Hey, guys! Welcome to my first ever One Piece story, and my first anime story overall. I hope you guys enjoy the story...anyway I don't own anything, except for my OC'S.

NOW LET'S GET ON WITH THE STORY!

{Season 1, Episode 1: Welcome to Gaimon's Island/Recruiting a Bomb Man}

"Cottontail! Where are you?" A 16-year-old boy yells while searching through a forest as he scratched his head in thought.

The 16-year-old boy has a slim muscular build with long curly black hair that reaches to his neck, a blue eye with the other one being completely white, and freckles. He wears a long-sleeved blue shirt with a black eyepatch, a red bandana, black pants, and no shoes. His name is Asher D. Willis.

"Come on out, boy! Old man Gaimon says that its lunchtime!" Asher says as he looked through some bushes, and smiled. "There you are!" Asher exclaimed, spotting a winged-lemur that seems to be made out of cotton, eating a couple mushrooms. "What are you doing all the way out here, boy? Found something interesting to eat?" Asher asked as Cottontail nodded and swallowed his food.

"I smelt something around here, and I found these delicious mushrooms. Want to try some?" Cottontail asked as Asher nodded.

"Yeah, sure," Asher says as he was about to grab the mushrooms when suddenly he noticed something odd about them as he took a few steps back. "Um, buddy, where did you found these mushrooms?" He asked as Cottontail pointed behind him.

"Over there, why?" Cottontail says as Asher looks to where he was pointing and nodded.

"Yep, just as I thought. Those are poisonous mushrooms, I can't eat those. I'm pretty sure I will die if I tried." Asher says as Cottontail shrugs.

"Your loss," Cottontail says as he was about to eat more when suddenly he perked up as his ears twitched.

"What's wrong, buddy?" Asher asked as huge footsteps echoed across the forest, and a mighty roar rang out. "Oh, he's here early today. Bad timing, though, since I'm hungry, and everything." Asher mumbles as a giant, 30-foot creature that seems to be a mix between a gorilla and elephant appeared in front of them and roared as Cottontail flew away.

"Good luck!" Cottontail yells as Asher rolls his eyes playfully.

"Coward," Asher says, before grinning up to the giant monster as he cracked his knuckles. "Alright, Gorillaphant! I'm kind of in a hurry here, so how about we wrap things up!" Asher says as the Gorillaphant glared at him and charged. "Alright! Let's do this!" Asher says as he runs at the Gorillaphant and leaps up.

"Bomu Bomu no...Bomb Punch!" Asher threw a punch at the giant monster's chest, and the moment his fist touched the hybrid's chest. A massive explosion occurred as Gorillaphant roared in pain and was sent flying into the forest.

"Nice punch." Cottontail complimented, flying back as he landed on Asher's shoulder. "You sent him flying even further than yesterday."

"Thanks, but it wasn't that hard of a fight. That guy is getting easier to defeat each day." Asher says, rather somberly as he walked away.

"You have been fighting this guy for ten years straight, so it makes sense why," Cottontail says as he glanced over at Asher and noticed that his owner looks a little depressed. "Hey, are you alright?" He asked as Asher sighs.

"I'm fine, it's just that I'm getting kind of bored of fighting the same monsters every day. Especially if they don't give me a challenge anymore," Asher says as he sat down on a cliff and stared out into the ocean. "Sometimes, I wish I can leave this island, you know. Explore the world, fulfill my dream, and become a pirate like my old man." Asher says with a small smile on his face as Cottontail sat on his lap.

"So, you wish to become a pirate and explore the world, huh? You do realize that outside of this island lays a dangerous place, filled with powerful marines and rival pirates that can kill you in an instant, right?" He asked as Asher grins.

"I know, and I can't wait to fight them all!" Asher yells with his body trembling in anticipation as Cottontail sweatdropped.

"What am I going to do with you, kid?" Cottontail tiredly says as he looked out into the ocean, and noticed something in the distance. "Hey, is that a boat?" Asher instantly sat up, startling the small lemur as he squinted his eyes and noticed that it had a pirate flag.

"Ooh, it has a pirate flag! That must mean their pirates! Come on! Let's go tell, old man Gaimon!" Asher says as he runs off. Running faster than a regular human could as Cottontail flew after him.

"Hey, wait for me!" Cottontail says as he tries to catch up with the kid, who was leaving a trail of dust as the young teen laughs joyfully.

We then cue in the middle of the ocean where we see 3 teenagers sailing together on two boats as one of the teenagers was busy sowing a straw hat. The teenager is an 18-year-old girl with a slim figure, short orange hair, and brown eyes. She wore a white/blue striped shirt with an orange mini-skirt and brown heeled high boots. Her name is Nami.

"Here, Luffy. I fixed your hat." Nami says, finished sowing the hat as a teenage boy eagerly grabbed it from her hands. The teenage boy is 17-years-old with shaggy black hair, round black eyes, a scar with two stitches underneath his left eye, and a slim muscular build. He wears a red sleeveless vest, short blue trousers with cuffs, and sandals. His name is Monkey D. Luffy.

