Ok I was absolutely wrong. This chapter came out later than I hoped and it's actually longer. Lots of content and I underestimated the numbers.

The smell of trees, dirt and sea salt cherished Neptune's nose. His eyes were closed and they felt heavy. He could feel that he was lying on the ground. He could feel the grass against his bare hands and cheeks. He couldn't hear any noises or sounds around him.

'Am I…dead?'

The last thing he remembered before falling unconscious, was him pushing Plutia out of the way of the troll's club. He remembered the club impacting him and sent him flying down the ravine and into the river. He remembered the cold when he splashed into the river below. He couldn't breathe. He could feel his ribs broken and the intense pain in his chest. He was unable to swim and the river's rushing current took him along with it. That was when he fell unconscious.

But now he felt none of that; no pain, no cold water or rushing currents or broken ribs. All he could feel was the ground under him and grass around him. He felt peaceful and at rest.

'So…is this what being dead feels like?'

He thought maybe it was. 'But wasn't I like the main character or something? Do I just die early?'

"Neptune…"

In an instant, Neptune opened his eyes. He saw a clear blue sky with absolutely no clouds in sight. He turned his head left and then right. He saw that he was in a clearing in some sort of forest. The forest was so still and so quiet as if sound and noise doesn't exist there.

"Neptune…"

He heard it again; a woman's voice. It was barely audible but he could still make out his name being said. It was coming from behind him. He stood up and turned around and saw an ocean.

The clearing was in a hemisphere shape and at the end the ocean reached as far as the horizon. And at the horizon, there was a light.

"…hear…?"

"What?"

Neptune walked towards the water's edge and peered at the light. All he saw was a ball of light on top of the water's surface. But as he looked harder he notice something else; an outline of a person. He couldn't make the person's appearances because of the light but he thought he saw the waving long hair of a woman.

"…card."

Neptune realized the woman voice was coming from the person in the distance with the light. "What? Excuse me but what are you saying?!" he shouted at the top of his voice.

"Find…."

"Again, what are you trying to say Miss?!"

"…can't….."

"Oh boy, geez what is going on here? Where the heck am I?" Neptune looked around. He remembered he fell into a river but he didn't see one. If he had drifted then he would be on a riverbank. But somehow he ended up here.

"…Neptune...wake…"

"Man who is this lady? Am I even in Celestia?"

Neptune looked back at the woman in the distance and stared for a while until he felt as if the world around was spinning. His vision started to blur and everywhere around started to fade to black.

"Wait, what? Everything is disappearing. Come on, what the heck is going on anyway?"

As soon as he said that, the world turned pitch black.

"Hey, did you see?"

"Yeah, I saw his head moved a bit."

"Do you think he is waking up?"

"I'm sure he is child. Excuse me young lad, can you hear me?"

Neptune moaned. For a moment his body felt all relaxed but now it felt sore and tired. Neptune turned his head left and right, trying to push away his daze. He could feel his wet clothes against his skin and taste blood in his mouth. But what he really felt most of all was the warm sensation in his chest.

"Young lad, are you awake? Can you hear me?"

The voice he heard was that of an old man. When he opened his eyes, he saw three people looking over him.

"Grandpa, he is awake."

"Yeah, looks like your healing magic worked really well."

The two voices he heard next were those of young girls. And Neptune saw the two of them sitting on one side of him and the old man was sitting on the other side. The old man has his hands over his chest and he saw it was glowing green.

"Wait, who...?" Neptune said, trying to get up.

"Don't push yourself lad. Marilyn, don't mind if you give him an elixir."

"Ok grandpa."

One of the two girls opened a handbag by her side and took out a bottle that contains red liquid. She unscrewed the bottle and held the top of it to his lids, "Here you go. Drink up."

Neptune placed his lips on top of the bottle and the girl, Marilyn, tilted it down as he drank it. Immediately, Neptune's felt the tiredness and soreness in his body disappearing.

"There, you feel better Mister?"

"Well...starting to feel less tired now. I guess."

"You sure had some injury there. Luckily I was able to fix those broken ribs and internal organs. But I'm more surprised you had these wounds and was still breathing."

"Indeed, he is quite resilient."

This time Neptune heard a woman's voice. Neptune sat up, his head was still a bit daze and his muscles were still slightly sore but he felt alright. Once he sat up he looked at his saviors.

The old man who healed him had white hair and beard; he had fair skin and could be handsome in his youth. He had green eyes and was wearing a fine embroider shirt and finely-made jeans and was carrying a traveling bag. He was also short and doesn't to have any wrinkles.

