Bonney’s Possible Apprenticeship with Luffy in One Piece

One Piece has featured numerous important individuals, including Figarland Garling, a celestial dragon, Ginny, and various other significant supporting characters. It has also been uncovered that Shanks, like Bonney, is the child of a celestial dragon.

Many fans speculate that Bonney, who has been shown to have achieved Gear 5, could potentially become Luffy’s apprentice. This is due to the similarities between Luffy’s journey and that of the legendary pirate, Roger. The latest chapter, 1118, will be released on June 23, 2024, and will be available for reading on Shueisha’s MANGAPlus platform.

Disclaimer- This article contains spoilers for the manga One Piece.

The Mentorship of Luffy and Bonney in One Piece: A Parallel to Roger and Shanks’ Relationship

Bonney as shown in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Due to her exceptional abilities and background, Bonney was seen as a perfect candidate to carry on Luffy’s legacy, similar to how Shanks was once Roger’s protégé. Her Devil Fruit, which has the ability to manipulate age, becomes even more powerful when she is in her younger form.

Despite her limited haki and combat skills at a young age, this is balanced out by her potential. As she grows older, her haki and combat skills continue to improve, but the power of the fruit diminishes, representing the narrowing of possibilities with age.

This situation presents a fascinating contrast, establishing her as a potential future leader who possesses combat skills and haki, but lacks the full potential of her Devil Fruit. While this may disappoint some fans, it aligns with the recurring theme in One Piece of older mentors relying on their combat abilities and experience rather than relying solely on their powers.

Shanks as shown in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

It is evident that Bonney shares many similarities with Luffy, including their personalities and insatiable hunger. This correlation implies that she may potentially become the protagonist of the upcoming era, effectively taking over Luffy’s role.

Bonney is the perfect candidate for Luffy’s direct apprentice, as she encompasses numerous qualities and potentials that align with Luffy’s character.

Bonney’s character is heavily influenced by the real-life pirate Anne Bonney. In the series, Roger expressed his desire to name his child Gol D. Anne if it was a girl and Gol D. Ace if it was a boy. This connection between Bonney and Ace highlights the parallel between Bonney and Luffy, but also showcases a bond similar to that of adopted siblings, similar to Ace’s relationship with Luffy.

The apparent strong bond between Bonney and Shanks, as well as her association with the One Piece legacy, seems to suggest a biological relationship. In gender-swapped depictions of the supernovas, Bonney closely resembles Shanks, possibly implying a familial tie. This connection was discovered prior to the revelation of Bonney’s celestial dragon status.

Kuma as shown in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Based on the timeline and character relationships, it can be inferred that Bonney’s father is Garling, who bears a striking resemblance to a younger version of Shanks. This would make Bonney a Figarland, creating a parallel between the narratives of Roger and Luffy, who both take on the role of mentor to a Figarland child after their father’s abandonment.

As the Elbaf arc approaches, there is speculation that Bonney will reunite with her brother Shanks. If Blackbeard were to harm Bonney’s crew and potentially defeat Shanks, it could result in a pivotal moment where Bonney and Shanks finally recognize each other as siblings.

Roger as shown in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Based on the depiction of the Sun God as a female in Kuma’s Bible, certain fans theorize that Nika may have been a woman. This theory is supported by the concept of a “Mother”Flame and religious mythology, which depicts Eve as the first to consume the forbidden fruit and suggests that Nika could have been the first to eat a devil fruit.

A long-standing fan theory suggests that Makino’s child could potentially be Shanks’ biological child as well. Some even speculate that Luffy may choose to pass down his iconic Strawhat to this individual in the future.

Final thoughts

The release of One Piece chapter 1118 is scheduled for June 23, 2024. The chapter will primarily focus on the ongoing battle between the Gorosei and the Straw Hat crew on Egghead Island. Due to the numerous plot twists that have occurred in the Egghead Island arc, it is nearly impossible to accurately predict the ultimate resolution of this conflict.