Remember When
Neo's feet were quiet on the sub's floor. The whole sub was silent and cool as she was the only one who was inside at the time. It was disconcerting. This was the first time she could recall where the sub was this quiet.
With every passing second it got closer to the time when they would put Polar Tang to rest and move on from this chapter of their lives.
Neo found herself in the galley. The only things that remained were bolted down like the tables, chairs, shelves. The fridge also remained since they didn't have any way to power it now.
What didn't remain were the memories. They came rushing back. From the first time she cooked in here, to when Jean Bart joined the crew, to having part of the Straw Hat crew onboard, to bringing Cora with her and Law to breakfast for the first time.
It was the same with all the rooms she had visited. The rec room where she first revealed her crystals, where Penguin tutored her. The training room where she learned how to play. Even the medical bay where she first woke up on the sub. Then she came to her and Law's room.
The closet was open and empty. The bathroom lay bare of personal items. Her Luminous shelf had long been detached and moved into their shelter.
Tears gathered in her eyes. Wrapping her arms around herself she found her feet carrying her over to the spot where she first slept when Law brought her into this room. Pressing against the wall, Neo slid down to the floor. She closed her eyes and allowed the memories to flood her. As she did a familiar song penetrated the silence. A soft smile came to her lips. It was one of Uta's. This, too, brought back some memories. Memories of when she first met Uta. It was an unexpected meeting with unexpected results...
Neo was sitting in the rec. room with a book in her hands. Cora was laying in his bassinet cooing to himself as he found interest in the ceiling. A few crewmates were sitting at the table playing a round of poker. It was one of the few times the sub was quiet.
Then, without warning, Bepo's shriek came down all the way from the deck.
Everyone in the room jumped. Cards flew from hands. Butts slid from chairs and hit the floor. Cora wailed. Neo's book slipped out of her hands and slammed into her knee. She winced and picked the book up before turning her attention to Cora. She stroked his cheek. His crying eased as he looked at her with damp eyes. "There, there. It's okay."
More screeching from Bepo got louder, accompanied by boots pounding on the floor, as he grew closer to them. Archer rubbed his head. "Are we under attack? The sirens aren't going off."
"I don't sense any ships." Neo shifted her eyes to the door just as Bepo came running in the room with a newspaper in his paw.
"Neo! Neo! Neo!" The mink bounced all over the room before coming to a stop in front of her. He shoved the newspaper in her face. "Look! I have to go! I have to see her! Please! This is a once in a life time opportunity! I can't miss this!"
"Uh." Neo blinked at the black and gray blur in front of her eyes.
"Bepo, she can't see the newspaper when it's touching her nose," Jean Bart said while scooping up his cards.
"Oh. I'm sorry." Bepo pulled back, shoulders slumped.
"It's fine, Bepo. What's all the excitement about?" Neo looked at him then back at the newspaper when he held it back towards her.
"Look! Look! It's her! It's Uta!" Bepo grinned.
Neo took the newspaper and read through the article. Worry settled in her chest at the words. "Uta is holding a concert?"
"Yes! I have to go! It's the only chance I got! I love her! She's amazing!" Bepo dropped to his knees to plead his case. He clasped his paws together while his eyes grew round. "You know she's my favorite singer in the world! Please?! Please! Please!"
Neo licked her lips as she reached out to stroke Bepo's head between his ears. Something wasn't right about this. Uta shouldn't be holding a concert. I wonder if Godfather knows about this. Lowering the newspaper, Neo parted her lips but stopped when she felt Shanks calling for her.
"Neo! Please!" Bepo's eyes widened. "I can't miss this!"
"Hold on, Bepo. Godfather's calling for me. I'll talk to Law in a minute." Neo gave Bepo the newspaper and leaned back against the couch. She heard Bepo's thank you as she slipped into the dream world. Shanks was pacing when she arrived. Tension was rolling off of him, his brow knitted in concern. "I take it you know about Uta's concert."
Shanks nodded without looking at her. The world around him was dark and gloomy with a dull purple glow that engulfed them alone. Perfect setting for the current situation. "I'm worried. She shouldn't be holding a concert. Gordon shouldn't be allowing this. He knows how her devil fruit works."
Neo rushed to his side. Placing a hand on his arm she stilled his pacing. "Godfather, what do you need me to do?"
Shanks sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I don't know if you can do anything. As I told you she is quite stubborn."
