High Roll Arc Episode 4

Clash in the glittering city! The fight for High Roll and Cherry Candy!

Luffy! Candy was running as fast as she could toward the pier. Be there Luffy! She assumed that her pirate friends would regroup before there could be a big fight. If Candy could catch up to them in time… I'll tell them to get out of here! Miserable tears stung her eyes and blurred her vision. What was I thinking asking Luffy to save me? How stupid! How selfish!

The heel on her left shoe caught on a cobblestone and snapped. Candy went tripping forward scraping her hands and knees across the stones. Her glittering evening gown was torn and her hands were bloodied. "Damnit!" She shifted to a sitting position and hurried to get her shoes off. "Stupid heels!" Candy kicked off her shoes and put a hand in the hole in her dress. "And this!" Savagely she tore the bottom half of it off. With her freedom of motion reclaimed Candy got moving again. She ignored her stinging knees and ran on.

"Statue!" Bruno grabbed for Jack but Jack liquefied his arm so Bruno couldn't grab hold.

"As if I'd fall for any of your tricks old man," Jack moved a safe distance away and raised one fluid arm. "Water gun!"

Bruno dodged the torrent of water and made a charge for Jack again. So it's come to this. Kill and die to get Candy the hell out of here. Candy was a beautiful songbird, but Bruno never saw her that way. Every time he looked at her he remembered the scruffy kid that had been easily mistaken for a little boy. A waif of a child tossed into a life of servitude and fear. Bruno thought of her funny smile and dirty cheeks. Little Cherry Candy, I will help too. Luffy, your monkey face is your past and your future. Bruno slapped the ground. "Stone stage!"

Jack scrambled to get off the ground. He leapt high over Bruno's head. I won't lose to you! I'll kill you and prove to Dark that I am the better choice to guard Cherry bird! "Your time is up old man! Bazooka blast!"

Nami and Robin ran through the alleyways. "Where is he?" Nami panicked.

As if to answer a swirling cloud of sand appeared at the head of the alley. "Shit," Robin cussed under her breath. "This guy is just like Crocodile!"

"How do we beat him? Luffy defeated Croc, how?!"

Robin had an idea. She brought her hands up. "Nami. I need you to make it rain. I need a storm!"

Water! That's right! Luffy used water and blood to harden the sand! "Right!"

She called out extra arms and passed her friend up to the rooftops. "Hurry!"

The zoan types faced off sending the surrounding civilians running away in terror. "Run for your lives! Race has gone crazy! It's a fight! Run away!"

This guy is pretty tough. Chopper reached into his pocket. "Looks like I'll have to fight you more seriously Pony Race."

Race grinned at the reindeer showing off his big horse teeth. "I would expect nothing less from the marauder of Enies Lobby, Tony Tony Chopper!"

"Alright you asked for it! Rumble ball!" Chopper roared as power surged through him. Mina…stay alive. Save her Luffy, save your Candy chan!

Dealing with this woman was troublesome. It was all Sanji could do to dodge her punches and block her fierce kicks. Her hands and feet had an eerie pale blue glow to them. Whatever that light was it was tearing Sanji up every time she made contact with him. He was covered with cuts and scratches already. Shit, this is no good. How can I stop this beautiful woman from killing me without killing her?! "You're one tough babe you know that?"

Roulette sneered, "Yeah I know. That is why I'm with Alucard! As if I'd ever let him throw me over for that snot nosed little brat! I'll kill you and then I'll go after Candy personally!"

"You know I can't allow you to harm Candy chan even if you are a woman."

"Do you intend to fight me seriously pirate?" Roulette laughed. "Sanji of East Blue, I know your weakness!" Roulette shook off her jacket and ripped off her blouse. As she suspected the pirate froze staring at her in her bra and she charged. "Bitch slap!"

Alucard went back into his office high up in his palace. He contacted security and ordered them out into the lawn, all sixty of them. "Defend La Palacia from the pirates. Don't let them into the palace." With his men on the move Alucard tended to one other bit of business.

