Turtles & Caves
Neo leaned back against the sub wall, her body tired. Her eyes were locked onto Zoro and Tero. They were sparring again. This time with swords. Their blades clashed together multiple times filling the otherwise quiet room with sound. It was obvious that Zoro was the better swordsman but this didn't feel like an actual sparring session. It felt more like they were trying to learn from each other, gauge their skills for future reference. Probably since they would become enemies again at some pointed.
Her hand went to her rounding stomach. A welcome distraction from the future of their crews. She wasn't sure but it appeared her stomach had grown even larger these past four days they had been home, which of course it had. Her stomach looked as if she had swallowed half of a soccer ball.
"Something wrong?" Kailen asked.
"No, just thinking about our baby and my stomach," Neo said. Looking to her right she looked at her brother. He had been sitting with her even since she came down here roughly three hours ago.
"Anything in particular?" he asked.
"I'm wondering how big our baby and my stomach are going to get," Neo said.
"Most likely you won't get very big at all," Kailen said. "You're small as it is. Small women don't usually get very big. Unless they're carrying twins."
"Well, I not carrying twins," Neo said. "And I'm glad. Carrying one baby is scary enough."
"I'm sure it is," Kailen said. "How are you feeling other than that? Anything new popping up?"
"No," Neo said.
"When do you think you'll want to start your exercises?" Kailen asked.
"Probably soon," Neo said. "I've finally settled down with being home again. It feels so great. Though I can't stop wondering how long it's going to last. I'm not ready to be at Wano yet."
"You're worried about the next fight," Kailen said. "I think we're all concerned about that."
"I wonder if Kaido is going to be there when we arrive," Neo said.
"I hope not," Kailen said.
Neo twirled a strand of hair while humming. "Kailen?"
"Yes?"
"I'm really glad you're here," Neo said feeling a surge of affection for him.
"I'm glad I'm here too," Kailen said.
"So are you ready to be an uncle yet?" Neo asked.
"I'm not sure. It sounds really foreign right now," Kailen said. "Even though I studied this with Healer Zinnia."
"Aren't you still studying with her?" Neo asked.
"I am." Kailen nodded. "The lessons we did on Luminous were really intense. She wanted to make sure I knew what I was doing before we came here. Now that we're here we can slow down a bit. Once your baby is born and Healer Zinnia thinks I can handle everything she'll leave."
"I kind of wish she would stay as well," Neo said. "But I understand that she needs to go back to Luminous."
"She is the best," Kailen said.
"At least she takes breaks from her healer life," Neo said. A bubble of annoyance floated into her chest. Feeling out for Law she found him in their room like he had been for about every second they had came back home. Sometimes he even ate in that room. Surely there wasn't that much he had to study. She frowned.
"Something wrong?" Kailen asked.
"Yes." She stood up. "I'm sick of Law being in that room and reading those books all the time." Turning on her toes she walked to the door. "I'm going to go pull him out of that room."
"Mood swing," Kailen mumbled as he watched her go.
"Hey, Neo!" Shachi said as he entered the room.
Neo didn't answer him. With a set look of determination on her face, she continued to march out the door.
"What's with her?" Shachi asked.
"Just another mood swing," Kailen said. "She's a bit upset that Law has been studying a lot."
"Ah," Shachi said. "That makes sense. She's so different now. It's hard to get use to."
"She'll go back to normal eventually," Kailen said.
"Yeah, I know. She's still as cute as ever though," Shachi said. "You doing okay?"
"Of course," Kailen said. "It helps that I've already been on the sub before."
"I meant with Neo and the baby," Shachi said.
"Oh, that. I'm okay. A little nervous," Kailen said. "I'm still not sure about being a big brother to Neo. And I definitely don't know anything about being an uncle."
"No worries," Shachi said. "You're family now. We'll help you with anything you need."
"Thanks a lot." Kailen smiled.
…
Law leaned back in his chair and sighed. His brain spun with all the information of elemental pregnancies he now possessed. Four days he's been going over and over these books and he still felt nowhere near prepared to take care of Neo and their child. Despite all the information flowing around in his head it was like he hadn't read a single line of the books. A knock at the door brought his eyes up. "Come in."
The door opened, Healer Zinnia stepped in. "Would it be all right if we spoke for a moment?"
"What is it?" Law asked.
