One Piece: Journey to the New Dawn

Author's Note:

"Hey everyone! Sorry for the late update. I had to attend my sister's engagement in my hometown, so I was a bit busy. Thanks for your patience, and I hope you enjoy the chapter!"

[Note:

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

> System inner voice ["speaking"] <

> Ash inner speech "speaking" <

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The couple of days passed in relative peace, with Ash and the girls taking much-needed rest while waiting for Garp's return. During this time, Ash got the replica of Poseidon's Grace from the chest and set it aside, waiting for the cooldown to expire so he can use the chest again. Meanwhile, the girls—unrelenting in their "training program" for Ash—demanded daily massages to help him "master his skill." Ash, though grumbling on the surface, complied, all the while honing his ability.

The morning began like any other, with Ash and the girls gathered around the table for breakfast. As they ate, they animatedly discussed their dreams of life on the sea.

Lucy was enthusiastically boasting to the bandits about how unstoppable her rubber abilities would make her as a pirate captain, her chest puffed with pride. Uta and Selina joined in, sharing their aspirations, while Ace simply smirked, occasionally throwing in her own comments.

Suddenly, the door exploded inward with a loud crash, startling everyone.

"You brats! Where are you? I'm back!" Garp's thunderous voice boomed as he entered, brushing aside the splintered remains of the door like it was nothing.

Everyone froze, their lively chatter coming to a halt as they turned to see the imposing figure of Vice Admiral Garp standing there with his trademark grin. His eyes immediately fell on Ash and the girls, still animatedly discussing their plans to sail the seas as pirates.

Garp's grin turned into an ominous frown, and a prominent tick mark appeared on his forehead. Before anyone could react, his fists came flying.

"You brats are still dreaming about becoming pirates?!" Garp barked, delivering his infamous "fists of love" to each of the five in rapid succession.

"Ow, old man! Stop it!" Ash clutched his head in pain.

"Gramps, that hurts!" Lucy whined, holding her throbbing forehead.

"Garp! That's too much!" Uta protested, though her tone suggested she expected it.

Ace and Selina groaned, rubbing their heads, glaring at Garp with varying degrees of exasperation.

Garp crossed his arms, towering over them. "If you've got the energy to run your mouths about becoming pirates, you've got the energy to train! Now get ready, because I'm here to whip you into shape!"

Ash and the girls exchanged wide-eyed glances, the faint spark of rebellion glimmering in their eyes as they nursed their bruised foreheads. But one thing was clear—Garp's "vacation" was about to turn into a grueling boot camp for them all.

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Garp dragged the five of them to a nearby clearing, his iron grip ensuring none of them could slip away. Ash, Ace, Selina, Lucy, and Uta clutched their heads, still feeling the throbbing pain from Garp's earlier "lesson."

"Stop whining, you brats," Garp scoffed, arms crossed and a smirk playing on his lips. "If you can't even handle a little tap from me, how do you expect to survive my training? By the end of this, I'm gonna mold you lot into the finest Marines the world has ever seen!"

All five of them snapped their heads up simultaneously, shouting in unison, "We're gonna be pirates, not Marines!"

The clearing instantly erupted into a shouting match, their voices carrying through the trees as they argued back and forth.

"You don't get a choice!" Garp bellowed.

"We do!" Ash retorted.

"You brats don't know what's good for you!"

"Neither do you, Grandpa!" Lucy yelled, her rubber fist shaking in defiance.

It ended as it always did—with Garp's fists of love landing squarely on their heads, leaving all five of them groaning in pain once again.

As they sat nursing their bruises, Garp suddenly perked up. "Oh, that reminds me!" he said, digging into the large sack slung over his shoulder. "I forgot to give you brats this."

He tossed the sack onto the ground in front of them with a heavy thud, revealing a pile of neatly stacked Beri notes and bounty posters. "It's the bounty for the Blue jam Pirates and their captain. I had it with me this whole time."

Uta's eyebrow twitched in disbelief. "You're remembering that now, old man?!"

Ash leaned forward, examining the stack. "How much is it in total?" he asked.

Garp scratched his head, grumbling under his breath. "There were some no-names without bounties, but I claimed them anyway since you brats got them along with the rest. Altogether, it comes to... 23,540,750 Belis."

