WMG / This Bites!

Open guesses

Other characters and their reactions to Omatsuri Island

• Not everyone's reactions were seen, so there are possible speculations:
  • The Big Mom Pirates would all be horrified by the evils of the Lily Carnation, especially since unlike their captain and her frenzies, the Lily premeditates. Though... Big Mom might've been disappointed the plant was destroyed and wished she could've gotten the Lily Carnation for her collection. Much to the silently unsettled yet relieved reactions of her children.
  • Kaido also would root for the Straw Hats because he wants potential allies and hates everything dishonorable. Orochi wouldn't care. Meanwhile Yamato would be rooting for the Straw Hats and hope Luffy could destroy that demonic plant for trying to take away his friends. Even stating it's exactly what Oden would've done if he was in Luffy's shoes.
  • Spandam would root for the Lily and the Baron. He is a slimeball who is willing to do anything to eliminate Ohara's legacy. Also, it would make his downfall even more karmic: he watched the Straw Hats suffer with glee while Cross was forced to gleefully show it to the world, so Cross used the SBS to make him suffer as well.
  • Aramaki would root for the Straw Hats, because he knows everything about plant life due to his fruit, and has the best knowledge about the Lily's evil next to Buggy.
    • Alternatively, Ryokugyu would wonder if he can recreate the Lily Carnation. Given how sadistic he really is, he'd probably want to use a similar plant to eat his enemies.
  • While Tashigi and Smoker were left horrified by what they listened before their Snail went nightmare mode on them. Should they had managed to get another Transponder Snail and listen to the rest of the nightmarish SBS, would've left them in a worse position. Tashigi left utterly horrified that her vitriol friend has become a raving lunatic and Smoker in outrage by Cross endangering the safety of his friends as his mind got more warped; realizing he really has gone mad. Even worse Tashigi would've outright cried in despair like Soundbite seeing Cross's supposed demise, and Smoker smashing something in fury at the loss of their secret comrade. Yet both being all the more supportive of seeing Luffy kill the Lily Carnate and saving his crew from that abomination.

More characters from the non-cannon materials will appear.

• Xomniac has already brought in characters like Popora from Unlimited Adventure and Douglass Bullet from One Piece Stampede. This likely will continue when the story picks back up in the New World.
  • World Seeker: Isaac will appear and just like in that game, he will want to take revenge on the World Government for everything they’ve done. Given his hatred of pirates as well as the government, he will initially stand against the Masons given they are composed of people from both the Marines and various pirate crews.

Cross will learn haki.

• Since Haki is pretty much a requirement to withstand even a shred of a chance in the New World…
  • Armament Haki if Lassoo and Funkfreed don't learn it themselves.
  • Observation Haki to better avoid any direct attacks and detect any unpleasant surprises. Then again Soundbite may also learn this in place of Cross or alongside his partner as they both gain Observation Haki.
  • Conquerer's haki emerging from his sheer willpower and drive to overthrow the corrupt world government and make his dream reality. Though given how rare Conquerors Haki is, has a 30/50 chance of happening, and possibly being a lesser variant to keep with Crossbrain's desired power level for Cross.

The Marines will undergo a schism after the War of the Best.

• After the War, the Marines will split into two factions: one dedicated to Moral Justice and led by Aokiji and/or Sengoku (let's call them the "Blue Marines"), the other by Akainu and his Absolute Justice (the "Red Marines").
  • Sengoku will have the Marines secede from the World Government after Cross tears apart his "sins of the parent" philosophy.
    • Cross will use Donquixote Doflamingo and Rocinante as an example.

How Imu will view Cross. And what they will want done with him.

• Cross has essentially become one of the ultimate enemies of the world government long before the Marineford war. Imu will likely have a great interest in Cross like they have in Luffy.

What may happen on Punk Hazard.

• When the Straw Hats learn from Cross what Caesar has been doing, especially his experimenting on children, they will make plans just like back at Thriller Bark and bring down the entire operation whole rescuing the kids.
• The New World Masons will take Caesar’s heart like Bege did during the Whole Cale Island arc. For as much of a scumbag Caesar Clown is, his knowledge and skills in chemistry are too valuable. So the Masons, especially Smoker and Tashigi, would make Caesar an offer he can’t refuse. Either he uses his skills and powers for good and be kept on a short leash or be left to the mercy of the World Government and pray he just gets thrown into an upper level of Impel Down as punishment.

Future members of the New World Masons will include...

Divine:

• Aries — Sengoku, likely after the War of the Best. Sounding more likely after chapter 63, when Cross admits to Law that he's hoping to recruit Sengoku at some point.
  • Looks even more likely due to announcing his intention to quit after Ace's execution after hearing Cross & Rayleigh reveal to the world that Gol D Roger turned himself in and him being captured was a lie perpetrated by the World Government in chapter 72. Chapter 82 only increases the likelihood of him joining after Sengoku makes his resignation official at the end of the War of the Best.
    • Not jossed, but postponed: in Chapter 84, the final pre-skip chapter (not counting the epilogue), Tsuru mentions that Sengoku agreed to remain with the Navy as an instructor, but only after taking three months off in his home ocean; she speculates that he'll be doing some soul-searching over that time.
• Gemini — As with Ox, this will be two members sharing a codename.
  • Maybe Coby and Helmeppo
    • Confirmed.
• Leo — Magellan. He's outraged at how the WG and the Navy are disregarding the laws they themselves established, especially regarding Impel Down's sovereignty and their excessive cruelty regarding the treatment of their prisoners. This could drive him to join the Masons if he learns of them. He would likely join after learning the "stupid reason" Ace is being executed. He would be given Leo as a reference to the manticore, as well as how he rules Impel Down as a reasonable, but iron-fisted king (which lions are often associated with).

  • Jossed, Magellan is a member of the Damned as "Boar"

  • Perhaps Garp if Cross calls him out on putting his job before his family and breaking his promise to Roger by letting Ace's execution go through.
• Libra — Issho/Fujitora
  • Looks to be more likely, as Cross specifically names him in Chapter 72 as someone to recruit over the time skip, even saying that he's certain that Issho will join.
• Taurus — Z, who finally changes his mind and accepts the position.
  • Jossed. Garp becomes Taurus.
  • Vegapunk. Despite what he’s done for the World Government such as the creation of of the Seraphim and Mother Flame, Vegapunk ultimately wants to help the world. And after learning all about what the Government has done, he’d likely join the Masons if it means using his science for the greater good and sticking it to the World Government.

Damned:

• Dog — ? (Edit: Answered in chapter 66, the Strong World aftermath chapter. Turns out it's Perona, though she insists on going by "Puppy" instead of Dog for the cuteness factor.
• Horse — Cavendish and the Beautiful Pirates
• Pig — ? (Edit: Answered in Marineford Misery, part 3. It's Magellan, warden of Impel Down.)
  • Probably Jewelry, given her appetite and hair color. It's a toss-up whether she'd be amused or pissed.
  • Likely a mix of both.
    • There's been speculation on the thread that Gild Tesoro of movie 13 will have a Heel Realization (courtesy of the SBS) and take up this spot, since the Pig represents wealth.
    • It will be 'Boar' and Whitebeard, a powerful, and good pirate in the new world, or his successor if he passes away. As for the choice of animal; that mustache of his looks like tusks, and what kind of animal has tusks?
• Rat — Hawkins (a reference to Basil of Baker Street.)
  • For:
    • In the Eastern Zodiac, the Rat has good compatibility with the Monkey. In the original story, Basil was seen interacting with Apoo (who has the Mason codename Monkey), making him a possible recruit.
  • Against:
    • Hawkins is shown to be very cruel, apathetic, and ruthless. He uses his Devil Fruit powers to transfer damage against him to others.
    • He also is possibly serving Kaidou unwillingly and the people he used it that manner were not of his crew. Just Orochi lackeys to whom he has no emotional attachment and are likely there to keep an eye on him. In the original material, Hawkins is also shown as being literally Nice to the Waiter and enforcing the same on his men.
• Tiger — Law and the Heart Pirates
  • Called it, as of chapter 61 (Road to Sabaody part 3).
• Snake — currently offered to Boa Hancock; she'll accept eventually. {Edit:She formally joins in Chapter 84, the last pre-Time Skip chapter).

Others (no codename specified yet) for the Damned:

• Worst Generation:
  • Capone Bege and the Fire Tank Pirates
  • Jewelry Bonney and the Bonney Pirates
  • (X. Drake, Basil Hawkins, and Urouge are also possibilities. Kid and Killer are highly unlikely.)
    • Though given the recent reveal with Drake being an undercover marine, it is a question whether he'll join the Divine or the Damned.
    • Drake could end up as Dragon, the one name previously declared persona non grata, if he does legitimately join them.
    • Given his declaration in Marineford Misery part 4, he's now a possible candidate again, seeing as how he's officially resigned from the Marines for real.
• Straw Hat Grand Fleet:
  • Leo and the Tonta Corps
  • Orlumbus and the Yonta Maria Grand Fleet
  • Ideo and the XXX Gym Martial Arts Alliance/Ideo Pirates
  • Sai and the Happo Navy
• Others:
  • Duval and the Flying Fish/Rosy Life Riders
    • Mostly confirmed at the end of the Sabaody Revolution arc; Duval is made a Mason under the Damned but not part of the Zodiac, given the codename Bison.
  • Jinbe / Aladine (possible new Captain if Jinbe chooses to leave his crew and join the Straw Hats) and the Sun Pirates
  • Magellan (Impel Down's warden may be cruel and strict, but he's also a decent man with unflinching morals and a strong belief in following the spirit of the law instead of the letter. He's also outraged at how the World Government and the Navy are disregarding the laws they themselves set. This could drive him to side with the New World Masons should they decide to recruit him. Because he's on the side of the law, he would likely join the Divine. But due to Impel Down's Hell motif, he could easily join the Damned.)
    • Confirmed. He joins the Masons as a member of the Damned due to Impel Down's semi-independent status from the World Goverment, specifically as Boar.
  • Kozuki Momonosuke. by the end of the Wano arc, he takes his place as new ruler of Wano. Likely, he'll want to see others across the world free as well.
  • Part of the Neo-Marines. Although in the original canon the Neo-Marines hate pirates to the point of wanting to kill them all, in this story Zephyr has been following the SBS and has sympathies toward the New World Masons. If the fic follows the movie enough to the point where Zephyr still duels Luffy and loses, concedes defeat, and holds off the Marines out of respect for him, some remaining Neo-Marines may be sympathetic enough to if not join the Masons outright, at the very least work with them
  • G-5. In the original canon they worked with the Straw Hats against Caesar Clown and Vergo, and eventually came to like them, despite their insistance that they didn't due to being Marines. Considering the Masons are filled with anti-corruption Marines that have gained sympathy for "good" pirates, this may be a way to reconsile their idenity as Marines while still liking the Straw Hats, while enforcing a new idea of justice against corruption (especially given the betrayal of Vergo, their commander).

