"Everyone, dinner is ready." IF called, as she set the plates on the table.
"Cook Iffy today?" Neptune said, "I wonder what you cooked, Iffy!"
"Iffy cooking is delicious." Jupiter said, joining Neptune in the table.
"Indeed. IF's cooking has improved since she started cooking here." Histoire said.
"I remember that Compa used to be the cook." Neptune noted, "Where did she go?"
IF remained quiet, giving each one a portion of food. Her eyes green eyes filled with sadness.
"Neptune, Compa is… Missing." Histoire said, noticing IF's expression, "We fear that Nepgear might've done something."
"Things have gotten quite bad since I died, huh?" Spirit Nep said, "I want to find Nepgear and help her..."
"Oh… I'm sorry, Iffy." Neptune apologised, "I didn't know…"
"It's not your fault, Nep." IF said through gritted teeth.
IF gave Neptune her portion of food. She looked at it horrified. "Uhhhh, Iffy." Neptune said, "Looks like you didn't give me food..."
"Huh?" IF looked at Neptune's eggplant salad before looking back at her with a confused expression. She slowly recalled what it was, "Oh. I forgot. You despise eggplant, don't you?"
"You don't like eggplant, Neptune?" Jupiter asked in between bites.
"Nope! It is disgusting. It is not people's food. It was made from the pits of hell!" Both Neptunes started to ramble, "I'm sure Arsnore made it herself to torture me!"
"Neptune, you can't be so picky." Histoire sighed, "You have to- ababababababa-" Histoire started to vibrate.
"Histoire! Are you okay?" IF asked, startled and worried. She left the bowl in the table quickly and went to Histoire's side.
"Histy. What's wrong?" Jupiter joined in with worry, standing up and looking across the table at Histoire.
"I knew it!" Neptune exclaimed, pointing her finger accusatorily at the bowl, "The eggplant has infected Histy!"
"Shut up Nep." IF said, glancing at her.
"Ababababa… help… ababab... me…." Histoire pleaded, jumping up and down.
"There should be a manual nearby." IF said, looking at the shelf full of books, "Here."
IF opened the book, she flipped a few pages, "Is she shaking? Yes." Her finger slowly went down the page, following the instructions as it went down. She finally closed the book and looked at Histoire, "Histoire, according to the manual, you're receiving a call. Can you answer it?"
"Abababa... I will… try to... ababa... answer it..." Histoire said, before sighing as she stopped vibrating.
A projection came out from Histoire's tome. A blue holographic Histoire in front of them, "Apologies for the interruption."
"Another Histoire?" IF said, standing up and walking next to Histoire.
"Oooh~ That must be my Histy!" Neptune exclaimed, walking around the table and into the holograph's field of view.
"Is that Neptune I hear?" The holographic Histoire asked, "I'm sorry if she's caused any trouble."
"No worries." Histoire replied, a smile on her face, "She's been behaving nicely so far. I must assume you're the 'me' from her world?"
"Indeed." She nodded, "We found out about her disappearance recently. I am glad to hear she's okay."
"Histoire. Did you find sis?" A voice called.
"I recognise that voice! It's Nepgear!" Neptune looked at the holograph, the face of Nepgear barely visible, "Heyyy~ Nep Jr.!"
Nepgear's face covered Histoire, "Neptune!" She jumped, her face slowly confused as she looked behind Neptune, "And IF?"
"I missed you, Nep Jr.!" Neptune said, her hands extended for a hug, "Oh and yeah. That's the Iffy from this wor-" Neptune stopped once she noticed IF's expression. She was glaring at Nepgear.
IF held her glare for a short while, before turning away, "I'll leave you for now." IF said through gritted teeth, clenching her fists, "I will… go do something in the meanwhile." She stormed off, slamming the door behind her. They looked at the door she left through.
Nepgear finally broke the silence, "Did… I do something wrong?" Nepgear asked, "I always mess up..."
"No, don't worry Nep Jr." Neptune said, smiling sympathetically, "I'll… uh tell you about it when I return."
"Nepgear, could I speak with them?" Histoire asked, tapping Nepgear on the shoulder.
"Oh, sorry Histoire." Nepgear's face disappeared from the holograph.
