Neo & Big Mom

A familiar pressure settled upon Neo's body as they stood there. It was the same feeling she got when she first met her godfather. Only it was worse. The pressure was more intense, more dark, more... deadly.

This time she knew she was not among someone who wouldn't harm her and her family. These two emperors would kill them if they got the chance.

"Straw Hat." Kaido's deep voice was like a rumble of thunder.

Neo eyed his large body from his thick legs, his broad shoulders and chest, his black beard and hair that framed dark eyes, then to the two large horns that sat on his head. If she were to think of a monster, Kaido would be it. Her eyes then shifted over to Big Mom when the woman spoke.

"So many heads I want to serve on a platter." Big Mom sat perched upon a black cloud Neo guess was Zeus. One of her personal minions Sanji told her about. The cloud looked harmless enough, but she knew better than anyone how dangerous clouds could be.

"Linlin, do you know what this brat dared to say he would become?" Kaido's eyes slid to the large woman beside him.

"He's a cheeky one!" Big Mom said. "He talked pretty big to me as well. He even destroyed my castle. First things first, you owe me an apology, Straw Hat!"

Neo moved her eyes from the two when Luffy walked forward. She followed his trajectory. He was going to their friends. She summoned her solar crystal while she chided herself. She should have been already healing their friends. With the rest of her crystals out she watched the emperors careful as Luffy walked right past them without a word or glance.

"Hey, brat! Exactly what do you think you'll become? Say it one more time to our faces." Kaido's eyes followed the young man but he didn't make a move.

Luffy knelt and lifted Kin'emon's head off the ground. "Are you all right, Kin'emon? I'm sorry I'm late."

Neo allowed her gaze to shift back to their friends. From her vantage point she couldn't tell what their wounds consisted of, still she healed them as much as she could before they were sent away by Law. There was no way they could stay here. Hopefully Chopper or one of their other allies would find them and do some first aid. "I hope they'll still be able to fight and defend themselves. Or at least be able to move. Wait a second." She glance around. "Where are the elementals I sent with them?"

"I'm sure they'll be fine," Law said. "The elementals are probably keeping the underlings busy. Focus on here and now. They'll be fine."

Neo refocused as Kaido lifted his spiked club and called out to Luffy. "Hey, brat!"

"Tra, send all of them below," Luffy called.

Neo banished her solar crystal the second before Law warped the injured away and before Kaido's club came down.

"Don't order me around!" Law growled. The injured warped from the battle field.

Luffy leapt into the air and turned his own haki infused punch towards the emperor. Neo didn't recognize the type of haki. "Gear Three! Gum Gum Red Hawk!"

Kaido released an "Oof" before falling to the ground.

"Kaido, what are you doing?!" Big Mom bared her teeth. "How could just getting hit knock you down?!"

"My name is Monkey D. Luffy." Luffy stood with his fists clenched and eyes set with determination. "I will surpass the both of you. I'm the man who'll be king of the pirates."

"You brat! Even after getting beaten you're still saying that?!" Big Mom scoffed. "Becoming king of the pirates!"

"Is that the haki he learned from that old man in Wano?" Zoro asked.

"What was that haki just now? I can't believe a punch actually damaged Kaido," Kid said.

Killer laughed. "This battle is not lost after all."

"I'm not going let this slide," Law said.

Neo glanced at the men beside her. So they recognized it as different haki too.

"Does a brat like you even understand what it means to be the pirate king?" Big Mom asked.

"Thunder Bagua!" Kaido swung his club. It nailed Luffy on the side and sent him rolling.

Neo summoned her wind crystals to help Luffy but paused when she felt Big Mom's sun partner flare up.

"Heavenly!"

Zoro rushed forward. "Foxfire style!"

"Fire!"

"Flame Slice!"

"Zoro can slice flames now?" Neo blinked when Zoro's sword sliced through the flame as if were something solid.

"Prometheus!" Big Mom said.

"Luffy! Don't let your guard down for a second!" Zoro said. "Don't forget we're up against two emperors!"

"Shambles!" Law warped Luffy away from Kaido and to them. "Hey, Straw Hat, just so you know, I already had planned on moving Kin'emon and the others downstairs! But you went and said that! Now it looks like I obey your orders!"

"How does that even matter?" Luffy asked.

Neo laughed. "You two! You're so funny when you're together!"

"We are not!" Law insisted.

"Trafalgar, and here I thought you had finally become Straw Hat's lackey," Kid said.

"I'll never be his lackey!" Law snapped as he pointed at Luffy.

"We're actually on the same crew now." Neo grinned, knowing it would aggravate Law.

"We are not!" Law snapped.

