Chapter I

Greetings and salutations to all. Yes, I know, another new story. This one, as you may have seen by the title, is Tales of Neptunia. It is a crossover between, mainly, Tales of Xillia and Hyperdimension Neptunia with a smattering of a couple other properties, the biggest of which is Elder Scrolls. There are a few others involved as well but revealing them now would spoil some of the story, so you will just need to wait to find out. It is a harem story, as if I would do anything else, with Jude Mathis as the lead. As usual, I have Bakuto Masaki along with me for the ride as coauthor. All I can say is I hope you enjoy the story, so be sure to leave a review if you do. With nothing else to add, time to get to the main event. Shall we?


Two figures were in the air, falling from high above the clouds, and falling fast.

The first was a young man with neck-length black hair and amber eyes wearing a white jacket with a navy-blue overcoat with multiple light blue accents, black pants, brown gloves, and white boots.

The second was a young woman with long, wavy, flowing blonde hair that reached her knees, with multiple light blonde accents a long section of hair sticking out to one side with a blue-green tip and red eyes wearing a white tube top that exposed very little of her moderate bust, a short white skirt with multicolored accents that tied over her left hip, knee-high white, pink, and brown boots with red bows, shoulder-length brown and pink gloves with matching red ties, white wrist guards, a brown choker with a green jewel on the front, and a series of black straps over her shoulders and midsection.

The young man looked around franticly as they fell. "Wh – What the…?! Milla, what's going on!?"

The young woman, Milla, looked around calmly in thought. "Hhmm… I believe we are falling out of the sky, Jude."

Jude sighed in exasperation. "Yeah, I know that, but –!" his words trailed off as he glanced to the side and saw a girl with short, chin-length, messy, lilac hair that stuck out near the ends, two bangs framing her face, with eyes closed in unconsciousness, two cross-shaped clips over her bangs, wearing a white choker with a blue, cross-shaped symbol on it, a short-sleeved, white mini hoodie with blue and purple lining around the edges and hood that was held closed near her neck by a clip with a large, purple "N" on it, two strings resembling plugs coming from the hood, underneath which was a purple dress lined with light purple with a zipper up the front, white fringe on the bottom, thigh-high blue and white striped stockings, and purple shoes with white frills at the top was also falling from the sky, completely unconscious. "Milla, look!"

Milla blinked in thought. "Huh, falling from the sky must be a common thing here."

"Come on, get me close to her!"

Milla nodded and flicked her wrist, causing a gust of wind to blow him towards the girl.

As Jude approached her he wrapped his arms tightly around her.

"I'll try and cushion our landing," Milla explained as she put an arm out forward, "hang on tight."

Jude nodded as he tightened his hold on the girl before they hit the ground.


Jude groaned as he slowly woke up, and then realized he was not outside, but inside of a very, very pink room. "What the…?"

His attention was then drawn to a young woman nearby with long, waist-length, wavy, congo-pink hair with big, bright eyes of the same color wearing a tan-white, wool, sleeveless sweater that hugged her torso tightly, her sizable bosom accentuated, matching, full-length arm warmers, a red, plaid skirt, black-brown knee socks, tan-white boots with fuzzy balls on the tops, a black choker with a pink heart pin, a black hip purse, and a black headband with a large, beige "C" on one side. She leaned in close to him, her bust swaying slightly, causing his face to turn bright red with embarrassment.

"U – U – Uh…" he sputtered.

The woman smiled warmly. "Ah, you're awake! Great! Does anything hurt? Are you feeling well?"

Jude gulped lightly. "N – Not sure… C – Can hardly breathe actually…" He then looked down and realized his body was wrapped tightly in full-body bandages. "Wh – What the…? Wh - Why am I naked?!"

"Well, I had to put the bandages." Her face turned red with mild abashment. "I've never seen one before…"

Jude's face turned a deeper red.

"Mind explaining?" Milla asked, standing directly behind the pink-haired woman.

"Eek!" the girl shrieked as she turned around in surprise with a jump.

"C – Cute…" Jude muttered as her jump caused her chest to bounce slightly.

"Y – You're awake too, huh?" she asked Milla, surprised.

Milla nodded. "Yes. I have been for quite some time. Who are you?"

The girl nodded with a smile. "Ah, right. My name's Compa. Nice to meet you. How about the other girl?"

Jude frowned in thought. "Huh? Other girl?"

"The girl you saved by using your body as a cushion," Milla explained.

Jude furrowed his brow in thought before gaping slightly. "Wait… we actually survived that fall?"

Compa nodded energetically. "Yeah. You guys fell out of the sky like WHOOSH and then hit the ground like POW! Then I found you and bandaged you all up."

The lilac-haired girl groaned as she sat up, waking slowly. "Ugh… so loud…"

Turning to her, Compa asked, "You okay?"

Nodding, the lilac-haired girl answered, "Yeah, but I'm rreeaallllyy hungry."

"Okay!" Compa answered with a smile. "I'll go ahead and make you something then!"

Jude furrowed his brow in confusion. "Wait, if we fell outside, how'd you get us all here? Wasn't it hard?"

Compa shook her head. "No, not really. I go to a nursing school, so moving bodies is something I do a lot."

"Nursing school?" Milla asked.

Compa nodded with a smile. "Yup. Oh, I still don't know who you people are."

"Ah," Jude muttered. "I'm Jude Mathis."

"My name is Milla Maxwell," Milla explained.

The lilac-haired girl suddenly sprang up and exclaimed energetically, "I'm Neptune!"

Compa blinked in thought. "Nepta… Nepku… Nepin… Nept-… Nepuu-… Nepel… Neput-…"

"Nep-Nep!" Compa suddenly shouted with cute frustration.

'C – Cute…' Jude muttered in his head.

Milla folded her arms incredulously. "Is it really that hard to say? Nept… Nep… Nyeput… damn. It really is hard to say. My apologies."

Jude laughed weakly.

Neptune waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. Call me whatever you want. Neptune, Nep-Nep, Nepper, Neptuna. Whatever!"

Milla blinked before humming happily as she rubbed her abdomen. "Mmm… Neptuna. Wonder how that tastes compared to regular tuna."