"It's fixed!" Luffy excitedly yelled while lifting the straw hat in the air as he laughs.

"I just mended the cuts..." Nami says, sweatdropping a bit by Luffy's excitement.

"You did a great job fixing my hat, Nami." Luffy complimented while poking his hat as Nami blushed a bit from his praise.

"Thanks. But try not to poke it too much. Otherwise, it will break," Nami says as Luffy nodded rapidly.

"Right, right, thanks," Luffy says just as he accidentally pokes a hole in his hat. "Oops."

"DIDN'T YOU LISTEN TO WHAT I JUST SAID!" Nami screams, poking him in the forehead with a needle as Luffy yelps.

"Stop poking me in the head with that needle, it hurts!"

"It's useless to hit you since your made of rubber, so I have to use a needle!" Nami yelled back.

"Ah, that makes sense," Luffy says, following her logic.

"You guys are too noisy! I can't sleep with all of this noise." An older teenager says while resting on the boat as he yawns.

The older teenager is 19-years-old with a muscular build, lightly tanned skin, and chopped green hair. He wears a plain white shirt with three buttons undone at the collar, three identical gold earrings on his left earlobe, a black bandana wrapped around his left bicep, and black trousers tucked inside black boots. He also carries three swords that are bundled up with a green haramaki over his right hip. His name is Roronoa Zoro.

"Hey, I'm hungry. Nami! Give me some food!" Luffy demanded as Zoro nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, share some of your food with us," Zoro says as Nami huffs.

"Oh, please! You need to be more prepared! You don't bring food or water, and you dare to go out at sea?" Nami says as Luffy got bored and looked around as he saw an island in the distance. "It's a miracle that you two have survived up to now," Nami says, handing Zoro a loaf of bread as he ate it.

"There's always a way," Zoro says with a shrug as Nami sweatdropped.

"Hey! There's an island!" Luffy says as Nami took out her binoculars and looked at the island.

"Hmmm, that island is no good! It's unpopulated, so it's useless! Let's keep going!" Nami says, putting down her binoculars as she turned to the boys and was surprised to see them sailing towards the island on their boat.

"Let's see if we can find someone who would join us there...and let's look for food too," Luffy says, rowing the boat as Zoro dozed off. "You know, Nami was right. We really are unprepared."

"WAIT FOR ME!" Nami screamed rowing after the two.

"Hey! Old man Gaimon!" Asher screamed, running into a little shack as Cottontail flew in by the window.

"What is it, kid? Can't you see I'm trying to make dinner?" A short man says, stirring up a pot as he gave the kid an annoyed look. The man has a green afro hairstyle, a black beard, a unibrow, a chubby face, and a big mouth. But the weirdest thing about him was that his entire body was stuck inside a treasure chest with only his head, hands, and feet sticking out. His name is Gaimon.

"Cottontail spotted a ship nearby, but it's not just any ship, it's a pirate ship!"

"What!? A pirate ship!?" Gaimon screams as Asher nodded rapidly.

"Yep. It was kind of small, though, so I don't think there are many people." Asher says as Gaimon sighs in relief.

"Good, then it will be easy to get rid of them," Gaimon says as Asher groans.

"Do we have to do the stupid 'Forest Guardian' routine again?"

"Yes, son," Gaimon says as Asher rolls his eyes, and leaned against the wall.

"I don't know why we can't just talk to them instead? I'm sure they will be nice people." Asher says rather naively as Gaimon gave him a stern look.

"Son, if there is one thing I learned in my life as a pirate, is that there is no such thing as a nice pirate. If your not careful with these people, they can kill slit your throat or worse!" Gaimon warns his son as Asher rolled his eyes, but didn't say anything as he knew that arguing with his father would be pointless.

"Yes, I know, father. You gave me the same speech for all my life now." Asher says as Gaimon gave him a look, and he sighs. "Fine. I promise I won't talk with the pirates or make contact with them," Asher says as Gaimon nodded in satisfaction.

"Good. Now come and help your old man scare off some pirates." Gaimon says, walking off as Asher grumbles, but reluctantly followed him as Cottontail flew off.

"We've reached the isolated island!" Luffy screams as he and his crew landed on the beach of the 'isolated' island.

"There's nothing here but a forest," Nami says as she looks around with a disinterested look. "As I said, this is an unpopulated island! It would be weird if you found someone for the crew here!" Nami says as Luffy turned to Zoro.

"Hey! Zoro, come over here!" Luffy yells, before blinking as he noticed that his first mate was sleeping on the ship. "Oh, he's sleeping," Luffy says as he was about to wake him up, but Nami stops him.

"Let him sleep. He's still injured from the stab wound that Buggy and Cabaji gave him." Nami says as Luffy nodded.

"You're right. Well, let's go."

"Go where?" Nami asked as Luffy pointed at the forest.

"Towards the forest, of course. You never know, there might be people there."

