Up the Mountain
"Hey, are you okay?" a woman asked.
"Yes, I'm fine," Neo said with a smile. "I just tripped and twisted my ankle a bit."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Would you like me to help you to the doctor's?" the woman said.
"No, thank you," Neo said. "My brother is a he-doctor. He'll take care of me." She pointed to a near by shop. "He's just over there in that store."
"Okay then. Take care." The woman waved and walked off.
Neo waved back before continuing to limp along towards the store she knew her brother was in. A growl left her when she reached the store. Of course it had to have two steps on it. Placing her foot on the first step she pressed down on it. A little pain stabbed her leg but it wasn't very bad. So leaning against the railing, she lifted herself up the two steps. She crossed the small porch and entered into the store. Kailen was standing near a rack of coats. "Kailen."
"What's up?" Kailen turned to her. His eyes widened when she limped over to him. "You're hurt! What happened?!"
"I'm fine," Neo said as he dropped to his knees and examined her ankle. "But Archer and Conner aren't."
"What do you mean?" Kailen asked.
"Some mountain women took them," Neo said. "Apparently they come down to the village once in a while to steal men to breed with."
"They do what?" Kailen asked standing back up.
"I know it sounds weird," Neo said. "But the ice cream man told us about them and they confirmed it themselves. They just took them away. We tried to fight but it was like they were able to predict our moves."
"This isn't good," Kailen said. "We have to tell the captain about this."
"I heard it all," Law said.
Neo jumped at his unexpected voice. "Don't sneak up on us like that!"
"I didn't sneak. I've been here in the store the whole time," Law said, smirking.
"I didn't see you," Neo said.
"You weren't looking for me," Law said.
"Neo," Bepo said.
"You're here too?" Neo looked past Law and to the bear. She didn't even see him. How could she possibly miss such a large animal in an orange boiler suit? She didn't even sense him. Apparently she was more upset about this than she thought. "That's odd."
"What's odd?" Law asked.
"Nothing." Neo shook her head. "I'm just shaken up a bit with what happened."
"We saw you limping." Bepo glanced down at her leg. "Did they hurt you?"
"Not really," Neo said. "I kicked one of them. It was like kicking a mountain. I'm pretty sure it's just a bruise. The pain is going away."
"I'm so relieved." Bepo sighed.
"So what are we going to do about Archer and Conner?" Kailen asked.
"We're going to go get them of course," Law said.
"No," Neo said.
"Excuse me?" Law looked at her.
"You can't just go up there," Neo said.
"And why not?" Law glared at her. "They're my men. I'm not going to stand by and allow this to happen."
"These women hate men," Neo said. "If you all go up there they'll kill you and your crew. They outnumber you. They're not your average women. They're huge. And they most likely got traps set up or someone watching the trail that leads to their home."
"How many women are there?" Kailen asked.
"The one called Olga said they have over two thousand sisters," Neo said. "There's no way you can fight them all."
Law smirked. "You have yet to learn about my skills, Miss Neo, as you have not seen them yet."
"I don't care about your skills," Neo said. "I care about your men's lives. These women were not normal. If you were really listening then you know that I've already said it's like they could predict or see our moves ahead of time. How can you possibly handle that?"
"My skills aren't ordinary," Law said. "Those women were most likely using a skill called haki."
"Haki?" Kailen asked.
"It's a power anyone can awaken giving the right circumstances," Law said. "Most just don't awaken it. There're three different types of haki powers. The first is what they were using. It's called observation haki. You can see a person's spirit and a few seconds into the future."
"Oh, that's right," Kailen said.
"Godfather told us about that," Neo said.
Kailen nodded.
"Then you are familiar with it," Law said.
"Yeah," Neo said. "I just didn't think about it when we were fighting those women. I can't believe I forgot about that. Anyway, back to what we were talking about. You're talking about your devil fruit powers? It that how you're going to beat them?"
"It might be," Law said.
"I don't have time for this." Neo rubbed her forehead. "Those women are only going to use Conner and Archer for sex. And once they're done doing that they're going to kill them. They offered me a place among their group. So I'm going to go after them. I'll be able to get inside their village and get the guys out."
"You are not," Law said.
"We don't have time to argue about this," Neo said.
