Who Shot the Queen of Fishman Island in One Piece

In Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece, the Queen of Fishman Island is shot during a critical moment that exposes political tension and shifts alliances. The shooting occurs when Saint Charloss, a Celestial Dragon, fires his pistol at the defenseless mermaid princess Shirahoshi out of arrogant entitlement. The bullet is intercepted by Monkey D. Luffy, taking the blow himself, which triggers Luffy’s Gear Second transformation and escalates the conflict at the Ryugu Palace. This incident highlights systemic abuse in the World Government and sets up the arc’s deeper themes of slavery, justice, and retribution.

Context: Fishman Island Arc Setup

Fishman Island functions as a climax for the long-running Grand Line arc, integrating themes of discrimination, slavery, and fragile coexistence between humans and merfolk. The island’s surface monarchy, represented by Queen Otohime and her daughters, pursues public integration while contending with deep-seated prejudice. The arc introduces key worldbuilding elements, including the Celestial Dragons, the slave trade, and the island’s protected status under the World Government. The shooting of the queen, or more precisely the attempted assassination of Shirahoshi, crystallizes these tensions and serves as a narrative pivot.

Key Moment: The Shooting Incident

During the New Fishman Pirates’ takeover of the plaza, chaos erupts as citizens flee and factions vie for control. Saint Charloss, exhibiting typical Celestial Dragon entitlement, attempts to kill Shirahoshi with a single-shot pistol. Luffy, acting on instinct and outrage, intercepts the bullet with his head, absorbing the full impact. This act directly triggers Luffy’s Gear Second awakening, marking one of the earliest instances of this transformation in the Grand Line. The event is not a random attack but a deliberate assertion of power by the Celestial Dragons, underscoring the perilous status of mermaids and slaves within the world order.

Shot Details and Immediate Aftermath

Character Motives and Power Dynamics

Charloss’ action reflects the systemic impunity of Celestial Dragons, who treat human and nonhuman life as disposable. His motive is not strategic but rooted in sadistic pleasure, demonstrating the cruelty endemic to the World Nobility. Luffy’s interception is equally significant: it is not premeditated but driven by his instinct to protect the vulnerable. This moment establishes Luffy’s moral compass early in the saga and cements his role as a revolutionary figure. The shooting thereby becomes a catalyst for both character development and plot progression, linking personal vendettas to broader systemic critique.

Thematic Implications and Plot Consequences

The assassination attempt amplifies the arc&rsquos exploration of slavery, class, and justice. By having Luffy挡 the bullet, the story visually and narratively elevates his role as a challenger to oppressive structures. It also escalates the stakes for Fishman Island, forcing alliances with former enemies and accelerating the confrontation with Hody Jones. The incident foreshadows later arcs in which Celestial Dragons’ atrocities demand reckoning, making it a linchpin of the broader World Government critique. It also deepens Shirahoshi’s agency, as her perceived helplessness becomes a pivot for others’ decisions and sacrifices.

Evergreen Takeaways

• The shooter is Saint Charloss, a Celestial Dragon acting on entitlement, not political strategy.
• Luffy intercepts the bullet, triggering Gear Second and defining his role as a protector of the voiceless.
• The event crystallizes themes of slavery, class abuse, and systemic injustice central to the Fishman Island arc.
• It raises narrative stakes, prompting uneasy alliances and shaping subsequent character trajectories.
• Understanding this moment is essential to tracking Oda’s ongoing critique of power and morality in the Grand Line.