Chapter 1
"I must be going mad" He said before opening his eyes to see that he is in a forest.
"Damn, I wasn't dreaming, for now I've gotta figure out where I am" He said looking around while sighing.
He is in a forest and notices a shooting star heading towards him.
"Why is a shooting star even coming towards me, I know it's possible, but" He said staring at it about to move until he notices something weird about it.
He takes a closer look to find that it's Neptune falling at an incredible speed.
"Of course it's her, damn it, at that speed she could die, should I move out of the way or die trying to save her?" He asked himself.
"I'm going to regret this later, I'm sure of it" He said while getting into a position to catch her in.
She gets closer with each second with sweat dropping down his face, being scared if he was going to make it out alive.
She was now within a second of hitting him; she goes fast enough that he is knocked out by the sheer force.
Sometime later he wakes up in a bed to find that his surrounded by pink.
"I must have died, I wonder if I'm in hell right now" He said while getting up.
"Where's my sword and jacket?" He asked while looking around the room.
He exited the room to find the entire house was pink. He was surprised by the colour of everything.
"Is that?" He asked while searching for them to find a girl and a sleeping Neptune.
The girl was wearing a jumper where the sleeves weren't attached, a brown collar on her neck with a heart on it, her hair was slightly curled and light orange, a black hairband was worn with something that looked like pacman on it and a satchel with hearts on it.
"Oh, you're up. Good morning, sleepyhead! Well, good afternoon, technically…" She said to him.
"Good afternoon, who are you and am I dead?" he asked.
"No, you're not dead, you were sleeping and my name is Compa Mr…" She said not knowing his name.
"Me, my name is Ryoichi Osamu, nice to meet you" He replied to her.
"Nice to meet you Mr Ryo" She replied back to him.
"Please, you can take off the Mr and call me Ryoichi" He told her before an alarm clock went off.
This surprised the two and woke Neptune up.
"Good morning, did you sleep well?" Ryo asked jokingly.
"Good morning" She said while taking a look at the room.
"Um, this isn't my room, huh? Is it yours? Why'm I tucked into your bed so snugly and why is your room pink?" She asked Ryo.
"It's not my room, it's hers" He said pointing to Compa.
"Well, let's see. It all happened last night. I was looking up into the sky and saw a shooting star. That was you" Compa told her.
"I was a shooting star? Are you yanking my hoodie strings? I fell from the sky?" Neptune asked.
"I'm pretty sure. I followed you to the ground with my eyes and you were caught by Ryo here" She said.
"I caught her huh, more like I tried and got knocked out" He thought after hearing that.
"I carried you two to my beds, since you were passed out!" Compa told them
"All by yourself? That's cool, thanks! You're a lot stronger than you look." Neptune said.
"With the way you look, people wouldn't think that you were so strong." Ryo said.
"I attend a nursing school. Transporting limp bodies is part of our training, so I'm used to it!" Compa replied to the two.
"My name is Compa, um…"
"Oh, I'm Neptune, Compa, huh? Then should I call you… Com… uh… whatever. Compa's fine. Who might you be?" Neptune asked Ryo.
"Me, I'm Ryoichi Osamu" He said thinking that she didn't remember the dream.
"Ryoichi, I feel like I've heard that somewhere before, but oh well, nice to meet ya Ryo" Neptune said.
"It's nice to meet you, Nept-… Neppee-… Neptaa-… Ne-pelvis… Nep… tumor… W-Wahh…" Compa said struggling to make a nickname.
"Oh, is it confusing you? Okay, then you can call me Neptuna, Nep-Nep, Neppermint, or something else!" Ryo face palmed when he heard this wondering why nicknames were necessary.
"Okay, then I pick Nep-Nep. It's nice to meet you, Nep-Nep!" Compa said.
"By the by, I noticed you two are all beat up everywhere. Allow me to take a look real quick." Compa told the two of them.
"Oh, yeah, I am kinda scraped up, huh? Thanks, nurse-in training, I'm trusting you with this important task!" Neptune said.
"Sure, but I've just started… and I'm not too savvy… I get bandages all tangled up." Compa said
"You injuries aren't bad, but the scratches need disinfecting. After that I'll wrap you up." Compa said to the two of them.
"You take a look at Neptune first" Ryo told her.
