Netherrealm groaned, as he felt two distinct weights on top of him. Compa and Neptune were unconscious, his back was burning. He pushed them off of him. Netherrealm tried to sit up, but he can't.

His legs, won't move, but his arms can. 'This is what I get for saving people? A delayed death? Dad, Papa, i'll be seeing you soon,' Netherrealm thought. He heard soft moaning, Neptune yawned as she woke up. She got up to her feet, and popped her back.

"Whoa! Where are we? Netty, you good?" Neptune asked. "My back is broken, get Compa and go," Netherrealm said with a pained scowl, and Neptune frowned. "Nope, i'm not leaving you here. You saved me, and as a heroine, i'm not letting a person in need be left behind," Neptune declared.

"What? I've been nothing but mean to you. Why? Just grab Compa, and go. I'm useless," Netherrealm said and Neptune shook her head. "Because we're in this together. You gave me my first weapon, you brought me to Compa's place, and you've stuck by my side when you could've left anytime. Oh, and you took the fall and saved me," Neptune pointed out.

Compa groaned and woke up. "Ehh, grandpa, I didn't put the microwave in the drier..." Compa moaned as she got up. "Huh? Netty Nep-Nep!" Compa exclaimed, getting to her feet. She ran to Netherrealm and placed his head on her lap.

"My back is broken," Netherrealm said and Compa bit her lip. "Okay, we're gonna have to use items and my first aid!" Compa said as she got to work. Neptune watched out for any monsters.

Eventually Netherrealm was able to shakily get up. Compa helped Netherrealm up, she put her hands on her knees, painting. "It took all of my SP and all of our items for this Netty," Compa explained.

"Priority one is getting out of here," Netherrealm said and Neptune skipped over to him. "Where are we anyway?" Neptune asked. "I think we're beneath the forest. This place feels a bit weird," Compa said, looking around with sweat pouring down her brow. Netherrealm entered Battle Mode, just in case.

"Yeah, i'm getting bad vibes from this place. Do you see anything Mr. Ninja?" Neptune asked you. "Yeah, what the hell is that?" Netherrealm asked in return. Pointing to an object, that looked like a piece of shattered crystal. It glowed golden and hummed softly. That hum sounded like a girl.

They heard a growl that rumbled the cavern. "What?! Where's that event flag inducing, growl coming from?!" Neptune asked. "Compa! Behind you!" Netherrealm warned, but a bit too late a blue, gelatinous fist grabbed Compa.

"Yikes! Please help me!" Compa screamed. Netherrealm looked at the monster with narrowed eyes. "Oh no, Compa! She's being *censored* and *censored*!" Neptune exclaimed in horror. Netherrealm smacked her upside the head for saying that.

"I'm not being *censored*! I'm just off screen, Nep-Nep!" Compa exclaimed, and she was thrown towards Netherrealm. He caught her bridal style. He placed her down and unsheathed his wakazashi. "Thanks for catching me Netty," Compa said. "Thank me, if we get out of this alive!" Netherrealm replied.

The monster stepped out of the shadow.

It is nine feet tall, it's body is made out of blue gelatin. The body is shaped like a body builder. Wearing a red loincloth, and four, muscular arms. It's head was that of a Dogoo. Yet the head had a black jelly tail, like a ponytail.

"Goroo!" Netherrealm pointed his blade at it. "That's the Goroo you were talking about?!" Compa asked, needle at the ready. "Goroo!" Goroo growled and it charged. It's body vibrating with each forceful step. Netherrealm jumped over a haymaker. Then, he drop kicked it's head. However it only made Goroo slide back a little.

Monster of the Depths

Goroo

"Oh shi-" his curse was interrupted by Goroo grabbing him by the face. Netherrealm kicked and punched, trying to escape the iron grip of Goroo. Goroo lightly tossed him in the air, and as Netherrealm fell Goroo caught one of Netherrealm's limbs in each of his four hands.

Compa was jabbing her needle into it's leg. Goroo began pulling, and Netherrealm yelled as his bones were pulled out of their socket. Goroo kicked Compa like a horse. Sending her sliding away. A beam of holy light caught Netherrealm and Goroo's attention. Where Neptune stood once stood, someone else was.

She was tall, long purple hair in twin braids. A black skintight leotard with exposed breasts and purple trim. Dark gauntles with claws. Armored stockings with high heels. Aqua eyes with a white symbol for pupils. "Is this... really me?!" Purple Heart asked herself. Closing and opening her fists.

"Nep-Nep! Wow! You transformed!" Compa admired. "The power... it's flowing from within... There's no way I can lose with this!" Purple Heart said, she stroked her jaw, and even grabbed her new large breasts.

Goroo kept pulling Netherreall's limbs. "Just wait, Netty! I'll save you!" Purple Heart declared. Compa stood next to her friend. Purple Heart became a blur. "Cross Combination!" She yelled. A yellow streak followed each sword. She sent Goroo into the air and back down.

Netherrealm flew from the monster's hands. Compa caught Netherrealm and he huckled in pain. "Looks like we're even," he joked. "Netty..." Compa said with a concerned frown. "Push my bones back in my socket!" Netherrealm demanded. Compa nodded and set him down, getting to the painful work. Netherrealm spotted the humming crystal shard. He had his shadow retrieve it for him.

Purple Heart jumped into the air, and flipped with her sword held in front of her. Spinning like a buzzsaw, she cut Goroo in half. Twenty credits flew from the body. Purple Heart landed gracefully, and caught the credits without even looking.

"That was super, Nep-Nep! You beat that monster in a flash!" Compa cheered as Netherrealm and Compa walked to Purple Heart. "Thanks," Netherrealm grumbled, not liking to having been saved. And not being able to finish off Goroo.

