AN: Geez, I would have never thought I would be able to post this chapter in the middle of the month. Alas, this does not mean that this month there will be two chapters. I'm sorry but... Let's just say that first I was working like 13 hours per day, also I lack the inspiration for the next chapter... I don't know what to write! I have the general flow of the story but... Should I write about the villains in the next chap? Or a certain situation? Give your opinion dear readers.
And now with the reviews!
ArcanumScriptor: We talked about the triangle via pm, and unfortunately, I have to write this because it's a must for the development of the relationship between Histoire and Neptune. Fear not, you will see not much about it.
Blue: You're making me blush! / ok jokes aside, I am happy knowing that you consider my story refreshing in the community. I am taking a few things from other games just for helping myself in the story. But alas, Neptunia is a mix between many games, at least the Makers and the NPCs XD
Jerzu: Everything will be explained in the chapter^^
FrostSoar: Will do! I hope I will not betray your expectations!
With that said, let's reach 3 reviews or more! And enjoy the chapter!
A special thanks to Ghost132 for beta reading this chapter.
Words used for the chapter: 3881
Cap 21: Tell me a story (part 2)
Histoire was sitting on the sofa, with a fluffy Dogoo doll in her hands, looking at its eyes with her mind lost in memories. To think holding it now in her hands could bring this warm feeling in her chest... She almost wanted to cry from the joy. After all, if she was still a Tome, she wouldn't be able to feel such emotions. In a way, she was glad that she was human.
Neptune, on the other hand, was sitting beside her, waiting for the Oracle to start narrating the tale behind the doll. After what it seemed an eternity, Histoire asked.
"Neptune... May I ask you how did you know about this doll?"
Oh. Of course Histoire wanted to know. After all, how did she knew about its existence? Scratching the back of her head, Neptune admitted with an awkward smile.
"Err... Remember the tale I told this morning about last night?"
"Yes, I do."
"Well I... Didn't tell you the whole thing actually."
Histoire at this, instantly froze from the fear, looking at the lilac haired girl with a scared expression on her face.
"What else happened?!"
"Nothing really! Just..."
With a sigh, Neptune rested her whole back on the sofa, and with a small smile on her lips, she continued.
"Well, let me explain this properly."
.
The Previous Night.
.
"... Just sleep already."
Said Purple Heart exasperatedly at the antics of this drunk Histoire. Puffing her cheeks even more, the Oracle said.
"No! Noth until I have my Dogoo doll! Give meh my doll!"
The CPU blinked at this. Histoire had a doll? Since when? She didn't remember ever seeing it in these three years!
... Right, perhaps it was even earlier. During the time when she had all of her previous memories. Taking a deep breath, Neptune asked.
"You have... A Dogoo doll?"
At those words, Histoire's face became pained as if someone just stabbed her in the heart, psychologically speaking that is.
"You... You'reh a jerk! You ehven forgot the doll you gahve me back then!"
Exclaimed an offended Histoire as she raised her fists, starting to act like some spoiled child. It was ridiculous, and yet, funny to see. Maybe she really should play along?
Trying to make a hurted face, Purple Heart admitted sadly.
"I'm sorry... If you want to, I can go and retrieve it. Do you remember where you had last seen it?"
Thinking for a bit, the drunk girl answered.
"At mah home!"
At her home? Wasn't the Basilicom her-
Right. She was saying the other home, the previous one. The house located on a floating island. The place where they first met, though the CPU couldn't remember it, damn amnesia! Nodding with her head, Purple Heart said.
"All right. I'll be back in a bit then."
"No!"
Grabbing Neptune's hand, stopping her from going away from her, Histoire continued.
"Shtay here with meh! Lesh play!"
Ah for Celestia's sake, someone save her!
.
Back to the present
.
"And then the rest you already know."
Concluded Neptune nodding her head as she was some kind of old man telling a story. Histoire listened to the whole tale, without saying anything (unlike a certain someone who always commented on everything). Returning her eyes on the Dogoo doll, she made a long and deep sigh, saying lastly.
