Wars
Neo leaned against the railing. One arm was crossed over it while she propped her chin up with her other hand. The morning air was cool but quickly warming up as the sun rose higher and higher in the sky. Stared out at the island, or technically mangrove trees she watched to see if anyone would come their way. A few days had past since their fight with the navy. And so far no one came after them. She tried not to worry about it. Law had told her multiple times that the navy was too busy with the upcoming war that they wouldn't bother coming after them. Then there was also the Straw Hats she was worried about. Every since that fight the other day no one had seen them. She had no idea if they had gotten away or not. There were some rumors that the Straw Hat's ship was still docked at the archipelago. She wasn't sure if they were true or not.
A news coo flew over the sub, drawing her attention. It dropped a newspaper onto the deck. She walked over, picked it up, and opened it. She ran her eyes over the words until one particular article jumped out at her. The newspaper crinkled under her fingers. There in ink was news about her Godfather. And he was currently in a battle against Kaido. She gulped. There was no way she could get to him now. Besides she knew he wouldn't want her around another emperor. If elementals were with him right now their secrets were already at risk of being exposed. And there was no guarantee that they would make it to that area before he left it. She had no choice but to let it go.
"What are you doing out here?"
Neo lifted her eyes to find Law walking towards her.
"Nothing much. Just getting some air." She waved the newspaper. "This just got dropped off."
"Anything good?" Law took it from her.
"Shanks is fighting Kaido apparently," Neo said. "Why do you think he'd be doing that?"
"I'm not sure," Law said scanning his eyes over the articles. "It's possible that Kaido was trying to head for Marineford."
"Why?"
"Because of the war that's going to happen there," Law said. "Kaido would never pass up an opportunity to attack at such a critical time."
"You think Shanks is trying to stop him to go there," Neo said. "That's possible. Do you think Shanks will go to Marineford?"
"It's possible." Law nodded.
Neo pursed her lips, wondering how far Marineford was from here. "Will we be going to the war?"
"Why would you ask that?" Law looked at her.
"Just curious." Neo shrugged. "Shanks knows Luffy. And Luffy is Fire Fist Ace's brother."
"They're brothers?"
"Yeah." Neo nodded. "Godfather has met both of them. He told me all about them. I know Luffy will be going to Marineford to rescue his brother. It's possible that Shanks would go there to make sure Luffy survived."
"I really would like to know who your godfather is." Law folded the newspaper and tucked it under his arm. "He seems to know a lot of people."
"Yeah." Neo glanced out at the trees. She could feel Law's eyes on her, studying her, expecting her to speak. It was tempting to tell him. Maybe she should. If Shanks sailed close to them the elementals traveling with him would definitely sense her and Kailen. Keeping Shanks a secret was going to come to an abrupt end. "Law…"
"Yes?"
"I think…I think it might be best if I told you now who our godfather is," Neo said.
"Are you sure?" Law asked.
"No, but you might get to see him soon," Neo said. "And he'll most likely have some of my people with him. They could be shocked that we're out here with pirates. They might attack if they think you kidnapped me."
"Make sense," Law said. "It's your call what you say."
Neo nodded. She mulled the thought over in her head for a few minutes before deciding it would be best if she told him. After all Rini and Jaq could have killed them so easily. She didn't want that to happen again. With a gulp she said, "Shanks is our godfather."
The newspaper fell to the deck with a flop. Law stood in disbelief.
Neo bit her bottom lip. "I'm sorry. I know I should have told you sooner but…I just couldn't."
"Red Hair Shanks is your godfather," Law said.
"Yeah." Neo chuckled. "He is."
"Red Hair Shanks is your godfather," Law said again.
"You don't have to be afraid of him," Neo said. "He won't hurt you now that we're, um, now that we're friends and all."
Law shook his head. "I'm not afraid of him. I just find it hard to believe that an emperor is your godfather."
