DISCLAIMER: I do not own One Piece. One Piece and all of its wonderful characters belong to Eichiro Oda.

PREFACE

I have been very curious about the Nefertari family's decline to join the Celestial Dragons in Mariejois, even more so when Doflamingo said that they were the only WG founding family to do so. It made me think that the Donquixotes and the Nefertaris were similar but in very contrasting ways. One family willing refused to join the most powerful group, the other willing joined but later left leaving its current descendent on a vengeful path. One seeks to destroy, another to build up. That's why I found the pairing of Vivi and Doflamingo as a somewhat fascinating relationship to explore. Feel free to stay around and explore this with me!:) Apologies if anyone finds this story or pairing offensive!

Now that that's out of the way, let's get down to the basics. This story is an AU where Vivi doesn't meet the Strawhats (even though I absolutely adore their nakamaship), Rosinante survived his brother's attempt on his life thanks to Tsuru & Co., but he's a changed man and now serves as a Vice-Admiral in the Marines. Or does he? Alabasta just happens to be conveniently located in his jurisdiction lol. Yes plot armour, I know! But let this author dream a bit!

Vivi is with the Baroque Works, she's 18 in this story and just like in the canon version of the story she infiltrated the organisation at 14, but spent 4 not 2 years there. Crocodile is still in the process of implementing his plan.

Phew, this was a bit long, but if you have any other questions, feel free to PM or leave a comment here!

CHAPTER I: Miss Wednesday

Running. Running in circles for what seems like an infinity, this is how Vivi felt for the past four years. Four. Her goal was close, yet so far.

Has it been that long?Vivi thought to herself, as she secretly followed Miss All-Sunday through a dark alley in Whiskey Peak. This was her chance to find out Mr.0's identity.Finally! She sighed and held her breath.

Why did it seem so easy this time though?

Miss All Sunday glanced over her shoulder and smirked. Vivi could have sworn that said woman could see her and know exactly why she is there.

Ignoring her rising panic, Vivi trudged on, watching as Mr.8/Igaram, escorted the tall brunette to her peculiar transport. A giant turtle. Eccentric and unpredictable, like most of these number agents.

This is it if she were to follow that turtle and decipher whatever bits of information she collected with Igaram over these years, from tapped transponders, and various secret documents; Mr Zero will cease to be an enigma.

Her life as Miss Wednesday will finally end. Not that she loathed it entirely; being an agent allowed her to explore this world in ways she never could before. To experience life from a completely different perspective, not bound by her royal status or formalities.

Ironically, it was her duty born of her royal status, that drove her here. To plunder, to occasionally even kill her targets, so that she could identify the mastermind behind the growing instability in Alabasta.

This freedom was not real.Vivi knew it. The burden of her duty as a princess and a syndicate agent was growing heavier with each day, but she had to persevere just a little longer. At least that's what she told herself every night, since the day she infiltrated Baroque Works.

The day she disappeared with Igaram from Alabasta and was registered as a missing person by her worried father and the Marines.

Hiding behind a barrel, Vivi lingered there to let the duo walk further towards the docks. She whistled for Carue. "Run towards the sea. Do not make a single sound!" she whispered.

"QUACK." came the response. "I said do not make a sound!" she hissed at her loyal companion.

Looking ahead, she noticed that Igaram and Miss All-Sunday were out of sight, they must have rounded the corner of the tavern. The area where the merry cheers of various visiting, soon-to-be-buried pirates, blocked out Carue's unsubtle response.

Sighing with relief, she held onto the reins as Carue breezed through the night towards the docks. Once there, Vivi got off and lovingly patted her companion's head, "I will be back for you, Igaram will take care of you for the time being. Mr.9 can look out for you too. But you must promise me to stay out of trouble, alright?"

"QUACK" Carue responded and quickly covered his beak with his wings, looking around frantically.

Vivi chuckled. "You never learn, do you? But I know I can rely on you. Stay safe."

"You never learn, do you? But I know I can rely on you. Stay safe."

And with that she silently slipped into the water from one of the adjacent platforms in the docks and swam towards a large ship, bearing the Baroque Works flag. After seeing Vivi off, Carue waddled back to their temporary lodgings.