"There's no one here, but poisonous snakes and wild animals!" Nami says just as a small creature popped out, and the teens stared at it curiously as they noticed that it seems to be a mix between a fox and a rooster. "...What is that?" Nami asked with a sweatdrop as Luffy spotted another creature.

"Hey, look! A weird rabbit!" Luffy says, grabbing a creature that seems to be a mix between a snake and a rabbit.

"It's weird, alright, but I think that its a mutant snake."

"How about that lion?" Luffy says, pointing at a creature that seems to be a mix between a pig and a lion.

"It looks more like a mutant pig to me, and why are you only pointing out the strange part about the animals, but not the obvious ones!?" Nami asked, annoyed just as a small explosion occurred above them as they covered their heads. "What was that?!" Nami asked as Luffy shrugs.

"Don't know. A cannonball, maybe?"

"Stop right there! Don't come any closer!" A loud voice boomed out across the forest.

"Huh? What was that sound?" Luffy muttered as Nami looks around anxiously.

"Who are you?"

"Me? I am...the Guardian of the Forest!" The voice screamed as more explosions rang out.

"Where are all those explosions coming from?" Nami asked to herself as we zoom out, and we see Asher and Gaimon hiding behind a bush as the young teen lazily threw shurikens in the air, and they exploded.

"Am I done now?" Asher asked Gaimon, who shushes him as he cleared his throat.

"Those come from me! As the Guardian of the Forest, I can blow things up just by looking at them, and unless you want to be blown up into pieces, I suggest you leave this island at once!"

"Aw! But, I'm not done exploring yet!" Luffy whines while pouting.

"W-What!? Exploring!? You are pirates, aren't you?" Gaimon asked as Luffy nodded.

"Yes."

"Why did he ask that?" Nami asked to herself.

"Oh, then I guess Asher wasn't lying," Gaimon says as Luffy perks up at the name.

"Who's Asher?" Luffy asked.

"U-Uh, no one important!" Gaimon says as Asher gave him an offended look.

"Hey!"

"Shut up, boy!"

"Who are you talking too?" Nami asked.

"No one!" Gaimon says, before turning to Asher. "Just shut up and keep throwing more bombs!" Gaimon ordered as Asher rolled his eyes, and throws more shurikens bombs. A few feet away from them, we see Gorillaphant walking across the forest as he heard a familiar bang nearby, and he grinned. Realizing that his enemy was close by as he made his way towards the sounds of the explosions. "Listen, well, pirates! Don't take a step further to the forest or else you will face...the judgment of the Guardian of the Forest!" Gaimon screamed as Nami gained a nervous look.

"What is he talking about?" Nami asked as Luffy shrugs.

"Don't know. What a weird guy."

"What did you just say, you straw hat brat!?" Gaimon yelled with an annoyed look as Asher laughed. "And you! How dare you laugh at your father?" Gaimon screamed as Asher laughed harder.

"Hey, do you hear that?" Nami asked, hearing Asher laughing as Luffy nodded.

"Yeah. I think the voice is coming from over there." Luffy says, pointing at Gaimon and Asher's location as the middle-aged man panicked.

"Hey! I told you not to come any closer!" He screamed, but Luffy ignores him as he took a step forward. "That's it! Face the judgment of the Guardian of the Forest!" Gaimon screamed, pulling out a gun as Asher's one eye widen in horror.

"Wait! Dad, no!" Asher screamed as Gaimon pulled the trigger, and the bullet flew in the air as it hits Luffy's chest.

Elsewhere, we see Cottontail relaxing on top of a tree, eating mushrooms as he looks down, and spits out his food in shock as he saw Gorrilaphant walking through the forest. Heading straight towards the group as Cottontail quickly took flight and flew towards his owner, hoping that it won't be too late. Nami shrieked in horror as Asher gave his dad an angry look, and was about to yell at him. When suddenly, the bullet that was in Luffy's chest bounced off his skin harmlessly and flew off into the distance.

"...Huh!?" Asher and Gaimon exclaimed as Nami sighs in relief.

"What a shock! That was a bullet, right?" She asked Luffy as he nodded. "So, bullets...can't hurt you?"

"Yeah, but I still don't like being shot at."

"How did you do that?!" Asher asked, coming out of the bushes as the teens turned to him.

"Huh? The Forest Guardian is really just a kid?" Nami says in disbelief as Gaimon popped out of the bushes.

"Asher, wait!"

"Ehhhhh!? A boxman? Hey, box guy! You wouldn't happen to be a boxer, right?" Luffy asked as Gaimon was about to retort when suddenly Cottontail appeared as he landed on the ground.

"What is that thing? This day keeps getting weirder and weirder." Nami says as Luffy looks at Cottontail excitedly.

"Oh, cool! It's a winged-lemur made out of cotton!" Luffy yells as Asher smiled and picked up his pet.

"His name is Cottontail, and he's my pet/best friend," Asher says before looking down at his pet. "Anyway, what are you doing here? I thought you flew off to eat?" He asked Cottontail as Nami stared at him weirdly.

