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The adage 'The past is written by the winners' is a central theme that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the narrative. Legends frequently fail to convey the complete truth, even for the most influential figures in this world's complex history. Oden was no silly performer prancing through the streets of Wano; he acted out of honor and principle. Kuma wasn't a merciless villain who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, Davy Jones signified more than a buccaneer's contest in search of emblems and followers.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we see the peak of this idea. The whole God Valley narrative acts as a cautionary tale, instructing audiences not to evaluate the individuals too quickly.

Legends frequently fail to capture the complete reality, including the most influential figures.

One Piece's latest look back, chronicling the Divine Isle incident, represents one of the story's best arcs to date. Apart from the excitement of seeing icons in their prime, it's compelling to observe them prior to when they became icons — when their fame had still not surpass their human nature. History, as written by the Global Authority and retold through hearsay stories, shaped our perception of figures like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But both the government's accounts and the stories of those who knew them prove untrustworthy, revealing only fragments of who these individuals really were.

The Man Prior to the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by mission and the daring attitude that sparked a new age of buccaneering, but prior to he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a youth ruled by passion and the desire to explore. When individuals discuss his legend, they typically refer to his later journey, the grand quest in pursuit of the guide stones that lead to the final island. However not much is known about his initial travels, the one that molded him before fame discovered him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the world's secret history. His love for the barkeep guided him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the Global Authority's darkest truths: the genocidal "contests," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and even the existence of the planet's unseen ruler, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's reflections about everything happening in the Divine Isle, but maybe finding the son of a Holy Knight on his ship will make him realize his role in the globe and seek the reality he glimpsed from Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this flashback, what we were aware of of Rocks D. Xebec was derived mostly from Sengoku's version, both to the viewers and to new Navy recruits. He depicted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man bent on world domination, someone so dangerous that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to defeat him. But as it transpires, the strategist wasn't even there at God Valley; he was only repeating the Global Authority's approved version of events, the very narrative Imu approved to bury the truth about Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to overthrow Imu and dismantle the decadent World Government. We are unsure if he was motivated by ambition, retribution for his clan, or a desire for justice, but when he found out the government's plan to annihilate the land where his family lived, he gave up his ambitions of conquest to save them.

This devotion for his family proved to be his undoing. After confronting Imu, he forfeited his will and liberty, turning into a marionette enslaved to their authority. Currently, with what limited awareness is left, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Garp to kill him — thinking that death would be a mercy compared to the living hell he endures. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the story narrated by Sengoku, and the comic shows him in a favorable light during the Divine Isle incidents.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really meet his end? An intriguing idea is that he is still a slave to Imu in the current timeline, acting as the scarred individual, maintaining the World Government's only remaining Poneglyph in continuous transit to prevent the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

Garp's Hidden Rebellion

Another key figure of the God Valley event is Garp, who has endured backlash from followers for years for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That feeling only grew stronger after the timeskip, when he risked all to rescue the young Marine at Pirate Island, causing many to wonder why he was unable to do the identical for his biological grandson. Similar doubts have recently resurfaced with the Divine Isle recollection: how can Garp serve the Navy, aware the Global Authority considers genocide and enslavement as entertainment for the elite?

The truth uncovers something different. The moment Monkey D. Garp saw the Gorosei's grotesque shapes, he struck immediately. His alliance with Roger wasn't to defeat some villainous Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an effort to halt Imu, who was manipulating Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to eliminate everyone in the Divine Isle, even it seems, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is likely the cause Monkey D. Garp despises the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he never wanted to be elevated to Admiral, answering straight to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Even though the audience are viewing the Divine Isle incident through a flashback narrated by the giant, including viewpoints and occurrences he obviously was absent for, I think we can consider this version as completely accurate. The series may provide an reason in the future, perhaps connected to Loki's yet unknown paramecia ability. Still, the Divine Isle incident excellently embodies the idea that history is written by the winners. This mindset is {