Quick Author's Note: This story is being co-written by me, Cobalt Gemini, and my friend, HandiHuntress. I do several other stories, but I primarily do vector art on DeviantArt (under the name "Cobalt-Gemini"), and HandiHuntress streams occasionally on Twitch (under the name "handihuntress"). For the sake of the story, we'll go by our real names, I am Jacob, and my co-writer is Savannah.

Also, this story idea is based on a piece of fanart I found (and used as the cover art), and I'd like to give credit where credit is due. It was hard to find the source piece, but I believe it is this: "たかよみ" by "黒ねぷ姉妹" on , which, according to Google Translate, means "Black Nep Sisters" by "Takayomi" (please correct me if I'm wrong).

And finally, here's something funny... whenever the two of us get together to write this, we call it "The Neppening"!

With all that said, we hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1: Returning Home

Welcome to the world of Gamindustri, residing in the Hyperdimension. There are many dimensions like ours, though ours happens to have been connected to several others, such as the Ultradimension!

Anyways, Gamindustri is split up into four lands, each led by a Goddess, known as CPU (that stands for Console Patron Unit). Right now, you are in Planeptune, led by me, Purple Heart. But you can call me Neptune, the Protagonist of Protagonists!

It's so awesome to have you listen to my story! I hope you- "-HEY! Give my microphone back! I was using it!"

"Neptune, this isn't even on," replied Neptune's little sister, Nepgear, "are you breaking the fourth wall again?"

"The fourth wall doesn't exist when I'm talking. We've been over this," Neptune told her.

"Gamindustri doesn't revolve around you. Besides, this story isn't about you."

"Well, I'm kind of the focus of the story, right...?"

"What is this story even about?" Nepgear asked.

Neptune was about to answer, raising her finger like some thoughtful pose, but then she just got a blank look on her face. "Actually, I don't know. I can't read the author's mind."

"Minds. There's two of them."

"Oh yeah! That's right!"

"Anyways, our guests are coming soon," Nepgear told her. "You should get ready."

"Fine…" Neptune grumped, getting up and walking out to prepare for her guests.

Neptune hummed along as she began gathering food for soon-arriving guests. We should probably describe what she looks like. She is a short, petite girl with short, light purple hair and purple eyes. In her hair, she has two hairpins in the shape of a game controller's D-pad, one on each side of her head, and a white choker around her neck. She has a white and purple parka-hoodie with plug-shaped hoodie strings, and the Planeptune N on the zipper, as well as white and blue striped thigh-high socks and purple and blue shoes.

Nepgear started to clear some space in the main room. As the sister to Purple Heart, she is a CPU Candidate, the next generation CPUs, and potential successors. Despite being the younger of the two sisters, she is taller than Neptune (and also acts more mature). She is very similar to Neptune in looks and style, though her hair is long and she has only one D-pad hairclip (still has her own similar choker, though). She wears a white and purple sailor-style dress with a yellow ribbon held together by a band with the same Planeptune N, and white and pink striped thigh-high socks with medium-sized boots matching her dress's style.

As Neptune came in with the food (including lots of pudding, her favorite food), their Oracle (the goddess's right-hand) Histoire entered. "I hope everything is going as planned?"

"Everything is going awesome, so far!" Neptune exclaimed.

"And I hope you've completed your work beforehand?"

"She was breaking the fourth wall with a microphone," Nepgear explained.

Neptune groaned. "Do you really have to be such a tattletale, Nepgear? Jeez."

Histoire is a tome, which recorded the history of Gamindustri. She was essentially a tiny, fairy-like girl sitting on a book, the very tome she was. She had blond hair styled into two pigtails, with a purple and white headdress and a white hat with the Planeptune N on it. She wears a purple open-sleeve dress line in gold-designs, and with a white folded-down collar and teal tie. She also has white thigh-high socks and white shoes with green circles on them.

"Neptune, you know that as a goddess-" Histoire started.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. She has duties to her people and stuff. But everything is fine. And I just wanna play," Neptune interjected.

"No, everything is not fine! You have to keep your Shares up, or you will lose your powers!"

"Awe, come on, don't be such a party pooper!"