"I can try." She tugged him to sit on the ground.
Shanks ran his hand through his hair. "We need to stop this concert. If we don't her singing could wake Tot Musica again."
Neo shivered. While she had never seen the creature Shanks had told her all about the demon and how it controlled Uta and destroyed Elegia.
"My crew and I aren't close enough. It's going to take us some time to get there." Shanks closed his eyes and tilted his head back. "This is such a mess."
"Godfather..." Neo saw the worry in his eyes when he looked at her. It was a look she was becoming very familiar with since Cora had been born. A parental worry. If Uta woke Tot Musica again it won't only be one island that was in trouble. Even if he didn't get woken up, Uta's devil fruit power could cause a lot of trouble for the whole world. "We will help you. Bepo really wants to see Uta in concert anyway. At least he'll get to hear her for a moment."
Shanks sighed. "Okay. She won't listen to you if you tell her to stop. All I need you to do is delay her as much as possible. And be extremely careful."
"We'll do what we can."
"Remember how Uta's devil fruit works. It might be best if you and your pirate boy separate so you know what's going on in both worlds."
"Of course." Neo nodded. "You focus on getting to Elegia. We'll do what we can to delay Uta's plans." She took his hand and gave it a squeeze. "Are you going to be okay?"
With a sigh, Shanks brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. "Yes. Don't worry. I'll be fine. You better get going."
Neo nodded. "Oh, wait! What about Luffy? You know he'll be there."
Shanks shook his head with a smile. "Let him be. He'll do what he wants whether you tell him anything or not."
"That's for sure." With a blink Neo was back in the rec. room. The poker game had resumed as Bepo remained on the floor in front of her. One paw was currently being gummed on by Cora.
"Something wrong, Neo?" Bepo asked.
"Yeah. We're going to the concert." Neo stood and headed for the door as Bepo squealed. "But it's not going to be a fun time."
"Sounds like trouble is brewing," Archer said.
"A lot of it. Bepo, plot a route to Elegia." Neo rushed from the room and headed up the stairs. Law was in the medbay taking inventory of supplies when she arrived.
"What's wrong?"
Neo shared Shanks message with him.
Law ran a hand down his face in frustration. "And Straw Hat is going to cause a lot of problems."
"I don't doubt that. I've already told Bepo to plot a course to Elegia." Neo crossed her arms. "Godfather is on his way, but it'll take some time for the crew to arrive."
"So the elementals aren't sailing with him at the moment." Law shoved the bottle he was holding back into the cabinet and closed it.
"He's worried that Uta will wake Tot Musica again. I'm worried as well. Godfather and his crew had a hard time with that thing the first time." Neo followed Law out of the room. "And that thing wasn't even at full power."
"Well, at least Nico Robin will be there."
"Robin?" The two walked down the stairs.
"If anyone can find a way to destroy Tot Musica it will be her. That kingdom is old. Surely there are records of its history somewhere despite what happened back then."
"She does love ruins. Darn it!" Neo slapped her forehead. "We need tickets to get in."
"With your abilities?" Law grinned at her.
"Oh. Right." Neo let her hand fall to her side. They would fly to the island and bypass any and all security. It was better that way. She didn't want the crew to get trapped by Uta's devil fruit powers. The crew would wait on the sub and under the water. That way they wouldn't get taken by accident.
The two entered in the control room where Archer held a map in his hands. Neo blinked and sense Bepo in his room. "And why isn't Bepo here?"
"He said he had something more important to do," Archer relayed. "Something to do with the concert."
Neo sighed. She'd rather not have the mink come with her and Law, but there was no way she could say no to him. And with Bepo's cute puppy eyes he can give off, Law wouldn't be able to say no either.
Pushing the worry away, she turned her attention to Law who was working on a plan. Well, he was trying to come up with a plan. With how Uta's devil fruit work they might not be able to do anything at all. The only way to free anyone trapped by Uta's powers was for her to release them willingly or to fall asleep.
Neo shifted on her feet and wrapped her arms around herself as she found her heart was racing at the thought of meeting Uta. Though she had no idea why she would feel that way. Uta was Shanks's daughter. In a way, she was Neo's younger sister. Of course she knew that didn't mean Uta would like her or that she would like Uta. It didn't matter though. They were going to do this because Shanks needed their help. So why was she so nervous about this whole thing? Was it actually meeting with Uta? Or was is the possibility of Tot Musica reviving?
