The Miss Love Duck dropped anchor in a hidden, emerald-green cove. The island was a paradise of dense jungles and towering palm trees. It had vibrant tropical flowers. High above the jungle canopy was a large town where the Royal Palace was.
Ben stood on the deck. He looked to see all the girls had gathered. "This is a good location," Ben said.
"Master Nojiko had found this cave and said the water shall be deep enough," HQ responded.
Nojiko smiled. "It was nothing," Nojiko said. She looked in the sky. "There is a storm coming soon and it was not wise to put the Miss Love Duck here," she said.
"It looks sunny right now," Saphir remarked.
"The weather changes dramatically here," Maya responded as she held her sword.
"Are we going to be using these things?" Carina asked as she held a Walkie Talkie.
"Yes, it will help us to communicate between us," Ben responded. He thought they don't use them as much as they should.
"The Den Den Mushi also works," Zala remarked.
"We can change it from time to time," Mikita said.
"How do we decide which one to use?" Conis questioned.
"I don't know," Ben responded.
"We can figure it out later, my love," Alvida replied.
He looked at Perona who sat in the shade. Her eyes closed as she linked with her ghostly scout. "I wonder how Perona is doing?" Ben questioned.
Meanwhile, high above the palace battlements, a translucent hollow drifted through the warm humid air. There was a small eye attached to the ghost as they moved forward. The ghost saw a number of pirates drinking and laughing. There was a group of Marines tied up. The ghost floated into the palace and saw it was swarming with pirates. It drifted between rooms. Then the ghost saw the King tied up in the throne room.
Robin smiled. She reported what she saw. "There are lots there," she remarked. "But the palace is located in an isolated spot, a bit far from the main town," she added.
"There would be less collateral damage," Ben said. He thought it still was not going to be easy. "Okay, let's get into position once Perona is back," Ben said.
They all nodded.
After a few groups, the Love Pirates had gotten into their positions. In the North Ben, Vivi and Honey inside Lexie were in position. They saw the steep cliffs covered in thick vines and mossy overhangs. "We are here," Ben said as he looked at Vivi, who had her blue hair tied back. She looked gorgeous.
Honey had her hands on the steering wheel of Lexie.
"That was good driving," Vivi remarked.
"Thank you," Honey responded. "But you might have done better," she added.
"No you were perfect," Vivi replied. "You made it look very easy," she added.
"I agree with Vivi, you were good," Ben said. "I will tell everyone we are ready," Ben added.
Be spoke into Walkie Talkie. "The North team is in position," Ben whispered. "It's quiet up here, just the birds," he added.
"It works in our favour, Captain," Honey responded.
At the Southern side, Alvida, Mikita, Zala and Marianne with Pau Ra Pa stood together. They could see massive gates in front of them.
Alvida adjusted her hat and rested her mace on her shoulder. Behind her, Pau Ra Pa stood in silence. Marianne was touching her knees and smiled.
"Did we get too close?" Mikita asked as she looked around.
"It is fine," Zala responded as she looked in front. She could see pirates walking up and down. "This way, we won't let them escape," she added.
"Yes, we can jump into the palace at the same time with everyone else," Alvida said.
"We can take them all," Marianne said with a smile on her face.
Alvida picked up the Walkie Talkie. "South team ready," Alvida announced confidently. "There are pirates nearby but have not spotted us," she added.
To the East, Robin, Saphir, Ashivra, Perona and Rose General were in position. They saw a sprawling botanical garden. It was filled with exotic blooms and narrow stone bridges.
Robin looked around. "There are beautiful flowers there," Robin remarked.
"They are not cute," Perona responded.
Ashivra's large black wings flapped. "There are lots of pirates as well," Ashivra said as held the Dark Embrace in her hand. She could feel it was heavy.
"I wonder how many more pirates are inside it," Saphir muttered to herself.
"I saw hundreds," Robin replied.
"How did he get so many people under him?" Saphir questioned.
"Money is the root of all evil," Robin said as she smiled. She then picked up the Walkie Talkie. "East team set," Robin reported. "We are the shadows in the leaves," she added.
