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Ahoy! This here is the 193rd Featured Article.
"Mera Mera no Mi" has been featured, meaning it was chosen as an article of interest.
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The Mera Mera no Mi[5] is a Logia-type[3] Devil Fruit that allows the user to create, control, and transform into fire at will.[5] "Mera Mera" is a Japanese onomatopoeia of the noise fire makes when it burns. It is called the Flame-Flame Fruit in the Viz Manga and FUNimation dub, and the Flare-Flare Fruit in the 4Kids dub and FUNimation DVD subs.
Initially eaten by Portgas D. Ace,[5] it later returned into circulation after Ace died and was later eaten by Sabo after winning the fruit in a tournament after it came into the possession of the Donquixote Pirates.[2]
Appearance
The Mera Mera no Mi is a round orange fruit, composed of many flame-shaped components with swirl patterns on each one, and has a swirled stem on the top. It is small enough to be held in one hand.[2]
Strengths and Weaknesses
The fruit's major strength, like other Logia types, is that it allows the user to produce as well as become the element they control. In this case, Ace was able to create, control, and become fire. With this in mind, Ace was able to create fire-based attacks and was immune to any heat-based attacks, except Akainu's devil fruit ability.[6] He was also able to avoid normal attacks by turning into fire and allowing the attack to pass through him.[7][8] Igniting himself also has the added effect of burning an opponent if he or she had tried to physically harm him.
The Mera Mera no Mi and the Hie Hie no Mi cancel each other out.
The fruit's power seems to come to a stalemate when directly challenged by Aokiji's ice powers[9] or Smoker's smoke powers.[10] However, it is weak against Akainu's magma, which causes the user to be burnt despite their intangibility, making it their natural enemy.[6]
Other than that, the user is also affected by the standard Devil Fruit weaknesses.[11]
Usage
Portgas D. Ace
The Mera Mera no Mi being used by Ace.
The fruit's bestowed powers, as used by Ace, have been used in a variety of ways. Since he left home three years before Luffy, who did not know that Ace had powers before their reunion in Alabasta, Ace had his powers for no more than three years. Ace notably used his powers usually either to fight or to propel his raft. Ace shares Luffy's penchant for naming his techniques, with the only difference being that Luffy adds the phrase "Gomu Gomu No", followed by the specific name of the attack (usually inspired by a certain object or concept). Ace names his attacks in Japanese and they are often made of two-word phrases and are based on different mythologies. According to the announcer of the Corrida Colosseum, Ace had sunk countless battleships and burned down mighty cities with the fruit's power.[12]
During Ace's cover story, the powers of the fruit allowed Ace to rescue a Marine officer and some documents on board a burning ship.[13] Despite being weakened by the Yami Yami no Mi severely during his fight against Blackbeard, Ace was still able to skillfully use the fruit's power to inflict some damage to his former subordinate.[14]
The named techniques that are used by Ace that involve the Devil Fruit are as follows:
- Kagero (陽炎, Kagerō?, literally meaning "Heat Haze"): Ace shoots a stream of fire from the palm of his hand. This was first seen being used to stop Smoker from catching Luffy.[1] This is called Sun Flare in the Viz Manga and Heat Haze in the FUNimation dub.
Ace unleashing the "Hiken" against the Blackbeard Pirates.
- Hiken (火拳, Hiken?, literally meaning "Fire Fist"): Ace's apparent signature attack and the source of his nickname "Fire Fist Ace". Ace turns his fist into flames and launches it as a column of fire at his target. This attack is so incredibly powerful that it is able to plow through several ships in one shot.[5] However, it was completely neutralized by Akainu's Dai Funka. This is called Fire Fist in the Viz Manga and FUNimation dub, Heat Fist in the 4Kids dub, and Flame Fist in the FUNimation dub of "One Piece Unlimited Adventure".
- Higan (火銃, Higan?, literally meaning "Fire Gun"): Pointing the index and middle fingers of both hands at an opponent like guns, Ace turns his fingertips into flames and shoots bullets made of fire from them. This technique was first seen when Ace retaliated against Van Augur's attack.[8] In the Viz Manga and FUNimation dub, this is called Fire Gun.
- Enkai (炎戒, Enkai?, literally meaning "Flame Commandment"): Ace amasses a large amount of flames around his body (usually by first swinging his outstretched hand around him, summoning the flames) in preparation for an attack. This is apparently the prerequisite technique before Ace can use Hibashira. In the FUNimation dub and in the Viz Manga, this is called Flame Commandment.
- Hibashira (火柱, Hibashira?, literally meaning "Fire Pillar"): Used following Enkai,. Ace shoots the collected flames straight upward, destroying a target above him. It can also be fired downwards to clear any enemies that might be below him while he's in mid-air. This technique and its prerequisite technique were first seen when Jesus Burgess threw a hotel at Ace.[8] In the Viz Manga and FUNimation dub, this is called Fire Pillar.
