Next Strawhat Crewmate (Vol. 6)

Count Mario

About Pekoms, I just don't think another DF user would be appropriate, especially a Zoan. That's like an even worse thing than when we argue about comparing normal Minks to Chopper as far as the whole double-dipping redundancy issue.

I think another Zoan could work so long as they are a type of animal that is not a furry mammal like Chopper and has a unique enough design and fighting style. Jinbe himself stands as an example since whale sharks are obviously very different from how visually similar a reindeer and rabbit can be. They can go for a bird, bug, crustacean, reptile, etc. And this isn't even getting into whether this character has both a Devil Fruit and a weapon like Brook, and is even an Ancient or Mythical Zoan.

K. Kira XXIII

You'll know how bad Katakuri is getting knocked out depending on how big his mouth end ups opening.

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

Just curious if his sunglasses are due to him not controlling his Sulong form. That could make him a Mink outcast of sorts. That little flashback Pedro had with Carrot could be applied to Pekoms at another point in time. How far he going to be developed as a character. I really don't think he should stay with the Big Mom pirates, even if Big Mom becomes Good Mom.

Blissed

Saying that a Mink won't join because of Chopper is one thing, preferring another type of animal another. Same thing for presuming that Chopper would learn Electro. I disagree with these points/predictions, but I understand where others are coming from. But how is a reindeer visually similar to a (white) rabbit? This mammal discrimination must cease!

Johnny B. Decent

@Count:

I think another Zoan could work so long as they are a type of animal that is not a furry mammal like Chopper and has a unique enough design and fighting style. Jinbe himself stands as an example since whale sharks are obviously very different from how visually similar a reindeer and rabbit can be. They can go for a bird, bug, crustacean, reptile, etc. And this isn't even getting into whether this character has both a Devil Fruit and a weapon like Brook, and is even an Ancient or Mythical Zoan.

Or a SMILE user, provided there's more then just turning your hands into something weird.

Robby

@Blissed:

But how is a reindeer visually similar to a (white) rabbit? This mammal discrimination must cease!

Oda draws their faces the same. Eyes, nose, mouth, jawline. From the front and from the side, they're drawn the same. The only difference is Carrot is a girl so she gets more highlight in her eyes and some eyelashes.

Meanwhile Pekoms, Pedro, Wanda, etc. have very different kinds of snouts, lips, teeth, etc. that aren't the same as Chopper, and their eyes have a lot more variety.
Even other rabbits, like Big Mom's Randolph, or the lapahns in Drum, or the rabbit sea king, or those cheshire cats from that one Jump cover look more visually distinct and are drawn with very different face shapes.

Carrot and Chopper's alternate forms don't overlap so much, but their defaults are very similar face wise. They look like actual siblings, which is of course what Oda was going for, same way Ace looks and acts like Luffy despite having no blood relation.

And the manga is black and white so color doesn't matter that much.

[hide]

[/hide]

Also it's telling that by default Oda always goes for white with rabbits. Never any spots or dark colors, never brown or grey, or with black ears, always white. It's his default "I didn't put any thought into this rabbit" design.

Count Mario

@Blissed:

Saying that a Mink won't join because of Chopper is one thing, preferring another type of animal another. Same thing for presuming that Chopper would learn Electro. I disagree with these points/predictions, but I understand where others are coming from. But how is a reindeer visually similar to a (white) rabbit? This mammal discrimination must cease!

Robby put it much better than I did. Although I would still say another furry mammal is too similar for my taste, especially with Chopper's various different forms.

Blissed

@Count:

Robby put it much better than I did. Although I would still say another furry mammal is too similar for my taste, especially with Chopper's various different forms.

I already figured as much, hence the silly "mammal discrimination" line, but I really will never get the general apprehension over considering other characters with fur. But again, I get the gist of preferring an non-mammal instead if one had to choose.

Count Mario

@Blissed:

I already figured as much, hence the silly "mammal discrimination" line, but I really will never get the general apprehension over considering other characters with fur. But again, I get the gist of preferring an non-mammal instead if one had to choose.