In the West, Conis, Raki, Maya and Howitzer stood on a ridge overlooking the western barracks and the training fields, Raki knelt behind a massive Howitzer cannon. "It is a good thing she has her own power," Raki said.
Conis nodded. Her white wings were bright against the tropical sky. "Yes, otherwise it would have been difficult to pull her," she said.
"But we did it," Maya said as she looked at the field artillery with a gun which was reinforced with a riveted steel carriage and twin-layer recoil absorbers. The barrel was nearly 7 meters long. There was the Miss Love Duck symbol in it. Beneath the barrel was a mechanized recoil system. A hydraulic beast reinforced with layered armor plating and dampened shock anchors. Its rear chamber was built like a bunker wall, housing a multi-stage breech loader. It was using a powered winch arm and auto-loader belt system connected to a device. The artillery piece was mounted on a heavy-duty tracked base with four folding spade legs.
"Ben said it will do all the work," Raki responded.
"Did you have time to practise with it?" Conis questioned.
"No but HQ said, we will know," Raki responded. "It was not the most reassuring answer," she admitted. She had a smile on her face.
"It is exciting," Conis said as she looked at the Miss Love Duck symbol. She touched it gently.
Raki chuckled. "I never thought you would say something like that," Raki said as his wings moved.
"We both have come a long way," Conis said. She thought back home in Skypiea they were indirectly fighting. She did not like bloodshed however she knew if she did anything then people would hurt them. She will not allow that.
"We have and I am glad you are my sister," Raki responded.
"I am here as well," Maya said with a smile. They all laughed.
Raki then picked up the Walkie Talkie. "The West team is locked and loaded," Raki's voice crackled.
On the East-West Ridge, Kalifa, Kaya, Nojiko and Ballista were in position. They were on a high limestone ridge between the East and West location.
Nojiko looked around. "We have a clear view from here," Nojko said.
"I can see pirates down there," Kaya said as she looked at two pirates arm wrestling.
"You have some good eye sight," Nojiko remarked as she squinted her eyes.
Kalifa looked as well. She could only see vague outlines. "She has indeed," Kalifa remarked.
"Do you know how to use Ballista?" Nojiko asked Kalifa.
"Not this particular one as this is rather unique but I have been trained in all weaponry," Kalifa responded.
Nojiko and Kaya nodded.
Kalifa picked up the Walkie Talkie. "Tactical team in position," Kalifa said crisply. "Just give the word, Captain," she added.
Ben heard all the responses. He thought they were all ready to. He smiled.
"I love you all," Ben said. "Now give them hell," Ben said.
"Roger," they shouted back in unison.
At that moment, Vivi turned the turret. She aimed the gun and fired the laser cannon. The beam travelled through the air. It went fast and then hit the ground in front of the pirates. It exploded and the pirates got impacted. They went flying in the air and landed on the ground with a big thud. Some men groaned in pain, while others were knocked out.
"What was that?" a pirate shouted as he looked to see a large explosion.
From the South, Alvida smiled and looked at Marianne.
Marinne nodded. "Fire," Marianne commanded.
Pau Ra Pa lifted her left hand. She powered her large cannon. It glowed bright and fired a beam. The beam went flying through the air and a group of pirates were standing near the wall. There was a loud explosion and the men went flying into the air and hit the ground. The wall was destroyed and a large smoke cloud was formed.
"Perfect," Zala said with a smile.
From the East, Robin looked at Rose General. "Do it," she said.
"Burn Bazooka," Rose General said as she spawned a Burn Bazooka and shot it. A shell was launched and went through the air. The shell hit a group of pirates who were walking in the garden. There was a big explosion which sent the men flying into the air.
"We are under attack," a pirate shouted as he scrambled forward.
To the West, Raki, Conis and Maya looked at Howitzer.
The Howitzer sat atop a heavy-duty tracked base, its four massive spade legs unfolding and biting deep into the tropical earth to anchor the beast. The barrel, nearly 7 meters of cold, reinforced steel, gleamed in the sunlight, the Miss Love Duck symbol etched proudly into the metal.
