Chapter II
Greetings and salutations, everyone! I have come with another chapter of Tales of Neptunia Re;Birth! Hopefully everyone enjoyed the previous chapter, and that you enjoy this one also, so be sure to leave a review if you did. As usual, I would like to thank Bakuto Masaki for all of his help in making this story. So with that, onto the reviewer responses!
Guest: Now. I have a lot of stories in a lot of different genres and mediums, so I usually just write whatever I have the inspiration for at the time. As a result some stories can go extended lengths of time not being updated where others will get updated often. It all depends on what has my interest at the time. I'm sure a lot of you don't particularly like that, but I'm not being paid to write these stories, it's just a hobby, and if I'm not being paid I'm not going to force myself to write something I don't want to at that moment.
demonfox2140: Like Jaune. Also, it's IF, not If. I had no idea what you were talking about at first. Sorry, that kind of thing isn't something I'd do.
BlackAceStriker: Which is why I put them together. It's certainly rare for him to get that mad.
Sonicdude8: Same. Pun noticed.
Not an overwhelming amount, but enough. On with the story!
"What were you thinking!?" IF shouted at Jude.
"That jerk kept talking to Presa like she's some animal! He's lucky I didn't do worse!"
"He's a racist! They're everywhere. Besides, we'll probably be getting attention from the authorities now."
Blake ignored their conversation as she hummed in thought.
"Something wrong Blakey?" Neptune questioned.
"Something's not right. From what I heard of Vacuo, racism is the lowest in all the nations by a large margin due to the Goddess Black Heart's policies."
IF nodded in agreement. "That's what I'd heard too, but at the same time, news out of Vacuo became a drip feed a couple years ago. Now unless the White Fang blow something up nobody knows what's going on here."
Jude's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Meaning Black Heart is losing control of her nation."
"Basically," IF agreed.
"Now what do we do?" Presa questioned.
"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 weren't going to get anywhere with that jerk."
IF nodded in recognition. "Yeah. Didn't you notice? He showed absolutely no respect at all to their CPU. And Jude punching him through a wall didn't help either."
"He had it coming," Jude huffed.
"Ah! You're right…" Compa noted in her excited tone. "He didn't treat the Goddess' name with respect. That's weird…"
Jude nodded. "Which means Black Heart has lost control and is not in her home. 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."
"Seriously?" Jude retorted in surprise.
Blake added, "Maybe it's difficult for her to comprehend that some people are just mean."
"There's no way people in this land would call their CPU by name, merely out of respect," IF elucidated.
Milla nodded in agreement. "Indeed. No deity would tolerate such overly blatant disrespect."
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."
Blake interjected, "CPUs would not tolerate such things from their Priest. At all."
"You're right," Presa added, "but why?"
Compa turned to IF and asked, "Iffy, you were traveling all over the world, right? Do you know something?"
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 chuckled lightly. "So much for the 'adventuring' character, eh Iffy? But don't worry, we won't kick you out just because you faked your resume."
Nora popped up and argued, "Hey! Iffy faked nothin', Neppy! And we never gave you one either."
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."
Blake nodded, reflexively putting a hand on her waist pouch. "Why would she? You're the one that probably spent it all on pudding."
Neptune lurched back with a gasp. "Gah! I've been found out!"
Milla merely whistled innocently to the side.
"Yep, you did," Blake added, sealing her pouch.
"Anyway," IF redirected, "remember how the Key Fragment was with that disc in Mistral? It should be the same in Vacuo."
Blake tilted her head to the side in bewilderment. "Key what?"
Jude sighed heavily. "It's a… long story. There's something big going on, and we need someone's help to stop it. But to do that, we need to unlock the cage she's in, and the key has been shattered into four pieces. Each land has one of the Fragments. We have one currently, and we're looking for the second piece here in Vacuo. And we hoped to get Black Heart's help."
"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?"
"Yeah, everyone wants some Grimm killed," Blake added.
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."
Blake nodded in agreement. "And the bigger the Grimm, the bigger the payout."
"Yeah," Jude added, "that'd be the quickest way to find what we're after."
"Then let's grab one!" Nora cheered.
"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 Grimm?"
"I think so," Jude noted.
"She's kinda small…" Neptune commented, perplexed. "I was thinking like, a big burly man or something."
"Why on Remnant would you think that?" Presa asked with confusion and surprise, Blake scooting away from the purple-haired girl in worry.
"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.
Jude nodded. "Yeah, I will get it done."
"Yes we will," IF remarked sharply as she smacked him on the arm gently, Blake nodding in agreement to her.
"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."
"Yep!" Nora chirped.