"How are you doing?" Healer Zinnia asked.
Law's eyebrows rose. He wasn't expecting that. Most of the time when they spoke, or argued, it was about Neo. "Fine."
Healer Zinnia cocked an eyebrow at him. "Oh please. I know you're not doing as fine as you say."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Law frowned.
"This is your first child," Healer Zinnia said. "And it's with the princess. I know there are several worries running in and out of your mind. You need to get it off your chest. And since it's obvious you haven't spoke about this with your wife, just get it out with me. I can ease your mind where medical concerns are."
"Fine. I'm concerned about Neo have a hard labor. I'm concerned about the possibility of losing our baby. I'm concerned about having her go into fights despite the fact she's going to remain in her sniper position," Law said. "And I'm concerned about her going into labor early. There. You happy?"
"And all of that is what you should be concerned about," Healer Zinnia said. "She is a high risk pregnancy as we both already know. And you can count on her going into labor early. In fact I'm expecting it."
Law's heart raced, he clenched his fists.
"Calm down," Healer Zinnia said. "I've spent years in this field. And have gone through many different types of labors. I'm ready to assist the princess in any way possible. And I have also trained Kailen to handle difficult deliveries. We're not going to lose your baby. Once she gets closer to her due date I'm going to be watching her ever second through my crystals. If it looks like she's going to go into labor I'll have her back inside the sub in seconds. As for her fighting, I'd rather her not have her out there at all but I know that's not going to work. She far too protective of you all to sit quietly in the sub and wait for your return. Besides that would only do more harm than good for her. So Kailen and Topaz will be with her at all times when she's off the sub. And depending on the situation more of your crew and the Straw Hats will be as well. And if necessary we'll bring on more elementals to protect her. Everything is going to be fine."
Law nodded. He had to admit the healer did know more than he did right now. So he had to place his trust in her. "Thank you."
"Well, I never would have expected that from you," Healer Zinnia said. "But you're welcome. I'm going to get you both through this whether you like it or not."
Law smirked before parting his lips to speak. He was cut off when Neo's flame of anger entered into his chest.
"What is it?" Healer Zinnia asked.
"Neo's coming and she's not happy about something," Law said. "I think she's getting frustrated with how much time I'm spending with these books."
"You going to talk to her now about her pregnancy and what's to come?" Healer Zinnia asked.
"Might as well. I know more than enough now," Law said.
"Well, I better get out of the way," Healer Zinnia said. "I'm sure you two have a lot to talk about. Be sure you call me if you have any questions."
Law nodded. A few seconds after the healer left his room Neo entered and glared at him.
"You have been spending far too much time with those books, Law," Neo said planting her hands on her hips.
"I know," Law said. "And I'm sorry. You know I'm only doing it so I can be as prepared as I can be for when our baby comes."
Neo frowned. "I know that. I'm still upset with you. You spend all of your free time in here. I enjoy spending time with everyone else but sometimes I want to be with you."
"Would you like to talk now? I think I've gone over the books enough to at least start talking with you about it," Law said.
"Fine." Neo walked over to him. Sitting down on his lap, she crossed her arms, still annoyed with him.
Law drew in a breath. Dealing with her like this was going to be difficult.
"I'm annoying you," Neo said.
"Not at all," Law said.
Neo sighed. "Yes. I am. I'm aggravated at you for spending so much time in here despite the fact I know it's to help our child and me."
"It's normal," Law said.
"I hate it," Neo said. "I feel like I'm being forced to be annoyed with you."
"That's just how it is," Law said. "I can handle you being annoyed with me. And I do deserve a little bit of it. I should be paying more attention to you since you're the one experiencing this up front."
"Maybe," Neo mumbled.
"How about we start on your pregnancy lessons now?" Law asked.
"Okay." Neo turned to the books. "So what first?"
"Well, since you've already gone through the first trimester we can skip that information and go right to the second," Law said.
"Trimester?" Neo asked.
"It's the division in pregnancies. Stages where different development happens with the mother and baby," Law said. "Human women have three trimesters while elemental women have only two. During this time you'll have a lot of physical and mental changes. Like as your stomach grows your going to get stretch makers on your skin. Though I doubt they'll stay for long. That cream the healer gave you has faded your other scars considerably."
"That's nice," Neo said. "What else?"
