Douglas Bullet

"Neo, take us underwater and drill into the earth," Law said. "That way no one will see us going back. Buggy and his crew are surely still looking for us, if not tangled up in the fight going on."

"You got it." Neo created an air bubble around them before submerging into the water. The coolness of the water settled around them as fish scatter from their sudden arrival. With the sun's rays breaking the surface they had enough light to clearly see everything.

Reaching the edge island she held back the water while drilling into the earth. Within a minute she reached the other side, putting everything back in place so no one would notice the disturbance. Neo continued to fly them, carefully taking corners, avoiding video snails, and slowing down when they reached an opening where someone could be hiding. Once close enough to their destination, Neo sat them down.

They stayed tucked in the shadows as a guard walked by. When he was out of sight the group continued on foot.

"The secret base is up ahead. Be careful. That's where we were ambushed the last time we were here." Law's voice was low as they moved forward.

Reaching the correct spot the group halted and went quiet to listen for anyone else around. The silence was broken by Brook releasing gas.

Chopper's face crinkled. "You couldn't hold it in a second?!"

Brook gave a muffled laugh. "I don't even have butt cheeks."

"Will you shut it?" Sanji hissed.

"My apologies, Sanji," Brook said.

"Are we going to continue on or do some recon?" Neo asked. "I'm not sensing any devil fruit users around the corner."

"We'll scope out the area from here." Sanji looked at Robin. "Got this?"

"Of course." Robin nods and crossed her arms.

"I can help, too." Brook opened his mouth to allow his soul to come out. The green ghost slithered around in the air before disappearing around the corner.

A few seconds ticked by before Brook and Robin gasped.

"Let's go." Robin darted away. "Now!"

"What's wrong?" Sanji asked. "Well, spit it out."

Robin relayed what she and Brook had over heard. "This whole thing is a set up. Festa lured pirates here so the navy could release a buster call on us."

"A buster call? That means..." Chopper said.

"Yeah. The navy's going to eliminate everything and everyone on the island," Law said. "It'll all be burnt to ash before we could fight back."

Neo refocused her attention and located several battleships coming towards the island.

"That's mass murder!" Sanji said. "They want us dead that bad?"

"Hard to say, but we need to warn everyone," Robin said.

"Well, someone wants us dead," Neo said. "I can sense the navy ships and the admirals. Fujitora's among them."

"Great. It's not like we had a hard time against him in Dressrosa," Law grumbled.

Smoke penetrated Neo's senses. "Smoker's here!"

Just as she warns, Smoker rounded a corner at the same time they did.

"Straw Hats! How do you know about this place?!" Smoker pulled his jutte and thrust it.

Brook unsheathed his sword and blocked Smoker's attack. "Let us answer before you attack, please."

"Careful, Brook," Sanji said. "His weapon is made of sea prism stone."

Smoker jumped back. "Can you blame me? Seems half the pirates I fight have devil fruit powers. Since I can't throw all of you into the sea this will do."

"It won't work on me." Neo stepped forward, ready to defend her friends.

"No, let me, Neo. I can handle this on my own." Sanji placed his hand on her shoulder. "You can find Luffy easier than we can. Fine him and tell him the news."

Neo nodded. "Okay."

"You're not going anywhere!" Smoker released his devil fruit power. Smoke wrapped around Chopper and Brook.

"Law, take the girls and go!" Sanji said.

"Just try it!" Smoker grabbed Robin in his smoke.

"Get away from her!" Sanji slammed his heel down on Smoker's hold, freeing Robin.

Neo lifted Robin and Law into her winds and flew away from the fight.

Robin pulled out her transponder snail, but after several rings no one picked up. "No one's answering the transponder snail."

Neo pressed her fingers to her temple. "They're fighting. The ground just erupted like a volcano then there was an explosion. Someone's pulling a bunch of metal from the area and forming it into... some kind of armor. I think. Luffy's fighting whoever that person is as well as others with devil fruits. I take it that means all the pirates are fighting. Would explain why no one's answering the snail. Wait! There's another devil fruit user in here with us. It's a sand user."

"Sand?" Law asked. Just then a swirl of sand gathered on a ledge across from them.

