"I know you'll probably say it's nothing or it's what I should do… but for this country, and for me, this is the most precious and unreturnable gift."
Vivi gently stepped forward and embraced Tomioka, but quickly let go, as if afraid the gesture would make him uncomfortable.
"Then I wish you can find clues to go home soon…"
Thinking of something else to say, her voice carried a hint of playfulness, "And you need to learn how to interact with people, so you won't always be misunderstood and disliked."
Tomioka was slightly stunned. He hadn't expected Vivi to say so much to him, and even less that her final words would be such an admonition.
He looked at the princess's sincere smile before him, was silent for a moment, and finally nodded in response:
"Mhm."
Then he seemed to think for a moment, his gaze passing over Vivi to the boisterous group still crying in a huddle.
"However, I think I've already found a place where I won't be disliked."
He paused, then returned his gaze to Vivi.
Tomioka knew what the country meant to the princess. Vivi not joining the going merry was a perfectly normal decision for him. Since her final decision was to stay here, then… "Then you must also become a better ruler."
When Vivi heard his words, her eyes instantly lit up. Her thoughts went back to the going merry when he had strangely told her that she could become stronger.
At this moment, the girl's smile became even brighter and more resolute: "Mhm! Just as you said, I will become stronger! I will never let anyone invade Alabasta again!"
However, at this warm moment, Usopp suddenly pointed at Tomioka, his mouth wide enough to fit a large duck egg.
"Tomioka can actually talk like this! Is the world going to end?! This must be a dream! A dream!"
Nami sighed helplessly and punched him directly, causing a large bump to appear on his head. "Idiot, this isn't a dream."
All the blessings had been said, and a strange silence permeated the air.
Vivi took a deep breath, as if using all her strength, but she only said softly:
"Is it… time to say goodbye…?"
Before anyone could respond, Zoro suddenly acted, beginning to unwrap the bandage that had been wrapped around his left arm, revealing the X mark underneath.
He extended his arm, "This, I didn't use it during the battle, so let's use this method to say goodbye."
"You Mosshead, you're so heartless!"
Usopp shouted, "Are you just going to say goodbye so bluntly?!" Although he was complaining, he didn't hesitate to start unwrapping the bandage on his own arm, then placed his hand on the back of Zoro's hand.
No one spoke, a silent understanding spread.
Luffy, Nami, Sanji, Chopper, one after another, all silently unwrapped the bandages on their arms, revealing that shared mark, and then stacked their hands on top.
Seeing this scene, Vivi, who was standing nearby, didn't know whether to cry or laugh. She also unwrapped her bandage and placed her hand on top.
Tomioka looked at this scene, actually a bit confused. He didn't fully understand the complete meaning of this gesture, but at this moment, he could feel the strong emotions erupting from everyone present.
He watched as everyone unhesitatingly stepped forward and stacked their hands together. That invisible driving force made him also intend to unwrap his bandage. Sanji, seeing this, also extended his other hand to help Tomioka unwrap it together.
When his hand finally rested on the mountain formed by the stacked palms and backs of his companions' hands, a warm temperature transmitted from Tomioka's palm.
Zoro lifted Chopper with one hand. Chopper tried hard to stretch its small hooves and pressed them tightly on top.
"3…" Luffy lowered his voice and began counting.
"2…" The voices of the crowd began to converge, and it was impossible to distinguish whether the emotions in their voices were excitement, reluctance, or something else.
"1!!"
Everyone seemed to be of one mind, their arms swinging down sharply at the same moment!
Luffy spread his hands and shouted directly: "Let's go!" But then he immediately covered his mouth, as if afraid of waking up others who were resting.
Vivi looked at her hand, which had just participated, her palm and the back of her hand still seemed to retain the warm afterglow from her companions.
She could hardly believe that she had truly possessed this feeling called companionship.
Farewell also began at this moment… Luffy was the first to turn around, leading the way out of the palace. He pressed down hard on his Mugiwara, covering most of his face.
The others shouldered their bags and silently followed, no one looking back again, for fear that if they looked back, they would directly forcibly carry away the princess of the country and take her onto the going merry.
Vivi followed behind them, step by step, walking through the long corridor. The Moonlight filtering through the windows stretched their shadows long, long.
Outside the palace gate, Dash and its Dash Duck troops had already lined up and were waiting, ready to take Luffy and them to the port.
Seeing everyone come out, Dash immediately quacked and quickly came forward. It first affectionately rubbed against Luffy, then against everyone else in turn.
Finally, it came before Tomioka and gently touched Tomioka's hand with its flat beak, letting out a low quack, as if saying goodbye to Tomioka.
Vivi watched as her companions mounted the ducks one after another, and finally couldn't help but shout in a choked voice: "Take care, everyone!"
From the ducks' backs, everyone tried to wave vigorously at her with forced smiles.
Luffy raised his head, his eyes under the Mugiwara were incredibly serious. He stretched out his rubber arm, his fist passing through the air in the dust, and stopped steadily in front of Vivi.
Vivi looked at the familiar fist before her. She understood Luffy's meaning and also raised her fist, gently touching his.
The voice from the other side was no longer the usual carefree joking, but carried maturity and determination.
"Vivi."
"From now on, you can trust not only us, but also Igaram, Chaka, Pell, and everyone in this country who loves you… You also, take good care of yourself!"
"Mhm!!!"
Vivi nodded vigorously, tears falling in the night wind, but her face bloomed with a smile as pure and strong as the Moonlight.
Just then, behind the palace gate, several figures who had been hiding finally emerged.
"Straw Hat!"
"Have a safe journey!"
"Come… visit again!"
"Alabasta will always welcome you. Come again if you have the chance."
"Heeheeheeheeheehee!"
Luffy finally revealed his brilliant smile, waving vigorously, "Goodbye!" And everyone else, in unison, began waving and making their final farewells: "Goodbye! Vivi, and everyone else!"
The flock of ducks began to run, carrying the Straw Hat, towards the port, towards a new adventure, gradually merging into the distant night and Moonlight.
A new journey has begun… "Lady Vivi, East Blue, wasn't that Luffy's hometown we talked about before?"
Among the few sitting at the palace gate, Pell just picked up a newspaper in his hand.
"Yes, what's wrong?"
"It seems something big has happened there…"
"But Luffy and the others have already started heading to the next island, so I don't know if they'll see this news.