"Yeah." Neo wrapped her arms around herself. Her eyes dropped to the deck. She parted her lips to apologize again but stopped when Law's arms wrapped around her. "Law?"
"It's okay. You don't have to apologize," Law said. "I can understand why you kept it a secret."
Neo relaxed against him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Anymore surprises that shocking?" Law asked.
"There's one more," Neo said. "But I'm more scared of telling you that one."
"Why?" Law pulled back and looked at her.
"Because I like how things are now. If you knew this other secret…you and the crew…you would treat me differently. I've had enough of that," Neo said unable to meet his gaze. Her heart thumped when he tilted her chin so she had no choice but to look at him.
"That will never happen," Law said. "No matter what secret you're keeping from us, we'll never treat you any differently than we are now."
Neo sighed.
"I'll wait until you are ready to share that secret," Law said. "I won't force it out of you."
"Thank you, Law," Neo said.
Law leaned down and kissed her.
"I've been meaning to ask you," Neo said when they broke apart.
"What?" Law brushed his nose against hers.
"Why did you ask Jean Bart to join your crew?" Neo asked.
"Because he's strong. And he's a former captain himself," Law said. "Knowledge is power."
Neo nodded.
"Is there something wrong with asking him?" Law tilted his head.
"No." Neo fiddled with his shirttail. "I was just curious. I think I find it hard to believe a former captain would willingly serve under another captain."
"It might be hard for some people to serve under another," Law said. "But Jean Bart isn't one of them. Besides, he's no longer a slave now."
"Yeah. None of them are," Neo said. "At least from this auction house. I wonder how many there are left in the world."
"Far too many for you to worry about," Law said. "So put it out of your head. We saved a few. It's impossible to save everyone."
"I know," Neo whispered. Her mind flashed back to her home.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories," Law said.
"It's fine," Neo said. "Honestly, it doesn't hurt as much as it did. It still hurts but…"
"I don't think the pain will ever completely go away," Law said. "It will only get more bearable."
Neo looked to the sky when the wind picked up. Dark clouds were gathering in the distance. "It's going to rain soon."
Law followed her gaze. "Let's get inside then."
Slipping her hand into Law's, Neo walked inside with him.
…
Neo stared up at the screen, watching the ongoing war between the Whitebeard Pirates and the navy. Just about everyone on this section of the archipelago was there. All watching and waiting to see what was going to happen. Her hands trembled at her side. Each time the visual snail showed Luffy, bloody and bruised, her heart would seize up. Even though she had never met him she felt like she should go there and help him. She wanted to help him survive this war. He made a promise to her godfather after all. They had to meet up again.
This morning had started out so well. They had ate breakfast, spent a little more time in the sub listening to some of Jean Bart's adventures before deciding to head into town. Law had deemed it safe to return. The navy would be too busy. Little did they know that the upcoming war was going to happen today.
"That's ridiculous," Penguin said.
"What?" Neo lifted from her thoughts. She noticed at the screen was now black.
"People are saying Whitebeard betrayed his crew and left them behind." Penguin crossed his arms. "What a crock."
"Let's go," Law said.
"Where are we going?" Kailen asked as everyone followed the captain.
"We're heading for Marineford," Law said. "Whitebeard would never leave his crew behind. That's why he such a legend."
"We're going to the war?" Neo rushed to his side. "Why?"
"It just feels right," Law said.
Neo stared at him for a few seconds before turning her eyes forward. They were going to the war. Her heart raced. Maybe, just maybe, she could speak with Luffy this time. Reaching the sub her mind spun. They all climbed inside. The crew immediately spread out inside the water vessel. Law also disappeared. She figured he was going to get his crew prepared for the war. She didn't want to be in the way so she stayed away from him and went to the rec. room instead. Not feeling like reading, she just sat there at the table.