Hotarubi.
- Hotarubi (蛍火, Hotarubi?, literally meaning "Firefly Light"): Ace creates many small, glowing greenish yellow fireballs that float around an enemy. The idea behind this attack's name is that before he attacks with them, the small fireballs look like fireflies in the air. This move is apparently used in preparation for Hidaruma and was first seen in Ace's battle against Blackbeard. In the Viz Manga and FUNimation dub, this is called Firefly.
- Hidaruma (火達磨, Hidaruma?, literally meaning "Fiery Doll"): After using Hotarubi to send the fireballs floating around in proximity with the enemy, Ace sends them all flying into the target(s) all at once, burning them. This was first seen being used in Ace's battle against Blackbeard after Blackbeard performed his initial attacks.[14] In the Viz Manga and FUNimation dub, this is called Fiery Doll.
- Shinka: Shiranui (神火 不知火, Shinka: Shiranui?, literally meaning "Sacred Flame: Sea Fire"): Ace hurls long lances made out of fire. The lances have the combined effect of simultaneously burning an opponent while piercing them. This was first seen being used against Blackbeard when Ace was being pulled forward by the former's power.[8] In the Viz Manga and FUNimation dub, this is called Saint Elmo's Fire.
- Jujika (十字火, Jūjika?, literally meaning "Cross-fire"): Ace puts his index fingers together in a cross shape before launching a cross-shaped column of fire directly at his opponent. In the anime, after crossing his fingers, a cross-shaped ray of light can be seen emanating from the fingers at the target followed by the column of fire. This was first seen being used against Blackbeard after Ace attacked him with Shinka: Shiranui.[14] This attack's name is a pun since "Jujika" refers to crossfire from weapons, yet Ace is making an actual cross out of fire. In the Viz Manga and FUNimation dub, this is called Cross Fire.
Ace's ultimate technique, "Dai Enkai: Entei".
- Dai Enkai: Entei (大炎戒 炎帝, Dai Enkai: Entei?, literally meaning "Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor"): Ace's ultimate technique. After creating great spiraling flames centered on his location before amassing it at a focused point (i.e. the palm of his hand), Ace then turns it into a gigantic fireball resembling the sun and hurls it at his opponent to try to obliterate them. This was only seen being used during the final moments of Ace and Blackbeard's battle.[14] "Entei" sounds similar to "Enkei" meaning "circle," a reference to the attack's shape. In One Piece: Unlimited Cruise, Ace activates this move by first bending his knees slightly and then placing the outstretched palm of his hand towards the ground (with his other hand gripping the wrist for support), where the flames manifest themselves into a sphere. In the FUNimation dub and Viz Manga, this is called Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor.
- Enjomo (炎上網, Enjōmō?, literally meaning "Flaming Net"): Ace creates a circle of fire around a selected area, preventing anyone from entering or leaving it. This was first seen being used against the Marines in Alabasta under the command of Smoker,[5] and was named in a flashback against Whitebeard.[11] In the Viz Manga and FUNimation subs, this is called Flame Fence.
- Kyokaen (鏡火炎, Kyōkaen?, literally meaning "Mirror Flame"): Ace releases a wall of fire to block an attack. This was first seen to counter Aokiji's Ice Block: Pheasant Beak, the two attacks canceling each other out. In the Viz Manga, this is called Mirror Flame and Flame Mirror in the FUNimation sub.
Sabo
After Sabo ate the fruit, he has been shown being able to utilize it effectively mere seconds after consuming it. After getting used to his powers, Sabo has displayed great control over the fruit's abilities, being able to utilize it in conjunction with his pipe and avoid injury by making himself intangible.
- Hiken (火拳, Hiken?, literally meaning "Fire Fist"): Ace's signature move which was inherited by Sabo after consuming the fruit. Like Ace, Sabo turns his fist into flames and launches it as a column of fire at his target. This was first seen used to destroy the entire Corrida Colosseum stage.[4]
| File:Sabo Using The Mera Mera no Mi.png |
| File:Sabo's Hiken.gif |
| File:Sabo's Flaming Pipe.png |
History
Past
The fruit was first eaten by Portgas D. Ace, somewhere between his age of seventeen to twenty. He retained his powers for no more than three years, and gained much infamy by sinking battleships and burning down mighty cities, even before joining the Whitebeard Pirates.[12]
Two-Year Time skip
After Ace's death at the hands of Admiral Akainu, the fruit reappeared and was obtained by the Donquixote Pirates.[2]
Dressrosa Arc
Doflamingo holding the fruit.
