AN: Hello guys, sorry for making you wait. But just like promised, I posted the chapter before the end of April. Though somewhat I am not satisfied with how it turned out... As always. Must be my bad mood that clouds my jungment on the chapter... Whatever, the ones who fit that role are you readers.
Onto the reviews then!
YORCHspartan117 (Guest): My, I am really happy that you're enjoying this story. I will be honest, at the beginning I just wanted to make it a simple Slice of Life but... Then I said: why won't I turn the fact that Neptune has to save Histoire from her human state into a serious plot? Thus this result.
Since this is totally a non-canon world, I had to elaborate a proper background by mixing all the information between the various Neptunia games, and altering a few things.
Honestly, I wasn't even sure if the romance was coming out well, but I am glad that was not the case.
With that said, enjoy the chapter! And please share your opinions, they are always welcome.
A special thanks to Ghost132 for beta-reading this chapter.
Cap 36: Next Form
It was chaotic. Seeing a battle between goddesses in first person, it was a sight that took the breath away from Nepgear. She heard tales of the CPU fighting each other during the Console War, but she never expected... That it could devastate the whole place they were using as a battleground!
What it seems a beautiful place, now it was a barren land with innumerable amounts of craters dispersed everywhere... And what once you heard nothing if not the sound of the wind passing by, now she could hear the deafening sounds of the clashing weapons and explosion of each strikes. And the shockwaves released by those attacks reached even the ground where she and Histoire stood. The latter, though she knew about how a battle between CPUs was, watching it in first person was a first. Because she always watched it from that magical globe that she used back then when she lived in that house in that small floating island where she first met Neptune.
As the people on the ground were struggling just to stay on their own feet because of the strong shockwaves, the CPUs were fighting airborne. Black Heart, Green Heart and White Heart were tired, and they did get a few bruises, but on the other hand Yellow Heart was devoid of any wound and yet she had a shortness of breath from being even more tired her opponents. Though she was indeed strong, her attack pattern was so easy to predict. In fact the moment she took a bit of breath, she dashed towards-
"As expected: right on me."
Stated Green Heart a she dodged at the last second the Yellow Heart's claw, and using that moment, she slammed her spear on the blonde's side, sending her towards White Heart who had her axe ready.
"Here! Show how good you are playing baseball!"
"Eh! I'm a good battler you know?!"
"Kh!"
Yellow Heart instinctually covered her face with her arms, blinding herself from the Lowee's CPU attack, getting so a powerful smash right on her stomach. The impact forced Yellow Heart to lose the oxygen in her lungs, as her body was sent flying away. This time, it was Black Heart the one who was ready to deliver the final hit of that combo.
"Tsk. Amateur."
The Lastation's CPU hit the low-guarded opponent right on her back with her claymore using so much strength, that turned Eden's CPU like some kind of missile that destroyed the ground, creating another much notably large crater. As dust rose from the ground, Green Heart approached Black Heart.
"It was as you said: she's inexperienced. She's fast, strong, but she's predictable. Though we can easily counter her attacks..."
"We can't deal any proper damage. Heck it feels like hitting a wall with your hand."
Stated White Heart as she rested her axe on her own shoulder. Black Heart didn't say anything, as she watched Yellow Heart raising slowly from the ground without any kind of injuries. If that fight would continue, they would eventually get defeated. So as she slowly lowered her altitude, being obviously followed by her other two companions, Black Heart advised.
"I think we can end this spare here."
It took a few seconds for Yellow Heart to regain her breath and so the ability to speak.
"Anf... Anf... Why... Why can't I hit you?!"
"Because you're a newbie dear. It's not your fault."
Stated Green Heart, as White Heart followed soon after.
"Yeah. Don't expect to be like Neptune."
Those words seemed to trigger something in Yellow Heart, who after blinking a few times, asked.
"Don't expect to be... Like Neptuna? What do you mean?"
"Nothing much, just that she was able to hold her grounds against the three of us more than once."
Said with a indifferent tone Blanc, gaining a bad glare from Vert and Noire. Yellow Heart hearing those words, said with a tone of someone who just realized something.
"I see... Neptuna was that strong... So I need more power!"