"Doesn't really matter to me whether one scrub joins another," Kid said.

"Says the one who's joined those scrubs for this fight," Neo pointed out, earning a glare from Kid.

"Prometheus, burn them all to cinders!" Big Mom said.

"Yes, Mama! Heavenly Fireballs!" Prometheus flared up.

"No you don't!" Neo shifted her fire crystals to the front.

"Hold it, Neo!" Luffy called. "Not yet. Let's determine who the scrub is by whoever gets touched by that fire first."

"What?!" Neo gasped. "Are you crazy?!"

"Like I'd agree to that!" Law said.

"Suggesting a pointless game at a time like this is exactly why you idiots will never become big shots!" Kid said.

"Fair enough, guess you two are the scrubs them," Luffy said.

"You three are nuts." Neo shifted her crystals to stop the fire.

"Hold it." Law held up his hand to stop her.

The fire barreled towards them and all three of them sucked in their faces.

"Are you kidding me?!" Neo took hold of the fire and flung it back at Big Mom. "You three really want to have a 'Who's sword is bigger' contest now?! You three are beyond hopeless! And, Law, don't ever make that face again!"

Law twitched.

Kid laughed. "You are so whip-"

Neo growled, releasing a hot blue flame in Kid's face. "Shut it or lose it."

Kid growled at submitting to a woman, but said nothing.

"I never expected less from someone like you, Neo," Big Mom said.

Neo turned to the woman emperor.

"Stand back, Linlin. I want to see how strong these brats are." Kaido held up a hand.

"Fine, but the elemental is mine." Big Mom licked her lips. "I've been wanting to talk to you for a long time now, Princess Neo."

A shiver ran up and down Neo's spine. What did this emperor want from her? To kill her? Trap her? Torture her? Turn her into a slave? To eat her? From the hungry look on the elder woman's face it was highly possible she was being viewed as a snack rather than an enemy.

From the corner of her eye, Neo watched as everyone, but Law, rushed towards Kaido. She glanced back at Big Mom. "So what is it you want from me?"

"I want you." Big Mom pointed a sharp nail at Neo. "I want you to join my family."

Neo blinked. Did she hear that right? "Excuse me?"

"My family is a large one." Big Mom spread her arms wide. "My family welcomes everyone no matter who they are. I have fishmen relatives, long leg, long arm, normal humans, minks, all kinds of people live in my family. Only the giants and now your people remain."

Neo tilted her head. "And you think I will willingly join you and your family?"

"Why not? You will not be treated like an outcast in my family." Big Mom held out her hand towards Neo. "Come. Join me. I have the perfect son for you to marry."

All emotion left Neo's face. Though this was the first time she met this woman she knew what Big Mom was really like from what Sanji and the others told her and from news reports. Most of all... she would never marry another man. "Never."

Big Mom frowned. "Do you know who you are talking to?"

"I know exactly who I am talking to. And I can tell you right now that I will not join you. I will only be married to Law. None of my people will join you either. If somehow you manage to destroy us, Godfather would never allow you to hurt any of the elementals."

Big Mom looked down at Neo from her nose. "Is that so?"

"It is," Neo said with a firm nod.

"If you join me then I will accept your pirate crew as my own."

"No deal." Neo's eyes sharpened. "You and Kaido will be stopped here."

Big Mom's face clouded with anger.

'Neo, are you aware that you're taunting an emperor?' Law cocked an eyebrow.

'I know. I'm surprised a bit myself. But my protective side is taking over. I won't let her take us or any of the elementals.'

'I know. Just don't push her too far.'

'I'll try.' Neo paused for a moment before adding, 'I might regret this but I want to face her on my own.'

'Excuse me?' Law glanced at Neo.

'Yeah. They'll need your powers on Kaido.' Neo gave him a quick glance. 'Besides, you're not going far.'

Law stared at his lover for several seconds.

Neo could feel his mind going over every single possible problem this might cause and how she might get hurt. 'I'll be fine, Law. I need to do this to see how strong I am against her. I have... to protect my family. No matter how strong our enemies might be.'

Law sighed. "I'm coming back if you need me." He warped away from her. He reappeared in front of Kaido. He charged with the others. "I've never dissected a dragon before. But I reckon the heart is about here."

Neo grinned as Kikoku sliced Kaido's thick skin.

"Blasted upstarts! So you can counter my durability?!" Kaido said. "I guess you're not the suicidal fools I took you for!"

Killer ran up Kaido's scales and sliced at him with his blades. "I've been through hell because of this tough hide! But looks like I can get through if I slice you up from inside! Sonic Slice!"

Big Mom struck at him with a lightning bolt.