"Okay, Nep-Nep, it might sting a little, but hang in there. How much bandage should I use? A little? A lot?" Compa said
"Hmm, use it all up! Wrap me up good so it doesn't come loose. Besides, it's a waste if they don't last." Neptune said.
"While you do that, I'm going to head outside for some fresh air" Ryo said.
"Wait, but you're beat up as well, I need to take a look at you as well." Compa said to him.
"My injuries aren't life threatening so I'll be outside till you finish, just call me when it's my turn" he said before heading outside.
"Okay, Nep-Nep, I'll just use what I have. Please let me know if it's too tight. Please let me know if it's too tight. This way… that way… loop it over…"
Outside Ryo leaned against the wall of the house and looked at the sky.
"I guess I'm in a different world after all huh, who knew, I wonder what's happening back home now that the demon lord is gone, what'll happen to the other Kingdoms" He said staring at the sky thinking.
Inside the house
"Huh? Nrrgh, h-hold on, slow down! Be carefu-"
"I don't want it to come loose or you'll trip over it! Hmph, hah! There."
"Ahhhh-guuuuh-wooooo! This is way too tight, I'm gonna snap, can't breathe, can't make… more… comments!" Neptune said, struggling to breathe.
"Nep-Nep? …Did I do it too tight after all? Please get a hold of yourself. I'll unwrap you right n-ahhh!" Compa said trying to untie it.
"What's happening, I heard someone in pain" Ryo said before running into the room.
"I get it now, that's what you meant when you get them tangled." Ryo said that as if figuring out a puzzle.
"It's tighter now! You're just tangling me up… Stop! Gimme scissors… gimme now! Put 'em in my hands and I'll do it myself…!" Neptune said in pain. Ryo looked around the room for a pair and gave them to her.
"I'll be outside, just tell me when you're done" He said heading back outside.
A few minutes later Compa called him in.
"Compa, since you're giving me a check-up, please don't use bandages?" He asked her.
"What do you mean by that Ryo? Also I used them all on Nep-Nep" Compa replied to him.
"I meant nothing by it, let's just hurry up with this" He said as he sat on the bed.
"Ahem. By the way, I was thinking while you were wrapping me in bondages… where am I?" She asked.
"Th-They're bandages! We're in the Central City of Planeptune." She said until Ryo interrupted.
"Can you check me now?" He asked her.
"Oh, sorry for the wait" She replied to him.
"So, what do I have to do?" He asked.
"You're… um… going to have to take off your clothes" Compa said struggling to get the words out.
"Sure, gimme a sec" He said before taking his shirt off. Neptune was staring while Compa was looking away.
"Compa, there's no point in being a doctor if you're going to be shy looking at a guy" He told her revealing his upper body.
"Ryo, what are those?" Compa asked staring at his body filled with cuts and scars everywhere.
"Ryo, how come you got so many more scratches than me?" Neptune asked.
"Don't ask how, I got these a long time ago" Ryo told them.
"What do you mean don't ask how, I wanna know" Neptune said interested in how he got them.
"All I'll tell you is that I fought in the past, that's all, now could you stop asking?" He asked her.
"Fine, I'll stop, but you gotta tell me one of these days Ryo" Neptune told him.
"Fine, anyway, Compa could you hurry this up?" He asked her.
"Oh, okay" She said giving him a visual inspection.
"You're fine Ryo, all you have are a few bruises here and there, and they'll heal over time" She said.
"Oh, good then" he said as he put his shirt back on.
"Are you gonna tell us what's with those cuts on your body Ryo?" Neptune asked.
"No, now stop asking, anyway, Compa where are we?" He asked her while distracting Neptune from her question.
"As I said, we're in the central city of Planeptune" Compa replied to him.
"Planep… tune? Hmm, okay. I remember someone mentioning the world below?" Neptune said trying to remember.
"Yes, that's absolutely correct. This is one of the major landmasses beneath Celestia." Compa said.
"Landmasses, so you mean we're on a floating island?" Ryo asked.
"Yes, we're on the landmass of Planeptune" Compa responded to him.
"One of the landmasses? So there are several?" Neptune asked.
"Why, yes. There are four major landmasses floating around. Sometimes they come close to one another and drift away. Remember?" Compa explained.
"There are four gigantic floating chunks of rock flying around, is that right?" Ryo asked.
