The old man paused before an interesting climax to see Neptune almost completely gone.
Old: Lady Neptune?
Neptune: I... Can't... Anymore...
Old: May I say, Lady Neptune...
Neptune: Where did I go wrong...
Old: You made an amazing goddess.
Neptune went limp and the Old Man approached her.
Old: Lady Neptune, I would have stayed up with you all night, had I known how to save a life.
An hour later, there was no fire anymore, there was only darkness, and a small mound of dirt, with a tombstone. inscribed in it was the words:
Here lies the past CPU of Planeptune: Neptune/Purple Heart.
May she rest in peace, and may the gods of Celestia punish me appropriately for what I have done tonight.
Nothing was there, no person was around, but, Gamindustri still stirred uncomfortably, with an uneasy feeling, everyone knew, something bad had happened.
Nepgear stared over Planeptune.
Plutia: Whats wrong Neppy jr.?
Plutia approached questioningly
Nepgear: Huh? Oh, I just have a bad feeling about my sister...
Plutia: Do you feel like she did something bad?
Nepgear: No... Almost the opposite. I think something happened to her.
Plutia: Don't worry.
She put her hands on Nepgear's shoulders.
Plutia: She'll be back soon.
But, she didn't come back, she took weeks, she didn't come back, even after 3 whole months, it was then, that Histoire told Nepgear and Plutia to make an announcement.
IF: Planeptune is bustling today.
IF and Compa watched from the sidelines as Nepgear and Plutia came out of the basilicom in fancy dresses.
IF: I hope they don't tear up...
Plutia and Nepgear approached a mic, and everyone there stood, eager to hear the news the CPUs were giving.
Plutia: Citizens of Planeptune...
Loud-speakers on the stage began playing a sad piano tune.
Plutia: It pains me to say... After three months of waiting, Neptune has yet to return to Planeptune...
She began to tear up.
Plutia: It is our... Understanding that uh... She has... I can't say it!
Plutia ran away, tugging the special white bow and headdress out of her hair.
Nepgear: Oh my gosh...
Nepgear stepped up to the mic.
Nepgear: I-I'm sorry ladies and gentleman! Plutia is a bit broken up about this! Please, don't think any less of her for getting sad when a loved one is officially... And Lawfully... Presumed dead.
The entire crowd gasped in unison.
Nepgear: Neptune, my big sister, as of 12:04PM, September eighth, 20XX, is officially presumed, dead.
Nepgear turned and walked as elegantly as she could back into the basilicom.
Three hours later.
IF: Ugh... Finally done with work.
IF walked into the basilicom to find that no one was around, she opened the door to Nepgear and Neptune's room.
IF: Whoa!
She found Nepgear, sitting on her bed with a Neptune plush in her arms.
IF: You okay Gear?
Nepgear: How would you feel IF?
IF: Angry, sad, confused and helpless.
Nepgear: Huh?
IF: You aren't the only one feeling like that Gear. You haven't seen Compa, Noire, everyone who cared about Neptune.
IF walked forward and put her hands on Nepgear's shoulders.
IF: But, we do our jobs, we make sure Gamindustri stays safe, because, if Gamindustri wasn't protected, would Neptune rest peacefully? I mean, she probably died defending it, right?
Nepgear: Probably...
IF: And thanks to her we can all keep moving with our lives normally... Get some rest.
She walked towards the door.
IF: After all, you are the new CPU of Planeptune now.
IF shut the door.
IF: Phew... I still don't fit into the counselor role very well. Oh well.
The earth trembled, the world cracked and an unknown power appeared underground. What was going on?
?: Three! Two! One! Goooooooooooo!
Two girls with long blue hair took off of a starting line and jumped over a fallen pillar.
Girl1: Hey! Watch this!
The two reached a pit in the ground and the older looking girl jumped onto the wall and ran over the pit, not stopping once, taking off ahead of the other girl.
Girl2: Huh...
The younger girl took put her hand on the bottom of her shoe and planted it into the ground, easily jumping the gap.
Girl1: Haha! I'm winning!
The second girl appeared on the downward arch of her jump and flipped upside down as she used her hand to vault of the older girls head.
Girl2: Try to get me now!
She zig-zagged past several pits as the older girl bounded above each.
Girl1: You've improved since last time!
Girl2: Yeah, well, let's see who can beat this part!
They ran into a corridor filled with traps, the younger girl slid under a spiked side-ways pillar and spun elegantly through rotating spikes.
Girl2: Haha weeee!
The older girl had vaulted over the first pillar and rolled through a gap in the bottom of he rotating spikes.
Girl1: Whoooo!
They were neck-and-neck, as they ran through a long curve approaching the start line.
Girl2: This is for the win!
They ran at equal pace and sprinted across the start line at the same time, stopping afterwards.
Girl1: Was that..?
Girl2: No way...
?: And we have no winner! Both Etsel Maxwell and Mitsui Maxwell have finished at the same time!
Girl1: A tie!?
Girl2: Well poop!
A young girl with orange hair approached them.
?2: Damn, Etsel! That was WAY better than last time!
She said helping he younger girl up.
Etsel: Yeah, I'm surprised I could keep up with you big sis.
Mitsui: Yup, we got them runnin' genes, eh?
?2: God Mitsui...
Mitsui stood up on her own.
Mitsui: Hey, our great grandmother was a damn good runner!
?2: Jeez...
Etsel: Whatever Teth. Let Mitsui be weird.
Mitsui: Whatevs. Let's get home.
They walked through a small cave.
Teth: So, did everything go as you planned?
Etsel: Absolutely!
Mitsui: Yuh-huh.
Teth: Good, I'm glad to hea- WHOA!
The ground beneath the orange haired Teth dropped out and she found herself in a small cavern with a ruined statue.
Etsel: Teth!
Etsel dropped into the hole with a small flashlight.
Teth: I'm alright, don't worry, but look.
Teth pointed at a coffin.
Etsel: What is this?
Teth put her hand on it as Mitsui dropped down.
Mitsui: let's just get out of this damn hole!
Mitsui walked forward and grabbed Teth's hand only to have her own hand begin glowing after touching the coffin.
Mitsui: What the!?
A book appeared on top of the coffin and Etsel grabbed it, the hole they had fell into was covered up. And they were trapped.
Etsel: Huh... Maybe this book will tell us the way out...
Etsel began reading.