The moment she said those words, the whole ground started to shake, while her body started to release a white-yellow aura. Took by surprise, Green Heart exclaimed
"W-What?! What is she up to now?!"
"I don't know, but whatever it is, we must stop her now!"
Answered Noire, though unfortunately, before they could react in time, Yellow Heart released a shockwave that knocked all of them backwards, forcing them to fall a few feets away from where Histoire and Nepgear were standing. And the next seconds, were something that anyone one of them would have a hard time to believe.
A small crystal appeared right in front of Yellow Heart's chest. As her eyes fell on it, she said.
"Time to become stronger!"
She then placed the crystal in what it seemed a small screen that once it got the small sharicite, a "complete" word appeared on it and then the next moment, a blinding light radiated from Yellow Heart forced all the presents to close their eyes. After a few seconds, once all of the regained their sights, they all became speechless. From what once a naive looking girl stood, now there was someone who gave what it seemed a divine aura... Even more divine than the actuals CPUs of Lastation, Lowee and Leanbox.
From wielding claws, now they became part of her gauntlets. Blade-like boots covered her legs from half of her thighs and downwards. A eagle-face like chestpiece covered her chest, with metal-piece pauldrons covering her shoulders. On her back from what once stood 4 wings, now there were six, three on each side, with Eden's emblem imprinted on her back. Lastly, on her head there was a valkyrie-like helmet. No matter how you looked at it...
Yellow Heart was something more than a simple CPU like all of them. Anonydeath, who was watching together with Rei the whole event, said with an amused tone as the screen of his portable computer started to give a immense amount of data.
"So this is what it was,mh? These readings... It is the confirmation of what I suspected. Now Yellow Heart! Show them the power of the Celestia's CPU Candidate!"
As Anonydeath exclaimed those words, Yellow Heart's eyes shine once, revealing the once lost power symbol being now in those orange eyes. With a slight more mature tone, Yellow Heart announced.
"Time for round two!"
.
Nurses and doctors were walking back and forth in the main hall of the hospital. Though the various CPUs were holding the famous treaty, that didn't mean that they could slack off. In the end, it was just another ordinary day for them.
This was the conclusion that came up the Guard as he watched them while sitting on those chairs used to wait for their turn. And this rule didn't apply only on those who were working in the hospital, but in the whole city. It was kind of funny though, an extremely big event was happening non that far away from their home, and yet people continued their daily life without giving any thought.
Who knows, maybe nothing would have changed even if the CPUs weren't around anymore... After all, human were adapting slowly by living without them.
He shook his head at the thought. That was a bad one, a really bad thought. Sometimes, those dark thoughts always come into his mind. It was hard to suppress those thoughts, because he saw the CPUs as beings that could stomp on human lives in their stupid wars. Of course, this was in the past. Because recently, he made a discovery. Perhaps, the CPUs were actually the ones who acted more human-like, at least this was what he saw as he watched the interaction between Histoire and Neptune. And the more he watched them, the more he wanted to root for them. And he wanted to show it to all the people around Gameindustri. How? Simple: by opening a Doujinshi Circle! Even Nepgear, after watching his Unlimited Doujinshi Work, understood the truth of this world, by becoming his partner in crime, by giving him nice pics of Histoire and Neptune together.
... But enough of this crap seriously.
He was released a few days ago from the hospital care, and today he was there... Well, except to visit Neptune, but also to talk to Compa's Grandfather. Usually he could have just used his skills as an adventurer to gain access to the rooms he wanted to enter, but this time, he needed to have a bit of time for collecting his thoughts and the courage to talk about the small old box he was holding in his hands. Something that was given to him as heritage from his father. Something that-
"Excuse me? The Doctor is ready to see you sir."
His thoughts got cut by the nurse that called him out. With a nod of his head, he thanked the nurse as he rose from the chair starting to walk towards the office where the person he wanted to meet was. Once he reached the door, the Guard made a deep breath before announcing himself in.
"It has been a while doc."
Compa's Grandfather, who was in the middle to check the various clinic documents of his patients, rose his face from the papers letting his gaze first on the small box and then to the eyes of the young man.
"... It's about that?"