Because Chopper being completely made up of fur is one of his most unique design traits among the crew. So much so that one of his forms is based around expanding his fur into a fluffy shield. I would prefer him to stay the only furry creature in that sense.

Sirxxx

@K.:

What you describe for Marco, I did the same, but instead of joining he puts himself between Luffy and Blackbeard, to allow Luffy to escape.

I s'pose that's an equally plausible scenario. I feel like there would be much more payoff in him living to fight for Luffy's life and dream then being yet ANOTHER person to die with Whitebeard and Ace's wills unfulfilled. But that's personal preference.

Also, I think Blackbeard has done enough to the Whitebeard pirates at this point in the story. Narratively, it'd be more satisfying to give Marco some level of catharsis via watching Luffy become king then making him look even more pathetic by having Blackbeard murk him again.

Also, now that Jinbei is joining the crew, will Luffy finally force his nakama to get officially-licensed Strawhat crew tattoos like all the other cool pirate crews? Cuz that Sun on Jinbei's chest could be hella confusing.

K. Kira XXIII

@Sirxxx:

I s'pose that's an equally plausible scenario. I feel like there would be much more payoff in him living to fight for Luffy's life and dream then being yet ANOTHER person to die with Whitebeard and Ace's wills unfulfilled. But that's personal preference.

I believe that is going to be the motivation for the Whitebeard Pirates to help against Kaido.

Also, I think Blackbeard has done enough to the Whitebeard pirates at this point in the story. Narratively, it'd be more satisfying to give Marco some level of catharsis via watching Luffy become king then making him look even more pathetic by having Blackbeard murk him again.

Blackbeard needs to do more if he is going to be the final antagonist. Like Luffy, he will pile achievements after another until their confrontation. However, knowing that the scale of the final war is going to be massive, and there has to be some sort of tension. Some characters need to be at least incapacitated to achieve that atmosphere. The prime example is Shanks and his crew. They are too powerful to be on Luffy's side during the entire conflict for us to think "Can Luffy do this?".

This applies to other emperors and their crews as well. That's why we are seeing Big Mom's network being broken down. Kaido is going to get pummeled along with his pseudo-furry crew. The Whitebeard pirates carry that much influence and are that powerful. I think that level of catharsis can be achieve in a different way.

I think Blackbeard will show up after Luffy and his allies defeat Kaido to take advantage of that war and acquire more devil fruits. To prevent the Straw Hats from getting captured, they just finished fighting the Beast Pirates, the Whitebeard Pirates and Weevil will stand in the way of Blackbeard and his crew, with Marco saying how he believes it will not be Blackbeard but Luffy that becomes pirate king. A parallel on how Whitebeard said the same at Marine Ford.

Also, now that Jinbei is joining the crew, will Luffy finally force his nakama to get officially-licensed Strawhat crew tattoos like all the other cool pirate crews? Cuz that Sun on Jinbei's chest could be hella confusing.

The crew would be the forceful ones in this scenario. Jinbe's tattoo signifies more than the Sun Pirates' symbol. It is a reminder of the hardships of slavery, of the discrimination against Fishmen. Whom, that matters, would be confused?

Count Mario

@K.:

Blackbeard needs to do more if he is going to be the final antagonist. Like Luffy, he will pile achievements after another until their confrontation. However, knowing that the scale of the final war is going to be massive, and there has to be some sort of tension. Some characters need to be at least incapacitated to achieve that atmosphere. The prime example is Shanks and his crew. They are too powerful to be on Luffy's side during the entire conflict for us to think "Can Luffy do this?".

This applies to other emperors and their crews as well. That's why we are seeing Big Mom's network being broken down. Kaido is going to get pummeled along with his pseudo-furry crew. The Whitebeard pirates carry that much influence and are that powerful. I think that level of catharsis can be achieve in a different way.

