Helena wakes up on a futon. She sits up, groaning at the ache in her stomach.
"Sorry if Luffy hit you...he wanted to fight the guy," Usopp says from beside her. "You okay?"
"I was anymore older, he woulda killed me," Helena sighs.
"Again. Sorry."
"We're in one of the bunkers," Says Nami. The bunker is dimly lit with shelves stocked with supplies.
"Most of the other bunkers were full," Says Judy, her head wrapped in cloths.
"You alright, Judy?" Helena asks.
Judy nods.
Loud booms echo above ground. Zoro scowls, but does nothing. This was not his fight. Judy hugs herself. "I don't want him to die..."
"He won't," Nami smiles.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because he's made of rubber," Usopp jokes. "He ate a Devil Fruit, too."
"I should go up there," Judy heads for the ladder, but Zoro stops her by placing a hand on her shoulder and saying. "You would just be in his way."
"You don't know that!" Judy rips her arm away. "I won't let him die!"
"Judy...!" Helena winces as Judy scrambles up the ladder.
"Wait!" Nami cries.
In another bunker, Charles and Caroline were in with a bunch of other villagers and their two girls. "Daddy? Is it over?" Asked one of the girls.
"No. Not yet honey," Charles whispers.
"I can't believe we all treated Judy so badly..." Says one man. "She protected us."
"It's in the past. Maybe she'll forgive us," Caroline whispers.
"Helena was right," Says a woman. "I can't believe we shunned the poor girl."
"There is no point feeling any more guilt," Says Charles. "We can apologize all we want when it is all over."
Above ground, Judy stumbles as the ground shakes and Luffy is thrown against a tree, his body littered with scratches and bruises. Judy gasps and goes to kneel by Luffy, holding his head. "Luffy..."
"No...this is my fight...go back to the bunker..." Luffy groans, adjusting his hat.
"Hell no," Judy says angrily.
"You have to before--"
Jonah cackles as he stands on a tree stump, his blue eyes shining and his muscles bulging. "Judy...You decided to come out of hiding?"
"I won't let you hurt him!" Judy stands in front of Luffy.
"Aw...how sweet..." Jonah tilts his head. "That's fine. I get to kill both of you."
Judy tearfully closes her eyes. Jonah aims at her. Luffy tries to get up. "Judy..." Luffy groans.
Judy looks away and when the light flashes, the beam doesn't hit her, but hits Helena. Judy opens her eyes and covers her mouth. Helena's eyes narrow as her pupils turn pink. "I may be old, but I still have a job to finish..."
"Grandma Helena..." Judy chokes, going on her knees.
"My...my energy..." Jonah groans as the villagers come out of hiding with Luffy's crew.
"Luffy!" Nami cries, rushing over with Usopp and Zoro.
"What's happening to him?!" Usopp says, staring wide-eyed at the struggling Jonah.
"Grandma Helena! Please!" Judy sobs.
"Judy...you are my granddaughter...I love you so much..." Helena turns her head, her palms glittering. "I know you'll find peace..."
"GRANDMA HELENA!" Judy shrieks as Helena runs at Jonah, and both Usopp and Zoro had to hold her back. "Let me go!"
"Oh god..." Nami turns her head away.
Luffy widened his eyes as a large gust of wind blew everyone back.
When everyone started waking up, Judy was the first to see that both Jonah and Helena were gone. Behind was only raining sparkles. The sun slowly set as Judy fell to her knees, sobbing brokenly.
"Oh Judy..." Usopp whispers.
"Helena's..." Nami whimpers.
Caroline looks at Charles and slowly kneels behind Judy to hug her. Judy looks up at Caroline. "You...I thought you all..."
"Shh...calm yourself...it is okay..." Caroline coos.
Judy sobs over and over again. She couldn't save Helena.
THREE DAYS LATER£
Judy sits at the cliffside, a lump in the ground containing Helena's belongings. The villagers trusted Judy a bit now, but her concern was her decision. Luffy asked her to join his crew. She wants to leave the island so bad, but she was scared her village would get attacked again.
Charles comes up and leans against a tree. "Helena...she was a strong old woman..." He grins. "I bet right now she's laughing at all the crying." His grin fades as he sees Judy's tense form. "Still worried about the village?"
"Charles, I can't just leave," Says Judy.
"Helena would want you to go. Trust me, we'll all be fine. You need to live your own life," Charles suddenly remembered something. "Oh! All this sad mumbo jumbo, I almost forgot..."
Judy turns her head, taking the necklace from his palm. "This is hers..."
"Your mother kept it. It was a gift from your father before, you know..." Charles sits by her.
Judy smiles.
"So, what's it gonna be?"
Judy looks around, feeling the wind blow. She had made a decision.
Standing at the shore, Judy sees the wood caravel with the lamb's head and large white sail with a skull with crossbones and a straw hat. She has a satchel over her left shoulder and she sees Luffy and the others on the ship.
"Hey! You did come!" Luffy waves. "Come on!"
"Don't rush her," Nami sighs as Zoro drops the rope ladder.
Judy smiles happily. For the first time in 17 years, she was finally free.
As the caravel left the island, Judy sees Helena's glowing spirit. When rubbing her eyes, it was gone. Judy giggles to herself.
Judy was used to sleeping on the floor, so Nami didn't have to feel guilty when they shared the girls' quarters under deck. Nami got the nice big bed while Judy had a tiny mattress and large blanket.
Lovely way to start an adventure.
Am I right? No? Okay...