One Piece Team-Ups That Need To Happen Before The Story Ends

Summary

• Buggy & Morgans, both amoral criminals, could form a propaganda powerhouse.
• Koby & Issho, good marines, might collaborate to showcase their differing approaches to doing good.
• Robin & Vivi, former enemies with a common goal, could have a complex dynamic given their fugitive status.

One Piece is a constantly-evolving story that effortlessly draws from previous plot lines across its multiple-decade-long run. To this end, many characters who have been established still have the opportunity to return in a greater capacity in the future, even as the story is in its final saga.

Various characters with a history, whether a past grudge or a previous alliance, have worked together toward a common cause with varying success. This has helped not only flesh out the characters, but the dynamics they have with one another, as well. With that in mind, these are some team-ups that would add a lot to the story should they transpire.

1

Buggy & Morgans

A Propaganda Mill In The Making

• Both are amoral criminals who rely on sensationalism

Buggy the Clown was a former member of the Roger Pirates. He had a friendship with the legendary “Red Hair” Shanks, dating back to their time as cabin boys for the crew. He has since set off on his own, forming the Buggy Pirates, creating an alliance with “Iron Mace” Alvida, and even escaping Impel Down, a government prison often thought to be airtight. He was eventually invited to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Using his government clearance, he formed the illegal mercenary group, Buggy’s Delivery. This eventually adapted into Cross Guild, a post-warlord mercenary group, which put bounties on marines. This has led Buggy to join the Four Emperors, a class of pirates that the government has viewed to be the most threatening to their operation.

While all of Buggy’s accolades are technically true, alone, they obfuscate the fact that he is a physically weak pirate due to concerning himself with treasure over self-improvement. He was one of Luffy’s earliest enemies, and has since been largely eclipsed by him in power since their initial clash. His recent inclusion in Cross Guild was him owing a debt to Crocodile, its true founder, and his offering to repay by means of promoting the group. However, Buggy’s subordinates, who printed the posters, falsely identified him as the leader, a confusion Crocodile took advantage of to downplay his own role.

“Big News” Morgans is the president of the World Economy Newspaper, who is known for always appearing in the albatross form his Devil Fruit grants him. He loves scooping events he considers “big news” and is willing to let his stories be affected by personal biases, exaggerations, and outright fabrications he would write in for the sake of improving reader engagement. Despite his sensationalist bend, he is unafraid of incurring the wrath of the government or an emperor, if it means uncovering a major story.

Morgans is also an “Emperor” of the Criminal Underworld, yet his own exact role in it has not been fully established. He has been seen exchanging info at Big Mom’s tea party with his fellow Emperor, Stussy, with them having been implied to share a history. He has also recently harbored Vivi and Wapol, two fugitives on the run from the government, for reasons that are, as of yet, unclear.

Morgans, with his sensationalist bend, would be a perfect propagandist for Buggy. Not only does Buggy have a list of genuine achievements he could draw from, but his own marine-hunting efforts would catalyze the “bleak future” that Morgans hopes to pen for his readers. The power this alliance could draw in, as well as its spectacular inevitable downfall, would be an excellent arc for this point in the story.

2

Koby & Issho

The Future Of The Marines

• Both are recent “good” Marines

Koby is in many ways a character parallel to Monkey D. Luffy. Formerly a cabin boy held hostage by the Alvida Pirates, Koby was inspired by the fledgling pirate who helped him escape to pursue his dream of enlisting in the Marines. He has since earned the title of captain, the sixth-highest level of marine officer in the organization. He also has a further reputation as a “hero” for an unclear role in the Rocky Port Incident.

However, he has resigned “on paper” to join SWORD, the black ops unit of the Marines, with clearance for most actions regular Marines are not allowed to perform, provided the organization can officially disavow them later. Despite the Marines often being an antagonistic organization, Koby ostensibly represents both the next generation of Marines and an established trend of those within the Marines who wish to do genuine good.

Another recent recruit and “heroic” marine is Admiral Issho, often identified by his alias “Fujitora.” Once the military chief of Aoi Kingdom, Issho was identified as a “war criminal” who blinded himself due to being traumatized by the atrocities he had seen, at least some of which he may have committed himself. After a stint as a bodyguard for a gambling house he was in debt to, he was drafted into the Marines, after the government purchased the territory.

