Alabasta.
The oasis city of Juba.
Nourished at last by long-awaited rain, the dying city breathed again. What had once been a desolate ruin now showed signs of life returning.
In the heart of Juba, at the rebel base, a heated quarrel was underway.
"Do we still have a way out now? The rebellion must go on!"
"But the rain yesterday proved everything! The king never stole the rainwater—this is clearly a natural disaster!"
"If we continue, this is treason! Not only us, but even our families will be implicated!"
"Don't be foolish! Lord Cobra isn't a tyrant. He'll understand and forgive us!"
"And how can you be so sure?"
"I just know!"
The rebels split into two factions, voices rising in anger.
At last, someone turned toward their leader.
"Koza, you're the commander. What do you think?"
All eyes shifted to the young rebel chief. Koza's expression was grave, but calm.
"…I'll go to the capital."
His decision was made.
Just then, a soldier ran into the tent, shouting breathlessly.
"Commander Koza! Lady Vivi—Princess Vivi is here!"
"What?!"
"The princess?!"
"Her Highness Vivi herself?"
The rebel leaders rushed outside with Koza.
In the distance, they saw it: the massive airship of Fairy Tail, gliding closer. Mouths fell open, disbelief painted across every face.
On the bow stood Princess Vivi, waving with a bright smile.
"Koza, everyone—it's all right now!"
Sugisawa Yuuto's mission today was simple: deliver Vivi safely to Juba. Negotiations with the rebels were not his role—that responsibility belonged only to the princess. Her presence, her words, were the key. If outsiders intervened, it might only worsen the rift.
While Vivi entered tense talks with Koza and the rebel commanders, Yuuto and his guildmates were received warmly by the elder, Toto. They spent the day touring the oasis, seeing its fragile but hopeful recovery.
By dusk, the negotiations concluded—and the outcome was better than anyone dared hope.
With Vivi as a guarantee, the rebels no longer feared punishment for treason. Her word, her honor, carried weight in Alabasta no law could deny.
That night, a grand feast was held. In Juba, the kingdom's forces and the rebels finally reconciled.
Royal Capital, Albana.
"Your Majesty," Pell, the Falcon Guardian, reported with excitement, "news from Juba! Thanks to Princess Vivi's persuasion, Koza has disbanded the rebellion!"
"Excellent!" King Cobra's face lit with relief.
Beside him, Igaram's cheeks flushed with pride. "As expected of Princess Vivi!"
But Cobra's smile quickly dimmed. His voice grew heavy.
"Vivi has borne far too much already. If possible… I only wish she could live like any other young girl—travel, laugh, fall in love… carefree. But fate has been cruel."
Igaram clenched his fists. "Once this is over, she'll finally be able to rest. Everything will be decided tomorrow."
"Yes," Cobra murmured. "The final confrontation with the true mastermind behind Baroque Works…" His eyes narrowed. "Igaram, I cannot shake the feeling that Baroque Works is directly tied to that Warlord of the Sea… Crocodile."
Igaram's voice firmed, carrying conviction.
"Do not worry, Your Majesty. Fairy Tail stands at Vivi's side—especially their guildmaster, Sugisawa Yuuto. His strength is far beyond imagination."
He recalled vividly Yuuto's duels with Erza on the road from Whiskey Peak to Alabasta. Power on a scale he had never witnessed before. Even if Crocodile himself awaited them, with Yuuto there, victory seemed certain.
The next day.
Under the awe-filled gazes of Koza and the rebels, the Fairy Tail airship lifted off from Juba.
Onboard, Juvia—who had been resting in her cabin—finally rejoined the group, fully recovered. After exchanging greetings with Erza and Mirajane, she went straight to Vivi's side.
"Miss Juvia… are you feeling better?" Vivi asked timidly, her eyes flickering away.
Of course, Vivi knew of Juvia's deep affection for Yuuto. After all, just days earlier, Vivi herself had kissed him. The memory still left her flustered and guilty.
But Juvia's reaction was nothing like what she expected.
With a radiant, smug smile, Juvia declared,
"Hmph. Vivi, you may have kissed the president… but I've already been far more honest with him~."
Vivi's eyes widened. "Eh?!"
"The bond between a man and woman… the president is incredible. He gave Juvia the ultimate happiness! You couldn't possibly understand such feelings, Vivi~" Juvia's face glowed with unabashed delight as she spoke proudly.
Vivi froze, overwhelmed. Only now did she realize—Juvia was boasting.
The innocent princess could barely endure it. Her face turned crimson, her body tense. Her thighs pressed together unconsciously as her heart pounded wildly. Strange, new emotions welled up inside her, leaving her breathless.
"Ah… ahh…" she stammered.
Nami, watching from the side, finally lost patience with Juvia's shameless bragging. She cut in loudly, "Guildmaster! Enough of this—what's our next destination?"
Yuuto's voice was calm, his gaze steeled.
"Rainbase. To face Crocodile."
"Eh—?!" Vivi gasped, eyes wide with shock.
The words hung in the air like thunder.
The time had come.