AN: Well... I wanted to try to write a pairing story quite... Singular. So I wanted to give it a shot...
I don't own nothing, if not this story and few OC, if I want to introduce them, that is. All characters belongs to Idea Factory, Compile Heart, Felis Stella.
If you, readers, find any mistakes, please, point them out.
To Love a Tome
1: Begin
Gameindustri...
Here in this reality shift realm are 4 presiding CPU (Control Patron Unit).
CPU Black Heart, and her "Land of Black Regality - Lastation".
CPU White Heart, and her "Land of White Serenity - Lowee".
CPU Green Heart, and her "Land of Green Pastures - Leanbox".
CPU Purple Heart, and her "Land of Purple Progress - Planeptune".
This four CPU, also called Goddess, protected their citizens from all threats.
There were countless occasions where an unprecedented danger threatened the world.
Thorugh their effort, the Goddesses used their power to save the world.
There is one thing to say, about a certain Goddess...
About Purple Heart, and that is-
-What are you doing Neptune...-
Asked a pissed little fairy-like being that was seated on a floating open book. This character is Historie, Oracle of Planeptune. But she was more than that. She was the Tome, a mysterious and powerful being, possessing all of the world's knowledge and having the ability to reshape reality. Though she does have limitations herself, such as not being able to do much other than look up information unless given permission by others and always taking a measurement of three's to find it. This was a security measure put into place by the goddess who created her in order to ensure she and future goddesses could not go rogue and simply alter things as they saw it fit.
Taken by surprise, Neptune yelped with a simple.
-Nepu?!-
Looking behind her, she made a deep breath, trying to recollect herself.
-H-Histy! You surprised me.-
Neptune was a fair skinned girl with light purple eyes and a matching shade of hair. It's shoulder length with somewhat messy bangs with many strands sticking up and few framing her face. She wears two gamepad-shaped hairclips. Neptune was wearing a big white hoodie-like dress with purple striped cuffs, lining, and a purple hood. The outfit had pale, ice blue and light lilac accents. As well as a zipper section, two big round pockets, a big zipper with an N on it, and strings resembling a plug. Around her neck she wore a simple white choker. Her lilac shoes have blue and white accents and were also worn with blue and white striped stockings.
Smiling and with her eyes shining, she continued to talk, explaining to Historie what she was doing.
-Well you know, I was just doing my job as a CPU, and explained my story's rough introduction to all my good friends!-
Yes. Neptune is the CPU of Planeptune, Purple Heart.
-I see. It's so admirable how enthusiastically you're working.-
Said Historie after listening to the words of Neptune. Histoire was a fair skinned fairy with dull blue eyes and soft blonde hair. Her bangs curl in both directions, with two, longer curled pieces of hair that reach her chest. The rest of her hair was worn up in pigtails held by a white, black, and blue head piece that covers her ears, and a pair of purple and gold ribbons. She was wearing a short fit light purple dress with a blue and white tie and white cuffs. She was wearing long white socks and shoes. Her blue-purple wings resemble vaguely that of a butterfly.
Smirking, Neptune said.
-Right? I've been working on the story introduction since last night...-
-... I see.-
And then Historie snapped, burning with her magic power the sheets in the hands of Neptune.
-DO YOU REALLY THINK THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING!?-
-NEPUUU!? THE STORY INTRODUCTION!-
Without listening the protest of Neptune, Historie continued her lesson. A lesson that probably she will never end to repeat...
-Listen up, Neptune. We're going to have a serious talk today... You need to be a little bit more aware of your position as a CPU. While it is true that you and the others are at peace right now, there is still a mountain of issues in Planetune under your rule.-
Unfortunately for Historie, the ears of Neptune were listening something else entirely.
-Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah et cetera-
Minutes passed since Historie started her speech about the responsabilities of a CPU.
-... And so, as the Oracle of this nation, I believe that in order to make this world a better place, you need to...-
-Ah Neptune!
And a wild Nepgear has appeared! This girl in none other then the little sister Neptune, a CPU Candidate. In terms of appearance Nepgear seems to be older than Neptune, and was noticeably taller than her older sister. She was a fair-skinned girl with long lilac-purple hair almost waist in length with few loose strands of long hair curling down. Her bangs were usually kept neatly brushed. Her eyes were slightly darker.
Nepgear's outfit was somewhat similar to Neptune's but with more reserved styling, almost resembling a school uniform consisting of a white jacket-dress with purple lining consisting of thin double white stripes. A white choker, and around her neck is a pale yellow ribbon like piece with a N in the center. At her chest is a small pink marking while the pockets and buttons are purple. On her right leg is a white belt like purse object and she wears pink and white striped socks with white and purple shoes very similar to Neptune's own. In her hair she was wearing a single direction pad button.
Neptune, noticing her sister bringing a plastic bag full of puddings, exclaimed while running towards the girl.
