Chapter 2: The Spark of Trust - Bonds in the Wild - I

[Note:

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

> System inner voice ["speaking"] <

> Ash inner speech "speaking" <

Ash spotted Lucy at the edge of the forest, her small frame standing tall as she faced off with a wild boar. Despite her youth, her eyes were filled with determination, her every movement fueled by a will to prove herself. She wasn't backing down, even when the odds seemed against her.

Ash watched closely as Lucy fought the boar, his eyes narrowing as he noticed a few minor cuts and bruises on her while fighting. Seeing her determination, he knew she wouldn't stop until she was victorious. However, he couldn't ignore the injuries—no matter how small.

As Ash continued to watch Lucy's determined fight with the boar, he noticed some small but visible wounds from the clash. Remembering the Basic First Aid Kit he'd seen when purchasing the Observe ability, Ash quickly accessed his thoughts. "Celeste," he spoke mentally, "Please purchase the Basic First Aid Kit. I remember seeing it in the store."

["Understood,"] Celeste responded promptly. ["The Basic First Aid Kit has been successfully bought. It is now stored in your inventory."]

Ash briefly checked his remaining coins—after the Observe ability purchase, he had 300 left. The cost of the kit had been 150 coins, leaving him with 150 to spare. He mentally nodded, satisfied that the kit was now ready to use when needed. The Basic First Aid Kit was now safely stored in his inventory, awaiting its moment of use.

It was comforting to know that with Celeste's assistance, he had the tools to take care of his crew when the time came.

Ash watched as Lucy, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, stood victorious over the fallen boar. She had done it. With a triumphant smile, she raised her fists in the air and shouted, "Yatta!" Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Then, just like the Luffy he knew, Lucy's laugh rang out through the forest—her signature "Shishishi!" It was bright and full of energy, a perfect reflection of her fearless, free-spirited nature. She was just like Luffy, but with a touch of her own charm.

Ash grinned as he approached, his voice light with amusement. "Hey there!" he called out, giving her a friendly wave.

Lucy immediately turned her head, eyes narrowing as she saw him. A pout quickly formed on her face, and she crossed her arms over her chest. "Eh? What are you doing here, Ash?!" she asked, her tone a mix of playful annoyance.

Her eyes flickered with a hint of jealousy as she looked him up and down, her pout deepening, she huffed, kicking a foot against the dirt. "I just saw today shanks teaching you this morning, why is he only teaching you & not me, even when I ask him and I thought we were friends, too!" She crossed her arms tighter, her childish frustration bubbling up. So, what, you're just following me around now?!" she teased, giving him a mock glare, though her frustration, narrowing her eyes but with a playful gleam, clearly upset but not seriously angry.

Ash chuckled, scratching his head awkwardly. "I came looking for you after I saw you running off. Didn't expect you to be fighting a boar. But hey, you did great!" He gave her a thumbs-up, trying to keep the mood light.

Lucy smirked at Ash's comment, her arms still crossed as she puffed her chest out proudly. Then, with a dramatic huff, she straightened up, puffing out her chest and lifting her chin. Her nose pointed slightly upward in a typical "proud" pose; her arms still crossed firmly over her chest.

"Of course, I know!" she replied confidently. "I can handle anything! I even take Grandpa's Fist of Love!"

Her tone was full of determination, but there was an underlying sense of pride in her voice.

Ash, on the other hand, blinked and sweat dropped, a little worried as he remembered the chaos he'd seen in anime. Garp's fist of love…? he thought, trying to recall how intense it had been in the series, shuddering slightly.

Ash's gaze shifted back to Lucy, noticing the small but noticeable cuts on her arms from the boar's tusks. He frowned slightly, his eyes narrowing in concern. "Hey, come a little closer, Lucy," he said softly, his tone gentle yet serious.

Lucy tilted her head in confusion but complied, stepping closer to him. Ash, without another word, opened his inventory, pulling out the Basic First Aid Kit in front of her. The kit appeared from nowhere, and Lucy's eyes widened in shock.

"Wha—?!" Her eyes sparkled with amazement, her hands going to her cheeks as she gasped, "Sugoi...! How did you do that? Is that magic?! Do you know magic?!" she asked rapidly, each question tumbling out one after another, her voice rising with curiosity and awe.

