Questions & Mysteries If Luffy died at the marineford war, would the strawhats still reunite after the timeskip? And how far would they get?
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Most of the supernova were Allianced with Yonkou and Other half got destroyed by it.
And rest just running away.
The fact they needed a time skip is enough evidence you need to be strong to some extent.
Others are just under yonkou only.
It was mentioned since the beginning new world is ruled by 4 yonkou's.
No way you ain't messing with one.
And rest just running away.
The fact they needed a time skip is enough evidence you need to be strong to some extent.
Others are just under yonkou only.
It was mentioned since the beginning new world is ruled by 4 yonkou's.
No way you ain't messing with one.
Well, you do have an uroge and a couple others who never really pledged to a Yonko. Kidd and Killer were just kind of chilling, until Apoo fucked them over and gave kaido their location. But before that, they even had their own hideout and a connection to the black market. Crocodile made it to the new world without working under a Yonko for awhile, and ofc Law until he became a warlord. Tbh I feel like Oda messed up a bit here, because it felt like Kaido was a bit too focused on Wano and Big Mom was a bit too focused on totoland. I would have liked to see more of their islands and how they are now. We could have that as a cover story instead of more Wano....
Well the strawhats were fighting Kizaru at Sabaody so I don't think they would surrender but they may not try to find the one piece, in the larger story, if Nika exists, which he may, he would either make sure Luffy doesn't lose that bad or if Luffy does lose that bad Nika would interviene more directly to bring the dawn
They would disband, the point of the story is that only someone like luffy can manage them
Also more than half of the crew doesnt want to be a pirate:
Zoro, Sanji, Robin, Franky are not attached to being a pirate nor wanted being one
Usopp, Nami (she is effectively a pirate even when she refused to call herself as such one), Chopper, Brook are the ones that want to be pirates
No idea what most do, Nami Franky and Brook would probably return home tho im convinced as they either tagging all along anyway really or their dream is litterarly impossible without being in essence a different character without having a crew and its implied they would break off if it someone else than luffy
Also more than half of the crew doesnt want to be a pirate:
Zoro, Sanji, Robin, Franky are not attached to being a pirate nor wanted being one
Usopp, Nami (she is effectively a pirate even when she refused to call herself as such one), Chopper, Brook are the ones that want to be pirates
No idea what most do, Nami Franky and Brook would probably return home tho im convinced as they either tagging all along anyway really or their dream is litterarly impossible without being in essence a different character without having a crew and its implied they would break off if it someone else than luffy
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If they reunite I don't see them getting far. FI is a wash, but IF they go to PH(which most likely they wouldn't) they would not have allied with Law because they were overall distrusting and I don't think Zoro is stubborn enough to convince them to ally with Law. Law would probably help them escape but that's it. It was told to use that either you ally with a yonko or you constantly fight them. With no one to ally themselves with they end up being prey to Big Mom or Kaido at some point.
This is actually kind of a interesting thought experiment. And I'm going to WAYYYY overthink this. So, buckle up.
First, lets decide where our point of divergence is. What changed that caused Luffy to die in the first place? And I think the answer could be pretty simple.
Shanks arrives too late.
Shanks was halfway across the world fighting Kaido the day before Marineford. So, I think it makes a lot of sense if Shanks just wasn't able to reach Marineford in time to stop the war. Lets say he just arrives a hour later. This would completely change everything in the story.
I'm pinpointing the divergence point as Chapter 579. Everything before that will happen the same as in the regular timeline. Ace dies. Whitebeard dies. Blackbeard steals Whitebeard's Quake Fruit.
Shanks never arrives in time to save Koby from Akainu. Therefore, Akainu kills Koby and then goes after the passed out Luffy on Law's ship. And then kills them both. Law dies along with Luffy. Maybe even Garp dies, if he attacks Akainu in a rage for killing Koby.
It's only moments after Luffy dies that Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates arrive to stop the war. Shanks picks up and reclaims the Strawhat, in the worst way imaginable.
Now, there's a very obvious question we SHOULD be asking ourselves. Where does Luffy's Fruit respawn? Because who gets that Fruit would change a LOT in this timeline.
