The sun had barely risen when the boat was first sighted, a tiny speck marring an otherwise clear horizon. As it came nearer, dock workers could see that it was small, a one person dinghy probably meant for fishing. In most places it would have gone unnoticed, but this was the Grand Line, and for a boat that small to survive sailing through this sea on its own was practically unheard of.
Finally, it docked, and if the oddity of the boat hadn't already caught all the workers' attention, the woman who had been sailing it certainly did. She was gorgeous, even dressed as she was in simple jeans and a baggy T-Shirt, and her cropped orange hair shone in the sunlight. She shouldered her backpack and stepped out onto the dock, glaring at the worker who offered her assistance and otherwise avoiding eye contact as she made her way to the nearest town.
This newcomer clearly wasn't native to Alabasta. Her skin, though freckled, was much too pale, her nose too thin, and the brightness of her fiery hair was matched only by the sky-blue locks of the Princess herself. She wasn't from here, but everyone she passed could tell it wasn't her first time in the country, and she was certainly no mere tourist. She walked confidently through the marketplace, purchasing a long traveling cloak, a few days worth of food and a barrel of water. She was about to leave when something caught her eye - a necklace displayed on a jewelry stand. It was a simple silver chain with a charm in the center, made of light blue stone and carved into an intricate peacock.
"Ye've got yerself a good eye, lass." The woman jumped at the voice, only just noticing the small old man sitting behind the stall. "That charm's pure turquoise, y'know. Carved it m'self."
"How much?" she asked, reaching out to touch it. The man pulled it back before she could.
"For such a pretty young lady, I'll give yeh a discount. 50,000 beli."
She looked down to hide the smirk growing on her face. This would be too easy.
Five minutes later, the woman left the marketplace with a necklace she had bought for 2,000 beli. Even the shopkeeper wasn't sure how it had happened.
It was noon when the strange woman finally left the small town, riding atop a camel that she had talked its previous owner into selling. She traveled for a week, stopping when needed to rest in the villages and towns along the way. She never stayed more than one night, and never payed the innkeepers quite as much as she owed, taking breakfast to go and riding away before anyone could count the bills. The desert was vast, and it all looked much the same, but somehow, she knew where she was going, and kept moving forward until she could see Alubarna in the distance.
"I haven't forgotten our promise," she whispered to herself, taking the turquoise necklace from her back and clutching it to her chest. "I'm almost there...Vivi"