The minutes seemed to tick by so painfully slow before the sub finally dipped below the water. Time seemed to slow down even more as she stared out the porthole in the rec. room. She had no idea where the crew had disappeared to. Were they sparring with each other in preparation for the war? Were they even going to fight? She figured Archer was in the control room as he often was. Bepo was most likely in his navigation room. Some of the others were probably helping Jean Bart get use to the sub more or familiarizing him with what they do when they confronted an enemy. Kailen was in their room. She had no clue why he was down there.
"Hey, Neo," Conner said.
Neo looked at him.
"The captain wants to see you," he said. "He's in his room."
"Oh." Neo pushed away from the table. "Thank you. I'll go right now."
Conner nodded then disappeared from her view.
Neo headed upstairs. Law's door was open so she stepped inside.
"Close the door," Law said from his bed.
Neo did then walked over to him. "You wanted to see me?"
"Sit." Law tapped his bed.
Neo sat down beside him.
"We have to talk about the war," Law said.
"What about it?" Neo swallowed. Her nerves didn't allow her to try and figure out what this meeting was about.
"I don't want you anywhere near it." Law locked eyes with her.
"What? Why?" Neo's eyebrows knitted.
"It's not going to be safe for you to reveal yourself," Law said.
"I'm not sure I understand," Neo said.
"Some of the strongest pirates and navy soldiers in the world are going to be there. They might be more concerned with the war but that won't mean they won't notice you and Kailen," Law said. "If they see you two then that could put you in their sights."
"I suppose that makes sense," Neo said.
"But?"
"But I really wanted to talk to Luffy, I mean Straw Hat," Neo said.
"What for?" Law asked.
Neo thought about it for a minute then remembered the news report on Shanks. Luffy wouldn't know much more than she did. "I've just heard a lot of stories about him from Godfather. I told you they know each other. I wanted to meet him. The only chance I had was back on Sabaody but things got so messed up there I didn't get a chance."
"And you think you could talk to him in the middle of a war?" Law asked.
"No." Neo shook her head. "I'm just tense I guess. Godfather cares so much about Luffy that I'm concerned about him. He's trying to rescue Fire Fist Ace. He's trying to save his brother."
"You better not be thinking you can do something to help them," Law said sternly. "You're still new to this world of pirates."
"Yeah. I know. And don't worry. It's not like I'm going to run out there in the middle of the war." Neo nodded. "By the way, what exactly are you going to do when we get there?" Alarm rose in her body. "Your not going to fight, are you?! I know it's a possibility but with as much trouble as we had with those machines-"
"Calm down. Of course we're not going to fight," Law said. "We're just going to see what opportunities come about."
"Why do I not believe you?" Neo gave him a skeptical look.
"Are you doubting me?" Law smiled.
"I might be," Neo said. "I've known you long enough to know you have a plan going on in the head of yours." She tapped his forehead.
"You're right." Law wrapped his arm around her and pulled her down to the bed with him. "I have a plan all right."
"Law!" Neo flushed.
"And right now my plans involve you." Law pulled her into a kiss, silencing any more conversation.
Neo thought it was inappropriate to kiss at a time like this but she welcomed the distraction. It made all of her worries completely vanish. Well, it did until Bepo came to let the captain know they were getting closer to Marineford. "Already?"
"The sub moves fast," Law said. He took her hand in his before leaving the room. They made their way down to the control room, gaining some curious glances as they went. Some of the crew didn't notice they had become a couple until recently. And some were still trying to adjust to their captain being in a relationship.
Neo was still getting use to it as well. Though it being out in the open made her feel a bit better about it, no matter how thrilling it was to keep it a secret. They stepped into the control room. Archer kept his eyes on the control. A chill washed over her. "There's ice all over the ocean near the island."
"Ice?" Archer asked.
"Aokiji," Law said. "Remember the admirals are there."
Neo nodded. She could feel all the different types of devil fruits. They were all over the island. She tried to locate Luffy's rubber body but was having trouble finding him in the chaos.
It was several minutes later before Archer spoke up again. He said, "Captain, we found an ice free spot."
