The heavens above Dressrosa blossomed in bursts of crimson and gold.
Fireworks painted the sky, their sparkling lights showering down over a reborn city. Music flooded the streets — drums, flutes, laughter, the clink of glasses. Lanterns danced in the harbor waters, floating like tiny stars on the dark sea.
And at the heart of it all, Solian Flare walked among his people.
He strolled with no royal guard, no glittering entourage. His coat, the deep red and gold of his pirate flag, flowed behind him as he grinned at the crowds that filled the main plaza.
Barefoot children ran through the stone streets, waving sparklers. Older couples leaned on each other's shoulders, silently weeping with joy. Merchants handed out food without asking for coin, wagons loaded with roasted meats, fruit, and wine.
All of it — every single bit of the festivities — had been financed by Solian himself.
Thirty million berries gone in a moment, not for fame, but for gratitude.
He ducked under a rainbow-colored banner stretched between two buildings and found himself confronting a band of young soldiers — Dressrosa's infant army. Their faces were battered, bandages wrapped around arms and shoulders, but their eyes shone with pride.
One of them — a boy hardly older than a child — stepped forward and bowed stiffly.
"Captain Solian," he said, voice shaking, "thank you. for everything."
Solian grinned and grabbed the boy's hand, pulling him to his feet.
"You don't bow to me," he said, squeezing his hand firmly. "You stand up straight. You fought for your home. That's worth more than any title."
The boy's eyes widened, and a wave of pride seemed to move through the soldiers behind him.
Behind Solian, Itachi slipped silently, his presence a stealthy shadow amidst the noise. His black eyes scanned the celebration, lingering briefly on the reunited families, the wounded smiling through their pain, the young and old dancing together under the fireworks.
"It's rare," Itachi said, materializing at Solian's elbow. "A victory without bitterness."
Solian smiled to himself. "Tonight, we make them forget all that. For a little while."
Vance and Kael were already deep in the festivities across the plaza. Vance was holding a mug in each hand, laughing boisterously at something Milo had presumably said, while Kael was standing beside them, arms crossed, drinking silently from a single cup.
Solian allowed himself a small smile.
For now, they could breathe.
Elsewhere — Far Beyond Dressrosa
But the world beyond their shores was not so peaceful.
In Marineford, deep within the massive fortress, there was a thick silence in the highest war room.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku loomed at the head of a long table, papers and reports scattered upon it like fallen leaves. His expression was grim, his hand tightened in a white-knuckled fist upon the wood.
Vice Admiral Tsuru, ever composed, spoke first to shatter the silence.
"Solar Rift Pirates." she growled. "An amateur crew — destroying an Admiral. Scaring off Green Bull."
"Unacceptable," a second voice grated. "An affront to the Marines' honor."
Sengoku's jaw twitched furiously. "This Solian Flare. he's not only strong. He's smart. Lethal."
They all knew it — felt it. In a world held together by the tenuous threads of power and terror, something was new. Something not friendly to the World Government.
Something that could ignite rebellion.
Higher Still — In the Shadows of Power
Far above Marineford, in the sacrosanct halls of Mary Geoise, the Five Elders sat at an old table.
The news had penetrated even there.
"Solar Rift Pirates," spoken the bald elder, his voice cutting and low. "The fire spreads too fast."
The sword-carrying elder leaned forward, his blade placed atop his knees.
"He wounded an Admiral. Repelled ten thousand Marines. Freed an island held by one of our agents."
"Left to his own devices," spoke another, his face hidden in shadow, "he will set more fires around the globe."
There was a heavy pause between them.
And then, near in unison, they nodded.
"Prepare Cipher Pol," the command was issued. "And inform the Seraphim."
"If the Marines fail again. we'll do this ourselves."
On the opposite side of the New World.
One ship traversed the seas, sails red in the morning.
Red-Haired Shanks stood at the helm, newspaper crumpled in one hand. His bright, clear eyes scanned the headlines.
A low laugh escaped him.
"That kid's causing a ruckus," he stated.
Benn Beckman leaned on the rail nearby, blowing out cigar smoke.
"Think he's got what it takes?"
Shanks smiled weakly. "Maybe. Or maybe he'll set a fire too big for even him to control."
On Moby Dick's huge back, in his giant chair, Whitebeard had a sake jug the size of a barrel next to him.
"Gurararara," his low laugh boomed out across the deck. "Another fool challenging the World Government. Reminds me of the old days."
Marco, who was reclining nearby, threw him the newspaper.
"World's getting lively, Pops."
Whitebeard raised the jug.
"Then we drink to the new age."
Deep within Whole Cake Island, Big Mom screamed in fury, slamming her fists onto a table covered in pastries.
"That island was mine!"
Her children flitted around her, whispering frantic warnings of the Solar Rift Pirates, of the boy who challenged an Admiral and lived.
In Onigashima's misty halls, Kaido roared with laughter that shook mountains.
"A brat with spine!" he cried. "Maybe he'll entertain me before I kill him!"
His underlings squirmed under his booming voice.
Meanwhile back at Dressrosa — Under the Fireworks
Solian stood at the royal palace balcony, arms crossed as he looked out over the city.
The plaza below was a sea of life. Music, dancing, fireworks that painted the skies. The scent of roasting meats and sweet wines rose up.
Vance stumbled up alongside him, face flushed with drink, and slapped him on the back.
"You did it, boss," he said, grinning wide. "Saved a whole damn kingdom."
Solian laughed quietly. "We saved it."
He sensed a presence move up onto his other side — Itachi, silent as ever.
"You see," Itachi said, voice gentle, "this is only the beginning."
Solian nodded.
He could feel it too — a stir on the wind, something enormous and terrible.
The world had noticed them.
And the battles to come would be even greater.
But for tonight. they lived. Victorious. Free.
And no force on earth could ever take that from them.