3 Part One Piece Trash Theory!!!
To preface my fallacy, Iâll remind everyone of the character Mother Caramel; whom we were introduced to on Whole Cake Island. She was the figure that in a way âraisedâ Big Mom and a bunch of other kids, and we know she was on Elbaf at some point. As it turned out, her kind and motherly nature was a rouse. She was actually a figure of the criminal underworld who sells kids off to the government.Â
Now into my new theory that has to do with Shanks. Also another kind character who seems to be not only well known, but loved wherever he goes. In recent chapters, we see him in Elbaf where he seems to have some history. And there is a child who, like Luffy, wants to go to sea with Shanks. As he did with Luffy, he teases him and says thereâs no way heâd make it with him. In the last panel, Shanks is cast in a shadow. We know who it is, but they chose to hide him in darkness. Thereâs many ways to reintroduce a known character, but they chose to cloak him in the shadows....
Going back to the first episode of One Piece, Luffy and Shanks seem to already have had some history. He seems to be a well known and well liked pirate in the area. At first, when luffy mentioned how he wanted to go out to sea Shanks laughed and said he wasnât strong enough. Luffy then says he can swim; since pirates are on the sea it would make sense to be able to swim in case youâre thrown overboard or whatever. Makes sense in the first episodes with the knowledge of what normal pirates do. Shanks replies with something like, youâll need a lot more than that to make it as a pirate.Â
Around this time Shanksâ crew have already obtained the gum gum fruit and left it out in the open on the counter (they must have some serious gall to keep something that valuable out in the open!) So Luffy is sulking at the fact Shanks doesnât seem to think heâs cut out to be a pirate so he eats his feelings... and the closest thing happens to be that devil fruit. Now, i donât know if it was a coincidence or not, but Luffy now has the power of the devil fruit. That we now know has the power of Sun God Nika when awakened.Â
So tying together the character of Mother Caramel to Shanks, maybe instead of selling kids off to the government, Shanks pushes kids to be pirates. Seems plausible. Weâve already seen at least two instances (in the first episode and newest chapter) that he seems to have a strong influence on kids and them wanting to be pirates after meeting/ spending time with him. And weâve seen him waltz right into mariejois like heâs done it a dozen times before. While heâs there he also TELLS the elders that something needs to be done about Teach! I donât care if heâs a yonko, what pirate tells the government what to do?? Iâll wait.
BUT! Why does Shanks seem to have invested so much into Luffy? Why give him that oh so infamous yet mysterious Straw Hat? Well Iâll tell you since you didnât ask! This is the 2nd part of my theory!Â
We all know the iconic scene where Shanks saves Luffy from the sea king, thus losing his arm. Ignoring the fact that Shanks is clearly great at treading water, he goes out of his way to lose his arm while saving him. Iâm not gonna go into detail as to why this is cuz honestly I couldnât tell ya. Could just be part of him gaining his trust for the long con. These underground/ gov affiliated types (*cough* CP9) seem to like playing the long game in order to achieve their goals. Anyway, Iâll focus on what comes after.
As Shanks is leaving, he actually does a 180 and INVITES Luffy to go out to sea, become a great pirate and physically give the straw hat back. Like bruh, you just called him a weak punk 5 hours ago!Â
But now, Luffy has the devil fruit power. And we all know devil fruits can be awakened when wielded by an exceptionally strong user. Shanks has nudged a goal unto him by telling him to be great enough in order to give this straw hat back. Donât show your face around me until then. Luffyâs main goal is to be the freest. In order to do that, you have to be above the law- a pirate and the strongest; in order to protect whatâs yours and in order to obtain the freedom; the world you want. And to Luffy, the pirate king is his ideal of the freest. I donât remember if Luffy declared being pirate king before eating the devil fruit but if he did, great! Even better for my theory. If not, it was a huge gamble on Shanksâ end. From Egghead, we know devil fruits have wills tied to them and the gum gum fruit seems to tie perfectly to Luffy. This is just an observation, idk if it has anything to do with shanks or if it had anything to do with how Luffy ended up with it. But judging by their reactions after Luffy ate it Iâll think not. That might be when the plan changed...
PART 3!!Â
Shanks obtained the gum gum fruit from a government ship that we know from Whoâs Who from Wano. Assuming this giant straw hat is one of the ancient weapons...I think the gum gum fruit is a type of key to unlocking the power of this weapon. BUT the only way for it to work is if the devil fruit is awakened to Sun God Nika for it to actually be effective.Â
Now, maybe Shanks isnât directly related/ working with the government, and I might not have a clear idea of what his goal is, but he definitely knows the secrets. Especially about this weapon. I think he knows that this is in mariejois and what it takes to unlock and use it. Thatâs why he keeps Luffy close, keeps updated on his whereabouts. AND he seems to be on the move, like something clicked after Wano. After Luffy awakened into Nika. Since his wanted poster is now updated to his new form. Luffy has finally become the great pirate Shanks needs. He finally saw what he needs to complete his goal.Â
WARNING!! THIS NEXT PART MIGHT BE TMI, IDK IF ITâS TRUE, BUT ANOTHER THEORY I CAME ACROSS
Whatever it is. He said itâs time for him to get the One Piece. Maybe heâs going to break the red line or whatever (there was another theory where something happened with the weapons that breaks the red line, in turn destroying fishman island but also bringing them to the surface, and since all the seas will be connected; creating the all blue as well)Â Â
END OF WARNING!
So in summary: Shanks is up to something, needs Luffy since he ate the only fruit he needs (idk who he was gonna give it to before or if Shanks was gonna eat it himself but here we are, gotta roll with it), Luffy became what Shanks needs (awakened the devil fruit to unlock the super weapon), and is now on the move. But it also seems like Im is after him too, sooo whoever gets to him first