"Yeah... And also if there was an improvement of Lady Neptune's health."
"Mmmh... I am sorry lad, but about the box I don't know much. Just that it was passed on in your family each generation according to your father. And about Lady Neptune's health... There is no news. She's still unconscious."
"I see..."
Sighed the guard as he took a sit in front of the doctor, placing then the box on the table. Seconds passed in silence, until Compa's grandfather asked.
"Did you already check what is stored inside?"
"Nope! Do you want to see?"
"Mmmh... As much I would like to know... Are you sure you want to show it to me?"
"Of course! You're like a second father to me you know?"
That... That a nice surprise with all honesty. Heck! He had his heart skip a beat! And for someone old as him, it could have been fatal... But jokes aside, with a gesture of the hand indicating to the guard to proceed, he said.
"Then go ahead."
With a nod, the guard opened the box, taking out from it a really old letter for how yellowish the paper became, and... A crystal. A pure crystal filled with Mana. How he could say that? It wasn't because the old man could sense mana, but because according to the studies he had during his school life, a crystal was filled with mana just by seeing a nebula-like thing inside the crystal. The more the color of this nebula tended to being white, the more it was pure... But since the Mana he was seeing was totally white, the old man could conclude was that it was the purest crystal he ever seen. If the guard would have sold it... He would have become a billionaire for how much valuable it was! And even the guard was left speechless at the sight of the crystal.
"By the goddesses... This is...!"
"A-Amazing... I could sell it! And I will spend the whole day making my doujinshis about Lady Histoire and Lady Neptune without having any kind of money problems!"
The guard at those words gained the infamous Punishment Chop on his head by Compa's Grandfather, forcing the victim to smash his head on the table. With a cough, the old man said.
"Be serious for once! Anyway... What does the letter say?"
Like he was never been hit hard on the head (though there was a giant fuming bump) the guard opened the letter, and reading then the contents with his eyes. After he reached the end he announced with a lowered tone.
"... Instructions. According to what is written here, it should be used as a fuel for opening a certain "elevator"... Do you know anything?"
"If you don't know, how should I?"
"I thought that your wisdom as a old man would be-"
"Sorry boy, but I am not omniscient..."
"That's too bad..."
Sighed the guard as he replaced everything inside the box. The moment he did that, a doctor erupted into the room with a flushed face, filled with sweat. Was it from the run, or from cold sweat by some kind of bad event? And the answer was...!
"S-Sir! Lady Neptune is-!"
An alarming event. As the guard looked at Compa's Grandfather, as he did the same thing with him, they both rushed to the "sealed" area. Entering the room where Purple Heart was supposed to sleep, they found out that she wasn't anywhere in the room. The bed was empty and the windows... Open. The panicked doctor asked.
"S-Sir w-what should we do?!"
At the question, the one who answered was the guard, who with a dismissal move of the hand he said.
"Nah there is no need to worry. I think I know where she went..."
Once he gained the attention of both the doctor and Compa's Grandfather, with a confident smile the guard revealed as he clenched a fist in excitement.
"To the place that she longs the most: right beside Histoire of course!"
Aaaaaand the moment he said those words, his face got smashed to the wall with brute force by Compa's Grandfather.
.
Pain. Her whole body was in pain. That was the sensation that Noire was feeling as she was totally covered in bruises and wounds. To think that Yellow Heart was hiding such a trump card... Nor her, nor Blanc and Vert expected such thing. In fact they were now on there knees, not anymore in their HDD form, and struggling to not fall on the ground by using their respective weapons as support to stand. As the Eden's CPU was slowly descending on the ground, Blanc said.
"Damn! This is cheating...!"
"For once I can agree with you..."
Followed up Vert as she panted from fatigue and pain, while Noire, using every last bit of her strength, she tried to stand on her feet with slight success, since her legs were about to collapse at any moment.
"Kh...! I... Can't accept this... I can't lose to the likes of you...! Only one person can! And tha-"
Ignoring Noire's words, with a swing of her hand, Yellow Heart released a powerful gust of wind that sent the three CPUs flying, making them hit the ground right in front of Histoire and Compa who jumped from the surprise. As both Histoire and Compa started to run at the CPUs side, Yellow Heart said as she slowly floated towards them all.
