In a2018 interview with Yomiuri Shimbun,Eiichiro Oda said the following:
I don’t want to draw people dying; I just want to draw more post-battle feasts. I mean, how are you supposed to have a good time after someone just died? Those feasts are my ideal image of friendship. In fact, I’d like to end the series with a massive feast.
This quote, and the entire interview for that matter, gives a huge insight into Oda’s vision of howOne Piecewill end. This means that: 1)One Piecewill have a happy ending, 2) The “massive feast” is the endpoint of the series. This also means that any speculation that the fans want to make about the ending ofOne Piecewill have to be about something that happens before the final feast. In other words, it has to be about the mysterious “One Piece” itself. With that in mind, here are several ways the story ofOne Piececould end.
7Luffy Couldn’t Find the One Piece
It’s Just Not There
This first scenario is quite possibly the worst one. Here, after so many trials and tribulations, Luffy and the Straw Hats finally reach the promised land. The place where Gol. D. Roger left his treasures. The place where the mythical One Piece resides. The island of Laugh Tale.
Unfortunately, even after exploring the island, they just couldn’t find the One Piece. Maybe it’s broken, maybe it’s hidden, or maybe it’s not even there in the first place. Maybe it was just an elaborate lie that the Pirate King spewed in order tousher in the Golden Age of Pirates.After accepting that terrible fact, the Straw Hats claim the mountain of treasures, declare Luffy as the new Pirate King, and then have a massive feast with their friends and followers.
6The One Piece is an Intangible Object
It’s About the Journey, Not the Destination
The second scenario may not be as bad as the first, but it is definitely the most annoying one. After overcoming so many obstacles, Luffy and the Straw Hats finally arrive at Laugh Tale. But other than the mountain of treasures, there’s no One Piece in sight. As it turns out, the elusive One Piece is something intangible. It’s an idea, a concept, a philosophical and existential pursuit.
Remember that moment inthe firstKung Fu Pandamoviewhen Po opens the mythical Dragon Scroll only to see his own reflection? That’s basically what One Piece actually is. It’s not about the destination, it’s all about the journey. Maybe the real One Piece was the friends they made along the way. After accepting that annoying fact, the Straw Hats claim the mountain of treasures, declare Luffy as the new Pirate King, and then have a massive feast with their friends and followers.
5Luffy Destroys the One Piece
The End of the Era of Pirates
The third scenario may not be as bad as the first two, but it will still leave a bad taste in our mouths. After enduring so many ordeals and challenges, the Straw Hats eventually arrive at Laugh Tale. In this final island, they find mountains of treasures along with the mythical object known as the One Piece.
However, after discussing it with his crew, Luffy realizes that while the One Piece can be a source of motivation for many, it is also the object that drives people to become pirates. As the number of pirates grows exponentially, so doesthe rate of violent crimes that affect innocent people around the world.To prevent such a thing from happening again, Luffy decides to destroy the One Piece once and for all, thus ushering in the end of the Pirates era. After that, the Straw Hats claim the mountain of treasures, declare Luffy as the new Pirate King, and then have a massive feast with their friends and followers.
4Luffy Hides the One Piece
Nobody Can Find It
The fourth scenario bears the same intention as the third, but it is done in a less destructive way. After fighting and defeating so many dangerous and powerful opponents, Luffy and the Straw Hats finally set foot on the last island, the Laugh Tale. There, they find the mountains of treasures and the mysterious object known as One Piece. Similar to the third scenario, Luffy and his crew understand the negative impact of One Piece on the world. Its existence alone is enough to justify the crimes and violence perpetuated by the ever-increasing number of pirates.
However, Luffy just couldn’t find it in his heart to destroy such a priceless object. So he decides to hide it instead. This means even if there’s another Pirates crew that manages to reach Laugh Tale, they won’t find One Piece there. They may even decide to fool the world by saying that there is no such thing as One Piece. Therefore,only the Straw Hats know the secret of One Piece.After that, the Straw Hats claim the mountain of treasures, declare Luffy as the new Pirate King, and then have a massive feast with their friends and followers.
3Luffy Shows One Piece to the World
Live Streaming the One Piece
The fifth scenario is the start of the good ones. So after they defeat all the enemies that stand in their way, the Straw Hats finally disembark on the final island. As promised by the Pirate King himself, they find mountains of treasures and the ultimate prize, the One Piece.During the Marineford incident,the World Government broadcast Ace’s execution to the entire world. They turned that terrible event into a showcase of the Marines’ prowess over the pitiful pirates.
So, it’s only right that the moment Ace’s little brother held the mythical One Piece, the world needs to see it as well. All it takes is a proper Den Den Mushi, and everybody across the oceans will be able to see the sight of Luffy proudly holding the One Piece in his hands. After showcasing their success to the world, the Straw Hats claim the mountain of treasures, declare Luffy as the new Pirate King, and then have a massive feast with their friends and followers.
2Luffy Shares One Piece with the World
Humanity’s Greatest Treasure
The sixth scenario shares a similar intention with the fifth, but rather than simply showing it to the world, the Straw Hats go one step further. After years of sailing, fighting, and defeating every big name across the vast oceans, the Straw Hats finally arrive at Laugh Tale, the last island mentioned by the late Pirate King himself. And just like what Roger said before his execution, the One Piece sits proudly on the island, surrounded by mountains of treasures.
1Luffy Leaves One Piece Where He Finds It
Just Like the Previous Pirate King
This last scenario is perhaps the most likely ending for this legendary series. After overthrowing the tyrannical World Government and defeating every pirate that dares to stand in their way, Luffy and the Straw Hats proudly set foot on the promised land, the Laugh Tale. As expected, the treasures, the secret of the world, and the legendary One Piece it’s all there.
So, what does Luffy do with the One Piece? The answer is nothing. He let Robin study it as much as she wanted, and then just leave it where he found it,just like Roger.After that, the Straw Hats claim the mountain of treasures, declare Luffy as the new Pirate King, and then have a massive feast with their friends and followers. Following his predecessor’s footsteps, Luffy announces to the world that the One Piece is real, and that he leaves it at the end of the world. In doing so, the new Pirate King has officially ushered in another golden age of pirates.