Now the thing is, they're at Marineford, the Marine's base of operations. So, supposedly, the Marines COULD have some sort of "Botany Division" set up in order to capture the Devil Fruits of any pirates who die in the area, since they probably want to try to capture and contain those powerful potential weapons while they could.
But, Blackbeard is also there. And he's a known Devil Fruit Hunter, too. He may have something set up to capture any Devil Fruits for himself.
But, and I think this is the most important thing to keep in mind, I think Shanks is the only person at Marineford who knows the truth about what Luffy's Devil Fruit actually is. I don't think Blackbeard or any of the Marines know about the Nika Fruit. Maybe Sengoku does, but I think it's possible this is something the Gorosei and Imu have been keeping to themselves. So, if Shanks knows that Luffy's dead, I think Shanks' first priority would be to search for where this Fruit respawned. Shanks would probably want to make sure that the Nika Fruit doesn't end up in the hands of anyone except himself.
But, the thing is, Blackbeard is pretty observant and opportunistic. I think Blackbeard would notice that Shanks is looking for something and keep an eye on him. Shanks' crew would probably be the ones to find the Fruit somewhere on the island. But, I think Blackbeard's crew shadows them and sneak attacks them to get the Fruit for themselves. I think if Blackbeard sees Shanks being interested in this Fruit for some reason, he'd definitely want to keep it for himself. We don't see Van Augur use his Warp powers until after the timeskip, so chances are he can't just warp in there and steal it quick. But, Blackbeard's pretty crafty. And it's just a more dramatic development for Blackbead to end up with Luffy's Fruit. So, I think Blackbeard escapes from Shanks with Luffy's Fruit in hand. But, still not sure WHY Shanks cared so much about it in the first place.
With Luffy dead, he never sends the 3D2Y message to the rest of the crew. But, chances are, all the Strawhats would learn about Luffy's death from the newspaper, anyway.
So, instead of waiting 2 years, I think all the Strawhats do meet again back at Sabaody 3 days later. If only to discuss with everyone else what they all do now.
They all meet up again at Shakky's Bar. And it's basically a funeral for Luffy. No one knows what to say to each other.
But, then we get another big change from the main timeline.
The Strawhats ask Rayleigh to tell them what he knows about the One Piece Treasure and the truth of the world.
Without Luffy there, there's no one around who objects to "spoilers". And the Strawhats probably all want to know if what Luffy died for was even worth it in the first place.
So, Rayleigh tells them everything. They learn about what the One Piece Treasure is. The secrets he knows about the Void Century. The truth about the World Government. And probably about the future flooding of the world.
And before the Strawhats really get a chance to process all of this, who should walk into Shakky's bar...but Shanks. Wearing Luffy's straw hat.
Shanks sits down. And he makes them a offer. Join his fleet. They were Luffy's friends. They deserve this much. The Strawhats have a chance to become one of the "weaker" fleets that Shanks puts under his protection, like we saw in Elbaph.
And maybe that's where we leave this timeline? With the other Strawhats joining Shanks' crew. Zoro could still study swordsmanship under Shanks instead of Mihawk. Shanks is no slouch with the sword, even one handed. And most of the Strawhats just don't have many other places to go. Robin could possibly join the Revolutionaries. But, she'd probably still want to stay with her "found family", just like everyone else. And no way does Sanji want to leave Nami and Robin. Joining Shanks' fleet would mean they're under his protection. And it'd give them a chance to get stronger and a place to go. It'd be one of the only ways they could all stay together. Joining Shanks is a good option for them.
....But, that's a little boring. So, let's go in another direction.
Instead of being reasonable, all the Strawhats are enraged to see Shanks wearing Luffy's hat. Their friend just died. And here Shanks is parading around in it, like he's wearing Luffy like a pelt. So, in a rage, the Strawhats start a fight with Shanks. Trying to get Luffy's hat back.