"You wanted to know the story of this doll, right?"
"That's right."
Answered Neptune while nodding once again her head. Histoire, after accepting the answer from Neptune with a hum, said as she looked at the ceiling with an expression that was a mix between happiness and melancholy.
"Let's see... Right. You gave me this doll at our second encounter. It all started like this..."
.
It was real good weather today. Clean sky... No clouds...Nothing at all, expect the sun.
Actually, it was always like that, since the clouds were a little bit lower than the floating island in which Histoire resided. It has been 143 days since she last saw Neptune... Well, it was only once, but still... It has been really a long time. It felt much more longer compared to her waiting for the True Goddess. And that was strange.
As per usual, she was biding her time, standing mid-air in the middle of the living room, waiting for the next battle between the four goddesses. Those battles took place irregularly, it could take place in ten days, a whole year, few months, even centuries. If Histoire could express human feelings, she would say that she would be frustrated.
Waiting, waiting, and waiting... That's the only thing she was doing in her whole existence. It was rare that she used her powers, only just to repair things like the garden when Purple Heart crashed on it, and when accidentally she accidentally dropped a cup on the ground. Sometime she wondered why she was created in the first place by the True Goddess, except to supervise the Console War... She really "hated" (she wasn't a being that has feelings duh) waiting for those battles, and she "disliked" seeing those battle, watching as Purple Heart tries her best to survive the conflict even when the odds were against her.
As soon as she sighed, she heard someone knocking at the door. She blinked. Did she heard it right? The knocking sound?
*Knock* *Knock*
Okay she heard it right. Someone was knocking at her door. Who could it be? There was no way someone was able to reach her place, a floating island that was located even beyond the clouds. There are few hypothesis: or the humans from the realms below used some kind of airship to reach the island or maybe...
Taking a deep breath, she flew towards the door, and gulping, she opened it. The first thing she saw was a pair of black eyes.
No. That was incorrect: they were two black buttons. Two black buttons that looked like eyes, on a giant blue fluffy body. It was a Dogoo doll. How-
"Do you like it?"
Slowly raising her head, the blue eyes of the Tome met the blue ones of the CPU Purple Heart. In those eyes, Histoire could clearly notice the anxiety in them. Was she afraid that she wouldn't like the doll?
Taking a deep breath, Histoire said with a reassuring tone.
"Yeah, I like it. I was just... Speechless."
That wasn't a lie. In fact, she was speechless because she was analyzing the item that was being held in Neptune's hands.
Neptune hearing Histoire's words, relaxed.
"Ah... I'm glad. I thought that it was a horrible gift, since I never did something like this... And the fact Dogoos are not exactly the most appreciated creatures..."
It was... Her first time giving a gift? Well, that's quite the honour, no? Being the first one to receive a gift from Purple Heart. If she was a human, a huge fan at that, she would have squealed from joy by now, but alas, she couldn't get happy. In a way, being expressionless was a positive thing sometime.
Anyway, why was she was saying that it could have been a horrible choice? According to the basic information she has about them, they are the most weakest monsters in the whole Gamindustri, have a dog-like face and their body were slimy. Also they were a bit of perverts... Could it be because of the latter?
"Is it because of the fact they are perverts?"
Neptune hearing those words, nodded in affirmation.
"... Yes... Though sometime, there were cases where..."
At this Neptune made a grim expression, as if she remembered something really horrible.
"It's better to not talk about those cases... I can only say they became extremely violent when they are infected by the Viral."
Histoire blinked once at those words. Viral... An unknown disease that only monsters caught. It was still unknown why the reason monsters only get infected by it. The monsters that were infected by it, became not only extremely violent, but they become also much more stronger. Unfortunately, not even the Tome had any more information about the Viral. But as soon as someone discovers it, the Tome will be automatically updated with the new information.
Since Neptune didn't want to talk about those cases, the blonde girl decided to respect the request of the CPU.
"Understood... Anyway why don't you come in?"
"I... Can? Really?"
"Yes."
"Then... Excuse me for the intrusion."