A third source for codenames will have to be chosen.

• With the number of allies they're getting (especially pirates), they'll run out sooner or later, so they'll need a new source.
  • Divine can be expanded by adding other constellations in general (there's 88 in total), but Damned may need a non-Zodiac source.

On that note, here's a full list of the 88 constellations and who has or might get what (with confirmed identities in bold); each is sorted into one of three categories (human/mythological, animal, or inanimate object), and includes what it's based on:

Zodiac of the Divine (13 main signs)

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• Aquarius (human/mythological; water-bearer) — "Great Staff Officer" Tsuru
• Aries (animal; ram) — Sengoku "The Buddha"
• Cancer (animal; crab) — "White Hunter" Smoker
• Capricornus/Capricorn (animal; sea goat) — "Black Cage" Hina
• Gemini (human/mythological; twins) — Koby and Helmeppo
• Leo (animal; lion) — Momonga (original guess was Garp "The Fist", but he turned out to be Taurus instead)
• Libra (inanimate object; balance) — Issho / Fujitora
• Ophiuchus (human/mythological; serpent-bearer) — "Voice of Anarchy" Jeremiah Cross
• Pisces (animal; fishes) — "Inquisitor" Tashigi
• Sagittarius (human/mythological; archer) — "Chessmaster" Jonathan
• Scorpius/Scorpio (animal; scorpion) — "Ship Cutter" T-Bone
• Taurus (animal; bull) — Garp "The Fist" (original guess was "Black Arm" Zephyr)
• Virgo (human/mythological; virgin or maiden) — N/A (declared persona non grata on grounds of Vergo)

Zodiac of the Divine (75 other signs)

---

• Andromeda (human/mythological; wife of Perseus)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Antlia (inanimate object; air pump)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Apus (animal; Bird-of-paradise/Exotic Bird/Extraordinary Bird)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Aquila (animal; eagle)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Ara (inanimate object; altar)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Auriga (human/mythological; charioteer)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Boötes (human/mythological; herdsman)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Caelum (inanimate object; chisel or graving tool)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Camelopardalis (animal; giraffe)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Canes Venatici (animal; hunting dogs)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Canis Major (animal; greater dog)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Canis Minor (animal; lesser dog)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Carina (inanimate object; keel — part of the former Argo constellation)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Cassiopeia (human/mythological; mother of Andromeda)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Centaurus (human/mythological; centaur)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Cepheus (human/mythological; father of Andromeda)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Cetus (animal; sea monster later interpreted as a whale)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Chamaeleon (animal; chameleon)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Circinus (inanimate object; compasses)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Columba (animal; dove)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Coma Berenices (inanimate object; hair of Queen Berenice II of Egypt)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Corona Australis (inanimate object; southern crown that honors Semele, mother of Dionysus)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Corona Borealis (inanimate object; northern crown that was worn by Ariadne, wife of Dionysus)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Corvus (animal; crow)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Crater (inanimate object; cup)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Crux (inanimate object; southern cross)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Cygnus (animal; swan or Northern Cross)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Delphinus (animal; dolphin)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Dorado (animal; dolphinfish — not a marlin or swordfish, as is popularly depicted)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Draco (animal; dragon)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Equuleus (animal; pony)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Eridanus (inanimate object; river Eridanus in Hades)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Fornax (inanimate object; chemical furnace)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Grus (animal; Crane)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Hercules (human/mythological; Hercules)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Horologium (inanimate object; pendulum clock)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Hydra (animal; Lernaean Hydra/many-headed serpent)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Hydrus (animal; lesser water snake)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Indus (human/mythological; Indian of unspecified type)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Lacerta (animal; lizard)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Leo Minor (animal; lesser lion)
  • Claimed by: ? Since Jaguar D. Saul has been confirmed alive in the manga, as a former Marine, he'll join the Divine under this codename — but modified into "Little Leo" as something of a joke.
• Lepus (animal; hare)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Lupus (animal; wolf)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Lynx (animal; lynx)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Lyra (inanimate object; lyre / harp)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Mensa (inanimate object; Table Mountain in South Africa)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Microscopium (inanimate object; microscope)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Monoceros (animal; unicorn)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Musca (animal; fly)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Norma (inanimate object; carpenter's level)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Octans (inanimate object; octant or reflecting quadrant, a measuring instrument used primarily in navigation)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Orion (human/mythological; Orion the hunter)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Pavo (animal; peacock)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Pegasus (animal; Pegasus the winged horse)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Perseus (human/mythological; Perseus)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Phoenix (animal; phoenix)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Pictor (inanimate object; easel)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Piscis Austrinus (animal; southern fish)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Puppis (inanimate object; poop deck — part of the former Argo constellation)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Pyxis (inanimate object; mariner's compass)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Reticulum (inanimate object; eyepiece graticule)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Sagitta (inanimate object; arrow)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Sculptor (human/mythological; sculptor)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Scutum (inanimate object; shield of Sobieski, a Polish king)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Serpens (animal; snake)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Sextans (human/mythological; sextant)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Telescopium (inanimate object; telescope)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Triangulum (inanimate object; triangle)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Triangulum Australe (inanimate object; southern triangle)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Tucana (animal; toucan)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Ursa Major (animal; great bear)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Ursa Minor (animal; lesser bear)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Vela (inanimate object; sails — part of the former Argo constellation)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Volans (animal; flying fish)
  • Claimed by: ?
• Vulpecula (animal; fox)
  • Claimed by: ?
    • Guess: Carina, Puppis and Vela (as parts of a ship) will be claimed by shipwrights.

Perona will start carrying a weapon.

• While Soundbite has no limbs and thus can't use a weapon (outside of his Devil Fruit) and Su is looking for an upgrade period, Perona is the only other member of the Straw Hats who isn't using a weapon of some kind already, either as the focus of their fighting style or to augment their existing powers. She will remedy this at some point.

In a future arc, Cross will fight (either in battle or wits)...

• Sabaody Archipelago: Saints Roswald, Shalulia, and Charloss
  • After Saint Jalmolomew was killed by a group of commoners during the aftermath of the Enies Lobby incident, Roswald and his children will be taking greater precautions. They'll bring more guards and be more on the lookout for any of Cross' tricks.
  • Roswald will personally attempt to deal with Cross for what happened to Jalmolomew (if only to reassert the Celestial Dragons' hold on the populace) and will show a level of scheming and craftiness unseen in canon.
  • While Charloss was exposed early on, caught off-guard, he does try to shoot Cross once he figures it all out.

• Marineford: Admiral Akainu
  • To prevent Akainu from killing Ace, Cross gets his attention, sending the Mad Dog of the Marines after him.
    • Cross will mostly be distracting Akainu, keeping him busy while the others get Ace to safety.
    • Jossed; Cross wasn't even physically there.

• Fishman Island: Vander Decken IX
  • When Decken was first mentioned, he sounded like he would be the arc's major villain, only to be replaced by Hody Jones and reduced to a creepy, perverted stalker.
  • Xomniac has a knack for taking weaker or underutilized villains and turning them into legitimate threats, especially if they're Devil Fruit users.
  • Decken's improved abilities can be easily explained as him practicing and experimenting with them after listening to the SBS.
  • Like Absalom, Decken's creepy, perverted, stalker tendencies will not be played for laughs.
  • Decken's backstory will be expanded.
    • Decken's status as a fishman who can't swim and the legend of his mad ancestor could be used to give him a tragic backstory, similar to Perona. While it wouldn't excuse or justify his actions, it would help explain how he became who he was.
    • Vander Decken's infamous ancestor wasn't originally a fishman. His species was never confirmed in canon, but there are hints suggesting he might not have been a fishman like his descendant.
    • Hody's empty hatred for humans has been a point of contention for many fans. By expanding on Decken's backstory, Xomniac could turn him into a villain that shows the consequences of ceaseless hatred and prejudice in ways better than Hody could.
    • In addition to his crazed infatuation, Decken's obsession with Princess Shirahoshi was to complete his ancestors' quest of finding the Mermaid Princess who could command Sea Kings. Based on this and his original plan to age her into a woman with the Tamatebako so he could marry her, it can argued that he mainly sees her as a treasure he wants to possess rather than a person. This is further supported by his love of treasure and his disapproval of his angler fish devouring ships he hasn't looted yet.

• Totland: Streusen, Charlotte Anana, or Cracker
  • Cross' opponents tend to lean more toward the weaker or unexpected side (the Unluckies, Hattori, etc.) and these two fit the bill:
  • Streusen
    • Streusen is Big Mom's second-in-command and hasn't properly fought. His Cook-Cook Fruit also has a lot of untapped potential and Xomniac has shown to be excellent at taking an underused character and making them badass with nothing but their existing toolkit.
  • Anana
    • Cross stated that he "likes little kids as much as he likes writing essays" in Chapter 1 and Anana embodies that perfectly. This would give him the chance to vent out all the frustration Soundbite gave him.
    • Cross' finding out he's stuck fighting Anana would be hilarious, as is the image of a psychotic little girl chasing him around the castle trying to mutilate him with knives.
    • Anana will be given the Adaptational Badass treatment like Lola and Hattori. She may be young, but she's still a child of Big Mom.
  • Cracker
    • Both Cross and Cracker are cocky loudmouths who use unconventional powers and are incredibly squishy when it comes to injuries.
    • Cracker's Devil Fruit lets him create and control biscuits, Cross's one weakness.
    • Cracker will learn about Cross' biscuit allergy, capture him and use it torture him.
    • Cross won't be allergic to Cracker's biscuits due to them being hardtack biscuits, which are more like cookies.