He read over the memo King had left on his desk for him. Vice admiral Chriton and his fleet were on their way to High Roll now. Soon the Mugiwara pirates would be dead or captured. Their bounties would make Alucard even wealthier. The fame that would come to him for capturing their heads would increase his power in the Grand Line and "A ship made from the legendary tree Adam, crafted by the apprentices of the famous shipwright Tom; builder of Gol D Roger's Oro Jackson. It will be a valuable addition to my collection!" Alucard laughed crazily. "Thank you for bringing such treasure to me my sweet Cherry Candy!"

The docks were in sight when Candy heard the first rumble of thunder in the distance. She was charging forward paying little attention to anything other then her mission when she felt something, something like eyes watching her. A second later the ground in front of her splintered and exploded. Candy stopped short and looked at a sizeable bullet hole in the cobblestone. "Shit!"

"Where do you think you're going Cherry bird?" Trump Card's voice floated from the darkness.

Trump Card. Shit! Candy tried to look everywhere all at once. "Card, is that you? Where are you?"

He emerged from the shadows with his guns drawn. "It's time for you to go back to your room. The streets are dangerous this evening. You wouldn't want to get hurt now would you?"

Candy slid her feet into a fighting stance and brought up her hands. "I'm not going anywhere with you!"

"I beg to differ," he aimed the gun in his left hand at Alucard's bird. "I have permission to shoot you."

Her mouth fell open. "It's a lie!"

Card pulled back the hammer. "No it's not."

"Ussop smoke screen!" His bomb went off and the area filled with thick smoke. Ussop kept running straight through grabbing Candy in the process. "Run!"

She didn't have to be told twice. "Ussop san!"

Card fired six rounds into the smoke hoping to hit a target. "What is this kiddie bullshit?!"

"Keep running Candy chan," Ussop panted sprinting beside her. "I have to get to the ship. I have to get to Kabuto!"

"Kabuto?"

"My ultimate weapon!"

Ussop san, he needs a better weapon to fight with but… "Trump Card is right behind us!"

It didn't really matter which of the Seven it was. "That's why I said run!!!"

A rush of sand threw Robin into the wall. "Nico Robin, you cannot win." Spade King moved closer to the woman. "You can't save your little friend on the roof either. Surrender to me and pledge your loyalty to Dark Alucard and I'll spare your lives."

Robin spit blood at King. "Like hell I will!"

Zoro and Diceman went at it fast and furious in the courtyard. "Ma ma, you're pretty good," Zoro glared at his opponent. Diceman was fast and could block even with his short sword.

"As are you pirate hunter. I haven't had a duel this fun in years."

"Is that so? Then I guess you won't mind losing to me. Oni Giri!"

Luffy finally made his way back around to the front of La Palacia. He stopped short seeing all the guards Alucard had sent out to protect his castle. "Damnit! Get out of my way!"

"Look there! Its one of the attacking pirates! Get him!"

"Kuso!" Luffy didn't want to hurt all of these innocent people. Dark Alucard just loved to use people as shields and weapons. He doesn't care if any of these guys die damnit! It would take a bit longer, but Luffy would defeat these guys without killing any of them if he could. The first wave charged at him. "Damn you Dark Alucard!"

"Rage of the sea!"

A tidal wave headed for Bruno. Too big to dodge. The man made himself hard stone, but even stone cannot totally resist water. The last two fingers on his left hand snapped off and were washed away.

"I'm not done yet!" Jack charged at Bruno with a lunatic grin on his face. "Die old man die!"

Candy stopped short. She couldn't have Card chasing after Ussop too. They were close to the ship now. "Go Ussop!"

"Candy? What about you?"

"I'll try to lead Trump Card away from your ship. If you can take your nakama and leave this island."

"Wait Candy chan!" but it was too late. Candy was running off in the direction they had come. Shit! He turned and made a break for the ship. He wouldn't let her sacrifice go to waste. Hang in there Candy chan, don't die. Luffy will save you!

Nami thought now was a good time to try out her new attack. She just hoped that she wouldn't hurt her friend fighting the sand user below. "Hurricane Howl!" Nami added the last blast of energy she needed to the cloud above. A second later the wind picked up and it started to rain. "Yatta!"