"You're breasts are going to start getting bigger," Law said. Picking up a book he opened it to a diagram of a milk filled breast. "They're preparing to produce milk for our baby. Some times this can cause your breasts to leak and hurt. It's normal."
Neo nodded while scanning her eyes over the diagram.
"There's also the possibility of having false labor pains," Law said.
"False labor?" Neo looked at him. "What do I do during them?"
"The healer woman will be monitoring you for them, especially when you get close to your due date," Law said. "I have plans for someone to be with you at all times whether it's me, Kailen, or the healer woman. We'll be there to help you through it."
"Good." Neo nodded.
"You're also going to be experiencing an increase of blood that will cause you to have some nosebleeds," Law said. "So you will want to carry around some tissues with you."
"If you say so," Neo said. "What else?"
"Eventually you're going to start noticing our baby's movements," Law said. "That still won't happen for a while yet, but it might scare you when you start feeling movement."
"Baby moving inside of me sounds kind of creepy," Neo said. "I hope I don't stress out over it when it happens."
"It's a normal feeling that will probably stress you out at first but you'll grow to love feeling our baby move," Law said.
"I hope so," Neo said.
"You also need to pay close attention to when you're body is telling you something," Law said. "Especially if your mentally or physically tired."
"I know, Law," Neo said. "That's basically the same as when not being pregnant, with all those times I've been stressed. Only now I'm looking after two people instead of just one." She flipped through the pages of the book, running her eyes over the words. "Wait. What does the baby bump will drop mean?"
"It means the baby moves lower in preparation to be born," Law said placing his hand on her bump. "This will get lower."
"Oh, I get it," Neo said. "I hope I can remember all of this."
"You will," Law said. "You're great when it comes to learning new things."
"And it looks like I'm going to be getting a lot of leg cramps and other such things," Neo said. "Sounds so wonderful."
"It'll all be worth it when you hold our baby for the first time ever," Law said.
"I hope you're right. I'm still worried that I'm not going to be a good mom," Neo said. "I'm still not all that comfortable being around kids. Though being around Lin and Momo has helped me a lot with that."
"Remember its trail and error," Law said.
Neo nodded. "So what else? Have you read anything that you found abnormal from human pregnancies?"
"Well, there are a some difference. Like I already said you only two trimesters and they have three. You want more sex is another," Law said.
"That a bad thing?" Neo asked.
"Of course not," Law said. "It only means that elementals sex drive goes up when they're pregnant. Human pregnancies at lot of women don't typically want sex because they're too tired or their body hurts too much. It all depends on the individual. But that doesn't happen in elementals."
"I'm sure the men love that," Neo said.
"I'm sure they do." Law smiled. "Another difference is after you have the baby your energy and metabolism will increase some."
"Why?" Neo asked.
"It's so you can take care of the baby and get back to your normal weight," Law said. "Though I have to keep a close eye on you during this time since it's highly possible for you to drain your energy and magic during this period."
"I bet humans would love that part of getting back to normal weight," Neo said.
"I know a lot that would," Law said. "After birth some women can get the baby blues or depression. It all ties in with their hormone changes before and after the baby is born."
"That's sad," Neo said. "I wish they didn't have to go through that."
"You'll also be nesting when you get closer to you due date," Law said. "That means you'll start cleaning things up and getting as organized as you possible can in preparation for our baby's arrival."
"Sounds so exhausting," Neo said. "And again I ask why women willingly want to do this?"
Law chuckled. "You'll know why when you see and hold our baby for the first time."
"I am holding our baby," Neo said. "And I saw him during the ultrasound."
"I mean on the outside of your body, love," Law said brushing his thumb over her stomach. "It'll be a lot different."
Neo hummed.
"So do you have any questions?" Law asked.
"Not right now," Neo said. "I'm more concerned with the labor part of it. It sounds so painful. It's hard to imagine a woman's body expanding big enough for a baby to fit through it."
"It does seem impossible, but it's not," Law said. "And if worst comes to worst I can always warp our baby out of you."
"But you won't unless it's highly necessary," Neo said.
"Yes." Law nodded. "It's better for you to do this naturally."
"So," Neo said. "How bad do you think it'll hurt for you?"
"I'm trying not to think about it," Law said. "It won't hurt as bad for me as it will for you. It never does."
Neo sighed.
"You know if I could take away the pain I would," Law said.
