Ch. 3- Needing a Miracle

One Piece © Oda

Blizzard © Me

The wind was howling. Snow was being blown around everywhere. The temperature was possibly below freezing.

Luffy found himself trudging through the knee-deep snow.

One minute, he was on his way back to the ship with Nami's special gist. The next minute, the wind picked up and he ended up getting trapped in a furious snowstorm.

Luffy shivered as he blew on his palms and rubbed at his arms, teeth chattering and a small drip appearing from his nostrils. The sharp snow and cold air was stinging his exposed skin, which slowly turned purple.

ACHOO! He sneezed.

It appeared that it was going to take more than a scarf to keep him warm.

Not just that, but he had no idea how to get back to the Sunny from here. With all this snow and wind, he didn't even know where he was, right now!

Still, he couldn't give up. Nami was counting on him to bring her Christmas present to her, even though she didn't know it.

"Gotta get back to the ship," Luffy said. "Gotta get Nami…her present!"

With that, Luffy pressed on through the blustering winds and snow, determined to complete what he had set out to do.

But meanwhile, somewhere else on the island and not too far away, Nami and Blizzard were trying to see if they could spot their lost captain through the blurring ice and snow. Neither of them could see, and with the wind blowing around in all directions, Blizzard could no longer catch Luffy's scent.

"Blizzard!" Nami yelled over the wind. "We're gonna have to find our way back to the ship! We can't find Luffy out here!"

As much as he hated to admit it, Blizzard knew that Nami was right. However, he couldn't help feel that Luffy might've been close, but even if he was, he wouldn't even be able to tell.

ACHOO! The wolf-dog sneezed.

It appeared that he was catching a cold in this weather.

I'm sorry, Luffy, Blizzard thought.

And so, with great reluctance, Blizzard and Nami rode back the way they came.

Unbeknownst to the two, Luffy was right nearby…but he didn't see Nami or hear her voice over the wind and snow.

It appeared that he was going to be lost for quite a while.

XXX

It felt like hours since he was trapped in this storm, and Luffy could feel himself getting weaker and weaker by the minute. There were times when he felt like he was about to pass out, but he managed to keep himself together and pushed himself to keep going.

His stomach rumbled. He just realized that he hadn't eaten since lunch earlier today and he was probably missing dinner, too.

Oh, what he would give for just even the tiniest morsel of meat, right now. He was so hungry!

He looked down to his feet, which felt numb from the cold, and at the snow that surrounded him. He did remember when he and Ace used to eat snow during their boyhood. It wasn't very filling, he knew, and it didn't really give much energy…

But he was hungry.

Luffy knelt down and grabbed himself a handful of snow, and then took a bite. He nearly cried out from how cold and painful it felt, but he suppressed it.

His stomach growled, again, obviously not satisfied, but this was the best he could do at the moment.

Just then, he spotted something through the blinding snow. He couldn't exactly make out the shape, but he attempted to walk toward it. As he got closer, it seemed that the image became clearer, and he saw that it was a cave.

Perfect! He take up shelter in here!

Wasting no time, Luffy ran inside the cave and sat himself there. Inside, he found a few sticks and some straw.

He could use these to make a fire.

He gathered up a bundle of sticks and straw and, using both Gear Second and his Armaments Hardening ability on his arms, he pressed his palms against the bundle and ignited it.

He would've thought do this while he was outside, but then again, it would only eat away at his reserves and make him feel weaker in the cold.

So, here he sat, trying to keep himself warm, when suddenly, he heard a growling noise, and it wasn't coming from his stomach.

Looking up, Luffy saw a pair of ferocious eyes staring back at him in the shadows of the cave. Upon taking a closer look, Luffy saw that it was a huge bear, about 8 feet tall when it stood up on its hind legs. It let out a mighty roar and raised it claws, but Luffy remained unafraid. He, too, stood up to face the beast.

Just when it seemed that the bear was about to bring its sharp claws down Luffy, it suddenly froze, and then went back down to being on all fours, eyes staring up at the young man submissively, like a kicked puppy.