Neptune joined Milla in her daydreaming. "Mmm… yeah…"

Jude chuckled weakly as he stood from the bed.

Compa then turned to Neptune. "Hey, Nep-Nep, you're bruised still, let me take a look."

"Huh? Okay," Neptune answered plainly.

Nodding, Compa added, "Right. Let's get those clothes off you first."

Jude blushed, stumbled, and sputtered at that. "H – Huh?!"

Neptune blinked in confusion. "Huh?! Why?! Why do I need to go nude?! I don't need to power up!"

Compa frowned obstinately. "I can't bandage you up when you're clothed!"

Jude frowned incredulously. 'Be nude to power up? What kind of logic is that?!'

Milla folded her arms in deliberation. "I see. One becomes stronger when they wear no clothes. I will need to remember that."

Jude gulped in worry.

"Come on!" Compa insisted, grabbing Neptune's clothing and pulling it off in one swipe.

Jude immediately covered his eyes. "Compa! Don't just suddenly rip off a patient's clothing! Didn't they teach you that at med school?!"

Compa stiffened slightly. "H – Huh?"

Jude, his eyes still covered, elucidated, "Ripping off a patient's clothing is a big no if they are conscious!"

"But I can't bandage her up if she's clothed," Compa argued as she began putting the bandages on Neptune, looping and wrapping her all over. "Here comes the wrap! This way… that way… loop it over…" The end result of Compa's efforts had Neptune wrapped in bandages in a very suspect manner.

"I see," Milla noted in consideration. "So that's how to wrap bandages correctly."

Jude, his eyes now uncovered and his mouth agape, argued, "No it isn't! You're going to suffocate her that way!"

"Nrgh…" Neptune grunted, "loosen it… can't… breathe…!"

Jude immediately rushed over to Neptune and started pulling on the bandages, trying to pull them off her. "What'd you use to bind it? Super glue?!"

Compa pouted. "I just wanted to make sure it wouldn't come off…"

Jude gaped in disbelief. "… Milla!"

Milla flicked a hand, causing blades of wind to slice at the bandages.

Jude then tugged, pulling the bandages off. "Good…" However, Jude then gaped when he saw Neptune, completely nude with a confused and demure expression in front of him, causing him to blush and then gulp. "C – Cute…"

"C – Can I have my clothes back…?" Neptune asked.

Jude immediately looked away and grabbed Neptune's clothes from Compa before handing them to Neptune.

As she got dress, Neptune asked, "So, uh, how'd I get here?"

"You don't remember?" Jude asked in surprise and confusion.

"Nuh-uh," Neptune answered with a shake of her head. "My name's all I can remember."

"I see…"

"You fell from the sky with us," Milla explained.

Neptune blinked in surprise as she buttoned her hoodie and then smiled. "Really? Wow. I must be pretty sturdy then."

"Jude caught you and used himself to soften your landing."

Neptune smiled gratefully. "Aaww, that's so sweet Judie."

Jude flinched lightly. "J – Judie…? My name is Jude."

Neptune waved a hand dismissively. "But using people's real names is boring. I'm the main character, I'm supposed to use catchy nicknames. Although, considering this situation, someone else might be."

Jude tilted his head in confusion. "Main… character…?"

Milla nodded in agreement. "I am confused as well."

"Confused 'bout what?" Neptune asked.

"N – Nevermind," Jude muttered before turning to Compa. "A – At any rate, can you tell us where we are Compa?"

"My apartment," Compa answered in a slightly confused, high-pitched, quiet voice.

'Cute…' Jude muttered in his mind with a light blush. "I – I meant the city."

"Oh. The capital of Planeptune."

"I see… Guess that's somewhere on Elympios."

Compa tilted her head cutely in confusion. "Elympios? That's not a place on Gamindustri."

"… Gam what?"

"Gamindustri," Compa repeated.

Jude remained silent in confused disbelief.

"I'm hungry," Neptune suddenly interjected.

"Oh right!" Compa exclaimed in realization. "I'll be right back."

"M – Mind if I help cook?" Jude asked weakly.

Compa waved a hand with a smile. "Don't worry, I'm just getting some pudding."

"What's pudding?" Neptune asked.

"Yes, I am curious as well," Milla added.

"Just wait here," Compa insisted.


"Here we are," Compa noted as she walked in with a plate that had three desserts on it. "Three milk puddings."

Milla and Neptune blinked curiously as they looked at the sweets before taking a bite at the same time, swooning loudly with ecstasy.

"Th – This is…" Milla mumbled.

"Ssoo gggooooooddd!" Neptune exclaimed.

Jude smiled before turning to Compa. "Hey, Compa?"

Compa turned to him as well with a smile. "Yes Ju-Ju?"

Jude flinched lightly. "J – Ju-Ju…?" Shaking his head with a sigh, he continued, "So what can you tell me about Gamindustri?"

"Ah, right. Well it's divided up into four nations. Planeptune, Lowee, Leanbox, and Lastation. Each nation is ruled over by a Goddess or CPU. Oh, that means Console Patron Unit."

"So four Goddesses?"

Compa nodded happily. "Yup. Lady Green Heart of Leanbox, Lady Purple Heart of Planeptune, Lady Black Heart of Lastation, and Lady White Heart of Lowee."

"I see… Interesting…"

"This pudding," Milla suddenly interjected. "I want more. A lot more."

Neptune frowned and then asked, "So none of you know me?"

Jude shook his head. "No, sorry."

"Maybe someone at the Basilicom can help," Compa suggested.

"Basili-what?"

"The Basilicom. They act as our way to communicate with the Goddesses and send them our prayers. The priests there are extremely knowledgeable. If anyone will know something about you it'd be them."

"I see. That might work."

"To the Basilicom!" Neptune shouted with excitement.


Compa, Jude, Neptune, and Milla stood in front of a large, regal, multicolored structure that was many meters tall.

"This is the Basilicom?" Neptune asked.

"Amazing…" Jude noted in shock.

"C'mon!" Compa urged with a smile.


The interior of the building continued the bright aesthetic, almost resembling an elegant church.

