Wealth. Fame. Power.
The man who once owned everything, the Pirate King, Gold Rodger. The words he said before his execution sent all the people of the world out to sea:
"My treasure? If you want it, I'll give it to you! I left it all in That Place!"
The story of One Piece starts with this quote from Gold Rodger and centers around his treasure called One Piece.
The show's main character Monkey D. Luffy is a young man who sets out to become the next Pirate King and claim the legendary treasure of One Piece.
For the first act of One Piece, Luffy sets out to sea to build his pirate crew and reach the Grand Line, a segment of ocean in which only the strongest and fearless pirates reside that divides the world into North, South, East, and West Blue seas.
During this time Luffy recruits several members to his crew including Zoro, Nami, Sanji, and Usopp. Together they take down the King of East Blue, a merman named Arlong. Doing this earns Luffy and his crew a bounty by the World Government and their Marine forces.
After entering the Grand Line, Luffy and his "Straw Hat Pirates" arrive at the desert kingdom of Alabasta, where they are in the middle of a civil war. The Straw Hats uncover the conspiracy to overthrow the king of Alabasta by the evil Crocodile of the Shichibukai, a group of 7 pirate warlords who are sanctioned by the World Government. Luffy defeates Crocodile and saves the kingdom.
For the 2nd Act of One Piece, Luffy and his crew, having defeated another Shichibukai on the island of Thriller Bark, arrive at Sabaody Archipelago the half way point of the Grand Line. Here the Straw Hats encounter Bartholomew Kuma, an enemy they can not defeat. Kuma uses his devil fruit ability to teleport the straw hats away from the archipelago separating them across the sea.
Luffy now isolated from the rest of his crew learns that his brother Ace is being held in a Marine prison called Impel Down and is awaiting execution for being a pirate. Luffy rushes to Impel Down and fights his way through the 5 descending levels of the prison looking for his brother. As Luffy descends the prison he comes across old enemies turned allies and frees them to start a prison riot. However Luffy learns that he is too late his brother had been taken to Marineford one of the Marines main bases.
Luffy now with his make shift allies bust out of Impel Down and head to Marineford in an attempt to save Ace from execution. Upon arriving at Marineford a giant battle ensues between the Marine and their Admirals and the Whitebeard Pirates, the strongest pirates in the world of which Ace was a part of. Despite Luffy's best attempt, Ace and Whitebeard die in the battle and Luffy barely escapes with his injuries.
Although distraught at his brothers death Luffy vows to meet up with his lost friends and crewmates only after becoming stronger.
2 years later the crew reunites at Sabaody Archipelago to continue the quest for One Piece and becoming King of the Pirates.
EVENTS
Normal World
Luffy lives on an Island in East Blue. After meeting Shanks, a pirate, Luffy dreams of becoming a pirate and perusing the treasure of One Piece.
Inciting Incident
Luffy leaves his home island on his 17th birthday. He travels the East Blue Sea and recruits several people into his crew. The people he recruits are Zoro, Usopp, Sanji, and Nami.
Rising Action
Luffy and his crew enter the Grand Line. There they recruit Tony Tony Chopper, Nico Robin, Franky, and Brooke as well as defeat Crocodile and Gecko Moria. Luffy and his crew gains a combined bounty of over $600 million. The strawhats arrive at Sabaody archipelago.
Climax
Luffy and his crew are defeated by Bartholomew Kuma and separated being sent to opposite ends of the world. Luffy finds out his brother Ace is going to be executed. Luffy attempts to rescue his brother from prison and the war against the Whitebeard pirates and the Marines. Ace dies in Luffy's arms.
Resolution
After losing his brother Luffy meets up with his crew 2 years later. Together they set off to continue their adventure in the Grand Line.