"I believe this should cover it," Purple Heart tossed the coins to Netherrealm "Whaddya know, it actually had my money," He scoffed. Purple Heart glowed and turned back into Neptune. Neptune fell foward, and Netherrealm moved out of the way. Having Compa catch her.

"Whew, that was tiring," Neptune said and Compa helped Neptune steady herself. "Well done, Neptune. Compa, Netherrealm, are you two okay?" A disembodied voice asked. Netherrealm looked around picking up his wakazashi.

"Yessy! We're okay! And it's all thanks to Nep-Nep!" Compa replied, taking a second to realize it was a stranger. "Who the hell was that?! Where are you coward?!" Netherrealm demanded swiping his weapon at the shadows.

After having two near death experiences, and being ambushed. He's kinda paranoid right now. "She's a friend Netty, it's Ms. Heavenly Voice, AKA Histoir... What was it again?" Neptune asked Ms. Heavenly Voice for her name.

Ms. Heavenly Voice sighed and mumbled something in disappointment. "Histoire, you were only off by one letter," Histoire said, Netherrealm could guess that she was pinching the bridge of her nose in annoyance.

Netherrealm left Battle Mode, and cautiously sheathed his wakazashi. "That's right! Histy-Histy!" Neptune spoke up, like she just had an epiphany on Histoire's name. 'Has she been trying to remember Histoire's name this entire time?' Netherrealm wondering if Neptune was really this stupid.

"You can call me Histy. Now, nice to meet you two, Compa, Netherrealm. I am Histoire," Histoire introduced herself formally. "Netherrealm," He also introduced himself in a cold manner. He decided to sit on a rock, to rest.

"Can I call you Histy, too? It's nice to meet...um, hear you, Histy," Compa introduced herself. The two halves of Goroo came back together. It roared at the three of them.

"We gotta go! Netty?" Compa exclaimed, she saw Netherrealm weren't moving. His hand was in a sideways peace sign. It turned into dark particles fell over, you had already left, leaving a shadow behind. "Whaaaaat?! He left us behind?!" Neptune shouted as the two of them ran.

They did catch up to Netherrealm, and all three of them went back to Compa's house. "That was a close call, I can't believe I made it out alive," Netherrealm said exhausted. "Yeah! We also could've died! You left us Netty! After Nep-Nep saved you!" Compa pinched and pulled his.cheek, harshly.

He growled and shoved Compa off him. Rubbing his cheek and glaring at Neptune and Compa. "We were running away anyway! I just moved first!" He defened himself. Both Netherrealm and Compa were too tired to argue. So the two called it a silent draw.

"I can't believe it was still alive after all the damage it took," Histoire said. "Hey Histy? Can you take a look at this? Do you have any idea what this is? Because it seemed like Goroo was guarding it," Netherrealm asked, holding up an object he had grabbed while a transformed Neptune fought Goroo.

"Good job Netherrealm! It's a Key Fragment. It's a piece needed to release me from my seal," Histoire answered and you tossed it to Neptune. "Huh? Why are you giving me this?" Neptune asked. "Histy knows you, and I don't want to carry it," Netherrealm replied, a dark portal opened beneath him. A black hand holding his phone came from it. Netherrealm grabbed his phone, and the hand went back into the portal as it closed.

"You're sealed Histy?" Compa asked, curious at why she's sealed. "Yes, can you release me? There are one of those in each Land," Histoire requested. Netherrealm looked up from checking fight club events.

"I could, but I have to fight monsters, right? Isn't it dangerous?" Neptune asked. Netherrealm narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Yes, your life will be in danger, but if you can help life my seal. I can in turn help you get your memory back," Histoire set her offer.

"Really?!" Neptune asked excitedly. "Really, really, and anyway, I do need you to get your memory back," Histoire replied and you frowned. "Well then! Let good old Neptune search far and wide for those fragments!" Neptune hopped in the air as the main plot was finally underway.

"I'll help, too. After all, I can't leave Nep-Nep alone with her brain loss," Compa said. "Memory loss, Compa...but thanks! Are you okay being away from nursing school?" Neptune asked, grateful for the help, but she doesn't want it to cost Compa her dreams. "It's closed because of all the monsters, so i'm okay," Compa assured Neptune.

They turned to Netherrealm. He hmphed and didn't say a word. "Uhh, Netty?" Neptune asked. "What do I get out of this. Because I don't trust you, Histy. Things are sealed for a reason, and i'm not risking my ass for you. When I get nothing out of it."

"Why should I put myself in danger for you? What can you offer me?" Netherrealm asked. "Nothing at the moment, but I promise this journey will make you stronger. You will learn new skills, earn money from this line of work. That's what this journey can offer you. When I am freed, I will compensate you for your work," Histoire said.

"That's not enough, what can you guarantee me?" Netherrealm asked. "Information on the person who killed your parents," Histoire said. Netherrealm clenched his fists. "How did you know about that?" He asked, glaring harshly. A dark, smokey aura leaving his body.

"I recgonized the dragon on the back of your outfit. I knew your fathers, and I can help you find their killer," Histoire said and Netherrealm sighed. "I'm in," he said coolly, then stood up and left the room to go pack. Histoire ran out of energy, and could no longer speak.

Netherrealm was sitting on the guestroom bed. Looking at an old photo. It was a young him, and a brown haired little boy a few years younger. A man with tanned skin, and a crew cut. Another man with a shory beard and moustache with shaved hair.

The pieces are in play. Now it's time to open the game. Netherrealm walked outside with Compa and Neptune. Both giving him concerned looks. "Let's get this over with," He said dispassionately.