Robin felt the first drops of rain on her cheek and she smiled. Thank you Nami. Her arms reached for Spade King. "I won't let a monster like you escape alive!"

Just when she thought things were going her way, disaster struck. The wind picked up and within moments it was a gale. Screaming her head off Nami was sucked up off the roof and blown away.

"Nami!" Robin used extra arms to anchor herself to the ground. The whirlwind was spreading, throwing debris into the air all around her. She heard people screaming a few streets away. Shit! It's out of control! It's too powerful of an attack!

Spade king was getting wet but sand wasn't his only strength. "You don't have time to look away Nico Robin." He slammed a hardened fist into the side of her head and sent her flying down the alley and out into the street.

"Chikusho!" the guards just kept charging him. Luffy was losing his patience. "I don't want to fight you I want Alucard!"

"Protect the palace!"

"The pirates have come to steal Cherry sama! Kill them all!"

Luffy grit his teeth. "Candy is my nakama! Gum gum no whip!"

"Guard point!" Chopper made it just in time. Taking a kick from Race had already broken his right cheekbone and almost knocked him out. The power of the wild mustang. I can't let this continue. The rumble ball's effects will wear off in less then two minutes. I have to hurry and finish this. "Brain point! Scope!"

Race shook back into a more human looking form. "I'll give you some credit. It looks as though you've worked hard at mastering the powers of your fruit. Your transformations are impressive, but I'm afraid I have to end this now. Don't worry little one I'll try to keep you alive. I'm sure Dark sama would just love to have you in his zoo."

"I'd rather die then be his pet!" His weakness where is it?!

"Are you sure? You'd have a very comfortable life."

"Deme. I'm not a pet I'm a pirate!" There! I see it! "Horn point!"

The blonde wasn't nearly as good at dodging her attacks with his eyes fixated on her chest. Roulette went for it and unleashed an all out assault on the sleazy pirate. She was tearing him up pretty good too when the wind suddenly picked up violently so. For a moment it was all she could do to stay on her feet and Roulette heard a woman screaming.

Sanji recognized that scream of terror and it brought him out of his lustful and half beaten stupor. "Nami swan!"

She was falling and of course screaming. "Sanji! Catch me you idiot!"

He tried but it was more like he cushioned her fall. Sanji ended up flat on his back in a sizeable crater seeing stars. "Are you alright Nami swan?"

"Baka! How can I be alright?! I released a hurricane!" Nami scrambled to her feet and faced the shirtless woman. "Ne? What the hell is this? You're half naked!"

Roulette adjusted her bracelets. "I know how to distract a man. Something you'll never have the chance to learn you little brat."

"I have total control of men!" Nami argued back.

"But not of your weapon. Just look at the mess you're making of High Roll."

"It was an accident! I didn't know it would do this on land!"

Roulette slid back into her fighting stance. "I find you guilty of the destruction of private property. Your sentence is death. I will execute you now."

"Choto mate yo!" Nami tried but it was too late. Roulette came at her and Nami dodged. "Alright you old hag if you want a bitch fight lets go!"

Every breath was like a fire in her lungs but Candy ran on back toward the city. Trump Card, where the hell are you? Her eyes darted left and right. Will her really shoot me? She lifted her eyes to the rooftops and that's when she saw it. A strange cloud hung over the city sending down lightning and lifting what wasn't nailed down up into its windy vortex. She felt the strength running out of her legs. "What… what the hell is that thing? A typhoon?"

Trump Card lighted silently behind the distracted songbird. "It's over." Before she could react Card brought the butt of his gun down on the back of her head. He caught her as she fell over unconscious and swept Candy up into his arms. "Time to go back to your cage." Card turned with his master's treasure in his arms and headed back for La Palacia. First I'll ditch the girl then I'll go after that long nose kid. This is all but over.

Solid. He's solid. That meant two things for Robin. First was that his attacks hurt like hell, but secondly I can hurt him too! She dodged Spade King's blow and leapt back away from him. Now get him now! "Seis Fleur Twist!"

