Neo
Part One
Neo took a deep breath and slowly released it. Her eyes were locked onto Doflamingo. She couldn't believe that they were finally here. After all these months of preparing, of planning, of living on Punk Hazard, of being away from their family and home, they were finally taking the last steps to end this all. And it made her feel sick. She felt like she was going to be even sicker when everything that Law had told her about this man was flooding back into her mind. All she could think about was what Doflamingo has done to Law. How he hurt the one man she loved most in the entire world. She wanted to hurt this man for what he did to Law, for what he was going to do to Law, and for what he did to Corazon. But she also wanted to run away in fear of him for what he did to Law. She didn't want herself or Law to be anywhere near Doflamingo right now, or ever. But they were here. Right now everything was going to end one way or another. Either they win this fight and headed on to Zou to met up with the crew again. Or they died together.
Neo's body trembled. Her hands were shaking so hard she had to clench them and press them against her legs. She suddenly became extremely furious at Doflamingo for everything that he had done to Law. She felt like Law's sadistic nature had taken over her mind, but it was a hundred times worse than what she felt from him before. She felt a need to make Doflamingo bleed, to suffer a thousand times more than he's many anyone else suffer. She wanted to see his head rolling on the ground and blood gushing from his lifeless body. She shot her hand to her mouth and gagged at the thought. Her fury vanished. Her mind released the blood filled thoughts she was having. Both her heart and her head started pounding hard from the sudden sway of her thoughts that it made her body become weak and sway.
'Neo?' Law thought to her with concern. He too was shocked at the sudden blood lust she was thinking about. It scared him that she was suddenly thinking like he did.
'Sorry. I have no idea where that came from.' Neo closed her eyes and placed her hand over her face, suddenly feeling extremely tired. She also felt sick to her stomach but blamed that on the snot hanging from Trebol's nose. That and his horrid, ridiculous laugh that he was doing. She wasn't even sure why he was laughing right now. He just was. Or perhaps it had something to do with how Law and Luffy said they were here to kick Doflamingo's butt. That was really the only thing that has been said between the two groups since they landed here. Whatever the reason for it was, the sound and the snot made her want to punch him in the face, multiple times. She started to summon her crystals. But a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her entire body halting any intentions she had of actually attacking the man. She felt her knees giving a little under her weight. She placed her hand on Law's arm to steady herself. Her vision became darker, her breathing became more labored, and she felt like she was really going to get sick soon. She placed her free hand on her stomach. She wished she didn't eat all those apples she had earlier. They were wanting to make a second appearance.
Law felt it too. He felt her tiredness and her vision darkening. It caused his own body to grow heavy and his eyesight to dim. He shook his head before glancing over at her when she placed her hand on his arm. His eyebrows instantly kneaded together when he noticed she was rather pale and panting far too hard for it to be connected to her pregnancy. He reached over, placing his hand on her lower back to steady her. 'Neo, are you all right? What's wrong?'
'I'll be fine. Please, don't worry about me, Law. I'm just a little tired and dizzy. It'll go away soon. You need to stay focused on Doflamingo. And don't let him use me against you in any way. Just remember that he can't hurt me. I won't let him get close enough to touch me.' Neo glanced over at Law. She could feel he was trying his best not to worry about her, but he wasn't doing a very good job of hiding it from her. She knew her tiredness and strange behavior was causing him a lot of concern and stress not only from worrying but also through how it affected him through their bond. It made her feel guilty that she was putting him through all this despite knowing he didn't mind it at all. Still, retracting her hand from his arm, she forced herself to stand up straight. She wasn't going to give him any more reasons to worry about her. Whatever this was would go away one way or another. To help it along, she summoned her solar crystal behind her back. Both her and Law felt a little better with the solar crystal's healing magic washing over her. The dizziness and darkness faded away some. It let her stand up straighter and stronger.
Law still carefully eyed her until she stood up straight. He knew she would be all right in the end. And he knew that Doflamingo would try and use her against him. He just didn't know how the man was going to do that. He also knew that he didn't need to be so focused on her. But how could he not be concerned about her? Well, her and their child. He cautiously let his gaze drop down to her stomach. He repeatedly reminded himself that a pregnant elemental woman would be fine in battle. The crystals formed a shield around the baby. And judging from what happened back on Punk Hazard with Monet, the crystals will also form a shield on the outside of a elemental woman's body to protect the baby. He exhaled slowly so no one wouldn't notice and forced his eyes back over to the enemy. Neo always kept her winds around her body when fighting so she wouldn't be touched. Their child was protected in more ways than one here. She also had him and Luffy here to protect her. And currently she was standing between him and Luffy. Of course Luffy didn't know that she was pregnant. He glanced passed Neo and over at the Straw Hat captain and wondered if he should tell Luffy about it. He knew that Neo couldn't know about it just yet, but what about Luffy? Should he tell him? Was it to late for that? If he did tell Luffy, would the Straw Hat captain be able to keep his mouth shut? Or would he blurt everything out for everyone up here to hear? One thing he knew for sure was after this fight was over Neo wasn't going to be allowed to fight in close range combat. She was going to be restricted to just her sniper position. And if she disobeyed his orders in any kind way he was going to forbid her from leaving the sub until their child was born. He wasn't going to take this kind of risk with them again.