"I'm not arguing," Law said. "I'm the captain and you're going to listen to me. For now we need to get you back to the sub. I need to take a look at your leg to make sure nothing's broken."
"I think I'd know if it was broken. My leg is fine," Neo said. "We can't waste time. We have to go after them before they're killed."
"Do you know anything about reproduction, Miss Neo?" Law said. "It takes time for a sperm to fertilize an egg. It's highly doubtful that they will kill Conner and Archer today or even tomorrow. We have plenty of time to go after them. And I won't go without a plan in place. Now let's get back to the sub."
Neo swallowed a growl.
"Come on." Kailen swooped his sister into his arms.
"So what were you doing in that store?" Neo asked to keep her frustration in control.
"I was getting us some warm clothes," Kailen said. "We might end up on some winter islands."
"Makes sense," Neo said. "I'm glad at least you're keep a clear head."
"Well, one of us has to," Kailen said.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Neo asked.
"It means you're being a bit reckless," Kailen said.
"I am not." Neo pouted.
"You are to," Kailen said. "But never mind that for now."
"Fine." Neo turned her attention to the town. She watched the buildings go by and people go about their business like pirates weren't in the town at all.
Reaching the sub Law warped them inside and right into the medical bay. "Place her on the exam table."
Kailen sat Neo down and stepped aside.
Neo sat as Law propped up his sword against the exam table then rolled up her pant leg. His skin was tough with calluses but his touch was surprisingly gentle.
"Does it hurt when I press here?" Law asked pressing against her skin.
"No," Neo said. "Like I said, it's just a minor bruise. I can walk fine."
"You appear to be correct," Law said.
"She doesn't need an x-ray?" Bepo asked.
"No, it's not necessary," Law said.
"I'm so glad." Bepo smiled.
"You're so cute for worrying over me like that," Neo said. "Next time we're off on an island you'll have to escort me."
Bepo nodded.
Law cleared his throat.
"Sorry, Captain." Bepo ducked his head.
"Don't apologize," Neo said. "You did nothing wrong."
"I'm sorry," Bepo said.
"You're so cute when you get depressed," Neo said. Reaching out she patted his head before scratching behind his ear.
Bepo hummed and leaned into the touch.
"If you're done treated my navigator like a dog, I need him to get a map of the mountain," Law said.
"Fine." Neo released him.
"Bepo, run back into town and see what you can find out about this mountain," Law said.
"Aye, Captain." Bepo rushed out of the room.
"Kailen, you're coming with us," Law said.
Kailen nodded.
"And what am I suppose to do?" Neo asked.
"Stay here," Law said. "With your leg like it is you have no way of fighting."
"I don't have to fight," Neo said. "They won't attack me."
"They already have," Law said.
"They only did that because I attacked them first." Neo crossed her arms and glared at him. "I didn't think it would be nice of me to not try and save your subordinates."
"I understand and I thank you for trying to help them." Law grabbed his sword. "But I won't risk your safety and body like this. You will stay put."
"You are impossible!" Neo slapped her hands on the exam table before pushing herself off it.
"Neo," Kailen said.
"I'm going to our room," Neo said before exiting the room. If it weren't for her leg still throbbing a bit, she would have stomped all the way down the stairs. Reaching their room she sat down on the bed with a dejected huff. "What a jerk! Just because I have a bruise doesn't mean I still can't fight! Or at least go after them!" She paused. The image of her parents dying before her flashed through her mind. Her nailed dug into the mattress. There was no possible way she could just sit there and do nothing. There was no way she was going to let someone else die. "I can still go."
The sound of footsteps out in the hall prompted her to get up. She opened the door and saw Penguin. He said, "Oh, hey, Neo. Bepo told us what happened. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Neo said. "Is he back yet?"
"No," Penguin said. "Shachi and I just crossed his path while he was heading out to find a map for the captain. We came back to the sub to see if we could help."
"Are you heading up the mountain now?" Neo asked.
"In a little while," Penguin said. "The captain wants to look over the map first, if they have one, before formulating a plan."
"I see," Neo said. "Well, I hope you'll be all right going up there. Those women aren't normal."
"I've heard." Penguin nodded. "Well, I have to get back to the captain now. See you later."
