Chapter 1

Chapter 1 is titled "Romance Dawn - The Dawn of the Adventure".

Cover Page
Color Spread: The Straw Hat Pirates and the Red Hair Pirates are holding a party in treasure along with seagulls. Shanks' flag is seen in the background.

Short Summary
The main character of the series, Monkey D. Luffy, is introduced as a child, with his role model, Shanks. After Shanks comes into conflict with a mountain bandit at a bar, it is revealed that Luffy accidentally ate a Devil Fruit, the Gomu Gomu no Mi. Later on, after Luffy provokes Higuma, he is taken hostage. Shanks and his crew show up and defeat Higuma's bandits, but Higuma escapes, taking Luffy on a boat. After Higuma kicks Luffy into the water, a Sea King appears and eats Higuma, and Shanks arrives just in time to save Luffy's life. Shanks scares away the Sea King by using Haki, but loses his arm in the process. Because Shanks sacrificed his left arm in order to save him, Luffy becomes even more determined to become a pirate. Before Shanks leaves, he gives Luffy his straw hat. Ten years later, Luffy officially sets sail as a pirate and begins the adventure to fulfill his dream of becoming the Pirate King.

Long Summary
A man is handcuffed and in front of him there are two other men with swords, crossing into an "X". There was once a man who took everything in the world: wealth, fame and power, known as Pirate King Gold Roger. The pirate's last words drove people throughout the world to the sea. Roger announces that if someone wants his treasure he or she can have it, saying that he left everything "there". The world has entered the Golden Age of Piracy.

In a small seaport village, a pirate ship landed almost one year ago. The east wind blows. It is a small peaceful village. A boy is standing on the ship's figurehead. A man asks Luffy what he is doing. The child's full name is revealed to be Monkey D. Luffy. He has a knife in his left hand and he is wearing a shirt with "ANCHOR" written on it. He announces that he is not joking this time as he had enough, and he decides to prove it for everyone. The man is wearing a straw hat and he tells Luffy to go for it to see what he is going to do. Another man claims that the kid is going to do something funny again. The child stabs himself with the knife right under his eye, screaming in pain. All the pirates are agitated because of this. The first man shouted asking Luffy what is he doing.

In the village, the pirates and the boy have gathered in the Partys Bar. A pirate proposed to drink and celebrate to Luffy's craziness and to their greatness. Inside the bar, all the men are drinking and eating. A fat man is drinking straight from a barrel of beer. A monkey can be seen dancing in the background. One of the pirates laughs and tells everyone to drink. Another man asked to bring him more drink. Two other men are fighting over a piece of meat. The first one calls the other one an idiot and claims that it's his meat. The second one tells the first to shut up claiming that it is his. A third man tells both of them to stop because it's shameful to fight while they are drunk.

Luffy is now patched up, but he is almost crying, claiming that it didn't hurt. The man with the straw hat calls the boy a liar and tells him to not do something so stupid again. The kid boasts that he is not afraid of pain and asks the man to bring him to the sea the next time because he also wants to be a pirate. The man claims that Luffy is not ready to be a pirate, explaining that not being able to swim is a pirate's greatest weakness. The man is revealed to be the pirate leader called "Red-Haired Shanks". The boy boasts that he will be fine as long as he stays on the board and that his fighting is good, saying that he has trained and that his punch is as strong as pistol fire. Shanks doubts Luffy's latter claim in a bored tone. The kid gets angry at the man because of his tone.

Many of the pirates are standing in a line, dancing with the fat man from before in the middle. A man on his left is wearing a kerchief with "Yasopp" written on it. One of the man observes that Luffy is unhappy. Another tells him to be happy to face anything. Another affirms and claims that the life of a pirate is great. Another tells him that the sea is very wide, so he can go to any island and adventure. Another claims that nothing is greater than freedom. Luffy is fascinated with the pirates' words. Shanks requests that the men don't give the boy dumb ideas. The fat man argues that it is the truth. Another man affirms. Another pirate suggests to the captain that they take the kid one time, since it is not a big deal. Another man and Luffy agree. Shanks orders that next time one of his subordinates shall get off the ship and let the boy replace him. Hearing this, the men turn away, while one of them comments that they said enough and that they should drink. Luffy gets angry and asks the group what kind of friends they are.

Shanks claims that the most important thing is that the boy is still too young and that he will reconsider taking him in ten years. The kid boasts that he is a man. The red-haired man calms him down and gives him a glass of juice. The boy happily accepts and drinks it. Shanks starts laughing and crying proving that Luffy is still a kid. Luffy is angry at the trick.

Luffy becomes depressed that Shanks doesn't let him join the crew despite the fact that the boy cut himself today. The bar owner can be seen in the background. A smoking man tries to explain to Luffy that he should try to understand the captain's feelings since he is their leader. The man continues and says that the captain knows that the life of a pirate is interesting, but it is also very dangerous. A wanted poster of Mikio Itoo can be seen in the background on a wall. The man claims that his captain does not purposely tease the boy's ambition of becoming a pirate. Luffy thinks Shanks is not taking him serious, which Shanks proves by mocking him again.

