Two figures stood atop a dramatic battleground; A meeting place for derelict spirits. The fabled calamity trigger had led to this eventuality. The end of it all was swiftly approaching. By the end of this day, only one would remain standing, and that lone victor would determine everything.
The one on the left was a mysterious samurai-esque figure clad entirely in white and black armor, with numerous eyes spaced about. The oddest aspect of the enigma, however, was the absence of a face.
The right figure, contrarily, was clad in a classy black suit, and wore a slimy grin at all times. He had green hair, and gave off the essence of a snake. Only the truly dense would think he was a good guy.
One represented lawful justice; the other represented pure chaos. They stared at each other for a few tense moments, when suddenly, both men sprang to life.
The ensuing match consisted of the samurai slicing through the air with his enormously long sword, while the snake dodged with little effort. The faceless representative of justice tried with all his might, but his blows never connected; The suited villain jumped about way too manicky.
The bad guy repeatedly shot out a snake-like chain at the armor-plated hero, damaging him immensely. The faceless man retorted with a large shockwave sent out from his blade, miraculously connecting with his opponent, and sending him flying across the arena. The suited man burst back up from the ground, and immediately continued his relentless assault. The hero could only guard so much. Eventually, he was launched a fair distance, as well.
The snake sauntered over to his opponent slowly, menacingly. The samurai launched one last attack, slicing upwards from his prostrate position. The green guy was hurled upwards, but recovered in midair. He cackled, and dashed forwards.
Catching the armored hero off-guard, he attempted a devastating super-kick, which connected. The blow sent him upwards, higher than ever before. The figure of justice did not have any time to recover, for, when he landed on the earth below, the figure of chaos unleashed an apparent wave of green snakes. The fiendish beasts savagely lashed out, finishing off our only hope.
The clear villain grinned slyly, and removed his tie. He had taken the day; Chaos would rule from this moment on.
"Zahama Wins!" Cried an unseen voice from somewhere in the heavens.
"NOOOOOO!" Noire cried in exasperation as she stared at the screen; She had lost once again.
"Yeah! I'm so awesome! Sowwy, Noirey, but the hero always wins. It's, like, the law, or somethin'!" Neptune gleamed, while cuddling against the tsundere's face.
Lady Black Heart sighed in total defeat, and succumbed to the ditz's assault of hugs and glomps...
Prologue: Kirihirake! Grace Star
Narrator: In the year 20XX, Gamindustri faces a dire crisis. On one fateful night, two goddesses of two separate lands joined together in one intense night of passion. The very next morning, the two CPU Candidates of the very same lands pronounced their love for each other. If that wasn't enough, yet another seemingly insignificant couple was formed on a separate land mass at the very same moment. Romance was blossoming, but Gamindustri has never faced a problem like this before. What will possibly happen if two nations are joined together as one? Personally, I...
"Hello! Is anyone there?" A voice bellowed from somewhere below. The narrator looked around in apparent confusion, until he found the source of the mysterious voice. Right at the landing of his tall narrator's podium stood someone with long, blue hair, and a long, flowing red scarf. This was... unexpected...
"Um... hi, what do you want?" The Narrator asked with restraint. He slowly descended from his podium, until he could clearly see his guest.
"What are you doing, calling out to the heavens so fiercely?"
"Um, well, I'm narrating... It's kinda my thing...?" From what he knew, narrators usually didn't associate with others.
"Why narrate when there is evil afoot! If justice is being quelled by the wicked force of villainy, action must be taken!" the mysterious figure proclaimed, passion burning in their eyes.
"Okay, I don't know who you are, but can you please leave? I'm trying to start this... romance story..." He apparently really wanted to get this story over and done with.
The guest didn't pay the man any heed. "Well, never fear, lone citizen! Gamindustri's Heroine of Justice has arrived! Evildoers, beware! My mighty swift kick of divine judgement will deliver a harsh sentence on your very souls!"
"Oh God... listen, this is no place for little boys. Please get out of here." Horrible thing to say.
"Li-Little boy? LITTLE BOY!? I am NOT a LITTLE BOY! You dare mock a heroine such as myself? I... I'll tear you apart with my fists of just retribution!" The narrator looked around in mild distress as Nisa, Gamindustri's very own flatty Heroine of Justice, flung herself at the narrator of this upcoming story.
"He-Hey! Get off of me! I need to get on with this. It's very important!" Nisa halted her assault for a moment, and glared at the... man. Now that she got a good look at him, she realized that she couldn't see who this person actually was. His entire body was shrouded by a black cloak, and no face could be seen beneath the darkness. Whoever he was, something was off about him. Nisa decided then and there that she would stick around with this narrator. He didn't feel like an enemy of love and justice, but there was something... sinister about him.., and familiar...
"Fine, I will not hold you back any longer. However, if you are to go on with your mission, I must demand that I be allowed to observe you. I must make sure that you will not spread evil with your stories." Nisa boldly declared, trying to save face. The narrator sighed.
"Do whatever you want, just don't distract me." The narrator cleared his throat and, in a booming voice, declared...
Chapter 1: Ao-iconoclast
It has been three weeks since that fateful night in which the world shook. Such an earth-rattling development was made, and yet, for all intents and purposes, not much had changed. Sure, two goddesses were now basking in the brilliant glow of love each and every night, but their communion was a secret to everyone else. However, things were about to change, it seemed...
Noire rolled off of Neptune in a daze, gasping for air. The purple-haired ditz was equally stunned, a huge grin spread across her face. Both lay in relative silence for a good three minutes, just staring up at the ceiling. Finally, they spoke, if only to prove that they were still alive.
