Chapter Four: That's Odd…
"Awww that's so cute!" White Heart fawned as Vert told her friend what happened when she went to check on IF. With Celestia being their only safe haven at the moment they spent most of their time there.
"I just wanted to pick her up and cuddle with her, it was just adorable!" Green Heart sighed.
"I think I'll pay them a visit soon." White Heart said.
"How so? The Console War is still in effect." Green Heart said.
"Well, what's to stop us from saying we had to leave for some made up reason?" White Heart pointed out, "We're Goddesses, do you really think our followers will question our reasons for temporarily leaving the fight?"
"You make a valid point." Green Heart sighed, "But at least you get to see her physically like this, I can't…"
"Heh, don't worry I'll tell you all about it." The Goddess of Lowee looked around, "Say, where'd Neptune and Noire go?"
"I don't know, were they here before?" Only White Heart was there when she arrived.
"Yeah but they must have run off."
"Well, what now?"
"I think I'll go to check on IF." White Heart said before leaving. Green Heart lingered for a moment before leaving for Leanbox for her own agenda. And hiding in a clump of trees just next to where the two were before two women released their breath.
"That was close." Purple Heart sighed.
"Mmph…" She looked down and smiled as Black Heart.
"Well come on, it's not going to finish by itself babe."
"Lady White Heart?" Conversation blinked as Blanc entered the Basilicom.
"Hello Conversation."
"Why are you here?" What of-?"
"Through a chance unlikely in this plane of reality, we all managed to badly harm each other at the same time." Blanc lied smoothly, having thought of her lie on the way down, "So we made a unanimous decision to postpone the war to recuperate."
"I see."
"I dare say it is the first time we four have seen on common ground." Blanc said, "Now, there is something I would like to do."
"Yes?" Conversation knew the only reason Blanc said that was because she wish for her input.
"I would like to visit the orphanage that the Basilicom is funding." Conversation froze. Blanc knew she knew that Blanc didn't know of it, which she didn't until now thanks to Vert. She saw her hesitation, "Don't panic, I support the use of funding, our children are important to the future of Lowee."
"Very well, I will lead you there."
"Thank you Conversation." Blanc smiled and followed Conversation to the orphanage. It was a long walk and when they arrived Conversation went back to the Basilicom for her duties. Blanc knocked on the door.
"One moment!" The woman running the orphanage called. The door opened and she let out a gasp, "L-Lady White Heart?!"
"Calm yourself, I am not here for ill deeds." Blanc said kindly, "I recently learned of this building's existence and wished to visit."
"O-Of course, please come in!" She let her inside.
"Thank you, your name?"
"Care." She said.
"Thank you, Care." Blanc looked down the hall when she heard someone crying.
"Oh dear, not again." Care sighed, hurrying down the hall to the play room that the kids were currently in. Blanc walked down and saw four young children one a blue mat, two girls and two boys. Blanc blinked as she recognized two of them immediately and stared at the infant versions of IF and Compa. IF was pulling on a toy that it seemed one of the boys had taken from Compa.
"Bad!" IF said.
"Hey you two!" Care stepped in, separating the two children, "Don't take other people's toys Ralph." She chastised, handing IF the toy and taking the two boys to another room for their time out. IF handed Compa the toy, the little nurse sniffling.
"Good!" She said. Compa giggled and smiled at her. Blanc smiled, even as infant they were friends but that made Blanc wonder why IF did not know her when they first met. They must have been adopted at a young age. She deduced. IF then looked up at Blanc who smiled and kneeled down.
"Hello little one." IF stared at her and waved a little, "Is this your friend?" Blanc looked at Compa.
"Good!" IF said. Blanc smiled at the child like use of good and bad for yes and no.
"You're a very good girl, standing up for your friends." Blanc said, admiring the reliable quality in the young girl. IF smiled, "Would you like to play a game?"
"Good!" IF said again, happy to have made a new friend.
"Why don't you decide the game you want to play?" Blanc said. IF walked off and Blanc diverted her attention to the tiny Compa before her. She was shy but seemed to be trying to be friendly with her. Blanc settled down on the floor, extending a hand to Compa, "Hello, nice to meet you."
"H-Hi…" Compa mumbled into the toy, her tiny hand grabbing the Goddess's finger. Just then IF finally came back pushing a small circular toy with four different colored buttons on it. Blanc knew the game, it was common among toddlers. She set it in the center of the three of them and took two buttons, Compa and IF taking one of each for the remainder.
They played for a while until Compa started to yawn. IF was nodding off as well so no doubt it was time for them to go to sleep. Blanc smiled warmly and picked them both up before taking them to their sleeping areas, the cribs thankfully labeled.
"Would you like me to read you two a bed time story?"
"Good…" IF yawned. Blanc went to the small book shelf and quickly picked out a suitable night time story. She sat between IF and Compa who were snuggling into their pillows and started reading.