Neptune then looked the two girls. The girl named Marilyn was wearing a red and orange dress. She had hairpins on her waving gold hair which reached her shoulders and had blue eyes. The handbag she was carrying was pretty and well-made.

The girl next to Marilyn looked older. She had long golden hair that was twirled at the end and also had blue eyes. She wore a pink blouse with a cream color long skirt. What Neptune found interesting was that she had all sorts of flowers clipped to her hair. She too was carrying a handbag that was well-made and looks very expensive.

But what Neptune weird and surprising was that, one; they are really short. The old man was a third of his height and the girls were only half.

Second, they had pointy ears.

Neptune kept staring at their ears which the old man noticed, "Well I guess I can't blame you for staring at our ears. All humans do so when they first met our kind, or at least don't know what our race looks like."

"Wait, so you say that you three are not human?"

The old man shook his head and gave a warm smile, "No we are not."

The older of the two girls spoke up, "Shall we show you Mister?"

"Yeah we should. Let's show him our wings, Amelia," Marilyn said.

"Wait, wings...?"

Suddenly, Neptune saw the things on their backs he didn't notice before. A pair of wings spread off their backs on each of the two girls. The wings seemed to be like those of insects but more majestic. The wings on the girls flapped and they took off from the ground and hovered.

Neptune stared at them with wide eyes, "Whoa, whoa, wait a carton candy minute you all are like...um..."

The girl, Amelia, giggled, "Silly, we are not like. We are."

"That's right young lad," the old man said before he spread his own wings and started hovering over the ground. "We are fairies from the fairy race."

Neptune stood and looked at the three fairies, stunned that he was face to face with some of the most mystical and majestic beings in Gamindustry. He had heard stories about them, about their beauty, their forest, their handicraft and great skill over magic. And to think they saved him when he could have died.

"Oh man, now this is some event here. I wasn't expecting that."

"So what were you expecting?" Marilyn asked.

"Oh nothing, look, I just want say thanks to you all for pulling me out of that river and heal me." Neptune said with a smile.

The three fairies looked at each other and the old man said, "Well yes, we did heal you but we weren't the one who pulled you out of that river."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I guess I should have spoken up more earlier." A woman's voice said from behind Neptune and he turned around and was dumbstruck by what he saw.

The woman was looking at the Neptune and the fairies in the river. Her lower half was in the river and Neptune gulped because the lady was beautiful. Neptune has never seen such a fair and smooth skin such as hers. Her long caramel hair was near perfect and her lips were small but lovely. Her eyes were large and beautiful. Neptune saw her breast; large that they were touching and gorgeously round. They covered by a pair of seashell bra. Her belly was smooth and her shoulders and even her arms were what Neptune could only describe as perfect. Her entire being was perfect. They were pretty and beautiful women in the village but this one is more than a match for any of them.

Neptune stared at her, with his heart beating slightly faster. The woman saw his expression and smiled, showing off perfectly white teeth, "How are you young man?"

Neptune could only do the slightest of nod, "I'm glad that you are feeling well. You were so injured when I found you. I dragged you to this riverbank and didn't know what to do until I saw these fairies passing by. I signaled them and luckily they noticed."

"You dragged me here? Whoa, you must be a strong swimmer."

The woman smiled wider, "Well my kind are all strong swimmers. If not then what is the purpose of our tails?"

Neptune was confused with that statement, "Tails? What do you mean by that?"

Like Amelia, the lady giggled, "You can't tell huh. Well let me show you."

She angled herself so she was lying on her side. Seeing what she was doing Neptune thought her lower half would be visible on the water surface. But what immerged surprised him beyond anything else.

The fish tail was large and had dark green scales. The fish tail shined with the sunlight reflecting off the damp scales. The green skin and scales reached up until her waist.

Neptune just stared at the fish tail with wide eyes. The woman and fairies just smile at his expression. After a moment of silent Neptune spoke up, "F-fish t-tail, you are...you're a..." the word got stuck in his throat.

"Well you are certainly surprised. But yes I am a..."

"A mermaid!" Neptune shouted out.

Neptune sudden shout out made the mermaid and the fairies jumped a bit. "Well that was kind of startling." Marilyn said.

Neptune looked at the mermaid and then at the fairies and back again. He can't believe his fall from the ravine could just trigger an event flag like this. 'Man, I'm sure going to have a story to tell everyone when...' then Neptune remembered his friends and their fight with the trolls. "Oh crap, my friends!"

For the second time, the mystical creatures surrounding him were startled. "What is it lad?" the old fairy asked.