Everyone's eyes widened in surprise. They stared at the sack of money as if it were a treasure chest.

"Twenty-three million?!" Ash exclaimed.

Uta whistled. "I didn't think those losers were worth that much."

Lucy shouts with water flowing from her mouth like fountain. "We can buy so much meat now."

Selina blinked in awe, and Ace smirked, muttering, "Guess that's one way to make the old man useful."

Garp's tick mark returned. "What was that, brat?!"

The five wisely said nothing, their excitement over the bounty momentarily overshadowing the lumps throbbing pain in their heads.

Ash keeps it aside for now near the clearing where they can see it so he can keep it in the inventory later as Garp doesn't know about it like others. He wanted to keep it as a secret from the marines even though he believes Garp will not reveal it to Sengoku or others.

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The first few days of Garp's training were filled with harsh exercises that tested the limits of the group's endurance and strength. The first challenge was to carry heavy boulders up a steep hill.

Ash, Ace, Selina, and Uta grunted under the weight of the enormous rocks. They had previously trained with weighted vests, but Garp's challenge was far more intense. He had increased the weight they were carrying, expecting them to struggle.

However, to his surprise, the group managed to lift the rocks easily and started to climb up the hill with surprising speed.

Garp blinked, watching Ash and the girls move without much trouble, and rubbed his chin, thinking. "Hmm, looks like these brat's had some decent training. Guess it's time to turn it up."

He immediately grabbed an even larger rock and hurled it toward them. "Alright, you lot, this is your warm-up!" Garp shouted, throwing the rock with such speed and force that it made the ground shake. The group's eyes widened, but they managed to catch the rock with their strength, much to Garp's surprise.

"What are you waiting for? Keep moving!" Garp shouted, his grin widening as he saw their reaction. "You call that fast? Let's see what you've really got!"

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Training quickly escalated with intense sparring sessions. In one of the first lessons, Garp stood before Ash, Ace, Uta, and Selina, shouting orders as they prepared to fight. Garp moved so quickly that it was almost impossible to track him. He would land massive punches on each of them, knocking them down in seconds, but never seriously injuring them.

"Come on, brats, if you can't dodge me, how do you plan to dodge a punch from any stronger marines or a pirates with a bounty on his head?" Garp laughed as he effortlessly dodged their attacks, knocking them back with his fists of love.

Lucy and Uta, both with Devil Fruits at their disposal, fared a bit better. Lucy using her abilities to stretch and maneuvers around Garp. But even her skills weren't enough to land a successful hit on him.

After each knockdown, Garp would bellow, "Get up! You won't last five minutes on the sea if you can't take a punch!" With every painful fall, the group learned to keep pushing themselves harder.

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Then came the obstacle course. Garp set up an elaborate series of challenges that tested the group's agility, strength, and ability to think on the spot. They had to swing across tree vines, cross narrow bridges, and dodge pitfalls filled with spiked logs.

Uta struggled with the physical aspects of the course but showed incredible creative thinking with her Devil Fruit powers, using music to create sound waves that helped her avoid the traps.

Lucy, on the other hand, used her rubber powers to bounce and stretch across the course at incredible speed, making it look easy. Garp raised an eyebrow, impressed by her natural agility, but immediately set a new challenge. "Alright, Lucy! Try that again without bouncing too high or you'll fall in the mud!"

Selina, Ace, and Ash were forced to rely on their raw strength and quick thinking to traverse the course. They showed impressive coordination as they helped each other over difficult parts, but each time they thought they could relax, Garp would throw another challenge at them.

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Swimming in the rough waters was another exercise that tested their endurance. For Ash, Ace, and Selina, the task was simple: swim against a current while carrying heavy weights tied to their ankles. Garp had initially expected them to struggle, but after seeing how easily they handled the heavy rocks, he increased the challenge, tossing them into the deeper waters with even heavier weights.

"Can't swim against this, can you?" Garp taunted, watching as the group tried their best to fight against the current. They gritted their teeth, but slowly made progress, surprising Garp with their persistence.

