Rika was in the kitchen of her family's cafe. She was hard at work prepping dough for some cookies. She struggled to ignore the idea that those people had been injured in their attempts to assist Kuina. She knew that she could have helped Kuina escape. Even if she was small and weak. Rika couldn't stop thinking that she could have done more.
Rika's mother walked up behind her and began rubbing her daughter's shoulders. "Rika. You're beating yourself up too much. I'm sure they're doing fine." Rika's mother was a plain-looking woman. Her main eye-catching attribute was her brown hair that came down to the same length as her daughter's did. Rika styled her hair into pigtails that pointed down. Her mother wore her brown hair as bangs.
As Rika's mother attempted to soothe her, the door to the cafe was kicked open. Lance had Kuina over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. However, his hand was suspiciously wrapped around her waist just below the hips. "We're back! And we've got a hungry sword woman!"
Hidden behind Lance, Kuina had a deep blush on her face as her captain held her by her ass. She repeatedly beat her fist into his thigh. "Put me down! I told you I could walk on my own!"
"I wouldn't dare put you down after you collapsed. But now that we're back at the cafe~" Lance gently lowered Kuina from his shoulder and placed her onto a chair. Kuina winced as she was set down.
Seeing her savior, Rika ran over to Kuina after she was set down. Jumping onto her in a hug. "Hey! Good to see you're still alive. Huh?" Looking down, she saw Rika crying as she held onto her. The tears were pouring down from her eyes as she looked up into Kuina's eyes.
"I was so worried about you! I thought they were going to hurt you!" Kuina smiled as she saw how worried Rika had been for her safety.
"Hey, don't worry. I was never going to let those dumb marines hurt me." Kuina rubbed Rika on the head.
"Okay! Soup's on, gang!" Rika's mother walked out into the kitchen with a tray that had bowls of ramen. One each for Lance, Mary, and Kuina. "And there's more where that came from! I can't really repay you for helping Rika. So I'll feed you until you pop!" As she set out the bowls, Kuina grabbed hers and began slurping down noodles. This lunch filled the hunger she had developed over the past nine days.
Lance and Mary also enjoyed their bowls. Alvida walked in, breathing heavily, after everyone had finished their first serving. "Whew! Hey, I thought you guys were fighting the marines! What are you all doing here?"
"Where were we?" Lance answered with his question. "Where were you? We were neck deep in marines!"
"Well… I was putting away all the clothes. Like Mary asked me to." Alvida walked over and sat at the table. The chair squeaked as she put her full weight onto it.
Lance turned to look at Mary, who had decided that the ceiling was far more captivating than the conversation at the table. "You know that I don't like clothes just lying around." She brought her glass up to her lips to drink a little water before looking Lance in the face. Lance's expression had turned into a confused look, indicated by one raised eyebrow. "Well, I thought I could handle it!"
Lance looked down at her shoulder, which was wrapped in strips torn from Helmeppo's suit to cover the bullet wound. "Oh yeah?" He gave her shoulder a firm poke.
"Ow!" Mary looked at him with icy eyes, but her expression soon changed to a smug look as she responded. "Yes! I believe I managed the situation very well. Don't you agree?" She leaned forward a little. Offering him mercy from what she could turn into hellfire.
Lance blinked. As he observed her mood change, the memory of the slap she had given him replayed in his mind. He decided to accept her offer of a ceasefire. He leaned in and gave her cheek a kiss. "Of course you did! You'd have to be silly to not think so."
With a smile, Mary took another sip from her drink. "Round two!" Rika carried the tray with the next round of ramen to everyone. Taking their bowls, each of the pirates chowed down.
"Mmh. Okay, Captain." Kuina finished half of her bowl of food before she asked her question. "What's the plan from here?"
"Well." Lance drank his broth, as he had already finished the noodles. "We're going to a place called Goat Island. But the overall goal is to head to the Grand Line."
