Chapter 8: Lucy’s Training – 3 months

[Note:

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

> System inner voice ["speaking"] <

> Ash inner speech "speaking" <

Lucy's First Month of Training:

Day 1: Devil Fruit Training - The Stretching Mishap

The warm sun of Windmill Village shone down on the grassy clearing where Ash and Lucy stood. Lucy was brimming with excitement—and a little anxiety—as Ash gave her instructions.

"Alright, Lucy, let's start with something simple," Ash said, holding up his hands in a neutral stance. "I want you to use your Devil Fruit powers and try to knock that stone over."

Lucy nodded, determined. She had been practicing a bit already but was eager to get it right. "Gomu Gomu no... PISTOL!" she shouted, her arm stretching outward like rubber give a name for her move.

But instead of hitting the stone, her stretched fist veered off course, flying past the target and slamming into a nearby tree with a loud WHAM. The leaves of the tree shook, and a few birds scattered.

"Oops…" Lucy muttered, her cheeks turning red with embarrassment.

Ash stifled a laugh, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, at least you hit something."

Lucy, looking at the stone in front of her, tried again. She steadied her stance, crouching a bit and focusing hard. "I'll get it right this time. Gomu Gomu no... PISTOL!"

This time, her fist hit the stone. But instead of bouncing back in the expected direction, it ricocheted off the stone and shot straight back at Lucy.

"Ow!" Lucy cried out as her own stretched arm hit her in the face with a soft THWACK. She rubbed her sore cheek, her face flushed with embarrassment.

From her perch on a nearby hill, Uta let out a giggle. "You okay, Lucy?"

Lucy pouted but managed a sheepish grin. "I'll get the hang of it… eventually."

Ash chuckled but nodded encouragingly. "It's all part of the learning process. Keep practicing, and you'll get better." 

Day 10: Physical Training

As the days passed, Ash's lessons progressed. It wasn't all about her Devil Fruit; Lucy also needed to develop her physical abilities to become stronger, more agile, and resilient. But he doesn't have sea stone with him so it can negate the devil fruit power. He plans to acquire it in future. For now he wants lucy to get used in her rubber form.

"Let's work on your footwork now," Ash said, dropping into a low stance. "You've got the basics down, but we need to make your movements smoother. Follow my lead."

Lucy mirrored him, though her stance was shaky at first. Her small legs quivered, but she straightened up and focused hard.

Ash dashed forward, closing the gap between them in an instant, then sidestepped to the right. Lucy, trying her best to keep up, attempted to mimic the movement—but her small feet tangled up as she tried to dart sideways. She stumbled, falling softly into a patch of grass.

From the top of the hill, Uta's laugh rang out. "You're so cute when you try, Lucy!"

Lucy quickly stood, brushing the grass off her clothes. "I'll get it next time, just you wait!"

Ash smiled warmly at her, offering a hand to help her up. "It takes time, Lucy. Don't rush it. You'll improve as long as you keep going." 

Day 20: Focus on Hand-to-Hand Combat

As her confidence grew, Ash began to focus on Lucy's other abilities. She wasn't just going to rely on her Devil Fruit power; she needed to learn to defend herself with her own strength.

"Alright, Lucy, time to switch it up a bit," Ash said as he dropped into a ready stance. "Let's work on Hand-to-Hand Combat now."

Lucy eagerly took her stance, a little more confident now that she had a few days of physical training under her belt. Ash had taught her how to move with purpose, and now it was time to put that into action.

She threw a light punch, but it lacked the power she needed. Ash nodded as he observed, guiding her through the form again. "Remember, don't just flail—use your core, aim for the center."

Lucy nodded seriously; her tiny fists clenched. She threw another punch, and this time, it was slightly more controlled.

"There you go!" Ash said, clapping his hands. "That's the spirit!"

After a few more drills, Lucy was beginning to feel her limbs grow stronger. Her punches weren't perfect, but they were getting sharper. She could feel the potential growing inside her, even if her movements were still far from fluid.