"What's the matter, Neo?" Doflamingo asked, shoving his right hand into his pocket. "You look a bit pale. Do you need to sit down? I could have a chair brought up for you if you'd like."
"The only thing you need to be concerned about with me is not ticking me off!" Neo shot back. She then smirked at the bruises on the older man's body that she had caused earlier that day. His cheek and stomach were now colored with black and blue bruises she knew was going to be there for several days. She just wished she had giving him more. She wanted to give him several. In fact, she wanted to hit him until his entire body was black and blue. She could feel the desire to attack him coursing through her blood again. And Law felt it too. She ignored the concerned looked Law as giving her and summoned her crystals once more. She gathered their respective elements around them while ignoring Law when he tried to contact her through their bond.
'Neo, stop it. What's going on in that head of yours?' Law looked at her. His entire body almost flinched when he saw the malicious intent in her eyes. She was really going to flat out attack Doflamingo without being provoked. He shot out his hand and grabbed a hold of her wrist, despite knowing it wouldn't do any good since her attacks came from her crystals and her will.
Neo almost couldn't hold back the urge to attack Doflamingo. She aimed her crystals at the warlord, ready to strike, but stopped when Law's hand landed on her wrist and when she noticed there was someone else up here with them. There was a blonde man lying on the floor at Doflamingo's feet. How could she not have noticed him before? The intensity faded away from her eyes as she asked, "Who's that guy?"
Law breathed a sigh of relief. She was back to normal. For now.
"Bellamy!" Luffy said.
"Who?" Neo asked. She glanced over at Luffy. Judging from the upset look on his face, she could tell that this man, this Bellamy, was a friend of his.
"Bellamy," Luffy said. "He's a friend. We met him back in a place called Mock Town. He was also in the fight at the coliseum."
"So you care about him? I heard that you two had a fight in Mock Town. I thought you were enemies. When did you guys become friends?" Doflamingo asked.
"Hey! Hey! When?! When? Hey! When? When? When?! Hey, hey!" Trebol said.
Neo lightly shook her head at pain Trebol's voice caused her. She had no idea how anyone could stand to hear him talk and laugh. It was just so annoying and really grated on her nerves.
"Forget about the past! I don't care about it! Just let Bellamy go!" Luffy said.
Neo tensed up when Doflamingo uncrossed his legs and put his left foot on Bellamy's back, grinding into him. Doflamingo said, "That will be up to the winner to decide!"
"What are you talking about?" Neo asked. She felt Law and Luffy tensing up beside her, but she didn't look at them. Her mind was too focused on Bellamy and Doflamingo.
"This idiot came to me so I could kill him. Isn't that right, Bellamy?" Doflamingo said. He dropped his eyes down to Bellamy. "You entered the competition at the coliseum in an attempt to become an executive of my family. But you got defeated in your first match. It was very pathetic. That in itself is more than enough reason for me to kill you but I decided to give you another chance. And that was, if you killed Straw Hat before he left the coliseum, I'll make you one of my executives. But once again you failed so you will be killed. Don't you think so, Bellamy?"
"What?!" Neo demanded. She took a step forward, but stopped when Law put his arm out in front of her. "You're going to kill one of your own men because he didn't succeed in something?! That's stupid! There's nothing wrong with failing at anything! It's a part of life!"
"Easy, Neo," Law said in a warning tone. "Don't let him get to you."
"Let him go!" Neo said. She tried to push passed Law's arm, but he wouldn't let her. "Let me go, Law!"
"Neo! Now settle down!" Law said. He hooked his arm around her waist, pulling her back against his chest. At the moment he was grateful that Neo wasn't herself. If she was, well she wouldn't be doing this for starters, but if she did she would be using her full strength and he wouldn't be able to hold her back. She would slip into the wind stream and she would be out of his grasp before he could stop her. Leaning down closer to her ear, he used the only trick he had to keep her from dashing off without thinking. He whispered, "Neo, I order you to settle down."
Neo growled at the order, but her body obeyed nonetheless. She relaxed at his order.
"I thought you had better control over your woman than that, Law," Doflamingo said, pulling his hand out of his pocket a bit with a grin.
Law caught the slight movement of Doflamingo's hand. Eyeing it and Doflamingo suspiciously before dropping his eyes down to Neo when she suddenly collapsed against his arm and a dark cloud seemed to pass over her mind, disrupting their connection and making her crystals disappear. He knelt down with her since he couldn't release his hold on his sword. At least not being this close to Doflamingo. "Neo?!"
