Re: One Piece Mega Convo Thread
So...I've been thinking about events after the war and I kind of ranted. Still I think its an interesting rant. Ill re-post it here. Please tell me what you think.
I think both of you are wrong.
First of all, just because WB remarked about someone as strong as Shanks losing his arm doesn't necessarily mean that Shanks was a Yonkou when he first met Luffy. WB and Shanks have a fairly long history, thus its more likely that WB's shock was based on the respect Shanks had garnered through his abilities up to that time.
I mean, from what WB says Shanks and Mihawk were once rivals of sorts...it would seem that WB was in a position to watch them grow as pirates, and was simply stunned when a man he'd come to respect/expect great things from, came back from the weakest ocean of all the blues dismembered.
Furthermore, it would seem from Rayleigh's recollection of when he first heard about Luffy, that Shanks first re-entered (he must have been there on the Pirate Kings ship) the New World from the same point most Rookie Pirates do: The Shabondy Archipelago. Therefore, it would seem reasonable to assume that Shanks ran into Rayleigh the same way Luffy did....while he was looking for a coating mechanic. What I'm getting at here is that if Shanks was JUST entering the NW when he told Rayleigh about Luffy, then there is almost no way he was a Yonkou already when he met Luffy. In fact, he probably wasn't even a well know rookie, as such a rookie would have a hard time hiding out in the east blue in the first place. Especially for...what was it? Over a year?
As for Host Samurai's point that no Yonkou has taken the title of Pirate King because they are in a stalemate...I agree and disagree.
I think that we can all agree to a point, that the likes of WB and Shanks at least are fully capable of claiming the title of Pirate King...in other words they have what it takes to legitimately claim to be the strongest on the seas. (Remember that "PK" was just nickname Roger used which became popular....it means nothing more than unofficial superiority amongst scally-wags...and more recently, the owner of One Piece) The reason I think they haven't (particularly WB, who should have been around long before the other Yonkou) is for two reasons:
1 (Most Important): Neither Shanks, nor Whitebeard, has any real interest in becoming Pirate King. I have no idea what their true goals are (they aren't just lazing about I'm sure) but I'm 100% certain it is not Rogers treasure or a fairly superfluous title. Both Shanks and WB seem to be far more invested in A-opposing elements of the WG and B-supporting the next generation (WB with Ace, and Shanks with Luffy). I feel like Shanks and WB know whatever it was that The Jolly Roger Pirates found out in relation to the blank history......and they simply don't know quite what to do about it. It would seem that the Jolly Roger pirates raged across the sea but ultimately suffered both a change in mindset, and an inability to keep going (Rogers Illness). Still it seems as though the "Great Pirate Age" was more or less Rogers final solution to whatever problem he had with the established world order. Once again, I haven't worked it all out yet (And likely won't until the next to last chapters)...but I'm fairly certain that WB and Shanks share a similar mindset (in regards to how the world should be), and thus (knowing its true nature) have no PERSONAL interest in one piece. They do however have a vested interest in the next generation taking up the torch, and seem to be doing their best to help their particular champions along while keeping whatever hidden dangers we don't yet know of (relating to the the Heavenly Dragon People, Blank Century, and perhaps more) at bay. This brings me to point number 2...
2: The other two Yonkou DO want the One Piece, however Shanks and WB are collaboratively (yet independently) keeping either from advancing any further into the NW. Both WB (who is getting Ace ready) and Shanks (who is waiting for Luffy to arrive) are trying to keep things neutral until they are in a position to make their plays.
With the recent war at Marineford, and the inevitable arrival of Ace and Luffy to the main stage, the Ratrace will finally begin in earnest in the New World. Rather than simply hold territory the Yonkou will begin to move (as WB and Shanks will begin to move). And a rookie wave, led by Luffy and to a lesser extent Ace, will begin to alter the power map.
The World Government BTW, will be broken here. But not by Luffy or WB, but by the shichibukai. Specifically, Blackbeard. If you can't tell he's up to something big you you must not understand foreshadowing.
Im not certain how that plot thread will run its course, but it will come into play in the NW power struggle somehow, count on it. The entire Fishman Island arc will be about the changing world power dynamic and how things will be put right (Remember peace is maintained on FI because of WB's influence...count on that deteriorating by the time Luffy passes through). Jimbei will likely be a long-term traveling companion because of this....I just can't see him leaving the main-plot until the FI arc is finished. He's too invested.
I'll end things with an off the wall guess as to how the WG will try to regain dominance after the Pirates officially take the edge......Pacifista. Lots of them. But count of a backfire of epic proportions. That when Vegapunk will be introduced proper.