One Piece: These Characters May Have Been A Part Of Joyboy’s Crew

During Dr. Vegapunk’s broadcast in One Piece’s Egghead arc, many massive revelations were made. From the world’s sinking to the truth about the Ancient Kingdom, a lot of sensitive information that the World Government had successfully hidden from the public for the last 800 years finally came to light for everyone else to hear. One of the most important extracts of lore from the broadcast was the identity of Joyboy as the first pirate ever.

Since then, fans have been tirelessly theorizing about who Joyboy’s crewmates may have been. Though information about them is incredibly scarce, there’s some tangential evidence that points to some One Piece characters who either knew him or may have known about him due to their timelines linking up. So, let’s take a look at who may have been a part of Joyboy’s ancient pirate crew.

Zunesha

An ancient ally

Perhaps the most well-known example of someone who was most likely a member of Joyboy’s crew, Zunesha is a gigantic and ancient elephant also known as the island of Zou. Zunesha personally knew Joyboy as it recognized the Drums of Liberation emanating from Luffy as he awoke Gear 5, claiming that he was hearing Joyboy’s heartbeat and feeling his presence for the first time in centuries. Momonosuke even stated that Zunesha and Joyboy were companions 800 years ago.

Ages ago, Zunesha was punished for an unspecified crime that it committed, the sentence for which was to wander around the world aimlessly, though some suspect that it has actually been walking towards something this entire time. Judging by how Zunesha recognizes Joyboy’s presence and apologizes to him for something, it’s heavily implied that it somehow used to be one of his crew mates and dearest friends.

Emet

The legendary robot that attacked Marijois

Much like Zunesha, Emet is also someone who was almost certainly a member of Joyboy’s crew. Though the relationship between him and his potential captain is still largely a mystery, the short flashback of their meeting proves that Emet and Joyboy were incredibly close, enough for Joyboy to willingly store his most powerful Haki within Emet so he can eventually protect himself or anyone he wants to in the future.

Joyboy, you said “when the time is right”. I think this counts.

Emet made a promise to Joyboy to make him king, and while any details further than this are still a mystery, he was unable to do so, causing him to apologize to his old friend after waking up from his slumber. However, after hearing the Drums of Liberation emanate through Luffy, he makes the decision to help Luffy anyway and release the ancient Haki stored within him to defeat all their opposing forces.

Kozuki Toki

The time traveler from the Void Century

Though this one is a bit of a stretch, it could be possible that Toki was briefly a part of Joyboy’s crew. This is because, despite her being present during the time of Roger and Oden, she was actually born in the Void Century, where she ate the Toki Toki no Mi Devil Fruit that let her move herself or others forward in time. Though nothing is known of her time during the Void Century, she eventually traveled 800 years into the future.

You shall know the brilliance of the dawn!

It is known that Toki would use her time-traveling abilities to get out of a dangerous situation, transporting herself to a time when the danger had long passed. So, the theory regarding her states that she was a part of Joyboy’s crew but traveled forward in time during the final battle where he and the rest of the crew lost to what would later become the World Government.

Nefeltari D. Lily

The one who dispersed the Poneglyphs

Perhaps the most important character in history after Joyboy himself, Nefeltari D. Lily is the reason why the Poneglyphs exist in the world today. It is implied that she started off as Joyboy’s enemy, as she was one of the original 20 rulers to come together to defeat the Ancient Kingdom, of which Joyboy is the only known resident. Upon defeating this kingdom, the 20 kingdoms would band together to form the World Government.

It is true that of the 20 families, the Nefeltari line did not move here.

However, she would later change her allegiances, as is seen with the Nefeltari family being the only one of the original 20 to stay in their homeland of Alabasta and not even put down a weapon in front of the Empty Throne. For some reason, Lily betrayed the 20 kingdoms and Imu, stamping her name with the infamous D. initial and managing to spread the Poneglyphs throughout the world to preserve the lost history before the World Government could destroy or hide it.

Imu

A theorized member of Joyboy’s crew

The Supreme Ruler of the World Government and presumably the rival of Joyboy, Imu is the greatest threat in the entire story. However, despite being Joyboy’s and the world’s greatest enemy, many fan theories place Imu as being a former member of Joyboy’s pirate crew who eventually went against his friends to seize power and become the ruler of the world.

The 5 Elders are at your service!

This may be seen in the hatred he still feels against Joyboy to this day, as well as how he felt his Haki from half a world away, instantly recognizing the presence of his former friend coming back to haunt him after 800 years. Moreover, some even state that he was Joyboy’s co-captain and held a personal relationship with him too in some way. This could possibly be a rivalry that is paralleled with Roger and Rocks and, ultimately, Luffy and Blackbeard.

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