DISCLAIMER
Fairy Tail is owned by Hiro Mashima, while the Neptunia series is owned by Idea Factory and Compile Heart.
·····Save File Loaded·····
The first thing Natsu became aware of as he slowly came back to consciousness was the feeling of the cold, hard ground beneath him. As the rest of his senses returned, a dank, musty smell wafted into his nose, causing him to scrunch his face in mild displeasure. After a moment of simply laying there, he creaked his eyes open, only to be greeted by darkness.
"…Ugh." The slayer groaned out as he slowly pushed himself off from the ground, only to wince suddenly as the entire right side of his body began to throb painfully. Damn, that hurts like hell. He thought with clenched teeth.
Once the pain dulled and subsided, and his vision adjusted, the slayer was finally able to take a good look at his surroundings. It appeared that he was inside a small and dimly lit cave, with the only source of light being numerous, faintly glowing blue crystals that were embedded in the ground and the walls. Looking up towards the ceiling, he saw a large hole that was blocked off by several large boulders. It didn't take long to put two and two together. Guess we fell in through that. The slayer surmised. But where are the girls? He thought with a frown. As he continued scanning the area, his abruptly eyes widened as they fell upon the unconscious form of Compa, who was sprawled out on her back with her syringe lying next to her.
"Compa!" Natsu shouted in alarm as he rushed over to the unconscious girl. Once he was at her side, he knelt down, placed his hands on her shoulders and began gently shaking her. "Hey, come one, wake up!"
"…Mmmm...five more minutes, Grandpa…"
Natsu sweat dropped as Compa began to mumble in her unconscious state. "Oi, Compa!" He stressed as he shook her a few more times, before her eyes finally fluttered opened.
"N…Natsu?" The pink haired girl said groggily. "What…what happened…?"
The slayer let out a sigh a relief before answering the girl's question. "It looks like we fell down into a cave when the ground collapsed." He replied as he released his grip on her shoulders and pulled back.
A look of surprise flashed across Compa's face as she heard those words. "I-I see…" She said, before her eyes suddenly widened frantically. "W-Wait, where's Nep-Nep?!"
"I haven't found her yet." The slayer admitted with a grimace. "But once you're feeling better, we'll-"
"…Mrmph mmmrpph mmmrrrmph!"
Hearing muffled yelling coming from behind him, Natsu quickly spun around, only to suddenly sputter, much to the pink haired girl's confusion.
"Natsu?" Compa questioned.
"I…haha…found her…hahaha!" He said as he shakily raised his right hand to point a finger, struggling and failing to contain his laughter.
Confused by the boy's words and laughter, the pink haired girl raised her head slightly and looked in the direction he was pointing at.
There, buried upside down up to the waist in a pile of debris, was Neptune, whose exposed legs were currently kicking vainly in the air.
"Nep-Nep?!" She shouted with a comically shocked expression.
"Mmmmph mmmph!" Was all Neptune could say in her current state.
"W-We have to help her!" Compa said frantically.
Natsu let a quick chuckle before he finally managed to calm down. Ah, I seriously needed that. He thought as he wiped a tear away. "I'll pull her out." He told his fellow pinkette, before standing up and walking over to the trapped girl. Once he was standing before her, he reached out and with one hand and grabbed her left ankle.
"Mrmph?!" The loli's muffled voice came through as surprised and panicked, before her other leg began to thrash around violently.
The slayer grunted as the loli's leg squirmed his gripped. "Hold still, damn it!" He snapped in annoyance. Tightening his hold, Natsu gave a quick, sharp tug before the rest of Neptune's body suddenly came free from its confines, along with a small cloud of dust.
"…F-Finally! I was starting to feel like a mole in there!" The loli exclaimed in relief, coughing a little at the small amount of dust that entered her lungs. Once she settled down, she looked at her savior and gave a wide smile. "Oh, thanks for the help, Pinky!" She said happily as she continued to hang upside down while covered in dirt.