For many long years Nico Robin had dreamed of killing that bastard Crocodile. In the end it had been Luffy that brought her old boss down. Now she had the chance to reclaim that victory by destroying Sir Croc's little apprentice. She closed her eyes as her many arms grabbed a hold of Spade King. Crocodiles laugh echoed in her head. "Shini!" her arms moved in unison and King's body twisted violently. He fell over a misshapen heap in the rain.

Robin leaned back against the wall for a moment trying to catch her breath. She waited until Crocodile quit laughing in her head and then got moving again. She had to find Nami and make sure that she had landed someplace safe. "Hold on everyone, I'm not done yet." Robin raced through the storm to find her nakama.

He used Horn Point to charge but transformed again to attack. "Heavy Point!" Chopper grew bigger and reached for Race's legs. "If you want to take down a horse," he grabbed Race's knees. "Break his legs! Arm point!"

Race watched in horror as the reindeer transformed again. A second later his knees shattered and were crushed by the animal. Race howled in agony as he hit the ground. No it can't be, I lost? I lost to this little shit!? The world was starting to get dark. The lights of High Roll seemed to be fading away. "I…lost…?"

Chopper stood in the rain breathing heavy and glaring at his opponent. "At least… I didn't kill you." The effects of the rumble ball finally gave out and Chopper returned to himself. Tired and sore he turned back in the direction of La Palacia. "Luffy…. Hang on everybody. I'm coming!"

The sudden downpour gave Black Jack just what he needed, an edge over ol' stoney. The ground was wet, Bruno was wet and now Jack had the advantage in this battle. He laughed triumphantly. "This is it for you old man!"

Jack disappeared in front of him turning his body into pure liquid. "Shit," Bruno tried to look for sign of Jack's movement but it was impossible in this storm.

It must have been the rain hitting her face that woke Candy. Trump Card held her tight and ran with her. When she could focus again Candy saw a familiar figure in the street ahead. "Old fart!"

Card just grinned. He knew what was about to happen. "Pay attention Cherry bird. See what happens when you betray Dark Alucard."

He heard his little girl, the only child he would ever have call out to him. Bruno smiled in Cherry's direction. Sorry brat, this is where we part ways. "Stone solid." It was his only defense now and Bruno became hard as rock.

"Not good enough!" Jacks voice came from below. "Super geyser!"

Candy's mouth fell open as her old friend was launched high into the air. "Bruno no!"

"That's it for him," Card chuckled watching the rock come crashing back to earth.

"Idol slap!" She had never raised a hand to the Seven before, but today it was different. She left Card with a stinging cheek and broke out of his arms. "Bruno! Bruno!"

Bruno hit the ground hard. One of his stone legs shattered and his body cracked everywhere. He heard his Candy screaming for him and tried to turn her way. She was running to him with her arms out and tears streaming down her cheeks. No Candy, run away. I'm done for. Run away and "Go to Luffy…" his ears stopped hearing. His eyes stopped seeing. Dealer Bruno shattered into a million pieces of stone.

"No!!!" Candy screamed. "Bruno!"

Jack laughed reforming himself. "He never stood a chance! Too old and slow!"

With a shaking hand Candy reached for a handful of pebbles that had once been her friend. Bruno… A million thoughts and memories raced through her mind all at once. Bruno scolding her, protecting her, making her laugh. He was… he was the father I always wanted! She squeezed the stones in her hand until her hand began to bleed again.

"Sorry Cherry bird," Jack said with an evil smile.

Bruno. Bruno. "Bruno!" Candy whirled around and charged at his murderer. "Jack!"

Diceman was beginning to tire. Roranoa was every bit as good as he had heard he was. He spun his short sword in his hand. I have to finish this now. "Roronoa Zoro, tell me this before you die. Why do you challenge Dark Alucard for Cherry? She's nothing to you."

"Oh? Is that what you think? I guess you weren't paying attention."

"Come again?"

"Luffy says Candy is our nakama. If the captain says so, it must be true. Candy chan is our nakama and we will fight for her."

He pondered the swordsman's answer for a moment. "Monkey D Luffy ne?"

"Yeah that's right. Candy chan is his sweetie you know. We won't be leaving High Roll without her."

