The Grieving Sister…
She won't wake up. I've tried everything I could while watching over her, waiting to hear from Chika if Histoire could provide any assistance at all, but nothing works. All Cros does is sleep, plagued by nightmares that cause her so much pain. I continue to wipe the sweat off her as I sing her some songs by our nation's idol, 5pb., which seems to at least ease her pain enough to stop the cries she lets out every so often. I'm used to pulling all-nighters often, but when its taking care of someone you love causing them the effects come on much sooner. It's been a couple days since I sent Chika out, and for two days I've never left Cros's side. I don't want to leave her on the chance that if I don't calm her something terrible will happen. It all started in that damned forest. Why did the Guild let her go on that quest alone when they knew who it was?!
I take a few breaths to try and calm my anger, but somehow the shaking never subsides. My stomach growls louder than ever before, showing that it needs more than one meal a day to function. Leaning over to kiss my precious sister on her forehead, I feel that she has a skyrocketing fever. Brushing the hair out of her face, I leave my perch on her bed for only the second time since she fell. The lack of sleep has made my motor functions slightly haywire, so I need to lean on what side of the wall is still intact. I make a note to call a contractor to figure out how to fix this, but it may be easier to call the Blanc from that other dimension to borrow her robot. I met him a couple times when I went to visit my dear Peashy, and I could tell he would be handy if ever I needed some heavy lifting done. I just need to make it back to Cros after getting something quick to eat and a cold towel for her forehead. Better make sure I have the phone with me too for when Chika calls back. She should be arriving at Planeptune any minute now.
Even though it would've been faster to fly there myself, sending my Oracle would look a bit better to the people. Wouldn't look very good for a Goddess bowing to the ground, offering up everything possible to another nation to get even the smallest hope of salvation. Luckily, where Cros's damage was done was outside the public eye, as her room overlooks the gardens. Had it been the other way, someone could've gotten hit by falling debris, and then our Shares would've come crashing down. The rebound of losing so much power could've sent her into this state anyway, the only difference being I would be right behind her. I reached the kitchen and I had to catch myself as I nearly fell over. Gritting my teeth, I force myself up, making sure to balance myself on anything I could reach. I already messed up as a sister once with her, and that was the reason she's in this state now.
I grab a quick cup of coffee to at least keep me awake a bit longer, not even bothering to cut the bitterness with my mint creamer. Sitting next to the coffee pot was my favorite picture. It was of Chika, Cros and I the day after I caught them being best friends after all their fighting. Our green haired sister was in the center, throwing her arms around both our shoulders and causing everyone to lean forward slightly. The littlest one was flashing her brightest smile, throwing up a victory "V" sign to accent her feelings, something that I chuckled at for looking just like Neptune. I was the only one not looking at the camera. I had a beautiful smile on, one that I've seen mother's give to their children as they play, looking directly at my family. I picked up the photo and held it against my chest, praying for that day to come back soon. The Basilicom wasn't complete without her laugh echoing in the halls, her voice calling me and Chika her favorite sisters, or her playing hard to get and dismissing our advances while turning so red. Through the tears that were falling I couldn't help but chuckle slightly.
"She's just like Noire in that way, hiding her true feelings."
Thinking of my friends I just looked out the window. My heart reached out to them, hoping that even without saying a word they could feel something was wrong. Gamindustri was in trouble, and my sister may have been the first casualty. Pulling me out of my trance, I hear the phone ring. Running over to where it was, I replaced the picture, making sure that there were no stains from my crying on the glass.
"Hello, this is Vert."
"Vert, it's me, Noire."
Hearing her voice out of anyone who could be there was surprising. She usually never would call me for anything outside of business, but the tone of her voice was filled with sympathy and caring. It was almost as if she knew what happened or something. I try to hide the fact I was just crying, something that may have prompted her tone, but as hard as I attempt, the pained noise still comes into my voice.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I'm visiting Planeptune with Uni right now. We came by to see Neptune and Nepgear, mainly because the mature one invited my sis to play some games with her. While flying here though, we saw Chika running through the streets towards the Basilicom not too long ago. She looked exhausted and incredibly stressed, so I wanted to know if everything was alright for her to be all the way here instead of by your side in Leanbox."
Suddenly a feeling of relief rushed over me. Hearing that she made it there finally means that we could hear from her soon if Histoire could provide aid for Cros. I tried to tell Noire that everything was fine, that Chika got a bit upset from me not accepting her feelings and ran away from home, but the words that came out wouldn't stop.
"No, Noire, nothing's alright. Cros, she… She's hurting. Something terrible happened when she was out on a quest, and now whatever trauma she locked away from that time has been brought to the surface. She flipped out and blew through a few walls in the Basilicom. Now… she's in a coma. She's been asleep for the past two days, a sleep racked with nightmares that never end for her. The fever won't go away, and she is constantly crying out for me… I don't know what to do…"
As I continue speaking the words I never wanted to say, I get more and more hysterical. Keeping it in for this long has been terrible, and now unfortunately Noire is the one to take all of the pent up emotions.
"It's all my fault! The day before she left for the quest we had a fight, so she must've taken it to get me off her mind. I was stupid and glued to my computer for five days straight, and she was kind enough to worry about me… She didn't deserve this! If anything I should be the one out cold and fighting the demons, not her! I sent Chika there to ask Histoire for any help, to offer up our entire lives, Leanbox and all if she needs to, just to get her to come here. I've run out of options, I don't know what to do Noire!"
