Whole Cake Island
Part One
"We have to go!" Neo said as she paced and paced. They had just finished up tending to Zunisha's wound. The cannon fire had ripped the old elephant's leg to shreds at one area. But thanks to Chopper's medicine and her solar crystal, he was going to heal in no time. Now the Straw Hats and Heart pirates were gathering up food and other supplies for their journeys to Wano and Whole Cake Island. Some of her crew stayed behind and was watching her pace, listening to her rant of indecisiveness. "But I can't leave my babies again!" She latched onto Penguin's neck. Big tears streamed down her cheeks. "No! I can't stay! But I have to! I don't know what to do!"
"She's stressing out," Shachi said. Bepo nodded.
"There, there." Penguin patted her back. "This really has you upset, doesn't it?"
Neo nodded. "It's been so long since I've seen you all. But how can I leave with Sanji sailing right into the hands of an emperor?!"
Penguin sighed and held her at arms length.
"Penguin?"
"If you really feel like you need to go rescue Blackleg then go," Penguin said.
"What?! How can I?! You all are going into an emperor's territory, too!"
"True." Penguin nodded. "But we're going to be undercover. Blackleg isn't."
"Yeah. That's true," Neo said.
"We will miss you," Penguin said.
"Are you sure about this?" Neo asked.
"Of course." Shachi stepped over to them. "You're clearly worried about Blackleg. So much so that you can't concentrate properly."
"If you really feel the need to go after Blackleg, then go," Bepo said. "We'll miss you, but we understand."
Neo studied her three closest friends. They nodded in agreement. She then looked to Law.
"If that's what you want, we can go with the Straw Hats," Law said. "You can always use your crystals to help the trip along. This time we won't be gone for months."
"Thank you, everyone. I'm sorry to take off on you all again like... like..." Fresh tears poured down her cheeks. She pulled the crew into a group hug with her vines. "My babies! My sweet babies!"
The crew cooed at Neo for several minutes before she finally let them go.
"Okay." Neo brushed her tears away. "Behave yourselves. Go right to Wano. And no fighting. I mean absolutely no fighting."
"Yes, ma'am," the crew chorused.
With a deep breath Neo took Law's hand and lead the crew to the back flank of Zunisha where they were meeting up with the Straw Hats. Neo cried and held onto her crew for several minutes before Law finally managed to pull her away. "I'll miss you all! I promise we'll be back as soon as possible!"
"Miss you, too!"
"Love you!"
"See you later!"
"All right!" Luffy snapped out his arms. They wrapped around those who were dubbed the Sanji Rescue Team.
"Luffy!" Nami screamed. But it was too late. Holding them all, Luffy jumped off the elephant's back. "I'm going to kill you!"
Neo laughed.
"How can she laugh like that in a moment like this?!" Pedro asked.
"Mood swing," Law said with an unsure glance at his love. "I think."
"Neo! Help us!" Chopper screamed, his tears flying upward from the fall. "Please! We're going to die! We're going to fall into the ocean! We're going to drown!"
"Actually, from as high up as we were we'll die on impact," Law said with all the seriousness of diagnosing a fatal disease. "It'll be like hitting rock."
"What?!" Tears streamed from Chopper and Nami's eyes. "We don't want to die! Neo! Please! Save us!"
"Okay." Neo summoned her wind crystals. She halted the crew fifteen yards above the Sunny. She sat them down.
"That was scary." Brook fell onto the deck. "I almost had a heart attack. Then I don't have a heart."
"Why did you have to tell us that!" Nami screamed in Law's ear.
"Stating a fact." Law rested his sword on his shoulder with a smirk.
"I hate you." Nami glared.
"I'm so glad we're down!" Chopper kissed the deck.
"Let's set sail!" Luffy thrust a fist in the air.
The Straw Hats rushed about their ship.
"Hey, Neo," Nami said. "Do you have enough magic to unhook the chain from Zunisha?"
"Yeah." Neo flew over to the giant's leg and unhooked the chain. Chopper reeled it in as she flew back to the ship then he took it below deck.
The sails snapped open, gathering the wind and glided away from Zou.
Neo watched as the giant elephant grew smaller and smaller. Her heart ached with the thought of leaving her family again.
Law slipped his fingers between hers. "They'll be fine. And we'll only be gone for a about a month, if that long."
Neo nodded, unable to keep her eyes off the elephant as it grew to a small black dot then vanished. At that time Law pulled her away and sat down on the mast bench, pulling her on his lap. Neo tucked into him, breathing in his scent to calm her nerves.
"A little to the starboard," Nami said.
"Okay. That good?" Chopper asked from the helm.
"A little more. There. That's better. No, we've drifted a tiny bit off course again." Nami checked the log pose.
"I've got it! So leave it to me!" Carrot appeared out of no where.
"You all should be more cheery like her." Luffy jerked his thumb at the rabbit mink.
"Wow! We really are floating on the water!" Carrot bounced all over the Sunny, checking out every detail of the ship and the ocean. "Who would have thought a heavy looking ship like this could actually float?"
