Chapter 167: Leaving the Cavern
Vivi held the red orb in her hand. "We got the treasure," Vivi said.
"We did our task set by our Captain," Nojiko said.
"I wonder how Ben will reward us," Honey said. Vivi and Nojiko smiled. They had their own thoughts on how Ben would reward them. Honey got wet thinking about it.
"Let's head back," Honey added. Nojiko and Vivi nodded.
As they walked away from the battle scene, they heard footsteps.
"There could be more of them," Nojiko said.
"Get ready," Honey said.
The footsteps got closer and louder. Nojiko and Honey were ready. Then they saw three girls approaching them. "Hey," Alvida shouted.
"Hi Alvida," Nojiko waved back. Alvida, Robin and Marianne ran towards them.
The girls meet up. "What are you three doing here?" Vivi asked, carrying the red orb in her hand.
"We came to help you out," Marianne said.
"It does not look like you needed it," Robin said. She looked at red orb.
"We handled it," Vivi said proudly.
"It was a bit tricky," Nojiko said.
Alvida looked and saw a burning pile of machinery,
"You fought a robot as well?" Robin asked.
"Yes, it was strong," Nojiko replied.
"We had to take out his arms first then its main body," Honey said.
"That is interesting," Marianne said.
"Whose robot was it?" Alvida asked.
"I saw some drawings back then, it looked like those smaller monsters," Vivi said.
Robin thought. "We need to find more information," Robin said.
"That orb and those robotic monsters and the pirates we fought," Alvida said. She paused. "They are linked," she added.
Marianne nodded. "We should tell Ben," Marianne said.
They all nodded. "Also did anyone get hurt?" Alvida asked.
Vivi shaked her head. "Hey, you got punched by it," Nojiko said.
"Nojiko," Vivi said.
Alvida gave a stern look.
"She did get hurt however she was fine. I gave her my gold liquid. However, we should let Kaya check her out," Honey said.
"It is bad to lie," Marianne said.
"Sorry," Vivi said.
"Even minor injuries can lead to bigger problems. We need to take them seriously," Alvida said.
"Also Ben will be sad for his princess to get hurt," Robin teased.
"I," Vivi muttered. The girls laughed.
"What about you two?" Robin asked.
"We have logia devil fruits so they can not hit us," Nojiko said.
"That is good to hear," Alvida said.
"Vivi has a mythical zoan right?" Marianne asked.
"Yes but I can't use it well right now," Vivi said sadly.
"It will come with time," Nojiko said.
"Let's go and see Ben," Alvida said. They all nodded.
"We can follow the purple water out," Nojiko said,
"That was very smart," Robin said.
"Thank you," Honey replied.
They followed the purple water marks back. They walked past the drawings which had the large and smaller monster. Robin took a second look. She raised her eyebrow. She thought there was something wrong with the picture.
Alvida noticed this. She thought about speaking with Robin and her love later.
They walked back to the original open cave area. They looked down and saw a dozen pirates lying on the ground. They were moaning in pain.
"They are still here," Nojiko said.
"Their boss left them to rot here and get eaten by the rats," Robin said.
"Rats," Marianne said.
"Eaten," Honey added.
"She is kidding," Alvida said.
"We should at least help them back to the surface," Vivi said.
"You have a good heart," Robin said.
"She is Ben`s princess," Nojiko teased. The girls laughed.
"How are we getting back up?" Nojiko asked.
"How did you get down?" Vivi asked.
"Like this," Robin said. She crossed her hands out. "Cien Fleu," Robin said as she sprouted 100 hands on the wall of the cave. "Delphinium," Robin added.
"Well this was not the technique we came down with but this will do the job," Alvida said.
They started ferrying the men up the cavern. They left them near a tree. It took several journeys back and forth for Alvida, Honey, Vivi and Nojiko dragging them up but they had it done.
Once they all made it up, Robin was still down there. "How is Robin going to get up?" Nojiko asked.
"Wings," Robin said. Robin sprouted arms on her back, by the shoulder blades, and had them hold each other tightly in a certain way. Each wing had fifty arms creating two giant makeshift wings. Robin was able to fly with them.
"Wow," Marianne said.
She moved fast upwards. She knew she would only be able to do it for a couple of seconds. She moved fast up. She saw she was about to reach however she got tired, Her wings gave up. Robin started to fall. She got scared. Robin thought she could do it but she was wrong.
Alvida reached out and grabbed her hand. "I got you," Alvida said. Alvida smiled.
Robin smiled back. Alvida pulled her up. "Thank you," Robin said.
"I will protect the harem," Alvida said. Robin giggled.
"That was scary," Marianne said.
"It almost gave me a heart attack," Nojiko said.
They looked at the men. One of the was conscious. "Thank you," he said weakly.
Vivi smiled.
"For the record, I would have left them there," Alvida said.
"Showing mercy can be your downfall,"Robin said.
"Yeah Crocodile never showed mercy," Marianne said.
"But we took him down," Nojiko said.
"I think Ben would like her kind heart," Honey said.
Vivi smiled. "He would," Vivi said.
"It makes you, you," Nojiko said.
They heard the sounds of a vehicle approaching them. They turned around. "Lexie," Marianne said. They saw their tank approach them.
Lexie, stopped in front of the girls. The door opened. BM stepped up.
"I have come to escort you back to the Miss Love Duck," BM said.
"That will be great. Thank you BM," Nojiko said.
The other girls nodded. "I will sit on top," Alvida said.
"Are you sure?" Honey asked.
"Yes, I like it on top," Alvida replied.
Vivi, Robin, and Nojiko sat on a seat. Marianne sat on Honey`s lap. Alvida jumped on top. BM got in the driver's seat and closed the door. BM turned the engine on and ahead to the ocean. They drove through the forest until they reached the shoreline.
BM then drove into the ocean and headed to the Miss Love Duck. She opened the ramp of the Miss Love Duck and went in. It was an uneventful journey. They all disembarked from Lexie. Vivi carried the red orb with her.