"Yeah. I know," Neo said. "And I'm sorry I got upset with you. I'm still feeling rather annoyed with you."
"I know. I can feel it," Law said.
"I should have came in here sooner," Neo said. "But I know you needed to study this stuff. So how are you feeling with all of this? Feeling better now that you've gone over all this stuff?"
"A little bit better," Law said. "Mostly I feel better since the healer woman spoke with me before you came in here. She's going to stick with you when you're off the ship and watch carefully for false labor pains and for the real ones."
"And you're worried about me fighting," Neo said.
Law nodded. "I am."
"I am too," Neo said. "But I can't let you all go out there alone. I won't do it. I wouldn't be able to handle it. I have to be able to protect you all."
"I know, love." Law kissed her cheek. "It'll be fine. Straw Hat and I are going to be Kaido's main targets. And just like with Doflamingo we're going to do what we can to keep his attention on us."
"Still, I had a huge part of taking down his SAD equipment back on Punk Hazard," Neo said. "I wonder what Godfather would do if Kaido tried to hurt me. It's too bad I can't control zoan types." She smiled. "That would be fun. Using them to turned on their boss." She gasped and placed her hands on her cheeks. "What am I saying?! That would be stupid! But so much fun! Ah! Stupid! I so want to control them!"
"You're having a playful mood swing," Law said suppressing a chuckle. "And your target for this one is Kaido."
Neo laughed. "Yes! I want to see the look on his face when I take control of his men! You know… he is a rather big man. Do you think I can lift him with my winds?"
"I'd rather you didn't find out," Law said.
"But it would be funny," Neo said. "Can't you see him hanging upside down?"
"Neo." Law rested his cheek on his fist.
"Yes, my love?" Neo fluttered her eyelashes.
"If you dare try and do that I will ground you for the rest of your life," Law said.
"Oh." Neo stuck her tongue out at him. "This isn't my fault. I can't control it."
"Well, if we get lucky maybe we don't even see Kaido," Law said.
"Do you think that'll even be possible?" Neo looked at him in thought. "I mean we're going into his territory. I suppose he might not be in Wano. But surely he knows by now that we're attempting to take him down. We did interfere with his production of man made devil fruits."
"We'll only know when we get there," Law said.
"How do you think Luffy and the others are doing?" Neo asked.
"I'm sure they're fine," Law said. "Though if we know Straw Hat at all he's probably already causing trouble. You haven't had any nightmares about them, right?"
Neo nodded. "At least not yet. It's still only been a few days since we left Zou. It will take them at least two weeks to get to Big Mom's territory."
"Try not to think about it," Law said.
"I'm trying, I'm trying," Neo said. Settling down into Law's lap, she looked through the books with him like they had done when he taught her about the differences between men and women. For hours they talked about everything dealing with being pregnant and giving birth. They closed the books. "Well, that was a lot to take in."
"It is." Law nodded. "We'll still go over it with each step you take in your pregnancy."
Neo nodded. "Good plan."
"So what would you like to do now?" Law asked.
"I think I'll go to the galley and help Basil prepare the sweet rolls for later," Neo said.
"Okay." Law kissed her. "See you later."
Neo nodded and left the room.
…
Neo rolled over onto her back. Placing her arm over her forehead she stared up at the dark ceiling for a few seconds. Strong cravings for several types of food filtered through her stomach and mind. Rolling onto her side, she looked at Law before reaching over and poking him in the side. When he didn't stir from her poke she did it again. Then again. And again.
Law sighed and shifted in his sleep.
Neo poked him again. "Law." Poke. "Law." Poke. "Law?"
"What is it?" Law rolled onto his side, facing her. "Having trouble sleeping?"
"No, I'm hungry," Neo said.
"Then grow you something to eat," Law said.
"But I want fish, rice, maybe some tomatoes," Neo said. "Some milk. And ice cream. Yeah, ice cream sounds really good. I think we still have a little."
"That's nice. Go get you some," Law said. "You know where the galley is."
"Law, come with me," Neo whined.
Law lifted his head off his pillow. Through the small amount of light in their room he saw her eyes shining at him.
"Please?" Neo fluttered her eyelashes. "I want you to come with me. You're hungry too."
"Only because you're sharing your cravings with me," Law said. "They'll go away once you eat."
"Aw, come on, Law. I don't want to be alone." Neo pouted. "Please?"