Her wide, shining eyes were filled with wonder, her usual confidence replaced by childlike astonishment as she looked at Ash with disbelief. "What is that? How did you pull it out from nowhere?!"

Ash chuckled at her barrage of questions, scratching his head, but before he could respond, Lucy continued to fire off questions.

"Is that something you can do with your powers? Are you secretly a wizard or something?!"

Ash chuckled at Lucy's eager questions, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "First, let me patch up those wounds," he said, holding up the first aid kit. "Then I'll explain."

Lucy's eyes sparkled even more with curiosity, but she obeyed, sitting still and leaning closer to him. "Okay, okay! But you better tell me everything! I'm dying to know how you did that! Is it magic? Or are you some kind of wizard?" Her voice was full of wonder, and she couldn't hide her excitement.

Ash just laughed again, his expression softening as he got to work. "Let me fix you up first, Lucy. Then, I promise, I'll tell you everything you want to know."

After few minutes...

Ash finished patching up Lucy's wounds in just a few minutes, his movements quick and practiced. As soon as he was done, Lucy practically bounced in her seat, her excitement radiating from her like an aura.

"Alright, Ash! You promised! Now, tell me! How did you do that? Is it magic? Some kind of secret technique?" Her eyes sparkled with pure curiosity, and she couldn't stop fidgeting in anticipation.

Ash laughed at her infectious enthusiasm, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Hold on, Lucy. You're too eager! I'll explain, just calm down a bit, okay?"

But Lucy wasn't having it. She leaned in closer, her face full of excitement and wonder. "Please, please! I can't wait! Tell me now!"

Ash grinned at her antics, chuckling softly as he finally began to speak. "Alright, alright. Here's the thing…"

Ash took a deep breath before starting his story. "I don't really remember much of what happened, but I ended up in a shipwreck and Shanks and his crew saved me that's how I came into their ship. One night, I started hearing a voice in my head. At first, I thought I was losing it, but after some time, it started giving me gifts—items that might be helpful for training and other things," Ash explained, looking at Lucy with a slight smile.

Lucy leaned in, her wide eyes glued to him as she absorbed every word. Ash chuckled before continuing, "And the best part is, I can store all kinds of things in a space… it's like a pocket dimension or something. I call it Inventory." He then reached into his Inventory and pulled out a few clothes, his guitar, and then a fresh piece of meat, which he handed to her. "Here, have some fresh meat. The time doesn't pass in the inventory, so things stay fresh."

Lucy's eyes sparkled, and her mouth watered at the sight of the meat. She took it eagerly, chewing it with a mix of awe and delight. "S-Sugoi…" she said between bites, her eyes still wide. She couldn't contain the excitement and satisfaction in her voice, and she let out a soft, "Meat~!" as she finished the bite.

Ash chuckled lightly, enjoying her reaction. "Glad you like it. But that's not all," he continued, leaning against a nearby tree. "I can also buy things from the voice. Some items are expensive, but I'm planning to collect money in the future and get even better stuff."

Lucy's eyes only grew wider as she processed what he was saying. "You can buy things too? What kind of things? Can you get anything cool?" Her curiosity was practically jumping out of her.

"Well," Ash said, "I bought the first aid kit I used earlier from it. It wasn't too expensive, but some things I want to buy are a bit pricier." He scratched his head, glancing at her. "I don't know all the details yet."

In the middle of his explanation, Ash heard a familiar voice in his mind.

["Really, Ash? You can't give me a better name? You just went with 'The Voice'?'"] Celeste teased with a chuckle.

Ash froze for a moment, his face turning slightly red. "Shush, Celeste," he muttered inwardly, trying to keep his composure as Lucy watched him with a curious expression.

["Oh? So now you're embarrassed? How cute."] Celeste's voice teased again before going quiet, leaving Ash to continue with a sheepish grin.

Ash cleared his throat, trying to get back to the topic. "Anyway, there's still a lot I don't fully understand, but I'm learning more every day. And the voice helps me get what I need."

