Chapter 7: Chase! Ash is a Ladies' Man!
For the Straw Hats, seeing Luffy reading made little sense. It's been a couple of days since Ash lent him his guidebook on being a Pokémon Trainer. Today, the two were on the grassy field. Squirtle was with Ash while Bulbasaur was near Luffy. Zoro's on the hammock that Ash and Robin slept on those couple of days ago. He snoozed with the sun beaming down on him. Speaking of Robin, she and Nami wore skimpy bikinis and revealing trunks near the back of the Sunny as they laid on beach chairs. Nami's bikini was white with red flower prints. Robin wore a strapless Bordeaux brassier and matching thong. Sanji brewed cold drinks in the kitchen, not using booze to his beverages. In the workshop, Usopp tinkered with tools to work on a new weapon. He peered up to find Pikachu licking on red balls. This irked the long nose. "What are you doing with my Ketchup Stars?" he asked.
("Like you said, it's ketchup,") Pikachu squeaked. ("I like ketchup!") The smile on Pikachu's face told Usopp what he favored.
"At least it's not the Tabasco Stars that I used on Team Rocket. Still, it irks me that they're after you for their boss, even though we don't know how to find your world." All Pikachu could do was shrug. Brook played music on his violin while Franky steered the Sunny and Ash and Luffy train as Chopper watched on Snorlax's enormous belly.
"Here we go, Bulbasaur!" Luffy ordered. "Use Razor Leaf!" Bulbasaur fired leaves at Squirtle. Ash acted fast.
"Squritle, Withdraw!" he ordered. Squirtle pulled its head, limbs and tail inside before the Razor Leaves struck. Chopper watched on, disbelief mounting.
"I didn't think you could teach Luffy anything, it's more one ear and out the other," he awed. "Ash seems to have found a way to get Luffy how to read and improve his smarts. Ash also underwent changes. His body gained incredible muscle mass on his limbs and chest. After the training session, Luffy left to see Usopp's work. Ash climbed to see Franky and see if he needed rest.
"You doing alright, Franky?"
"Just fine, Ash," Franky replied. "I won't rest until I take the ship I built all over the world. I know the Thousand Sunny will do so and having built it on Adam wood, the strongest wood in this world, I know it can achieve the accomplishment." Ash remembered when he arrived to help out the pirates by mistake.
"Sunny can take a cannonball or two."
"And can even go deep underwater since we can apply the bubble at anytime." Ash blinked, interested to how it's possible.
"I'd like to see that." Before Ash could check on Pikachu…
"Hey, Ash!" voiced Nami, lying on her chest. "Could you help me get some sunscreen on my back? It's hard for me to reach." Sanji emerged with drinks and made his way to the back of the Sunny. Ash came over to Nami and Robin as the redhead undid her bikini with a pull to the long string.
"Sure." He reached the two before squirting some sunscreen lotion on his hands before lathering it. He began to apply the lotion on Nami's back, a pleasuring moan lisping from her. Sanji reached the top but gawked to Ash applying the lotion to Nami's bare back.
"What the hell?!" he snapped. Brook climbed up the back to see the same moment.
"Nami, how could you!" he gasped. Nami woke to see the two gawking but didn't move out of the comfort and cooling of the lotion to her back.
"Like hell I'd ask you with your dirty minds!" she growled. "Besides, he's here and I asked him to do it. Satisfied?"
"No way!" yelled Sanji. "I'm the one for you, Nami-Swan!" To Ash, it wasn't a big deal.
"Look, she asked me for help and I'm doing just that," he muttered. Sanji shuttered at the sight.
'What the hell is up with Ash? There's a bare-chested woman he's putting sunscreen on and he's not even reacting. Then again, she's lying on her boobs so maybe she's playing it safe.' Robin looked up to see Ash's offer in lubing Nami's back.
"Hey, Ash," she spoke up. "Could you do my back as well? You seem to know how to work the body." Again, Sanji and Brook gawked in dismay.
"Not you too!" they barked. Ash would help Robin but didn't want to stop until Nami's back's done.
"I think I can get someone to help out," he suggested. To Sanji and Brook, they weren't out of luck yet. "Hey, Bulbasaur!" Using vines to climb, Bulbasaur swung to Ash's side. Sanji and Brook gawked to Ash's choice. "Could you use Vine Whip to apply sunscreen on Robin's back?" Bulbasaur growled with a smile as it used Vine Whip to squirt sunscreen on Robin's back before lathering all over the bare body. Sanji and Brook couldn't make sense on what occurred.
