One Piece: Journey to the New Dawn

[Note:

" * " : Indicates abilities that can be upgraded with practice, experience, or unique opportunities.]

> System inner voice ["speaking"] <

> Ash inner speech "speaking" <

{}

The bandits continued to panic, running inside the house in fear. Some were shouting,

"Selina's ghost is here!"

"It's a ghost! Somebody save me!"

Others were cowering behind anything they could find, yelling, "No! I don't want to die!"

Seeing the chaos unfold, Ace's patience wore thin. A tick mark appeared on her head, and she shouted, "STOP SHOUTING, YOU IDIOTS! LISTEN TO US FIRST! SELINA IS NOT DEAD! SHE IS VERY MUCH ALIVE"

Her voice rang through the room, making all the bandits freeze and finally quiet down, turning their attention to her.

Meanwhile, Ash and Lucy could be seen off to the side, laughing hysterically, clutching their stomachs in amusement. Uta giggled at their antics, unable to hold it in.

Selina, who had been watching the commotion, smirked at the scene. Even Dragon and Ivankov couldn't help but grin at the situation.

Ace marched over to Ash and Lucy, her irritation evident. She bonked both of them on the heads, saying, "Stop laughing, idiots!"

Lucy and Ash, still clutching their heads in pain, apologized to Ace.

Ace let out a long sigh before turning to the bandits. "First of all, why are you guys thinking that Selina was dead?"

Dogra stepped forward, tears still in his eyes. "I was at the port, and I wanted to see the World Noble just once. I snuck over and saw Selina in the sea. She was shot by the World Noble…"

Ace sighed again and moved toward Selina, gently touching her shoulder. "See, you idiots? She's very much alive, just like I said. She didn't die. Ash saved her, and we brought her back."

Selina smiled and reassured the bandits, "Don't worry, guys. I'm alive and well. Thank you so much for caring about me."

The bandits erupted in cheers, relieved that Selina was safe.

Lucy, always ready to celebrate, shouted, "Yes! Let's party!"

Everyone cheered when Lucy shouted, excited at the prospect of a celebration. Ash chuckled, while Uta giggled along with Selina. Ace just sigh how they changed in a second by just mentioning party but couldn't help grinning at the joy around her.

Ash then turned to Dragon and Ivankov, "Why don't you join us for the party? You can leave afterward. I'll be cooking."

The bandits and Lucy cheered again at the mention of Ash cooking the food. Ash chuckled as he awaited Dragon and Ivankov's response.

Ivankov replied, "We have to leave soon, but we can stay for a quick meal."

Dragon, however, nodded, "Our people are still on the ship. We can have some food before heading out."

Ivankov agreed, "As you say, Dragon-san."

Blue jam, still in her female form, shouted from the corner, "Change me back into a man, don't leave me like this!"

Ivankov, without missing a beat, replied, "Let Dragon-san decide that."

Ash quickly added, "I want her back as a man too, so I can get the bounty."

Dragon nodded in agreement, "Ivankov will change her back when we leave."

Ivankov reluctantly agreed, "Fine, fine. We'll do it then."

Ash started cooking, expertly preparing the various meats: beef, tiger, boar, and crocodile. Uta helped him, passing ingredients and stirring pots. The delicious aroma filled the air, causing Lucy and the bandits to salivate. Lucy, unable to contain herself, kept asking if it was done yet. Ash, without missing a beat, replied, "No, not yet."

Ace, visibly irritated, snapped, "Shut up and wait, Lucy."

Lucy pouted but couldn't help but salivate more.

Dragon, observing his daughter's impatient behaviour, just sighed in resignation.

After a while, the food was finally ready. The bandits immediately jumped in, with Lucy joining them, excited to dig in. Meanwhile, Ace, Selina, Uta, Ash, Dragon, and Ivankov sat down to eat more neatly, enjoying the meal in a more composed manner.

Ivankov, glancing at the lively scene, asked, "Is it like this every day? Soo…. energetic?"

Ash chuckled, "Yes, pretty much."

After the party, the bandits cheerfully volunteered to clean the dishes, with Dadan joining them, and they all worked together to tidy up the mess.

Dragon stood up, nodding toward Ash. "We should head back. Thanks for the food, Ash. You're a good cook."

Ivankov, twirling with excitement, chimed in, "Oh, darling, you should come to our kingdom! We have so many different dishes! I can show you the Okama way of cooking. What do you say?"

Ash sweat dropped, stammering, "I... I'll think about it, but thanks for offering."

