Kaya, Alvida, Mikita, Honey, Vivi, Marianne, Zala, Robin, Conis, Raki, Maya, Kalifa, and Ashivra made their way through the fog-laced forest toward the mansion. Saphir was inside Lexie controlling her and Super Tortoise followed them behind.
"It is a good thing, Super Tortoise does not need a driver," Mikita remarked.
"She is amazing," Marianne said.
Vivi walked beside Ashivra. "Are you feeling okay?" Vivi asked softly.
Ashivra tilted her head. "Okay?" she asked.
"I mean you were asleep on that ship for years. And now you're suddenly walking into a place like this," Vivi replied as she looked at the mansion's jagged silhouette. "It might be overwhelming," she added.
Ashivra smiled faintly. "I appreciate your concern. But I'm fine. I get to explore new places and stretch my wings," she said.
Zala stepped in. "Do you really not remember how you ended up on that ship?" she asked.
Ashivra nodded. "No memories at all. Just fragments. Feelings," she replied.
"You don't seem too bothered by that," Mikita remarked, raising an eyebrow.
"Because I had good dreams," Ashivra replied. "There was someone in them. Someone warm," she said.
Raki looked over. "He came to my dreams once too," she said quietly.
Alvida smiled. "My love visits everyone's dreams. And then those dreams become reality," she said as she winked playfully.
"Sexual harassment," she said as adjusted her glasses. Her cheeks flushed slightly. She thought she fell for him just looking at his bounty poster.
"Speaking of interesting, Ashivra, you're a Lunarian," Robin commented.
Conis turned. "Didn't you say Lunarians are considered dangerous? Wanted by the government?" she asked.
Robin nodded. "Yes. Even Skypieans are monitored to a degree. But Lunarians have a unique physiology. The World Government has hunted them for generations," she added.
Alvida stepped forward. "Then they'll have to go through us first. We won't let anyone lay a hand on her," she stated.
Ashivra looked around and smiled. "Thank you. I may not remember my past… but I know I'm safe with all of you," she responded. "And him," she muttered.
The group smiled and pressed forward through the misty terrain.
"Zombies," Vivi said as she pointed toward the walls.
"I can see them as well," Honey confirmed as she squinted.
The women got closer and saw slumped figures. Some collapsed on the ground while others hung limply from the walls.
"They look dead," Mikita muttered.
"They're supposed to be," Zala replied dryly.
Robin stepped forward as she looked at the nearest corpse.
"Careful, Robin," Conis said as she had her Heat Javelin in her hand.
Robin knelt and looked at the zombies`s eyes and mouth. "Its shadow's been extracted," she said calmly.
"I think you're right," Raki added as she nudged the body with her boot.
"Someone's purifying them," Maya said softly as she knelt beside the fallen zombie and offered a quiet prayer.
"Could be the Straw Hats," Alvida said as she looked around. "Or someone else working against Moria," she added.
"The mansion's just ahead," Marianne said as she pointed towards the towering structure.
"Let's move," Alvida said. "Everyone, stay sharp," she added.
They nodded and went towards the cracked stairway leading to the mansion's entrance.
"More zombies," Kaya said as she spotted a cluster of them near the gate.
Alvida stepped forward. She gripped Seraphina and was ready to strike; however she then heard a voice. "Gomu Gomu no Gatling Gun," she heard.
She looked to see a blur of fists tearing through the air. She smiled and saw Luffy launching a rapid barrage of punches into the zombie horde.
"This is not good," one zombie cried. Just before a fist smashed into his face, sending him flying into the wall.
They watched Luffy tear through the undead with relentless force.
"Looks like we're not alone," Zala said.
"Luffy," Alvida called out.
"Usopp must be here as well," Kaya said. She thought her best friend was her as well.
Luffy stopped and looked towards them. "You all are here as well," he said with a smile on his face.
Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Chopper, Franky and Porche followed behind. "Luffy, wait up," Chopper said.
"Oh beautiful ladies are there," Sanji said as he looked at the stunning group of women. They were wearing gothic theme outfits.
"Where is Ben?" Luffy asked.
Sanji's heart shattered hearing Ben`s name, "Him," Sanji said as his flames burnt higher.
"Ben went with Nojiko to save Nami," Vivi responded.
"What!" Sanji shouted.
"Okay," Luffy replied with a smile on his face.
"No, Luffy, I will not let him save her," Sanji said as he exploded in anger. "I will save her," he added.
"His flames might be brighter than mine," Ashivra said.
"What are you all doing here?" Zoro asked.
"Ben thought you might be in a little trouble here so we came here as we were passing by," Alvida responded.
"Sometimes he is as bad as the cook," Zoro replied.
"This Machine is Super," Franky said as he looked at Lexie and Super Tortoise.
"They are amazing," Usopp, Chopper and Luffy added.
"Luffy we need to focus and get your shadow back," Porche said as she attempted to remind them of their main objective.
"Okay that is right," Luffy said. "I am going to kick Moria`s butt," Luffy said as he cracked his knuckles.
"My love said he is coming to help as well," Alvida replied.
Luffy smiled. "This one is mine," Luffy said as he smiled.
