Ok, this story is a bit weird but I was going to write a story with the original cast of characters but then I saw this fan art of the four goddesses in gender swap. I thought of it as a bit weird and didn't think much about it. But a while I thought about the fan art and after a while rolling it in my head I got an idea and story. This is the first story I written. I had thought about writing for a while now and this is it.

The morning sunlight was warm but the summer breeze was cool. The summer season had long started already, the birds were chirping their songs and the forest animals were rising from their homes. The leaves on the trees rustle as the wind blew across the nameless land just southwest of Gamindustry where there stood no towns, no cities, just small villages and settlements. A deer was wandering around the forest, finding grass to eat. As it dipped its head to eat its sharp ears heard the sound of footsteps and ran off quickly. Through the forest was a single dirt road which people uses to travel through it. But amidst that forest stood a man-made trail created by a group of bandits. It was just a small group of four walking along the trail they made.

"Where we hiding this time Hogs? Last place was a disappointment." Said a gaunt, rat-face man with greasy hair. He has a pitchfork in his hands.

"The trail that passes through the creek near that meadow. Might have some people passing through today" said Hogs, a well-muscled man with facial hair and long dark brown hair. He carried with him a sword and a knife.

"Better be. I had being bored to the bones just standing and sitting around." said a short but burly man with messy hair and a beard. He carried axe in his hand.

"I hope there won't be any of those monsters wandering around here." said a middle-aged man with black hair, thin nose, moss-green eyes and an ugly mole on his chin. He has a hand-made spear strapped behind his back.

"There hadn't been many lately. Not since that so called monster hunter set up shop near that village." Hogs assured.

The burly man chortled, "Monster hunter? Now who's stupid enough to kill monster for a living? I don't think anyone of those villagers know how to hold a sword properly."

"Neither do we." muttered Hogs

They continued on through the forest. They were near the spot they had planned to stake out; all they had to do was pass through the meadow.

It was a beautiful meadow. Lilies, dandelions, tulips, chrysanthemums and many other types of flowers bloom there. With the bright and warm sunlight streaming down on the meadow, there couldn't be a more beautiful sight. No one except the bandits knew about the meadow.

"Beautiful this place is," said the rat-face man, taking a deep breath, breathing the sweet smell of so many flowers there.

"Nothing here that interests Me." the short and burly man said. "Just flowers and I think with so many around brings a bit too much color for my taste."

"Your taste is like hell, Tolos."

They moved amongst the flowers, stepping on some and scaring some butterflies and bees. The man named Tolos swept the bees away with hand. "Another thing I don't like is that too many flowers attract too many bees."

"You should really appreciate more of old Mother Nature."

Hogs gave out a half-felt laugh, "I never thought you would have a thing for this stuff, Barts."

"And if he does he better just shut up."

"You know what; I don't think you like anything pretty before." The young man with the mole japed.

Tolos glared at him, "There ain't anything pretty about you either especially with that ugly mole of yours, Mole." Mole glared back at him but said nothing back.

They were halfway through the meadow when Mole spotted something. In the middle of the meadow there was a rock and on top of it was a small satchel. Mole called out and point towards the satchel, "You see that? What's that doing there?"

Hogs walked towards the rock and the others followed. When they came unto the rock Hogs grabbed it and open it. Inside there were a canteen half full with water, some clothing that were pink, white, purple and teal, some rations and biscuits, and a sewing kit. "Someone's being here, and must have left and forgotten it."

"I don't think so boss." Bart said. He had walked to the other side of the huge rock was looking down at the something on the ground. He beaconed for them to come over. "You may want to see this."

The bandits walked around the rock and over to where Barts was standing and saw what was he looking at. There, lying down amongst the flowers and sleeping, was a girl.

The girl was pretty cute. She looked to be thirteen or fourteen, with fair skin, long and messy light purple hair which was tied into a braid with pink frill ribbons. She wore pajamas-like dress consist of pink, white, purple and teal. She also wore color stripped thigh high socks and bear slippers. At her side, strapped to her belt was a plushy of bear. She was sound asleep.

The bandits looked in astonishment at the girl sleeping peacefully without a care in the world. "Look at what we found here, some little princess sleeping soundly," Tolos knelt down to have closer look at the girl, "Looks like we found whose satchel that belongs to."

"Why would she be doing here sleeping on the ground like that? Wonder who she is." Mole said, unable to take his eyes off of her.

"Don't know heck. She seems to be travelling alone." Hogs said, holding out the satchel. "Really dangerous to travel alone around these parts especially for someone as young as her."

"You think we should wake her up or something?" Barts asked.

"Not sure." Hogs replied. He looked at the girl's satchel in his hands, "Don't think there's much worth in her stuff here"

"Might as well just take what she had." Tolos said as he rose up. "As for her… What do you think?"

Barts answered, "Maybe we should just leave her be what else."

"Nope, I think we should bring along, after all it could be dangerous for her to be alone." Tolos said.