"Is he talking to his pet as if it can understand him?" Nami asked with a sweatdropped.

"I was, but I had to spot eating when I noticed Gorillaphant heading straight towards here," Cottontail says as Asher raised an eyebrow.

"Really? What does that weakling want?" Asher asked, and before anyone can react, Gorillaphant appeared out of the forest as he roared and pounded his fist on his chest.

"Aaah!" Nami screamed in fright as Luffy stared at it with stars in his eyes.

"Whoa! It's a giant elephant!" Luffy says excitedly before his eyes widen as he saw Gorillaphant approaching Nami. "Nami! Look out!" Luffy screamed as he was about to stretch out his arm to grab Nami, but stops as Asher suddenly appears in front of Nami.

"Whoa, he's fast," Luffy says to himself as Asher glares up at giant hybrid.

"Don't you know its rude to gang up against someone like that? I think its time that I teach you some manners." Asher says as he bends down and leaps at the creature as he reared back his leg.

"Bomu Bomu no...Bomb Kick!" Asher throws a mighty kick at Gorillaphant's chest, his leg detonating upon impact as the giant monster was sent flying across the forest.

"Whoa!" Luffy says, amazed by what he saw as Cottontail landed on Asher's shoulder.

"Nice kick." Cottontail complimented as Asher grins.

"Thanks, buddy," Asher says to Cottontail before turning to Nami as he smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, miss. I'm pretty sure he learned his lesson for now. He won't come back for a while." Asher says as Nami stared at him, astounded.

"What are you!?" Nami asked as Asher grins.

"I'm a Bomb Man," Asher says as Nami stared at him, confused

"Bomb Man?" She asked as he nodded.

"Yep. When I was a kid, I ate the Bomu Bomu fruit. I can make any part of my body blow up like a bomb without hurting myself. I can also make anything I touch explosive. For example." Asher says with his hands glowing pink as he pulls out a shuriken, and covered the small weapon with a pink aura as he then throws it, and the shuriken exploded mid-air. "See?" Asher said as Nami stared at him with a blank look.

"Oh, no. Not another monster." Nami thought to herself as Asher turned to Luffy.

"So, anyway, how did you survived the gunshot? The bullet just bounced off of your chest like if you were made of rubber." Asher says as Luffy grins.

"That's because I am. I can stretch any part of my body thanks to my Gomu Gomu fruit and became a Rubber Man." Luffy says as he then stretches his cheek to demonstrate.

"Whoa! That's awesome!" Asher says as Luffy smiled.

"I know, right?" Luffy says as the boys grinned at each other.

"So, straw hat. You ate a devil fruit like my son here?" Gaimon asked as Luffy nodded.

"Yep, ate one when I was 7-years-old," Luffy says before blinking. "Wait, son?" Luffy says as he looks between Asher and Gaimon, and scratched his head confusedly. "I don't see the resemblance."

"HE'S ADOPTED, YOU IDIOT!" Gaimon yells as Luffy nodded.

"Ah, that makes sense," Luffy says as Nami turned to Asher.

"So, if your Gaimon is not your real father, then where are your biological parents?" Nami asked as Asher shrugs, grabbing Cottontail as he pets him.

"Don't know. I was washed up shore here on a small boat when I was only 4-years-old, heavily injured, but luckily old man Gaimon found me a few hours later and treated my wounds." Asher says as the middle-aged man nodded.

"I asked him how he got here and how he got his injuries. But Asher says that he doesn't remember anything from his past. I think he got amnesia or something." Gaimon says, absentmindedly as Luffy tilted his head confusedly.

"What's aneshia?" Luffy asked as Nami shakes her head.

"First of all, it's pronounced amnesia, Luffy. Second, amnesia is when somebody loses either some of their memories or all of it due to a head injury, illness, traumatic events, etc." She says as Luffy nodded understandably, and turned to Asher.

So, you don't remember anything?" Luffy asked as the sixteen-year-old shrugs.

"I can remember somethings like my name, how to walk, talk, and all that stuff. But other than that, nothing. I don't even know how I lost my right eye." Asher says, pointing at his eye as Luffy stares at it.

"Oh, cool! You have an eyepatch like a pirate!"

"Yep. My dad gave it to me when he healed me." Asher says as Luffy reached for his eyepatch.

"Can I see what's inside?" Luffy asked as Nami punches him in the head.

"DON'T TOUCH HIS EYEPATCH WITHOUT ASKING FOR PERMISSION YOU IDIOT!" Nami screamed as Luffy pouted.

"But, I'm curious," Luffy whined as Asher gave Nami a grateful look.

"Thanks for the help, miss."

"You're welcome," Nami says.

"Hey, old man. Why are you in a treasure chest anyway?" Luffy asked Gaimon as the old man turned to him. "Are you a jack in a box?" Luffy asked as Gaimon nodded.

"Yeah, my parents took care of me when I was still small-are you an idiot!?" Gaimon says calmly, before screaming at Luffy as Asher and Cottontail snickered. "I'm a person, not a toy! I've been stranded on this island and got stuck in this damm box for 20 years!" Gaimon screams, surprising everyone except for Asher and Cottontail.