I think Blackbeard will show up after Luffy and his allies defeat Kaido to take advantage of that war and acquire more devil fruits. To prevent the Straw Hats from getting captured, they just finished fighting the Beast Pirates, the Whitebeard Pirates and Weevil will stand in the way of Blackbeard and his crew, with Marco saying how he believes it will not be Blackbeard but Luffy that becomes pirate king. A parallel on how Whitebeard said the same at Marine Ford.

Sir's problem is not Blackbeard getting more accomplishments. But moreso how Blackbeard eliminating the Whitebeard Remnants to help the Straw Hats escape, even if they do get a couple or more Devil Fruits out of it, could look like a rehash of Marineford. Where the last segment was about Whitebeard being killed by Teach while the rest of the Whitebeard Pirates and allies desperately tried to help Luffy escape. This isn't even bringing up how this would be the THIRD time the Whitebeard Pirates got their ass kicked by Blackbeard. Sir wants the Whitebeard Pirates to have more purpose in the story than being punching bags for other villains.

Even though you know that I also like your idea, I also agree with Sir that it feels like too much of a retread. So I hope that if something like this does happen, there are other contextual circumstances to make the execution stand out.

Long John Silvers Rayleigh

My big thing is I feel like the wano arc being as big as it is will feel like too much of a loss if Luffy sees the former whitebeards sacrifice themselves againnfor his sake. He said he'd protect everyone, (yeah pedro's being revived by big mom notwithstanding) the whole point of the timeskip was that he wouldnt jeed to be saved and protect those he cares about. Hom making this bond with marco and the others and watching blackbeard beat the shit out of him while he sails aways just seems un-odalike. Especially since we're pretty sure shanks will die anyway, also likely after luffy sails away enough where he doesnt see it happen

K. Kira XXIII

I get that, but with Oda saying Marine Ford will look cute with the upcoming events, it made me think that Kaido's war will have similar elements just more badass. One of those is everything you just stated with Blackbeard and the Whitebeard pirates during the end of Marineford.

Long John Silvers Rayleigh

@K.:

I get that, but with Oda saying Marine Ford will look cute with the upcoming events, it made me think that Kaido's war will have similar elements just more badass. One of those is everything you just stated with Blackbeard and the Whitebeard pirates during the end of Marineford.

I think that'll more be because of all the supernovas, the beast pirates, the samurais, whitebeards crew, the minks and possibly even the marines (a few not a whole army) being involved in some capacity. While lackbeard stealing the fruitt fits, I dont think he has to be involved personally in this war.

Especially with how oda has been hiding his whole crew BB bringing full power makes less sense then him hiding in, coming up with a boat and killing a beaten down kaido sailing away from wano.

K. Kira XXIII

@Long:

My big thing is I feel like the wano arc being as big as it is will feel like too much of a loss if Luffy sees the former whitebeards sacrifice themselves againnfor his sake. He said he'd protect everyone, (yeah pedro's being revived by big mom notwithstanding) the whole point of the timeskip was that he wouldnt jeed to be saved and protect those he cares about. Hom making this bond with marco and the others and watching blackbeard beat the shit out of him while he sails aways just seems un-odalike. Especially since we're pretty sure shanks will die anyway

I feel that to keep things entertaining, Luffy shouldn't win everything until Raftel, if that place is even going to be a place where they lose. This works because Luffy would succeed on liberating Wano from Kaido, which is the promise, but the world isn't so kind. I find that it fits Blackbeard' M.O. The only reason he wouldn't be able to protect everyone is because someone took advantage that he was focused on someone else. Contrast that with Fujitora playing fate and allowing Luffy and his companions to rest.

I also think it is okay for Luffy to suffer such a loss because this time around Shanks could be the one to do what Jinbe did before.

I am not sure where it was mentioned. But the emperors do not attack each other fully because, one of the other ones would attack whomever was left standing. With the quality of Luffy's allies in the upcoming war with Kaido, it wouldn't be overstatement that Luffy is an "upcoming emperor" fully committing on taking down another emperor.

That's why it is important that Blackbeard attacks soon after the battle is over. So there is no other alternative than having a sacrifice.

