Ya-yo Ya-yo, what is up fellow One Piece fans? We know that 4kids joke might've alienated some readers but One Piece is genuinely one of the greatest fantasy series of all time. It's been running since 1999 and according to Eiichiro Oda, the story is starting to near its end. The journey to find the One Piece that Gol D. Roger mentioned on his execution day looks to be nearing a conclusion.
Fans have long since speculated what the "One Piece," or some other unanswered mysteries might be. And, most of these theories feel forced just so that the answer can have the words "One Piece" play into it in some way shape or form. Here are the funniest theories, some of which are so plausible they are chuckle-worthy.
10 It's A Weapon Like Uranus or Pluton That Could Destroy The Red Line
So, the world of One Piece is split into 6 sections. These are the North, South, East, and West Blue, along with The Grand Line and The Red Line. Each of these cardinal oceans holds plenty of islands, and the landmass of the Red Line is where plenty of others live.
These regions are all isolated and feel like completely different worlds. Therefore, fans think that the One Piece is an ancient weapon that will destroy the Red Line and unite the entirety of the sea in...one piece.
9 It's One Piece Of The Tree All Devil Fruits Originate From, Or The Fruit Itself
Now, anime/manga franchises love to play around with the idea of heaven and hell. Angels and demons, the holy and the occult, and One Piece is no different. While there aren't many religious overtones in the show, the main power system in the show are the "Devil" fruits and the Will of D might just stand for "Devil."
Maybe the One Piece is actually one piece off the original Devil Fruit tree? Maybe it's a Devil Fruit that could be used to unite all four seas? Or maybe it's the fruit of knowledge that Eve bit into that could tell us all about the Void Century? Honestly, Devil Fruits already look so cool, it would just be awesome to see what the "original" one looked like.
8 It's The Friendships We Made Along The Way
This is our favorite theory. Why? Because while it seems nonsensically stupid, it would sort of fit the tone better than almost any other answer. Yeah, sure, it's the most cliche trope imaginable, but no answer might just be better than an unfulfilling one.
Whitebeard became disinterested in Roger's legacy because he had already found his "One Piece" in the family he built. And, that right there sort of gives this theory a bit more credence. Maybe Roger knew that the one who made it to Raftel would need to make outstanding friends and companions along the way? Pretty lame, yet relatable.
7 It's Just A Pile Of Gold
The only thing that would be lamer than nothing would be if the One Piece was just boring old treasure. It's been shown plenty of times in the manga and anime that the truly important Pirates don't really care about treasure. Luffy doesn't, Gol Roger didn't, and Shanks doesn't.
All three of them luckily have crew members who know that economics matters. Therefore, gold would be lame for a multitude of reasons. Plus, the term "one-piece" doesn't even factor into it! Although, some fans have speculated that it could be one piece of a civilization of gold or something, and that could be cool.
6 It's The D. Tribe, Alive & In One Piece
There is a theory that has made the rounds on Reddit, forums, and message boards, and that's the theory of a clan from long ago that used to oppose the World Government. This clan characteristically wore straw hats, and their lineage is probably what the "Will of D" refers to.
Due to some atrocity committed during the Void Century, they were wiped out, and the World Government has been covering up any hints of them ever since. Maybe Roger found the remnants of this clan on Raftel, and his final message was a way to tell those who would know that these ancient people are still alright and in one piece. There's a ton more to the theory than this, and it's the one that makes the most sense so far.
5 It Was A Lie So People With Power Would Discover Raftel/The Ancient Kingdom
Similar to the friendships theory, there's another one that's a bit more realistic. Basically, people speculate that Roger found out the truth about the Void Century on Raftel and that it had to do with the Ancient Civilization, Poneglyphs, and Joy Boy.
Knowing that he only had a year or so left to live, the Pirate King decided to entice an entire age of free-thinkers to see the truth with their own eyes. Towards that end, he set up the ploy that all his "treasure" was stored on Raftel and all in one piece. That way, the world would turn their eyes to this buried history and the World Government's past crimes could be exposed.
4 It's Joy Boy Himself, Or One Piece Of His Immortal Body
Who is Joy Boy? All that is known is that he played a huge part or was insanely important during the age of the Void Century. Roger himself seems to have taken a liking to the mysterious figure, and wished they could have lived in the same age.
Joy Boy made his promise to Fish-Man Island 900 years ago, but the Poneglyphs were only invented 100 years after that. Therefore, Joy Boy had a lifespan that passed 100. So, maybe the One Piece is Joy Boy himself? Maybe he was a sentient machine and only one piece of him remains?
3 It's One Piece Of Power From The Ancient Kingdom, In The Shape Of A Straw Hat Crown
We already know the Straw Hat plays an important part in history, due to Im, the shadowy figure, going to look at a giant one during the Levely. What if the One Piece has actually been Luffy's hat all along? And, that specific straw hat is a crown or symbol of the next ruler of this ancient tribe?
Remember, the World Government says that no one person shall rule, and has an empty throne as a symbol. But, behind closed doors, that throne is filled by Im. It is likely that a rival society fought against the World Government and lost during the Void Century, and Gol Roger's goal is to bring that truth to light.
2 It's One Piece Of Text That Shed's Light On The Void Century
Now, we've talked about treasure, weapons, people, and civilization. But, what if it's not that complicated? What if the One Piece is just information?
Remember, the World Government basically destroyed Ohara because of their knowledge. What if, on Raftel, there is one piece of text that tells the truth that the World Government would do anything to keep secret. A truth that is locked behind an ancient language that only Robin knows.
1 It's A Stepping Stone To Show That Our World Is Just One Piece Of A Greater Whole
Finally, the last theory is one with almost no basis but is there for anyone who hates all the other ones. Basically, we know that there are tons of tiny islands in the world of One Piece. Other than the Red Line, there is no giant landmass. But, what if Raftel is just a stepping stone before heading out into the vast unknown world beyond the Grand Line?
Maybe it's called One Piece because this world is actually only one piece of the bigger picture? A theory like this could absolutely play into the Netflix adaptation in some way shape or form.