"No way, we have no business with her I agree with Barts, we should just take her stuff like you said and leave her be." Hogs protested.

"No I agree with Tolos I think we should take her with us," objected Moles, still not taking his eyes off of the sleeping girl. "Funny, we've being talking here and she's just sleeping like that and not even seem to be bothered at all."

Hogs sighed, he had to deal with something like this again; heavy disagreement. "And why would you want to take her along with us?" But whatever their reason is its going to be weird.

"Take me along where?" They all look back at the girl in surprise. She then opened her eyes which were the color of magenta. She was awake. Mole despite not taking his eyes off her was lost in thoughts at the last minute so he didn't notice her starting to wake up.

The girl yawned and sit up, she rubbed what sleep was left out of her eyes and then the four bandits. "Oh, who are you all?" Then she noticed her satchel in Hogs' hand, "Hey that's mine."

"Oh this, sorry, we found it on the rock there and though that something left it there."

The girl got up to her feet, "Well, I left it there when I came across this meadow." Barts asked, "And you like just fall asleep here on the ground?"

"Yeah, I was just walking around the forest and then it was nightfall and I was already soooo sleepy, and then I found this meadow and I thought it was really beautiful and a good place to sleep." The girl said in a rather slow and calm tone.

"And what were you doing wandering the forest? Don't you know it dangerous here, there are monsters prowling about." Tolos said.

"Huh, monsters?... Nope I didn't see any monsters while I was walking around."

"So why were you wandering around? You're look like you are travelling or something." Mole wondered. "Are you from the nearby village?"

"Village? No I didn't know there's a village nearby. And also, yes, I am travelling" Tolos asked, "And where are you heading off to?" The girl replied, "I'm not sure, Mr. Old Man told me to come."

"Mr. Old Man? Who's that?" Hogs asked.

"I don't know. That was what I called him during my time with him."

"So you stayed with an old man whose name you don't even know?"

"Hehehe," the girl laughed, "Yeah, he wouldn't give me his name."

"And what's your name?" Mole asked.

"My name is Plutia. And yours?"

"Mole. And these are my friends, Hogs, Barts, and Tolos." Mole said pointing to each of them respectively. Plutia giggled, "Mole? Is it because of your mole?" pointing at the huge mole on his chin.

Mole touched his mole, "Not exactly" he lied. It was exactly what gave him his name. And he himself got stuck with it.

Plutia stretched and said, "I'm hungry. Guess it's time to have some breakfast. Hei you all want some food I think I have some blueberry tart left," She went over to Hogs but just she went for satchel Hogs withdraw his hands away. "What? Hey, what gives?"

"I'm sorry missy but I'm afraid while you were sleeping we decided to take whatever you got." Plutia stiffened, "Take my things? But that is not right you can't just take other people's stuff like that."

"I think we can, you see we're bandits and this is what we do; rob people." But instead of being afraid, Plutia seem confused, "Ban… aids? Like what you use to treat cuts or something?"

"Wh-what? Excuse me, I said bandits, B-A-N-D-I-T and like I said earlier we rob people."

Then did Plutia understood, "Rob people! Uh-oh, that means all of you are bad people. Is this going one of those important events in the plot?"

"Don't know. We just have to see what the writer is going to plan and go along with plot." Tolos said breaking the fourth wall. "So, back to what we just said we're just going to take your stuff as simple as that and I think I'm going add an extra item in the inventory." Then he grabbed Plutia's arm and she gave out a small scream, "I'm the extra item?! Hey! Let go!"

"Whoa, hey, Tolos I said we just going to take her stuff and forget about her" But Mole, being on agreement with Tolos, protest again, "No way, come on, what harm is there anyway."

"He gets it right, why let go such a cute birdie?" Tolos gently went to stroke Plutia's cheek with his free hand. She didn't struggle, until now, "I don't to hurt you but now…" With her free left arm, she grabbed Tolos arm that was holding her and with her right which was held on by him she flicked her wrist and wrapped her fingers around his wrist. At the same time she placed her right foot back with her left foot slightly forward. Then she twist Tolos' arm. The man had good muscles and big arms while Plutia was thin and young but somehow she was able to sprain his arm. Tolos cried in pain and immediately Plutia did sweeping kick to his feet with her right foot and Tolos went under. Before anyone could act she lurched at Hogs and grabbed her satchel and able to snatch it from his clutches with surprising strength and ran off across the meadow before Mole could grab her.

"Aaaaaahhhhh, that little…..." Tolos got up, holding to his sprained arm and then ran off after her. Hogs call out, "Hey! Tolos, where the heck do you think….ah! That bastard." He then took off after Tolos with the other two following behind. But what they don't know is that something is following behind as well. It had watched the whole thing, hiding at the edge of the meadow, waiting for an opportunity pounce.