A man with blonde hair, wearing long, white and purple robes walked up to the group. "Greetings children, how may I assist you?"

Compa motioned to Neptune next to her. "We need to know if you know our friend here."

"I see." The priest then turned to Neptune and asked, "And you are?"

"I'm Neptune!"

"Hhmm… the name sounds vaguely familiar, but I'm sorry. I can't help. Perhaps you can ask the townsfolk."

"Okay!"


Jude, Milla, Neptune, and Compa sat on a bench in the center of Planeptune's capital, defeated.

"Well that was a total bust," Neptune groaned with a sigh.

"Sorry…" Compa apologized with a pout.

"It's okay, Compa," Neptune eased with a smile.

"Come on, let's ask around," Jude urged.

"That sounds like a good idea," Milla agreed.


Sometime later, the group sat at the same bench and groaned.

"Still nothing…" Jude said with a sigh. However, his ears perked up slightly when he heard people nearby talking.

"Did you hear about those monsters?" a young woman asked.

"Yeah, I heard they killed some people a while back," another young woman added with a frightened tone.

"Scary…" a third woman chimed in.

"Monsters…" Jude mumbled in thought before a woman nearby screamed as a giant spider appeared.

Jude's eyes widened before he immediately rushed over, two spiked, purple gauntlets appearing on his arms in a flash of light. "Eat this!" he shouted as energy collected around his hand. "Demon Fist!" Suddenly a blast of energy shot from his hand and struck the monster, which immediately turned and fled.

Jude sighed in relief as the monster fled, and then walked over to the woman, who was hiding behind a wall at the time. "Are you alri –?" he stopped midsentence as his eyes widened in disbelief.

In front of him, cowering, sat a woman with long, light blonde hair that reached just past her waist, two long bangs hanging down, framing her face and pink eyes, wearing narrow white glasses, a blue, skintight, revealing outfit with light blue accents and crisscrossing strands over the outside of her thighs and the front of her torso from just below her navel to just above her impressive bust, black sleeves with blue sections over her forearms and hands, black, knee-length boots with fox-shaped medals on the knees, a feathery, dark blue collar, a white and gold belt around her waist, held up by a beige and blue, foxlike tail at the base of her spine.

The woman turned to him, frightful. "I – Is it dead?"

Jude nodded slowly, still attempting to understand what he saw before him.

Milla glanced over and noticed the woman as well and, just as Jude, was surprised. "Is that…?"

"Presa…?" Jude asked with disbelief.

The woman, Presa, blinked curiously before turning to him. "You… know my name?"

"Yeah…"

"Then do you… know who I am?"

However, before Jude could answer, Neptune suddenly exclaimed, "Whoa! Another amnesiac!"

"So weird!" Compa added in what Jude had termed her "cute voice" inside his own mind.

"Cute…" he mumbled.

Milla sighed and then walked up to Presa, the woman still looking at the group, perplexed. "Do you remember how you got here?"

Presa shook her head in response as she stood. "No. All I remember is my name, and falling and… someone reaching out to my hand…"

Jude frowned slightly. "I see…"

"You were falling too!?" Neptune interjected, excited. "Wowza!"

Presa nodded slowly. "I… I think…"

"Amazing!" Compa exclaimed. "Just like Nep-Nep!"

"Look out!" Presa suddenly shouted.

Jude immediately turned, only for a giant monster, this one resembling a spider made of stone with a humanoid torso sticking out of the top, holding a large sword, appeared and hit him, knocking him aside.

"Big monster!" Neptune shouted.

The monster looked around momentarily before grabbing Presa with its free hand and running away.

"H – Hey!" Jude shouted weakly before standing. "Get back here!" After regaining his balance, Jude immediately pursued the monster.

"Jude!" Milla shouted, attempting to stop him. She sighed before turning to Neptune and Compa. "Come on!"

"Righty!" Compa agreed.

"Let's ggoo!" Neptune added excitedly.


Soon Jude, having followed the monster's trail, wound up at the large entrance to a deep cave. "It ran into this cave."

"There you are!" Milla shouted as she and the others ran up to him.

"Milla…"

Milla put up a hand as she approached him. "Don't worry, I won't try and stop you, Jude. I understand you well enough to know such an effort is fruitless."

Jude nodded appreciatively before turning his attention to the cave. "We've got to hurry in and save her." 'I won't let her die again. Not this time.'

"Right."

"Yeah!" Neptune cheered. "Let's go rescue my new amnesia buddy!"


The group entered the cave, and spent several minutes scouring every centimeter looking for the beast and for Presa, with little success.

"Urgh…" Neptune groaned. "This cave's too big…"

Jude looked around for any possible crevice or hole the beast could hide in. "Where is it?"

"Dunno…"

"Well we need to keep – oof!" Jude began but stopped as he walked into something and stumbled to the ground.

"Gah!" a new voice growled. "Watch it!"

"U – Uh, sorry." Jude blinked and then looked up, seeing a fair skinned girl who was noticeably short, with bright green eyes and long, pale brown hair that extended down to her waist, several strands hanging down, framing her face, with a side ponytail held by a bright green ribbon, wearing a black tank top and matching shorts with silver trimming, an overly large blue coat with silver buttons and matching trimming that was so oversized the sleeves extended past her hands, a loose belt strap hang around the coat holding nine different cellphones, medium-length black socks, and blue boots with silver trimming. "Wait… who are you?"

The girl stood with mild annoyance and wiped dirt from her knees. "The name is IF. I'm from the Guild."

"Nice to meet'cha Iffy!" Neptune chimed in excitedly.

IF twitched an eyebrow in annoyance. "It's IF."

Milla folded her arms and then asked, "What's a child like you doing in this cavern?"

Both eyebrows twitched angrily. "I'm 16."

"I see…" Milla answered, unconvinced.

"She's right though," Jude argued as he stood. "It's dangerous here."

"I know. I'm from the Guild after all."

"What's the Guild?" Jude asked in confusion.

IF tilted her head, not understanding his confusion. "You don't know what the Guild is?"

"They're not from around here," Compa explained before adding her excited voice, "Like… really far away."

"Cute…" Jude mumbled.

"Right…" IF muttered in mild confusion, "anyway, why are you guys here?"

