Chapter 1: The CPU is born

Month 11, Day 27. 14:23

Histoire was pacing around the Basilicom. A worried expression resting on her face. Planeptune's shares had gone down rapidly since the last CPU retired and a new one hadn't been born so far. At this rate, Planeptune would…

The door to the Sharicite room suddenly started shining brightly for a few seconds before dying down. Histoire stared at it before going in.

Below the Sharicite, there was a girl. The girl had dark red hair braided as pigtails. She wore a grey blouse and an orange tie with a swirl mark. A brown pleated shorts held by black suspenders. Black fingerless gloves with with dark orange and black striped sleeves. Black leg warmers with buttons in them.

Histoire stared as the girl stood up, disoriented.

"Uh." The girl said, "Hello? Where am I?"

Histoire was taken out of her trance, "Ah, yes. Hello. My name's Histoire. I'm Planeptune's oracle. I've been waiting for you."

The girl looked Histoire. The fairy was wearing a purple gown with orange designs and a teal tie. A purple and white headdress resting on her blonde hair tied in pigtails. Her feet covered by thigh high white socks with white shoes that had a black circle with blue inside. Uzume stared at her for a while before responding.

"Waiting… For me?" She pointed at herself.

"Yes. You see, our old CPU retired and I've been waiting for her replacement for some time now." Histoire explained, "You were just born out of the Sharicite, so you must be the new CPU. May I know your name?"

"Oh yes. My name's Uzume Tennouboshi." Uzume said in a cheery voice, "Nice to meet you… Histoire?"

"Yes. Histoire."

"So, what's this CPU business you mentioned?" Uzume asked.

"A CPU is the ruler of a nation. You can say they're goddesses." Histoire said, "The people's faith powers their goddess, who in turn uses that power to protect and help the citizens of their nations."

"And you're a…"

"I'm an oracle. I've been created by the first Planeptune CPU to record history. I'm also tasked with helping the current CPU."

"So Uzume is the goddess of a nation?"

Histoire was confused by Uzume referring to herself in third person, before regaining composure, "Yes. You're the goddess of Planeptune."

Uzume stared at herself with amazement. A goddess? Ruling a nation? Helping people? What she wanted to more than anything was to help everyone.

"Uzume, if you may, could you transform for me?"

"Transform?"

"Each CPU has the power to transform into a different form. This form is called HDD form. That form is what goddesses use when in official business or for fighting."

"I see…" Uzume muttered, "How do I transform?"

"Focus your attention on the share energy inside yourself, it might be low at the moment, but it should be enough to transform."

Uzume closed her eyes, focusing on the energy she felt inside her until a white light enveloped her. When the light faded, Uzume's body had changed. She was wearing a white outfit with blue and orange. Her hair had become orange and was looped resembling a ribbon.

"Wow." Uzume muttered, "Uzume feels so strong."

Histoire ignored the use of third person, "Yes. That is your HDD form." Histoire looked Uzume up and down, "I think your name should be Orange Heart. What do you think, Uzume?"

"Orange Heart? Uzume likes that name!"

Histoire nodded, "Now follow me please, we need to introduce you to the public."

"Introduce me?"

"It's a simple matter. Just say your name and what you'll do for this nation." Histoire said, leading Uzume away from the Sharicite room and into a small terrace that overlooked the city.

"I'll start now." Histoire informed her, "Think of what you'll say while I gather everyone's attention."

"Uzume will do just that!"

"People of Planeptune!" Histoire called, her voice somehow reaching the streets. Screens flickered to light, revealing an image of Histoire and Uzume in the terrace, "I'm proud to announce that the new goddess has been born!"

"New goddess?!" People called out.

"Finally!" Some said.

Crowds started gathering near Planeptune's tower, some looking up at Histoire instead of the screens.

"As Planeptune's oracle, I'm glad to announce our new goddess - CPU Orange Heart!"

A mighty roar came from the crowd, expecting their new ruler. Some started chanting "Lady Orange Heart!"

One young man did not join in. He leaned on a metal post, looking up at the tower. He hid his hands inside his blue hoodie. His blue jeans worn down and his yellow hood pulled up, hiding his face. "New CPU uh?"

Uzume stepped forward, looking down at the people below her. Countless emotions swirling inside her. Happiness; Pride; Awe among them.

"Hello everyone!" Uzume called out cheerfully, "I'm Uzume Tennouboshi! Also known as Orange Heart!" Uzume made a pose, she made a V sign with her hand, with her eye between them and the other one closed. She smiled at the citizens.

The crowd went silent. Some with their mouths open.

The silent lasted for a while, until finally a man within the crowd called out. "Lady Orange Heart!"

Other joined in. The sounds of "Lady Orange Heart" and "Lady Uzume" overwhelming everything.

The man still leaned on his pole, watching. "The new CPU is somewhat cute." He said with his calm voice.