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

@Long:

I think that'll more be because of all the supernovas, the beast pirates, the samurais, whitebeards crew, the minks and possibly even the marines (a few not a whole army) being involved in some capacity. While lackbeard stealing the fruitt fits, I dont think he has to be involved personally in this war.

I responded to this in my previous post.

Especially with how oda has been hiding his whole crew BB bringing full power makes less sense then him hiding in, coming up with a boat and killing a beaten down kaido sailing away from wano.

On the contrary it makes perfect sense. He can introduce them without having to show any of their powers. Just the line up. Everyone is so exhausted that they know there is no point in fighting back especially the Whitebeard pirates. Blackbeard doesn't need to sail away if Wano become his new headquarters.

uniaka ikuzakas

You all expecting BB at the end of wano to finish kaidou while I expect Moria to show to steal kaidou-s shadow and also make nightmare luffy 2.0

Lord Monkey D.

As long as we all still agree Blackbeard will murder Shanks all will be well.

K. Kira XXIII

Sure, but I don't agree that Luffy won't meet up with Shanks before.

Lord Monkey D.

Pretty sure most here still think the meeting will happen.

Got to have that moment where Luffy tries to return the hat but Shanks refuses/gives it back saying something like.

“It fits better on you then it ever did me”

uniaka ikuzakas

This post is deleted!

Count Mario

@Lord:

As long as we all still agree Blackbeard will murder Shanks all will be well.

I can't wait for the carnage to finally begin.

!
!
!
!
!
!

Big Black Hole

Couldn't Oda let the Whitebeard Pirates play a more pivotal role in Wano, like guiding the Strawhats through important moments or defeating one of Kaido's calamities and maybe join up with Weevil before he lets them get crushed so at least Shiryu and Jesus can get Jozu's and Marco's devil fruits?

Katzztar

walks in
Sees at least two pages of thread being highjacked and isn't about next crewmate but predictions on future events
walks out

Sirxxx

@Lord:

As long as we all still agree Blackbeard will murder Shanks all will be well.

@K.:

Sure, but I don't agree that Luffy won't meet up with Shanks before.

Completely agree. IMO, it works better for the story to have Blackbeard taking down a Yonkou at the same time that Luffy is taking down a Yonkou, rather than having BB showing up to ninja-Kaidou. It keeps the parallels going between the two, and further establishes BB's threat if he does it using only his crew (vs. an entire alliance in Luffy's case)

BB doesn't really have reason enough to target Luffy and invoke a Marco sacrifice anyway. He ever only planned to in the first place to further his own goal of becoming a Warlord. He's not really the type to target Luffy now just because he's afraid of what Luffy's future might hold.

@Count:

Sir's problem is not Blackbeard getting more accomplishments. But moreso how Blackbeard eliminating the Whitebeard Remnants to help the Straw Hats escape, even if they do get a couple or more Devil Fruits out of it, could look like a rehash of Marineford.

…more stuff...

Yeah, this stuff.

@Count:

I think another Zoan could work so long as they are a type of animal that is not a furry mammal like Chopper and has a unique enough design and fighting style.

heavy breathing over Marco theory intensifies

Of all the known characters so far, Marco seems to have the most going for him. The only one who tops him is Vivi. Hell, my ultimate fantasy draft pick is Vivi with Snow Snow Devil fruit; alas, I can't think of a viable path for her to join in the first place, much less while packing a ridiculous development like the snow fruit.

K. Kira XXIII

@Katzztar:

walks in
Sees at least two pages of thread being highjacked and isn't about next crewmate but predictions on future events
walks out

[qimg]http://i.imgur.com/G5qkvK5.gif[/qimg]

Very true, I tried to keep it short, but it is technically a response as to why Marco wouldn't join the crew as someone presented.

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

@Sirxxx:

BB doesn't really have reason enough to target Luffy and invoke a Marco sacrifice anyway. He ever only planned to in the first place to further his own goal of becoming a Warlord. He's not really the type to target Luffy now just because he's afraid of what Luffy's future might hold.