Plutia ran across the meadow into the forest. She jumped over a huge root, ran up a small hill, sweep away low hanging branch from the closely pack trees all around. She just kept running ahead, clutching on her satchel until she heard the sound of pursuit behind her. She glanced back to see Tolos running after her. He was running with all speed he has, still cradling his sprained arm. His fellow bandits were close behind him.

Plutia shouted to the bandit running after her, "Stop chasing me, pleaaaaasee!" Tolos shouted back, "Like hell!" The land suddenly gave to tall and very steep hills. A path cuts through between two hills and Plutia went straight into the path. While the path was nothing but dirt the hills were covered with grass and trees. She ran on, starting to get tired; Plutia was not one for physical activities.

The path went for one minute of running before it ended into the hillside. Oh, no. The hill was at least twelve feet tall and really steep. There's no way Plutia would able to scale it or jump high enough although she knew she would made it higher than the bandits.

Speaking of which, Tolos caught up to Plutia and cornered her. "Bad luck little girl." The rest of the bandits also caught up.

"The hell was that Tolos? You really have to take this seriously?" Hogs shouted angrily. Tolos glared back at him, "Like I'm gonna like her off, beside I am still gonna take her with us."

"And what are we suppose to do with her? Don't tell me you gonna do what I'm think you gonna."

"Well, if you do, then that makes you sick!" Barts chortled.

Tolos growl, "What's with that chortle you greasy rat?! You prefer an axe to your skull or something?!"

Somewhere above them came the sound, "CRUNCHHH!" But they didn't hear it.

"Hey! Hey! Knock it off Tolos!"

CRUNCHHH!

"Yeah, no need to get barbaric here." Mole said. He turned to Plutia, "Listen, I think you shouldn't really be wandering around alone, we can take care of you."

"Yeah right, you think that's gonna make her come with you. HA! You want her as much as Tolos do, do you?"

CRUNCHHHHH!

Mole's cheek blushed red but what Barts should was true, sort of. He wasn't really sure. Mole was always not sure with himself. "Okay, that's enough! We just going to rob her, simple as that and leave." Hogs half shouted in anger.

Plutia was trying to formulating a plan to get out of this mess but none came, just the idea of fighting was just the only option she had. CRUNCHHHH! The bandits were still arguing; ignoring Plutia as they thought she couldn't do anything since she was cornered. CRUNCHHHH! Hogs was shouting at Tolos while he shouted back. The other two butted in a bit but mostly it was just former two arguing.

Plutia thought of this as a good opportunity to attack. She didn't know the chance of her fending off four of them but she was completely out of options. Tolos was looking like he was about to swing his axe at Hogs. Plutia slowly move her hand to her plushy at her hip.

Then she noticed something falling down from atop of the hill and it hit Tolos on his head. Tolos, a bit surprised, look down at what hit him. On the ground were crumbled pieces of a biscuit. Suddenly something hit Hogs on the head and fell to the ground; it was another biscuit.

Everyone looked up at the cliffs and were all surprised to find someone was watching them the whole time.

The boy was munching on biscuits as he watched the whole fiesta unfold below him. He was crouching on the edge of the cliff, He seen to be a teenager, about fifteen, and as Plutia and the bandits can see, he has lilac hair, fair skin and purple eyes. He was wearing a white hoodie with purple lining along the sleeves and the hood. The zipper was a button emblem with an N on it and two strings that looks like controller plugs. He was also wearing purple baggy jeans with lots of pockets.

The boy was still eating his biscuits when they noticed him. He looked from Plutia to the bandits but said nothing. Finally, Tolos shouted at him, "Hey! You better be sorry for that. Doesn't your mom ever tell you not to throw biscuits at people?"

"Nope," the boy replied, said it loud enough for them to hear clearly, "Because I never had a mother." He took another bite of his biscuit.

"Well, maybe you should learn now because if you were down here and not up there I could give you a spanking you never forget." Tolos said while brandishing his axe at him.

The teenager eyed the axe while he ate the last piece of his biscuit, "Nay, that's not intimating at all. Sorry Mister Beardo." He wiped the crumbs off his hands.

"You little brat!" Barts snickered and Tolos turned to him with a glare, "What?!" Barts held up his hands, "Nothing. Nothing at all."

Plutia also snickered at the boy's insult. The teenager looked back at Plutia and said loud enough to her, "You're cute." He grabbed something on the ground beside him and then leaped into the air. He did a somersault and fell twelve feet to the ground. He landed on the ground as if he was landing on a mattress with a soft thump. He turned towards Plutia, "These guys giving you trouble?" Then Plutia saw what he was holding in his left hand.

The sheath was curved and purple in color, the cross guard was round and the grip was wrapped in purple cloth. Anyone can know it is a katana. The bandits saw the sword as well.

"Now that's a mighty fine sword there." Mole muttered.

"Hey, kid," Hogs shouted to the teenager, "Should a kid like you be walking around carrying that sword? Is it even yours?"

The teenager looked behind him at Hogs, then at his katana and back at him again. "Who else?"

