The next morning, when Vivi woke up, Aomori was already nowhere to be found.
"Oh no, I accidentally fell asleep yesterday."
She hurriedly got out of bed, went outside, and asked a guard about Aomori's whereabouts.
"Aomori-sama is currently with the Leader. I shall take you there," the guard said respectfully.
What are they doing together? Vivi suppressed her curiosity and said politely, "I'll trouble you then."
"It is no trouble at all, Princess! You are our benefactor. It is an honor to serve you."
"Benefactor? But I didn't really do anything," Vivi said, feeling a bit sheepish. It seems like Aomori solved everything.
"But wasn't it you who invited Aomori-sama? Without your invitation, Aomori-sama wouldn't have come to the Alabasta Kingdom. We wouldn't have been saved; we'd just be wandering ghosts on a battlefield. Therefore, you and Aomori-sama are both our great benefactors."
Actually, Aomori came looking for me on his own initiative, Vivi thought dejectedly.
"We have arrived. The two lords are inside the room."
"Alright, thank you very much." Vivi bowed in thanks, then stepped forward and pushed open the door, just in time to hear a burst of hearty laughter.
She looked at the laughing Koza and Aomori and asked in confusion, "What are you two talking about that's so funny?"
"Koza was sharing stories of your childhood, how you played harder than the boys and were always getting into fights," Aomori said with a clear tease in his voice.
"I did not!" Vivi immediately countered, her face turning red. "Aomori, don't listen to his nonsense! I was just cooped up in the palace for too long. When I went out, I let loose a tiny bit, just a tiny bit!"
"Yeah, just a 'tiny' bit," Koza remarked, intentionally gesturing with his hands to imply a massive amount.
"Hmph, isn't it normal for children to be mischievous?" Vivi said, puffing out her cheeks.
"Alright, don't be angry. Have something to eat first; you didn't eat last night, right?" Aomori pointed to the food on the table.
"Mhm." Vivi immediately brightened, sat down beside Aomori, and began eating breakfast.
"Once we're done eating, it's time to hit the road. Let's resolve this matter as quickly as possible." After confirming with Aomori that his artificial rain wasn't just a one-time skill, Koza had cast aside all doubts. Filled with hope for the future, he decided it was time to have an audience with the King.
"Right!"
…
An hour later, having packed their things, Aomori's group boarded Pidgeot and headed for the capital of Alabasta, Alubarna.
As they passed the Royal Army's encampment blocking the rebel army's path, Vivi stepped forward to explain the situation to the Vice Captain of the Guard. She requested that he maintain the status quo and refrain from taking any aggressive action.
Half a day later, they arrived in Alubarna, prepared to meet King Cobra at the palace.
However, just as they were about to announce themselves to the guards, a sudden commotion erupted within the palace, and the sound of shouting drifted out.
"What's happening?" Vivi asked, bewildered.
"This is bad!" Aomori's expression turned grim. Grabbing Vivi's hand, he used Teleport to vanish instantly.
When they reappeared, they were inside the Royal Palace's main hall.
The atmosphere in the hall was incredibly tense. King Cobra was being held hostage, by none other than Alabasta's former "Great Hero," Crocodile.
Crocodile's clothes were tattered, his face was covered in bruises, and his eyes were bloodshot, radiating a sickly, manic frenzy. The golden hook on his left hand was pressed against King Cobra's throat. He snarled, "If you want your King to live, stay back!"
"Father!" Seeing this, Vivi couldn't help but cry out, alerting Crocodile to their presence.
"You bastard, it's you again! Do you want to interfere with me again? Dream on!" Seeing Aomori made Crocodile even more agitated; the golden hook moved closer to King Cobra's neck.
"Crocodile, if you have even a shred of a warrior's dignity left, release the King and fight me again," Aomori said, his face darkening.
"I'm sorry, but using any means necessary is the style of Sir Crocodile! To achieve my goals, I will sacrifice everything!" Crocodile laughed manically. "I admit I'm no match for you in a fair fight, but I have Cobra's life in my hands now. My golden hook is coated in poison; with just a scratch, the venom enters the bloodstream. He'll be dead in a minute. If you dare make a move, he dies!"