"Neptun-"

"You're not my mother, Histoire!" Neptune interrupted, right as the doorbell rang.

"Oh, they're here!" Nepgear announced, as she went to answer the door. "Hello! Goodness, you're early!"

In the elevator leading to the goddess's home were three people (well two people and a ...fish person.) The first was Neptune, or rather, an older Neptune from another dimension. With her was Uzume (a.k.a. Orange Heart), one of the previous goddesses of Planeptune, and her partner Umio.

"Hey there, Nepgear!" The second Neptune greeted. Usually referred to as "Big Nep", she was not a goddess like her counterpart. Though, she was grown-up, and pretty well-developed. She, of course, looked like an adult version of the smaller Neptune, though her hair is much longer, and she wore more black instead of white. Her two D-pad clips and choker were black, her parka, while very similar to smaller Nep's, was black and purple. She didn't have thigh-high socks, and she wore black and purple shoes. She also had a gun-holster on her left thigh.

"Big Nep! It's so good to see you again!" Small Nep greeted in return.

"Sup' Nepsy! Sup' Gearsy!" Uzume jumped in. She has red hair with pigtails tied at the bottom by knots, and red-orange eyes. In her hair were two black clasps. She wore an opened white jacket over a small, black, tube top, and with an orange and white tie with a swirl symbol on it. With that, she had pleated shorts with thin black suspenders, and it was opened showing her orange underwear (though her tie covered it). And a pair of fingerless gloves, over black and orange sleeves, and matching socks below black leg warmers and black shoes. "What's happenin'?"

"Oh, nothing much," Neptune replied.

"Neptune..." Histoire said, frustrated.

"I hope we didn't interrupt anything important," Umio responded. Weird as it is, Umio was a blue fish with yellow fins, and human's face (keeping a straight-faced expression, on top of that), that was hovering as if swimming through the air.

"Nothing you need to worry about," Neptune told him.

"Oh, geez..." Nepgear replied.

"So, what are you two waiting for? It's been too long since we've seen each other. Come on in, and LET'S PARTY!"

Later, both Neptunes, Nepgear, and Uzume were playing a game on Neptune's console.

"What, no way!" Small Nep said in disbelief.

"Yep, with that, I'll just move twice the spaces, and…" Big Nep said, as her character began moving along the screen. "Voila, now I take that for myself!"

"Oh, come on!"

"YOU come on! Don't be such a party pooper."

Histoire sighed, at the immaturity of the goddess and her human counterpart. "Is this really what Planeptune has to deal with."

"Cut them some slack, Histy," Nepgear said, still playing the game.

"I suppose. So... Uzume, and Big Neptune," Histoire said, hoping to change the conversation. "I know you've been touring other dimensions again. Did you have a good trip?"

"Oh, yeah, it was amazing. I saw a really pretty group of these special butterflies and I managed to capture them in my book. Uzume almost chased them off, though." She joked.

"Hey!" Uzume replied.

"Ooh, and we visited this one dimension where all of you guys had kids or something," Big Nep continued.

"Huh...!" the smaller Nep and her sister exclaimed.

"Yeah, that was crazy!" Uzume said. "You guys with our Lastation friends, Noirsy and Unisy, and-"

"Stop!" Nepgear exclaimed, her face red.

"Okay, okay," Big Nep said. "How about this. We saw a dimension where there were these new goddesses, because something happened to the past ones, and... I don't remember why. Hey, Croisty! Do you remember anything interesting?"

"No, I did not! Because I'm stuck in you're stupid f***ing book!" a voice called out from Big Nep's pocket.

"Oh, that's right. I forgot about Darksty. How are you doing?" Small Nep asked.

Croire was a dark tome, sort of an opposite to Histoire. She had the power to travel to different dimensions, so that she could, much like her counterpart, record history. However, she likes to manipulate events, in order to "make interesting history", and thus ruins everything for everyone.

At some point, she was captured in Big Nep's Nep-Note, a magic specimen book she uses to capture her bugs. It shrinks them down and, with a little tape, it is sealed inside. Once captured, Big Nep can use the Nep-Note to use the powers of those sealed inside. Using Croire's power is how Big Nep is able to travel to other worlds.

