Goku couldn't hold back his excitement as he packed for his first adventure. The small satchel in his hand barely fit the essentials: a bunch of ripe fruit he'd gathered from the island, the treasured four-star Dragon Ball Grandpa Gohan had passed down to him, and an old, slightly worn card. Grandpa had always called it a "guide," and though Goku had stared at it countless times, it never did anything interesting. Still, Grandpa's words had stuck with him: "If you ever need to grow stronger, trust this card—it will lead you to Master Roshi."
With a bright, adventurous grin lighting up his face, Goku turned toward the shoreline, ready to leave behind the only home he had ever known. But just as his feet met the warm sand, a strange, guttural groan echoed through the air. His head shot up, his curiosity instantly sparked. "Huh? What was that?" Without a second thought, Goku darted toward the noise, moving as quickly as his short legs could carry him.
At the water's edge, he came to a sudden stop. There, sprawled in the sand, was a massive, exhausted turtle. Its shell was coated in specks of dried seaweed, and its eyes drooped with fatigue.
"Whoa! You're huge!" Goku exclaimed, his wide eyes gleaming with innocent wonder. He crouched down beside the creature, tilting his head. "What're you doing here? Did you get lost or something?"
The turtle raised its heavy head, its voice barely above a whisper. "I wandered too far during a storm… I've been trying to find the ocean, but I'm too tired to go any farther…"
Goku's expression shifted to one of determination. "No problem! I'm leaving this island anyway, so I'll get you back to the ocean!" he said with cheerful confidence. The turtle blinked in surprise, watching as the small boy bounded away, scanning the shore for a way to travel.
That's when Goku spotted it: an old, weather-beaten boat bobbing lightly in the water. It was practically falling apart, with frayed ropes and a patched-up hull, but Goku's grin widened. "This'll work just fine!" he declared, puffing out his chest proudly.
The turtle glanced skeptically at the rickety vessel but was too tired to argue. With Goku's help, it climbed aboard, its massive weight making the boat creak dangerously. Goku, however, remained unfazed. He grabbed a makeshift oar and began paddling out into the open sea, the salty breeze whipping through his spiky hair.
As they sailed, Goku held up the old card he'd brought. "Grandpa said this thing would help me find Master Roshi," he said, squinting at it. He flipped it over, tapped it, and even gave it a little shake. "But it's not doing anything! Maybe it's broken?"
The turtle, craning its neck to look at the card, let out a tired laugh. "Looks like just an old piece of paper to me. But don't worry—I know where Master Roshi's island is! I can guide you there."
Not long into their journey, the rumbling of two growling stomachs broke the relative silence. Goku clutched his belly, grinning sheepishly. "I guess I ate all the fruit I packed already… We need more food!" he said, scanning the horizon. Spotting a lush, green island in the distance, his face lit up. "There! Let's stop and grab something to eat!"
The island was like a treasure trove of nature. Tall fruit trees swayed gently in the breeze, their branches heavy with vibrant, ripe fruit. Crystal-clear streams snaked through the landscape, shimmering in the sunlight. Goku leapt from the boat and dashed onto the shore, laughing as he climbed trees, grabbed handfuls of fruit, and stuffed them into his bag. The turtle, still tired but less hungry now, stayed near the water's edge, enjoying the quiet moment.
But something changed. The cheerful chirps of birds faded. The rustling leaves grew still. Even the breeze seemed to hush. The turtle's smile vanished, its eyes darting nervously. "Something's… not right," it muttered, its voice trembling.
Before Goku could ask what was wrong, the ground shook beneath them. A low, bone-chilling growl filled the air, followed by a thunderous roar that made even the trees shudder. From the thick jungle emerged a towering pterodactyl-like creature, its razor-sharp teeth gleaming as it fixed its predatory gaze on the turtle.
The turtle froze, wide-eyed with fear. "I… I'm doomed…" it whispered, trembling uncontrollably.
But Goku wasn't scared. In fact, his face lit up with excitement. "Whoa! Look at that big bird! You wanna fight, don't ya?" he said, jumping between the turtle and the beast. He clenched his fists, his grin spreading ear to ear. "Well, too bad! You can't have my friend! Go find something else to eat!"
The beast snarled and lunged with its massive claws, aiming straight for the turtle. Goku's quick reflexes kicked in, and he leapt into the air, flipping over the attack with ease. He landed lightly on his feet, his eyes sparkling with joy. "You're fast! But I'm faster!"
The fight was on. The beast roared in frustration, swiping wildly at Goku, but the boy weaved through its attacks like it was all just a fun game. Grabbing his Power Pole, Goku smacked the creature hard on the snout, sending it stumbling back with a loud grunt.
"Come on, is that all you've got?" Goku teased, bouncing on his toes like he was warming up for another round. The beast, enraged, took to the skies and swooped down with blinding speed. Goku didn't flinch. He launched himself high into the air, meeting the beast mid-flight with a powerful kick that knocked it off balance.
The turtle, still trembling from the safety of the shore, could hardly believe what it was seeing. "He's just a kid… and he's fighting that monster like it's nothing…" it murmured, awe-struck.
The battle reached its climax as the beast charged one last time, letting out a deafening roar. But Goku was ready. Planting his feet firmly, he clenched his fists and waited for the perfect moment. With all his strength, he delivered a single, earth-shaking punch that sent the creature flying back into the jungle. It let out a pitiful growl before retreating into the shadows, defeated.
Goku dusted his hands off, a grin still plastered across his face. "That was awesome! Too bad it didn't want to fight longer," he said, turning back to the turtle.
The turtle, still shaking, managed to stammer out its gratitude. "I… I don't know what I would've done without you… You're really something special, kid."
Goku laughed, scratching the back of his head. "Nah, I just wanted to protect my friend. Let's get back to gathering food!" And with that, the danger faded, and the duo continued their adventure, ready for whatever came next.