Day 30: Final Check-In - Growth and Encouragement

As the month drew to a close, the training had taken its toll on Lucy. She was exhausted but proud. Her muscles were sore, but she was noticing improvements. Her arms were stronger, her movements smoother than before, and her Devil Fruit abilities, though still somewhat unpredictable, were becoming more reliable.

"I think I'm getting the hang of it!" Lucy grinned; her cheeks flushed from the day's hard work.

Ash crossed his arms, nodding in approval. "You've made great progress, Lucy. You've definitely improved."

Lucy puffed out her chest, a sense of pride swelling within her. "I've been practicing every day, just like you said!"

Uta walked over, her eyes warm with admiration. "You're amazing, Lucy. I see how hard you've worked, and it's paying off. You're going to be incredible."

Lucy beamed up at them, her heart full of gratitude. "Thanks, Uta! And thanks, Ash! I won't stop training—I'm going to be the best!"

Lucy's Second Month of Training:

Day 31: The Boomerang Kick

"Alright, Lucy, let's work on something new today," Ash said, crouching on a patch of grass. "You've got the basics of stretching punches down—how about a kick?"

Lucy's eyes lit up. "A Gomu Gomu no kick? That sounds awesome!"

Ash nodded. "Exactly. Now focus, aim at that tree, and try to deliver a good kick."

Lucy grinned, bouncing slightly on her feet as she steadied herself. She raised her leg, concentrating hard, and shouted, "Gomu Gomu no… WHIP!" Her leg stretched like rubber, snapping out toward the tree in a long arc.

The kick connected with a loud CRACK, the tree shaking under the impact. But before Lucy could celebrate, her leg bounced back like a spring. The recoil sent her tumbling backward, her arms flailing wildly before she landed in a heap on the grass.

"Ow…" Lucy groaned, rubbing the back of her head.

Uta, perched on her usual spot on the hill, burst into laughter. "Lucy, are you okay? That was hilarious!"

Lucy sat up; her face red with embarrassment but still smiling. "I didn't think it would come back that fast…"

Ash offered her a hand, helping her up. "It's all about controlling the recoil. Let's work on that." 

Day 40: The Chase Game

By the tenth day of her second month, Ash decided to focus on agility.

"Alright, Lucy, we're going to play a game today," Ash said, holding a long wooden stick. "You try to catch me, and I'll try to dodge. Ready?"

Lucy crouched; her face set with determination. "I'm ready!"

Ash smirked and dashed to the side, his movements quick and smooth. Lucy scrambled after him, her small legs pumping furiously. Despite her best efforts, Ash was faster, weaving effortlessly around her.

"No fair! You're too quick!" Lucy shouted, pouting as she missed another grab.

Ash slowed down just enough to give her a chance. "Come on, Lucy, focus on predicting where I'll move. Don't just follow my feet—watch my whole body."

Lucy took a deep breath and focused harder. This time, when Ash feinted left, she darted to the right, cutting him off. Her fingers brushed his shirt, and she let out a triumphant cheer. "Got you!"

Ash laughed. "Nice work, Lucy. You're getting better at this!" Uta clapped from the sidelines.

Lucy grinned, feeling a sense of pride. "Next time, I'll catch you even faster!"

Day 50: Hand-to-Hand Combat – Stepping Up

As the days went on, Ash began introducing more techniques to Lucy's training.

"Alright, Lucy, let's see how much you've improved," Ash said, standing in front of her with his arms crossed. "Show me your punches."

Lucy nodded, dropping into a stance. She threw a series of punches, each one faster and more controlled than before. Her form wasn't perfect, but the improvement was clear.

"Good! Now let's try a combo. Punch, step forward, and then a low kick," Ash instructed.

Lucy followed his lead, her movements still a bit clumsy but improving with each attempt. By the fifth try, her combo looked almost fluid.