Neo waved to him. She watched him disappear down the stairs. Her mind spun for a few seconds before she headed for the stairs. Step by step she hoped that no one else came into the sub. Penguin had said he and Shachi came back to the sub. So no one else should be here. And since Penguin went downstairs, she assumed that's where the captain was as well. If she were lucky she would be able to get off the sub and head towards the mountain before anyone even knew she was gone. Of course there was her brother. But he wouldn't notice her leaving, hopefully. The only time he's ever kept a constant watch over her was on the very rare occasions when she was sick. She wasn't now so she should be fine.
The door was open. Making her escape a lot easier but doing nothing for her racing heart. She climbed down the ladder and dashed across the dock. Knowing the rest of the crew could spot her if she went through the town she headed behind the buildings until she got to the large tree. She paused and looked at the ground right where they were sitting. Her heart throbbed. If she had the use of her crystals then they wouldn't have been taken in the first place. She wouldn't have lost them. Biting back her tears she headed for the mountains. Her eyes dropped to the ground. Like she knew there were six sets of fresh footprints. She followed them. Half an hour later she reached the base of the mountain. Her already sore leg throbbed from the walking. Sitting down she rested a few minutes to give her leg a break and a quick massage.
A couple squirrels ran up to her. They chittered at her.
"Hello there," Neo said. "I'm just resting. I have to climb up this mountain. Some friends of mine were taken by some women who live up there."
They chittered at her again.
"You don't have to worry about me," Neo said. "The women won't hurt me. In fact they invited me to come up. I'm only going to save my friends. Well, you can come if you want to. Though I don't want you to get hurt. So once we reach their village it would be best if you stayed hidden. I'm not sure if they'll want to eat you for dinner or not. Oops. I guess I shouldn't have said that. But, yeah, you're right. It's best for you to stay right here."
The squirrels ran off.
Neo stood up and started walking again. The path was surprisingly easy to follow. It started out as a simple dirt path for about half a mile up the mountainside. Then it got rockier. She stepped upon a rock and crossed a few more before jumping back down to the ground. Rounding a bend she came face to face with a sixty-foot cliff. Scanning her eyes around the area she found no other way to get out of here. The only ways were up or go back the way she came. Moving closer to the wall she inspected it and found someone had carved out foot and hand holds. "That's convenient. Though I wonder how they got Archer and Conner up there. I hope they didn't hurt them by throwing them up or something. At least no more than they already have."
Neo planted the toe of her boot into one of the footholds. Reaching up she grabbed onto the rock and pulled herself up. The rough rocks bit into her skin but she kept moving. Minutes past before she finally reached the top. Laying half over the edge she started to pull herself up. She was about to her feet when suddenly her surroundings changed and she dropped to her knees. "Ouch! What the heck?!"
"I was going to ask you that same question," Law said.
Neo flinched. Looking over her shoulder she found not only him, but also her brother, Penguin, Shachi, and Bepo staring at her. "Um. Hi."
"Seriously, Neo?! What were you thinking coming up here like this?!" Kailen asked.
"I was going to save Conner and Archer!" Neo stood up. Narrowing her eyes at her brother, she asked, "How did you even notice I was gone?"
"It was a feeling," Law said. "When Bepo returned I went to your room and found you missing."
"So you were checking up on me?!" Neo said rounding on Law.
"It's my job," Law said. "I told you to stay on the sub."
"You should have known there was no way I was going to do that." Neo crossed her arms over her chest. She glanced back up at the cliff. "Now I'm going to have to climb that again."
"You are going back to the sub," Law said.
"I'm not going to do that, Captain," Neo said. "I am going to help get them back. If you want me to go back to the sub then you're going to have to tie me up and carry me there yourself."
"Don't tempt me." Law gripped his sword hard.
"Just let her come, Captain," Penguin said. "We're already this far. Having to go back to the sub will only waste time. We need to get to Archer and Conner before anything else happens to them."
"He's got a point," Shachi said. "And Neo might actually be helpful here since the women are a lot nicer to other women."
Law closed his eyes. Several seconds past before he finally opened his eyes. "Fine. Let's get going. But this conversation isn't over. We're going to talk about this when we get back to the sub."
"Whatever you say," Neo said.