"..." Aomori remained silent and stationary. He turned back and gave Vivi an apologetic look: I'm sorry, it's my fault he escaped.
Vivi understood Aomori's gaze and shook her head. She turned to Crocodile and said, "Sir Crocodile, tell us what you want. We will do our best to satisfy you, just please don't hurt my father."
"Vivi, don't listen to him! He's gone mad! Don't worry about me, let your friend take action!" King Cobra suddenly shouted.
"Did I give you permission to speak?!" Crocodile squeezed his throat, cutting off his voice. The King's features twisted in the agony of suffocation.
"Crocodile, stop it now!"
"I'll stop, but you must grant me one request first."
"What is it?"
"What should it be? Let me think..." Crocodile looked at Aomori with a twisted smile and said, "Oh, I know. How about you cut off the hands of the man beside you?"
"What?!" Vivi was horrified. Looking at Aomori beside her, she shook her head without hesitation. "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
"Kuhahaha! How pathetic, Cobra. Your daughter would rather keep her little lover's hands than save your life." Crocodile tightened his grip. King Cobra's face turned a deep purple, and his struggles weakened. He clearly couldn't hold on much longer.
"Father!" Vivi's mind was in a whirl, not knowing what to do. Both were incredibly important to her; being forced to choose was an unbearable torture.
In the midst of her internal struggle, she saw Aomori step forward. He extended both arms and said to Crocodile, "If you want my arms, then take them."
As he spoke, a sword belonging to a nearby guard flew from its sheath and hovered before Aomori.
Vivi realized what was happening and blurted out, "No!"
Aomori turned his head and gave her a smile. Then, a flash of light flickered, and two arms fell to the ground alongside the blood-stained sword.
"Aomori..." Vivi covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.
"Is this enough?" Aomori said, his face pale.
"Kuhahaha! You fool! You actually cut off your own arms!" Crocodile let go, tossing the barely conscious King Cobra to the floor, and laughed riotously.
"You were the only one who could stand against me. Now that you've lost your arms, you're no match for me at all. Once I kill you and everyone else here, the Kingdom of Alabasta will be mine again." Crocodile leaped into the air, raising his left hand and swinging his hook at Aomori. "Die, you useless trash!"
"Aomori, get out of the way!" Vivi summoned her strength and charged forward.
"Who said you only need fists to kill someone?" Aomori stood on his right tiptoes, which suddenly glowed with a brilliant purple light.
RUMBLE!
With a thunderous roar, Aomori leaped into the air. His right leg whipped out like a steel lash against Crocodile, kicking him away. Crocodile crashed through several ceilings, flying out into the sky and disappearing into the clouds.
Seizing the opportunity, a glint of cunning flashed in Crocodile's eyes. He transformed back into Ditto and leaped onto Rayquaza, who had been lying in wait. He then kicked the real Crocodile back down.
Crocodile followed the same trajectory back down, crashing into the hall with his eyes rolled back, completely unconscious.
"Besides, I wouldn't be stupid enough to actually cut off my own arms." Aomori landed beside him, extending his right hand to smooth his messy hair.
"Waaaah, you scared the life out of me!" Vivi threw herself into Aomori's arms, hugging him tightly. "What happened? I clearly saw your arms just now..."
"Just a simple illusion. Crocodile wasn't in his right mind, so it was easy to fool him. But what about you? I gave you a wink, didn't I? How did you get fooled too?"
"Huh? That wink was meant for that? I... I thought..."
"Thought what?"
"Nothing!"
"Alright, let go of me for a second. I need to give the King some medical treatment."
"Oh, right! Father!" Vivi finally remembered her dad.
King Cobra: "..."
Under the treatment of Aomori's versatile Holy Light, King Cobra's condition stabilized. He had cheated death, though he remained weak and required a period of rest.
In the palace, Vivi stayed by his bedside alone.
Having recovered some of his spirit, King Cobra listened to Vivi relate everything she had experienced. He finally understood the truth and was consumed with rage. "That bastard Crocodile... he did so much evil in the shadows? He deserves to die!"