Tolos gave out a laugh, "I would like to see you use that, boy."

The teenager looked at Tolos and to the axe in his hand. Then he looked at the rest of the bandits saw that they all are armed. "I would love to show you but I got business somewhere else."

Tolos gave out another laugh, "So you can't use that after all and now you to think to run away."

Then, the teenager said, "No, I'm not going anywhere. My business is here."

That surprised the bandits a bit. Plutia finally said something since she was cornered, "Business? What business?" The teenager answered her question by pointing at the bandits.

"Us? What do you want from us? Who do you think you are?" asked Mole.

The teenager put on a smile and then saluted the bandits, "The name's Neptune and I'm basically one of the main protagonist of this fan fiction."

Both Plutia and the bandits had confused looks on their faces. Barts spoke up, "What are you even saying? Fan fiction?" Behind Neptune, Plutia asked, "Pro…ta…cooo….hist? What's that?"

Neptune answered, "You know. The main character of this story that is based on the game, which the writer is a fan of, despite he never really played the game."

"Oh, ok." Plutia said after letting that answer sink in. The bandits in front were still trying to make sense of Neptune's fourth wall breaking. Tolos shouted at Neptune, "Hey, answer us, would ya? What in Hell's name are you even saying? Main character? Fan fiction?"

"Well, let's just say my world is not limited to four walls." Neptune chuckled for a bit, and then the smile left his face. His hand went to his katana.

The bandits saw his movement, Barts held his pitchfork with both hands and lowered it at Neptune but the others held their ground, Hogs said, "What now? You gonna fight us or something? All four of us, you're dreaming, kid."

"Ha! I guess we can see what you got, boy." Tolos said, holding up his axe.

Neptune said in an alarmed tone, "Yeah, sure, why not? I would to see you use those against that manticore behind you."

Tolos gave out a soft laugh, "As if we gonna fall for that." Hogs and Mole didn't believe Neptune either but Barts turned around and gave out a scream. "MANTICORE!"

It seemed that when Neptune pointed his finger at the direction of the bandits earlier, he wasn't pointing at them, he was actually pointing behind them. The manticore was stalking them since the meadow, it lost them along the way but it caught their scent and with the commotion going on it finally found them.

It was huge, it has a ten feet long body of a lion with large muscles, it has a mane but its face was humanoid with horns sprouting out of the side of its temples. And its tail was a huge scorpion tail with a large stinger. And to make it more terrifying it was hungry and the humans in front of it were on its menu. It bared its teeth; three rows of teeth in fact.

Plutia gasped and Barts screamed some more and fell down on his butt. Hogs and the other two, fully alarmed, drew their weapons. The manticore let out a roar like a lion and its stinger raised upwards a bit, preparing to strike. "Uh-oh, what are we going to do?" Plutia said; her voice surprisingly calm. "Don't worry. This is my job and I'm going to finish it like I always do." Neptune reassured her with a smile. He started walking towards the manticore and the bandits.

The manticore was looking at each bandit in turn and back again, trying to decide who to attack. There's no escape, with the manticore blocking the only path. Then Mole rushed forward, either by bravery or panic, his spear raised ready to jab at the manticore. But he was a bit too slow. The manticore saw him coming; it raised its huge paw and batted Mole away hard. He hit the side of the steep hill and laid down unconscious.

Seeing this as an opportunity, Hogs lunged at the manticore with his sword. He didn't think where to stab the manticore, he just went for it. His sword stabbed the manticore near the joint of its shoulder. It howled in pain, and in rage. Hogs may have wounded it but it will take more than that to kill it.

Its tail rose and lunged at Hogs. There wasn't any time to avoid it. The tail came rushing at him and when it was just about few centimeters from his chest, the color of white appeared in his vision. He didn't felt anything; no pain or agony. When he looked up, he saw pink hair.

Neptune managed to rush in fast enough to block the tail with his sword sheath. The tip of its stinger struck in the middle of the sheath.

Neptune looked over his shoulder at Hogs, "You know what? How about you let me deal with this. After all, readers like to read about how the main character beats the vile monster and everything." As he said it, the manticore's tail came rushing forward again, at Neptune.

Without looking forward, Neptune grasped the handle of his katana, drew the blade and deflected the attack. Hogs was surprised by his move.

The manticore then change attacks. This time it crouched down, ready to pounce at Neptune. Both Hogs and Neptune saw the action and ducked aside just in time when the manticore leapt forward. It landed behind them and turned around to face them again. But just as it did Neptune took the opportunity. He rushed forward and swung his katana at the manticore's almost human face. His sword sliced through the face from cheek all the way across the nose.

The manticore roared out in pain. The roar was loud enough to made ears ring. It started to attack wildly. It tried to attack Neptune with a paw but he step-sided. Then it started to attack with it tail again. Neptune blocked two attacks and dodged a third.