When the cheers died down, Uzume continued, "As your new CPU, Uzume promises to bring peace and happiness to this nation! And Uzume will make all your dreams come true!"

The roar of the crowd deafened any comment. Uzume stood there, waving at the crowd with an honest smile - loving each moment of it.

"That's her promise uh?" The man said, "I can get behind something like that. I'm glad I stayed in Planeptune."

"'ey, lad. Come 'ere and give me a hand."

"Of course, boss."

Uzume was still waving at the crowd, until Histoire approached her, "Uzume, that should be enough. Now I need to teach to how to be a CPU."

"Oh, sorry Histoire."

"Nothing to apologise for." Histoire said, "You should also deactivate HDD for now."

Uzume stepped inside the tower before a white light enveloped her and was back into her regular form.

Uzume followed Histoire inside towards a purple desk. Two trays rested on the desk, one with papers on top while the other was empty, the words 'Out' written in white. A small lamp in the corner.

"This is your work desk. The papers on the tray are request from the civilians. They range from simple collection requests to monster quests." Histoire explained.

"So, I accepts the requests here and fulfill them later?" She asked, looking through some of the papers.

"Yes. However, not all these requests are like that. Some of them require you to write what should be done." Histoire slid a paper to the desk, "Like this one."

Uzume sat down on the purple chair, looking at the paper that laid in front of her. She started to read.

New console design

Priority: Urgent

The current Planeptune gaming console is unable to compete with Lowee's and Lastation's consoles. As such, the request to the current reigning CPU to help design a new console has been agreed on.

We ask the following of the goddess: help design a new console to compete with the other nation.

Uzume looked at Histoire, "Console?"

"Yes. A console is usually a signature of each goddess. However, sometimes a goddess may rule for longer, so consoles are a way of symbolising their rule." Histoire explained, "However, since your birth was delayed, a new console has not been created."

"So Uzume just has to create a new console?"

"Yes, it should be quite a simple matter."

Uzume grabbed some blank paper from a drawer in the desk and a pencil from a holder. She scribbled on the paper for a little while, Histoire watching her with fascination.

"Uzume is done!" She exclaimed gleefully, presenting Histoire with her design. It has a white body with an orange swirl mark on one end. Two gray buttons opposite of the swirl mark. Four openings below the buttons.

Histoire stared in amazement, "I'm impressed. I did say it should be a simple matter, yet you handled it so quickly."

"I'm pleased with that response." Uzume replied, looking at Histoire happily.

"This should work. I'll take it to the ones responsible for creating the consoles later on."

Histoire grabbed the request and Uzume's design. She grabbed a stapler and put the two papers together in the 'out' tray.

"Oh before I forget." Histoire exclaimed, floating off to a cupboard next to the desk. She fumbled with its contents until she found what she wanted.

"Here." Histoire said, giving Uzume a small, square device, "It's a Visual Radio."

"A Visual Radio?" Uzume asked, placing the device on her wrist.

"It's a newly release device. It allows for communication between two places and other useful applications."

"You'll call Uzume with this?" Uzume asked, looking at her Visual Radio.

"Indeed. I've also asked the creators for a special custom made program that allows you to keep track of your requests."

"I'll be able to see these papers in this?" Uzume touched the screen a few times, flicking through it until she reached a program labelled "quests".

Histoire nodded, "It also contains a feature to mark the quests as finished. Please, take your time to familiarise yourself with it."

Uzume flicked through the device a few more times before exclaiming, "So cool! Thank you, Histoire."

"It was nothing. Now, the next task… You need a weapon."

"A weapon? But Uzume doesn't want to fight."

"It is understandable, however, you need to defend this nation from monsters when required." Histoire said, "Just another CPU duty. Please, follow me."

Uzume walked behind Histoire, looking at every little detail of the place she occupied until they reached a wall with weapons fixed to it. Uzume stared at the weapons: a broadsword; a katana; a short sword; a small gun among others. But the last one caught Uzume's attention. Sitting there, a white megaphone was stuck to the wall.

Uzume walked towards it and picked it up. Staring at the orange outline the megaphone had.

"This one." Uzume said.

"The megaphone…" Histoire said, astonished by Uzume's choice, "Are you sure?"

"Yes. This one is perfect for Uzume."

Histoire nodded, "I see. This has been your CPU training. Uzume, you may now deal with your duties as you see fit."

Uzume stared at the megaphone for a few seconds before giving it a go, "Waah!" She screamed, the megaphone amplifying her scream to some destructive powers, leaving a few cracks in the wall.

"Uzume, please try your megaphone on the training dummy next door if needed." Histoire chided.

"Sorry, Histoire." Uzume replied, hanging her megaphone on her waist, "CPU duties, here comes Uzume Tennouboshi!" She yelled as she ran past Histoire and back into the Basilicom.

"She's an energetic CPU…" Histoire commented, "I'll make sure to guide her the right way."

Histoire flew behind Uzume, curious as to what she would do with the nation. Hopeful of a bright future.