A Proposal of Melodies
It was another of those lazy mornings where the Strawhat Pirates sail uneventfully on the Grand Line. As usual, Luffy was off to bug Sanji, who was slaving for the girls, for food; Zoro was asleep under the mandarin grove; Robin was reading a book; and Usopp was playing captain with an awe-struck Chopper. Nami who was surveying the sea the whole morning couldn't wait to find solid ground.
It can't be imagined how sweet the words that came from an eager Nami felt to the ears of a weary pirate. Almost as if hit by a bolt of lightning, the crew reacted automatically to the shouts of "land ho!" Luffy ordered out the anchors and it was a matter of minutes before everyone, except for Robin who stayed guard with the wish of finishing her book, alighted.
To everyone's delight, they had landed on a bustling town and this meant they could finally accomplish important errands. Sanji, accompanied by Nami, went off to shop for food and a vast amount at that, considering their Captain's insatiable appetite. Zoro remembered that he needed to go to a blacksmith; that should be easy, if he could only find his way. Usopp went with Chopper to look for medical books but stayed behind when they passed a cart loaded with curios. And well, Luffy went to look for an adventure.
They had arrived at the perfect time for an adventure. It was the town's merriest festival of the year, the Masquerade of Colors. Everyone was in a vibrant disguise and it was easy to lose your way in the crowd of jovial partygoers. As expected, Zoro was the first one to get lost. "Dammit. I can't seem to find the blacksmith." It figures, he had been walking in circles for around an hour now.
It was as easy to lose someone too as Sanji got separated for Nami and Chopper had no idea where Usopp had run off too. "Nami-chan! Where are you!" Sanji beseeched in vain as his cries only died out in the town's loud merrymaking. "Who's going to guard you now?" He sighed and went to the direction of a cartel filled with beautiful gypsies.
Nami, who was a mischievous thief at heart, couldn't let this opportunity pass up. Later, her victims would be crying over their lost wallets but now, they were blissfully enjoying the festival.
On another side of town, Luffy was -- "YUM! This is delicious!" *AHEM* Let me continue… Luffy was, as you heard, busy gobbling up chunks of food. For him, it was an all-you-can-eat buffet and that's still not saying it all.
I've just described to you a rather usual account of the Strawhat Pirates. Flip over to the next page because that is where there adventure truly begins…