CHAPTER 1: MEETING THE CREW!

I had been in Loguetown for three weeks now, while I waited here for Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hats to show up. I knew that they hadn't yet shown up to Loguetown, because I'd seen Captain Smoker making patrols, as well as spotting Tashigi in various weapon stores. She'd just arrived so she hadn't been to every weapon shop in the huge town yet. Since I had a lot of time until the Straw Hats arrived, I decided to visit every shop that I hadn't been to yet and expand my wardrobe as well as additional supplies. As a result, I found plenty of exotic outfits, such as the sarong I was wearing now. Made out of a flexible cloth that stretches, it was mainly ocean blue, with white and red-orange hibiscus flowers going up and down the robe, with a deep red waist cord around the waist, and a slit along both sides for my legs to have full motion, and a huge white beach hat with an orange hibiscus flower on the blue strap wrapped around the base with a brim at least 4 feet long. Thanks to the life return ability the old man had awakened, the longer my hair was, the more reach I had, and the more things I could do with it. So after the past two years and three weeks, my hair had become much longer. Now it had become twice my actual body length was, so to practice my control over my body, I controlled my hair to wrap around my body, wearing my hair in place of a scarf, dipping down under my huge chest, down to around my waist before dropping down the back of my waist towards the ground.

While I was waiting, my days would consist of wandering the city during the day, and practicing my six powers during the night on the beach. Fast forward and I'm walking into town now, wondering where I'm going to go in town today. Suddenly a piece of paper floats down and lands on my face. Removing the paper, I recognize it as a flyer, promoting the huge annual cooking competition today with an elephant Bluefin tuna as the prize. Luckily for me, it also says that they need an additional judge to determine the winners and there's a position open.

"Hmm….so the annual cooking competition is this afternoon and they need a new judge….I'll have to go join that so I can eat a full meal today instead of relying on the milk that my breasts supply instead…" With that, I decide to head towards the location specified in the flyer; completely unaware today was the day I was waiting for….

-A few hours later….-

Making my way down the streets, I finally make it to the square where the annual cooking contest is going to be held. Heading up to the announcers stand, who turns to face me and then turns to shout to everyone listening,

"Alright everyone! Our final judge has finally arrived! In 1 hour, we will begin the contest!"

The crowd and cooks let out a roar as they cheer before leaving to gather what final ingredients and materials that they would need. With a wide, pleased grin, I move to join the other judges on the judge's table and sit down, reclining in the seat and smile at the faces that I recognize while I wait for the contest to begin.

-One o'clock-

Now that it's finally time for the cooking contest to begin, while the announcer begins the announcements and explain the contest rules, I glance over the competing cooks.

"Ahhh…there's the local cooks…and there's the normal entrants from nearby islands….and…IS THAT CARMEN?!" I exclaim as I notice the pink haired woman standing at a cooking station. The announcer, having heard my shout, lowers his microphone and nods widely,

"We're very lucky today, Ashley! We have the best female cook in the East Blue, Carmen competing today!"

Now I'm suddenly very excited, as it's well known that Carmen is a very skilled cook. As I see the famous cook at her station, my eyes recognize a shock of blonde hair over a swirly brow….grinning as I recognize Sanji of the Straw Hats.

Finally the announcer declares the first pair, and the contest has begun!

-Sanji Vs Carmen-

Finally, its Sanji against Carmen! Out of all the original judges that began the contest, I'm the only one still sitting at the table. My stomach is swollen and stuffed almost to the brim, but I'm still sitting at the table. Before the round starts, the announcer blinks as he stares at me still at the table. At this point, everyone in the audience has noticed that I have not left the table once. Nami seems to recognize me, as the announcer walks over and asks if I want to tap out now.

Blinking in surprise, I shake my head, "No I can keep eating, " I declare before, using my life return, I quickly convert all the food in my belly into energy storage, instantly returning from my stuffed belly, to my smooth, slim stomach as I grin, "I can eat all day!" I shout as a cheer sounds from the crowd.

With that, the announcer finally begins the awaited final matchup!

