The aroma of freshly baked bread and sizzling seafood filled the air.
Ben stepped into the Dining Room. He saw everyone there including new and old faces. "Morning," Ben said with a big smile on his face. He thought everyone was wearing gothic themed clothes. He thought Thriller Bark must be coming soon.
Every head turned.
Nojiko turned her head as she put her cup down. She had a large smile on her face. She was wearing a stylish blue and black plaid mini dress with a fitted bodice and flared skirt. The dress had a front zipper and gold buckles on the shoulder straps. There were black ribbon lace on both sides of the waist. She also had a bat-themed necklace and choker. "Hey Ben," Nojiko said. "There is a seat here, besides me and Kaya," she added.
"Thank you for saving me a seat," Ben responded as he walked towards the space and sat between Nojiko and Kaya. Ben thought Nojiko looked stunning in the dress. He grabbed Kaya and Nojiko`s waist.
"Pervert," Kaya said quietly as she felt his hand on her waist. She smiled.
Ben looked to see Kaya was wearing a dark red, layered gown. The cascading skirt featured a ruffled top layer. It had a central black lace panel. The sleeves were long and had a black lace.
"Yes?" Ben questioned.
"Nothing," Kaya responded as she thought his hand was nice around her waist.
"Sexual harassment," Kalifa remarked. She was wearing a crisp white button-up shirt. She had a black sleeveless dress with a button-down front. She had black sheer tights and black high-heeled shoes.
The girls all smiled and giggled. Ben sighed.
"We finally see you here after a few days," Mikita commented as she ate a piece of toast. She wore an edgy black two-piece outfit. The top was halter-style bralette with a deep neckline. It showed ample amounts of cleavage. There were dangling silver chains. She had black shorts with vertical rows of silver beads and chains. She had several necklaces, including a cross pendant. She had a black shoulder bag. Mikita wore black heels.
"He has been busy attending to needs," Zala said as she brought a plate of food to Ben. She walked over. Her eyes were filled with affection. She was wearing a striking black dress with spaghetti straps. The dress has a high-low cut short in the front to reveal her legs. She had black knee-high boots.
"He has duties as a Captain," Raki said as she smiled at Ben. She thought she was filled up thanks to him. Raki wore a sleek, black gown with a fitted bodice that flared out into a dramatic skirt. She had wide bell sleeves coming from the elbows. It had a plunging neckline which showed ample amount of cleavage. She had a black choker and a hanging pendant.
Robin gigged as she sipped tea. "The ship was rocking so much I thought we were going to sink at one point and get eaten by sharks," she remarked. She wore a rich purple color dress. There was black lace trim framing the neckline, sleeve cuffs, and hem for a gothic flourish. She wore black fishnets and black high-heeled pumps.
"We could sink," Marianne commented as she drank tea. She was wearing punk-inspired clothes. She had off-the-shoulder sweater dress that featured thick horizontal stripes in alternating shades of forest green and inky black. Its long sleeves however exposed the shoulders. Around the waist was a wide black belt. She had sheer patterned tights. Marianne also had a necklace that rests elegantly against the collarbone.
"The Miss Love Duck can handle much more than that," Nojiko commented. She had a smile on her face.
"I could have saved everyone in case we went over," Saphir said as she put her cup down. She wore a vivid pink shirt with a black lace. She had a black short skirt and black sandals. Saphir wore a black choker and black ribbon armbands.
"I know you can Saphir but Nojiko is right, the Miss Love Duck is very strong and she will protect us," Vivi added with a bright smile on her face as put her fork and knife down. Vivi was wearing an elegant, dark blue gown. The dress was off-the-shoulder with long, flowing sleeves. The fitted bodice cinched her waist before flaring into a full skirt. She had large hoop earrings, bracelets stacked on both wrists and a cross pendant necklace.
"We saw the artillery fire from the Miss Love Duck back there," Zala said as she served Robin some biscuits.
"She destroyed some robots," Conis agreed. She wore a light pink, off-the-shoulder dress that went down to the floor.
