Chapter 12: Bonds Forged in the Mountains - III

[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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As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the group carefully navigated the Gray Terminal. Ace led the way, her sharp eyes scanning the chaotic streets while Ash, Lucy, and Uta followed close behind. The stench of smoke and rot filled the air, making the urgency of their mission even heavier.

"Ace, any idea where they might've taken her?" Ash asked, keeping his voice low.

"Blue jam's crew has a few hideouts around here," Ace replied tersely. "We just need to find correct one."

The group moved silently, avoiding attention from the rough-looking residents of the terminal. After some time, they spotted a group of pirates lounging near a makeshift shack, a tattered flag bearing the Blue jam Pirates' emblem fluttering above it.

Ace froze. "That's them," she whispered, her hands curling into fists.

"Wait," Ash said, placing a hand on her shoulder before she could charge forward. "We don't know how many are inside or if Selina is even here. Let's observe first."

Ace scowled but reluctantly nodded. They crouched behind a stack of broken crates, watching as the pirates laughed and jeered, passing around a sack that jingled with the sound of coins, also crate full of bundle of notes and some jewellery.

"That's our money," Ace hissed recognizing one of the jewellery.

"And we'll get it back," Ash said firmly. "But first, we need to make sure Selina is here and safe. Then we plan from there. Got it?"

Lucy and Uta nodded in agreement. Ace crossed her arms but didn't argue.

The group continued to watch silently, waiting for the right moment to act. Every second felt like an eternity, but they knew rushing in blindly could endanger Selina even more. Ash's sharp eyes stayed focused on the hideout, his mind already working through the possibilities.

The group's silent observation paid off when they spotted Selina tied up in the corner of the room, her small frame slumped but breathing steadily. Ace's fists clenched at the sight, and without hesitation, she moved to charge forward.

Ash grabbed her wrist firmly, halting her in her tracks. "Wait," he whispered, his tone calm but resolute.

Ace turned toward him, her eyes blazing with anger. "What are you—"

Before she could finish, Ash placed a finger gently on her lips, silencing her. He then motioned toward the room, where a man entered—the burly Porchemy, unmistakable in his rough demeanor.

Porchemy walked toward Selina, his heavy boots thudding against the floor. "So," he sneered, "has the brat said anything about where that brat Ace's location is at?"

One of the henchmen beside him shook his head nervously. "No, boss. She hasn't said a word. Stubborn little—"

"Useless," Porchemy growled, kicking a nearby chair in frustration.While the pirates were distracted, Ash turned back to their group, speaking softly. "Okay, here's the plan. First, we—"

He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes darting over the small group. Something was missing—or rather, someone.

"Wait, where's Lucy?" he whispered, his voice edged with concern. Uta looked around frantically before whispering back, "That idiot was just here!"

Ash's eyes widened. "Don't tell me—"

All three turned their gazes toward the room just as Lucy made her grand entrance, standing openly in the doorway with her trademark grin.

"Hey, you!" she shouted, pointing directly at the pirates. The trio's jaws nearly hit the ground, their eyes almost bulging out of their sockets.

"What is she doing?!" Uta whispered harshly.

"Lucy!" Ash muttered under his breath, resisting the urge to slap his forehead.

Ash acted swiftly, turning to Uta with a calm yet focused demeanor. "Uta," he began, "go to the place where we saw the money earlier. Wait until you hear the commotion from here. That'll draw the pirates out of the room, and once it's clear, collect everything."

Ace interrupted, frowning. "How is she supposed to collect all the money by herself?"

"Don't worry about that," Ash reassured, glancing at the small inventory bag secured at Uta's hip—the one he'd given her earlier. "She's got it handled."

Uta noticed his gaze, a sly smile forming as she patted the bag confidently. "Leave it to me," she said, before swiftly slipping away to carry out her task.

Ash then turned toward the commotion with Ace by his side. They peeked through the doorway and saw Lucy already making quite the scene. Several of the pirates lay sprawled across the floor, taken down by her sheer unpredictability and surprising strength. However, she wasn't unscathed—one pirate had managed to hit her on the head with a blunt weapon, only for it to hilariously bounce off and smack him instead.