"Then surface," Law said. He turned to Neo. "Stay inside."
Neo nodded and watched him leave the room. Not wanting to be too far away from him, incase worse came to worse and she was needed, she headed up to the main floor. She paused on the steps and listened to the battle outside. Many guns and cannons were going off. She tried to feel out where Luffy was again.
"If you keep making that face it's going to freeze like that," Kailen said.
"What face?" Neo glanced up at him just as he sat down beside her.
"It's all scrunched up," Kailen said. "You worry too much."
"How can I not?" Neo went back to searching for Luffy before another, very familiar feeling came into her and Kailen's mind. They shot their eyes at each other. "Oh no."
"Oh, yes," Kailen said.
Neo pulled her knees up to her chest.
"Hey! An emperor has arrived!" Conner said. "What's he doing here?!"
Neo gasped at his words. The crew had seen him as well. Their godfather had arrived. And he was carrying two wind elementals with him. Her heart thumped against her chest. "He's here. Kailen, Godfather's here."
"Yeah." Kailen nodded.
Neo jumped to her feet.
"Wait!" Kailen grabbed her wrist before she could move another foot.
"Kailen! Let go!" Neo said.
"You can't go out there!" Kailen said.
"We have to!" Neo said. "You know they sense us! They're going to be freaked out! We have to go out there before they kill the crew!"
Kailen gritted his teeth.
Neo could tell he knew she was right. He released her wrist. She turned and bolted for the room. Kailen followed close behind.
"Neo!" Bepo shrieked. "What are you doing out here?!"
"Neo! Get back inside!" Law ordered.
Before Neo could answer sharp slices of wind knocked all the pirates down or back against the sub. Her eyes shot up to the elementals lowering down to them. She gulped. Her head pounded. This was it. The crew was going to finally know her the secret that she feared the most.
"Princess." The two wind elementals landed and immediately dropped to their knee.
"Princess?!" Bepo, Penguin, and Shachi shrieked.
"Neo!" another voice called out just before the owner of the voice landed on the sub. The water vessel plummeted into the water a few feet before rocking to a stop.
"Lucky Roo!" Kailen said.
"Uncle Roo!" Neo said.
Lucky Roo glared at the pirates, pointing his gun at them. "What are you despicable pirates doing with Neo and Kailen?! Prepare to die for taking them from their home!"
"Hey! Hold on!" Shachi screamed, still pinned against the sub. "It's not what you think!"
"Wait a second! We didn't take them from their home!" Bepo said.
Neo and Kailen rushed over to the man. Both screamed the same thing. "Lucky Roo! It's okay! They didn't come to Luminous!"
"Huh? Are you sure?" Lucky Roo looked at the elementals then at the pirates. "Then what's going on? Why are you two here? Why aren't you back on…back home?"
"It's a long story," Neo said before telling him and the elementals as quickly as possible what happened.
"The darkness...Rylan and Mira are…And Neo can't…Oh boy." Lucky Roo shook his head, his gun lowered to his side. "This is not good at all. The captain will not be happy."
"I know." Kailen nodded. "It's a lot to take in."
"Release the pirates," Neo said.
"Very well." The elementals retracted their winds.
Neo glanced at the Heart Pirates. They were now watching them closely.
"So you've been sailing around with these pirates since then," Lucky Roo said as he scanned the crew again. "If I'm not mistaken these are the Heart Pirates."
"That's right," Neo said.
"And we've been with them most of the time. We're in no danger from them," Kailen said. "But we really need to see Shanks."
"Yeah." Lucky Roo looked over at the war. "But now is not a good time. He took off before we even landed. You know he won't want you to be discovered."
"So what do we do?" Neo asked. A loud shriek pulled their eyes up to the sky. Suspended in the air was a clown-faced man. He was holding Luffy and another in his hands. She took a closer look and noticed the man's body was some how in pieces. A devil fruit user, she assumed. "Luffy!"
