Hoshi
Neo opened her eyes when she felt a hand take hers. A voice said, "Can you hear me?" She turned her eyes to the voice. Someone was standing beside her though she was unable to see his face. Her heart skipped a beat though it wasn't in fear. She knew she could trust him. Her fingers curled around his.
"Who are you?" she asked. When the man didn't answer she released his hand. Then she noticed she was sitting on a large white flower. "What? Didn't I already…" She turned her eyes back to him. Despite the inability to see his face she could tell that he was watching her closely. "Do you know why we're here?"
She slid off the flower. He was a head taller than she was. Suddenly a dark presence settled over the forest. She could feel the animals shivered before bolting for the safety of the forest, leaving her alone with this man.
"There's nothing you can do," a voice said. "You all are lost forever."
"Lost? What do you mean?" Neo asked. She looked around the forest, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. She then looked back up at the man before her. He was fading from her sight. "No! Don't go!"
"Give up," the voice said. "You can't win."
"Please, don't leave!" Neo reached for him. But her hand passed right through his body. As he completely disappeared a coldness settled into her chest. She wrapped her arms around herself and sank to her knees. "No…please…don't leave me alone. I don't want to be a lone. I need you. Please come back!"
"Please, come back. Don't let him get hurt. You have to find me." Neo opened her eyes to the sound of her bird friends singing. One flew in front of her face, seeing if she was awake. She sat up. A yawn escaped her as she stretched out her body. "Yes, I'm all right. I was having a strange dream about someone. No, I don't know who it was. But I wasn't scared of him. There was something comforting about him. He held my hand. Then someone spoke to us. They told me we were all lost forever. Maybe I would have gotten more information if I stayed asleep a little longer. Or maybe it was just a dream. I wish that I could have kept on dreaming to see." Her stomach grumbled. "But I don't think my stomach or our baby would appreciate it."
She summoned her earth crystals and grew her some berries, a couple apples, and a banana then settled back into her bed. Popping a berry into her mouth, she said, "I wonder if eating this is all right for our baby. I can't remember anything about that either. This memory loss is just so weird. I wonder if it's possible that there's a doctor in the town that could answer my questions."
A squirrel chattered at her.
"You might be right," Neo said. "It would be hard for anyone to figure out what's wrong with me if I don't even know how I got here or anything else. I guess instead of doing that I could work with my crystals. Maybe there's more I can do with them?" She giggled. "Your support it most welcome. Thank you all for being here. I don't know how I'd get through this without you all."
"I'd really love to just lay here all day long. The air under the canopy is so nice and cool. But that's not going to be possible. My bladder is highly objecting to it." Finishing up her breakfast, Neo lowered herself down to the forest floor. After taking care of her morning business she ran her fingers through her hair to comb out the tangles. "I'm going to have to find some new clothes soon. I have no idea how long I've been wearing these. A shower might be nice as well at some point. Might as well get to work."
She summoned one of each of her crystals. They followed her will with ease and began to glow and form their respective elements. "So I can create the elements through the crystals." A gentle breeze blew past her. She could feel the wind tangling into the small whirlwind around her wind crystal. "It also appears that I can connect to the elements that exist in nature. This is so weird and incredible. I wonder how much I'm actually connected to nature. I can already control the elements and I can sense animals all over the place."
"I say it's only a matter of time before you figure out what all you can do," a voice said.
"You might be right. I might just need to…" Neo's voice trailed off. She scanned her eyes around the forest but didn't see anyone except for the animals and a snowy white cat she hasn't seen before. Her eyes paused on the cat. Or she thought it was a cat. It looked like a cross between a cat and a fox. Its ears were definitely more like a fox with three tuffs of hair on the tips of its ears. It stood as tall as a fox but its body was sleek like a cat. Its large eyes were navy blue with a dusting of white sparkles in them.
It scratched its ear before saying, "About time I found you. I feel like I've been searching for years."
"What…what do you mean?" Neo asked.
"Oh, that's right," it said. "You don't know. I should have known. I mean I did know." It shook its head. "Anyway, my name is Hoshi. I've come to gather you and your friends up."
"My friends?" Neo asked.
"Take a look at this." Hoshi's eyes began to glow. The glow shot out like a beam.
Neo looked at the beam when it paused in front of her. Slowly a small rectangular shape appeared in front of her. The glow gathered around the edges, giving her the ability to see it was a picture. She took it between her index finger and thumb. Including herself there was a total of sixteen people on it. In the background was a ship with a sunflower like lion as the figurehead and another yellow ship.
"Those are your friends," Hoshi said. "Their names are written beside them. On the back is a little information about them. It's not much to go on but at least its something."
"I don't understand," Neo said, her eyes locked onto the cat creature.
"Just look at the picture," Hoshi said.
