#rocks op

⚠️ Spoilers filled discussion, with my fresh thoughts from an excited reader (not a theorist).

First of all, let's spend a bit of time on the cover art. I loved it. We have Roger, Rayleigh my man, Gaban, and then at the center Luffy with the rest of the crew as mini members. The direct inheritors and wing of the Pirate King : Sanji and Zoro. I mean, obviously the whole series is based on inheriting will, but this cover art just encompasses all of it.

Then, we are told idols are navigating on the sea and who do we see?? The Kuja Pirates! This made me so happy and excited. Gloriosa’s younger design is so cool and a bit Boa-like (that's why she is harder on her). And yeah, we always knew she could relate to the lovesickness of Boa because she had one of her own—but I was not expecting hers to be Gold D. Roger. Will she fall for another man from the Rocks and follow them, then? Curious to see how this will unfold. Tritoma, who succeeded Shakky and also died of lovesickness, is also present and super cute <3

Young Roger without his famous mustache is so weird haha xD but loving it. And him trying to kidnap Shakky was so funny. Gaban (like Sanji) almost died from her hotness. And yeah, so confirmed: our little Roger was more sensitive to females than our Luffy xD (yeah I know he had a kid with a woman, but who knows). I’m sorry but the Rayleigh x Shakky scene was so so so cute. I ship them so hard—best couple of the whole One Piece (oh maybe Kuma and Ginny come close).

The Garp vs Roger scene was so cool, I am so excited to see more of them. I missed their interactions, we had barely nothing since Marineford arc flashbacks so this is feeding me up. We saw so little of them in the series, but it's one of my fav dynamics. Excited to see them team up against Rocks Pirates.

After that amazing moment, back to Elbaph. So Loki tried to go to the sea and really wants to join Rocks because he believes he is the most free (so maybe when he sees that Luffy has the Nika fruit, he will consider him the most free and join the crew?) Still made me sad that baby Loki is still not really wanted. But Ida telling him to come live with her is so sweet. I wish we get to see some of that.

Cut to the Pirate Island, Kyo wants to join Rocks. His design is so so cool though. So we know that Rocks wants two fruits. My guess is obviously the Nika fruit (which my guess is still it's the one Harald died protecting) and the second one might be the Yami Yami no Mi (Darkness) fruit that now his son, Teach, has. But yeah, Rocks wanted Harald to eat one of them... kinda curious which one.

They are still looking for the GalleyLa mythical builders... I wonder if Iceberg named his company like that because of that legend or if he has some knowledge about them... Curious, curious.

They are also looking for the frozen bodies of the ancient giants... the ones we know Moria has found and revived. So they may come back later on for the final saga... They are saying even if they come alive again, they will have no reason to listen to us. So will Oars Jr. come back? (Fake-out deaths hehe) Or maybe the older Oars, and we will have to partner up with Moria? (God please no T.T xD I mean he is not a charismatic villain, he gives me the ick, I don't like him and his stupid mouth.)

BTW in all this talk, noticed young Streusen? XD And young Kaido is kinda hot haha. So Kaido kinda wants to force their plan onto Harald, which annoys Rocks and they break into a fight. I wonder why he is against it ? Maybe because of their earlier short-face-off at Mariejoa? Did he realise they would be equally strong and so difficult to force onto?

So Rocks really confirmed that Elbaph is essential for Mariejoa to come down. Is it because Imu is vulnerable to the Nika fruit and they have it? Is it because of strength? Do the giants have an ancient connection to Imu?

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One Piece has always played a lot with the idea of this current generation being a mirror to the older ones, inheriting their will and continuing their journey. But here, I feel it more strongly than ever before. I mean, Rocks almost had all the elements but failed... and I am curious how. Why did Garp and Roger stop him? Garp, logical, because he is a marine and has to protect Mariejoa. But why did Roger? Why did the World Government erase this event ?

And how the fuck is Loki still narrating everything to his brother?

Also, we can see that along our journey, the missing parts from Rock’s journey : our Mugiwaras will have them. (Nika fruit, Oars, Galley-La kinda, etc.)

This chapter makes me think more and more that if Harald continues to refuse Rocks, he will either kill him or maybe Kaido will, to get the Nika fruit, since it's essential to their journey. And I truly believe it's the fruit Elbaph is protecting.

If my little hunch is true, it will be so devastating for my boy, Loki T.T.

Anyway, the scene is set up and I can't wait for the next chapter.

∘₊✧──✧₊∘ more on OP ∘₊✧──✧₊∘

If you’re into OP analysis, I also wrote:

Freedom isn’t always peaceful – rage and resistance in One Piece & AOT

Yes, One Piece is political and that’s what makes it great