"...Wow..." Noire gasped in exasperation. She chuckled nervously, and glanced over at her unlikely lover. Neptune slowly gazed back at the tsundere, and smiled mischievously.
"I know you get desperate, Noirey, but I didn't think you'd do THAT to me." Planeptune's goddess gleamed with delight. Noire blushed, but didn't look away; couldn't look away. These past nights had been the greatest moments of her life, although she could never bring herself to admit it. Expressing her love for the ditz filled her with so many emotions, almost more than she could handle.
Noire didn't answer immediately, but instead pulled Neptune closer to her in a tight hug. The purple-haired goddess nuzzled their cheeks together. "You really had fun, huh?" she exclaimed with wonderment.
"N-not as much as you!" Noire replied, a bit too loud. She became flustered way too easily, a fact that Neptune exploited for all it was worth.
"Come on, you had a blast. I mean, you were in charge the entire time~" she sang out. The tsundere blushed a deeper shade of red. Try as she might, she couldn't offer a single rebuttal to that claim.
Neptune sighed happily and snuggled even closer. She lightly brushed her lips against Noire's ear. "Hey... can I ask ya' something? It's kinda important... Like, super-mega-ultra important..." The black-haired girl was partly taken-aback upon hearing the sincerity in the ditz's voice.
"Sure, of course... w-what is it?" Neptune adjusted herself so that her face was directly in front of her lover's.
"Like, we've been doin' this for a few weeks now, right? Well, maybe it's time we should... break the news to everyone. Tell 'em we're off the market, y'know?"
Noire didn't fully realize it, but she brightened up upon hearing Neptune's suggestion. "You... you want to reveal that we're... together?"
"Yeah! Definitely! I don't want anyone to try to take my Noiwwy-poo away fwom me. So, what do ya say?"
Noire thought for a brief moment, already knowing what her reply would be, whether she wanted to say it or not. "I-I think I'd like that... How about tomorrow? We'll gather everyone up... and tell them the truth. W-we got nothing to hide, right?"
Neptune cheered at Noire's simple answer, although she was a bit surprised that she was so accepting. Usually, the tsundere would have acted entirely embarrassed and rejected her for the first few moments before consenting.
"I knew you'd understand. I love you." the ditz cooed. Noire felt like she was in heaven whenever she heard those words. She responded by delicately kissing her purple-haired lover. Neptune easily returned the kiss, as it was impossible for her to even think of not doing so.
Such a tender loving scene this has been! However, trouble looms slightly overhead, as Lady Black Heart had realized all along. How would everyone react to this news? She worried incessantly that her friends and allies would not support her, or, worse yet, actively turn aganst her.
No, that's not correct. Sure, she worried about shocking her companions, but she was certain that they would be fine with everything. All of them, besides one. Noire was scared to death over how one particular person would react. Everything would hinge on that single reaction...
However, Noire knew that Neptune was not so easily defeated. If any resistance popped up, that purple-haired ditz would see to it that it gets nipped in the butt. That is, if this potential opponent could be stopped at all...
Narrator looked up from the book he was reading, and glanced over at Nisa. Her face was entirely red, and she stared down at the floor.
"Hey... you alright?" he asked.
"W-w-w-w-why would you read something like that!? That was such an invasion of privacy! How can I call myself an upholder of justice after spying on two fellow heroines like that!?" Nisa yelled, completely flustered. She continued staring down at her feet.
"Look, I don't read this crap; I'm just the narrator. My only job is to provide beginning exposition and read the chapter titles. Everything else is... out of my control."
Nisa looked up at the cloaked figure, and slightly scowled. "If you are not the one dictating this, who is?"
The narrator shrugged. "That, I am not sure. I'm just here to set off his spiel. His identity is of no concern to me."
Nisa wasn't satisfied with the answer, but she let that particular issue slide. "Well, why are you narrating a story about my friends?"
The narrator sighed. "Listen, this is just a quick job to get me by. Leave me alone, and let me get on with this. The faster I get this over with, the sooner we can all put this behind us."
"But why my fellow comrades in the never-ending battle for justice? They saved the entire planet before! Shouldn't we be... more respectful of their privacy?"
The narrator grew progressively more annoyed as this... girl... continued to spew more time-wasting words. However, he maintained his composure; this would all be over soon, and by the end, he would have what he wanted.
"I don't like spying on people's lives either, but it's... very important right now. If you quiet down, I may just let you in on a little secret..."
Nisa squinted at the figure, still unsure what to make of him. He wasn't lying, it seemed. Still, this all seemed pretty sketchy.
However, Nisa's curious side kicked in at hearing the word 'secret', so she agreed to silence herself.
The narrator noted her silence and nodded slightly. "Good. Now, let's get through this section, then I'll share what I know."
The figure once again cleared his throat, straightened himself, and boldly announced...
Chapter 2: Pursuing My True Self
As you savvy onlookers have probably guessed, those two Goddesses are not the only two who have approaching trials on the horizon. No, this calamity trigger has brought about rising tension for everyone involved on that fateful night. However, not all of their problems are the same. In fact, one particular couple is set to face the strongest enemy of all: their own selves.
Let's drop in on these conflicted maidens, shall we?
IF stirred in her sleep; yet another... restless night, it seemed. The world of dreams, as you... probably know... now wait a moment! Haven't we gone over this before?
Either way, the young Iffy still had problems sleeping, though brought about by something slightly different from last time. Perhaps her new-found relationship is to blame?
Could this battle-hardened veteran be reconsidering the situation she had helped get herself into?
IF slowly opens her eyes and briefly looks around the room. It wasn't hers, that's for certain. She was about to sit up, but a violent headache surfaced throughout her temples at that very moment.