The sand gathered together and formed the former warlord Crocodile. He laughed before his gruff voice followed. "Just like old times. Hello, Miss All Sunday."

"Crocodile. Why are you here?" Law said.

Neo tensed as the Straw Hats' story of what happened in Alabasta came back to her. Her brow knitted. Was this guy here for Robin? To kill Luffy?

"For the treasure?" Robin said. "It must be something important if it captured your attention. Something that could change the world, if I had to guess."

"As perceptive as ever. I will say that Douglas Bullet is involved if that gives you a hint," Crocodile said around his cigar.

Robin gasped. "From the tragedy of Galsburg? The pirate who cause that massacre. Is he here?"

Neo glanced at her friend before looking back at Crocodile.

"Yes. And as you know his power is a bit of a nuisance."

"What do you want from me?"

"Nothing at all." Crocodile turned into sand then reappeared next to Law. "You on the other hand, I need. I have a plan. Come along."

Neo twitched. Her crystals appeared around Law and Robin. "No. Law's not going anywhere with you. Neither is Robin."

"Easy, Neo," Law said. "We don't have much choice."

"Law." Neo frowned.

'Don't worry. We're all in trouble if this buster call happens. Crocodile won't do anything to us with that hanging over all of our heads. You go on with Robin and find Straw Hat.'

'Okay.' Neo nodded. She looked up at Robin when the woman placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Let's go."

Robin started running as Neo gave Law one last look before joining her friend.

"So who is this Douglas Bullet guy?" Neo asked. "Is he really that dangerous?"

"He was the product of a war-torn childhood who craves power," Robin explained. "He revels in causing calamity and destruction. He was betrayed by former comrades while a soldier of his hometown and went on a rampage on his home island. Roger was the only one who could defeat him. All that metal you sense gathering together is his devil fruit powers."

"I see. Only the pirate king could stop him. We have a tough fight- hold on." Neo stopped running. "Chopper's coming this way."

Chopper's hooves clapped on the rock before he, with Sanji and Brook riding on his back, ran up to them.

"You made it!" Robin smiled.

"Neo! Robin! I was so worried!" Chopper shifted from his reindeer form to his brain point form and dove into Neo's arms.

"How sweet of you," Robin said. "Smoker's gone?"

"Yeah, I guess." Sanji placed his hands on hips. "Something ended up spooking him and he took off in a flash."

"Convenient, but it does end up troubling me." Brook rubbed his chin.

"Wait. Did you lose Law?" Sanji looked around.

"It might take a minute to explain." Robin told them what happened after they split up.

"All right." Sanji nodded once they were all caught up. "Let's split up again. Chopper, Brook, you go with Neo to check on Luffy. He needs to know there's a buster call coming."

"Right!" Brook and Chopper nodded.

"Robin, you're with me. Listen everyone, Luffy's going to get that treasure for sure. So let's believe in him and form our plan around that," Sanji said. Hearts popped in his eyes as he danced around Neo. "Take care, my sweet fairy! If anything happens to you I'll kill Brook and Chopper!"

"Hey!" The doctor and musician glared daggers at the cook.

Neo laughed as she pulled Brook and Chopper into her winds. "You two take care. There might be others still down here."

The two groups parted.

"Hold on. We're going straight up." Neo drilled into the earth with her earth crystals. Once they reached the top she sensed out Luffy and headed right to him.

"What a mess," Brook said looking down at the crumbled buildings and uneven grounds.

"I hope the rest of the crew is okay," Chopper said.

"I can sense Sunny is still intact, so they should be fine," Neo said. Within a few seconds she found the straw hat captain. Luffy was, of course, beat and laying unconscious on the ground. Usopp was standing in front of him with his slingshot at the ready. But she knew there was nothing the sniper could do against the body Bullet created with his devil fruit. The man towered over them like a mountain, at least as big as Pica back when the man was using his devil fruit powers against them in Dressrosa.

Bullet pulled back his arm, ready to swing at Usopp.

Neo didn't give him the chance. She swirled her elements around them until it became a sharp point then shot through Bullet's arm while grabbing Luffy and Usopp.

"Neo!" Tears poured down Usopp's cheeks. "Please, Luffy, you can't die here! Neo! Chopper! You have to help him! Use all of your solar crystal on him!"

