Quoted By:
I have a theory that Roger had the Gum-Gum fruit and died at an early age because of it (Lucci said how luffy's second gear shortens his lifespan).
When Roger died, Shanks went to find his Captains fruit (remember, shanks was on Rogers crew) and found it in the East Blue (where the story of one piece begins; and ask yourself this: why did shanks have the gum gum fruit at the beginning of the show? we know that devil fruits reappear when the user dies (Ace and Sabo for example), so how did shanks get it?). Shanks was in small town and a little runt (Luffy) ate the fruit. Then Shanks gave Luffy the straw hat and told him return it when he becomes a great pirate (and who was a great pirate in Shank's eyes? Roger. his captain.)
When Shanks talked with whitebeard (telling whitebeard to tell ace to not go after blackbeard), whitebeard asked why he didnt have his strawhat, and Shanks replied that he made a bet with the future. (or something like that anyways)
When Luffy was fighting Lucci, Lucci examined Luffy's second gear, saying that Luffy is doping himself with his own blood, at the cost of his own lifespan (but Luffy says he doesn't care as long as he saves his friends). Throughout the series Luffy has used second and third gear countless times now. Taking its toll on his body. his health. If he keeps using it/pushing his body to the limit to the point of physical exhaustion (Ennies lobby, Thriller Bark, Impel Down, Marineford, etc) wouldn't you say he'll die at an early age? Die at an early age like Roger, who had an incurable disease because of his health?
