One Piece is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda, that has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since August 4, 1997. One Piece follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, a 17-year-old boy who gains elastic abilities after inadvertently eating a cursed fruit, and his diverse crew of pirates, named the Straw Hat Pirates. Luffy explores the ocean in search of the world's ultimate treasure known as the One Piece and to become the next Pirate King. On his journey, Luffy battles a wide variety of villains and makes several friends.The Storyline
The series begins with the execution of Gol D. Roger, a man known as the King of the Pirates. He told the legend of his treasure, the One Piece, just before he was executed. Roger's death caused a Great Pirate Era as countless pirates set out to look for his treasure. Twenty years have passed since Roger's execution, and Monkey D. Luffy, a young boy inspired by the pirate known as "Red-Haired" Shanks, sets off on a journey from the East Blue to succeed Roger and find the treasure. Along the way, he organizes and leads a crew named the Straw Hat Pirates. The crew consists of swordsman Roronoa Zoro, the navigator and thief Nami, the liar and cowardly sharpshooter Usopp, the womanizing chef Sanji, the doctor and anthropomorphized deer Tony Tony Chopper, the archaeologist and former enemy Nico Robin, the cybernetic shipwright Franky, and the musician skeleton Brook. The crew crosses paths with diverse villains, such as the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Marines, who place bounties on Luffy and Zoro's heads, and Arlong, a fishman and member of the former Sun Pirates. They encounter Baroque Works, the crime syndicate responsible for a civil war in the desert kingdom of Alabasta, and meets Blackbeard, whose dream is also to become the King of the Pirates. The crew also encounters Eneru, the ruler of the floating island Skypiea. Later, the crew meets the Marine admiral Aokiji, who reveals that Robin was involved in searching for Poneglyphs, stones with markings left by an ancient civilization whom Roger himself was also able to read. The crew also encounters Cipher Pol No. 9, the intelligence agency responsible for the destruction of Robin's homeland, whose actions cause them to declare war on the World Government. After an epic battle at Enies Lobby, the crew defeats CP9, avenging the lives of people lost in the destruction, and each member receives bounties on their heads. When the crew finishes the first half of their journey and prepare to sail off to the New World, the second half of the Grand Line, the crew gets separated during a battle at the Sabaody Archipelago. During this time, the Marines sentence Luffy's older brother and Roger's son Portgas D. Ace to be executed, and they hold a war against a group of pirates led by Whitebeard. Luffy eventually rescues Ace, but both Whitebeard and Ace are killed in the ensuing chaos. Later, Luffy and the crew undergo rigorous training regimens, some under the tutelage of prominent figures. Two years later, the crew regroups and resume their journey to the New World, traveling first to Fishman Island. However, the crew is drawn into a coup d'etat staged by a group of fishmen pirates.
The Characters
The main character of the series is Monkey D. Luffy, a young pirate who wishes to succeed Gol D. Roger, the deceased King of the Pirates, by finding his treasure, the "One Piece". During the course of series, Luffy gathers himself a crew of misfits, named the Straw Hat Pirates, so far including the three swords wielding Roronoa Zoro, the master thief and expert navigator Nami, the cowardly marksman and inventor Usopp, the gourmet cook and martial-artist Sanji, the anthropomorphic reindeer and doctor Tony Tony Chopper, the archaeologist Nico Robin, the cyborg shipwright Franky, and the living skeleton musician Brook. Together they sail the seas in pursuit of their dreams, encountering other pirates, bounty hunters, criminal organizations, revolutionaries, secret agents and soldiers of the World Government, and various other friends and foes.
The Straw Hat Pirates are a pirate crew from East Blue and the main focus and heroes of the anime and manga One Piece, and are led by the main protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy. The "Straw Hats", as named after Luffy's signature straw hat that was given to him by Red-Haired Shanks, are sometimes referred to as the "Luffy Pirates" both on merchandise and earlier in the series. The crew sailed on the Going Merry, their first official Straw Hat ship, up until the Water 7 Arc. After the Enies Lobby Arc, they obtained a new ship called the Thousand Sunny. The Straw Hats currently consist of nine members whose combined bounties equal Bsymbol.gif800,000,050. 
Monkey D. Luffy is a pirate and the main protagonist of One Piece. He is the son of the Revolutionary Army's commander, Dragon, grandson of the famed Marine, Garp, and the foster brother of the late "Fire Fist" Portgas D. Ace and Sabo. His life long goal is to become the Pirate King by finding the legendary treasure left behind by the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. He believes that being Pirate King means you have the most freedom in the world. He is also an expert fighter. In the beginning of the series, he accidentally eats a paramecia Devil Fruit called the Gum-Gum Fruit, causing his body to gain the properties of highly stretchable rubber.ch. These properties are a result of Oda's desire for the fighting style to be silly, so that no matter how tense a situation gets, the reader can relax without becoming stressed out.
