Before you read I would like to say this is entirely my theory. Brace yourselves, this is a long one!
When we first saw the Mera Mera Fruit in chapter 700, I always thought that Coby would end up eating it. I made an almost irrevocable theory on this and I actually became quite passionate about this. The theory was widely accepted on other forums until Sabo turned up. This initially de-railed the theory, however, with some deeper research I believe it’s still probable for Coby to eat the Mera Mera no Mi at some point towards the end of the Manga. So here we go: I give you Coby, the Orange Admiral
As we know, Coby’s dream is to become an Admiral. Oda loves to use patterns within the Admirals. For instance, all of the pre-timeskip Admirals were Logia users and given Primary colours, Red, Yellow and Blue. The Admirals are given animals and colours in their codenames, Aokiji translates to “Blue Pheasant” Akainu translates to “Red Dog”, and Kizaru translates to “Yellow Monkey. However, since the timeskip, due to the reshuffle of positions (With Sakazuki’s promotion and Kuzans resignation), two new Admirals have been implemented. These Admirals have secondary colours that are a mix of primary colours. The secondary colours are Purple, Green and Orange. These Admirals also have colours and animals in their aliases: Whisteria (which is a shade of purple) Tiger translates to “Fujitora” and Green Bull translates to “Ryokugyu” and these Admirals probably have one of each type of fruit.We’ve seen the latter two already introduced. Leaving the third and Orange Admiral out. It is also important to note that Orange is a mix of Yellow (Kizaru) and Red (Akainu), keep this in mind because later on in the theory this becomes incredibly important. I cannot stress this enough.
The story of Momotaro:
As is common knowledge amongst One Piece fans; Oda uses the story of Momotaro to parallel the Admirals and the order in which they are introduced. He uses their colours to indicate their Devil Fruit Powers. And he uses their Animals to indicate their personality. Within the story of Momotaro, he comes across a Pheasant (Aokiji – Blue Pheasant is introduced in chapter 303), next he comes across a Dog (Akainu – Red Dog is introduced in chapter 397), a Monkey (Kizaru – Yellow Monkey is introduced in chapter 504), then Momotaro, during the second phase of the story (paralleling the timeskip) befriends a Tiger (Fujitora – Whisteria Tiger is introduced in chapter 701) and later, a Bull (Ryokugyu – Green Bull is mentioned in chapter 711). The second phase also sees a the Monkey pick up and play with a Crab that later attacks it and harms it. The Dog goes to kill the Crab, and fails to, instead it can only throw the crab with its mouth and knock it unconscious, this crab (or another crab) comes back and attacks this dog during the final phases of the story of Momotaro. This Crab is Coby. The last secondary colour is Orange. Orange translates to Orekani, which like all the other Admiral names does roll of the tongue. Not only does the colour Orange and its creation through Yellow and Red symbolise events later in the story, but the scuffles between the Dog (Red), Monkey (Yellow) and the Crab (Orange) coincidentally allude to the same events. Again, this is incredibly important to this theory and will be recurring throughout.
As you know, I just mentioned how the Dog tried to kill the crab in Momotaro. This event has already been done, and will be repeated again later under different circumstances. That’s right. Coby and Sakazuki will fight.
Here we witness a clear clash in morals and codes of justice. Whilst Sakazuki is shown to be an immoral and relentless character, Coby is most definitely the antithesis as such. Coby is even knocked out in the same manner that the Crab is. The Dog couldn’t kill the crab because of its shell, Shanks used his shell (Haki) to fight Akainu and his Logia powers. The symbolisms are a complete and utter irrefutable parallel. There is absolutely no way this is just a coincidence. Heck, even the Monkey (Borsalino) is on the same page. Wow!!!!!
Coby’s parallels with Garp and Sengoku:
Lots of people view Coby and Smoker as finite parallels to Garp and Sengoku. Personally I see both characters as a mix and match between the old generation, with features from both characters. Here I will only address Coby’s parallels.
Coby’s goal is to become an Admiral. This deviates from Garp as he does not care about rank. Since his goal is to basically become the Ultimate Marine, it can even be said that Coby will become the Fleet Admiral (possibly). Coby is also under the tutelage of Garp and has learnt to fight in a similar fashion, using Haki, Rokushiki and brute strength. However, because of his similarities with Sengoku and the Devil Fruit pattern within the Admirals, Coby will eat a Devil Fruit. Another parallel with Garp is his close relationship with Helmeppo, which is similar to Garps relationship with Bogard.
The problem is, because Coby will rival and has rivalled Luffy ever since chapter 6, he’s still got a long way to go. He can still be oneshotted by Luffy. As seen in Marineford. This is where the Devil Fruit that will grant Coby the Orange powers comes in. It is the Mera Mera no Mi. A huge part of my theory is Sabo’s death after fighting and dying at the hands of Borsalino, the Monkey, during the meeting of the World Leaders during the Riverie Arc, it makes sense because the Revolutionaries will have the perfect opportunity to strike, with such a huge concentration of ‘corrupt’ World Leaders in one location. The fight between Sabo and the Monkey represents the clash between the Crab and Monkey in the story of Momotaro .
Sabo’s death:
As previously mentioned, the Riverie arc has been foreshadowed by Jinbe, and is a meeting by which most World Leaders will meet. This is where Vivi met Dalton and Wapol previously. This is where the Strawhats and Revolutionaries will go, I have other theories I will post later about the Revolutionaries clashing with the Strawhats about wanting to protect these world leaders i.e. (Dalton etc. Vivi, Chaka, Igaram and Pell, The Dold family from Dressrosa, Neptune, Jinbe, Shirahoshi, Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, Manboshi), I also theorize this Arc will result in Jinbe joining the crew. But there will be two other major events happening during this arc.