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Over the weeks, each of the girls and Ash was pushed to their physical and mental limits. Garp's training wasn't just about building strength—it was about building resilience. He drilled into them that they had to keep going, even when they thought they couldn't.

Every time they thought they couldn't lift another weight, swim another stroke, or survive another sparring session, Garp would come at them with another challenge.

And despite the exhaustion, bruises, and sore muscles, there was an unmistakable strength gained by everyone in the group. Garp's harsh training might have nearly broken them down, but it had also built them back up stronger than before.

At the end of couple of weeks, they were standing tall, bruised but proud. They had survived the gauntlet Garp had set before them, and though they were exhausted, there was a fire in their eyes. They had grown stronger—not just in body, but in spirit.

"Alright, brats, you did good," Garp said, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Now go get some rest. You've got a long way to go before you're ready for the sea."

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A couple of weeks had passed, and Garp's grueling training was starting to feel endless. The group had grown stronger, but the exhaustion was mounting. During one particularly hot afternoon, after a long session of sparring, Lucy snapped, her patience finally running thin.

"How many more days, Grandpa? You said you'd teach us some skills! I want learn some cool techniques!" she shouted, her face flushed with frustration.

Garp's face immediately turned a shade of red, his veins bulging in anger. "You brat! How dare you talk to your grandpa like that!" His fist cocked back in a typical "fist of love" pose.

Before Garp could land a punch, Lucy quickly dodged, her feet moving with surprising speed. "Ha! You can't catch me!" she smirked, teasing him as she easily avoided his strikes.

Garp blinked, taken aback. He gritted his teeth, his fist swinging faster, but Lucy moved like a ghost, evading every attempt. She grinned even wider, her confidence soaring. "Now you can't punch me, Grandpa! I've learned a mystery skill that helps me avoid you—Shishishi!"

Garp's tick mark grew dangerously large, his face turning redder with each failed punch. In a flash, he dashed forward, faster than ever before, like he had used the Soru technique. With his fist coming down towards Lucy, she thought she was ready to dodge again—but before she could react, he gave her a swift "fist of love," sending her flying through the air.

"How dare you show off, brat? What kind of mystery skill is that?" Garp growled, his sharp teeth showing as he lifted lucy by collar.

Lucy, now in a crumpled heap on the ground, struggled in Garp's grip, her arms flailing comically. "W-wait, Grandpa, I didn't—!" She quickly pointed to Ash, her words falling out in a hurry. "Ash taught us, not me! He's the one who showed me the trick!"

Ash, who had been standing off to the side, let out a loud, exasperated shout. "Lucy, you idiot! Don't go revealing secrets like that!" His face was filled with a mixture of disbelief and frustration.

Garp turned to Ash, his eyes narrowing as if he were looking for an explanation. The atmosphere shifted, and Ash could practically feel the weight of Garp's gaze. Garp was now focused on him, expecting an answer.

Ash sighed, his frustration mounting as he rubbed his temples. "It's Haki she's talking about," he said, trying to explain the situation before it got any worse.

Garp's eyes widened, his jaw nearly hitting the floor in disbelief. "Haki?!" he exclaimed. "How can a brat like you know about that? Even people from Grand Line don't know about Haki!"

Ash remained calm, though his tone remained steady. "I knew about them even before I met Shanks. But... I-I only know the basics. The only thing I can really teach is the basics of Observation Haki," Ash said, not revealing too much about how he knew or why.

Garp was stunned, turning his eyes to the five in front of him. "So, all five of you unlocked Observation Haki?" he asked, incredulity in his voice. The five of them nodded in unison. Garp's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He couldn't believe it—how could this ragtag group of misfits learn such an advanced technique?

Lucy interrupted as usual. "Grandpa, how did you move so fast? I didn't even see you!" she said, her brows knitting together in confusion.

Garp, now thinking he had some leverage, smirked. "That's a secret of the Marines, brat. If you join the Marines, I'll teach you all the real stuff." His grin was smug, but it didn't faze Lucy.

Lucy immediately shot back, irritated. "No, Grandpa. I'm going to be a pirate, not a Marine!" She folded her arms, shaking her head firmly. "And I don't need your secret. Ash already taught me some other mystery skill that makes me go fast!"