"Is it on target? "Maya questioned as she looked at the Howitzer.
"I am not sure," Conis responded as she crossed her arms.
"It should be okay," Raki replied as she pushed the lever. "Fire," she added as the large shell fired.
The roar was so loud it shook the fruit from the nearby trees. The 7-meter barrel slammed backward into the hydraulic recoil system. The shock absorbers glowed with heat as they ate the massive kinetic energy. A shell the size of a man's torso streaked across the sky.
Down in the palace courtyard, a group of pirates looked up just in time to see the sun being covered.
The shell slammed directly through the roof of the western storage warehouse. For a split second, there was a muffled thud and created a loud explosion. A massive fireball erupted upward and shattered the stone walls. Pirates were sent flying backwards. Black smoke began to billow into the clear blue sky.
"Direct hit," Raki said calmly
"That was amazing," Maya said in shock. "The Goddess has blessed us," she said.
Inside the throne room, Lytton stood by the ornate royal chair. His hands rested on his Nailpaddle, while Scratchmen Apoo leaned against a marble pillar, picking at his teeth with a long fingernail.
"Alright, enough with the tours, Lytton," Apoo said. "Where is the treasure? My men didn't break their backs taking this rock just for the scenery," he added.
Lytton didn't turn around. "Patience, Apoo. The King's secret vault requires a specific sequence. If we force it, the mechanism destroys the contents. We have the island and soon the wealth will follow," he responded.
Apoo scoffed and stepped forward. "Patience isn't my style. I've got other things to do, other seas to…" Apoo said however he was interrupted by a loud explosion.
The entire palace shuddered. A massive shockwave rattled the heavy chandeliers and sent crystal shards raining onto the floor. Both men lunged toward the tall balcony windows. In the distance, they saw a pillar of thick, black smoke billowing from the western storage wing.
"What was that?" Lytton questioned.
The doors burst open and Cal rushed in. His face was pale and sweating. "We're under attack. The western depot just went up in flames," he added.
Lytton's eyes flared with rage. "By whom? The Marines shouldn't have been able to regroup this fast," he said.
Apoo let out a jagged laugh. His long arms swayed. "Marines? No way, man. That's a heavy-duty blast. There's only one crew around here with that kind of firepower and the guts to use it," he responded. "It's the Love Pirates," he said in a serious tone.
Lytton's face twisted into a snarl. "Those fools. Do they think a few cannons can take my palace?" he said. He turned to Cal. "Order the 'inside men' to the ramparts! Mobilise every one. I want their heads on the palace spikes by sunset," he said.
He looked back at Apoo. "Apoo, get your men to the front lines. They have the other three Life Gems on that ship. If we crush them here, we take everything. We need all the gems to unlock the true power of this island," he siad.
Apoo flashed a wide, toothy grin. "Check it out! The Life Gems, huh? Sure, Lytton. I'll 'help' you out," he responded.
But as Lytton turned to bark orders at Cal, he didn't notice Apoo glancing towards the back corridor. Through the reflection in a polished shield on the wall, Apoo watched as several of his own pirates slipped out of the royal vault. They were carrying heavy chests of gold, tucked inside a silk bag.
Apoo's smile turned predatory. He had no intention of fighting a war for Lytton. He was a pirate, after all, and he had already found what he came for. "I'll head down now," Apoo said,
Meanwhile to the East West, the grass swayed in the breeze. Kaya, Nojiko, and Kalifa stood around Ballista.
Nojiko adjusted the sights. "I think it is ready," she said.
Kalifa pressed the button. The loading mechanism hissed as it snapped a specialised pink round into place. Ballista fired with a high-pitched thrum. A pink-streaked shell whistled through the air. It traveled at a velocity that made it look like a needle of light.
It ground in front of the arm wrestling pirates and exploded. The ground shattered and sent derby flying. There was a large black mushroom cloud. The pirates went flying back and crashed into the ground. They were motionless.
"They are down," Kaya said.
"Excellent," Kalifa murmured