Disclaimer: I don't own Candy, Candy and it's characters. Candy Candy and all characters belong to Kyoko Mizuki, images to Yumiko Igarashi and anime a Toei Animation.

To all readers, thank you for patiently waiting. I am finally finished this chapter that I am jumping for joy. Hopefully no one will be dissapointed. Thank you again for reading and your reviews.


Chapter 7 – Secrets Revealed

After failing to stop Candy from going to France, Albert decided to go to Candy's apartment. He needed to be surrounded with her smell, her fragrance, her memories anything that will bring him closer to her; to bring comfort, to ease the guilt, agony, and pain that's burning inside his soul. Just when all hope was lost he discovered something dearest that holds his beloved's heart and soul.

It was a dreadful train ride and sleep was her only companion. Oh, how she wishes to hold Stear's happy box, unfortunately she gave it to Patty who needed it most. Then, she remembered her other terrible train ride coming back from New York, yet here she is again. Will I ever be happy riding in a train? Or will it will always be like this, running away from pain and sorrow? Candy thought sincerely as she tried to make herself comfortable. The sun was high that time, its warmth beating on her face; she welcomed all its warmth, which seemed to soothe her cold, numb heart. She closes her eyes; still she can see its brightness penetrating against her closed eyes. Like a blanket of red orange surrounding her. Then suddenly...

Everything went dark, like an evening where the moon never shines and the stars hidden for sadness and grief covered the sky. The wind blows sounding like a hungry wolf looking for its prey; the bitter cold cuts like a sharp knife that pierces one's soul. Beneath her feet lays eternal blackness, like one step she'll fall into the abyss. Every step she made, fear surrounded her entire being for she knew not where the path leads. Down to the path of uncertainty either she goes away from the only man she love and will ever love, or to the other where she hopes to find healing and new love. She knows not what to do. At last, as she treaded this bitter wilderness, a blur of light appeared from a distance; the figure which seemed familiar, waving at her convincing her to come forth. Her heart races, ready to leap out from her bosom, her knees buckled and her feet were firmed to the ground. What manner of strength she needed at this time for she wanted to run, to run away from the figure, but deep down she long for his warm embrace, his sweet smell, and his loving eyes.

A mirror unexpectedly appeared from who knows where, landed on her hand. She couldn't recognize herself at first for now her face had grown weary and mournful. What had transpired that brought her to this stage? She knew the answer but hasn't had the inner courage to draw it out. She is in denial, denying her own happiness. Suddenly, her hand grew tired shattering the mirror into many pieces. The pieces became lights illuminating the utterly dark ravine she's standing on. In each pieces she saw all the people that love her, looking sorrowful staring at her. She felt guilty from running away from them; then she realized she was only running away from herself. The figure has cometh forth, she can feel his warm breath penetrating her soul, Oh how wonderful it was, like a ravage fire melting her now cold heart. How can she comprehend to look him into his eyes? Will her own betray her? Will she forever stay here where eternal darkness lingers or return and welcome his warm embrace? The pain and uncertainty were too overwhelming; controlling her senses that she finally decided to face the unknown. Unexpectedly, she heard a voice from a distance, "Miss, Miss, we have arrived in Chicago." Candy opened her eyes, for she fell asleep and was dreaming or if you can call it one.

"Thank you very much, Sir." Candy replied and gathered her belongings and headed down to the hospital to see Mr. Lenard.


Finally, the two men boarded the train heading to Chicago. The weather seemed to turn out the opposite since Candy took the earlier train. Albert felt he was a dead man walking, walking towards the unknown. He sat down on his seat, while George sat across from him. Their silence was deafening. Albert laid his head against the window, the storm was brewing above the sky, and lighting and thunder dance as the raging storm started its force. Albert watched the rain drops pouring through the window, he thought of it like his tears from this utter pain ripping through his soul. Finally, George uttered solemnly, "Albert try to close your eyes and get some sleep."

Albert closed his eyes; breathing heavily still he can hear the thunder roaring like a mad lion whose prey managed to escape. The lightings were terrifying, even with his eyes closed he can feel its power; Albert trembled and shivered. George asked the conductor if he can have a blanket, he then covered Albert who's starting to lose his consciousness.