He was automatically promoted to admiral, presumably due to his past reputation. He has actively used the position to act against the government’s interests at times. He has notably aided in the freeing of slaves owned by Celestial Dragons, apologized to one government-affiliated ruler who lost his kingdom in part due to their negligence, and even allowed Luffy extra time to escape from the Marines out of respect for him.

Despite them both being part of a faction of the Marines that seems to prize the greater good, the two have not yet been shown interacting in any major capacity. With Issho, a veteran with an unspoken traumatic past, and Koby, an optimistic “hero” meant to represent the future, a team-up between these two fairly new Marines could serve to highlight where they align and differ with regard to working toward the greater good.

3

Nico Robin & Nefetari D. Vivi

Former Enemies Drawn Toward A Common Goal

• Both fugitives are affiliated with the Straw Hat Pirates, as well as former enemies.

Nico Robin has been a fugitive since childhood. After her country was massacred due to several scholars researching the forbidden Void Century, Robin, as the sole survivor, was slandered as a violent criminal despite being a prepubescent child at the time. She quickly aligned with various criminal organizations for protection. A long-term alliance with Crocodile saw her acting as Miss All Sunday, the second-in-command of Baroque Works, who acted as liaison between Crocodile and his subordinates. As a result, she aided in his attempted takeover of Alabasta. However, she distrusted Crocodile and his plans to uncover Pluton, one of the ancient weapons, and ended up attempting to betray him and take her own life.

Ultimately, she was rescued by Luffy and became the first Straw Hat to invite herself into the crew. This added to their reputation and made them a greater target for the government, due to their extensive criminal history. Yet after growing genuinely attached to them, Robin elected to abandon the crew, reasoning that they would be saved from the brunt of the government’s wrath if she turned herself in. However, after they proved to Robin that she was a valued member and that they would risk their lives for her, she tearfully declared her desire to live and rejoin the crew.

Nefertari Vivi was the princess of Alabasta, who infiltrated Baroque Works as Miss Wednesday to thwart their plan. Having been discovered by its officer agents, Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine, she was targeted by them and ended up joining the Straw Hat Pirates until the organization was defeated and disbanded. Although she enjoyed her time with the crew, she refused to become a permanent member, believing her royal duties came first.

The Straw Hats bid her a silent goodbye, with an X they had all previously marked on their wrists. However, Vivi herself was made a fugitive since the Levely. This is partially due to the actions of her father, Cobra, who discovered Imu, the World Government’s true ruler, and unveiled that she and her father carried the “D” initial that is feared by all Celestial Dragons. This has cemented some speculation that she will rejoin the Straw Hat Pirates in an unclear capacity in the future.

With the pair sharing a crew and fugitive status, Robin and Vivi are brought down to the same level after, at first, being diametrically opposed to one another. There was some concern when Robin joined the same crew that aided Vivi, but she was ultimately positive enough in her feelings toward the crew that she allowed it. Robin herself may have some further fascination with Vivi due to her carrying the “Will of D.”

Robin has often expressed interest in the “D” initial and has aligned herself with many people who carry it, including Jaguar D. Saul, Monkey D. Luffy, Monkey D. Dragon, and Trafalgar D. Water Law. Due to her father’s passing, Vivi is also the last known Nefertari, much like how Robin is the last living member of her family, as well as the island of Ohara. With their complicated history and collective losses, the two could have an interesting dynamic if they ever properly meet again.

4

Monkey D. Luffy & Charlotte Katakuri

Similar Characters; Different Experiences

• Like Luffy, Katakuri is a powerful big eater

Monkey D. Luffy needs little introduction, as the protagonist of the greater One Piece series. He is the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates and is currently considered one of the four most threatening pirates to the World Government, attaining the rank of Emperor. He is known for his extreme eating habits, incredible fighting skills, and the ability to rally others to his cause. Luffy seeks to obtain the titular One Piece and become the King of the Pirates. To this end, he has acquired many crewmates and innumerable allies, aiding many kingdoms put under the thumb of oppressive forces.