Law slide his arm around Neo's waist and kissed her temple. "Relax. It'll be fine."
Neo nodded. It was all she could do.
Once their route was set, Neo used her crystals to move them to Elegia at a steady pace. Law wanted to get there as soon as possible but also not too quickly as he wanted people there so they could sneak onto the island easier. They had no idea if Uta would have any kind of security guards around. According to Shanks it should only be Uta and Gordon on the island. But at this point he wasn't even sure about that.
When they were close enough to the island Neo stopped and let the sub sit in the water. With a hug and a kiss to Cora she passed him over to Kailen.
"Call if you need us to come," Kailen said.
Neo nodded.
"Where is Bepo?" Law tapped his finger on his sheath. The mink had been hiding in his room for hours.
Laughter floated up the stairs to meet the few pirates that were waiting at the front door.
"What is going-" Neo broke into her own laughter when Bepo appeared at the top of the stairs.
Law sighed and pulled his hat down over his eyes.
Bepo was wearing three fan like objects on his back. The one placed behind his head had Uta's name on it. The other two had a star on each. He also wore a light pink shirt with a heart and a pair of faded orange shorts. Lights lit up on the costume, it was accompanied with music. Straps went across his shoulders and stomach to keep the outfit in place.
Law growled. "Bepo."
The bear dropped his head. "I'm sorry."
"Well, that explains all of the laughter." Kailen was barely holding back his own chuckle.
"Let's just go." Law headed for the door. Bepo followed.
"Take care and remain hidden." Neo waved to Kailen before rushing out onto the deck. She picked the two up in her winds and headed northwest. It didn't take long before the island came into view. Though she didn't have to see it to feel all of the damage that still remained there from Tot Musica's attack.
Fog hovered over the island as ships sailed into port. Other ships were already there, anchored to the stone dock that was used instead of a wood one. People were chatting with excitement as they showed their tickets and made their way to their seats.
Neo flew by them all, noticing a familiar feeling of rubber and a reindeer, and landed behind the stadium. She rubbed her hands on her arms, wishing they didn't have to be here. "The Straw Hats are here. Should we go talk to them?"
"No, it's best we don't. For now anyway. You know Straw Hat will only ruin any plan we might put into action." Law put his hand on Neo's hip and pulled her to him. "Try not to worry. It'll be fine."
"Working on it." Neo gave a small smile.
Law leaned down and captured her lips with his own. Their tender moment was broken by the music from Bepo's costume. Law grumbled in annoyance as Bepo rushed to shut it off.
"Sorry."
Neo giggled then watched them go. Once they were mingled in with the rest of the crowd she flew back to the top of a rock formation that overlooked the stadium. Through the fog she sensed out where Luffy and Chopper were. For some reason they weren't in the stands. They were on a rock platform sum yards from the stage. Judging by the shape of the platform and the stage they were standing on, Neo wondered if elementals had been to this island before and created it and the stadium or if it was all done by humans.
Finally, after twenty minutes of waiting, music started playing. Neo summoned two small wind crystals. She placed them just inside her ears and used the wind to keep Uta's voice out.
Then it happened.
A strange feeling of Law being pulled away hit her. It was like a part of her vanished. She could sense his body and Bepo below, but his mind and soul were... gone.
Heart hammering like a drum, she sat down and closed her eyes. She searched for Law's mind and soul. Black emptiness greeted her for several agonizing seconds before she finally sensed him. With intense focus she managed to project herself to him. "Law! Law!"
"I'm here." Law wrapped his arms around her. "It's okay. I felt it too."
Bepo stood beside Law. "Is Neo here?"
"She is." Law stroked her hair. "We probably should have expected something different. Uta's devil fruit powers do take the souls into another dimension."
Neo relaxed against his exposed chest. Her body flickered in and out. Their connection was weak. She felt her projected self being pulled back to reality. "It's hard to stay here."
"Looks like we won't be able to communicate normally then." Law gave her a squeeze.
"What do we do now?" Neo looked up at him. She wished she could stay longer but the pull was too strong.
"We proceed. Once Red Hair arrives this will all be over. Stay strong, love." Law tangled his fingers in her hair. "You can handle this."
"I'll try. And I'll try to come back when I can. I should go now." Neo barely felt Law nod before she was jerk back to reality. With a heavy sigh, she ran a hand through her hair. This was going to be a lot harder than she thought.