed, he could find the shape of their auras, shining brighter than all the others.

He smiled as those glowing auras danced, safe and carefree. There was a lot to think about, a lot waiting for them back on the surface. But they had done good work for fishman island. And most importantly, they were all here . Together again and celebrating after a job well done. Just like before, like no time had passed at all. Or at least, it was easier to pretend that nothing had changed.

Approaching footsteps interrupted his focus, his spine tensed out of instinct. Then he registered the familiar click of the cook’s dress shoes, and his shoulders dropped. He did not need haki to recognize that sound. But he kept his eye closed anyways, watching the marbled shape draw closer. It had such vivid colors, like shades of amber and honey against a cloudless sky. 

His eyelid fluttered open, and there was Sanji, standing above him. Glassy-eyed, rosy-cheeked, with his hands in his pockets and a lit cigarette dangling precariously from his crooked smile. 

"I know what I want," Sanji announced by way of greeting, pointing a finger too close to Zoro's face. He was tipsy, enough for every sentence to string together into a lilting accent, a few words that Zoro didn't know sometimes making their way in. 

"What?" Zoro asked, gaze falling to Sanji's mouth to watch how he formed the words. The swordsman wasn't exactly sober, either.

"For my IOU, mosshead. I know what I want," Sanji said, oblivious to Zoro's inner monologue. He smelled like wine, his lips tinted a plummy color.

"And?" 

Zoro was not exactly sure what he was expecting, but it was not for Sanji to plop down next to him and lean in close. One pale hand reached for his face, clumsily clinking his golden earrings together before landing a little roughly against a sharp, bronze cheekbone. Curling eyebrows drew together as a thumb swept over the deep scar interrupting Zoro's skin. From his forehead, carving a jagged line through his eyebrow, over the delicate skin of his eyelid, and halfway down to his jaw.

"I want to know what happened to your eye. Because you won’t tell anybody," Sanji informed him. Then he snorted to himself and giggled, "An eye for an eye."

Zoro's heartbeat quickened. Of course it would, if someone who only reached for him in order to start a fight suddenly invaded his personal space. His body was reacting to a threat. And that accent was driving him crazy. He didn't know where it was from. It made him want to pry the cook open and hunt for every secret that he kept hidden between his ribs. 

Sanji fed the crew every day. He kept them all alive. He was their lifeline, and yet Zoro barely knew anything about him. Did the others know any more than him? It was a thought that had been rattling around in his mind since he had learned of the cook's heterochromia. (A word that Robin had taught him, and that he had horribly misunderstood at first.)

"Well?" Sanji's voice startled Zoro from his contemplation. 

Nothing happened. 

It was his first instinct, but the words stopped halfway up his throat. He couldn't do that to the cook again, watch his face contort like Zoro had pierced his chest with an arrow. He cleared his throat and conjured up a different answer. One that would move him out from under the intensity of Sanji's gaze, but buy him a little time to gather himself before he had to pry open that part of his memory. With care, he wrapped his fingers around the cook's wrist and lifted that curious hand away.

"I'll tell you someday," Zoro said quietly, his voice gravelly with some emotion he didn't know the name of. "When I'm ready."

Sanji stared at him for a moment, seemingly considering. Then he shrugged and took another drag of his cigarette. 

"That's fair," He said, smoke pouring out between his teeth as his eyes flicked over the swordsman's face, openly studying the scar. "But I'm going to hold you to it. Don't think I won't remember just because I'm a tiiiiiny bit tipsy."

Zoro snorted at that, earning him a half-hearted kick that smarted more than he'd ever admit. Sanji had gotten much, much stronger. He didn't bother hitting back.

"You don't usually drink so much," He said instead, shifting his focus to something far away, starting to grow uncomfortable under Sanji's relentless stare. He failed to see the parallel between this moment and his own scrutinizing glare pinning the blonde to the lawn of the Sunny. 

"Happy," Sanji said in response, his cheeks rosy as he offered a lopsided grin. Placing his cigarette between his lips, he breathed deep and let his head fall back. Three defined rings of smoke rose from his pursed lips, floating for a second before dissipating into the night air.  

"Show off," Zoro muttered, averting his gaze as he tried and failed to keep his own lips from turning upwards, affected by the cook's contagious mood.

"Only for you," Sanji laughed, the sound closer to a bubbling giggle. He looked at Zoro again, and all of that mirth slipped away into a seriousness. Like he couldn't stop thinking about Zoro's scar for long. "Is your eye still...."

He trailed off, wincing like he could feel the injury himself. 

"Open it," Zoro said. 

Sanji grimaced, but he took the offer. His touch was impossibly gentle, the skin of his hands smooth and warm, contrasting with the cool metal of his rings. He rested his hand on Zoro's cheek with much more care than the first time, fingertips brushing his hairline as he gingerly pushed up the scarred eyelid with his thumb. 