Feeling his eye twitch, Natsu sighed before he relinquished his hold on the loli's ankle and allowed her to fall right on her head. "Yea, whatever." He said uncaringly, ignoring the girl's subsequent cries of pain. He then turned around and began making his way towards Compa, who was now back on her feet. When she saw him coming her way, the pink haired girl gave a concerned look.
"Is Nep-Nep okay?" Compa questioned worriedly.
Natsu merely threw a thumb over his shoulder at the lilac haired girl, who was currently on her rear while nursing a bump on her head. "She'll be fine." He replied nonchalantly.
"Pinky's a big meanie…" Neptune mumbled with tears in her eyes as she stood up and approached the two pinkettes, before finally taking notice of her surroundings. "Whoa…where are we?" She asked with a confused look.
"…I think we're under the forest right now." Compa said with a frown as she remembered what Natsu had told her earlier. She never would have thought that such a place was hidden under the park the entire time. This place gives me the creeps. She thought with a shiver. The nurse in training could only imagine what kind of creatures were lurking inside such a dark and isolated place.
Neptune, on the other hand, became excited. "Oh, do you mean we found a hidden dungeon? That's so cool!" She said with excitement. "Oooh, maybe we'll find a super-secret treasure in here somewhere, or even a hidden boss!"
Compa sweat dropped at the smaller girl. "Nep-Nep, this isn't the time to get excited!" She scolded.
"Aw, but Compa~!"
As the two girls continued to converse, Natsu decided to take the moment to get a better look at their surroundings. Sweeping his eyes across the area, the slayer eventually found a narrow tunnel off to their right.
"Hey girls." The slayer's voice snapped the girls from their conversation. "I think I see a tunnel up ahead."
Hearing that, Compa eagerly looked over the boy's right side, while Neptune peeked over from his left.
"Oooh, you're right!" The purplette exclaimed excitedly.
"I really hope it's an exit..." Compa commented, feeling uneasy being in such a dark and narrow place.
"Only one way to find out." Natsu said casually as he walked ahead of the two girls, both of whom quickly trailed close behind.
·····Now Loading·····
The inside of the tunnel turned out to be even more narrow than it initially appeared, and the dim light didn't help make things any better, made evident when Compa and Neptune began tripping over every little thing on the ground. As the group travelled further in, they suddenly took notice of a bright light that was coming from the end of the long tunnel. Believing it to be a way out, the trio pushed onward, the light shining brighter and forcing them to shield their eyes as came closer until they finally passed through it. But what they found on the other side took their breaths away.
"W-What is this place?"
Compa's question hung in the air as everyone found themselves in a massive and well-lit cavern. Enormous crystals protruded from every corner, from the ground to the walls and ceiling, the light emanating from the minerals shining brighter than those found in the tunnel and casting a beautiful blue glow throughout the area.
"Wow, it's so pretty!" Neptune exclaimed with child-like wonder, while Compa dumbly nodded her head.
While not as surprised as his two companions, Natsu was still nonetheless impressed by the natural beauty of such a sight. However, upon noticing a certain detail, his expression fell into a confused frown. Alongside some of natural pathways were metal railings and bridges that connected them together. The designs were foreign to him, being a mix of metal and circuitry that reminded him of the Droma Anim that the king of Edolas had piloted during the whole Anima fiasco.
"What's with those bridges?" The pink haired mage questioned with a frown.
At this, Compa broke from her stupor as her expression quickly became thoughtful. "Maybe someone was mining for minerals here and left all this behind?" She offered in response.
While the two pinkettes contemplated their situation, Neptune began to wander around the area, looking at every little detail with astonishing curiosity. Peeking over the railing from a nearby bridge, she found that there was a small body of water down below. Staring at its surface, the lilac haired girl began making funny faces to amuse herself. "Hehe..." Neptune giggled at her distorted reflection. Her amusement lasted for a moment before she quickly grew bored, but just as she turned around to return to her companions, something caught her eye.