Neo let her eyes pull away from the cat like creature and down to the picture in her hand. She scanned her eyes over the pictured before they locked onto one particular person. Her breath hitched in her chest at the sight of him. It was the tall black haired man that she was clinging to. Her heart hammered in her chest. Something about him was extremely familiar but she wasn't exactly sure why. Scribbled beside his shoulder in delicate swirls was his name: Law. She flipped it over to the back and found his name again.
Law, Op Op Devil Fruit user, doctor, husband to Neo, father to their child, captain of the Heart Pirates and their sub the Polar Tang
Heat rushed to Neo's cheeks. This man was her husband and the father of their child. She turned the picture back over and found she couldn't look away from him. He was tall, obviously taller than she was. He had an odd affinity for spots. His white hat had them and they ran up the sides of his pant legs. He wore a black shirt with an odd smiling logo on it and more spots; both the spots and logo were in yellow. Her arms were wrapped around his left arm while he sported a large sword that rested on his right shoulder.
"Something wrong?" Hoshi asked.
"I-it's nothing." Neo forced her eyes off him and flipped back over to the information. She continued to read everyone else's. Her information read: Neo, co-captain of the Heart Pirates, wife to Law, mother to their child, little sister to the crew, friend to the Straw Hat Pirates, elemental princess with all the element crystals and the solar crystal "Solar crystal? What's that?"
Penguin, subordinate to Law, big brother to Neo, martial arts master
She flipped the picture over to look at him. His name was obvious. It was on his hat. And his hat was covering his eyes so she couldn't see them. He was wearing some kind of full body suit, tan in color, with the same smiling logo that Law worn over his chest only it was black.
Shachi, subordinate to Law, friend, and brother to Neo, martial arts expert
This one had shaggy reddish brown hair under his red and green brim hat. His eyes were covered like Penguin but with dark sunglasses. He too wore a full body suit with the same logo.
Bepo, navigator of the Heart Pirates, mink polar bear, martial arts master
He was one of the tallest of the group. He also wore the full body suit but his was orange.
Topaz, fire elemental, big sister to Neo
Her hair was orange as was her eyes. She like the men before her was also wearing the full body suit.
Kailen, earth elemental, adopted big brother of Neo
His hair and eyes were green. He was wearing a button up light green shirt and jeans.
Monkey D. Luffy, captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, Gum Gum Devil Fruit user
He appeared to be one of the youngest of the group. He wore a straw hat over his black hair, a red open chest shirt with long sleeves, and shorts that fell below his knees. His black eyes and lips were brightly smiling.
Roronoa Zoro, first mate and swordsman of the Straw Hat Pirates, constantly gets lost
His hair was a mossy green color. He sported a scar over his left eye, one across his chest, and three swords on his belt. He wore an open dark green coat with a thick red sash around his waist and a green haramaki underneath.
Nami, navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates, former thief, loves money
She had long light orange hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a green bikini top and jeans with high heel sandals.
Usopp, sniper of the Straw Hat Pirates, coward but reliable
He wore a bag over his shoulder with long curly hair. She paused and giggled at his long nose before continuing to look him over. He wore goggles around his neck, a little goatee, a white sun cap, and a pair of rolled-up yellow pant with red suspenders and a pair of boots.
"Well, these people seem very, um, colorful," Neo said before continuing.
Sanji, cook of the Straw Hat Pirates, loves women, fights with his feet
He wore a simple black suit. His blonde hair fell over his right eye but his left eye was showing. It revealed his eyes were blue and his eyebrows were curly.
Tony Tony Chopper, Human Human Devil Fruit, reindeer, doctor of the Straw Hat Pirates, multiple transformations
She found him absolutely one of the cutest things she had ever seen. He managed to wear a blue cap with a ring of dots around the circle with buckles hanging from it. His shirt was a white and yellow vertical striped tank top and an orange pair of shorts.
Nico Robin, Flower Flower Devil Fruit, archeologist of the Straw Hat Pirates
She had long black hair and blue eyes. She wore a floral camisole and black shorts. Neo noticed she had a real calm expression unlike the others.
Franky, cyborg, shipwright, built the Thousand Sunny
He had light blue hair and sunglass. He has broad shoulders, stitch marks across his torso, large forearms, and hands with a red shirt and what she hoped wasn't underwear.
Brook, Revive Revive Devil Fruit, living skeleton, musician of the Straw Hat Pirates
He wore a simple black coat and pants with a top hat and cane.
"Wait…there's one more person here but it only gives her name and that we're friends with her," Neo said staring at the girl with white hair and dark blue eyes. She couldn't help but notice the girl also had white sparkles in her eyes just like Hoshi. She wore a simple light orange sundress. "Tsuki. She actually looks a lot like you. Who are you exactly?"