"You have been stuck here for 20 years?!" Nami exclaimed as Asher nodded.

"Yep and Cottontail have been stuck here for 200 years," Asher says as Nami gave him a blank look.

"Why would I care about how long your pet had been stuck here?" Nami asked, before blinking. "Wait, 200 years?! How can he live for that long!?"

"Cottontail told me that his species have extremely long lifespans compared to humans," Asher explained while scratching Cottontails head as Gaimon coughs.

"Can I finish, please?" Gaimon says as they nodded. "Good. Anyway, I've been stuck here for so long that my hair and mustache grew out like a wildman! And in all that time, you're the first people I had a real conversation with, outside of my son, of course. Do you understand the pain that I've have been through?"

"That's ridiculous," Luffy bluntly says as Gaimon glared at him.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY!?" Gaimon screamed as Asher was about to calm him down when suddenly his keen senses detected footprints coming their way.

"Guys, we got incoming," Asher says as everyone tensed, but Nami and Luffy relaxed as they saw that it was only Zoro.

"Oh, there you guys are! I've been looking everywhere for you." Zoro says while yawning as he sat down, and finally noticed Asher, Cottontail, and Gaimon. "Who are you two? And why are you stuck in a box? Are you a jack in a box?" Zoro asked as Gaimon nodded.

"Yes, ironically, I am stuck in a box, and my name is-you idiot! We have already been through all that!" He says calmly, before screaming at Zoro as Luffy grabs him by his afro.

"Zoro, come and give me a hand," Luffy says, pulling Gaimon by his afro as Zoro nodded, and went to help his captain.

"Ow! Ow! Ow! It hurts! What the hell are you two doing!?"

"Stop it, you guys! You're going to kill my dad!" Asher yells, pulling them off of his father as he went to check on him. "Are you alright, old man?" Asher worriedly asked as Gaimon nodded.

"I'm alright, son."

"Why couldn't we pull you out of the chest?" Luffy asked as Gaimon glared at him.

"Next time, think before you act, stupid! I've been stuck in this blasted treasure chest for so long now that it slowly became part of my body! If you tried to take me out of this chest, then I will be done for!" He screamed as Asher nodded.

"Yep, that's what he told me when I tried to pull him out," Asher says as he remembered a 4-year-old version of himself trying to pull his dad out of his chest, and Gaimon yelling at him to let go.

"Anyway, you mentioned earlier that you guys were pirates, right?" Gaimon asked, after calming down a bit as Luffy nodded.

"Yep. I'm the captain of this crew. My name is Monkey D. Luffy." He says before pointing at his crew. "This is Zoro, our first mate/swordsman, and that girl over there is Nami. She's our navigator." Luffy says as Nami waved at them while Zoro looks away.

"Nice to meet you all. My name is Asher D. Willis, and this is my pet, Cottontail." Asher says while pointing at his pet as Gaimon stepped up.

"And, my name is Gaimon, Guardian of the Forest, but before that, I used to be a pirate," Gaimon says, shocking them as they stared at him in disbelief.

"Really?" Luffy asked as Gaimon nodded and looked up to the sky with a nostalgic look.

"It was nice being a pirate, searching for treasure, and risking my life." He says as Asher smiled.

"Old man Gaimon used to tell me stories of his adventures when I was a little kid. I was one of the most favorite times of my childhood." Asher says as Gaimon smiled at him, before turning to Luffy.

"Since your pirates, that must mean you have a map, right?" He asked as Luffy nodded, and pulled out a map from his pocket.

"Yep! We have a navigational map for the Grand Line! I'm going to use it to find the One Piece!" Luffy says excitedly as Gaimon, Asher, and Cottontail stared at him with shocked looks.

"The One Piece!?" They yelled as Luffy grinned.

"And, become King of the Pirates!" He says as Gaimon stared at him with his jaws open.

"So, wait. You guys are sailing to the Grand Line to find the legendary One Piece?" Asher asked as Luffy nodded. "That's so cool!" Asher yelled as he stares at Luffy awestruck. "I can't believe you guys are brave enough to sail the most dangerous sea in the world!" Asher screamed before calming down as he gave Luffy a pleading look. "May I please see the map? I've never seen a real pirate map before." Asher says as Luffy smiled.

"Sure," Luff says with a shrug as he handed him the map, and Asher stared at it in awe.

"Whoa, the map of the Grand Line," Asher says as he opens the map...and blinks as he realized that he didn't know how to read a map. "So, which one is the Grand Line?" Asher asked as Luffy shrugs.

"Don't know. Hey, shrub guy! Do you know which one is the Grand Line?" Luffy asked as Gaimon stared at the map for a few seconds before shrugging.

"Sorry, I never really learned how to read a map."

"That's okay, shrub guy. I never learned either," Luffy admitted.

"Me three," Asher says as three stared at each other before laughing like idiots as Nami sweatdropped at the scene.