"Let… go… he's…" Neo said. She dropped down to the floor with Law following her, maintaining her glare at Doflamingo as she went. "Doflamingo… you're going… to pay… for this…"
"Neo! What happened?!" Luffy asked. He knelt down and inspected his friend. "Is she all right?!"
"I… I'm fine," Neo said through labored breaths and one closed eye.
Doflamingo eyed Neo carefully before grabbing Bellamy by the hair. He lifted the man's body up off the floor and said, "This is just how you take responsibility, isn't it, Bellamy? You have idolized me of your own free will then got desperate when things didn't go the way you wanted them to. People can't change the nature they're born with." He lifted up Bellamy's face, showing them how beaten up the man was. "No matter where you go, you're nothing more than just a cheap thug, Bellamy. You'll never change."
"What are you saying?! Bellamy has changed!" Luffy said, standing back up.
"It's okay now… just… kill me… already…" Bellamy said, tears streaming down his face.
Doflamingo laughed at the beaten man's words.
"How can you… laugh like that?!" Neo demanded, eyeing Bellamy's bloody face and swollen eye. She struggled against Law's hold, but didn't have enough strength to break free from him. "He was… he is one of your men! How could you… treat him… like that?! Doesn't loyalty mean… anything to you?! He's… served you! Faithfully! How… how could you?!"
"Neo, calm down!" Law said just before Luffy suddenly screamed. "Hey! Straw Hat, don't you get worked up too!"
"Let go of Bellamy right now! Mingo!" Luffy shouted before jumping into the air. He kicked out his foot at Doflamingo. He gasped when Doflamingo lifted up Bellamy and his foot slammed into his friend's face. He retracted his foot before dropping back down to the ground. "Ah! I'm sorry, Bellamy!"
"Didn't we talk about this earlier, Straw Hat?" Law asked, keeping his arm tightly around Neo while glaring at Luffy. "If you show your anger or hatred here, you're only giving the enemy exactly what he wants! Keep it under control! Provoking our emotions is exactly what he's good at! If you lose your cool now, you're only going to get killed! Like I almost did in the first battle! Doflamingo is a cold, iron hearted, ruthless man! He's always looking for a chance to get to you!"
"That's a funny thing to say, Law. Do you think you'll be able to take your own advice on that?" Doflamingo asked.
Law's eyebrows twitched, his arm automatically tightening more around Neo when Doflamingo dropped his gaze down to her. Once more he noticed Doflamingo pulling his hand from his pocket slightly. He flinched when the pain in Neo's head grew even more and her mind became even more distant from him. He looked back down at her when she whimpered and leaned into his hold. "Neo?"
"L-Law…" Neo stuttered. She reached up and grabbed a hold of his jacket like she does when scared. "S-something's… wrong… I don't… I don't feel right…"
Law gritted his teeth. He felt it too. It was extremely clear that something was wrong with her. Something was happening to her. He just still didn't know what it was.
Trebol laughed at the display before him. "Right in the face of your dying friend! You kicked him! Didn't you?! Yes! You just kicked him in the face! You idiot!"
"What did you say?!" Luffy demanded.
"Don't listen to him, Straw Hat!" Law said. "He's just trying to rile you up!"
"How dare you say that I'm a cold, iron hearted man, Law? I'm not as cold or as iron hearted as you think. I am pretty angry when I think about what all you guys have done. First, you started by destroying the SAD manufacturing machine on Punk Hazard. Then, you laid your hands on Vergo and Monet and kidnapped Caesar. Later, here in Dressrosa, you freed the toys throughout the country, turning them back to humans. Your associates are trying to destroy the SMILE factory even now. I've had enough already. I'm smiling just because I can't get any angrier. And what is worse, you think you can kill me. It's been one disaster right after another since you guys came along. Feels like I'm reliving the despair of thirteen years ago," Doflamingo said.
"If that hadn't happened, I wouldn't have shown up in front of you like this for revenge!" Law said.
"If that hadn't happened, you would have been here as the third Corazon!" Doflamingo said.
Law twirled his sword, bringing it in front of him and Neo when she tugged on his coat as the memories of Corazon being killed passed from his mind to hers.
"But I have to admit that some good things have come from all of this," Doflamingo said. His smile grew as he turned his eyes back to Neo. "If you hadn't run away from me back then neither one of us would have met Neo here. And I never would have gained such a powerful ally."
"Shut up! Neo will never join you!" Law snapped.
"She already has," Doflamingo said.
"Sh-shut up! I'm not… ever going to… join you," Neo said through her pants and pain. She pushed off Law. Gathering her crystals, she engulfed them in their elements and managed a smirk. "You know, you look really good in the colors of black and blue. Would you like some more to match those I gave you before? I'd be more that happy to give you some additional ones"
"Neo, I just told Straw Hat not to get worked up. Don't you do it now too," Law said.