Uni must have been nearby during my explosion to her older sister, because I noticed Noire speaking to her. All I could make out was the word "Kei", so it was something dealing with her Oracle. When she came back to the phone speaking to me, the words she said made me drop to my knees and just start crying out thanks to her.
"Vert, it's not your fault. Why didn't you just call all of us up? Yeah the four of us fight and bicker a lot, but what friends don't? I'm having Uni call up Kei now, relaying an elicit order from me that she is to assist you in the research process to all of her capabilities, making careful note to include that if she tries to require anything from you, she's going to be out in the streets and blacklisted in Gamindustri. You don't have to suffer alone, in fact, you've suffered the most out of all of us. Back when ASIC tried to take over, and we were trapped in the Graveyard for 3 years, you were the only one without anyone waiting for you back home. You were the only one without a sister of your own to welcome you back when Nepgear, Uni and the twins saved us. You haven't been a big sister for very long, so don't be afraid to make mistakes. When, and that's a definite when, not if, she wakes up, she's not going to blame you. In fact, she'll jump into your arms and never let go. Now, don't think I'm saying all this to make you feel better, I just don't like hearing you be such an idiot and beat yourself up. It would make taking your Shares waaaaaay to easy."
In true Noire fashion she ends her speech just like a traditional tsundere. The tears that fell were no longer those of pain or sadness, they were for hope and excitement. Even if Chika doesn't get Histoire, Kei is going to help us too, and every single extra person works wonders. I was about to thank my dear friend when another call started coming in on the other line.
"Sorry Noire, as much as I want to express my gratitude for everything you just said, there's another call coming in, and it looks like it's from Chika, so I need to take this. If there is anything I can do please tell me so I can repay you as soon as possible."
"Talk to your Oracle Vert, this is more important. And if you are so focused on repaying me, bring Cros to Lastation when she wakes up, I don't think I can wait until we get a party planned to meet the girl who has changed you into a good person for once."
I hear the click on the other end of the call, meaning she hung up after that. If that's all she wants, then there is no way I can refuse. Quickly picking up the other call, I hear my Oracle crying into the receiver.
"Chika, what's wrong? Why are you crying so much?"
"Vert, I just can't help it. Histoire, she's… she's already on her way there as we speak. I explained everything, and the only thing she could say was 'Why didn't you call me sooner?' and then flew off. She told the Neps that she was going to be out and took off. Vert, she didn't ask for our lives, she didn't ask for money, she didn't ask for anything. Cros… Cros is going to be okay!"
At that news, added to the information I got from Noire, I became too happy to even cry. When I told her that Noire has Kei on the trail as well, she broke down even more, prompting Nepgear to take over the phone.
"Goodness Miss Vert, sounds like you two are going through something rough. Don't worry, I know Histoire will be able to make things better. I know I'm not as important as my sister, but when Cros wakes up, could you bring her here? I would love to meet her; she sounds like such a nice girl."
"You have my word my sweet Nepgear. Though, it'll be after Uni if you can wait. I kinda already promised Noire that I'd bring her to Lastation first."
"Don't worry about it! Let me know when you go over, maybe I can convince Neptune to let me go. That way we both can meet her!"
The happiness and sweetness in her voice was contagious. Hearing her reassuring words made it impossible to stay depressed, thinking that things were my fault and that there as a chance that Cros wouldn't wake up. Armed with a new fire I say my farewells and run back to my sister's room. I ran over to the bed and grabbed hold of her hand, feeling her instinctive squeeze back, I put my hand on her cheek to stroke the hair out of her eyes again.
"We have the power of two nations helping us Cros. It won't be long now, you'll be awake and I'll be taking you with me to see all your new friends. I'll even see if I can get in touch with Blanc, but with how I'm feeling right now she may not take me seriously. We will get you back, and I'll never let you down again."
At those words, even if it was my imagination, I almost thought I saw her face soften, and a small smile crept onto her lips.
A muffled prayer in the dark…
"We will get you back, and I'll never let you down again."
I could hear my sister's voice clear as day, but why couldn't I wake up? The pain is still there; my head still hurts. I just wanna get away from the demons. Vert doesn't know I can hear her. She doesn't think I heard and felt every tear and sad word she said while by my side. I just want to wake right up, wrap her in my arms and thank her.
Thank her for staying by my side and saving me.
Thank her for singing me those beautiful songs, and ask if I could get them put on my music player if it's still in one piece.
But most of all, I want to thank her for being my sister. Even if I don't show my feelings much. Even if I tend to be a bit harsher than I intend, she still accepts me for me. She never stops loving me just for being her sister. That is something that I want to express with all my heart.
Please, whoever can hear me, let me wake up. Let me see my sister and Chika again. Let me get another chance to express how much they mean to me. Don't let me float away in this black abyss of nightmares anymore, I want to be with Vert.
I want to be with Vert.
I want to… be with…
"Ve…rt"
Okay, I promise the heartbreak may be going away soon. Possibly. I didn't originally mean for things to get this heavy, but the way things were playing out, it seemed like the way I needed to go in order to bring this new threat to light.
Will Cros wake up tomorrow? What will Blanc think when she finds out she was left out of the loop? Will the other Candidates accept Cros, problems an all? We'll see. As always, thanks for reading guys. Catch ya again next time.