"He looks hurt," Lucky Roo said. They glanced over at Law when he yelled curses to the floating man to hand over Straw Hat.
"Luffy needs help," Neo said. "We have to get him out of here."
Lucky Roo turned back to Neo and Kailen. "You two stay with this crew for now."
"What?" Neo gasped. "But we've been looking for you…"
"I know. But you'll be safer with them. We still have to end this war. Besides, someone need to keep an eye on Luffy." Lucky Roo looked at the wind elementals. "Era, you stay with them. Once they find a safe place to hide from all this come and get us."
Era nodded. "Will do."
"Are you sure about that?" Kailen asked.
"I am." Lucky Roo nodded. "Era is in possession of a piece of vivre card that belongs to the captain. So she'll find us easily. I'll let the captain know as soon as possible what's happened." He placed his hand on Neo's shoulder. "We'll come to you as soon as we can. I promise."
Neo nodded, tears threatening to fall. But she knew he was right. Staying with the war still going was dangerous. Plus, Luffy looked horrible.
"All right," Kailen said with a sigh. "We'll be waiting for you."
Lucky Roo nodded again before jumping off the sub with the second elemental following him.
"Come on, you idiot! Just give him here already!" Law screamed.
"Fine! I'm done with this crap! Here! Take them!" The floating man threw the two he was holding towards the sub.
Neo and Kailen looked up just as he threw the unconscious Straw Hat and a large fishman towards them. Neo noticed who it was then. Shanks description of the man was spot on. It was Buggy. He had been on Gol D. Roger's ship when he was younger with Shanks. She wondered for a split second why she didn't recognize him at first, but it was cut off by Luffy and the other unconscious man flying towards them.
Jean Bart caught the two. Bepo took Luffy and ran into the sub. Neo, Kailen, and Era quickly followed. They entered into the operating room. Neo looked over Luffy's injuries and cringed. He had a huge wound on his chest. His mouth was hanging open in a silent cry. His eyes were hollow. She gulped. What horrors did he see out there? And where was his brother? What happened to Fire Fist Ace? Her eyes turned to the other wounded person in the room. Studying his blue skin and gills revealed him to be a fishman. Then she noticed someone missing. "Where's Law?!"
"I'm here," Law said upon entering the room with a straw hat in his hand.
Neo relaxed. Bepo was with him as well.
"Here." Law handed the straw hat to her.
Neo took the hat from him.
Law slipped on a pair of rubber gloves then turned to his patients. "All right. Shall we begin? This one's been shot through the stomach. It's amazing he's still alive. Straw Hat's injuries are even worse. But I think his emotional trauma is the real issue."
"Do they need anesthesia?" Penguin asked.
"Not in this state no. They're both unconscious. And Straw Hat's one step shy of comatose. Which means no matter how grizzly this gets you won't hear a single peep out of them." Law smiled, his eyes taking on a joyful look at the coming surgeries. "It's going to be a fun operation, yeah."
"Must you make that crazy face before operating?" Neo asked.
"I must." Law smirked. "This is going to be a fun operation. It's not often I get to operate on someone like this."
"You're weird," Neo said.
"Everything's looking good. His pulse is steady," Shachi said.
Neo stood, holding Luffy's hat to her chest. One of the crew pushed a trolley with surgical equipment over to Law as he began working on Luffy's wound. She watched for a few second before turning away. The blood dripping down Luffy's chest was too much. Then she and Kailen felt ice shooting towards them. "Aokiji's about to hit the sub!"
"Hold on!" Kailen added. The sub rocked and shook from the ice shards hitting the panels outside. The pirates and elementals stumbled at the impact.
"Curse that Aokiji!" Conner shouted. "He's going to sink us!"
"We have to do something!" Shachi said. Another hit.
Neo stumbled backwards. She moved to get her footing but stopped when Era wrapped her winds around her.
"Don't worry, Princess," Era said. "I'll protect you."