Now, the part I've been waiting all day for! The end of the cooking contest and the announcement of the winner is….wait, did Carmen just surrender?

"The winner is….CONTENDER SANJI!" The announcer yells as I grin widely, before suddenly my hand is being held by the blonde cook….

Wait what?! How did he get here so fast?!

"Ohh mellorine…such a radiant beauty enjoyed my cooking!"

I let out a giggle at the typical antics of the Straw Hat Love Cook,

"You should get that prize of yours to your ship, Sanji-san."

With that, I stand up and head off towards the execution platform. As I get there, I see a straw hat flying towards me. Reaching up with my hair, I grab the hat and lower it into my hands, just as the famous Straw Hat Luffy runs up to me, "My hat!"

I look at the straw hat in my hands and back at him,

"You should take better care of your hat. Maybe tie a string onto it like mine so that it can't blow off in the wind?" I recommend as I reach out with my hair to hand it to him, only for him to suddenly be in my face, eyes sparkling,

"SUGOI! Your hair is alive!"

I blink owlishly at him, before laughing. "Yeah, I guess it is. The best part, is that I don't have devil fruit powers."

When I don't hear anything, I turn to where he was, only to see that he was gone. Turning around, I see that he's staring at the execution platform. Grinning widely, I approach him, "Hey, do you want to get up there?"

Luffy turns to me with a starry eyed grin, "Yeah! I wanna stand where the King of the Pirates stood!" I nod with a wide grin of my own,

"Then hang on." I state as my hair wraps around his waist tightly, before I suddenly leap up into the air with my GEPPO, my hair bringing him with me as I leap onto the top of the platform and place him down, only for him to lunge at me, tackling me down onto the platform,

"You can FLY?! Sugoi!"

Blinking the dizziness out of my head from my head bouncing off the platform, I stand up and stand next to Luffy as he looks out at the distance,

"So this is the scenery that the King of the Pirates saw…"

"Yeah it is….This is part of my dream right here…" I state wistfully as I stare out at the beautiful horizon. I dimly notice Luffy listening as I gesture out while I move to sit on the edge of the platform…

"My dream is to travel everywhere in the world…and experience the grandest adventures to the most beautiful places everywhere!"

"Oi.."

As I sit on the edge of the execution platform, staring out at the beautiful horizon, I'm snapped out of my funk by Luffy poking my cheek…

Turning to the straw hat boy, I open my mouth…

"Join my crew!"

Only for my jaw to slam onto the platform, "Eehh?! But I don't even know your name! YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW MY NAME!?" I exclaim as I stare at the boy, dumfounded. Said boy just shrugs as he grins, "My name is Luffy! You can fly and your hair is alive! Join my crew!"

I blink and shrug in defeat as I realize that he wouldn't stop now. "Fine…fine. I'll join your crew. After all, you need somebody to keep an eye on you and all the supplies your crew needs."

"Yahoo! We got a Quartermaster!" The rubber boy yells as he dances around on the platform. I shake my head, amused as the boy parades around the top. But before I can get up, Iron Mace Alvida and Buggy the Clown appear, then Buggy's first mate Cabaji comes out of nowhere from above and behind me, sending me flying as he also traps Luffy to the platform. I flip around in the air as I use Geppo to ensure that I land on my feet.

Glaring at the group of buggy pirates that were standing around me, my eyes narrow as I lean backwards, spinning as I dodge around a bunch of pointy weapons, my legs lashing out to shoot off devastating kicks, and Finger Pistols piercing pirate bodies as my body twirls and twists around all the weapons. But with every pirate that I take down, two more seem to take their place. I get a brief reprieve as Luffy suddenly yells, "I'm the man who's gonna be King of the Pirates!" suddenly shocking everyone, including myself, in the area. Then Zoro and Sanji's arrival helps even more, as I get enough of an opening to put both hands on the ground and spin, "Tempest Kick Cyclone" sending a bunch of wind blades through the air towards Buggy, trying to stop him from executing my new Captain. But Buggy simply separates his body and dodges the wind blades, stopping my best ranged attack. Luffy suddenly yells, "Zoro! Sanji! Usopp! Nami! Ashley! Sorry…" I turn to look up at the platform, my eyes widening as I see Luffy suddenly look up with a grin,

"I'm dead."