Said Neptune as she walked inside the house. It was her first time watching it with much more attention, the other time she couldn't check because she had to return to Planeptune but now... She has a bit of free time.
As she placed the doll on the sofa, the CPU admitted.
"You know Histoire... You have a really nice house. It's so warm and cozy... I like it. Mine is childish compared to yours..."
"Is that so? I... Thank you. I'm sure the person who built it and decorated it would be pleased by hearing those words."
"You're not the one?"
"No. It was... The other person who lived here with me."
Those words caught the attention of the purple goddess.
"There was another person that lived here?"
"Yes... But it's been some time since she left."
At this, Neptune said with a sad tone looking away from the Tome, as she felt guilty asking that question.
"Oh... I'm sorry."
"It's okay. She must have her reasons... I'm sure that eventually she will return."
Though she didn't say anything about the fact that the True Goddess had left her for centuries now... She didn't want to trouble Neptune with her problems. With a nod the CPU said.
"I see. By the way, how did she leave this island, if it's floating in the sky?"
... Of course such detail wouldn't be left ignored. With a sigh Histoire explained.
"You see, she can use her magical powers to teleport herself anywhere she wants."
.
"Wait Histoire!"
Exclaimed Neptune as she interrupted the Oracle's story.
"What is it Neptune?"
"You said that the True Goddess can teleport herself, right?"
"Y-Yes?"
Hearing the answer from Histoire, Neptune crossed her arms as she reflected of the newly information gained, and then saying.
"But... Except you when you were still the Tome... I know of only one other person who could teleport herself."
At those words, Histoire looked at the lilac haired girl with her mouth slightly open, as she was surprised at Neptune's words.
"Who else then?"
After a few seconds, with a serious tone, Neptune revealed.
"Arfoire."
With that name being mentioned, Histoire froze right on the place. And that action wasn't left unnoticed on Neptune's eyes.
"Histoire? What's wrong?"
"It's nothing... Really. I just think that the reason why Arfoire could teleport herself, was because that she was a really great magician. Even Rom and Ram could not compare to her. It's space-time magic we are talking about."
Listening to the answer given to her from Histoire, the CPU admitted with a nod.
"I hate to admit. But you're right. She was really skilled with magic. I was lucky that I learned the skill Stat Multiplier, or otherwise I would have lost against her during the final battle."
Only then to continue.
"That means... That the True Goddess was really good with magic?"
"W-Well... She was the True Goddess after all."
"Makes sense."
Nodded continuously Neptune in sign of affirmation at Histoire explanation. The blonde woman sighed with a slight relief, saying then.
"Now, let me continue the story."
.
Purple Heart hearing the words of the Tome, blinked with surprise and... Histoire could swore there was a slight admiration in them.
"Really? That sounds so... Convenient. If I could have the ability to teleport, then I could do a lot of things without taking to much time: I can go and buy puddings, and instantly later teleport myself to the videogame shop to the other side of Planeptune, and then back to the Basilicom, and in all of this I would have spent like what? Ten minutes to buy what I wanted? When she will return, please call me."
... Yup she was really admiring the True Goddess. And... To buy puddings and videogames? Histoire would have never thought that the so collected goddess of the land of purple progress would be so... Childish wasn't even the correct word for this. Perphas... Interest who collide with her personality? Making it sound extremely in contrast and paradoxal maybe? And so, weird. And Histoire couldn't help herself but to say out loud.
"Puddings... Videogames?"
Hearing the perplexed words from Histoire's mouth, Purple Heart became instantly embarrassed, and crossing her arms while looking away, she said with a tone worthy of someone who was trying to make an excuse.
"W-Well a-anyone has their own favorite hobby to pass time with, and some favorite food right?"
"I... Guess so? I'm sorry it's just... It doesn't suit you. You look so... Collected..."
At this, the atmosphere turned down as Purple Heart flinched at those words. Biting her lower lip, she admitted.
"Collected uh?... Yeah, it does sound strange when someone like that has those kind of interests. Perhaps being in this form all the time, it can rise many misunderstandings..."