"... How about that? I am strong no? I managed to defeat you all. So I am stronger then Neptuna!"
Those words pissed Noire off to no end, and as she refused both Histoire (obviously) and Compa's care, she said with a challenging tone.
"HA! You? Strong? More than Neptun?! Don't spout such bullshit to me! She didn't even need to transform even more to stand against the three of us!"
Noticing how those words made Yellow Heart's eyebrows twitch, Histoire hurriedly placed herself in front of the wounded CPUs and as she opened her arms, she asked with a pleading tone.
"Please! There is no need to continue this any longer! You showed us your strength so-"
"But she said I am not strong... I am not strong as Neptuna, then I will show her with this attack that I am even superior!"
Stated the further transformed Yellow Heart as she started to charge a sphere of energy in one hand and then pointing it at the party. Knowing she was about to launch it at them, Histoire closed her eyes, still standing in front of Noire who looked at her for a moment with a furious expression on her own face, before closing her eyes preparing herself for the incoming attack.
...
...
...
...
...
An attack that never came. Why was that? As Histoire, Noire, Blanc, Vert, Nepgear and Compa opened their eyes, they where speechless at the sight. A sight that no one hoped to see. Only Yellow Heart, who was amazed at what she was seeing, said with a slight enthusiastic tone in her voice.
"Neptuna...!"
That's right. In front of them, now stood Neptune in her... HDD Form? It looked so... Different to what all of them were used to see. Her hair, though they were pigtailed-styled, were not only totally free, but their color were now azure, and the hair clips were now more pointy. And what once her battlesuit showed a bit of skin, now she was fully covered, though the new suit emphasized her curves. It was like... She changed just like Yellow Heart, going beyond the known HDD Form.
Histoire, who couldn't believe in what she was seeing and yet she was happy for it, asked.
"N-Neptune? Is that you?"
Purple Heart, turning around to face Histoire and her group, answered with a confident smile.
"Yes. Sorry for the delay. But don't worry, I will handle this."
When she turned once more towards Yellow Heart, Noire called her out.
"Neptune!"
The called CPU stopped in her tracks, and without even glancing back, as if she knew what Noire would have said next, she said.
"Don't worry Noire. I am not gonna lose. Just believe in me."
With that said, after summoning her sword, and pointing it to the opponent CPU, Purple Heart said with a challenging yet confident smile.
"So... Yellow Heart was it? You're... Different from when we met."
"Yes! I became stronger! Maybe stronger than you Neptuna!"
She was still calling her by her full name... Why though? Neptune didn't recall to have met anyone who could call her like that. And yet... Well, actually it wasn't the first time someone who she didn't personally know called her with her given name. One way to find out before their fight.
"... May I ask you one thing? Did we already met?"
At that question, Yellow Heart just shook her head.
"No... But I always admired you. You're cool, strong... Everything I wanted to be. And now that I have those... I will surpass you!"
So... An admiration, turned into rivalry. Not something you see everyday, but it was still quite the common element you see in many fictions. With a sigh, Neptune said.
"I see... Well, one way to find out, no?"
As they looked at each other with a serious expression on their faces, the whole atmosphere started to become heavier... It was like the two strongest beings were about to clash.
Silence filled that area. The silence was interrupted by the two CPUs vanished from everyone's sight, followed up by the booming sound released by the clash of their weapon in rapid succession, just like that anime with those martial artists who were able to fight mid-air at high speed using energy blasts to hit each other…
That's the kind of scene it was to everyone's eyes as they looked at the sky, where a yellow lightning and a purple lightning collided with each other at irregular intervals and at each clash of these two lightnings, a powerful shockwave was released making even the earth itself to tremble. All of this continued until the two lightings hit the ground with brute force, revealing a Purple Heart with a bruise on her cheek, while Yellow Heart was totally unscathed. Noire bit her lower lip at this, how could this be?! Not even Neptune was able to overcome that crazy defense of her?!
Yellow Heart, with a dissatisfied tone, said.
"Neptuna... You're not at your full strength, aren't you?"