"Calm down, Usopp." Neo summoned her solar crystal and started healing them both. Reaching a safe distance from Bullet, she set them down. "You know I'll heal Luffy, but you can't continue to bleed either."

"Luffy's going to be fine," Chopper said as he worked his own version on magic on his crewmate and captain.

"Hm?" Neo perked up, her eyes going to her left.

"What is it, Neo?" Brook asked.

"Sabo's fighting Smoker at the moment," Neo relayed. "That's kind of a pointless battle."

"Sabo. Luffy's brother is here?" Chopper asked.

"Yeah." Neo nodded.

A few minutes later Luffy opened his eyes. "Neo, good to see you."

Neo smiled.

"Listen, Luffy, there's a lot going on." Chopper told his captain about the buster call and everything else that happened.

"I see. You guys head back to the Sunny. And don't worry. I'll be fine," Luffy said.

"No way. I'm not leaving you." Neo gave Luffy a firm look. She held up a hand to stop him from protesting. "I know how you are. So I won't interfere in your fight, but there's no way I'm walking away from you."

Luffy nodded then looked at Usopp. "Thanks for saving me back there. Leave everything to me now."

"I'm sorry!" Usopp blurted out, more tears streamed down his face. "Every time, when it really matters, I'm useless. I'm not strong enough at all. I don't even deserve to be on your crew. I'm so sorry, Luffy. I just wanna..." Usopp's eyes rolled in the back of his head and he collapsed to the ground.

"Hey! Hang in there!" Chopper said.

"He really went through a lot." Neo placed her hand on Usopp's back. "Don't worry, Usopp. You're the best. Rest now."

"Chopper, take care of him for me. We haven't lost yet. Okay, Usopp?" Luffy took a few steps away. "Instead of being sorry, hold out for a victory." Luffy transformed into his gear four and launched himself towards Bullet. "Time to go!"

Neo gave the three one last look before flying after Luffy. As promised, she kept back so she wouldn't get pulled into the fight. Her eyes were pulled down when she sensed Law. He was standing with Sabo, Hancock, Buggy, and Smoker. Flipping around she flew back to him and into a hug. "Law!"

Law stroked her hair.

"Well, Princess Neo." Sabo placed a hand on his hip. "I was wondering where you were. You look well."

Neo smiled at him. "So do you."

The group turned their eyes just in time to see Bullet slam his fist into Luffy. The young pirate captain was flung back towards them. Neo caught him in her winds and brought him to them.

"Were you trying to fly right into his fist?" Smoker's face scrunched in annoyance.

"Luffy!" Hancock ran to Luffy. "I was wanting to see you!"

"That was some punch. Hey, Hancock, long time no see. Have you been okay?" Luffy asked.

Hancock placed her hands over mouth and dropped to the ground. "I can die without regrets."

"Huh? Why would you want to die?" Neo blinked.

"Ignore her," Law said.

"Oh, hey, Tra, you're looking better." Luffy glanced up at the other captain.

"I'll be better when this is done," Law said. "Let's team up. I've got a plan to pull Bullet out."

"Whoa, really? Sounds great." Luffy stood and dusted himself off.

Smoker scoffed.

"Hey! I didn't even explain!" Law snapped.

"Sabo. And Smokey," Luffy said.

"S'up, Luffy?" Sabo asked.

"All right let's do this!" Luffy grinned.

"Let me warn you, if we blow this we're all good as dead," Law said.

"Why would be blow it? We have an awesome team here. And there's no use worrying anyway. You work out the complicated stuff, Tra, you're good at that." Luffy faced Bullet. "As long as I get to punch him."

"All right, guess I'll help you," Smoker said.

"I'll follow you anywhere, my love. Just name the place," Hancock said.

Neo frowned at the woman's words. "My love?"

"Fine. We don't have the time to talk about it anyway," Law said.

"All right! Let's go!" Luffy took off on his own again.

"Straw Hat, not yet! You can at least hear me out first!" Law shouted.

"Why bother? He's never listened to you before," Neo said.

"You can tell me, at least," Smoker said.

