Rogue Town arc (One Piece)
The Loguetown arc is the sixth and final
story arc in the
East Blue Saga of the
anime and
manga,
One Piece. The
Straw-Hats stop at the island of Loguetown, the birth and death place of
Gol D. Roger to get supplies before heading to
The Grand Line. In the English Dub the town is called Roguetown. It is followed by the
Laboon arc in the manga, the
Warship Island arc in the anime.
Chapters: 96-100 (Volume 11-12)
Episodes: 48-53 (English Dub: 40-43)
The arc starts off with the Straw Hats lounging around on the
Going Merry's deck when a flyer slips out of the newspaper Nami reading showing the 30 millon bounty on Luffy's head. Luffy is more than overjoyed with it though Nami tells him it'll be more trouble for the crew now that people will be after him. Zoro then spots an island and Nami points it out to be Rogue Town, the last stop in East Blue before the Grand Line as well as the birth and death place of the famous pirate, Gold D. Roger. The crew decide to stop off there to grab supplies.
Meanwhile the bounty poster reaches Luffy's hometown and the villagers are more than happy that Luffy's fulfilling his dream though the Mayor, whose always been against Luffy becoming a pirate, thinks its more destiny then a dream. Meanwhile, Mihawk also delivers the poster to Shanks who celebrates Luffy's coming with a party.
Back in Roguetown, Zoro has his first meeting with Tashigi, shaken that she look like his childhood friend Kunia, who helps him pick out two new swords. Sanji buys a gigantic fish for the crew; Usopp, some more supples for his ammo; and Nami, a bundle of clothes. Luffy, meanwhile, goes to check the execution stand where Gold Roger was executed. While he climbs and admires the view from the stand, a woman calls out to him, seemingly recgonizing Luffy though he has no idea who she is. When part of the fountain in the town square breaks off and hits her, the debris just slids right off her. She then reveals herself to be
Alvida, the first pirate Luffy came across on his trip. Only now she eaten the Sube Sube/Slip Slip fruit causing her figure to change. She not alone either as another familiar pirate makes himself known,
Buggy the Clown. Cabaji ambushes Luffy on the platform and puts him in shackles while Buggy's pirates holds the town square hostage. Buggy then explains that this is Luffy's execution.
At the Marine Base in town, one of the men reports to his captain about the pirate ongoings in town. It is here where we meet Captain
Smoker (Chaser in the English dub) who never lets a pirate leave his town uncaptured. He decides to wait for Luffy to be exacuted before moving in. The rest of the Straw Hats also get wind of whats going on and split off, Zoro and Sanji to go rescue Luffy while Nami and Ussop ready the ship to leave as Nami detects a storm apporching the island.
Zoro and Sanji reach the execution area and try to plow through Buggy's pirates. But it doesn't look like they'll make it as Buggy begins to bring his sword down on Luffy's head. With all seeming lost, Luffy smiles and tells his two friends that it looks like the end. However a lighting hits Buggy's sword at the last minute and destroys the platform, freeing Luffy as well with not a scratch on him. He, Zoro and Sanji then make for the Going Merry while Smoker, who was looking on, seems distubed that Luffy laughed in the face of death. Realizing that it was very similar to Gold Roger before he died.
Buggy, recovering from the shock, Alvida and Buggy's crew try to make their escape but are quickly captured by the Navy. Nami and Ussop reach the ship and quickly take down Mohji and his lion Richie who were trying to burn down the Going Merry. The other Straw Hats also run into opposition in the form of Tashigi, angry at that Zoro "tricked" her, causing him to stay behind and duel her. As well as Smoker, who Luffy and Sanji can't even hit due to his Moku Moku/Smoke Smoke powers. However the two are saved by a mysterious figure named Dragon and his powers over the storm that quickly blows the Marine away, allowing Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji to reach the ship unhindered. However Smoker and Tashigi decide to abandon their posts to chase after them. Buggy and his crew, also freed by Dragon's powers, also decide to head for the Grand Line to chase Luffy.
With the storm guiding them and the lighthouse in sight, the Going Merry is soon nearing its long awaited destination. Each of the Straw Hats perform a "ceremony" of sorts by placing their foot on the barrel and revowing their dreams as the ship nears the entrance to the Grand Line.
This arc received a lot of major changes from what was displayed in the manga. It was also the first in the anime series to feature filler.
*After Zoro meets Tashigi, he accidentally breaks her glasses and has to work at the Marine base for awhile to repay her before he goes sword shopping.
*Instead of buying the fish in the manga, Sanji has to win it in a cooking contest where he meets Carmen.
*Usopp and Nami encounter Daddy the Father, a former high-level bounty hunter who now only hunts low bounty heads. He forces Usopp to duel him when he gets his daughter angry. This episode was cut from the English dub, probably because it had a heavy emphasis on gunplay.
*Smoker fought Luffy earlier at the execution stand and managed to send him flying into another part of town.
*We also see Buggy, Alvida, and his crew searching for Luffy during these events.
*During the race back to the Going Merry, Luffy fought Smoker alone and the Navy attacks the ship forcing Nami to pull the Going Merry away from the docks.
*And finally, rather than simply make it to the ship in the manga, the Going Merry gets washed out to sea with Nami onboard. Luffy then uses his Gomu Gomu no Rocket to throw himself and the rest to the crew to reach it.
48. The Town of the Beginning and the End. Arrival at Loguetown
49. Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri! Zoro's New Swords, and the Female Sergeant Major
50. Usopp vs Daddy the Father. Showdown at High Noon!
51. A Burning Culinary Battle? Sanji vs The Gorgeous Chef
52. Buggy's Revenge! The Man who Smiles at the Execution Platform!
53. The Legend Has Begun! Head to the Grand Line