However, he is also noteworthy for his family history. The Monkey family also consists of Garp and Dragon; one a “hero” in the marines due to his actions at God Valley, and the other a revolutionary marine defector who actively fights against the government. Luffy concerns himself with neither ambition, prizing his freedom over his grandfather’s marine dreams for him. Luffy is also the sworn brother of Portgas D. Ace and Sabo, having formed a strong bond with the pair during their time spent in the Goa Kingdom. They were all trained by Garp, but grew to oppose the government in various capacities.

Charlotte Katakuri is a member of the Big Mom Pirates, previously led by the former Emperor, Charlotte “Big Mom” Linlin. Katakuri is also a mighty glutton, whose mouth grew to resemble a pelican eel’s due to the extent of his eating habits. He has major authority within the crew as one of its Sweet Commanders, a title given to its strongest members. He is also shown to have a selfless side, being protective of his younger siblings, such as Brûlée, with whom he shares an extremely close bond.

With Linlin as matriarch, the Charlotte Family has grown to include 85 children from 43 fathers, all of whom were kidnapped and then discarded after their children were born. Katakuri is the third eldest, and has an image in the crew as an unbeatable fighter who has never lain on his back. This idealization has led him to be clamored over by many as the crew’s new captain after the alleged passing of Linlin. However, few of his plans going forward are known, as until now, he seemed content to follow his mother’s orders.

Katakuri developed a rivalry with Luffy during the Straw Hat Pirates’ time on Whole Cake Island. They are both immensely similar to one another, but heavily distinguished by their own levels of authority. As Luffy defied his family before he ever really held significant power, while Katakuri, despite his strength, has little recourse or even apparent desire to do so. That said, they developed a mutual respect, with Katakuri even believing Luffy could become the King of the Pirates after their encounter. With Katakuri’s younger sister, Pudding, being held hostage by the Blackbeard Pirates, a crew Luffy also holds a grudge against, partially stemming from their kidnapping of his late brother, Ace. It could be an opportunity for the two powerful pirates to rally their forces together.

5

Crocodile & Donquixote Doflamingo

Work It Out In Cross Guild

• Both are government pirates who tried to take over a kingdom.

Crocodile was a former enemy of Luffy, who had a significant tenure as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, government-sanctioned pirates, who rarely suffered punishment for their crimes. He desired to take over Alabasta and formed Baroque Works, a secretive organized crime group that aided him in this end, which he led as Mr.0. However, he was defeated by Luffy and incarcerated in Impel Down, along with some of his top officers.

Luffy, who sought to break out his brother, Ace, ended up being aided by many former enemies, including Crocodile and his officers, in the escape from Impel Down. After fighting against the government in the Summit War, he spent some time traveling with Daz Bonez, aka Mr. 1. More recently, roughly around the abolition of the Warlord system, he founded Cross Guild, a mercenary organization dedicated to targeting marines. He was able to convince fellow ex-warlord Dracule Mihawk to act as a co-leader of the new anti-government organization. Crocodile installed Buggy as a patsy, playing the public role of the guild’s leader, to throw government attention off of himself.

Donquixote Doflamingo was a former Celestial Dragon who lost his status as a result of his father, Homing, voluntarily rejecting it. He was subsequently subject to both poverty and violent prejudice as a result of his lost status. After gaining followers due to his Conqueror’s Haki, he killed Hominh. From there, he formed the Donquixote Pirates, gaining a foothold in both the Underworld under the alias Joker and the World Government, eventually becoming a warlord himself. He also took over Dressrosa, the same kingdom the ancestors of the Donquixote Family had abdicated the throne of to become Celestial Dragons.

Despite his ability to manipulate authority, he was defeated by Luffy and imprisoned. His actions in Dressrosa, along with Crocodile’s in Alabasta, became the impetus to abolish the Seven Warlords of the Sea, which both pirates were formerly part of. He has since been incarcerated in Impel Down, practically salivating at the hopes that his fellow Celestial Dragons will lose their authority in the ensuing chaos of the world.

Crocodile and Doflamingo are obvious parallels to one another, with the two having met during the Summit War, and Doflamingo being impressed enough with Crocodile to ask him for a partnership. Crocodile refused the offer, but Doflamingo maintained a level of respect for his fellow pirate. With Doflamingo in need of freedom, and Crocodile potentially in need of additional forces, recruiting from within Impel Down, whose inmates would naturally have a grudge against the government and marines, may not be the worst idea.