"Yeah," IF answered as well with a nod. "My name is IF. And these are Nora, Neptune, Compa, Milla, Jude, Blake, 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."
"I think it looks nice," Blake noted, looking around.
IF folded her arms in mild confusion. "Didn't you say you ran a factory? This looks more like a cafeteria."
"She probably has more than one job," Blake interjected.
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.
IF coldly chided, "No. You're still not getting any for wasting so much of our money on them."
"That's not gonna create revenue, you know?" Chian chided. "Anyway, 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 hurt a little bit."
"Huh?" Chian mumbled before turning to him.
"Your cheek. It looks like it hurts."
"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. "What are you, a doctor?"
"Yes," Jude answered bluntly.
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 was about to take the final exam for my license, but I was already working as a doctor in the college's clinic."
"Wow…" Blake muttered quietly.
"What?" he asked, seeing everyone's shocked expressions.
"You're that young and a full-fledged doctor," she added, Compa starting to pout in the corner.
Jude's cheeks began to turn red as he looked intently at his feet. "R – Really? I started when I was twelve."
"WHAT!?" they all shouted, minus Milla, causing Jude to stumble back in shock.
"L – Loud…"
"How old are you…?" IF questioned.
"F – Fifteen…?"
Nora gaped slightly before tapping her friend's shoulder. "Wow… He's near our age Iffy…"
Neptune noticed Compa's increasing pout. "Why ya frownin' Compa?"
"N – No reason!" she retorted suddenly, forcing a smile.
"Okay…?"
Turning the subject, Jude looked back at Chian. "So want me to take a look?"
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. What did you cut yourself on?"
"A piece of shrapnel," the blue-haired woman answered plainly.
IF furrowed her brow incredulously. "Shrapnel? Did a grenade go off by accident or something?"
"No. The test target just exploded with more speed and ferocity than I expected. More than likely an over-infusion of Fire Dust."
"Test target?" Jude asked as he continued looking around the injury.
Chian just nodded. "Yeah. Part of a project I'm working on."
"What kind?"
Chian smirked slyly. "Top secret, but it's related to the job."
"I see… Well, 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.
"What are you…?" Chian wondered in confusion. After a moment, though, she added with a small smile, "It's warm…"
"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.
Jude nodded to himself as he stepped away from her. "Good. No infection in it at all."
"Whoa… it doesn't hurt at all… How…?"
"Healing magic," he answered bluntly.
Chian just stared at him in disbelief. "… Seriously?"
"Yes," he replied with a slightly confused nod.
Chian rubbed the back of her head in consideration. "I didn't realize that was even a thing. You sure it wasn't a Semblance?"
"No, it's not a Semblance. It's something most people where I'm from can do to some degree."
"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 Grimm obstructing the trade route. It used to be safe, but recently a large Nevermore showed up and took roost there. And with that route blocked, all trade has stopped."
"Ah…"
"Why hasn't anyone done anything sooner?" Jude questioned.
Chian sighed heavily. "Well… they've tried. But no one's made it back alive."
"I see…"
Milla narrowed her eyes and then glanced at Jude. "That sounds like a Devil's Beast."
Jude nodded in agreement. "Yeah."
"Devil Whatsit?" Nora questioned, bewildered.
"It's nothing."
Chian then handed a piece of paper to Jude. "This is where I think the Nevermore 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.
"I think it is…" Blake added, looking over the map.
"Be careful not to fall," Jude warned as they began walking the path, looking at a steep cliff to their left.
"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."
"Like what…?" Blake asked, her ears curling somewhat under her ribbon.
"I don't know… Let's just 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." After a moment, the figure noticed Jude look toward her and ducked down swiftly. 'Crap! Did he see me!?'
Jude frowned as the others continued walking, looking up at the cliff. 'There's someone there… It'd probably be best to wait to confront them.'
"Something wrong?" Blake asked, seeing Jude standing behind the others.
"It's nothing," he answered before joining the rest. "Just thought I heard something."
"Right…" Blake answered before turning to where he was looking in confusion.
"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!"
Blake gaped in surprise. "… She can't be serious…"
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."
IF just sighed in defeat.
"So just calm down and I'll get some food ready."
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! You're just not built for long walks. 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 too, with how you had zero understanding on how to be human."
"Wait, what?" Blake asked, surprise.
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."
Blake frowned, being ignored.
"… 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."
Nora's eyes widened. "Cooool…"
"Ooh," Neptune cooed in amazement, "that sounds cool!"
Jude just chuckled lightly. "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 blue-white skin, an impressive bust that was seemingly completely bare, long, dark blue hair, bright amber eyes, and a long fish tail instead of legs. "Technically you had me put him in the sphere."
