Brief note before we start: This town doesn't actually exist in any of the games, but it's not much of a stretch to think one like this could exist...

Anyway, ON WITH THE SHOW!

Neptunia Guild Files: Fate/book one

A Hyperdimension Neptunia Fan Fiction

by Derald Snyder

Section 24: Oceanside Town

*The next day...*

Oceanside Town was, befitting the name, a town sitting by the coastline, which was only a hop, skip and jump away from the capital city. Neptune and Nepgear had been known to come here on occasion to go for a swim together, though less often after ASIC was dealt with and forging friendships with the other CPUs. Given it's close proximity to the main headquarters, the Guild only had a small branch here, but they were instrumental in helping local police keep the peace in the settlement.

However, given that said branch's most preeminent member, aptly code-named 'Ruler', was a martial pacifist who refused to ever use lethal force, there were occasions when they would call upon the main branch to resolve problems where it seemed lethal force would be necessary. Such was one of these times...

"My, this seems like a nice place to come and relax, and go for a swim," Nero commented as the guild's SUV entered the town, Tamamo sitting beside her. Archer was driving, while Saber sat in the shotgun seat. As for Rider, she was following behind them on Bellerophon.

"Yeah, we've done that before," Archer nodded. "Saber's not the best swimmer, though..."

"I've been getting better!" Saber snapped back. "But anyway, we need to focus on our objective. Jeanne is depending on us, after all!"

"Yes, we need to show her misguided friend the error of his ways!" Nero proclaimed. "So where are we supposed to meet her?"

"She should be at the guild building," Archer replied. "She's not too hard to pick out, blond hair done in a long braid, usually wears a cape, and she has a distinct armor piece on her head. Oh, and she's got an elaborate tattoo on her back side."

"It's actually a Mystic Code to help regulate her magic power," Saber explained. "She has extremely high potential for magic, but she had problems channeling it in her youth. Given her nature, she uses it more as a defense for herself and others, than for attack. In fact, that's how she and Gilles survived their hometown being burned to the ground when everyone else perished."

"Wow..." Tamamo said in awe. "So I'm guessing my magic wouldn't be of much use against her, huh?"

"Yeah, most normal magic is completely useless against Jeanne," Archer confirmed. "Quite a few miscreant third-rate mages found that out the hard way..."

"But I'm guessing this dark tome Gilles found isn't exactly third-rate, mikon," Tamamo mused.

"Yeah, and she can't defend everyone all the time," Archer stated grimly. "That's where we come in..."

"Well, wouldn't it be possible to simply disarm Gilles and arrest him, instead of killing him outright?" Nero inquired.

"In theory," Saber nodded. "But it depends on the circumstances... anyway, we're almost there." Soon, the SUV pulled into the parking lot of a nondescript stone building, Rider parking Bellerophon right beside them. As they got out, the group noticed a young woman with neck length platinum-blonde hair and sunglasses leaning against the wall by the entrance. She wore a dark blue coat with furred collar and cuffs over a black dress with a front zipper and a very short skirt, with matching high-heeled leather boots.

"Is that Jeanne?" Nero inquired.

"I don't think so," Archer shook his head. "The hairstyle is similar, but that's about it..."

"About damn time you showed up," the woman spoke up, looking over at the guild members. "If you're looking for Jeanne, she's not here. That idiot went and tried to talk her friend down, only to get her sorry rear end kidnapped!"

"Jeanne's been kidnapped?!" Saber's hands went over her mouth. "That's terrible...!"

"Yeah, well, you don't expect us to just take you at your word, do you?" Rider pointed out. "Who are you, anyway?"

"I'm Joan," the woman removed her sunglasses, revealing bright green eyes. "I'm Jeanne's cousin from out of town. I came here to try and help her out with Gilles, but..."

"I don't remember Jeanne saying she had any cousins still living," Archer cut in.

"...Did you ever ask, moron?" Joan retorted.

Archer blinked for a second. "...Well, now that you mention it, no I didn't. I guess that'll teach us to jump to conclusions... right, ladies?"

"Right," Saber and Rider replied in stereo.

"If you say so," Nero concurred, looking slightly confused.

"...you must be one of the newbies," Joan snarked. "As well as this fox lady here..."

"That's right, mikon," Tamamo nodded. "She's Red Saber, I'm Caster."

"D-don't sell us short, though!" Nero insisted. "We've helped take down an eight-armed menace from an alternate dimension, as well as an evil sorceress and a serial killer!"

"That last one was mostly me..." Rider muttered under her breath, Archer placing a sympathetic hand on her shoulder.

"Is that right?" Joan raised an eyebrow. "Fine, maybe you two can go look for Jeanne while the rest of us stop Gilles. There's a specific weapon he's after..."

"What weapon would that be?" Saber asked.

"It's called 'La Pucelle'. It's a cursed sword said to contain the souls of all the non-gamers that died when Jeanne's hometown burned to the ground," Joan explained. "If a good person like Jeanne tried to wield it, the flames would consume them utterly. But if an evil person got a hold of it..."

"Oh dear, that doesn't sound good," Saber said grimly. "If Gilles were to get his hands on that..."

"This whole town might become like Jeanne's hometown," Archer finished. "Burned to ashes with no survivors..."

"We must put a stop to him!" Nero declared. "Do you know where this La Pucelle sword is?"

"I know the general location," Joan nodded. "It's up to us to find and secure that damn thing before Gilles finds it..."

"Alright, Saber, Rider and I will go with you," Archer affirmed. "Caster, Red Saber, you start searching for Jeanne..."

"You got it, mikon!" Tamamo nodded. "If Jeanne's got a lot of magic power, if should be no trouble for me to locate her, mikon!"

"Great," Joan nodded. "Alright, let's hurry and get going!"

"Right!" With that, the group split up...

*To be continued...*

Gee, I wonder who this Joan character could actually be... ;-) Anyway, review!