Ben, in his hybrid form, looked at Mad Treasure. His red eyes glowed. Ben thought he was a New World pirate. He wondered why he was here. He thought he was a mercenary for Gild Tesoro. His tail lashed behind him. Ben thought he was going to be tough. His chain ability was strong and although it had not been shown he could use haki, he was still very strong. He looked at Uta and Carna, who were still shivering in the snow. He also thought why are they here. It looked like they were running away. He clenched his fist. "I am not letting you get away with this," Ben said. He thought Mad Treasure had hurt Tashigi and was after Uta and Carna. He wanted them both to join me. "You hurt Uta and Carna, I will make you pay for it," he added.
Uta and Carna looked at him and blushed. "He is handsome," Carna said with a flirty smile.
Uta nodded. "He is," Uta responded with a smile. She thought of her dreams and saw him. She could feel her heart beat ponding.
"We will make him pay my love," Alvida said as she stepped beside him. "He has hurt us," she added. "He will pay with his life," she remarked as she swung her mace.
Ben thought he was a dangerous pirate. "He captures people and make them their slaves," Ben said.
Nojiko looked at him and thought for a second. She thought of the name Mad Treasure. She had heard of it somewhere before.
Across the clearing, Mad Treasure's crew moved into position. "It looked like we have company," Psycho P said as he unsheathed his blade with a sinister grin.
"Who are they?" Naomi asked as she burped. She looked at Ben.
"They are the Love Pirates," Psycho P responded. "Those two have a bounty of over 600,000 Beli," he added as he pointed to Ben and Alvida.
"So he is the Captain?" Naomi asked as she put an arrow with a purple tip in her bow.
"Hand them all over, the girls, the Marine and all your treasure," Mad Treasure ordered as his chains rattled. "I don't like to repeat myself," he added as he looked at Ben and Alvida.
Psycho P shook his head. "No, she is the Captain," Psycho P said. "Captain, these are the Love Pirates. Their bounties have been skyrocketing lately," he shouted as he had his sword in his hand.
"Is that so?" Mad Treasure's grin widened. His eyes glinted with avarice. "That just means more money for the Treasure Pirates, Jararara," he added as he clenched his fist. "So are you going to hand it over or do I have to kill you," he threatened.
Without warning, Naomi released a shot. "She is not the Captain," Naomi said as she looked at Ben. She could tell from Alvida`s eyes that he was the Captain. The arrow flew through the air. The purple tip gleamed and then struck the center of the clearing. The arrow exploded and created a massive explosion. The snow was thrown into the air. There was a large black smoke cloud. A shockwave could be felt as the wind blew Ben, Alvida and Mad Teasure`s hair.
Ben looked at the explosion. "Is everyone okay?" he asked.
"We are," Nojiko said as she and Raki sprinted forward.
"Leave them to us," Raki said as she kicked at high speed and strength which launched a sharp compressed blade of wind. It travelled through the air towards Naomi.
Naomi saw this coming and jumped back and dodged the attack narrowly. She felt the wind pass her as the blade of wind struck a tree and destroyed it. She looked at it in shock.
"What are you?" Naomi asked.
Raki and Nojiko stood in front of her. "Your defeat," Nojiko responded as she stood and looked at her.
Psycho P leaped forward. He raised his sword and swung it down. At that moment, Ashivra roared and swung her massive black axe in a wide arc. The sound of her blade hitting his sword was like a thunderclap.
"You'll have to get through me first," Ashivra hissed as the flames on her back flared. Her black wings were spread out.
"What are you?" Psycho P questioned as he looked at the dark skinned women.
Mad Treasure caught a glimpse of Ashivra. "A Lunarian?" he muttered.
Kaya transformed into her Beast Form. Her body elongated. Her skin turned a pale alabaster colour. Her arms rippled with lean muscle as sharp claws sprouted from her fingertips. Behind her, a pair of massive, feathered wings unfurled. A single, elegant horn protruded from her forehead. A slender tail lashed behind her. She flew towards Tashigi.
She saw Tashigi was bleeding and panting. She was not in bad condition, however it could get worse in this weather. "Divine Blessing," Kaya said she created a white orb in her hand. The white orb changed into a white light going all over Tashigi`s body. Her body glowed white for a few seconds. Her injuries healed.
"You're okay now," Kaya whispered as she saw Tashigi stabilise. Her bleeding stopped.
Tashigi looked up. "Thank you," Tashigi responded as she felt her pain all gone.
