Chapter 26:

"…I see… so that's what happened…" Histy said as she puts down her cup. I raise the canister for her, signaling a question if she wants more; she shook her head.

"…Then how many did I…!"

"I don't think you should know how many" because I don't know myself exactly how many.

"Either way, knowing that you did all that is enough to give you nightmares"

"Mhm… But…" she stares out of the fire and towards the city beyond the borders of the park.

"Thinking that I have done all this…"

"Well yeah… you were one tough cookie" I said. The tone of my voice slightly higher, sounding a little cheerer.

"You have like fireballs and giant arms that are swinging axes and swords at me. In fact, I was having a hard time"

"…I'm sure…" she smiles at me.

"Whatever Nepgear did to you, it sure gave me quite a hard time"

"…How were you able to dispel me?" she suddenly asked.

"Based on your story, it seems that no one has been able to dispel it. So how were you able to get me back?"

"Truth be told, it's a secret. But you could say that it's a cheat of sorts"

"I see…"

The ingredients for the formula was extremely difficult to find in this messed up place. And a third of what I need has to be conjured up by myself. It was a good thing that 'it' was just a copy and it isn't like 'mine', so I was able to cut down the things I need. Plus she's a freakin' fairy, I even have to factor in that she has magical fireballs, etcetera, or she won't be able to use those anymore.

"Then… how about the citizens? Oh, it seems quite impossible…" she answers her own question.

"Yeah…"

We both stare the crackling fire, licking the cold air. A moment of silence between us under the starry sky and the giant moon. Contemplating on how it's both surreal and yet real at the same time. That a gentle flower turned out to be a thorny vine. How our closest and most familial person, cheerful, a tad optimistic and a tad pessimistic, a tad insecure and a tad strong. How she could ever do the things she does now.

"…Nepgear was a sweet girl…" I mutter.

"…Mhm…"

"A little too sweet since she always spoils her Big Sister…" I remember how she always makes Neptune laze about while she does all the work.

"She usually does most of her work. I often worry about her"

"Yeah… she does overwork herself hardcore"

"And what little breaks she has, she consumes it by quest hunting"

"'Sis is tired from playing games all day so I'll do the quests this time' is what she'd say if you ask her" I impersonate.

"Or, ehem 'If I don't do this, Sis won't have enough rest for tomorrow! I'll have to do my best!'"

"Ahaha then she'd fan girl over a new device or something"

"…She'll tinker it until it's unrecognizable" oh yeah, she did that to an actual computer and turned it into a gun or something that shoots out aluminum fins.

"Design a robot with weapons of mass destruction. With a smile to boot"

"She's a little too gullible, I believe"

"Makes you smile when you tease the poor girl and gets angry at you"

"Ahahahaha"

"Ahahahaha"

What are we laughing at as we think about that girl? That familial girl that is too mindful of others' well-being. Is it her gentleness? Her helpfulness? Her seemingly comforting anger? That girl that would welcome you home to comforting atmosphere? Or the fact that you could lightly tease her? What are we laughing about as we talk about that girl?

"You seem to know about Nepgear just as much as I do" she commented.

"…Well… I know about you just as much…"

"You sound more like a stalker, if anything" I know the words would point to that direction but I'm not a stalker.

"I do claim myself to be her Big Brother" well, technically she was the one that started it and I eventually got used to it.

"If you're her Big Brother then this might not have all… started…" realizing what she had said, the atmosphere before our talk came back.

"As you said, we can't exactly pretend that it didn't happen"

"…Then... eventually we'll…"

"…It's an option…" I tell her gravely without knowing her next words.

"…" she looks at me with stern eyes. As stern as she could get it to be. I know what it means. Even I don't want to do it. But with all that is said and done. We can't deny that possibility.

"Then let us… save the world one more time" she said.

I nodded to it, knowing what her decision is.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!*

The warm, almost scorching sun tingles our skin. The rushes of wind, carrying the water almost violently slams into me. The horizon, where the blue sky and the blue sea meets, gives off a feeling an adventurous feeling that beckons curious explorers to find another continent. The sound of the engine roaring as I push it to maximum performance against the waves as we traverse the sea.

After a day of rest, we decided on getting back to mainland as soon as we can. She's still away from her book, for reasons that will be revealed shortly, so she's sitting by the controls of the boat, where there's small windshield that is meant to protect the various dials and switches. Right now, she fixing her twin pig-tails.

I, on the other hand, is operating this Higgins boat. A landing craft, vehicle, and personnel or LCVP for short that also carries the jeep. I know this is a very old boat, like 1942 old, but who knew that Lastation has such a historic boat that actually changed the tides of the Second World War. Andrew Higgins would be proud.

It wasn't long before I could see the main island popping up on the horizon. The lavish green forests, the mountain the in the middle. The tip of the highest tower of the futuristic city the peeks in between the trees. And even I can see the long white sandy beach that one would think that it almost spreads across the whole island.

"Hm?" my instincts are warning me. I can see dots, dots that represent people on that beach. It's still a tad away before I could see them clearly but my instincts are throwing warning signs at me.

"Histoire…"

"Yes?"

"Something isn't right about this…"

"What do you mean?"

"Look…"

Histy stands and walks towards the side, avoiding the various dials and sticks her head out from the windshield. Her hair instantly flails by the wind as she takes a look at the beach.

"Are those soldiers?"

"Yeah. And there are so many of them too" I'm not liking this at all.

"What does this mean?"

"I don't know either. Let's be on our toes..."

It seems there's about 30 of them waiting on the beach. And after sharpening my eyes a bit, I can already see that they have weapons at a moment's notice. I see some with binoculars and looking straight at me. And instincts tell me if I turn the boat now, they're going to do something that I might not like.

It took about 10 or more minutes, before reaching the shore. I slowly park the LCVP to the shore, making sure that the ramp's edge would land on the sand and the motor is still in the water. I press a button to drop down the ramp, as I get down from the controls and walk to shore.

The moment the ramp reveals my face, and their faces from my perspective, all of their rifles, SAR 21, point on my body and head. I raise my arms signaling my lack of reaction. It didn't take long for me to understand that I've been betrayed.

"So tell me Kei, what are you doing?"