This form? What did she meant by that? Unfortunately she didn't have much information about the CPUs, since she was created after them, so maybe she could learn something from this.
"This form?"
At the question, Purple Heart facepalmed herself.
"Good job Neptune on blowing that secret..."
.
"Say whaaaaat? I kept my human form a secret?!"
"Back then yes. You kept it a secret. For a reason that I am about to tell you."
Nodded Histoire as she continued the tale of the past.
.
Histoire tilting her head to the side asked.
"Was it a secret?"
Taking a deep breath, Purple Heart admitted.
"It was supposed to be... Oh well: I am a Console Patron Unit, a CPU for short. There are currently four CPUs in the whole Gameindustri. Each one rules over a nation. We CPUs have two form: the human form, and the one we use for combat, the Hard Drive Divinity, HDD for short. Currently, I am in my HDD."
So that's what she meant by staying in this form... But then why-
"Why are you in HDD then?"
"Simple: as you say, I am collected, which helps me to be a proper Goddess, also it grants me the ability to fly and an increase of my strength ."
.
Neptune hearing those words looked at Histoire with a shocked expression as she exclaimed.
"I... Was a Noire in the past?!"
Histoire glared badly at the lilac haired girl as she said that comparison.
"It's quite rude to her you know? You really should take her as an example to be a proper Goddess."
"B-But! To work is to lose you know?! Though lately I am working a bit more..."
Nodding with her head, Histoire conceded.
"Yes, it's true. You're working a lot more now. Less than you previously did but... I think that the actual rhythm is perfect."
"You... Really think so?"
"Yes."
Then Histoire asked with a serious and calm tone, as if she was trying to confirm something.
"Say... Why do you hate to work?"
"Well... I did say it earlier no? To work is to lose! Also... I just want to laze around honestly!"
"Is... That really all?"
Neptune felt being under pressure at Histoire attention. Gulping, and scratching the back of her head, admitted.
"W-Well... Ya see, I don't like to see many things human propose in those documents and... The crimes they commit are..."
Just like she had thought. Nodding, Histoire revealed.
"I see... Even though you lost your memories, you still remain you. Even back then, you disliked these kind of things."
"I... Did?"
"Yes. Allow me to continue, and you'll understand why."
.
With a sigh, the CPU of the land of purple progress continued.
"While in my human form... Let's just say I wouldn't be serious enough with my work. I would simply run away from work."
"Why you would?"
"Because..."
With a icy tone Neptune continued.
"Humans are creatures full of sins. They are egoist... Greedy... They kill each other, or they hurt others in many ways. Even monster don't do those kind of things between each other. I know I am only looking only at a small group but still... I just can't bear it. Humans can do amazing things, yet, they do those horrible things... And so I have to stay in HDD, to continue to lead the people of Planeptune as properly as possible."
Histoire was left speechless at the CPU's explanation of the reason why she wanted to be stuck in her HDD. Were humans really that horrible creatures? Unfortunately, the Tome can only grant informations to her. If she could actually help Neptune's burden somehow.
"I... Am sorry... I wish I could help you somehow."
"It's okay really... You know, after talking a bit of my burdens, I feel little bit better. So... Thank you Histoire."
"You're welcome, I guess."
Said in response Histoire to Neptune's words. She wished she could be somewhat of help for the latter, but with the rules given to her by the True Goddess she couldn't do much... She couldn't intervene in the Console War.
... Wait, she couldn't give a hand in the Console War to any CPU, but that does not mean she couldn't help with the growth of a city. And so she proposed.
"Neptune... Is there really anything I can help you with?"
Purple Heart hearing Histoire's words, looked at the fairy with a surprised expression on her face for a few seconds, shaking then her head.
"I... Appreciate the thought really, but... I have to do this alone otherwise... How can I call myself a Goddess? People will look down on me if I do this..."
"Then use my help in private, without letting anyone know about this. Please, allow me to carry a bit of your burden."