Luffy's stomach started grumbling, again. He looked back down at the bear and licked his lips, a sliver of drool escaping his mouth.

XXX

URRRRRRRRP!

Luffy let out a belch with his hands over his bloated stomach, which was full of bear meat. Now that he was full, he felt a little warmer than he was outside.

Still, he couldn't just sit here in this cave, alone.

How could he give Nami his present when he's here?

"Nami," Luffy thought aloud. "I'll bring your present to you, somehow. Just wait for me."

As Luffy continued to look outside the cave opening, it appeared that the snowstorm wasn't going to let up, anytime soon. He heaved a sigh, knowing that he was going to have to go back out there if he was going to get to try and find the ship again, but there was no way he could survive the cold, harsh weather.

It appeared that Luffy was going to need a miracle.

XXX

Meanwhile, back at the Sunny, things didn't seem to be going well for the Straw Hats either. Knowing that their captain was out there, lost, freezing, and all alone…it just made them feel like there was nothing they could do.

Blizzard was in the sick bay because he had a caught a cold while he was outside. He had offered the Chopper the opportunity to open his presents now since it was the little reindeer's birthday, but he turned it down, saying that it wouldn't be fair for the others to wait to open their presents while he got to open his early.

Besides, he figured it was more fun to open them on Christmas.

Robin was busy trying to comfort Nami in the Aquarium Bar.

Sanji was in the galley, trying to make another mug of hot chocolate in the hope that it would lift Nami's spirits.

Zoro was up in the crow's nest with Usopp, trying to see if they could find Luffy from their point of view.

Brook was trying to lighten the mood by singing carols, but the only one thing of was "Silent Night"…and that didn't really help at all, especially when he got to the "Sleep in heavenly peace" line.

Franky was bringing the tree, the presents, and the decorations inside so the wind wouldn't blow them away.

"Robin," Nami said, "I'm so worried."

"I know, Nami," Robin said, "but let's not lose hope, just yet. We all know Luffy. He's very strong. It'll take more than a snowstorm to do him in."

"It doesn't mean that he doesn't have his limits. Robin, it feels like he's been out there for hours! What if he never finds his way back? What if he freezes to death? What if…oh, dear God! I don't even wanna think about that part!"

Nami covered her face with her hands, sobbing.

"Shh," Robin hushed. "It's all right, Nami. We'll find him. I'm sure of it! After all, Christmas is the season of miracles, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Nami answered, "and right now, I think Luffy needs one."

Robin sighed as she held Nami closer.

"I suppose you're right," she said.

There came a pause.

Suddenly, Nami uncovered her face, revealing wide, teary eyes.

"Robin," she said. "I have an idea."

Robin gave Nami an intrigued look.

XXX

"GET THOSE LIGHTS UP!"

The Straw Hats were outside, getting the Christmas tree back up, as well as all the lights and decorations with Nami, who was holding a lit oil lantern, barking orders left and right.

"Brook! Turn on the Sunny's headlights!" Nami ordered. "Zoro! Sanji! Make sure those lights on the yard-arms are tightly on!"

"Yes, Nami~!" Sanji swooned.

"Witch," Zoro grumbled.

"I heard you, Zoro!" Nami called. "Usopp, have you got the light in the crow's nest on?"

"Yes, ma'am!" Usopp called.

"Franky!" Nami called to the shipwright. "Are you ready?"

"SUPER ready, Nami!" Franky called back.

"Then LIGHT 'EM UP!" Nami ordered.

FWASH! The Sunny's headlights, the lights around the yard-arms, the Christmas tree, the lights up in the crow's nest, and Franky's Nipple Lights came flashing on, sending the whole ship aglow with colorful lights so bright, that someone was bound to see it even through this snowstorm.

Nami looked out to the island, worryingly.

"C'mon, Luffy," she whispered.

Yes, I know it's short, but this is the best I could come with.

Anyway, review, pleas!