@mickgreen58:
If Ace would've survived, I don't think Oda would have been forced to make him join the Straw Hats. Ace could have gone back to the New World with the Alliance and been an ally of the Straw Hats in the New World, which is probably going to be what happens (minus Ace) anyway.
Well, Ace's dream would have been crushed, and if he returned to NW, then what's his role in the story would be? I think it would feel like a loose end. None of the other WB pirates will have the same role as a surviving Ace would. Why the remaining WB pirates may ally with Luffy and help him, Ace would probably watch over his brother very closely.
I thought you were saying that the crew had been separated for 2 Years in One Piece itself as oppose to how long it has been since us the readers saw them being separated.
Anybody have a good timeline of how long it has been in One Piece since Kuma separated the Straw Hats and the Marineford Arc?
Day 0- Separated in Sabaody (Nyon says to Hancock that Luffy attacked the Tenryuubito "two days ago")
Day 1- Luffy arrives in Amazon Lily, eats mushrooms and is saved by Marguerite.
Day 2- Luffy wakes up, fights and allies with Hancock. Nyon says that the execution will be in six days.
Day 3- Luffy and Hancock begin their journey to Impel Down.
Day 7- "Four and a Half days since Luffy and Hancock left Amazon Lily; 33 hours remain for Ace's execution". They arrive at Impel Down; Luffy's captured and saved by Bon-Chan. Healing hormone treatment begins;
Day 8- Day of Ace's execution. Luffy's healed; breakout from Impel Down; War.
SO, it has been just 8 days in-story.