"Room." Law lifted his hand.
"What the heck?" Neo glanced around at the blue film that surrounded them. "What is this?"
"Part of the captain's devil fruit powers," Bepo said.
"Just watch," Penguin said.
"Shambles," Law said.
Neo blinked. One second they were at the bottom of the cliff and the next they were on top of it. "What the heck did you just do?"
"I warped us to a different location." Law turned and walked away from the cliff.
"What kind of devil fruit power is that?" Neo followed after him.
"It's the Op Op devil fruit," Penguin said. "That blue film you saw around us is his operating room."
"Operating room? What about back at the sub?" Neo asked.
"That's sort of different," Penguin said. "With the captain's powers he can warp us like he did, sever a body without or without damaging it-"
"You have got to be kidding!" Neo's eyes widened. Her eyes shot to Law's back. The captain never turned around.
"I knew about the warping part since that's how we got on the sub when we first came here," Kailen said. "But I didn't know he could do more than that."
"He can do a lot more," Shachi said. "He can remove a person's heart without damaging it."
Neo halted. "He can do what?"
"It's a technique called scalpel," Penguin said jutting his fingers forward. "The heart literally pops out of a person's chest. It's held inside of a clear square box."
"That's creepy," Neo said. "And it still beats and everything?"
"It does." Penguin nodded. "It's said to be one of the most powerful devil fruits in the world. Some call it the ultimate devil fruit. But to use it to its full potential the user has to have great medical knowledge."
"And does he have that?" Neo nodded towards Law.
"He does," Penguin said. "The captain's been studying to be a doctor for years. Ever since he was a kid actually."
Neo looked back at Law. He was still walking ahead of them seemingly unaware that they had stopped.
"Are you coming?" Law then asked. "Or are you just going to stand there and stare at me all day?"
Neo growled and marched after him.
"Do you think we'll see any goats up here?" Bepo asked looking around. "I smell some."
"We will," Neo said sensing the goats near by.
Kailen frowned at her.
"How do you know?" Bepo asked.
"Uh." Neo flinched. She let those words slip out. "We'll I saw some droppings before."
"I hope they're friendly," Shachi said.
"As along as we don't bother them they shouldn't bother us," Penguin said.
Neo slowed her pace so she could drop back by her brother. She whispered, "You had better not have told them I left the sub."
"I didn't," Kailen said. "Captain Law did go looking for you."
"He's probably never going to let me out of his sight now," Neo said.
"Well, you shouldn't have taken off like that," Kailen said. "I'm rather disappointed in you myself."
"Why? I didn't do anything wrong," Neo said.
"You want to rethink that?" Kailen frowned. "Your magic isn't working, Neo. What if you got up there and the women notice you're trying to release Conner and Archer? What would you have done then?"
"I would have thought of something," Neo said.
Kailen sighed. "Sometimes you're too impulsive. Godfather wouldn't like how you're acting."
"Well, he's not here now is he?" Neo said.
"Please, Neo." Kailen rubbed his neck. "I don't want to argue with you. Again."
"Fine. Whatever," Neo said. Silence past between them for a few minutes. She scanned her eyes around their surroundings, hoping the goats would come over and see them.
"You're starting to see them as friends," Kailen said.
"Maybe," Neo said.
"You are. If you weren't you wouldn't have came out here on your own," Kailen said. "That's why you came up here by yourself. You care about them. You're always quick to care about people. I should have known. I'm sorry for getting upset with you."
"Fine. I'm starting to see them as friends." Neo growled through gritted teeth.
"That's good." Kailen smiled. "Now if only we can get you and the captain to become friends. Then we might get some peace and quite on the sub."
Neo snorted. "Don't count on it. I want nothing to do with that jerk. Once we get to Sabaody we'll never see him again."
"Maybe. Only time will tell for sure," Kailen said.
"You two made up yet?" Penguin asked.
"Yes," Neo said.
"Good," Penguin said. "I wouldn't want you two to be angry with each other. You seem like you're really close."
"We are," Neo said. "So our fights never last very long. And they're pretty rare too. So do you know how far up the mountain the village is?"
"It's over halfway up," Bepo said. "We have a long way to go still."
"Or your captain could just use his powers and warp us up there," Neo said.