Lucy's expression faltered for a moment as Ash's words sank in. She looked down at the ground, a tinge of doubt in her voice. "I don't have powers like you... Maybe that's why Shanks doesn't want to teach me…" she mumbled, kicking the dirt with the tip of her boot.

Ash noticed her discouraged expression and immediately knew he had to say something. He moved a little closer to her, his voice softening as he spoke. "Hey, don't think that. That's not true." He paused for a moment, trying to figure out how to comfort her. "Here, let me tell you a secret."

Lucy looked up, her eyes widening, curious. Ash leaned in a bit closer and whispered, "Shanks doesn't know, that I have these powers. Even Uta doesn't know. You're the first one I've told about it."

Lucy's eyes went even wider, and she gasped. "Eh?! You have these powers and you didn't tell anyone else?!" Her mouth fell open, and her face lit up with excitement. She started giggling, her hands on her hips as she grinned brightly. "That's so cool! I know something Shanks doesn't know! Next time I see him, I'm gonna tell him!"

Ash's eyes widened in panic. "Wait, no, don't do that!" He quickly stepped in front of her, holding up a hand to stop her. "You can't tell anyone, okay? I'll tell them when I'm ready. This is a secret between us because I consider you as my friend." He gave her a serious look, his tone soft but firm.

Lucy blinked, still processing what he had said. "A secret between us…" she repeated, her voice quiet. Her expression softened as she looked at him, a little surprised. "You… consider me a friend?" she asked, her voice almost disbelieving, as if she couldn't quite believe what she was hearing.

Ash smiled gently at her, nodding. "Of course I do. That's why I told you."

Lucy's eyes sparkled with excitement as she jumped up, fists clenched at her sides. "From today, you're my friend too, Ash!" she declared with a grin so wide it almost split her face in two. She felt a surge of happiness—finally, someone who understood her, someone she could trust.

In her excitement, she suddenly lunged forward, throwing her arms around Ash in a tight hug. Her wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders, brushing against his face as she beamed at him. Ash blinked, slightly surprised, but he couldn't help but laugh. Her infectious joy was contagious, and his laughter mixed with hers as they both shared the moment.

Suddenly, a soft chime rang in Ash's mind, signaling a quest completion.

Quest Completed!

[Befriend the Future Pirate Queen]

Objective: Earn Monkey D. Lucy's trust and friendship.

Reward: 100 System Coins, Increased Relationship Meter with Lucy, Bonus unknown.

Store Coins: 150 -> 250 coins

Celeste's voice spoke in his mind, teasing yet gentle. "Quest completed, Ash. Congratulations on making a new friend. 100 coins have been added to your store coins, and Lucy's relationship meter has increased."

Lucy's Relationship meter: 80% (Solid Friendship)

{"Trust Level: Solid Friendship

Lucy views Ash as a dependable friend who shares her adventurous spirit. While she isn't romantically interested at this point, her trust in Ash is growing as someone she can rely on and confide in."}

As the notification faded, Ash smiled softly, content with how things were progressing between him

and Lucy.

Ash and Lucy sat under the shade of a large tree, the leaves rustling gently in the breeze. Ash pulled out some food from his inventory—simple sandwiches, fruits, and a couple of water bottles. He passed a portion to Lucy, who accepted it eagerly, her eyes lighting up at the fresh food.

"Wow, this stuff is amazing!" Lucy exclaimed between bites, her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk. "You really can store anything in that space of yours?"

Ash chuckled, shaking his head. "Pretty much. It's handy for moments like this. And hey, this beats running back to the village for lunch, right?"

Lucy laughed, nodding enthusiastically. "Definitely! This feels like a proper adventure." The two continued eating, talking, and laughing, enjoying their newfound friendship as the sun peeked through the canopy above.

Meanwhile, in Ash's mind, Celeste's voice interrupted his thoughts. ["Ash, I'd like to point something out. You haven't checked the bonus reward from Lucy's quest completion yet."]

Ash raised an eyebrow mentally. "Bonus reward? You didn't mention anything earlier."

Celeste giggled. ["Well, I was waiting for the right moment. Here you go."]

A new screen popped up in his mind, displaying five glowing mystery boxes, each marked with a shimmering "?". They sparkled with an enticing golden hue, almost begging to be opened.