"Aw, crap! What the hell?" she swore blatantly to no one in particular. Only once before had she felt such pain in her head. It was then that she realized that... she had gone through this all before.
There was no migraine, was there? She was about to sit straight up, but then remembered what would happen next. There would be no further instant flashes of pain. Instead, a soft hand would lightly grasp her wrist. When this premonition came true, IF couldn't help but yelp in slight surprise.
"Iffy-poo, where are you going...?" a soft voice mumbled, the sound obscured by pillows. Iffy gulped and looked next to her. Lying beside her was a face-down girl with long, beautiful light pink hair. She was visibly naked, the blankets only covering the most vital points of her body. The brunette's spine shivered, and she broke out in a cold sweat. 5pb, Gamindustri's star idol, was lying next to her in bed...
Wait, this wasn't 5pb! No, 5pb has blue hair! This mysterious stranger has light pink hair... What has Miss IF done!?
IF was equally surprised at the woman before her very eyes. Compa, Gamindustri's nurse-in-training, was lying naked next to her in bed. Compa, her BEST FRIEND, was lying naked next to her in bed.
This familiar scene was much more horrific than the actual original. IF's confusion over the whole debacle with 5pb earlier had been partially manufactured, as part of some overly complicated scheme put in motion by Leanbox's CPU to combat the scheme put in motion by Leanbox's oracle... a hairy ordeal, to say the least.
However, IF really had no idea how this present scene came to be. On top of possibly destroying her life-long friendship with Compa, she had also betrayed 5pb, her girlfriend. How did it come to this!?
"C-C-C-Compa...What... what happened!?... Oh, please forgive me! I'm so sorry! Oh God, I'm so stu-" the brunette cried, too flustered to form coherent thoughts. However, Compa calmly sat up and placed her finger on IF's mouth, cutting her short.
"Jeez, you get embarrassed so easily, Iffy. Just... come closer..." the nurse seductively whispered. Yep, IF was completely and utterly flabbergasted. The Compa she knew could never talk like this. It was impossible.
"Compa, please... this is wrong!" IF whined, struggling to break free from her friend's grasp. Horrifically, though, she realized that she was barely putting up a struggle at all. Did she actually enjoy being this close to her best friend?
"Relax, Iffy-poo. Like you said, we've worked hard lately. We need some relaxation time~" With that, Compa softly placed her lips upon the stunned brunette's. She, reluctantly(?), melted into the kiss. The two childhood friends were, for a single moment, one and the same. Passion unexplored emanated throughout their very souls. Everything was perfect...
However, IF suddenly snapped back into reality. She broke from the kiss and jumped from the bed. Without a word, she fled from the room, forgetting that she was stark naked.
The conflicted brunette ran as fast as she could. She finally recognized her whereabouts as Lady Green Heart's residence, the same place where she had started her relationship with the pop idol. If she was here, than where was Lyrica?
She froze in her tracks as she heard the light sound of a guitar playing at the end of the hall. IF quickly dashed into the slightly open room, but was taken aback by what she found inside.
On the bed right in front of her, Lady Green Heart lay on her back, wearing what appeared to be Chika's standard attire. A small radio sat on a nearby table, playing a rock song from some famous classic artist.
"Miss IF! Oh, how I knew you would choose me! Pardon my brazen words, but take me now. I've been waiting for you for all this time..." Vert cooed, beckoning the brunette with her finger. IF stared at the scene that neither gods nor mere mortals could resist, and gulped. Thoughts couldn't even come to her at this moment. As she grew up, IF had always favored Leanbox's CPU to the other three, though she'd never tell that to anyone. Seeing this was either a dream come true, or a total punch in the childhood.
Still, IF had to keep herself under control. She couldn't betray 5pb anymore than she already had. Although, finding the right words when under extreme pressure was not one of her strong suits. "Lady Vert, please... make yourself decent. I'm in a... bit of trouble, and I could use your help. Have you seen 5pb anywhere?" She looked away from the goddess as she spoke.
Vert chuckled lightly. "Why, I'm modest compared to you right now. At least I'm wearing something." IF looked down in horror, and realized at last that she was clad in absolutely nothing.
"Ah, crap. I'm-I'm sorry, Lady Vert. This is so embarrassing. I'll just go... put something on then. Tell me if she shows up anywhere..." IF slowly turned towards the door, but watched fearfully as it slammed shut. Vert had transformed into her HDD form, and had manipulated the door.
"Do not be embarrassed, Miss IF. I have been looking for a suitable mate for the longest time now. Once I laid my eyes on you, well, I knew that my search was over." Vert slowly got off the bed and hovered over to the frightened girl. She rubbed her hand across her soft cheek. "You are very beautiful, IF. Anyone would be grateful to have you as a wife. I will be sure to treat you as though you were of royal, nay, divine blood."
IF looked into the goddess' eyes. Why was Vert saying these things? What the hell was going on today? And why did she feel so good, so complete, right now?
"Hehe... and, to top it all off," Vert clutched IF's hips, causing the girl to yelp in surprise, "you are so deliciously developed. You have the perfect hips for bearing children. Our offspring shall be the most perfect in all of Gamindustri!"
IF's eyes opened wide with shock. "C-c-c-c-c-c-c-children!? N-n-n-n-nononononononono! I couldn't... how would that even work!?"
Vert's eyes flashed brightly, like a freshly kindled flame. "I have my methods..." Leanbox's CPU said with a knowing grin on her face. The brunette stared with horror and slight interest. Would marrying Lady Green Heart be such a bad thing. She'd be taken care of for life, and she'd be given a lot of power and love. However, the children topic was weirding her out...
No! She promised to stay true to 5pb! She couldn't just abandon her like this...