Kaya helped Tashigi up. "We are sisters," Kaya responded as she smiled at her. She looked at Ashivra who was fighting Psycho P. "Tashigi stay with them," Kaya said.
Tashigi nodded. She felt her injuries heal however she still felt tired. Kaya then handed her Stamina Can. "Here take this," Kaya said as she flew over. "I'm coming, Ashivra," she said as she flew towards them.
Tashigi looked at the Stamina Can and smiled. She thought back when she was with them. She had missed them all.
On the other side of the battlefield, Vivi, Maya, Kalifa, Conis, Honey, Zala, Marianne, Robin, Saphir, Mikita, and Perona had gathered together.
"Is everyone okay?" Vivi asked as she looked around the group.
"We are," Marianne responded as she accepted a hand from Honey to pull her up.
"That arrow caused quite the explosion," Zala remarked as she glanced back at the charred snow.
Kalifa adjusted her glasses. "It was the weapon she was using," she noted.
"The weapon?" Saphir asked. She tilted her head.
She thought back to when she was part of Ciphor Pol. "Yes, I believe those were Dyna Stones," Kalifa replied.
"Dyna Stones?" Conis questioned. The name was completely foreign to her.
"It is part of a top-secret Marine project," Kalifa explained. "Highly volatile and incredibly powerful," she added. "There were talks they could rival the ancient weapons," she said.
A shiver was felt in their spines.
"We can ask her about them later," Mikita said as she dusted the snow off her clothes.
"Nojiko and Raki will take her alive," Zala added with a confident smile.
Then they heard a low rumble that shook the earth. From the mountain paths above, hundreds of Pirates began to swarm down like a dark tide.
"There are hundreds of them," Perona said. "Why are they all here?" she asked.
Robin spawned an ear on one of the pirate. She could hear what they were shouting. "They're saying the Gem is up there, near the peak," Robin said as she pointed to the air.
"They're going for the Life Gem," Saphir added as she held her spear.
"If they get that Gem, the whole mission is a failure," Marianne muttered. She got out of her paint palette.
"We are not letting them get it," Zala responded.
"But what about Ben and the others?" Conis asked.
Vivi smiled. She looked at the massive army approaching. "Ben and the others have the strength to handle them," Vivi said firmly. "They have the numbers, but together we can do it," Vivi said.
"Yes, we will reach the peak before they do," Honey said.
"Agreed," Kalifa said as she adjusted her glasses.
Robin smiled. "Captain may give us a special reward for it," Robin teased.
All the girls smiled and nodded. Their cheeks were flushed.
"Let's go there," Vivi commanded in an authoritative tone.
"Spoken like a true princess," Zala responded as she looked at Vivi.
"She is Ben`s favourite princess," Robin remarked.
"Yes, Ben would never say no to there," Honey added. The girls giggled.
Vivi pouted and sighed.
At that moment, Vivi felt something. She looked up and saw a sword swinging at her.
Vivi reacted instantly and took her own blade and swung it back. Their blades clashed and rang out. The impact sent a vibration through Vivi`s arms.
"You're quite fast for a princess," Helsing said as she overheard their conversations.
"I've been keeping a very close eye on your group," Helsing said.
"Who are you?" Vivi demanded. Her boots dug into the ice as she held the clash.
"I am Helsing," the swordswoman replied. "I have seen all your bounties and you possess none. You are a civilian. That makes you the perfect leverage. I will capture you and use you as a ransom to force your Captain to hand over every Life Gem in his possession," she said as she looked at the girls.
"Leave her alone," Maya said as she was about to rush forward.
Vivi didn't flinch. She looked back at her sisters and smiled. "Go ahead," Vivi told them, "I will be okay," she added. "We need to get to the Life Gem. I'll be fine," she said.
They all nodded and smiled.
"Don't let her scratch that pretty face, Vivi!" Mikita called out as she began to run.
"The Captain won't be happy," Saphir remarked as she ran after the pirates.
"Was it okay to leave her like that?" Perona asked as she floated forward.
"Vivi is strong," Zala remarked.
"Very strong," Marianne agreed.
"The Captain knows we are not dolls and the princess has exceptional abilities," Robin said.
Maya, Kalifa, Conis, Honey, Zala, Marianne, Robin, Saphir, Mikita, and Perona surged forward and raced toward the summit.
Vivi looked at Helsing. "Why do you want to fight us?" Vivi asked.
"Because my Captain Lytton wants all the Gems," Helsing responded.
"We will not let you get them all," Vivi responded as she swung her sword and pushed her back.
Helsing jumped back and landed on her feet and smiled. "We will," Helsing responded.