Vivi, Maya, Conis, Zala, Raki, Robin, Usopp and Porche ran through the corridor and got into a large room. They saw a high-ceilinged hall with towering columns. There were curtains flowing down. There was a glittering chandelier overhead. Next to the other side of the door were two striking bear statues perched on pedestals: one purple with skeletal markings and the other pink with a heart on its chest.
"This is a very nice room," Vivi said as she looked around.
"It is very grand," Maya added. She thought the statues were an odd choice.
"Very cute," Robin said dryly as she looked at the pink bear's hollow eyes.
"It's scary," Usopp muttered. He looked around as he got shivers. "Definitely haunted," he added.
A voice echoed. "So you've finally made it here," Perona said as she stepped forward with a smirk. Behind her, the shadows shifted and revealed Inuppe, the Penguin Duo, Hildon, Hippo Gentleman, the Risky Brothers, and a dozen other zombies. Two of the zombies were wearing armour.
Perona's eyes narrowed. "Who are you all?" she asked. Then her expression shifted as she spotted Zala and Robin. "Wait, are you part of the Love Pirates?" she asked. She knew it. She thought they were the second group.
"Yes, we are," Vivi replied proudly with a smile on her face.
Perona tilted her head. "And you? I haven't seen you on any of the wanted posters," she said as she looked at Vivi.
"I'm Vivi. Ben is my captain," she said as she lifted her.
"And special princess," Zala added with a wink.
"Wife as well," Maya chimed in. Inuppe's ears flickered.
"She's the only princess," Conis corrected.
"Hey," Vivi pouted.
Perona thought she was also part of the crew. She looked like royalty.
"She might be the one we need to convert," Robin said as she thought of the quest.
"You may be right," Zala agreed. "The only other thing are zombies," she said.
"Then we leave this to the princess," Raki said as she looked at the zombies behind her.
"I'll convince her to join," Vivi declared. She knew this was an important task. Ben would be glad if she did.
"Ben," Inuppe suddenly shouted. There was anger and fury in his voice. "I won't let him have another one," he said as he launched himself at Usopp. His foot arced in a vicious kick.
"What are you doing?!" the Penguin Duo cried out in unison.
"Why are you coming towards me?" Usopp cried out.
Zala moved like lightning. She intercepted the kick with a high kick of her own. Their legs clashed mid-air. "You're not going any further," she said.
Inuppe`s eyes widened. "Lady," he said.
"You will not approach Lady Perona," Hippo Gentleman bellowed as he charged with a sword and shield raised.
Maya unsheathed her blade. She then swung her blade and clashed with his blade. "You will not attack my sister," she said.
Above them, Hildon swooped down as he aimed for Maya. "Inferno Strike," Conis shouted, as she channeled heat into her javelin. She hurled it upward and released a blast of searing flame towards Hildon.
Hildon dodged. He looked to see a hole through the ceiling. "That's hot," he yelped.
A hulking zombie with an axe lunged at Vivi. Raki stepped in. She pressed her Axe Dial and unleashed an X-shaped burst of compressed air. The zombie got hit and was hurled backward. He crashed into a pillar. The Penguin Zombie waddled over to help him up.
Raki walked towards them. "You will not be getting in their way," Raki said as she smiled.
"They are beating us," a squirrel said.
"We will not lose again," the second squirrel added.
"Seis Fleur," Robin said as six arms sprouted from the ground. She grabbed the squirrel zombies by their limbs.
"Hands," one of them whimpered. His eyes were wide.
"Let us go," the second squirrel said as he tried to get free.
"You two would look good on a plate," Robin said coldly as she spawned another hand. It hovered for a moment and then darted forward as she forced a cube of salt into the mouth of the first squirrel zombie.
The creature gagged.
"What did you do?" the second squirrel stammered as he struggled.
The first squirrel began to convulse. His limbs twitch uncontrollably. A low, guttural cough escaped his throat, as his jaw stretched unnaturally wide. From the depths of his mouth, a black, writhing mass began to ooze out.
"His shadow," the second squirrel whispered. "You took it out," he said.
Robin smiled. "You'll be joining him," she said as another hand sprouted from her shoulder. It lunged at the second squirrel and gripped his snout with brutal force. He squirmed. "Open wide," she said. The squirrel's mouth cracked open under pressure, and Robin calmly dropped another salt cube inside. A moment of silence passed and then his body jerked violently. His eyes rolled back, and a second shadow began to slither free.
Their two shadows went into the sky. Robin despawned her hands and let the corpses lay on the ground. She smiled. "Those two are down," she said with a smile on her face.
Meanwhile, Marianne and Ashivra were on top of the Super Tortoise. Saphir led the way inside Lexie.
"How are you both doing there?" Saphir asked.
"Pretty good," Ashivra replied.
"Yes we are doing good," Marianne agreed.
"Are you driving it?" Ashivra asked.
"Yes, I am driving Lexie," Saphir replied. "We had spare time so HQ taught me how to drive Lexie," she added.
"I have been taught as well," Marianne added.
Ashivra nodded. "I need to learn as well," Ashivra replied.
"Stop," Saphir called out. They looked up and saw a giant walking around.
"I want to be the Pirate King," Oars shouted as he walked around.
"He is giant," Marianne commented.
"He sure is," Gyoro said.
They all looked and saw a number of zombies gathering.
"We have company," Marianne said as they all saw Gyoro, Nin and Bao, a number of spider monkeys surrounding them.