And Shanks...mostly just takes it. We've seen from the beginning of the manga that as long as other people aren't at risk, he really doesn't like to engage in fights. And Shanks probably feels guilty for not being able to save Luffy. So, he lets the Strawhats get a few hits in. He understands them being angry at him. If he had just been a little faster, he probably could have saved Luffy's life. But, eventually, Shanks uses his Conquerors Haki and lays the Strawhats out flat. This really isn't a even fight. The pre-time-skip Strawhats don't really stand a chance against Shanks right now.
And once they're unable to move he makes them another offer. Find a way to make it to Elbaph, and he'll give them another chance. If they really want to reclaim Luffy's hat...you'll have to be strong enough to take it from him.
So, once the Strawhats recover, I think they eventually decide to stay together. But, only once they train for 3 years. We're still doing the time skip for the Strawhats. They NEED to find ways to get stronger. Their losses to Kuma and Shanks prove that they just aren't strong enough to even think about challenging the New World yet.
They found out from Rayleigh that eventually Luffy will be reborn. It's just a part of the Nika/Joyboy prophecy. And they want to get Luffy's hat back in order to be the ones to give it back to that reborn person. They want to be sure that they're around in order to see Luffy again, in his next life. The Strawhats might have failed Luffy...but they want to be sure they won't fail the next "Joyboy".
So, they go back to the islands they came from in order to train. But...their attitudes are different this time around. They aren't training to get stronger to achieve their dreams. They're training with rage in their hearts and a desire to defeat Shanks and avenge Luffy. And that may take the Strawhats in different, darker directions in their training.
So, what happens in the rest of the World during the time skip?
With both Luffy and Law dead, this means, by default, Eustass Kid becomes the MVP of the Worst Generation. He becomes the person most likely to get to the One Piece first.
With Garp and Koby dead, SWORD is now vastly weaker than it would eventually become. Instead of a major player, it's possible that they can only nudge events here and there. They just don't have the raw power they would have had with Garp and Koby joining them.
Aokiji and Akainu still fight and Aokiji still resigns from the World Government. I don't think anything changes there.
With Law dead, I'm not sure how Caesar Clown's experiments on Punk Hazard progress. I think they continue and eventually succeed. But, probably with more casualties.
I don't think anything changes for Buggy and Cross Guild. I think that side of things mostly plays out the same way.
Bartolomeo hears about Luffy's death through the newspapers and he's distraught. He goes on a rampage attacking Marines wherever he finds them in order to avenge Luffy. Eventually Bart gets recruited by Ivankov to join the Revolution. Where he meets Robin. Bartolomeo then insists on joining the Strawhats in order to use his Barrier Fruit to protect all of them. He refuses to ever let another Strawhat die. Bartolomeo effectively joins the Strawhats.
And then there's Blackbeard. Blackbeard's still been going around stealing other Devil Fruits for his crew to take, like in the main timeline. But, Blackbeard has been "experimenting" with the Fruit he stole from Shanks at Marineford by himself. He's been forcing captured prisoners to eat the Fruit and see what it can do. And when all they can do is stretch, he kills them in order to respawn the Fruit and try again with someone else. He believes that you need to be a special kind of person in order to unlock this Fruit's true power. He can almost sense it, like how Luffy and Zoro could get a sense for Blackbeard's true nature at Mock Town. But, Blackbeard can't figure out why Shanks thought this Fruit was important.
So...Blackbeard decides to take a gamble. And Blackbeard decides to just bite the bullet and bite the Fruit himself. Now, since he already has the Darkness and Quake Fruits at this point, I'm not sure if Blackbeard would actually be able to use the Nika Fruit, too. He might just explode. But...let's just say that he can use Luffy's Fruit. Blackbeard gets his third Fruit...which means he has the Nika and Darkness Fruits at the same time. These two Fruits have long been speculated to have some sort of thematic connection, and Blackbeard just united these two. This is most likely a VERY BAD THING. While Luffy used the Nika powers to go all "Looney Tunes", I think Blackbeard uses the Nika powers to go all "Happy Tree Friends", if you catch my drift. Blackbeard is now MUCH more dangerous than he is in the main timeline. And probably more unhinged, too.