1. Sabo will fight Borsalino, the Admiral sent to protect the World Leaders. It will be a clash between Crab and Monkey, as well as The 2nd Admiral (After Sakazuki) and the 2nd Revolutionary (After Dragon). Sabo will die. But because the Orange fruit will live on and the will of Ace will live on, the parallels of Momotaro will not end here.
The Crab can be symbolised through Sabo as he has claws. He fights with claws, as a crab does with its pincers. Sabo will be capable of harming the Monkey as in the story of Momotaro, but will ultimately die.
This is immensely significant as it will bring Luffy closer to his father, Dragon, and also poise him even moreso against the world Government, further alluding to the final arc that Oda has mentioned in interviews. The symbolism behind the death is also immense as it parallels Sabo’s earlier “death” at the hands of the World Government, but also will allow for the next major event (with further symbolisms and repercussions)
2. Coby will also be there. Coby will inherit Aces will, which I will explain later. He will be the only fitting person that Luffy will approve of that can eat the Mera Mera no Mi as both rivals and immensely close friends. There is further symbolism as Coby will become the new ‘Firefist’. He will therefore draw links between Ace and the Marines, which will fulfil Garps desire (to an extent) to have his grandson (embodied in the fruit) as a powerful Marine. Coby as the new inherent of both Sabo’s will and Ace’s will, will see about three things. He will also inherit Garps will, which is equivalent to Aces will. Coby, the Crab, will fight the Dog (that killed Ace, a previous eater of the Mera Mera no Mi) and the Monkey (that killed Sabo, a previous eater of the Mera Mera no Mi). Garp also wished to kill Sakazuki, as seen here:
Hence Coby also inherits Garps will to be a strong Marine and also to kill Sakazuki.
There will probably be a timeskip: between finding the One Piece and the Revolutionaries attack on the World Government. A big timeskip. This makes sense for a few reasons:
- Coby will be able to catch up to Luffy
- The Revolutionary army suffers a huge blow at the loss of Sabo, and will recuperate and become stronger as it clearly wasn’t strong enough to fight the World Government back on the Riverie Arc
- It makes more sense for the Pirate King to be at least in his 20’s or 30’s. Like it makes sense for Coby as a future Admiral, to be in his 20’s or 30’s.
Within this timeskip, we will see the following events occur:
-Smoker will replace Borsalino at some point, as Borsalino may quit the Marines. Due to his selfish nature he could quite easily get bored and leave, there is another reason that is explained below.
-This is, however, unfulfiling as Borsalino is left alive and the set of Admirals are Purple, Green and White. This does not complete a set of Secondary Colours. Due to the length of the Timeskip, the third generation ‘Firefist’ will develop in strength. Due to his rise in both popularity, fame and power, he will also become more aware of the worlds corruption. Still in pursuit of his dream, Coby will strive to become stronger. Now, he is the ‘Admiral Level’ Vice Admiral, paralleling Garp and being refused a promotion on two grounds.
1. Sakazuki will have a disliking for Coby due to their previous encounter in Marineford. This parallels Admiral Kongs disliking for Garp, (Kong Later became the Fleet Admiral). Although Kong is less irrational than Sakazuki, hence he is more reasonable and it is Garp who refuses the promotion. This time it’s the other way around and Sakazuki refuses the promotion. This gives Coby a reason to fight Sakazuki.
2. The Relationship between Kong and Garp is just like Monkey and Crab. Kong means Monkey. Hence: the relationship between Borsalino will be very strained. This is what will cause Borsalino to quit the Marines. Coby will already have a resolve to fight the Monkey.
3. So Coby will redeem himself by defeating the vagabond Monkey in a Pika Pika no Mi and Mera Mera no Mi round II. And he will fight and defeat the corrupt Sakazuki and again, defeat him in a Mera Mera no Mi vs Magu Magu no Mi round II
A final parallel I forgot to mention between Garp and Coby, although slightly different:
Coby will refuse the promotion to replace Sakazuki and will remain an Admiral as he’s already achieved his goal, he will have more freedom and be able to more freely seek out Luffy, the Pirate King.
It is important to note that both Smoker’s Moku Moku no Mi and then Coby’s Mera Mera no Mi will maintain the Devil Fruit pattern within the second Generation of Admirals, having one of each type, a Logia, Paramecia and Zoan.
Because the Dragons will fight each other, this leaves the Admirals to fight the three main captains of the Worst Generation:
Luffy will fight Coby, and they will finally have their epic battle after Coby catches up. This is a fight between two characters introduced in the same saga.
Law will fight Fujitora, a battle between Swordsmen. Law and Fujtitora both play a crucial roll in the Dressrosa arc.
Leaving Ryokugyu, the Green and corrupt Admiral, versus the equally evil and corrupt Captain Kidd. Both of these characters will play crucial rolls in the same, later arc.
Luffy fighting Coby will be an incredibly emotional affair as Luffy and Coby go way back all the way to chapter 2 and Coby is using both of Luffy’s dead brother’s Devil Fruit. What. A. Fight. That. Will. Be.
Conclusion
Sabo will die. Coby will eat the Mera Mera no Mi. Timeskip. Borsalino does a Kuzan and quits the Marines. Coby is refused position of Admiral. Coby kills Borsalino. Coby ousts Sakazuki. Coby becomes Admiral. Smoker becomes Fleet Admiral. Smoker will fight Dragon and Coby will fight Luffy during the Final War. Luffy and Coby will be fighting perhaps the most epic fight you will ever see, ever.
*Theory by L o g i a
ONE PIECE GOLD