Off to the far right, located on a slightly elevated rock, was a stone pedestal. Neon blue lines ran up and down the manmade structure like circuits, which occasionally glowed brightly before dimming down.
Eyes twinkling with barely restrained curiosity, the lilac haired girl quickly skipped over to the pedestal. Once she was standing before it, her eyes widened. "Whoa…" Neptune said in a low voice as she stared at a purple colored crystal that was embedded at the center of the pedestal. Slowly, she reached out with her hand and grabbed the priceless jewel. What is this? She wondered while bringing the crystal closer to her face to inspect further, not noticing that the blue lines on the pedestal had dimmed down and ceased glowing.
"Nep-Nep!" Compa's voice echoed throughout the cavern, abruptly snapping the loli from her inspection. "Nep-Nep, where did you go?!"
"Whoopsies, almost forgot about Compa and Pinky." Neptune said to herself as she began running to her two companions. Upon her arrival, she found the two pinkettes in the same spot as before, with Compa looking around in a concerned manner while Natsu was annoyed as usual. "I'm back!" She yelled, grabbing their attention.
"There you are, Nep-Nep!" The nurse in training said with a relieved smile. "You shouldn't wander off like that. You had us worried for a second."
The loli smiled apologetically at the busty girl. "Heh, sorry about that." She apologized sheepishly. "But lookie what I found!" She said cheerfully while waving around the purple crystal in her right hand.
The pinkettes both blinked the crystalline object. "A crystal?" Natsu questioned while raising an eyebrow.
"Yup! I found it on this weird looking pedestal when I was exploring." The loli explained with a smile. "It looked really cool and mysterious, so I figured I'd bring it with me. Oh, I bet we can find a shady and questionable dealer and trade it for some sweet gear!"
The slayer rose an eyebrow at the loli's words. "Well, whatever it is, we can figure it out later. Right now, we need t-"
SPLAT!
Natsu, Compa and Neptune all froze as they heard something splatter onto the ground behind the loli. As the three turned around, they looked down to find a glob of clear, viscous fluid on the floor. Several more drops of the mysterious fluid came falling down all around the group, prompting them to slowly look up before their eyes suddenly widened.
"W-What is that?!" Compa stuttered out, shakily raising her hand to point a finger at a large and monstrous figure that was looming far above them.
Before anyone in the group could respond, the unknown creature suddenly released its hold on the the cave's ceiling and began rapidly falling towards them.
Realizing what was about to happen, Natsu wasted no time as he immediately grabbed the two girls by their waists and pulled them close to his body.
"N-Natsu?!"
"Whoa, watch where you're grabbing, Pinky!"
The slayer ignored the girls' cries of surprise and quickly jumped back, narrowly avoiding the large mass as it came crashing into the ground, sending stone and dust flying in every direction. As soon as Natsu's feet touched the ground, he let go of his two companions and quickly shifted into a battle stance as his obsidian eyes narrowed at the thing hiding within the cloud of dust. Compa and Neptune where still a little shaken at first, but they quickly composed themselves and followed suit, standing at either side of the male as they awaited what was to come.
After a painstaking wait, the dust finally cleared, revealing the form of their aggressor.
The creature was massive, covered from head to toe in a brown colored carapace, with six large legs, accompanied by four smaller ones, supporting its arachnid-like lower body, which possessed numerous mandibles and two set of eyes. It didn't end there however, as the thing possessed another, more humanoid body that was protruding up from the top of the spider's head, sharing the same brown carapace as its lower body, making it appear like a demented knight. A single horn protruded upwards from its smaller head, much like a beetle, while its two, thick arms ended in a pair of three digit claws, which were both grasping the hilt of a massive sword that was as long as its body. The blade itself was of an odd design, resembling the shape of a key while retaining the same brown color as the being that was wielding it.