While Neptune battled the manticore, Plutia watched as the rather confident teenager fought the monster on his own, debating whether she should help or not. The bandits on the other hand decided it was time to go. The path was not blocked by the manticore anymore so while it was distracted they retreated. "You think we should leave those kids back there?" Barts said to Hogs. They were both carrying Mole who was still unconscious.

"Who cares? If the kid gonna fight it, let him if he is so confident." Tolos snapped, jogging beside them. Hogs stayed quiet but it meant he agreed.

Back to Neptune; the manticore has already demonstrated it was fast more than once. It kept jabbing at Neptune with its tail and the stinger with good speed. Neptune blocked and dodged the tail very well. He deflected two of its attack and quickly leapt at the manticore before could go for another attack.

His katana slice through the air in a full arc, it came down on the right side of its face. The blade sliced off a chunk of flesh as well as the horn. The katana was swung at an angle that it sliced the flesh off enough to reveal the skull underneath. 'Damn it, I been careless with that.' Neptune thought; if he had took more care with his swing he could had sliced the manticore's face open.

Killing it there would had being more merciful. The manticore was in huge pain and it was angrier than before. It attacked Neptune with a paw but he backed away.

It attacked Neptune again with its tail; this time it swung it at him. The tail came at his left and fast. Unable to dodge it he blocked it, with his sheath. As the tail came in contact with his sheath, the force of the blow was enough to push Neptune sideways. He wasn't lifted off his feet, though. His feet slid along the ground and stopped after being pushed a few feet aside.

The force behind that blow was enough to made Neptune's wrist a little numb. As he felt it a small smile appeared on his lips, He could only remember the last time his wrist felt numb. He thought that it has been a while now. He could still the sore and numbness and pain in his muscles through hours of training with his sword and other weapons he hardly prefer to use. That had been almost a year ago, back at that old farmhouse with that old man. Every morning until evening they trained with only a few breaks. The hours he and his sister spent exercising their bodies, shooting using a man-shift range, meditating, mastering their fist and weapons ranging from sword to axe, spears, halberds, and whatever weapons exist. But whatever weapon they used, he and his sister always prefer using swords.

But then he realized something else, that small smile that appeared had been there throughout the fight. Both his sister and the old man said that they almost always found him in every battle with a faint smile.

His attention immediately snapped back to the manticore. He was just in time to roll aside as it went for him with a pounce. Neptune quickly got to his feet and faced the monster.

But the manticore didn't turn around. It was looking head, at Plutia. It finally noticed her. "Uh-huh, not good!"

Plutia, seeing she's in trouble, backed against the dirt wall. The manticore took a step towards her, baring its teeth. "Hey! Over here! We're supposed to be fighting!" shouted Neptune but the manticore had already given up on him.

Then the manticore leapt at Plutia. Neptune tried to rush in but it was already too late. The manticore soared through the air, its paw extending with its sharp claws. Plutia yelped; there's no way she can avoid it. So she had to go defensive.

She thrust out her hands quickly. The manticore's paws were a few centimeters from her, when suddenly it hit something invisible. There was a white light where the manticore hit the invisible object and ripples formed in the air. The ripples spread out in the air and seem to form a square. The manticore shook its head and looked at Plutia with what look like a confused face. Then the humanoid face turned vicious again and tried to attack Plutia again. The result was the same as it bounced off an invisible force field.

Neptune realized what it is. A shield made of solidified air. 'Magic. She's using magic.' Neptune thought. The manticore continued its assault, clawing, slamming, and jabbing with its tail but the shield held. But Neptune knew it won't hold for long. A magic shield held as long as the one who uses can hold it with concentration. Plutia was straining to hold the shield as the manticore attack it. She can feel the force of the attacks and shield strain under it.

Neptune thought it's time to end it now. He slid the sheath into one of his jeans' loopholes. With his free hand he gathered power into it. Magic is inside of him, as well as many people but not all though. They could tap into this mysterious force that lies in their body as well as the surrounding. Magic is everywhere. That is what the old man said.

He could feel the magic gathering around his hand and as it does, it started to shine purple. Purplish steam appeared and rolled off his hand as it glowed brighter. Then tendril made of magic appeared and drift off the air for a moment until Neptune, in full concentration, thrust out his hand. The tendrils shot out towards the manticore and they wrapped themselves around the monster. The manticore, realizing it was ensnared, started to struggle against the tendrils. But they weren't tendrils anymore.

When the tendrils shot out and wrapped around the manticore, they started to become something else; Chains.

The tendril took the form of ethereal chains that glow purple. They even made the clinking sound real chains do.

The manticore kept struggling but Neptune held on with concentration and will. Even though the manticore was huge and weights probably more than two hundred pounds, Neptune when he pulled on the ethereal chains, the monster staggered back. Neptune, with all his strength, pulled again, and the manticore was pulled off its feet. It landed on the ground with a loud thud.