"We are after a monster that kidnapped someone," Jude explained.

"How coincidental. There's a monster here that's been kidnapping people. The Guild received a job to kill it, and that's why I'm here."

"Then we should team up then. Safety in numbers."

IF nodded in agreement. "Fair enough."

"Yippee!" Neptune cheered with excitement. "Iffy joins the party! That's five members so quickly!"

"Uh…" Jude hummed in confusion, "right."

IF groaned and turned to Jude. "Please tell me she's not always like this."

Jude stood silent for a moment. "… She's not always like this?"

IF groaned heavily.

"Is something wrong, Iffy?" Compa asked.

"It's IF…" IF corrected with a twitching eyebrow.

Compa merely smiled and answered, "Aaww, but Iffy's cuter."

IF stiffened as her cheeks tinted slightly.

"She is right," Milla added. "And it sounds like an actual name."

"Whatever, let's go," IF retorted with a sigh.

"Right!" Neptune cheered before turning to walk through the cavern. "Follow me! The MC!"

"That way is the exit," IF corrected before pointing in a different direction. "The monster's lair is this way."

Neptune immediately turned around. "I knew that!"

Compa and Jude both laughed lightly.


As the group continued through the cave, Jude started noticing large webs on the wall. "That must be… We're almost there! Come on hurry!"

"Stop!" IF suddenly shouted.

"Why? Presa's in danger!"

IF pointed to the wall, where Jude saw a large disc.

As the group looked at the strange disc, it glowed brightly before a small, rectangular creature emerged from it.

"That's a Pixelvader!" IF exclaimed before she flicked her wrists, causing two, large, tri-bladed qatars to emerge from her sleeves.

"What a strange creature," Milla noted in thought.

"That must be where the monsters are coming from."

"Yeah…" Jude agreed in consternation.

"Let's destroy it."

"Righto Iffy!" Neptune cheered before a katana appeared in her hands and she charged at the disc, only for the beast to once more drop from the ceiling, this time with an unconscious Presa on its back, wrapped in thread.

"Presa!" Jude shouted before the beast roared and swung its massive blade at the group. Jude jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding the creature's weapon.

"Guess it's time to fight," Milla commented as she drew a long, black and white blade with a flat tip.

Compa then readied a massively oversized syringe.

"Eh?!" Jude gaped in disbelief. "Where'd you get that from?!"

"That's a secret," Compa replied with a smile before shooting a liquid from the syringe at Presa that melted the threat surrounding her.

Jude quickly sprung to action and caught Presa before she hit the ground, but was unable to dodge the monster as it swung at him.

Milla jumped in and blocked the strike, but was sent flying back from the sheer force.

"Milla!" Jude hollered in worry.

"Crap!" IF cursed before pulling a pistol from her pocket and firing at the beast, her shots proving only to agitate the monster before it backhanded her, slamming her into a wall.

The creature growled before turning to Compa and slamming its fist at her, sending her to the ground as well.

"Owie…" the pink-haired girl moaned in pain.

Neptune tightened her fists around her blade. "Oohh… stop hurting my friends!" Suddenly, Neptune's body was engulfed in a bright light, shining light throughout the entire cavern.

"What the…?" Jude muttered.

The light died down, revealing Neptune to be completely changed. She was significantly taller, with long purple hair that nearly reached her feet, braided in twintails and bright blue eyes with glowing white pupils, her outfit had also drastically changed to black, cross-shaped clips in her hair, a black bodysuit that exposed a large amount of her now very plentiful bust, white cross shapes on the shoulders, and multiple purple accents along the inner arms and near her thighs, along with thigh-high, high-heeled, black boots matching the bodysuit, she also had multiple black and purple devices floating around her head, shoulders, waist, and feet, along with large, glowing, purple wings made of energy. "I'll take you down!" she shouted, a much deeper and more mature voice than previously.

"Wh – Whoa…"

The larger Neptune then rushed forward, a massive blade appearing in her grasp, and slashed at the large monster, easily slicing it in half with one swipe.

Milla blinked in surprise as she stood. "Impressive."

"Whoa!" Compa exclaimed in surprise and amazement. "Cool Nep-Nep!"

"The hell…?" IF muttered in confusion.

"That's not normal…" Jude added.

Neptune then looked over her larger body in thought. "What… is this…? I got bigger…" With a curious gesture her hands then grabbed at her own bosom in thought. "In more ways than one."

Jude immediately slapped a hand over his nose.

"I have nice big bazongas now!"

Jude face-faulted into the floor.

Milla chuckled lightly. "It seems they exist all over." However, Milla's attention was then taken when she noticed an unusual pedestal nearby with a glowing object sitting atop it. "What's this?" Before Milla could grab it, however, a figure leapt over and snatched it.

She turned and saw a large, bipedal, grey mouse with large red eyes, white whisker marks on its cheeks, black arms, small maroon wings on its back, a red and yellow, broken heart symbol, a long, crooked tail with a heart-shaped point on the end, and red feet.

"A rat?" Milla mumbled curiously as the oversized rodent ran to a large rock nearby, upon which a figure sat.

The figure was a tall woman with pale, almost light purple, skin, short, light lavender hair that was messy, with one side of bangs hanging lower than the other, wearing a tall, bent, pointed hat with a ring of thorns, flower, and feathers just above the brim, as well as a low-cut, black bodysuit, with an open space in the middle, from her moderate cleavage to just below her navel, that was crisscrossed with straps, detached sleeves, and with many purple and gold accents.

The rat ran up to the woman and handed the strange object to her.

"Good," she noted with a smirk before looking up at Jude and the others. "Now to deal with you."

"Who's the old lady?" the larger Neptune asked.

The woman huffed in annoyance before a long, four-bladed spear appeared in her hand that she then pointed at Neptune. "Brat." A powerful blast of energy then fired from the spear at Neptune.

"Look out!" Jude shouted as he tackled Neptune to the ground, safely away from the blast.

The woman hissed in irritation as the beam hit Jude before bouncing back at her.

Jude blinked curiously as he sat up. "Wh – What just happened…? I feel kinda… weird."