"I know Ash is a skilled Pokémon Trainer, but I didn't think he's that skilled," Brook awed. "Ash's traits just keep blowing my mind… that is to say if I had a mind to blow." Ash and Bulbasaur finished the sunscreen application. Using towels, the two dried their hands and vines of the lotion. Seeing the drinks, Bulbasaur lassoed them to the women, upstaging Sanji.
"Come on!" he complained while Franky chuckled. "That's my job!" Ash rotated his arms, sore from applying the sunscreen, catching Robin's attention.
"You okay, dear?" she asked.
"Yeah, just a little sore," he winced. Still on her chest, Robin crossed her arms.
"Mind if I help with that?" Without a second to reply… "Dos Fleur…" Arms grew from Ash's back and the hands grabbed his shoulders. They rubbed the shoulders, giving relief to the trainer. Ash felt strength coming back to his arms while Sanji and Brook crumpled to their knees in dismay.
"Are we not worthy for them anymore?" wondered Brook. "My heart's-"
"We get it, Brook," argued Sanji. "You don't need to remind us every time." Ash's arms felt back to normal.
"That feels better," he sighed. "Thanks, Robin." Franky chuckled before turning to the sea… and an island ahead. The island had a town, an opportunity arisen.
"Hey, guys!" he announced. "I see land ahead!" Nami started to rise but held her bikini in place. Everyone appeared to see the oncoming island with a port town. Nami put a shirt on as fast as possible to keep from exposing her private parts. As they neared the docks, Nami gathered the group together.
"I have a hunch this town will have a place where we can cash in Ash's haul from the fort," she started. "Robin, Usopp… Can I trust you in looking for a place like that?"
"Sure, but wouldn't it be safer to have Sanji aid in this?" requested Usopp. Looking over, everyone saw Sanji in the fetal position.
"Give him awhile," Chopper mumbled.
"Uh, Nami, what about you?" wondered Usopp.
"I'll make sure the haul isn't brought out for all to see," Nami assured. "If there is a broker inside, report back and we'll ship them to make deals." While they heard the plan, Nami had other plans she didn't want to reveal. 'Besides, I know Ash hid that GS Ball somewhere on the Sunny. All I need to do is find it.' The pirates got off the Sunny with Zoro awake. Ash came to Pikachu and Bulbasaur with a request.
"Think you guys can watch the Sunny along with Nami and Franky?" he asked. Pikachu and Bulbasaur accepted the role before Ash stepped out to see Luffy sniffing the air. Sanji had hearts in his eyes at seeing young women.
"Whoa, we came to heaven!" he cheered. Luffy started to drool, a scent finding his nose.
"I can smell meat!" he recognized. "I'll see you later!" He dashed off to find the meat he claimed to have picked up.
"There's the old Luffy," Zoro scoffed. "I thought you may have done something with your Pokémon Training." A citizen saw the Sunny, knowing who came off the ship.
"Hey, you must be the Straw Hats!" he greeted.
"We are…" Robin replied. "At least the hospitality is warming." Zoro didn't mind the hospitality.
"Perhaps they could tell me where to go have a drink," he wished. Another citizen heard Zoro's question and pointed the way.
"Easy," he spoke. "It's down that road for three blocks, take a left and it should be on your right down that road." Zoro nodded, instructions noted.
"Thanks. I'll be grabbing a few pints." He left, heading down the road pointed. To Usopp, he had doubts Zoro won't get a pint.
"I bet 25 thousand Berries he gets lost despite the easy directions," he groaned. Ash headed in a different direction.
"You gonna be alright, Ash?" questioned Robin.
"Yeah, I'm just gonna wander around for sometime," Ash explained. "I'll see ya around." He departed, much to Robin's concern.
"Be careful, Ash…" she warned. Ash wandered the streets of the port town. A group of young women, some around Ash's age, gossiped around Ash's poster.
"Ash Ketchum, the 75 million Berry Beastman," one girl read.
"Hard to believe he got all of these creatures," an older teen awed. "But, wow! A dragon!"
"I like that dinosaur with the curly ears," a younger girl pointed out.
"I wonder what kind of Beast he is in bed."
"Whoa, too soon," a younger teen relented. "I'd rather have him over for tea. Besides, I highly doubt he's old enough for… that." The girls didn't notice Ash passing by, and he didn't say a peep about the poster.