Lucy laughed, rubbing her head. "I'm a rubber person, you idiots! That's not gonna hurt me!"

Porchemy, who had been watching with growing irritation, stepped forward and pulled out a pair of spiked gloves. His eyes narrowed as he sized up Lucy. "So, a Devil Fruit user, huh? Let's see how you handle this."

Lucy tried to fight back but quickly found herself outmatched. Porchemy was stronger, faster, and far more brutal than his subordinates. Within moments, he grabbed Lucy by the collar and lifted her off the ground.

"Gotcha now," he sneered, tightening his grip.

Lucy flailed, her voice ringing out through the room. "Ash! Ace! Uta! Come and save me!"

Ash and Ace, who had been watching from their concealed spot, simultaneously broke into a sweat.

Ace facepalmed, muttering under her breath, "She just had to call our names. Now they'll know we're here for Selina."

Porchemy's ears perked up at Lucy's cry for help, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Ace, huh? Do you know where she is?" he asked, his voice dripping with menace.

Lucy, caught off guard, hesitated for a moment before grinning awkwardly. "Ace? Oh yeah, she's my friend... though she doesn't really consider me one," Lucy admitted, her casual tone completely unfitting for the tense situation.

Porchemy raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Your friend, huh? Well, she stole from us. If you tell me where she is, I might consider letting you go."

Lucy gulped, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. She looked away, her lips puckered in a forced whistle. "I have no idea where she is," she said, her tone rising suspiciously at the end of her sentence.

The entire room went silent for a second, save for the distant sounds of her half-hearted whistling. Then, as if on cue, Porchemy, his men, and even Ash and Ace—watching from their hiding spot—yelled in unison, "You really suck at lying, brat!"

Porchemy scowled and shook Lucy by her collar. "You think you're funny? Maybe I'll beat the truth out of you!"

Meanwhile, Ash leaned closer to Ace, his expression serious. "It's time. Let's save both Lucy and Selina."

Ace nodded, her determination shining through. The two of them dashed toward the room, Ash kicking the door open with enough force to send it crashing against the wall.

"Let her go!" Ash commanded, his voice firm and authoritative.

"And hand over Selina!" Ace shouted, stepping into the room alongside him.

The sudden entrance startled everyone, Porchemy and his men freezing for a moment as they processed what was happening. Lucy's eyes lit up as she saw her backup arrive, her grin returning despite still being held by her collar. "Finally! Took you guys long enough!"

Lucy's grin turned puzzled as she looked around, finally noticing Uta's absence. "Hey, where's Uta?"

Ash's brow twitched, and a tick mark appeared on his temple. He shot her a mock-angry glare and yelled, "Don't give away our information to our enemies, idiot!" fumblingly slapping his forehead in exasperation.

Sighing to calm himself, Ash reached for the katana at his hip, unsheathing Kashu with a smooth motion. Its polished blade gleamed as he leveled it toward Porchemy. "Listen up! I'm giving you one last chance—hand over both of them, and maybe I won't cut you down."

Porchemy smirked, unaffected by the threat. "You think you brats can handle me? My crew will squash you like bugs!" He gestured to the increasing number of pirates filing into the room, filling every corner.

Ash narrowed his eyes. "Lucy," he said calmly but firmly, "get ready. It's time to show them what you're made of."

Lucy blinked, then immediately grinned. Without hesitation, she willed her gauntlet into her hands. The weapon shimmered into view, settling onto her arm with a satisfying clink. Without missing a beat, she lunged forward and delivered a thunderous punch to Porchemy's chest.

Caught off guard, Porchemy staggered back, releasing Lucy's collar as he stumbled clutching his chest. Lucy darted away and skidded to a stop beside Ash, positioning herself on his left while Ace stood on his right. Ash remained in the center, his stance commanding as he held Kashu ready.

The commotion roused Selina, who had been unconscious. Her swollen face showed pain and exhaustion, but her eyes widened when she saw Ace. "Ace! Why did you come here? Run away, you idiot!" she shouted desperately.

Ace clenched her fists and shouted back, her voice firm with resolve, "If I'm leaving, it's with you! I'm not running away and leaving my friend behind like a coward!" Tears welled in Selina's eyes, streaming down her bruised cheeks at Ace's declaration.