"I won't be doing that," Law said.
"Why not? You have that power," Neo said.
Law didn't answer. And neither did the crew.
"At least it's a nice day for a walk on the mountain," Penguin said. "At least at the moment. It's going to get colder the higher we go." He looked back at Neo and Kailen. "You two don't have winter clothes yet."
"We'll be fine," Kailen said.
"I grabbed these before leaving the sub." Bepo pulled out two cloaks from his boiler suit.
"Thank you, Bepo," Neo said taking one from him.
"If we're lucky this won't take very long at all," Shachi said.
Kailen draped his over his shoulder.
"Huh?" Neo looked to her right when she sensed some goats coming their way. Six came busting out of a group of bushes.
"Look out!" Shachi said. When one charged at him he leaped into the air.
"They're attacking us?!" Penguin dodged one as well.
"Are there babies around here?" Bepo asked.
"None of them have milk," Kailen said stepping to his left to avoid one. The goat paused, smelling his difference then walked away. "I think they're trained to attack people."
"Actually they're only attacking you men," Neo said as some goats gathered around her.
"Huh?" Shachi looked at her. Three goats were standing beside her, rubbing their heads on her body, and swishing their tails. "You've got to be kidding me!"
"We don't have time for this." Law dodged a couple attacks before pulling out his sword.
"No!" Neo ran towards him and latched onto his arm. "Don't you dare hurt them!"
"Not again." Law tried to shake her off.
"You don't have to kill them!" Neo said tightening her hold. "They're only doing what they were trained to do! It's not their fault!"
"You and your obsession with animals is getting really annoying!" Law said. One charged at him. Spreading out his Room, he warped them out of the way. "Let go!"
"Only if you don't hurt them!" Neo said.
"Fine! I'll only divide them up!" Law said.
Neo searched his eyes, searched for the truth. She found it. He was being honest with her. She released him. "Okay."
Law sliced his sword through the air. All of the goats' legs flew off their bodies. The goats flailed and bleated.
Their fear pierced her heart. She grabbed her chest and walked over to a couple. Kneeling down she stroked their heads. "Easy now. It's okay. You're fine. I promise you'll be put back together soon. We just need to pass by. That's all."
Once they were calm she moved on to the next group and then the next until she spoke to them all.
"What are you doing?" Penguin asked.
"Calming them down," Neo said. "I can't leave them like this. They're too scared."
"You can leave them. And you will. I already let you waste enough time," Law said putting up his sword. "We're leaving now."
"Fine. But on our way back down you are going to put them back together," Neo said.
Law turned his back to her and continued walking without a reply.
"Let's go," Kailen said.
"We'll be back," Neo said before rushing to catch up with her brother and the pirates.
For the next fifty minutes everything went smoothly. They walked along the well-worn path, over a small mountain stream before starting up an incline. Then Penguin looked down. "Huh?"
"What's wrong?" Shachi asked.
"Look out!" Kailen cried. Loud rumbles descended upon them as he summoned his earth crystals. Stringing out vines, he blocked their bodies from being smashed by an avalanche of large boulders.
"What the heck?!" Bepo screamed. "Where did those come from?!"
"It appears some traps have been set," Law said.
"Or the women are trying to kill you men." Neo smirked.
"They would have killed you too," Law said.
Neo shrugged. "Not if I came alone like I wanted to."
The rocks slowed and the rumbling faded. Kailen lowered his vines. "That was way too close."
"Shambles." Law warped away from the group.
"Hey! What's he doing?" Neo asked. "Where did he go?"
"He must have seen something," Penguin said just before the captain reappeared.
"Where did you go?" Neo asked.
"Up to the cliff where the rocks came from," Law said. "There were some women up there. Clearly they are watching us."
"What did you do to them?" Neo gulped. Her mind instantly pictured their dead bodies lying on the ground.
"Let's keep moving," Law said heading on up the mountain.
Neo exhaled. Part of her wanted him to answer her. But part of her didn't want the answer. She hoped he only used his devil fruit powers to split them apart.
"Hey, Kailen, how did you even know those rocks were coming?" Shachi asked.
"Oh, well, I can feel it," Kailen said. "Through my crystals. I mean. Since they're connected to nature I felt the rocks move."