This is Neptune's chance. With concentration, Neptune poured magic into his katana. He could feel the magic coating the blade and when it had covered it completely, he said a word of power, alternate name: a magic word or the name of the spell.

His katana started to glow a gold-yellow hue and he could feel heat radiating off of it. He was ready, as he was the manticore managed to get to its feet. Its looked at Neptune with angry eyes and then charged at him.

Neptune, with good reflexes and quick thinking, muttered a word and snapped his fingers. The chains that were connected to his hand snapped free and that end of the chain joined its other end wrapped around the manticore, completely ensnaring it. It felt to the ground and landed a few feet from Neptune.

Neptune raised his sword, and was going to strike when the manticore suddenly managed to get its tail lose. Its tail sped towards him, its stinger gleaming. Neptune reacted in time. He swung his katana at the coming tail and when the two collided, Neptune's sword cut through the tail.

The top of the tail along with the stinger was cut off and it fell to the ground near Neptune's feet. The end where the tail was cut off was burned and there was the smell of burn insect, which should be expected, considered it is a scorpion tail. The manticore roared in pain.

Not wasting another moment, Neptune lunged at the manticore. He sliced at the manticore's face.

His katana sliced through the monster's face and Neptune continues to push his sword through the manticore's body in a horizontal line. Where his magically-enhanced katana made contact with the flesh, smoke rose as the katana both cut and burned through the body. When Neptune reached midway through the manticore's body he stopped and pulled his sword out. The manticore's body sagged and laid still. Then its body started to glow white and the light then engulfs the entire body. Then the manticore burst into hundreds of shards of glass that shine.

All was quiet now. Neptune, realizing he had been holding his breath, exhaled. He slid his sheath out of his jean's loophole and sheathed his katana. 'Mission accomplished' thought Neptune.

"That was amazing. You can use magic too."

Neptune turned towards Plutia, who watched his whole magic show with the chains and his sword. "Yeah, and so do you." Neptune replied with a smile, "So, were you in some kind of trouble with those men just now?"

"Welllll…..don't really know how to say this…..robbery?"

"Looks like it. They do look like bandits. You know what; you shouldn't be here after those bandits then the manticore. You have a place to stay? A village? You lost or something?"

"Well…" Plutia thought how to best explain her situation. "I don't have anywhere to go, I guess."

"You guess? You like what, travelling alone? Sound dangerous."

"I hadn't really been travelling long. Mister Old Man told me to come to this place."

Neptune gave her the same confused face as the bandits did, "Mister Old Man? Hmm, wait, I knew an old man before. He never told me his name."

"Really! Whoa, what a coincidence, Mister Old Man never told me his name either." Plutia said in surprise.

"Whoa, somehow I get the feeling of a plot twist happening right now."

"Heehee, plot twist." Plutia said, in a way which Neptune found cute. He looked up at the sky, it could be near noon already and he thought it is time to go back home. "Well, I think I head back home." He turned around but then looked back, "Hey, since you don't have anywhere to go, why don't you come to my village."

"Ummm, okay." Plutia ran up to standing beside as they walked along the path and back into the woods.

When they walked into the woods Neptune said, "Hey, we didn't introduce ourselves." He held out a hand, "The name's Neptune." He said with a smile. Plutia returned the smile and shook his hand, "My name's Plutia."

They walk side by side as they trotted through the woods. It was quiet except for occasional rustling of a bush, the sound of deer running off or squirrels running through the trees. The noon sunlight shine on the leaves of the trees and passed through them to shine on the ground. As they walked, the terrain started to move down into the lowlands.

They continued on until Neptune said they need to take a right in order to find the path that will lead out of the woods. When they did find the path, they walked on for half an hour before they emerge out of the wood and into an open field. The field was covered with sweet green grass with small group of trees and the path continued on downhill.

On their way, they saw two horses running on the field. One was chestnut-brown while the other was a darker shade of brown. They clopped across the field, their manes flowing behind them. Neptune and Plutia watched them run with all the freedom they have. The two horses ran across the field, towards the field and into the woods.

After a while, Plutia asked, "Neptune, Do you live alone?"

"Nope, I have a sister." Neptune replied.

"So you and your sister live alone. You both don't have parents?"

Neptune shook his head, "No, in fact, I can't remember if I had parents."

"Don't remember? Like amnesia."

"Maybe. It could be. A story with the main character having amnesia and don't remember his past is a rare settings these days."

"And your sister has the same thing?"

"Yeah." Neptune said it casually.

"And how did you meet Mister Old Man?"

"Well." Neptune thought for a moment, remembering that place less than three years ago. "When my sister and I woke up with amnesia. We were in someplace…ruinous." pausing at the last part of the sentence to find the right word. "I don't remember anything. I don't know how I got there and I got this weird feeling."

"What feeling?"

"A feeling…like I just woke up for the first time in my life."

"And how did you know your sister? I mean you had amnesia, so how do you know she is your sister."