Before she could say anything, the window in the room shattered, and in flew... a golden dragon? It traveled around the room, pretty quiet as far as dragons are concerned. Vert made a slight glance at the strange invader and lightly chuckled. She then proceeded to playfully push the naked IF onto the bed.
"Accept me, 'Iffy', and I will make sure you spend the rest of your days in complete happiness. I love you. Will you love me?" Vert pronounced in her most seductive tone ever. The battle-hardened veteran was speechless. Not only was Vert acting completely out of it, but she was also paying little-to-no heed to the dragon that had just burst into the room.
However, the surprises weren't completely done just yet. A loud banging resonated from the shut door, when suddenly, it flew right off of its hinges. Compa, her incredibly large syringe poised in the air, stood on the other side. "Leave my Iffy-poo alone!" She shouted, and jumped onto the goddess' back. Vert was caught off-guard.
"Hey!... Get off of me! Miss IF loves me, not you, you curvaceous bimbo." Lady Green Heart thrashed about wildly, but Compa wouldn't let go.
"No, Iffy loves me, you... meanie!" she shouted, trying to sound tough. As the struggle commenced, IF failed to notice that the golden dragon had begun to circle around herself. She realized to late, and felt the beast tighten around her waist. She was being constricted! And her two contesting 'lovers' didn't notice a thing.
'Help!' She tried to scream, but nothing came out. The dragon, after one last circle around her, stared directly into her eyes. IF, in a complete daze, swore she heard a soft voice, not quite familiar, but not completely unknown. This feeling of slight wonderment was ended abruptly, though, as the dragon lurched forward, consuming the brunette...
What a sorry end for one of our maidens! Oh, how horrible... oh, wait...
IF lurched upright with a gasp, reinforcing one of the oldest clichés in the book. She was sweating all over, and couldn't steady her breath. That was the most vivid dream yet. In fact, it seemed as if it wasn't a mere dream. It seemed more like some plot from a crappy fanfiction.
After calming down a bit, she turned her head slowly. Lying beside her was a fully clothed 5pb, sleeping peacefully with a smile on her face. IF exhaled a sigh of relief, then lay back down. She loved Lyrica... right? Why did these dreams keep popping up? Compa, Vert... was her mind telling her something?
She stared at her first girlfriend, and smiled sadly. Despite the deception that had been used to bring them together, the two had done nothing more than lightly kiss. Why, then, did she have such... graphic dreams, graphic thoughts, of her friends? That scared her more than anything...
"Jeez, I'm getting too soft..."
Oh well, she thought. She'd just have to worry about this some other time. Right now, she wanted to snuggle up to the pop idol and drift back to a hopefully calmer sleep...
This was only the beginning...
Narrator breathed a slow sigh of relief, and looked up. Nisa was once again looking down in embarrassment. For a moment, they were both silent. Finally, Narrator spoke up.
"Hm... there wasn't supposed to be a dream sequence, at least from what I was told..." He said, hoping to break the ice. He wasn't too good in social situations, especially as of late. Nisa slowly looked up, one cheek puffed in frustration.
"What is this story!? Why must we witness things like that?" Nisa thought for a bit, then came to a sudden realization. "Wait, that's it! You... you're a pervert! Wah, all this time, you've been an evil fiend, stalking my friends! Well, I'll deliver swift retribution on your devious ways!" Nisa jumped in the air and prepared a jump kick for the ages.
Narrator recoiled back, but could not avoid the blow. He was sent flying a fair distance. "Ahh! What the hell're you doing!? I'm no pervert! Stop!" Nisa stopped her incoming attack, and surveyed the cloaked being.
"Then how else can you explain this horrid story you are presenting?"
The man looked up, and shook his head. "I have been given some crucial information that hints that your friends are in dire trouble. Now, do you want them to live or not!?" Nisa flinched at being yelled at like that.
"T-trouble? They're in danger!?" the heroine of justice stammered. What injustice was at play here?
"I believe so. I... I've been assigned to watch over everyone in secret. It is my duty to spot something suspicious, and act accordingly. My superiors have been keeping mostly to themselves. They claim, though, that I will be able to identify the threat instantly once it pops up."
Nisa listened to the clunky exposition, and squinted her eyes in slight untrust. "Who are your superiors? And how do they know all this?"
Narrator chuckled softly, and shrugged. "To tell you the truth, I have no idea. They're the guys that pay me. I don't ask anything else." Nisa pouted a bit more, but accepted his poor answer. "Hey, if it makes you feel any better, I don't read these things in advance. Hell, I don't even have the next part yet. As far as I know, these scenes are happening right as we see them. Whoever's supplying the way to view these events would be the most perverted, if anything."
Gamindustri's heroine of justice thought about everything, but wasn't fully satisfied. If this was all happening in real-time, for example, then how could the viewing of that dream sequence be explained? Either way, she let Narrator off the hook... for now.
Nisa was about to ask a question, when a ding sounded out. "Hold on...Ah, another piece." Narrator said as a manuscript seemingly appeared out of nowhere into his hands. Nisa looked shocked for a moment.
"Is that how you get these scenes!?" She asked, quite flustered over the strange sight.
"Eh, more or less." Not an answer. "Hm, this seems to hint that something important is about to happen. May give us a clue. Shall we begin?" Narrator turned his hooded face towards Nisa, who could only nod, eyes still enlarged.
"Ehem..."
Chapter 3: Ryuusei no Bifrost
The fateful morning had finally dawned on the two CPU lovers. Today, they would finally break the news to their companions. Despite her best efforts, Noire couldn't steady her heart one bit. This was her judgement day.
