The Rolling Pirates are a group of pirates introduced in the Thriller Bark Arc. They are led by the 23rd daughter of the Charlotte Family, Charlotte Lola. The crew had their own shadows taken away by Gecko Moria, and they aid Luffy in helping him defeat Moria by stuffing as many shadows as they can into him, making him more powerful.
The Rolling Pirates are from the New World, where only the strongest pirates can survive, so they must represent some great level of strength, though not enough to battle a Warlord and his crew directly, instead relying on research of his Devil Fruit abilities to retaliate.
Ship[]
The crew, after escaping Moria, used the second ship of the Rumbar Pirates that Brook gave them, due to him no longer needing it as he joined the Straw Hat Pirates. Though the ship has suffered damage from 50 years worth of time and battle, Franky repaired it and it was once again in perfect condition for the Rolling Pirates, and the rest of the Thriller Bark Victim's Association to sail out of the Florian Triangle.[1]
History[]
Past[]
Sometime after running away from Totto Land to escape an arranged marriage between and the Prince of Elbaph, Loki, Lola began putting together her own pirate crew. After having traveled a bit in the New World, they sailed back across the Red Line via Fish-Man Island to the other side of the world. However, once on this side of the world, they got trapped within the Florian Triangle where they were easy prey to the ghost ship Thriller Bark. Seizing the members of the crew, captain Gecko Moria stole their shadows, including the one of their captain Charlotte Lola, and inserted them into various zombie creations on his island, particularly in the Wild Zombie animals that roamed the area. Shadowless and prone to the light of the sun, the Rolling Pirates were forced to live in fear in the forest of Thriller Bark to find a way to get back their shadows and defeat Moria. At some point in time after having their shadows stolen and before the arrival of the Straw Hat Pirates they became members of Thriller Bark Victim's Association.
Eventually, the crew discovered a secret regarding Moria and his Kage Kage no Mi: anyone can use the shadows stolen by him as long as they remain separate from their original container. Furthermore, they figured that multiple shadows can be inserted into one body, allowing for them to live in the light of the sun but risking them in gaining a multiple personality from the shadow's original owner. Working at night and hiding in the forests during the day with shadows not their own, the Rolling Pirates gathered as many shadows as they could, both by defeating zombies or stealing wild shadows that escaped the Thriller Bark crew. Their hope was the arrival of someone who would be able to use all their collected shadows in one amalgam form that would be able to stand up to Moria and his potential ultimate creation: the massive zombie known as Oars.
Thriller Bark Saga[]
Thriller Bark Arc[]
Three years after starting their plan, the Rolling Pirates finally found someone strong enough to accomplish this: Monkey D. Luffy of the Straw Hat Pirates, whose shadow was the one stolen to activate Oars for Moria. Using one-hundred shadows seized by them, the Rolling Pirates transformed Luffy into Nightmare Luffy, who easily defeated the giant zombie. Although this was successful, things turned for the worst as Moria himself was not yet defeated and Thriller Bark finally sailed into the sun. Captain Lola realized that she had nothing to fear anymore from burning up and chose to stand in the sun risking her own life, nearly killing her until the final defeat of Moria and the final reacquisition of the shadows.
After Moria's defeat, the Rolling Pirates stood as allies alongside the Straw Hats during their brief encounter with WarlordBartholomew Kuma. After Zoro sacrificed himself to stop Kuma's rampage, the Rolling Pirates parted ways with the Straw Hats, receiving Brook's old ship from Thriller Bark and fixed by Franky along with the rest of the Thriller Bark victims to part on as well as half of the enemy's treasure. Before leaving, they also gave Nami a Vivre Card for Lola's "mama", advising on how she may be able to help them in the New World.
The Rolling Pirates later went to Dressrosa. Lola was captured by the Marines, but Gotti rescued her causing Lola to kiss Gotti out of gratitude. Afterwards, Lola was reunited with her sister, Chiffon. While the two sisters chat, the Risky Brothers thanked Gotti for rescuing their captain.
Eventually, Lola asked Gotti to marry her. During their wedding, the Rolling Pirates celebrated along with Pound and the Fire Tank Pirates.[3]
Trivia[]
The Rolling Pirates is the second canonical pirate crew (the first being Saruyama Alliance) to ally with the Straw Hats in the Grand Line. They are also the first canonical pirate crew to assist the Straw Hats in the fight against a main antagonist.
The Rolling Pirates are one of the few pirate crews to seemingly not have their own Jolly Roger.