Doflamingo rubbed his fingers over the bruise on his cheek. He was clearly still aggravated she put them there, but he wasn't going to hold it against her. At least not right now. He pushed her outburst aside and said, "I really like your aggressive attitude that you have. But why do you have it? You're usually way calmer than this. At least that's what the newspapers have said about you. After all, this is the first official time that we are meeting. I don't know you all that well yet. But it really is a pleasure to finally meet you, my dear sister-in-law."
"I'm not your sister-in-law! I'm not your sister! Period!" Neo snapped. She struggled to stand up, but Law forced her to stay down. "Stop calling me that!"
"Of course you're my sister-in-law," Doflamingo said, finally pulling his hand completely out of his pocket but quickly covered what he was holding with his other hand. "Law has been like a little brother to me. I took him in after he came to my house. My family taught him everything he knows about fighting. And I'm sure in turn he taught you everything you know. So we're connected through that way as well. But I am disappointed in you both for one specific reason, especially you, Law. You're a doctor after all. You should have known better."
Law flinched. He knew the only thing that Doflamingo could possibly be talking about was Neo's pregnancy. But Doflamingo shouldn't know about that. The man hasn't been around her enough to notice the signs. Unless that man, Cethin, really did figure it out somehow when he was with her in the Navy tent.
"What are… you… t… talking about?" Neo asked through her pants as they grew heavier. She fell forward against Law's arm again, her mind becoming more and more clouded. "Law… what's happening… to me? I don't feel… right…"
"I know the baby of a pregnant elemental woman is protected by her crystals, but I still thought you wouldn't risk it. Neo means so much to you, doesn't she, Law?" Doflamingo said.
"Doflamingo!" Law warned when he realized what the warlord was going to say and what he really knew. His heart started racing in his chest. He forced it, somehow, to return to normal pace when Neo looked over at him in concern.
"Law?" Neo asked. She looked at Law, feeling alarmed by the sudden increase then decrease in his heart rate.
"Honestly, Law. How could you have let Neo come here while pregnant?" Doflamingo asked, stroking his hand over the item in his grasp. "Surely you would be just as protect of the child she's carrying as you are of her."
Law's body went ice cold. One of his greatest fears had just come true. Doflamingo knew Neo was pregnant.
Neo winced at the pain growing in her head. She wasn't sure for a second if she actually heard Doflamingo correctly or not. The pain in her head seemed to increase right after he said that. Her entire body became a giant noodle. She collapsed into Law's arms completely.
"What? Neo's pregnant?" Luffy asked. He turned his eyes to Neo and Law. His gaze dropped down to her stomach.
"Don't… be silly, L-Luffy," Neo said between huffs. "Of course… I'm not… pregnant. We talked… about this on… the Sunny. We're not having… kids."
"Uh oh! She doesn't know! She doesn't know!" Trebol sang out while clapping his hands together. "Law's been keeping secrets! Haven't you, Law?!"
Law gritted his teeth. He searched desperately for something to say. He couldn't just flat out tell them they were wrong. He didn't want to lie like that. But he didn't want Neo to know the truth just yet either. He knew she wouldn't believe anyone but him on this matter. So he didn't have to worry about her having a mental break down on him right now. And it gave him a little more time to figure this all out.
"Really, Law? So she doesn't know?" Doflamingo asked, his eyebrows rising on his forehead. "Well, that's a shame."
"Shut up!" Neo snapped. "Law's not been keeping secrets! I'm not pregnant!"
"Are you sure about that, Neo?" Doflamingo asked.
"Enough! We're not here to discuss babies and pregnancies!" Law said.
"Are you sure you haven't been acting the slightest bit out of character, Neo?" Doflamingo continued. "Haven't you been tired? Having cravings for food even if you have just ate something? Cranky? Moody?"
"But that's not…" Neo started. Her mind filled with all the things that she had done today that wasn't her normal behavior. She did walk away from Law several times today, she was having food cravings, she was tired, she was yelling at strangers, flirting with Zoro… she shook her head and forced those thoughts from her head. She wasn't pregnant. She knew she wasn't pregnant. Law was preventing that from happening. This was just a trick. Doflamingo was just trying to trick her. Wasn't he?
"I wish I had known about her pregnancy too. I would have gotten you both a baby gift to go along with your wedding present," Doflamingo said.
"Stop it! You're not going to trick me! I'm not pregnant! We came here to fight! Now stop stalling and fight us!" Neo shouted.
"I think it's time I gave you your wedding present." Doflamingo smiled. He lifted his hand into the air, letting the item he was holding drop from its chain. "Congratulations on your marriage, Neo and Law."
Law's eyes widened. His body temperate dropped to the point he thought his blood was going to turn to ice. It was Neo's birth medallion. It had a strange, murky green glowing thing on it, but it was unmistakable. Doflamingo did have Neo's birth medallion. A painful cry screamed out in his mind then everything suddenly went black. The cry cut off and the world went dark. Or he thought everything went black. It took him a few seconds to realize the darkness that filtered into his mind wasn't really in his mind. It was in Neo's. His eyes dropped down to her. She had gone completely limp in his arms. Her eyes were closed like she was sleeping, but he knew she wasn't. He could feel the darkness stirring around inside of her, blocking his mind from hers, blocking a warmth from her that he didn't even notice was there until it was gone. His body, his mind, his very soul was now ice cold. And it wasn't because Doflamingo had her birth medallion.