"Okay, okay." Law pushed off their blanket. Sitting up he yawned and stretched out his body before standing up.
Neo summoned her wings. With a couple flitters she lifted herself off the bed and clung to his back, her stomach brushing against him. "Got ya!"
"And why are you clinging to me, my little monkey?" Law hooked his arms under her legs.
"Because I feel like it," Neo said. "Now let's go."
Law headed for their door. More silence greeted them upon stepping out into the hall.
Neo licked Law's ear then nibbled on it causing his earrings to jingle.
"I thought you wanted to eat food not me," Law said.
"I can have both," Neo said. Reaching the galley she hopped down from him. Light spread out over the room when she flicked the light on. She blinked away the brightness then worked her way through the cabinets and fridge. With an armful of food she dropped it all on the table. "Let's see. What else?"
"I think you have more than enough here," Law said scanning his eyes over the food. Both he and Neo grabbed a banana when she started craving it. "Just eat this for now. I don't want you to get sick from over eating."
"So yummy," Neo mumbled around the banana. She grabbed a jar of olives and tomato sauce. After opening them she dipped the banana and an olive into the tomato sauce jar. She shoved them all in her mouth.
"You're going to make me sick with these cravings," Law said doing his best to ignore the insatiable desire to dunk his banana in the tomato sauce.
"It's amazing," Neo said. "You should really try it."
Law shook his head.
Neo summoned a wind and fire crystal. Lifting the frozen fish into the air she cooked it as quickly as she could. She bit into the fish then took another bit of her banana, olive, and tomato sauce. She grinned when Law gave into the craving and dunked his banana into the sauce. "See? It's good."
"It's weird," Law said.
"Hey, Law?" Neo asked.
"What is it?" Law asked.
"What do you think Cora would say if he knew we were having a baby?" Neo asked.
"Not really sure," Law said. "He'd probably tease me mercilessly."
"I don't believe that," Neo said. "He loves you so much."
"Maybe," Law said. "But that never stopped him from being mean to me."
"Oh, that was just an act," Neo said poking him in the cheek. "He was doing his best to save you from Doflamingo. That jerk. I still can't believe that he wanted to brainwash you into serve him and dying for him. I hope he dies."
"Neo," Law said stunned.
"What?" Neo studied Law's shocked expression.
"I've never heard you talk like that before," Law said.
"Well, it's true," Neo said. "It makes me angry when I think of what he tried to do to you. And then all the stuff he pulled in Dressrosa. He had better never get out of Impel Down." She gasped. "But what if he does?! After all Luffy got into that place and broke out! He could do the same! Someone could bust him out!"
"Don't even start worrying about that," Law said. "He won't. Even if someone manages to free him we know we can beat him. Straw Hat already proved that. And we've all gotten stronger since then."
"But that wasn't even two weeks ago," Neo said with a sigh. "It seems so surreal still. After everything you went though with him. I'm so glad it's over. And I hope we never have to go through something like that again."
Law nodded.
"Oh, Captain," Basil said upon entering the room. "Neo. You two are up early."
"Neo has some serious good cravings," Law said. "And she made me come with her."
"I can see that." Basil ran his eyes over the food on the table.
"I didn't make you come. I wanted you to come and you did." Neo picked up a spoon and scooped a large amount of peanut butter out of the jar then offered it to Law. "Want some?"
"No thanks," Law said.
"Suit yourself." Neo spread some peanut butter onto her fish and ate it. She hummed in delight. "So what's for breakfast?"
"Still hungry, huh?" Basil asked.
"I might be," Neo said.
"This pregnancy has turned you weird," Law said.
"And yet you still love me," Neo said with a wink.
"That I do." Law smiled.
"Well, I'm going to start breakfast now." Basil walked over to the cabinets. "I'm thinking pancakes. We have some sausage we need to get eaten."
"Sounds yummy." Neo ate the rest of the peanut butter on her spoon before getting some more.
"You really shouldn't double dip like that," Law said.
"I'm pregnant," Neo said. "I can do whatever I want. Right, Basil?"
"Sure thing, Neo," Basil said smiling. "You're the princess and the captain here."
Law shook his head. "If this keeps up I might have to ban the crew from spoiling you."
"I already am spoiled." Neo shoved the spoon into her mouth. Just then a bale of sea turtles appeared in her mind. She squealed.
