Marin tilted her head, looking at Neptune with questioning eyes. She shuffled from foot to foot, "D-did you know Miss Rom, M-Miss Neptch… Nepty... Nefch…"
"Ohh right, my name's hard to say." Neptune smiled apologetically, "Nep, Nep-Nep, Neptuna, Nepsy or Neppy. Take your pick."
"Nep...py? Neppy. Neppy!" Marin jumped around enthusiastically. She smiled happily, "Neppy, mhm."
"It's been so long since I've been called 'Neppy'." Neptune muttered, smiling at Marin
Marin pointed at Jupiter, "Jup… Juptch… Juppy!"
Jupiter looked at Marin for a few second, she closed her eyes with a satisfied smile, "Awww~ my first nickname. I'm so happy."
Marin smiled again before looking at Neptune with her curious eyes, "Umm… Neppy, d-did you know… Miss Rom?"
IF glared disapprovingly at Neptune, she sighed, "Uhh. Yeah. I was an old friend of Blanc and her sisters. That's how I met Financier."
"R-really?" Marin's eyes sparkled.
"I see you've already became acquainted." Financed smiled, she carried a tray with a single tea cup. She gave it to Marin, "I'm sorry, I'm afraid we don't have enough for everyone." She turned to the party.
"T-thank you Financier." Marin muttered.
"It's okay, Financier. We don't plan to stay long." IF replied with a smile.
"Juppy, were you Miss Blanc's friend as well…?" Marin asked, between sips of tea.
Jupiter shook her head, "I wasn't able to meet Blanc myself. I did hear she was quite the CPU."
"She admires Blanc and her sisters quite a bit." IF said, turning to Financier.
"Lady Mina taught Lady Marin everything about Lady Blanc. I'm sure she looks up to her." Financier smiled.
"Y-Yes!" Marin jumped, "Miss Blanc is so awesome. She's so courageous and smart." Main looked at the ground, "I wish I had Miss Blanc's courage."
"Uhh, Marin? There are sparkles around you." Neptune muttered.
"Oh…? Um well…" Marin blushed slightly, "Miss Blanc's n-novels are q-quite good as well…" She said shyly, sinking into the bean bag next to her.
Financier tapped IF's shoulder, "IF, can I pull you for a second?" Financier whispered.
"Uhm, well. I'm not sure I should leave these two airheads with Marin." IF whispered back.
"It'll be for a second." Financier reassured her, "Nothing will happen."
"Sure…" IF replied, giving up.
Financier pulled her out of earshot as the Planeptune CPUs played along with Marin. She smiled sympathetically, "Have you found Compa yet?"
IF's expression saddened, "That's what you wanted to talk about…"
"I'm sorry, IF. I'm worried about her as well."
IF sighed, "I know, Financier." She looked at the ceiling, "I… Did find her."
Financier looked alarmed, "You did?! That's great. Where is she?"
"She's… With Nepgear, as we suspected."
"So… She did kidnap her."
"Not only that… Compa is working with Nepgear." IF said gloomily, "I'm not sure why."
"Compa…" Financier muttered. Suddenly, a ringing sound came out from her dress. She put her hand in one of her pockets and pulled out a phone, "Excuse me for a moment, IF."
Financier walked away, muttering to her phone. IF rejoined the CPUs.
Marin was on the floor, giggling hysterically while Neptune and Jupiter fought with some pillows, jumping around the room.
Neptune jumped over Jupiter and onto a couch, she waved her pillow, "I have the higher ground, Jupiter. It's over!"
Jupiter looked worried for a second, "Hopefully we won't get into trouble for that…" She muttered, before jumping at Neptune and pushing her off the couch, "You're underestimating my power!"
"N-Nepu!" Neptune exclaimed, losing her balance and falling from the couch, her legs raised into the air from behind the couch, she waved her pillow weakly, "I surrender."
"I see you're getting along." IF said, crossing her arms, "But please try not to ruin the Basilicom."
Marin leaned forward, smiling at IF in between laughs, "Neppy and Juppy… Are so silly…"
"I like to be referred to as 'comical' thank you." Neptune stated, her hand raised and barely visible from behind the couch.
Financier returned from her phone call, looking alarmed, "Oh no. This is terrible."
"Financier, what is it?" IF asked.
"A group of monsters are attacking a nearby town and the soldiers are struggling to deal with them."