"Maybe if you let me out of this book, I'll be fine!" Croire responded sharply.

"You know we can't do that," Big Nep said. "If we do, you'll go off and make a mess of things again."

"Oh? And what makes you think I'd ever do that?" she teased.

"Literally every time you show up," both Neps exclaimed.

"Excuse me, but there is something I just thought," Histoire spoke up. "Big Neptune, which dimension do you come from?"

"Hm, I don't know. Never really thought about what it was called," she replied.

"Oh, dear."

"I remember you talking about it with me and Uzume," Nepgear told them. "You said that there was a different goddess in charge of Planeptune. You really didn't remember the name, but you said it was 'Plu-something'?"

"Wait," Small Nep interjected. "'Plu?' Do you mean like... 'Plutia'?"

"Plutia...? Yeah, that sounds familiar," Big Nep replied.

"Oh, of course!" Nepgear exclaimed, "I should have known!"

"Wait, Gearsy, you know this person?" Uzume asked.

"Yeah! Both me and Neptune got stuck in her dimension for a while, and we became friends."

"So, what you are saying is... you've been to Big Neptune's home dimension?" Umio replied.

"Of course we have!" Small Nep exclaimed, "the Ultradimension!"

"That sounds familiar, too," Big Nep replied.

"You're an idiot..." Croire said, annoyed. No one mentioned it, but she was the reason Small Nep got trapped in that dimension in the first place.

"So... did you ever think about going back?" Uzume asked.

"What? We just got back from a big trip!" Big Nep responded. "I want to relax!"

"Sure, but this is my home, Big Nepsy. I'm talking about yours!"

"You know, I bet Plutia would love to find out that there is another Neptune," Small Nep told them.

"Yeah, but are you sure she won't... you know?" Nepgear asked nervously. She pressed her fingertips together shyly.

"You are human, correct?" Umio asked Big Nep. "Do you have family at home?"

"Well... there is my mom," Big Nep told them. "Man, I haven't seen her since I started touring the other worlds."

"Then we should go see her!" Uzume exclaimed excitedly.

"Wait, Uzume, do you plan to leave again?" Histoire asked.

"And you're going to leave so soon?" Small Nep said, disappointed.

"Well, I'm just curious what Big Nepsy's mom is like. That, and I'd kind of like to meet this Plutia person," Uzume explained.

"Well, just be careful not to make her mad... or randy."

"Okay... Anyways, it'll be fine. I may be a CPU of Planeptune, but I'm not THE CPU of Planeptune. At least, not anymore."

"Man, why do I feel like you're throwing me under the bus."

"Well... I suppose you are right," Histoire said, "but that's not what I'm worried about. Going to the Ultradimension, you may lose your powers, Uzume."

"Heh, that's why I carry a Share Crystal with me when I travel with Big Nepsy," Uzume told her.

"While that may be so, it might not work there. At least, not immediately. Let me explain. You know that goddesses are born from the faith of their people, if a large amount of Shares are gathered in a large influx. Well, in the Ultradimension, it is different. One can only become a goddess with a CPU Memory."

"Really? Hey Big Nepsy, did you know about this?"

"I... think so..." she replied. "Or, maybe not..."

"Do you know anything about your d*** world!?" Croire retorted.

"Oh, shut up, Croire," Uzume replied.

"If I may continue, a human can use a CPU Memory to gain the powers of a goddess. Then, if I recall correctly, they will go on to create a brand new nation, which they would lead. However, if one is not compatible with the CPU Memory, they'll turn into a monster instead, so there is a certain amount of risk involved," Histoire explained. "Now, since you are already a goddess, I have no fear that you'll turn into a monster. However, when Neptune was first sent there, she lost her powers, and became human. It wasn't until a short time later that regained her powers by finding a CPU Memory."

"Don't forget about me," Nepgear interjected.

"Yeah, but then you left us for Vert," Small Nep teased. "Don't forget about your 'Turncoat Affinity'."

"Oh, don't remind me. Those are some really unpleasant memories."

"Is this... something we should know about?" Uzume asked.

"Not really," both of the CPU sisters answered.