"So, Histy. Do you have any way of bringing me back?" Neptune asked.
"Not as of now." Histoire said, "We're… working on one."
"Just as I would expect of my Histy!" Neptune thought for a second, "Hey, wait. Couldn't you do that share portal thingy and bring me back now?"
"Neptune, there are barely any shares left." Histoire said, mildly irritated, "If only a certain someone had worked then maybe there would be some shares to do that."
"Alright alright, geez." Neptune pouted, "No need for such indirects jabs."
"Now, Neptune, could I speak with the other Histoire?" Histoire asked, lightly chuckling.
"Oh, yes sorry." Neptune moved out of the way, sitting down on a chair.
"Two Histies." Jupiter said, looking at the blue holographic Histoire, "Wow~"
"Oh? May I ask who that is?" She inquired, looking at Jupiter with fascination, "I don't believe I know her."
"Ah, indeed. She is the CPU of Planeptune. Jupiter." Histoire said, "She's… Neptune's successor."
"I see." Holograph Histoire said, "I won't press on current affairs there. Hopefully Neptune is not too much of a problem?"
"It is no problem." Histoire replied, "I had actually missed Neptune quite a bit. Now, what is your plan to bringing her back to your world?"
"We have another tome that goes by the name of 'Croire' that can travel across dimensions. We're convincing her to allow us to go to your dimension and fetch Neptune." She appeared to look in the distance, an argument could be heard in the background. Histoire sighed, "However, it seems like it'll take a while. So I ask that you deal with Neptune for a short while longer."
"I understand." Histoire replied, "Call me whenever you need."
"Thank you." Holograph Historie replied. The holograph soon vanishing as the connection was cut.
"You heard her, Neptune." Histoire said, "You'll be returning to your world soon. I ask you to stay still for now."
"Aww, no fair Histy." Neptune complained, "We were going to Lastation today as well!"
"Neptune can't come to Lastation with us?" Jupiter asked, disappointed.
"I'm sorry, Neptune. But you heard your Histoire."
"Well, Histy. Darksty won't be so easily convinced. Plus, I am determined to fix whatever is wrong with the Nepgear of this world."
"There won't be any way to convince you otherwise, I'd assume." Histoire sighed.
"Nope~ I'm set on fixing everything!" Neptune proclaimed.
"Can Neptune go with us? Please, Histoire." Jupiter pleaded.
Histoire sighed, "Fine. But you won't get into any trouble, you hear?"
"Yeah, yeah Histy. We'll be fine." Neptune said, "So, uh… Ya got any pudding, Jupiter?"
IF was tapping her foot near the entrance to NepTower. She started to pace back and forth. She checked her phone for the time. Neptune and Jupiter were so late. "Iffy!" Neptune called, walking out of the tower.
"About time." IF said, crossing her arms, "You two are late."
"Sorry Iffy." Jupiter said.
"Looks like Neptune is rubbing off on you, Jupiter." IF sighed.
"Lastation time, right?" Spirit Nep said, floating next to Neptune, "I wonder how much it changed."
"This is my first time visiting Lastation." Jupiter added, "I wonder how it is."
"Then let's get going!" Neptune jumped, transforming in mid-air and landing as Purple Heart, "Flying will make this trip much shorter."
IF sighed again, "Don't you think that if Lastation saw two CPUs flying towards them, it could be interpreted badly?"
"That is true..." Neptune thought for a few more second, "Then let's land near Lastation. Crossing the mountain would be a pain without flying."
"I guess..." IF muttered, "Okay, let's do your plan."
"Transforming? Yay." Jupiter muttered, putting her hands together before the white light enveloped her.
Neptune lifted IF in her arms before taking off. Jupiter closely behind her and Spirit Nep floating next to her.
"Jupiter right?" Spirit Nep said, floating closer to her.
"Huh?" Jupiter looked around, confused before remembering, "Oh. Yeah. Sorry, I forgot I couldn't see you."
"It's fine." Spirit Nep replied sadly, "I have to get used to it." She glanced at the sky for a few seconds, "Anyway, how do you feel being Planeptune's CPU?"