Diceman grinned at the swordsman. It was time to kill Zoro. "You won't be leaving High Roll at all." Quick as a flash he was behind Zoro. He had time to feel the point of his short sword sink into the other man's side and then there was nothing.

Zoro completed his spin. Diceman's head went flying and his body hit the ground at Zoro's feet. "Wrong." Zoro sheathed his swords and pulled Diceman's short sword from his side. "Damnit, where is that castle place?" holding his wound Zoro lumbered out into the stormy night.

Nami was having a hard time holding her own against Roulette when Robin arrived on the scene. Sanji was no help at all; he just stood back watching the cat fight. "Cook san!" Robin chide bringing up her hands. "Why aren't you helping Miss Navigator?" angrily she called up several dozen arms to grab Nami's opponent and take her to the ground.

"No!" Roulette screamed as she went down. "Damn you Nico Robin!"

She seized the opportunity and Nami pointed her staff at Roulette. "It's over! You lose!"

"Nami, Sanji," Robin moved closer to Roulette. "Hurry and find the others. Help them and save Candy chan!"

"Right," Nami readily agreed. "Come on you letch! We have to find Luffy!"

"Hai Nami swan"

Sanji and Nami took off running toward La Palacia. Robin looked down at Roulette. "You gave your love to the wrong man. Dark Alucard has a black heart."

Roulette looked up into the rain. "So it would seem."

"Luffy will defeat him. He is going to take Cherry Candy away with him."

Defeated Roulette smiled sadly. "At least my student has given her love to the right man."

Robin nodded. "Luffy will take good care of Candy." She knew Roulette didn't hate Candy, she never had. She was just jealous of the affection Dark showed to her apprentice.

The rain felt good on her face and it hid her miserable tears. "Nico Robin, there is something I want you to do for me."

"Jack!" she didn't care if it was raining and that she was soaking wet too. She didn't much care if she died right now. Candy charged Black Jack and grabbed his shoulders digging her fingers in. "Edelbrock! Death sentence!"

He was stunned Cherry bird could perform such a move. Electricity flowed through his entire body frying him from the inside out. It must have been Roulette. So that bitch taught the kid something useful after all. It was too bad the wet songbird was being shocked in the process. Alucard…

Candy pried her burning hands off of Jack's smoldering shirt. Her whole body shook from the jolt she had taken herself. Jack fell over on his side; smoke pouring from his mouth and nose. "Bastard…" Candy fell to her knees in the rain.

"Well, that was impressive." Trump Card slowly moved in on the stunned bird. "Are you hurt Cherry? Are you dieing?"

She cut her eyes back over to Card. Move. Move! She told her trembling body. Kill him or run but move! "Stay…away…from me!"

"You know I can't do that. My my, is Jack dead? He sure looks it. I don't think Dark sama is going to be happy he's lost two of the Seven. The Lucky Five just doesn't have the same ring to it don't you agree Cherry bird?"

"Stay away!" My legs… I can't stand up!

He smiled advancing on her. "Let's get you back to your cage birdie. Dark sama can deal with you later." He reached for Candy and suddenly a hole appeared in his hand. A ball barring hit the cobblestones coated with his blood. Instinctively Card faced the direction the projectile came from. More were after him and he leapt back away from the girl.

Ussop strode out of the storm with his furious eyes fixed on Trump Card. He had seen the whole thing. Bruno, Jack, Candy chan. "Get away from her you bastard. Get away from Candy chan!"

"Long nose…" What's with that weapon?

"Ussop san!" Candy screamed as fresh tears sprang into her eyes. She couldn't bear the thought of more death. "Please, run away!"

"I'm sorry Candy chan I can't do that. I could never forgive myself leaving you to a man like this." He wasn't going to play around with this guy. "Ussop flaming star!"

Candy screamed and covered her head as Card dodged the line of fire the long nose kid shot at him. His good hand went for his gun and Card came back shooting.

"Ussop smoke screen!" Ussop let the fog be his cover. "Ussop Tabasco star! Ussop rubber band!"