"Amazing," Shachi said. "Do you feel anything else?"
"Not really," Kailen said not wanting to give anything else away.
Neo glanced at him. They both sensed plenty. Several places on the mountain were unstable and there had been some holes dug but those were farther up the mountain. The women clearly had done it as traps for people who came up the mountain. It made her wonder if Olga's invitation to join them was legit or a trick. Connecting her senses to the world around her, she searched out for anything that told her there were people near by watching. Nothing. The animals didn't even seem nervous at all. Maybe the women the captain dealt with were the only ones keeping watch. Or maybe there were more but hidden very well.
Before long the incline they were climb split off into two different paths leading farther up the mountain. Law knelt down to inspect the footprints on the ground. "Looks like they've taken both paths."
"Is it a trick?" Shachi asked.
"It could be." Law stood up. "Kailen, can you sense anything?"
"I'm not really sure," Kailen said. "It's possible that there are some holes dug along the paths. So which ever one we take it might be best for me to take the lead."
Neo watched as the wheels in the pirate captain's head turned. A minute past before he nodded. He said, "Okay. You take the lead them. But only you. Miss Neo needs to stay between us so nothing happens to her."
"I don't need your protection." Neo crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm like my brother, remember?"
"So you can use your crystals now?" Law asked.
Neo growled. Did he really have to remind her of that?
Kailen started up the trail before the argument could go any farther. Carefully, he scanned the ground for the holes they were sensing. After three minutes of walking they came up to one. "There's one here."
"Amazing," Shachi said. "It looks like the dirt and rocks haven't been disturbed at all."
"They must have built up a lot of skills living in these mountains," Penguin said.
"And it looks like they used the mountain side here to get across." Kailen scaled the wall a few feet before crossing around the hole. Reaching the other side he climbed down then signaled for the others to follow. "Let's try to avoid the traps as best we can in case they come check them. If we get lucky enough maybe they'll think the rocks did us in or we went back down the mountain."
"Sounds like a good idea in theory. But once they discover the other women they'll know we're coming," Bepo said as they started scaling the wall. Reaching the other side they continued on up the mountain, scaling the mountainside a total of seven times before coming to a gorge and a rope bridge.
"Doesn't look all that sturdy to me," Bepo said. "Do we really have to cross it?"
"We don't have to," Neo said. She then wiggled her fingers like she was casing a spell. "Or your captain can use his devil fruit magic and warp us across."
"My range doesn't go that far," Law said. "We'll have to cross on foot."
"I hope no one falls," Shachi said. "It looks like every other plank is missing."
"It's possible they just fell off," Neo said eyeing the weather worn ropes. "Those ropes are really worn down."
"Not making me feel better," Shachi said.
"Sorry." Neo smiled. "I didn't mean to be all doom and gloom."
"Oh!" Shachi squealed. "You're so cute when you smile! You really need to do it more often!"
"Thank you!" Neo's smile grew a bit. A small bit of hope swirled inside of her. It died quickly when she remembered Conner and Archer. "I might do that more after we know your friends are safe."
"Yeah." Shachi nodded.
"So are we crossing in a certain order?" Bepo asked.
"I don't think it matters," Kailen said. "It should hold us. I'm going to keep my crystals out just in case."
"You should thread one vine out for all of use to hold," Neo said.
"Good idea." Kailen nodded. Shifting a crystal in front he threaded out a vine to the other side, wrapping it around a tree, and his end to the people with him. "If the bridge does collapse we can use my vine to swing over to the other side. So just hold on."
The group nodded. One by one, with Kailen in the lead, they stepped onto the bridge. The wood and ropes groaned and sunk a little but it held as they made their way across it. A board snapped. Bepo screamed when his leg sunk low. Launching forward he landed on the next piece of board. Everyone frozen, their hearts pounded in their chest as the bridge swung from the unexpected movement. The bridge slowed to a stop. They relaxed and continued moving. Five minutes past before they reached the other side.
"Well, that was fun." Penguin offered his hand to Neo.
She gladly took it and jumped to safety. "No kidding. Life with you guys is going to be rather exciting, isn't it?"
"Well, we are in the Grand Line," Penguin said as they walked along a small cluster of rocks. "Does that mean your life back home wasn't very exciting?"