Seeing such a creature, Comp immediately recognized it as her body began to shake fearfully. "G-Guard Vermin...!" She stuttered out with wide eyes.
Hearing the girl's words, Natsu's ears perked up. "You know what this thing is?" He said with a frown.
The pink haired girl gulped and nodded her head. "It's a rare and powerful monster that guards certain ruins and treasures! We have to be careful!" She warned the group.
The creature slowly rose to its full height, hefting the massive blade over its shoulder before it turned its full attention towards the group before it.
"GROOOOOOOAH!"
The subsequent roar it released shook the air, causing Compa and Neptune to tense as they prepared for yet another battle. Though they put on a brave front, the two girls were actually quite nervous at the idea of fighting such a large and intimidating creature.
Natsu, on the other hand, was completed unfazed by the creature's appearance, having fought more frightening things in the past. Damn, this thing is ugly. He thought with a frown. The slayer then took a whiff of its scent, which he soon came to regret as his face scrunched in disgust. Ugh, smells bad, too.
As the creature's roar died down, it glared menacingly at the trio, its numerous eyes brimming with ill intent.
The dragon slayer merely smirked in the face of such danger.
"Bring it, you overgrown bug."
Those words signaled the start of the battle, as the Guard Vermin immediately rushed towards the group, its numerous feet thundering across the cave floor. Once it was within range, it swung downward with its sword.
The trio was quick to react, with Compa and Neptune dashing off to the left and right respectively, while Natsu jumped backwards as the blade struck the ground, which immediately shattered it as chunks of stone were sent flying in all directions. As the slayer landed in a crouch, he looked up to the see that the Guard Vermin's blue eyes leering menacingly at him.
Tch, cocky bastard. The slayer thought with annoyance.
The creature was already on the move as it made a beeline for the male pinkette. Before it could reach him however, it was suddenly assaulted by a barrage of liquid bullets.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Compa yelled as she began firing shots at the monstrous being. While she was initially nervous about fighting the Guard Vermin, her doubts instantly vanished when she saw it go for Natsu. Now she was unloading on the beast without hesitation, attempting to draw it away from the boy.
The monster stopped its charge and growled in annoyance as it turned its attention to the pink haired girl, raising its unoccupied arm to block some of the projectiles that strayed too close to its face.
With the creature distracted, Neptune took the opportunity to run up to one of its back legs. "Take this!" She yelled as she began to strike the unguarded leg with her wooden sword. Unfortunately, the damage she inflicted was minimal at best, and only served to further provoke the monster's ire, made evident when it raised its leg and attempted to stomp her with it. The loli moved quickly, avoiding the attack by running underneath the Guard Vermin with the help of her small stature. "You'll have to be faster than that!" She taunted as she began attacking its underside.
This time the creature snarled as it began stomping the ground with its multiple feet in hopes of crushing the small girl beneath it. However, in doing so it had dropped its guard.
"You're wide open!" Natsu yelled as he dashed towards the Guard Vermin's lower body. Rearing his fist back, he delivered a powerful punch to the left side of its arachnid-like head, the impact causing it to whip to the side as several cracks briefly formed in its carapace. The monster howled in pain as it stumbled back from the blow, allowing the lilac haired girl to escape it's from its underside unharmed.
"Nice one, Pinky!" Neptune yelled out as she ran to his side.
Natsu merely grunted in response, his eyes locked onto the Guard Vermin as it recovered from his attack. He watched the humanoid upper body lower itself slightly before gently touching the spot where he had struck it, eliciting a small whine its lower body. The creature then raised both its heads and looked directly at him, eyes now glowing with fury.
I think I just pissed it off.
"GROOOOOOOOOAH!"
Definitely pissed it off! The slayer thought as the beast let loose an enraged roar.
