Reunited

Penguin & Robin

Penguin grumbled as he and Robin stared at the holographic map the monkey produced for them. It took them two weeks and four days riding in that sub to this strange underground island they were currently on. There seemed to be no life, other than plant life, living on this island and the only other thing here was a dormant volcano and a small spring of fresh water. Yet, somehow, they were unable to make headway on getting the shard they were after. They've been going after the shard for two weeks and three days now. Another mystery that they couldn't figure out is how this underwater island had sunlight. They couldn't see the sun anywhere.

When they first arrived on the island, it was dark. The shard was just over a mile away from them, but they were too tired from their long journey on that tiny sub that they decided to make camp and go after it in the morning. When they woke up, much to their surprise, the shard had moved several miles away from them. They trekked about half of those miles before night fell upon them. They settled down into their new campsite and slept through until morning. Again they woke to find the shard had moved several more miles away from them.

They had assumed that there was someone living down here, but no matter where they went they found no signs of life. Penguin scratched his hat, his head, in frustration. Today seemed a lot warmer than the rest of the days they've been here so he had the top of his overalls tided around his waist. "I just don't get it."

"There's obviously something we're missing," Robin replied back. Penguin tossed her a glance from underneath his hat. If he wasn't so worried about Neo, he would be enjoying the beautiful woman's presences more. Her pants had gotten torn up, as well as his overalls, on their journey. She had ripped them off into short shorts. The black haired woman pealed her a banana and slowly ate it.

The only food they found on the island was fruit. At least it was something, but they were getting a little tired of eating the same thing day after day. They both were ready to get out of there. If only they could figure out who, or what, had their shard. Penguin was about to loose his cool with he felt something. "Did you feel that?"

"Feel what?" Robin inquired.

"I thought I felt something," Penguin replied. They went quiet and held still. Then they both felt it. There was a low rumbling in the ground.

"What do you think that is?" Robin asked.

"Well, there's only one thing I can think of," Penguin said, his eyes raised to the volcano. Robin followed his gaze. Sure enough a thin layer of smoke was rising out of it's opening. He jumped to his feet. "You've got to be kidding me!"

"I wonder if the shard would be able to withstand molten lava," Robin wondered out loud.

"This can't be happening," Penguin looked at the map again. The shard was fairly close to the volcano. The volcano rumbled louder this time and started to spit fire. "We have to get to that shard! Now!"

Robin tossed away her half eaten banana and followed after the Heart Pirate. The volcano became more active. It rained down fire rocks, catching some of the foliage on fire. As they ran Robin heard something. "Wait!"

"What is it?"

"I heard a voice."

"A voice?"

"Listen," Robin raised her finger to her lips.

"Help me!" A small, scared voice cried out. "Mama! Help!"

The two pirates exchanged looks then followed after the small voice. They gasped when they found who it belong too. In the middle of a ring of fire was a small tree about a foot tall. It was moving, trying to get out of the fire. And it had eyes, a mouth, arms, hands and fingers. It used its roots as legs. "Help me! Mam-"

The little tree gasped when it saw Penguin and Robin watching it. It closed its eyes and shivered when Penguin kneeled down. Penguin began to scoop up dirt and tossed it onto the fire. When the tree finally opened its eyes it was greeted with a smile from the man. "Hello there. Are you all right?"

"Y-Yes," The tree replied.

"Are you a native to this island?" Robin asked with a soft smile.

"I l-live here," The tree squeaked.

"Are there others like you?" Robin inquired.

"Yes," The tree whimpered. "My mama is nearby. Somewhere."

"Penguin, this might be why we couldn't catch up with the shard. And why we couldn't find anyone here," Robin said.

"Agreed," Penguin nodded. "The natives are trees. Who would have guessed?"

"Yes, we are trees," The tree said. "Are you the two who created the fire?"

"The fire?" Robin asked.

"There hasn't been fire on this island since the volcano stop spitting it," The little tree explain. "That is, until you two showed up."