Neptune's head turned left and right along the river. He saw the massive cliffs to his right. He was far away from them. The cliffs looked small in the distance.

"Oh man, I'm so damn far. I need to get back up there. I wonder if they are alright."

"What is it Mister?" Amelia asked, flying close to his side, "Why are you panicking? Is something wrong? Something to do with your friends?"

"Yeah, we were fighting some trolls and one of them knocked me off and that was how I got here."

"Fighting with trolls? Why you and your friends would be doing fighting trolls?" the mermaid asked.

"Um, we're just doing our job."

"Your job? Why would a young human like you be fighting trolls?"

"Um, well, it's bit of a long story but I don't have time for that right now. I just really need to get back up there."

"Hmm," the mermaid looked at the distance cliffs, "I'm not sure but maybe there is a way up from the base of the cliffs."

"I don't know about that, I think it will take me hours or the whole day."

"Well then why not let the fairies fly you up there?"

"Yeah, so what do you think? You'll help me?" Neptune asked the three fairies.

"Hmm, we could but it is kind of far and those cliffs seem really high." The old fairy said.

"Yeah, and we have somewhere to be right now." Marilyn said.

"That's right; our hometown is having the Summer Moon Festival. And we are supposed to be there and we are already late," said Amelia.

"Now, now girls, I'm sure that helping this lad is more important than the festival."

"Ahhhwww," the fairy girls bowed their head in disappointment. Neptune immediately felt a bit guilty and said, "You know what, you don't need to help me. I think I can find my own way back up."

"But don't your friends need your help?"

"Nay, I'm sure they can handle a bunch of trolls. It's probably no problem."

"But..."

Neptune cut the old fairy off with a wave of his hand, "No need old man, you all just go off to your summer, whatever, festival and enjoy yourselves." Neptune gave him a smile.

The old fairy looked at him and sighed, "Ok then, if you say so young lad."

"Okie-dokie, so thanks for healing me Mister...?"

"The name's Crowe and your welcome," the old fairy said with a courteous bow.

"Well thank you Mister Crowe. So have fun with your festival whatever. The name's Neptune by the way."

With a grin, the old fairy bowed again and said to his two nieces, "Okay then girls, let us go home."

"Goodbye Neptune," said Marilyn.

"Have a safe trip back up," said Amelia.

"Indeed. I pray that you be safe and your friends as well." Crowe said.

"Okay, thanks."

The three fairies flapped their wings and flew off with the two fairy girls waving back at him. Crowe looked back him. Neptune couldn't see it but the old fairy looked at him with eyes full of curiosity and suspicion, 'The young lad...his aura...his entire being feels odd. I don't think he is human.'

"Grandpa what's wrong?" his niece, Amelia, asked.

"Oh it's nothing child," he replied with a grin.

Neptune watched them fly off into the distance until they disappeared behind the trees. Neptune sighed, 'Looks like I'm taking the long way.'

"It seems you have a tough route ahead of you," the mermaid said.

Neptune nodded, "Yeah, well maybe it's for some other important event that is gonna happen soon."

"I guess you will be heading out into the woods. I think there could be some monsters in there. Here, luckily I grab this before it floated away."

Neptune turned around and saw his katana in front of the mermaid. He was distracted by the mermaid that he didn't saw it laying there. He went over and picked it up and sheathed it, "Thanks, um...what's your name...?" Neptune looked at her and then was attracted by her eyes. They were ivory colored and were almost enchanting to look at.

"My name is Irie. Pleased to meet your acquaintance Neptune," she held out a hand but then saw Neptune looking her in the eye with a weird look, "Um, excuse? Neptune?"

Neptune snapped back to his senses and saw the mermaid holding out her hand, he took it and shake it and gave her a grin, "Nice to meet you too Irie. Thanks for saving me."

"Your welcome, it's not common for mermaids to associate or help humans but it doesn't mean we are not allowed to."

Neptune scratched the back of his head and his grin widened, "Well I guess this is an extraordinary meeting for both of us huh?"

Irie smiled back, showing off her perfectly white teeth. Neptune looked at the mermaid, at every fiber of her. He had listened to Nepgear telling him about mermaids and their beauty and now seeing one up close really was way better than looking at pictures in a book.

Irie saw him looking at her with the same look and laughed light-heartedly, "Enchanted are you? Well don't think you're the only one. My mother told me that many men, mostly humans, are almost always drawn to a mermaid's beauty."

"Well you are a pretty hot chick after all."

Irie welcomed the compliment with another light-hearted laugh, "Well, do you have a beautiful girl from where you came from?"