"Not bad," Ash said, nodding in approval. "You've got the basics down. Now, let's try adding a dodge."

Lucy's eyes widened. "A dodge? You mean like, move out of the way while doing all that?"

Ash grinned. "Exactly. It's all about multitasking. Let's give it a shot."

Lucy took a deep breath, her brow furrowed in concentration. She threw the punch, stepped forward, went for the kick—and stumbled when she tried to dodge an imaginary attack.

"Oops…" Lucy muttered, scratching her head.

Uta laughed, walking over to give Lucy a pat on the shoulder. "You'll get it, Lucy. Just keep at it!" 

Day 60: Progress and Encouragement

By the end of the second month, Lucy's growth was undeniable. Her Devil Fruit abilities were more controlled, her physical strength had improved, and her agility was sharper than ever. She still had a long way to go, but the progress she'd made filled her with confidence.

"Alright, Lucy," Ash said, standing in the center of the training field. "Let's see everything you've learned."

Lucy nodded; her face set with determination. She started with a quick combo: a punch, a kick, and a dodge, all strung together with surprising fluidity. She finished with a shout: "Gomu Gomu no... PISTOL!" Her stretched punch hit the tree dead center, shaking it with a satisfying THUD.

Ash clapped, a proud smile on his face. "That's what I'm talking about! Great job, Lucy."

Lucy beamed; her chest puffed with pride. "Thanks, Ash! I couldn't have done it without you guys."

Uta, who had been watching from the sidelines, walked over and threw an arm around Lucy. "You've come so far, Lucy. I'm so proud of you!"

Lucy grinned up at her, her eyes shining. "Thanks, Uta! I'm going to keep getting stronger—I promise!"

As the sun set over Windmill Village, the trio sat on the grass, enjoying the cool evening breeze. Lucy was tired but happy, her heart full of determination for the days to come.

Lucy's Third Month of Training: 

Day 61: Balancing Growth – Expanding Her Arsenal

Ash crouched next to Lucy on the training field. "Alright, Lucy. You've been doing great with your Devil Fruit. But remember, there's more to being strong than just stretchy punches. Let's work on balance, reflexes, and a little problem-solving today."

Lucy tilted her head. "Problem-solving? I'm not bad at that, you know! Like when I figured out how to get cookies from Makino's secret stash."

Uta, who was sitting nearby, gasped. "Wait—you figured out the cookie stash? Teach me!"

"Girls, focus!" Ash laughed. He placed a small wooden crate on the ground. "Lucy, I want you to pick this up." Ash thinks it might be too heavy even if Lucy tried lifting with devil fruit powers. He has drag himself to bring it here. But he believes lucy can do it.

"Easy!" Lucy said, crouching down and grabbing the crate. She grunted, trying to lift it, but it was heavier than it looked. She tried pulling, pushing, and even rolling it, but it moved slightly.

Ash smiled. "Remember what I said about using your whole body. Think about how you're moving." Ash gave her an idea seeing that.

Lucy paused, her eyes narrowing as she thought about Ash's advice. She planted her feet, bent her knees, and used her legs to lift. This time, the crate rose off the ground.

"I did it!" she shouted, beaming. "See? I'm a problem-solving genius!"

Ash chuckles and nodded. "That's it. Now, let's move to reflexes."

Day 70: Discovering New Devil Fruit Tricks

Lucy's progress with her Devil Fruit had been steady, but Ash wanted her to start experimenting with new ways to use her powers.

"Alright, Lucy," Ash said, holding a stick with a ribbon tied to it. "I'm going to move this ribbon around, and you try to grab it with your stretchy arms."

Lucy grinned, clenching her fists. "Piece of cake!"

Ash waved the ribbon back and forth. Lucy stretched her arm out, but she was too slow, and the ribbon slipped through her fingers. She tried again and again, but Ash kept moving it just out of reach.

"Stop moving so fast!" Lucy pouted.

"Life doesn't stop for you, Lucy," Ash teased. "You've got to learn to adapt."