"Alright, so the point is, if I go with Big Nep to her home dimension, I'll need to find myself a CPU Memory? Doesn't sound too hard."

"So, I guess we're going then?" Big Nep asked.

"Of course! We go meet your mom and Plutia, then we just find a CPU Memory. Actually, you know what, I'll find the CPU Memory before we meet Plutia, so I can challenge her to a sparring match as Goddesses!"

"That won't help you against Plutia," Small Nep commented.

"Are you doubting me?" Uzume asked.

"No, but Plutia... Anyways, when are you guys going to go?"

"I don't see why we can't leave now," Big Nep told her. "Come on, Crostie!"

"Uh, news flash, I can't," the sealed tome responded. "You used all of my power just getting back here!"

"Oh, well..."

"Actually, there is a portal to the Ultradimension here in Planeptune!" Small Nep told them. "We could lead you right over there."

"Eh, that'll work," Big Nep replied.

"I suppose I should contact the other Histoire," Histoire mentioned.

"Woah, there's another Histy? That's so cool!" Uzume replied.

"Yep! We call her 'Mini Histy,' because she's so small!" Neptune told her.

"But isn't Historie already quite small?" Umio inquired. "No offense, Histoire."

"None taken. But yes, my other version is indeed, even smaller than I. But do be careful, she doesn't like being called 'slow.'"

"But she is!" Small Nep said. "Hey, you know what. Don't tell her they're coming! Make it a surprise!"

"Neptune, they are going to want to know that they're coming, or else they might think that Uzume is a rival goddess. They should know Uzume isn't coming to make a new nation."

"Uzume sure, but I'm talking about big me! Think about how surprised they will be to see another Neptune!"

"Ooh, I like that idea!" the other Neptune replied.

"Just tell them that there is going to be a surprise coming with Uzume!"

Histoire sighed. "Very well," she agreed.

"Alright, LET'S GO!"

"See ya Small Nepsy, see ya Gearsy!" Uzume waved goodbye as she, Big Neptune, and Umio walked through the portal to Ultradimension. Then quietly to herself, she said, "and goodbye Orange Heart. For now."

"Bye! Hope you enjoy seeing your mother again, Neptune!" Nepgear called back.

"Remember, Plutia is really nice, as long you are nice back!" Small Nep added, just as their friends crossed the threshold.

"I don't know what the deal with this Plutia is, but the way they talk about her makes me a little nervous," Uzume said once they made it across the other side.

"I concur," Umio replied. "They may be friends, but there is something they seem too nervous to tell us."

"Well, we'll find out later. So, your mom? Where does she live?"

"In Planeptune city, of course." The adult Neptune pointed to the city skyline in the distance, above the treeline in the forest they were in. "We should go to the central plaza. Once we get there, I'll know where to go from there."

"Sure you will..." Croire mocked. "Like you know anything about your own-"

"Please, calm down," Umio interrupted. "No need to start a fight."

"Oh, I'd LOVE to start a fight. Let me out, and-"

"Man, I can't wait to see mom again," Neptune exclaimed. "Let's go!"

"Oh, sure, just ignore me..."

Traveling through the forest and making their way into the city, they made their way to the center, just as Neptune said.

"So, if I remember correctly..." Neptune told them, "I think home is that way!"

As they began to follow their purple-haired friend, Uzume asked, "So, Big Nepsy, what is your mom like?"

"Hm, I think she was... a very kind woman, though she's sometimes disapproving of what I do. I'd wish she'd appreciate my bug collecting more. Oh, she also likes music!"

"Sounds like a fair description," Umio replied. "What is her name?"

"Oh, uh... Hey, we're here!" Neptune brought them to a large apartment building, which on the front was a sign reading "Solar System Apartments". "See, it wasn't far," she told them, as she entered the building.

"She doesn't know," Uzume said.

"Well, we'll just have to ask her when we get inside," Umio replied.

Neptune led her friends to the elevator, and hit the button for the top floor.

"So, you live at the top?" Uzume asked.

"Yep, my mom owns the building," Neptune replied casually.

"What! Maybe you should've started with that!"

"I don't know, what's the big deal?"

"The deal is that you are an idiot!" Croire spoke up.