"What? A beautiful girl from where I come from...?"

"Yeah, you know, or maybe a certain girl that caught your eyes? Someone that you found attractive?" Irie said with a hint of mischievousness and a grin.

The question really got Neptune off guard. 'A girl that I like...? Hmm...Nope I don't think so."

"Ok then. Don't know why I asked. Well then I should head back. I need to get back home," said Irie.

"What were you doing in a river like this anyway?"

"Oh it's nothing really. I was just visiting some fish friends."

"Ok then, so again thanks for saving me."

"Your welcome, I pray that you be safe on your way. I shall also pray that your friends be safe. Hopefully, Lord Poseidon can hear my prayers. If not then maybe Lady Nephthys or Lord Suijin will hear them."

"So you like pray to different gods?"

"Well sort of. All sea people like us mermaids pray to sea gods. Although we will also pray to other gods but it is rare."

"Alright so, thanks for the prayers. I feel safe already."

Irie grinned one last time, "Farewell Neptune," and then she splashed into the water and Neptune watched as she swum up river towards the direction of the sea.

When he couldn't see her anymore he looked at the right of the wide riverbank. The space of dirt was the only clear riverbank as far his eyes could see. The rest of the riverbank on both side of the river was full of trees with hardly any space to step on. "Alright, time to go. I hope everyone is okay," he said before stepping into the forest. He stayed close to the river and followed it.

Neptune couldn't go through the forest within more than a minute before monsters attacked him. He heard the bushes rustling before a delinquent cat jumped out and attack him. Neptune quickly drew his katana and blocked its attack.

Both opponents stepped back and get into fighting stance. "So it's just you only? Well then you should have brought some friends wi..." before he could finish, more delinquent cats, a dozen of them, came out of the bushes.

"Never mind."

The delinquent cats attacked Neptune all at once. He blocked and stepped back as they attempted to cut him with their claws. One leaped at him and slashed but he side-stepped and swung his sword as it soared passed. The blade cut the cat and it burst into light.

Neptune parried an attack to his leg and deflected another one. He thrust his katana into the said attacking cat and it let out a grunt before bursting into light. One of the delinquent cats attacked from behind. Neptune brought his katana behind him, blocked it and pushed the cat away. Then he turned around and slashed the monster before it could react. The group of delinquent cats continued assaulting him and Neptune managed to skillfully evaded and blocked their attack while taking them out one by one until only three are left.

'All right, I'll just finish them off easy-pisy and I will just go on my way,' Neptune prepared to charge at the remaining cats when he heard a sound from above. He looked up and but was too late when one of the delinquent cats that was standing on a branch of a nearby tree a little to his right jumped and slammed into him with surprising force. He fell down and the next thing he knew he was rolling downhill.

After a few seconds, Neptune rolled through some bushes and he stopped. He stood up, slightly disoriented and his sense of balance slightly off. He looked around and saw the delinquent cat that pushed him stood up and faced him, its huge claws held up. Then it charged.

It swung its claws left and then right. Neptune blocked and parried them and executed a successful cut to the delinquent cat's left pelvis. The cat lunged at Neptune but with a flick of his sword, deflected the attack and countered with slashed the delinquent cat across the chest, followed by a finishing blow with a downward slash. The monster screamed before dissipating into light.

Neptune exhaled, "Well that's done," he sheathed his katana...and just when he did a sound turned his attention towards the slope he rolled down. The three remaining delinquent cats from before were sliding down it, "Oh yeah, those three," Neptune kept his hand wrapped around the sheathed katana, his focus on the three monsters, waiting for one or two of them to attack.

The delinquent cat in the front attacked. With its feline agility, it jumped into the air at Neptune, its claws extended. Seeing the attack coming Neptune immediately took a step forward with his right foot and spun left while drawing his katana and swinging it in a wide arc. His timing and aim was perfect and his katana cut through the delinquent cat.

The two remaining delinquent cats hissed at Neptune, seeing when he killed another of their brethren. One of them lunged at Neptune and he parried. The other delinquent cat came at him from his right flank and raised its claws to attack. Neptune saw it coming from the corner of his eyes and he quickly drew out his straight sword. The sword appeared in a flash of light in his left hand and he slid it under his right arm and blocked the attack. The three opponents held the lock for a few seconds before Neptune, with his not-so-normal strength, pushed the two monsters back. Then he spun and swung both swords in his hands, cutting both delinquent cats.

Neptune went for the cat that tried to attack his flank. Before it could react, Neptune thrust both katana and straight sword into its chest and it died in flash of light and to the sound similar to glass breaking.