Because Shanks knows that Blackbeard has the Nika Fruit, he's a lot more aggressive about gaining power in the New World. He doesn't have the luxury of waiting for Luffy to show up. He needs to gain power and influence fast so he can find and kill Blackbeard before something terrible happens. So, it's possible that Shanks tries to recruit Big Mom and Kaido...or tries to defeat them so they aren't another threat that he has to worry about.
The time skip happens. And the Strawhats reunite at Sabaody again. Only this time they're here a little bit later. The trip to and from Sabaody to regroup after Luffy's death has just SLIGHTLY changed the time when the Strawhats arrive from here on out. Which means, they don't arrive on some of these islands just in the nick of time like they did in the main timeline. They don't have Luffy's odd luck to help them out anymore. They may not meet the same people or be able to stop some things right as they're happening like before.
The Imposter Strawhats are instead the Imposter Blackbeard Pirates. Just as a fun gag.
The Strawhats arrive in Fishmen Island. Only this time, it's right in the middle of Hoardy Jones' coup. Shirahoshi accidentally destroys Fishman Island with her Sea King controlling powers going out of control. Shirahoshi ends up marrying Vander Decken when he agrees to hide her, since she's ashamed at being responsible for destroying their only home. Hoardy Jones rules what remains of the Fishman race. The Fishman Uprising begins and the Strawhats aren't able to stop it.
The Strawhats never go to Punk Hazard, because Luffy isn't there to push them towards that direction. The children are never saved and become another army for the World Government to control.
The Strawhats probably take a completely different route through the New World. They're probably following Nami's advice on where to go, instead of Luffy's various whims. So, who knows if they even go to Dressrossa or Whole Cake or Wano. They may just be taking the fastest route to Elbaph possible, in order to get to Shanks as fast as possible.
Sabo still gets Ace's Flame Fruit at Dressarossa. But, no one ever finds out about the secret of the Toys and overthrows Doflamingo.
With no one putting a stop to Caesar Clown's experiments, that means Kaido keeps getting a greater supply of SMILE Fruits. This leads to Caesar Clown eventually developing the "Perfect SMILE". A SMILE Fruit that combines the best abilities of multiple animals together, like a Chimera or Cell from Dragon Ball Z. Kaido uses this "Perfect SMILE" on a altered clone of Yamato he has commissioned from Vinsmoke Judge...and now he finally has the Son he always wanted...literally.
Meanwhile, Big Mom ALSO commissions a clone from Judge. A hybrid of King the Last Lunarian and Kaido, whose DNA Judge steals while he's on Wano. She wants the "Perfect Father" in order to give her a "Perfect Child"...which she conceives with this mind-controlled clone.
And Vinsmoke Judge hasn't just been doing this for other people. Judge is playing ALL the sides against each other. He's been collecting DNA from Big Mom and Kaido's crews in order to make new upgraded forms of his own children. Judge basically makes Seraphim versions of the Germa 66, replacing the originals.
In response to all of this, the World Government keeps a much close eye on Vegapunk. And forces him to churn out a LOT more Seraphim to use as enforcers around the World. In a desperate attempt to get things under control, the Gorosei even allow him to use their own DNA. Creating younger, stronger, Seraphim versions of the Gorosei themselves.
Imu also makes a move. Creating more Gorosei-level soldiers by making deals with them. Marking an entire island's worth of people with the Pentagram. Giving them the power to teleport all around the world with the strength of the Gorosei.
All of this escalation means that the Final War starts MUCH earlier than in the original timeline. The Final War starts NOW! An all out war between Shanks, The World Government, Big Mom, Kaido, and the Fishmen all breaks out into anarchy in the New World.
All this time, the Strawhats have been making their way to Elbaph. And they make it there...just as Eustass Kid attacks Elbaph and Shanks, just like in the main timeline.
Now, Shanks hasn't been partying like in the main timeline. He's been overworking himself trying to make peace around the world and settle this Final War once and for all. Shanks has been going around the world, trying to protect as many of his territories as he can. So, he isn't at full strength when Kid attacks this time.
And this time, the Strawhats help Captain Kid against Shanks. Kid isn't fighting alone this time.
