Histoire had been feeling rough the following morning. So, she had asked Nepgear for some time off. Namely - Three days.

Nepgear had initially been suspicious of the tome but instead allowed her, her time off. After all, Histoire had been working EXCEEDINGLY hard since the Deity of Sin had been defeated.

It had been very hard for Nepgear to rule the entire world at first. Nearly no-one wanted to listen to her and sometimes she thought a rebellion would try and overthrow her...

Gehaburn had seen to it that Nepgear's rule would remain unquestioned. Untouched...Not even challenged. The sword beat with a powerful presence. It was like having all the world's power under one weapon, a sole reason for existing almost.

Nepgear was a bit...Worried though. She was concerned that Gehaburn was starting to take control of her mind. Or was it? She wasn't going mad...Was she?

Gamindusti was a world in which peace was maintained day after day. No crime was reported and even small pockets of criminal activity were met with either harsh force from the authories that Nepgear had set up, or were dealt with by Nepgear herself.

Nepgear kept Gehaburn to her belt when she was in her awake state of mind. She never unequipped the sword. It was almost...almost like a lifeline for her and she would NEVER let it go. It was like a drug.

Perhaps too heavy a drug. This type of drug was powerful. Nepgear wanted- No. She NEEDED Gehaburn to survive. It had been and gone the time for going without the power. She needed it to maintain peace and prosperity.

'Nepgear.'

Nepgear blinked and shook herself out of her daydream. "Nnnn...Huh?"

'Nepgear. You weren't sleeping were you?'

Nepgear shook her head as she realised who was speaking to her - It was the sword. It was mentally talking to her in her head. Where she often communicated with the weapon.

"N...No. I was merely daydreaming. I'm sorry. I am feeling a bit tired though, if I had to be honest."

'That's no good. I'll help you to have some energy. Stay still.'

Nepgear was about to protest when the sword glowed dark purple, her energy reserves going back to normal and her awakeness levels hitting back into normal stages again.

"I...Thank you. You didn't have to. Wait...Who's power did you use this time?"

It was true. Gehaburn used a small portion of one of the sacrificed CPU's/candidate's each time it powered her up. The sword was the true ruler, not Nepgear. It was a sad existence...But it was one she was bound to. By Destiny...No...By herself.

'It was the one who was called Ram. She's almost gone now. Just her conciousness remains.'

Nepgear cast her mind back to the pink coat wearing CPU Candidate of Lowee. She had been so...Nice to be around. But she was absorbing her...Piece by piece over the past hundred years she had been taking her essence from the power she had sealed in Gehaburn...

"Was..."

'Go on.'

"Was this really the right path to take Gehaburn? I mean-"

The sword interrupted her.

'It's a bit late to be talking about that NOW, don't you think? For example, you had the choice to use me or to destroy me. But you used me in the form I had previously. Unfortunately, for you the price was high.'

Nepgear lowered her head and nodded. "You...You are right as always. I'm...I'm sorry I doubted you."

'Don't worry about it. Besides, I think the spirit of your sister might be released to Celestia soon.'

Nepgear's head shot up at the mention of her. "Who...Neptune!? We have to go there when that happens."

'Don't worry - I already am making preperations for it. You'll have to sacrifice one of the beings in me for it to happen though.'

Nepgear took in a deep uneasy breath. The sword was blackmailing her. That was for certain. But if it meant she would be able to see Neptune...Even for a brief moment...Then...What choice did she have?

"...Alright."