Blackbeard is targeting devil fruit users to empower his own army. The fight between Luffy and Kaido presents the Beast Pirates (multiple zoans, some mythical types), while Luffy presents paramecias and zoans as well. Don't you remember how Chopper was worried in Fishman Island, they are all a target. :3 Not to mention that his objective would also be Wano. Blackbeard knows Oden from his days with Whitebeard, and Teach knows where Wano is. Wano is bound to have secrets from the void century, the Kozuki in particular are responsible for the Poneglyphs, not to mention Kaido's Road Poneglyph. The list of reason of why Blackbeard would target Wano and a war between Kaido and Luffy are there.

It is not about him being afraid, it is him taking advantage of chaos, like he did in Marine Ford. It would be more likely that Blackbeard has faith that Luffy would be somewhat successful against Kaido and that's why he decides to scope it out and see what happens.

If we all can conclude that Shanks and Blackbeard are going to fight because of a scar and their words in Marine Ford. Then the Whitebeard Pirates' fate is as connected to Blackbeard as well. Considering that the latter has failed to utterly crush whatever remnants of his old crew were left. Factor in that Weevil has conflict with the Whitebeard Pirates as well, but ultimately he hates Blackbeard more. Weevil is chasing Luffy to get to Marco. I think all these little details are building up to a Weevil and Whitebeard Pirates vs the Blackbeard pirates. The results of this will give Blackbeard enough power to go against Shanks.

Of all the known characters so far, Marco seems to have the most going for him. The only one who tops him is Vivi. Hell, my ultimate fantasy draft pick is Vivi with Snow Snow Devil fruit; alas, I can't think of a viable path for her to join in the first place, much less while packing a ridiculous development like the snow fruit.

Even if Marco ends up alive and his fruit not stolen. I would see him as part of the fleet, and the person in charge of leading the rest of the Whitebeard pirates.

Long John Silvers Rayleigh

@K.:

I feel that to keep things entertaining, Luffy shouldn't win everything until Raftel, if that place is even going to be a place where they lose. This works because Luffy would succeed on liberating Wano from Kaido, which is the promise, but the world isn't so kind. I find that it fits Blackbeard' M.O. The only reason he wouldn't be able to protect everyone is because someone took advantage that he was focused on someone else. Contrast that with Fujitora playing fate and allowing Luffy and his companions to rest.

I also think it is okay for Luffy to suffer such a loss because this time around Shanks could be the one to do what Jinbe did before.

I am not sure where it was mentioned. But the emperors do not attack each other fully because, one of the other ones would attack whomever was left standing. With the quality of Luffy's allies in the upcoming war with Kaido, it wouldn't be overstatement that Luffy is an "upcoming emperor" fully committing on taking down another emperor.

That's why it is important that Blackbeard attacks soon after the battle is over. So there is no other alternative than having a sacrifice.

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

I responded to this in my previous post.

On the contrary it makes perfect sense. He can introduce them without having to show any of their powers. Just the line up. Everyone is so exhausted that they know there is no point in fighting back especially the Whitebeard pirates. Blackbeard doesn't need to sail away if Wano become his new headquarters.

For the last sentence do you mean he hides out there or subjugates wano because that'd undo the whole saga completely? Like im more willing to buy blackbeard kills marco in front of luffy in wano then BB takes over wano for his own territory

But I dont want to derail this any further

desa

I believe Shanks will be incapacitated during the war but I don't believe he will die. But then again I believe Raftel is where BB crew and strawhat crew will fighting for the title of pirate king.

Robby

@desa:

I believe Shanks will be incapacitated during the war but I don't believe he will die. But then again I believe Raftel is where BB crew and strawhat crew will fighting for the title of pirate king.

Raftel isn't the finale and hasn't been for some time. It's the last step before the great war.

Shobu Yoruichi

@Count:

I can't wait for the carnage to finally begin.

