Night fell like water, once again gently enveloping Alabasta.
The rain that had lasted for several days had now completely stopped, and a bright full Moonlight hung in the sky, illuminating this battered yet stubbornly standing capital.
The palace appeared exceptionally quiet under the Moonlight, but in the spacious guest room assigned to the Straw Hat, the atmosphere was somewhat different from its usual boisterousness.
Nami sat up from the bed, holding the Log Pose in her hands; the pointer within the glass sphere had completely stabilized, pointing steadfastly towards some unknown distant place.
"Everyone, the log is complete… It's time for us to depart."
Zoro opened his feigned sleeping eyes, stood up from the corner, and stretched his limbs: "So, the day has finally come, huh? If I stayed any longer, my body would rust."
Usopp, still in bed, hugged his soft pillow tightly, a look of longing on his face: "Waaah… This place is so good! Endless delicious food, endless lazy naps…"
"Usopp, don't be like that! Adventure, adventure!" Luffy snatched Usopp's pillow, pulling him out of his fantasy.
Everyone then nodded to Nami; despite the reluctance to leave the comfortable rest of the past few days, a new adventure was calling them.
A pirate crew, after all, belonged on the sea, and everyone began to pack their simple belongings.
When they pushed open the guest room door and stepped into the palace corridor, they were surprised to find a figure already waiting there.
Vivi, the Princess of Alabasta, was not wearing a magnificent court dress tonight, but a simple skirt and top, leaning gently against a pillar, as if she had been waiting there for a long time.
"Vivi!"
Luffy immediately raised his hand, a wide smile spreading across his face, "Are you coming with us?"
The Moonlight streamed through the corridor window, outlining Vivi's slight shake of her head.
"No, Nami told me you were leaving tonight, so I came here… to see you off."
Luffy tilted his head, a puzzled expression on his face, somewhat confused: "Why don't you come on an adventure? New adventures are sure to be fun!"
Vivi looked at this group of companions who had pulled her back from the abyss of despair, and countless memories flooded her mind.
Their first encounter at Twin Cape, traveling together at Whiskey Peak, meeting giants in Small Garden, seeing winter snow and cherry blossoms on Drum Island, and all the laughter and tears along the way.
Her gaze swept over each familiar face, her eyes filled with an affection that was hard to let go of.
"I really like this pirate crew… I will never forget the days I spent adventuring with you," Vivi's voice trembled slightly, but it was replaced by something even more resolute within her.
"But, I love this country too much… I can't bear to leave it. Here, I have people and a future I need to protect."
Hearing this, Luffy lowered his Mugiwara, looking a little glum.
Nami then stepped forward, gently nudging Luffy aside, and reached out to tightly grasp Vivi's cool hands.
"We will remember you too, Vivi…"
Her voice choked for a moment, then she said with more force, "Absolutely, absolutely we won't forget!"
Vivi nodded, her lips moving slightly, as if a thousand words were stuck in her throat, ultimately unsure how to begin.
She could almost see the Going Merry sailing to even more incredible places in the future, perhaps soaring into the sky, or diving into enemy waters… those miracles she had once dreamed of would now be unrelated to her.
"Don't be like this… Vivi…"
Nami could no longer hold back and took a step forward, hugging her tightly.
Vivi also hugged Nami back just as tightly; both girls' bodies trembled slightly, silently expressing the reluctance of their farewell.
Vivi took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
"Mm."
She released Nami, stepped back, and forced a bright smile onto her face, though her eyes were still red, "I have so, so many things I want to say to everyone, but in the end… let it be this."
Vivi held the hand of the ship's best navigator, looking into her eyes: "Nami, I wish you can become the best navigator in the world, draw your own world map, and gain an endless stream of treasures!"
"Mm… Mm!"
Nami nodded vigorously, tears finally falling, but she just smiled and wiped them away.
Next, Vivi released Nami's hand and walked in front of Luffy, this Straw Hat boy who would never be defeated, who had created so many miracles that perhaps even his dream of becoming the Pirate King would not seem impossible to Vivi.
"Luffy, I wish you can continue to adventure freely. By then, you must let me see the news of you becoming the Pirate King in the newspaper!"
"Mm!"
Luffy nodded heavily, his eyes under the Mugiwara shining brightly.
Immediately after, Vivi walked to the front of Mr. Giyuu, who had never stopped training on the ship, "Zoro, I wish you can make your name spread across this entire ocean! And~ you won't get lost anymore, right?"
This made Zoro, who had his arms crossed, click his tongue, his face flushing slightly as he awkwardly turned his head: "That last part was unnecessary! But… thank you."
Vivi then walked to Usopp's front; seeing him always felt somewhat incredible.
Such an ordinary body as his, relying solely on a slingshot, could defeat Mr. 5 in Small Garden—something she dared not even imagine.
"Usopp, I wish you can become a truly brave Sea Warrior!"
As soon as she said this, Usopp immediately burst into tears, snot and tears smearing his face, "Waaah waaaah waaaah waaaah waaaah, how can there be such a good princess like you in the world! Now that you're leaving, there's one less normal person on this ship!"
Vivi covered her mouth and chuckled at his exaggerated reaction, then she walked in front of Sanji.
"Sanji, the dishes you've cooked at sea are already the best I've ever tasted. So, I wish you can find more magical and delicious ingredients in the future to satisfy the stomachs of all your guests."
"Aaaah aaaaah aaaaah! Miss Vivi!!!"
Sanji transformed into a spinning heart on the spot, tears streaming down his face, "How dull and bleak this journey will be without you! Damn it aaaaah aaaaah aaaaah aaaaah!"
Then Vivi squatted down, meeting Chopper's gaze, and gently stroked his soft hat.
"Chopper, your medical skills are praised even by the most senior royal physicians in the palace. I hope you continue to improve and become the best doctor who won't be troubled by any difficult or complicated illness!"
"Aww waaaah waaaah waaaah waaaah waaaah, okay!"
Chopper also cried into a teary reindeer, stomping his hooves on the spot.
Finally, Vivi came in front of Tomioka. She took another deep breath, looking up at this always silent samurai who had given her and this country immense help.
"Mr. Giyuu, I know you once said you were just a fellow traveler on this ship… but truly, thank you very much for working with Luffy to defeat Crocodile."
Her voice was filled with sincere gratitude, "Otherwise, I truly can't imagine what this country would have become…"