"So, it's Marin's duty to get rid of…" IF looked behind her, Marin shivering in fear.
"M-monsters?!" Marin said fearfully.
"She's… Afraid of monsters?" IF looked at Financier with an eyebrow raised.
"She's… Yeah. She's always been like that, even though Lady Mina herself taught her magic." Financier sighed, "Even if she's so outgoing and friendly with the citizens, she struggles dealing with quests."
"I… Don't like fighting…" Marin said regretfully.
Neptune looked at Jupiter, they nodded in understanding, "Then let us deal with the monsters." They said together, smiling at Marin.
"W-will you really?" Marin's eyes started to tear up, she looked at Neptune and Jupiter with grateful eyes.
"Hmm." Financier looked worried, "Lady Marin, could I ask that you accompany L…" she bit her tongue, "Neptune and Jupiter? It may help you overcome your fear."
"Ummm. Uhh." Marin shook her head, "I… I'll go with them… I have to be b-brave. Like Miss Blanc."
"That's the spirit, Marin!" Neptune said, giving her a thumbs up.
Marin nodded happily, "Mhm!" She smiled.
"Financier, could you ask the soldiers to evacuate the civilians? So, you know who…" IF glanced at Neptune, "Doesn't get recognised."
"Yes, right away." Financier said. She turned to Marin, "The monsters are in the Maryo District, you know your way, I hope."
Marin nodded, "I… I'll show the way."
Financier smiled, "Good luck." She left in a hurry, her steps slowly fading in the distance.
"F-follow me!" Marin said.
Spirit Nep flew over the yellow roads of Lowee, her gaze shifting from area to area, trying to find the place in which Blanc and her sisters had perished.
She found it.
It was a small park in the centre of Lowee, colourful houses on either side. She could tell this was the place, her feeling of dread was the same as in Lastation.
She examined the statue - the tombstone for Blanc and her sisters.
Unlike Lastation's, this marker was more detailed. It had the shape of a mushroom from Lowee's iconic game. A gold plate on its base. Flowers and letters were scattered at its base.
'In honour of our late CPU, Lady White Heart, and her sisters, Lady White Sisters, who perished in the fight against the Deity of Sin. They shall never be forgotten.'
Spirit Nep smiled sadly at the statue, "If only they knew the truth." She muttered. She gingerly touched the plate, it was time now, "I hope you're home, Blanc."
Spirit Nep readied herself, passing through the ground. She found herself surrounded by darkness. Spirit Nep prepared herself, "Blanc! Rom! Ram! You here?!"
No response. Not even a presence. They weren't here.
Spirit Nep smiled sadly, "I knew they wouldn't be here… I shouldn't get my hopes up." She said, leaving the ground and looking around her. She put a hand on the top of the statue, "Rest well, Blanc… Rom… Ram… I'm sorry."
Her gaze shifted, looking at the horizon with saddened eyes. Why was it only her? Why did she become a spirit? Was there something special about her?
Spirit Nep's thoughts cleared up when she caught glimpse of a yellow monster jumping around the corner of her eyes. Her eyes widened, "What is he doing here?" She muttered before following him.
Marin lead the party through the streets of Lowee, slowly making their way to the Maryo District.
The district was a residential one, the yellow roads opening up into a large area. Trees full of snow spread over the area, benches positioned underneath the trees. Multicoloured houses at each end of the district. However… now, the district had been overrun with blue gooey monsters.
Neptune looked in distress at the damage. Blue goo scattered everywhere. Dogoos jumping up and down, "Dogoos? These… Perverts?!" Neptune exclaimed.
"Is… There a problem with Dogoos, Neptune?" Jupiter asked, tilting her head, "They look harmless to me."
"Oh no they're not. Usually, when Dogoos appear in the games, a CG of them in inappropriate… places happens." Neptune said, her sword materialising.
"They're… Scary." Marin muttered. She held onto a silver rod with a multicoloured gem at its top.
"We still have to eliminate them." IF said.
Neptune sighed, "Fine." She slowly turned to look at Jupiter, a mischievous smile appearing on her lips, "Game on! I'll destroy more Dogoos than you, Jupiter!" She exclaimed before running head on towards the monsters.
"Hey, not fair!" Jupiter yelled, running after her.
"See, Marin. Neptune and Jupiter are not scared." IF said, smiling at the shivering girl.