And so the battle continued. The Guard Vermin, with its mass and power, did its best to strike down the three humans, but in the end it was far too slow. With Compa shooting at it from a distance, and Natsu and Neptune moving nimbly around it and striking at it when they could, the creature was slowly beginning to tire out from the damage it was sustaining.
However, it wasn't the only one losing steam.
Neptune and Compa were both sweaty and worn out, their untrained bodies unaccustomed to such demanding physical exertion.
"I-I don't think…I can keep this up… anymore…" The loli panted out as she fell to her knees, using her wooden sword as support.
The pink haired girl, likewise, was on her rear, her legs splayed as she stared at her syringe, which only had a small amount of fluid left. "I'm almost…out of…ammo." She said, sounding incredibly exhausted.
For his part, Natsu fared significantly better, his years of training and fighting granting him immense stamina, even in his current state.
"Hah!" The dragon slayer yelled as he jumped up and delivered a kick to the monster's smaller head, causing it to stumble around as it became disoriented. As he landed on the ground, he looked up and smirked at the creature. "Is that all you got, big guy?" He taunted as his body tensed in anticipation for its next attack. While he could have ended the battle by simply using his Dragon Slayer Magic, he chose to simply stick to physical attacks that, while not as powerful, we're still quite effective against the large arachnoid. Considering this was the first creature to not die from a single punch, the slayer wanted to savor this battle as much as possible, lest he end the battle too quickly.
The Guard Vermin recovered and growled in response to the boy's taunt. However, instead of rushing towards him like Natsu thought it would, the monstrous creature instead brought its sword before it and grasped the hilt with both hands. It then pointed the tip of the blade downwards, before proceeding to plunge the blade into the ground between them, much to the slayer's confusion.
Is it giving up? Natsu wondered with a frown.
His answer came in the form of a green magic circle suddenly appearing beneath the Guard Vermin.
Eyes widening in surprise, the mage watched the weapon slowly began to turn like a dial. Once the flat side of the blade turned to fully to face him, a loud noise echoed throughout the cavern, sounding much like a lock that had been opened by a key. A green light then bathed the entire area as the massive sword began to emit a mysterious glow.
"I don't like this!" Compa remarked.
Neptune was of the same opinion. "I think it's about to use its special attack!" She shouted as well.
The weapon continued to glow brighter and brighter, and soon several beams of light shot out from the magic circle. As they reached up towards the ceiling, the beams coalesced into a glowing green orb that rapidly began to grow in size.
Natsu's eyes widened as he felt the amount of power gathering inside of the orb. It only lasted for a moment before a wide grin spread across his face. "Finally getting serious, huh?!" He stated with excitement, kicking off of the ground as he shot off towards the monster like a bullet.
"Wait, Natsu!" Compa shouted fearfully as she watched the pink haired boy charge recklessly towards the Guard Vermin. "It's too dangerous!"
But the girl's warning came too late.
At that moment, the Guard Vermin raised its arm towards the boy and unleashed its attack, the massive orb of energy suddenly becoming a beam of pure destruction, shooting down towards the pinkette with devastating force as it tore through everything in its path.
"Shit!" Natsu swore with wide eyes as he realized his mistake and found himself directly in the beam's path. With no time to dodge, he quickly crossed his arms in front of him and braced himself as the green wave of energy came crashing into him.
"NATSU!"
"PINKY!"
Compa and Neptune simultaneously cried out in horror as they watched the boy disappear inside the green light. The entire cave shook as the monster's attack continued tearing into the ground like a drill for several more seconds, before it suddenly exploded in a flash of bright light, sending out a shockwave that sent the two girls flat on their backs with respective yelps of surprise and pain.
"Ow…that really hurt." Compa complained as she gingerly sat up, before suddenly coughing as she felt dust enter her lungs. Once she settled own, she slowly opened her eyes, only to find smoke and dust obscuring her vision in every direction. Concerned, she began to look around frantically. "N-Nep-Nep! Nep-Nep, are you okay?!" She shouted out.