The fruit then became the grand prize for whoever won a tournament at the Corrida Colosseum on Dressrosa, with Doflamingo's intent to use it as bait to break apart Luffy's alliance with Law. Upon being revealed, the fruit's presence aroused the entire audience, as not only was it a Logia, but it also previously belonged to the son of the Pirate King.[12]
As per Doflamingo's prediction, Luffy could not stand the idea of his brother's former powers open for just anyone to take, and participated in the tournament. Since he already had the Gomu Gomu no Mi, he could not eat it himself and offered it to Franky, who turned down the offer because he wanted to retain his ability to swim.[15] Besides Luffy, representatives from many kingdoms joined the tournament to claim the fruit as it would give them a small shift in military power. Others wished to claim it for their own reasons such as Cavendish, who wanted revenge on the Worst Generation, and Rebecca, who wanted it to kill Doflamingo.[16] Bellamy seemed to be the only one with no interest in it, as the only prize he desired was to become a top subordinate in Doflamingo's crew, though he did not need the fruit anyway since he already possessed the Bane Bane no Mi.[17] Also, Bartolomeo's reason for getting the fruit is to give it to his idol Luffy, as he already possesses a Devil Fruit which is capable of creating invisible walls. Sabo wants to get the fruit to inherit Ace's will.
Sabo eating the Mera Mera No Mi
Once Sabo destroyed the colosseum platform, he then grabbed the fruit from off the Fighting Fish's back, and ate it seconds later, becoming the new wielder of Ace's powers. True to his word of inheriting Ace's will, the first thing Sabo did after eating it was use his brother's signature move, the "Hiken". Diamante was angered by this, as he never intended for anyone outside of the Donquixote Family to win the fruit.[4]
Anime and Manga Differences
- In the manga, Ace introduces the Mera Mera no Mi after he already took care of the Marines headed by Smoker. In the anime he is seen confronting Smoker a bit longer.[1]
- In the anime, the Mera Mera no Mi also granted the user the power to light objects on fire from a distance, as demonstrated when Ace lit one of Sanji's cigarettes, although it was never shown again.[18]
Trivia
- It is the only Devil Fruit that has been eaten twice in the series.[4]
- The idea of a Devil Fruit that would allow someone to use fire was first brought up when Morgan explained what Devil Fruits are.[19]
- Its powers were first foreshadowed when Ace visited a town on Drum Island, when it did not snow on that day, although it did for the whole Drum Island Arc.[20]
- It is the only known Logia Fruit that was not eaten by an antagonist, as Ace and Sabo are both Luffy's brothers.
- This is the second Devil Fruit to be shown coming back into circulation after its user's death, the other being Smiley's Devil Fruit — the Sara Sara no Mi, Model: Axolotl. However, this is the first Devil Fruit whose possessor was human.
- The color of Ace's fire changed over the course of the series, originally appearing red-orange to a more yellow orange color. However, when Sabo first used the fruit in the anime, its shade appeared red-orange again.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 18 Chapter 158 (p. 18-19) and Episode 94, Ace first demonstrates Kagero before explaining his devil fruit.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 70 Chapter 700 (p. 21) and Episode 629, the Mera Mera no Mi is first seen as a fruit after Ace's death.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 SBS One Piece Manga — Vol. 30 (p. 104), Ace's devil fruit is confirmed to be Logia-type.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 One Piece Manga — Vol. 75 Chapter 744.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 18 Chapter 159 (p. 10) and Episode 94, Ace's devil fruit is named.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 58 Chapter 573 (p. 14) and Episode 482, Ace is burnt despite his intangibility.
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Vol. 32 Chapter 298, cover story: Ace's Great Blackbeard Search Vol. 23, Ace is shot by G-2 marines but the bullets only pass through him.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 45 Chapter 440 and Episode 325.
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Vol. 58 Chapter 572 (p. 9), Ice-Ice and Flame-Flame cancel out each other upon contact.
- ↑ One Piece Anime — Episode 95, Moku-Moku and Flame-Flame cancel out each other.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 57 Chapter 552 and Episode 461.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 71 Chapter 702 (p. 11-12) and Episode 631, the Mera Mera no Mi is revealed as a prize for a tournament at the Corrida Colosseum.
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Vol. 31 –Vol. 32 Chapters 295 and 296, cover story: Ace's Great Blackbeard Search Vol. 20-21.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 46 Chapter 441 and Episode 325.
- ↑ One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 71 Chapter 703 and Episode 632.
- ↑ One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 71 Chapter 704 and Episode 634.
- ↑ One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 71 Chapter 706 and Episode 636.
- ↑ One Piece Anime — Episode 96, Ace lights Sanji's cigarette for him with his Devil Fruit's power.
- ↑ One Piece Anime — Episode 3, Morgan speaks about Devil Fruit users can breath fire and create tsunamis.
- ↑ One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 17 Chapter 154 (p. 4-6) and Episode 91, Ace's devil fruit is hinted during his debut.
External Links
- Fire - Wikipedia article on fire.
- Pyrokinesis - Wikipedia article on the condition Ace has connected with his Devil Fruit.
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