"CFW Brave..." IF said, staring at the robot's golden lion decoration "Another one of the felons."

"Four versus one..." The felon mused, "This doesn't feel like a fair fight! Nepgeardam, to me!" Brave pointed his sword at the sky, three robots landing next to him, "Good! Now we can have a fair match. Unless, the pink haired girl surrenders herself and the rest of you bow to never raise a finger against Lady Nepgear."

"What kind of one sided negotiation is that?" Azure said, astonished at the felon's request.

"Azure's right." Jupiter added, her rapier drawn against the robots, "We won't give up. We will fight."

"Nepgear has to be stopped." IF said taking out her katars, "She attacked the nations and has done something to a dear friend of mine. I can't forgive her."

"Nepgear's my little sister." Neptune said, "But just because of who she is, she has no reason to attack our nations. I will make her see reason!" She pointed her katana at Brave.

"That's a strong resolve!" Brave spun his sword, pointing it at the party, "But I will show you that resolve alone won't help you accomplish your goals. Let your actions speak for you! Prepare yourselves, CPUs!"

"Jupiter." Neptune glanced at her, an understanding passing between them. They were both enveloped by a white light, their HDD form appearing once it died down.

"I can't leave my armour to transform… It might get destroyed..." Azure muttered, "And this is the perfect opportunity to gather some data..." She spun her guns, pointing them at Brave.

IF sighed, "Time to do this again." She muttered.

Azure ran forward before anyone, sliding between Brave's legs and shooting at him from underneath and from behind. The felon turned around and slashed with his sword, Azure dodging the strike by jumping to the side, "Take on the other robots. I'll take on this one!" She yelled, jumping over another of Brave's attacks.

Neptune and Jupiter nodded, each taking a different robot. IF coating her katars in fire before running towards her target.

Neptune flew around the robot, slashing whenever she found an opening, slowly wearing down the Nepgeardam. The robot tried to punch Neptune, she dodged by flying lower. She spun in midair, slashing at the robot's arm, severing it from the body as it fell into the ground.

Neptune put some distance between herself and the robot, she pointed her katana at the robot, "My Critical Edge will tear you apart!" She rushed at the robot, slashing at its chest downwards before following up with an upwards slash. She slashed once more, passing through the robot's chest, "You're finished!" She exclaimed as the robot fell and exploded behind her.

Neptune looked around at her companions. Jupiter was faring well in her battle. Neptune noted that it seemed like she was copying her strategy. She looked further ahead, Brave and Azure still engaged in battle, the Lastation CPU jumping over the flaming sword while shooting simultaneously, the bullets didn't appear to damage the felon at all, but he couldn't hit Azure either. No need for help there. Neptune then looked to her side, IF dodging the robot's attacks, but struggling to make any significant damage, struggling to dodge some of the robot's attacks.

IF tried to attack again, slashing with her fire-coated katars, small burn marks appearing in the robot's armour. She noticed a shadow, she jumped backwards avoiding a punch from the robot, the attack raising dirt into the air, obscuring IF's view of the robot. She couldn't see the attack that was coming at her.

"Iffy!" Neptune yelled, blocking the attack with her sword and pushing it back. She lowered herself next to IF, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Thank you, Nep." IF said. A small smile could be seen on her face, "Did you beat yours already?"

"Yes. It wasn't a challenge." Neptune said, somewhat cockily, "Let's fight together, for old time's sake."

IF smiled, "Yes. Let's do this, Nep."

Neptune and IF jumped to the side, avoiding another attack from the robot. Neptune circled its body, slashing with her katana and leaving a mark all around it's body. IF slashed at its legs, she jumped backwards and threw a slice of fire at the robot's torso, leaving a mark. The robot groaned and creaked. "Iffy, grab on!" Neptune yelled as she flew over IF, dropping her katana as it dissolved into blue data, her arms stretched down. IF ran alongside Neptune before jumping and grabbing onto her arms, "Iffy! Finish this!" Neptune yelled as she passed above the Nepgeardam's head, dropping her directly above it. IF slashed as she fell, the armour breaking under her katars. She landed and looked at the robot, twin lines running across its body. The robot creaked one last time, before falling backwards and exploding.

Neptune descended next to IF, both of them looking as Jupiter finished her battle.

"How did Neptune make this look so easy?" Jupiter thought, as she dived under another punch from the robot. She thrusted her rapier into its arm, creating another hole. Jupiter flew away from the Nepgeardam, looking for any openings. She noticed its eyes starting to glow, recognising the attack, she flew directly at it, dodging the laser at the last second. She slashed at the robot's chest three times, creating a N shape, "Energy Thrust!" She yelled, thrusting her rapier multiple times into the torso before jumping back and thrusting one last time with all her strength, creating a hole in the robot's body. It fell backwards before exploding.

Jupiter descended into the ground, she looked around. Neptune and IF joining her shortly. They looked at each other, before looking at the remaining enemy. Azure was doing her best at avoiding the felon's sword while attacking at the same time, using a combination of jumps and slides to avoid damage.