What the bloody hell?! What kind of attacks are these?! His eyes were watering, smoke and hot sauce. As the smoke thinned in the wind Card caught the kids shape in the smog. He fired ten rounds and the shape and it fell over. "Take that you stupid little shit!"

As Ussop expected from a gunner, Card went for all head shots. That was good because Ussop had been counting on Trump Card to use his big gun. A moment later he was behind Card with the impact dial pointed between the villain's shoulder blades. "Impact!" Ussop released the force of all ten of Card's shots.

She couldn't see it clearly in the smoke, maybe that was a good thing. Blood sprayed from Card's chest. He staggered a few steps forward and then fell over face first in the rain. Unable to help herself Candy screamed again.

Ussop hurried to Candy's side and hunkered next to her. She looked a little roughed up and half drown in this rain. "Candy chan, can you walk?"

"Luffy, she sobbed. "I want to see Luffy!"

Mindful not to pull on her injured hands Ussop got an arm around Candy and stood her up. She sagged against him weakly crying her eyes out. "It's alright Candy chan. Lets go to Luffy."

Sanji spotted that dumb marimo running around lost. "Oi Zoro! This way," he called to him from his place at Nami's side.

Zoro headed their way. "Where's Luffy?"

"He must be at La Palacia. Dark Alucard must be there," Nami kept leading them.

"Where did Candy chwan go?" Sanji panicked. "Who's looking out for her?"

Chopper and Ussop were still unaccounted for. Candy had vanished with two of the Seven as well. "Bruno will keep her safe," Zoro suspected.

The palace was ahead. Nami saw bodies flying into the air. "Luffy must be up there!"

"Keh," Sanji complained. "He hasn't killed Alucard yet? What the hell is he waiting for?"

"Let's go find out." Zoro dropped a hand to his sword. Let's go Luffy!

Chopper was running back to the palace when he saw a familiar shape in the rain. "Ussop!" his friend was moving as fast as he could dragging the girl Chopper assumed was Cherry Candy along with him.

"Chopper!" Ussop headed his way. "Get over here and help Candy chan!"

The reindeer met them. "Candy chan?"

Candy looked down at the cute reindeer. Luffy and the others had told her all about him, but this was the first time they met. "Chopper," she tried to smile. "It's nice to meet you."

Her hands were a bloody mess and Chopper smelled burnt flesh. "It's nice to meet you too Candy chan. You're injured. Let me see your hands."

She knelt beside Chopper in the rain. "Thank you and might I say you're really cute!"

Choppers cheeks turned red. "Asshole," he danced. "Even if you praise me I won't care."

Candy laughed at him. She was expecting this. "Okay Chopper if you say so."

It was noisy outside. Alucard watched the weird storm sweep the city from his office. Somewhere down on the lawn the pirate kid was dealing with his agents. Somewhere in the twinkling city the Lucky Seven were slaughtering Mugiwara's crew. Somewhere out at sea beneath the moon fifteen marine ships were headed for High Roll.

He wondered if Candy was back in her room yet. "Are you crying Cherry Candy? Will you weep when I bring you your friend's head on a platter?" Alucard chuckled. It had been a long time since he had to fight but he was more then ready to deal with Monkey D Luffy. He would kill the boy and Candy's dreams of freedom would die with him. "The end."

Luffy had crippled the majority of the security guards and the rest weren't sure if they wanted to attack him. "Alright who's next?!" the frustrated rubber man screamed.

"Oi Luffy!" Sanji called as they ran up behind him.

"It's the rest of the Mugiwara pirates!" a frightened guard screamed. "Run for your lives!"

He turned to his crew as the rest of the guards fled in terror. "Oi mina!"

"What are you doing dicking around out here ne Luffy?" Zoro grumbled. "I already won my fight."

"Keh! I was trying not to kill them!"

"Where's Dark Alucard?"

Sanji butted in, "Where's Candy chwan"

On cue Ussop chimed in as they hurried to their nakama. "Here! We're here!"

"Candy chwan"

She laid her eyes on Luffy and his beat up looking nakama. "Luffy…"

Luffy ran straight to Candy. "Where is Alucard?" he pointed at the palace. "Where in there is he?"

