One Piece Chapter 1097 Confirms [Spoiler] Was a Marine

Monkey D. Luffy's family is all over the place. He's a pirate sailing the New World searching for the One Piece, his grandfather, Monkey D. Garp, is the Hero of the Marines and one of their best soldiers (assuming Kuzan didn't kill him), and his father, Monkey D. Dragon, is the leader of the Revolutionary Army seeking to end the oppression of the Marines and the World Government. Of these three, Dragon is shrouded in the most mystery regarding his past and motivations.

Despite the mystery, fans have had a sneaking suspicion based on who his father is. Since Garp was a Marine, some fans assumed there was a time when his son enlisted. This suspicion was finally confirmed by Chapter 1097, "Ginny." The details aren't clear, but Dragon used his training and experience in the Navy to make his forces stronger. More importantly, knowing Dragon was a Marine should lead to further speculation on his relationships, power, motives, past, and future.

What Could Dragon's Relationship With Garp Have Been Like?

If Dragon did enlist in the Marines, it would have likely been at the behest of his father, Monkey D. Garp. He stayed with the Navy long enough to learn their combat techniques. However, realizing how awful the Marines can be must have compelled him to leave despite his father's wishes. Dragon also said in Chapter 1097 that the Navy "didn't have the justice [he] was looking for." This was likely meant to bash their ideals, but it also means there must have been a time when he believed in their cause.

This would reflect Garp's firm belief in the good this group does and why he sticks with them no matter what. The only difference is that Dragon's disillusionment likely led him to quit his job and pursue his idea of justice the Marines couldn't sanction. Dragon's departure from the Navy likely drove a wedge between him and his father. Dragon could have argued over how wrong it was to continue serving such a corrupt organization that followed abstract forms of justice rather than prioritizing the needs of the citizens they were supposed to be helping. Garp would have argued in favor of the good the Marines did, but it wouldn't be enough to convince Dragon.

If they were to meet, it would have to be as enemy leaders of the Revolutionary Army and the Marines, respectively. They're too set in their ways to back down. With that said, Dragon must still trust Garp as a caretaker if he is willing to leave Luffy with him. He must have known Garp would try to make his grandson into a Marine as he (presumably) did for his son. This could mean he had faith that Luffy would long for a life of freedom and deny Garp's desires, or he was ready to fight his son as another Navy soldier.

Did Dragon Know Akainu?

Many fans have noted that Dragon is the same age as Fleet Admiral Sakazuki. As of the time skip, they're both 55 years old. This could mean they enlisted in the Navy around the same time and became friends. They might have even learned together under Z or Garp. A severed connection between Dragon and Sakazuki might have been similarly tragic to his separation from Garp. It depends on who he would have worked closer with; he could have fought alongside Garp as a father-son duo or Sakazuki as a brother-in-arms.

Severing either connection would have led to tremendous heartbreak on all sides. Of course, Sakazuki might take the loss of Dragon as more of a betrayal than Garp would. Unlike Garp, Sakazuki is fanatic about enforcing Absolute Justice, and he's even willing to kill fellow Marines who would obstruct it. If he heard Dragon openly mock the Navy's justice, it might have led them to leave off on much worse terms than they should have.

Dragon and Sakazuki's potential connection would also explain the latter's dogged pursuit of Luffy in the Marineford Arc. At the time, this was only seen as another way for the Admiral to enforce Absolute Justice, but a direct relationship with the Revolutionary Army leader would recontextualize this interaction. This would explain his insistence on referring to the Straw Hat captain as Dragon's son rather than his name or epithet. It also means when he killed Ace by aiming for Luffy, he was genuinely more interested in eliminating the latter. It would all be about ending the tainted bloodline of a former friend.

Sakazuki and Dragon may still be equals even now. It would make sense for the most wanted man alive to have strength on par with the leader of the Marines. It would make them Emperor-level threats in their respective fields; this parallel could be further drawn through their three commanding officers (Ivankov, Kuma, and Ssbo for Dragon, and the Admirals for Sakazuki) reflecting the three Commanders every Emperor has. Now that One Piece is in its Final Saga, it makes sense for more Emperor-level characters to show up.

How Could Dragon Being a Former Marine Influence One Piece's Story?

Dragon's connections to the Navy were kept vague for so long by his role in the story. He's been fighting relatively small wars to liberate countries across the world. The Revolutionary Army has taken potshots at the Admirals and the Five Elders, but they've never stuck around for a drawn-out battle that would result in their victory. They might be waiting for an ideal opportunity to take that next step toward toppling the Marines and the World Government. The presumable The assumed defeat of Admiral Kizaru and St. Jaygarcia Saturn on Egghead will likely be the impetus for taking such actions.

Many fans predict that the Revolutionary Army will come to Luffy's aid once his adventures lead him into a final war with the Marines and the World Government; this could be where Dragon lends his aid in a final battle with Garp or Akainu. He'd team up with Luffy to fight Garp for a Monkey-styled family reunion. Even if he doesn't deliver the finishing blow, his involvement should provide ideal characterization for everyone involved. Whatever Dragon does to re-enter Luffy's story will likely be in a battle against the Marines. This is the best way for his confirmed connection to them to pay off. The time for the Revolutionary Army, the Marines, and the Straw Hat Pirates to all meet up in a large-scale confrontation is fast approaching.