-Oh Nepgear! Just in time!-
-Neptune! This talk is not over yet...!-
-I brought some pudding from that shop you always visit -
-Cool! Now let's dig in! Ehy Histy, there are a lot pudding here! Want some?-
And once again, Histoire snapped, but this time without unleashing her magical power to burn the pudding that Nepgear had bought.
-STOP BEING SO IRRESPONSIBLE! YOU'RE ALWAYS LIKE THIS, AND I HAVE ALWAYS TO REPEAT MYSELF! YOU NEED TO DO YOUR JOB WHEN I TELL YOU! I HAVE BEEN LETTING THINGS SLIDE, BUT I CAN STAND IT NO LONGER!
With a swift movement of her little arms, she stole the plastic bag from the hands of Neptune that was left dazed by the yells of the little fairy. Though... The weight of all those puddings were a bit too much for Historie, who was slowly losing altitude.
-THE PUDDING CAN WAIT UNTIL I'M FINISHED!-
-Histy, please calm dow- -
-YOU TOO NEPGEAR! YOU ALWAYS SPOIL NEPTUNE JUST BECAUSE SHE IS YOUR SISTER! NEPTUNE NEEDS TO TAKE HER JOB MORE SERIOUSLY, BUT AS A CPU CANDIDATE, YOU NEED TO BE MORE DISCIPLINED AS WELL!-
The Nep sisters looked at Historie, who was sweating like crazy for the excessive effort to not brutally fall from her Tome. But no matter what was her situation, she continued to yell at them.
-WE MAY BE AT PEACE RIGHT NOW, BUT THERE ARE MANY THINGS FOR YOU TWO TO DO INSTEAD OF LAZING ABOUT EVERY DAY!-
And finally she stopped to yell, reaching also the ground without destroying the puddings. Panting from fatigue, Historie brought her glare to Nepgear, saying then with a "calm" tone.
-*Ha* *Ha* Now Nepgear... There is a sheet on the table. On it, there is a list of things to do for today: there are three quests, two of hunting monster and one of gathering... All of those are in Virtua Forest *Ha* *Ha*... All the details are on the sheet. If you will complete all the task... I'll reward you...-
Noticing that the two girls were still looking at her, she tried a smile, though a trail of blood could be seen from the side of her mouth.
-Now go. And do not come back until you complete the task.-
-Y-Yes Histy...-
Said in unison the sisters, the little one taking the sheet mentioned by Histoire and then leaving the Basilicom. Once alone, the fairy monologued while laying on the book, or more like, reminiscing.
-How it turned like this? To think that Neptune was a bit more... Serious in the past. How did she become like this? Or perphaps, she was always like this? But had a objective for not making her to laze around?-
Rolling on the side, she continued, with her mind traveling to their first encounter. She remembered it just like it happened the previous day: she was imprisoned by Arfoire and was guarded by that Witch herself. When the Witch was about to gain control over her power to reshape reality, Neptune or more accurately Purple Heart, forced Arfoire to retreat after a long and hard battle, freeing up the Tome. That time, she was mesmerized of how Neptune was so... Divine back then. But now... She has really no words for that spoiled child. That girl always puts her at her limits, and day by day, it was becoming much more tiring to try to put some good sense into the CPU. Sighing, she rolled on the side once again, making then a simple wish, though she knows that no superior being was listening to her.
-Ah... How I wish that something happens to force Neptune to become more serious... About her job, that is...-
.
Afternoon. Planeptune's Plaza.
.
-I'm tiiiiiiiired Nep jr.!-
-Goodness... At least we finished the work given to us by Histoire. And think about the the rewa- -
-Puddings!-
- -rd... Yeah also puddings.-
They had finished the job and given the reports to the guild. By now they should have gave that report even to Histoire. The three quest where pretty much easy: they needed to defeat a horde of Dogoos and Horsebirds and collect some Healing Herbs and gave them at the guild. Though... Neptune found out that she was reverted once again at level 1, but this is not a game, so it didn't matter at all.
While they were returning to the Basilicom, the attention of Nepgear was caught by a commotion.
-Mh? What is that commotion?-
-Dunno. Let's go and see Nep Jr.!-
Neptune sprinted to the group of person that were looking at something. And she was saying that she was tired... Smiling while also shaking her head, Nepgear followed her sister. The reason why there was such a big commotion, was because of a peddler with a lot of different items to sell. There was potions, retro-video games, and even materials! The seller was dressed with a white lab coat, a mask covering it's mouth and sunglasses. It also had a grey cap on the head. But the most noticeable thing, is that it's skin was grey, had pointy ears like an elf and the hair where green. Somewhat, to both Nepgear and Neptune, that person looked like someone they knew... It was only just a feeling. Shrugging it aside, Neptune looked at the merchandise on display, bringing her full attention to the retro-games.
-Ehy look at this Nepgear! There are retro-games! Though...-
Now that purple haired girl looked at them with more attention, she remembered that she had already have them. And she didn't miss the chance to point it out.
-... I already have all of them...-
-Really? Now that I think about, I do recognize a few of this titles...-
Neptune puffed her cheeks, annoyed by the fact in the end this person didn't have anything of her interest until she gazed at the potions. The CPU didn't recognize any of them. They seemed pretty much hand-made. An idea popped in her head.