Cross's Devil Fruit will be:

• Something light-based, to go with Soundbite's sound powers.
  • Building on that, Cross will get a Devil Fruit that lets him create mirages/illusions.
• Something that lets him regenerate, and Wyvern's bandages are for show (either to hide his powers or just to conceal it from his past self).
• Cross will be the one who ends up eating Vivi's Gust-Gust fruit.
  • Jossed. Vivi ate the Gust-Gust fruit herself during Strong World.
• The Cloth-Cloth Fruit that Vivi mentioned back in Water 7. Cross-Brain is most likely going to use Oda's pension for Chekhov's Gun.
  • That would make sense. Wyvern is wrapped up like a mummy, which fits the Egyptian theme of Alabasta, and gives him plenty of material to work with.
  • One the other hand, Goda at least is usually less obvious with his Guns. Cross building up injuries that require long term bandaging and a not infrequently mentioned Devil Fruit that controls cloth is hardly subtle.
• Mythical Zoan Imp-Imp fruit. A type of demon (Cross is a member of the Demon trio), often the familiar of witches ("Weather Witch" Nami), and, like fairies, imps are often portrayed as pranksters, without the reputation modern fairies have, Cross is also frequently mentioned as "smiling impishly". They are also portrayed as short and ugly, with would make people's reaction to Cross's powers amusing.
  • Alternately the Fairy-Fairy Fruit, because Cross with butterfly wing would be hilarious. It would also come with plant-based abilities.
• The Neko-Neko No Mi model: Cheshire. This would give Cross not just illusion-based abilities like invisibility and appearing as others but various other bizarre powers like what the cat shows in Disney's Alice in Wonderland. Perfect for both trolling and escaping danger.
• The Nagi-Nagi no Mi (Calm-Calm Fruit). Everyone wishes sometimes that Cross would shut up and not make a sound. With this fruit, Cross ends up becoming a soundless man.
• When they reach Raftel, they find Roger's ultimate treasure, the Kami-Kami no Mi (God-God Fruit). Events will force Cross to eat it, at which point he will realize that he is B.R.O.B. and thus a literal self-insert character by means of a stable time loop.
  • Debunked by Word of God; CV12Hornet confirmed on SpaceBattles that this is not within the Cross-Brain's plans.
• The Swamp-Swamp Fruit
  • Cross primarily fights with fists, feet & Gadgets, such his right palm's impact dial for example. This Fruit allows it's user to store weapons & gadgets internally for later use, such as the canon chain gun.
  • As stated when Vivi found out about the Hot-Hot Fruit, one of the problems with getting a Devil Fruit is that the prior user has to die first. Luckily, this particular Fruit belongs to a Slaving Piece of scum unlikely to survive Fishman Island, and since the Fishmen have no use for something that robs their ability to Swim, the executed slaver's DF will be gifted to their Hero, Cross.
  • Also, while it would be over-powered in paridise, a logia wouldn't guarantee a win, or even one minute's survival, in a New-World mook fight.
• Cross might get an original Devil Fruit known as the Comic-Comic Fruit (or Manga-Manga no mi in Japanese)
  • The fruit's powers will give him the ability to manifest volumes of Manga and copy the powers represented in the pages.
  • Such powers might include:
    • Comi-Copy (Shadow Clone Jutsu — Naruto)
    • Comi-Cruise (Astro Boy's rocket feet — Astro Boy)
    • Comi-Create (Alchemy — Fullmetal Alchemist)
    • Cani-Comi Combo: Fire Dog-gun Howl (Fire Dragon Roar — Fairy Tail)
    • Pachy-Comi Combo: Bankaivory (Bankai — Bleach)
    • and of course, Comi-Hameha (KameHameha — Dragon Ball Z)

Carrot will join the Straw Hat Pirates full-time.:

• Cross-Brain have shown themselves to be quite fond of the ascended extra trope, and this would fit in with that. Especially since many One Piece fans had hoped Carrot would become a Straw Hat given her time on the crew during the Whole Cake arc, but unfortunately never came to pass. But given Cross’s charisma when he comforts Carrot over Pedro’s death and when she wasn’t strong enough to face Perospero may decide to join the Straw Hats to get stronger and never lose another a dear friend again.

Cross will broadcast the horrid conditions and tribulations the denizens of Wano have gone through on the SBS.

• Cross will definitely be having a field day as for several SBS' will be filming and letting the whole world see what the land of Wano has become and how the false shogun has committed crimes against humanity. Needless to say the world will be reacting with immense horror and sympathy alongside rally support to aid Wano as they see what the people of the island go through.

When the Straw Hats reach Zou, Cross will completely no-sell Wanda's attempts at revenge.

• If Wyvern is an accurate representation of how much stronger he'll be post-time skip, he should at least be able to match blows with her. He'll also (most likely) have Soundbite, Lassoo, AND Funkfreed backing him up.

After the time skip, Cross will incorporate new programs into the SBS in a similar vein as "Soundbite's Music Corner" and "Cooking with Sanji". A few potential programs:

• Diplomacy and Etiquette with Vivi

(Vivi gives tips and lessons on proper decorum and conduct that royalty should exhibit, along with advice on diplomacy and negotiation tactics.)

• Ship Care with Franky and Merry

(Franky and Merry speak on the finer and broader points of ship maintenance, care, and repair.)

• Chopper's On-Air Clinic

(Viewers can call in and ask Chopper for advice and treatment for any ailments or maladies they might have.)

• Soul King Live

(A timeslot for Brook to play his music or answer questions from his fans around the world.)

• Historical lessons with Robin

(Robin will get the chance to teach others her vast knowledge of culture and history to keen viewers and be able to interact with them and help broaden their own knowledge of lost history(excluding the Void Century for obvious reasons) and probably be better education than what they receive in school.)

• Martial arts lessons and tips with Jinbe

(A time slot for Jinbe to give health and martial arts tips for those learning.)

As the Straw Hats depart for Fishman Island, Cross will do a very special broadcast; :

Luffy: This is "Straw Hat" Monkey D. Luffy!

Zoro: "Pirate Hunter" Roronoa Zoro!

Nami: "Weather Witch" Nami!

Usopp: "Sniper King" Usopp!

Merry: "White Menace" Going Merry!

Sanji: "Black Leg" Sanji!

Cross: "Voice of Anarchy" Jeremiah Cross!

Soundbite: "Voice of Anarchy" Soundbite!

Chopper: "Spark of Genius" Tony Tony Chopper!

Vivi: "Corsair Princess" Nefertari Vivi!

Carue: Cawue the Duck!

Lassoo: Lassoo!

Boss: "Man of the Sea" Boss Dugong!

TDWS: "Disciples of the Sea!"

Mikey: Mikey!

Donny: Donny!

Raphey: Raphey!

Leo: And "Half-Shell Blade" Leo!

Robin: "Devil Child" Nico Robin.

Conis: "Angel of Destruction" Conis!

Su: "Cottontail" Su!

Franky: SUPER! "Cyborg" Franky!

Funkfreed: Funkfreed!

Brook: "Soul King" Brook! Yohohoho!

Billy: And Billy!

All: AND WELCOME BACK TO THE SBS!!

The SBS will drastically change the Fishman Island arc:

• Due to Cross's broadcasts about fishman, slavery, and tolerance, Hody Jones and the New Fishman Pirates will likely lose a lot of support. Their followers will realize how stupid and pointless their motives are and quit, bringing in even more support for Otohime's vision of equality.
• Jinbe and Neptune will likely start keeping a closer eye on Hody as well, throwing an even bigger wrench in his plans. They may even be able to keep him from getting the Tamatebako and the Energy Steroids (or at least keep him from getting more than a few).
  • Because they won't be able to rely on the Energy Steroids, the New Fishman Pirates will be forced to revise their plan, become stronger, or find an alternate power-boosting drug.
• This will give Hody a serious grudge against Cross and he'll make it his personal mission to destroy him for ruining his plan to take over Fishman Island and exterminate the human race.
• While extremely unlikely, Cross' actions may be able to persuade some of Hody's officers to pull a Heel–Face Turn. After losing so much support, they may start to rethink their beliefs and have second thoughts about the plan. A possible tipping point could be when Hody attacks or even kills one of their own in a fit of rage, causing a schism.
  • Because their hatred had been drilled into their skulls for so long, the defectors would still be disdainful and distrusting of humans, just not to genocidal extremes.
  • After Hody is defeated and witnessing him suffer the rapid aging side-effects of the Energy Steroids, they would have a begrudging respect for Cross for ultimately saving them from sharing their former captain's fate.
• Cross sent a letter to Princess Shirahoshi with a number for her brother, Fukaboshi, presumably with information about Hody Jones and Vander Decken's plans. The royal family would have solid proof to go after the New Fishman Pirates, especially after Cross proved to Jinbe that Hody murdered Otohime.
• Chew and Kuroobi will participate in the battle against the New Fishman Pirates.
  • The two were horrified upon learning that they're responsible for twisting Hody and his friends, once little kids who looked up to them and Arlong as heroes, into bloodthirsty, xenocidal killers. Once they learn what's going on in Fishman Island, they'll race down there as soon as possible to stop him and see what he's become.
  • The two will try to reason with Hody and get him to stop, if only to stop him from hurting his own people and trampling Queen Otohime's legacy. Obviously, their pleas will fall on deaf ears, forcing them to fight.
• Hody and Vander Decken will be joined by Arlong.
  • Arlong is ultimately responsible for everything that happened in this arc, so having him return seems appropriate.
  • While Arlong has yet to canonically appear post-Timeskip, it's highly unlikely that he will, making this the perfect opportunity for Cross-Brain to bring him back.
  • If Cross' letter to Shirahoshi does throw a wrench in Hody's plans, he might not be able to put them in motion anymore. Unless of course, he had some help. And who better to help the captain of the New Fishman Pirates' plan to destroy all humans than the fishman who set him on that path in the first place?
    • In the event Arlong does return, potential contradictions can be avoided by keeping his whereabouts as vague as possible. Alternatively, these contradictions could be chalked up the SBS causing some kind of Butterfly Effect, resulting in things happening differently.
    • With Nami becoming even stronger than she was in canon, it'd be a great chance to both show just how powerful she's become TB!post-Timeskip, as well as finally give her the chance to defeat the monster who murdered Bellemere and put her through hell with her own hands.
    • Alternately, Arlong will have found out about Hody's actions (maybe Jinbe visited and told him) and will return to Fishman Island to bring Hody to justice himself.
• Koala coming with the Straw Hats to Fishmen Island would add more plot significance to this battle. Especially should Arlong make a return and thus another former Sun Pirate coming to this arc. Leading to Hody getting a good dose of the pure fury Koala will have against him and his crew who are spitting in the face of everything Fisher Tiger created the Sun Pirates for the sake of their empty hatred. Thus leading to a clash between them as Koala deals blows to Hordy thanks to the Fishman Karate she learned in Fisher Tiger's honor; which would outrage Hody to see a "human" learn a "martial art meant for fishman". Yet when the hateful Fishman further rebukes Fisher Tiger's act of saving her, will only add more rage to Koala as she fights Hody. Yet their battle may lead to a either stalemate or Koala getting unfortunately overwhelmed when Hody goes overdrive with the Energy Steroids.
  • Not to mention should Arlong return would also allow her to confront Arlong for the atrocities he committed on Nami’s island and prevent him from adding more ruin to the ideals of coexistence between humanity and Fishmen.
    • There will be a callback to Cross revealing the truth of Otohime's murder. Only this time it's Koala blinded by pure rage at the former Sun Pirate's hatred and what it's caused. Only this time it's Cross who tries to stop her from killing Arlong and Hody since he already knows what overdosing in those energy steroids would eventually do to the New Fishman Pirates

Cross will get his own archenemy.

