High Roll Arc The Last Word
After the Storm it's a brand new world!
Candy stirred when she heard Nami screaming to Luffy about marines. She was vaguely aware that she was being rained on, she felt very numb. Someone Sanji was holding her up somehow. Candy rolled her eyes over to the sound of Nami's voice and saw Luffy. He frowned at Nami and peeked Candy's way. He must have noticed her awake because he headed her way. Luffy… where is Alucard?
Luffy went to Candy and bent over her in the rain. "Candy, you alright?"
She tried to nod but wasn't sure if she did or not. "Luffy you…"
"It's okay Candy, don't try to talk. You need to rest." His friend was deathly pale and there were dark circles under her eyes. "Chopper is going to take care of you."
That was good news, Candy was very sleepy. "Luffy," she tried to reach for him and she thought he took her hand. "I'm so glad…you finally… came to get…me…"
Candy lost consciousness and Luffy looked down at their hands. "It's okay Candy chan. I'm never leaving you again."
"I told you over there idiot!"
"I did put it there!"
Nami, Zoro.
"This is right this is left are you that stupid!"
Their voices were muffled but Candy could hear them fairly clearly. She opened her eyes and stared up at an unfamiliar ceiling. Candy blinked and cast her eyes around a room she had never been in before. The walls are…wood? She sat up wondering what place this was. Upon closer observation Candy saw a familiar looking photo album on the dresser. "My scrapbook?"
She swung her feet over the side of the bed. Looking down she noticed she was dressed in her own pajamas. The pink ones with bunnies on the sleeves. "What the?"
The door to Candy's room opened and Chopper appeared. "Oh Candy chan! You're awake!"
Across the hall Luffy's door banged open. "Candy chan is awake?"
Candy blinked at Luffy and Chopper as they hurried in. "You guys…"
"How are you feeling Candy chan?" Chopper asked.
Slightly disorientated but "Okay I guess."
"Man Candy, you slept for a long time!" Luffy plopped down on Candy's bed.
She rolled her eyes over to Luffy. "Eh?"
Chopper clarified. "You were unconscious for four days and nights. Everyone was very worried about you."
"Four…" Four days?! "What about the Seven? Alucard?!"
Robin appeared in the doorway with the answers. "Luffy took care of Alucard. He's so far from High Roll he'll never get back, if he's alive."
"Alucard is," Candy lost her breath.
Luffy grinned at Candy. "I kicked his ass."
"Pony Race survived, Roulette too though I doubt we'll ever see them again." Robin continued.
"Did they leave High Roll?" Candy asked.
"I believe Roulette left as soon as Nami's storm blew out."
Candy sagged a little. She didn't really like Roulette but sometimes she was alright sometimes she was even pretty cool. "Oh."
"She did leave something behind for you Candy chan," Robin gestured to the box next to Candy's scrap book. "She said she wanted you to have it."
She looked from Robin to the dresser. Luffy stretched and grabbed the box for her. He set it in her hands. "Thanks Luffy." Candy flipped open the box and for a moment her heart stopped. "Lord Kai!"
Robin stepped into the room. "Candy chan; think carefully before you put that on. You have been unconscious for as long as you have because your feed to Edelbrock was cut off. Whether you realized it or not Edelbrock was always flowing within you. That is why you were not permitted to take your bracelets off. Look closely at your hands. Right now you are free. Do you want to make that kind of communion with Kai?"
Candy's eyes went back to Robin. "Why did Roulette pass these to me?"
"She's finished fighting. Roulette is going back to East Blue."
"I see." Candy stared at her bandaged hands. She did feel naked without her bracelets. Kai was a set of four, two ring adorned bracelets and two anklets with toe rings. It's twice the power of Edelbrock.
Luffy had to butt in. "Maybe you should let Ussop and Robin have a good look at those things before you try to put them on Candy."
"Yeah alright." Candy closed the box. A moment later something strange happened. The room tilted. Candy put out a hand feeling dizzy.
He put a hand on Candy's shoulder and steadied her. "Easy Candy," Luffy fret a little. "You're still pretty weak you know."
She handed Luffy the box and he stretched again setting the box by her scrapbook. "Is that my scrapbook?" she had to ask.
"Yeah. All of your stuff is here," Luffy smiled at her.
All of my stuff wha? "What do you mean all of my stuff is here?" She looked at the walls again feeling her heart speed up in her chest. "Where is here?"
"This is your room Candy chan," Chopper helped.
"Aboard our ship," Luffy's grin grew bigger.
Ship… She stared at Luffy. "I'm on your ship?"
"Yep."
The last time Candy woke she was in her bed high atop La Palacia. "You moved me onto your ship while I was asleep?"
"Had to, the marines were coming."
"Marines?! The marines are coming?"
Luffy waved a hand dismissively. "We out ran those guys long ago. They're days behind us."
"Be-behind? Are you saying that we've…" No way…
"We left High Roll as soon as the storm blew itself out," Robin explained.
Candy's mouth fell open and her eyes lit up. "We're sailing?"
He couldn't keep the giggle in. Candy looked excited and she had bed hair. "Yup."
She reached for Luffy and took handfuls of his shirt. "We're sailing on the Grand Line right now?"
"Yes Candy chan we are. Wanna see?" He peeked at Chopper. "A little fresh air will do Candy some good ne Chopper?"
Chopper nodded. "But you carry her Luffy. Candy chan is still very weak."
"No problem." Luffy stood and scooped Candy into his arms. He followed Robin out and up. "Are you mad at me Candy chan," Luffy teased with a grin as they stepped out on deck. "I guess I did kidnap you seeing as how you were asleep when we left High Roll."
Warm sun and the fresh sea breeze hit Candy in the face, she laughed at her friend. "Out here with you is where I want to be Luffy."
Luffy hugged Candy a little tighter as they headed for their nakama at the bow of the ship. "Me too Candy. Welcome home."