beenjammin0421: Thanks. Guess I'll take you up on that idea...the only working title I could really settle on was Spell Blade.
The Straw Hats were all gathered in the kitchen for breakfast, Sanji having distributed the food before joining them. Not before kicking Luffy into the ground for trying to steal food once again.
''Don't take from that, there's more than enough. Just finish your share!''
Nami gave the rubber teen an annoyed look, making sure to bat his hand away when it strayed to her plate ''So first you try dipping into the storage whenever the mood strikes you and now this? Clearly, we're going to have keep a very sharp eye on our food.''
Usopp yelped as he wasn't that succesful, seeing Luffy devour a bit of his eggs ''You're just too greedy!''
''Actually, since that came up, thanks for that shield.'' Sanji told Miguel. ''I caught him trying to deal with it again this morning.''
''I figured...you want me to figure out another way to help when we get a refrigerator?''
''Please.'' Both were also able to stop Luffy's wandering hands. Miguel decided to see what would happen and so offered him some bacon.
''Thanks!'' Luffy happily took it up.
''That's all you're getting.'' Zoro deadpanned, also having kept his hands away from his own plate.
''Wha-Luffy, cut it out!'' Usopp cried after a little while, holding up his plate to keep Luffy from reaching it. The captain wasn't about to drop it though and they began to fight over it.
Some, like, Nami, Zoro and Miguel had finished and so cleaned their plates up. In Luffy and Usopp's little skirmish, Usopp's plate was sent flying into the air while the sniper pushed Luffy back. The teen's hand hit the stove, suddenly activating it and burning the food in the chaos, causing a burst of fire.
''That does it.'' Sanji proceeded to punish the captain, being well aware who started this. ''Usopp, help yourself to the food.''
''Thanks!'' The sniper returned before proceeding to get another plate. It was then that he noticed how Nami and Miguel, who were the closest to the stove, appeared shaken up. ''Ah, oops...that could've been bad, huh?''
''You think?!'' Nami snapped. ''Honestly, you're both idiots! You're just lucky we saw what happened in time!''
Usopp didn't blame her, he would have had a similar reaction. ''Sorry...''
Zoro noted something odd about Miguel's expression ''What's wrong?''
''Ah...'' The wizard shook himself. ''...it just...startled me. I guess...I haven't really made any progress after all...''
''What do you mean?''
Miguel blinked, not realizing he'd said that out loud before letting out a breath ''It's just...I've been afraid of fire for years.''
The admission caught them by surprise before Luffy asked the obvious question ''Why?''
''Well...'' The image of great flames that consumed all in their path flashing before Miguel's mind. What was undoubtedly the worst day in his life. Not only had it been the last time he'd ever seen her...then...
That confronation and everything that led to it...
'You couldn't understand how I feel! None of you, I've had enough. This isn't a home, how could it be when we can't even be safe here? When we keep losing everything to those monsters? Coming back here was a mistake and I''ll rectify it for good!'
It was all just pointless. The anger was understandable but misguided...and look what happened next.
Lost in thought as he was, Miguel remained unaware of the crew's gazes. While his expression was hard to discern, the weight and emotion in his gaze couldn't be clearer. None of them really talked about their pasts but it was easy to tell that the cause behind their friend's phobia was deep-seated.
His next words only proved this conclusion accurate. ''...there was this battle we were forced into and...just when it look like we got things under control, everything went terribly wrong...it destroyed so much...''
The pain and sadness in his words and stance were unmistakeable and it left his friends even angrier at what the world government put him and his people through. All this bloodshed, this pain and suffering-it was all just so sensless...
Zoro had a thought ''Wait, back when we were training the other day and I asked about your swords...there was that one with the red hilt you really never seemed to use. Going by your swords, is that...?''
A nod ''It's a fire elemental sword. That was a gift from Master Yuan...he was trying to help me with the phobia and he wanted me to keep it if it ever came in handy. The thing is, I still can't use it. I've been trying to get over this phobia but...really, I just don't freeze up around flames like I used to. This just startled me...''
Usopp cringed, guilt prompting him to think fast ''Oh hey-I just thought of something fun to do with the gizmos I got together lately. We can make it into a game!''
Luffy perked up ''Really?'' The sniper wondered if he was also looking to brighten the mood because of what he did then. ''Okay, let's go see. You too, Miguel, it'll be fun!''
The latter almost smiled, readily going along with it as he did not want anyone walking around egg shells with him ''All right but this better not wind up with me having to fish you out of the water again.''
''Oh, you of little faith! Just watch and see the great Captain Usopp at work!''
A while later...
Miguel had just finished setting aside the new funds he'd planned to send to Elysia (including some treasure he got from Arlong Park) when he found Sanji standing before the tangerine trees Nami brought with her. Considering that this was the third time today the cook kept such a watch over them, he felt the need to ask.
''Didn't you already water them?''
''Of course. This is different! Nami-swan entrusted me to protect her tangerines.'' And the answer was entirely predictable. ''Nami-swan, do you see my dedication?''