• To keep things interesting and screw with Cross even more, BROB will drag another person from the real world to give Cross an evil counterpart. The "Anti-Cross" will be required to defeat/kill Cross or he'll never be allowed to return home.
• Anti-Cross will have several advantages Cross won't:
  • A smartphone or tablet with unlimited battery life and Internet. This will allow him to look up information on the story whenever he wants.
  • BROB will give him all kinds of Mary Sue/Marty Stu-esque powers. Cross is a rare example of a self-insert character done right, so it would make sense for his Evil Counterpart to be everything wrong with these kinds of characters.
  • A Devil Fruit.
    • Calm-Calm Fruit: Cross and Soundbite's signature techniques are centered around weaponized sound and ventriloquism, so who better to serve as their nemesis than a Soundproof Human?
• Anti-Cross' Personality
  • Anti-Cross will be polite, quiet, and cautious, since Cross is sarcastic, mouthy, and an adventurous.
    • While Cross loves getting into dangerous situations and intense thrills, they give Anti-Cross severe nausea or panic attacks.
  • While Cross is brave, loyal, and compassionate, Anti-Cross is cowardly, selfish, and ruthless.
    • Anti-Cross' nastiness will be mostly out of fear, desperation, and rage than malice.
  • While Cross believes that he can change the world into a better place (and he has to some degree), Anti-Cross feels the world is too far gone to be worth salvaging and thus, anything we do to try to change it will be pointless in the long run.
  • Another possible personality of Anti-Cross could ironically be the most benign(which isn't saying much as it falls more in line with a figure like Z at best) this being Anti-Cross was a major One Piece fan who cherished the series and the memories it gave them; and while thrilled to be sent to One Piece…was absolutely outraged by what Cross had done and the changes he did to the crew and the world. Viewing them as detrimental and ruining the story Oda crafted because Cross "didn't like how it went" and may drive the point of how his changes weren't entirely positive and had major consequences like Vivi being exiled. Thus Anti-Cross may work to take down Cross and stop him from completely "ruining the story" as B.R.O.B promised to erase this timeline and send him to the original One Piece timeline should he do so. Thus paralleling the differences of a person who has knowledge but is downright selfish and a too traditionalistic, to someone who is reckless yet selfless and doesn't give a damn so long as things are better for everyone.
  • Anti-Cross enjoys making out of series references, while Cross hates them.
  • Anti-Cross dislikes One Piece and possibly shonen manga/anime in general.
  • Anti-Cross will join an enemy faction, likely against his will:
    • Blackbeard Pirates: The Blackbeards are looking more and more like Evil Counterparts for the Straw Hats already, so it makes sense for them to have their own self-insert/real-worlder.
    • Marines/World Government: After Sakazuki becomes Fleet Admiral and learns of Anti-Cross, he'll immediately have him drafted into the Navy to make use of his impossible knowledge. Alternatively, the Cipher Pols will get him instead.
• Alternatively, the Anti-Cross will be a certain evil character whose fate in now ambiguous, who is the very person Cross hates the most, who starts very weak but he makes a big (negative) impact to the world regardless and whose weapon in now in Cross's possession. Spandam, whom B.R.O.B will empower, promising him revenge.

Charlotte Pudding will join the New World Masons as a "Cleaner".

• Pudding ate the Mem-Mem Fruit, allowing her to erase and alter memories, making her an ideal ally.

The return of "Bridezilla Vivi" when the Whole Cake wedding occurs.

• It was already hinted at during the arranged marriage between the Accino and Hiruno Families with Soundbite being transmitted with most likely B.R.O.B's laughter at Cross hoping there wouldn't be another wedding. Only to later dive into a bigger and grander arranged marriage between Sanji and Charlotte. Aaaaand cue the return of Vivi's tyrannical wedding planning persona should she come to Whole Cake. And might be even worse since her determination to plan another "perfect wedding" could make even Big Mom or her other children slightly nervous. Heck perhaps when it's literally mentioned Soundbite subconsciously plays an ominous orchestra out of pure fear when they hear of it.

Bege will marry Lola instead of Chiffon.

• After making her stronger, more relevant to the story, and a personal motivation to deal with Big Mom, having Lola finally find a husband seems like the next logical step for Cross-Brain.
• Bege is the most logical choice, as it would allow for him and the Firetank Pirates to still participate in the Totland Arc like in canon.
• Having Cross inadvertently Retgone one of the series' sweetest married couples sounds like the kind of thing B.R.O.B. would find entertaining, especially if it hurts Chiffon.
  • Marrying Bege and having Pez gave Chiffon hope and happiness. If Bege marries Lola, she'll be alone and continue being abused by her mother with no hope of escape or any kind of solace. She may even grow to hate or resent Lola.
  • Assuming he isn't retconned as Lola's son, Pez will never be born. If Cross ever learned about how things went in canon, he would have erased someone out of existence, something B.R.O.B. would likely torment him with.
• Alternatively, Bege will still marry Chiffon, but Lola will end up marrying one of his crew.

Joconde will be among the Charlotte children changing sides.

• Since Macarron was her immediate older sister before being Unpersoned, Joconde will harbor a secret hatred of her mother over what happened to her sister. Like Chiffon (who remains fond of her twin Lola), she's secretly intending to rebel when she can get enough help to do so.
  • On a related note, Macarron will be identified as Joconde's older twin.

The Emperor's offers

• Kaido's invitation was probably legitimate (and Whitebeard's offer of a friendly alliance was guaranteed to be). Big Mom, on the other hand, was probably trying to draw them into a trap, given her reaction to seeing Luffy as basically Roger reincarnate, and their friendship with Lola.

Raijax from Ripples, Waves, Tsunamis will appear.

• Nami asks Hachi whether or not they found someone from Arlong's crew. It's heavily implied that this someone is Raijax, an OC from one of Xomniac's older fanfics. Introducing him to the story would allow for some entertaining meta-fiction and give B.R.O.B. more ways to mess with Cross' head.
  • He most likely will show up durring the Fishman Island Arc pulling a Big Damn Heroes moment.
    • As for how this would be possible:
  Cross: But it doesn't make sense! Raijax was a character I created. How can he be here!?
  Chopper: Maybe you didn't actually create him.
  Cross: Wh-What do you mean?
  Chopper: It sounds insane, but it's possible that you — and by extension, all other fanfic writers and the author of "One Piece"— have a sub-conscious link to this world and it's different alternate realities. So what you thought was merely imagination was merely a psychic memory of our crew's adventures in a different universe.
  Cross: *beat* Holy shit...
  • That was totally a reference to the Justice League episode "Legends" wasn't it?

Cross will be transformed by Sugar in the Dressrosa arc

• Cross being in the Straw Hats often meant taking the misfortune that his crewmates went through in canon (Eg: Nami's sickness from Little Garden, Enel's electric torture). Going by pattern, Cross would prevent Robin from being turned into a toy by sugar, but in the process get himself transformed. This will also show how much his presence has changed his crewmates when they forgot he ever existed.
  • This could also ironically be crucial in order to knock out Sugar as Usopp did in the arc. As shown, Sugar's fruit memory erasure is powerful, but it does not affect physical evidence of those transformed such as an inscribed name or an engraved statue, and highly perceptive individuals can pinpoint that something is amiss, even if they cannot acknowledge what it is. But what is overlooked - or never addressed - is the extent of how much Sugar is drained/affected in order to remove said individual from EVERYONES memories. Story-wise, the most important people she has ever removed from people's memories are Robin (important to the crew) and Kyros (important to the island nation). But Cross? He is too significant and crucial to the changes that occurred in the world in the last 2 years alone. To remove him would mean the fruit somehow justifying multiple nations going revolutionary, Marines rebelling, the Masons, the SBS, etc. Xomniac and crew have always shown talent in exploiting the smallest of Devil Fruit factoids and having Cross pull off this Ace-in-hole during the darkest hour of the arc just screams Xanatos Gambit.

Smiley, the giant, slime axolotl from Punk Hazard, will join the Straw Hats as the next animal companion.

• When Brook asked Cross is he was collecting Zoan weapons, Cross thought back to Smiley, but dismissed the idea. When Punk Hazard happens, Smiley will join the Straw Hats; turning it into a classic case of Oda-style foreshadowing.
  • Smiley's original poison slime-gas form will be destroyed like in canon, but the Sala-Sala Fruit will end up in the Straw Hats' possession at the end; likely due to them raiding Caesar's lab for food, resources, and medicine. Chopper will attempt to study the fruit to aid in his Zoan research, and in the process, accidentally have the fruit eaten by an object or weapon, reviving Smiley.
    • Smiley will merge with a piece of Chopper's lab equipment, like Indigo's revolving syringe gun.

• Personality and Voice Reference
  • Disney character.
    • Minnie Mouse or Daisy Duck if they decide to make Smiley female.
    • Alternatively, they could go with a Disney princess like Elsa or Rapunzel.
    • Or, as a more obscure reference, a character from Gravity Falls.

  • Other Ideas
    • Morty. Instead of Cross, Smiley becomes Chopper's animal companion, and is very insecure and nervous due to just being reborn. Chopper being a mad scientist doesn't help things.
    • Alternatively, Smiley acts like Rick and does things like constantly get into Zoro's booze stash or gets high/intoxicated on Chopper's chemicals.

• Abilities
  • Going from the syringe gun theory, Smiley could inject people with different medicines and poisons by morphing part of his body into a syringe.
  • If Smiley is small, they could sneak up on an enemy and knock them out with sleep serum or paralysis toxins.

Sanji's brothers will be given some Hidden Depths.

• In canon, it's implied that Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji may not be completely heartless. They're terrified of Big Mom's people collection, find Nami attractive, and ultimately respect Sanji's abilities enough to give him his own Raid Suit. This has led to the theory that the drug Sora took that kept Sanji's genetic modifications from taking effect had a lesser effect on them and that they have the potential to regain some of their lost humanity. At the very least, they'll have a grudging respect for Sanji for how far he's come.