The bar owner observes that the red-haired man is very happy. Shanks replies that making fun of the boy is his joy. Luffy suggests again to the smoking man that the captain is not taking him seriously. The bar owner's name is revealed to be Makino. She holds a barrel of beer and asks the kid if he wants to eat. Luffy affirms and claims that he will pay with his treasure. Shanks doubts the existence of Luffy's treasure and calls him a liar. The boy denies, saying that he will become a pirate and pay her with the treasure he finds. Makino replies that she will be waiting and the kid starts laughing. Luffy is waiting with a fork and knife in his hands.

Finally, Makino brings Luffy and Shanks their meals. As Luffy and Shanks eat their meals, Luffy raises the question of how long the crew will be staying. Shanks says that he is thinking of taking two or three more trips and then heading out, which Luffy states is fine because he will have learned to swim by then.

At that moment, Higuma and his bandits appear and begin to demand sake. However, Shanks and his crew have already drank all of the alcohol in the bar, so Shanks offers Higuma the last bottle, but, unsatisfied with just one bottle, Higuma smashes it, spilling the sake over Shanks. When Shanks takes no stand to defend himself and instead asks for a cloth to clean up the mess, Higuma smashes the plates on the bench with his sword. Once again, Shanks does nothing and instead laughs it off. Convinced that Shanks is a coward, Higuma leaves the bar.

Afterwards, Shanks and his crew laugh at his humiliation. Angered by this, Luffy claims he is going to find another role model. As Shanks grabs his arm to stop him, it stretches, to everyone's surprise, and it is revealed that Luffy has eaten the Devil Fruit which they recently stole from another ship. Luffy discovers that he is now made completely of rubber and is doomed to never be able to swim again.

A few days later, Shanks and his crew go out to sea, leaving Luffy behind once more. Angry at Shanks for not standing up to Higuma, Luffy sits in the bar as Higuma suddenly arrives.

Soon afterward, Makino rushes through the village to find the Mayor because Luffy has gotten himself into a hostage situation with Higuma after Higuma said something that angered him. As Makino and the Mayor return to reason with the bandit, the bandit states that it is already too late because Luffy is going to die. As Higuma raises his sword to kill Luffy, Shanks and his crew reappear. Higuma and his men tell them that it is none of their business.

As Shanks walks forward, one of the bandits points a gun at Shanks, only to be shot by Lucky Roo. Shanks tells Higuma that he will not allow him to hurt a friend of his and get away with it. Higuma, unfazed by his speech, sends the rest of the crew after him. Beckman decides to step in and single-handily takes out the entire gang of bandits, leaving Higuma alone. Realizing he cannot win, Higuma drops a smoke bomb and takes Luffy away. As the smoke clears, Shanks realizes Luffy is gone and panics.

Out at sea, Higuma and Luffy stand in a boat. Higuma decides it is time to lose Luffy and kicks him into the water. Angry that he could not do anything to Higuma, Luffy struggles in the water as a Sea King appears. The Sea King eats Higuma, who is unable to do anything to defend himself, before turning toward Luffy. Moments before Luffy is eaten, Shanks saves his life and scares away the Sea King with a stare. When the Sea King is gone, Luffy begins crying upon realizing Shanks has lost his left arm in saving his life.

Finally, Luffy realizes he is too young to sail out to sea and become a pirate, as well as what a great man Shanks is. Later at the docks, Luffy says goodbye to Shanks and his crew and admits he is sad that they are leaving, but is not worried about going with them because he has decided he will become a pirate on his own. This leads to Shanks stating that he did not want him on his crew in the first place before claiming that there is no way Luffy can become a pirate. Luffy angrily proclaims he will become a pirate, gather a crew strong enough to beat Shanks's, find the world's greatest treasure, and become the Pirate King no matter what. Happy about Luffy's decision, Shanks gives him his straw hat and tells Luffy to give it back to him when he has become a great pirate. Honored by Shanks's gesture, Luffy cries. As Shanks boards his ship to leave, Beckman comments on how Luffy will become big. Shanks admits that he knows Luffy will because he reminds him of himself when he was young.

Ten years later, Luffy leaves the village to start his own pirate crew and become the Pirate King.

Chapter Notes

 * This is the first chapter in the series, as well as the first chapter in the Romance Dawn Arc.
 * The origins of Luffy's scar are revealed - he cut himself with a knife to prove that he was brave enough to be a pirate.
 * Shanks refuses to take Luffy with him.
 * The Red Haired Pirates acquired the Devil Fruit called the Gomu Gomu no Mi from an enemy ship.
 * Monkey D. Luffy ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi and can no longer swim.
 * Luffy tries to fight Higuma for insulting Shanks and loses, thus creating a hostage situation.
 * Shanks loses his arm to a Sea King to protect Luffy.
 * Shanks scares away the sea monster just by looking at it.
 * Shanks decides to leave after staying at Luffy's hometown for a year, leaving behind his straw hat with Luffy on a promise that Luffy would return it someday when he became a great pirate.
 * Luffy leaves ten years later.
 * Luffy states he will recruit at least ten people (not counting himself).
 * As standard practice for the first chapter of a manga, this chapter has more pages than the average chapter.
 * None of Shanks' crew-mates were named in this chapter.
 * This chapter is sometimes called "Romance Dawn, Version 3" because of the Romance Dawn one-shots, titled Romance Dawn, Version 1 and Romance Dawn, Version 2 that are different versions of the prologue for the One Piece manga.

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