The lilac-haired turned to face the last delinquent standing. It stood a few feet from him, looking at him with piercing feline eyes. "Alright buddy you're next."

He raised his swords, ready to rush at the monster. He looked at it, scanning for any sign to move and attack. Neptune put his right foot forward and was ready to sprint...

He felt pins and needles and the coldness of ice encasing his right hand. Neptune yelled in surprise and winched at the coldness in his hand. He looked behind at whatever attacked him.

The ice girl that was floating behind him was the one that shot that ice attack, which purpose is to simply freeze things. It looked at Neptune with large, unblinking eyes. It floated around left and right slightly as it is its usual movement.

"Oh boy, another problem had to pop up."

Just as he finished, another monster appeared from behind a tree. It possessed the same blue skin and looks as the ice girl but minus the pink ribbon. This of course indicates that this monster is an ice boy.

"Yap, just more problems."

Both ghost monsters looked at Neptune and then did what all monsters' natural instincts told them to do: Kill in sight.

The air above the ice girl and ice boy started to grow cold and ice starts to take form. Neptune stood ready; with the delinquent cat behind him, the two ghosts in front him and his hand frozen he knows he has to be ready for both at any time.

And it was the delinquent cat that attacked first. It shrieked as he charged at Neptune, it leapt with claws up ready to slash. Neptune blocked the attack and pushed the monster back. Then he turned around in time as the two ice ghosts fired two large and sharp icicles at him, which he expected. Neptune slashed with his straight sword at the incoming icicles and they broke into pieces.

Neptune heard the delinquent coming at him again. It rushed at Neptune while he spun to his right to meet the coming attack. The delinquent cat attempt to slash at him but its effort was foiled when Neptune slammed his ice encased hand on top of the monster, freeing his hand and dazing the cat. With the opening Neptune swung his two swords in an 'X' which finished it off.

The two ghosts fired a barrage of sharp icicles and Neptune ran behind a tree while deflecting them although some hit him which made him winched. He pressed his back against the tree trunk and then peaked behind it. He saw the two ice ghosts floating towards the tree. Seeing them approaching Neptune saw a good opportunity to strike fast when they get close.

He waited for them to come closer, peering behind the tree to make sure it was a good distance. He tightened his grip on his swords and was about to take a step around the tree when he heard a sound from behind some bushes.

He looked towards where the sound is and saw a pixelvader appearing from behind the bushes. It saw Neptune and without hesitation it did what all monsters do.

Pixels started to appear above the pixelvader and it formed into a small spear which flew at Neptune.

Neptune tilted his head sideways just as the spear struck and impeded into the tree right next to his head. The pixelvader attempted to fire another pixel spear but Neptune launched a 16-bit mega blade at it and then ran towards it and slashed which killed it.

Neptune turned back to the ghosts which were behind him and were preparing to attack. Neptune quickly swung his katana at the ghost girl which finished it then tried to attack the ice boy.

But he was attack from behind and almost fell forward. He glimpsed behind him and saw another pixelvader which had hit him by enlarging itself and smacking itself against his back.

Neptune then winched when he felt cold sharp ice hitting him in the chest. Neptune cursed himself to lose focus on the ice boy so easily.

Unfortunately Neptune's situation gets worse as three more pixelvaders appeared behind the pixelvader that attacked him. The four pixelvaders and the ice boy attacked Neptune all at once.

Neptune evaded their attacks and scrambled away. He looked behind at the monsters and considered retreating.

But he then thought otherwise, 'No way, I ain't gonna run away from a bunch of low level monsters.'

He turned around and faced the monsters. The ice boy and the pixelvaders stood together in formation a couple of feet away. Neptune gripped his swords tightly and looked at the monsters in turn and sees which he should attack first and which next. He thought he should go for the ice boy first.

He went into a fighting stance and the monsters tensed. Neptune locked his eyes on the ice boy and was about to sprint forward when he heard the sound of bush rustling and bones clicking. A sound he had heard before.

And his guess was right. He looked around and saw a gloved fist coming at him. Neptune's reflexes kicked in and he ducked just in time. He slid aside and looked at the new monster.

The boxer-x's bones clicked as it tilted its head and looked at Neptune. The monster was entirely a walking skeleton with big red boxing gloves. The boxer-x looked at the smaller monsters and they looked back. The boxer-x moved its jaw and the smaller monsters replied with noises which Neptune was sure only monsters could understand they faced Neptune together.

"Seriously? Alright then I'll just take you guys on and..."