• Examples and ideas:
  • Niji will apologize to the maid he attacked, even if he doesn't understand why he feels bad about it.
  • Ichiji secretly takes the Card-Carrying Villain motif seriously and relishes in all the Super Sentai/Kamen Rider tropes surrounding his family. During the battle with Big Mom, he'll even request that Sanji wear his Raid Suit into a battle with the Big Mom Pirates, just so they can have a full set of five fighters.
  Ichiji:"Alright. Given the circumstances, it seems we have no choice. Until Big Mom and her forces are defeated and we can get out of here, Germa 66 are officially allies of the Straw Hat Pirates."
  Luffy:"Fine by me."
  Ichiji:Mmm. That being said. *turns to Sanji* Sanji."
  Sanji:"What is it?"
  Ichiji:"If we're going up against an Emperor's crew, you're going to need this."
  *Ichiji holds out the Stealth Black Raid Suit canister.*
  Sanji:"That's...!?"
  Yonji:"Is that the Stealth Black Raid Suit!?"
  Niji:"No effin' way!"
  Reiju:"Ichiji...are you serious?"
  Ichiji:Deadly serious. If we're going to stand any chance of getting out of here alive, we need the full power of Germa 66's elite attack unit."
  Niji:Are you out your damned mind!?"
  Yonji:This is Sanji we're talking about! His lineage mods don't work! He doesn't have any Devil Fruit powers! He's a pathetic piece of shit! Father even staged his own death just to—"
  Ichiji:This pathetic piece of shit pulverized your face into pate the second he saw you! And honestly, given the chance, he'd probably be able to do the same thing to me! Mods or no mods, Sanji has proven himself worthy of Germa 66 and the name of Vinsmoke, and I'll ash anyone who says otherwise! Got it!?"
  * Everyone stares in shock*
  Sanji:"The hell...?"
  Reiju:"Ichiji..."
  Cross:"I'm guessing that's not normal?"
  Reiju:"It shouldn't even be possible."
  Ichiji:Ugh...That was weird. Anyway..."
  *Ichiji extends the Raid Suit canister to Sanji*
  Ichiji:"My point is, unless you want to die out there Sanji, you're going to need Stealth Black. Hell, I'll even let you keep the damn thing when this is all over."
  Sanji:"Are out of your mind!? I'd rather eat my shoe leather than use any of your damn—"
  Ichiji:"Will you just shut up and take it already!? If you don't use it, you're going to die!"
  Sanji:"Why do you care!? After everything you did to me, why would you care about me now!?"
  Ichiji:"I don't know!"
  Sanji:"What?"
  Ichiji:"I...I don't know! For the past year or so, I've been feeling... weird. My stomach aches and I feel like I'm going to throw up. My heart starts pounding like a machine gun, even when I'm not fighting. I break out in a cold sweat whenever I think about our previous jobs! And I can't stop thinking about everything we did to you!"
  *Ichiji grits his teeth.*
  Ichiji:"Then I saw you at the fortress, and everything started getting worse! I know I'm not sick, I can't get sick! All I know is that you're the source of all this! So just suck it up, shut up, and take the damned can so we can fight together as fa...aa...aa..."
  *Everyone looks on in shock, especially Sanji and his siblings. Ichiji's face goes blank for a second, but quickly returns to normal*
  Ichiji:"Uuuugh...as a...complete unit. One time, then we'll never see each other again. Got it?"
  *Sanji looks at Ichiji in disbelief as a single tear streams down his otherwise, emotionless face.*
  Sanji (smiles):Yeah, I got it."
  *Sanji takes the Raid Suit canister.*
  • Yonji, being the most ill-tempered and dickish of the trio, would likely have to be coerced into giving their "worthless, runt brother" some credit, but he would likely give Sanji at least back-handed compliment before he leaves.

  • Reiju will wish to join the Straw Hats but unfortunately can't due to Judge's mods making her physically unable to disobey, let alone disown her father.

Conis slowly becomes a Lunarian.

• Alright admittedly, the premise sounds more than a little ridiculous, but there have been hints of this happening. Due to Conis consuming the SIQ tainted bushmeat on Melville it caused dormant Skypiean evolutionary traits to awaken and give her the ability to make her once vestigial wings massive and capable of flight. But when introduced to the harsh and volatile warzone of Eden's Cinders may not only let her train to use her wings beyond gliding, but further cause these dormant genetics to awaken from such a dangerous environment and remnants of SIQ in her system. Leading to a slower yet similar case of beneficial Atavism like what happened with Ryu once he consumed a chunk of those IQ plants. Such as her wings becoming black which may be scoffed off from getting dirty from the ashes of the warzone, getting "darker skin" and perhaps even growing as tall as Brook. But later on during Wano could be where this lineage fully awakens and Conis is capable of shifting between Skypiean and Lunarian forms.
  • To add some credence to this theory however, many theorize that the Skypieans are descendants of the Lunarians who came from the moon, or even creations of the ancient Skypieans who used knowledge of the Lineage Factor to create these incredibly powerful versions of their race. Thus Conis being capable of developing a Lunarian form could be proof of this lost historical ancestry, and make a fight between her and King more fitting as she will immediately realize what King is from his wings alone. Yet King may rebuke Conis as a faux Lunarian imitating his race, and having no understanding for what someone like him has gone through.

Vivi's training grounds are a Secret Test of Character.

• Kuma didn't send Vivi to her island in the Grand Line just to train her combat abilities. It's to force a choice on her she never had to make initially. Now that she's back in Alabasta, Vivi has to choose between friends and family. Does she stay in Alabasta, help now that they've separated from the World Government? Or does she train and return to the Straw Hats? She never had a choice when she initially joined the crew, branded as she was by the Celestial Dragons. Now she has to decide. And that's the real point of her training. Subconsciously, the yearning for home has been holding Vivi back, a doubt in the back of her mind of where her loyalties lie. Once she makes her decision, then that will unshackle her. Vivi will be able to devote herself entirely once she has closed off the other path of her own volition.

Cross films Luffy's battle against Katakuri on the SBS and stops Flampe from crippling Luffy.

• There is no way Cross would miss the chance to film one of the greatest battles in One Piece and show the world Luffy's might as he fights the second strongest member of the Big Mom Pirates. Alongside break the moral of his siblings when seeing their strongest brother defeated. But more importantly, would be there to stop Flampe from sabotaging his captain's fight and outright lead to a clash between them, and while may be trouble given her speed advantage and goons, Cross is still much stronger and this all fits his usual criteria. Even more so as while pre-timeskip Cross would've had trouble with Flampe, Wyvern will take her down with ease. Alongside defending Katakuri's honor if she should try using the SBS to humiliate her big brother once his fanged maw is revealed and doesn't get the reaction she wants. Possibly earning the fury of those like Brûlée for trying to humiliate Katakuri, and earn some respect from Cross as he defends his honor from Flampe's petty attempts to earn attention.

During the The Whole Cake Saga, Soundbite will somehow end up projecting some, or all, of the musical songs that happen through out the arc.

• A result from either Soundbite's Time Skip training or maybe a weird resonance with Big Mom's Soul-Soul Fruit, the Straw Hats (and potentially the World if the SBS happens during them) will end up hearing all the different musical like songs that happen in the arc.

Consuming the Venom-Venom Fruit's poison with the Dark-Dark Fruit renders it inert.

• We know that, canonically, the downside of Blackbeard's Dark-Dark Fruit is that he lacks the Elemental Shapeshifter powers of standard Logias, and it actually intensifies the pain Blackbeard suffers from attacks. It's even been shown that things Blackbeard has absorbed can still hurt him, as noted when he swallows the people Aokiji froze. So, why wouldn't Magellan's poison just poison Blackbeard from inside? Because it's a physical substance, not energy. Heat and cold can harm Blackbeard from inside the void because that's how temperature works; it actively radiates. But poison is a chemical reaction; without actually interacting with Blackbeard's biology, it literally can't do anything to Blackbeard. So when Blackbeard swallows Magellan's poison in his darkness, it just sits in there until he lets it go, as harmless as water.
  • Apparently confirmed in Chapter 79, where Blackbeard uses venom he stored in his Black Hole to murder the World Pirates.

Cross' new allies and enemies during the Time Skip.

• Aside from Benedia, the young cannibal he's taking under his wing to rehabilitate, several beings are shown reacting to Cross's Rousing Speech to the inhabitants of Serpent — a large being listening in confusion, a giant spider planning to eat him, and a man with glowing hands who feels hope for the first time. It's clear that they're all going to be important during Cross' time on Serpent, but the question is how?
  • The giant could go either way — if it's one of the island's guardians, it'll be an enemy (at least at the start, with a possibility of being talked into a Heel–Face Turn), and if not it'll become a friend right away.
  • The spider will probably be Cross' new Arch-Enemy, at least while on the island as it tries repeatedly to devour him, maybe even after as well if it manages to somehow escape and try to hunt him down.
  • The man with glowing hands will be a key ally and friend, and will probably keep hanging out with Cross after they escape Serpent.

Vivi will awaken the Gust-Gust fruit in the Dressrosa arc in a similar manner that Moria did

• The reason Moria awakens his fruit is him waking up to see his crew essentially annihilated by the Straw Hats, which is not only a huge shock in its own right, but also extremely reminiscent of Moria's former crew being horribly slaughtered by Kaido, with the two traumas correlating enough that the resultant Freak Out triggers the awakening.

• Vivi has spent years trying to stop and/or kill Crocodile, a Warlord of the Sea, who's pretending to be a savior of the country while actually ruining it for his own gain via a dark organization he leads. And when she finally succeeded, she was framed as a criminal, forced to leave the island, and then that same island immediately went to war again, but for her sake.

• While the situation with Dressrosa is different(and way worse)in many ways, the similarities are very clear. Doflamingo, a Warlord, ruining the country while pretending to be a savior and benevolent ruler. He's running a slave trade underground, not unlike Baroque Works. Viola is forced to work with someone she hates and wants dead to save her country. While not the actual princess, Rebecca is the daughter of the princess and is also forced to deal with the situation via gladiator fights. The similarities are there, and Vivi will not miss them.

• Factor in what Doflamingo pulled in Sabaody, and the many, many terrible things he has done before then, and Vivi will be baying for Doffy's blood more than anyone other than Luffy or Cross.

• Of course, even a Time Skip won't make Vivi strong enough to fight Doflamingo, at least without help. At best, she could take out his Black Knight. But suppose Doflamingo tries to Kick the Dog in Vivi's presence. He could force any two people to fight to the death. He could use his Conqueror's Haki on Cross again. Even the Birdcage might be enough to send Vivi over the edge.

• Granted, she's far saner than Moria, and has friends to calm her down, but the initial result will be horrifying and heartbreaking. What would likely be hurricane-force winds blowing in all directions in the middle of the kingdom would cause catastrophic damage.

• Her breakdown could be progressive even, as she witnesses more and more of Doflammingo's atrocities and slowly feels her volatile wrath rising, but has to keep suppressing it as both that and the memories about everything else she's been through add more to her mental strain. Until Doflammingo does something to make her finally snap and go berserk as her awakened devil fruit powers run amok; and even worse, could become what Robin feared temporarily. Thus leading to the archeologist needing to fulfill her promise and bring Vivi back to sanity before she gets out of hand.

The imposter Straw Hats will be Adapted Out.

• Thanks to the SBS, especially its visual component from Strong World onwards, everyone in the world knows what the Straw Hats look and act like. There's no way that Demalo and his crew will be successful in trying the same scam as in canon, least of all in Sabaody, where the Straw Hats were the driving force behind the revolution. If anything, there'll probably be mention of them trying and being run off by an angry mob and Fishmen guards trying to apprehend them for insulting the archipelago's heroes.

The Cross Guild will be named after Cross himself this time

• Considering not just their name, but their similar impact as well, it's very possible.