That softness filled Zoro's chest with a wave of something strong and urgent. He was watching the cook’s face as he carried out his investigation, and damn those eyes really were something. He was less careful in his wine-induced stupor, letting his bangs show more of his face than usual. And the swordsman was reminded that his eyes were like nothing he’d seen before. It was not just their striking contrast, but the unreal saturation of each hue. Like gemstones, he’d thought before. Like aquamarine and tiger’s eye. 

His thoughts about gemstones were cut short as he watched Sanji frown at what he saw, drawing his touch away as softly as he'd placed it. Sanji had always been Zoro's antithesis. If Zoro's hands were made to be rough, stained with blood and cruelty, then Sanji's must be meant to be just like this . Zoro silently vowed to keep them that way.

"It's-"

"Glass," Zoro finished for him, "They said it'd help the tissue heal better. Doesn't seem like my eyelid wants to work any more, though. I don't really care either way."

"Does it make it harder? To fight?"

"No," Zoro said, a little too quickly, "It won't."

He paused, and then swallowed hard, waiting to see if Sanji would acknowledge what he had just confessed. Praying that Sanji might understand what Zoro had given him. The same thing the cook had gifted him, only a few days ago.

He dared one last glance into that honey brown eye, and was met with a solemnity that rattled him. It was gone in a flash as Sanji looked away, taking a deep breath and leaning back on his elbows, head tilting once more toward the sky. 

Zoro followed suit, laying flat on his back. The marble offered a welcome coolness against his heated skin. His heart was racing so wildly he worried Sanji could somehow feel it through the stone. 

Something was beginning to grow in the warm biome of his chest, growing roots around his heart. A beginning, so tangible and overwhelming he could only brace himself and let it wash over him. 

He remembered the last time he felt like this. The sound of his swords clattering to the ground as he swallowed Luffy's dream and exhaled his own. When he traded his life to Kuma in exchange for his captain's freedom. He had realized in that moment that Luffy had started something bigger than any of them. Bigger than any of them could even comprehend. The scale of Luffy's influence on the world had crashed into him as harshly as the pain had. And he had known that this was only the start of everything to come - the good and the bad.

He felt it again, now, as his pulse raced under his skin, Sanji's warmth bleeding into his side where they weren't even touching. Something was beginning, here. Something that made him feel wide awake, twice as alive. His hands twitched with the desire to protect it, whatever it was. To hold it tight within his grasp. 

He thought back to the moment he had seen Sanji's other eye for the first time. And as the cook closed the gap between them and leaned his knee against Zoro's, the same words he had thought then became etched into his being. 

Nothing would ever be the same.

[beaulesbian]

i was rereading some water 7 chapters, and the introduction of kaku was so funny. i love when luffy and zoro are using the same braincell even at a distance

luffy meeting kaku, ch. 325 "usopp?"

and zoro meeting kaku, ch 326 "oh, just usopp"

vs. Egghead arc and meeting kaku again post time skip - with nothing really changing of how luffy perceives some people (ch. 1078)

and also kaku meeting zoro on the sunny on Egghead prior the scene above and their lines echoing the first meeting on Water 7 - "I'm sorry. Did I wake you?" vs here "Who dares to disturb my nap?"

[silvadour]

[cashmerekittyart]

Usopp (& Sogeking Pony) Usopp tells everyone he's an alicorn but his horn is just too small so you can't see it under his hat and also he never went to magic school so he can't do magic but he really is an alicorn!!! He's defeated so many sea monsters with his powerful alicorn magic (that's also why he can't show you any magic you would be BLOWN AWAY by his powerful alicorn magic). His cutie mark is the Going Merry (which makes water 7 even sadder really) but he learns its not just about the boat, its about taking the steps towards adventure and taking care of his friends && he gets his cutie mark when he agrees to join Luffy's crew.

I love Usopp he's so good.

[sabo-torao]

i loved chapter 1115!! i can't believe we're getting so much information on the void century after 1000000 years... peak chapter 100/10. vote's a little bit biased because ive got to see sabo's beautiful lips again

[writesailingdreams]

will watch One Piece Fan Letter again (there was so much happening in so quickly in some scenes), but overall, loved it very much. cried.

[sanjipussyindulgence]

okay so that theory about joy boy being the former king of the ancient kingdom is like 1000% canon right? why else would the ancient tech be powered by his devil fruit.

[baambastic]

If I had a nickel for every time an enemy crew of Fishman Pirates attacked the Straw Hats with a giant sea monster that they’d already beaten on their way to the island and had pull their ship part of the way there, I’d have two nickels, and you know the rest of the meme.

[oograths-pizza-and-chill]

MSQ ends: We have officially saved the world from the biggest bad.

Athena: I will rebuild the world in my image.

WoL: Oh, you think I see you as a threat. That's cute.

[n3on-graveston3s-calling]

I love that one of the fun little subplots for Fishman Island is basically the D.A.R.E. Program. Don't do performance enhancing drugs, kids.