The girls chuckled softly at Ash's discomfort.

Ash then turned his attention back to Blue jam. "Before you leave, can you change Blue jam back into a man?"

Ivankov smiled and injected Emporio male hormones into Blue jam's body with their fingers. In a flash, Blue jam transformed back into a man.

Once that was done, Ash turned to the bandits. "Please wait here and guard the pirates. We'll be with the guests."

Ash, the girls, Dragon, and Ivankov made their way outside. Dragon, turning to them, shook each of their hands warmly. "You kids have good hearts, and you're powerful for your age."

He then turned to Selina. "Selina, I'd like to offer you the chance to join our Revolutionaries."

Dragon's gaze shifted to Ash, Ace, Lucy, and Uta. "What do you say? Will you join us?"

Dragon, waiting to hearing their responses, smiled softly. Lucy, still with her rebellious spirit, crossed her arms. "Old man, even if you are my dad, I won't forgive you if you take my crew. I'm going to be the Queen of Pirates! I'll be free, finding the biggest treasure."

Ash, initially stunned by the offer, snapped out of it. He hadn't expected Dragon to ask him to join the Revolutionaries. "Sorry, Dragon-san, I already agreed to be captain with your daughter. I want to become the King of Pirates alongside her."

Uta, smiling brightly, added, "Yes, Uncle Dragon, I also agreed to join their crew."

Ace, with a determined grin, chimed in, "Same here. I've agreed to be vice-captain."

Selina, however, stood in quiet contemplation. Her gaze shifted between her friends and Dragon. She had been through so much. She never thought she'd see her friends again after running away from her father. She even left to go to sea because of that, but now, here they were again. She wasn't sure what to say. After a long pause, she finally spoke.

Selina turned to Dragon, her voice a mix of sadness and gratitude. "Uncle, if you had given me this same offer yesterday, I would have accepted. But..." She was interrupted by Lucy, who burst out in tears. "Selina, you're leaving the crew? I won't allow it! No, no, no! Ash, say something!"

Uta, quick to intervene, bonked Lucy on the head. "Wait until she finishes her words, idiot."

Selina smiled softly, a bittersweet expression on her face as she looked at Dragon. She continued, "But I realized that my strength is with my family here," she pointed to Ash and the girls. "I may be able to save people from the nobles or royals who discriminate against them, freeing them... but I believe I can do the same while being a pirate with these guys. I love them. They are my family. I want to have adventures with them and write a book about it."

She paused, taking a deep breath before finishing, "So, I'm sorry, but I can't accept your offer. I'm also the vice-captain of the crew we're going to be."

As Selina spoke from her heart, her words resonated deeply with the others. Lucy, Ace, and Uta rushed to hug her, tears still in Lucy's eyes. Ash joined them, laughing warmly, feeling the bond between them stronger than ever.

Dragon and Ivankov laughed heartily, their voices echoing in the forest as they watched the group's conviction and unbreakable bond. Dragon smiled, his usual stoic expression softening. "It's fine, I didn't expect you to agree anyways" he said, his tone understanding.

Before Dragon could say more, Ash stepped forward with a serious expression. "But I have a proposal for you," he said, his voice carrying weight.

Dragon raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What is it?" he asked.

Ash met Dragon's gaze confidently. "How about an alliance between us in the future?" he suggested. "Whenever we come across places where people are suppressed, oppressed by rules, or denied their freedom, or we face a situation just like the other day, we'll inform you and help where we can. In return can you help us train whenever you can?"

"But this alliance will be a secret. Only you and Ivankov-san, along with anyone you trust implicitly, will know about this arrangement. And we'll do the same on our end. What do you say?"

Dragon and Ivankov exchanged knowing glances, silently acknowledging the immense potential they saw in Ash and the girls. They knew that forming an alliance with such promising individuals could prove invaluable in the future. After a brief moment of thought, both nodded in agreement and turned back to face the group.

Dragon extended his hand towards Ash, his demeanor firm yet respectful. "I agree to your proposal," he said, sealing the pact with a handshake.

Ash grinned, his excitement evident, but before he could speak, Lucy jumped in enthusiastically. "Yes, Dad! Teach us! Grandpa just keeps nagging us to join the Marines every time!" she complained, crossing her arms with a pout.

Dragon burst out laughing at Lucy's remark. "Sure, me and my comrades will help train you," he said, his tone lighter. Then, with a chuckle, he added, "By the way, your grandpa's been like that since I was a kid. Always going on about the Marines. You'd think he's busy at headquarters, but really, he's just sitting there eating senbei all day."