The dynamic between the leaders of the Cross Guild will be different

• In Chapter 1058, it's revealed that Buggy was named an Emperor because the poster for the Cross Guild made it look like Mihawk and Crocodile are Buggy's subordinates, and the two stronger pirates decide to go with it and make Buggy scapegoat leader despite their initial annoyance. Since Buggy in This Bites is an Adaptational Badass and had shown his power against Mihawk during Marineford, the two pirates might have more respect for the clown and treat him closer to an equal and less of a decoy or joke. Of course, they still would be unhappy to be mistaken as Buggy's subordinates if that still happens.
  • Crocodile would likely still want Buggy to be the scapegoat of anything goes wrong if just out of pragmatism.

Merry will learn to Walk on Water.

• Merry rightfully fears water as a Devil Fruit user and insists she can't swim anymore as a human or as a ship. But as the ships in the Locker tell her, she's never actually swam in her entire existence. Ships don't swim, they float. Applying the Semantic Superpower to her nature as a human ship, Merry will learn how to safely float along water and avoid sinking. She might sink if she's distracted, but this will be a great boon.

The "Rock Bottom Blaze of Glory" combination attack will return.

• Only this time, it'll be made even more powerful through the addition of several more attacks, and it'll be used not on an inanimate object but to finish off a powerful enemy... say, Imu or Blackbeard.

Cross and Uta will have a showdown

• When the event of One Piece Film: Red roll out, Cross will be the one to jump on Uta's stage instead of Coby and try and talk some sense into her. Uta will likely be very, very shaken by Cross' arguments and unfortunately may possibly become even more unhinged. As Cross's talk will have the opposite effect and worsen the situation. Unlike Luffy Cross has never hidden his dream to create a New Era of Freedom and Equality for all. But the Cross Brain alone knows what she will think of it.

Kaido and the Beast Pirates will all get a case of Adaptational Badass

• This was already pretty clear with the fact that Kaido is going to be spending an intermediate time training and sending his entire army at him to do it. But Chopper is planning on making a book on the Semantic Superpower of the Zoan transformations. And Sandersonia outright warns him of the dangers of the wrong people getting their hands on this info, stating Kaido's crew specifically no less.

There is a non-zero chance of Caesar Clown using this information to make his SMILES far more powerful. Any of the actual Zoans in the crew could wield their powers in any number of ways. Queen and King could already screw with their bodies in odd ways, and this would only help them further. Not to mention Queen finding out how to feed Devil Fruits to weapons or potential awakenings.

The Thousand Sunny will develop Conqueror's Haki.

• Like Merry, the Sunny will inherit abilities from his crew members. Vivi had her Sovereign's Will before he was built and Luffy unlocked his Conqueror's Haki by the events of Strong World. In the New World, the Sunny will eventually reveal his own will as the King of the Seas as Merry likes to call him. His Haki will only affect enemy ships, leaving them dead in the water (sails won't catch wind, rudders won't turn, etc.) for a few minutes to make for an easy escape.

Aokiji and Akainu will trade places in the continuum

• In canon, after losing to Akainu in their duel, Aokiji retired from the Marines and eventually made his way to Blackbeard's fleet as a captain. Here, with his new outlook on justice and sense of self, Aokiji might win the duel instead, especially since Akainu has lost an arm and is weaker—possibly prompting Akainu to leave the Marines over not being named Fleet Admiral, and then joining the pirate fleet most likely to let him do whatever he wants—Blackbeard's.
  • Unlikely. Akainu would never join a pirate's crew, even to kill more pirates. And especially not Blackbeard's. He's a marine through and through. The most I could see from him is pulling a Z and founding a new organization of Marines separate from the old.
  • Besides, both Aokiji and Akainu have made it very clear that in this timeline, the duel at Punk Hazard is NOT going to end with the winner showing mercy, regardless of whether the winner happens to be Akainu or Aokiji. Most likely the duel will just serve to exacerbate the rift between the Marines, with either Akainu winning at the cost of being crippled further and his detractors rallying around Fujitora, or Aokiji winning at the cost of being crippled and supporters of Absolute Justice rallying around Ryokugyu.

The first time Cross contacts Tashigi after the time-skip...

• She'll break down crying with relief after he confirms it's really him, because while she's still got her issues with him, she considers him a friend and was very upset upon seeing the newspaper that reported his "death".

The new Fruit Doflamingo has, as a coliseum prize

• Is the Cloth-Cloth Fruit, in order to serve as bait for Vivi. When she goes for it, he intends to capture her and turn her over to the World Nobles.
  • Naturally, this attempt fails and Cross gets its powers.

This Bites will further develop Sabo's Ryusoken

• Since Ace survived, Sabo will no longer have the Mera Mera No Mi and will need to strengthen himself somehow, so advancing in Ryusoken is a logical step.
  • The martial art consists of "hitting" and "grabbing" the core of something to exert pressure. Sabo could develop his Observation Haki to find that core more easily.
  • Thanks to Cross, Sabo could contact Boss to teach him the Shigan to have stronger "claws."

Pudding won't erase Sanji's memory

• Because of both having a place to go, Lola probably won't turn her back on her baby sister, and Sanji becoming more honest with his anger. Pudding won't have a reason to edit Sanji memory and will get a promise for him to come back to her.

Soundbite will have become an adult by the end of the timeskip

• It's easy to forget throughout the entire story, and with him awakening his Devil Fruit, but Soundbite is a baby Transponder Snail. While they're obviously not real creatures, it would seem fair to compare their lifespans to that of a real snail, which can live up to 10 years.

Chopper will give an Ironic Echo about the Human-Human Fruit

• When Merry first uses her Devil Fruit to turn human, Chopper is confused since he ate the Human-Human Fruit, when Vivi reminds him that Zoan Devil Fruits have different models such as Sengoku's Model Buddha, with Merry likely being the Model Child. Chopper will likely repeat the mention of different model fruits once it's revealed that Luffy's Devil Fruit is the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika.

"Hellcat" Carina will join the Straw Hats full time.

• After this story's version of Gold Carina not wanting to let her frenemy Nami have hall the fun will join the group as the teams Spy/Infiltrator, a role that they don't have but could use.

The Revolutionaries will be the ones to get the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.

• They'll seek it partly out of a desire to keep it out of the Blackbeard Pirates' or the Marines' hands, and partly so Sabo can return it to the Whitebeard Pirates, whom he regards as the rightful owners. Ace will then gift the Fruit and its powers to Sabo himself, with his fellow Commanders' approval.

Caribou's mysterious benefactor is Dr. Vegapunk.

• Dr. Vegapunk will have either have figured out Cross's secret or, after the events of Enies Lobby, would have realised just what the five Elders are capable. He would want to find the three ancient weapons to keep them safe or use as leverage against the World Goverment. Due to this Lillith was sent to find allies in the criminal underworld to gather information for Dr. Vegapunk.

Jossed

Cross will manage to save Ace's life during the War of the Best, but at a price.

• Cross will nearly be immolated by Akainu's Devil Fruit powers.
  • Cross' future self — Wyvern — is covered in so many bandages, he looks like a mummy. His encounter with Eneru, not Akainu, burned the flesh on his arms and legs so badly that he has to wear bandages to keep them stable and from hurting.

• Blackbeard will manage to steal the Tremor-Tremor Fruit from Whitebeard and use it to destroy the home islands of the Straw Hats and their friends and loves ones.
  • This scenario was depicted in one of the non-canon omakes and the creators have been known to incorporate omakes into canon if they're interesting or well-written.
  • While Luffy is still the Captain and a major character, Cross is the protagonist and viewpoint character of the story. Having him be the one to suffer and breakdown after the War of the Best would make more sense from a narrative standpoint.
  Cross: It's all my fault...
  Soundbite: Huh?
  Cross: I tried to fix it. Make it better. And I just made everything worse...
  * Cross punches the ground*
  Cross: I never should've come here. I should've let the story go like it was supposed to!
  * tears stream down Cross' face*
  Cross: I should've kept my big mouth shut...
  * Soundbite just looks away sadly*
  Cross: Pfffffhahahaha...
  Soundbite: C-Cross?
  Cross: Pfffffhahahaha...hahahahahaha...
  Soundbite: Croooooss...
  Cross: PFFFFHAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAA...!
  Soundbite: H-Hey, Cross! Snap out of it! Cross! CROSS!
  Cross: HAAAAaaaaaaaaaa...
  * Cross looks up at the sky, a grief-stricken, deranged smile on his face.*
  Cross: Whitebeard's dead. All our friends may be dead. Most of Paradise and over half the East Blue have been destroyed. And Teach is even stronger than ever. It's official...
  * Cross looks down sorrowfully.*
  Cross: This. Bites...
  • Answer to this guess: Jossed on all counts. Ace lives, but Cross wasn't even there, physically at least, and Whitebeard's body was incinerated before Teach could steal his fruit.

If Ace ultimately survives after the War of the Best, he will join the Straw Hats.

• After witnessing what Bleackbeard is capable of and surviving past where he should have died, Ace decides to join Luffy's crew to better improve his chances of defeating him next time, gratitude for Cross saving his life, and to spend some more time with his little brother.
  • With Ace surviving long enough to witness Whitebeard's death and final words, his brash, fiery temper will likely cool off some, making him wiser and more level-headed.
  • Ace will likely serve as the crew's Haki-instructor and a fellow front-line fighter or maybe even Luffy's Co-Captain.
• Due to the difference in power between Ace and the Straw Hats, he may need to be weakened to keep the crew from becoming too strong.
  • Solution: Ace will still take a blow from Akainu to protect Luffy during the War of the Best. But thanks to Cross' warning, things will be different and it won't be fatal, allowing him to be treated to Law. However, Ace will suffer extreme damage, requiring extensive physical therapy and even then, he won't be as strong as he used to be. This will bring him down to the Straw Hats' power level without seeming arbitrary.
• Possible Post-Timeskip Enhancements
  • Better Flame Control
    • Ace starts compressing his flame attacks into focused bursts instead of letting them flare wildly. These bursts have greater range and can pierce through enemy defenses like bullets.
  • Hotter Flames
    • Ace learns how to increase the temperature of his flames using Haki, represented by them turning blue. Doing so rapidly drains his stamina, though. (Similar to Luffy's Gear Second).

• Jossed; he's become Acting Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates.

The Sabaody arc will reveal that Saint Roswald personally issued Vivi her bounty.

• At some point or another during the Sabaody arc, Saint Roswald reveals that he himself put a price on Vivi's head, causing Cross and possibly even Vivi herself to attack the Celestial Dragon with a vengeance.
  • Jossed, but not far off; it was actually his daughter Shalria, and Vivi does end up attacking that person in retaliation shortly after Luffy punches out Charloss.