[amy-in-the-sky]

Idk if this has be theorized before, but my big One Piece theory that we still don't have an answer to is that the fishmen were the main force of the original Joyboy's army/followers, and that the Noah was used to transport them back and forth from Fishman Island to the surface.

If this were the case, it would help explain why the World Government has promoted racism againt fishmen and why the Celestial Dragons have put such importance on owning fishmen, since they are the last remnant of their ancient enemy.

Additionally, we know that the poneglyph on Fishman Island is an apology from Joyboy to Poseidon for failing to honor a promise. I think that the promise was to defeat the World Government, and when Joyboy knew he was going to lose, he sank the Noah so that the fishmen would be cut off from the surface and safe(r) from the World Government. And that's why the sea kings are so insistent that the Noah had to stay in its place. So that when Joyboy or his successor was strong enough and the time was right, the Noah could once again bring the fishmen to the surface en masse to aid in taking down the World Government.

There's also a way more out there version of this theory, but it requires badically every legend Neptune tells about Fishman Island to be incorrect in some way lol

[mintypsii]

as im watching the FMI arc i genuinely found this scene to be so interesting, Luffy's selfishness isn't anything new here but to see him acknowledge it and even have an analogy for it is really amusing. Probably one of the most unique MCs i've seen in a while, and I think it's really cool how morally ambiguous the rest of the straw hats are too, it makes me love the characters and the show so much more for some reason. it keeps things really surprising to me because they don't always choose the path that will "save the world" or whatever but will instead benefit them (it just happens that they can tell right from wrong and so most of the time their actions have positive effects)

small bonus:

he'll help out anybody he considers a friend too which i love love love about him too. luffy is so awesome sauce

[thebigdeepcheatsy]

If 4Kids Entertainment dubbed the Fishman Island Arc, they’d change Hody Jones to “Hody Bones” in an attempt to make him sound scary but there’s obviously no blood. Plus, he has an Australian accent. But he does have one slight power up, he can make his teeth inject venom.

Despite the lack of blood, Fisher Tiger would still die, but instead of it being due to blood loss, it’s because he was poisoned and he refused to accept a cure created by humans.

Speaking of, instead of a blood transfusion saving Luffy, it’s that Chopper has to make the cure in order to save Luffy from Hody’s venom.

Queen Otohime isn’t shot, she is zapped with an eternal sleep laser that she can never wake up from.

Hachi makes donuts instead of takoyaki.

Shirahoshi is called “Sheilahoshi”

Manboshi talks in rhymes.

Plus, the whole arc doubles as a PSA for how drugs are bad by emphasizing how bad the Energy Steroids are.

[luffyvace]

rant about Brook’s time skip powers from fish man island arc 🤩😱🦴

(uh before we start fishman island ⚠️spoilers⚠️ ahead)

Now I haven’t finished the anime/manga and I’m almost done with the fish man island arc rn, so if there’s another one of his powers revealed during this arc that is don’t mention that’s why.

but I just gotta talk about how absolutely COLD. 🥶 brooks new powers are!! Like da boyzzz 🥶🔥 typa cold 😂😂😂

no FR!! I find it so cool how he can bring the COLD of the UNDERWORLD into this realm?! Dude. WHAT ANIME CHARACTER YOU KNOW CAN ACTUALLY DO THAT?? Like?? Oda genius? Everyone always says “ohh I’m hotter than the underworld or I’m as cold as the underworld” but brook can ACTUALLY bring the cold HERE!!

cuz like!! He’s in the in between! He’s half dead half alive! He’s closer to zombies then gecko moria’s minions 😱 which brings me to my next topic! The only way to kill this dude is to completely shatter his bones or drown him!! Like? Think how op that is for a sec- every devil fruit user can be drowned right? Well known fact. But there are also many other ways to kill them! Obv luffy got some insane durability and plot armor but at the end of the day he almost died multiple times due to various things like swords/cuts and poison!! But brook? Not a problem! None of that matters as long as he’s not in the ocean or completely crushed!

Another thing I absolutely had to talk about was his soul coming out of his body!! Before all brook had was his sword and the fact that he practically won’t die again. But now!! He’s gotten so much stronger! His soul leaving his body is so op (no pun lol) because even if you trace it back, if you hit him awake it 1) won’t do any damage and 2) his soul shoots back so he can fight you! Therefore crosses out the option for a sneak attack! The only down slide is if you move his body to the water I’d believed…then that’d be a L for brook 😞🦴.

the last honorary mention is the fact that he can make you see the spiritual world with music!! It’s so funny cause it looks like your hallucinationating but all the time what your seeing is real just not in your dimension. 😭 taste of heaven type stuff 😜 I remember the fishman pirate underlings literally started dancing and shooting the “fire works” (canons) up in the air n stuff 😂😂

this is why I love brook man! 💥💥

I don’t talk abt my fav enough tbh and I haven’t even gotten to write any hcs for him :P I probably will some time in the future 🦴🏴‍☠️

YOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO - Brook 💀