Why the fug does Toei keep doing this to me? FFS they keep bringing her back every chance they can get.
Like did Toei think she was gonna be a straw hat too and so gave her actress an extended contract, so now they gotta find new ways to keep her in the series? Has this thread not suffered enough?
Oda wants Vivi to join first.
Vivi, Crocodile, and Robin were the three biggest Characters in Alabasta who weren't Straw Hats at the beginning of the arc (obviously Vivi and Robin join during it... well, Robin at the literal tail end, LOL). All three of those characters are Pluton coded.
Pluton is the "God of the Underworld" IE a Death God. This is a familiar concept in Ancient Egypt (lots of death gods), which Alabasta is based on: hence Crocodile, a famous Egyptian reptile, being the villain. Wano was a starvation/no water arc, just like Alabasta, the arc that introduces Pluton.
Vivi began to become prominent again during Reverie, which focused on Vegapunk's SSG replacing the Shichibukai: IE, Ancient Tech. She then is kidnapped by Rob Lucci, who... was the OG seeker of Pluton in Water 7. Mkay.
Robin was allowed to roam free, until Alabasta. Why? Because the Gorosei realized Croc wanted Pluton (he wasn't really hiding it with Cobra, and we know Cobra is willing to be fairly honest with the WG/Gorosei, considering him discussing Lily's letter with them). So, that's why Kuzan/CP 9 went after Robin post-Alabasta: it had nothing to do with the Straw Hats, the WG was terrified Robin was looking for Pluton. Well, who fucking built Pluton? Water 7... which is the island they were heading to, before Kuzan attacked them.
Now, Robin straight up KNOWS where Pluton is and what it is. Pluton is the "God of the Underworld". In Wano, Robin turns into a "Demon" to save her friends.
Crocodile is now leading the most prominent Underworld/criminal organization that isn't the Blackbeard Pirates... and he's the guy who wanted Pluton to begin with. Croc takes over the Criminal Underworld, when Pluton is in Wano's Underworld. Guess who's right near Wano? Yep, Croc. Blackbeard knows about Pluton now from Caribou, and has Garp to turn into for 3 Billion Berry to Cross Guild. This leads to Teach/Croc Alliance for Pluton.
Vivi is now free, and knows the Straw Hats are in Elbaph. She should either hijack Morgans' ship, or convince him to interview Luffy directly (GOD PLEASE IT WOULD BE SO FUCKING FUNNY)
Yamato is named after a famous Japanese Battleship, the Yamato. Yamato, the Japanese themed Samurai lady, who stayed behind to guard Wano's Borders, is named after a famous giant Japanese Battleship, when Pluton, a Giant Battleship, will destroy Wano's Borders when released.
At the end of Onigashima's Raid, Momo's instructs Zunesha to not open the borders.
Who is the Queen of Zunesha, who would open the borders with its trunk, the way Zunesha neg-diffed Jack?
Carrot.
Loki (named after a Norse God) is introduced calling himself a God, who wants to Destroy the World, chained/slumbering in Elbaph's Underworld; ie, a mirror of Pluton.
We know from Harald and Jarul that the Galley-Ra Giant Shipwrights left Elbaph a long time ago and were captured by the WG, we see them frozen in Punk Hazard. Like Tom was arrested for making Roger's ship, the Galley-Ra Shipwrights were arrested for building Pluton.
Every single Nakama candidate left is connected to Pluton's activation:
Vivi: Crocodile took her country over to obtain Pluton and build his Utopia
Tama: Lives in Wano. More on this is another thread: I believe Pluton is a Sea Beast/Dragon turned into a Submarine, and that Crocus turned Laboon into a Submarine using Technology he found from Laugh Tale.
Momo: Literally runs Wano, it's his fucking country. Pluton is important to him because Oden's Dream was to Open Wano by destroying its Borders; Pluton destroys the Borders.
Loki: Like Pluton, is named after a God, wants to destroy the world, and is imprisoned in the "Underworld" of the country he resides in. Loki will want Pluton to destroy the world/World Government. Like Rocks, Loki hates the WG, and wants them gone; he doesn't despise the planet, but the world created by the Celestial Dragons.
Yamato: Named after the famous Japanese giant Battleship Yamato, when Pluton is a giant Battleship. Inherited Oden's Will to destroy the Borders of Wano to open it up to the world, which requires Pluton. Like Loki, she is ice themed, with Brook/V. Nusjuro, two undead fighters Fruit users, also having Ice attacks. Underworld = Ice. Yamato = Ice. Yamato like Pluton was imprisoned for years in Wano.
Carrot: Rules the Elephant, Zunesha, who Momo ordered not to Open the Borders. Since Carrot rules the territory Momo has directly associated with opening the borders, she will be directly involved in Opening Wano's Borders/Pluton's Activation.
One Piece was originally supposed to be a lot smaller; Oda probably wanted Vivi to join earlier.
But, since Vivi's plotline is Pluton coded, Vivi is going to return to the crew before/during Pluton's Activation in Wano. Momo and Vivi meeting is also important because they are royals. (BTW despite the Nami x Loki post, I actually ship Loki x Vivi for a variety of reasons I'll get into later).
Carrot rules Zunesha, who's purpose is to open Wano's Borders. After the Borders are open, I can see three scenarios for Carrot leaving (obviously there are more I haven't thought of)
1: Zunesha dies, and the Minks relocate to Wano. If this happens, Carrot will leave to avenge Zunesha/go to Laugh Tale.
2: Zunesha is freed from its duty by Momo, and is allowed to live freely/seek out other Giant Elephants, like Laboon was trying to reconnect to his family. The Minks, respecting this, migrate to Wano.
3: Zunesha remains near Wano, but Carrot is encourage by the Minks to follow Pedro's Dream, Bringing about the Dawn, and join the Straw Hats.
Carrot will officially join the crew when Pluton is Activated/dealt with, and the Borders are finally open... probably in Wano Act 5, the cooldown after the WG, Teach, Luffy, Shanks, Cross Guild, Wano, and erybody else dukes it out over Pluton.
The Straw Hats will then need Franky's knowledge of the back-up Pluton to make a Pluton to fight the Pluton that got stolen: which is why Elbaph is FULL of Adam's Wood the perfect size to build the other Pluton that Water 7's ancestors passed down the blueprints for, in case the original Pluton got out of control.
Wouldn't be surprised if the Minks helped build it, too.
Carrot will join, it will take another 2-3 years, tho.