"What?! What the heck are you doing here?!" everyone gasped.
"You all didn't know?" Neo asked.
"Of course not! Why would we have known?!" Nami said. "Wait! You knew she was here?"
"Of course I knew. I could sense her." Neo nodded. "I thought you all decided to let her come."
"Garchu!" Carrot rubbed against Neo's cheek.
"She's so cute!" Neo rubbed back. "Garchu!"
Carrot then hugged and bit everyone else, including Law much to his annoyance.
"Carrot." Pedro sighed, rubbing his forehead. "You shouldn't be here. I'm sorry. But would it be possible to turn the ship around?"
"Don't send me back! Wanda's going to yell at me!" Carrot pleaded with round, wet eyes.
"Are you trying to cause trouble for out saviors, Carrot?!" Pedro crossed his arms with a disapproving frown. "We're going to be infiltrating an emperor's stronghold! This isn't a game!"
"I just really, really wanted to go out to sea on an adventure! Just once!" Carrot dropped to her knees and bowed her head in front of the older mink. "Please! I'll do anything! Just let me go with you! Look! So that I'm not just a burden, I brought provisions! A carrot bento, carrot juice, and a snack! A carrot! And a change of clothing!"
"Carrots do sound good." Neo placed a hand on her stomach. "Baby wants carrots too."
"How long do you expect all of that to last?" Pekoms eyed Carrot's bag.
"About half a day! The sea is a big place, after all!" Carrot said.
"She doesn't know," Neo said.
"I don't know what?" Carrot looked at Neo.
"It's going to take several days to get to Whole Cake Island. Then it'll take several more days to get to Wano," Law said. "That's not including how long it'll take us to rescue Blackleg."
"What?!" Carrot grasped her cheeks. "It's going to take several days?! Even if we head straight there?! Is it even possible for something to be so big?!"
"Is she talking about the ocean?" Neo asked.
"Of course!" Carrot nodded furiously. "How big is the ocean?!"
"Um..." Neo pressed a finger to her chin. "I'm not sure. But there are multiple oceans. Let's just say it would take several years to see everything."
"The sea truly is a wonderland!" Carrot clasped her hands together and cried tears of joy and wonder.
This kid is insane, Law thought.
'I heard that, Law.' Neo elbowed him.
'Well, she is. She shouldn't be here with how naive she is of the world.'
'I was naive to the world.'
'That's not the same. When I found you we weren't heading into an emperor's territory.'
'Well... yeah. You're right. I'm sorry. I should have said something about her sooner.'
'It's okay. It's her own fault for coming.'
Neo's eyes went to Pedro. She wondered if he would permit her to come with them.
"This is going to be my first official sleepover!" Carrot squeezed her hands together.
"Eh, it's fine if she comes along. I mean she's already here and all. You can take care of yourself, right?" Luffy bit into a carrot.
"Yes! Thank you! I'll be fi-" Carrot bit Luffy on the neck. "Who said you could eat my carrot?!"
"My throat!" Luffy shrieked.
"Luffy, pat her on the head!" Nami said.
Luffy pat Carrot and she calmed down. He fell over. "That was a close one. She almost got me. You're a crazy one, I'll give you that."
"Okay, I guess you can have my carrot." Carrot smiled.
"She's so cute!" Neo giggled. Summoning an earth crystal she grew a carrot for herself. It crunched between her teeth as she bit into it. "So yummy!"
"She's almost took out Luffy," Chopper said.
"To be fair, she is certainly stronger than your average mink," Pedro said.
"Pedro?" Neo sensed the mink up on top of the mast. "That was fast."
"When did you get way up there?" Brook looked up as well.
"I guess he felt like keeping watch." Neo leaned against Law's chest.
"Man, I'm starving! Let's have some grub!" Luffy said. "Someone, go prepare a feast!"
"For crying out loud, your skill set is so one dimensional. Fine, I'll do it. Just watch the sea for me," Nami said and headed for the stairs. "That'll be five thousand berries from each of you."
"Wait! Wait!" Luffy, Brook, and Chopper ran for the navigator.
"That's almost my whole allowance!" Chopper said.
"I'll make the food!" Luffy pointed at himself.
The Straw Hats grimaced.
"No! Neo! Help us!" Chopper grabbed onto her leg. Eyes round and full of tears, he pleaded, "Please, cook for us! Please! We'll be broke if Nami does it! If Luffy does it we'll starve to death!"
"Yes! Please! Cook for us!" Brook grabbed her other leg.
Law grunted and poked Brook on the head with his sheath. "You better only be begging for food there."
Brook chuckled nervously and pulled away from Neo.
"Okay." Neo giggled with a pat to Chopper's head. "I'll cook for you all. Not a problem."
"As long as you feel okay," Law said. "If you feel tired or sick I don't want you doing anything but resting. Understand?"
"I do." Neo nodded.
"Hey!" Pedro landed on the deck with a hard thump and held out a newspaper. "You'll all want to see this."
