The mayor burst from the clock tower, running as fast as his aging legs could carry him. He needed to see which pirates had arrived at their peaceful harbor. Pushing through the crowd of armed shopkeepers who had gathered at the docks, he spotted a familiar flag billowing in the sea breeze.
"Stand down, men!" he shouted breathlessly. "They are friends, not foes!" "Excuse me, sir," interjected Beth, a female shop owner wielding a rolling pin. "What about the women?" "And women too, sorry Beth," the mayor replied hastily.
A thunderous THUNK echoed across the harbor as a massive gangplank crashed onto the wooden dock. "WE'RE HERE!" boomed a voice from above. A shadow plummeted from the enormous ship, landing with surprising grace. Garso, who had been covering his ears from the noise, was gently set down by Makino. As he lowered his hands and tilted his head upward, he squinted at the ship's figurehead.
"That's a weird flower," he mused aloud. "Or is it a sun?" "It's a lion," came a deep voice from behind him.
Garso spun around, instinctively raising his small fists, but immediately froze. His jaw dropped in pure amazement. Before him stood an almost eight-foot-tall cyborg with a boxy frame, mechanical arms decorated with star patterns, accompanied by a boy wearing a distinctive straw hat and a small reindeer sporting what appeared to be taped-on antlers.
Without warning, the trio burst into an enthusiastic dance routine. "Left, right, SUPER!" they chanted in unison, throwing their arms skyward. Garso's eyes sparkled with wonder. "ROBOT SO COOL!"
"I know, right?!" squeaked the reindeer excitedly. "Oh yeah, by the way," Garso said, turning to the cyborg, "I like your flower on the ship."
The robot's expression darkened. "It's not a flower—it's a lion, and it's manly!" he declared with utmost seriousness. Garso couldn't help but grin teasingly. "Well, don't worry. I think it's a super manly flower." "Why, you little—" the cyborg began, raising his mechanical arm threateningly.
"Hey, be nice to the kid," interrupted the straw-hatted boy with a gentle but firm tone. "My name is Monkey D. Luffy. The reindeer is Chopper, and the robot is Franky. What's your name?" He said all of this while walking forward, and reaching down to shake the boys hand.
Garso fell silent, suddenly overwhelmed by the immense presence and strength radiating from the young pirate captain. Without hesitation, he bowed deeply.
"Can you train me, sir and teach me how to get strong please?" Luffy burst into laughter. "Was that a yes?" Garso thought "You're funny! How old are you? You look about five."Luffy said.
Before Garso could answer, Makino stepped forward and scooped him up. "He's one year old." Luffy's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Are you kidding me?"
"I'm quite certain," Makino replied with a warm smile. "Oh, why don't you and your friends come over for a drink?"
"A drink?" rumbled a low, gravelly voice. As the air grew heavier. Garso turned to see an imposing figure emerge from the shadows—a man with closely-cropped green hair, a scar over one eye, and three swords at his side. "We'll join," the man said without hesitation, a slight smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.