Today, apart from the obvious, was also the scheduled day for Lady Black Heart to make her return to Lastation. As far as anyone knew, Noire had resided in Planeptune these past weeks for 'official business' that only CPUs could perform. Compa and Nepgear were expected not to question anything, but the tsundere had to wonder why Histoire or Kei didn't speak out.
Either way, she would be returning home today. However, she had invited the residents of Neptune's house to come along for the journey. This would provide a convenient way to out themselves to their friends and comrades. Hopefully, all would be well.
"Whelp, I'm all packed and ready! How 'boutchu, Noirey?" Neptune gleamed. She had just filled up the largest suitcase Lady Black Heart had ever seen.
"Yeah... almost..." she replied. She was amazed at how much stuff she had actually brought over here in the first place. Her clothes, her personal tchotchkes, her guitar; It was almost as if Neptune's room had become her own as well. Thinking about that made her blush a bit. It was as if they were already married... and Noire couldn't deny that she was happy about that.
One long stretch of silence...
"So... you ready yet?" the purple-haired ditz asked.
It was going to be a long day.
About twenty minutes later, the packing was complete. Of course, Noire had been delayed due to being playfully tackled by Lady Purple Heart. However, not too much precious time had been lost.
The two headed downstairs, and came upon Nepgear. "Oh, are you two ready?" She asked innocently.
Neptune dashed forward and glomped her younger sister. "You betcha, Nep Jr! You ready to rock Lastation to the ground?"
Noire stepped forward and bonked Planeptune's CPU on the head. "Leave your sister alone, Neptune. And you will do no such thing to my nation!"
Neptune frowned as huge as she could, and waltzed downtrodden out of the room. Nepgear hesitantly cocked her head to one side and smiled.
"Geez, I don't get her sometimes... So, Nepgear, how is everything? You've been leaving the house a lot lately..." Noire asked nonchalantly.
Nepgear grew slightly flustered at the question. Three weeks ago, she and Uni, Noire's younger sister, had pronounced their love for each other. Since that day, they saw each other whenever they could. Nepgear usually left her house before Neptune woke up, whilst Uni claimed to Kei that she was training to surpass her sister's strength. The charade had worked better than the two had hoped, as their older sisters seemed to be too preoccupied with other things to notice them.
Neptune had always seemed a bit suspicious; Noire, though, had never spoken up about noticing Nepgear's daily habits. She was accordingly thrown off.
"Oh, um, I've just been going to the arcade with a friend. They've been having discount prices lately..." the young girl partially lied. Sometimes, she and Uni did venture to the arcade, but certainly not everyday. And friends usually don't make out on the park bench...
Noire stared for a moment, but nodded. Her expression gave nothing away to the young purple-haired candidate. "That sounds fun. Maybe I'll go with you some day."
"Ah...sure, that does sounds like fun." Nepgear closed her eyes and smiled, still quite flustered. Before anything else could be said, Histoire floated into the room.
"Ah, good morning, you two. Is everyone ready to embark?" Planeptune's small oracle asked gently. Nepgear nodded and sighed in relief; She was safe from Noire's questions for a little while.
"Oh, so you're goin' too, Histy?" Neptune inquired upon stumbling back into the room.
"Yes, although I would have gone regardless. Kei called me late last night. It appears that something of importance has caught her attention. However, don't mind us. You have fun." Histoire smiled.
"Alright, Histy's comin'! Now it's a party!" Neptune sprang in the air several times. Noire sighed and stepped forward.
"It's not anything serious, right?" Lady Black Heart wondered.
"No, I'm sure it's nothing. Kei's probably stressed out of her mind, is all. You haven't been around for weeks, you know. I believe she's lonely."
Noire rolled her eyes. "Kei being lonely? Yeah, like that's even possible."
Nepgear spoke up out of nowhere. "Hey, is Compa back yet? Oh, I hope she didn't get lost again..." Compa's grandfather had called her over yesterday to investigate some 'strange alien abomination' in the front lawn, but it turned out to just be a fern. Seeing as how it was getting late, the nurse-in-training stayed over his house for the night.
"She better get here soon; Our ship's supposed to leave within the hour." Noire declared in exasperation. As if on cue, the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" Neptune sang as she lurched to the door. The medic stood on the other side, carrying a very large bag.
"Nep-Nep!" she cheered.
"Compa!" the purple-haired ditz hollered back. They then snuggled their faces together. Even though they saw each other on a regular basis, they seemed to always greet with this type of fanfare after being away for more than a few hours.
After a few moments, the two broke their embrace. "Phew, sorry about taking so long. The dogoos are really rampant this time of year."
"Hey, don't worry about that. So, you ready to rock on outta here!?" Neptune gleamed.
"I sure am. Let's see... yep, I brought my syringe... another syringe... my tea set... extra clothes... Yeah, all ready!" Only Compa could carry around multiple large syringes and not garner any suspicious glances... Oh, and she only briefly glanced over her belongings, explaining how she overlooked something quite odd...
"Awesomepants! Well, what're we waitin' for? Let's go, homies!" With that, the girls proceeded to leave Planeptune on their rented ship.
'Twas a fair distance from Planeptune to Lastation, but this vehicle made the journey rather short, all things considered. Within no time, Noire's land came into view.
"Wow, just imagine Noirey: Once your citizens see there's only women on this ship, they'll all think you have a harem. How awesome!... Hm, we really should start a harem, huh?" Neptune inquired. It was hard to peg whether she was kidding, or completely serious.
"D-Don't get any crazy ideas! My people aren't sick old perverts like you. Lastation's citizens have class..." Noire had to wonder what her citizens thought of her long absence, though.
