As the dust settled, King Cello`s men had overpowered the pirates and traitors. Once news had broken that Lytton had been defeated all morale had vanished and the pirates ran.
The Love Pirates had gathered around the Throne Room.
Ben stepped into the center of the circle. "Is everyone holding up okay?" Ben asked. "That was an intense fight," he added. He thought like always things did go crazy. However he thought it was normal for them. "Does anyone need Kaya to take a look at them before we move out?" he questioned.
"We are all fine my love," Alvida responded as she rested Serphina, her mace on her shoulder. "This was a walk in the park for us," she added.
"We have logia and mythical zoans," Nojiko said as she stretched her arms.
"It does give us an edge," Maya remarked as she held her sword.
"Kalifa also has been teaching us," Conis added as she held the lance and shook it for a second.
"And you all still have not learnt it all," Kalifa said as she touched her glasses. "Belo Betty will not be pleased," she added.
Ben felt a shiver on his back. He thought he was the worst offender as he had not really learnt any of them either. He thought Captain Duties kept him too occupied.
Robin giggled. She tucked her hands neatly into her sleeves. "There were just a lot of very depressed pirates thanks to Perona," Robin said.
"I heard a lot of laughing from where Marianne was," Mikita said.
"Dying of laughter," Robin said as she giggled. Ben thought that was an evil giggle.
Saphir stepped forward then. She held her blue spear firmly at her side. "Ben," she said. "There was someone called CaI," Saphir said.
"The traitor?" Ben questioned.
"He said something about that," Saphir said. "But I have dealt with him," Saphir proudly said.
"She did have her back to him at one point," Robin rattled her out.
"I," Saphir said. "Robin," she remarked.
Ben let out a satisfied breath, a small smile forming on his face. "Good job, Saphir. I knew I could count on you," he said as he reached out and gave her a firm, affectionate pat on the head. "You did well," he added.
Saphir leaned into the touch as she smiled. "It was nothing," she muttered, though her grip on her spear loosened as she relaxed.
"I want one," Marianne said. The other girls nodded.
"Don't forget the rest of us, we also did some heavy lifting too," Zala teased.
Ben laughed. "I know, I know. Every one of you was incredible today," he said. He thought they had grown together but they needed to get stronger, a lot more stronger.
While they were chatting, Vivi had hurried over to the corner where King Ciello had been bound. With a quick flick of her sword, she severed the ropes.
The King stumbled to his feet and rubbed his wrists. The girls all turned their attention to the Cello.
"Are you alright?" Vivi asked as she looked at him.
"This is the King?" Raki asked as she crossed her arms. "He looks small," she added.
Ashivra leaned her massive twin-headed axe against her shoulder. "Ben?" Ashivra questioned as she moved, her twin-headed axe.
"He's the one," Ben replied as he looked at Cello. "King Cello," Ben added.
Nojiko stepped forward. "Glad that's settled," she said. She walked towards the King who was badly beaten. "Where is our reward?" she asked. "My clouds don't run on charity," she added.
Kaya stood beside her. "Nojiko, give him a moment to breathe," Kaya whispered. "He's clearly in shock. But," she added. "I suppose a little 'hazard pay' for the stress wouldn't hurt," she said in the most non-threatening voice.
Ben smirked. He thought the two sisters were so similar. "Always on the money, aren't you?" he remarked.
King Ciello cleared his throat as he got up. "I... I cannot thank you enough. You've saved my kingdom from a tyrant who would have bled us dry for his own ambition," he said.
"Well we were only doing it for the treasure," Nojiko said.
"I was following orders," Kalifa said as she touched her glasses.
Robin smiled. "On most pirate ships, they wouldn't just take the gems. They'd have tied you to a weighted chair and tossed you into a shark-filled pool just for the entertainment of watching the feeding frenzy," he remarked.
Marianne shivered. "That's... actually really scary, Robin," she said.
"There is none of that," Ben remarked as he cleared his throat. He shot Robin a "not now" look. "She's joking, Cello," he said. Robin giggled.
