*Rocking back and forth in the corner* There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like-
Neptune: Hey-a! I'm finally here!
EEEKKK, DEMON! *Holds out crucifix* BEGONE YOU DEMON!
Oh. Took ya long enough, Neptune.
Neptune: *notes their current positions and state* ...Wow, what happened to you three?
Well, Ekiro268 over here called for you last time and...well...
Neptune: Oh, that? I think I heard it and was about to go see what was going on, but…
But…?
Neptune: Well, I was a little busy trying to look around the data. Also, I found an enemy type that was being developed for the story.
Enemy type?
Neptune: Yepperoni! Hmm...let's see...here, Nuptup!
*A Neuroified Dogoo bounces right in.*
...Hang on, how did you even get that out and over here? Our creator was still working on it! Also, Nuptup?
Neptune: Oh, just found a way… *whistles nonchalantly*
Well, better get this chapter started...hello, and welcome to this chapter. Today, we are going to be handling...let's see here...Team Neptune actually going to Lastation.
Neptune: Hey, that's the team I'm on!
...Yeah, you are...do we even want to know why you don't...?
Neptune: Nope! Probably.
...Noted. Welp, with the authors out of commission, time to handle reviews:
...Welp, there's not really anything to respond to...eh-heh...then again, we've been getting confused on which chapter we should be on given we have a Chapter 0, so...anyways, we will at least say that we want to welcome any readers reading this chapter right now. Well, we in general...the other two are indisposed right now...
And now, with no more delays...let's see them going to Lastation. We're going to be handling something in the meantime...now, just have to fish out the contact information from our position and...got it! Now, contacting...ah. Hello. This is Lionelis...the core? We have an issue right now and it concerns your author. Do you mind leaving your notes for now and coming over?...
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Chapter 10: Land of Black Regality
"Cool!" Neptune said as we stood at the docks for the Sky Bridge about two days later. "It looks so cool if you just look below!"
"I don't want to..." I said hesitantly as I looked over the railing and saw a large expanse of sky below us. I then fixed my gaze to be straight ahead. "Any clues why these islands are even floating anyways?"
"Neato!" Peashy added from atop my shoulders.
"I didn't realize the landmasses here floated in this dimension..." Plutia included.
"Don't think about it too much, Rosalina," IF told me. "Anyways, we got everything?"
"Healing items, check," Compa called out as she was checking our party inventory via her phone. "Es-Pee recovery items, check. Revivals, check."
"Hey, maybe I could jump all the way over to the other side!" Neptune called out. "You know, go all 'yah' and 'yahoo'!"
"Yeah, why don't you slap on some overalls and step on a mushroom-shaped enemy while you're at it?" IF remarked dryly.
"Overalls...don't have any, sorry," Compa said as she looked for said item. "We should go back and see about buying some-"
The brunette turned to face the nurse-in-training. "I didn't mean that we literally needed them in our inventory, Compa!"
"Besides," Neptune added. "You'd most likely get the green shirt."
IF spun to glare at the lilac-haired amnesiac. "And who said you gave out shirt colors?!"
"At least you get green," Hikari said as I looked at her. She was wearing a sailor shirt designed as a dress, to replace her original shirt. For some reason, she chose to keep the swimsuit underneath. Along with her socks and shoes.
Yeah, redshirts are more likely to die, the voice in my head added.
I'm not sure how comfortable I am about a voice in my head...also, what does that even mean?
"Anyways, are we ready?" I concluded.
"Yeppie!" Compa replied.
"Yepperoni!" Neptune sounded in.
"Yep! Yep!" Peashy included, waving her right arm in the air.
"Ready," IF said.
"All set, Ro-Ro," Plutia added, bringing up the rear.
Seven of us traveling to a new landmass...let's see what we've got in store for us.
"Let's..." I started.
"GO!" Peashy concluded as her right arm came forward to point ahead.
And with that said, we took our first steps through the Sky Bridge and into Lastation.
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"This reminds me of that revolution we had in the industrial sector," Hikari remarked as (after some time to reach the main city of...Lastation...yeah, this is going to be a thing, huh?) we arrived in front of the Basilicom for the landmass. "So what's special about Lastation, IF?"
"They're Planeptune's main rival in the technology sector," IF clarified.