''Yes, it's very hard to miss.'' Sanji almost swooned in delight, not even noticing that she hadn't looked at him once.
''...He's obviously being played.'' Usopp muttered. ''Anyway, can't you just shield the trees like you did with our supplies, Miguel?''
''I offered but...'' He gestured to the cook, the sniper rolling his eyes.
''Figures.''
''Hey!'' They looked at Luffy, who was staring at the newspaper Nami was holding.
The girl raised an eye ''What's caught your eye? I didn't think you'd be much for reading.''
Luffy responded by grabbing the paper and flipping it, letting her see the page.
''What?!''
It was an odd contrast, Nami was clearly alarmed by whatever this was but Luffy's happiness couldn't be clearer. But the captain didn't keep them waiting.
''I got my first bounty!'' Usopp and Sanji ran over to see for themselves and indeed, the page Nami was holding displayed a picture of a wanted poster. It was a picture of a grinning Luffy, with his name and the price of 30 million berri.
Zoro walked over for a better look ''Huh...whaddya know...''
''How come I didn't get one?'' Sanji sulked.
Considering the amoutn was a match to Arlong's, Miguel had a guess ''Maybe word got out about Luffy beating Arlong?''
''I can see it...he's been a freaking menace for this long after all...''
''All right, I'm on this too!'' Usopp was eagerly pointing at the back of his head on the corner of the picture.
Sanji made a face ''You're happy about that?''
''Aw, don't be jealous! Just work hard enough and you'll make it!''
''Who the hell's jealous?!''
Luffy barely even heard them in his joy ''This is awesome!'' An amused Miguel congratulated him while Zoro cracked a smirk.
''Not bad, Captain, I think you might have the highest bounty in East Blue.''
''How are you guys so calm about this?'' Nami was the only one who couldn't see the upside here.
''What're you so down about? This is a big deal!'' Usopp returned.
''Yeah, this is bad. It'll just paint a target on our crew! We'll have people coming after us!''
''I say bring it on.'' Zoro declared.
''It's a job hazard of being a pirate, Nami.'' Miguel reminded. ''It would have happened sooner or later.''
''I'd prefer later...much, much later.'' Why was she the only one who could see the problem here?
''Have you met Luffy? Odds are he'd manage to tick people enough to do that anyway.'' Usopp snarked.
''...The worst part is, I can't argue with that.''
Luffy glanced at the poster's picture again before grinning ''Now I'm even more excited to go, let's head to the Grand Line!''
''So our destination is Reverse Mountain?''
''Yup,'' Nami confirmed. ''That's the entry way to the Grand Line. We're not that far off, actually.''
Luffy grinned, excited at the news ''Finally!''
''Wait, how do we even use that, Nami? Is there like some tunnel we should go through?'' Zoro cocked his head.
''No, from what I've heard we need to go over the mountain.''
''Well we could ask a native.'' Sanji glanced at Miguel. ''Didn't you get to East Blue this way?''
Miguel shook his head ''The method I used is different. It was a warp circle.''
Usopp's eyes widened ''Are you serious? That sounds cool! Can't we use that?''
''No, it has to be set up to send us over. Even then, it would take us to Elysia. Besides, the people who know how to set them up are really strict about their usage.''
''That sounds stingy...''
''Can you blame them after all the wizards had to deal with?'' No one was going to argue with Nami there.
''I could try asking about it but that would take a while.'' Miguel warned.
''Why bother? We should just go that mountain!'' Luffy exclaimed.
''Of course you'd say that...'' Usopp spared him a glare ''...we don't even know anything about it.''
''Well, for what it's worth...'' Everyone looked at Miguel. ''...I knew there was a chance I'd have to go back on my own so I looked into this. Like Nami says, people go over Reverse Mountain. We read up about it back home, water runs on paths over the mountain. That's how ships cross over.''
''That sounds crazy...'' Sanji trailed off.
''Yeah, about that...Fair warning, I might not have traveled a lot over the Grand Line but one thing's for sure, you shouldn't rely too much on common sense. It's completely different from the blues.''
Usopp stiffened ''W-wait, how different are we talking about here?''
''What, scared already, Captain Usopp?'' Zoro teased.
''Who, me? Of course not!'' But the tremor in his voice told otherwise.
Nami crossed her arms ''Well, it fits with what I've heard and more. Nice to see there's someone else here with a good head on their shoulders. Miguel, if you can think of any other information that can help us, let me know.''
''Come to think of it, wasn't there this place that people tend to stop at before going to the Grand Line?'' Sanji tried to remember one of Zeff's stories. ''What was its name again...?''
''Oh, you're thinking of Loguetown.'' Nami offered. ''And you're right, it's a popular area. I was thinking of stopping there for supplies.''
''Ah, I heard of that place. They call it the Town of Beginnings and Ends.'' Zoro mused.
Usopp blinked at the strange title ''Why's that?''
''Not too sure, but supposedly it had to do with the Pirate King. Loguetown is where Gold Roger came from and also where he was executed.''
''Really?!'' Luffy's grin grew ''I totally want to see that place!''
''Well, stopping there could help. There's no telling when we'll find another place to restock after this.'' Miguel remarked.