! https://i.imgur.com/S5gvFEw.gif
! https://i.imgur.com/0IW75X5.gif
! https://i.imgur.com/srPOcBl.gif
! https://i.imgur.com/vcGHYyh.gif
! https://i.imgur.com/sJ9ibhI.gif
! https://i.imgur.com/xnLSTf2.gif

This is truly your best post, Count xDDD

Been laughing like 3 minutes hahah.

Long John Silvers Rayleigh

@Robby:

Raftel isn't the finale and hasn't been for some time. It's the last step before the great war.

Im realy wondering if the people here who dont like marineford (for it's sense of focus and amount of charactees) are ready for 5 TIMES LONGER Marineford.

How much trouble should the journey to one piece from finding the spot and going there be robby? Should it be the culmination of an arc or should there be a volume of trouble, they find it and the we get our blank century flashback? Everyone focuses on the big war but how he structures them finding raftel is a lot more fluid

Robby

@Long:

Im realy wondering if the people here who dont like marineford (for it's sense of focus and amount of charactees) are ready for 5 TIMES LONGER Marineford.

I don't think the final war will be quite 5 yeears long. If each Strawhat gets a 3-4 chapter fight, and Luffy's is a 10 chapter spread amongst those (roughly equivilent to Enies Lobby) that about a year there. Obviously the ancient weapons and marines fighting marines and every random character ever showing up will make it big, but I don't think it'll take five years of constant fighting like Marineford was.

Also have to remember Oda was working on Strong World during that arc, so the chapters were shorter and there were more breaks, so it went a little longer. Also, it was almost entirely teases of what was to come, while the final war will actually be full fights with resolutions, it should track better. I don't forsee Oda doing the Naruto or Bleach thing where its just an endless string of 1v1 fights forever. I'm sure the last arc will be the biggest of the series and the longest, but even with that 2 years has been about the upper limit for how much time he spends on one thing. Even the 3 year Water 7/Enies Lobby was mostly that long because of the year of fights and the super lengthy aftermath.

How much trouble should the journey to one piece from finding the spot and going there be robby? Should it be the culmination of an arc or should there be a volume of trouble, they find it and the we get our blank century flashback? Everyone focuses on the big war but how he structures them finding raftel is a lot more fluid

Given we don't know what is involved in finding the place, no telling. I can't imagine it taking a full arc unto itself to get there, Oda never spends that much effort on travel, even with the weird stuff like getting to Skypeia or Fishman Island. There will definitely be some adventure on Raftel itself, has to be.

I've personally long been of the opinion that they'd get to the door to One Piece, and start opening it… and then cut to a 10 chapter flashback of Roger to help flesh out the significance and the discoveries and what he failed to do, and to add that much more weight to the reveal of the treasure. But thats mostly just what I hope happens.

KageKageKing

@Shobu:

This is truly your best post, Count xDDD

Been laughing like 3 minutes hahah.

He actually posted the same thing 2 years ago.

Just a detail.

desa

@Robby:

Raftel isn't the finale and hasn't been for some time. It's the last step before the great war.

I expect both Raftel and the war to be important. With Luffy equaling Roger at Raftel but surpassing him by actually tackling the truth Roger couldn't handle with the war. And to become Pirate king no one is more fitting than the most well known pirate of the real world. Considering how Oda keep splitting the crew when bunch of allies are involve I have a hard time buying he will try to fit both the war with the government (involving lot of parties) with a full crew vs crew battle. But I don't think we can agree on that.

Robby

If this was a novel series, I'd maybe agree with you.

But its a shonen battle manga. There is no way it doesn't end with big 1 on 1 fights. The blackbeard crew have to be the final enemies, and as a result, their role in the big final war will be as "the guys the Strawhats deal with."

The bad marines and admirals will be for the good marines and the world government for the revolutionaries, by and large. Thats why we have Coby and Smoker and Tashigi and Kuzan and Sabo and Koala and Dragon.

(Aikanu is almost certainly Sabo's main fight… though he might partner with Coby and Smoker for that. We need to see how the other admirals shake out still.)