"Well." Neo thought about that. There were times when she was really bored with life on Luminous. But there were also times when things were really exciting. Though most of the exciting times came with Godfather and the crew was there. She glanced up at the mountaintop towering above them. Unlike the mountains back home this one was capped with snow. It reminded her of the time when she had first created a snowstorm on Luminous thanks to Shanks involvement. It was during one of her crystal lessons when she was about nine years old. Shanks and the crew had been on the island for a while. And the red haired man was being mischievous again. And like always he pulled Neo right into it, not that she ever complained about it.
"You want me to do what?" Neo asked once her godfather had gotten her away from her lesson.
"I want you to create a snowstorm," Shanks said. He was bending down to her height. "They don't happen here. It'll be a nice treat for the elementals to have one."
"You just want to cause trouble again," Neo said smiling.
"Maybe." Shanks smiled. "But I also want the elementals to experience snow. And snow isn't something you get around here. Well, unless you or some other elementals come together and make it happen. Do you remember how snow is created?"
"Of course I do," Neo said. "Snow is formed when there's moisture in the atmosphere and the temperature is low."
"Then do it." Shanks' smile grew.
Neo nodded with a big smile of her own. Summoning her crystals she drew in a cold breeze and sent some moisture into the air. Her body shivered at the change in the air around their home island. Sparkling ice crystals began to form in the air. She heard them crystalizing before they finally fell to the ground.
"Yeah!" Shanks cheered. "You did it!"
"Yeah!" Neo leaped into the air. Of course she had made small snow clouds before, but only small enough that the clouds would fit into her hand. Her teacher didn't want her to go overboard since snow wasn't a part of Luminous. Well, now that was gone. Snow blanketed the island within minutes. Both animals and elementals became confused at the white powder but soon started to enjoying it. Well, some did. Some ran back home to the warmth inside or got in close with fire elementals.
"Shanks!" Mira cried out once the snowmakers got back to the castle grounds. "How could you?!"
"Why am I always blamed for this?" Shanks asked.
"Because you always cause trouble when you're here!" Mira planted her hands on her hips and glared at the pirate.
"Relax." Shanks winked. "Everyone's loving this."
Neo looked around the castle grounds. While everyone wasn't enjoying it a lot were. She brought her eyes back to her mom.
Mira's arms dropped to her sides with a sigh. "What am I going to do with you two?"
"Love us." Shanks grinned.
Tears gathered in her eyes. She brushed them away before they could fall. Mira was always quick to forgive Shanks. The red haired man was hard to stay angry with. "Have you all ever played in the snow?"
"Of course we have," Penguin said.
"It snowed a lot on our home island," Shachi said. "What about you two?"
"We've played in snow before." Neo glanced at Kailen before adding, "But snow doesn't really happen on our island. We're more of a warm weather place."
"Well, at least you got some," Penguin said. "If we're luck we'll stop on a snowy island somewhere between here and Sabaody."
"That might be nice," Neo said. "Though I'm still in a hurry to get to Godfather."
"How much farther up the mountain do you think it is?" Bepo asked.
"You're the navigator," Shachi said. "And you have the map."
"Oh." Bepo paused and pulled the map from his boiler suit. Kneeling on the ground he rolled it out. "I was able to talk to someone when I got the map. They said they believe the women's dwellings are here." He pointed at the map. "While you can't see it from below there's actually a plateau jutting off the mountain. That's how they know when new ships come to the island. They can see them from there."
"So then we should be able to look down into their home," Kailen said. "Or hopefully. We won't know until we get there."
"We also need to keep a look out for more guards," Penguin said.
Bepo rolled up the map and they continued.
"So what exactly is the plan when we get there?" Neo asked. "You plan on going in swinging and slice them up?"
"That would be far too hectic," Law said. "And it could cause them to kill Conner and Archer."
Neo's lungs hitched. That was a stupid plan.
"Fire thing's first," Law said. "We need to actually get there. Once we see the layout of the village I'll be able to decide which plan will be best."
"So you have more than one?" Neo asked.
"I do." Law nodded.
"Good," Neo said.
Law glanced at her.
"What?" Neo knitted her eyebrows.
"Nothing." Law faced forward again.