In a matter of minutes, the ship dropped anchor, and the group proceeded to Lady Black Heart's residence. At the door waited Lastation's oracle, Kei Jinguji.
"Welcome, everyone. Hm, seems like we'll be having a full house." Kei greeted, although it was anything but welcoming.
"Hi Kei. It's nice to see you again." Nepgear said, holding out her hand. Kei scrutinized the candidate's hand for a moment, then shook it.
"It's nice to see you too, Nepgear." The oracle replied, a slight smile on her face.
Noire stepped forward and nodded towards her stand-in. "Hello, Kei. Has everything been all right since I've left?"
"Yes, everything is as it should be. I'm not so incompetent as to be helpless for three weeks." Just a normal conversation for the two.
After a few more minutes of catching up and getting greetings out-of-the-way, the girls headed inside and began making themselves at home.
"Wow, Nep Jr, you got ol' Kei to smile! I always thought she was a cyborg, or an android, or whatever." Lady Purple Heart remarked to her sister. Nepgear blushed.
"Kei's actually really nice, once you look past her serious demeanor."
"She's built outta seriousness, like, for reals! Once, I snuck into her room, and I saw her put this crazy machine into her mouth. It must be for refueling!"
Nepgear patted her older sister's head. "I'm sure that was just her toothbrush."
"Maybe... But I'm keeping my eyes on her." With that, Neptune sauntered off, presumably to harass Noire.
Planeptune's CPU Candidate sighed, then quietly snuck upstairs. She ventured to the door at the end of the hall. Peeking inside, she called "Uni, are you in here?"
Noire's younger sister was sleeping soundly, which was odd at this time of day. Perhaps she was tired from her constant trips to Planeptune. Nepgear smiled and rubbed the tsundere's head. Uni's eyes slowly opened.
"N-Nepgear!? You're here already?" she remarked in shock. Her eyes instantly lit up.
Nepgear hugged her girlfriend in response. "Yep, we all just got here. There's no rush, though. You can go back to sleep."
Uni's face turned a deep crimson. "Ca...Can you stay with me then?"
"Of course. I'll lay right here, if you'd like." Nepgear softly crawled underneath the covers, and cuddled up against her fellow CPU candidate.
Uni felt at peace as she heard her soul-mate's soft breaths. Their eyes met, and both were instantly overcome with emotion.
"I love you so much, Nepgear."
"Aw, I love you too, Uni. More than you could imagine."
With that, both soon drifted off into a peaceful slumber. Ah, what pure, innocent passion! Why, my very heart tremors with excitement at the sight of these two maidenly lovers! Nothing could ever come between such untainted infatuation. Nothing could ever even come close to breaking these two apart!
...
...Nothing could... right?
...
Anyways, Kei and Histoire, meanwhile, had snuck aside to discuss the state of Gamindustri.
"So, what did you request me for?" the book fairy questioned. Kei took out a sheet of paper and analyzed it a bit.
"I received a call from Mina yesterday. It seems a swarm of dragons have invaded Lowee. No destruction has been reported, though. If I were to guess, they are merely in mating season. Regardless, she figured it would be wise to bring White Heart and the two candidates here for the time being. I thought that, perhaps, you could provide some assistance."
Histoire thought about what she'd been told, then nodded. "Yes, I suppose that's the best course of action. We can't endanger the young ones. I'll help in any way I can." So, for the next few days, Blanc, Ram, and Rom would be staying here along with Neptune's party; Sounds like the set-up for some short-lived sitcom!
Hm, but what about their comrades still on Leanbox? Surely they must have some reason to venture forth to Lastation. That way, all the actors will be in play.
"Ready Vert?!" Chika excitedly asked her 'sister'. Lady Green Heart sighed.
"Not yet, Chika. You just finished your massage a few minutes ago; I have yet to get dressed."
Leanbox's oracle's eyes lit up. "Ooh! Then let me help you with that! So, what'll it be today?"
"Hmm... surprise me." It seems Vert and Chika were getting ready to attend a game expo on, you guessed it, Lastation! Now, Chika was not the most avid gamer, but she could not turn down an opportunity to see her darling Vert in new outfits.
They would, of course, attempt to hide their identities, although Lady Green Heart would be recognizable in any costume. Remaining incognito, however, was not needed for this event. Hosted by Avenir, citizens and goddesses from all nations were invited. Turns out, Lady Purple Heart's party had been too preoccupied with themselves to remember this upcoming extravaganza. Oh, I long to see how they react when the memory resurfaces in their minds!
IF and 5pb, taking residence in Vert's house, were also preparing to embark for the expo. Iffy secretly hoped that it would help her clear her mind up a bit.
"Wow, it's been a long time since I've attended a game expo. I hope there're rhythm games there." 5 proclaimed, stars in her eyes. IF smiled.
"They have everything at these things. I'm sure you'll find a lot of games you'll like." she replied, scratching her head. Lyrica smiled back, then hugged IF from behind.
"You'll be my tour guide, right?" she asked innocently.
The brunette blushed and melted into the hug. "You know I will." For now, nothing more needed to be said.
Well, would you look at that! Coincidence is bringing the family back together! Strive forth, my actors! The stage is ready for you all!
...Oh, that's not everybody, you say? W-well, I'm sure the rest will show up soon... Either way, each of these maidens (and not-so-maidens) will be reunited in the coming hours. How tremendous!...
...Little did any of them know, this expo would be more significant than one could possibly expect. Strange forces are at work, and I can only suspect that they spell misfortune for our fair heroines...
Narrator and Nisa stood in silence for a long while. Finally, the heroine of justice spoke.