"Ah, I know you don't mean that."

Croire gumbled in response.

Getting to the top, and leading them down the hallway to the room at the end, Neptune presented them with... her front door.

"Here we are! Home, sweet home!" Neptune exclaimed.

"Wow, you actually found your way back. That's impressive!" Croire said in a sarcastic tone.

"So, this is where you live," Umio said.

"Yep! Now, all we have to do is knock and-" before Nepute could finish, the door slammed open.

Standing at the door was an adult woman, older than Ultra Neptune, though just as developed. She had long light-purple hair styled in a long braid with a pair f gold star ornaments in it, purple eyes, and a black ribbon choker with a gold star charm. She had on a T-shirt with a K-pop sister on the front, black jeans, and a pair of black flats. On her wrists, she had a watch, and several bracelets with planets and stars on them, and her nails were painted purple.

"I thought I heard your voice..." the woman exclaimed, "Neptune, you're back!" Without warning, she pulled Neptune into a hug, squeezing her tightly.

"Hey, mom- Nice to see you- You're, uh, squeezing me-" Neptune said, barely getting the words out.

Ignoring her statement, the woman, apparently Neptune's mother, sobbing, responded with, "I missed you! Where did you go!? You disappeared one day, and I tried to find you, and- and-"

"Oh- That's… right-"

Speaking from her pocket, Croire said, "I just KNEW there had to be something you screwed up!"

"And did YOU think to tell us?" Uzume asked her.

"Well, I… didn't care to remember, and-"

"So, you're no better than Nepsy."

"I-" And with no retort, Croire shut up.

"Ooh, burn-" Neptune teased, still being squeezed to death.

Finally taking notice of her friends, Neptune's mother let go of her and stepped back to get a better look. "So... are these… your friends."

"Yep, I'm Uzume, and this Umio," the redhead introduced the two of them.

"Oh, what a lovely name, and..." she trailed off when she noticed Umio was a fish. "Well, my name is Mercury, though people like to call me Merci. Please, why don't you come in!" she stepped back inside, motioning them to come inside.

Stepping inside and closing the door behind them, Umio asked, "so, you are Neptune's mother, correct?"

"Yes. It was so heartbreaking when Neptune left, I just didn't know what to do. I asked our goddess for help, everything, but she was just... gone!" Merci answered him. She then turned to Neptune, "seriously, where did you go!?"

"Oh, well, do you remember that really cool butterfly I found?" Neptune replied.

"Yes, I do. You went to show all your friends. And that was the last time I saw you."

"Well, apparently, she was actually some dark fairy-girl book-person, who could travel dimensions! I put her in my Nep-Note, and used her power to tour other worlds, and collect more interesting specimens!"

"Again, with the bugs...? Also, more importantly, why didn't you let me know! I was so worried… I started thinking that you were dead, or worse!" Merci started to tear up again.

"I- I- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I just... forgot."

"You always forget! But now you're not even thinking about your own mother?"

"I'm... sorry. Please don't hate me! I love you!" And Neptune came in for her own hug, though she didn't squeeze quite as hard.

When she let go, Merci wiped her eyes. "Thank you! I'm just happy you're back. And you've made new friends!"

Croire still grumped in Neptune's pocket, "I am NOT her friend, you dumb broad!"

"Is… is that the 'fairy' you were talking about? You should know better. It's not nice to keep someone trapped in your book!"

"You know, to be fair, if you let her out, she's going to start causing trouble, and become a huge pain in the ass. Like she was for us!" Uzume informed Merci.

"What kind of trouble?" she inquired.

"The world ending kind."

"Oh, screw you! It's just a little fun!" Croire yelled.

"Okay! The fairy stays in the book. Understood," Merci said.

"Good. Now, is there something to eat around here? I'm starving!" Uzume exclaimed.

"Yes, Neptune could you show her to the kitchen? The snacks are in the same place they have always been."

"Yes. Come on!" Neptune said excitedly, as she led Uzume in the kitchen.

Merci slumped down on one of the chairs in the room. "She's back. She's really back! And she's changed so much!"

Umio floated by another chair, as if imitating sitting down himself. "I haven't known her that long myself. What was she like before?"