"Whoa!" IF shouted in shock, Blake staring in disbelief.
"So cool!" Nora cooed with interest.
"Hm?"
"So who's the pretty fish lady?" Neptune asked bluntly.
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."
Undine added, "And speaks the adorable child's deeper thoughts aloud."
"Oh…"
Undine noticed Blake staring at her deep in thought. "Something wrong?"
"Nothing…" Blake answered weakly.
Jude raised a confused eyebrow but continued his explanation, "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."
Undine just nodded in silent agreement.
"Whoa…" Neptune mumbled, impressed.
"There's also Ifreet who controls fire, Sylph, who can manipulate wind, and Gnome, who has power over earth."
"Right…" Blake muttered, still transfixed by Undine.
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?"
"Well that was loud…" Milla groaned as Undine vanished.
Suddenly, their vision was filled by the visage of a massive, jet black bird with a multi-eyed, skeletal head.
"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 I'll make you some 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. "You'll die for Ju-Ju pudding!"
As the fight began, Jude moved to a rock nearby and sat on it, leaning back slightly as he watched.
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. All's fair when pudding is involved."
Neptune pouted in disappointment. "Well that stinks."
Jude suddenly put up a hand. "Wait, Neptune, don't turn back yet."
"Huh? Why?"
Jude then moved his attention to the rock he was sitting on. "So, are you coming out on your own or will I need to force you out?"
The figure hiding behind the rock stiffened before leaping out, enveloped in light.
The light died down to reveal 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 blue wings made of energy, smirking. "I'm impressed you noticed me."
Jude answered flatly, "It wasn't hard. I noticed you hiding behind a boulder when we were halfway here. You're giving off a lot of power. Plus, I saw your hair. It's a beautiful shade of silvery white. That, and I could smell your perfume. It's a nice, sweet scent. Reminds me of cinnamon a bit."
The white-haired woman raised a confused eyebrow, her face tinting slightly red. "Hmph, your flirtations will get you nowhere."
Jude furrowed his brow slightly. "I'm not flirting. I'm just telling the truth, Beautiful."
Compa tilted her head curiously and then turned to the enlarged Neptune. "Hey Nep-Nep, she looks kinda like you."
Neptune nodded in agreement. "Yeah. But shorter and white. Her outfit is also all blacky."
Jude narrowed his eyes as he noticed the same symbol in the white-haired woman's eyes as in the grown Neptune's. "I think there's more to it. Look at her eyes." He then nodded to himself in thought. "That makes a lot of sense…"
The white-haired woman hissed in annoyance as a large black and white sword appeared in her grasp. "Alright, that's enough, Purple Heart. I'm going to put an end to you for good."
Neptune tilted her head in confusion. "Who? My name's Neptune, lady."
Compa blinked in thought. "Wait, do you know Nep-Nep?"
"Nep-Nep?" the white-haired woman asked curiously.
Do you know who I am?!" Neptune asked excitedly.
"You mean you don't remember?"
Compa nodded. "Nep-Nep has amnesia."
The white-haired woman blinked and then laughed loudly. "Wow, how ironic! It'll almost make me feel bad for killing you."
Neptune frowned in bewilderment. "Huh? Killing me? For what?"
Jude snarled as he raised his fists. "Like I'll let you kill her!"
The woman huffed in irritation as she looked at Jude. "Stay out of the way human, this is a matter between Goddesses. Unless you want to die, don't get involved."
Neptune smirked confidently. "So you do know me! Please, tell me!"
Furrowing her brown in annoyance, the woman then smirked. "Alright, I will. But I won't make it that easy. You need to beat me first."
"Then so be it!" Neptune challenged as she readied her sword. "I'll defeat you!"
Jude walked up next to Neptune, his fists raised to fight. "I'll help. There's no way I'm standing by and letting you fight her alone."
Huffing in derision, the white-haired woman snarled, "Hmph. So be it. You'll die for your trouble."
Jude then narrowed his eyes in thought before pulling something from his pocket and chucking it at the woman.
"What the…!?" she shouted, trying to bat it away, gaping when it turned out to be a pudding cup that smacked her square in the forehead.
"PUDDING!" Neptune shouted before tackling the strange woman to get the treat.
"Gah! Get… o – HEY! Don't touch me there!"
Jude sighed heavily as the two struggled before the woman managed to kick Neptune away.
"Get off!"
"Pudding…" Neptune pouted, the childishness of the act jarring with her outward maturity.
Jude turned his attention back to the woman. "You calm now Ms. Black Heart?"
Reacting to the name, she narrowed her eyes. "You are very irritating," she snarled before her sword appeared in her grasp.