Vivi stealthily boarded the Billions' vessel that was docked in the port, Miss All Sunday was supposed to escort it to a "generous client of Baroque Works". The young woman hid under the thick, canvas cover of a lifeboat that was attached to the outer side of the ship. Thankfully the dark colour of her wetsuit helped her blend in with the shadows.

Hopefully, they will not need it, she mused. She carefully took out her binoculars and peeped through a small opening beneath the canvas.

Trying to spot the giant turtle on the glistening darkness of the sea was an easy task under the full moon, Vivi was relieved to see her target to her right.

On this night the moon was so bright that she could even make out the intricate pattern on the soft chair that stood atop the turtle's back.

She was close. A little too close for comfort. Miss All-Sunday shook Igaram's hand and hopped onto her hatted Turtle. All Vivi could do now was wait.

The unnerving sound of multiple feet running to and fro with shouts all around her signalled that the ship was ready to sail.

Vivi tried to think of an excuse to use if she was discovered there. She could say that Mr.9 sent her to pick up his documents and she has to make sure that no one sees her to maintain the agency's secrecy. Thus proving to her superior that she is worthy of her rank.

Yes, that should do it, she thought; Billions weren't exactly known for their intelligence. Just their numbers. But numbers do matter, she thought bitterly. Just like the millions of people in Alabasta that are willing to fight each other any minute now.

That thought never left her mind as she fell into an uneasy slumber, lulled by the ship's gentle sway.

As the early morning rays of the sun crept through the holes of the canvas cover Vivi slowly opened her eyes. The ship was silent, taking her binoculars she peeped through the hole and saw the vast expanse of blue before her. Neither Miss All-Sunday or her turtle was in sight.

Panicking, Vivi began to look left and right when she heard the familiar laughter of Mr.0's closest subordinate come down from somewhere above. Vivi gulped and pressed herself further into the little boat, trying to make out any words. Miss Wednesday was good at listening, after all, she will remain in her character for a bit longer.

"Oh my, you don't say? Well if you are so eager, you could start to make yourself useful by making me a decent cup of coffee. We should be arriving at our destination soon, and I need my caffeine." the graceful woman spoke to the ship's captain in a lazy tone.

"Right away mam!" came a surprisingly high-pitched male voice.

Of course, who would spend the night out in the open sea on the back of a turtle when they could rest aboard a ship? No matter how giant that turtle was, being exposed to the elements and other dangers was a recipe for a tragic disaster. Miss All Sunday was not stupid after all.

No far from it, she was cunning, manipulative and calculating. She must have stayed onboard for the night as well, Vivi thought to herself.

Slowly she tried to stretch her aching joints, the cold night breeze and cramped space were starting to get to her. How much longer would she be here? Taking out some bread and sipping on her water Vivi took out the map she would use to track their journey.

So far they were heading towards the Red Line it seems, and yet the temperature was still relatively warm during the day. "Could it be a summer island as well?" Vivi mused to herself.

"Land ahead, prepare to anchor!" someone bellowed nearby, and what seemed like a myriad of stomping footsteps and shouts followed suit. Vivi quickly swept her belongings off the little bench inside the lifeboat into her satchel, grabbed her binoculars and looked out.

The land before her seemed utterly flat, white and barren. What sort of place is this? A strange acidic smell was in the air. As the ship edged closer and closer to the island, Vivi put on her protective rubber diving suit and gracefully jumped off the lifeboat.

Miss Wednesday's training was paying off she thought as she swam towards a small rock formation. From her hiding spot, Vivi noticed that Miss All Sunday's giant turtle was resting on the shore just up ahead. Vivi wrung out her hair and tried to pat her suit with her handkerchief.

The Billions were unloading large chests and huge sacks and stacking them up in front of a large green tent that was still being set up. It all seemed like a bizarre scene to Vivi; this had to be a very important client if Baroque Works went out all the way here.

A red carpet was rolled out from the entrance of the tent all the way to the shore. Workers were running between the tent and the ship carrying more chests, food and what seemed like an endless amount of cushions.