-Ehy!-
-Yeees? How can I- Hell it's you broa-*Cough* How I can help you kiddo?-
Wait. For a moment it felt like talking to... Nah she was mistaken. Probably.
-Do you have a potion that can help to... Let's see... To put someone in good mood?-
At this, both Nepgear and Neptune could see the eyes of the masked seller shining from behind the sunglasses. After checking the giant backpack behind him, or her, the seller gave a potion with a blue liquid in it. It seemed like one of those simple potions that restores your mana...
-Sure have! I have this! It's called: Good Mood Potion! Want to try it out?
-Sure!-
Neptune taking potion from the seller, started to drink it, while Nepgear panicked.
-Neptune! We don't even know if- -
-If I have the licence to sell here? I do have it. Here.-
Said the seller showing a document where it allowed him/her to sell in that plaza. Looking carefully at it, that licence didn't seem quite... Regular. But Nepgear couldn't know that. Finishing to drink the potion, Neptune closed her eyes, starting to think deeply until...
-It... Really... Hitted the top notch! Maaan it was really good to drink it! Not only that, I got a buff to all my parameters! Dude do you have another one?!-
The seller seemed to be... Happy? But thanks to the sunglasses and the mask that hided all possible facial expression, no one could tell what kind of thoughts were crossing to it's mind. Nodding slowly with its head, the seller said.
-... Yeah. Just one. That would be 5000 credits.-
-Nepu?! Are you trying to rip me off?!-
-You also did drink a potion... I need money to compesate the loss. Sorry broa*Cough* Miss, but try to understand...-
Neptune seemed to struggle internally, with a scales where a Historie smiled refleshingly was being compared to the weight of her wallet. In the end, the one who weighted more was Historie and so the answer was...
-Ok... Here...-
-Thank you very much, have a nice day ma'am!-
Buying the potion, Neptune and Nepgear started to return to the Basilicom. Once the duo was long gone, the seller removed the sunglasses, the mask and the hat, saying then.
-Maaaaan! That was close! But at least I was able to give THAT potion to those broads ah!-
From behind the giant backpack, a small gray mouse made its appereance. It had two white whiskers on each cheek and big red eyes, appearing almost lifeless. While it has black coloring on his arms, legs, and inside of his ears. It possessed two small red-purple demon wings and a rat-like tail with a big black heart on the end and a zig-zag split in the center. On its chest is a red and yellow broken heart marking and it was wearing red boots.
-Did you give the red one chu?-
-... Wasn't the blue one?-
Silence. Sighing, the rat said with an annoyed tone.
-... You're really a payroll toilet who does not know how to her job. Indeed, once an Underling, always an Underling chu.-
-Beat it rat! Everyone can make mistakes! And stop calling me an Underling! My name is Linda! But then... What kind of potion did I gave to them then?-
.
Evening. Planeptune's Basilicom
.
-Histy! We're hoooooome!-
-Welcome back, everyone-
Historie greeted the Nep sister while floating in the middle of the room with a smile and mature tone. Even tough she looks young, she had the voice of an adult woman. To be precise, a motherly one. In fact, maybe she is the most oldest being alive in Gameindustri. The fairy continued to talk.
-I heard the reports of your quests from the guild, so I ordered sushi as a reward.-
-Hurrah! I'm starving!-
-Thank you Histoire.-
-You're welcome child. Now, let us eat.-
Neptune, remembering of the potion she had bought earlier, said while watching the table where was the food and the puddings, but missing the drinks.
-I'm going to bring the drinks!-
Spriting to the kitchen, she opened the fridge taking out one bottle of water and one of Koka Kola, a blue-colored drink. Smirking malicious, she first filled the small glass of Historie with half of the potion that was bought earlier in the afternoon, and the other half of the glass with the Koka Kola. Filling the glasses of both her and Nepgear with Koka Kola, she first brought the glasses on the table. Historie, noticing her glass being filled with Koka Kola, said.
-Neptune... You know that I don't drink Koka Kola right?-
-I know but-Ehy!- Isn't this some kind of feast? And it's not like you don't like it. You never did drink it so... Let's just enjoy this feast at it fullest!-
Sighing, Historie conceded the point to the CPU.
-I suppose you're right. Let us enjoy it.-
Taking a sip from her glass, she thought while tasting the flavor of the Koka Kola, and she got admit it, it wasn't that bad. The fairy could easily drink it once in a while.
-Neptune can do things if she tries. I guess all the frustration was worth...But it was also thanks to the advice of Mina and Chika for the idea to make differents quests on the same area. If Neptune keeps it up, Planeptune will be just... Fine... Strange... I don't feel so... Good... I'm so... Sleepy...-
And then she fell on the ground with a loud "thud". Both Nepgear and Neptune, noticing the unconscious Tome laying on the ground, the latter yelled worried, with a certain sense of guilt slowly growing in her.
-Histoire!-