Johnny B. Decent

Frankly, the fate of the world to be to be decided by two inheritors of the kingdom of old, two men so very similar in some ways, but complete different in other ways, who will fight to be the only true king of the pirates sounds a lot more epic then Luffy fighting a bunch of old farts or some maniac who has the same personality as like five other of his subordinates.

MiyamotoMusashi

Still don´t believe Akainu will be left for anybody but Luffy, at least at this point

uniaka ikuzakas

I dont see coby and smoker doing much, well not without time skips. If coby was going to be something, he would be at least vice admiral post ts on his way to admiral in present. And based on punk hazard smoker, well you know what he did, record for most defeats in one island. Aokiji is more likely to do somethign then them, and garp&sengoku too, or will the old guys be left out of the fina lwar for some reason.

And I would sure like to see how oda handles the final war. Way too many people in the same small place war, yet all 11 SHs will get proper 1vs1 battles.

Nilitch

Can we recap the pros and the cons for Carrot as a new member in the crew ?
It seems the only thing that's against her is "she has fur like Chopper, and can transform into something that doesn't look like what Chopper can do in the slightest–- but is still a transformation" also "Pedro is alive anyway, I know it"

AfroSamurai

@Nilitch:

Can we recap the pros and the cons for Carrot as a new member in the crew ?
It seems the only thing that's against her is "she has fur like Chopper, and can transform into something that doesn't look like what Chopper can do in the slightest–- but is still a transformation" also "Pedro is alive anyway, I know it"

Cons: Is totally dependent on a specific time for the transformation, still has no real character other than "cute bunny that bites things, trained under pedro, and wants to protect stuff her clan and the strawhats like Pedro did", no shown backstory, no chapter focusing specifically on her (aside from the one bs powerup chapter… but does that really count? I think not), is "sexy" furry bait, fairly bland character design compared to other shown minks (ie. Wanda).

pros: Is a female, is cute, is a mink, bites Luffy's ear, calls chopper bropper, has a transformation powerup, can get to birdnest fast, might have some backstory explaining how she trained for powerup - could be tragic (but we don't actually know).

I'd much rather Pudding tbh, aside from all the cons already mentioned, I just feel like Carrot is just very meh.

ALSO. Guys get tf back on topic this is the next nakamates thread not "predict how one piece will end". jeesh.

desa

@Robby:

If this was a novel series, I'd maybe agree with you.

But its a shonen battle manga. There is no way it doesn't end with big 1 on 1 fights. The blackbeard crew have to be the final enemies, and as a result, their role in the big final war will be as "the guys the Strawhats deal with."

The bad marines and admirals will be for the good marines and the world government for the revolutionaries, by and large. Thats why we have Coby and Smoker and Tashigi and Kuzan and Sabo and Koala and Dragon.

(Aikanu is almost certainly Sabo's main fight… though he might partner with Coby and Smoker for that. We need to see how the other admirals shake out still.)

The problem with the BB pirate is that the crew is massive. If it was just Blackbeard himsel, 2 importants underlings and a bunch of throwaway then sure it would be easy to work it into the war. You can place each into strategic moment and you don't need to break the pace to make it happen. But clearly the Blackbeard are built as all relevant meaning they all will need focus which is fine by itself but considering Oda will also have to deliver on the war with all the allies and parties involve I doubt he would want to do so.

Both with Whole Cake and Dressrosa that involved massive allies he had to break the strawhats to make times for the others to shine. Something he won't be able to so with the war since they have to be in it. So his option to make it less cramped and still give each the focus they deserve is to make the gigantic crew battle and the gigantic war happen seperate. So either Blackbeard crew is a tack on thing after the war making it overload or before as a precursor of what to come. I believe he will choose the first option to tire people less. Like you say MarineFord was a tease the war is the whole thing. Adding a whole crew fight on top is going to be a nightmare to handle.

Not that I am saying Backbeard can't be around at the war(being a sore loser is in character) but the crew vs crew will have happen and will have decide Luffy as pirate king. Dressrosa and Whole Cake really convince me in Oda not wanting to overcrowd his arcs more than he has to.