"It's nice. Knowing an entire nation relies on you." Jupiter replied, a smile on her face, "Iffy and Histoire are always helping me as well. I want to do a good job for them. And now with you here as well, I want to show how well a job I can do."
"Aww, I like you." Spirit Nep said, "By the way, that park in the middle of Planeptune, did you order it?"
"You mean Neptune Park?" Jupiter asked, amused, "Yes. I requested it to be built in honour of the previous CPU, Purple Heart… Well, 'you' would be more appropriate."
"I really like it." Spirit Nep said, giving a thumbs up, "The lavenders and hyacinths were a really nice touch."
"I'm glad you like it." Jupiter blushed a bit, she tried to hide it from Spirit Nep, "Anything else you liked?"
"Hmm, well I spent most of my time in the park, so I didn't see any more changes." Spirit Nep admitted.
They flew in silence, a small smile on Jupiter's face. Her predecessor liked her idea. She liked the praise that Spirit Nep had given her, the actual previous Neptune.
Neptune watched as Planeptune disappeared behind them and soon the mountain passed below them, the white snow covering some of it. They soon left the mountain behind, green land below them spreading for a few more miles. In the distance, they could see the black city of Lastation. Once close enough, they started descending in the middle of a field.
"Lastation here we come!" Neptune exclaimed as she transformed back into her human form.
"I'm glad you're excited Nep," IF said, crossing her arms, "but I hope you know this is more of a business trip than a vacation."
"I know Iffy..." Neptune replied, sighing. She looked over at Lastation. The black towers and machinery looming over them even at this distance. Neptune turned to the others, "Do we have to walk there?"
"Of course." IF replied, "The CPU might take it the wrong way if you suddenly showed up in HDD."
"Ummm. Hey, Iffy, Nep. What is that?" Jupiter pointed away from Lastation, where a group of similarly dressed people were walking in files, heading towards them.
"Are they soldiers…?" Neptune asked, putting a finger to her cheek as she thought.
"Maybe flying this close to Lastation was a bad idea..." IF sighed.
The battalion slowly go closer to the group, their movements synchronised. Neptune slowly started to examine the members of the approaching army until she realised, "Hey, wait. Those aren't soldiers. That one in front is Noire! So is that one! They're all Noire!" Neptune pointed at each of the members in front.
"All Noire?!" IF looked at Neptune, "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely sure." Neptune nodded, before turning to Spirit Nep, "Hey, spirit me. Can you go take a look and tell us if I'm right?"
"Okie dokie, living me!" Spirit Nep said before floating off towards the army.
Spirit Nep looked over the army, each and every one in the front lines was the same person. All of them wore the same clothes… All of them were Noire. All of them carrying the same sword and moving in the same stiff, robotic pace. Behind them files of Uni walked in the same robotic pace, each of them carrying the same gun. All of them advancing towards Lastation.
Spirit Nep hurried back towards the group to alert them of what was coming. "Hey, living me. You were right." She told Neptune, "They are all Noire. And a few Uni as well."
"Noire AND Uni?" Neptune exclaimed loud enough for the rest of the group to hear.
"And they're advancing on Lastation..." IF sighed, exchanging looks between the city and the army, "We'll have to stop them." She took out her katars and looked at her companions.
Jupiter nodded, "I agree with Iffy." Jupiter took out her rapier and pointed at the oncoming army.
Neptune stared at her companions and then to Lastation, before taking out her katana and smiling at IF and Jupiter, "Let's kick some robot butt!"
"I wish I could help..." Spirit Nep muttered somewhat sadly.
Neptune looked at her before coming up with an idea, "I know. Since I'll be busy fighting, why don't you come up with witty one-liners while we beat the robots?"
"Ooooh~ That sounds great." Spirit Nep smiled happily, "I'll do just that, me!"
"Nep, if you're done talking to your other self, here they come." IF warned, staring at the group of copies that stood before them.
"Should we transform?" Jupiter turned to IF and Neptune, her rapier still pointed at the robots.
"I don't see the problem." Neptune said, a white light enveloping her. Purple Heart stood in her place once the transformation was done.
IF sighed, "Go ahead and transform if you like."