"How do you know so much, Iffy?" Neptune chose to ask.
"I've traveled places, alright?"
"Then why weren't you Level Sixty-Eight or something? That would have helped out a lot with that Arfoire chick."
IF looked peeved. "Listen, for your information-"
"Can we save the team squabbles for after we get inside, please?" I asked. Hearing a bit of it before we even got to the Basilicom was bad enough...
"Hey," an unfamiliar voice said.
"Huh?" I asked as we looked at the owner, a red-haired girl with really long hair tied into a ponytail with a white ribbon. For clothes, she had a short black shirt with short sleeves along with a white tank top over it. The tank top looked to have a brown belt at the bottom. Over those was a red and white short jacket with gold lining. For her lower body, she had a pair of matching shorts with a brown and gold belt holding it up. Her shoes also matched the uniform, and for accessories she had an orange and white pouch strapped to her right thigh, a blue scarf around her neck, and black fingerless gloves with thick white cuffs.
"Hello..." Hikari greeted as she slipped behind me.
"Hey," the girl said. "You need anything?"
"Now that you said something about it..." I started before Neptune chose to interrupt me.
"Hey-a!" she called out. "Can you point us to the Basilicom thingy, please?"
"Basilicom?" the girl replied. "Sure, I know where it is. I mean, I'm kinda new here right now, but I did see a building that reminded me of one. Let's see..." She gave us some directions and nodded her head. "That should be right."
Neptune nodded her head. "Hey, thanks for the directions. By the way...did you want to join our party?"
"Huh?" The girl shook her head. "Nah, I'm kinda busy at the moment. Real busy. I'll definitely see you girls later." She turned around and started to wander off.
"Hold up then!" Neptune held her hand in front of her. "Can you tell us your name? That way, it isn't as awkward as calling you 'Directions Girl'."
...That's a valid idea, Neptune. "Oh." The girl stopped and turned to face us again. "Sorry, forgot about that...I'm Falcom."
"Falcom, huh? I'm Neptune, and these are Compa, Iffy, Ro-Ro, Hikari, Plutie, and P-ko."
...Jeez, did you come up with that nickname for Peashy on your own? I'm kinda impressed. "Neptune? Alright. I'll catch you later." Falcom then walked off.
"Well, we have directions," IF concluded. "Let's use them to get to our destination."
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Entering the Basilicom, it looked about the same as Planeptune, just with black with white stripes on the robes.
Is it just me, or do these guys just not show their faces?
"Hello~?" Neptune greeted as we entered and found someone in the back.
"We're looking for Lady Black Heart," Compa added. "Is she in right now?"
"Huh?" the person (it sounded to be a man) asked as he noticed us. "No. Even if she was, she's not taking visitors."
"Why not?" I asked.
"Black Heart's too busy nowadays to deal with trivial matters, what with monster attacks increasing each day." Man, this place must be getting hit hard by the monsters... "Anyways, why would she see you?"
"We're on an important mission to find something," Hikari replied. "Just in case, I'm Hikari, and these are Plutia, Peashy, Neptune, Compa, IF, and Rosalina."
The man didn't look pleased. "Nice to know, kid. Now, scram."
"Hold on a second!" I retorted. "We're just here to ask you a simple question. No need to get all shitty about it."
"Shitty...? Why, you...!" The man then calmed down as I gave him a rather powerful glare, giving off a deep gulp. "Okay, please don't eat me..." He then coughed. "What's your question?"
"What's your question...?" I was still glaring at him intensely.
"What's your question, ma'am?"
"That's better." I gave off a quick smile as I switched into a cutesy-like state. "Do you know where we can find a Key Fragment around here?"
"Key Fragment? Never heard of it...ma'am."
I blinked but kept up my act for a while longer. "Really? That's too bad."
"But Histy said that there was a Key Fragment on each landmass," Neptune said quickly. "You've gotta know where it is."
"Sorry, but no one, not even Black Heart herself, has even heard of this thing," the man told us in return. "Sounds like a superstition if you ask me."
"Are you positive?"
"Yeah. Now, if you will, get out of here."
"We're not going to get anything else out of him, Rosalina," IF replied before I relaxed and dropped my act for now. "If he doesn't have a clue, then we're going to have to search for it on our own."