The final chapter before the hiatus/Time-skip will be The 1000th Review Spectacular, told from Wyvern's perspective.

• Jossed. It's a statement from B.R.O.B., along with a news article from the Free Feather Report showing the death of Cross and Soundbite.

Ace's Fate:

• The World Government will turn Ace into a human weapon much more dangerous than Kuma. It's why they have him drugged up and why the entire team of scientists have been captured for this.
  • Ace being converted into a Pacifista-type cyborg like Kuma seems even more likely when you look at who the scientists (besides Vegapunk) are: Ratchet is an engineer, Hogback is a surgeon, and Indigo is a chemist/biologist, all professions that would be useful in creating cyborgs. Heck, given his expertise in explosive and flammable gases, it wouldn't be surprising if they brought in Caesar Clown.
  • In Chapter 60, Cross notices that Ace's vivrecard showed he was going parallel to the Red Line, suggesting that he's on or near Sabaody. While he could just be being taken to Marineford for his execution, Tashigi revealed that the World Government has deployed a task force to find Cross' homeland and Buster Call it as punishment for the SBS. If Ace is being made into a human weapon like Kuma, this is likely what they're using him for.
  • In Chapter 64, it's revealed he's being kept in a prison ship and healthy in order to fool Vivre Cards (and the other two with him), and that they intend him to remain there until they've rebuilt their armies and thus would stand a chance against Whitebeard. Only then will he be executed.
  • Jossed. Ace is not augmented and does not die at Marineford.

Gol D Roger will speak with Rayleigh when the Straw Hats meet him

• Roger has already spoken twice through Soundbite to a single person. The first time was during Enies Lobby to help Luffy get up and fight Lucci. The second was to Shiki moments before Luffy defeated him, confirming the veteran's inevitable defeat by Roger's successor. When the Straw Hats meet with Rayleigh, Roger can say through Soundbite that he acknowledges Luffy as his successor and wants Rayleigh to train him. He could also thank Luffy for being there for his son, Ace.
  • Seemingly jossed; the Sabaody Revolution arc has come and gone and the Straw Hats were separated for the time skip training without any phone calls from beyond the grave. But could still happen post-skip.

Luffy will join the Sabaody New World Mason meeting, and learn about the Crew Split then

• During the process when Cross was explaining that Hody killed Queen Otohime to Jimbe in Chapter 60, we see from Luffy's point of view that he decided he can no longer be ignorant about the decisions that Cross and the other Masons make due to the burden on them. While this was subverted in 62 while on Skelter Bite, the circumstances in chapter 70, with their near-death by Kizaru and learning that Ace is a prisoner of the marines, are direr, enough that Luffy will join to get answers on to protect both his crew and his brother. And while he initially won't be happy that his Officers, Soundbite, Vivi, and Merry knew that the split would happen, he would understand that it is necessary for all of them to get stronger and survive the New World.
  • Jossed. Despite what happened, Luffy had faith in his crewmates, and entrusts Cross with making the plans that will aid the Straw Hats.

Sabaody Revolution will end with Sandersonia being captured and brought to Impel Down.

• We know based on the preview for the finale that Hancock will not be happy with Luffy at Amazon Lily. As such, what better reason for her fury than the capture and imprisonment of her sister? How else would someone as pronounced as Sandersonia manage to escape the Marines unnoticed? She has been such a prominent part of this skirmish that it is hard to miss her and for her to return to Amazon Lily in time for Luffy to be sent there is highly unlikely. Odds are, she will end up sent to Impel Down, perhaps as a secondary objective to recover during the Impel Down escape.
  • Jossed; the anger was neither Hancock's nor along those lines. At the end of the Revolution, Sandersonia left the island with Koala and arrived back on Amazon Lily three days later.

Blackbeard will seemingly be killed in the Marineford War.

• During the War, Ace will survive thanks to Cross' gambits and Whitebeard won't be stabbed by Squard, allowing him to be stronger during his final battle with Teach. Ultimately, Whitebeard will still die, but he'll take Teach with him. Teach won't die and will possibly still gain the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, but due to severe injuries he received, his plans will be delayed significantly so he can recover.
• This lures Cross into another false sense of security, or at least have a gut feeling that Blackbeard's still out there due to his cockroach tenacity.
• Jossed. Despite failing his mission this time, he's confirmed as having been alive when he left.

Irian ate the Cloth-Cloth Fruit.

• In chapter 75, Akainu is seen interracting with one of the fighters he recruited from the New World: a woman named Irian. There's some evidence that suggests that Irian ate the Cloth-Cloth Fruit, the Grace of Alabasta.
  • Both Irian and the Cloth-Cloth Fruit are completely original to This Bites.
  • Irian was shown gushing about the cloth her new outfit it made of, and says that she intends to buy all the cloth she can when the war is over.
    • Jossed: Irian ate the Chord-Chord Fruit, which lets her control people and objects by setting a rhythm for them to follow.

Cross will get access to the information of the new arcs (Zou, Totland, the Reverie, and Wano), but only right after Dressrosa.

• This way B.R.O.B. can be entertained with Cross's despair and anger at failing to help the Minks in some way against Jack and Sanji being taken for the wedding.
  • Seemingly jossed; The Patient One stated in November of 2018 that whatever the boon B.R.O.B. would grant Cross once his future knowledge ran out, it would not be a liability any more than the transceiver is, and it would not be from the real world.

How Blackbeard could have killed Magellan.

• The second chapter of the War arc reveals that Blackbeard defeated Magellan, and may have even killed him offscreen. Here's how that could have happened:
  • Magellan underestimated how badly he was hurt. He admits outright that he's letting Luffy go because he's concerned that taking down the Straw Hat captain would leave him too weak to handle Blackbeard's invasion as well. But it's possible that he could have underestimated just how damaged he was, and/or just how badass that Blackbeard is, a potentially fatal error.
  • Blackbeard's Power Nullifier ability. Whilst Magellan isn't actually a Logia, and he does have Super-Toughness, he's still very used to being all but impervious to attacks because nobody can normally hit him without being stopped by his poisonous slime armor. But Blackbeard's Dark-Dark Fruit lets him both suck away Magellan's armor as fast as Magellan secretes it, and then he can stop its formation entirely by grabbing hold of Magellan's exposed body. Once that happens, Blackbeard and his crew can just start pounding Magellan without fear. Of course, that raises the question of how the Dark-Dark Fruit and Venom-Venom Fruit interact...
  • Also, keep in mind, Luffy never told Magellan that the Dark-Dark Fruit has that power! Magellan knew that Blackbeard was dangerous, but not the specifics; Blackbeard being able to stop Magellan producing poison with a touch would have been a potentially fatal surprise for the Warden of Impel Down.
    • Jossed: Magellan survived.

Doflamingo's tournament will be for the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.

• Obviously it can't be for the Flame-Flame Fruit, since Ace is still alive, and with Blackbeard prevented from stealing Whitebeard's power, it's very much still in play, and far too powerful to not show up again. And while it wouldn't be as direct as in canon, Doflamingo can still use the tournament as a trap for the Straw Hats by association, as Ace and the other Whitebeards would want to reclaim their father's fruit, and Luffy would want to support his brother.
  • While Teach himself probably won't show up for the tournament, he'll probably send one of his stronger subordinates like Shiki or World to retrieve the fruit for him. If so, this would give a chance either for Luffy to have a rematch with Shiki (and/or for Nami to get some personal payback for Strong World), or to confront World over what happened to his brother and crew.
    • Jossed; The Patient One confirmed on the SpaceBattles thread that this is not in their plans (top of page 1143):
  The Patient One: The Flame-Flame Fruit was a potent weapon that would make its user a threat. But it would not be a weapon that could effortlessly cause the end of the world. The Tremor-Tremor Fruit is not suitable as bait for attracting big fish; rather, it would draw the attention of leviathans. If the Government found out, they would do whatever it took to get it out of Doflamingo's hands and into their own, and use it for their own devices. Likewise for the Emperors, who may even try to retrieve it personally. Anyone and everyone loyal to Whitebeard would also vie for it, as would anyone in Blackbeard's crew. The list goes on, and while Doflamingo is a powerful and prideful man, he's not at the top of the food chain and he knows it, so he's not going to do something that would get the hostile attention of not only many people weaker than him, but everyone stronger than him. All of which is to say nothing of the consideration that he'd rather give it to Lao G or Dellinger and add that power to his own family, though that could cause a similar stir.

Confirmed

Ace will survive the War of the Best because Sabo will rescue him and Luffy before Akainu can kill them.

• Right as it looks like Ace is going to die like in canon, Sabo and some of the Revolutionaries will pull a Big Damn Heroes.
• Since Sabo regained his memories early, there's no way he wouldn't be there.
• Sabo pulling a Big Damn Heroes and stopping one of, if the not the most heartwrenching moment in the series' history would be the perfect way for him to reunite with his brothers. Bonus points if it looks like Cross' actions have made everything even worse.
• This will be an expansion of the events depicted in the spin-off What If? story One Piece: Special Episode "Luff".
  ** Half-confirmed. He survives because several members of the Revolutionaries, including Sabo and Dragon himself, show up.

Leo is going to get Shiki's legs.:

• He said he wanted them, and he needs a better upgrade than Silvertooth's no-name blades.
  • Confirmed. Isaiah and Terry deliver them to him while at Skelter Bite.

Cross will give the Straw Hats a letter each on Sabaody.

• He will explain the time skip, and warn certain crewmates about things. Such as "Don't eat those mushrooms Luffy" and "Don't push that big pirate button Franky". He will also stuff Sanji's with the photos he took at the fashion show in chapter 29.
  • Confirmed in Chapter 72, though it's unknown exactly how much he told them.

During the timeskip, Vivi will be trained in her new Devil Fruit by Crocodile

• It would fit that Vivi would be trained to use her new Logia powers by one who has unparalleled mastery over his powers, especially one who has the other Alabatian Logia fruit. It would show just how serious Vivi would be about becoming stronger if she was willing to take training from the one man she couldn't stand. Also, Crocodile would likely agree to it to repay the rest of his debt to Luffy and Cross for freeing him from Impel Down.
  • Confirmed!

CP9

• Due to working for the Masons as Jormungandr, Cipher Pol No. 9 will not go on to join Aegis 0.
  • Alternatively, they will, but to spy on the World Nobles and the Elder Stars.
  • The original guess is looking more accurate, seeing as they arrived at Marineford and sided with Luffy and his allies in Chapter 80.
    • Looking even more likely as of Chapter 84, wherein Lucci reviews descriptions of Aegis 0 agents, identifying them as their final targets.

Captain Shu (Mr. Rust-Rust Fruit) will fight Tashigi pre-timeskip.

• Since Tashigi seems to have been set up to fight him for destroying priceless grade swords, and she is to be undercover as Straw Hat Cabin Girl T.A. Shigi, this is the only time she could fight another marine without risking her job.
  • Confirmed in Chapter 68.

