The Heartbreaking Origins of the Sun Pirates in One Piece

Highlights

The Sun Pirates, under the leadership of Fisher Tiger, were a formidable Fish-Men crew that actively opposed discrimination and slavery. They dedicated themselves to the liberation of slaves and tirelessly fought against the oppressive rule of the World Government.

Fisher Tiger, a revered figure from Fish-Man Island, had a sorrowful history of being enslaved by the World Nobles. He, however, embarked on a mission to free fellow slaves, skillfully concealing their identities by marking them with the emblem of the Sun Pirates.

Following the demise of Fisher Tiger, the Sun Pirates fragmented into various factions. Jinbe assumed leadership and established alliances with influential individuals. Arlong, on the other hand, engaged in unlawful activities against humans and was eventually vanquished by the Straw Hats. Macro went on to create a separate crew focused on the despicable trade of slavery.

The Sun Pirates, led by the legendary Fisher Tiger, were once the most formidable crew of Fish-Men in the Grand Line. Despite their notoriety with the World Government, they became a source of pride for Fish-Man Island. This renowned crew consisted of prominent figures like Jinbe, Aladine, Macro, Arlong, and his crew, who would later play significant roles in One Piece. Notably, many members of the crew had been previously enslaved by the World Nobles, until Tiger, a former slave himself, liberated them during a raid on Mary Geoise.

During Tiger's rule, the Sun Pirates made sincere efforts to eliminate the prejudice and animosity that divided humans and Fish-Men. This deep-rooted discrimination had led to the enslavement of Fish-Men and the World Government's biased treatment of Fish-Man Island and its inhabitants. In the One Piece universe, the tragic saga of the Sun Pirates sheds light on the tyranny of the World Government and the dark side of humanity, most notably the horrific practice of slavery, which continues to afflict the world even in the New Era.

The Great Fisher Tiger

Fisher Tiger, a renowned explorer and adventurer, fascinated the people of Fish-Man Island with his captivating tales. He was highly respected and revered in his homeland. During his youth, he took it upon himself to safeguard the oppressed and destitute residents of the lawless Fish-Man District, located on the outskirts of the prosperous Ryugu Kingdom. It was in this neighborhood that he encountered a young Jinbe and Arlong, who would later become members of his crew. While embarking on voyages across the seas, Tiger sporadically left the district, but one journey turned out to be unexpectedly prolonged.

Upon his return, Tiger revealed that his extended absence from Fish-Man Island was a result of being captured and enslaved by the World Nobles in Mary Geoise. For years, he endured torment, humiliation, and abuse, fueling his deep-seated resentment towards human atrocities and the abhorrent practice of slavery. Eventually escaping their clutches, he made his way back to his homeland, yet his compassion compelled him to not abandon those who still suffered on the Red Line. Thus, he returned to Mary Geoise, leading a siege to liberate enslaved individuals of various races. One of the individuals freed by him was a young Boa Hancock, who, in the future, would become the leader of the Kuja Pirates alongside her sisters.

On discovering his actions, numerous Fish-Men abandoned their previous lives in order to join Fisher Tiger and the Sun Pirates. As Tiger and the recently emancipated Fish-Men bore the visible mark of the World Nobles on their bodies, he opted to brand them with the insignia of the Sun Pirates. Instead of a Jolly Roger, this mark took the form of a burning sun silhouette. Consequently, it became impossible for the World Government to distinguish which individuals were once enslaved, thereby preventing them from being returned to the clutches of the World Nobles.

Prejudice Rears Its Ugly Head

As the leader of the Sun Pirates, he actively discouraged any form of discrimination or violence against humans, expressing his aversion towards killing. He firmly believed that retaliating by taking human lives would only bring Fish-Men down to the same level as their oppressors. While Jinbe supported this principle, Arlong held a contrasting viewpoint, advocating for the use of force against their human oppressors. Regardless of their opposing beliefs, Arlong honored Tiger's wishes during his time with the Sun Pirates as a sign of his respect for him.

Both Jinbe and Tiger were rewarded with considerable bounties after three years of traveling. During their journey, they were asked to assist a young human child on an island. It was later revealed that the child, named Koala, had been held as a slave by the World Nobles but was now a member of the Revolutionary Army. Understanding her situation, Tiger promised to take her back to her home island. Initially, Koala struggled to adapt to her new surroundings and couldn't distinguish between the crew and her former captors. She worked tirelessly, always wearing a forced smile, fearing the consequences of showing any other emotion due to the threats she received as a slave.

Arlong, who harbored deep hatred towards humanity, only made Koala's rehabilitation more difficult by subjecting her to abuse. Observing this, Tiger replaced the World Nobles' emblem with the mark of the Sun Pirates, symbolically freeing her and allowing her to express her true feelings. As time passed, Koala grew comfortable with the crew and they developed a strong bond. When they finally reached Foolshout Island, Koala's hometown, she tearfully said goodbye to the crew, and the islanders celebrated her return. Unbeknownst to them, the islanders had betrayed the Sun Pirates to the World Government in exchange for the Marines ignoring Koala's past as a slave to the World Nobles.

Cornered by the Marines, Tiger sustained multiple gunshot wounds, resulting in a fatal injury, while the crew's ship was obliterated. Fortunately, the remaining members of the Sun Pirates managed to seize control of a Marine battleship and evacuate Tiger. In a desperate attempt to save Tiger's life, Aladine endeavored to administer a transfusion using human blood they discovered on the ship. However, due to his aversion towards human blood, which he considered to be "corrupted by animosity towards Fish-Men," Tiger declined the transfusion and ultimately succumbed to his injuries. In his final moments, he implored his crew to conceal the circumstances of his demise and his status as a slave. Thus, the tragic conclusion marked the end of the illustrious tale of one of Fish-Man Island's most esteemed individuals.

A Split Toward New Beginnings

Following Tiger's demise, the Sun Pirates splintered into three distinct factions. The first, under Jinbe's leadership, not only assumed control of the Sun Pirates but also ascended to the esteemed rank of one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. As a result, the crew regained their freedom to journey back to Fish-Man Island, effectively dissolving their original form. The second faction, led by Arlong and his former crew, ventured to the East Blue. There, driven by his deep-seated animosity towards humans, Arlong and his cohorts committed heinous acts until their ultimate defeat at the hands of the Straw Hat Pirates. Lastly, Macro established the Macro Pirates who, operating as both kidnappers and slave traders, pursued their illicit activities.

When Jinbe renounced his position as a Warlord before the Summit War of Marineford, the ex-members of the Sun Pirates were compelled to escape from Fish-Man Island as they were once again labeled as pirates. After the war, Jinbe reconnected with some of his former comrades and successfully formed an alliance with Big Mom. In the Whole Cake Island Arc, Jinbe eventually severed ties with Big Mom and agreed to join Luffy, but circumstances forced him to separate from the Straw Hat crew during their getaway from Totto Land. After surviving the clash with the Big Mom Pirates, Jinbe bid farewell to his previous crew and joined Luffy in Wano Country.

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