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We had scarcely walked out of the Basilicom a minute ago before Neptune gave off an irritated groan and said, "Why didn't you question him like Ro-Ro did, Iffy?"
"I did not question him," I told the lilac-haired amnesiac. "I just glared at him really intensely."
"Followed by you acting all cute..." Plutia added.
"I think I saw a bit of your mom in that glare..." Hikari noted.
"I'm more worried about what that guy was saying," IF replied.
"What about?" Neptune asked. "He said that no one around here has heard of a Key Fragment, so we're back to square one! We all heard that!"
"Not that one. Did you notice how he referred to Lady Black Heart?"
How he...? "What are you talking about, Iffy?"
"He didn't seem to respect her. Everyone in a landmass would refer to their goddess using the title 'Lady', but he didn't even use it once. The closest thing to respect he gave was after Rosalina's staring contest, and that was only 'ma'am'." IF placed a hand in her chin, cupping it. "Something doesn't add up..."
"Maybe he just had a bad day and forgot his manners?" Compa tried.
"He really shouldn't have treated her like that..." Plural said, sounding sad about it. Or was it angry? Can't tell right now...
"Oh boy..." Peashy added.
"Okay, let's just think about this rationally," Hikari replied quickly. "We've got no leads on where to find the Key Fragment, so we either have to assume that Arfoire's gotten it already or nobody in Gamindustri knows about them."
"And I doubt Arfoire has no knowledge of them," I added. "If she's the one holding Histoire captive, then she's got to know about those."
"Which makes our job harder," IF concluded. She then sighed. "Well then...we've got nothing else to do, so let's see about finding a hotel and some work around here."
"Hotel?" I asked.
"Don't tell me you have no idea what a hotel is..."
"I do! It's just...they have hotels?"
IF sighed once more. "We can't just crash at Compa's right now, so until we get back to Planeptune we're going to have to rent a place to stay."
"Okay. So what's the going rate?"
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Hikari's POV
"Comfy~!" Peashy cried out gleefully as she jumped onto the bed and laid on it a bit.
"Looks nice!" Plutia added as she joined Peashy.
"So how long do we need to wait for a job?" I asked IF as she was busy looking on one of her phones, a blue one. "Also...is this what a hotel around here usually look like?" It looked to have wallpaper that resembled the steel you'd see on the side of a ship, and the beds had black comforters and white sheets underneath. The pillows had black and blue stripes on them.
"Depends on the room you get," IF told me. "Thanks to Plutia being able to afford it, we got one of the nicer ones. I didn't really want to be sleeping next to a wood stove for a night, to be fair."
"Oh. That bad, huh?"
"We're trained to sleep in any condition humanly possible, right?" Rosalina asked me.
"Well, Roland-sama did use a blanket for a mattress sometimes, so I guess so."
"Unlike you two, we're not soldier girls," IF replied.
Rosalind raised a finger on her right hand. "Good point."
"I really hope Lady Black Heart's doing alright..." Compa said sadly.
"I'm sure she's doing fine, Compa. She's still presiding over the landmass...right?"
"Not sure there," I said. "But...maybe she's down on her luck..."
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Noire's POV
I effortlessly managed to finish off an encounter that had tried ambushing me, consisting of a few Dogoo at the edge of the landmass.
To get this job over with, I was utilizing my HDD form, so my stats were boosted.
"I think that's all of them..." I said calmly as I powered down my HDD form and brushed off the skirt of my dress. "Now to get back to the Basilicom..." I frowned.
It's been a while since the four of us CPUs had fought in Celestia, and after we forced Neptune off, the rest of us came down to our respective landmasses to recharge for our next battle there. However...when I came back down, I learned that I had been absent too long and that a company called Avenir had taken over the Basilicom, basically confining me with limitations. I wasn't going to just leave the people without their goddess, so I've taken to sneaking out when I got a chance. I've had some uninteresting times while out on my little...I guess you'd call them "expeditions", but a few days ago I ran into some boy with a rapier and no clue about healing items or even how this place works. Feeling like it was my duty to help him out, I bought him some supplies and then left. And that was after he asked me about "Neuroi" and saying that he was from some landmass called "Gallia" or something like that.
