"I remember what brought me to the new country like it was yesterday.  I was just a young boy, no older than fifteen years old living at home with my father.  He was a well known candle and lantern maker and always told me I'd pick up the trade one day as was tradition to carry on the family legacy.  Unfortunately, that day would never come to pass... This is that story."

On a typical day just like any other, two large men walked into the shop and approached Tonberry's old man. "Mister Berrilino we are here to get a fair offer for that old lantern of yours.  The boss really likes it and wants it.  You don't wanna displease Mister Scarlo."  The bigger of the two men said as the stared down at Tonberry's old man.  The old man looked up in response and spoke up in a firm voice defiantly. "I already told you, and Mister Scarlo that I will not sell my family lantern. I can craft him one if he so pleases at a gentlemen's discount, but he CAN'T have that one." Sitting in the back room with the door cracked open slightly, I watched in horror as the two goons reached out for my old man and lifted him up three feet off the ground to stare at him eye to eye as they held a gun to his chest.

"I guess we didn't make ourselves clear here." Said Goon A "You either give it to us for a fair "Gentlemen's Offer"  or we'll just take it." From the safety of my hiding spot I watched as my old man spat in the big one's face and screamed for help. "Help!  I am being Robbed!" Those would be his last words... Without warning the other goon shot my father in the chest and in an instant, he went limp with blood pouring out of his wound.   I stared in amazement, frozen in place in overwhelming grief as the man dropped my father to the ground; discarding him like cheap rubbish before walking over him as if he didn't exist.  "This the lantern the boss was looking for?"  The other goon nodded  in agreement and without wasting anymore time the two men walked out of the shop together, closing the door behind them.

Immediately after the door closed Tonberry rushed over to my old man's limp body and shook it as fear and sadness overtook him.  "Papa, wake up!!!!  No, you can't die!  Who'll be here for us in our time of need?  Papa!!"  Tonberry's old man managed to come around and sputter up some blood as his dimming eyes gazed up at Tonberry for the last time. "Tony,  you've... got to carry on the legacy of the Lantern...  You've got to get it back, and keep our family name..." Before he could finished he died in Tonberry's arms....

"I was scared, and angry at the same time, but I knew what I had to do.  I gathered whatever cash I could get, and my father's favorite knife, and left the shop.  I took my time and crept behind the goons as they stood with their boss on the local dock. "

"Mister Scarlo, we recovered the Lantern you asked for.  Unfortunately, the old man didn't want to give it up without a little bloodshed."  The goon said to the much older gentleman as he took Tonberry's lantern and held it up. "Good job boys,  We got it.   Now its time to head off to the New Country and see how well the stories of this Lantern stand up to test."   The old man, and his goons turned and started up a walkway to a waiting boat.  Tonberry waited patiently for a few moments before making his move...he walked up and was stopped by a security officer.  "Hey kid, stop right there, no one is allowed on without a ticket."  Tonberry looked around and seemed disturbed that he couldn't get on the boat.  In a rush, he pulled out what cash he brought from the shop and handed it to the officer.  "Listen,  This is all I have,  I need to be on that boat before it leaves.."  The guard, noticing its just shy of a ticket price, takes the cash and motions for Tonberry to board the boat before anybody notices.   Tonberry tips his head in thanks  as he rushes up the ramp and quickly finds a spot to hide in as the boat's whistles and bells go off signalling departure...

To Be Continued.....