"What is it now?" Law asked.
"I sense some giant sea turtles!" Neo said jumping up from her seat.
"Hey! Neo! You need to put the food back!" Law called. She didn't listen and bolted through the door. He sighed.
"She's always like that when it comes to animals. You should have expected it," Basil said.
"I know," Law said.
"Go on," Basil said. "I'll clean everything up."
"Neo will most likely be back later for it," Law said before leaving the room.
…
Neo rushed through the hall and up the stairs until she reached the main door. The handle and gears clicked and groaned as she turned it. Pushing the massive door open the cool sea breeze flowed into the warm sub. Running out onto the deck, she saw them. Several green sea turtles, of all sizes, were surrounding the sub. "So many! And so cute!"
Summoning her wind crystals, Neo lifted herself up and flew around the bale. She eyed them all, looking for wounds or any other signs of being harmed. She dropped down to a baby sea turtle who had took as much notice in her as she did him. "You are too cute! I'm an elemental. My people are basically nature. Oh, really? You've met some of us before? Really?! That's amazing!"
'What's amazing?'
"The bale often stops on an island where some elementals live," Neo said. "They say the elementals once saved one of their babies from becoming a Celestial Dragon's pet."
'For your sake, I hope they didn't get into trouble with the Celestial Dragons.'
"Did they get caught?" Neo nodded when the turtle answered her. "No they didn't get caught. They managed to get the turtle away from the man who took him before they even met the Celestial Dragons. I'm so relieved. It would have been awful if they got caught."
Neo settled down on the baby's head just as Law came out onto the deck. She waved up at him before turning her attention back to all of the turtles. Her attention remained there until she heard Usopp scream, "Ah! We're being attacked by giant turtle monsters!"
"What are you talking about?" Neo said. She glanced up at the sub, finding the Straw Hats were now awake and on the deck. "They're cute."
"Cute?! Their massive!" Usopp said. "They could bite our heads off in one little chomp!"
"Actually they don't have to bite us at all," Robin said. "They'd just swallow us whole."
"Please stop talking like that!" Usopp said.
"Huh?" Neo looked over at a female turtle. "Really? Okay. We can help you."
"Neo, what are you up to?" Law asked.
"We're going for a ride." Neo wrapped her winds around the Straw Hats and Law, pulling them down to her then over to the turtle she was just talking to.
"What?! What are you doing?!" Usopp kicked and flailed.
"I already said. We're going for a ride," Neo said fixing an air bubble around them. "This mom said her baby is trapped in a cave under the water."
"Her baby is trapped?" Usopp asked.
"Yeah." Neo nodded placing her hand on her stomach. "I can't imagine what she's going through right now. She's so terrified and worried."
"It's all right, Neo," Law said. "We'll check it out and see what we can do. Just don't let her stress take you over."
Neo nodded. Lowering them into the water the air around them became cooler from the water. Several schools of fish swam by them, pausing long enough to check them out before moving on.
"Amazing," Robin said at the sea life and coral around them.
"Super incredible," Franky added inspecting the bubble around them. "I didn't know you could do this." He reached out to touch it.
"Don't do that!" Usopp slapped the shipwright's hand away. "You could pop it!"
"It's basically the same thing at the coating we had on the Sunny when we went to Fishman Island," Zoro said.
"It's not the same!" Usopp screamed.
"Don't worry." Neo winked. "I'm a pro at this."
"But you're having magic issues because you're pregnant!" Usopp said just before they sunk lower under the water. "Ah! We're going to die!"
"Stop your whining," Zoro said. "We're going to be fine."
"He's so loves me!" Neo giggled.
"Just shut up." Zoro flinched.
"He's so shy about how he really feels," Robin said.
"Yeah!" Neo nodded.
Zoro growled in annoyance but said nothing more.
"So what are the turtles doing here?" Franky asked.
"Migrating through these parts," Neo said. "Hey! You should totally build a ship shaped like a turtle! It would be really cute!"
Franky laughed. "Well, I'll have to see what I can do for you!"
"Yeah!" Neo cheered. "You're the best!"
"Hey," Robin said pointing to her right. There was an underwater cliff with a dark spot near the middle. "What's that over there?"
"Looks like a cave," Usopp said taking a closer look with his goggles.