It's not like I was actually concerned about his well-being: he's got a rapier, so he's got to be a good fencer or something. Minus combat-smarts and healing spells, mind you.
Anyways, where was I? Oh right, heading back to the Basilicom.
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I stepped into the Basilicom calmly and was greeted by one of the members Avenir had brought in as a replacement for one of the original people.
"Black Heart, where have you been?" the man asked me.
"I've been out doing things," I told him.
"You're not supposed to be-"
"Out of my room without an escort, yeah, yeah." I waved off the matter; I've heard this a lot since I started my "expeditions".
"You know how valuable you are to this landmass! What if someone from Lowee marks you as a target and takes you out?"
"I've been in battle a lot. I doubt I can be killed that easily."
"Still, orders are orders."
I sighed. "Look, I'm a big girl, I can handle going outside to go kill a few monsters by myself. You people can't keep me confined here."
"But-"
I glared at him as hard as I could. "You people at Avenir may have more control of the Basilicom than I'd like, but I'm still the leader of this landmass. Don't forget it, alright?"
"...Y-yes...ma'am..."
Hmm? "That's a change of pace." I stopped staring at him so hard. "What made you suddenly use 'ma'am'? You don't even attach 'Lady' to my name normally."
"Well...some people came in here a while back asking to see you as well as something about a Key Fragment."
"And?"
"Well, we shooed them away. I mean, even if we did allow them to see you, you weren't in your room as proven when you walked calmly into the Basilicom."
I sighed. "Any names? I doubt that they'd come in for anything important like a Key Fragment and not leave a name."
"Yes, ma'am. Let's see...I think I remember two of their names."
"Which are?"
"Well...there was a Rosa...lina lady who did the same thing you did just now. I think that was her."
Rosalina? Hmph, maybe I can thank her for this brief moment of "ma'am" usage. "And the other?"
"Erm...it's Nep...Nepy...Neop..."
I sighed. "Let me guess, it's Neptune?"
"Erm, yeah. Sorry, but I can't really say it that well."
"How hard is it to say it?"
"Well, it's hard for me!" He then quickly added, "Ma'am."
"Anyways, I'll handle it tomorrow, so I guess...just relax or something."
"Yes, ma'am."
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Hikari's POV
The next day, we woke up and prepared for the day. According to what IF found out yesterday, there was someone looking for help. She quickly accepted the job and told us to be ready to go at nine.
Something that was easier said than done. Neptune and Plutia wanted to sleep in, so Compa resorted to finding a way to get them up. She ended up with a black eye from Neptune, which was easily fixed up. We were about to despair over how to get them up without coming to bodily harm when we started hearing someone shouting for Plutia to get up. This got both of them up almost instantly.
According to a later explanation from Plutia, she had recorded someone named Noire's voice for an alarm, citing that it was one of the few things that woke her up. Neptune only said that she was surprised that she heard someone new in the room, so she woke up to try greeting them.
"So what's the plan?" I asked as I was busy checking my rifle.
"We're going to help out someone," IF told me. "Our client needed some extermination done, and I just so happened to have gotten the job for us. So we're going to go over and see what she needs done."
"Is this going to be a boring side quest?" Neptune asked.
"So what if it is? We get extra cash and some experience, right?"
"I don't know, Iffy," Plutia added. "It sounds like a lot of hard work..."
"Doesn't hurt to help someone out in need," I replied.
"I might have to agree with IF," Rosalina included as she was checking her gun. Her sword was already slung on her back. "I don't really want to handle a job without looking around at least, but to be fair this is a good way to get some experience. Besides, it wouldn't hurt to see what our new teammates can do."
"Oh, right!" Compa said quickly. "What do you and Pea-Pea do, Plutie?" If I recall correctly, she had asked Plutia about calling her that, which was greeted with a strong confirmation.
"Well, I can heal..." Plutia replied.
"How about we wait until we enter a battle and you can show us?" IF added. "That way, we can see your weapons as well."
"I'm already armed!" Peashy cried out as she waved her left arm in the air.
"Really?" I asked. "What do you use?"
"These!" She wiggled her left hand a bit, indicating her cat paws.
"...The gloves?" Neptune asked. "Aren't those for show?"
"No!" Peashy added quickly. "They're my weapons! Kitty paws!"
