And now, some balm for your broken hearts from last chapter...

Neptunia Guild Files: Fate/book one

A Hyperdimension Neptunia Fan Fiction

by Derald Snyder

Section 22: Consolation

*The next day...*

"So you're upset over the fact that you killed a child," the raven-haired nun spoke to Rider, the two sitting in an empty classroom, next to the windows. "That's perfectly normal, Sharon. Any sane person would feel the same way. No jury would convict you..."

"Fuck a jury! I convict myself!" Sharon snapped, her arms tightly crossed, tear-streaks visible on her face. "She didn't deserve that, dammit!"

"You're right, she didn't. I agree with you," the nun said in a soothing tone. "...Let's try coming at this from another angle. Have you ever owned a dog?"

"No. What the fuck does that have to do with anything?!"

"I'll get to that. Do you know anyone who had a dog?"

"...well, my aunt and uncle's neighbors across the street had one... liked to run around everywhere. He's probably gone by now, though..."

"Did his owners love him?" the nun pressed.

"Oh, yeah, like he was their own kid," Rider nodded.

"...I see. Well, consider this scenario... one day, you woke up and went over to see that dog, only to discover it had gone rabid. What would you do?"

"...probably tell his owner so he could put him down," Rider answered.

"Exactly," the nun nodded. "See, you knew instinctively that nothing could be done for the dog, except to euthanize him. But I'm sure his owner would be quite sad to do it, even though there was no other option..."

"Dammit, I know where you're going with this! It's not the same!" Rider snapped.

"Not exactly the same, no," the nun concurred. "But think about it... this child... Jack, was it? She clearly wasn't rational, and couldn't be talked down. But you couldn't let her go either, because she'd be a danger to others... she had already killed many. There really was no other option. That doesn't mean we have to like it, but we cannot deny reality, either. Do you understand?"

"..." Rider looked out the window, stewing in her thoughts. "...I... Yeah, I guess you have a point. Hell, she almost killed me... but she didn't know any better, did she?"

"She wanted her mommy, but she went about it in an extremely disturbed fashion," the nun lamented. "I highly doubt she even realized what she was doing was wrong..."

"...I'd like to think she's at peace now, but all those women she killed... would she burn in hell for that?"

"...I can't answer that, Sharon. Only God almighty knows for sure," the nun sighed. "But think about this... in most modern court systems, a jury is allowed to find a defendant not guilty by reason of insanity, or mental disease or defect. If we mere mortals can make such a distinction, can not a just and loving God do the same?"

"...I guess," Rider sighed, turning to look the nun in the eye. "...maybe we could... pray for her soul, just in case?"

"That's a good idea," the nun nodded. "Let us kneel and pray that Jack's soul finds peace..." the two got out of their chairs, turning towards the window and kneeling, bowing their heads and clasping their hands in prayer...

*Professor Velvet's Office*

"I just got a call from Forensics," Waver stated as he hung up the phone. "They matched blood on the knives to several of the victims. It seems this little child was indeed our killer."

"Damn..." Mordred shook her head. "How messed up does a kid have to be to try and kill their mommy like that...?!"

"Well, seeing as most of her victims were prostitutes, we can safely infer that her birth mother was a prostitute as well," El-Melloi pondered, leaning back slightly in his chair. "Perhaps her mother was stabbed to death by someone, but Jack herself was spared for whatever reason. Perhaps they didn't have the heart, or lack thereof, to slaughter a child... So Jack took some knives of her own to try and find a new mommy, and try to cut her way into their wombs... perhaps her birth mother told her she should never have been born..."

"How truly awful..." Nero shook her head in disbelief. "And I thought Morgan was a horrible mother..."

"Well, at least that's case closed, mikon," Tamamo sighed. "Right?"

"Pretty much," El-Melloi nodded. "Though, there is one detail that still bothers me..."

"What's that?" Tamamo's fox ears pricked up.

"The fog, and her ability to cloud minds," Waver pointed out. "I did a cursory examination of her corpse before the coroner arrived... it seems her ability was not her own. Some other mage empowered her... it's possible Jack didn't even know what was done to her."

"You mean, that poor child was manipulated?!" Nero gasped in horror. "What depraved soul would do such a thing...?!"

"Please keep your voice down," El-Melloi groaned in annoyance. "Unfortunately, the nature of her empowerment makes it impossible to trace who did it... they might have long fled by now. But perhaps, fate willing, our paths will cross again... no need to tell Sharon about this, though. At least not right away..."

"We'll wait until we get back home, mikon," Tamamo nodded. Just then, there was a knock at the door, Nero walking over and opening it, revealing Rider and the nun. "Oh, speak of the devil..."

"Hey, you doin' okay?" Mordred stood up, her face etched with concern.

"...Not great, but... better," Rider replied. "We said a prayer for that kid's soul..."

"I did too, in private," Tamamo concurred.

"That's all we can do," the nun nodded, her hazel eyes shining. "I am glad you brought her to me, Professor Waver..."

"I figured if anyone could help her, it would be you," Waver stated curtly. "After all, you've helped me through a rough patch or two as well..."

"It is my duty to guide lost souls back onto the right path," the nun responded. "Think nothing of it."

"So, uh, since we solved these murders, does that mean you'll teach me now, Professor?" Mordred inquired.

"...Yes, I'll see if I can make room in my schedule to tutor you," El-Melloi agreed. "In the meantime, I'll contact the guild branch here and see if they can make living arrangements for you..."

"In that case, I shall take my leave," the nun bowed gracefully. "May God bless you with peace and good fortune."

"Take care, Sister Kiara," El-Melloi nodded back.

Kiara Sessyoin smiled, before turning and departing...

*Elsewhere...*

"Where are we...?"

Jack walked through a grassy field with a bright blue sky, now dressed in a white cloak. The last thing she remembered was her neck twisting, and really hurting... but her neck felt perfectly fine now, though she still rubbed at it occasionally.

"Hello, my child."

Jack turned, seeing a woman standing there, dressed in a white cloak like herself... she had fair skin, dark hair, and bright blue eyes, giving her the sweetest smile Jack had ever seen... "Are... are you our Mommy?"

"Yes, dear Jack. From now on, I will be your mother..."

"YAY!" Jack leapt at the woman, but with no knives in her hands, she simply grabbed and hugged the woman tightly around her ribcage. "Mommy...!" she gasped, tears of joy running down her cheeks.

"Shh... it's all right now, Jack," the woman said soothingly as she returned the embrace. "You're safe. You're home."

(Ripper Arc- End)

You can wipe your eyes now... As for who that woman is, she could be an angel, or the Virgin Mary, or whatever deity you think of. ;-)