Ash glanced between them, his expression softening for a moment before he addressed both Ace and Lucy. "Alright, listen up. Take care of these small fry as quickly as you can. Don't waste time. If Porchemy joins the fight, Lucy and I will handle him. Got it?"

"But—" Ace began, only for Ash to cut her off with a firm tone. "No arguing! Just focus."

With no further objections, the three of them launched into action. The room erupted into chaos as the fight began, Ash, Ace, and Lucy moving in tandem to dismantle Porchemy's crew.

The fight erupted into a storm of movement. Ash's katana, Kashu, flashed in calculated arcs, cutting down weapons aimed at him and disarming the pirates with precision rather than unnecessary bloodshed. Lucy followed his lead, her gauntlet smashing into opponents with a resounding force that sent them sprawling.

Ace darted between enemies, her smaller frame allowing her to move quickly. She used her knife with surprising agility, slicing the legs to trip one pirate and jabbing another in the shoulder to disarm him. When a larger pirate tried to grab her, she pulled her flintlock pistol, fired a warning shot into the air, and used the distraction to deliver a swift kick to his shin, bringing him to the ground.

The room was chaotic, filled with shouts and grunts of effort. Ash parried an axe aimed at him, flipping the weapon out of its wielder's hands and delivering a hilt strike to knock the pirate unconscious. He stole a quick glance at Lucy, who was fending off two pirates. One swung a wooden plank at her, only to have it snap in half against her gauntlet before she retaliated with a punch that sent him flying into a group of others.

Ace had taken down two more, her movements sharp but slightly reckless. "Focus, Ace!" Ash called out as she barely dodged a blade aimed at her side. Her lips tightened, and she returned with a quick slash of her knife, forcing her opponent back.

Despite their efforts, the pirates weren't backing down. They seemed to grow more coordinated as time passed, pressing in from all sides. One pirate lunged at Lucy with a machete, forcing her to duck while another swung a club at her legs. Lucy managed to block the club but stumbled slightly.

Ash noticed this and moved swiftly, sliding past another opponent to intercept. He deflected the club with Kashu, then landed a precise kick that sent the pirate crashing into his comrades.

From the corner of his eye, Ash saw Porchemy begin to move. The large man cracked his spiked gloves together, barking orders at the remaining pirates. "Get your act together! I'll handle these pests myself!"

Ash clicked his tongue. "Lucy!" he called, pivoting toward her. She looked up from her latest opponent, her gauntlet smoking slightly from overuse.

Porchemy strode forward, his eyes locked on Ash and Lucy. "Time to teach you brats a lesson," he growled, the spiked gloves gleaming menacingly.

Ash planted his feet, raising Kashu defensively, and spoke to Lucy without looking back. "You ready for this?"

Lucy grinned despite the sweat on her brow. "You bet!"

"Good. Let's take him down." The two squared off against Porchemy as the other pirates hesitated, wary of joining the fray with their leader now stepping in.

Porchemy lunged forward, his massive frame pushing through the chaos of the fight with terrifying strength. His spiked gloves cracked the air as he swung them toward Lucy, who barely had time to react. She used her gauntlet to block, but the force of the punch sent her stumbling back, her arms feeling the aftershock of the blow.

"Stay back, Lucy!" Ash shouted, rushing in with Kashu raised high. He met Porchemy's strike head-on, the sharp metal of his katana clashing with the brutal spikes, creating a deafening sound as sparks flew. Porchemy's grin widened, clearly enjoying the fight.

"You're gonna regret that!" Porchemy snarled, swinging his gloves down toward Ash.

Ash ducked just in time, feeling the air rush above his head as the spikes barely missed him. He retaliated with a fast upward slash, aiming for Porchemy's midsection. The strike landed, but the pirate leader only grunted and retaliated with a powerful elbow, sending Ash flying backward. Lucy, seeing her opening, rushed in and punched him square in the chest with her gauntlet. Porchemy grunted, slightly off-balance, but he wasn't done yet.

"Stay down!" Lucy yelled, moving in for another strike, but Porchemy was quicker this time. He managed to grab her wrist hard catching her in surprise. Ash's eyes widened and calls out "Lucy!"