"Asher, I understand, but you two are pirates! How do you guys not know how to read a map?" Nami asked as Asher turned to Cottontail, who was on his shoulder staring at the map curiously.

"What do you think, buddy? Think, you can read this map?" Asher asked as Cottontail shakes his head.

"Sorry, I don't understand your human writing."

"It's okay," Luffy assured him as Asher and Cottontail mumbled thanks, before turning to him in shock.

"You can understand him?" Asher asked, surprised as Luffy nodded. "Oh, that's great! Now you have someone else to talk to, buddy!" Asher says as Cottontail sweatdropped.

"But why did it have to be the dumb one?" He asked as Luffy glared at him.

"What did you say, you stupid rat!?" Luffy yelled in outrage as Cottontail cowered behind Asher.

"Enough!" Nami says, stepping in between Luffy and Asher. "Anyway, even if we do make it to the Grand Line, the best course of action is to get as much treasure as we can and escape,"

"Treasure? Are you a treasure hunter like my old man?" Asher asked as Nami looks away with a grin.

"You can say that, but I'm more of a pirate burglar." She says as Asher gave her a confused look.

"Pirate burglar? But aren't you also a pirate?" He asked as Nami shakes her head.

"No. I'm just traveling along with these guys for the time being," Nami says as Asher nodded.

"Good to know." He says before chuckling as he looked out into the ocean. "Man, I'm still freaking out that you guys are going to Grand Line. I always wanted to go there ever since my dad told me about it when I was a little kid."

"And, do what, exactly?" Nami asked as Asher grins.

"I want to go to the Grand Line to fight all the word's strongest people, and become the strongest man in the world!" Asher screamed as Zoro stared at him quizzically.

"The strongest man in the world? So, you're aiming to become the Kind of the Pirates like Luffy?" Zoro asked as Luffy stared at him with an emotionless look, waiting to see what his response is.

"Nah, not really," Asher says, surprising everyone as he turns to them. "I really don't want to be the king of anything. My dream is to explore the world someday and become the world's strongest man. I know that my dream may seem simple to you guys, you can laugh all you want. But I don't care because it's my dream and I'm sticking by it." Asher says with a determined look as everyone stared at him, stunned.

"Well said, Asher," Luffy says as he nodded approvingly, before turning to Nami. "Anyway, you can steal all the treasure you want, but the Once Piece is definitely going to be there, and I'm gonna find it," Luffy says as Gaimon scoffed.

"Good luck with that, kid," Gaimon mumbles as everyone turned to him.

"What do you mean by that, old man?" Asher asked as Gaimon sighed tiredly.

"There's a reason why they call the Grand Line a pirates graveyard, son. Let me explain, a long time ago, before you showed up, a group of pirates returned from the Grand Line. Every one of them had lost their spirit and looked as if they were dead! Their facial expressions were even more painful to look at! It looked like they met something horrid, maybe a pirate or perhaps a monster. Nobody dared to talk about it, but you could see it from their look...the look of the Grand Line!"

"...Whoa." Cottontail said as everybody got invested in the story.

"I have no other proof either than this. The rumors only made it more and more mysterious! It's already been 20 years since the beginning of the 'Pirate Era'...that treasure might be nothing more than a legend." Gaimon says before turning to Luffy as he gave the teen a solemn look. "Can't you see that the One Piece might be nothing more than a dream inside of a dream?" Gaimon asked as Luffy didn't say anything at first, but then he suddenly smiled as he laughed.

"Maybe, but I will never know until I look for it for myself!" Luffy says with a big grin as Gaimon stared at him in shock, before gasping as he realized something.

"You're just like me!" Gaimon yelled as everyone stared at him, confused. "You even look like me! We could be twins!"

"Are you sure about that old man Gaimon?" Asher asked, looking between Luffy and Gaimon as he gave his dad a blank look. "I don't see the resemblance.

"It's supposed to be a metaphor, you dumb brat!" Gaimon screamed before turning to Luffy. "Young man, I understand about the pursuit of your dreams! When I was a younger man, we used to feel the same way! We were willing to put our lives on the line to search for treasure! It was that single-minded seal that changed my life forever!"

"Wait! Slow down! What are you even talking about?" Nami asked, but Gaimon continues talking as if he didn't hear her.

"It was 20 years ago, my crew and I had landed on this island for one single reason...to find the treasure that was rumored to be there! 200 hundred men had searched for an entire month, and nothing has been found, except for this broken treasure chest!" Gaimon says, gesturing the box that he was stuck in as he continued talking.

"The Captain had ordered everyone to go back into the ship, and I was about to follow them. When suddenly I noticed a large cliff that nobody had checked yet, so I climbed it and much to my shock, there was a bunch of treasure chest just sitting there right for the taken! I tried to call out to my crew, but then I accidentally fell off the cliff, and landed in this treasure chest, knocking myself out. By the time I woke up, my crew had already sailed away." Gaimon solemnly says as everyone gave him sympathetic looks. Including Asher and Cottontail, even though they heard the story over and over again.

