One Piece: Grand Harem Adventures Chapter 502: Round-up

As the sun was setting, the entire crew gathered around in the Dining Room. Kaya, Alvida, Mikita, Honey, Nojiko, Vivi, Marianne, Zala, Saphir, Conis, Raki, Maya, Robin, Kalifa, Hina, Tashigi, NT, HQ ,Eraude, Rubis, Ivy, Cherry, PR and Ben all sat around the Dining Room. So of them sat down while others sat in soone's lap. It was a bit cramped but cosy.

Ben stepped forward. “Eraude, Rubis, it’s good to see you both. I’ve missed you,” he said. He pulled them both into a firm, heartfelt hug.

Eraude smiled, though her cheeks flushed slightly. “Ben, this is a bit embarrassing,” she muttered.

“Is it, sis?” Rubis teased with a grin, wrapping her arms around Ben and squeezing tightly. “You don’t seem too embarrassed to hug him back,” she added.

Eraude shot her sister a quick glare, but it was softened by the warmth of the mont. Ben laughed lightly as he released them, stepping back but keeping his hands on their shoulders.

“It’s been far too long,” Ben said. “I’ve thought about you both often,” he added.

“We missed you too,” Eraude admitted, her voice quieter now. There was a tenderness in her eyes.

“She couldn’t stop talking about you,” Rubis teased again, nudging her sister with a smirk.

“Rubis!” Eraude protested, her cheeks deepening in color as she turned to glare at her sibling. But there was no malice in her voice, only the playful irritation of soone who knew her sister too well.

Ben chuckled, his grin broadening as the sisters began to bicker lightly. “Sis, stop hogging him, there are other people,” Saphir said.

“Soone is a bit mature,” Rubis remarked.

“I am always mature,” Saphir added. They all giggled.

“Thank you both for helping defend the Miss Love Duck and coming,” Ben said.

“It was an order from our Captain,” Rubis said as she sat down.

“We always will,” Eraude added.

Ben looked at PR. She had the face of Portgas D. Ace`s mother, Rogue but twisted in the A.S.S package. She did look beautiful. Ben approached her. “Thank you as well,” Ben said.

“I am always ready to serve my champion,” PR stated.

“Champion?” Honey asked.

“Like how HQ calls Ben, Master,” Zala responded.

“Interesting na,” Mikita said. She winked at Ben.

“It does fit my love,” Alvida added as she also winked at Ben.

“Pervert,” Kaya said. They all giggled.

Ben thought it was their way of showing affection. He sighed.

He then looked at Ivy and Cherry sitting around Vivi. They both were sitting on the floor. Ben approached them. “Hello, you must be Ivy, we finally t in person and you must be Cherry, you do look adorable,” Ben remarked.

Cherry smiled. “I am sorry, we don't have enough seats for everyone,” Ben apologised.

“No Captain, we don't mind, we want to be next to Princess Vivi,” Ivy said blushing.

“I tried to get them to sit but they wanted to be near ,” Vivi responded. She looked a little flush.

“The princess finally has her entourage,” Nojiko teased. They all giggled.

Ben smiled. “Well, okay, I guess,” Ben said. He looked at Ivy. She had red hair that fell to her waist. She has deep black eyes and long, dark lashes. Her skin was pale and clear. Her lips were a natural pink color. She had a slender body with large breasts.

“That is sexual harassnt Captain,” Kalifa remarked.

They all laughed. “She is right,” Robin said. Ben felt his heart get hit with an arrow.

Cherry smiled. “At least he likes you sis,” Cherry said.

“Cherry,” Ivy said.

“Ivy since you are part of my crew, I would like to give you a devil fruit,” Ben stated.

“Captain,” Ivy said as she looked at him. He was handso, tall and kind. Her heartbeat skipped for a second.

“You will lose your ability to swim, so I know it will be a difficult decision,” Ben said.

“Devil fruits are rare,” Hina said.

“Only the best for my girls,” Ben said. They all blushed.

Ivy knew their power. She thought she was worthy of such a reward. “Captain, I don't think I should have sothing so valuable,” Ivy responded. She looked down.

Cherry stayed silent. Her sister was everything to her. She seed happy whenever his na was ntioned.

“You are, you are more than that. We all think so,” Ben stated.

“But the others,” Ivy said.

“We want you to have it,” Alvida stated. They all nodded and agreed.

“You should not say no to your Captain,” Alvida teased.

“Ben might be upset with you,” Mikita remarked.

“Then there will be a punishnt,” Zala added.

“Sis you should take it,” Cherry said.

