Preface:

This Story starts after Eureka Seven AO (the anime) ends (episode 24) and therefore will contain spoilers from both Eureka Seven and AO.

Hereafter is the possibility of Spoilers. You have been warned

This story takes on the assumption that the world/timeline that Ao ends up in, after wandering through time with Truth and the Mark 1, is one different from any the other three he has been in: The original with Team Goldilocks, the second without Goldilocks but with Truth, or the third with Truth as his Archetype. The only thing technically known for certain about this world from the anime is that Gazelle's group have had meetings with the Japanese Government as the spokespeople for Okinawa, assumably about Independence. All else will be personal belief and story. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 1: Stranger in a Strange Land

Ao surfed down towards Okinawa, looking at an island identical to the one he grew up on, and surveyed the many boats and mixture of cars and FPs crawling across the vast roads. He quickened towards the empty beach and set down, picked up his board, and started to walk towards town. He noticed ahead of him a large crowd that seemed to be making a large amount of noise. Walking, he started to hear cheering and music. There appeared to be a festival, but recalling the date that Truth had shown, he could not muster an event that could be celebrated at this time. He walked into the crowd, basically ignored by the Okinawans who were cheerfully eating. He bumped into a young boy.

"Excuse me, but what is the celebration for?" asked Ao

The boy looked frightened of Ao and turned away walking quickly towards his mother.

"Didn't you hear? Kinjo's boy got us full independence from Japan!" a voice said behind Ao

Ao turned to the stranger, a fisherman by the looks of it.

The fisherman had a large grin on his face, "He even got us back the rights to the fish!"

The man turned back to his friends with a cheer and continued to drink.

"Gazelle got independence?" Ao thought. Outwardly he smiled, "Good for him"

"Hey kid, what are you? Another Alien?"

Ao turned to another man, this one much more inebriated than the previous. He realized the man was pointing at his hair.

Ao scratched the back of his head, "umm… no, I'm visiting family. I'm from… Europe?"

The drunken man laughed, "Haha, that's funny, it looks just like Amb-"

The man laughed almost too hard at his own joke, falling over, half-passed out. His friend caught him mid-fall.

The fisherman sighed, "Sorry about him, he's just glad we got independence here in Okinawa and drank too much. So you said you are visiting Family? Who do you know here?"

Ao gave a nervous smile, "Umm...I...My family was old friends with Dr. Fukai"

The fisherman scratched his chin, "Oh? Old man Fukai? I guess I can see some resemblance between you and her, but not Old man Fukai. I can really see how you-Hey don't throw up on me!" The man staggered off carrying his friend.

Ao paused. "What did he mean by her?"

Ao tried to look for the man but couldn't spot him or his friend. He sighed and walked out of the crowd and jumped back on his board. He started towards Fukai's clinic. On his way he passed over Naru's House.

Ao silently wondered, "I wonder if she still lives there…"

He continued to the clinic and noticed his Grandpa's van out front. He set down nearby and walked towards the door. He heard voices coming from inside.

Ao frowned, "I wonder who could be visiting…"

"Grandpa I'll be back after I stop by the party."

A girl, slightly older than him with long turquoise hair walked out and closed the door behind her. She turned towards him, bag on her back, and noticed him.

The girl cocked her head slightly to side, "Hello, are you here to see Grandpa?"

She trailed off staring at his head. Ao stared back.

Ao blinked before saying. "Um… yes, I'm Ao Fuk-Thurston. I came to see Dr. Fukai."

The girl gave a warm smile, "Hello Ao, I'm Dr. Fukai's Granddaughter, Amber. I've never seen someone with hair like mine…"

"She looks just like mom, but with dad's eyes." Ao thought as he studied her

Ao gave a nervous laugh, "Uh… Yeah! In Europe, people are all about hair coloring!"

Amber giggled, "Ah! I see… Well if you'll excuse me, I have some errands to run. You can go in, he's just working on some paperwork."

Amber walked over to her FP and started it, moments later, Ao watched as she drove off down the road. Ao walked to the door and opened it, inside, Dr. Fukai sat at his desk opposite the room from Ao. He paused and looked up at Ao. He tensed up, startled, by the sight of Ao.

Ao cleared his throat, "Hi Grandp- I mean Dr. Fuk-"

Toshio looked curiously at him, "Ao isn't it?"

Ao replied hopefully, "Yes."

Toshio spoke, "I heard you say your name from outside."

Ao deflated, "oh…"

Toshio looked on, intrigued, "I wouldn't have guessed anyone would have hair like Amber…"

He trailed off looking at the floor. He stood up and looked at Ao.

After a brief silence, Toshio spoke, "Have we met? You seem familiar…"

Ao sighed, "Well… maybe I can explain."

Ao sat with Toshio as Ao explained how, in another universe, Toshio raised him after helping Eureka. He explained how Eureka showed up and about his almost non-existent father. He explained his endeavors with Blue Generation. Ao paused for a second after mentioning his friends in Pied Piper. He continued talking about Naru and Truth and the Scub Bursts and Secrets. All the while Toshio simply nodded and listened. Ao finished by explaining the Quartz gun and how it changed history.

