Dear Flapjack...

Chapter 36: Candied Catch-up

As Flapjack, Waffle, and their merry crew rummaged through the colorful loot of Candied Island, Flap couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. With a curious look in his eyes, he asked Waffle, "What happened to you, Waffle? Where have you been all this time?"

Waffle paused, her gaze momentarily distant as she sifted through the candies. Finally, she looked at Flapjack and replied, "Survival, that's what happened. It wasn't all that adventurous as you might think." She took a deep breath before continuing, her voice tinged with the weight of their shared experiences. "We've lived on rations, starved, and even had to fight our way through Gummy Gangsters for dear life. By morning, we fought to survive, and by night... well... I sang a few ditties and sea shanties to try to forget everything."

Flapjack's eyes widened with realization. "So that's why I've been hearing your melodies every night while I was out lookin' for you."

Waffle nodded, a mix of emotions playing on her face. "Yeah, Flappy. Each note carried a piece of my heart, a piece of the struggle, and a glimmer of hope. It was my way of keeping a part of myself with you, even when I thought we might never see each other again."

Flapjack listened intently, a newfound understanding filling the gap of uncertainty. Their adventures had taken a toll, and Waffle's candor revealed the challenges she faced in the uncharted territories of survival. Yet, amid hardship, a connection was forged through the haunting melodies that echoed through the night, binding them even when the sea tried to keep them apart.