"What is that? What's happening to her?" Luffy's distance voice asked.
Law's own mind cleared a bit upon hearing the young captain's words. He then realized what Luffy was talking about. Hovering around Neo's body was a mist like cloud of a murky green glow. It was the same glow that was coming from the thing on her medallion. The glow pinpointed at Neo's stomach, repeatedly trying to strike at their child. Each time it tried, her crystals appeared and protected their child. But he had no idea how long they would be able to do that. He had no idea what this thing was doing to her. And he had no idea how it would affect him. He could still feel the headache she's been having and the darkness plaguing her mind. He felt the headache slowly fading away, but the darkness seemed to be getting darker. And it scared him. Did that mean it was going to do something else to her?
Anger, hatred, and several ways of torture and murder shot through his mind. His eyes glinted with a sharp light and murder as he looked back over at Doflamingo. The warlord's smile only made him feel even more hatred and anger. He wanted to take his sword and slice Doflamingo's body up into as many pieces as he could. With forced control, he demanded, "What did you do to her?!"
"I haven't done anything to her," Doflamingo said. "The only thing that I've done is giving you your wedding present."
"What are you talking about?!" Law hissed. "How is this a wedding present?! What's happening to her?!"
"She's just become the perfect wife, Law," Doflamingo said. He swung her medallion in his hand from its chain. "With this you'll be able to control her completely. And she gets her medallion back. I'm sure she's missed it."
"What are you talking about?!" Luffy said, pointing at Neo. "She's completely unconscious!"
"Not exactly," Doflamingo said. He held out the medallion to his right. "I suppose I should let the man responsible for all of this explain it to you. Cethin, would you come out here?"
"Yes, Young Master," a voice said just before a man stepped out from behind Doflamingo's large chair.
"What?! Was he here the whole time?!" Luffy asked.
"Ah, so you're Straw Hat Luffy and the warlord, sorry, former warlord of the sea, Trafalgar Law," Cethin said. He stepped up beside Doflamingo's right side and took the medallion from the warlord. He inspected Law and Luffy before letting his eyes settle completely on Law. "It's nice to finally meet you, Trafalgar Law."
Law glared at the man. It wasn't nice to meet him at all. He wanted to tell the man to shut up. He also wanted to kill the man, but if he did either then he wouldn't get his answers to what was happening to Neo. He had to force down his sadistic, primal instincts, for information. And it wasn't easy for him. He desire to protect Neo was always strong. He was struggling to keep himself under control. A small part of him wished he had let the crew come along. Penguin would have been able to help keep his protective side under control. Or maybe not. He was so furious right now he might have turned against his own crew to protect Neo. He had to move quickly and get information on this. He opened his mouth to speak. But nothing would come out. He was too furious to even speak.
"Who are you?! What did you do?! What's going on?!" Luffy demanded for him.
Law wondered if the Straw Hat captain noticed his inability to speak. He took a quick glance at the younger captain. He didn't think Luffy noticed his inability to speak since he looked so furious himself. He turned his eyes back to Cethin. If he weren't holding on to Neo, he would have pulled out his sword and warped right over to Cethin and ran his blade through the man's head. He would have to do that in a minute. He reminded himself of the information he needed. It was clear that the thing on Neo's medallion was causing this problem. But was the solution just to remove it from the medallion? How exactly was it effecting her? If he tried to remove it, would it cause more pain or some kind of damage to her?
"Tell us what's going on!" Luffy said.
"All in due time, Straw Hat Luffy," Cethin said. He stroked his thumb over the thing on Neo's birth medallion. The glow increased and flowed over to Neo's body.
"Neo," Law said when she whimpered. He expected her to open her eyes, but she didn't. His heart sank. He managed to find his voice, releasing a string of unhealthy curses when he did. "What are you doing to her?! Just who the heck are you?!"
"As the young master has said, my name is Cethin," Cethin said in a relaxed manner that ticked both Law and Luffy off.
"You better start explaining what's going on here!" Luffy said. "If you don't, I'm going to kick your butt!"
"Geez. You young people never have any patience," Cethin said with a sigh.
"Gum Gum!" Luffy cried. He pulled back his fist to punch at the man.
"I wouldn't try that if I were you," Cethin said, cutting Luffy's attack off before it even really began. He pointed over to Bellamy. "Didn't you learn the first time? You don't want to hit another friend, do you? And a pregnant one at that."
"What are you talking about?! I'm not going to hit Neo! I would never do that!" Luffy said. "Besides, she's right here with Tra!"
"For the moment," Cethin said. He brushed his thumb over the tubing on Neo's medallion. It lit up once more. "Neo, come over here."
"What the heck?!" Luffy asked when Neo responded to the man's words.
