Love looking at your old post on what the Straw Hats' pokemon would be. What do you think Law's pokemon team would be?
Hoohoo! Good question! This was a hard one buuuuut....
Background: A ‘gift’ from Doflamingo. Law wasn't particularly concerned with taking in Pokemon partners - in part due to his trauma from Flevence making it so he didn't want to bond with anybody or anything again and because he didn't see the point since he was going to die sooner than later. But Doflamingo insisted and frankly, Law didn't care enough to actually fight it. For the most part, Zoroark acted as back-up and kept Law safe when things got out of hand - if Doflamingo wanted to shape Law into his little Jr., well, he'd have to actually survive long enough for that to happen. She was to use her illusion powers to help him escape when needed or to cover up his white-lead markings so people didn't panic or bother him. As for Zoroark's feelings on the matter… well, she was a poached mon. Her own family was taken, leaving her jaded. The only reason she followed Law at first was out of fear of Doflamingo and his crew's abuse. Over time, though, they did bond and she would even go on to try aiding Corazon in finding a cure for his white lead disease. Ultimately, she and Law are kindred souls.
Reasoning: A cunning and sly Pokemon that relies on its wits over brawn, a Zoroark matches Law’s own underhanded yet undeniably smart methods of fighting. Along with that, they also mirror Law's deep love for his lost family, Corazon, and now his crew, as despite their shady fighting style, Zoroark love their packs dearly and will go to any lengths to protect them.
Background: Formerly belonged to Corazon, gifted from Sengoku as a Mime Jr. originally, then given to Law when he was hidden away in the treasure chest. Mr. Mime took his death hard, but being quite similar to his former partner, he put his all into looking out for Law as he worked to cure himself from the white lead. Is very protective of Law and hated his revenge plans as he knew Corazon just wanted Law to be free. Law doesn't usually bring him out to fight as he fears losing his last piece of Corazon, instead leaving him on the sub to help Bepo keep things in order.
Reasoning: Fits Corazon's silent act and is equally silly. Was allowed to go with him on his undercover act as they figured if anyone started to notice any of Corazon's devil fruit abilities, they could be attributed to Mr. Mime's own moves and abilities. Giving Law his closest partner was the only thing Corazon could think of to make up for the fact that he couldn't make it out with Law afterwards.
3) Minccino ♂️ > Cinccino
Met on/at: Swallow Island
Background: Came upon Law (plus Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin) while the group laid low and Law worked on extracting the white lead. Was appalled by the run-down and trashy surrounding of their make-shift home base and took it on himself to clean it. At one point he tried to clean Law as well, mistaking his white patches as dust, until Law explained what they actually were. He didn't fully understand, but knew sick people need clean spaces and extra care, so he stuck around to help Zoroark and Mr. Mime care for Law. Later on Law would learn about the medical uses of Minccino/Cinccino hair oils and uses them to make balms for his white lead scars, as well as for general medical uses (such as making some particularly luxurious shampoo/conditioner for Bepo)
Evolved: Around the time the Hearts Pirates really took off, a couple years after meeting Law. Was protecting an injured crewmate.
Reasoning: I avoided the basic ‘nurse’ Pokemon as I imagine Law has trauma around them, yet the Minccino line would make a good partner for a doctor or other medical professional, helping keep surgical areas and tools clean, as well as having medicinal uses from their fur's oil. Also plays on Law's weakness for cute creatures.
Met on/at: Swallow Island
Background: Tried to steal food from the budding pirate crew's rations and got soundly thrashed by an agitated Law. Baffled by how a human beat him in one on one combat, Sneasel continued to stalk and observe them. Eventually, Law called him out and told him if he wanted to get stronger, he was welcome to actually join him instead of skulking around in the shadows. Becomes something of an apprentice to Zoroark, who helps him hone his Dark type powers, while Law helps him improve his strategic prowess.
Evolved: After the Hearts Pirates first big battle (and it raided a Razor Claw from the enemy).
Reasoning: Similar reasoning as Zoroark. A dark type that is devious and smart, using their claws to leave markings in trees or stones for the rest of their pack when hunting. Strategies over pure brawn. Also relates to all the snowy/cold imagery around Law.
5) Larvitar ♀️ > Pupitar > Tyranitar
Met on/at: Random North Blue island not long after the group first set out.