"Yes it is" She replied to him.
"Nope, not at all. Planeptune? Landmasses? Rings no bells for me." Neptune said without hesitation.
"Well that was a quick answer, are you lying or are you actually telling the truth?" Ryo asked
"How rude, I'm not lying" She answered him.
"Maybe you're suffering from amnesia. I've never seen a case in person. How original! Maybe you bumped your head…" Compa said staring
"Isn't there medication or something for that?" Neptune asked.
"I don't think there is medicine for it, Compa, is there actually medicine for amnesia?" Ryo asked.
"No, not for amnesia. It's usually a temporary thing. I'm sure you'll begin to recall things eventually." Compa replied to the two.
"My Grandpa always said. 'Fancy may kill or cure!' Get some sleep, take it easy, and you'll be better in no time"
"Isn't that for a cold though, are you sure those words are correct?" Ryo asked.
"Grandpa is always right" Compa replied to him.
"… Get some sleep? I feel like someone asked me to do something while I was unconscious." Neptune said remembering something.
"Yeah, someone was crying out for help… in my dream!"
"In your dream? Then it's not real." Compa told her.
"Oh, you never know. It was so weird. I betcha someone far away was like pa-choo and sent me a telepathic message, y'know?"
"If you say it like that, no one is going to believe you" Ryo said to her.
"It's possible. Actually, many places, Planeptune included, are being threatened by more and more monsters lately."
"One person here believes me" Neptune told him.
"I can see that" He said with a hand to his face.
"The military powers failed to keep them from appearing. We can only defend ourselves and keep them at bay now."
"How strong are these things if they can overpower the military?" Ryo asked.
"They're strong enough for the military to be pushed back" Compa replied to him.
"Then… there must be a boss generating all these monsters somewhere! I bet my mission is to go defeat that boss and save the world!" Neptune said with passion.
"Neptune, do you even know where these are and if you don't do you know how to find them?" He asked her.
"I dunno, Compa do you know?" Neptune asked as Ryo felt stupid for taking her seriously.
"The easiest way to find dungeons is by finding dunglemaps. Nep-Nep might be right about a boss, but nobody has seen or heard anything like that. How will you find it? This is irrational, dangerous, and absolutely impossible!" Compa told the two.
"That's because people have been getting eaten by monsters in a gruesome way or they're too scared to come out" Ryo told her being smart.
"You're right, but it's still impossible and dangerous." Compa replied with fear of fighting monsters.
"Nobody's gonna beat the boss if we just sit here. Someone's gotta take initiative, y'know and that someone is gonna be me and Ryo" Neptune said fearlessly.
"Wait, why do I have to help?" Ryo asked.
"Well too bad so sad, you're helping no matter what. Plus, I can't ignore this once I've noticed it. Haven't you heard strike while the irons hot!" Neptune said with enthusiasm.
"Yes, I believe Grandpa did have a saying like that. Yes, that's right. I wanted to be a nurse to save people. So why would I save the injured, but not those being threatened by monsters? How impolite of me!"
"Nep-Nep, Ryo, I'm not the strongest, but I'll help. Three is better than two!" She said with as much enthusiasm as Neptune.
"You will? Don'tcha have school? You're not in the middle of summer vacation of or anything, right?" Neptune asked.
"You got a good point there, for you that's amazing" Ryo told her.
"Ahhh thanks Ryo… Wait did you just compliment me or insult me?" She asked while puffing up her cheeks.
"Depends on how you look at it" He replied back to her.
"Thanks then" Neptune said happily not realizing that he was making fun of her.
"No we don't have classes because the city's population has been declining due to monsters eating people. Students are leaving school out of fear, so it's closed down for now. Classes are suspended until further notice"
"Oh, that sucks, but that means you can camp out right? Goodie! Let's go and find the dungeon where the boss is waiting!" Neptune said excitedly.
"Stop right there Neptune, just because there's still light out doesn't mean you can just charge into a dungeon and get yourself killed, let's eat first and then you can go into a dungeon."
"Oh, alright fine, for now put some food in my mouth." Neptune said.
"You two wait here, I'll go and make some lunch" Compa said as she went to the kitchen.
"While we're waiting, Neptune, do you have any knowledge or skills in battle?" Ryo asked her.
"I dunno" She answered quickly.