Roronoa Zoro is a pirate, former bounty hunter, and one of the main protagonists of One Piece. He was the first member to join the Straw Hat Pirates, and to date is considered the largest threat and most dangerous member in the crew after Luffy. He is famed as a master swordsman, user of the Santoryu style, and his great strength (and the actions of his captain) sometimes leads others to believe he must be the true captain. Being labeled as one of the "Monster Trio", he's one of the top three fighters in the crew. His dream is to become the greatest swordsman in the world.
Nami is a pirate and the navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates. She is officially the third member of the crew after defeating Arlong, and the second to join. She briefly betrays the crew during the Baratie Arc and rejoins at the end of the Arlong Arc after her past and true intentions are revealed.
Usopp was born in Syrup Village. He is the sniper of the Straw Hat Pirates. When Usopp was first introduced, he was often (comically) labeled as the "Liar" of the Straw Hat Pirates. He is the fourth member of the crew, the third to join, and, including Nami, also the third to rejoin, doing so at the end of the Post-Enies Lobby Arc. He is known with a bounty on his head by his alias and alter-ego "Sogeking".
Sanji is a pirate and the chef of the Straw Hat Pirates. He is the fifth member of the crew and the fourth to join. Since he was born in North Blue, he is the first Straw Hat not to originate from East Blue. Being labeled as one of the "Monster Trio," he's one of the top three fighters in the crew. His dream is to find the rumoured All Blue which is where East Blue, West Blue, North Blue, and South Blue meet along with their wildlife.
Tony Tony Chopper is the doctor of the Straw Hat Pirates. Chopper is a reindeer that consumed the Devil fruit, Hito Hito no Mi. He comes from Drum Island, which makes him the only member of the Straw Hat Pirate Crew who was born on the Grand Line. He is the sixth member of the crew and the fifth to join, as well as being the youngest member on board. He ate the Hito Hito no Mi, or the 'Human-Human Fruit' when translated.
Nico Robin is the archaeologist of the Straw Hat Pirates. She was originally introduced as the Vice President of Baroque Works known as Miss All Sunday before joining up with the Straw Hats. She is the seventh member of the crew, the sixth to join, and, including Nami, also the second to rejoin, doing so near the end of the Enies Lobby Arc. She was also the first member to have been a former antagonist. She ate the Hana Hana no Mi. During the Post-War arc, she became involved with the Revolutionaries for two years. Her dream is to find the Rio Poneglyph which tells the True History.
Franky is the shipwright for the Straw Hat Pirates. He is a 36 year old cyborg from Water 7 and was introduced in the story as the leader of the Franky Family, a group of ship dismantlers. He was originally named Cutty Flam until he threw away his original name for his nickname per the request by Iceburg to hide his identity. Franky and his followers were originally introduced as antagonists of the Water 7 Arc against the Straw Hats until circumstances forced them to become allies. Per the request of the Franky Family, Franky was allowed to join the Straw Hats to fulfill his dream. He is the eighth member of the Straw Hat crew and the seventh to join Luffy's crew. He is also the second member to have been a former antagonist (the first being Nico Robin). 
Brook is the musician of the Straw Hat Pirates. He is a skeleton the Straw Hats found on board a ghost ship after drifting into the Florian Triangle. He is a Devil Fruit user who ate the Yomi Yomi no Mi and is an undead being brought back into a pseudo-immortal state because of its powers. He is the ninth member of the Straw Hat crew and the eighth to join Luffy's crew. He is also one of the two swordsmen onboard their current ship with the other being Zoro. He fills the role of the long awaited musician that Luffy wanted for his crew since his journey began.The Manga chapters and Anime episode of One Piece is still ongoing...
One Piece Manga Chapter 628: "Major Cleanup"
In the streets of a town, the fumi-e of Queen Otohime continues. Hordy Jones declares himself the new king. He demands anyone who wishes to befriend humans to be banished. He broadcasts Neptune being held captive. He says he will execute Neptune within three hours in Gyoncorde Plaza. The box containing the petition signatures is with him, and anyone whose name is on it will be executed one by one. At the end of the speech, he leaves a message for the Straw Hats. He is going to execute Zoro, Usopp, and Brook by filling the room they are in with water. At he end of the communication, Shirahoshi and Luffy decide to go rescue the prisoners, but Jinbe tries to stop them. While he was able to stop the mermaid princess, Luffy wants to defeat Hordy Jones himself and rescue his friends. Since no one wants to accept the other's request, Luffy and Jinbe prepare to fight each other.
One Piece Anime Episode 502: "Where Is Freedom? The Boy's Sad Departure"
While Dadan and Ace stay behind to fight Bluejam, the rest of the Dadan Family and Luffy make a quick escape. In the mean time Sabo fully accepts that he will never have freedom so long as he stays in Goa and leaves the island the day the Celestial Dragon are set to arrive.