"Neo!" Law said. He tightened his hold on Neo when she started lifting herself out of his arms. "What are you doing?! Stop moving around!"
"I'm waiting, Neo," Cethin said. "I said, come over here. Now."
Neo struggled more against Law. When she couldn't get free from him, she slipped into the wind stream.
Law's heart took a sharp jolt when she slipped away from him. He desperately grabbed for her but only grabbed air. His heart took several more sharp jolts when she reappeared and landed right between Cethin and Doflamingo. His mind barely registered the dark chuckle that left Doflamingo's lips. All he could think about was how Doflamingo said Neo was on his side before. He didn't think that could possibly happen. But it had. And it happened right under his nose. He couldn't stop it. He couldn't protect her. He pushed himself to his feet. Grabbing the hilt of his sword, he pulled it out a few inches. "Give! Her! Back!"
"What the heck?! How was he able to do that?!" Luffy asked. "He controlled her! He told her to come over there and she actually listened! What's going on?!"
"It's quite remarkable really," Cethin said. He held up Neo's birth medallion to the pirates.
"What is that thing?" Luffy asked when the glowing tube like thing clearly pulsed and moved.
"Personally, I call it the pollution stone," Cethin said.
"Pollution stone? But that's not a stone at all," Luffy said. "It looks like some kind of vein or something."
"Indeed, it's not in its stone form right now. If it was, it would look more like this." Cethin reached into the pocket of his lab coat and pulled something out. He flashed it to the pirates. In between his fingers was a rounded, smooth murky green rock about an inch in diameter. He started rubbing the rock between his fingers. The rock slowly started to glow. The glow slowly flowed over to the mist that was already engulfing Neo's body. It increased the mist and the glow around her.
Law winced at the pain he felt in his head, Neo's pain. He looked at her. If she was actually feeling it, she didn't show it. Her face was completely blank, just like her mind. "What is it doing to her?!"
"It only takes this vein like or tube like appearance when someone stimulates it." Cethin raised his eyes to Law. A smirk formed on his face from the pain he could clearly see in Law's eyes. "Interesting. I've heard about your bond to this elemental woman."
Law flinched. His mind ran over what all Vergo had said to Doflamingo during their fight. All Vergo knew was he and Neo shared pain. So the enemy shouldn't know anything else. But that left him with a hollow feeling. This man, this Cethin, had to know more than he was currently letting on if he knew how to control Neo like this.
"I've been wondering how this thing would effect you too," Cethin continued. "I know you're not an elemental, so there shouldn't be much happening to you." He stopped stroking the rock and slipped it back into his pocket. "There. You see?"
Law breathed a sign of relief when the pain in Neo and his head vanished. He shook the feeling from his mind. Somewhat calmer now, he said, "So, that was what was causing Neo's headaches."
"Indeed. The pollution stone can cause quite a lot of pain for elementals when it's working its magic on them," Cethin said.
"So that thing is magic as well?" Law asked.
"Of course," Cethin said. "How else do you think an elemental could be subdued? You didn't literally think that the elementals didn't have some kind of weakness, did you? The world would be thrown into complete and utter chaos if such powerful people were to walk around so freely without anyway to stop them. You should know that above others, Trafalgar Law. You are a devil fruit user after all."
"So that thing is just like the sea prism stones?" Luffy asked. "And all we have to do is get it away from Neo and she'll be fine?"
"Not exactly," Cethin said. He held up the medallion for the pirates to get a better look at it. "You two only have to be touched by the sea prism stone or the sea for its weakening effects to bother you. The pollution stone works differently. An elemental only has to come within twenty yards of it for it to have a weakening affect on them."
"But Neo's been effected by this since we've stepped inside of the boarders of Dressrosa," Law said.
"The pollution stone works in more ways than one," Cethin said. He then turned to Doflamingo. "I don't mind tell them everything. As long as that's all right with you, Young Master. After all, I'm in your service."
"Go ahead. I'm sure Law is just dying to know how this all works," Doflamingo said. "And I don't want him to die with questions lingering in his head. I want him to know exactly the kind of danger he's brought his pretty little pregnant wife into."
Law flinched. He already knew the kind of dangers that Doflamingo presented. He just didn't know there was something else he should have known about. But how could he have known? The elementals clearly weren't aware of this weakness they had.
"Well, as long as you have nothing against it," Cethin said. He turned back to Law and Luffy. "You are correct in saying this thing has been effecting her since your arrival in Dressrosa. And here is how that's possible… as I've already showed you before. The pollution stone is really a stone, of sorts. I suppose you could call it a creature in its own right. It only takes this more vein like appearance when it has been simulated from rubbing. I'm not quite clear on the how this happens myself since I'm only a scientist and this stone and elementals are born of magic. But from what I can tell from the experiments that I have done, the friction from the rubbing causes the stone to awaken. When it does it seeks out an elemental host to latch onto and feeds the desires of the one who stimulated it into the targeted elemental or elementals."