Ash heard two distinct chimes ring in his mind just as Dragon agreed to the alliance. Though curious, he chose to ignore them for now, deciding to check them later.

As Dragon spoke about Garp, the man himself suddenly appeared, striding in with an energetic aura and wearing a flamboyant flower-patterned shirt. Without any preamble, Garp delivered a resounding "fist of love" to both Dragon and Lucy, causing them to groan and clutch their heads in pain. The sheer impact of the punches left Ivankov and the girls gaping in shock, their jaws practically hitting the ground. Even the mighty Dragon couldn't escape Garp's wrath.

Garp's booming voice echoed loudly, shaking the atmosphere. "You ungrateful son of mine! Is this how you think of your old man? And is this how you teach your kid to respect her elders? And you, Lucy! How dare you say such things and side with this fool about your grandpa!"

Lucy, still clutching her aching head, yelled back, "But you always try to kill me whenever I ask you to train me!"

A tick mark appeared on Garp's forehead as he grabbed Lucy by her shirt and gave her another firm "fist of love." "Don't say scandalous things!" he bellowed. "All I did was try to make you strong! I threw you off bottomless cliffs, left you in the jungle at night, tied you to a balloon, and sent you flying to the sky. All of it was to make you a strong Marine, which I want you to be!"

Hearing this, Ash and the girls sweat-dropped, their faces plastered with nervous smiles, while Ivankov's eyes practically popped out of his head. The sheer absurdity of Garp's "training methods" left everyone momentarily speechless.

Dragon, finally recovering from the first blow, interjected, "You old man, how could you do that to my daughter!?"

Before he could say more, Garp turned on him and delivered another resounding fist of love. Dragon groaned, clutching his head, now sporting two bumps of pain. Garp continued without missing a beat, "I did the same to you, you ungrateful child! And look how you turned out—the best Marine of your time! But the moment I take my eyes off you, one becomes the leader of a revolutionary army, and the other starts spouting nonsense about becoming a pirate and has already formed a crew!"

Lucy, her pride stung, and Dragon, still smarting, shouted at the same time. Lucy yelled, "But I always wanted to be a pirate!" while Dragon bellowed, "I hated following those full-bowl idiots!" Their simultaneous rebellion earned them both another merciless fist of love from Garp, who barked, "Don't talk back to your elders!"

Ivankov, witnessing the scene unfold with wide eyes, leaned toward Ash and the girls and murmured, "Dragon-san is being completely overwhelmed by Garp-san. Where is the fearless revolutionary leader I know?"

Ash and the girls sweat-dropped, thinking the same thing. The mighty Dragon, who inspired legions, was no match for Garp's raw, parental dominance. The sight of Dragon, a man feared across the world, reduced to a scolded child was both shocking and strangely hilarious.

When Garp finally calmed down, Dragon and Lucy were left clutching their heads in pain, the two bumps on their heads now sporting smaller bumps on top. Garp, seemingly oblivious to their suffering, turned to Dragon and remarked, "You've gotten weak. Looks like you've stopped training since becoming the leader, huh?"

Ivankov couldn't hold back and shouted, "Obviously! You didn't even give him time to resist!"

Garp, unconcerned, picked his nose casually. Dragon, trying to reclaim his composure and authority, snapped, "Ivankov, don't tell anyone about what happened here, okay?"

Ivankov crossed his arms and sighed. "Dragon, be practical. If I revealed this, your reputation would crumble. Fine, I'll keep it a secret."

Garp then turned back to Dragon, his tone sharp. "And how dare you ask these kids to join your group of miscreants?"

Before Dragon could defend himself, Ash interrupted, "Grandpa, we rejected his offer and formed an alliance instead."

A tick mark appeared on Garp's forehead. "What did you say, brat?"

Ash, unfazed, smirked. "Old age making you deaf, huh? You heard me. We're in an alliance with him. Oh, and he also agreed to train us to become stronger."

Garp's eyes widened as his temper flared. "What?! Him, training you kids? Don't make me laugh! Join the Marines, and I'll teach you to be stronger than him!"

Ash replied calmly, "Sorry, but we're going to be pirates, not Marines."

Garp clenched his fist and shouted, "Brat, do you want to try my fist of love?"

Unfazed, Ash retorted with a smirk, "By the way, you already promised to teach us and help us get stronger."

Dragon looked between Ash and Garp in confusion. "How did that happen?"

Uta, recalling the events, began to giggle. "Let me tell you how Ash tricked him!" She then explained the story to everyone.