"We should help." Neptune said, flying towards Brave and parrying one of his strikes. His eyes flashed as they looked at Neptune.

"I see you've destroyed my allies." Brave noted, Neptune slowly pushing his sword back. He slashed with all his might, sending Neptune away. She landed next to Azure, "This battle has ended in a stalemate. I'm unable to land a hit on you, and your attacks are merely bouncing off my body." He sheathed his sword, placing it on his right thigh.

Azure gripped her gun even tighter at the mention of her attacks dealing little damage, Neptune glanced at her with concern.

"But that does not concern me. I have gauged your strength - and your resolve. You are indeed worthy adversaries." Brave started to fly, looking down at the party, "Prepare your body and will for our next encounter. Until we meet again, CPUs!" He turned towards the mountain and left.

The group watched the outline of the felon fade in the distance. They determined it was safe to transform back. Neptune sighing in relief. Jupiter crashing down on the grass, she sighed in relief as well.

"... That was convenient." Azure muttered, "I was running low on battery."

"Are you sure it's okay for your armour to consume that much energy?" IF asked, looking at the armoured CPU.

"No, it is not." Azure said, "This is only a test model. I need to report everything to the manufacturers."

IF crossed her arms, "Couldn't you also, you know, transform for your fight once it ran out of battery?"

"I'd have to find a place to leave the armour. I can't let it be destroyed." Azure shook her head, "But that doesn't matter now. Shall we go to my Basilicom and talk?"

"You want some information out of us, don't you?" IF said, an eyebrow raised.

"You understand me." Azure said half jokingly.

Jupiter stood up, looking at Neptune. Her gaze fixed on the horizon, "Neptune? Is something wrong?"

"... Oh? Sorry, Jupiter. No it's all fine, really." Neptune said, shaking her head with a smile, "How about we follow IF and Azure." She said, pointing at the two girls waiting for them.

Jupiter nodded and ran after IF and Azure, leaving Neptune behind. She looked in the distance again, her eyes fixed on the outline of a cloaked figure standing there, looking back at her. She stared at the figure for some time before shaking her head and running after the others.

Neptune approached Azure, Jupiter and IF walking silently behind them. Neptune glanced at the Lastation CPU, looking at her from head to toe, her armour covering every last bit of it, "Hey, Azure. Can I ask a question?"

"Oh?" Azure glanced back at her, "Yes. What's it about?"

"Why do you wear that armour?" Neptune asked curiously, a finger on her cheek.

"I'm testing it out." Azure said matter-of-factly.

"Yeah. Yeah." Neptune dismissed, "That's not really it, is it? You asked that they build one for you, but why? There's also your reaction when Brave said you didn't do much damage…"

Azure sighed, she flipped her visor up and looked at Neptune with her red eyes, "You're very perceptive. Just what one would expect of the previous goddess of Planeptune."

Neptune scratched the back of her head, "I'm not really that perceptive. I just noticed that a bit."

Azure sighed again, "I guess I'll tell you. I'm not very… strong in my human form. I've struggled countless times in the past with weak enemies. I was never able to defeat them unless I was in HDD. I felt so… Useless." She grabbed her guns, looking at them, "I thought, that maybe, making something for myself that would increase my abilities could help, and it has for the most part."

"So you created that armour." Neptune noted, "You didn't fight with someone else?"

She shook her head, "No. I've fought my battles alone. Kei told me that I should rely on only myself to get work done." She tried to hide a smile, "Perhaps that's the reason I wanted to get stronger…"

"Well, you don't need to." Neptune said bluntly.

"Excuse me?" Azure looked at her, indignant, "You saw how well I did with that robot? I couldn't harm him at all!"

"But what about that Ancient Dragon? You did pretty well there." Neptune countered, "Standing back and assisting us with your long range. You may not have dealt damage by yourself, but you helped defeat it."

Azure looked away from Neptune, "That is true…" she muttered.

"You don't have to rely on your own strength. Work with friends, or someone else." Neptune said, "You know, Uni was usually at the back in our parties. She sniped the enemy while the rest of us distracted them. She was very good at finding weak points and helping when needed."

"Uni..." Azure gripped her guns, she looked at Neptune with gratitude in her eyes, "Thank you, Neptune. That makes me feel better. I will start relying on others."

Spirit Nep floated over Lastation. Observing each and every change. "That used to be a factory!" She said, pointing at a shop, "And that used to be a shop!" She pointed at a factory, "Or was it always like that?" She kept flying over Lastation, noticing the slight change from old black to a new navy blue colouration.

Spirit Nep stopped once she noticed an area she found all too familiar. A strange sense of dread setting over her. She flew over to the area, a small street with a drop to the right, below a few pipes could be seen going around the place. Lastation's huge satellite dishes could be seen ahead. One large pillar stuck in the middle of the street, words carved into it.