And the unexpected arrival of the Strawhats is able to tip the scales JUST enough that the combined efforts of Kid and the Strawhats are able to wound Shanks. They're able to make it onto Elbaph's mainland to continue the fight.
They all keep fighting on Elbaph. The Strawhats trying to regain Luffy's Hat. Kid wanting revenge on Shanks. And wounded Shanks not being able to give his all in the fight.
...Until they hear a baby laughing.
You see...Ripley's having another child at this exact moment. Colon has a new baby sibling.
...And this baby is the next "Joyboy". Luffy reborn. (Yes, everyone's just able to TELL on sight. The baby has Luffy's smile.)
The miracle of birth of this new savior makes everyone put aside their grudges and stop the fight. The Strawhats won't work FOR Shanks...but they agree to work WITH Shanks in order to protect this "Joybaby" until she can grow up and fulfill the Nika Prophecy. And yes, this new "Joyboy" is actually a girl this time. Shanks gives this baby the Straw Hat to be used as a baby basket for the moment.
So, the Strawhats stay on Elbaph, raising this Joybaby together with her parents and Shanks. Protecting her from all threats. The Nightmare Generation. Mad King Blackbeard. The Imu Marked. Hoping against hope that there's still time to save this world. And see the rise...of Dawn!
(...The Joybaby's name is literally Dawn. That's why I made her a girl this time around. Yes, that is hacky and lame, so sue me.)
...Yeah, okay this got away from me. Good luck reading all that! Man...break weeks, y'know?
First, lets decide where our point of divergence is. What changed that caused Luffy to die in the first place? And I think the answer could be pretty simple.
Shanks arrives too late.
Shanks was halfway across the world fighting Kaido the day before Marineford. So, I think it makes a lot of sense if Shanks just wasn't able to reach Marineford in time to stop the war. Lets say he just arrives a hour later. This would completely change everything in the story.
I'm pinpointing the divergence point as Chapter 579. Everything before that will happen the same as in the regular timeline. Ace dies. Whitebeard dies. Blackbeard steals Whitebeard's Quake Fruit.
Shanks never arrives in time to save Koby from Akainu. Therefore, Akainu kills Koby and then goes after the passed out Luffy on Law's ship. And then kills them both. Law dies along with Luffy. Maybe even Garp dies, if he attacks Akainu in a rage for killing Koby.
It's only moments after Luffy dies that Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates arrive to stop the war. Shanks picks up and reclaims the Strawhat, in the worst way imaginable.
Now, there's a very obvious question we SHOULD be asking ourselves. Where does Luffy's Fruit respawn? Because who gets that Fruit would change a LOT in this timeline.
Now the thing is, they're at Marineford, the Marine's base of operations. So, supposedly, the Marines COULD have some sort of "Botany Division" set up in order to capture the Devil Fruits of any pirates who die in the area, since they probably want to try to capture and contain those powerful potential weapons while they could.
But, Blackbeard is also there. And he's a known Devil Fruit Hunter, too. He may have something set up to capture any Devil Fruits for himself.
But, and I think this is the most important thing to keep in mind, I think Shanks is the only person at Marineford who knows the truth about what Luffy's Devil Fruit actually is. I don't think Blackbeard or any of the Marines know about the Nika Fruit. Maybe Sengoku does, but I think it's possible this is something the Gorosei and Imu have been keeping to themselves. So, if Shanks knows that Luffy's dead, I think Shanks' first priority would be to search for where this Fruit respawned. Shanks would probably want to make sure that the Nika Fruit doesn't end up in the hands of anyone except himself.
But, the thing is, Blackbeard is pretty observant and opportunistic. I think Blackbeard would notice that Shanks is looking for something and keep an eye on him. Shanks' crew would probably be the ones to find the Fruit somewhere on the island. But, I think Blackbeard's crew shadows them and sneak attacks them to get the Fruit for themselves. I think if Blackbeard sees Shanks being interested in this Fruit for some reason, he'd definitely want to keep it for himself. We don't see Van Augur use his Warp powers until after the timeskip, so chances are he can't just warp in there and steal it quick. But, Blackbeard's pretty crafty. And it's just a more dramatic development for Blackbead to end up with Luffy's Fruit. So, I think Blackbeard escapes from Shanks with Luffy's Fruit in hand. But, still not sure WHY Shanks cared so much about it in the first place.