Neo guided it away with a flick of her wrist. "I won't allow you to touch any of them."

"Neo, princess of the elementals." Big Mom licked her lips. "Try as you may, little princess. There will be no escape for any of you under the Heavens!"

A grin spread across Neo's lips. "I bet you said something like that when Luffy infiltrated your tea party, ruined your murdering scheme, took Sanji back, and left." She paused for a moment then added, "Oh, right. Let's not forget he beat one of your toughest sons and stole Jinbe from you."

Rage hardened the emperor's face. "You will pay! I'll start with that swordsman first!"

'Uh, Neo, I told you not to antagonize that woman.'

'Sorry. I couldn't help it.'

'Well, you have to stop it now. These two are already upset with us. We don't need a full blown rage.' Law paused for a few seconds. 'I wonder how much of this is your protective side and how much is because of your mood swings.' He chuckled.

'What's so funny?'

'You have become a serious mama bear.'

'I think you're right. I want to fight these two to protect our family and friends, especially Cora.' Neo turned in time to see Zoro racing towards Kaido.

Big Mom shot lightning towards him.

Neo shifted the lightning to the sky and grabbed Zoro with her winds.

"Thanks!" Zoro said as she sat him down.

As the swordsman darted towards the fight again Neo shot out a stream of fire at Big Mom.

"Very well," the emperor said. "If you want to fight me then we'll fight."

Neo tensed.

"Prometheus!" Big Mom gathered a ball of fire in her hand and hurled it at Neo.

Neo connected to the fire and split it. The flames flew around her. She gasped when Big Mom appeared in front of her, her sword drawn. Lightning flashed off the blade as it swung towards her. Neo pulled herself away with her winds. The blade skirted her nose.

"You're fast," Big Mom said. "Or is that observation haki?"

Neo flipped and landed straight up. She almost sat herself down but realized it would be better to remain in the air. She then guided the fire back towards Big Mom.

The flames crackled as they engulfed the emperor. Only a second past before Big Mom expelled the fire with a wipe of her arms. "Are you playing with me? That attacked seemed weak."

Maybe it was weak. But it was necessary. Big Mom's not using her haki against me. Neo knitted her brow. Is she testing me like I am her?

Big Mom took another swipe with her sword.

A gale slammed against Neo's body. She held her place for a few seconds before grabbing the wind. Spinning it with her water she shot a funnel at Big Mom. With the emperor distracted she shot up into the sky. She watched Big Mom slice her attack away before gathering up her fire and thrusting it downward.

The flames engulfed Big Mom. A shriek came from the fire before it dissipated with a gust of haki. Big Mom stood their singed.

Air rushed from Neo's lungs as the emperor's haki nailed her. She crashed to the ground. Ears ringing, she rubbed her head. Big Mom's shadow fell upon her, follow by her fist. Neo's winds pulled her away just before the woman's fist shattered the ground.

Neo summoned massive vines from her crystals and wrapped them around Big Mom then formed large thorns. She shot the thorns towards Big Mom. Within less that an inch of piercing the woman's skin, Big Mom released her haki.

Neo's elbow slammed into the ground. She gritted her teeth. Without a doubt her bone had cracked. Her solar crystal appeared beside her. Great. It feels like I'm on equal footing with Big Mom. But that not the case. The element defenses are not a problem, but I can't get past her haki defense. She flicked a glance at Luffy and the others. They were struggling against Kaido. Luffy was currently falling through the air. She sent her winds to grab him.

"Don't look away!" Big Mom swung her sword at her.

Neo pushed away with her winds and sent her solar crystal to help heal the guys. Luffy... you're always getting so beat up.

Big Mom slip past Neo and headed to help Kaido. "Motherly Fire!"

"No you don't!" Neo wrapped her winds around Big Mom. "Zoro, grab Luffy!"

Zoro grabbed Luffy and jumped out of the way as Big Mom slipped from Neo's winds.

Neo growled and flew forward. "Don't go after them! I'm your opponent!"

Suddenly Kaido unleashed multiple tornadoes. Neo's hair whipped around her face as she connected with them. She held them in place as Zoro charged in for another attack on Kaido. After Zoro landed his attack she turned the tornadoes on Big Mom and Kaido. She gritted her teeth as the two emperors used their knock to nullify the tornadoes. This is a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. These two... I wouldn't have this much trouble if it weren't for their haki. I need more practice facing people like them. I wonder if Godfather would spare with me. I'll have to talk to Law about it.

Kaido's body shifted his man beast form. "Hey, LinLin. This is getting fun."

Big Mom joined his side, laughing. "You know, Kaido, I was just thinking the same thing."