This post contains spoilers for One Piece.
Summary
The Straw Hat Pirates are the main protagonists ofOne Piece. Despite their different roles, all of them are equally important. Over the course of the series, the Straw Hat Pirates have drastically improved their strength. They have worked hard to improve their physical abilities and to unlock new skills.
Eiichiro Oda has meticulously planned the path for each Straw Hat, but he has not shied away from teasing the fans by putting in what-if possibilities. One of them involved the possibility of a Straw Hat becoming the next wielder of the Mera Mera no Mi.
Franky Could Have Eaten The Mera Mera no Mi
In the Dressrosa arc, it wasconfirmed that the Mera Mera no Mi had goneback into circulation, and anyone could have eaten it. Doflamingo managed to nab the Devil Fruit and take it to Dressrosa, where he put it as a prize for the tournament winner at the Corrida Coliseum. Doflamingo planned to distract Luffy and keep him focused on securing the Devil Fruit.
When Luffy learned about it, he asked Franky ifhe would eat the Mera Mera no Mi. He wanted Franky to obtain the powers for two reasons. First, Luffy trusts Franky and the other Straw Hats more than any other person. So, Luffy would be at ease if Franky had eaten the Devil Fruit. Second, Luffy wanted someone whom he knew to carry on Ace’s legacy. As previously stated, he trusts the Straw Hats, which makes Franky a great fit.
Why Did Franky Refuse To Eat The Mera Mera no Mi?
Franky’s refusal to eat the Devil Fruit stemmed from his desire to retain his ability to swim. At the time, the Straw Hats had four Devil Fruit users. If Franky had eaten the Devil Fruit, it would tip the balance. Since the Straw Hats spend so much time on water, it makes sense to have extra hands on deck to rescue the Devil Fruit users.
I’m the Unbeatable Iron Pirate! —Franky
One might say that Franky turned down a massive offer, but it is important to remember that the decision was mainly plot-related. If Franky had consumed the Mera Mera no Mi, it wouldhave left Sabo without a Devil Fruit, who was a much better fit. Not only was Sabo Luffy’s older brother, but he also had the same goal as Ace, i.e., to protect his younger brother.
Will Any Straw Hat Eat A Devil Fruit?
Presently, there are six Straw Hats who have not consumed a Devil Fruit, and it is likely that none of them will. Each Straw Hat has a unique fighting style, and eating a Devil Fruit will drastically affect it. Moreover, the story is already in the Final Saga, which means the character will only have one or two arcs at most to master it. Therefore, it is better for them to focus on their current styles and enhance them further.
Usopp Needs To Get His Act Together
However, it is unwise to deny that some Straw Hats, namely Nami and Usopp, would really benefit from eating a Devil Fruit. The latter has beendisappointing in all his fights since Dressrosa,failing to leave a mark on any of them. The criticism might be harsh, but it’s important to remember that Usopp is the crew’s sniper. If he is unable to use Armament Haki even after Elbaf, then it will put him way behind his rivals.
Hopefully, Usopp gets a major power-up in Elbaf and helps the crew take down one of the God’s Knights. In the most recent chapter, Usopp and a few others were confronted by Gunko, whose aim is to kidnap Collun. This would be an excellentopportunity for the sniper to provehis worth and keep the kid safe from harm. Fans should be patient even if he fails to do anything significant in the fight, as the arc is still far from over.