Nami nodded ''It's decided then.''
In all his excitement, Luffy quickly found someone to ask about the execution platform. Leaving just a minute after they disembarked, to the crew's exasperation.
''This is just great...didn't we just tell him to not just rush into things since we have so much to do?'' Sanji groused.
''Well apparently it went in one ear and out the other...'' Nami grumbled. ''...we can't babysit him now. We need to sort out the supplies, not to mention we probably don't even have enough clothes to deal with differing temperatures.''
''Okay, so that's one thing and of course we need to pick up food and drink.'' Miguel started. ''Usopp, weren't you and Zoro talking about getting stuff to help you for future battles?''
''Yeah, he said he wanted to find swords. I just checked the directions and...'' The sniper then noticed the lack of a certain green haired swordsman. ''...guys? It looks like Zoro left too.''
Nami groaned ''I swear those two are as bad as each other...''
''Don't worry about it so much, those two can take care of themselves.'' Sanji stated. ''Anyway, we've got work to do. Come on!''
And so they got to work, first taking care of the clothes for the crew before going to see about other supplies. Sanji in particular, was pleased at the assortment of foods they discovered in the process but it was nothing compared to his feelings when they found a refrigerator. They hadn't been too sure about the price as it seemed that it would cost almost all their money but thankfully Miguel offered some of his own share which more than covered it.
Nami smiled as they stopped a short distance from the market so Miguel could put their purchases away in his personal dimension. ''Thanks a bunch, you're a big help.''
''I'll say, sorry about before. Hope you didn't have to dig in the fund for your home.'' Sanji added.
''Nah, it's fine.'' Miguel half-smiled. ''I've been traveling for months, remember? I've gotten my fair share on one side. I'm happy to help you guys but I'm going to have to draw a line when it comes to that fund.''
''Hey, we understand...''
''Yeah, we wouldn't ask you to touch that.'' Usopp added with Nami nodding next to him. It was important after all and he would admit to being impressed with their friend for going to such lengths for his home.
Once they wrapped things up, Usopp and Miguel headed to find tools and gizmos for the sniper. It took a while but they were soon able to come across an old shop with quite the variety.
''You can really use that sort of thing?'' He asked curiously, seeing Usopp pick up some tacks.
Usopp grinned ''You'd be surprised. I'm willing to go the extra mile to allow all of my creativity to blossom. This is the tale of Captain Usopp's rise after all! No effort can be spared!''
''Right.'' Miguel shook his head in amusement.
''How about you though? Nothing caught your eye?'' Usopp added.
''Well...'' The young man looked around again, pausing after almost a minute and went to pick up what appeared to a band with a sphere on top and a needle inside it.
''That's one weird compass.'' Usopp cocked his head, wondering why he seemed so pleased.
''I hoped we could find one...''
''Oh?'' The shop owner gave him an appraising look. ''Yer one of the few who'd actually looking come for one, sonny. Do ya even know what yer doing with that?''
''I wouldn't be looking for it if I didn't.'' was the response. ''So how much is it?''
''Well, let's see how honest you are. Keep that money coming and I'll tell ya.''
After some thinking, Miguel got a stack of berri and handed it over. The man responded by counting while Usopp stared in surprise, the man let out a satisfied hum. ''Good, now for people like you...'' He bent and held up a box with a similar device in a much better condition ''...I present my better stock.''
''Thanks!'' Miguel took it and they left after finishing up payment with the man bidding them good luck.
''You actually paid him at least 500,000 berri! That's nuts!'' Usopp couldn't make sense of it, Miguel had always seemed so careful with money so far.
''Not for this thing.'' He returned. ''This is a Log Pose, we'd really need once we get to the Grand Line. The islands there all emit those magnetic fields that send a compass haywire but a Log Pose locks into one field and shows the way to one of the islands. The needle changes as we travel to lock onto the closest field. It's so useful that there's this old law on the Grand Line: never doubt a Log Pose.''
''Whoa...okay, forget I said anything.'' Put like that, this thing was worth its weight in very berri. ''It's lucky we have you here for sure, this'll be a great help!''
Miguel smiled ''Well, like you said no effort can be spared, right?'' Usopp nodded with a grin. ''Anyway, I'm still wondering about Zoro so I'll go see if I can find him, then go back to the ship. What do you want to do?''
''I kind of want to look around some more so see you around!''
He nodded back and both sniper and quartermaster headed off in separate directions. So far, they had been off to a good start in this town.
Well, let's stop here.
I hope this was good. I did skip some parts but it's mostly just like in canon and I really don't feel like repeating it. The Loguetown arc is pretty short anyway so I'll probably finish it up next chapter. Putting it all at once just seemed a little too much.
To clarify, the reason behind Miguel's fear of flames will come into full light in the Elysia arc. That's where it all went down. The whole situation was pretty terrible. Also, if he hadn't paid an amount the shop keeper felt was right, Miguel would've gotten an old Log Pose that wouldn't have lasted long.
Anyway, thanks for reading so far and I hope you keep it up. Till next time!