Chapter III: Bye, Bye, Baby!
Vivi felt her heart drop when she heard Miss All-Sunday's words, she clutched her bag to herself and didn't move. What do I do? Is this the end? I failed Alabasta, she thought. The least I can do is hold out a little longer.
As her troubling thoughts continued to swirl around in her mind, Vivi didn't hear Miss-All Sunday sigh in exasperation.
"I don't have all day you know, I am not going to kill you, nor does the Boss know you're here," Robin said calmly. This girl is so stubborn.
"You've done well to come this far undetected. You are one of our best frontier agents, Mr.9 always highlights your remarkable achievements in his reports. I've wanted to meet you for a while now." she continued, her fingers gripping the eternal log pose a little tighter now.
Come out, come out Princess. I need more clues about the Poneglyph in your kingdom.
Still, no response came.
Vivi was taken aback by the top agent's words. This had to be a trap, and I am done falling for them. Why is she so keen to meet me? Buttering me up with her meaningless compliments, she must be toying with me.
But somehow a part of her was flattered to hear such lofty praise. Vivi frowned, narrowing her grey eyes, that woman is known for her cunning scheming, I need to keep my guard.
As if sensing the younger woman's inner turmoil, Miss All-Sunday laughed, "Hehehe, very well then Miss Wednesday, have it your way. I am leaving. Think of this as a parting gift from me. Who knows we might meet again if you survive that it is."
Saying that she gently tossed the eternal log pose into the air, it landed with a soft thud on the now abandoned red carpet.
The tall woman reached the shore and gave one look back, smiling she effortlessly hopped on her transport.
"Let's go Banchi!"
It was as though she was giving Vivi the "all clear" to come out of her hiding.
Vivi waited a few more minutes before getting up from her hiding spot behind the sturdy chest. Shaking out the numbness from her legs and stretching out her slender limbs, she cautiously looked around, before making her way towards the entrance of the now abandoned tent. She carefully placed her wetsuit behind her hiding spot, before looking around again to be sure.
As she was walking, her foot hit a light object and kicked it away. Vivi peered down and saw an eternal log pose. Picking it up, she curiously examined it in the dying torchlight, only simple word was engraved onto it: "Jaya."
But why Jaya of all places?! This woman is up to something! I have to contact Igaram this instant. Vivi carefully took out one of the torches that lit the path to the tent and opened the thick flap and stepped inside.
Her senses were instantly overwhelmed by the heady mixture of Alabastan oils, the scent of cigars and alcohol, they seemed to fight each other to overpower the putrid smell of this island's digestive origins. She was beginning to feel sick.
Using the torch she brought in, Vivi lit the oil lamps inside. Covering her nose with her sleeve, she fumbled with her bag, only to eventually take out a portable transponder snail.
"Pere-pere-pere-pere," the transponder droned on. Pick up, pick up, pick! Vivi wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. Finally, the tiny snail's eyes popped open, "Gacha."
"MISS WEDNESDAY! I've been waiting for your call all day!" came a panicked voice. Calm down Igaram; if you continue to use this tone, you will endanger yourself.
"My sincere apologies Mr.8, I've encountered some technical difficulties here," she said in her usual Miss Wednesday persona.
"Hmph, mama-mah-MA, very well then. I will need you to provide your current coordinates as per our protocol." Igaram adjusted his speech.
"Yes certainly, I am currently on Nanimonai Island, " Vivi proceeded to quickly unfold the map she used to track the ship's travels.
"It takes around 13 hours to get here by a large ship, I think the time could be cut in half if a lighter vessel is used instead." she finished.
"Very well then, ma-ma-mahhh, excuse me. I must have caught a cold. I am sending Mr.9 out to get you as we speak-" there was a slight pause in his speech, he sighed "until then, please stay safe." he said, his voice cracked.
Don't lose your composure.
"Y-yes, thank you for your concern, Sir. I will make sure to follow your i-in-instructions, get well soon." Vivi hung up as she felt her eyes well up.