With Luffy dead, he never sends the 3D2Y message to the rest of the crew. But, chances are, all the Strawhats would learn about Luffy's death from the newspaper, anyway.
So, instead of waiting 2 years, I think all the Strawhats do meet again back at Sabaody 3 days later. If only to discuss with everyone else what they all do now.
They all meet up again at Shakky's Bar. And it's basically a funeral for Luffy. No one knows what to say to each other.
But, then we get another big change from the main timeline.
The Strawhats ask Rayleigh to tell them what he knows about the One Piece Treasure and the truth of the world.
Without Luffy there, there's no one around who objects to "spoilers". And the Strawhats probably all want to know if what Luffy died for was even worth it in the first place.
So, Rayleigh tells them everything. They learn about what the One Piece Treasure is. The secrets he knows about the Void Century. The truth about the World Government. And probably about the future flooding of the world.
And before the Strawhats really get a chance to process all of this, who should walk into Shakky's bar...but Shanks. Wearing Luffy's straw hat.
Shanks sits down. And he makes them a offer. Join his fleet. They were Luffy's friends. They deserve this much. The Strawhats have a chance to become one of the "weaker" fleets that Shanks puts under his protection, like we saw in Elbaph.
And maybe that's where we leave this timeline? With the other Strawhats joining Shanks' crew. Zoro could still study swordsmanship under Shanks instead of Mihawk. Shanks is no slouch with the sword, even one handed. And most of the Strawhats just don't have many other places to go. Robin could possibly join the Revolutionaries. But, she'd probably still want to stay with her "found family", just like everyone else. And no way does Sanji want to leave Nami and Robin. Joining Shanks' fleet would mean they're under his protection. And it'd give them a chance to get stronger and a place to go. It'd be one of the only ways they could all stay together. Joining Shanks is a good option for them.
....But, that's a little boring. So, let's go in another direction.
Instead of being reasonable, all the Strawhats are enraged to see Shanks wearing Luffy's hat. Their friend just died. And here Shanks is parading around in it, like he's wearing Luffy like a pelt. So, in a rage, the Strawhats start a fight with Shanks. Trying to get Luffy's hat back.
And Shanks...mostly just takes it. We've seen from the beginning of the manga that as long as other people aren't at risk, he really doesn't like to engage in fights. And Shanks probably feels guilty for not being able to save Luffy. So, he lets the Strawhats get a few hits in. He understands them being angry at him. If he had just been a little faster, he probably could have saved Luffy's life. But, eventually, Shanks uses his Conquerors Haki and lays the Strawhats out flat. This really isn't a even fight. The pre-time-skip Strawhats don't really stand a chance against Shanks right now.
And once they're unable to move he makes them another offer. Find a way to make it to Elbaph, and he'll give them another chance. If they really want to reclaim Luffy's hat...you'll have to be strong enough to take it from him.
So, once the Strawhats recover, I think they eventually decide to stay together. But, only once they train for 3 years. We're still doing the time skip for the Strawhats. They NEED to find ways to get stronger. Their losses to Kuma and Shanks prove that they just aren't strong enough to even think about challenging the New World yet.
They found out from Rayleigh that eventually Luffy will be reborn. It's just a part of the Nika/Joyboy prophecy. And they want to get Luffy's hat back in order to be the ones to give it back to that reborn person. They want to be sure that they're around in order to see Luffy again, in his next life. The Strawhats might have failed Luffy...but they want to be sure they won't fail the next "Joyboy".
So, they go back to the islands they came from in order to train. But...their attitudes are different this time around. They aren't training to get stronger to achieve their dreams. They're training with rage in their hearts and a desire to defeat Shanks and avenge Luffy. And that may take the Strawhats in different, darker directions in their training.
So, what happens in the rest of the World during the time skip?