"I'm so sorry to hear that, Gaimon," Nami says as Gaimon smiled and looked at Asher.

"Thanks, but thankfully life here wasn't so bad, especially with Asher was around. He sure did lighten things around here with his antics all of these years. Treating everything as if it was a fun adventure, but he sure was a handful."

"That's nice and all, but what about the treasure?" Zoro asked as Gaimon rubs his neck sheepishly.

"Ah, yes, well, about that...there wasn't any treasure at all!" Gaimon says as everyone gave him a shocked look.

"EH!?" They exclaimed as Asher nodded.

"It's true. I found that out by myself." Asher says as everyone turned to him. "When I first found my Devil Fruit, and after hearing my dad's life story. I made a promise to myself to I will master my new powers and get strong enough, so I can help my dad recover his treasure! I trained intensively for 10 years straight, and when I finally finished my training, I propelled myself up the cliff and quickly began to open all of the chests. But much to my dismay, they were all empty." Asher says as everybody gasped, and Gaimon nodded sadly.

"At first I was sad that the treasure that I longed for wasn't real, but after having a hard conversation with my son, I come to realize that while the treasure that I have been craving for wasn't real. At least I found out about it when I was relatively young, so I didn't have to waste my entire life guardian for fake treasure."

"After that incident, I made a vow to myself to live the rest of my life to the fullest! I spent more time with my son, made friends with the animals of the Island, and lived my life to the fullest! I was content with my life, and that's when I realized something, I had found treasure! My son and my animal friends, they are my real treasure!"

Asher smiled proudly at his father as all of the harmless animals came out of the forest, and licks him in appreciation. Nami and even Zoro smiled at the scene as Luffy walks up to them with his hat covering his eyes as Asher and Gaimon stared at him confusedly.

"Luffy?"

"Straw hat? What's wrong with you?" Gaimon asked as Luffy slowly looked up to them and grinned.

"I want you two to join my crew!" Luffy yells as Cottontail flew in and landed on his shoulder. "You can come as well, Cottontail, since you're Asher's pet." He says as both Asher and Gaimon stared at him with their jaws open.

"What!?" They exclaimed as Nami smiled.

"Yeah, it will be great to have you both on board!" She says as Zoro nodded.

"Indeed. And the kid's bomb powers will certainly come in handy in future fights."

"Y-You're asking us to join your crew? To become pirates?" Asher asked with a hopeful look on his face as Luffy nodded.

"Yep! So, what do you guys say? Want to become our Nakama?" Luffy asked as Asher grinned widely.

"You bet, I do!" Asher screamed as he leaped in the air and cheered. "This is great! I can finally become a real pirate!" Asher yelled as he landed back on the ground, and everyone stared at him amusedly as Asher turned to Gaimon. "And, you can become a pirate again and finally leave the Island! Isn't that great?" Asher says happily to Gaimon before frowning as he noticed that his father was eerily quiet." Uh, Dad. What's wrong?" Asher asked as Gaimon slowly looks up to him and gave him a big toothy grin.

"Sorry, son, but I'm staying."

"Eh!? But why?" Asher asked as Gaimon turned to the teens.

"You wouldn't mind if an old man talks with his son in private, right?"

"Sure. Come on, guys." Luffy says as the other two nodded, and walked away. Including, Cottontail who was still sitting on Luffy's shoulder.

"Dad-"

"Son, sit down," Gaimon says, sitting down as his son sat next to him. "I want to stay on the Island for a couple of reasons. One, I need to stay here to take care of the animals and protect them from outsiders. Two, I will only slow you guys down."

"Dad, that's not-"

"Son, stop lying. I'm stuck on this chest. I can't run as fast as a normal person or fight at all, so I will be a major burden on all of you. And third, I want you to experience the world by yourself without your dad around, living the life of a pirate! I want you to sail around the world, make new friends, make powerful enemies, and, most importantly, follow your dream! Can you do that for me, son?" Gaimon asked as Asher nodded determinedly.

"I will, father!" Asher says as Gaimon smiled and hugs him.

"I love you, son. Always remember that I have faith in you, and wherever life takes you. Just remember that your old man will be sitting here. Thinking how proud he is of his stupid, stubborn, reckless, child!" Gaimon screams with tears streaming down his face as Asher's one eye teared up as well.

"I love you too, dad. Thank you for taking care of me all these years. I will never forget everything you've done for me, old man." Asher says as Gaimon eyes widen, and his lip trembled.

"Dammit! I'm going to miss you, you brat!" Gaimon sobs as Asher cried as well.

"I'm going to miss you too, you old bastard!" Asher screamed as they shared a hug and cried.

"When you think there going to be finished?" Zoro asked with a bored tone as he laid down on his ship. "It's been 20 minutes already."

"Hey, give them some time, this is probably the last time they will see each other for a very long time," Nami says as Zoro shrugs, and went back to sleep. Luffy says nothing as he waited patiently on the ship, petting Cottontail.