Please stay safe Igaram, don't fall for any provocations. I will survive this. Don't worry.
Vivi examined her surroundings; the tent was surprisingly a lot more spacious than she previously thought. She noticed a few crates and cartons lying around a redwood coffee table. A small box filled with cigars stood on the left and another, a larger box on her right. Overcome with curiosity she pulled the larger box closer and peeked inside.
It was practically empty save for some folders filled with billings and receipts, a purple handkerchief and a rather small but thick book on navigation.
"Overcoming the Powerful Currents on the Grandline" was its title. Having some time to kill, Vivi carefully opened the book and flicked through a few pages until she came to a blank page in the middle of the book. That's odd.
Vivi turned the page over and noticed the harder texture of the paper and read the title of the next page-"Case Study: Dressrosa."
It must contain vital information if someone went through the trouble of embedding it into a book. Hmm, let's see.
Vivi decided to read the small, neatly printed text.
Dressrosa an island in the New World, like Alabasta, made up the original 20 kingdoms that established the World Government. Vivi was beginning to feel uneasy at the mere mention of her country in this context.
For 900 years it was ruled by the Donquixote family who eventually moved to Mariejois and ascended to claim their Celestial Dragon titles.
Here Vivi froze, noticing the red line that underlined the text and connected to a note scribbled on the side by someone else. "Unlike the Nefertari family who stayed. This will make Utopia more complex than Joker's operation." Vivi read the note out loud and paused her reading.
Massaging her temples, she tried to remember everything she could about this place in the New World. What did they teach me about this? Argh, it was a summer island, with a struggling economy...yes that was it! Father mentioned it once when he came back to see her from his meetings at the Reverie. She shuddered remembering that unpleasant trip eight years ago.
But there was something else. Donquixote, this name, sounds so familiar. And who was Joker?
Vivi flicked through more pages text and stopped when she came to a photo of a grinning man in pink sunglasses. "Donquixote Doflamingo: Heavenly Yaksha aka Joker" was all it said underneath.
Vivi covered her mouth with her hand; it was him! The pirate who became a king! Was Joker his nickname?
She was so fascinated by this story as a child. Her father talked about him after the Reverie. "He is a flamboyant pirate who bears an old name and saved Dressrosa from its previous ruler. The people begged him to become a king. I wanted to meet him, but he didn't attend a single Reverie meeting! How arrogant!"
She smiled fondly remembering her father.
I wanted to go on adventures like this King too...
Getting back to her reading, however, Vivi's smile faltered, and she gasped.
Donquixote Doflamingo used his Shichibukai title to avoid persecution by the Marines as he took power from the Riku family and proclaimed himself the new king of Dressrosa. The island is currently used by the Donquixote Pirates as headquarters for their underground operations.
She noticed another note on the side: "manipulated population, used devil fruit powers, framed the old Riku king. Need elaborate tactic with Cobra." Vivi's eyes widened, this was all beginning to make sense now.
No, this was not the same story told by the World Government. Dressrosa wasn't heroically saved by a wandering Shichibukai! The previous ruler was forcefully removed.
He's a Shichibukai just like Crocodile, as well as a King. This means he has enormous power if his family ruled this island and went to Mariejois doesn't this make him a Celestial Dragon? He is untouchable then. How strong could his power and influence be?
Even Crocodile does not have this much power right now, no wonder he is going through all this trouble to keep Baroque Works as mysterious as possible. None of the top agents within the organisation know him. Save Miss-Sunday of course, she thought bitterly.
If Crocodile is using Dressrosa as a model for Alabasta, then they are all doomed.
Hours went by as Vivi pored over the book, looking at various maps and comparison charts of the two kingdoms, examining the tiny notes scattered throughout its pages.
Could this be Mr.0... no, I mean Crocodile's writing?
She will need to think of a better plan. Time was not on her side either. The Rebels are gaining more clout with the people; it won't be long before they clash. The news from Alabasta was only getting worse by the day.