"I'm a guardian of the Star Line," Hoshi said. "I was called because there was trouble with the royal family. If there's trouble then I'm your boy."
"The royal family?" Neo asked.
"They've been…well, I'm not sure exactly where they are at the moment," Hoshi said. "All I know is Kuro made his move and the family is now missing. If I had to guess he probably sealed them away somewhere."
"I don't really understand any of this. Then how do you know we can help?" Neo asked.
"Because of Tsuki," Hoshi said. "She's the one who summoned me. She's disappeared as well. If we find her I'm sure she can tell us exactly what's happened."
"But how do I know I can trust you?" Neo asked. "Someone already tried to take advantage of me."
"I'm not sure really," Hoshi said. "Tsuki just told me to find you first. She said that you have really good instincts and would get along with me the best because of your nature."
"My nature?" Neo looked at the back of the photo again. "Do you mean this elemental thing?"
"I believe so," Hoshi said. "I can feel the elements inside of her. And just so you know, I can also sense the little one inside of you. Such a precious baby you have."
Neo placed her hand on her stomach. "Thank you."
"I know this is a really confusing time for you at the moment," Hoshi said, "but we really need to find your friends. It's the only way to get your memories back."
Neo stared into his big eyes. A strange connection passed between them. It was like she could see inside of his mind and soul. She knew she could trust him. "All right. I trust you. So what do we do first?"
"The first person we have to go after is Nami, the navigator," Hoshi said.
"Why her?" Neo asked.
"Because she's the navigator," Hoshi said. "Well, the bear is also a navigator but he's too far away for me to sense from this cluster."
"I don't understand," Neo said. "How can you sense this navigator?"
"It's kind of hard to explain," Hoshi said. "You all came from the other side. So you have a different smell to you from the people who live here, especially you. You are very different from them all. You were easier to track. I believe your abilities will be most helpful in gathering the rest of your friends."
"My abilities…I've learned about them but for the solar crystal," Neo said. "That one I'm not sure yet what it can do. I didn't even notice it was there until I read the information on the back of the picture."
"What do you feel from it now?" Hoshi asked.
"Healing," Neo said. "I can feel some kind of healing magic coming from it."
"Then that must be what it is." Hoshi scratched behind his ear then shook his head. "So, are you ready to go?"
"I guess so," Neo said. "How are we getting there?"
"I think you might be able to fly us there," Hoshi said. "The cluster that the navigator is on is a few miles from here."
"Okay, but how are we going to actually convince all these people that we're friends?" Neo asked. "Do you think they'll actually believe this picture?"
"They have to," Hoshi said. "Why wouldn't they? The proof that you all are friends is right there in front of you."
"I don't think it's going to be as easy as you think it is," Neo said.
"Well, if worst come to worst you can always tie them up with vines and drag them along with us," Hoshi said.
Neo giggled. "I think we should avoid that option at all costs. These people might be strong."
"A lot like that is completely hopeless," Hoshi said. "Trust me. They will come. So are you ready to go?"
"I guess so," Neo said. "It's not like I was doing anything here."
"Then let's go." Hoshi stood on his paws. "We should get out of the forest before we fly off."
Neo stood up and followed Hoshi to the edge of the forest. The animals followed along with them. "I'm sorry but I have to go now. I have to find these…my friends. Thank you all so much for your help. Maybe I'll get to see you all again some day. Take care of yourselves." She stuck the picture in the pocket of her jeans then held her hands out to Hoshi. "Come on."
"First class." Hoshi jumped into her arms. "I like it."
"So which way do we go?" Neo asked.
"That way." Hoshi pointed to the left with his tail.
Neo summoned a couple wind crystals. Upon her command the wind came from her crystals. It wrapped around them and lifted them off the ground. She took off in the direction Hoshi told her to go. Curious about the water beneath them, she lowered down and scooped up a hand full of it. The water remained the same, sparkling with stars. "This water is so weird. How is it possible it can do this?"
"That's one of the greatest mysteries of the Star Line," Hoshi said. "Many have looked for the answers yet no one come close to giving a reason for it to happen."
"So it's probably just a mystery that will never be solved," Neo said.
"Most likely. Are you sure you'll be able to fly us all the way here?" Hoshi asked. "You're pregnant after all. And pregnant women can get tired. Or so I'm told. I've never been around one before."
"I should be just fine, as long as we don't get surprised by some sea creature below. But I should be able to sense them when they come this way. I sense a few sea creatures below but they don't seem to care that we're here. Besides, it's not like I have much of a choice," Neo said. She lifted them higher into the air. "Unless you want to see if we can get a ride with someone. There were some ships at the dock. Maybe one of them could give us a ride?"
"Not a good idea," Hoshi said. "We have no idea who's actually working for Kuro. It's best to avoid people as much as we possibly can."