"I'd rather take the tea over… what that other girl's suggesting," he muttered to himself. None of the citizens seemed to have noticed Ash walking around. He came by some stores and observed through the window. Stainless steel skillets, giant whisks, all kinds of spoons, forks and knives… "I bet Mom and Brock would go after this. Too bad I don't have their money to buy it." Before moving on, he heard a scream.
"Watch it, lady!" a man shouted as Ash saw a raven-haired woman fall to the ground, a pair of rectangular glasses knocked off her head and skidding to Ash. The thin but voluptuous woman wore a purple button-down shirt and jeans.
"Dammit…" she growled. "That jerk!" Ash picked the glasses and removed his bandanna, cleaning the film on the lens. "Now where are-"
"Excuse me," he greeted. The woman looked to see the glasses in front of her face. The woman took the glasses from Ash's hand and noticed her sight improve.
"Thanks, and you cleaned them." Ash helped the woman onto her feet. "That guy needed a beating." Ash noted how easily her glasses jostle.
"Can I recommend straps for your glasses? It keeps your glasses from getting away." The woman pondered about the item.
"I don't know… I don't wanna look like a secretary but anything to not lose them." That's when she unhooked a pouch. "Say… you're a nice kid." She ruffled Ash's hair while smiling. "Here's a pouch of candy. I don't run into many people like you, though I hope that changes." After handing Ash the pouch…
"Thanks!"
"No problem! See ya around!" The woman walked from Ash, her emotion better than how it began. Still, her mind had pictured Zoro. 'Now for that swordsman… If that child could respect me, so should he.' Ash put the pouch on a belt loop and redressed his head. As he explored the town a little more, another group of girls had copies of his poster. One turned to see Ash before doing a double-take on both him and the poster. Figuring out, Ash's quiet stroll wouldn't be quiet.
"IT'S HIM!" she shouted. Ash stopped and turned to the sound. Suddenly, swarms of girls from just younger than him to young adults emerged from alleys and corners, from doors to windows.
"IT'S THE BEASTMAN!" they squealed. The girls surrounded him, any chance to escape dashed.
"I'd imagine him young but cute wasn't a thought until now," one young teen complimented.
"Well, put handsome and strong with that dinosaur and dragon on hand," another girl mentioned.
"Tell me about strong, look at the build!" an older teen compared. "He's been working out since his poster's taken!" Two of the young teens massaged his arms, the build apparent to the crowd of young ladies.
"Say, why don't you have that absolutely adorable mouse on hand?" one more girl questioned. "We wouldn't mind petting it!" Ash had a nervous chuckle but his glint came out. A collection of shrills echoed before everyone piled onto him. The girls hugged Ash between their tiny chests and kissed him beneath the dog pile. Meanwhile, Luffy met up with Robin as they journeyed through the streets.
"Guess I lucked out more than you," Luffy snickered. "They didn't have much in the way of meat but I got what they could offer."
"Yeah, your nose has better depth perception than Nami's intuition," Robin murmured. "She won't be happy to learn this port town's got no bank, let alone a broker. Hell, I'd say she'd tear the town to pieces." Suddenly, they came across the commotion.
"What, did Nami come off the Sunny to get some Berries back?" That's when Ash's bandanna flew out. This got Robin to realize the issue.
"Oh no… Ash's under there!" She crossed her arms. "Cincuenta Fleur!" From within the pile, many hands emerged to clear the scrum of girls and find Ash covered in lipstick and his clothes more ripped than his muscles. "Luffy, now!" Luffy grabbed his arm and began spinning it like a propeller.
"On it! Gum-Gum… Flail!" He flung his arm to which it reached Ash. He grabbed Luffy's arm before he retracted it.
"Okay, I'll meet you on the Sunny! Get Ash there!" Robin dashed off as Ash stood up.
"Come back, Beastman!" the girls shouted individually. Ash's face looked flush, making Luffy laugh.
"Talk about exciting, huh?" he joked. Ash wasn't in the mood.
"Oh, yeah!" he growled. "Let's see how you deal with a lot of girls showing a lot of affection!" The girls raced, making Ash and Luffy run. They dashed all over the port town, street after street, alley to back alley, Ash and Luffy realized losing the mob of girls seemed virtually impossible. They did find Sanji in their running around.
"Sanji, let's go!" the captain ordered. Sanji watched the two speed pass him. He became curious.
