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In chapter 1020, Nico Robin coined the phrase “The Pirate King’s Wings”. But what exactly are the Pirate King’s Wings (which we’ll now call Wings for convenience)? What exactly sets Zoro and Sanji apart from the rest of the crew?
The answer is simple. Oda wrote Zoro and Sanji in such a way that they are the Ying and Yang that complete Luffy. They are the representation, the embodiment of everything Luffy stands for.
How Zoro and Sanji represent Luffy?
Zoro is the ambitious side, stubborn and eager to fight Luffy. He is the only Straw Hat whose dream is directly related to combat. For Luffy to become the Pirate King, he must surpass all other pirates. In order for Zoro to become the strongest swordsman in the world, he will have to surpass all other swordsmen.
Both men have the will to rise to the top of the world, which makes them conquerors. Zoro, like Luffy, is always looking for strong people to fight.
Sanji, on the other hand, represents more of Luffy’s compassionate and kind side. Sanji, just like Luffy, has the most dangerous ability of all seas.
Look how many enemies/hostile people Sanji turned into allies.
- Gin
- viola
- G5
- Pudding
- germa
- The Rosy life Riders
- kinemon
If Pudding hadn’t transformed, they might not have been able to make the cake, and the Straw Hats might have died. If Viola hadn’t transformed, Sanji wouldn’t have saved the Straw Hats and Doflamingo’s Momonosuke, they would be dead. Same for Germa. Sanji is one of the reasons the Minks weren’t hostile to the Straw Hats. Thus, Zoro and Sanji are the embodiment of everything that makes Luffy, Luffy. But let’s look deeper.
Onigashima
In chapter 1022, Zoro and Sanji finally team up to take on King and Queen, and the quote from the editor reads “Both Wings in Action”.
And throughout their fight, we see the qualities we mentioned earlier come into play. Zoro focused on taming Enma and getting stronger, eventually becoming more powerful with his will. Get closer to your ambition and your dream. Sanji struggled against himself, not wanting to lose his emotions, eventually becoming even stronger, with the help of passion..
Even after the battle is over, their best characters are brought out.
We see the ambitious side of Zoro. To achieve his ambition, he is ready to become the king of hell.
Even in the midst of battle, Sanji’s compassionate side allows him to save the mouse and give it to O-Some before collapsing. The fact that he fed mice out of compassion during his childhood is emphasized.
Other than that, what other moments set Zoro and Sanji apart from the other Straw Hats thematically?
- The only Straw Hats to fight the Commanders.
- Zoro, Luffy’s right-hand man, fought King, Kaido’s right-hand man, in the Right Brain Tower.
- Sanji, who is Luffy’s left hand, battles Queen, Kaido’s presumed left arm, in the Left Brain Tower.
- Zoro, the Pirate King’s right wing, cuts off King’s right wing.
- Sanji, being the Pirate King’s left hand, broke Queen’s left hand.
However, we have seen many people say “One wing cannot be stronger than the other, otherwise the bird cannot fly properly”.
But Zoro is stronger. Without a doubt. When it comes to combat, Zoro and Sanji are not equal. But in terms of overall usefulness to the crew and especially to Luffy, they are equal, for sure.
What Sanji lacks in combat (compared to Zoro), he more than makes up for in other areas:
- Smarter
- King of rescues, without whom the crew would have died 10 times
- The most dangerous ability of the seas
- And still others