When she finished, Dragon burst into laughter acting out of his character, clutching his stomach. He pointed at Garp, who now had a visible tick mark on his forehead. "Old man, it seems you've lost your touch! Manipulated by a kid my daughter's age!"

Garp, unable to contain his irritation, bonked Dragon so hard with his fist of love that his head hit the ground, leaving him stuck like an ostrich. Turning back to Ash, Garp grumbled, "Brat, I only agreed to train three of you, not Ace and that other brat." He gestured toward Selina and Ace.

Ash smirked even wider. "Oh, so you can only teach three of us because of your old age? Sorry for asking, then."

Garp's anger exploded again. "Who are you calling old, brat?! I'll show you! I can train and teach all five of you!"

When he finished, Ace and Selina cheered enthusiastically. Dragon, still laughing despite the bump on his head, pointed at Garp again. "Old man, you got tricked again by the same kid!"

Realizing the truth, Garp's jaw dropped. He couldn't believe he had fallen for Ash's ploy a second time. Before he could respond, Dragon stepped in. "Don't worry, old man. If you can't train them, I'll do it."

Not wanting to be one-upped, Garp sighed deeply and muttered, "Fine. I'll teach and train all five of you. But as I said, if you can't grasp it, I'm not explaining it twice."

Ash and the girls cheered loudly, pulling Garp into a group hug, much to his embarrassment.

Garp, trying to hide his embarrassment, grumbled, "Alright, brats, leave me be now," before pointing at Selina. "Okay, now who is this brat?"

Ash stepped forward with a grin and replied, "Her name is Selina, and it's a long story". Ash starts telling the whole story.

Garp, after hearing about the royals, clenched his fists in anger but knew he couldn't do anything. He had been informed by Sengoku about the incoming Celestial Dragon but was powerless to act. He turned to Dragon and asked, "So, you didn't come to save people?"

Dragon shook his head, replying, "No, I came here after getting information that a Celestial Dragon was coming to Goa Kingdom, which is my home. Fearing they might cause harm, I came here. Thanks to Selina, I found out about the royals' plan, and thanks to Ash and the girls, I was able to save the people before anyone could die."

Garp asked, "Where are the people now?"

Dragon answered, "They're with my people on the ship. I'm going to find them a safe place or island away from here."

Dragon grunted, "Why? Are you going to arrest us?"

Garp replied, "No, brat. I'm on vacation here, not as a marine. I don't care what you do."

Everyone understood that Garp supported their actions and was grateful they were there to help the people. Meanwhile, Lucy and Ace turned to Dragon.

"Hey, dad/uncle, will you come here after and train us with grandpa?" Lucy asked.

Dragon chuckled, "I can't come every time, leaving my people. I have to be there to give orders and guide them. Also I'm a wanted man you know."

Uta asked, "Then how are you going to teach us?"

Garp laughed, "That's right, brat! Leave it to me! I'll train these kids to become strong marines!"

Ash and the girls shouted, "No, we're going to be pirates, not marines!"

Selina, thinking of a solution, said, "How about whenever Garp-san is on vacation, he can train us, and Uncle Dragon can train us the rest of the time?"

Dragon nodded, "Good idea, kid." He took out a Den Den Mushi and continued, "We'll be in contact with this. It's a special one that the marines can't track, so be careful using it."

Ash took it, slipping it into his pocket and opening his inventory to hide it from view. Dragon continued, "Call me, and I'll send you a ship to bring you to our base."

Ash and the girls agreed. Meanwhile, Garp just picked his nose, uninterested.

Dragon and Ivankov finished explaining how to use the secure Den Den Mushi and then turned to the group. Ivankov smiled and twirled dramatically. "It's time for us to leave, kids. Stay safe and keep growing stronger!"

As they turned to depart, Ash spoke up. "Before you go, I have one suggestion. The people you rescued from Grey Terminal—some of them might be criminals. Please be careful with them."

Dragon laughed, his tone light but confident. "We already considered that, even without your suggestion. But thank you, Ash. I appreciate the concern."

Ivankov waved flamboyantly. "We'll see you again soon, darlings! Don't let that Marine geezer turn you into boring rule-followers!" which made Garp have a tick mark on his head.

As Dragon and Ivankov walked away, the group waved goodbye, Lucy being the most cheerful among them. "Bye, Dad! Come back soon!" she shouted with a wide grin.

Once they were out of sight, Ash and the girls turned with Garp toward Dadan's house. Inside, Dadan and the bandits peeked nervously from behind windows and doorframes, sweating bullets as they watched the approaching group.