Jude swiftly pulled more pudding cups from his coat. "I have more. And I'd rather just talk then be forced to fight you. Your blog made you out to be reasonable after all. Or was that just lies?"
Black merely huffed in annoyance. "This has nothing to do with you, human. It's a matter between Goddesses."
"Then talk it out. Not fight. No one would gain from it, especially out here."
Black folded her arms and pointed to the bewildered Neptune. "She needs to die, no talking required."
"No. You need to calm down and get your priorities straight." After a moment, he sighed heavily before walking up to her. "Alright, if you're that desperate, I'll make you talk. One-on-one. Me versus you, Black Heart."
Black merely huffed as she folded her arms. "I'd personally prefer not to kill a human if I don't have to."
"And I'd personally like to not smack some sense into you if I didn't have to. But you're going after an amnesiac who doesn't even know you."
Black frowned deeply. "You mean that was the truth?"
"Yes. Neptune over there doesn't even know who she herself is."
Black hissed as she bit one of her nails.
"Now will you stand down or do we have to fight?"
Her sword vanished as she floated slightly into the air. "… Tch. Killing you wouldn't even be worth it." However, as she attempted to fly away, Jude grabbed her by the arm, keeping her grounded. "Hey! Let go!"
Firm in his grasp, Jude shook his head. "No. We came to Vacuo for your help, and it looks like you need ours."
"I don't need anyone's help!" she shouted desperately, trying to shake him off. 'How is his grip so strong!?'
"Dammit, listen!"
"H – Hey!" she grumbled as she fell to the ground before standing with a glare. "Alright, fine. You asked for this!" she shouted, summoning her sword, and then swung it, sending out a large blade of energy.
Jude seemingly vanished from sight, reappearing behind the woman, then grabbed her by the arm as she tried to fly away once more.
"Let go, dammit!" Black cursed.
In desperation, Jude looked for a solution and then noticed a glowing panel on the center of her back, slapping his hand onto it.
"H – Huh?" the white-haired woman muttered before she was enveloped in light.
The light died down to reveal a young woman with long, long, flowing black hair tied in twintails, kept in place by blue and black ribbons, dark red eyes, and fair skin, wearing a maid-like black top with gold trimmings that revealed a large amount of her fair bust, a black choker with a blue ribbon, black arm warmers with white frills, and thigh-high, dark blue boots with blue garters.
The young woman looked around in bewilderment. "… Eh…?"
"Whoa!" Neptune exclaimed in disbelief.
"Uuhh… what just happened?" Nora wondered.
Blake sighed and chided, "It's pretty obvious she just reverted."
Jude sighed before smirking. "I noticed that same panel on Neptune's back, and it glows every time she reverts. So I was wondering what would happen if I pushed it. Turns out it reverts you. Now you're not going anywhere, so stop it and sit."
"Why you…!" the black-haired woman snarled before feeling a metal sensation against the back of her head, quickly realizing what it was.
"That's enough," IF growled, holding her pistol against the ravenette's head. "You're weakened and surrounded."
Jude frowned with disapproval as he walked up to IF and a hand on her arm. "IF, that is not needed."
"It got her to stop struggling, didn't it?" she retorted with a dismissive shrug.
"Still, we need her help. A gun to the head isn't helping."
IF frowned before looking at the woman. "You promise not to run? If you do, I won't hesitate to shoot."
She stood silently before nodding slowly.
"Good," IF replied before lowering her weapon.
Jude sighed in relief before turning to her. "Now, why are you so intent on fighting? Fighting for the sake of fighting is a complete waste."
"Che, as if some mere human could understand. I'm fighting to win the Console War!"
Jude frowned in confusion. "War? What War?"
"Ugh, do I have to explain everything? The Console War is the war between the four Goddesses to become the True Goddess. The other three will die and the victor will gain the Shares of the entire planet and gain absolute power."
"And eternal loneliness, from the sound of it."
That seemed to get a rise out of her as she folded her arms. "A – As I said, mere humans can't understand."
"I understand you want to be greedy, forcing everyone to see you as the only Goddess here. Is that what you want? Followers that only follow you because you forced them to after killing the one they worshipped?"
She clenched her fingers as he spoke, remaining silent.
"Well?"
"It's unavoidable. It's my duty as a Goddess to win."
Milla challenged, "A Goddess' duty is to the prosperity of her people. Not to satisfy her own greed. And most certainly not force others to worship her. That's the mark of a cruel tyrant."
Snarling, the woman retorted, "The people manage their own prosperity just fine."
Jude growled and argued, "Have you even seen your own nation?!"
IF huffed in disbelief. "You are one out-of-touch chick."