"And now I am here," finished Ao

Toshio rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "So you are also the child of Eureka and Renton..."

Ao's eyes widened, "You mean? Amber is…"

Toshio Fukai nodded, "Of course, Renton and Eureka both disappeared during one of your 'scub bursts' about 14 years ago when Amber was only 3. But that is the only one I've ever heard of happening."

"You mean my dad was here too?" questioned Ao

Toshio Fukai gave another nod, "Yes, both Eureka and Renton came and lived with me for the two years after Amber was born. She pretends like she doesn't remember them, but I can tell she thinks about them all the time."

Toshio sighed and crossed his arms, "You mentioned Naru Arata. You say she was sick in your world, from the scub. "

Ao nodded.

Toshio continued, "Well, we have Scub Coral, but like I said, there are no Scub bursts or Secrets. Naru is not sick, to my knowledge, and as I understand it, she is not as serious as the girl you described. Amber has been friends with Naru ever since Naru was born. They spend so much time together they almost seem like sisters."

Toshio smiled. Ao pondered this new information until a knocking came from the door, drawing him out of his thoughts.

A voice came through the door, "Old man, is Amber around?

Toshio stood up and walked to the door. He opened it revealing Gazelle, Pippo, and Han.

Toshio Fukai sighed, "She's not here Jiro.

Gazelle scowled, "Tch, I told you it's Gazelle! Who's this now?

Gazelle looked past Toshio at Ao. He froze when he noticed Ao's hair. He walked past Toshio, staring intently at Ao. Ao just sat awkwardly, trying not to make eye contact.

Gazelle narrowed his eyes, "You. Who are you?"

Toshio crossed his arms, "He's Ao Thurston. He's the son of a friend of mine-"

Gazelle raised his eyebrow, "Thurston huh? I can only recall two people with that name, and they're gone now. Left a perfect girl alone with an old man."

Pippo blinked in confusion, "Gazelle, who are you talking about, aren't we looking for Amber?"

Gazelle looked back at the three at the door and shouted, "That was the name of Amber's parents!"

Pippo looked confused, "But Amber's last name is Fukai…"

Everyone was silent. Ao sighed, stood up, walked towards the door. Pippo moved aside. Ao felt a hand on his shoulder as he was on the threshold.

Toshio spoke, "Where are you going?"

After a pause, Ao replied, "I'll go see my friend."

Toshio frowned, "But she might not-"

"I don't care."

Toshio let go and Ao walked away, throwing down his board and jumping on. He heard Han's FP start up as he headed towards Naru's house. He set down in the front yard and climbed the stairs to the door. He went to knock, but paused. "Maybe I shouldn't…"

The door opened and Naru stepped into the threshold. She instantly stepped back when she noticed Ao in the doorway.

Naru blinked, "Umm… Can I help you?"

Noah crawled past Naru and recognizing Ao, jumped on his back.

Naru was surprised, "Noah! Get off of him! I'm so sorry! I don't know what got into him."

Ao smiled as Noah clung to him, "No its fine," Ao petted Noah and looked back at Naru, "I just came to-"

Naru hugged him. Ao stiffened up, startled by the suddenness of the hug.

Naru spoke, "I remember. I don't know how, but I remember."

Naru pushed him back, holding him by his shoulders. She looked at him top to bottom, tears falling slowly from her eyes.

"Who are you really?"

Ao and Naru turned to Gazelle who was standing with Pippo and Han at the bottom of the stairs. Gazelle looked menacingly at Ao. Gazelle started walking up the stairs, "Well? Answer me!"

Naru stepped in front of Ao, "What do you need with him? He's done nothing wrong."

Gazelle stopped at the top of the stairs. He leaned down so that he was face to face with Naru, "This kid claims to be the child of Amber's parents, and I want to know why."

Ao put his hand on Naru's shoulder and pushed her softly to the side, "I am from a different universe where things are very different than here."

Gazelle laughed, "You expect me to believe that? You're from another universe?"

"I know that the Gazelle I know was smart enough to realize that making fun of different looking kids was asinine. But I guess you haven't progressed that far," Ao replied staring Gazelle down.

Gazelle grit his teeth, "What did you say?"

Pippo grabbed Gazelle's shoulders, holding him back, "Come on Gazelle, let's just go look for Amber."

Gazelle didn't move, his mouth hung open. Ao realized that Gazelle was staring at his arm. Ao followed his gaze to where it landed, his mother's bracelet. Gazelle quickly grabbed Ao's arm and looked at the bracelet.

Gazelle: This…We were bringing...you piloted…

He trailed off, still holding Ao by the arm.

Pippo slowly looked back and forth between Ao and Gazelle, "Gazelle? Are you-"

Gazelle jerked Ao's arm towards Pippo, "Pippo! Do you remember this?" shaking slightly while doing so.

Pippo frowned, "Um… Yeah, didn't we lose that at the beach when you're FP crashed, and explo-Wait that didn't-" Pippo scratched his head thinking hard.

Gazelle turned back to Ao, "We need to talk."

End Chapter 1.