Rosalina and I looked at each other as I slung the rifle onto my back.
"Do I want to...?" my friend started.
"Maybe not..." I replied. To Peashy, I added, "If those are your weapons, then at least you're ready for anything."
"We've got to get there in a few minutes, so let's get going," IF told us.
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You called, Lio?
Ah. Perfect timing. We just got done with the chapter for now.
Neptune: And I managed to hear a song for all fifty states and their capitals as well as one for all the countries on Earth.
...
First off: Is that Neptune? *notices the authors* Second: Why do Ekiro and Dilnos look traumatised? And thirdly: What the hell happened to you?
...Long story...anyways, better introduce yourself really quick while we're not being spun around for amusement here. *Slows to a stop after a previous spin*
Right...hello, my name is Kirin-Zero-Two-Six-Eight-One, the personal AI of Ekuro in a RWBY series called "Another day in Remnant", but most people call me Kirino for obvious reasons, and the one rocking back and forth there is my creator, Ekiro268...
About right...now...Neptune?
Neptune: Right! Time to spin the globe! *Proceeds to spin Lionelis around*
Not that!
Neptune: *Turns her attention to the AI* Anyways...Kirino, right? Do you mind if I call you Ki-No?
...Why do I have a sudden feeling of regret coming here...?
Welcome to the club now!
I hate you so much right now…Lio, baka...
Neptune: Hmm...well, sounds like you two might be...you know...
...We don't follow...or even track you right now...when are you going to stop us?
Neptune: *Ignoring Lionelis' comment* Hey, this is a fanfic, right? There's gotta be a pairing somewhere~.
P-p-pairing?!
Don't get her started or we swear when we're out of here, Mister Author will personally take your pudding collection away from- *Neptune stops Lionelis with one finger. Hard.* ...Well, thanks...now, how do we get them fixed?
You asked me to come all the way here for this? *points to the traumatised authors*
Hey, be glad Iris Heart didn't turn you into a stinking AI piñata!
I'm a hologram housed in a data chip. I doubt such a thing would happen...
Fine: she'll use you like a floppy disc.
Oh, you want to start this right now, you floating red globe?!
Neptune: Okay, we don't need a lovers' spat in here right now...
(With Kirino) WE ARE NOT LOVERS!
(With Lionelis) WE ARE NOT LOVERS!
Neptune: Well, you two are sounding like you've been married a long time…
So, Kirino?
Ignoring what just happened...the method to fix the authors isn't really that difficult, just a small amount of electricity…*tases Dilnos521 and Ekiro268* and that should bring them back to normal...
GAH, WHAT THE HELL!?
Yeeart!
...We're pretty sure you have not been able to see that yet, Mister Author…Also, how much is a "small amount"?
About...40,000 Volts?
...Okay, what happened?
*Checks himself* Ah, I'M ALIVE!
And he's overreacting again...
Huh? Kirino?
When did you get here?
Lio, the atlas globe, here "called" me over from Ekiro's Author Notes Section...
...He did?
Yes, we did. Also, it's not our fault she turned us into a spinning globe!
Well you 'did' ask Plutia to transform didn't you? You must've been prepared to risk your life...
...Touché...
So...where are we exactly in this chapter?
We reached the end of the chapter.
Oh...well, anyways, read, respond, and let us know what you thought of this.
This is Dilnos521…
...Lionelis, currently a globe...
Neptune: I'm Neptune, of course~!
Kirino the AI...
And this is Ekiro268, I'll be booking in a psychiatrist...and checking up on my "purity levels"...
...Wait, what?
Anyways, thanks for reading this far, and we'll see you guys in the next chapter!
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Author's Extra Notes
I'm going to be implementing this section for any notes I want or need to add just before updates or publications occur without having to disturb the notes (at least, in the case of me working with others for these), but I have some news: I have started up a tourney on Super Smash Brothers Wii U for any members of the FanFicCollective, their friends, readers, and betas...well, pretty much anyone. If you're interested, check out the information on it for my profile page and let me know via PM if you want to join or have any questions: I have a password for it because I want to try limiting the people that I want to join...also, there's not a lot of room, though a hundred is a high number.
Thanks, and be on the lookout for more notes like this in the future if I need to or want to say something outside the notes.