Neptune didn't say anything at first, limiting herself only to spit a bit of blood on the ground. Only once she did that, she admitted as she unsummoned her weapon scratching then the back of her head.
"... You got me there. I just recovered from my previous battle with the Viraled Human. I'm sorry I couldn't give you a proper fight."
It wasn't a lie. Not one bit. The moment she woke up, she knew that there was a place where she was supposed to be... Of course, all of this, was nothing more than a mere feeling. One Neptune has yet to understand.
With a happy smile, Yellow Heart said chirply.
"Ooooh! So that's why! I'm glad!"
And then, as if she remembered something, Eden's CPU asked.
"Ehy Neptuna! Was I good?"
Neptune looked at the blonde haired CPU for a bit and with a nod of her head, she said.
"You're strong. I can give you that. But you rely too much on your physical strength."
"Understood! As expected of Neptuna!"
It was like watching a child being happy from getting complimented for something they did.
"Say Neptuna... Will you fight me again?"
"Sure. But not anytime soon. Be patient ok?"
"Yes!"
With that, Yellow Heart deactivated her newly battleform, returning to her base form, and as she did that, Neptune made a surprised expression. Yellow Heart's eyes in her base form... Were that of a human. She too, just like Neptune, did "that".
"... So that's why..."
Mumbled Neptune as Yellow Heart walked away, watching as both the pink robot and the cyan-haired woman approached their CPU starting to talk with her. They were most probably complimenting her... Whatever. As Purple Heart turned around, she saw Histoire followed up by Noire, Nepgear, Compa and the other two CPUs. As they took a moment to regain their breath, the Oracle asked.
"N-Neptune! Are you alright?!"
"I am. Surely, Yellow Heart can pack quite the punch. It stings quite a bit..."
Admitted Neptune as she massaged the bruised cheek. Noire on the other hand asked something else since Histoire was the one who asked her if she was all right.
"... You... What kind of transformation is this? It's like Yellow Heart's."
Of course what she wanted to ask was regarding her current transformation. And with all honestly, Neptune wasn't sure if this was the right moment to talk about it... But better sooner than later. But now, it wasn't the moment.
"... Not here. Not now. I'm too tired honestly..."
As she said those words, she deactivated her current transformation, returning to her CPU base form. And the moment she did that, only Noire and Histoire gasped in shock. They saw that Neptune's eyes lacked the usual pupil that showed her CPU status. Right now, just like Yellow Heart in her base form, they were exactly the same of a human one. Nepgear, not noticing her eyes, proposed.
"Shall we head home then?"
"Then I will cook some nice sweeties for everyone!"
Compa chirped in.
"Sweets uh? Then we must have some tea no? Leanbox's tea or Lowee's tea?"
"What a question... Of course I will go with Lowee's one."
Added in Vert followed up by Blanc. Without even waiting for Neptune to give a signal to move, they started to walk away. Noire opened her mouth for a moment, prefering to say what she had in mind later, following the group. Only Histoire stood im her place, looking at Neptune with a worried look on her face. The Planeptune's CPU returned the gaze back, and after scratching the back of her head, she extended a hands towards the Oracle and with a warm smile she said.
"C'mon Histoire. Let's go home."
The moment she saw that smile, Histoire's worries vanished into nothing, she took Neptune's hand as that very same warm feeling in her chest started to rise up. That feeling that the Guard told her at the hospital.
With all honesty, she wasn't sure yet. But one thing was sure: and it that finally, they were together once more.
.
.
.
AN: As you can see, I gave to Yellow Heart her own Next Form, which appereance was totally out my fantasy, not using her own console as reference since then I would had a hard time explaining it since I am pretty much ignorant about the components^^"
I also wanted to give a bit more explanation about how it works Celestia's Sharicite and the CPU Memory in this world, and thus the Next Form for Yellow Heart.
I like the thought that: in order to obtain a godlike power, you have to forfeit your own humanity. You can't be a god/dess, while also having your humanity. Thus this.
Also probably many would say: why Neptune didn't had the upper hand? I will remind you: she just woke up, and Yellow Heart has also that machine that amplifies her power (like in the anime/game).
I could have wrote a better fighting scene between the two of them... But I was short in time to keep my promise. I am sorry...