WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Episode 894 of One Piece, "He'll Come - The Legend of Ace in Wano Country!"
One Piece continues its newest arc by exploring the past of one of One Piece's most beloved characters, Luffy's adoptive brother, Ace. For many fans, his death marked one of the most emotional moments in the entire series.
However, this newest episode brings him back from the dead for a major flashback: Ace was in the new Land of Wano long before the Straw Hat Pirates ever set foot there. What was he doing? What happened while he was there? Why is he a legend who inspired the multitude of people living there? Episode 894, "He'll Come -- The Legend of Ace in Wano Country!," has all those answers and more.
O-tama: What Happened With Her?
This episode explains a little about O-tama, the enigmatic beast tamer of Wano who can create food from her cheek. We met her being pursued by a sword-wielding baboon and several men who appeared to be aligned with Kaido's army, and defended only by a large dog. She tamed the baboon while Luffy beat the goons.
It turns out she was harassed by the soldiers while shopping with her gigantic monster dog. In a rage, she said something against the law: "When the Kozuki Clan comes back, they'll teach you a lesson!" That led the soldiers, authorities under Kaido's shogunate, to attempt to arrest her.
But naturally, Luffy doesn't have a clue about what's happening. O-tama helps Luffy to hide his ship, the Thousand Sunny, in an underwater cave, before taking him to safety. However, O-tama doesn't live in a village, but instead the ruins of one, with her master. Oh, and it turns out O-tama is a young ninja in training.
The Extent of Their Poverty
Eventually, O-tama's master comes home: He's Tenguyama Hitetsu, a long-nosed, flying swordsmith who also collects dolls. No doubt, Tenguyama is a pun on the mythical Tengu, which he physically resembles.
Hitetsu tries to kill Luffy for eating their rice. It turns out they barely have enough food to keep themselves alive, and O-tama gave all their food to Luffy.
Earlier, O-tama went shopping for a meager amount of rice, just meant for herself. However, because Luffy saved her, she gave the food to him instead. In order to slake her hunger, O-tama stuffs herself with river water, which is heavily polluted by Kaido's factories. As a result, she nearly dies. Hitetsu reveals that part of him wants to leave, but O-tama is waiting here for someone to return -- a pirate named Ace who came here long ago.
How Ace Fits Into This
Ace arrived four years earlier, when Hitetsu and O-tama's village was poor, and many people died of hunger. Then, one day, Ace washed up on shore. The village restrained Ace and his fellow pirates, then stole their food. Ace waited for them to finish before freeing himself with his Devil Fruit powers over fire.
But rather than strike down the villagers, he asked if they had eaten enough. He stayed in the village for several weeks, and helped them to find food to live on. O-tama became close to Ace, and looked up to him as an older brother and mentor.
Luffy Tells Her
Luffy is blunt, and tells O-tama the truth: Ace died years ago. She is, reasonably, mortified to hear that, and becomes hysterical. She refuses to believe it, and the shock makes her faint.
O-tama's master doesn't take kindly to how bluntly Luffy broke the news. But, as he puts it, no matter what, Ace was never going to come back, so why should he be blunt about it?
Their village had existed until a year ago, when a pirate known as X Drake joined Kaido's army. It didn't take long for him to carve through the village's samurai and demolish everything. The only place thriving in Wano is the Flower Capital, where Shogun Orochi reigns. The rest is either wilderness or a wasteland.
And, after Luffy defeated the soldiers earlier, another of Kaido's regiments is coming for him.