"Hu...man...?" an almost unintelligent and deep voice said behind Neptune. He looked behind him and sweat dropped, "The author is messing with me right?"

The minotaur stood about seven feet tall and has good muscles on it. Its head was of course, the head of a bull and it wore nothing but a loin cloth. In one hand it held a crude club.

The minotaur looked at him and immediately its eyes became ferocious and filled with bloodlust. "A...human...!" and it charged, bended over with its horns pointing straight forward.

Neptune rolled aside and the minotaur went pass him, now towards the monsters. The smaller monsters scrambled away from the charging beast but the boxer-x was too slow. The minotaur got it at its right arm which tore off its socket. The minotaur stopped and turned around towards the skeleton monster. The boxer-x threw a hook at the beast but the minotaur shrugged it off as if it was nothing and swung its club at the skeleton. The boxer-x shattered into pieces and its bone parts dissipated into light.

The ice boy and pixelvaders attacked the minotaur. It roared and attacked back. It smashed its club on one of the pixelvaders and patted away the ice boy hard enough that it died. In two more swings the rest of the monsters were finished. With them gone the minotaur turned its attention towards Neptune.

"So...I guess we won't be talking this out?"

The minotaur looked at the lilac-haired boy with wild eyes and then shouted, "Die!" and charged at him.

Neptune stood his ground until it came close and step-sided while swinging his straight sword and cut it on its side. The minotaur swung its club. Neptune ducked and slashed with his katana at its stomach. It ignored the pain and slammed its club. Neptune backed away and the minotaur swung its club wildly at him. Neptune dodged and backed away. When the minotaur swung its club to the right, he spun to the left and slashed, getting the monster on its left pelvis.

The minotaur growled and threw a backhand at Neptune and he avoided it by taking a step back. It followed up with a swing of its club. Neptune took another step back and brought his straight sword up, cutting it wide on the cheek. It roared and took a few steps back while taking deep breathes.

They stood apart a few feet from each other. Neptune got the minotaur with four hits and he was in the advantage. He could see that the minotaur was reckless and wild in his attacks. Straight forward, lacks discipline and proper style. Neptune was faster and more agile. All he needs is a clean attack to finish it off.

As the minotaur huff and puff, it roared one more time before charging again. And Neptune saw his chance.

When the minotaur came close he spun to the right. In mid-spin he bended his body down slightly and swung both swords as he could. The two blades got the beast on its left knee, cutting one deep. The attack tripped the minotaur and it fell down. It tried to get up but with the blow to the back of the knee it was in trouble. With the opening, Neptune leapt forward and stabbed it in the back with his katana.

The minotaur twitched and grunt in pain. It tried reaching for Neptune but he thrusted his straight into the back of its head. The minotaur's hand dropped and no movement came from the body.

Neptune pulled out both his swords and looked down at the corpse, expecting it to burst into light but it didn't. Then he remembered, 'Oh, minotaurs are one of those monsters that don't explode when they die.'

Exhaling, Neptune put his swords back into his storage and looked around, "Ok, I don't know where I am now. Where was the river again?" he said to himself softly. He looked at the forest around him. With the delinquent cat pushing him down a hill and all those monsters attacked him; he was driven away from his route.

"Hmm, I think it was this way," he walked forward at the direction he thought was right, "probably."

Neptune didn't hear any noises around him. He was on high alert for anymore monsters that could appear and attack him but the forest was quiet and seems to get quieter as he walked onwards.

As for where he was going he was already feeling that he was wrong about the direction he was taking. He considered turning back but where to then? He had never been in these parts of the forest before.

'Oh man, this is bum. I can't be lost now. Everyone could be in danger,' he thought but then took it back, 'Nah no way; Nepgear won't lose to a bunch of trolls. She got Nereus and Uni with her. Those siblings are tough too. And also Plutia, she can fight too.'

As Neptune continued on forward, his thoughts turned back during the month Plutia stayed with him and Nepgear. The siblings thought she was really sweet, always cheery and happy. Her personality is really laid-back and ditzy, her mind always wondering off and remains calm all the time. So calm that they could hardly tell by her expression what she was thinking. Although there were times that she acted kind of weird, she would say creepy stuff that would send chills down their spines. But overall the atmosphere at home was as if extra fuel was added to the fire. Everyone at the village welcomed her and she got along with everyone. Nereus was a bit rough with her on the first day but warmed up to her and sees her as a friend. Plutia was on and on about making friends and plushies of us. Back at home she would sleep a lot which they didn't mind. Neptune had found it to be kind of cute. There were some awkward moments like when he saw her in a towel and that one time she wrapped it around her poorly and it almost fell off. And that time when doing the laundry, he had to fold her clothes and of course, her panties. He was used to doing Nepgear's because they were siblings and lived together but somehow, he was blushing red when he held Plutia's white panties during the first time doing her laundry.