"Princess?!" the crewmates, who weren't outside for that reveal, shrieked.
"Uh, thanks," Neo mumbled, unable to meet their gazes. Her eyes fell to Bepo. The bear was rolling around on the floor due to the hits on the sub.
Bepo jumped up and ran over to Law. He said, "What do we do, Captain?! What do we do?! Aokiji's going to kill us!"
"I don't care! Just do something!" Law ordered through gritted teeth.
"Kailen," Neo said. "We have to help. Pull up rocks and sea plants to try and stop the ice."
"Right." Kailen nodded.
Neo focused on the outside. They used their earth crystals to block the ice as best they could. She felt Law's eyes looking her over. Her pulse thumped. They were going to have to have a talk about her royal status. She wasn't ready for that. She forced it out of her head. First things first. They have to get away from all this ice. Closing her eyes to keep from being distracted, she pulled up as many rocks and sea plants as she could. She and Kailen wove the plants together, strengthening them. Another jolt of the sub threw her and Kailen off balance. Era caught them like before.
"That's it," Kailen said. "We're away from the ice. Whatever else is attacking us, we can't do anymore to stop it."
"Most likely it's another admiral," Conner said. "Kizaru is light."
"Are you suggesting they do something about light?" Era glared at him.
"No," Conner said glaring back. "I'm just saying he's light."
"It's fine, Era," Neo said.
"Yes, Princess." Era stood down.
"Princess." Conner shook his head.
"I'm sorry," Neo mumbled. Her eyes flittered to Law. He was busy working on Luffy to look at her. Her eyes then drifted over to Penguin. Despite his hat over his eyes she could tell he was looking at her. And he was frowning. She sighed when he looked away from her.
"We're finally free, Captain," Jean Bart's voice said through the voice pipe on the sub.
Neo glanced over at the voice pipe, wondering when Jean Bart had gone to the control room and why Archer wasn't there instead. Maybe he had experience with subs? She shook her head. It didn't matter. They were away from the war and the admirals. All they had to do was find a safe place to stay until Shanks could come to them. But where was that going to be? And how far will it take them away from their godfather?
The time past. One by one the crew started to leave the operating room. Before long Neo, Law, Era, and the two patients were the only ones in the room. Neo had heard Kailen ask Era if she wanted to come with him to the galley but she declined in favor of staying close to her princess. Neo flinched upon hearing those words. She had to figure out how to address this situation with Law and the crew. Penguin was already upset with her. He didn't even look at her when he left the room.
"So," Law said through the tense silence in the room. "You're a princess."
"Yeah." Feet aching from standing for so long, Neo pushed herself upon the foot of Luffy's bed.
"I should have known," Law said.
"What do you mean?" Neo looked up at him. He was standing upon the second operating table so he could work on the former warlord's body. Somewhere in the time before the crew left the room someone mentioned who the fishman was. "There's no way you could have known."
"I might not have known you were royalty but there were signs that you were from a high class upbringing," Law said.
"There was?" Neo blinked.
"The way you move is too graceful for any normal person," Law said.
"How could that have told you about my royal heritage?" Neo asked.
"It wasn't only that," Law said. "It was a combination of things. That, plus the way you spoke sometimes. Your voice would occasionally change from a normal one to a more leader type roll. Despite that, you never appeared to be all that comfortable in a leadership role. But the thing that practically sealed the deal was when we met those other two elementals. The way they treated you."
"Oh. Right." Neo dropped her eyes to Luffy's hat in her lap. "How upset are you that I kept this a secret?"
"I wouldn't say I'm upset," Law said. "You said you were keeping another secret from us."
"And you pirates better not hold it against the princess," Era hissed. "I will not permit you to do so."
"Shut up," Law said. "This is between us."
"What did you say?!" Era's crystals glittered into existence.
"Era, enough," Neo said. "Please, leave us."
"But, Princess," Era said.