"Once upon a time there was a Dogoo. The Dogoo didn't have many friends but that didn't stop him from having fun every day." Blanc continued after a short glance at both girls, "However, one day the Dogoo met a new Dogoo, who had lost her favorite thing, a small bead. Being the kind soul he was, the friendly Dogoo offered to help but he was turned down. Not put off by the rejection, he chose to search for the bead anyway and scurried off into the bushes." Blanc looked to Compa who was clearly more than half asleep, "After a long time, the Dogoo found the bead laying on the floor. Picking it up in his mouth he hurried back to return it to the proper owner. She was shocked that even though she turned him down he still helped her. As thanks, the two Dogoos spent many years together, and lived happily ever after."
Blanc closed the book and saw both girls were fast asleep. She quietly put the book back and crept out of the room, leaving the orphanage and returning to the Basilicom. Blanc went to her shower and ran the water, standing in bare skin under the downpour with her hand on the wall.
"What the hell…" She mumbled, "Being around IF…seeing what she's really like now…it's making me feel odd." Blanc sighed, "I think I'm…falling in love." The goddess tensed her hand, "E-Even though…Vert loves her too. How the hell…" She suddenly changed into HDD, staring at her body, "Can I compete with Thunder Tits. Argh!" In a sudden fit of anger Blanc punched the wall, thoroughly cracking it. White Heart sighed, washed her hair and body, and went to bed.
Time quickly passed, and before anyone could really come to grips with it IF was almost ten years old. Vert was always watching her and Blanc had stopped paying visits to the orphanage once IF was older in order to keep things as correct as they could be. The entire time she was gone she was holed up on her own in her room or Celestia, tormented by her new feelings for IF. Vert was, like always, hovering over IF as she helped Care watch over the younger children. Neptune had decided to come with her today as well, leaving Noire and Blanc in Celestia to deal with the war unless they also decided to leave their physical bodies.
"I wonder when IF gets adopted." Vert sighed, feeling bad for the young child.
"I bet she will soon Vert!" Neptune said with great cheer, "Hey, I wonder where Nep Jr. is." She said suddenly.
"Oh yes, we haven't seen any of the younger girls have we? Histoire said they would be in spirit form like we are now."
"They're probably just messing around somewhere else." Neptune said. Vert redirected her attention back to her pride and joy.
"IF, can you come here please?" Care called from another room.
"Okay!" IF replied, walking to Care's office. She pushed the door open and saw an unfamiliar man and woman sitting with Care at the table.
"IF, come on in." Care said.
"Who are these people?" IF asked.
"IF, this is Mr. and Mrs. Alcole, they just finished the paperwork to adopt you."
"Really?!" IF's face lit up with joy, "I'm finally gonna get a mom and dad!?" Vert felt close to a cliché single tear at the sight.
"Yes, now how about you go pack your things?" Her new father said, "We still have a couple things to discuss with Care."
"Okay." IF smiled and hurried out of the room. She couldn't stop smiling, she finally had a real family to be with.
"Vert, ain't it time for us to like, zoom off?" Neptune said.
"Oh, yes, right." Vert sighed. The four Goddesses made an agreement that at a certain time every day they were all to be in their bodies in case anyone wish to do something in their real body. Vert and Neptune hurried off to the Console War and reentered their bodies. In order to keep things simple, they made a subtle signal to show they were in their bodies. Neptune and Vert both gently relaxed their grips on their weapons before squeezing them tightly. Black and White Heart both stopped.
"Welcome back you two." Noire said.
"…" Blanc just stood there, clearly lost in thought.
"Hey. Good news, IF just got adopted!" Neptune said.
"Oh that's great!" Noire chimed in.
"Yes, by two rather reputable residents of Leanbox as well." Vert said.
"Hey Thunder Tits." Blanc addressed her suddenly, "Come on, we need to talk." Confused but consenting, Vert flew off with Blanc to one of the other floating landmasses, leaving the other two Goddesses pondering what this was about.
"What is it Blanc?" Vert asked as they settled down.
"Look, I don't know how to phrase it so I'll just come right out with it." Blanc said, "After spending all that time with IF, I love her. I know you do too, but you better know I don't plan to lose to you!"
"Oh?" Vert sneered, "And which of us does IF revere more?"
"Doesn't matter! Worship ain't love Mrs. Boobs For Brains!"
"But it definitely gives an advantage." Vert smiled, "That and…other…comfortable qualities." Vert bounced her chest slightly.
"Heh, if we're talking about that, I can give her something you never could!" Blanc took a step towards her, a step that Vert matched.
"And how do you know she even wants it? I on the other hand can give a life of nothing but love and care."
"I can give her a life of true acceptance and something worth doing!" Without them knowing, Neptune and Noire had stalked into a nearby brush and watched with rapt attention.
"How do you want to settle this?" Green Heart said.
"How about we see who gives out first? Right here, right now!" White Heart said, starting to pull at her clothing.
"Very well, prepare for your lesson girl." Vert said, quickly disrobing.
"Hah! I'll show you just how old and clunky you are, Thunder Tits!" The other retorted, jumping at her and sending their naked bodies tumbling to the ground to begin their absurd battle.