Disclaimer

Hyperdimension Neptunia is owned by Idea Factory, Compile Heart, and all other official parties involved with the series.

I own nothing.


CHAPTER NINE

TO LASTATION

Things in Planeptune were finally stable...enough. Shares were still low due to the Broken running around, but things were better now that the CPUs were back and Zenotyne was helping out to deal with the Broken threat. He only had defeated a few more since the CPUs' rescue as a number of the known Broken were in high level monster areas he wasn't prepared for yet. But when all was said and done Planeptune finally seemed to be all right again.

But something still kept bothering Zeno. Everything he had done thus far had been within the confines of Planeptune's borders. Sure Neptune and Nepgear were safe now, but what about the others? Noire? Blanc? Vert? The other CPU Candidates? He felt it was time to branch out to the other nations. The big question was how was he going to bring this up to the girls?

The day had started out like any other. Everyone was eating breakfast at the table. This time around everyone was getting into different cereals. Compa and IF were eating some whole grain brand for health, Nepgear was eating something with a bunch of shaped pieces, while Neptune was scarfing down something with lots of marshmallows while toying with the activities on the back of the box. Zenotyne, on the other hand, was had something frosted, though he had barely eaten two bites of it.

"Is something wrong, Ze-Ze? You've hardly touched your breakfast," asked a concerned Compa.

"Huh? Oh, it's nothing, Compa. Just thinking about stuff is all."

"Must be pretty serious if it's got you this distracted. What's on your mind?" asked IF.

"I... It's nothing big. Don't worry about it."

"I must disagree," said a voice. Everyone turned towards it to see Histoire floating in from the entrance way. Everyone gave their greeting to the fairy before she continued. "I do not wish to place unneeded pressure on you, but at current, you are the sole means we have to combat the Broken threat. If something is troubling you, please do not hesitate to let us know. We cannot right the wrongs of this world if you are otherwise distracted."

"Well...it's just..." Now everyone's eyes were on Zeno. He couldn't bring himself to look anyone in the eye so he just cast a blank gaze toward to cereal bowl. "I'm... I'm thinking about leaving Planeptune." Needless to say, everyone was surprised to hear this. Histoire and IF kept mostly calm faces while Neptune, on the other hand, starting spitting out milk from the revelation, earning IF's ire as most of it ended up getting on her.

"What!? But why? I thought we were best buds now! Don't you like hanging out with me anymore?" whined Neptune.

"Oh goodness... It's because of me, isn't it? I'm just holding you back, aren't I?" said Nepgear. The poor girl always was quick to assume she was the one at fault.

"No! No! It's nothing like that. It's just..." Zeno took a moment to get his thoughts together before continuing. "Planeptune is in a much better position now. I mean, sure, there are still some Broken running around, but everything else seems to be good again. Shares are recovering, Neptune and Nepgear are back, even the Guild and Basilicoms are getting business again. But what about everywhere else? I know their not your nations, but shouldn't we help out the other lands, too? And who knows, maybe we could find the other CPUs and CPU candidates, too. I just...I just can't sit here where it's safe when the other nation's are practically defenseless when I can make things a little better for them. So that's why..."

Everyone was silent as the words sank in. He had a point. Histoire may have been the one to summon him, but that was no reason for his abilities to be monopolized for Planeptune's benefit. After wiping herself clean, IF was the first to stand up and respond. "If that's how you feel, Zeno, then I'm going with you." Zeno was surprised she was so open to help him. Or at least doing so so soon.

"A-are you sure? Don't you have stuff to do here in Planeptune, IF?"

"Not really. Planeptune might be my home, but I work for the Guild and the Guild isn't bound to any one nation. Besides, I'm a field agent. I can do my work pretty much anywhere."

Though she didn't stand, Compa was the next one to speak up. "As a nurse, I can't look the other way where people are hurt or in trouble, no matter where they're from. So I'm coming, too."

"I want to find Uni, Rom, and Ram, and make sure they're all right. I won't be able to rest easy until I know they're safe. So...please take me with you!" It would seem the discussion had lit a fire in Nepgear. She always was pretty passionate about her friends.

"That's right, Nep Jr.! And I won't rest until I find the bad guy responsible for all this junk. When I find him, I'll Nep him good! Count me in, too!" Zeno was practically shocked by this development. He figured one or two would want to go with him, but for all of them to jump on 'go' like this... It made him realize just how special his friends in this world really were.

"Then that settles it. We're all coming with you," said IF. "So, where are we going, leader?" 'Leader'? Now that was something that caught him off guard. Though it was a dumb question, Zeno asked if she really meant him. "Well yeah. You're the one that got us all in the mood for this little expedition. Plus you're the one we've been relying on for our problems. It seems only fair to let you be the one to call the shots."

Zenotyne turned toward Histoire. "Will Planeptune be all right without all of us, Histy?"

With a nod, Histoire replied, "I believe that should not be too much trouble if you are elsewhere for a while. If something does come up, I will be sure to contact you on the cell phone IF gave you." Now things were really going right. Seeing such good friends willing to help him on such short notice almost brought a tear to his eye.

"Thanks, guys. But before we think of leaving let's finish eating. Can't go hiking on and empty stomach." With those words, and his appetite restored, Zeno starting to dig back into his breakfast. The girls sat back down and followed suit, each at their own pace. Sadly this meant Neptune overate in her excitement and got a bellyache, but it was just a small hiccup in the plan.


Later on everyone met at the Basilicom's front doors once they had all their things together and some restorative items for the trip. Just in case.

"All right. Everyone's here," IF stated. "So what's our first destination, Zeno?"

"Well..." Zeno crossed his arms and thought for a bit before responding. "How about we head to Lastation? Noire's nation may do a lot of quality work, but she was involved in a lot of the development and stuff of a lot of companies there. Lowee and Leanbox will have similar issues, I'm sure, but they've always seemed a bit more independent from the CPUs' involvement. I'm worried how Lastation is doing without their CPU's guidance."

"Sounds like a good start to me. Is everyone else okay with this?" The others all gave a nod to affirm the decision. Zeno was pretty sure they all had their own reasons to go with this. Compa and IF probably just wanted to help out the people in trouble, Nepgear was likely focused on finding Uni, while he suspected Neptune just wanted to make jabs at Noire always trying to be 'little miss perfect' and her little failures.

Their course now set, the group headed of westward toward Noire's homeland. It would likely take a day or two to get there with all the Broken having halted all the international travel services, but that did nothing to dim their spirits. What awaited them in the Land of Black Regality? Only time would tell.


Yeah, I know, this one is uber short compared to my past chapters, but I honestly had a hard time coming up with ideas to stretch out this little turning point so I'm afraid this what we have to work with this time.

Hopefully, I'll be able to put in a bit extra in tomorrow's chapter to make up for it. Until then, I'll catch y'all later.

Zeno out!