"I…I don't know, his office or his suite?" Candy looked around. "Where are the other Seven?"

Ussop explained, "Jack killed Bruno and Candy fried Jack. I took out Trump Card and Chopper took Pony Race out of the fight."

"King and that bitch Roulette are out of the fight too," Nami added.

"Yosh," Luffy pounded a hand into his fist. "Then that just leaves Dark Alucard."

Candy's mouth fell open. The Seven have been… "The Lucky Seven have been defeated?!"

Luffy leveled his eyes on Candy. "Sure they have Candy chan. You took one out yourself ne? That proves you're our nakama."

She squeezed a bandaged hand into a fist. "I killed Jack because he killed Bruno! Bruno was… he was my dad!"

He brought his hand up and held his hat on his head in the wind. "Let's end this Candy. Where is Alucard? Can you show me?"

Dark Alucard. All of this is his fault! She had regained enough of her strength to run so she did. Candy broke away from the pirates and headed into the palace. "I'll find him," she called to Luffy over her shoulder.

"Candy wait!" Luffy hurried after her. He burst into La Palacia behind her startling the customers. Old ladies screamed and hurried away from him. Up ahead he saw Candy getting into an elevator. "Wait for me Candy chan!"

She fixed her eyes on Luffy letting the elevator doors close. "Sorry Luffy, but I'm the one that has to finish this."

The elevator doors slid shut as his nakama came running in behind him. There was more screaming as gamblers and diners scurried away from the pirates. "Damnit Candy!" Luffy hurried to the elevator but there wasn't a button. It was a key pad. "What the fuck is this? Ussop, oi!"

Ussop hurried to the front of the pack. "It looks like one of those private elevators Robin mentioned."

"You called?" Robin appeared behind her friends. "What's happening? Where's Candy?"

Nami whirled around to face the other woman. "She's looking for Alucard by herself."

"She's injured," Chopper added quickly. "Her hands and she was electrocuted when she fought Black Jack. Candy chan isn't in any condition to fight alone."

Luffy gnashed his teeth together. "Godamnit! Robin! Can you get us up to Alucard's office?"

She could but "Not from in here. Hurry, outside. I know which windows are his!"

They didn't have to be told twice. Everyone turned and rushed back out into the storm. Damnit Candy stay alive! I'm coming for you!

He heard the elevator reach his floor; it chimed twice in the hall. Alucard faced the door waiting for Jack or King to bring him news of the happenings outside. By now most of the Mugiwara pirates should be dead. "Took you long enough," Alucard grumbled absentmindedly looking at the clock on the mantle. The footsteps in the hall were light. "Roulette?"

It wasn't Roulette that opened the door to Dark's office, it was Candy. She was drenched and shaking from being out in the cold rain, Candy was barefoot. Her dress had been sheered off at the knee and her hands were wrapped in bandages. His songbird looked a wreck. Alucard blinked at her. "What in the hell happened to you?"

Candy stepped into Alucard's office. "Bruno…Bruno is dead."

Alucard frowned. "What?"

"That's right. Jack killed him." She braved another step closer to her jailer. "So I killed Jack."

For a moment he was sure she had to be joking. Candy kept her eyes fixed on him; there was something not quite sane there. Alucard came around his desk to meet his songbird. "You killed Jack?"

"Yes. I electrocuted him." Just like I'm going to do to you. Candy lunged at Alucard.

Robin made haste creating a stairway of hands for Luffy. "Hurry captain! Candy is in great danger!"

That's what Luffy was afraid of. He scaled the hands up to the office window as fast as he could. "Candy chan!!!"

It hurts… Her charge had failed; her former captain was just too fast for her to keep up with. He held her crushed left hand in one of his, her right wrist in the other. As if to add insult to injury Alucard was stealing the energy she did have left.

"You've really pissed me off now Candy. Here I was about to give you props for your first assassination and then you try to assassinate me!?" He could feel broken bones in the hand he held. He squeezed a little and she cried out in pain. "You're in big trouble birdie, big trouble!" Alucard was debating finishing the little wench off when the window behind the desk shattered.

Luffy burst through screaming, "Candy!"