"I…just know. When I saw her I just know she's my sister. And when she saw me she called me 'Big Brother'. And for the old man, he like found us there, as if he-knew-we-are-there kind of way he found us. I ask him if he knew us but he said he doesn't know us but was expecting us. He told us to trust him to look after us because that was supposed to be his duty. And just like that."

Plutia was quiet when he finished and then she said, "The same happened to me."

That surprised Neptune, "The same? Like you woke up and he was there and he looked after you."

Plutia nodded, "I woke up in a forest; in a cave actually. When I walked to the entrance he was there, as if he was waiting."

Neptune thought about what she just said, "And he just told you to go along with him."

"I didn't trust him at first but he seem to be a very nice old man so I followed him to this shack he said he built himself. I stayed with him for almost a year and then he sent me here. He told me that I'm suppose to be here, in this part of the land."

"And let me guess something else, he told you magic, didn't he?"

"Yap, and I assume he taught you and your sister magic as well."

"And how to use a sword and other pointy stuff," Neptune said, holding his katana. "As well as how to read and write. Don't you find it weird that we both meet the same old man who taught us magic and other stuff?"

"And is it what you just called plot twist?"

"Maybe it is. Or I used the wrong word."

They kept walking on until Plutia spotted something in the distance. "Hey, is that?" Neptune nodded. They both saw a house in the distance and Plutia thought she can see the silhouette of people.

"Oh yeah, by the Plutie, I just remember something."

Plutia looked at Neptune with an amused expression on her so-calm face, "Plutie? A nickname, cool. How about I give you a nickname, um, I think I'll call you Neppy."

Neptune gave her a smile. Plutia noted that Neptune expression seem to rather merry. His expression throughout the walk has the shadow of a happy face.

"Thanks. Now like I just said; I just remembered two siblings who are also in the same boat as us."

"There are two others like us?"

"Mhm, a brother and a sister. They're both friends of mine. Maybe I can introduce you to them and let them know about you."

"Ok."

At last they walk the last quarter of a mile and reached the village.

It was just a small village; it has more than dozen houses. Some were brick houses while some were made of wood. The wooden houses had leaves for roofs and the brick houses had tile roofs while others had rusty metal panes. Some of the houses were far away from others. Plutia saw that almost all the houses had vegetable gardens in the backyard. A dirt road wines through the village and villagers walked along it. The villagers wore good enough clothes; shirts, trousers, jeans, sweaters, blouse, skirts although some Plutia saw were worn out and had tears on them. Some of the villagers pulled carts or carried baskets full of vegetables and some meat or stuff like flour, salt, and sugar. Some led sheep or goat and she saw one with a cow. She could also see a group of people trading items. Some of the locals greeted Neptune and looked at Plutia with curiosity.

A couple of children ran past them playing with an old soccer ball. When they saw Neptune, they all ran up to him and asked about what his work in the woods. "So what was it this time? Grumpkins? Werewolves? Fulgurs?" a boy asked. "Did you ever see unicorns or pixies in those woods? Are they even real?" a girl wondered. "Hey, is it true what they say; that there is a monster called Data?" another boy said.

They all kept asking question that Neptune couldn't keep up. Plutia was smiling as they crowd around him and let out a giggle. Then one of the kids noticed Plutia. "Who are you? Hey, Neptune has a girl with him!" The children all looked at Plutia and started asking more question.

"Who is she?"

"Is she from the woods? Is she actually one of those faeries?"

"Ok, ok, that's enough question already but right now I need to see old man Kain."

They all pointed towards ahead of the dirt road, "He's still at his house." Neptune thanked them and moved on with Plutia following. The children continued with their game.

Neptune and Plutia headed onwards and until they reached a wooden house. Outside of the house was an old man who looked to be over sixty. He was sitting on a rocking chair and was playing on a pipe. When he saw Neptune, he gave him a wary smile, "Oh, back already young lad. I assume you had finished off that dreadful manticore?

"Yeah, it was a piece of cake really."

"I knew we can rely on you, Neptune and thank you again. Oh, here you go." Kain hand him five silver coins and a handful of gears. Then he noticed Plutia, "Oh. Who is this now? Hello young lady."

"Um, hi." Plutia greeted with a friendly smile.

Neptune put his rewards into the pockets of his hoodie. "She's someone I found in the woods. I found her being cornered by some bandits."

"Dear me, they are probably the bandits that were causing trouble in the woods."

"Yeah and that's how I found the manticore." He told the old man everything.

"Now that's some story. Lucky Neptune found you or else you're in dire danger."

"Yeah, he was pretty amazing at what he does. Um, what does he do?" asked Plutia.

"Well, you could call him one of this village's monster hunter and protector."

"Monster hunter and protector, cool."

"So young lady, if you don't have a place to stay than you can stay here."

"Ok. Thank you."

"You can stay with me and my sister. We have a spare room."

"I guess that's settles than. Now you all excuse me I like to go back to my pipe." He lifted the pipe to his lips and started to play a merry tune. Neptune and Plutia left him there.