"HQ were you in control of it?" Mikita asked as she looked at HQ.
"No, I was in the Mech," HQ responded as she wiped her hands with a cloth.
"Then it was PR?" Honey questioned. She was wearing a striking black off-shoulder dress. It had a scalloped neckline, with long lace sleeves. The skirt flares out in a short, playful way. She wore a black choker necklace with a silver cross pendant. "But I saw her on the deck," she added.
"It was not PR, it was her," Alvida said with a smile on her face. She was wearing a sleek black dress with a dramatic high slit on the left side. It was laced up with matching black strings. The dress featured a cut-out design around the chest. She wore black boots and her large white wide hat.
Ben smiled. "I think so as well," Ben said.
"Who is that Ben?" Marianne asked.
"The Miss Love Duck itself," Ben responded. They all smiled.
Maya looked at Ben. She was wearing a deep red floral-patterned bodice with thin spaghetti straps and a sweetheart neckline. She had black corset-style lace-up on the sides. The skirt flowed into a high-low hemline, shorter at the front and longer at the back. "Ben, are we close to completing the quest?" Maya asked.
"I think we are missing the last piece of the puzzle to see what the Golden Crown is," Ben responded. "It will depend on when Shimagame arrives," he added.
"I heard she was saying she will arrive today," Vivi replied as she put some food in her mouth.
Ben thought he did not hear that. He wondered if Vivi was more of a natural. "Speaking of arriving today, I don't see PR around," Ben said.
"My lord, I am here to serve you," BM said as she walked into the room.
"Mum," Nojiko said as she leapt from her seat and into her arms.
BM caught her and smiled. "PR went back to the Miss Love Geese," BM added.
"Okay, that is fine, everything okay there?" he asked.
"There was a minor complication my lord," BM responded.
"Complication?" Vivi asked.
"We fought a member of the Shiki Fleet Pirates," BM responded. "They may not be too happy," she added.
"Are you all okay?" Ben asked. He thought they must fought Largo.
"My love, we are not dolls," Alvida reminded him.
"We are strong," Mikita added with a smirk.
Ben smiled. "I know," he responded. He knew they were all capable.
"Yes, we are all okay. Ivy transformed into her beast form and was able to defeat one. However she got captured," BM explained.
"Ivy," Vivi said. She thought back to her. It made her mad that someone was hurting her. She had been through alot.
"But then with the help of NT, Rubis, Emeraude and I, we were able to defeat them all," BM explained.
"Ben, Shiki is said to rival Whitebeard and Gol D Roger," Robin explained.
"I know, I plan on defeating him as well, however now it is not the time," Ben responded.
"Our hit list gets bigger and bigger," Zala responded. She had a smile on her face.
"The dream is to grow the harem," Alvida said. The girls all nodded.
Ben sighed. He looked to see in the kitchen. He saw Dorothy cooking. He thought he had not noticed her before. "Is that you Dorothy?" Ben asked.
Dorothy came out of the kitchen. She bowed down and her head fell off once again. "Forgive me for not introducing myself," Dorthoy said as her head rolled down on the ground.
"Her head fell off," Marianne said as she gasped.
"This happened at the dinner as well," Vivi responded.
"I would like to join your crew and serve you," Dorothy responded as she got to her knees and put her head back.
"This was Vivi`s idea, my love," Alvida teased.
"Alvida," Vivi said as she thought she was going to take the blame now.
"So it was the princess's decision," Zala added as she winked at Ben and smiled at Zala.
"Ben will not go against his princess," Robin said as she finished her tea.
"Princess does always win," Nojiko said.
Vivi looked a little embarrassed. "I would support any decision you make Vivi, all of you," Ben said. "You will do it for our interest, I love you all," Ben stated. "Welcome to our crew Dorothy," Ben added.
Dorothy smiled. "I will serve you to the best of ability," Dorothy responded as she bowed down and her head fell off once again.
All of the Miss Love Duck jolts to a stop. "I think we are here," Ben said.