"Here's her breakfast Lady Ram," A shivering Basilicom worker handed Ram a plate. Waffles with syrup and a square of butter. Eggs and bacon, with some orange juice. "Those chefs are dummys! Making us wait!" Ram grumbled as she fast walked to the room she shared with her twin.
She began to slow down, as she began to recount the events. Neptune, killed Nepgear, then in that moment of failure and grief. She lashed out and attacked Blanc, Noire, and Vert. Neptune beat the delusion out of them. Yet, in the final confrontation with Kurome and Uzume.
Neptune backstabbed Uzume, and allowed Kurome to revive. Then, Neptune used Kurome's status as a CPU of Planeptune against her. By perpetually draining her Share energy. Neptune took some inspiration from Magic.
After everything, Nepgear's funeral was held. Then, Rom stopped responding, once the adrenaline and fight for the world stopped. Everything hit Ram's older twin like a bookshelf collapsing. Rom became brain dead, she wouldn't move, eat, sleep, nothing.
Ram didn't know what to do, or feel. Nepgear was her friend, and she was stolen, just like that. No fanfare, no blaze of glory, nothing. Choked out, and her neck crushed, by her own older sister. Ram couldn't imagine what Nepgear's final thoughts or feelings were.
Being killed by Blanc or Rom, a person you love. It's a chilling and disgusting thought. Rom idolized Nepgear, and watching her die, not being able to do anything. Broke the fragile girl. "Ram...?" A quiet and stoice voice broke Ram out of her thoughts.
Blanc stood behind Ram, a cane in her hand. Neptune broke Blanc's legs in their fight. Luckily, Blanc will be in tiptop shape soon. Ram did hear the other CPUs are fully recovered, physically at least. "Blanc! I uh..." Ram didn't know what to say.
Her big sister is enigmatic and aloof. Coming off as cold as a Lowee blizzard sometimes. Ram, never really talked to Blanc. Only pranked her, or if they did talk, Rom was there. "Do you need help?" Blanc asked. "No!" Ram exclaimed a bit too quickly.
"I... You need to rest! I'll take care of Rom. Please Blanc, I can do it. I'm much stronger than I used to be!" Ram rambled, and Blanc merely grabbed the glass of orange juice. "She's my sister as well as yours. I'd rather be licked everywhere than not take care of her," Blanc said with dangerous finality.
Ram shivered and opened the door to their shared room. Rom was propped sitting up in the bed by pillows, wearing her pajamas. Her hair is greasy and wild, her eyes are glassy, her skin is stretched and thin. If they didn't see her chest moving, they would've thought it was a corpse.
"Hey Rom, it's me, Big Sis. I'm sorry I couldn't visit you. Here, it's orange juice, don't you love it?" Blanc said, she gently poured it down Rom's mouth. Ram forkfed her the breakfast, while Blanc helped Rom chew and swallow. After they fed Rom, Blanc picked Ram up.
"Blanc?!" Ram squeaked and Blanc held her little sister close. They sat on Ram's bed, Blanc silently crying. Ram's face was shoved into Blanc's chest. Her chin on Ram's head, her hands stroking her little sister's long hair. Ram shivered and wailed loudly. They allowed themselves to cry at their sister's fate.
No facade of strength, only two sisters grieving for their comatose third sister. Ram cried not only for Rom, but for Nepgear. Everything felt so empty without Nepgear. Rom is in a coma because of that, and Uni, Ram doesn't know what's going on with her. All she knows is, that the death of Nepgear broke apart their friendship.
She was the glue that held the Candidates together. "I don't know what to do! I miss Rom! I miss Nepgear! I don't want to do this anymore!" Ram yelled, then devolved into visceral sorrow. "We'll figure this out. I'll fix this, I'll fix this, I'll fix this," Blanc swore quietly. Kissing Ram's forehead, she rocked back and forth.
Blanc hummed a lullaby for Ram. Who soon fell asleep. 'Ram, you took care of Rom, and went on so many quests while I was in recovery. I left you to rule Lowee, again, but without Rom this time,' Blanc lamented in her head. Forcing her sister to take up position as CPU once more. Just like the Deity of Sin Incident.
'Neptune,' Blanc snarled in her head. Her pride is injured at that loss. Because of what Neptune did, her sister is a vegetable. 'Histoire, you know all the answers. Even if you don't, you always find them. I don't care if it takes days, years, or the end of time itself. I'll make sure Rom wakes up, and Ram can be happy again,' Blanc made an oath, to save her family.
Blanc tucked Ram into her bed, and gave her a peck on the cheek. Then Blanc laid Rom down, and also gave her a kiss before leaving. Blanc limped through the halls, a determined glare on her face. "Blanny! You're up!" C-Sha jogged down the hall.
"Hey C-Sha, what are you doing here?" Blanc asked. "I've gotta check on the other member of the Golden Pair," C-Sha answered with her usual cocky smirk. Blanc gave a bitter chuckle in response. "C-Sha, can you look after the twins? I'm heading to Planeptune for a bit," Blanc asked.
C-Sha frowned, "Blanc, please don't do what I think you're doing," C-Sha begged. C-Sha hoped Blanc isn't going for revenge. "No, Neptune will pay, but, Rom is more important than that. Please C-Sha, you're a way better big sister than me," Blanc replied and C-Sha snickered.
"Me? A better big sister? Blanny, they look up to you. They love you, yes you could be a better sister to them. Nobody is perfect, and if they want to be like you. Then you're doing something right," C-Sha encouraged Blanc, who nodded in response.
"I'll keep them safe," C-Sha promised and that's all Blanc needed. C-Sha watched her friend go. 'Blanc, just, don't do anything reckless,' C-Sha prayed.
So, yeah, sorry that I haven't updated in a while. I couldn't think of what to do for this chapter. I knew I wanted to do a chapter focusing on Uni, Rom and Ram, and Vert. So I could show how far Nepgear's death affected the world.
Since Nepgear was such a major character. Not showing how everyone is dealing with it would be a disservice. I also decided to try and show different styles of grief for everybody.
Rom going comatose, Ram not knowing how to process, and Uni letting herself go. After Vert's chapter, we'll get back to Neptune.
Also, there will be no antagonist in the style of someone like Arfoire. The conflict stems from the characters, and their internal struggles. So, no major threat.