Before Garp could respond, Lucy demonstrated the technique, activating Soru. It wasn't perfect, and she still looked like a child running compared to the true mastery of the technique, but it was enough to show that she had learned the fundamentals.

She stopped in front of Garp, grinning widely. "See? I can move fast too! Just wait. Once I perfect this, I'll be faster than you!"

Ash and the rest of the girls slapped their foreheads in unison, realizing that Lucy had just revealed yet another secret they were trying to keep under wraps.

Meanwhile, Garp stood frozen, a thick snot running down his nose. His eyes were wide with disbelief, and his mouth hung open. He couldn't believe what he was hearing and seeing in front of him.

Garp turned to Ash, his face contorted with a mix of suspicion and irritation. He pointed a finger at Ash, his voice booming. "You brat! How do you know about those secret techniques? Only the higher levels of the Marines are supposed to know about that!"

Garp was clearly baffled. Haki was one thing, but the advanced Marine techniques were a whole different mystery. How could Ash have access to such knowledge?

Ash remained unfazed, his hand subtly slipping inside his shirt as he quickly accessed his inventory. With practiced ease, he pulled out a small manual that Garp couldn't immediately see.

He held it up casually, almost as if it were just another book. "I bought this from the black market when I was younger than I am now," Ash explained nonchalantly, shrugging as if it were no big deal. The manual, titled Rokushiki Techniques, had a distinct, worn cover that seemed like it had passed through many hands.

Lucy's voice broke in, her curiosity piqued. "Wait, I thought you got it from Ce—"

Before she could finish, Uta swiftly covered Lucy's mouth, preventing her from revealing anything more. She shot Lucy a stern look, hoping to shut her up before she said something important about Celeste.

Garp's eyes widened as he overheard just a fraction of Lucy's sentence. "What?!" he barked, eyes narrowing as he shot a sharp gaze at Ash. "Are you lying, brat?"

Ash's face turned a shade redder, sweat beading on his forehead. He cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to salvage the situation. "Okay, okay, fine. I stole it from a guy, I didn't buy it," he admitted, quickly back pedaling to cover up the accidental slip. He flashed a nervous grin, hoping Garp would buy the lie.

Garp's eyes softened a little, seemingly convinced by Ash's confession. "Tch, brat, you're lucky I don't get on your case about that," he muttered, not really believing the full story but content with the explanation for now.

After a heavy sigh, Garp turned to the group, his arms crossed. "Alright, show me what you've learned," he grumbled. Ash, Lucy, Uta, Ace, and Selina nodded and stood in formation, ready to demonstrate their skills. One by one, they showcased the Rokushiki techniques they had spent weeks perfecting under their own rigorous training.

Garp watched in stunned silence as they performed, his eyes widening with each flawless execution. "Unbelievable," he muttered to himself. "Most Marines take years to master just the basics, but these brats... they've already got a solid start." He shook his head in disbelief, impressed despite himself.

"Even though it's just the basics, it's a damn good start," Garp said aloud, his voice gruff but with a hint of respect. He ran a hand through his hair, clearly trying to process what he had just witnessed. "Sengoku is going to kill me if he finds out about this," he added, muttering under his breath.

Ash smirked after hearing Garp's words, sensing an opportunity to tease him a bit. "Maybe it's not that bad," Ash said, unable to resist the playful jab.

Garp shot him a glare, but his expression softened as he turned back to the group. "Fine, listen up," he said, getting serious. "For the next couple of weeks, you'll continue training just like you have these past few weeks. After that, I'll start teaching you to improve your Haki and how to advance your Rokushiki techniques."

The girls couldn't contain their excitement. They jumped for joy, thrilled at the prospect of learning even more. Ash, however, just raised an eyebrow, his smirk never faltering. He couldn't help but feel a little amused at the girls' enthusiasm.

On January 1st, 1512, Ace's birthday has come in between their training days, Garp decided to give they need a well-earned break from their intense training. It was a special day, filled with celebrations. Ash took the opportunity to cook a selection of special dishes he had learned from Makino and Lucky Roo.