She rolled her head as best she could to see. For a second Alucard had stopped tormenting her distracted by Luffy's entrance. "Lu…ffy…"

He saw his friend barely on her feet and in Dark Alucard's clutches. The bandages on Candy's left hand were soaked with fresh blood. He's been godamn hurting her! "Let Candy chan go now you bastard!" Luffy's fists started to shake with fury.

"You," Alucard sneered at Mugiwara Luffy. He tightened his grip around Candy's wrist, around the source of her Edelbrock power and squeezed. The stone on the bracelet shattered releasing a refreshing jolt of energy. Of course it shocked the hell out of his songbird and she screamed. "Did you feel Edelbrock die Candy? You'll never be able to summon him again. It takes a pair!"

Luffy didn't give a fuck about Edelbrock, Candy was in pain. "I said let her go!"

The pirate kid took a few steps his way and Alucard took two steps closer to the window. "Don't interrupt us brat. I'm having a little discussion with my disobedient and ungrateful child. I'll deal with you after I've finished with Candy."

This guy… for a minute Luffy saw Cherry Reggie on his porch with a bottle of cheap booze in his hand. No not again. "No, not ever again!" Luffy stretched his arms and reached for Candy.

Alucard moved fast, too fast for the kid to grab Candy. "Alright then you little shit you leave me no choice." Now he was really pissed. "Godamn kids these days." With one arm Alucard tossed Candy out the open window and charged the pirate.

She was flying. The office seemed to be getting further away and it was getting dark. Luffy…where did he go? Something white fluttered in front of her, papers from off Alucard's desk she guessed. Candy reached for it and the world went black.

Son of a…! Candy went out the window and Alucard charged. Luffy dodged right, there he was, left and Dark blocked him again. Godamnit Candy chan is falling! "Robin!!!"

Zoro was looking straight up when he saw a body come flying out the window. "Fuck me Freddy is that Candy?" he grumbled. A second later Luffy screamed for Robin.

"Robin chwan make me something to jump off of, I'll catch her!"

She didn't hesitate and made a few big steps up for Sanji. Mr. Cook safely reached Candy and took her into his arms. Robin helped them back to the ground and everyone gathered around them. Candy wasn't conscious but she did have something in one bandaged hand. "What is that she's holding?"

Nami carefully took it from her and straightened it out. It was a memo from, "Oh shit the marines?"

"Marines what?" Ussop scrambled for a look at the paper. "Oh shit!"

"Fifteen ships," Nami went pale. "On their way here now."

"Na-nani!?" Zoro twitched. "How long do we have?"

Ussop swallowed hard. "Seven hours, tops. We've got to get out of here before the island is surrounded by a fleet."

"Shit," Zoro looked back up at the window. Other debris was beginning to fall. "Luffy's fight has started. When he's finished we'll tell him we need to go."

It was hard to hit Alucard, even harder to hit the guy without him trying to grab hold and steal energy. Still Luffy had landed some good shots. Alucard was bigger and his powers were strange but he was a spoiled man that hadn't seen real combat in quite some time. This time being the stupid kid fresh from the fight works to my advantage.

This friend of Candy's was just as annoying as she was. "You little shit. As if I'd ever let you take Candy away from here. She's better off dead in High Roll then out there on the Grand Line with you."

"How dare you," Luffy was shaken. This guy is just like… "Candy and I have a dream and we made a promise. To sail the Grand Line together." Luffy prepared his body. What he had always wanted to do to Cherry Reggie, Dark Alucard was gonna get. "As if I'd let her stay here or you either." Luffy called upon the speed he could conger when he was close to second gear. His arms flung back smashing through wall after wall. "Gum gum no bazooka!"

He saw it coming a second too late to get out of the way. "Shit!" the impact alone knocked him out cold and Dark Alucard went sailing off into the distant night sky someplace far, far away from the storm in High Roll.

Luffy watched Alucard disappear. "I told you if you hurt Candy chan I'd kill you." He adjusted his hat on his head and went to the window. Luffy looked down, his nakama were out on the lawn waiting for him in the rain. All of them. He smiled and jumped down to join them.

15