"Bullet's haki is the biggest obstacle right now. But all we have to do is make a crack. I can do that with my power." Law held up his hand. "Then I need you guys attack the opening and whittle down his outer shell."

"Do you really think that's going to be enough?" Sabo asked.

"The less things he controls the weaker he his. It won't be easy but I think we can finish him off before he creates his armor a second time, especially with Neo here. She can pull the materials away from Bullet. But I can only make that crack once."

"Doesn't sound like much of a plan, but what can I say?" Smoker huffed.

Bullet knocked Luffy to the ground again.

"Moron. Can someone stop him?" Smoker tilted his head.

"Can you?" Neo asked.

Smoker growled at the fact he couldn't.

Bullet charged at them. They jumped out of the way.

"Spread out!" Law ordered. "When I use my power that's the signal!"

Neo flew as close to Bullet as she dared. While keeping on eye on the others attacking him, she began to pull pieces from Bullet's armor away. As she did she sensed a leopard devil fruit user near by. With a quick glance she spotted Rob Lucci not far away from them. What's he doing here? Is he after Robin again? Or Luffy?

"You think that's enough to slow me down? I don't need two arms to crush you!" Bullet said.

Luffy flew back again, taking a moment to blow up his arm.

Neo pulled vines from the ground and latched down Bullet.

Law warped their attacking ground to the same place. Much to Neo's surprise, Buggy was among them. Pushing it aside, she focused her crystals onto the same spot as everyone else. The armor cracked.

"You all think you're pretty cleaver, don't you?!" Bullet asked as he swatted a hand towards them.

Neo pulled them out of the way.

"What now, genius?" Smoker asked.

"I didn't think he'd still be able to move," Law said.

"Bullet!" Luffy flew forward. "This time I won't lose!"

"Come on, Luffy," Neo said.

Luffy threw his punch. Bullet's armor shattered.

That's when Neo sensed them. Several seeds were randomly placed in Bullet's armor. "Usopp, you truly are the best."

Bullet began to reform his armor.

Neo locked onto the seeds and assisted them. The vines sprouted twice as large as they would have and grab the man. His original armor crumbled into nothing. Among the debris was a small treasure chest. She flicked a glance to Lucci and Crocodile as they rushed for the chest. Before she could do anything Zoro and Sanji appeared and blocked them while Luffy went toe to toe with Bullet.

The group watched and waited as Luffy landed the final blow. Air expelled from Luffy as he flew in a random pattern.

Neo grabbed Luffy in her winds and pulled him to her arms. "Why do you always have to worry me?"

"Well, I got the treasure." Luffy held up the treasure box in one hand while using his other to touch Neo's cheek. "So I guess we won the game."

Hancock gasped. "You! You, child! Release him! How dare you hug my Luffy!"

Neo glared at the woman and tighten her hold on Luffy. "I'm not a child. And he's not your Luffy."

"How dare you talk back to me!" Hancock bent backwards and pointed down at Neo. "Do you know who I am? I am-"

Neo blew Hancock away from them. "Are someone trying to take Luffy away from me." Her eyes shifted to Salome. The snake stiffened and lowered her head in an apology for Hancock. Neo sighed. "Go on to your mistress."

Salome nuzzled Neo's cheek before slithering off.

"She wasn't trying to take Straw Hat away." Smoker scratched his head.

Sabo laughed. "Neo would disagree."

Luffy laughed too as Neo still clung to him.

"So what's in the box?" Neo asked, releasing her hold on him so he could sit up.

"It's the pirate king's treasure. No idea what's inside though." Luffy opened it and pulled out an eternal pose. "Oh, it's one of these things."

"No way. An eternal pose to... Laughtale?" Neo looked closer at the words on the eternal pose. It did say Laughtale. "Is this thing for real? Or is it a trick?"

"Wait to Laughtale?" Luffy questioned. Nothing more was said as they sensed Crocodile and Lucci charging for them.

"Hand it over, Straw Hat! That's mine!" Crocodile said.

Luffy stood and crushed the pose in his hand. Glass and sand fell to the ground.

"You bastard. Do you realize what you've done?" Crocodile said.

"I'll make it on my own. Not this way," Luffy said.

"No surprise coming from you." With a flick of his hand, Law warped them to the Sunny.