With both Luffy and Law dead, this means, by default, Eustass Kid becomes the MVP of the Worst Generation. He becomes the person most likely to get to the One Piece first.
With Garp and Koby dead, SWORD is now vastly weaker than it would eventually become. Instead of a major player, it's possible that they can only nudge events here and there. They just don't have the raw power they would have had with Garp and Koby joining them.
Aokiji and Akainu still fight and Aokiji still resigns from the World Government. I don't think anything changes there.
With Law dead, I'm not sure how Caesar Clown's experiments on Punk Hazard progress. I think they continue and eventually succeed. But, probably with more casualties.
I don't think anything changes for Buggy and Cross Guild. I think that side of things mostly plays out the same way.
Bartolomeo hears about Luffy's death through the newspapers and he's distraught. He goes on a rampage attacking Marines wherever he finds them in order to avenge Luffy. Eventually Bart gets recruited by Ivankov to join the Revolution. Where he meets Robin. Bartolomeo then insists on joining the Strawhats in order to use his Barrier Fruit to protect all of them. He refuses to ever let another Strawhat die. Bartolomeo effectively joins the Strawhats.
And then there's Blackbeard. Blackbeard's still been going around stealing other Devil Fruits for his crew to take, like in the main timeline. But, Blackbeard has been "experimenting" with the Fruit he stole from Shanks at Marineford by himself. He's been forcing captured prisoners to eat the Fruit and see what it can do. And when all they can do is stretch, he kills them in order to respawn the Fruit and try again with someone else. He believes that you need to be a special kind of person in order to unlock this Fruit's true power. He can almost sense it, like how Luffy and Zoro could get a sense for Blackbeard's true nature at Mock Town. But, Blackbeard can't figure out why Shanks thought this Fruit was important.
So...Blackbeard decides to take a gamble. And Blackbeard decides to just bite the bullet and bite the Fruit himself. Now, since he already has the Darkness and Quake Fruits at this point, I'm not sure if Blackbeard would actually be able to use the Nika Fruit, too. He might just explode. But...let's just say that he can use Luffy's Fruit. Blackbeard gets his third Fruit...which means he has the Nika and Darkness Fruits at the same time. These two Fruits have long been speculated to have some sort of thematic connection, and Blackbeard just united these two. This is most likely a VERY BAD THING. While Luffy used the Nika powers to go all "Looney Tunes", I think Blackbeard uses the Nika powers to go all "Happy Tree Friends", if you catch my drift. Blackbeard is now MUCH more dangerous than he is in the main timeline. And probably more unhinged, too.
Because Shanks knows that Blackbeard has the Nika Fruit, he's a lot more aggressive about gaining power in the New World. He doesn't have the luxury of waiting for Luffy to show up. He needs to gain power and influence fast so he can find and kill Blackbeard before something terrible happens. So, it's possible that Shanks tries to recruit Big Mom and Kaido...or tries to defeat them so they aren't another threat that he has to worry about.
The time skip happens. And the Strawhats reunite at Sabaody again. Only this time they're here a little bit later. The trip to and from Sabaody to regroup after Luffy's death has just SLIGHTLY changed the time when the Strawhats arrive from here on out. Which means, they don't arrive on some of these islands just in the nick of time like they did in the main timeline. They don't have Luffy's odd luck to help them out anymore. They may not meet the same people or be able to stop some things right as they're happening like before.
The Imposter Strawhats are instead the Imposter Blackbeard Pirates. Just as a fun gag.
The Strawhats arrive in Fishmen Island. Only this time, it's right in the middle of Hoardy Jones' coup. Shirahoshi accidentally destroys Fishman Island with her Sea King controlling powers going out of control. Shirahoshi ends up marrying Vander Decken when he agrees to hide her, since she's ashamed at being responsible for destroying their only home. Hoardy Jones rules what remains of the Fishman race. The Fishman Uprising begins and the Strawhats aren't able to stop it.
The Strawhats never go to Punk Hazard, because Luffy isn't there to push them towards that direction. The children are never saved and become another army for the World Government to control.