To everyone's delight and surprise, Makino herself arrived with mayor Woopslap with gifts and joined the festivities, bringing a touch of home and warmth to the occasion. Garp, of course, joined in with his usual boisterous energy, making the gathering even livelier.

Makino was especially impressed with Ash's cooking skills, complimenting him on the delicious dishes he had prepared. Ash, flustered by the praise, couldn't help but blush at the attention. Even Garp compliments Ash about his cooking and tells he will come regularly whenever he can till, he is here.

The day was filled with laughter, good food, and heartfelt moments, a brief but cherished reprieve from their training.

However, as all good things must come to an end, the celebration eventually wrapped up, and they had returned to their rigorous training regimen, ready to face the next phase.

This moment marked a rare instance of joy before they dived back into their schedule.

The couple of weeks passed with the crew undergoing rigorous training under Garp's demanding regimen.

By the end of each intense day, Ash would provide massages to the girls, helping them relieve the tension from the grueling sessions. The girls, in return, each found their own way to show their appreciation, making the routine somewhat of a bonding moment after the exhausting training.

This time together allowed Ash and the girls to relax and recharge.

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After the couple of weeks of intense physical training, as promised Garp began teaching Ash and the girls how to advance their Observation Haki and Rokushiki techniques.

For Observation Haki, Garp focused on sharpening their ability to sense and predict movements. He had them practice with faster and more elusive targets, gradually increasing the speed and unpredictability to enhance their precognition abilities.

They worked on maintaining focus and improving their awareness, trying to anticipate attacks before they happened, much like the way skilled fighters predict their opponent's next move.

As for Rokushiki, Garp focused on refining their techniques to make them faster and more powerful. For Soru, he had them sprint in short bursts, simulating high-intensity combat conditions.

To improve Geppo, they practiced jumping higher and controlling their movement in the air, perfecting their ability to maintain balance and speed during aerial combat.

For Tekkai, Garp had them endure direct attacks to strengthen their resistance and harden their bodies.

The other techniques, like Shigan and Kami-e, were refined by having the girls practice more precise, fluid movements, making their strikes faster and more devastating.

As the training continued, Ash, Lucy, Selina, Uta, and Ace could feel themselves improving, their abilities growing in leaps and bounds. They began to understand the subtlety behind each technique and their respective applications.

Even Garp, who had initially doubted their progress, was impressed by how much they had grown, noting that they could now easily defeat at least a First Lieutenant in battle. This progress showed the fruits of their hard work, with each day pushing them closer to their full potential.

The day finally arrived when Garp had to leave for the Marine Headquarters, marking the end of his extended vacation. As he prepared to leave, he turned to Ash and the girls, gruffly stating, "You brats better be stronger when I return. Don't go trying new things; perfect what you already know first!"

Ash, ever curious, asked, "What about the other Haki, will you teach us that too later, old man?" Garp, in his typical fashion, gave his Fist of Love. "You brat, Do what I say and I already told you to call me Grandpa! Also who're you calling old? Want another taste of my Fist of Love?"

Ash grimaced, clutching his lump of a head. The girls, amused by the scene, laughed, and Garp glared at them and did the same. "What're you 4 laughing at? Same goes for you brats," he said, and they all groaned in unison, "Okay, Grandpa," clutching their lumps on their heads in pain.

Before Garp left, the girls suddenly gathered him in a hug, wishing him well and asking him to take care and come back safely. This unexpected show of affection touched Garp deeply, and for a moment, his heart felt heavy, his eyes misting up with tears.

Ash, then with a teasing look, grinned, "What's this, old man? Are you crying as you leave us?" Garp, quickly wiping away his emotions, gave Ash one last Fist of Love and grumbled, "Shut up, brat. It's just dust in my eyes."

With that, Garp handed them a Den Den Mushi, giving them his number to call if they ever needed anything, then turned to leave after telling them to take care of their health and not to over train & take breaks in between.

As he walked away, the girls and Ash waved and said their goodbyes, watching him leave with a mixture of respect and affection.

As Garp's ship disappeared over the horizon, Ash and the girls returned to the house, reflecting on the intense months of training. With their newfound strength, they were ready to take on whatever came next, their spirits high as the journey ahead beckoned.

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. 😊