"OK, I'll be straigthforward with all of you," DK began, making the others look at him. "I've... kind of been texting Candy to keep her updated on the events that have been going on."

"OK, cool," Diddy shrugged.

"None of you are mad?"

"Why would we be?" Dixie asked. "At least someone else knows what's been going on in case something happened to us."

"Even the events on Hitobashira and Attria?" Diddy responded.

"Well, no not that far," DK replied. "The last thing I told her was that Sodoma had been kidnapped and we were going off to the Hitobashira to rescue her. I told her I would let her know when she was safe, but with everything that's happened, I haven't gotten the chance. I'm... actually doing that right now."

He showed them the phone screen, which was filled with a very long text message doing his best to give her the short hand of it.

"She's got to be worried sick," Diddy said. "It's been, what, almost a full day since we were there? You're gonna have a lot of apologizing to do."

"I know, I know. I also told her we should be back soon."

"Dixie!" Sodoma's voice called from the deck.

"Dixie, come up here! We wanna show you something!" Cherah's chimed in.

"I'd better go see what they're on about," Dixie said, standing up. "I'll come tell you when we're closer to the island, OK?" Both males nodded and she walked up to the top.

XIV

It was a few more hours before they finally docked back on Kongo Bongo.

As soon as he was off, Candy was up and dashing towards DK, jumping on him and squealing as she showered him with kisses. DK was nearly sent to the ground, giving the others a much-needed chance to laugh. Dixie spotted Tiny, Chunky, and Kiddy amongst the group and was almost immeditaley hug-attacked by them, along with Diddy.

"Hey, woah, wait, man," Funky said, making the others look at him. He gestured to the scars and scrapes the others had "What happened to you dudes?"

"You don't remember, Funky?" Candy asked, peeling herself off of DK. "They tried fending off the person who started the whole plot, but they had conjured up some powerful enemies, and they died fighting. The Coconut and the other stones couldn't completely heal their more serious wounds."

"Is that the same reason why Cranky is missing one of his shirt sleeves?" Lanky asked.

"Yes, it is," Cranky replied before anyone else could comment, a giant frown plastered on his face.

"Well, I'm just glad you're all back safe," Bluster said, appearing suddenly from the back. He placed his hands on his hips, pouting. "I hate to admit it, but everything was just so dull around here without DK and Diddy."

"Good to see you too, ya nut!" DK said, giving the snobby male a friendly punch to the arm.

"I'm just happy everyone is back safe," Kiddy said from where he sat on Chunky's shoulders. "I missed playing with Dixie!"

"Yep! All safe!" Dixie said a little forcedly.

"Eh, what?" Tiny asked, noticing.

"Long story."