In One Piece, Vivi Nefertari has had many adventures with Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hat crew on their way to reclaim Alabasta from Crocodile. Demonstrating loyalty and compassion, Vivi quickly became a fan favorite. Sadly, her journey came to an end when she decided to remain in Alabasta to support her kingdom in one of anime’s most heartbreaking farewells.
Vivi will always be an honorary Straw Hat member, but Eiichiro Oda missed a golden opportunity to expand her character beyond the Alabasta Saga. If she had joined as a permanent member instead, Vivi would have made an excellent addition to the crew's diverse dynamic and how the story could unravel in the future.
CREW DYNAMIC
As a princess and sole heir, Vivi is accustomed to the roles of leadership. Her role onboard would most likely be the ship's diplomat and mediator. Vivi has reminded Luffy on numerous occasions of his responsibilities, warning him when his behavior endangers the crew or civilians. As Luffy forms more alliances, Vivi can be the voice of reason and negotiate clear stipulations seeing as no one is considering the logistical side.
In terms of personality, Vivi already has the heart of Straw Hat Pirate—brave, determined, and protective. She values the lives of her friends, willing to face powerful foes beyond her abilities, and sacrifice her wellbeing.
The only people Vivi would probably clash with are Robin and Brook because the former colluded with Crocodile and the latter is related to Laboon, who Vivi tried to kill early on. These conflicts would create room for Oda to deepen her bonds with the newer members since her departure. Of course, you cannot have Vivi without Karoo since they are a joined pair. Karoo could provide more comic relief with shenanigans akin to Luffy, Usopp and Chopper.
Adding Vivi would also improve the crew’s gender balance. Vivi is the perfect bridge between Nami’s hot-tempered disposition and Robin’s eccentric cool—creating the perfect chance for Oda to showcase more of the women’s teamwork in the same scene.
SKILLS AND STRENGTHS
Vivi is no ordinary princess. Like Robin, she is adept in espionage and reconnaissance. At the age of 14, she infiltrated Baroque Works and rose above the ranks unnoticed by the World Government and Crocodile for two years. Vivi could also use her royal connections to help the group out of tight situations, sneak into important events, or give the Straw Hats more credibility when visiting new lands.
As a fighter, Vivi compensates for her lack of physical strength with her high pain tolerance and quick agility. She can jump down from a mast of a ship, doing numerous somersaults midair. She is also able to dodge attacks gracefully and almost effortlessly, making her a great candidate for observation Haki.
For offense, Vivi uses her twirling and spinning Peacock Slashers, which are small razor-sharp discs connected to her pinkies by wires. Although only used once, Vivi also can use a hypnotic dance to distract her opponents.
If Vivi was part of the crew for the two year time skip, she would likely develop her hypnotic attacks. Her weapon could upgrade to a whip or another wired weapon equipped with dial technology. Combined with her acrobatic litheness and mid-range combat, there's also the exciting possibility of Vivi becoming a skilled devil-fruit user.
STORY
Vivi’s family name adds a new dimension to her role in the story. The Nefertari is one of the original 20 families to form the World Government but the only family to not move to Mary Geoise. If she still traveled with Luffy, Vivi would understand her family’s relation to the Void century and their role in hiding a poneglyph.
Vivi’s story is far from over: The recent Reverie Arc introduces a mysterious individual, Im, and foreshadows her connection with him. Im holds an intact picture of Vivi while photos of Luffy, Blackbeard, and Shirahoshi are shredded and strewn across the floor. Soon afterward, there is a mishap with Vivi and the Alabasta Kingdom. If Vivi was still part of the crew, it is most likely she would’ve been targeted like Robin during Enies Lobby. To what extent and why is still a mystery.
CONCLUSION
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