Chapter 545: Leaving

Ben made his way down the hallway and stepped into the Dining Room. He could smell fresh bread, sizzling eggs, and sweet fruit. 

He looked around to see Kaya and Vivi chatting animatedly. Kaya had her hands folded under her chin, her eyes sparkling as Vivi listened. "I am glad we are all okay," Kaya said.

Vivi responded, "I am as well, those Health Drinks saved us many times." They giggled together, clearly enjoying each other's company.

Across from them, Marianne and Robin sat quietly with teacups in hand. Marianne was stirring a spoonful of honey into hers, while Robin sipped with a smile.

Conis and Honey were focused on their meals. Conis had a bowl of warm porridge topped with nuts and berries, while Honey eagerly munched on a stack of fluffy pancakes drizzled with syrup. "This syrup is good," Honey said.

Zala and Mikita were competing to see who could eat their eggs faster. "Are you not serving today?" Mikita teased in between bites.

Zala narrowed her eyes. "Today is my day off," she responded. 

Alvida and Raki were chatting while sipping juice. Alvida had one hand on her hip. "We got through it with my love," Alvida remarked. 

"We did, it seems to be a non-stop ride" Raki responded as she smiled back. 

Nojiko and Saphir sat on the table and ate together. They both had a bowl of porridge. "It's a shame that they left early," Nojiko commented. 

"We can always meet them whenever we want," Saphir responded as she took another spoon. 

 Kalifa, Hina, and Tashigi were gathered near the corner. They were chatting. 

"When are you both joining?" Kalifa said, touching her glasses. 

"I am never joining, that pervert," Tashigi responded. "He may be good looking, strong, brave, charming but he is dirty," she said, looking all red as she drank her tea. 

Hina was red. "Hina," she replied. She thought back to what Ben and she did in the shower. 

HQ and PR were in the kitchen cooking the food. HQ had a smile on her face. PR giggled. 

Ben stepped into the room, and a few of the girls looked up. He looked to see a space between Kaya and Vivi. "Good morning all," Ben said. They all looked up now and smiled. Their hearts skipped a beat. 

He walked towards Vivi and Kaya. "Morning both," he said as he sat down between them. He put his arms around the two girls. 

"Morning, Ben," Kaya responded as she smiled towards him. 

Vivi turned. "Morning," she also said. Ben thought they were not fighting it. 

He looked around and saw there were a few girls missing. "Where are NT, Emeraude, Rubis, Cherry and Ivy?" Ben asked.

"My love, they headed back," Alvida responded. 

"Yes, they said they thought BM might need help," Saphir added. 

"Okay," Ben said. He thought a goodbye would have been nice. "Are you okay?" Saphir asked. 

"I am. I can go meet them whenever we need," Saphir responded as she ate. 

"Okay," Ben said. He thought that was right. They had the teleporter, he thought. 

HQ stepped forward. "Master, we can confirm we now have 10,000 Heal Drinks and 10,000 Stamina Drinks in stock," she reported.

"Whoa! That's a lot of drinks!" Honey said, wide-eyed, nearly dropping her fork.

"It is," Marianne cheered. 

"We could run a small army with that kind of stockpile," Raki remarked. 

"A female army for my love," Alvida said. 

Zala leaned back in her chair with a smirk. "That would be interesting for sure," Zala said. 

"Pervert," Kaya said quietly. The girls smiled. Ben sighed. 

Alvida turned to Ben and smiled warmly. "My love, she's really efficient, isn't she?" she said.

"HQ is amazing," Vivi responded. 

Ben chuckled, clearly pleased. "You all did an amazing job. Thank you, HQ, PR," he said. "I know Cherry and Ivy helped as well," he added. "It's one less thing we have to worry about. Great work." He thought that was a big number for sure. 

HQ gave a respectful nod, her eyes flickering with pride. "It was our duty to serve you, Master," HQ responded. 

Mikita leaned forward, "Raki is right. We're practically a traveling army… with matching outfits and everything," she said. 

The girls laughed and thought about the outfits. Some of them blushed. Ben smiled. "Okay," Ben said. A low rumble rolled through the Miss Love Duck. Dishes clattered. The floor shivered. The table shook.

Zala stood first. "What was that?" Zala asked. 

"It feels like an earthquake," Mikita responded. 

The entire group froze as the island began trembling violently beneath them. "It feels like the ground is moving," Vivi said as she grabbed Ben. 

"We are going to be swallowed in the ocean and drown and die," Robin joked. 

"We are?" Marianne said. 

Ben got up. "Everyone outside," he ordered. He thought what could this be. 

They rushed out together in a blur of panic and confusion. What they saw made their breath catch.

They all saw the island was falling apart. "What is going on?" Kaya asked. 

They saw the mountains turned to dust in the distance. Trees dissolved into glowing particles. The terrain crumbled like paper ash in the wind.

"The ground it's disintegrating," Kalifa responded, touching her glasses. 

"The Evil Guardian must have been holding this place together," Robin commented. 

Marianne looked around, eyes wide. "How are we supposed to escape!?" she asked. 

"Fear not my friends," came Popora's gentle tone.

He stepped forward on the island, surrounded by a warm light. His staff pulsed gently in his hand. Behind him, a soft shimmer appeared in the air and grew into a swirling, radiant portal.

Vivi gasped. "Popora...!" she remarked. 

Nojiko took a cautious step forward. "Is this... your doing?" she asked. 

Popora nodded slowly. "The island was a creation of balance, held together by ancient energy. With him defeated, it no longer needs to exist," he responded.

"Just like you said Robin," Maya remarked, Robin nodded. 

"But... it's all disappearing," Vivi said quietly.

Popora turned his gaze to the horizon as more of the landscape faded into sparkling dust.

"Even the most beautiful things must end," he said. "But endings make way for beginnings," he added. 

From the shadows of crumbling cliffs and hollow trees, small creatures began to emerge, foxes with glimmering tails, glowing birds, soft-furred animals with bright eyes and gentle steps.

They gathered around Popora like old friends returning home.

"He's not alone," Vivi whispered.

"He'll have company," said Robin, her eyes warm.

"He deserves it," Raki added softly.

Popora smiled at them all. "Thank you. You freed this place. I know what friends are," he said. 

Ben smiled. "Thank you for the Drinks," he remarked. 

Popora raised his staff. There was a bright light which engulfed the Miss Love Duck.

From the light they saw Popora surrounded by his animal companions as the last fragments of the island dissolved behind him.

The bright light disappeared. Ben opened his eyes and noticed they were back in the ocean. 

"We are back?" Saphir asked. 

"Captain Hina," someone shouted. Tashigi and Hina saw the Marine flag and a number of Marines. 

Tashigi and Hina saw their Marine ship and jumped back. They both landed on the deck. "Pirates," Hina said with a blush. 

"Surrender now," Tashigi said. 

"They are our enemy?" Marianne asked. 

"Maybe," Ben chuckled. 

"Heat Haze," PR said as she took to the sky. She shoots a stream of fire from the palm of her hand towards the sails. They caught on fire. 

"Captain Hina we are on fire," a Marine shouted. 

"Take the fire out," Hina said as she watched the Marine flag catch on fire. It was burning. 

"Captain Hina, they are getting away," another Marine shouted as he watched the Miss Love Duck sail away. 

"Let them," Hina responded. "We need to save our shop," Hina added. 

Ben, who was on the Miss Love Duck, looked back and smiled. "Till next time" he remarked.