"I think I understand," Robin nodded. "Your kind doesn't like fire because you're trees, right?"

"That's right," The tree replied. "When we saw your fire we moved away from you, but you kept following us."

"And there's our answer," Penguin said.

"We're very sorry that we scared you all," Robin said. "We only started the fires so we could see and keep warm. We made sure that we put them out. And the only reason we were following you is because one of you have something important that we really need."

"Oh, I see," The tree finally smiled. "Well, you helped me, so you must be good. I can spread the word that you mean us no harm."

"That would be very helpful," Robin said. Just then the volcano erupted.

"It won't be helpful if the shard gets covered or destroyed in lava," Penguin pointed out. "We have to get to that shard. Now!"

"Excuse me, little one," Robin kneeled down and pointed at their map. "This is where the shard is. Do you think you can get whoever has it to come towards us while we head towards them?"

"Yes, I can send them a message," The tree said then closed its little eyes. A wind blew through the forest. Penguin and Robin both felt a strange shift in the air around them. It felt like nature was waking up and passing along the little tree's message. The tree opened its eyes and smiled at them. "Everyone understands. They'll meet us on the way."

"That's great," Robin smiled back. "We really appreciate the help."

"You're welcome. Come this way," The tree signaled for them to follow it. As they hurried along the volcano became more and more active.

"We're too slow," Robin said as lava began to pour down the volcano's sides.

"Then maybe I can assist you," A deeper voice spoke to them.

"Mama!" The little tree cried as a larger tree thumped up to them. The larger tree held out its branch like hand to Robin and Penguin. "You got my message!"

"Climb on," The larger tree said. Robin, the monkey and Penguin did without question. The tree raised its hand up and started through the forest.

"Thank you," Robin said.

"Thank you for saving my baby," The tree said as they ran through the forest at a faster pace than before. While the tree carried them through the forest the volcano slowly began to go back into its dormant state.

"It's not going to erupt?" Penguin asked.

"It usually doesn't," The mama tree said. "Sometimes it just acts up. It still puts us on edge, however."

"That's understandable," Robin nodded. A few minutes later the tree halted. Several other trees began to move and take notice of the two humans in their friend's branch hand. The trees chattered on about them and the fires they build. "We're sorry for scaring you all with the fires we had made. We meant no harm."

"It is quite all right," The oldest looking tree of the bunch said. "You did not know of our existence here. What is it you are looking for?"

"A piece of a mirror shard," Robin replied. She looked at the map then up at the tree it should be in. "I believe it might be stuck in your branches."

"You might be right," The tree said. "I've had this really odd sensation at the base of one of my branches, but no one could reach it."

"Would it be all right if I take a look?" Penguin asked.

"Be my guest," The tree held out its branch and allowed Penguin to climb onto him. Penguin made his way up the tree's branches with the guidance of the tree. "Up to your right a little bit and you should see it."

"I got it," Penguin said, making his way up to the branch. There, stuck into the bark, was the shard. "I'm going to take it out now. Sorry in advance if it hurts."

Penguin jiggled the thing out then made his way back to Robin and the monkey. He landed back on the branch with Robin and held up the shard. "I have it."

Robin nodded with a light smile on her face. While the two were exchanging their thanks, apologies and goodbyes with the trees the monkey grabbed the shard. Soon Robin and Penguin found themselves outside of the strangely shaped house. Everyone was sitting outside when they appeared.

"Robin, my sweet!" Sanji spun over to her as the rest of the Straw Hats followed. "It has been far too long! You are as lovely as ever!"

"I'm glad to see you all have made it here safely as well," Robin greeted her friends. Her eyes lingered on the little sprite clinging to Sanji, but she didn't question it. There would be time for that later.

"Penguin!" Neo cried, rushing over to the man as Law followed at a slower pace. She threw her arms around his neck, kissed his cheek a couple times and cried. "Your here! Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine, Neo," Penguin replied, hugging her back and full of relief to see her safe. He pulled back and cupped her face in his hands. "I'm glad to see you are okay. I was so worried about you."