Said Histoire with a determined expression on her face, as she crossed her eyes with Neptune's ones. The latter was struck in awe at the determination of the little fairy (though "little" was a paradox, since she was a little bit more taller than one meter at eye and cross). Now, there was no way that the CPU could deny the request of the Tome. Forcing a smile, she conceded.
"Ah... How can I say no? All right, you win. But how can you help me though?"
Good question. How? Perphas... She could use the fact she was without feelings, and so properly become a court judge or something like that?
"Perhaps something related with the jurisdiction?"
Raising an eyebrow perplexed, Neptune asked with a worried tone.
"Are you sure? You're going to see many horrible things."
"Yet, this is the only way I can help you, since you dislike to see those crimes."
Neptune sighed, admitting defeat.
"Very well."
And right on cue, in the whole room it could be heard the grumble of a stomach. Histoire looked at Neptune, who was now red in the face and her eyes were trying to not look at the Tome. Was she... Hungry? Perphas she didn't get breakfast?
"... Did you have breakfast?"
Still trying to avoid Histoire's eyes, the CPU admitted with a slight sad tone.
"Well... No. I was working until a hour ago and... Well, as soon I finished working, I went to buy the Dogoo doll and..."
... Histoire would have never expected that Purple Heart was such a hopeless girl. Sighing, the Tome said as she flew to the kitchen.
"Please, take a sit, I am going to prepare something... It seems this is another thing I have to take care off..."
.
"So you can cook Histy!"
Exclaimed Neptune, interrupting once again Histoire's tale, gaining an annoyed look from the Oracle.
"Of course not. I created it from nothing... And let's not say about the taste: it was so bland, that I am sure that the purple matter you always cook would be much more pleasant to eat..."
Finished grimly Histoire remembering the blank expression on Purple Heart face back then. Deciding to not continue that argument, since it seemed that Histoire was sensitive on the matter, she asked.
"Say... The Dogoo doll... Why do you treasure it?"
"Ah that's..."
As her fingers caressed the doll, feeling its fluffiness, continued.
"That's because it was the first gift I ever got in my whole existence. Not even the True Goddess gave me a gift. Also, it is a reminder of the fact that we decided to work together to make Planeptune a better place."
"So..."
Looking then at Histoire eyes with a sorry look on the face, Neptune asked.
"Everytime you became Pissty, where you also... Frustrated?"
The blonde woman hearing the CPU words, became surprised, turning then her expression into a melancholic one.
"... Yes... Right now, I am even able to properly say it: the fact you were always fooling around, trying to leave all the work to me... I know that you are suffering from your amnesia, but still... I felt bad, because I was the only one who remembered the promise. You know, when you asked me to become your Oracle, I would say I was extremely happy, because I thought somewhat you remembered our promise but now..."
She interrupted her speech by sighing. Neptune looked down at her own feet, feeling guilty of how she treated Histoire until now. She never, ever, considered the Oracle's feeling. After biting a bit her lower lip, she stood up and after placing herself in front of the blonde haired girl, Neptune admitted with a apologetic tone, taking by surprise Histoire.
"Histoire I... I would have never thought that I was such a jerk to you, stomping on your feeling like that."
"No Neptune it's okay, really. You didn't remember it so-"
And it was at that moment, that Neptune activated her HDD, continuing then to speak with a sad tone, taking totally by surprise the Oracle.
"Histoire, I am truly sorry for what I have done to your feelings until now. I am a CPU, and it is my job to rule over this nation but... Alone, I can't do it. So let me ask you: will you lend me your hand? I am sure, that together, we will create the greatest nation that ever existed. So please... Lend me your aid once more."
Concluded Purple Heart as she extended a hand to the Histoire. The blonde haired woman looked speechless at the CPU as she asked once more her help. For a moment, it seemed that she was about to cry, for the tear that were forming to the sides of the eyes. Passing a finger over them, Histoire shook her hand with Neptunes, as she nodded vigorously with a smile of happiness on her face.
"Y-Yes! I will!"
As they shook their hands, both of them had the same thought: that by standing side by side, the future of Planeptune looked bright.