The woman growled in annoyance. "You've gotta be kidding. How come he got in the way?"

"Jude!" Milla exclaimed in worry. "Are you ok?"

Jude and the strange woman both answered at the same time. "Yes."

Milla blinked in confusion. "… Huh…?"

Jude frowned in bewilderment. "Wh – What the…?"

The pale-skinned woman snarled and fired a yellow blast of energy from her spear at Jude. "Just great. This is your fault, boy!"

Jude managed to roll to the side, avoiding the shot.

She hissed before turning to fire at Neptune once more, only for Compa to end up getting hit.

"Compa!" Jude bellowed.

The woman growled and then snarled, "Stay out of the way so I can hit Nep-Nep!" She twitched an eyebrow and remained silent momentarily as she processed what she had just said.

Jude furrowed his brow in thought before widening his eyes in realization. "Neptune! Avoid her spell! It switches things!"

"Got it!" the larger Neptune answered as she floated around the woman's back.

"What?!" the pale-skinned woman growled before turning to Jude. "You little punk! I'll burn you alive!" Almost immediately a torrent of flames shot from her spear at Jude.

He just barely dashed to the side of the attack, having to pat down flames on his sleeve. "Okay, that was too close…"

IF then fired several shots at the strange woman as Milla joined in and sent several blades of wind at her.

The woman sneered before swinging her spear, blocking all of the attacks before instantly dashing around behind Milla.

Milla's eyes widened in surprise. "That's… the Quick Step…"

"Milla!" Jude suddenly shouted. "She has my techniques!"

Milla blinked and then smirked. "Good to know."

The woman swung her spear at Milla, but the blonde spun under the attack, kicking her leg out to knock the woman off her feet, however Milla then immediately turned and swung out with a punch, slamming it into the woman's abdomen when she used Quick Step once more.

The woman tensed, coughed violently, and then growled at Milla. "… H – How…?"

With a smirk, Milla answered, "Jude's never beaten me in a spar."

"What?!" Hissing in annoyance, the woman jumped back and then suddenly ripped two glowing orbs from her torso and threw them to the side. "Useless!"

"Granny, look out!" the mouse shouted.

"I'M NOT OL – GAH!" the woman began to snarl, only for Neptune to slash at her back.

"Take this!" Neptune shouted, sending the woman flying before she slammed into the mouse, sending the strange object flying as the duo fell over the edge of a cliff within the cave.

"Is it… over…?" Compa asked worriedly.

Jude sighed in relief as he picked up the strange object. "Yeah, I think."

At that moment, Presa then groaned lightly as she awoke.

"Presa!" Jude shouted before running over to her.

Presa sat up and looked around, slightly confused.

"Are you okay!?"

"Y – Yeah…" she answered with bewilderment before wrapping her arms around him, pulling him close to her. "Th – Thank you for saving me. My hero."

Jude's face lit up red before he smiled lightly. "Y – Yeah…"

"Aw, how sweet," Compa commented with a smile.

Neptune pouted with frustration. "I'm the main character here. Where's my reward?" She then began to glow brightly before returning to her normal petite form. With an even deeper pout, she moaned, "Aaww… My bazongas are gone…"

"Who was that strange woman?" Presa asked as Jude helped her stand.

"No clue," Jude noted. "But that power she has is terrifying…"

"No kidding," IF added.

Jude then turned to Neptune and Milla. "Milla. Neptune. If we ever run into her again stay out of her line of fire."

Milla nodded in understanding. "Right."

"You got it!" Neptune cheered before smirking slyly. "Ssoo… who's the foxy lady?"

Jude frowned in disbelief and annoyance. "You forgot why we chased after that spider. Didn't you."

"Huh? It's a big spider, that's why."

Compa put a finger on her chin in thought. "Wasn't it because it kidnapped our new amnesiac friend here?"

"Oh yeah!" Neptune exclaimed in recognition, causing the others to laugh weakly.

However, Jude's own laughter was halted as the strange object he held began to shine and vibrate. "Uuhh…"

"Eek!"

Suddenly, a soft new voice, emanating from the object, asked, "Can anyone hear me?"

Jude blinked in confusion before flattening his brow. "… Oh boy… Now I'm hearing voices…"

"Hey it's Histy!" Neptune suddenly shouted.

"Histy?" IF asked in confusion.

"I completely forgot about her! Musta been cuse of my existational crisis I had when I woke up."

"I don't think…" Jude muttered, "that's the word you meant…"

The voice from the object sighed in exasperation. "I'm supposing you people haven't heard of me?"

Milla shook her head. "No. I do believe this is the first, Histy."

"My name is Histoire, I am a Tome," the voice, Histoire, explained.

Milla tilted her head, bewildered. "A tomb?"

Histoire remained silent for a moment. "I suppose you could say I'm like a Great Spirit of sorts."

"You know about the Great Spirits?" Jude asked in surprise.

"I've been in here for three hundred years. I've had time to read."

"Ah… good point."

"Anyway, I assume Neptune hasn't told you anything?"

"Told us what?" Compa asked.

With a sigh, Histoire began, "That answers my question. Gamindustri is in danger, and to save it, I first need to escape this prison I'm in. Unfortunately, the key to open it was broken. What I'm communicating with you through is one of those Key Fragments. If you can find them all I can get out and we can stop Gamindustri's destruction."

"… Where do we start?" Jude asked after a moment of silence.

"You'll help?!" Histoire asked in astonishment.

Jude nodded resolutely. "Of course."

"I – I'm shocked… thank you."

"If I have the power to do something to help others I'll do it."

"Thank you." Histoire then explained, "The first task you need to accomplish is locate the Key Fragments. There's one in each land."

"I see." Jude then looked to the others around him and asked, "Which land is closest?"

"Lastation," Compa answered.

Neptune grinned happily. "Viva la Lastation! I'll get us sombreros!"

"Hold on," Jude interjected, looking at the Key Fragment. "Can you answer a few more questions?"

Histoire sighed lightly. "Some. But it requires a lot of energy to communicate through these Key Fragments, so I can't keep the connection for much longer. So ask."

"Well… Put succinctly, how did you get locked in wherever you are and what does that woman have to do with anything?"