Presa nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Your own priests disrespect you completely."
She hissed angrily. "Tch, the Basilicom is full of old fools. I don't even understand why they built that thing."
Milla narrowed her eyes angrily. "You are unfit to be a goddess."
Jude scowled with rage. "They built it for you! Though it's full of people that spit on your name and policies!"
She growled with insult at the two. "Silence! I won't be berated by the likes of you!"
"I see that you need taught a lesson," Milla threatened before Jude raised a hand in front of her.
"Milla, I'll handle this. I'll show her just how out of touch her views are."
"How about we break her legs?" Nora asked with excitement, raising her hammer.
"Nora, no," IF denied flatly, causing the orange-haired girl to pout.
"You were going to shoot her," Blake accused.
IF just shook her head, pulling back the slide on her pistol to show it empty. "No I wasn't. It wasn't even loaded."
"When'd ya do that?" Nora asked.
IF just looked at her with a deadpan expression. "If you used a normal gun, you'd know it's easy."
"Normal is boring…" Nora groaned, causing IF to sigh heavily.
The twin-tailed woman twitched an eyebrow at their back-and-forth before Jude approached her, his fists tensed as he urged, "I'd really rather avoid fighting, but if it will knock some sense and humility in to you I will."
She just chuckled in amusement. "A human? Beat me? Impossible."
"Then how about a bet, if you're so sure?"
"Oh?" she asked, an eyebrow cocked with intrigue.
"If I win you accept our help and stop wanting to kill your fellow Goddesses."
She nodded in return. "Fine by me. When I win, you'll become my servant!"
"Agreed," he answered firmly, causing Milla to frown subtly.
Nora noticed this, confused. "Ya okay, Milly?"
"Don't lose, Jude," Milla urged, to which Jude nodded silently.
His opponent drew her sword and entered a stance to fight.
"So you're staying in human form?"
"Well I don't want to kill you. A corpse wouldn't make a very good servant."
Jude frowned with frustration. "No. I want you to take this seriously. Otherwise you'll make excuses on your loss."
She merely hissed before she was engulfed in light, returning to her Black Heart form. "Don't blame me if you die."
"I won't, Black Heart."
Black responded by immediately charging at him with a wide slash that Jude ducked, before swinging his fist up at her gut, though Black shot into the air to avoid his strike.
However, before she could get very far, Jude grabbed her by the leg and swung her down with immense strength, the force creating a small crater in the ground.
"Gah!" she howled in pain.
"Nice try," Jude chastised before Black kicked at him, sending Jude skidding back a couple meters, Black standing up and sending blasts of energy at him.
Jude did his best to dodge the shots, several getting grazing hits, before raising one of his arms and placing his other hand on its wrist. "Sun Spark!" he shouted before a ball of light emerged from his palm and shot forward, Black striking it with her sword, causing it to explode in a violent burst, blinding her momentarily. "Demon Fist!" Jude shouted, taking advantage of her disorientation to send a wave of energy at her.
Black narrowly dodged the blast before Jude was suddenly in front of her.
"Cerberus Strike!"
Black widened her eyes in confusion, only to get struck in the abdomen twice with powerful punches before a powerful ax kick slammed her into the ground, knocking the wind out of her.
IF and the others lurched back slightly at the display, Presa commenting, "That looks painful."
Black growled and jumped to her feet, her armor beginning to crack in spots before she slammed her sword into the ground hard, sending a huge crescent of energy at Jude.
Jude leapt over the attack and slammed a fist into the ground. "Grave!" he shouted before a large spike of rock emerged from the ground and slammed into Black, almost impaling her.
Enraged, Black shot towards Jude, her sword raised.
"Coil!" he shouted before a sphere of flame surrounded him, Black's sword striking it and causing a small explosion that knocked her back.
"Wh – What the…?!"
"Demon Fist!" he shouted once more, the blast of energy narrowly missing Black, but distracting her long enough for Jude to get behind her. Taking advantage of the moment, Jude pinned her sword arm behind her, twisting her wrist such that she dropped her weapon, pinned her to the ground with his knee, and then hit the emblem on her back once more, deactivating her transformation and returning her to her human form. "You lose."
The human form Black stared up at him in disbelief before gritting her teeth. "… D – Dammit…!"
"You've lost, understand?"
She tried to break free of his hold and transform, but found her body too heavy and sluggish to respond. "Wh – What the…? Why can't…? I… I can't be out of energy already…"
Jude narrowed his eyes dangerously. "Stay down. It's over. Accept it."
"Dammit…" she growled, slumping her head against the ground. "… What are you?"