"Glad you made it!" Shachi greeted his friend with a smile and a pat on the back. "We have a lot to talk about."

"What's going on?" Penguin asked when he noticed a shift in the atmosphere around them.

"Um, Penguin," Neo said, taking the man's hands. "There's something you and Robin need to know."

"What is it?" Penguin turned his attention back to the young woman. Robin turned her eyes to Neo as well.

"I'm, uh," Neo looked down at the ground as Law took his place by her side. He knew that she would want to tell Penguin herself, in whatever way she could, so he remained silent. Still unable to get the words to come out of her mouth, she took Penguin's hand and placed it on her stomach. Sensing his confusion she brought her eyes up to his and gave him a light smile with her eyebrows turned up slightly.

They all watched as Penguin's face slowly began to fill with realization at what she was telling him. He stared down at his hand on her stomach. Neo casted a quick glance over at Robin. The woman had immediately understood the gesture and gave Neo an understanding smile and a nodded. Neo returned a timid smile before turning her eyes back to Penguin. He darted his eyes from hers to Law's. Law nodded in conformation that his subordinate was looking for. Penguin jerked his eyes to Shachi and Bepo who were grinning like drunken idiots. "Y-You mean…Y-You're…B-B-But how?"

"Oh, Penguin," Shachi chuckled as he patted his friend's shoulder. "I thought you knew how years ago. Or does the captain need to have The Talk with you now?"

The color drained out of Penguin's face as his knees buckled. Neo clenched his hands as Shachi and Bepo propped their friend up.

"Is he going to be okay?" Usopp asked.

"I think he's in shock," Velocity said.

"Y-You mean she's…Y-You're…" Penguin started to stutter again.

"That's right, ol' buddy," Shachi chuckled. "Our baby's having a baby."

Suddenly Penguin snapped. His face turned red as steam poured from his ears as he began to curse, threaten and demand Pendulum to come out and pay for what he's done to his little sister. Nami cocked her head a bit as she watched Bepo and Shachi chase Penguin around, trying to get him to calm down. "Well, he's taking it a lot better than I thought he would."

"You call that a good reaction?" Usopp asked.

"Is he going to be all right?" Elian asked, but no one could really answer that.

"Law," Neo grabbed Law's shirt and tugged on it a few times, without taking her eyes off the ranting man. "Law, do not let him do anything stupid. Please, promise me you won't let him be stupid!"

Law, his eyes also remaining on Penguin, placed his hand over hers. He gave her hand a light squeeze. "I promise, love. I won't let him be stupid."

After several minutes, Penguin finally walked back over to Neo. She took his face in her hands. "Penguin, please, calm down now. You're scaring me."

"Okay, Neo," Penguin took ahold of her wrists. "I'm calming down."

"Why don't you take a hot shower? You'll feel better after that. I'm sure you and Robin would love to freshen up," Neo said. She turned her eyes to Elian. "Elian, will you please show them to the showers?"

"Of course, Princess," Elian nodded and signaled for them to follow him. Penguin kissed Neo's forehead before taking off after Robin and Elian.

"He's going to be fine," Law said while putting his arm around Neo's shoulders.

"We'll all keep an eye on him," Shachi added. The group headed back inside the house.

"Thanks, guys," Neo smiled lightly, but was still obviously worried over Penguin. Once they had sat back down, Neo curled into Law's side. She closed her eyes until she heard Penguin and Robin rejoin them. Penguin sat down right beside Neo. She could easily sense he was still furious, but was keeping his emotions in check so he wouldn't scare her again. She reached over and placed her hand over his. Penguin lifted her hand to his lips and placed a small peck on the back of her hand. She smiled at him before laying back against Law and closed her eyes again.

…

Author's Notes: FINALLY! Neo has her brother back! I so couldn't wait for this chapter to happen. I love their relationship just as much as I love her relationship with Law. ^_^

sarge1130: Can Law even do that with his devil fruit? I actually never thought about it. I looked up his powers online, but it never said one way or another if he can take away pain like that.