Garp's voice boomed, "Dadan! Get out here from wherever you're hiding!"

Dadan hesitantly stepped out, forcing a nervous laugh. "Garp-san! What a surprise! I didn't see you coming!"

Garp gave her a sharp glare. "What did I tell you, huh? I said I wanted these brats to stop spouting nonsense about being pirates. And now, you've even let another brat join them with this crazy idea!"

Dadan stammered, beads of sweat rolling down her face. "G-Garp-san, they're too strong for us! We couldn't stop them if we tried!"

From inside, one of the bandits shouted, "It's true, Garp-san! Those monsters are way too strong for us!"

"Be silent!" Garp bellowed, making the bandits cower in fear.

Turning back to Dadan, who was trembling, Garp crossed his arms. "You and your gang escaped jail this time because you risked your necks to save my grandkids—even though you knew they could handle themselves."

Dadan and the bandits blinked in shock before collectively bowing their heads. "Arigato, Garp-san!"

Inside the house, Garp's sharp eyes immediately landed on Blue jam and his crew tied up in the corner. His face darkened with rage as he stomped over to them. "You scum dare to harm my grandchildren? Who do you think you are?"

Without waiting for a response, Garp began pummeling them mercilessly, his fists moving with the speed and power of a seasoned warrior. Blue jam, already beaten and bruised, received the brunt of Garp's wrath. After a few minutes, the once-tended wounds of the pirates were now replaced with fresh bruises and swelling. Blue jam, who had already lost a few teeth, spat out even more, groaning in agony.

When Garp finally stopped, the pirates were a pathetic sight, piled in a heap and barely conscious.

Ash stepped forward and asked, "Grandpa, can you help us collect the bounties for these guys?"

Garp nodded, pulling out a Den Den Mushi. "Fine, brat. I'll take care of it." He called his right-hand man, Bogard. "Bogard, bring some marines with shackles and enough rope to tie up about 100 people. Get to Mt. Colbo, Dadan's hideout, quickly."

Roughly 15 minutes later, Bogard arrived with 12 marines. Garp pointed to the beaten pirates and commanded, "Shackle these fools, tie them up securely, and load them onto the ship. Don't leave a single one behind."

The marines moved swiftly, locking the pirates in heavy chains and binding them with thick ropes. Blue jam groaned pitifully as he was dragged away. After a short while, Bogard and his team left, hauling the defeated Blue jam pirates down the mountain toward their awaiting ship.

Garp remained for a few more hours, sharing stories and keeping a watchful eye on the group. Eventually, he stretched, letting out a loud yawn. Turning to Ash and the girls, he said, "Alright, brats, I'll be leaving now. Take a couple of days to rest and enjoy yourselves. I'll be back after handing these pirates over to the nearest Marine branch and get their bounties after locking them up."

His tone shifted, carrying a hint of amusement. "When I return, the real training starts. I'll make you regret asking me to train you!"

He let out a thunderous laugh, the sound echoing through the hideout. Ash and the girls froze, feeling an ominous chill run down their spines as they imagined the gruelling days ahead.

"Enjoy it while you can, kids," Garp added with a smirk before turning to leave, his laughter fading into the distance.

Ash turned to the girls; his expression determined. "Okay, girls, we can't let him discourage us. Since we have a couple of days, let's take as much rest as we can. That means no extra physical activities or training or straining activities, okay?"

Selina nodded, her tone firm but understanding. "I agree. It's a good chance for me to recover too. But after this, I'm going to train harder. You guys have already gotten stronger than me, and I need to catch up fast."

Lucy, ever cheerful, grinned and declared, "Then I'll help you, Selina!"

Ace and Uta chimed in enthusiastically, joining Lucy in agreement as they all enveloped Selina in a group hug, laughing together.

After some time spent talking and teasing, the exhaustion from the previous sleepless day finally caught up to them. All 5 of them, worn out completely but comforted by their bond, headed to bed, eager to get a long and much-needed rest.

To be continued...

Hey everyone! I'm always looking for ways to make this story even better, and I'd love to hear your ideas. What powers do you think should be available in Ash's store? Maybe you have some cool concepts for abilities, weapons, or items that could make the adventure even more exciting!

Feel free to drop your suggestions in the comments, and if there's anything specific, you'd love to see in future chapters, let me know! I might even integrate your ideas into the story.

Also, don't forget to give some Power Stones if you're enjoying the journey! Your support means the world. 😊