"Feeds the desires of the one who stimulated it?" Luffy asked. "What does that mean?"
"It means exactly what I said it does. Was that really not clear?" Cethin asked with a frown.
"You'll have to forgive Straw Hat, Cethin," Doflamingo said with a chuckle. "He's not the brightest pirate out there."
"So you're saying this pollution stone is just a form of control over elementals?" Law asked. "It just brainwashes them?"
"I suppose you could look at it like that. But it's a bit more complicated," Cethin said. "See, the real reason I call it the pollution stone is because it taints the more pure nature of the elementals, causing them to become more susceptible to violence. As I'm sure you have noticed on your way through this country. Neo has been acting more aggressive towards people. Hasn't she, Trafalgar Law?"
Law gritted his teeth. He tightened his hold on his sword so hard it caused his hand to ache. But he didn't stop. His mind imagined his hand was really squeezing Cethin and Doflamingo's necks. "Sounds more like it's a type of parasite."
"I suppose it does," Cethin said. "It kind of works likes one too. Only this type of parasite latches onto its host through their magic."
"And that's what it's doing to her right now?" Law asked.
"It is. Once worked into its tube or vein like state, the pollution stone will grab onto its host. Typically it would be on one of an elemental's crystals. Occasionally, they've grabbed onto an elemental themselves, but those experiments have always ended with the host dying within a few seconds of attachment," Cethin said. "It's quite sad and very messing. They lose too much control when it attaches to them directly. And well… you know how powerful elementals can be."
"Experiments? How many have you done?" Law asked.
"Oh, I don't know. Over a hundred by now I suppose," Cethin said in a carefree way.
Law felt his stomach turn. Did that mean Cethin had over a hundred elementals at his disposal? "Where… where are they?"
"Dead," Cethin said with a shrug. His lips then curled into a malicious grin. "I've been known to get carried away in my experiments. But it was all worthy it. Those experiences were ultimately leading me up to today. Though I didn't know it at the time."
"You didn't know?" Luffy asked.
"In all honesty, when I first stumbled upon this stone and the elementals I never would have guess that I would end up working for a warlord," Cethin said. "It's quite remarkable how this whole thing got started. Would you like to hear it?" He paused to see if the pirates would answer. When they didn't, he continued. "Very well then. I'm sure deep down you're really interested in how it happened. I actually had no idea what the stone was when I first stumbled upon it. I'm a collector of stones. It's just a hobby of mine that I do. Being a scientist is hard work. Collecting the different types of stones became soothing to me after a hard days work. The person I got this stone from didn't know what it was or where exactly it came from. He just found it on his home island one day. I was so intrigued by it. I just had to have it. So I paid him for it and went home. But then the strangest thing happened when I got home. I showed the stone to my wife and daughter and they suddenly became extremely tired. So tired that they couldn't move."
Law gasped. He couldn't stop it. A single drop of sweat dripped down his face. This wasn't happening. This couldn't possibly be happening. "You… you're wife and daughter? You were married to an elemental and had a child with her?"
"Indeed. But let's not jump to conclusions. The girl wasn't biologically mine," Cethin said. "She had an elemental father who ran out on her and her mother. He ended up dead from alcohol poison. As I'm sure you already know, alcohol and elementals don't mix well at all. He was such a mess. But I took his wife as my own. I helped her raise her, our daughter. They both were wind elementals. But that's beside the point here. At first I didn't know what was wrong with them. I thought they were just sick. However, when I tucked the stone in my pocket to check on them, they were suddenly better. It took me a few days to make the connection. I had left the stone in my pocket, forgetting it was there until a few days later when I put it on and reached into the pocket it was in. When I pulled out the stone, it happened again. My wife and child became so tired they couldn't move. I was so baffled. So was my wife. She never heard of her people having such a weakness from her family. That's when I started my experiments. They were small at first and only done out of concern for them. I only discovered what the pollution stone could do a few months later by accident. You see I was having a fight with our daughter. One of many parents often have with their children. I was holding the stone in my fingers, rubbing it in annoyance at our child being disobedient, unaware that its shape was changing. During her tantrum she summoned her wind crystals. The stone, or tubing that I've come to call it, shot out of my hand and pocket and attached to one of her crystals. When I gave her the order to go clean her room, she instantly obeyed me. And she obeyed me after that without question. At least until I realized that the stone was missing. I eventually found it on one of her crystals. When I removed it, she returned to normal. I couldn't believe it. I was intrigued. I couldn't stop thinking about it. I had to do more experiments. I had to know what all this thing could do. So my experiments continued. And through those experiments I've learned everything about the elementals that I could. I've learned about their crystals, their royals, and the bonds that some royals have made with other elementals. I've learned it all through the control I have over elementals through this stone. The only thing that I haven't learned from the elementals was the location of their home island."
Law forced himself to not look relieved upon heading that bit of information. He knew it would have been disastrous for the elementals and the entire world if this man or Doflamingo knew of Luminous's location.