"I won't let Ben get to Nami before I do," Sanji growled.
"Gomu Gomu no Whip," Luffy shouted as he stretched his leg in a wide arc. His foot smashed through the mansion doors. It sent splinters flying.
The Straw Hats charged in behind him.
"Let's keep moving," Alvida said.
"Alvida," Saphir called out from below. "Lexie and the Super Tortoise can't climb that, we'll have to go around," she said.
"Then circle the perimeter," Alvida replied. "We'll meet in the middle," she added.
"I'll go with them," Marianne said as she leapt onto the Super Tortoise.
"Me too," Ashivra added as she joined her.
"Be safe," Honey called out.
The rest of the women sprinted after the Straw Hats. They entered the mansion's grand dining hall where a horde of zombies awaited.
"Weapons Left," Franky shouted as his wrist snapped open to reveal a multi-barreled cannon. He fired a concentrated laser beam, blasting a cluster of zombies into the wall.
Zoro slashed through a zombie. Sanji spun mid-air and kicked another square in the jaw. "Nami-san," he shouted.
"Stop them," Buhichuck bellowed. Suddenly, zombies began crawling out of the paintings on the walls.
"That's terrifying," Honey muttered.
"Creepy for sure," Raki said as she took her Axe Dial from her pocket. She pressed the trigger and a X-shaped blast of compressed air shot forward. It slammed a zombie back into its frame.
Vivi drew her sword and parried a zombie's strike. Maya flanked from the left and sliced through its side. The zombie opened its mouth. Vivi then tossed a cube of salt into its mouth. The zombie convulsed, then choked and its shadow burst free and vanished into the air.
"Thanks," Vivi said.
"No need," Maya replied with a smile. "We're sisters," she added.
Vivi thought she had said that before.
"Thermal Impale," Conis shouted as she drove her Heat Javelin into the floor. A pillar of searing heat erupted beneath Buhichuck. He was engulfed in flames.
"I'm burning," Buhichuck screamed. "Who are you people?" he asked.
Conis calmly tossed a salt cube into his mouth. He gagged and then collapsed as his shadow tore free and vanished.
"Buhichuck," the remaining zombies cried out in horror.
Alvida charged forward and swung Seraphina with brutal grace. She smashed the kanabo into a zombie's skull. There was blood flying out from his mouth. She followed up with a salt cube and its shadow escaped with a hiss.
"Keep pushing," Alvida shouted.
Rug Bar rose from the floor and towered over the group like a wall of stitched fur and muscle. "You will go no further," he growled.
"A big bear," Zala muttered as she narrowed her eyes. She raised her arm, which began to shift into a gleaming spike. "Stinger Lance," she shouted as she lunged forward and drove the lance into Rug Bar's chest. The impact echoed through the hall. The zombie bear staggered back blood spurting from the wound as he gasped, mouth agape.
Zala didn't hesitate as she tossed a cube of salt into the air. She spun, and kicked the salt straight into Rug Bar's open mouth. He froze. Then began to choke, his body convulsed. A black shadow erupted from his throat. It twisted upward before vanishing into the air.
"We need to go up there," Usopp shouted as he pointed to a passage.
Zoro slashed a zombie down. "I got it," he responded as he ran in the opposite direction.
"Not that way," Chopper shouted.
At that moment, a large wall came down. It had a face on it. "I will not let you go," the Wall Zombie said.
"Mass Shift," Mikita said as she felt the surge of power coursing through her veins. Her blood pulsed like thunder. "Poundage Strike," she roared as she increased her body's weight.
Her fist darkened until it carried the crushing force of 100,000 kilograms. She slammed it into the wall. The stone cracked like glass. The wall groaned and then collapsed entirely. The rubble scattered across the floor.
"What no," the wall zombie cried.
Mikita didn't flinch as she flicked a cube of salt into the air. The salt sailed straight into the zombie's open mouth. It gagged and convulsed. With a hiss of dark mist, its shadow tore free, spiraling upward before vanishing.
"Aggressive," Zala remarked.
"You did that kick," Mikita replied back with a smile on her face.
Luffy smiled. "Thank you," he said he stretched his arms towards a pillar and launched himself forward.
"That is one way," Honey said as she saw Luffy flying off in the distance.
"Lets keep going," Alvida said as they all sprinted forward.
"We are behind you," Chopper shouted as he made his way forward.
They ran towards a room where they saw Doctor Hogback and Cindry standing in the middle.
"So you have finally all come," Hogback said. "Wait, who are you all?" he asked as he saw a number of girls.
Cindry walked in front of Hogback. "They are beautiful and free," Cindry responded.
"Who is he?" Raki asked as she looked in disgust.
"I think I have seen him before," Kaya replied. "He is Doctor Hogback, a famous doctor," she added.
Chopper nodded. "He is," he confirmed. "But he is no doctor," Chopper responded. "He restitched the dead bodies to create these zombies," he added.
"You all can go ahead, I want to know why," Chopper said.
They all looked at Chopper and nodded. "I will stay and help him," Kaya added.
"Okay," Alvida replied.
"Be careful Chopper, Kaya," Usopp said.
Chopper and Kaya nodded.
The Love Pirates and Strawhats ran out.