The pirates and minks gathered around the newspaper.
"What?! The Revolutionary Army got beaten?!" some shrieked.
"If I remember correctly, aren't you the Revolutionary Dragon's-" Pedro started.
"Ah! Sabo! That's my brother!" Luffy pointed at the paper.
"The one who's using Ace's devil fruit now?" Neo asked.
"Yeah." Luffy nodded. "He won it in my place during the tournament."
"The one you said you met up with on Dressrosa? You've got another brother?! And he's the Revolutionary Army Chief of Staff?!" Brook said. "That means he's their strongest member!"
"That would be before he got Ace's devil fruit," Neo said.
"Why is it that all of your siblings are crazy, dangerous people?" Nami crossed her arms with a huff.
"Wait a second. Does that mean that this person here next to him, Dragon, is..." Luffy said.
"Huh? Of course! Your grandpa said so two years ago, didn't he?" Nami said. "Back on Water 7."
"I remember you telling me about that." Neo glanced over Luffy's shoulder. "So that's your dad." She hummed. "You kind of look like him. I wonder what he's like."
"That's right. Dragon, the commander in chief of the Revolutionary Army is Luffy's dad," Nami said.
"This guy's my dad?!" Luffy held the newspaper away from him with his eyes growing large.
"Why doesn't it surprise me that you don't know who your dad is?" Law tapped his sword on his shoulder.
"How are you just realizing this now?!" Brook asked.
"What?! Luffy, your dad is the boss of the Revolutionary Army?!" Carrot said.
"I'd have thought you'd be more curious about who he is. He's beyond famous. Robin even stayed with him for quite a long time," Nami said.
"Huh. First time I'm actually seeing him." Luffy tilted his head. "Doesn't look a thing like me. Anyway, I'm worried about Sabo."
"Well, a picture doesn't do his presence justice." Brook laughed.
"Hey, Luffy," Chopper said.
"Based on intel from an unidentified individual, they were able to locate the Revolutionary Army headquarters." Nami ran her eyes over the article. "Except by the time the marines and cipher pol arrived, the Blackbeard pirates had already destroyed the place, apparently."
"Blackbeard!" Luffy growled. The newspaper crinkled under his fingers. "Those guys."
"Why would Blackbeard go after the Revolutionary Army?" Nami asked.
"Wait a second. Didn't we meet someone who was connected to Blackbeard at some point?" Neo looked at Luffy.
"Yeah." Luffy nodded. "On Dressrosa, Sabo and that champion guy fought for Ace's devil fruit. The champion guy was talking to Blackbeard while we were following Rebecca. Maybe that has something to do with it."
"That's right." Neo tapped her fist in her palm. "He was talking to Blackbeard on a transponder snail." She puffed up her cheeks. "That jerk! He spoke about Ace."
"Weren't you suppose to be cooking?" Law asked.
"That's right! I better get to it." Neo headed for the stairs then pause and looked back at Luffy. "Will your brother be all right?"
"Yeah." Luffy grinned. "Sabo will be fine."
"I'm glad. Oh, by the way, we're about to get hit with storm. You might want to furl the sails." Neo headed to the kitchen. Stepping into the room a heavy sadness settled in her chest. Visions of when she and Sanji cooked in here together after leaving Punk Hazard danced in her mind. She wrapped her arms around herself, tears threatening to spill. "Sanji... why did you have to leave?"
"Neo?" Law brushed his fingertips over her back. "You sure you want to cook in here?"
"Yeah." Neo rubbed her eyes. "I want to. I'll be fine." With a deep breath she stepped to the sink and washed her hands before roaming through the cabinets to see what they had.
...
"Thanks for the food!" everyone said before digging in.
"So good!" Brook said.
"You are an amazing cook," Pedro said after swallowing his fish.
"Thanks. I do what I can. Sanji's a lot better though." Neo plucked herself a sandwich off the plate and took a small bite.
"So yummy!" Luffy shoveled his food in.
"Slow down, Luffy." Neo laughed. "There's plenty."
"He's going to eat us out of food," Pedro said.
"That won't happen with me here." Neo summoned her crystals. "I'll make sure to keep fruits and vegetables in stock for the trip when my magic works. I can also help catch fish if it's needed, but I'm sure you all will want to do that to keep busy."
...
"Well, that was good," Nami said standing up. "But we better finish getting the ship repaired."
Neo gathered up the dishes. She paused and yawned. Tiredness washed over her.
"Neo, you okay?" Chopper asked.
"I'm fine," Neo said. "Just a little tired."
"You should rest then," Chopper said. "I'll take care of the dishes."
"I can do it," Neo said.
"Neo, if you're tired you need to rest. For both yourself and our baby," Law said sternly.
"Okay." Neo sighed and walked over to the couch. She laid down and closed her eyes. Within seconds she fell asleep.
...
Author's Notes: I must have writer's block. It's taking so long for me to get a chapter written. But here it is. The first chapter of what happened 'if' Neo and Law went with Luffy to save Sanji.