Taking a deep breath, she shut the book and put in her bag. I am lucky to have this information, did she leave it here on purpose?
Nothing was ever accidental with Miss All-Sunday after all.
Resting her head against her knees, Vivi got lost in her thoughts of home. Bloodshed. Despair. Revenge. Fear. Hope. Amidst all this despair she still held hope.
Hope for my people, for father and even the-
"Yoohoo! I am here! Miss Wednesday, please do not tell me you are resting in that tent!" a shrill voice called out.
"He's here already?!" Vivi jerked her head up and rushed to put out the oil lamps around the tent. Running out of it, she bumped her head against someone's shoulder.
Miss Wednesday, you are back on now.
"Oh Mr.9 that's a rather harsh greeting don't you think, hm?" she asked her partner in crime in a flirtatious tone.
She flicked her hair and mockingly glared at the man before her.
"Do forgive me, Miss Wednesday, but I can't believe they sent you out by yourself on a separate mission. Hahaha! Aren't you in a rush to overtake the other agents" Mr.9 giggled rather nervously and continued, "Speaking of missions, we might be moving up the ladder soon! I received this last night."
He pointed to a letter with the emblem of Baroque Works in his hand and held it up dramatically.
"Jaya baby!" he exclaimed.
Vivi clapped, "Wonderful news!"
"Mhm" he nodded, "But what were you doing here? Do tell!" Mr.9 asked excitedly.
"Well frankly, I must say I was surprised by my solo assignment too, but Mr.8 said I couldn't disclose any information or else the Unluckies will report me to the Boss and it'll be 'Bye Bye Baby' for us!"
Vivi knew this would work on her cautious partner, seeing him look visibly dejected she sighed.
"But... I managed to get us something for our new mission! Do treat it with extra care please." She coyly handed Mr.9 the eternal log pose.
The man in question dropped his iron bat and beamed at her. "Oh, Miss Wednesday you are an invaluable treasure to this crown!" He tapped his crown as if to emphasise his point.
"We deserve the top spots in Utopia! Ooomph can't wait! We better get going to Jaya then! I won't let that dirty brute Mr.5 insult us again. Let's prove to the Boss that we are worthy of that sweet promotion!" he enthused.
"Why thank you for the compliment! And you are right Mr.9; no one will underestimate us after this mission!" Vivi nodded, desperately trying to pull herself together.
Don't you ever underestimate me, I will kill you Crocodile. You wait for IT.
Mr.9 walked, well skipped and danced to be precise, to the shore.
Vivi followed him (skipping actually, to match Mr.9's eccentric style) to a sleek, compact, black yacht that had a rather...interesting name: "Baby King". Vivi was always a little more self-conscious whenever she had to board it.
"QUACK!"
Vivi stopped and gaped at the boat, Carue was waving his wings at her from the deck.
"Ah yes, your pet was so determined to get on board, I couldn't refuse! He likes me so much you see." Mr.9 explained.
"Oh yes I am sure he is here JUST for you Mr.9," Vivi quipped but smiled at her loyal companion.
"Well Carue, you went and did it this time. You are coming to Jaya baby! Fufufufu!" Vivi laughed as Carue shook his head and ran into the galley.
"Ladies and Gentlemen get ready to sail!" Mr.9 yelled out from the upper deck.
Vivi gladly helped her partner adjust the boat and sail out of Nanimonai. But she couldn't shake off that omnipresent feeling of dread that followed her everywhere she went. Jaya huh? Alabasta is along the way. But I can't go there just yet...
A/N:This chapter was a little long but I really enjoyed writing it! I wanted to give a better connection and lay the "groundwork" for the ensuing events in Jaya. As I said before, this is going to be a longer fic (not sure how long yet) and I wanted to go into more detail in the foundation of the story first.
I wasn't sure on what eye color Vivi would have, I thought it was dark grey, recent volume cover had it as blue, some colour spreads just have black and in the anime it was dark and a few times grey. So I went for that. What do you guys think?