EDIT: I'm updating the theory, most of this is still the original text. New is in black italic.
Yes you read it. I said it.
This theory I'm betting my life on.
I beleive that the One Piece's identity is confirmable enough by this point.
Yhea, REAL confirmation is always needed.
But …..bear with me. With this likely theory.
The One Piece is..
The Rio/Real Poneglyph.
Evidence?
Exhibit A: Nico Robin's discovery on Skypiea.
Volume 32, Chapter 301.
Nico Robin:"I was here, and will follow these words to their end."
"Gol D. Roger, Pirate"
The Pirate King…?!!
He was here, in Sky Island?!
How can he write in that language...?!!
"I was here, and will follow these words to their end"...
"Follow these words"...
...then, maybe...
The Rio Poneglyph is...!!!
Yes... When you take all of the Poneglyphs around the world that contain information,
they must form one message that can account for the "Lost Years of History."
The Rio Poneglyph IS that completed message, the book that still does not yet exist.
The Pirate King, Gol D. Roger... must have arrived at the destination of this message.
Which means...
{It means that I must follow the words in all the Poneglyphs
I have read thus far...
To the end of the Grand Line...
RAFTEL!!}
An incriminating hint.
Exhibit B: This is going to suprise alot of you, but its info thats been sitting on this very forum for awhile.
Forum member Aldrich found and posted some INCRIMINATING information on the "oda's inspiration for One Piece" thread.
http://apforums.net/showpost.php?p=236200&postcount=276
Greg followed it up with some research.
http://apforums.net/showpost.php?p=236983&postcount=283
A pirate who left a challenge to find his treasure…..in the form of a very Poneglyph looking cryptogram.
Exihibit C:
Next we need to talk about motives
This takes some thought.
In speaking of "D"s and Luffy/Roger similarity (see Smoker's last lines in Chapter 99), one has to think Roger over.
This guy is infamous and was clearly a HUGE threat of some sort. Now actually think about that for a second.
This would have to mean Roger was more then a pirate sailing around making merry like Luffy's crew, right? Wrong.
If Luffy idolizes him and is apparently like him, then Roger simply cannot be a pirate like Arlong, or even Buggy.
Roger could not be raiding and burning villages, theifing money from innocent townspeople, slaughtering, etc.
But if he can't be that, then how can he be a GIGANTIC criminal?
In answer I'll pose the question further. Why ARE Luffy and crew seen as such a threat?
…..yhea yhea...they took down dangerous pirates and Crocodile (who was corrupt).
But even beyond bueracratic stubborness, why peg these (if anything) helpful people who are just floating around in a boat eating and yelling as major criminals?
BECAUSE OF WHAT THE ONE PIECE IS.
The major detail of Exhibit C is the recent revelation in Robin's flashback as to what the Poneglyphes ultimately say...
The fate of an ancient civilization that was under attack from great foes. Added to the fact that The modern World Government began its formation directly after the Lost History during which that ancient civilization was around.
The reason otherwise harmless people like Luffy and presumably Roger are seen as threats (and inadvertently ALL pirates). Is for the same reason the scholars of Ohara were annhilated.
At the end of the Grand Line, is the indestructible cube that could reveal the Governments true nature.
Conclusion
Roger pieces together the Rio/Real Poneglyph on Raftel. From here his crew disbands, perhaps Roger does not know what to do with what he found. Perhaps he thinks the info SHOULD get out, but that only to the right hands. The hands of someone who can carry out the will, because he himself is dying.
He figures he must make this information known…without being told, to make people seek it out on their own without knowing the contents perhaps.
He turns himself into the government. The releived government thinks it will finally silence the past. But Roger plans otherwise.
And when he is seconds away from having his head chopped off.....
Does he EVER do it.
He tells the watching audience of thousands that he has a great great great treasure at the end of Grand Line.
BAM.
Bullet to the Governments core.
Now thousands/millions/people from all over the world and thier children and everyone who lives on the world after this point. Will be trying to go and find the end of Grand Line. And inadvertently the truth the Government dosen't want anyone to know. _**But only perhaps a truly worthy person can even make it, no Spandam's basically.
Whitebeard recharges this will as well with his dying moments.**_
Epilouge One last thought to leave you with.
If Luffy finding One Piece was the only goal.
That would suck ass.
Even just being Pirate King, would suck.
Why?
Because essentially the entire series would be Luffy doing what somebody already did. Its like Oda making a manga series just like Dragonball.
If One Piece is the Rio Poneglyph than there is a second step. One that Roger didn't manage to do. Act upon the information, and more or less bring the government down, or whatever exactly the details entail.
To really make the series fulfilling, Luffy must SURPASS Roger. Not just follow in his footsteps. He must do what roger could not.
Finding the One Piece is not enough.
The One Piece, the Rio Poneglyph, the truth of the entire world. Something on Raftel will turn the world upside down, only worthy people are what Roger was hoping for.
SESSION OVER.