Until Albert felt something soft against his toes, still with his eyes closed, he gently dug his feet deeper trying to feel the earth, and he was standing on the beach he opened his eyes and marvelled at the sun high up in the sky, it rays glistening red, orange, and yellow colours above the sea, the freshness of the air filled his lungs renewing his soul. He closed his eyes again taking everything in. Suddenly, startled by a thundering sound, the clouds are gathering together and from a distant he saw Candy running towards him, behind her was this towering wave rushing ready to engulf his beloved. He runs towards her but no matter how he tried he couldn't manage to get near her. The wave crushed in, Candy was drowning, and Albert couldn't see anything for the water was darkened. He heard her gasping for air, he swam as fast as he could, then at the moment he's about to grab her hand; someone grabbed Candy's hand and pulled her to safety. By the time he managed to go back, the man was carrying Candy to the shore. He saw Candy looked at the man who save her, she then smile, the man gently kiss her then Albert screamed, "NOOOOO!"

George woke him up, "Albert you're dreaming!"

Albert woke up confused, looking all around him. George had to slap his face to bring him back to reality. His heart was racing; he was sweating and trembling. George gave him some water to drink.

Albert with his head down could only mutter, "I couldn't save her; I couldn't no matter how I tried." He kept repeating those words.

George comforted him by saying that it was only a dream. But Albert somehow knew that is probably the future if he couldn't make it on time. He knew who that man represented for he remembered Franny's letter and now his fears are turning into anger. A very deep anger that he never felt before, sure he got angry before especially with Aunt Elroy meddling on his life. But this kind of anger is totally different, it's a kind of anger that enables any man to ignore all logic and follow only his instincts. This anger was fuelling his thoughts, thoughts that he would never think about. Unknowingly, Albert broke the glass with his strong grip, and blood came gushing from his hand. But he didn't feel the pain. George hurriedly took the broken glass and wrapped Albert's hand. Albert was still in a trace. He was looking at his hand bleeding; he thought that this is his heart bleeding heavily inside.


With uncertainty growing in her heart, she came to see Dr. Lenard and explained her desire to go to France as a medical nurse volunteer. Also, two days before she had spoken with Head Mistress Mary Jane about her desire. Dr. Lenard instructed Candy to wait while he tried to contact Head Mistress Mary Jane. After a while he received the confirmation and papers for Candy to sign as a contract for her duty.

Candy was reading the paper, she thought, this is it, my ticket away from here, my chance of finding new life, new love again. Is this really what I want? Oh no, this is not what I want but this is what I need for now, a space to think and understand myself. With trembling hands, Candy signed the papers.

Dr. Lenard said, "Candy, are you positive about your decision?"

"Yes, Dr. Lenard I am." Candy replied trying to convince herself and Dr. Lenard.

"Very well then, you still have enough time to go back to your apartment and get your belongings. Remember to bring only what you need, they will provide your uniform. Then come back as soon as you can."

"Yes sir and thank you."

Candy headed down to her apartment. She froze in front of her door, she couldn't open it. For once opened, flood of Albert's memories will soon besiege her. With her head bowed and eyes closed she let out a big sigh and opened the door. Still her eyes closed she closes the door behind her. Standing along she surveyed the room, nothing changed except everywhere she looked Albert was present; in the kitchen where he cooked for her, in the sofa where he read as she studied, at the table where they ate and talked about everything. Oh no, these were too much to bear, Candy thought. She rushed to her room and hurriedly gathered her clothes.

Frantically, while packing her clothes she came across her treasure box that contained her dearest treasures, Albert's brooch, and her prince of the hill, Miss Pony's pendant, and Anthony's picture. She gently touched each one of them, recalling all the beautiful memories she holds in her heart. Then she suddenly realized she doesn't have anything from Terry. I guess I don't, Candy said. His will be forever in my memory.

As she continued, she found a book. Aha! My dear friend, it's been a while since we talked, Candy said. She held her journal. Ever since Albert left when he regained his memory Candy felt alone and needed to talk to someone, so she decided to start her journal, a way to pour out her soul. "I need to bring you with me in France, what do you say? We will begin our new adventure, new life." Candy said.

A loud knock startled her; she dropped her journal back on her dresser, as she left most of her clothes piled over her journal and her treasure box. "Oh my, is that Albert? Oh no! What am I going to do? I don't want to see him. Candy thought.

With her shaking hands, hesitantly, she opened the door. It was her landlady, "Candy I wasn't aware that you're back. I thought some burglar was in here."

In her relief Candy blurted out, "Oh hey, Miss yes it's just me, just me, I am in a hurry to pack I am going to France to volunteer as a medical nurse, I am not sure when will I be back. So if you can kindly keep a watch over my place once again."

"Oh that of course, well better let you go now. If you need anything I will be downstairs."