"Unfortunately that is too much to explain in the short time I have. But that woman is Arfoire, and she is the one spreading those monster-spawning discs."

Jude narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "There must be more to it though. We'll talk more after we get the next Key Fragment."

"Very well." With that, the light from the Key Fragment diminished before vanishing entirely.

IF sighed lightly. "Let's get going."

Jude nodded as he stood. "Yeah. To Lastation."

"I'm going too," Presa interjected.

Jude shook his head. "It's too dangerous."

Presa narrowed her eyes. "I'm going. You two are the only link to my past and memories."

Jude remained silent, he could not refute such a point.

"I don't see a problem," Milla commented.

"Yeah!" Neptune exclaimed with a fist pump. "We need a magey type Kitsune in the party!"


Eventually, the group managed to find their way out of the cave and began walking back to the main city of Planeptune.

As they walked, Neptune asked, "So… How do we get ta Lastation?"

"We need to use one of the boats," Compa explained.

"Oh?" Milla noted with a raised eyebrow. "Sounds fun."

Neptune grinned excitedly. "Righty! Onward to aquatic adventure! Wonder if we'll get boarded by pirates or attacked by a crazed fairy like woman with gravity powers?"

"Please no…" Jude and Milla grumbled in unison.

Jude tightened his fists. "I don't want anything bad happening on a ship…"

Milla sighed and then smiled warmly before putting a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, nothing will happen."

"I hope you're right." Jude walked slightly ahead of the others.

IF folded her arms in confusion. "What was that about?"

Milla sighed heavily. "I sort of died the last time we were on a ship together. And the one that had a hand in that was a fairy like woman with gravity magic."

"Scary…"

Neptune stiffened. "S – Sorry I said that…"

Compa frowned in concern. "That must have brought up many bad memories for Ju-Ju…"

"Oohh… now I feel like a bully… A very bad one…"

Milla sighed as she folded her arms. "Well, at the very least you don't need to worry about him being angry."


Eventually, the group managed transit from Planeptune to the harbor of Lastation.

Jude looked around in thought, the very dark, mechanical, and robotic view of the nation felt very familiar. "This is Lastation?"

"Yep," Compa answered with a smile. "… I think."

"Ah… It's a lot like Elympios."

"Where to now?" Presa asked.

IF suggested, "I suppose we could try the Basilicom first."

"Okay!" Neptune cheered energetically. "Wonder if the CPU is all Steampunky like her city."

"We could check the blog and see."

Jude raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Blog? What's that?"

IF immediately proceeded to pull one of the phones from her belt off and began tapping on it.

Jude just stood silently until she handed him the phone, the image loaded on it showing "Black Heart's Blog" in bold, black letters at the top. He read through it curiously for several moments. "Well her personality seems agreeable enough. So she is most likely reasonable."

"This place sure is different from Planeptune," Neptune commented as she looked around.

"Of course," IF replied simply. "Each nation is distinctly different from the others. For example, Leanbox is full of forests, and Lowee is covered in snow."

Jude gulped slightly. "I hope Lowee's leader isn't like Kanbalar's."


The group soon approached a building much like Planeptune's Basilicom, however Lastation's had far more muted colors with a narrowed coloration of greys and browns.

"This is Lastation's Basilicom?" Presa asked, slightly disturbed.

IF nodded in response. "Yes. Let's head inside."

Upon entering, Neptune immediately shouted, "'Scuse me! I'm here to see Lady Black Heart, is she around?!"

Another priest, dressed similarly to the first but with black accents on his robes, walked towards the group, grumbling in annoyance. "What do you want brat? This isn't a playground, scram."

"Hey! What's your deal buster?"

"We really need to meet the CPU," Compa explained. "We're trying to get Nep-Nep's memory back."

Neptune immediately perked up. "Ooh, I know! This must be an event flag where I just need to name myself! I'm Neptune, and these are Compa, Judie, Iffy, Milly, and Presa."

"Stop rambling!" the man snarled. "I don't care who or what you are. Now get out of here!"

"How rude," Milla huffed as she folded her arms. "You call yourself a priest yet deny those that seek the wisdom of the one you serve. Most suspicious."

IF put a hand on her waist with a frown. "They say the clothes make the man, but I guess your CPU isn't all that great."

The priest huffed in derision. "Say what you want. I could care less what that Black Heart is called."

"Okay, that's it," Jude interjected, annoyed.

"Huh?" Neptune mumbled curiously.

"We're leaving. This guy isn't trustworthy if he doesn't even care about the CPU he serves."

IF nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we're not going to get anywhere."


"Now what do we do?" Presa asked as she and the others sat in a small park within Lastation.

"I'm so mad!" Neptune suddenly growled. "The Basilicom is one thing, but you guys are another! Why'd we leave?!"

"Simple," Jude answered. "We wouldn't get anywhere with him."

IF nodded in recognition. "Yeah. Didn't you notice? He showed absolutely no respect at all to their CPU."

"Ah! You're right…" Compa noted in her excited tone. "He didn't treat the Goddess' name with respect. That's weird…"

Jude nodded. "And if I was a CPU that got treated in such a way in my own home I wouldn't stay there."

"Indeed," Milla added.

Neptune tilted her head curiously. "What do you mean? Maybe they're, like, buddy-buddy and talk really casual."

"There's no way people in this land would call their CPU by name, merely out of respect," IF elucidated.

Jude nodded once more. "Yeah. Take Planeptune for example."

"Yeah, they treated their CPU with respect, but that guy was just treating theirs with scorn."

"You're right," Presa added, "but why?"

IF shrugged in response, not having a proper answer. "I'm not sure. I've spent most of my time with the Guild in Planeptune."

Neptune sighed slightly. "So much for the 'adventuring' character, eh Iffy? But don't worry, we won't kick you out just because you faked your resume."

IF twitched an eyebrow in annoyance but deigned not to respond. "Anyway, why don't we do some quests while we're here?"

Neptune furrowed her brow in thought. "Don't we still have some money?" She then stiffened in shock. "D – Don't tell me you used it on your own pleasures, Iffy!"

"No," IF spat bluntly. "I'm not like you, who sneaks out to buy pudding."