Who's that?" Plutia asked

"He's the elder around here and the one give me my jobs."

Plutia followed Neptune farther down the road until they reached a house. "Here we go, Home sweet home." Neptune walked up the house and opened the door. He beaconed for Plutia to come in.

The house was modestly furnished; the living room has an old sofa, a wooden coffee table, an old armchair, an old TV and an old carpet. There was a painting of a waterfall on one side of the wall and opposite it, a table with pictures and a radio on top.

"Hello, sis, I'm home." In reply, a girl's voice in the back said, "Oh Neptune, welcome back. Just a minute." Plutia walked over to the cupboard with the pictures and was about to look at them when the sound of electronics exploding and a scream can be heard in the back. "Wow, sis, what's going in there?" Neptune said as he put his katana in a corner.

They heard the sound of footsteps and a girl appeared in the entrance leading to a small hallway. When Plutia saw Neptune's sister, her first impression was 'twins?'

Even though she was shorter she looked like Neptune; she had the same pink hair, fair skin and smooth skin, and purple eyes. Her long hair was tied in a ponytail and she wore a sailor dress that has white and purple colors. She also has yellow ribbon tied around her collar with an N-emblem. She looks to be the same age as Plutia. She was taking a pair of goggles off as she entered.

"Welcome home big brother."

"Thanks, Nepgear little sis."

"Wow, so she is your little sister. You both look so much alike that you both look like twins."

"Huh?" Nepgear looked at Plutia with surprise, "Um, hello, who are you?"

Neptune did the introduction, "Nepgear, this is Plutia. Plutia, this is Nepgear, the technomancer."

"Um? Teckno…what?" Plutia asked, confused.

"Sorry about that. My brother sometimes makes up names and stuff."

"No I didn't. I got that from a TV show about some animals like a blue bird, a weird raccoon who both work for a boss that is a talking gumball machine.

"Oh that show, I remember now."

"By the way Nepgear, what was that sound just now?"

"That was nothing. I was just fixing a broken toaster but unfortunately without proper tools and good parts I can't fix it."

"That's reminds me," Neptune pulled out the gears that were given to him by Kain, "Got what you need for that grandfather clock."

"Thanks. Mrs. Wicket wants it fix soon and these are all I need."

"You mean that old lady who likes to eat coffee beans?"

"Yeah."

"By the way Nepgear, we don't happen to have a spare mattress, do we?"

"No. Why?"

Neptune tilted his head towards Plutia, "She is gonna live with us."

"She gonna…um, she doesn't have anywhere to go?"

Neptune told his sister everything including the part about the old man that sent her, "Old man! You mean grandpa. Really!"

"Could be."

"We hadn't seen him for less than a year now. I always wondered if he is doing well."

"He was doing alright before I left him. He seemed energetic and nice and healthy, even though he's old." Plutia told them.

"He taught you what he taught us. Huh, and the same thing with Nereus and Uni. This is starting to get mysterious."

"Well, we could visit them and introduce them to Plutie. With her in the same boat with us, we might as well start a club."

Plutia giggled at that joke. "Club? "

"Yeah, five young people, with a mystery to solve, we could be like find-outers. All we need is a dog."

"Is that supposed to be a reference to a book or something?"

"Hmm, could be. Okay let progress the story here. So we don't a spare mattress. You know anyone that has a spare?"

Nepgear thought for a moment. "I think Mr. Reese has one. He would want payment though."

"Okay, I'll go get it. See that our lovely guess feels like home because it is her home now."

Plutia blushed a little bit. "Lovely? Why thank you good sir." She giggled some more.

"Okay, you like some tea Plutia? We still have some left and I'll add a couple of biscuit. Please, make yourself comfortable."

Neptune opened a door that leads to the bedroom that he and his sister shared. He took out some coins from a box in the top drawer of a cupboard and came back into the living room.

"Well, I'm off, see you in a bit." He walked to the door and opened it. He walked out before closing the door behind him and walks down the road to where Mr. Reese's house is.

As Nepgear went to the kitchen, Plutia put her satchel on the sofa and then look at the photograph on the table. She picked one up. It was the picture of Neptune and Nepgear; both look a bit younger, with the old man. The old man had a smile that she always likes, it was warm and friendly.

"Why did you send me here?" Plutia thought.

Hundreds of miles away in a dense forest, lay a ruined castle. The castle was silent and abandoned for thousands of years now. It once belongs to a race of powerful beings. But those beings were long gone from that place.

Inside the castle, in its deepest chamber, there lies a slab of stone in the middle of the chamber and on the stone, lies a tome. Unlike the castle which was old and broken, the tome was still as fine as the day it was made. It has dark purple leathering and was embroidered with gold with a jade stone in the center.

And if one listens closely, they can hear the faint sound of snoring coming from the tome. It has laid there for many years now, waiting for the day a god would awaken in the lands it resides in.