Sorry, it took me a while to get this one up. Things have been a little crazy here on my end. But here it is. Chapter 14.

News on the grand line was a funny thing. It had the amazing ability to travel like a flock of birds heading to the south for the winter. Some news, like Monkey D. Luffy's incredibly high bounty or the defeat of Crocodile, one of the Shichibukai, was expected to reach a good number of eyes and ears in a short amount of time. Others, like Luffy's defeat of the 55million belli big time rookie Bellamy the Hyena, would get around but no one would really care since no one really knew who Bellamy was in the first place. So the fact that Vivi being in the straw hat pirates was undoubtedly going to spread across the sea like wild fire. And the reaction from the people of that same sea was no less expected.

Almost on cue, ships from various world leaders sailed into the sandy docks of Alabasta to question said pirate's father. The Marine presence could also be felt in this place as well. Each one of them lined up behind King Cobra's palace doors to see the King.

And each and every one of them got the same answer. "I had no knowledge pertaining to where my daughter was going. I will explain everything to you in a little while, because I am announcing a conference between me and the heads of all parties present. It will commence in one hour inside the main conference room of this palace. My front guards will escort you to the room when it is time, but for now I ask that you please leave me."

By the time the conference was ready to begin, every seat in the room had been filled. There had even been a few people actually standing as well.

"As you all know, my daug-. No I cannot call her my daughter any more. Vivi has been found in the company of pirates, specifically, the straw hat pirates, whose bounty, to date, is 160 million belli. When she was questioned by the Marine captain that found her, she was reported to have attacked the ship, splitting it in two, leaving the crew of that ship stranded.

"Personally, I still can't believe that something like this had happened in my family. I had thought that she would have grown up like a normal princess and eventually take over as the leader of this nation when it was my time to step down. But apparently it was not to be.

"As it is well known, the kingdom of Drum had recently been freed of its oppression from the tyrannical Wapol. Vivi said she was originally leaving to help out with any problem that might have arisen since his fall. It was a highly believable story so I let her go. I can only assume that she sank the ship she was in when she found the straw hats.

"I have done the only thing that I could think to do in this situation. I have cut Vivi from the family name, thereby eliminating any support she thought she might have from this country. She is now on her own, and she is no longer my daughter." That last part was far more difficult for Cobra to say than he had thought it would be. True it is easy to rehearse a speech and tell yourself, 'This is what I will say.' However when it comes right down to it, nothing can prepare you for what will happen to you emotionally when it comes time to actually say it.

After a few question that he gave a few half conscious answers to, the collected party of inquisitors stood and left. At this point he called Igaram and Chaka over to give them a message. "Go into town and tell every one of the citizens of this city to gather together. I will be giving a speech pertaining to Vivi." They both bowed their heads and headed out.

Cobra leaned back into his chair and pulled out the letter that she had given Igaram, who in turn gave it to him. He hadn't even opened it out of respect for her words and decided that he would find out when they would.

Once they were sure that the visitors had left the dock, the crowd began to gather together in front of the palace. The den den mushis had been placed and the speakers were on. All that was left was for the king to come out and begin his explanation. And a few minutes later, he did just that.

"As you all have found out, Vivi has indeed left this country to become a pirate." His voice boomed throughout the entire city. "Now, contrary to what I may have told the people that came here today, I was fully away of the fact that she was leaving to do this. In fact, I even supplied her with the means to find them."

This statement caused a confused murmur to start within the gathering, but Cobra held up a hand to silence them. "While I probably could give an explanation as to why she would do such a thing, I think it would be wiser to simply let her do that." The murmur got louder. "This," he held up the letter, "is a letter from Vivi. I was instructed to read it to you when it got out that she was indeed a pirate."

The crowd got silent in anticipation of what Vivis final words would be to them. Cobra opened the letter and began to read the page.

"People of the country of Alabasta, I am Vivi, formerly princess of that nation.

"Ever since I was old enough, I always told you to follow your hearts no matter what you do. Otherwise there is no real point in doing anything. No matter what the case may be, as long as you follow your heart and do what it tells you, then I was happy.

"So one day I woke up and decided to take my own advice for a change. For a while, my heart was here with you and this country. But then, I was walking through the streets and I discovered that my heart was somewhere else, telling me to go somewhere else. Not to say that it wasn't still here, just that my heart was telling me to go somewhere else.

"That somewhere else was, is, the sea. It wanted me to go out and have adventures again. It wanted me to go out and see new sights, to meet new people, to visit new islands. But most important of all, my heart is telling me to be with the people that, in the short time that I was with them, I came to call not only nakama, but family.

"To those of you who think me selfish, then I am sorry. It is just that I preached following your heart for so long, that I would seem like a hypocrite if I didn't do it myself. I hope that you understand why I did what I did. If you do thank you. If you don't then I'm sorry.

Sincerely,

Former Princess Vivi Nefertari"

The people were a mishmash of emotions. At least for a moment. Afterwards, they all slowly began to understand what she was saying to them. She was doing what her heart commanded of her, and was telling them to do the same. They all erupted into cheers for their former-. No, to them she was still and would forever be their princess.

Cobra looked on, a smile on his face. He turned his head towards the direction of the sea. 'Vivi, you message has been heard, loud and clear.'

The Going Merry)

Vivi once again stood in the crow's nest, this time with one of the books that she had borrowed from the archaeologist. He suddenly felt a tingling sensation somewhere within her. She couldn't completely discern where the source was until it came again, a little stronger. She closed her eyes, and could feel the warmth of her country's people in her. And though she wasn't sure at first, she could've sworn that she saw her father's smiling face.

She opened her eyes a smile as big as the one Luffy wore on a daily basis on her face. 'Thank you father.'

"Oiiiiiiiiiii, Vivi, lunch time." Her captain called up to her from the deck, then ran to the kitchen, only to be kicked back out by a shiny black shoe.

Vivi giggled lightly before climbing down to the deck for lunch.

Ok people, there you have it. Chapter 14. And I must say considering that I did this while I was sick, I am kinda impressed with myself. Ok you know the drill. R&R please.

P.S. did I do something wrong with my last chapter, because I didn't get that many reviews for it.