"Yay~" Jupiter clapped her hands together. A white light enveloping her before Red Heart appeared from the light, "Let's protect Lastation."
They rushed at the Fake Noire army, weaving in between the small openings between them. Neptune slashed at their legs, making a clean cut and preventing them from moving. Jupiter meanwhile dashed and thrusted her sword through rows of copies before spinning and throwing the rest away. IF ran with her katars engulfed in flames, sending waves of fire at the robots.
Before they knew it, they had created a circle in the middle of the clones' army. They all stood back to back, staring back at the Fake Noires as the Fake Unis started to form a line behind them.
"There are too many." Jupiter complained.
"They're weak individually, but this number of them is just ridiculous." Neptune replied.
"Come on, you two." IF tried to sound brave, "We can take them."
"Huh? What's that?" Spirit Nep looked in the distance, where she thought she saw a ray of light. She shook that thought aside and looked at the ground below her, where the others stood against the robots.
A couple of Fake Noires split from the group, rushing ahead while the Fake Unis behind fired a couple of shots from their guns.
"Watch out!" Neptune called out, ducking below the bullets and blocking the attack from two Noires that came at her. She slashed with her katana, pushing them back, "Victory Slash!" Neptune slashed in a V shape, getting behind the Noires before her slashes exploded into energy.
Jupiter dodged to the left, avoiding the bullets before striking at the Fake Noires, pushing them back before stabbing them in the middle. The Fake Noires fell to the ground and stopped moving. She turned towards the exposed Unis, "Beam Sword!" Jupiter moved her sword in an arc above her, creating five blue copies of her rapier, before sending them toward the Unis, they fell back and exploded.
IF blocked the bullets with her katars, she dodged the slashes from the Fake Noires. IF ducked under one strike, taking the opportunity to slash at the Fake's chest, which stopped moving before falling to the ground. IF jumped over the attack from the other Fake, slashing at its face. Both robots exploded soon after.
The group watched as more fakes soon replaced the ones they had defeated. They grouped together back to back, "They just keep coming." Neptune said, panting from exhaustion.
"We'll have to retreat." Jupiter replied, thrusting her sword at a Fake Noire that tried to attack.
IF's glare was fixed on the fakes, "I want to destroy every single one of them… But those two are right." She slowly shook her head, "We'll need to retreat. I can't save her…. We can't stop Nepgear if we fall here." She thought.
"You three in the middle!" A voice yelled from behind the fakes, "Duck!"
The group turned towards where the voice came from, they took its advice and dove to the ground.
"Who's that?" Spirit Nep muttered, looking at the girl. She was wearing some strange armour that covered her entire body. It was black with some white lines going around it. Blue lights in its white lines. The Lastation Logo in the chest area. From the armour's hands, a white light started to glow stronger each minute. "Take this!" She yelled, unleashing a white light that cut each fake in half. After they felt the laser cut above them, the group stood up and looked at the girl that had saved them. "Will need a more efficient power usage. I should tell the manufacturers that." She muttered to herself, opening up the armour and exiting it to look at it.
Neptune and Jupiter approached the girl, IF keeping closely behind, "She looks like Lastation's oracle." IF thought.
The girl was wearing a black suit with a blue tie, a white shirt underneath. A Lastation logo badge on her chest, blue lines running across her suit's sides. A black skirt with a blue lining. She was wearing knee length black socks and black shoes with a white circle in the middle. Her black hair was tied in a ponytail. She turned around and looked at Neptune and Jupiter with her crimson eyes, "So, you three are unharmed. Good. That means the laser works." Her voice was cold and calculating as well as distant. She looked at Jupiter, examining her from head to toe, almost as if assessing her worth.
Neptune and Jupiter looked at each other, unsure what to say to the girl, "Uh, thanks?" Neptune managed to say.
"It was nothing." She replied. The girl put her hand to her chin, "Say, you are you two goddesses by any chance?"
Neptune looked at Jupiter. They both nodded in agreement, transforming back into their human form together, "Wow, how could you tell?" Neptune replied.
Spirit Nep floated next to the group, examining the new girl, "She looks like Kei and Noire." She muttered.
"That's an easy one." She replied, putting a hand to her hip, "I'm Lastation's CPU - Azure."