Disclaimer: HDN is the property of IFI and CH, I have no plans to buy the franchise... yet.
Prologue: Fall from Grace
It was night time around the world, and things were just as normal as it could get in the nation of Planeptune. Other than a few irregularities such as Nepgear staying the night in Lastation and Histoire having a short meeting with the Oracles of the other three nations, a certain CPU was just playing her Saturn console in her room without any worries.
For the most part, Histoire's meeting was mainly to welcome the other Oracles back from their personal business and discuss plans going forward with Gamindustri having gone through the re-write. Everything was going smoothly (In part only because Neptune was kept occupied by her games), but when the meeting was over, the Oracle of Leanbox decided to change the mood a little bit.
"Well, looks like quite a bit has happened while I was gone, what say we take a break here?" Chika said, as she presented two bottles of wine to Histoire.
"I do not think that would be wise, especially when Leanbox needs your full attention in the coming days," Histoire replied as she guided the way out for Kei and Mina.
"Oh com'on, what's one cup going to make a difference? Besides, we both know once we get back to work, our CPUs will be quite a handful to handle as always."
"I suppose... After all, I have not heard from Neptune in a long time now, which is either good or very bad..." Histoire trailed off as she reluctantly accepted a glass from Chika.
One hour later...
"-hic- So as I was saying, my Vert would always wander off to this Planeptune, and she would bring back this girl with long hair and a sailor uniform, who then she claims is her younger sister! Just what the hell is wrong with that!" Chika said, clearly red-faced and a little drunk.
"That's not as bad finding Neptune asleep with her console games wasting power the entire night... -hic-" Histoire replied, also drunk from having few too many glasses of wine.
"And to think I have to work tomorrow! That's it, maybe I will just pass out here..."
"Do what you want, I do not care right now," Histoire replied as she noticed Chika already bowed her head on the table next to the empty bottles of wine.
Meanwhile, Neptune had finally gotten bored of her extended video game session and decided to crawl out of her room and go to the the nearest fridge to get some pudding. After getting her pudding was when she saw the drunk Histoire and wanted to suggest a brilliant idea she got from playing her game History Fencer F.
"Oh hi Histy! Finally your boring meeting is over huh... Anyway, I just thought of something good! We should try selling information to the general public, such as the kind of foods that loners like Noire eat, because you know, everybody always wants the latest gossip, which can sell hi-" was all Neptune managed to say before Histoire cut her off.
"No!" Histoire impulsively responded, as normally she would just explain how effortless Neptune's frivolous ideas were, but because of her drunken state and nearly an hour of talking with Chika about CPU laziness, Histoire was less than pleased to see Neptune.
"What, you didn't even let me finish!"
"There's... no need for you to finish -hic- Now listen here Neptune, I've about had enough of you..."
"Hey, what's wrong Histy?"
"What wrong!? You are what's wrong!"
"Wait-"
"Listen here Neptune, I have had about enough of you! -hic- you never do anything substantial, you are also lazy and don't care about anything other than your selfish self."
"But I do care about-"
"You only care about pudding in your stomach! Just try and remember all the crisis we went through, it was either myself or Nepgear that solved all your problems! Every single threat that ever came up, you were more of a problem than a solution! And poor Nepgear... she has so much potential as a CPU, but it is all being wasted covering your mistakes! If it was not for you, she would be a very capable CPU by now. I always ask myself why you exist, because you only torment me with how useless you are. Even the CPU of the other nations never take you seriously because of how worthless you are. In fact, your entire existence is a mistake! -hic-" Histoire finished, her face more red than usual.
There was silence in the room, Histoire had spoken her mind under her drunken state and Neptune now had a downcast face. Time seemed to stand still at the scene with nobody making any sound during this late hour in Planeptune. Finally though, Neptune slowly broke the silence as she opened her mouth and breathed some barely audible words to Histoire before turning around quickly and running away as fast as she could, barely holding back her tears and paying no heed to the cup pudding that dropped on the floor. Meanwhile, Histoire was still vacillating between being awake and unconscious, and slowly she guided herself to the nearest sofa and fell down fast asleep.
Neptune did not stay in the basilicom for very long after hearing what Histoire said to her, as mostly she was guided by emotions of fear, sadness, and confusion. She had gathered a small amount of her belongings in a bag, wrote something down, and then started to run. She had no idea where she would be going, but she was fairly certain that she was unwanted within Histoire's presence. It was not as if what Histoire said was untrue either, and Neptune knew it as well. Still, maybe it was the fact that Histoire finally had enough of her and exploded with such intense hatred; or alternatively, it could also be the fact that Histoire had essentially disowned Neptune on grounds of incompetence.
The answer mattered not, as Neptune continued to run in whatever direction she could away from Planeptune. Her vision mostly blurred by the full stream of tears falling from her eyes, she continued to run for some time until she tripped and fell onto the floor wherever she was. Having no idea where she was, Neptune was just content to stay down after expending so much energy this late into the night. Eventually, she fell asleep after some time, not caring that she was in the middle of nowhere.
After some unknown amount of time though, there was a voice that seemed to call out to her quietly. Slowly Neptune opened her eyes while still lying on the floor and adjusting to what seemed to be boundless light all around her.
"Wake up," said the voice.
"Mmm!" Neptune grunted, barely regaining her consciousness. It was strange because Neptune had remembered she fell down outside somewhere and the ground she was on right now felt like a clean floor instead.
"Hey, are you going to get up?" The voice urged again, this time finally getting Neptune to focus.
Tilting her head upwards, Neptune saw a pair of legs with dark coloured shoes. Looking further up, Neptune recognised the humanoid shape of Uzume, except there were mainly colours of black, grey, and indigo.
"Huh... Kurome...?"