"The mama says that's where her baby is," Neo said as the turtle swam towards the cave. "It's too small for her to go in. So we're going to have to go in without her."
"Let's not," Usopp said. "The sub's going to leave without us if we're down here for too long."
"It won't," Law said. "They won't leave without my permission. Once they notice we're gone they'll wait for us to return. We have plenty of time to return."
"You're not helping!" Usopp said.
"It looks really dark in there," Robin said. "I wonder if there are any giant sea lampreys living inside the cave."
"You're not helping either!" Usopp said.
"I'm not sensing any thing bigger than fish in there," Neo said moving them closer to their destination. "Let's go."
"This isn't going to be good," Usopp said grabbing a hold of his kabuto.
Neo flared up a couple of fire crystals. Creating a shield around them she moved them out from their bubble so they could have light to see what was around them. Her flames reflected off the walls, revealing some sort of shimmering rocks and some deep sea fish that swam away to get away from the intruding light. "What is that stuff glowing on the walls?"
"It looks like some form of fluorescent mineral," Robin said. "Though from this distance and low light I can't tell which it is."
"It's fine," Neo said. "We're not here for that anyway. We're getting closer to the baby. He's really distressed."
"I hope he doesn't try to take a bite out of us," Usopp said.
The tunnel emptied out into a pool twenty yards up from the entrance. Neo lifted them to the surface. Out of the water she summoned more fire crystals to give them more light. The light flooded over the room, revealing a pile of rocks and the baby sea turtle with his flipper under some of the rocks. Setting her friends down on the small cliff, she rushed over to the baby. Kneeling down beside him, she placed her hand on his head. "There, there. Easy now. We're not going to hurt you. You're mama sent us to get you. Law."
"Room. Shambles." Law warped the rock off the baby's flipper then knelt down to check it.
Neo summoned her solar crystal and washed its healing glow over the baby.
"Hey! Hold on! What if that thing tries to eat us?!" Usopp asked, aiming a poppy green at the baby.
"Put that way," Neo said. "These are green sea turtles. They don't eat meat. Besides this poor baby is too scared to eat anything."
"Will he be okay?" Franky asked.
"He'll be fine," Law said. "Neo's solar crystal is healing the damage that was done. Once the baby is rested we'll return him to his mother. She can take it from there."
The baby turned his head to Neo and rubbed against her.
"You're very welcome," Neo said. "How did you even get trapped down here anyway? Oh."
"What did he say?" Franky asked.
"He was following a fish. He stayed underwater for too long and needed air so he climbed up here," Neo said. "Next thing he knew the ground was shaking and rocks fell on him."
"So an earthquake?" Usopp looked up at the roof of the cave. "Is that even possible here?"
"Maybe it was a fight?" Franky asked.
"It could be," Robin said. "This area isn't known for earthquakes."
"He said that he did see someone swimming around down here," Neo said. "They were moving the water around too."
"Someone else was down here?" Usopp asked.
"He says he didn't recognize the person," Neo said. "He says it looked more like us. Only shorter with a really big nose."
"Really big nose?" Franky rubbed his chin. "Do you think it was a fishman?"
"That could be possible," Robin said. "Some fishmen can manipulate water. But I don't recall seeing one that short when we were on Fishman Island. Other than kids that is."
"Come to think of it," Usopp said. "They also breath underwater. This turtle didn't say anything about a breathing apparatus."
"Are you suggesting someone did this on purpose?" Neo asked.
"Not really," Usopp said. "I just find it a bit suspicious. That's all."
"Either way it's not our problem," Law said. "The baby's free and can go back to the bale. We need to get back to the sub before too long."
Neo nodded. "Breakfast should be ready by now."
"Of course that's what you're concerned about," Usopp said.
"Then you try being pregnant," Neo said knitting her eyebrows.
"No thanks," Usopp said. "I'm good as I am."
Neo wrapped her winds around them again; creating the bubble she took them and the baby turtle back out of the cave. The baby turtle flapped his flippers upon seeing his mom. "Okay, settle down." She released the turtle. "There you go."
The baby turtle swam up to his mother. They nuzzled against each other before swimming off.
"That's so sweet!" Franky cried. "Such a beautiful ending!"
"Yeah, yeah," Usopp said. "It's sweet. Now can we get back to the sub?"
"Okay. I'm starving. And so is Cora." Neo took them back up towards the surface. Halfway there she noticed Robin staring off into the distance. "What is it, Robin?"