Upon arrival, Albert went over to the other side of the station where trains are getting ready to leave; with his eyes never failing to search for her. Several times he'd mistaken every curly blond woman that passed by him. He boarded the waiting train carefully searching each rows trying hard to find her, hoping that he'll find her before the train leaves. At last, the train blew its horn as loud as it can be; the conductor asked him to leave for the train is getting ready to leave. She's not here, maybe she changed her mind and maybe. Albert faintly hoped. Reluctantly he left the train and headed towards his car.

When he was about to open his car, an unfamiliar voice spoke a familiar name, "Miss Candy, Miss Candy you forgot your scarf." The man was shouting standing on his carriage waving the scarf. Candy who was at that time had already been holding onto the train and beginning to board, turned around and said, "I have no time to get it, you can have it, thank you."

Albert turned around as those words were being spoken, he saw her, he finally saw her after all this time chasing, waiting, and searching. There she was looking radiant with her red coat and red boots waving at the man who gave her a ride. Albert ran, like he never ran before, his heart was beating ready to leap out of his chest, his throat parched like a desert. He reached the train, at that time was starting to edge very slowly at the tracks. He found her sitting by the window, he pounced on the window, startling her, he was screaming her name as loud as the train's whistle, Candy turned around and finally their eyes met ever since that ever tragic night. Candy couldn't breathe she gaped upon seeing him; he looked worried and sorrowful, while she looked scared, hurt, and confused.

"Candy, get out of the train, I need to talk to you." Albert pleaded, pounding the window, walking along the moving train.

The conductor yelled, "Mister you're going to get hurt, please step away from the train."

As Albert looked at the man, Candy turned around away from him. When Albert turned to look at her, it pained him on what he saw and cried, "Candy, Candy look at me, look at me!" He begged these words as he hit the window. Candy couldn't hear him for every time he spoke the train whistle loudly. She couldn't turn around for her eyes were heavy with tears. Knowing he was not getting any answer, he hurriedly wrote a note to her and handed it to one of the conductor at the end of the train and said, "Please Sir I beg of you as a man desperately in love, please give this to Miss Candy White." The conductor pitied him and said, "I will young man. You know there's another train leaving later." The conductor winked at him as the train left the platform.

Albert knelt down the pavement and wept. Unable to stand, George carried him on his shoulders, brought him back to the car and drove away. George knew that Albert needed Candy, so he brought him to her apartment. As George opened the door, Albert looked with his vision blurred from the sea of tears, and said, "Why did you bring me here?"

"In here you will find her scent, her memories, and her spirit. You need to be surrounded with things that remind you of her, that you may gather your strength and your senses. Then we will leave to go to France. I will make the necessary arrangement while you stay here."

Albert let out a big sigh, surveyed the room and turns around and said, "This will do for now, thank you George."

He headed straight to her room. Quickly glanced around and noted the pile of clothes, evidence of her hurriedness. Albert buried himself over the pile of clothes trying to savour her scent, inhaling every one he can letting it feed his hungry soul, his tormented mind, his broken heart, his weaken body. Her scent brought a flood of memories, playing again and again in his mind. Now he realized what she had done to him, that no matter where he goes she goes with him in every cell of his body, every inch of his soul. As he wrapped himself with her clothes he came across a hard box covered under the pile of clothes. After studying, he opened the box; it contained three items she obviously treasured. He saw Anthony's picture and he remembered how he comforted her during her darkness times, the angel pendant, he thought that Sis Pony or Miss Maria gave it to her to keep her safe. Lastly, he studied the brooch, he thought it belong to the Ardley but who? He then remembered how Candy called him "Prince of the Hill." That he found this pendant on that day he met her prince. He then recalled one of their conversations; she mentioned that she fell in love at the age of six, when she met her prince. Dumbfounded, it's all coming to pieces; he was the reason why Candy decided to be adopted by the Leagans.

He realized how she treasured his brooch for a very long time, and yet there is nothing inside the box that represents Terry, a man whom he was afraid that Candy will never forget and will never stop loving. For some strange reason as he held the brooch against his heart, a gush of warmth penetrated his heart bringing sweet smiles on his lips and crystal tears flowing from his eyes. She loves me. I am Candy's first love! Albert thought with great pride and relief. With this renewed found strength, he got up, folded all her clothes merrily. A thump sounded on the floor, he saw something that looks like a book that fell, and he thought it was one of her nursing text books. As it lay open for his eyes to see, he noticed that it's a journal, Candy's journal. He picked it up and sat on her bed. At first he was hesitant to read it, thinking that he's betraying her or afraid what he will discover. Moments passed as he pondered through his thoughts and then said, "If I want to win her back I need to know what's in her heart."

He sat on her bed with his back rested on the wall; he begins to turn the pages.