"Gah! I've been found out!"

Milla merely whistled innocently to the side.

"Anyway," IF redirected, "remember how the Key Fragment was with that disc in Planeptune? It should be the same in Lastation."

"You've got a point," Presa noted.

"Ah!" Neptune suddenly exclaimed. "You're a genius, Iffy! I'm sorry I thought you were useless earlier!"

Compa laughed weakly. "Erm, Nep-Nep, I don't think you needed to bring up that last part…"

Jude nodded in concurrence. "Yeah. It's not good for morale."

IF sighed in exasperation. "Let's just get to the Guild."


The group walked into the Guild building and looked through various job postings and requests, bypassing most of them.

Compa stopped in front of one. "Hey, look at this quest. Someone wants some monsters killed."

Milla raised an eyebrow. "Aren't all of them like that?"

IF shook her head in denial. "Not all. Some involve collecting things and others involve finding something. But for our purposes the monster-killing ones are what we want to stick to."

"Yeah," Jude added, "that'd be the quickest way to find what we're after."

"Then let's take it!" Compa exclaimed happily.

"Yeah!" Neptune cheered.


The group walked through the streets of Lastation looking for the one who requested the job.

However, as they did, Jude looked ahead and saw a young woman with short, messy blue hair and amber eyes, a small bandage on her left cheek, wearing bronze welding goggles atop her head, a black tube top under a mostly unbuttoned red jacket that showed her moderate cleavage, a white scarf, light brown slacks, and simple black shoes.

"Oh!" Compa exclaimed as she saw the woman. "Is that her? The one who needs us to fight monsters?"

"I think so," Jude noted.

"She's kinda small…" Neptune commented, perplexed. "I was thinking like, a big burly man or something."

"Why on earth would you think that?" Presa asked with confusion and surprise.

"She's staring at us…" Compa noted lightly, "now she's waving… I think she's the right person."

With a shrug, IF stated, "I suppose she's come to the same conclusion about us."

"Then let us head over and except her quest," Milla urged.

"So it's you girls?" the blue-haired woman asked as they approached. "You're gonna take the work I ordered?"

Jude raised a hand weakly. "Uh, I'm a guy."

The woman leaned to the side slightly. "Huh? Oh, sorry, didn't see you."

Jude slumped slightly. "A – Am I that easy to ignore…?"

Neptune patted his back softly. "Aaww, Judie's all depressed."

IF just sighed in frustration.

"Are you guys sure you'll be okay?" the woman asked with concern.

"We will be fine," Milla answered. "They have Jude and me with them."

"Yeah," IF answered as well with a nod. "My name is IF. And these are Neptune, Compa, Milla, Jude, and Presa."

"I see," the woman mumbled thought before shrugging. "Well, I guess you'll be fine. My name's Chian and I run a small factory called Passé. Now, no use standing around here. Follow me."


Soon, the group were standing inside of a small restaurant with multiple tables scattered throughout and a bar on one end with tall, green barstools.

"Welcome to my home," Chian greeted as she led the group in. "It's not much but hopefully it'll do."

"Huh," Jude mumbled in thought, "it's pretty decent if you ask me."

IF folded her arms in mild confusion. "Didn't you say you ran a factory? This looks more like a cafeteria."

Chian nodded and explained, "My parents run the cafeteria. The factory is next door." Rubbing the bandage on her cheek lightly, she continued, "I'm sure you'd rather speak somewhere cleaner."

"A reasonable assumption," Milla added.

"Dibs on the barstool!" Neptune exclaimed before hopping one of said barstools and spinning around on it. "With this cafeteria you could order a heck load of puddings!"

"Really?!" Milla asked with great excitement.

"That's not gonna create revenue, you know?" Chian chided. "The factory isn't enough, so we make do with the cafeteria too." Chian rubbed her cheek lightly again as she spoke.

Jude frowned slightly in concern. "Do you need help? It looks like you're hurting a little bit."

"Huh?" Chian mumbled before turning to him. "Oh, this?" she noted, putting a hand on her cheek. "It's nothing. I just scratched my cheek working on some of the machines."

"I see…" Jude mumbled, unconvinced. "Still, it might get infected, you should at least let me take a look."

Chian chuckled lightly. "You talk like a doctor."

"Well, I am, kinda."

Compa immediately stiffened. "Wh – What…?"

Jude turned to her and explained, "Before getting involved with Milla I was attending medical school. I was actually in my final year."

"I see," Chian answered slowly before sighing and pulling the bandage from her cheek, flinching slightly as it tugged on the skin.

"Hmm…" Jude hummed as he examined it. "It doesn't look too bad. A bit deep though for my liking. I can use some Healing Artes to close it up."

"Healing Artes?" she asked, having never heard the term before.

"Yes," Jude answered simply before putting his hand over the cut, his hand glowing faintly with a warm, green light.

"Wwhhooaa…" Neptune muttered in astonishment.

"It's warm…" Chian noted with a small smile.

"Sorry to interrupt," IF spoke up, "but mind telling us the details of this mission?"

"That can wait until I'm done healing her," Jude shot back with a light frown.

IF sighed in defeat. "Fine…"

"Good." Jude then refocused on Chian, the light from his hand increasing slightly as the cut on Chian's cheek began to slowly shrink more and more until it vanished. Pulling his hand away, he turned to Chian and asked, "How do you feel?"

"A lot better," Chian replied as she rubbed the spot in surprise.

"That's good to hear."

"Hungry…" Neptune moaned.

"Can we get back on topic now?" IF urged.

Chian nodded in response. "Yes of course. I need you to kill some monsters obstructing the trade route. It used to be safe, but recently a large monster showed up and took roost there. And with that route blocked, all trade has stopped."

"Why hasn't anyone done anything sooner?" Jude questioned.

Chian sighed heavily. "Well… they've tried. But no one's made it back alive."

Milla narrowed her eyes and then glanced at Jude. "That sounds like a Devil's Beast."

Jude nodded in agreement. "Yeah."

"Deva what now?" Neptune questioned in confusion.

"It's nothing."