But before Porchemy could capitalize on his hold, Ash dashed in, using his speed to circle around the pirate leader. He slashed downward, forcing Porchemy to release Lucy as he blocked the attack.

Lucy grinned and sprang back, taking a deep breath. "Not today!"

With Ash flanking him and Lucy on the other side, Porchemy was now caught between them. His anger was palpable as he lashed out with wild swings, trying to fend off both attackers. He managed to land a few glancing blows, but the teamwork of Ash and Lucy was overwhelming. Every attack was countered, every move anticipated. It was clear they were wearing him down.

Lucy stepped forward with determination. "Gomu Gomu no… Steel Pistol!" She stretched her fist back and released it with blinding speed, landing a devastating punch directly into Porchemy's stomach. The impact forced him to stagger back, gasping for air. He gritted his teeth, but before he could recover, Ash was already moving.

"Let's end this," Ash muttered to himself, eyes narrowing. He took a deep breath, focusing. His body hummed with energy as he raised his katana for a powerful strike. "Kashu: Single Slash!" he shouted, executing a fast and deadly slash that cut through the air with incredible force. The strike hit Porchemy's side, sending him reeling backward.

Porchemy's knees buckled as he struggled to stay on his feet. Blood trickled from his mouth, and the realization of defeat crept over him. With a final scream of rage, he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

"Finally!" Lucy shouted, panting from the effort. "That took longer than I thought."

Ash sheathed his katana, sighing in relief. "We've got to finish this."

As the battle with Porchemy ended, Ace was not far behind, still fending off the remaining pirates in the room. She had used her quick reflexes to disarm and incapacitate several of them, but they were numerous, and the fight was taking its toll on her. Ace's flintlock pistol fired once, knocking a pirate out of the fight, but her stamina was beginning to wane.

Seeing the remaining pirates falter in the wake of Porchemy's defeat, Ace took full advantage. She darted in, stabbing one pirate in the arm with her knife, then spinning to knock another out with a swift kick to the chest. She moved quickly between the downed pirates, disabling them one by one.

As Ash and Lucy joined her to finish the last few, the remaining enemies finally realized they were outmatched.

With one final shot from Ace's flintlock, the last pirate fell, and the room fell silent. "We're done here," Ash said, wiping his brow.

Ace looked over to him, a rare smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Took you long enough."

As the tension from the battle faded, all three of them moved toward Selina, who was still tied up. Ash carefully cut the rope binding her with a clean swipe of his katana, and Selina immediately wrapped her arms around Ace in a tight hug. Her voice was full of relief as she spoke, "I'm so glad you came." She pulled back slightly, her eyes scanning the others. "Who are these two?" she asked, pointing toward Ash and Lucy.

Lucy, standing confidently with her hands on her hips, replied, "We're Ace's friends."

Ace quickly shouted, "Don't assume anything!" Her voice was slightly flustered, but her tone was more teasing than harsh.

Ash laughed, finding the situation amusing. Just as the banter continued, Uta suddenly entered the room, holding a large sack of money. "Ash, I got the money. Looks like you guys finished up here," she said, her bright smile lighting up the room.

Without missing a beat, Uta rushed over and hugged Ash tightly, causing Ash to return the embrace. The warmth of the hug was comforting, and the moment felt perfect. But when Ace saw this, her face changed ever so slightly. Ash noticed the shift in her expression and decided to have a little fun with it.

Before Ace could react, Ash suddenly pulled her into a hug as well, causing her face to turn beet red. She immediately pushed him away, her voice rising but blushing slightly. "Why did you hug me suddenly?!"

Ash grinned mischievously. "You were giving Uta that stinky eye when she hugged me, so I figured I'd balance it out and hug you too." He smirked, clearly enjoying the teasing.

Ace stammered, trying to find words but failing. "Don't twist everything around and say things like that!"

Lucy and Uta both burst out laughing, watching Ace fluster. Selina, observing the entire scene, couldn't help but laugh loudly, her mood lightening with the comedic moment.