"It's fine," Neo said. "Why don't you go to the galley and get something to eat or drink?"
"If that I what you wish." Era bowed to Neo, gave Law a glare, and then left the room.
"She's charming. Are they all like that?" Law asked.
"Some worse," Neo said. "I really am sorry."
"Why?" Law asked.
"I was scared," Neo said. "Back on Luminous I'm always treated like a royal."
"You are one," Law said.
"I know," Neo said. "But I'm not that different from everyone else."
"Oh?" Law tossed her a smirk over his shoulder. "How exactly are you different from everyone else? Give me the full story."
Neo sighed. "Because I'm the only one who can purify the darkness crystal. When Atlas killed my parents he had used the darkness crystal to turn my people dark. Without the solar crystal my people will remain like that."
"So you need the solar crystal to return home," Law said. "Why don't you just stay way? Forget about Luminous and your people?"
"It's not that easy. I'm bound to them no matter what," Neo said. "If Atlas takes the darkness crystal off Luminous he could turn any normal elemental into a dark one."
"But not you," Law said.
"Normally, no. But without the use of my solar crystal…I'm not sure what could happen," Neo said. "I guess you could say I'm fighting my own war right now."
"I see," Law said.
"I did want to tell you all about my royal heritage. I was just scared because I thought you all would treat me like the royal I am," Neo said. "I really love the way you all treat me normally. Back home only my three friends and family treat me like everyone else. No matter how many times I tell people they can call me Neo they insist on calling me Princess."
"And I told you nothing will change that," Law said. "You're still you."
Neo pondered on his words. "Penguin's upset with me."
"He'll get over it. Just tell him what you told me." Law jumped off the table. "There. All done. I'm going to head out onto the deck. You coming?"
"No." Neo shook her head. "I need to think."
Law walked over to her and kissed her forehead. "Just talk to him."
Neo nodded but stayed where she was. Her eyes turned to Luffy and watched him, studied him. Despite all the cords that were attacked to his body and the mask over his mouth, she could see he was exactly as her godfather had described. And he was possibly on the verge of dying.
Her mind shifted back to Luminous and the first time Shanks had come without his left arm. She was terrified when she learned he had lost an arm. So much so she ran into the forest and curled up into a large opening in a tree. She stayed there for an hour crying until Shanks came to her. He told her the story of how it happened. That made her crawl out of the tree and curl up in his lap until she fell asleep. She was still afraid and upset about his arm but helping him keep it clean and bandage it helped her get over that. She even used her solar crystal on it.
The thought of those times brought tears to her eyes. A wave of sleepiness washed over her. Curling into a ball at the foot of the bed, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
…
"Neo. Neo, wake up."
"Huh?" Neo opened her eyes. "Kai?"
"Yeah," Kailen said.
"What's going on?" Neo asked.
"We've landed at a place called Amazon Lily."
Neo sat up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "Oh? Have I been asleep that long?"
"Not really."
"What did I miss then?"
"Quite a bit. One of the other warlords apparently followed us using a navy ship. She turned the soldiers to stone using her devil fruit powers. She's ridiculously infatuated with Luffy, thinking she's in love with him," Kailen said. "Anyway, apparently some others were aboard the navy ship too. They were prisoners who escaped Impel Down with Luffy when he was trying to free Ace. The leader of them is called Ivo. He and his friends departed long ago when Hancock said we can stay on Amazon Lily. It's a women only island. With some protesting from an elder an agreement was made for us to stay in a bay where the sea kings won't attack us."
"Sea kings?" Neo asked.
"We had to pass over a calm belt to get to Amazon Lily," Kailen said. "Thanks to Era we got there faster than we thought we would. Now we're just waiting to see when Luffy will wake up and when Shanks will get here."
"I see," Neo said. She looked over to the other bed. It was empty. "Where'd he go? Jinbe?"
"He's up on the island with the others now," Kailen said. "He woke up shortly after Hancock arrived."
