Jewelry Bonney’s transformation into Nika may feel sudden but Eiichiro Oda set it up long before.

SUMMARY

Jewelry Bonney’s Devil Fruit is unique in many ways than one.
She was able to transform into the second Nika, something many fans took negatively.

It is to be noted, however, that Eiichiro Oda never tried hiding her potential.

Eiichiro Oda has an incredible mind when it comes to storytelling and planting seeds of an unforeseeable future. Seen by many as the God of foreshadowing, Oda has taken One Piece to the most unimaginable levels. Introducing characters with the most unique abilities, giving cliffhangers in the most anxiety-inducing moments, and then doing the unexpected and catching fans off guard, his is a skill incomparable.
Jewelry Bonney in One Piece | Credit: Toei Animation

Spoiler Alert!
Warning: This article contains spoilers of One Piece chapter 1118.

Chapter 1117 of the series had already gripped the fans after the premature ending of Dr. Vegapunk’s message, however, as spoilers for its succeeding chapter, 1118, were released, things take a complete 180. Events after events took place but one that caught everyone off guard was Jewelry Bonney’s Transformation into Gear 5 and Nika. Interestingly enough, Oda didn’t really hide her potential at all.

Eiichiro Oda Put Bonney’s Powers in Display

According to the chapter 1118 spoilers of One Piece, Jewelry Bonney unleashed the full potential of her Devil Fruit, the Toshi-Toshi no Mi, or the Time-Time Fruit. She was seen adorning the iconic look of Luffy’s Gear 5, manifesting her own outlook as Joyboy, or rather, Joygirl. Becoming Nika takes things to a different level considering the fact that fans only expected Luffy to be able to do something like that.

Bonney as Nika | Credit: Mamba-Mentality024 on Reddit
The entire idea of another person being able to transform into Gear 5 and replicate what Joyboy could do has divided One Piece’s fanbase. While it would sense, considering the fact that many believe that Eiichiro Oda brought about Bonney’s upgrade out of nowhere; there is more to the story.

Bonney was able to replicate Sun God Nika’s and Luffy’s powers with ease, something that wasn’t foreseen for a very long time. The very act of her being able to do what Joyboy once did hasn’t been sitting well with fans. However, Eiichiro Oda never tried hiding it.

Eiichiro Oda Had Set Up Bonney’s Transformation Smoothly

Jewelry Bonney has always been able to replicate Luffy’s Gum Gum Fruit’s powers. As hinted by chapter 1101 (by ryumaruborike on Reddit), her using the Sun God Nika’s powers isn’t something new. She was just unaware of what Nika looked like and thus couldn’t shift into his face. However, what she was aware of were his powers. Her ability to replicate the Gun-Gum Fruit was hint enough, something that later came to be known as the Human-Human Fruit.
Jewelry Bonney from One Piece | Toei Animation
If her abilities could take into consideration a Zoan-type fruit like that of Luffy’s, it was more than likely that her powers held more than what meets the eye. Bonney’s Devil Fruit is limited to her own imagination. Before, she had no idea of what Nika looked like. So while she was still using his powers, she couldn’t transform into him completely.

Eiichiro Oda never tried hiding the fact that Bonney’s Devil Fruit holds more power than what fans expected, all he did was take his time to let his ideas come to fruition. While the decision to make Bonney the second Nika has divided the fandom, it cannot be said that Oda didn’t hint at this future manifesting.