"That's helpful, do you know how to use a weapon of any kind?" He asked before Compa came in with a wooden sword in bad condition, the red blade and a red jacket.
Neptune snatched the red sword from her hands and asked "Compa can I use this as my weapon?"
"No, you can't it's my weapon, you're going to have to stick to the wooden one" he said as he took the sword from her hands.
"I forgot to give you back your jacket" Compa said while handing it over.
"Oh, well why did you take it off me on the first place?" Ryo asked.
"It was dirty so I cleaned it" Compa answered him.
"Oh, thanks, anyway Neptune, no you cannot use my sword, use the wooden one" He told her as he put his jacket on a chair and the sword beside him.
Neptune then took the wooden sword reluctantly said "Fine, I'll use this sword"
"Compa, since you're still standing here, does it mean that food is ready?" He asked her.
"Oh no, I forgot about that" She said before running back to the kitchen.
Neptune was staring at the red sword still sheathed at Ryo's side, fascinated by the mere sight of it.
"Hey Neptune, do you want to use this sword?" He asked her.
"Can I really?" She asked with a sparkle in her eye.
"No, I was joking, it's my sword" He replied back to her.
"Oh, you tricked me, why would you do such a thing?" She asked.
"I didn't think you would go for it" he said as Compa came in with the food serving it to them.
"Oh, thank you, this looks great" He said before eating. Neptune did the same thing except that she ate incredibly quickly.
After thirty minutes of eating, with Ryo and Compa waiting for Neptune to finish for twenty minutes and Compa cleaning up Neptune's mess for ten minutes they were finally done.
"Neptune, while Compa's cleaning I have a question for you" He told her.
"If it's a trick I won't fall for it again" She said proudly.
"I'm pretty sure you will fall for it in the near future, but what the question I'm asking is how did you eat all of that food?" He asked her.
"What do you mean in the near future, do you plan to trick me in the future, you fiend!" She yelled to him.
"Um… Just answer the question, how did you eat all of that food, the amount you ate was about twice the amount of your body" He told her avoiding the question.
"Oh, I was hungry and it tasted good" She said, forgetting about it.
"That's it, you were hungry and that was what compelled you to eat massive amounts of food in one sitting?" He asked her.
"Yep"
"Your practically a black hole then aren't you" He told her, making fun of her.
"What's a black hole?" She asked.
"Oh, it's just something that consumes without limit, so you" He said pointing at her.
"Oh, thanks Ryo"
"I can't believe you fell for it" Ryo said with a small smile.
"Wait! What do you mean fall for it, did you just do it again, does that mean that wasn't a compliment?" She asked him.
"No, it wasn't a compliment"
She was stunned by this and then said "Why would you do something like that and also I'm not something that consumes without limit, I stopped eating"
"I did it for fun and you stopped eating after twenty minutes of shoving your face after I asked you when you would be done"
She had no comebacks for that and was sitting there trying to think of one.
Compa came back from cleaning the mess and Ryo asked "Are you finished already; I thought it would take longer"
"Oh, there wasn't that much to clean Ryo" She told him.
"There wasn't that much you say, from what I remember there was a small mountain of plates and bowls" Ryo told her.
"Really, there was that much to clean?" She asked.
"Yeah there was, for now we need to find a dungeon, Compa, could you find that please?" He asked her.
"Okay" She said as she went to a computer close to them.
"I didn't even notice that was there, Neptune are you still thinking about what I said?" He asked her.
She was immersed in thinking until Ryo told her "You can stop thinking about that you know"
"Fine, but you better not do it again Ryo, I'm watching you"
"No promises" He replied back to her.
Compa asked "Ryo, are you a monster hunter?"
"No, why do you ask?"
"I wanted to know why you have a sword" She answered.
"Yeah Ryo, why do you have a sword and what are those symbols on the back of your jacket?" Neptune asked.
"I have a sword for self-defence and these symbols on my jacket are nothing, they're just there, nothing else" He answered the two.
"Compa have you found a dungeon for us to go to?" Ryo asked her.
"Yes I did, do you want to go now?" She asked the two of them.
"Yep" Neptune answered.
"Well we got nothing better to do right now, let's go, Compa lead the way" Ryo told her.
"Okay" Compa replied to him.
With that they were prepared to go their first dungeon together.