"Well, to be honest, she was pretty irresponsible. She'd always prefer to play her games or hunt for her bugs, and she'd never get any work done!"

"That sounds familiar," Umio responded thoughtfully.

"I wonder if I spoiled her too much, growing up. Then again, she's never had a good attention span."

"If I may ask, how long has she been gone?"

"Oh, almost six years."

"That is indeed a long time to be away from home. No wonder you were worried."

Merci turned to Umio. "She had turned thirteen earlier that month. Actually, I gave her that Nep-Note for her birthday. I've never been a huge fan of her bug collecting hobby, but she loved it, so I wanted to support her in her hobby. I hope she's been using it responsibly."

"As far I know, she's only used it for capturing her 'specimens', and the occasional villain."

"Goodness!" Merci replied in shock. "She doesn't have any more of those, does she!?"

"As far as I know, Croire is the only resident in that book," Umio assured her.

"So, you've been traveling with her. Have you been keeping her out of trouble? Or trying to, at least?"

"You could say that. She's been traveling with Uzume for a short while, and I do my best to help Uzume when she needs it. So why not extend a fin to Neptune as well."

"Well, thanks for helping." Merci got up from her chair. "We should check on the girls."

In the kitchen, Neptune and Uzume had found some cookies and were munching on them with some milk.

"Hey, mom!" Neptune waved over to Merci and Umio as they came in.

"Hey. Enjoying those cookies?" Merci asked.

"Yep, but I really wish you had some pudding!"

"Pudding? I didn't know you liked that."

"Oh, she loves it! It's like a... universal trait," Uzume explained.

"I see... well, I'll have to go get some tomorrow."

"Yes!" Neptune exclaimed.

"So... are you planning on staying?" Merci asked.

"Hm, I haven't thought about that."

"Well, we'll be here for a while, won't we, Nepsy," Uzume replied. "I want to tour this dimension. Not to mention find that CPU Memory!"

"Oh, I take you're not from here?" Merci said. "given my daughter has apparently been traveling to other worlds, of course."

"Yeah. Me and Umio are from the Hyperdimension. I actually happen to be a CPU of that world's Planeptune."

"You? You're a CPU!?"

"Yeah, well, thing is, because of how your world works, coming here, I've lost my powers, and right now, I'm just a human like you and Nepsy. But once I find a CPU Memory, I'll totally get my powers back!"

"A CPU Memory, huh? Well, I can't help you there. I never really was interested in those things, not to mention the risks."

"It's okay, I'll get one eventually! Just you wait!"

"Man, I just have to say, things haven't really changed around here much," Neptune said, "though I haven't seen my old game console. Also, you don't have the toaster anymore. What happened to it?"

"I still have your console, I just had to put it away because- Wait, the toaster's missing?" Merci suddenly seemed surprised, but also annoyed.

"A yeah, it's not there anymore."

"Do you think it got stolen?" Uzume asked.

Merci let out a frustrated groan, as she let put her face in her hands, then snapping back up. "Ugh, that girl is going to drive me crazy!" She then started stomping off towards the bedrooms.

"Wait, girl-who!?" Neptune asked.

Merci came to a dead stop, then turned around. "Oh, I guess I forgot to tell you..."

"Eh, don't worry about," Uzume said, "We all seem to be forgetting something today."

"Really? What did you forget, Uzume?" Neptune asked.

"Maybe to zip up her pants?" Merci replied, suddenly very stern.

"Nope, it's like that purposely," Uzume exclaimed.

Merci just sternly glared at her.

"Ugh, fine," Uzume said as she buttoned her shorts. "Do you really have to nag me, lady?"

"That's what mothers are for. Even if you are not my daughter and, yes, even if you are a CPU," Merci said, "Anyways, Neptune, I... You know what, let me show you. Come with me."

The girls looked at each other nervously. Who was this "girl"? Why was she so important to Neptune that just had to see her?

Deciding to follow Neptune's mother, she led them to one of the bedrooms. The door was ajar for some reason.

"...This is my room," Neptune said upon arriving.

"Yes, well, I have to give her someplace to sleep," Merci replied. She slowly pushed the door open.