"A doctor. Well that's my job. Now, you can accept your loss gracefully or I can injure you further to prove it. I'd rather not have to, personally, it'd be pointless and mar your beauty."
The pinned woman and everyone around just stared silently.
IF turned to Milla slowly. "… Does he do this a lot…?"
"Yes," the blonde answered simply.
The black-haired woman clenched her fists before her body relaxed. "… Fine. We'll call it a truce then."
Jude twitched an eyebrow at her unwillingness to accept defeat but sighed in resignation. "Whatever, just so long as you stop fighting. Now let's get you up and cleaned off."
She nodded slowly as he helped her to her feet, keeping her gaze from being directly to him.
"So maybe now we can talk this out," Milla remarked as Neptune reverted behind her as well.
"Fine…"
Jude nodded with a smile. "Maybe you can start by telling us your name."
"Huh? You know it already."
"No, Black Heart is your title. I want to know what your name is."
Her eyes widened slightly before she nodded. "… N – Noire. My name is Noire."
Jude returned her nod with a smile. "It's a pretty name."
Noire averted her gaze from him as her face began to heat up.
Milla then questioned, "So how about you let us in on why you're so focused on power instead of leading your people."
Folding her arms with a frown, Noire lowered her stare somberly. "My people don't need me. They've made that perfectly clear."
Jude frowned slightly in suspicion. "With the way your nation is, I find that doubtful."
Milla huffed lightly. "I can see why how your attitude is."
Growling, the woman retorted, "I'm not going to let you badmouth me like that! These damned humans are more faithful to that Avenir than me!"
Jude raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Avenir? How long ago did that happen?"
Noire frowned in slight irritation. "Don't you know anything? They're a technology company that sprang up a few years ago, and they've essentially taken the people's hearts. And if those humans are perfectly content giving their faith to slime balls like that, I've got more important things to do."
"Then why be out here and not cleaning out your home of scum?"
Noire tightened her fists as she explained, "Because Avenir bought off the entire Basilicom and replaced its occupants with their own stooges. Leaving me basically without any power." Gritting her teeth with increased anger, she continued, "As a result, the people now believe Avenir can fulfill all of their needs and that I'm not needed. And most of them are buying into it, despite the fact that I've led this nation to the best of my abilities for centuries. And it was relatively peaceful too…" Quietly, she mumbled, "I was even thinking of bring Uni down here too…"
Jude furrowed his brow and narrowed his eyes.
Milla noticed Jude's expression and sighed. "I know that look."
"Huh?" Compa mumbled in confusion as she and Neptune approached, tentatively.
Milla folded her arms before turning to Jude. "Alright, so what's your plan?"
Jude nodded in appreciation. "We are going to help her win back the faith of her people. This Avenir group can't possibly be good for people like Chian either."
The black-haired woman blinked in confusion. "… Huh…?"
"Just nod and go with it," Milla insisted. "It will spare you the headache."
"Okay…?"
"Are you insane?" IF challenged. "She just tried to kill us!"
Jude argued, "If she was trying to kill us, her strikes would've targeted vital areas. She only tried out of misguided desperation to help her people. If we don't help her, her people will probably suffer more. And I can't stand by and do nothing if I have the power to do something."
Noire's eyes widened as he spoke.
Neptune grinned energetically. "Okie dokie! Time to stop Avedubdubduh!"
Blake sighed exasperatedly. "I don't even want to know how you mispronounced it that badly…"
Nora nodded in agreement. "Yeah. It's Avecado."
Blake just slapped a hand over her face and groaned.
"Wait…" Noire interjected. "Why?"
"Why what?" Jude asked, confused.
"You're going to stop Avenir. Why? It doesn't affect you."
Jude nodded in understanding and argued, "It affects you and your people. If I have the power to do something to help I won't stand by and do nothing."
"And like I said," Milla interject, "just nod and go with it. Once Jude's decided on something, even I can't stop him."
She looked at him confused for several moments before a small smile formed on her lips. "… Thank you… Avenir has been building factories across all of Vacuo. At this rate their machines will overtake all of the plant and animal life, which will attract more Grimm."
Milla narrowed her eyes angrily. "Which in turn hurts more than just that. It will kill off the Spirits."
Noire looked at her, confused. "… Spirits…? You mean like those really spicy drinks businessmen drink?"
"No," Jude interjected. "She is referring to the symbiotic mana-based species that aid us in casting Spirit Artes in exchange for mana."
"… Eh? Now I'm really confused."
"Okay… you know how the humans, and Faunus, of this world are able to use special powers called Semblance? That power is the same as Spirit Artes. Rather than doing it themselves, for a Semblance, they are giving up their magic energy, which you call Aura, to invisible beings called Spirits, who then perform the actions for you. But it all happens extremely quickly and they are invisible, so most people likely don't know about it."
