The Hidden Truth About His Birth
Ace's birth was kept secret from the world government for a full 20 months. His mother, Rouge, extended her pregnancy in an extraordinary manner for five months in order to give birth to Ace. This biological miracle not only brought Ace into the world but also symbolized resistance against the government, which sought to completely eradicate Gol D. Roger's lineage.
Whitebeard's True Intentions
Whitebeard declared Ace as his own “son” not only because of his strength but also because he knew Ace was Roger's son. However, behind this decision was the intention to keep Roger's blood under control and eliminate any potential threat. In this way, Ace had unwittingly become the center of the power balance in the New World.
How Did He Develop His Fire Power?
After eating the Mera Mera no Mi, Ace developed the “Fire Fist” technique on his own, beyond the fruit's classic abilities. This technique emerged by combining Ace's inner anger and intuition, rather than the fruit's power itself. Ace first used this ability while defending a fish-man who was a slave of a Tenryuubito.
First Encounter with Luffy
When Ace and Luffy first met on Dadan's mountain, Ace ignored Luffy for 93 days. During this time, Luffy followed him every day, got beaten up, but never gave up. Ace's eventual declaration, “I love you too,” marked the first time he had ever accepted someone as his brother from the bottom of his heart.
The Devastating Encounter with Sakazuki
Sakazuki, who caused Ace's death in the Marineford War, was actually the complete opposite of Ace: cold-blooded, strict, and unyielding. Ace's decision to turn back and challenge Sakazuki in that final moment was not just a matter of pride; it was because he saw the insult to Whitebeard as an insult to his own father.
Garp's Internal Struggle
Garp had the power to stop Ace's execution order but did nothing. This decision marked the breaking point of a life dedicated to the Navy. After the war, Garp blamed himself so much that he refused to take on any official duties in the Navy and even avoided returning to a permanent base. This was a silent testament to Garp's inability to forgive himself.
Last Words Before Death
Ace's final words to Luffy, “Thank you. I'm dying knowing I was loved,” revealed that the greatest legacy Roger left him was not just blood, but love. Ace's greatest fear was being remembered by the world as nothing more than the son of a criminal.
Ace's Grave and Symbolic Item
The hat and sake cup placed at Ace's head in the graveyard after Marineford were actually items left over from the brotherhood ritual the three brothers (Ace, Luffy, and Sabo) performed as children. This small detail silently screams not only the identity of the grave but also what was important in Ace's life.
The New Owner of the Mera Mera no Mi
After Ace's death, the Mera Mera no Mi was sold on the black market by Doflamingo. However, Sabo's acquisition of the fruit during the tournament ensured that Ace's legacy would continue not through blood, but through a bond of spirit. Even the names of the techniques Sabo used from that point onward carried on Ace's memory.
The Silent Bond with Jinbe
When Ace was imprisoned in Impel Down, his cellmate was Jinbe. Their bond was not only based on a common enemy but also on shared honor. Jinbe bases his loyalty to Luffy after Ace's death on a promise he made during their time in prison: “If I cannot protect your brother, I cannot protect you either.”
The Stolen Battle: Ace vs. Blackbeard
The battle with Blackbeard was not just a personal vendetta but a turning point that changed the course of the One Piece world. Ace tried to stop Teach for betraying Whitebeard, but his defeat in this battle triggered the events leading to Impel Down and Marineford. Thus, Ace's battle that day set off a chain reaction of disasters.
Shanks' Shadow
When Shanks learned that Ace was Roger's son, he personally boarded Whitebeard's ship to warn him. This was almost unheard of in Shanks' history. While Shanks' warning couldn't prevent Ace's death, it showed that Shanks saw Ace not just as a warrior but as a heir to the legacy.
Reborn with Sabo's Memories
After regaining his memories following Ace's death, Sabo was shattered when he remembered his brotherhood oaths. From that moment on, Sabo's revolutionary ideals also turned into personal revenge. The anger in Sabo's eyes after Ace's death was first noticed when he shouted, even interrupting Dragon.
Ace's Connection to Wano
Ace had gone to Wano years before Luffy became famous and formed a deep friendship with Amatsuki Otama there. Ace promised Tama that he would become a great samurai and secretly helped the people of the region fight against Kaido's invasion. This small detail led to Ace becoming a legend in Wano.
Luffy's “not taking revenge” is Ace's last wish
Luffy never acted to avenge Ace after Marineford. This wasn't passivity; it was the result of a message Ace gave Luffy just before his death: “Live, don't fight.” Luffy's desire to survive outweighed his thirst for revenge because Ace's death taught him the pain of “true loss” for the first time.
His Hidden Potential in Haki
Ace had immense potential in Haki, but he never fully mastered it. Especially his “Haoshoku Haki,” which activated involuntarily at Marineford, causing many weak soldiers around him to faint. However, Ace never had the time to develop this power; his life was too short to undergo proper Haki training.
The Brotherhood Cup: Symbol of the Triple Bond
The sake that Ace, Luffy, and Sabo drank as children was not just a game; it was a real bond. This tradition was a brotherhood ritual inspired by Wano culture, and Ace had heard about it from Shanks' crew at the time. This ceremony had sanctified their brotherhood even without a blood bond.
The World Changed After Ace's Death
With Ace's death, the balance of the world was severely shaken. Blackbeard filling the void left by Whitebeard's death sparked one of the fastest power shifts in One Piece history. Ace's individual death created a domino effect on a global scale and completely changed the New World.
The Escape That Never Happened at Impel Down
When Luffy arrived at Impel Down, Ace had already been sent to the execution site. If Magellan had delayed Ace's transfer by just a few hours, Luffy would have had a high chance of saving him. This delay is one of the most dramatic “what could have been but wasn't” moments in the series.
Ace's Grave Continues to Be Visited
Every year on May 2nd, the anniversary of Ace's death, fans from around the world send flowers to his grave. This was confirmed by Oda himself in an SBS corner he published. Some Japanese fans even hold ceremonies at locations that represent his grave in real life.
Ace Was Planned to Appear in One Piece Film: Strong World
Ace was supposed to appear in a short scene in the “Strong World” film, but Oda canceled the idea because the release schedule conflicted with the Marineford events. Ace's appearance on screen would have contradicted the dramatic structure of the story at that point. These canceled scenes remain a topic of curiosity for some fans.
The First Person to React to Ace's Death: Not Shanks, but Mihawk
After Marineford, everyone was focused on Shanks' arrival at the battle, but Mihawk left the battle immediately after Ace's death. Mihawk, known for his quiet and composed demeanor, reacted in a way that suggested he had foreshadowed the shift in power dynamics caused by Ace's death.
Eiichiro Oda's Alternative Scenario for Ace
Eiichiro Oda admitted in an interview that he struggled psychologically after writing Ace's death. He even considered an alternative scenario where Ace would be captured by Kaido but rescued by Luffy and Sabo. However, this scenario was shelved because it felt too much like “fan service.”