'Man, Plutia living with us was a good feel and touch to our lives.'

His thoughts were interrupted when he saw something ahead. He could see something behind some trees and bushes. He walked faster, walking past the trees and then found himself in a small clearing. And in the clearing was a brick house.

The one-storied house was well-made. It was old-styled, nothing unique or stylish about it; with a simple wooden door, glass-planed windows, tile roof and a chimney. But yet again, this type of house is something that wasn't built often around these parts. The wall of the house was covered in vines and leaves.

Neptune walked towards the house. He saw smoke coming from the chimney which means someone was home. He thought maybe he could ask for directions. He was about a few feet from the door but stopped when it opened and a girl appeared.

And the girl was kind of beautiful and looks to be around Nepgear's age. Her green long hair fell to her waist, her skin was fair and her eyes were light green. She was wearing a dress that had pictures of leaves and flowers over it.

When they were a few feet apart, Neptune saw that she looked at him with eyes filled with distrust, "Um, hi there. You lived around here?"

The girl didn't reply and kept staring at him, observing him, as if waiting for him attack or something, "Um, so...do you talk? If you don't then don't mind if you point me in the right direction? I'm kind of lost right now," Neptune gave her his warmest smile he has.

But the girl didn't move or say anything yet. Neptune didn't know what was wrong with her.

Until he noticed her blush cheeks, the way her eyes avoided contact with his and how she moved her feet. All of that made Neptune realized she was nervous and shy. No wonder why she didn't speak.

"Whoa, hey I am not gonna bite or anything. So you don't need to be nervous."

"A-a-and am I s-supposed to trust a human like you?" the girl finally spoke up.

"Yeah, you definitely can trust a hu...wait, what do you mean by that? You make it sound like you are not human."

"W-well, i-i-it is because I-I'm not human. A-and I can't just...let a human enter Lord Pan's territory."

"Um, Lord...who?"

"Y-yeah, humans can't just enter his territory. Who knows what you will do."

"Like what?"

"W-w-well, y-you know..."

"I know...what?"

"Ah...Ah, l-like..." the girl's voice started to break.

"Yuumi, what's going on out there?" the voice came from the brick house.

"Um, it's nothing my lord. It's just...um..."

Then a shirtless old man appeared from inside the house, "You're sure? It doesn't sound like a nothing to me...oh who's this?"

"He's a human my lord and he is entering your front lawns without permission."

"Many things have come into my front lawn before. There is no need to be hostile now Yuumi."

"B-but look at him. He is looking at you with an odd look. Hey s-stop doing that! That is absolutely rude especially when you are in the presence of lord Pan."

The old man, lord Pan, chuckled, "Don't worry Yuumi, I think I know why."

When lord Pan came out, Neptune knew at once what he was. Who wouldn't? With the horns on his head and the lower half of him was covered in fur and ends with black hooves. If one could tell they were the legs of goats. Overall, Neptune knew that this so-called lord Pan is a satyr; half-man, half-goat.

"So I guess you haven't seen a satyr before," asked lord Pan.

"Um actually I have before."

"Uh-huh, well then young lad, so what brings you...?" Pan stopped mid-sentence and was looking at Neptune almost suspiciously. He approached Neptune all the while had his eyes locked on him. When he was close, lord Pan scanned Neptune all over.

"Um, excuse me, mister...why are you looking at me like that?"

Pan continued to stare at Neptune a little while longer until a smile brighten up his expression, "Well by the True Goddess, I never thought that one of them would just appear in my presence. Good to know that people like you are still been born despite her powers and essences are disappearing from this world," he said in a soft voice.

"Um, I don't get it. What do you mean by that gramps?"

"Hey!" shouted Yuumi, "You can't speak to lord Pan like that. How dare you called him gramps?!"

Pan held up a hand, "Now, now, it is alright Yuumi. And you," Pan turned back to Neptune, "Tell me, why are you here? Are you recently born? If so then why have you not met Balthazar yet? He should have found you by now."

"I don't know really know what you're talking about but I was born like...many years ago or I wouldn't be this old."

"Hmm, ok then I'll try another question: Do you have any memories of your past?"

That question hit home, "Yeah, I don't have any memories of my past, so did my sister and my friends."

Pan raised an eyebrow, "A sister...and friends? How long ago do you all remember?"