"What's that idiot gotten into?" he wondered. "And why is Ash in so much makeup, that lucky bastard?" He turned to see the mob coming at him. Only ladies, Sanji's eyes became hearts. "Jackpot!" He entered their path. "Come to me, beautiful girls! Only I can fill the emptiness in-" The girls didn't stop and plowed over, smashed and trampled over the Sunny's cook. The crowd left Sanji down, but he wasn't out. Seconds after the crowd's parade, Sanji got back to his feet. "Nothing like a trampling to know you're still young to get the lady of your dreams. I'll get someone at the docks!" He dashed toward the docks. Zoro came back to the docks still looking around for the tavern.
"Dammit, he said it's around here somewhere," he groaned as he viewed one building. "I swear I've crossed that building seven times already." Out of nowhere…
"There the Sunny!" shouted Luffy. "And Zoro!" The swordsman turned to find the two before the mob of girls continued to chase.
"Tashigi better not be in that crowd…" When they reached, Luffy slung his arms around Ash and Zoro.
"Get ready for liftoff!" Ash gawked and turned to Luffy.
"Brace yourself for impact," Zoro warned. "We're gonna fly."
"Seriously?" a nervous Ash gulped. The girls closed in. Luffy coiled his legs for the launch.
"Gum-Gum…" he started. "…Rocket!" Luffy kicked himself to the sky and flew with Ash and Zoro in his arms, escaping the clutches of the girls. Finally, they reached the Sunny, but knew they're about to hit the mast.
"Here it comes!" yelled Zoro. The three smashed into the mast. Nami and the Pokémon rushed to their aid. Robin saw the impact on the ship and looked to find Luffy and Zoro rising without much pain but Ash clutched his head. Usopp returned to the ship before it started to cast from the port town. Sanji stood by the docks as the mob closed in.
"BEASTMAN, COME BACK TO ME!" they shouted. Sanji growled to the girls favoring Ash and started to run on air. Each step seemed to be Sanji jumping on a tiny pocket of air pressure. He still made it to the ship as the mob cried to losing Ash, the Beastman they wanted. The impact from the Gum-Gum Rocket didn't appear to do any damage to the mast. Robin and Usopp came to Nami with the report as the Sunny separated from the port town.
"We've asked around but they didn't have a bank at all," Usopp explained. Nami sighed, no chance to exchange the gold from the raid.
"Well, there's always another stop if we reach it," she spoke with optimism. She felt out of luck since she couldn't locate Ash's GS Ball. Zoro wasn't happy either.
"That guy gave me terrible directions and I couldn't get a drink," he grumbled. "What do I have to do in order to get somewhere in a town?" Robin got to Ash and began to clean the lipstick off his face. Seeing all the makeup made Robin giggle.
"I'm not sure you should be called Beastman," she teased. "With all those girls after you, I see your nickname as 'Heartthrob of the Sea.' If any Marine saw this, it would be better fitting." Ash blinked to the idea.
"Seriously?" he groaned.
"Of course… especially like this." She kissed Ash on the cheek. Chopper saw the bruise on Ash's head when he hit the mast with Luffy and Zoro.
"That looks pretty big," he noted. "I do have my bag on hand. Let's see…" The reindeer applied ointment and injected the bruise with a clear liquid just a tap. After that, he applied a bandage over the injury. "That insta-Ice will numb the bruise and it'll be gone tomorrow." Pikachu awed the work of Chopper, as did Ash.
"I've never seen doctors work as fast and as knowledgeable as you do," he smiled. "It's no wonder you're the Sunny's doctor. I hope you go far in your ability to aid the unfortunate."
"Oh, stop it, you jerk!" the reindeer laughed as he danced around. "You're just saying that to get on my good side! It won't work, buddy!" A sweat drop appeared on Ash and Pikachu's heads.
"Uh… huh…" Robin giggled once more to Chopper's bemusement.
"This typically happens," she briefed. "It's like how everyone mistakes him for a raccoon-dog, whatever those are." Ash decided to chuckle and pat Chopper on the head.
"I'll tell you one thing: if they know what you can do, they'll stop questioning who you are." Chopper looked up to Ash with a bright smile.
"Yeah, right…" he scoffed. "You jerk." Ash smiled to Chopper before Robin landed on more kiss to the bruise. Nami watched on, knowing Ash hid the GS Ball where she wouldn't be able to find it.
'He's got that ball worth a few million on the black market,' she thought. 'There must be someplace I haven't bothered to check… The question is… how do I make him talk?' While the Thousand Sunny sailed away, not far from the ship was a larger ship. Casted in shadow, the ship sailed with one person holding Ash's poster.
"Feh… fehfehfehfehfeh!" he laughed. What could the new ship want with Ash?
TO BE CONTINUED…