"w-Well, that one wasn't so bad..." She looked at the cloaked figure, though he gave no reply. Narrator seemed deep in thought. "Is something wrong?" Nisa asked with trepidation. The man was eerily quiet.
Narrator finally looked towards the girl, and placed a shrouded hand upon his shrouded head. "I believe I understand now... I think I know what is going to happen! Why, it's worse than I could have even imagined..."
Nisa's eyes once again widened tremendously. "W-w-what is it? What injustice ails you!?"
"Someone... or something... is going to break one of those couples apart!" Lightning appeared to strike overhead, though Nisa saw nothing. Still, the news was kinda shocking, but definitely not world-ending... Wait! These were Nisa's comrades! How could she possibly call herself an upholder of justice if she did not protect their happiness? She now saw what horror was presenting itself.
"Who could be so evilly vile as to break up my fellow heroines!? What... what should we do?"
Narrator appeared to be thinking heavily. "Hm... Heroine of justice, I will need your help!" The cloaked man pointed a shrouded finger at the blue-haired upholder of righteousness. Was any part of this man not concealed beneath the cloak?
Nisa was startled at being addressed so suddenly. "O-Of course! What should I do to prevent this travesty?"
"I will need you to investigate this game expo. It is being sponsored by a big-named company named Avenir. You need to break into their headquarters and provide reconnaissance. Here, take this..." Narrator took out a cell phone from seemingly out-of-nowhere, and handed it to the heroine of justice. "I will lead you through the building. If my hunch is correct, there should be a secret facility located within. By our joint efforts, we should easily be able to find it, and shut down any evil scheme they may be planning!"
Nisa stared blankly at the cloaked man. "Um, why exactly do you think Avenir wants to break up my comrades' relationships. That seems... kinda random. Further more, how do you know so much about their headquarters!?"
Narrator placed his shrouded hand on her shoulder. "My agency has watched them for a while. We know they are up to some shady operations, but to what extent, we do not know. However, I was told that my mission would be obvious when it presented itself. This has to be the answer!" The man then motioned for Nisa to head on out. "Now, go! Save your friends, and stop Avenir. I will contact you when the time is right."
"W-wait! I'm so confused right now! None of this makes any sense!" It was then that Nisa realized that she didn't even know where she was. She had sat down to take a rest a little bit ago, and then woke up in this blank expanse, where she met Narrator. Where in Gamindustri was this, and how did she get here?
"Don't worry, the way will be as clear as day!" With that, Narrator pushed Nisa towards some door that never was there before, and she collapsed onto the cold, hard ground.
"H-hey! What gives you the right to treat an upholder of justice like this!?" she screamed, and then quickly sprang back onto her feet. However, something had changed. This was no longer the lifeless room she had been before. No, these were the familiar streets of Lastation. She quickly looked behind her, but merely saw a brick wall. No door was in sight.
"How...?" Nisa was rightfully confused, but she did not let that faze her. She remembered her mission. "...Ok, so I need to find Avenir's main headquarters, or something. Hm, now, where could it be..."
The heroine of justice looked forward, and grew even more perplexed; She had been deposited right outside of her target building.
"Well, that's convenient..." hesitant, Nisa walked towards the headquarters. How did she wind up right here? This was all too confusing.
However, Gamindustri's guardian of righteousness shook off her uneasiness and went to work. Her friends apparently needed her, and she would not let them down!
INTERMISSION: System Halted
On peaceful days like this, I can't help but think back to all those years ago, when I first met... 'her'...
I remember sneaking out of my house right before lunchtime; Dad had a little too much to drink, like usual, so he wasn't keepin' a good watch over me. Anyways, I skipped to the nearby park... man, I had a lot of freakin' energy back then; So full of hope and dreams. I walked over to my favorite swing and took a seat. I was still too young to efficiently boost myself, so I never went too fast or too high, but I didn't mind.
On days like these, all the other kids were usually still indoors, enjoying some good food with their loving families. So, I always had the playground to myself. On this day, though... one other girl arrived.
She plopped down on the seat next to mine and waved. I was tremendously shy back then, so all I could do was hesitantly wiggle my fingers in her direction. For a few long minutes, the two of us just swung in silence... perhaps basking in the feeling of another's company; I dunno. Eventually, though, she got bored with the swing and stood up. She turned her eyes to me... they were real beautiful eyes... and said her first words to me:
"Hey, you wanna go use the slide? You can be my partner." She smiled and held out her hand. Dear God, her smile was simply stunning; I had never seen one so bright. I abandoned my reservations, and took her hand in mine.
"Y-Yeah... Sure..." So, the two of us spent the rest of the hour just playin' around. I never had that much fun before in my life... Geez, listen to me, acting all sentimental and crap. Heh... guess memories of that girl just bring out a soft side to me I barely realize I have...
...Well, after the best hour or two of my life, she said the words I least wanted to hear: "Uh oh... I better get back home now. My mommy had something special to tell me after work today..." That lovely angel of a girl bowed her head politely. "I-It's been fun! Maybe we can play again sometime?"
I nodded my small, naïve little head. "Y-Yeah! I come her all the time! We'll be sure to meet again!"
The girl's face lit up, and she hugged me; D-Don't judge me, but I can still remember exactly how it felt... Man, what I wouldn't give to feel that way again...
We pulled apart, and she looked me over for a second. "Hey, so what's your name, anyways?"
I blushed, and averted my eyes; I never really liked my name. It just sounded so... 'Bleh', or whatnot. "I'm... Linda... What's your name?"
The girl flashed me an even brighter smile, and replied: "Hehe... I'm xxxxxx... Nice to meet you, Linda..." She leaned forward and pecked me on the lips. Her face turned a deep red, and she ran off. "I'll see you later, Lindy!" And with that, she was gone, just as quick as she had arrived.