Neptune shrugged, "Not long. My sister and I woke up with amnesia about more than two years ago. My friend and his sister is more than that. And another one that lost her memories only a few months ago."

'Five,' Pan thought, 'Five candidates were born and became friends. Maybe they will be the ones, just like the CPUs of Lowee."

"I see. What's your name?"

"Neptune. Look gramps, I'm kind of in a hurry right now. Do you know any way up those cliffs?"

"Yes actually but why?"

One explanation later

"Oh dear me, trolls huh? They are a very nasty race. And you and your friends were fighting them but you got knocked off the cliff. I see."

"Yeah, so got any way for me to get up there?"

"Well yes I do. I can send you up there with my powers."

"Powers? Like magic right? Got some kind of teleporting spell for me?"

"Yes I do actually."

"Alright then, let's get on already."

"Very well, now listen to me and do exactly as I say and..."

"My lord!" everyone jumped at the sudden girl's voice. They turned to where the voice came from and saw young girl in a dress came running towards Pan.

"Shelia, what is it?" Pan asked.

"I-I was just walking around the forest looking for nuts or berries to eat when I saw a group of humans walking by the river."

"Humans?"

"Yes, my lord."

"And this is urgent because?"

"Well, I thought I might just inform you about it just in case it could a threat."

Pan smiled and patted the head of the little girl, "That's okay Shelia. We don't have to worry about them. Not all humans are bad and a threat."

Shelia smiled back and then noticed Neptune, "W-what? Why is a human doing here?"

"Oh it's nothing. Don't worry about him, he won't bite."

"Yeah don't worry kid. The only things I bite are monsters," said Neptune, flashing a smile.

"Really?"

"No...It sounds kind of disgusting,"

The little girl chuckled, "Yep, there's the smile now. Hey by the way, what do these humans look like?"

"What they look like...? Hmm, well, I didn't memorize their faces but when I think about it, one of them, a girl, happens to like almost like you."

"A girl? Does she happen to have a d-pad hairclip and wearing a sailor-dress?"

Shelia nodded.

"Wait that would mean..."

"Hmm, it would seem your friends are looking for you." Pan said.

"So they did beat up those trolls after all. I knew they wouldn't just lose. I better go find them." Neptune was about to run off but Pan stopped him, "Wait Neptune, do you even know where to go from here? You could get lost."

"Oh, I guess you are right. But how can I find my friends when if I don't go?"

"Well," Pan turned back to Shelia, "Shelia, can do me a favor?"

"Yes my lord."

"Can you go back to where you found those humans and lead them here?"

Shelia hesitated for a moment but then nodded, "Alright, anything you say." She bowed and run towards the edge of the forest. When she got there, she suddenly dispersed into dozens of leaves which flew off into the forest.

"Ok, so I guess I'll just have to wait then."

"While we wait, let's go into the house. No need to wait out here," said Pan.

All three of them started walking towards the house. When they passed through the front door and into the house, Neptune got a surprise.

Seeing the house in front, people would think it was in good shape but they think so when they see that the back of the house was gone; tore away by whatever destructive force that came across this house. The living room of the house survived along with a room and dining room but the rest was all gone. In its place were vines, bushes and tree that grew intertwined with the wall of the house.

"Hey Pan, why do she and that girl just now called you lord? You're some kind of big-shot leader or something?"

Yuumi scoffed, "Honestly, do you not know whose presence you are in now? Do you not know who is lord Pan?"

Neptune shook his head and grin, "Um, sorry but...no. No I don't."

'That's weird. She was nervous and shy a few minutes ago,' thought Neptune.

"Now, now Yuumi, you don't have to be seriously about it. If he doesn't know, then I don't mind," Pan said humbly.

"Hmm, you know what, I want to know who you are," Neptune said.

"All right then I will do the introduction," Yuumi said.

"Ok, so who is he? Is he really some famous overlord of this land or master of the forest and its leader?"

"Huh, as if an overlord or master can describe a god like lord Pan."

"Ok, then how about...wait, say again?"

"You heard me;" Yuumi said and held a hand out towards Pan, "Who you are in the presences of is none other than the lord of the wild himself. The son of the Olympian god Hermes, he is the god of shepherds and flocks, of wild mountains, hunting and folk music. There are many gods and goddesses of nature but to us he is the great god of nature and the wild, the great Lord Pan!"

Ok initially I intended to continue from here but it reached 10,000 words, so I decided to cut it into two so as not make you readers read through all 10,000 words. So anyway, leave a review, criticise it, tell me what's wrong or bad about it, I would appreciate it.