Unfortunately I've had to slow things down on my end due to things suddenly coming up. I think it's safe to say that if you think something has next to no chance ruining your mood, it'll ruin your mood. Underestimating the effects of recent events has put a serious damper on progress and a small project I've wanted to write, but thanks to things that shouldn't be mentioned, I've hit a rut that affects writing and it's way past Halloween. It was such a fun idea, but I'm rambling. Here's hoping I get over what ails me and can get back on this.
If only there was some way for me to achieve this kind of flight whenever I wanted to, I don't think I could ever get tired of this view up here. As I reach as high as the wing takes me, I begin plummeting back down towards...not Planeptune? Wait, I'm going straight down towards a lone tree in the middle of some plains instead of back home. What's going on? I remembered the last time a wing was used and I landed on my rear because I was panicking...I've just got stay calm and land feet first, then worry about how I ended up here. "Much better landing than last time. Oh, this is Uni's little tree house. Why did the wing take me here of all places? Hm...I was thinking of the tree house as I used the wing..."
"Your phone is ri-"
"Aha!" I nearly jabbed my own neck with my finger as I poked the AzureFang, interrupting Uni's custom ringtone for herself. I was just thinking about what she was up to and like magic she calls. "Gotcha Uni!"
"What?" A startled Uni yelped at my exclamation. "Gear, what's been happening over there? You hung up yesterday before I could even say anything."
"That was..." I hesitated for a moment to think about what I was going to next. I don't want to say it was her fault because then she'd feel guilty...well, it was bound to happen anyway so I think I'll just super sugar-coat it. That and it's best if I don't worry her with all the details. "That was right before we got ready to take care of something. Don't worry though, we got through it alright." Hm...maybe I should've let something slip, that sounds a little too vague.
"Well, as long as you're fine I guess I can let it...wait, 'we'? Who's this 'we'?" Oh right...she left before Falcom recovered so she doesn't know...oops.
"Oh, Falcom woke up after you left and wanted to help me out with chasing down Underling and-"
"Who in the world is Underling? What are you doing without me, hm? The second I leave you go out with another girl...to CHASE another girl?" Goodness Uni, I didn't take you for the jealous type, I haven't even explained myself yet! This is honestly a little scary, I better tell her a more about my current mission. I probably won't be done for a while and it's going to take me all over Gamindustri it looks like, I'm sure she'll like the idea of a chance of me visiting her especially after this...whatever this outburst was.
"Calm down Uni, it isn't like that at all. She was the one who organized the bandits at Haneda and I've taken it upon myself to catch up to her and put an end to more damage she might cause." I might as well see if Uni dropped by here since the last time we were visited this little home away from home. I won't be too long since I woke up not too long ago...but it would be nice to put my arm to work, I can't keep favoring for too long. I gotta toughen up!
"Oh, good. I wish I didn't have to deal with matters over here but business is business. We're almost finished though so I may have to track-I mean, assist you when the time comes...unless Falcom is still helping you out..." Her voice trailed off as she tried to hide the fact that she just wanted to be with me on this already exciting adventure.
Maybe the next set of news will cheer her up a bit. "Turns out Erethisan is where Falcom is from, so she's going to stay behind to fix everything up and make sure nothing goes wrong again for a while. I'll probably be traveling solo for a while so I wouldn't mind your company when you get the chance."
"R-really? Good, because I wouldn't have taken no for answer. I refuse to let you have all the fun to yourself...not that I care if you have fun anyway. Look, I've got to go so I'll let you go back to traveling the world...all by your- I'm on the phone, Noire! Geez!" She hung up abruptly and the noise sent a little vibration through my neck, making me reach up to touch it with my right arm.
The feeling in my left arm dulls for a brief moment and stops me from going up any farther up the tree. "I think that's enough climbing for now, I'm not going risk going any higher." As I climb back down I see a small, bright flash jump behind the tree out of view. "Hello?" There doesn't seem to be an answer...was I just imagining things? I finally made it back to the bottom of the tree and quickly jump behind the tree to see nothing. "I could've sworn I saw something..." After a few seconds of no progress on this shiny mystery I give up and start heading southeast.
"E-excuse me..."
A timid voice calls out from behind the tree, stopping me in my tracks as I turn to see nobody once again. "Who's there!?"
"S-sorry! I-I'm a little lost is all, I won't bother you anymore..." Whoever it was they sound like they're about to break down in tears. "I should've listened to Cave..."
"Is that you...5pb?" I could hardly recognize her voice with how quiet she was being. She seems to be really shy or scared, but I suppose being lost would do that to someone. "I'm the one that should be sorry, I shouldn't have scared you."