"Hey, guys!" Asher screams as he and his father appeared out of the forest, carrying some supplies as Asher grins. "It's the offer still opened?" Asher asked as Luffy gave him a big smile.

"Of course! Hop on in!" Luffy says as Asher eagerly got aboard the ship, and gave Nami the supplies. "Are you sure you want to stay here on the Island, Gaimon?" Luffy asked as Gaimon nodded.

"Yes. Thank you for inviting me to your crew, but I want to stay. I'm getting too old for the pirate game. Plus, I want my son to experience the world by himself without his old man slowing him down." He says as Asher smiled at him gratefully. "Also, I want to continue being the Guardian of the Island," Gaimon says as all the hybrid animals, including the dangerous animals, showed up to bid their friend/enemy farewell. "I have grown too attached to them, I can't leave them behind," Gaimon says as they smiled.

"Too bad, your a neat guy, for a living jack in a box, at least," Luff says.

"The weird creatures here, are your true friends, huh," Zoro says as Luffy nodded.

"Yep, and he's the weirdest of them all," Luffy says as Asher nodded in agreement.

"I can vouch for that since I lived with him for 12 years."

"WHAT DID YOU SAY YOU BRATS!?" Gaimon screamed as everyone started laughing, including him. All of the animals in the forest roared, squeaked, howled, hissed, and meowed their goodbyes to the young teen as Asher smiled. Before noticing Gorillaphant standing by the side as he smirked.

"Guys, hold up a sec. There's something I have to do first." Asher says as they nodded, and he leaped out of the boat as he ran after the big creature. "Hey, big guy!" Asher screams as Gorillaphant looks down at him, and the young teen grins as he made small explosions with his hands. "How about one more fight before I go?" The giant hybrid stared at him in shock, before grinning as it nodded. "Alright! Let's do this!" Asher screams as Gorillaphant charges at him, and he smirked.

"Bomu Bomu no...Bomb Strike!"

Asher's feet generated an explosion that propelled himself into the air as he flew up like a missile, and throws a punch at the giant monster's face, sending him flying halfway across the island. Tears streamed down the hybrid's face as he silently bid farewell to the only person that could best him in a fight, before landing on the forest.

"Whoa! He sent that guy flying!" Luffy exclaimed as Nami, and even Zoro looked amazed.

"What destructive power!" Nami says as Zoro nodded.

"Goodbye, everyone! I will miss you!" Asher screamed while jumping back on the ship as it sailed off.

"Farewell, my son!" Gaimon screamed as he and the rest island inhabitants waved at him goodbye. A few hours later, we see Asher staring out into the sea with Cottontail resting on his shoulder as the lemur gave him a concerned look.

"Homesick already?" Cottontail asked as Asher nodded. "Regret your decision?" Cottontail asked as Asher shakes his head.

"Nah. I may miss home, but I want to follow my dreams and become the world's strongest man. Besides, it's not like I'm going away forever. Once I accomplished my goals, we will return back home, and I will tell my dad all the grand adventures we had." Asher says, surprising his pet as he grinned. "So, how about it, little buddy? Ready for our next adventure?"

"Definitely."

"Hey, Asher! Cottontail! Come over here, so we can start your initiation!" Luffy says as Asher and Cottontail grinned at each other.

"Coming Captain," Asher says as he walked over to where his crew was sitting, and sat down, while Cottontail landed on his lap.

"Now, that everyone's here, let's celebrate for our new bodyguard and pet, Asher D. Willis and Cottontail!" Luffy yelled as everyone cheered, except for Asher, and Cottontail as they tilted their heads confusedly.

"Bodyguard?"

"Pet?"

"Yeah, I mean, you protected Nami from the giant monster thing, and you're pretty strong. So it makes sense that you will be the perfect bodyguard," Luffy says to Asher, before turning to Cottontail. "And since you are Asher's pet, I figured you can be our pet too, so what do you two say?" Luffy says as Asher and Cottontail stared at each other, before grinning as they turned to their captain.

"Aye, aye, captain."

"I can deal with that."

"Okay, okay, enough, let's drink!" Zoro says as everybody cheered. Asher laughs as he stared out into the ocean and grins as he can't wait for the future adventures he will have, and all the enemies he will fight as well. I hope they will give me a challenge. Asher thought to himself as they continued sailing on the open sea.

Man, that was a fun chapter to write! Anyway, yes, Asher does have the exact same fruit as Mr. 5. Why? Well, I always felt like the potential of that fruit was wasted by him, so I decided that Asher should have his fruit instead. Also, I decided to change his devil fruit powers a bit because using boogers as projectiles is gross. Asher will have the ability to make anything explosive just by touching them, but only to small objects like shurikens. Mr. 5 will have a different devil fruit, and you guys will find out what it is when we reached the Whiskey Peak arc.

And, before I go, I should tell you guys that Asher cannot talk with animals. Asher can understand Cottontail quite well because he grew up with him and can basically know what he's thinking by looking at his facial expressions alone. Luffy can understand Cottontail because...well, he's Luffy.

Anyway, as always, I will catch you all later.