Autumn Leaves
Disclaimer: Hyperdimension Neptunia is not my property, and will never be.
Author's Note: The story takes place at the Ultradimension and contains the plot of Victory/ Re;Birth3: V Generation. The prologue and epilogue are set after the battle with Rei, while Rei's memories are set before the games and would fall back into the game as time advances. I have chosen to use "Cyan Heart" as Rei's CPU name as with other works here; and Leco is definitely a reference, as this is a story about video game history. :)
And I am not an English native speaker, so please bear with me if you find any grammatical mistakes. And tell me for me to correct it, thank you.
Prologue
"It only takes a spark to get a fire going." – Kurt Kaiser, Pass It On
It was the largest nation in the history of the Gamindustri. The one that started it all, and possibly the most powerful one. They said.
If that was true, then why did I fail?
Perhaps it was the fun-obsessed book fairy's advices caused things to go wrong; perhaps it was the faults of my distrusting people that my empire fell… However, one thing was certain. Most of the blame should be shouldered by the CPU system and… her.
Yes, her indeed. If she had not become a CPU and founded that nation of hers, Tari would still have a second chance to rise from the flames.
No… What was I thinking? The CPU ruling system was exactly what was wrong, I would not take such a filthy position again…!
I should get to work again. The world still needed to be rid of those CPUs, those Costume Playdate Units. Everyone will be having a meeting soon…
Everyone? Everyone left. The Seven Sages disbanded, remember? I was all alone again.
Something fell on my hair. I reached above and took it to my eyelevel to see it. It was a leaf, colored ruby by autumn. I squinted behind my glasses, investigating at the intricate pattern formed by its veins. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. And instead of the leaf, I saw a petite figure.
Adorning a red and white colored puffy hat, golden flower pendant secured around her thin neck; the girl in red and white shrine maiden outfit stood before me, stormy blue eyes staring at me defiantly. Her neutral expression soon changed into a frown, worry and alert etched on her pale face.
"Blanc…?" I muttered, finding the name sounded so unfamiliar that it hurt. A bitter smile found its way to my face. It had been so long since I last spoke of her name, my lips were no longer accustomed to the word.
"…Cyan Heart." Her response was cold, devoid of any shyness that I got so used to.
I stumbled back from unexpectedness of her greeting. From the years I had known Blanc, she had never called me Cyan Heart. She called me by many names before; Lady Rei, Rei, and even Lady Cyan Heart, but never an emotionless, plain Cyan Heart.
Regaining my composure, I spoke again. "White Heart…?" This time, the name felt completely opposite in my mouth. Contempt. Hatred. Envy. The reason why I hated the CPUS, the one person responsible for me losing everything.
She snorted. "…Tch. Why are you in my nation anyway?" Doubt and distrust shone brightly in her eyes, and her query came off as so distant and unfriendly that it seemed we had never known each other at all. Like we were complete strangers.
Strangers. It hit me so hard that I wheeled back yet again, drawing in a sharp breath. She was not with me, I reminded myself. Her alliance was with the other CPUs, her place was with the CPUs of Planeptune, Lastation and Leanbox. Never me and Tari. Even in her early years, she had chosen Leco before me. That weak nation, that weak CPU. The only reason why the nation stood a chance was because of her pulling all her weight with her tiny body, supporting that CPU…!
"Nothing to say? Then get out of my nation. I am not comfortable with you here." She closed her eyes, unaware of the softly spoken words slicing my heart.
I turned back in haste, unable to face her any longer. As I looked back, wishing to see her once more to engrave her into my heart, she disappeared. The only thing remained was the leaf in my hand.
Why would she even come? She got some friends now, friends that were true companions that she could trust with her life. Why would she return to me, someone who fought her with the intention to eliminate her because of what she was?
It was not your fault that things turned out this way. If it was not of Lowee, Tari could be the top of the world once again. My inner voice spoke soothingly, reminding me about what I hated about Lowee's very existence. Blanc… She took away everything from me.
Yet, seeing her again, even if the reason was her teaming up with all those newborn CPUs to fight against me, it ignited something that I had long since shoved into the back of my head, drowned in the dark abyss that was my past.
Admiration. Adoration. Affection.
When I was sinking into the black hole of my power, I had not realized this. Now it came back, hitting me in its full force. She had changed. She had changed so much. She was no longer the shy, stoically polite young girl she remembered. Becoming a CPU had made her more assertive and distant. And most of all, she seemed burdened.
Well, she did have a nation to rule and her people to protect.
Was she satisfied with being a goddess though? With just one look, I could tell she was a diligent and responsible ruler, albeit a stressed one. I always forgot how young she was when she became such a powerful being, a twelve-year-old goddess. It was unbelievable for me to be reminded of this fact when I had seen and known her for several centuries now; even though I was there when she received that CPU Memory.
In a way, I was responsible for her transformation. I had never meant to turn anyone into goddesses, especially her. For one, I had no intention of creating a competitor to Tari; and with the consequence of one failing to meet the criteria to become a CPU to be forcefully turned into a hideous monster, which would likely cause trouble for me as well, it could be safely assumed that I would be at an disadvantage whether the user of the CPU Memory was successful or not. And I would never, ever wish Blanc to be on the receiving end of the daunting test. It… it really was an accident, nothing more…!
No matter how hard I tried, I could not shake away the thought about what would us be right now if she was not the Goddess of Lowee. If only I listened and she stayed… then maybe it would make the difference that worth a lifetime.
They said there was no use to wallow in your past. How could I not when I knew of so much endless possibilities that I have thrown away carelessly?
I sat down under a maple tree, holding the leaf under the sunlight. Taking a long look at it again, wishing to fall back to my horrendous, beautiful memories again.
And so I did.
What do you think of Rei's feelings are? I will think of switching genres with your answers. I hope to hear about what your thoughts are on the chapter; criticisms will be welcomed.