Background: The one Pokemon on Law's team that he actually set out to catch on purpose. He realized they could benefit from brute strength/power at their current strength level so he started looking into strong Pokemon in the area before settling on the Larvitar line, as he viewed the strength of their armor as a winning point, as it would tank hits well. It was easier said than done as the Tyranitars were vicious and powerful, just out of the league for a group attack, but he was eventually able to catch a Larvitar. She had little respect for him at the start and commonly disobeyed, but was slowly won over (especially as she saw through Law's cold, pragmatic exterior, with help from Zoroark, Mr. Mime, and Bepo). Training her up was difficult and tough, but it paid off in the end.
Evolved: Over their travels, first after a particularly arduous training session, and later for the final time while defending their first ship in battle.
Reasoning: Fits in with the Dark theme of Law's team and helps balance out their team's strength, being the brute, sturdy wall to the other fragile tacticians. A useful and strong mon that compliments Law's powers/team well. Compared to the addition of Jean Bart.
Met on/at: Flevence (unknowingly), Punk Hazard (officially).
Background: As a cursed, legendary Pokemon, Chien-Pao keeps their distance from humans for the most part… apart from causing the occasional avalanche tragedy. Similar to Absol, they follow tragedies, though not to stop them… but to observe, maybe take part. They are drawn by dark desires, particularly ones of vengeance/revenge. This brought them to Flevence at the peak of the white lead tragedy, and they were drawn to a dour, broken Law, who was already bubbling with a desire for revenge and to make the world suffer as he did. He piqued their curiosity, so Chien-Pao followed Law from a distance throughout the years, observing him. Law wasn't aware beyond the overall feeling of being watched, but Doflamingo was, which made his desire to control Law even stronger. Corazon knew something was watching, but not what. Over the years, Law did gradually pick up on Chien-Pao's presence as this strong, shadowy being haunting him, but after some initial weariness, figured if they were going to kill him, they would've already, and so paid it little mind other than playing a good ol’ fashion ‘I know you know I know you're there’ mind game, and continued plotting his revenue on Doflamingo. They finally came forward to meet him one-on-one after he separated from his crew on Punk Hazard. After a brief stand off, the two basically just did their own thing while observing each other, though Chien-Pao would only make themselves known when Law was alone. They were his only no-strings companion for a while. For the most part, Chien-Pao only observed from a distance as the plot of Punk Hazard played out, curiosity in Law growing as he struck up the alliance with the Strawhats. But it was on Dressrosa that they finally came out in full, joining the battle against Doflamingo and helping get Law away after his arm was severed. They wanted to see Law's plan through, feeling his desires as their own. Though not officially joining his team, they continued to stick close by to Law's side, drawn in by his ambitions… and maybe a bit by his cursed sword. Their respect was totally won over in Wano, during the battle against Big Mom, and by the end they officially joined Law's team.
Reasoning: Comparable to Law's snow leopard theme. Made of a broken cursed sword, haunted by souls desiring for revenge - like Law's own sword and his scheming for revenge against Doflamingo. Dark, yet also has oddly cute moments (‘causing avalanches then playing innocently in them’). Continues Law's Dark type theme.
Law's theme is heavily ‘Dark is not evil’ to align with how his title is Surgeon of Death, but he is ultimately a deeply hurt person who has trouble loving and caring, yet has found a new family to be a part of. Who occasionally commits war-crimes and steals body parts.
Law avoids the usual nurse/doctor-type Pokemon as his parents had a Blissey, Audino, and even a Happiny that maybe would have become Law's partner… had the white lead disease never happened. Unfortunately, it did, and their grown Pokemon were killed alongside them, while Law had the Happiny hide with Lami… in the end, the little Pokemon was too scared and too weak to do anything when the hospital was set ablaze, passing away alongside Lami. He can work alongside them in the present day, but he prefers to keep his distance to avoid bad memories.
Law is also a bit different from the others in that he prefers to do all the major fighting himself, keeping his Pokemon team at arms length in the background, similar to how he has his crew falling back to Zou. Others, such as the Strawhats, tend to tag team and work hand in hand. Law trusts their strength, but the fear of loss is strong in him, so he tries to take the brunt of the fights onto his shoulders. It doesn't help that he spent a long time basically planning a suicide mission - he's got some trauma to work through and walls to let down.
Original One Piece Poke-post.