There was a brief series of coughs, before the lilac haired girl finally responded. "I-I'm okay! Just a little sore…" She yelled from a distance, causing relief to flood the pink haired girl's body.
As the two girls began to gather their bearings, they noticed that the smoke was finally beginning to clear. They waited with bated breaths as their surroundings slowly became visible, but once things cleared up they could only to gasp at what they saw.
Devastation. That was the best word that described what they were witnessing. The ground was ripped apart, some of the cave walls and parts of the ceiling had collapsed, and shards of broken stone and crystal were scattered everywhere. As for the Guard Vermin, it had seemingly vanished, possibly having been blown away by its own attack.
But of all these things, only one fact truly registered to the two girls, one that made their hearts tighten in their chests.
Natsu was nowhere to be seen.
Compa's eyes widened as she frantically swept the area for any sign of the pink haired boy, only to find nothing. Not even a shred of his clothing remained. "N-no…t-that's impossible…" She said in a low, quivering tone as she dropped her weapon and fell to her knees, tears beginning to fall from her eyes. "He…He can't be…!"
Neptune, on the other hand, was frozen in place, her eyes and mouth set in an expression of utter disbelief as her childish mind was unable to comprehend the reality before her. "T-This is a joke, right? There's no way that Pinky could lose…" She said a stunned tone.
As the two girls remained in their respective positions, a large shadow suddenly loomed over Compa's weeping form. Without warning, a massive claw suddenly grabbed the pink haired girl and pulled her into the air. She quickly responded by yelling out in shock and surprise, the resulting action startling Neptune from her shocked state as she snapped her head towards the pinkette.
"COMPA!" She yelled frantically, her eyes wide as she saw that her friend was being held captive in large claw, belonging to none other than the Guard Vermin. Despite having been in close proximity to its own attack, it seemed to have escaped relatively unscathed. She watched as the creature raised one of its legs before bringing it down upon the pinkette's syringe, shattering it into pieces.
"H-Help, Nep-Nep!" The nurse in training cried out to the smaller girl. Suddenly, she was brought face to face with the creature, and despite the cracks that ran throughout it face, it still possessed a menacing appearance.
"Groooooah..."
Compa shivered as the creature released a low growl, feeling fear take hold of her body. Fresh tears began to fall from her eyes, this time out of fear for her own life.
Seeing her friend in danger, Neptune immediately jumped to her feet and began running towards the monster with her sword in hand. "Don't worry Compa, I'll save you!" She cried out. Once she was close enough, she drew her sword back before swinging at one of the monster's legs with all of her might. "EAT THIS!"
CRACK!
"Eh?" The loli said in confusion as she heard a loud crack ring out in the air, before she looked to her weapon to find that the blade portion had snapped off, leaving only small splinters. It took a moment for her mind to process this, before she heard an annoyed growl and she gulped. Slowly, she tilted her head up to find the Guard Vermin's multiple eyes glaring down at her in anger as it rose its weapon high above its head. Ah, crackers. Was the only thought that crossed her mind before she hastily threw herself to the side, barely avoiding the monster's blade as it crashed into the ground next to her. The resulting impact caused the floor to literally explode, sending Neptune flying through the air before slamming back first against a stalagmite, causing her to lose her grip on the remains of her wooden sword.
"NEP-NEP!" Compa yelled in concern as she watched the smaller girl slide down to the ground.
Neptune let out a groan as she sat up and gingerly rubbed her back. When she looked back up, she saw the Guard Vermin was slowly beginning to make its way over to her. It suddenly stopped however, before it turned to find that its blade was still embedded into the ground and would not budge. Seeing an opportunity, the loli got to her feet and began running towards a large concentration of stalagmites.
The beast roared in anger at the fleeing girl before it violently ripped its sword free, quickly giving chase. However, it was too slow to keep up, and it quickly lost sight of her amongst the various rock formations. With an annoyed growl and the pink haired girl whimpering in its grasps, the Guard Vermin began to search about the area for its remaining prey.