The Strawhats probably take a completely different route through the New World. They're probably following Nami's advice on where to go, instead of Luffy's various whims. So, who knows if they even go to Dressrossa or Whole Cake or Wano. They may just be taking the fastest route to Elbaph possible, in order to get to Shanks as fast as possible.
Sabo still gets Ace's Flame Fruit at Dressarossa. But, no one ever finds out about the secret of the Toys and overthrows Doflamingo.
With no one putting a stop to Caesar Clown's experiments, that means Kaido keeps getting a greater supply of SMILE Fruits. This leads to Caesar Clown eventually developing the "Perfect SMILE". A SMILE Fruit that combines the best abilities of multiple animals together, like a Chimera or Cell from Dragon Ball Z. Kaido uses this "Perfect SMILE" on a altered clone of Yamato he has commissioned from Vinsmoke Judge...and now he finally has the Son he always wanted...literally.
Meanwhile, Big Mom ALSO commissions a clone from Judge. A hybrid of King the Last Lunarian and Kaido, whose DNA Judge steals while he's on Wano. She wants the "Perfect Father" in order to give her a "Perfect Child"...which she conceives with this mind-controlled clone.
And Vinsmoke Judge hasn't just been doing this for other people. Judge is playing ALL the sides against each other. He's been collecting DNA from Big Mom and Kaido's crews in order to make new upgraded forms of his own children. Judge basically makes Seraphim versions of the Germa 66, replacing the originals.
In response to all of this, the World Government keeps a much close eye on Vegapunk. And forces him to churn out a LOT more Seraphim to use as enforcers around the World. In a desperate attempt to get things under control, the Gorosei even allow him to use their own DNA. Creating younger, stronger, Seraphim versions of the Gorosei themselves.
Imu also makes a move. Creating more Gorosei-level soldiers by making deals with them. Marking an entire island's worth of people with the Pentagram. Giving them the power to teleport all around the world with the strength of the Gorosei.
All of this escalation means that the Final War starts MUCH earlier than in the original timeline. The Final War starts NOW! An all out war between Shanks, The World Government, Big Mom, Kaido, and the Fishmen all breaks out into anarchy in the New World.
All this time, the Strawhats have been making their way to Elbaph. And they make it there...just as Eustass Kid attacks Elbaph and Shanks, just like in the main timeline.
Now, Shanks hasn't been partying like in the main timeline. He's been overworking himself trying to make peace around the world and settle this Final War once and for all. Shanks has been going around the world, trying to protect as many of his territories as he can. So, he isn't at full strength when Kid attacks this time.
And this time, the Strawhats help Captain Kid against Shanks. Kid isn't fighting alone this time.
And the unexpected arrival of the Strawhats is able to tip the scales JUST enough that the combined efforts of Kid and the Strawhats are able to wound Shanks. They're able to make it onto Elbaph's mainland to continue the fight.
They all keep fighting on Elbaph. The Strawhats trying to regain Luffy's Hat. Kid wanting revenge on Shanks. And wounded Shanks not being able to give his all in the fight.
...Until they hear a baby laughing.
You see...Ripley's having another child at this exact moment. Colon has a new baby sibling.
...And this baby is the next "Joyboy". Luffy reborn. (Yes, everyone's just able to TELL on sight. The baby has Luffy's smile.)
The miracle of birth of this new savior makes everyone put aside their grudges and stop the fight. The Strawhats won't work FOR Shanks...but they agree to work WITH Shanks in order to protect this "Joybaby" until she can grow up and fulfill the Nika Prophecy. And yes, this new "Joyboy" is actually a girl this time. Shanks gives this baby the Straw Hat to be used as a baby basket for the moment.
So, the Strawhats stay on Elbaph, raising this Joybaby together with her parents and Shanks. Protecting her from all threats. The Nightmare Generation. Mad King Blackbeard. The Imu Marked. Hoping against hope that there's still time to save this world. And see the rise...of Dawn!
(...The Joybaby's name is literally Dawn. That's why I made her a girl this time around. Yes, that is hacky and lame, so sue me.)
...Yeah, okay this got away from me. Good luck reading all that! Man...break weeks, y'know?
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