She gasped and peeked her head around the tree, revealing her large headphones hidden under her long blue hair, and stared at me quizzically with her purple, oscillating eyes. Had I not known normal 5pb I would've never know what was happening with her. Wait, that's not fair to call the other one normal when I can't even see all of this 5pb.
"H-how do you know my name? A-are you one of those stalker people Cave mentioned?" Her sniffling cleared up and she peered around the tree a little more, showing off a very glittery shoulder. "Oh, you're just a little sheep girl." She wiped away her tears and smiled a little, but remained hidden by the tree.
Forgive me 5pb, I don't want to lie to you but I don't want to scare you away either. "Goodness no! I've just heard your music before, and Neptune has a few posters of you at home." Well, it wasn't entirely a lie, both Neptunes do enjoy 5pb's music and have some of her merchandise...actually, I haven't met anyone that hasn't.
"N-N-Neptune? You mean, THE Neptune?" The wavelengths in her eyes starting moving even faster as she cautiously approached me from behind the tree, revealing more of her glimmering skin. The back of her arms, legs, and neck, along with her sides gave off a faint shine that barely reflected sunlight. "Are you her little sister I've heard so much about?" The closer she got to me the more the lines in her eyes moved until she grabbed my hands.
"Yes, I'm Nepgear. I probably should've introduced myself instead of scaring you like that. I'm sor...ry...um, 5pb?"
"Aaah..." Her shaking both of my hands came to a sudden stop as I confirmed I was Neptune's sister. "M-Matriarch's...little sister...ah...ah..." The wavelength in her eyes had slowed down and eventually flat-lined as her grip on my hands release and she silently fell sideways.
"5pb!" I wince as I reach out with my left arm, catching her and nearly falling down myself from the sudden pain. Her shoulder's so smooth that my hand nearly slipped off and forced me to take a step forward to catch her with my other hand. She has a pretty strong scent as well, she smells...like salty water or something that could be found in a perfume shop. "Are you alright? 5pb answer me!"
"Haaah~..."
"5pb!"
She finally blinked, snapped out of her daze, and stared at me with an embarrassed look on her face. "Did I...did I freak out on you?" She whispered. "S-sorry, I just couldn't help myself. The first time I went to Planeptune I was worried I wouldn't meet anyone like Cave or myself. I don't mind humans at all but some of them give me the strangest looks and it gets me a little nervous when I'm not around water. Then I met Neptune and that feeling went away in an instant. She was just so nice to me, she helped set up the concert, let me stay at her place, and was an all around swell girl. You were in your room sleeping most of the time so you probably don't remember me visiting." She picked herself up and bowed hard in apology. "Again, I'm soooo sorry for freaking out on you and being so frightened. I thought you were one of those people, and it was rude of me to assume so."
It sounds like Neptune is pretty popular in this world if she's able to make 5pb faint like this, although she was pretty shy to begin with. "Let's not get crazy with the apologies now, or we'll be here all day. Why are you all the way out here anyway? I thought you lived in Leanbox."
She held her hands behind her back and started rocking back and forth on her heels. "We were on our way to Hero City for a small convention, and Cave told me she'd be going on another one of her extended breaks. Well, this one was longer than usual and I thought I wouldn't get lost looking for her and...I got lost. But hey, I finally get to meet the mysterious Nepgear, Cave will be interested to meet you as well!"
Looks like 5pb is already used to me, she didn't stammer at all while explaining how she ended up here. "We should probably start heading back if you were supposed to be in Hero City, she's probably worried sick." If I remember correctly there should be a bridge system of some type that leads to the island Leanbox is on, if the map Histoire displayed is anything to go by. Is Modellista Resort on the way to Leanbox is or...
"Oh you're right! The sooner I get back the less scolding I get from Cave, let's go!" She grabbed me by the hand and lead me towards...what she thought was the right direction.
"I don't mean to be rude, but I think we should be going in the opposite direction." Even though the sun was high above us I still had a hunch which direction was which...that and the N-Portable has a handy little compass for times like this.
"Oh, oops." She stopped immediately and started walking in another direction that wasn't quite right either.
"Maybe I should be the one to lead us." I grasp her hand firmly to get her to stop, and start walking towards the proper direction down towards Leanbox. It seems as though she has a habit of getting lost, but with how bad her sense of direction is that's not too hard to believe. Maybe it's because...she needs to be where it's nice and cool? The more I hold her hand the more I realize that the reason her skin is so smooth and shiny is because she's partially covered in scales. That has to be it, she's a...lizard girl or something and she's not allowed to travel far without assistance because she needs to stay out of the heat...no, that isn't it. That makes no sense because then concerts would be much tougher to organize for her...ugh, too many possibilities! Hopefully our next destination holds some answers...