The sound of shattered plates echoed from the kitchen. "What?" Rika's mother came out to the dining area. "Did you say you were going to the Grand Line? Isn't that better known as the Pirate graveyard?"
"That makes sense. If we're after the One Piece, then the Grand Line is where we need to go." Kuina went back to slurping her noodles, but when she looked at her captain, she saw nothing but confusion on his face. "Why do you look so puzzled?"
"Well, it's just… I don't know what you mean by "the One Piece." There was a moment of silence from everyone in the cafe. Everyone, except Lance and Mary, soon broke this silence by yelling at the two.
"You don't know what the One Piece is?"
Lance and Mary were in shock from how animated everyone was yelling at them. Kuina leaned forward in her seat. "How do you not know what the One Piece is? You said you wanted to be "King of the Pirates"!"
"Wha… I didn't know there was a bathing suit involved with being the King of Pirates."
"That's not what the One Piece is!" Kuina hit Lance on the side of his head. "I can't believe I have to explain basic pirate lore to you." Kuina situated herself in a cross-legged position on the chair. Twenty-two years ago, the world government executed Gold Roger, the king of the pirates. With his last words, he sent a generation of pirates out to sea. "My treasure? If you want it, you can have it! Find it! I left everything this world has to offer there! In One Piece."
As Kuina recounted the event that led many men to their deaths in search of treasure, Lance was filled with awe. "Woah… "You mean I'm not the first person to think of becoming King of the Pirates?"
Kuina took a sharp breath in as she tried to keep herself composed. "The point is there are literally thousands of pirates out at sea looking for exactly what you want. Will you be able to handle all of them?"
"Pfft. Please. Those other pirates will regret going up against me!" Lance laughed at his statement like it was the greatest joke.
Rika walked up with another tray of ramen and set it onto the table. "Mr. Lance. Do you think I could sail on the open seas someday?"
"Of course you can! The seas are out there for people to find their dreams on." Lance noticed her mother's horrified reaction out of the corner of his eye.
Before she could say anything, the good vibes were ruined by the marines; the now highest-ranking marine stepped into the cafe. Outside the building stood the rest of the platoon. Their actions demonstrated that they could stop the pirates if they truly wanted to. "Excuse me. You all are pirates, correct?"
Lance turned to face the door from his seat. "Hmm? Yeah, we're pirates. Why? Are you guys going to chase us now?"
"Well…" The marine looked rather embarrassed having to do this. "Well, we appreciate you guys saving our town and base. But we're still marines. And we can't harbor pirates in our borders. You'll have to set sail immediately."
Cries could be heard from outside the cafe. The citizens wanted the marines to leave the town's saviors alone. "Heh. I guess we'll be going then." As Lance stood up, Rika came over to wish him safe travels. But when she did, Lance lifted her up over her shoulder. Hiking her up over his shoulder. "Alright, Crew. Off to the ship!"
Kuina and Mary looked a little confused as they watched Lance. But all of them got up from the table. The marine put his hand out to stop Lance. "Hey! I don't know what you're trying to pull. But leave the girl!"
"Rika!" Kuina and Alvida's looks stopped her mother from bolting out of the kitchen. Both gave her the looks of stone-cold killers. "What are you doing? I thought you did all this to protect her?"
"Sorry, Lady. Just following orders." Kuina stared her down with a fierce look. However, she couldn't help but wonder what the plan was in this situation.
As the Marine spoke with a grimace on his face, Lance reached into his back pocket and pulled out a signet ring. The simple metal ring had two symbols written on it that read 'Heavenly Dragon.' "What's that? Is there an "or else" coming?" Lance got close to the marine's face. "That's right, Sailor. I'm a celestial dragon and a pirate. What are you going to do now?" There was a tight hatred on the Marine's face. He was deciding between taking action and maintaining his status in the Marines. Ultimately the officer took a step to the side and lowered his head to hide his shame. "Good choice."
Lance walked out of the cafe with his crew following him. Rika hung over his shoulder. "Alright, crew! We're heading back to the ship. And we're off to the Grand Line!"