It all reminded her of the desert tents in Alabasta, where she would camp with her grandfather as a child. During these trips, King Khafre would help her identify the various stars in the vast desert sky and satiate her appetite for adventures with his incredible stories. Who would have thought that out here, in the middle of nowhere, she would find a place that reminded her of home?

Meanwhile, under the watchful eye of Miss All Sunday, the Billions were finishing up the set up for the VIP client. The sun was going to set soon, and they were frantically lighting the torches along the red carpet and around the tent.

Vivi was waiting for the sun to set so she could get closer to the tent, just then she heard someone shout and a sound of something tumbling down the ramp from the ship. "Damn it! You almost broke the bottles, idiot!" came an angry voice.

"It's not my fault that my boots got slippery from all the fish shit on this dump of an island!" retorted another.

Fish shit?! Dump of an island?! It can't be! Vivi's eyes grew wide as she proceeded to reach for her tattered map clumsily. But there it was! This had to be it, Nanimonai Island. This island was near Alabasta!

Whoever the client is he or she may be a link to the culprit; someone ordering so many weapons from Baroque Works and meeting on an island near the troubled kingdom could not be a mere coincidence.

Never mind that Vivi found herself standing in the fecal matter of some giant fish! Oh, how the kids from the Suna Suna gang would have teased her for it, Vivi smiled sadly.

Miss All Sunday confidently surveyed the setup before her and proceeded to walk towards Billions' ship. "Alright, you have all done a good job today, I will be sure to put that in my report with a note that you all deserve a raise!" Cheers rose up among the crew.

"But if word gets out that any of you were on this island, the Unluckies will take care of you. So keep it to yourselves. Now then you may leave and head to our other base in Floral Fort. These are the orders from above; you are to wait there for further instructions. Do not leave our base until you are summoned. You are all dismissed." And with that Miss All Sunday walked into the tent. The Billions began scampering up the plank to their ship, desperately shoving and running to get off the island.

Vivi witnessed the entire scene from behind the rocks that stuck out like a sore thumb on this island. If she were to leave the island now, the client's identity would remain a mystery.
On the other hand, if she stays, it may put her into unnecessary danger since the person might not be related to the conflict in Alabasta.

Biting her lip, Vivi sucked in the putrid air, nearly choking in the process. She came this far; if she leaves now, it will be a waste of her effort. She proceeded to quietly walk towards the tent, trying to stick to the large chests around it.

Hopefully, Miss All-Sunday won't spot my shadow.

Inside the tent, Miss All Sunday or Nico Robin as she was in that rare moment, lounged on the cushions scattered across the luxurious carpets on the ground. Oh, he was not going to like this location, she thought and laughed softly.

She was surprised when he finally agreed to meet her here, fortunately, or unfortunately (depending on who you are) Crocodile was an intelligent man. He understood that this would be the least visited island near Alabasta, Little Garden was another option.

But it was too dangerous to meet there for a simple transfer procedure. So she waited for her boss while staring pensively into the flames of an oil lamp.

This trip has been full of surprises, the brave princess of Alabasta tailed her from Whiskey Peak. Who would have thought that a descendant of the Nefertaris would join a criminal organisation?

Could it be that her family created the Poneglyphs? Could they shed light on the mysterious Void Century?

She was eager to find the answer and for the moment decided to play along and let Miss Wednesday follow her.

A part of her, that fragile part that belonged to Nico Robin, not only respected but also admired the gutsy, blue-haired princess. But she knew all too well that fate often dealt cards of surprises. Robin could certainly attest to that.

"I would love to see how this plays out." she said, while lazily rotating the delicate teacup in her hand.

"What exactly?" came a harsh, low voice as the tent flap flew open, and a tall, cloaked figure strode inside.

A/N That's the first chapter right there! I wanted to give a bit more background and life to Vivi's life as a Baroque Works' agent and how she tailed Robin,etc. Hope this wasn't too long or boring for you guys! Let me know what you think! I plan to make this into a fairly long story as I want to improve my writing and have a lot of different ideas floating around.