...I never saw her again, and I've been kickin' myself ever since. Sure, I was way too young to understand feelings and such, but at that moment, I knew one thing: I had fallen in love with that mysterious stranger. Hell, even to this day, I still fondly reflect on our short time together.
Wow, I'm a walkin' cliché, aren't I?
Though... If I remember her highly, then why... can't I remember her name? No matter how hard I try, it just won't spring to mind...
Well, after all these years, I guess it doesn't matter. I mean... She probably moved on long ago. Who knows: Maybe she's actually made something with her life, unlike my sorry hide...
Still, I wonder if she remembers me, wherever she is right now...
...
There sat a tree on Leanbox that provided fine shade for tired venturers. When the sun blazed on the mortals below, this tree offered a safe haven for those with no roof over their heads. Today, however, no mere citizen slept under this tree. No, this sleeping figure was no stranger to the heroines of this tale...
Linda, aptly coined Underling by our protagonists, was among the last remaining remnants of ASIC, the Arfoire Syndicate of International Crime. The radical organization had been reduced to ashes after the Almighty Deity of Sin had been destroyed by our maidens. However, Underling continued to uphold their legacy, though probably only because she was too lazy to acquire any other skills.
Anyways, she would soon be awoken by a voice from her past.
A voice that she would never forget...
...Perhaps, even, a voice she never wanted to forget.
"Liiiiiiiiiiinnnnnddddaaaa..."
Underling jittered awake at the low, droning words. "Hwha...? Whose's there?..." She was pretty groggy, having been awoken from such a peaceful slumber. After a moment, her eyes adjusted to her bright surroundings, and she gasped.
"Magic...? Ah, CFW Magic!" Indeed it was! Before Underling's very eyes was her previous commander, who had been struck down by the heroines. The last time Linda saw Magic, her form had been corrupted entirely by Arfoire, and was merely acting as a vessel. Underling had been traumatized at seeing her idol's form being used in such a manner. However, she held onto the hope that she would see her once again, and at last, that hope seemed to have been realized!
Magic enticingly slithered towards the bewitched Underling, and gracefully placed a hand upon her cheek. "Oh, how I've missed you, Linda. It has been too long."
Linda closed her eyes, unsure of what to make of this turn of events. "Um, CFW Magic, ma'am, um, how are you... here...?..." She couldn't calm her nerves. Can we blame her?
The ASIC member smirked and cupped the confused girl's chin. "Why, you brought me here, of course. You're undying devotion has given me a second chance, and I am-" She brought her lips close to Linda's ear- "immensely grateful..."
Wah! Now Underling really couldn't get her mind together. She had to be dreaming!
However, as Narrator said earlier, there would be no dream sequences in this story. What, then, was really going on!?
"I...I saved you?" She had to say something, so a question seemed the way to go.
"Indeed. If it weren't for you, I'd still be trapped in a void of nothingness for all eternity. However, I heard your loyal voice, and it pulled me through." Magic stared into Linda's aghast eyes. "Thank you, Linda. You were always my favorite subordinate..."
"N-n-n-n-n-n-n-no need to thank me, ma'am! I'm an ASIC member till the end, y'know. Heh heh... just doing my job..." She was much more confused now then she ever had been... and, perhaps, a little intrigued. Her idol had rarely been this... flirtatious... before.
"Don't be so modest. Why..." Magic began to praise her lackey some more, but instantly clutched her chest in pain. "Aaargh!... Damn, it's not perfect yet..."
Linda's eyes widened even further. "CFW Magic, ma'am, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
The commander slightly smirked. "I haven't fully escaped yet, Linda, but that's where you come in. I need you to do one more small favor for me, for the syndicate. I want you to find a certain citizen on Planeptune, and bring her to Lastation. I'll try to contact you once she's there. As long as you stay faithful," she once again cupped Underling's chin, "I should be able to escape, if only for a moment."
Linda processed her words as best she could, then finally replied. "Don't worry, I-I'll do whatever you say. So, who's the broad I need to find?"
"Her name... is Nepgeo." Before Underling could reply, Magic continued. "No, not the CPU Candidate. Nepgeo is just a standard, foul-mouthed citizen. However, if you bring her to Lastation, she will start a chain of events that can permanently set me free. She will be outside the base of Planeptune's largest tower; You'll know her when you see her."
"Can... she really bring you back?"
Magic moved even closer to the awe-struck Underling. "Yes, and I will be forever in your debt. So, will you help me restore our once-glorious syndicate?"
"Of course, ma'am. I'll work til my dying breath!"
"Please, Linda, stop with the formalities. Just call me Magic." At that, Linda became completely light-headed. Magic's face grew ever closer to her lackey's. "Head to Planeptune, find the insolent girl, and bring her to Lastation. The rest will fall into play."
Linda's eyes slowly closed as Magic's lips approached her own. This feeling, the suspense of the moment, was killing her. However, right before they finally touched, Magic pulled away.
Clutching her forehead, she said "Go, Linda, and bring things back to the way they were." With a large flash of white, CFW Magic disappeared from sight.
Underling stood there for at least three minutes in total silence. Finally, she shook her head wildly, then cleared her throat. "D-Damn, what the hell got over me back there?... Well, I guess I better go find that twerp in Planeptune..." Not entirely certain what was about to ensue, Linda embarked on a journey to Planeptune to find some superfluous young woman... What is it with this story that makes everything so cryptic and vague?
Well, it looks like this is about ready to wrap up. What will occur in our next installment? Hopefully, it will not be as shrouded in vague words as this opening was! Til next time, my fair audience; I sincerely hope you return!