"I slept through everything," Neo said, surprised.
"This day has been rough on you," Kailen said. "I'm not surprised you fell asleep. Both Law and I wanted you to rest so no one bothered you. Anyway, while us men can't go into the island you can."
"I don't feel like it," Neo said. "I don't feel like being around people."
Kailen nodded. "I figured as much. You know the crew is waiting for-"
"When will Godfather be here?" Neo asked, cutting him off.
"Era will go to him when it gets light," Kailen said. "She doesn't want to fly at night with the dark elementals out there. She'll leave as soon as it get light enough."
"Hopefully Godfather isn't too far away," Neo said.
"He won't be," Kailen said. "You know Lucky Roo has told him about us by now. It's only a matter of time before Shanks and the crew arrives."
Neo nodded then looked to Luffy. "So how's he doing?"
"No changes," Kailen said. "He's pretty badly hurt. Law still doesn't know when, or if, he'll wake up. All we can do is wait and see."
"Wait," Neo said. "Wonderful. That's all we've been doing."
"I know. But it'll get better soon." A pause passed between them. "What about the crew?"
Neo twitched.
"They're curious," Kailen said.
"You haven't talked to them?" Neo asked.
"There's no point," Kailen said. "They want to hear it from you, especially Penguin."
"He's hurt," Neo said.
"Yeah, but he'll understand when you talk to him about it," Kailen said while walking out of the room.
Neo stayed where she was for a few more hours. She wanted to stay longer but her stomach wouldn't let her. Rumbling with disapproval from avoiding eating food, she slipped off the bed and headed for the galley. She knew she could grow her something to eat but she really needed to speak with Penguin.
She paused on the main floor when she sensed Era standing guard out on the deck. Shaking it from her head, she continued on to the galley, hoping he was inside. It would be best if she could talk to him before addressing the rest of the crew. Reaching the galley, she found he was there. He was sitting in the low light of the setting sun at the table. Swallowing her nerves down she walked over and sat across from him. "Penguin…"
"Why?" Penguin. "Why didn't you just tell me? Did you really think I'd treat you differently?"
"I'm sorry, Penguin," Neo said. "I just didn't want to let go how things were. I was scared."
"I want to say I understand, but I don't," Penguin said.
"I know." Neo nodded. "It's just that I…I've lived my entire live being treated different from everyone else on Luminous. I know I am different because of my solar crystal. But that didn't mean they had to constantly treat me like a royal. They could treat me like anyone else. I guess elementals are just born to treat their royal like the royal they're born as."
"So you and Kailen live in a castle?" Penguin finally looked up at her.
"Yeah. Well, some of the time we did," Neo said. "Mom didn't want me to be spoiled like royals are. So she had us live in our home a lot of the time. And, just so you know, Kailen isn't a royal."
"How so? Because he was adopted?"
"No." Neo shook her head. "Even if we were blood related he still wouldn't be a royal. Royals are the only ones who can use all four element crystals and the solar crystal."
"Solar crystal," Penguin said.
Neo took a breath before explaining everything to him. "I really am sorry, Penguin. I wanted to tell you all, but I just couldn't get myself to do it."
"It's okay." Penguin slid his hands across the table. "I understand a bit better now. I'm still hurt that you didn't feel like you could trust us with this."
Neo reached out and placed her hands in his. "I'm so sorry."
"It's okay, Neo. I still love you and still view you as a sister," Penguin said.
"Thanks so much, Pen." Tears dripped down Neo's eyes.
"You ready to talk to the rest of the crew about this?" Penguin asked.
Neo groaned. "Why didn't I just stand in front of you all so I didn't have to repeat all this a third time?"
Penguin laughed and stood up with her. Rounding the table, he put his arm around her shoulder. "Next time we'll put you on the voice pipe. Let's go."
"Okay, but first, I want something to eat," Neo said. "I'm starving!"
...
Pokemon17: Thanks. Glad you like it.