Cethin sighed. "It's really a shame. I wanted to see their home island. But for whatever reason they're extremely protective about that. I couldn't get a single one of them to tell me where the location is even with the influence of the pollution stone. And I suspect the results will be the same with the princess here."
"But that doesn't explain how you've come to work for Doflamingo," Law said.
"Yes, that hasn't been explained," Cethin said. He turned and smiled at Doflamingo. "Young Master, would you like to fill in that little blank spot?"
"Gladly," Doflamingo said. He leaned back in his chair, resting his chin back on his fist. "I suppose my story is similar to Cethin's. And it's certainly not as long. I just happened to stumble upon a vendor selling jewelry about six years ago. He was trying to convince me to buy some stuff for the ladies he knew were just hanging all over me. But I was never into such things. I was about to walk away when one of his jewels just happened to catch my eye. The gems embedded in the silver base were nothing like I'd seen before. And the name on it was just as unique. So after a little friendly persuasion on dropping the price for me, I took the medallion home. I tried to get the thing appraised, but no one could tell me what it was actually worth. No one knew what kind of gems this thing held. I was going to just get rid of it, but every time I tried to throw it out, something stopped me. I couldn't do it. So I just shoved it into a small chest and put it in the back of my closet. Then a few short months ago, I noticed Neo being featured in the newspapers. At first I didn't know why her name bothered me so much. I thought that it might be because she was under your command, Law. And you know our history. Then I remembered the medallion. I pulled it out… and wouldn't you know that the gems on the medallion were the exact same as the crystals she used. I had heard rumors of Cethin's work sometime before that. I didn't really believe such creatures as the elementals could exist, but once Neo was revealed to the public with her so called devil fruit powers, I knew they had to be real. So I sought him out and brought him here to Dressrosa."
"And he has been such a wonderful host," Cethin said. "Though I really didn't care for having to hide in the palace for all these months. It got very boring in there. But he did provide me with plenty of elementals to experiment on."
"Ren," Law said. "Did you… was she under your control too?"
"No, she was not. Her actions were of her own doing," Cethin said. "I was a bit surprised at her. All the elementals I've come across never had a nature like hers. I would have loved to experiment on her, but thanks to you killing her, I'll never got that chance. But I also have to thank you too. You've brought this wonderful elemental royal to me. I've always wanted to experiment with one of them since they're the strongest of their people. I want to know how she'll do with the experiments since she has the solar crystal to heal herself. I also have to thank you for answering one question I never seemed to get an answer for no matter how hard I tried."
"And what would that be?" Law asked despite his instincts screaming at him to keep his mouth shut.
"I've always had a theory that elementals and humans could produce off spring together," Cethin said.
Law's heart and lungs tightened inside of his body to the point he couldn't breath. This man wasn't just after his love. This man was also after their child.
"But I never came across an elemental human hybrid," Cethin said. "And I never could produce one with my wife. I thought that it might have been impossible. Now thanks to you and your princess here, I'll finally be able to not only experiment on a royal, but a hybrid as well."
Law cursed at Cethin. Pulling out his sword, he rushed forwards with the full intent on slicing off the scientist's head.
"Neo, protect the young master, Trebol, and me," Cethin said.
Neo summoned her wind crystals. She released a gale that surrounded herself and the three she was ordered to protect.
Law recoiled. Stopping dead in his tracks, he just stared at Neo. Her expression was blank. Her eyes, her electric blue eyes that he loved so much and that were always filled with curiosity and innocence, were now a dull, lifeless blue. She was nothing more than a puppet to them now.
"Now the fun really begins," Doflamingo said with a laugh. "To get to us you have to go through Neo."
Law felt his stomach lurch. His hands trembled violently. His mind tried to process everything that was happening. He didn't want to think about it. But he couldn't stop himself. There was only one solution to this problem. He was going to have to fight Neo to save her.
Then something else hit him. The vision he had about Neo attacking the people of this country flashed back into his mind. That vision was coming true. His whole body went cold. A flood of curses sprung from his mouth.
…
Author's Notes: This chapter was a real pain. I'm not sure if I got the pollution stone explained clearly. If I didn't just asked and I'll try to clear it up.
Sarge1130: I wanted to put his sassy pose in but with Neo there it didn't really fit. *sad sigh* Oh yeah, revenge on Barto will happened. As for all those fights, it didn't make sense to add them in since Law and Neo have nothing to do with them. So I just focused on them since it's about them. I think you've got the whole Cethin and Neo thing right. Hope this chapter cleared everything up on what's going on with Neo.
Starrat: Glad ya like it.
One Star in a Lonely Sky: Maybe Law will get such revenge on him. Is it weird to say I'm glad you hate Cethin? That's what he's there for.
Apple Bloom: Yup. It's going down now. Gotta work on other stories now. Going to post some Reader inserts that I've already posted elsewhere. One's up right now, but I dunno if people will like them here.