Sitting in the middle of the floor, was indeed a girl, no more than five years old. She had long, light purple hair, and purple eyes. She had a black D-pad hair clip in her hair, very similar to the ones Ultra Neptune had. She was wearing a black and purple sailor-style dress with a yellow ribbon held together with an N-band, an outfit that seemed familiar. She also had a pair of black and purple shoes.

"Is that...?" Neptune started.

"You're kidding," Uzume added.

The little girl had something in her lap. Upon closer inspection, it was a toaster, likely the one that was missing from the kitchen. Though it was in the process of being taken apart by the girl with a tiny screwdriver.

"Excuse me?" Merci sternly announced, getting the girl's attention. As she looked up from her "project", Merci said, "just what do you think you're doing with that, young lady?"

"Take... taking it apart, mommy. I wanted to play with it," the little girl pouted.

"'M-mommy?'" Neptune replied.

"Give me that," Merci said as she leaned down, and took the toaster from her.

"NO!" the girl screamed as she got up, trying to get her the toaster back. She began crying as it was pulled out of reach.

"You know better than to take things that aren't yours."

"GIVE IT BACK!" the girl screamed, tears streaming down her face.

"Now, now, calm down." Merci put the partially taken apart toaster on top of a nearby bookcase, out of her reach. She then walked behind the girl, while saying, "there is someone you have to meet."

She knelt down behind the girl and pointed in Neptune's direction. The girl looked up at her, only to immediately turn around and clutch her "mommy".

"She's just shy," Merci apologized to the others. Looking back at the girl, she said, calmly, "come on, they're not going to hurt you." The girl looked back up at Neptune, shyly at first, but then in curiosity. "Yeah, she looks like you and me, doesn't she," Merci continued. "It just so happens that she is your older sister, Neptune."

Looking back at the older girl, Merci told her, "Neptune, please meet your little sister, Nepgear."

Earlier, back on the other side of the portal...

"Whelp, there they go," Neptune said. "Off on another adventure!"

"I sure hope Plutia isn't too hard on them," Nepgear said.

"Still think I'm not the lead in this story. I mean, that is ME..."

"That's a different version of you, Neptune. I don't think that counts."

"Fine... Still, I wonder what's going to happen on their side?"

"Who knows. Knowing them, anything might happen!"

"As great as this conversion is," Histoire said, "now that your party is over, you need to catch up on work."

"Oh, come on, can't you do it!?" Neptune complained.

"No. You need to be taking responsibility as the CPU to your nation. Besides, once we get back, I still have to contact the other me about Uzume. ...And before you say it, no, Nepgear can not do it for you, either."

"OH, COME ON!" Neptune yelled, her voice being carried across Virtua Forest.

Author's Note, Jacob: This was a long chapter, and I usually don't like to write those. But sometimes that just happens, and there is no good way to split them up. And in this case, since it is the first chapter, there was no way I was not going to end it with the focus of the story.

I have a personal rule where when I make a new story, I write the first three chapters before uploading anything, and then I upload all three at once to give a good start to the story. But in this case, since this chapter was so long, we're uploading two chapters to start instead, since it's enough content for three anyways.

Also, if you want to know what they were playing earlier, it was supposed to be a parody of "Sonic Shuffle", SEGA's answer to "Mario Party" (Sonic's special ability to occasionally get double spaces). Seemed appropriate with Neptune's connection to the SEGA console line. I haven't played Sonic Shuffle, but I've seen it in action, and, yeah... it looks pretty bad. But it was a subtle reference, so whatever.

And those dimensions Big Nep mentioned, other story ideas for Hyperdimension that I came up with. I hope to start writing them sometime soon, but I'm still planning them, not to mention my art on my Devi, and the other two stories I write, "Sapphire the Hedgehog'' and "Undertale Fallen Determination''.

Author's Note, Savannah: We were planning on making a chapter a week, but life and things got in the way, so we are now aiming for two a month, so we have spaced out time in between writing and editing. There have also been a lot of… interesting events in my life lately, leading to having to either halt or pause our writing occasionally. Hopefully, that doesn't happen so often, since we have a better grasp on how much we can do, now.