“Like I said if you want to keep your ability to swim, then it's okay but if you are thinking you are not worthy then that is a different matter,” Ben said.

Ivy looked around. They all cared for her. She looked at Princess Vivi and Cherry. They both were nodding. “I accept my Captain,” Ivy stated.

Ben smiled. [Sweetie Redeem Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Styracosaurus]

[Redeeming Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Styracosaurus]

Ben held his hand out. A golden light appeared. It ford into a devil fruit. “Here,” Ben said.

“My love you should feed her,” Alvida said.

“Yes you should,” Marianne agreed. They all nodded.

Ivy nodded as well. Cherry pouted, thinking she is getting fed by soone. “You only need one bite,” Ben said as put the devil fruit mouth near her. Ivy leaned forward and ate the entire fruit within a minute.

Ben was a bit speechless. “Did it taste good?” Vivi asked.

“No, but it was from our Captain,” Ivy responded. They all giggled. They knew what that ant.

“Thank you big bro,” Cherry said as she kissed Ben`s cheek. Ben smiled.

“Cherry,” Ivy said.

“It is fine,” Alvida said as they all giggled.

Ben thought of his own sister. “My love are you thinking of the flashback,” Alvida said.

“We can see everyone`s flashback,” Ben responded. “Yes, I did,” he added. They all stayed silent for a mont. “I know what you are all thinking and I am not heading back. I will stay here with you all,” he stated.

“My love, what about the dreams?” Alvida asked.

“Athena, who has been appearing in my dreams, says they have been hurting,” Ben responded. “I think ti will help them heal,” he added.

They all looked unsure about Ben`s response. “I don't know, they seed close,” Mikita responded.

“They need you like we need you my love,” Alvida said.

“Do you think they can co here?” Kaya asked.

“That was what Athena hinted,” Ben responded. Suddenly they all got nervous eting their mother-in-law.

“Anyway,” Ben said to change the topic. “We have a few other things to share,” Ben said.

“We believe that the bunny-like creature, Popora, isn’t an enemy. Instead, he seems to be guarding against sothing far worse, sothing evil,” Ben said.

“The Evil Guardian,” Robin began, “is imprisoned here, beneath this very ground. Popora has bound itself to this place, until that creature is completely eradicated.”

Maya tilted her head. “You an... he’s been here all this ti, alone, protecting the island from sothing we can’t even see?” she remarked.

“That’s... kind of sad,” Marianne murmured.

“To stay behind while everyone else moved on, just to make sure sothing bad doesn’t escape,” Honey added.

“If that’s true, then Popora isn’t just protecting this island. He’s protecting the whole world,” Vivi said.

“A duty no one even asked him to take,” Raki comnted.

Kalifa adjusted her glasses and nodded. “It makes sense. If Popora is here willingly, his actions aren’t out of malice. They’re out of necessity,”she said.

“But that raises another question,” Zala said. “If Popora’s purpose is to guard the seal, why does he see us as a threat?” she added.

“Maybe whatever we are doing is making it worse and he thinks we are releasing it,” Conis suggested.

Ben smiled. “Maybe, if defeating the Phantasm are undoing the seals to free him then let's keep doing it, then we beat this Evil Guardian,” Ben said.

Tashii and Hina sighed. “Typical boy,” Tashigi remarked.

“That sounds like a good plan,” Nojiko said. They all agreed.

“We had found a drawing of Shushibaruba in the cave,” Marianne said.

Rubis and Eraude widened. Saphir felt a chill in her spine. “What?” Rubis asked.

“I wonder what the connection is to them?” Eraude asked.

“There was only one drawing of him and that was it,” Marianne responded.

“Let's keep our eyes open for more,” Ben added. He thought this was interesting. He thought what is the link.

“Nothing from our side, we beat Phantasm Spandam,” Zala reported. “No problems there and we made sure it was painful for him,” Zala added. They all nodded.

“We did use four heal drinks my love against Phantasm Enel,” Alvida said.

“That is fine, use them as much as you like,” Ben responded.

“Master we were attacked by over 100 Marines and Pirates, we have defeated them all and they have dropped many items for the Heal & Stamina Drinks,” HQ reported.

“How many drinks can we make?” Kaya asked.

“We are still gathering them all, so of their bodies went far so we will let you know tomorrow,” HQ responded.

“My Emperor, can. we use the crafting machine?” NT asked.

“You don't need to ask permission for it, like with the armoury,” Ben responded. They all nodded.

“Now we all should get so rest now,” Ben said.

“We should my love,” Alvida said. “Why don't you go to your room for now,” Alvida added. She smiled.