.access timeco.

Seriously, guys.

desa

To be fair it is pretty rare for that thread to be on topic.

Carrot as a crewmember seems a little premature. She has not done much to warrant such conviction I think. I mean not to long ago the mink in focus was mostly Pedro. If we were to get interested in her I would have expect a little more love throughout the arc.

I guess you could be betting on Pedro's death but even their relation came to light after his death. I would think it would have been built up if it was going to be such an important motivation.

I believe Carrot is made for a new generation of Nox Pirates.

Blissed

I don't see any reason for a new Nox Pirates, she'd be more likelier to be a part of the presumed Mink fleet, or she just…. chills in Zou lol

I still feel that if a Nox Pirates 2.0 were incoming, Oda would've made it pretty clear by now that the previous generation had regrets or something of that nature. Yet Zepo is dead. Pekoms hasn't brought it up as of yet. The one regret we have seen however is in regards to Pedro, who never got the opportunity to steal Big Mom's Poneglyph like he wanted to. But due to Brook's help, that's now been taken care of. Pedro even said that that, along with saving Sanji, was his main objective before being content with dying in WCI. Like, the Nox Pirates were indeed looking for Poneglyphs in a general sense back in the day, yet Nekomamushi, Inuarashi, and Pedro have only been emphasizing that the Straw Hats need the Red Poneglyphs in the present day, not really hinting that there should be a new Mink crew that should search for any of them. There are a few regular Poneglyphs it seems they need as well, but Oda would be far more likely to have them conveniently be wherever the Straw Hats end up going, beginning with Wano.

Only thing left now is to see what this whole Dawn thing is about. Also I just don't see Oda making it so that there's a crew that's finding the Poneglyphs they happen to need off-screen. This theory from the few times I've seen it being brought up also seems to imply that Pekoms would be a part of the crew as well? Because err, I certainly don't see Carrot leading it, and Oda just grouping her with a bunch of random minks (Wanda and the kings certainly wouldn't join) seems very unlikely.

K. Kira XXIII

However, we have seen remnants of the Nox pirates in Cacao Island and Pedro fell twice in Tottoland. I think that they will resurface, be it with Pedro, Pekoms, Carrot. We saw some crew members, their mission is tied closely to the secret of the world. If Carrot as Mink should join the Straw Hats to be a representative of their race and whatever the Mink origin story is about. Then the one crew that is not an adversary to Robin's dream as most whom is not a Starw Hat looking for the Poneglyph are. The one crew that could help Robin in her quest, and somehow they are unimportant? Even though we have seem two of their captains fall, two Minks closely connected to them, why they are named the Nox pirates, with aspirations to change the world.

I think they will become relevant again, regardless of whom leads them.

BattleFranky69

@MiyamotoMusashi:

Still don´t believe Akainu will be left for anybody but Luffy, at least at this point

Garp. He'll come in out of nowhere to deliver on his earlier threat.

Robby

@MiyamotoMusashi:

Still don´t believe Akainu will be left for anybody but Luffy, at least at this point

Sabo literally inherited Ace's will and power, the power that Aikanu openly mocked as weaker than his own. Ace, who died trying to protect Luffy.

Luffy may be in on that fight, but Sabo is the one that gets to win it and actually protect Luffy. Maybe tag teamed with Coby for the soul of the Marines.

.access timeco.

The Nox Pirates have this name because they are the night that would lead to the dawn. Pedro recognized the dawn will come by Luffy's hand, there is no point in reforming the Nox Pirates now.

Wintermute

I'd say they got their name because they are the strongest at night.

Blissed

@Wintermute:

I'd say they got their name because they are the strongest at night.

But Pedro literally told us why they call themselves that lol

Wintermute

@Blissed:

But Pedro literally told us why they call themselves that lol

Hey, this is Pedro's view. And he's dead. Don't you dare question fan imaginations in a next strawhat thread. Especially when they make more sense than Oda's image.