Noire just stared at him with a blank expression, Neptune commenting, "I think ya lost her."
"Right… I keep forgetting this is a different world…"
With a grin, Neptune cheered, "Alright Nowa, let's go!"
Noire twitched an eyebrow and grumbled, "What did you call me!?"
"Nowa. It's yer nickname!"
"I like it!" Nora added.
"Why are you giving me a nickname?!"
"Simple Nowa! I'm the Main Character! It's my prerogative to do that!"
Nora tilted her head in thought. "I thought Judie was."
"No!"
Noire groaned in annoyance and turned to Jude. "Is she always like this?"
With a heavy sigh, Jude answered, "Yeah, pretty much… Ever since I met her while falling out of the sky."
"Hard to believe she's the same person."
"Obviously you only interacted with her in her Goddess form."
"Oh!" Neptune suddenly shouted. "That's right! You know who I am! So, uh… who am I…?"
Jude raised an incredulous eyebrow. "Isn't it obvious Neptune?"
Noire answered, "Your true identity is Purple Heart, CPU of Planeptune."
"EEEHHH!?" Neptune, Compa, Nora, and Milla shouted in shock.
Jude laughed weakly in surprise. "I can't believe Milla didn't figure it out… Why are you surprised…?"
"I'm a CPU!?" Neptune asked, still in disbelief.
"It's not as shocking as meeting the Lord of Spirits and finding out it's a woman. I mean… it seemed kinda obvious."
Neptune then raised a hand. "Hey, I have a question."
"What now?" Noire asked, irritated.
"Is it 'what's a CPU'?" teased Blake.
"Whoa! Are you psychic?!" Neptune asked, shocked.
Almost everyone slapped a hand over their face in annoyance.
Jude sighed and explained, "They are the leaders of each of the four nations and are also goddesses."
Noire folded her arms. "Almost, but there's more to it. It means Console Patron Unit. In essence, we're the Goddesses that look over the humans of each land. Their faith in us, called Share Energy, gives us power. The more faith they have, the stronger we get. But conversely, the less followers we have, the weaker we become."
"That sounds quite a lot like a Tether…" Milla noted.
Jude nodded in agreement. "A massive one."
Noire continued, "Of course, this isn't merely a one-sided system. Most of the time, those who follow us will send us prayers, and then we act on them."
"… Eh?" Neptune muttered.
"What?"
"She's a lazy idiot, remember?" Presa remarked, causing Noire to groan heavily.
Jude blinked in thought and then smiled slightly. "That's why you were really here, wasn't it?"
"Huh?" Noire muttered.
"You originally came here to deal with the monster that was stopping your people from receiving goods they need."
Noire's cheeks turned slightly red as she folded her arms. "N – No I didn't. I came here to kill Neptune."
"Really? Then how did you know we would be here?"
"Goddesses aren't all knowing," Milla argued. "Neither are Spirits."
Noire's entire face was now light red as she argued weakly, "Sh – Shut up!"
"Tsun," Presa taunted.
Neptune grinned playfully. "Oh ho! Nowa's a Tsundere!"
"Shut it! And my name's Noire!"
"Yeah, Neptune," Jude added.
Milla raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What's a Tsundere?"
"Leia," Jude answered bluntly.
"Ah. One who hides their true feelings with violent denial."
Noire growled lightly. "Would you shut up already?!"
"Why should I?"
IF sighed in annoyance. "Let's just get going…"
"Agreed," Blake groaned.
As the group neared the main city, Noire suddenly stopped. "Oh, wait!"
"For what?" Compa asked.
"What is it?" Presa asked, her arms folded under her bust in annoyance.
Noire mumbled, "I can't go into the city like this, the people will recognize me."
Jude folded his arms in thought. "True… We need to get you a disguise. Alter your hairstyle. Get you a different outfit. Maybe some glasses as well."
Noire furrowed her brow before Jude walked up to her, pulled the ties out of her hair, causing her long black hair to flow to her feet, and put a pair of red glasses on her.
"Perfect. There. Now you look different and still beautiful."
Noire stiffened as her face turned red. "D – Does it… really look good?"
"Of course. I don't think it's possible for you not to."
Her face turned intensely red.
"Ah, there you girls are," Chian remarked as she walked up to the group before seeing Noire.
Jude sighed in defeat. "Of course I'm forgotten…"
"Have I seen you before? Hhmm… no, I guess not."
"Am I that forgettable…?"
"So, did you kill that monster?"
Jude nodded, redirecting his thoughts to the matter at hand. "We did. It… was kinda weak actually."