Ash whistled softly in his thoughts. "What's the deal with these?"

["These are mystery boxes,"] Celeste explained. ["They function like a lottery, containing rewards of any rarity. You might get an item, a skill, a chance to upgrade a current ability, or even something mythic in quality. It's all up to luck!"]

Ash felt his curiosity spike as he studied the boxes. "Alright, this looks interesting. Let me just finish lunch, and then I'll see what surprises you've got for me."

Celeste chuckled. ["Take your time, Ash. These boxes aren't going anywhere."]

As the notification faded from his mind, Ash glanced at Lucy, who was now sprawled comfortably under the tree, humming happily while munching on a piece of fruit. He smiled to himself, glad for the light-hearted moment and eager to see what rewards the mystery boxes might hold.

After finishing their meal, the two leaned back against the tree trunk, their stomachs full and their spirits high. The sun filtered through the leaves, casting a warm glow around them as they began chatting again.

Lucy grinned, tossing a small pebble in her hand before flicking it into the distance. "You know, one time, I tried to swing on one of Grandpa's anchor ropes like a vine. I thought it'd be super cool!" She puffed up her chest, mimicking a heroic pose before breaking into a laugh. "But I let go too early and landed face-first in a pile of crates. Grandpa laughed so hard he couldn't even scold me properly."

Ash chuckled, shaking his head. "That sounds like something you'd do. Bet your grandpa was impressed with your, uh, creative techniques."

Lucy grinned wider. "He said I had potential... as long as I didn't break my neck first." She laughed, clearly enjoying the memory.

Ash leaned back, smiling. "Well, at least you were having fun. On Shanks' ship, things were... lively, too. After they picked me up, I quickly realized they're all a bunch of party animals." He shook his head at the memory, a fond smile tugging at his lips. "They'd celebrate the smallest things—finding a big catch, escaping a storm, or just because it was someone's turn to sing. And don't even get me started on the pranks. Lucky Roux once stuffed a barrel with seaweed and told me it was a 'special delicacy.'"

Lucy's eyes widened as she burst into laughter. "Did you eat it?!"

Ash raised a hand defensively, laughing along. "I was starving, okay? I didn't even think to question it until halfway through." He shuddered dramatically, making Lucy laugh even harder. "Shanks just sat there, watching me with that smirk of his."

Lucy giggled, brushing a lock of hair from her face. "Sounds like you had a blast. Shanks and his crew seem like fun people."

"They are," Ash agreed, though his smile turned a touch more subdued as he quickly steered the conversation away from anything too personal. "They taught me a lot about life at sea—what to look out for, how to stay alive, and how to keep smiling even when things get tough."

Lucy gave him a curious look but didn't press further. Instead, she nodded enthusiastically. "That's awesome. I bet you'll be an amazing pirate someday, Ash."

He grinned lightly. "And I bet you'll be even better, Lucy."

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she grinned back, determined. "You bet I will!"

The afternoon breeze rustled the leaves overhead as Ash and Lucy continued chatting under the tree. Their conversation shifted between silly anecdotes, playful teasing, and the occasional friendly jab.

"You mean to tell me you actually tripped over your own sandals?" Ash chuckled, shaking his head.

"Hey!" Lucy huffed, playfully punching his arm. "Those sandals had a vendetta against me, I swear!" She grinned, her nose scrunching up in mock annoyance, before breaking into laughter alongside him.

Their laughter faded into a comfortable silence, the kind that only close friends could share. As the minutes passed, Lucy's words began to slow, her voice growing softer. Before Ash realized it, her head gently rested on his shoulder, her wavy black hair brushing against his face.

Ash blinked, glancing down at her. Lucy's breathing had evened out, her face relaxed in peaceful slumber. He couldn't help but smile softly. "Guess all that excitement wore you out," he murmured.

Not wanting to disturb her, Ash leaned back slightly, letting her rest. After a moment, he closed his eyes and called out in his mind, "Celeste, let's deal with those mystery boxes now."

To be continued...

Note: What do you guys think Ash will find in the mystery boxes? Comment what do you guys think.

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.