"I… I… I'll… Try." She muttered, her legs trembling.
IF nodded, "I'll go join them. You can stay here until you're comfortable enough to help."
Marin nodded.
IF summoned her katars in midair, landing on top of some Dogoos. She slashed at the surrounding ones as they tried to jump on her.
"Ohh~ Iffy joined our game!" Neptune noted, slashing another Dogoo, "Make that fifteen Dogoos!"
Jupiter thrusters her rapier, piercing a groups of Dogoos, "Aww~ I only have ten!" She complained as she removed her rapier from the Dogoos.
"Eeek!" Marin yelled.
The party looked behind, A Dogoo slowly approached Marin. She held on to the wall behind her, her staff gripped firmly.
"Marin!" Neptune tried to move forward, only to find herself surrounded by Dogoos, "When did they all get here?" She slashed as some of them tried to jump.
"I'm surrounded as well!" Jupiter yelled.
"Hey. Get off me!" IF shouted, slashing at a Dogoo on her shoulder.
The Dogoo slowly approached Marin. She stared at its blue body with terror, the gooey creature making its way towards her.
Marin screamed one last time, the Dogoo jumping at her.
She gripped her staff, swinging it at the Dogoo. Marin managed to hit the Dogoo, it flew through the air and landed on Neptune's face with a satisfying squish.
"Nepu!" She exclaimed, blue goo all over her hair. She looked around her, trying to find the perpetrator.
Marin started to giggle before laughing. IF glanced between Neptune and Marin before coming up with an idea, "Hey, Marin! Let's play a game. Who can hit Neptune with the most amount of Dogoos wins! Head is double points."
"W-what?!" Neptune turned around, looking at IF. She tried to complain but she was interrupted as IF sent a Dogoo straight at her chest. She groaned in pain.
Marin nodded happily, slowly making her way towards a Dogoo and smacking it. It hit Neptune square in the face.
"You two are so mean." Jupiter muttered before smiling, "But I'll join in anyway!"
"Even you, Jupiter?!" Neptune complained as she dodged a Dogoo.
"Sorry Neptune." Jupiter smiled apologetically, hitting a Dogoo with her rapier.
Marin kept laughing, hitting Dogoos left and right with her staff. IF trying to match her enthusiasm, a huge smile on her face. Jupiter reluctantly hitting the Dogoos towards Neptune, she attempted to stab as many as she could. They were all smiling and having fun.
Neptune, however, was not. She tried her best to block or dodge the Dogoos that were being knocked towards her while also slashing at the ones that tried to attack her. Blue goo dripping from her dress and hair.
Marin managed to hit the last Dogoo, Neptune finding herself unable to dodge and taking the hit directly to her face. An unamused expression from behind the blue goo, "Funny. Very funny Iffy."
Marin laughed, "You look so funny, Neppy."
The blue goo eventually dissolved into blue data. Neptune's dress still somewhat wet and her hair sticky.
"I'm sorry, Neptune." Jupiter said, "I had to join them… I hope you under-" Jupiter placed her hand on Neptune's shoulder, she slowly pulled it back, "Ewww. I hope you have another dress." She said with disgust.
"Thanks for the reminder, Jupiter." Neptune replied, slightly miffed.
"Lighten up, Neptune." IF said, attempting to hide a smirk, "Marin got over her fear of monsters. Or at least Dogoos."
Marin nodded enthusiastically, "Mhm! Thanks Neppy, Juppy, Iffy."
Jupiter smiled, "I'm glad you've overcame your fear."
Marin hugged Jupiter, she smiled and patted her fellow CPU's head.
"They seem happy." Neptune muttered, walking next to IF.
IF looked at Neptune, her face twisting in disgust, "You really need a shower." She said.
"Gee thanks." Neptune replied annoyed.
"Sorry, Nep." IF said, scratching the back of her head, "We should return to the Basilicom and let Financier know."
"Financier will be so happy." Marin said.
"Oh my. Is that a cutiepie's voice I hear?" A robotic voice said with gusto, "I'm drooling over myself just thinking about it…"
A round yellow robot lumbered forwards, blocking the entrance. His long tongue drooling all over the street. His green eyes sparked as they saw the group.
"Three old hags and one innocent little girl." He muttered, "I'll just have to save my cutie pie from them!"