If this happened a month ago, I would've ran away with a tail between my legs, but now, as I watched Luffy smile at the bunch of pirates surrounding us, I realised I didn't have to. He will make the world alright. 

I felt as if the time was moving slower than usual. Luffy stretching his arms and swinging them at the blood thirsty men, me pulling out my humble and a bit rusty knife. The heart in my chest was beating as if trying to break open. I heard screams all round me and just when it felt like watching a movie, I screamed myself.

I lunged at the nearest person, jabbing my weapon through his defence and succeeded at injuring his ribs. He screamed in agony and threw a punch towards my face, but the training I've been through taught me how to dodge and use the movement against him. I bowed under his arm, grabbed it and pulled it back, causing him to trip. My foot connected to his open wound and then with his skull. The man fainted.

I tried to control my fast paced breathing and failed to foresee the other pirate running in my direction. A gasp left my mouth as I suddenly felt strong pain in my nose and crashed to the ground. My hand flew to my face and I lifted it to protect myself from any further injuries. The pirate grabbed me by my hair and pulled me upwards. I gathered the strength to kick him in the groin and jumped away, knocking into my captain.

The boy was fighting with four other men and I realised I couldn't bother him with my opponent also, even if I thought the man was way too powerful for me. I noticed a tall built woman trying to attack Luffy from his blind spot. I pushed the boy away, but so caused his attack on the pirates to fail. They were closing in and from Luffy's heavy breathing I could see he was just as exhausted as I was.

"We can't beat them!" I yelled as my hand searched for the 'emergency escape balls' as Usopp liked to call them.

Luffy grabbed one guy and punched him in the face. "Is Vivi here?!" he asked as if expecting a response from a fainted man.

 "We'll have to run... 1, 2, 3!" I threw the smoke bomb on the floor and grabbed Luffy while protecting my eyes. I pulled the boy, watching carefully that his arms didn't extend and he stayed with me, and we ran past the pirates as fast as we could. 

The door was luckily opened from when the pirates entered the crystal room, so we didn't have to break in. After turning and passing many hallways, so many that we couldn't even hear the yells anymore, I finally stopped in a dark secluded corner. I fell on my bottom, burying my head into my arms as I leaned them on my knees. My quick breaths slowly turned into long exhales and fast inhales, but I still couldn't talk from the adrenaline.

"Your nose is bleeding, Candy." I smiled at Luffy's attempt to start a conversation, but didn't answer. He was probably disappointed that I fled so fast. "You did great out there."

"I could've done more." I looked up to see his huge black eyes just a few centimetres from my face. "Strawhats are supposed to be brave." I didn't expect him to give me an award earning speech, so when he just shrugged, I sighed and got up. "We have to find Vivi."

Luffy nodded and we began our long trip past many halls and dark abandoned rooms. My nose still hurt and I was afraid we'd get found as the pirates were still searching for us. After what seemed like a hundredth turn, we noticed a staircase leading upwards. It ended with a huge metal soundproof door of circle shape that opened and closed from the middle.

"Wow, that looks like a dragon's butt!" Luffy giggled and I raised my eyebrows. Before I could protest, my captain ran up the stairs and banged on the metal. "Yo, Vivi! You in there?!"

"Luffy, no!" I gasped and seized his hand. "She's not in there, that's probably the control room-" The door suddenly opened up, leaving a round hole in the wall and revealing an enormous room, shaded in fluorescent lighting and filled with strange looking gadgets that made lots of noise. 

On a bar stool behind the computer sat none other than Miss Blue July, Vickie, my former best friend. She was groaning and yelling something in the microphone while punching the table with every word. Her posture showed long held frustration and anger. I grabbed Luffy's hand to pull him back and hide. This wasn't the plan! I didn't want to fight her, we just had to save Vivi and get out of here.

Luffy wriggled out of my grasp and stood in the middle of control room, his confidence radiating brightly. I gritted my teeth but stayed put, still not ready to face the girl I've spent so much time with. 

"Hey, Miss Traitor! Give us back our Vivi!" The captain yelled with the boom of his lungs and Vickie turned to him with a wicked grin.

"Here for more beating are we?" She whispered something in the mic and pulled out her spiked chain. "You shouldn't have come here, now I have to kill you." I saw her whip behind her chain and Luffy get ready to counter attack. I gulped and jumped from my hiding spot.

"Stop, we don't have to do this." My voice sounded calm, but I truly wasn't. "Just let us and Vivi go and we'll be out of your way." Vickie froze and glared at me.

"You really think I can do that, you stupid bitch?!" I winced at her words and bit my lip. I had to forget she used to be my friend, but I couldn't help but think this isn't what she wanted to do.

"Whatever you think you have to do... you don't. Pirates are free people, remember?" I smiled at her and saw Luffy nod behind me with a smug face. Vickie huffed and lowered her shoulders. I relaxed and took a step forward to comfort her when Luffy suddenly threw me on the floor and a chain almost shot through him.

"Like I care what you think!"

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Pheeeew.... T.T It's been forever since I've updated. 

It's my fault for not writing this chapter before going on my vacation cause I was too lazy and told myself I'd write it during my stay in Croatia, but turns out wi-fi there is shitty and I can't focus with my whole family chatting in the next room.

Anyways, what do you guys think is gonna happen? XD

Leave some comments & upvote.

<3333 Love ya'll

~ChocolateLuffy