Cross and his allies were sent to an island with no visible light.

• While all of the new Straw Hats' locations have been revealed upon separation, Cross, Soundbite, Lassoo, and Funkfried's destination has not. But The Patient One gave us a hint: "Your hopes are doomed to the Darkness." Naturally, the best way for Soundbite to grow is practice, so it's best to send him somewhere where sound and hearing are paramount. Therefore, the Voices of Anarchy were sent into a location where there's no visible light and only darkness. Soundbite would have to serve as the group's eyes twenty-four-seven via sonar.
  • Confirmed: Cross was sent to Serpent, the Seventh Hell of Darkness. It is a living parasite attached to the Red Line where those who threatened the World Government's stability are tossed in to go mad and be consumed.

Su's New Power

• It has been hinted that Su will find the Children of Inari in Eden's Cinders, granting her new abilities to aid Conis and the rest of the crew. Assuming her new abilities will be Kitsune-like, including shape-shifting akin to Onimaru from Wano.
• Bonus points if her human form's voice matches the voice that Soundbite gave her.
  • Mostly confirmed by Word of God: Su ate the Mythical Zoan Mutt-Mutt Fruit, Model: Kitsune, though the extent of her new powers is unknown. And they do have an explanation for how that clashes with Catarina Devon's powers.

Mixed

The Straw Hat's separation will be under different circumstances.

• Due to the influence of the SBS, the other Supernovas will come to the Straw Hats aid when Kizaru, the Pacifistas, and Kuma come for them. They won't lose the fight, but they'll escape.
  • The Kuja Pirates are already near Sabaody, so sending Luffy there is unnecessary.
  • Instead of a newspaper, the Straw Hats will learn of Ace's capture and impending execution when Hancock receives orders from Marineford to aid the Marines when Whitebeard tries to rescue him. As a result, the whole crew will participate in the Impel Down and Marineford arcs.
• Dragon will be the one to scatter the Straw Hats.
  • Since Kuma didn't scatter the crew before his full conversion, someone else would need to send the Straw Hats to their respective islands. Dragon is the only one with that kind of power.
  • After the War, the Straw Hats have one last victory party before splitting up, promising to see each other after getting stronger and have even more crazy adventures. What was once one of the series' most nightmarish moments will become one of its most touching.
  Soundbite: Call it a good change?
  Cross: No...*sniff* A great change.
• Zigzagged. The base Wild Mass Guess is Confirmed, but these specific ideas are Jossed. Even with the other Supernovas actively helping, the Straw Hats still get their asses kicked by Kizaru alone, and it's only Rayleigh's Big Damn Heroes that keeps them alive. They also learn from Kizaru about Ace's impending execution. Afterward, Kuma shows up and bluntly informs Cross that the Straw Hats cannot hope to survive in the New World as they are, giving Cross until sunset to tell the Straw Hats about what's coming and get their things together before Kuma comes for them and sends them to where they're going to go.
• During the arc, Cross' knowledge of their separation will be revealed, causing tensions between him and the others, especially Luffy.
  • Luffy will be furious with Cross, almost to the point of kicking him off the crew. But when he sees Cross' attempts to save him and Ace, and the realization that they aren't ready for the New World, the two will patch things up.
  • Also zigzagged. Luffy comes to the realization on his own that they're not ready for the New World, thanks to reasoning out Doflamingo's reasoning for not killing them when he had the chance. He also realizes that Cross already knows and already has a plan for it, and reasons almost immediately after that he wasn't going to tell them until it was too late to say no. When Cross, who had gone off on his own upon hearing the news, finally arrives, Luffy asks him the basic details and learns of the inevitable two-year separation. Cross is expecting fury and disappointment...but the fact that Cross cried over Ace's death was enough to cement Luffy's trust in him. So instead, Luffy gives Cross his straw hat and tells him to keep it safe until they meet again, a gesture of complete and utter trust. Cross bursts into tears of relief, and the rest of the crew lets go of their own tension in the face of Luffy's choice.

Future References

During a call from Tashigi, Cross or Soundbite will answer with...

• (does a Lurch imitation) "You raaang?"
• (does a Frank Nelson imitation) "EEE-YEEEEESSSSS?"
• (as a Shoutout to The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!) "Mario Brothers Plumbing! You clog 'em, we clear 'em!"
• A fake Funny Answering Machine message, with Soundbite doing the beep at the end.
• "Welcome to Good Burger, home of the Good Burger! Can I take your order?"

Usopp's Animal Companion will be an eastern hercules beetle expy of Homer Simpson

• Gluttonous, dumb, and yellow? Who else would it be? Bonus points if this exchange happens:
  Cross: Worst. Reference. Ever.
  Soundbite: Eat my shorts!

There will be a reference to Rick and Morty.

• The Multiverse is a major element in Rick and Morty, so it only makes sense for it to receive a nod.
• Expies of Rick and Morty will appear in the story as animals Soundbite will translate.
  • Ex. The Straw Hats encounter a pair of humandrills looking to claim their bounties named Mick and Rory.

Uzume from Sekirei will appear.

• Who else could be the holder of the Grace of Alabasta?

The following character will become an expy of...

• New Fishman Pirates
  • Zeo: Deadpool. Of the New Fishman Pirates, Zeo is the most popular (see his entry on the Ensemble Dark Horse page).
  • Zeo shares many design elements with the Merc With A Mouth: violent, white eyes, a belt with a round buckle, dual weapons, extreme overconfidence and arrogance, and a quirky personality trait (Deadpool's fourth wall breaks and Zeo claiming all of his screw-ups were intentional).
  • While their personalities are complete opposites, Zeo may slip into more manic fits as a side-effect of the energy steroids.

• Big Mom Pirates
  • Linlin: Mom. For obvious reasons.
  Linlin: JAM A BASTARD IN IT, YOU CRAP!
  Uses Soul Pocus on offending child.
  • Perospero: Willy Wonka and Mark Hamill's Joker. Perospero both looks and acts like a mash-up of the two characters. He has Wonka's love of candy, similar outfit, and has signs of his artistic side (his Lick-Lick Fruit powers let him create elaborate candy constructs) and the Joker's cruelty, sadism, and (to an extent) insanity.
  Perospero: Just shoot him? Know this my sweet, little sister, the death of Jeremiah Cross, must be nothing less than a masterpiece! The triumph of my confectionery-artistic genius, against his ridiculous pets and gadgets!
  • Daifuku: Jotaro Kujo: Fans have often compared Daifuku's genie to a Stand due to its nature as a living manifestation of his power and design. Genies also originate from the Middle East, where a good portion of Stardust Crusaders took place. Daifuku also shares Jotaro's rude, abrasive, violent personality (even toward members of his own family). May use the Abridged version for humor.
  Daifuku: You're lucky I'm in a good mood Long-Nose. Because today is Tuesday, and everyone knows Tuesday is Donut Day.
  Usopp: (weakly) But it's... Thursday...
  *Beat*
  Daifuku (darkly): Die.
  • Smoothie: Armondo Guitierrez from Freakazoid!. Smoothie shares Guitierrez's polite, Affably Evil personality, subtle, sinister method of intimidation, and has one eye covered at all times. She can also say Guitierrez's most memorable quote in complete context and seriousness:
  Smoothie: If I don't get that Vivrecard lickity-split, I shall squeeze you. And I shall keep on squeezing you until all your man-juices run dry!

Comedy references

• As the story has already referenced two classic comedy groups, there will be references to two more: The Three Stooges and Laurel and Hardy.
  • Laurel and Hardy confirmed — Jinbe gives the misquote "Well, this is yet another fine mess you've gotten us into!" to Luffy in "Marineford Misery" part 2.

Marineford War (What is it good for)

• Cross wanted to prevent the War of the Best by warning Ace about him being captured by Blackbeard. But because the War will happen thanks to Ace and his allies being blindsided by Aokiji, he'll make sure that people will know the war will only bring tragedy. And what better song to us than Edwin Starr's War.

Beware the Medic...

• At some point — either of his own volition or manipulation — Chopper will betray the crew out of frustration with everyone overworking him because they refuse to take proper care of themselves and overtaxing their bodies despite his constant warnings. When he does, he will sing a version of MEDIC! THE MUSICAL.

Soundbite Quotes...

• Just some random dialogue options for Soundbite to use.
  • "Enough expository banter! Now we fight like men! And ladies! And ladies who dress like men!" — in honor of Conis' fashion choice.

Cross will eventually quote Elizabeth Swan's "Hoist the Colors" speech

• It's been suggested that at some point in canon, there will be a massive battle of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet vs. another powerful fleet. When this inevitably also happens in This Bites, Cross will use Elizabeth's speech from before the final battle at the maelstrom, suitably modified for the setting, but still concluding it with "Hoist the colors."

Shaka will have a Daft Punk reference.

• Given he already looks like a member of Daft Punk.

Vegapunk's Satellites will reference other famous fictional scientists.

• Lilith will be a reference to Prof. Farnsworth, as she speaks like an old man (in the Japanese version), is a genius scientist, and represents Vegapunk's "evil", making her extremely amoral.
  Lilith: Good news, everyone! We were supposed to deliver and install a new invention for the Lulusia Kingdom, but it's been inexplicably destroyed!
  (Everyone reacts in shock)
  Usopp: How is that GOOD news!?
  Lilith: (wiggles fingers) They paid in advance.

  Lilith: Come on, stem cells! Work your amazing scientific nonsense!
  Vivi: Wait, FETAL STEM CELLS!?
  Robin: Aren't those highly controversial?
  Lilith: Oh, maybe in your part of the seas, yes. But here on Egghead? Shut up! Besides, these are adult stem cells, harvested from perfectly healthy adults.
  Vivi: Oh! Thank Horus...
  Lilith: [happily] Who I killed for their stem cells!
  Vivi: WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?

• Pythagoras will be a reference to Dr. Emmett Brown, as he is the voice of reason and Doc was always concerned with the morality of his inventions, especially the time machine.
  Pythagoras: Forgive me for the crudity of the model of Egghead Island, I didn't have time to paint it or make it to scale. [said beside an immaculate recreation of the island]

  Cross: [learning the scope of the newest trouble] This is heavy!
  Pythagoras: Weight has nothing to do with it!

• Atlus will have a Hulk reference given she’s Vegapunk’s “violence”.
  Atlus: [seeing a faulty invention in need of scrapping.] Atlus Smash!

Sanji, having dealt with the trauma of his past, will be far more aggressive with his family when they reunite.

• Considering Sanji fights only with kicks we could get this exchange.
  Yonji : He keeps kicking me in the dick. Why? Why does he keep kicking me in the dick?
  Ichiji : I think I might have a way to beat him.
  Yonji : If you say hit him realy hard, I swear to Goda, I will kick you in the dick!