"And still no pudding…" Milla moaned.
"Oh…" Chian muttered, slightly dismayed, before her usual smile took its place, "well, thanks. You girls helped a lot." Chian then noticed Jude's grimace and patted his shoulder with a smirk. "Come on, stop sulking, I'm just havin' some fun."
"Right…"
"Aw… does Judie need some booby time?" Neptune teased.
"No, I'm good," he answered bluntly, causing Neptune to pout. Turning to Chian he added, "If you need anything else just ask. We'd be happy to assist."
Chian's fist tightened slightly. "Nah, that's about all you guys can help with."
"Are you sure?" Jude asked before the group was distracted by a large explosion.
Chian tried to keep her expression placid. "… Yes?"
"What was that?" Milla asked.
Chian groaned, putting a hand over her face in frustration. "That was my newest invention exploding. Again. And I was sure I turned off the power, too…"
"Need any help working on it?" Jude wondered.
Chian waved a hand dismissively. "Nah, I got it."
"You sure? I could help," Jude insisted.
Chian folded her arms. "And just how much do you know about thermodynamics or mechanical engineering?"
Jude remained silent, not having an answer.
"That's what I thought." With an appreciative smile, Chian added, "I appreciate the offer, but if I'm going to beat those Avenir bastards at the expo I need to do this myself."
Noire raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Huh?"
Chian flinched lightly. "Ah, forget I said anything."
Jude questioned, "You want to stop them too, huh?"
Chian stiffened before sighing heavily. "Yeah…"
"Then let us help."
"I can't let you do that," Chian argued.
"Why not?" Noire asked, confused.
Tightening a fist, Chian answered, "Because this is personal."
Jude folded his arms in thought. "What do you mean?"
Chian sighed heavily. "This place isn't actually run by my parents. Well, not both of them. It's just my mother. My father created Passé, and we were pretty much the biggest supplier of machinery to this area of Vacuo. We supplied everything from kitchenware to weapons. But then Avenir showed up and bought up all of the shippers, the suppliers, and customers. My father refused to sell Passé to those rats. But then one day… he died in an accident."
"That sounds too coincidental to me," Presa noted suspiciously.
Blake nodded in agreement. "Accident, or murder?"
Chian continued, "After he died, I took over Passé and worked with Chèvre, a childhood friend of mine. However, business got so bad and so slow, that… that I had to shut the factory down. I worked with Chèvre in his shop for a few years, but I decided to come back and reopen the factory. Every year the Lastation Basilicom holds the Technology Expo. The winner of the Expo not only gets a huge cash reward, but they also get the chance to meet with Lady Black Heart. If I can just meet her I can maybe get these bastards out. Not only have they stolen the jobs from any other factories in the nation, they're building factories everywhere. Vacuo's pollution is already bad enough. If it keeps up like this, I'm not sure if any people will be able to live here at all."
Jude glanced at Noire slightly. "I see…"
Noire shook her head subtly in response.
"Look," Chian added, "I appreciate your desire to help, but there really isn't much you can do."
Neptune huffed in annoyance. "Come on! There's gotta be something!"
"Not even testing the weapon?" Jude offered.
"Do any of you know how to pilot a mech?"
"A what?"
"Exactly."
Jude hummed in thought. "Hhmm… What if we try to take down Avenir?"
Chian huffed dismissively. "Good luck. They're a massive company, with millions of Lien, and what's more, they've got the damn Basilicom in their pockets."
Presa folded her arms in thought. "There's no way to discredit them? Funnel away all their money out of their hands? Assassinate their CEO?"
Blake stared at the woman nervously as Chian raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Their CEO? He's always got himself surrounded by guards, plus he isn't exactly a slouch in combat himself. People have tried assassinating him before, but he usually just ends up paying the assassin double to kill their original contractor. And they don't keep all their funds in one place. They've got them dispersed in all the different lands."
"Every kingdom?" IF questioned.
"I doubt they have any in Menagerie," Blake commented.
"You've really done your research," IF remarked, impressed.
Chian nodded in response. "Yeah. I want to take these jerks down, bad. But they're almost impenetrable. So the only thing I can see working is to outdo them at the expo."
And there you have it, the second chapter! Hopefully everyone enjoyed it, be sure to leave a review if you did. If you were confused, unsure, or simply have questions on anything, such as what series a certain character is from, leave a review with your concerns and I will do what I can to address them. Except spoilers, I have to keep those out of the reviewer responses, so you will get a better result on that with a PM. If you did not enjoy the chapter, review if you must, though I would recommend doing something you enjoy instead. Nothing else to add here, so bye-bye!