"I saw something swimming around the bottom of the sub," Robin said.
"A fish?" Usopp asked.
"Maybe," Robin said. "But it didn't look like it."
"Neo, take us under the sub first," Law said
"Sure." Neo pushed them under the sun. They all carefully looked at the bottom for anything that looked out of place. "Do you see anything?"
"No," Law said.
"I don't see anything either," Robin said.
"What are we looking for?" Usopp asked running his eyes over the sub.
"Nothing I guess," Law said. "Take us up."
"You got it," Neo said. She pushed them to the surface then lifted them to the deck.
"There you are," Kailen said running over to them. Once close enough he grabbed her shoulders. His eyes darted all over her body.
"What's up?" Neo asked. "You look upset."
"He panicked a bit when he sensed you under the water," Penguin said.
"We tried to tell him you swim all the time but he wouldn't listen," Shachi added.
"He was worried your magic would give out on you while you were down there," Penguin said. "We told him the captain could easily warp back to the sub, but he was too concerned to understand."
"Oh," Neo said. "Sorry I worried you. One of the baby turtles was in trouble and we went to help him."
Kailen sighed. "Oh. So that's why."
"Poor baby. I won't worry you like that again." Neo reached up and pat her brother's head. Her stomach rumbled. "Uh, can we continue this in the galley? I'm hungry."
"Sure," Kailen said.
"Yes!" Neo linked her arm with his and led them all inside. Down in the galley she told them all what happened as they ate their breakfast.
"Sounds like you had an eventful morning," Healer Zinnia said.
"Yeah." Neo nodded before yawning. "And now I'm getting tired again. I shouldn't have gotten up so early. Dumb food cravings."
"Next time just ignore them," Zoro said.
"If only I could give you my food cravings," Neo said. "You wouldn't say that."
"I have more will power than you do," Zoro said.
"Aw, don't be a jerk," Neo said. She summoned a wind crystal and swirled a stream of wind around him. "I don't want to have to have Law cut you into a million pieces before we get to Wano."
Law smirked when Zoro looked at him.
"And I'll tell Godfather, his crew, Luffy, and Sanji that you were being mean to me," Neo said in a singing voice. "And let's not forget the elementals. They won't like it that you're being mean to their princess."
Zoro flinched. "Geez. Your not even interested in becoming pirate king or anything of the sort but you probably have one of the strongest army in the world."
"You'd do well to remember that," Law said.
Neo laughed. "Of course I'd never hurt anyone but it's fun to tease you, Zoro."
"I get the feeling I'm going to be your favorite target for your dumb mood swings," Zoro said.
"Depends on how you treat me," Neo said. "It won't kill you to act more like a gentleman. You know, like Sanji."
"Don't you dare tell me to act like that perverted cook!" Zoro screamed.
Neo laughed harder.
"Neo!" Zoro said.
"Okay, okay," Neo said. "I'm sorry. I'll stop messing with you so much. At least until I have an actual mood swing. Then it's not my fault."
"You were teasing me this whole time?!" Zoro demanded.
"Sorry," Neo said. "I couldn't help it."
"Geez," Zoro grumbled. "When is Luffy and the others getting back? She can target them instead."
The crew laughed at the swordsman's predicament.
"You're so cute," Neo said.
Law cleared his throat, bringing their attention to him. "All right, Neo. That's enough."
"You're so jealous," Neo said.
"Once you're done eating you had better get dressed," Law said.
Neo looked down at her body. She had gone to bed wearing only a shirt of Law's. It covered her like a mini dress but was also hanging off her shoulder. Her eyes wandered over to Law. He was still shirtless. "Oh, I guess we forgot to get dressed when we got up."
...
Done with eating, Neo got up from the table and headed back to their room to change for the day. A yawn escaped her while she finished getting dressed. Feeling drained from getting up early, she crawled into bed. Lying on Law's side she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
…
Author's Notes: Major revisions for past chapters have been done. 1-76 are completed. I will be continuing to read through the rest of the chapters and fix mistakes that I missed but no major changes should happen from now on. I'll still post the chapters I've done revised at the top of my profile page until they're all done.
Also, I thought of a mini arc the crew can do while we're waiting for Wano. So new chapters will be 'new chapters' added at the end. See you next chapter.