Lucy huffed, concentrating harder. This time, she stretched both arms at once, trapping the ribbon between her hands. "Ha! Got it!"

But just as she celebrated, her arms snapped back too quickly, pulling her off her feet and sending her tumbling into the grass.

Uta burst out laughing seeing this and stopped her practicing and teased her. "Lucy, you're like a rubbery tornado!"

Lucy sat up, brushing dirt off her face. "I'll get it next time. Just you wait!"

Day 80: New Ability Discovery – The "Stretchy Slingshot"

During one of her solo training sessions, Lucy accidentally discovered a new way to use her Devil Fruit.

She had tied a rope to a tree and was experimenting with stretching her arms when she suddenly got an idea. "If I can stretch... maybe I can launch things!"

She grabbed a small rock and pulled her arm back like a slingshot. "Gomu Gomu no... SLINGSHOT!" she yelled, releasing the rock. It sailed through the air, landing with a loud thud in a nearby field.

Ash, who had been watching from a distance, walked over. "That's pretty clever, Lucy. But let's work on aiming before you take out someone's roof."

Lucy giggled. "Yeah, good idea."

Day 90: Showcasing Her Progress

By the end of the third month, Lucy's training had become more structured, with Ash helping her balance her Devil Fruit growth and other abilities.

"Alright, Lucy," Ash said, setting up a makeshift obstacle course. "Today, you're going to show me everything you've learned. Use your Devil Fruit, your footwork, your strength—whatever you've got."

Lucy nodded; her face serious. "I won't let you down!"

She started with the first obstacle: jumping over a series of barrels. She used her agility to leap gracefully over each one, landing without a stumble.

Next, she faced a row of swinging ropes. Using her Devil Fruit, she stretched her arms to grab the ropes and pulled herself forward, avoiding each swing.

Finally, she reached the target at the end of the course. She took a deep breath, winding up her arm. "Gomu Gomu no... PISTOL!" she shouted, her fist flying forward and hitting the target dead center.

Ash clapped as she finished. "Well done, Lucy. You've improved so much."

Uta ran over, hugging Lucy tightly. "You're amazing! I told you you'd be awesome!"

Lucy grinned, her eyes sparkling with pride. "Thanks, Ash. Thanks, Uta. I'll keep working hard!"

Name: Monkey D. Lucy

Age: 7

Level: 7 -> 11

Title: Avatar of the Sun's Flame

Status Effects: None

Stats:

Strength: 42 -> 52

Agility: 40 -> 50

Endurance: 50 -> 64

Intelligence: 17 -> 20

Charisma: 30 -> 32

Luck: 12 -> 15

Skills/Abilities:

- "D" Willpower: [Passive](Unlocked)

- Fighting Spirit: Level 12 (Rare; Beginner) -> Level 30 (Rare; Intermediate) *

- Hand-to-Hand Combat Basics: Level 14 (Rare; Beginner) -> Level 28 (Rare; Beginner) *

- Unorthodox Movement: Level 1 (Uncommon; Novice) -> Level 15 (Uncommon; Beginner) *

- Combat Reflexes: Level 1 (Uncommon; Novice) -> Level 13 (Uncommon; Beginner) *

- Basic Grappling Techniques: Level 1 (Common; Novice) -> Level 8 (Common; Novice) *

- Foot Work Basics: Level 3 (Uncommon; Novice)

- Rubber Limbs Control: Level 5 (Early Stage; Devil Fruit Ability) *

- Gomu Gomu no Pistol: Level 2 (Early Stage; Devil Fruit Ability) *

- Gomu Gomu no Sling shot: Level 1 (Early Stage; Devil Fruit Ability) *

Devil Fruit: Hito Hito no Mi (Human – Human Fruit) Model: Nika (Mythical – Zoan) – Early Stage

Affiliation: None (Pirate Aspirant)

Equipment: Soul Bind Bracelet

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. 😊