Chian then handed a piece of paper to Jude. "This is where I think the monster has roosted. I don't know if you guys can actually take it down, but, good luck."

Jude nodded in return.

"Let's go," IF insisted.


"Is this the road?" Neptune asked as they entered a long, hillside path.

"I believe so," Presa answered.

"Be careful not to fall," Jude warned as they began walking the path.

"Righto!" Neptune cheered. "Let's find that monster!"

Jude frowned in thought as he looked around. "I don't like this, something's not right, so be careful. Let's find this thing."


On one of the cliffs overlooking the road, a figure stood above, watching the group. "So… she's here. Though who are those with her? No matter. If they interfere I'll kill them too."


"I'm tired…" Compa moaned as she sat on a rock.

"Yeah… I'm pooped…" Neptune added as she sat next to the pink-haired nurse.

"Oh come on," IF grumbled, "we've only just started!"

"Indee –" Milla began to say but was interrupted by Neptune.

"Let's have a pudding break!" Neptune cheered.

Milla, who then began to appear exhausted as well, sat next to the hyperactive girl. "A break is a great idea!"

Jude merely sighed.

IF groaned in annoyance. "Wha –?! You too?!"

Jude put a hand on the brunette's shoulder. "IF. Don't fight it. When Milla is dead-set on something she won't stop. Besides Compa isn't the physical type like the rest of us. It'd be bad if she overexerts herself."

Compa frowned with a heavy pout. "I'm sorry I'm so weak…"

Jude flinched, feeling guilty for the girl's solemn state. "H - Hey now. Don't talk like that! I was like you when I first started traveling with Milla."

Compa turned to him in surprise. "R – Really…?"

Milla nodded with a small smile. "He was indeed. I had to look after him quite a few times."

Jude turned to her with a deadpan expression, and challenged flatly, "And I had to look after you to with how you had zero understanding on how to be human."

Milla nodded in return, a smile still on her face. "Yes, that was quite amusing. Experiencing hunger for the first time was quite an experience."

"… Huh…?" IF mumbled in confusion.

Compa, after taking a bite of pudding, then turned to Jude curiously. "Hey, Ju-Ju, how'd you and Mi-Mi meet?"

"Huh?" Jude mumbled slightly. "Oh, uh… Hehe… kind of a funny story, actually… You see, I was attending medical school when I had to go to a large laboratory in the city. I had a certificate to deliver to one of my professors and accidentally dropped it to the river below. And when I went to get it, that's where I saw Milla. Trying to break in to the laboratory. She was also using magic circles to walk on water."

"Ooh," Neptune cooed in amazement, "that sounds cool!"

"I guess that's one way to see it. Anyway, I saw her down there and called out to see what she was doing."

"Something which I specifically told him not to," Milla interjected. "So when he did it again I put him in a water sphere."

Suddenly, an orb of light appeared next to Milla with expanded and then formed a young woman with long, light-blue hair that reached to just above her waist, matching blue eyes, and pointed ears, wearing a short, white dress with blue accents, a matching coat overtop that reached her shins, tall blue stockings with white borders, and tall, white boots. "Actually," the woman interjected with a smirk, "I did it."

"Uwah!" Neptune shouted in surprise as the woman appeared. "Who are you?!"

With a smile, the woman answered, "My name is Undine, I am the Great Spirit of Water."

"Ookkaayy…?"

"You know how some cultures have gods and goddesses that rule over the fundamental laws of the universe?" Jude asked.

"Uuuhhh…" Neptune and Compa mumbled in unified bewilderment.

Jude sighed in mild annoyance. "Like gods of the ocean and the sun? That kind of thing."

"Maybe…?" Neptune replied unsurely.

With a groan, Jude mumbled, "Talking to Teepo was easier."

"Who's Teepo?" Compa asked.

Jude held his hands up to demonstrate the height of the one he was talking about, very small, and explained, "A little, floating doll about this big controlled by a girl named Elize."

"Oh…"

"Anyway, Undine here is a being that can easily and freely manipulate water to a great extent. She could even cause a flood if she had enough mana."

"Whoa…" Neptune mumbled, impressed.

"There's also Ifreet who controls fire, Sylph, who can manipulate wind, and Gnome, who has power over earth."

Jude was about to speak once more, but the group was interrupted as a loud shriek filled the air.

"Uumm," Undine mumbled, "what was that?"

The group all turned and watched a giant, mechanical, multi-colored bird flew down towards them.

"Oh, go away!" Neptune grumbled. "I'm trying to enjoy a story here and you're ruining it you overgrown chicken! Go away, I'm too tired!"

Jude suddenly perked up as an idea filled his head. "Neptune, if you kill that thing we can eat more pudding."

Neptune's eyes lit up brightly. "I'm on it! Time to get serious!" She was once again bathed in light; her larger form being revealed as the light died down. "Prepare to become a turkey dinner you overgrown chicken!"

However, the beast suddenly stiffened before slumping to the ground.

"Eh…?"

Milla stood in front of the downed beast with her blade in its heart, her eyes alight as she drooled. "Does this mean I get the pudding instead Jude?"

The others merely stared in awed disbelief.

"No fair!" Neptune argued, her deeper voice clashing with the childishness of the statement.

Milla smirked proudly. "First come first serve."

Neptune pouted in disappointment. "Well that stinks."

Jude suddenly put up a hand. "Wait, Neptune, don't turn back yet."

"Huh? Why?"

"I know you're there, come out!"

Suddenly, a woman with long, hip-length, wavy white hair, fair skin, and blue-green eyes with the same symbols as Neptune's, wearing a bodysuit that was largely black with white accents, with detached sleeves and thigh-high boots, along with a gap that exposed a fair amount of her moderate bust, with small mechanical sections floating near her shoulders, waist, head, and feet, and large white wings made of energy, stepped out from behind a rock with a smirk. "I'm impressed you noticed me."


And there you go, the end of the first chapter of Tales of Neptunia. Be sure to tell me what you think of the story with a review. Whether you enjoyed it, were confused or unsure on anything, have any questions, or if you did not enjoy it. If you did not though, I would recommend going and finding something you do enjoy instead. But post if you must. Well, I have nothing to say beyond this, so, bye-bye!