As Zoro and Sanji scream out, I also scream out.

"Noooooo! LUFFY!"

The next thing I know, everything is on fire, as Buggy falls from the flaming blue platform, charred and smoked, and Luffy is standing, putting his hat back on. Staring in absolute shock, next to an equally astonished Zoro and Sanji, I shrug as they look at me, "Dunno, but I'm just grateful."

And with that, we make to escape, running away from the marines and head back towards the ship. Zoro turns to Luffy, pointing at me over his shoulder,

"Why is this abnormally big titted chick running with us?!"

Angry, I'm about to respond with a scathing response, and Sanji is about to strike at Zoro, when Luffy blinks at Zoro as we run,

"Why wouldn't she come? She's our Quartermaster."

Causing Zoro to trip and faceplant on the wet ground, quickly getting up and catching up to Sanji, who had stopped and was twirling in full love cook mode.

I facepalm in exasperation as I reach out with my hair and grab Zoro and Sanji around the neck and yank them to me,

"SHUT UP UNTIL WE GET OUTTA HERE!" I roar at them, shark toothed and all, as I release them and growl angrily, turning to Luffy,

"I'm gonna go ahead, Luffy. Make sure that the ship is safe." before, with a leap forward, I Shave, heading towards the pier…only to realize that I forgot something and return to Luffy and the other two in seconds, shocking the marimo and love cook. Sheepishly rubbing my head,

"Ahhh…I don't know what the ship looks like…." Causing Zoro and Sanji to trip and faceplant again, while Luffy breaks out into laughter.

Once Zoro and Sanji explain what to look for, I Shave, getting back to the pier in seconds. Seeing the orange haired girl from earlier in the day, along with a long nosed guy going up against a guy with….is that a lion? In front of a ship with a ram's head and a straw hat on top of the Jolly Rodger. Recognizing both the ship and two of the three people that Sanji said was Nami and Usopp, as well as the fact that the lion had started running towards Nami and Usopp. I let out a sigh before rolling my eyes as I Shave, appearing behind and above the lion in seconds, my foot in position to bodily slam the lion's head into the ground.

"RICHIE!" shouts the guy with weird hair. I turn and glare at him, before turning to the terrified Nami and Usopp and smile disarmingly at them.

"Hi, my name is Ashley. Luffy sent me to help! I'm your crew's new Quartermaster. You guys load the ship, I'll protect it until we're ready to sail!"

With that, I turn around and Shave, this time disappearing from my position and appearing in front and on a knee in front of the Buggy pirate, my arm extended and my finger piercing his torso, as I mutter, "Finger Pistol…" before leaping up and driving his skull into the ground with my foot.

Standing up, a flash of lightning cracks the sky, illuminating my face as I stare down at the unconscious pirate, before turning at the sound of Marines charging. Nami and Usopp quickly board the ship as I stride forward, before Shaving towards the marines, taking them down with twisting kicks and finger pistols as I defend the ship. When the marines start firing cannons, I quickly include Tempest Kicks, sending them out to intercept cannonballs as Sanji arrives to help beat down the marines.

All of a sudden a huge green wind sweeps through the streets, sending me flying out into the ocean. Landing in the ocean, I quickly swim up to the top, then Geppo across the sky after Luffy had landed on the ship with the others.

"Don't forget about me, Captain!"

Nami explains about the guiding light to the grand line, and Sanji proposes a launching ceremony. Zoro pulls out a barrel and we all gather around the barrel.

Sanji. "To find the All Blue!"

Luffy. "To be the King of the Pirates!"

Zoro. "To be the world's greatest swordsman!"

Nami. "To draw a map of the world!"

Usopp. "To become a Brave Warrior of the Sea!"

And me. "To have the best adventure ever!"

And with that, we all raise our feet and smash the barrel, "TO THE GRAND LINE!"

End Chapter 1