He sighed, full of self-reproach. "It was my failure. I didn't discover his conspiracy, and so many citizens suffered because of it. No wonder they hate me as their King. It's all my fault!"
"Father, you taught me since I was little that a good child admits when they're wrong. You're the same. As long as you admit your mistakes, you are our good King. Once the people know the truth, they will surely forgive you," Vivi said, holding his hand.
"Mhm. I will definitely mend my ways!"
"So, the rebel army..."
"The rebellion was my fault. I don't blame them. As long as they lay down their arms, I shall grant them all a full pardon. I'll allow them to return to their homes and start new lives."
"Father, you're the best!" Having fulfilled her promise to Koza, Vivi breathed a sigh of relief.
"By the way, that friend who helped you is named Aomori, right? He is the greatest hero in this matter and deserves a reward. What do you think I should give him?"
"I'm not sure." Vivi thought for a moment; it seemed Aomori wasn't particularly interested in anything.
"Men... the things they like are usually wealth or women. I'll reward him with some gold and silver and a few dozen maidservants," King Cobra said, stroking his chin.
"No!" Vivi immediately stood up and refused loudly.
"If not, then not. Why are you shouting? Vivi, you are a princess. You must mind your manners," King Cobra scolded her with a stern face.
"I'm sorry. My mistake," Vivi said, sticking out her tongue in apology.
"Mhm. Tell me then, why not?"
"Gold and silver are too tacky; Aomori would look down on them. And maidservants are even worse! He's a Hero; he needs to stay away from such temptations," Vivi rambled.
"Then what should I give him? I can't exactly give you to him, can I?"
"Give... give me to him? Of course not!" Thinking of herself being gift-wrapped and presented to Aomori made Vivi so embarrassed she felt like she could tunnel through the palace floor. She immediately rejected the idea, her face turning crimson.
I was just joking, why is Vivi so worked up? Could it be... Recalling Vivi's demeanor whenever she mentioned Aomori, King Cobra frowned. He sensed something unusual.
On the surface, however, he remained impassive. "It's no good for us to just guess here. Why don't we just call him in and let him say what he wants?"
"Mhm, I guess that works."
"But let's wait until tomorrow. I'm a bit tired and want to rest."
"Alright, Father. Get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow." Vivi waved goodbye and left the hall.
After a moment, King Cobra called out, "Guards! Fetch Igaram. I wish to see him."
He felt that Vivi's account of Aomori was filtered through a heavy lens of admiration, so he wanted a more objective evaluation of the man. For the Kingdom of Alabasta, this was a very important matter.
…
Elsewhere, after leaving the King's chambers, Vivi went to another palace building and found Aomori.
"Is the King feeling better?" Aomori asked.
"Mhm, much better. Thank you." The image of herself as a gift popped back into her mind, bringing the blush back to her cheeks. Vivi shook her head vigorously and said, "We have an amazing bathhouse here. Do you want to go with me?"
In truth, it had been a long time since she had a soak and she really wanted to go, but she wanted to share this wonderful thing with Aomori, which is why she invited him.
"Together?" Aomori said, surprised.
"No! Not a mixed bath!" Vivi waved her hands in explanation. "It's separated for men and women."
"Oh, I see. You gave me a scare." Aomori breathed a sigh of relief. "Sure. I'd like to see how a royal bathhouse is different."
Vivi led Aomori to the bathhouse, and the two parted ways at the entrance.
Removing her clothes, Vivi submerged herself in the steaming water and let out a comfortable sigh. "So refreshing."
After soaking for a while, she thought she heard a commotion from next door. She couldn't help but call out, "Aomori, is everything okay over there?"
Aomori looked at the pool crowded with Absol, Pidgeot, and Rayquaza. He shook his head and replied calmly, "It's fine."
"It's comfortable, right? Feels like all the fatigue is just vanishing."
"Mhm, you're right about that." Aomori finally managed to get into the pool. Leaning against Rayquaza, he let out a long breath.
"It's just a little small."
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