Spirit Nep approached the pillar, her sense of dread growing stronger with each passing second. She started to read the words, 'This pillar was erected to show our gratitude and mourning to our deceased CPUs - Lady Noire and Lady Uni. Let it be known that Lastation will never forget the peace and prosperity they brought us, and shall they rest in peace.' Spirit Nep's body felt heavy with grief. This is where she and her sister… where they killed the Lastation's CPUs. The place that started it all.

She looked at the side of the pillar, another engraving, 'Here lies Lady Noire and Lady Uni, Lastation's CPUs. Fatally injured after a fight with the Deity of Sin. They gave their lives so that we may live.' Spirit Nep approached the pillar, she tried to rest her hand on it only for it to go through. She brought her hand back instinctively, she attempted again, placing her hand close to the grave.

"I'm sorry, Noire. Uni." She stifled a sob, "I should've done something to prevent this." She looked down at the pillar, a beautiful obsidian base was decorated with a golden lines. Flowers surrounding it. Spirit Nep looked at them before coming up with an idea, "Wait. When I was killed, I didn't dissapear. I fell asleep. Maybe, Noire and Uni are also asleep! I could try talking to them!" She dived straight for the ground, passing through the cement. She saw nothing. Just darkness.

"Okay, lets try this." Spirit Nep muttered to herself, "Hey! Noire! Uni! Wake up!" Her voice echoed within the ground for a few moments. She waited to hear the voice of the Loner or her sister any second now…

Nothing. Spirit Nep's expression changed to one of confusion, "Hey! Noire! Uni!" She yelled again, "Are you in here?" No response yet again. She dove further into the ground, thinking that maybe they had fallen asleep deeper into the ground.

"Hey, Noire! No time to be a lonely loner anymore!" Spirit Nep tried to anger Noire, "Uni! Noire…!" She screamed in exasperation, "Please… I can't be the only one..."

Spirit Nep floated up, leaving the ground. She was once again face to face with the pillar - the pillar that marked the death of her friends, "Why… Why am I the only one that's a ghost?" She attempted to punch the monument, her fist going straight through, "My protagonist status has finally been my downfall..." She tried to joke, "Maybe I'll return to other me… I've seen enough of this city."

An explosion caught Spirit Nep's attention, smoke rising into the sky, "Actually, I should check that out." She said, flying towards the destruction.

"That robot… CFW Brave, was it?" Azure said, pacing around the Basilicom's window, "You two know about… him?"

"Yes." IF nodded, "He was one of the four felons that tried to revive the Deity of Sin ten years ago." She crossed her arms, "The original one should be destroyed, but we believe that Nepgear has managed to create copies of them. Just like the Judge that attacked Planeptune."

"Planeptune was also attacked?" Azure asked, her expression unchanged, "So that's why you came to Lastation?"

"Well, duh." Neptune said, "That Judge guy told us that Lastation was in danger, so we came here to help."

"That explains some things." She turned and looked at the city, "We've recently have had some attacks by strange robots… I'd assume it's this Nepgear... you mentioned." Her eyebrows furrowed at the mention of Nepgear, she turned to Neptune, "Nepgear… That's… your sister isn't she?"

"Uh, yeah. Nepgear is my little sister." Neptune scratched the back of her head apologetically, "She… sorta went off the deep end recently."

"I see..." Azure said, smirking slightly. She looked at the party again, "Well, you girls did help me a lot in the past few hours we've known each other. I guess you Planeptune CPUs not as bad as Kei made you out to be. I think I owe you."

"You owe us, uh?" IF crossed her arms, her eyebrow raised at Jupiter.

Jupiter looked at IF and understood the signal, "Oh, right. Uh… We'd hoped you would like to be… our friend?" She smiled at Azure, her blue eyes looking kindly at her fellow CPU.

"Friend huh?" Azure closed her eyes and tried to hide a smile, "The Lowee CPU tried to negotiate with me once. She asked me to join her and Leanbox's CPU in their cross-compatibility of some boat sport game. I had to decline." She opened her eyes and looked at Jupiter, "I'm not sure how she feels after I rejected her offer."

"I'm not sure how this links together to our 'demand'..." Neptune muttered, her eyes wide.

"It mostly doesn't. I like to go on tangents." Azure said, her expression changing into a soft smile, "I'm glad you'd ask me. I would like to be your friend, Jupiter. Neptune."

IF smiled at the CPUs, "I'm glad that's resolved."

A blue clothed soldier opened the doors in a hurry, stopping in front of the desk. He saluted, "Lady Azure. There's trouble. A robot is destroying the city!"

"Must be Brave again." IF said, turning to Neptune and Jupiter, "He didn't take long."

Azure looked at the armour that rested on the wall of the Basilicom. She shook her head, "I'll be right there. Evacuate the civilians and vacate the area, we'll deal with him. Hurry!"

"Aye!" The soldier saluted once more, running out of the Basilicom.

"You'll help me, right?" Azure turned to the others.

"Of course!" Neptune jumped, pointing at Azure, "We're friends right? We'll help ya!"

Jupiter nodded in agreement. IF smirked, "Let's go then. That guy won't wait for us."