"Why would that matter?" Neo asked.
"I believe that something happened in a fight you all were in," Hoshi said.
"A fight?" Neo asked.
"The only known way to have someone grain memory loss here outside of a traumatic even or injury is from the star scepter," Hoshi said. "The only thing I'm not sure about is who actually used it against you, Kuro or Tsuki. I also know that Kuro will be trying to find you all so he can kill you."
"That's terrible," Neo said. "I wonder why he's so angry at us."
"You and your friends are probably a threat to his rule," Hoshi said. "Best I can guess is you disrupted his plans in some way."
Neo's heart skipped a beat at the thought of someone trying to kill her friends, especially Law. And none of them were aware they were in danger. Tears leaked over her eyelids. She looked down when a paw landed on her face.
"Try not to worry," Hoshi said. "We will find them. The first step is finding the navigator Nami. Then we'll be off to find your husband."
"We're going to find Law next?" Neo asked.
"We are." Hoshi nodded.
Neo smiled, an over whelming sense of joy washed over her. She wanted to find him first. But she knew it wasn't possible. But she could speed things up a bit. "Hold on. We're going to go faster."
Summoning a few more wind crystals, Neo picked up the speed on their flying.
"Now this is more like it!" Hoshi said, the wind whipping at his whiskers. "We'll find them all in no time!"
Neo nodded. "So why are you just now showing up? Where have you been before you came to find me?"
"Like I said before," Hoshi said. "I'm a guardian. Unless I'm needed I spent my time sleeping. Plus it took me a while to find you because I can't operate a ship on my own. I had to sneak around and get on other ships until I could make it to the cluster you were on."
"Alone?" Neo asked.
"How else would I do it?" Hoshi asked.
"I don't know," Neo said. "Isn't there someone you can sleep with?"
"Not really," Hoshi said. "And it wouldn't matter anyway since we guardians do nothing but sleep when we're not working."
"I'm sorry but that sounds kind of boring," Neo said.
"Maybe to you," Hoshi said. "But it's not to me. Time passes fast when you're sleeping. Though I have to admit that it's nice being out here like this." He drew in a deep breath. "Yeah, the air smells so fresh, salty, and good."
Neo sniffed the air. "I can't really tell. It just smells salty to me."
"Well, you don't have the nose that I do," Hoshi said. "It's a thousand times powerful than yours, maybe more."
"Hey, Hoshi?" Neo asked. "Do you think this Law guy is the same one I had in my dream?"
"Your dream?" Hoshi looked up at her.
"Yeah." Neo nodded. "Before I woke up today I was dreaming about sleeping in a large white flower and this guy took my hand. And what's even more strange is I actually woke up in a large white flower when I found myself here."
"That's an odd coincident," Hoshi said.
"So you have no idea?" Neo asked.
"I don't know anything about dreams," Hoshi said. "My kind don't have them when we sleep. You'd need to see a dream polyglot. They have a better chance at telling you what your dream was about. Personally, I don't trust them. They can easily make up lies to tell people. It's probably best if you don't seek one out."
"If you say so," Neo said. "My answers may come when we find this Law guy."
"You mean your husband," Hoshi said with a smirk.
"Wh-what are you smirking about?" Heat rose on Neo's cheeks.
"Oh, nothing," Hoshi said. "It's just that you're carrying his baby."
Neo cheeks burned like fire. "S-so?!"
Hoshi laughed. "I'm getting the feeling you're more on the shy side of things. You do have an innocent air around you too."
"Is that bad?" Neo asked.
"Not at all," Hoshi said. "I think it's really cute. And I really like you. So you have my protection from this point on. Consider me your guardian."
"That's nice of you," Neo said.
"Just leave it all up to me," Hoshi said. "No one shall harm you with me around. I might not be the strongest in this world but I'm not the weakest either."
"So you can do magic?" Neo asked.
"I suppose you could call it that," Hoshi said. "I would give you an demonstration but it really drains my strength. So it's best if I save it for when we need it."
"That's fine," Neo said. "I wouldn't want you to get into trouble. But if you do I'll do what I can to protect you."
"You're just too cute!" Hoshi said with a sparkling smile. "Onward, my sweet elemental princess!"
Neo laughed. "You have a funny side."
"I have multiple layers," Hoshi said. "Though I should warn you that I'm only this nice to people I actually like. So don't expect me to get along nicely with your friends."
"Oh? Well, that's okay," Neo said. "I'm not sure what they're like so you might fit right in with them."
"I guess we'll see soon enough," Hoshi said. "We're coming up on the island."
Neo looked in front of them. A large mountain sat in the distance. With each second they drew closer and closer the island got bigger and bigger. Her heart pounded with nervousness and fear. She had no idea what to expect here. But soon she would find out.