"Yes, we don't have a shark-filled pool," Mikita said.
"Yet," Alvida said as she smirked.
"We are not getting one," Ben said. "For that purpose," he added. He thought for food purposes, it was not a bad idea.
"Though she's right, most crews would've flattened this place and kept the change," Zala remarked as she leaned her back onto a pillar.
Cello face went pale. He thought they were monsters.
Vivi walked forward. "Your Majesty, I know what you were trying to do," Vivi said. "I was once the Princess of Alabasta. I had to go undercover, working beneath a Warlord, a monster," she said and paused. "Just to find a way to save my people from a drought," she said. She looked at Cello. "I understand the desperation of a ruler who sees their kingdom dying," she added.
The Love Pirates all smiled.
"I did not expect for a Princess of Alabasta to join a pirate group," Cello responded.
"Former Princess," Vivi corrected.
"She is now Ben`s Princess," Nojiko muttered quietly that only the girls heard. There were a few giggles.
Saphir looked at Ben as she was holding the pouch. "Are we giving them back?" she questioned.
Ben nodded firmly. "We're giving them back. The island needs them to recover. It's the right thing to do," Ben said as he looked at Vivi and smiled.
Vivi smiled.
"But we're pirates," Perona huffed as she floated upside down with her pigtails dangling. "Pirates take things. That's the whole job description," she added.
"We are different," Alvida remarked. "Besides, my love has made this decision," she added.
"Ben does not go against the princess," Mikita said as she looked at her Gauntlets which had blood stains.
Conis smiled gently at the ghost princess. "We're a different kind of crew, Perona, who helps others, like Ben did by beating Enel who tried to take over," she remarked.
Perona drifted upright, looking a bit confused but oddly comforted. "Hmph. Strange," she remarked. She looked at Ben and her heart beat skipped.
Saphir smiled and handed the Life Gems back to the King.
Cello looked at the Four Life Gems and smiled. He had a tear coming down his eye. "Thank you," Cello responded. "You have no idea what it means for his Kingdom," he said. "These will help bring back the taste and help lift people out of poverty," he said.
Vivi smiled. "Thank you Captain," Vivi responded.
"Ben can never go against his princess," Mikita remarked as she smirked. The girls smiled.
Robin stepped forward. "We had encountered, being protecting the Gems, they were Guardians and Generals," she said. "They looked like robots," she added. "Then we saw drawings as well and they all pointed to one thing, they were not from this era," she said.
Cello looked at her with newfound respect. "You have keen eyes," he said. "Do you happen to be an archaeologist?" he questioned.
"The best one," Marianne replied.
"She is amazing," Honey added.
"I am from Ohara," Robin said. "An island filled with archaeologists which was destroyed by Marines," she said.
The room was silent for a few moments.
Cello looked at them. "The legends say this archipelago wasn't always a chain of islands. Long ago, it was a 'Mega-Island," he replied. "It was one massive landmass occupied by an advanced civilization," he added.
"What happened to it?" Zala asked as she leaned against a pillar.
"The stories don't say for sure," Cello sighed. "Only that a great event happened which shattered the island to the one we see today," he said.
"Interesting," Ben mused. He thought maybe there are parts of the Mega Island at the bottom of this ocean. He turned back to the King. "We'll take the gold you offered as a reward, Cello," he said.
Cello bowed low. "You are all different," Cello said. "I would like to give you something," Cello said as he worked towards a wall and touched a panel. The wall opened and there was a small box. Cello took the box. "Here take this," Cello said.
"What is this?" Maya questioned.
"It is a humble reward for such a feat," Cello said.
Ben nodded. "Thank you," Ben responded. He looked at his crew. "We need to move. Smoker is probably coming here and he might bring reinforcements," Ben said.
The crew nodded in unison and turned towards the exit. Nojiko held the box in her hand. As they walked out, they approached Lexie, Howitzer, Rose General and Ballista. Lexie's door opened and he saw several large bags.
"We got them from the pirates," Marianne said.
Ben smiled. "Okay, let's head back to the Miss Love Duck," Ben said.