After a few minutes, Ace and Uta helped Selina to her feet, making sure she was steady before they began walking. Ash and Lucy followed closely behind, the group heading out of the hideout. Ash's voice was serious now as he turned to Ace. "The hideout of yours isn't safe anymore. We should head toward Dadan's house."

As they moved through the streets of Grey Terminal, making their way towards the mountain again and reached the clearing near Dadan's house where they practiced regularly.

After helping Selina to a safe spot, Ash took out a small vial from his inventory. The liquid inside shimmered faintly, and Selina watched in surprise as Ash produced it seemingly out of thin air. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

Noticing her reaction, Ash gave her a reassuring smile. "I'll explain later. For now, just drink this." He handed her the vial with the basic healing potion, encouraging her to take it.

Selina, still stunned, hesitated for a moment before drinking the potion. As she swallowed, everyone watched in silence, and to both her and Ace's surprise, the potion began to work almost immediately. The wounds she had sustained from the pirates during the interrogation started to heal slowly, though not completely. The potion's effects were clear: external bruises and minor injuries began to fade, but it wasn't a full recovery.

Lucy and Uta exchanged a knowing glance, both aware of the potion's capabilities, while Ace and Selina were left in quiet surprise. Ash simply nodded and turned to look around. "It's not perfect, but it'll help." he said.

After giving Selina the healing potion, Ash looked at her thoughtfully for a moment. "You know," he said with a playful smile, "you look quite cute." With a sudden flourish, he took her hand gently, raising it to his lips and kissing the back of her hand in a noble gesture. "Milady, my name is Ash. May I know your name?"

Selina, caught off guard, felt a slight blush creep up her cheeks as she chuckled lightly. "My name is Selina," she replied, amused by Ash's antics.

Just then, she turned to Ace with a raised eyebrow. "Where did you find this flirt?" she asked, a teasing note in her voice. Ace sighed and began explaining how she had met Ash and the rest of the group, recounting how they had helped save her. In the background, Uta could be seen trashing Ash, clearly frustrated with his constant flirting.

As Ace finished her explanation, Selina couldn't help but notice Ash bowing down to Uta, apologizing for his behavior. But then, before anyone could react, Ash suddenly pulled Uta in and planted a quick kiss on her cheek, saying, "You're also cute when you're angry." Uta, now a blushing mess, stammered as her anger melted away. Meanwhile, Ash's swollen face from Uta's punches only made the situation funnier.

Selina laughed loudly at the sight, enjoying Ash's antics. Ace smiled too, but there was a hint of jealousy in her expression. Lucy, too, couldn't help but chuckle at the scene. The atmosphere had shifted, becoming lighter and more relaxed as the group shared a moment of humor.

Seizing the opportunity, Lucy beamed at Ace and asked once again, "So, will you be our friend?" She then turned to Selina, extending the same offer with a grin.

Ace, who had heard this question far too many times, grumbled in frustration, and Selina, noticing Ace's discomfort, chuckled softly. "You guys sure are interesting," she remarked with amusement. Then, turning to Ace, she added, "Why not let them all be friends with you?"

Ace's resolve began to crumble as she saw her long-time friend accepting them, but she tried to hold her ground. "If you want to be friends with me, you shouldn't be weak," she said, trying to maintain her pride.

Lucy, ever the troublemaker, chimed in, "But Ace, you're weaker than us!"

Ace's face turned bright red. "Shut up, idiot!" she shouted, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

Without wasting a moment, Ash grinned and dragged everyone into a hug, including Ace. "Shut up and become our friend," he said, "We need each other." As all five of them embraced, Ace's tough exterior finally cracked, and a few tears welled up in her eyes. Selina and the others laughed out loud at the heartwarming scene, enjoying the rare moment of closeness between them all.

As Ash embraced the group, he suddenly heard two chimes echo in his mind. He momentarily paused, a slight frown forming as he listened to the familiar sound.

In his mind, he spoke with Celeste, "Keep it aside for now. I'll see it later tonight."

Celeste's voice responded softly, ["Okay, Ash. I'll keep it on hold."]

Ash pushed the thoughts to the back of his mind, focusing back on the moment with his friends. The laughter and warmth around him felt right, and he knew there would be time to address whatever was next later.

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. 😊