Behind one of the stalagmites, Neptune sat with her back against the rock formation as she tried to calm her breathing. Come on Neptune, think! You're the heroine after all! Finding a way out of this impossible situation should be a cinch! She thought to herself, trying to think of anything that could possibly help her save Compa and escape in one piece. Sadly, with her weapon broken as it was, there was very little she could do in current state.
[...Oh dear, it appears you are in quite a predicament at the moment.]
Neptune nearly yelped in surprise as she suddenly heard a mysterious, feminine voice speak in her head, though she managed to keep her mouth shut. W-What was that?! She wondered frantically as she looked around. It was bad enough that she had the Guard Vermin hunting her down, but now she was starting to hear voices? Was the world out to get her or something?
[Oh, I apologize.] The voice spoke once more in a calm tone. [I did not mean to startle you like that.]
This time, the loli blinked. Um, it's okay? She replied with uncertainty, before remembering her current predicament. Look, can this wait, mysterious voice? I'm kinda in the middle of something. While it was nice that the voice apologized for scaring her, she still had a giant bug to contend with. Though, the voice did sound vaguely familiar to her for some reason…
[I'm hurt, Neptune. Have you forgotten about me already?] The voice said in a saddened tone.
Now Neptune was confused. Wait, do I know you? She questioned with a frown.
Before the voice could respond, the sound of the Guard Vermin growling caused Neptune to freeze. The noise had come dangerously close, and as she peaked around the stalagmite she was hiding behind, she saw the beast standing right next to her. Eyes wide, she immediately pulled her head back as she began to sweat nervously.
It's so close! The loli screamed mentally as her body went stock still and she broke out into a cold sweat. Fortunately for her, the creature didn't stay long, as it left to continue its search in a different area.
While the lilac haired girl slumped in a relief at not being discovered, the feminine voice spoke once more to her. [I do not understand. If that creature is giving you a hard time, then why not activate your Hard Drive Divinity?] She questioned, grabbing the lilac haired girl's attention. [If you simply use that, then you will be able to defeat it with ease.]
Neptune tilted her head cutely. Hard Drive what?
The voice suddenly became silent, as if shocked by what she had heard. [Hard Drive Divinity, as in one your main abilities?] She elaborated further.
A frown quickly settled on Neptune's face at those words. Sorry to burst your bubble, but I sorta lost all my memories. She explained.
The voice was silent for a moment upon hearing that bit of information. [...I-I see. That would explain a few things from before.] The voice mumbled cryptically.
Confusion set in the loli at that last sentence, but she quickly shook it off. So wait, you're saying if I use this Hard Drive thingy that I apparently have, then I'll be able to beat this thing?
The voice hummed in affirmation. [Yes. With that power, you would become more than a match for this beast. However, it may be impossible in your current state.]
Despite those words, Neptune was not the least bit deterred. I don't care if it's impossible! Even if the chance less than one percent, I'll take it! She replied resolutely. So please, help me save Compa! I…I don't want to lose another friend! The loli pleaded from the bottom of her heart.
The voice was left stunned by the loli's heartfelt plea. Then, after a moment, she spoke again. […Very well then. If you feel that strongly about this, then I have no choice but to lend you my aide.] She responded with an unseen smile, causing Neptune to smile brightly.
Thanks a bunch, mysterious voice! The diminutive girl thanked gratefully. So what's the plan?
[Engage the Guard Vermin. I will take care of the rest.]
Neptune blinked at the rather straightforward answer. She was expecting the voice to tell her to do a strange pose or dance, or even shout a bizarre phrase. It was honestly a bit disappointing. Uh, alright. If you say so. Was her only response, before she jumped out from her hiding spot and took a deep breath. "Hey, you big, ugly freak!" The loli suddenly shouted at the top of her lungs.
Immediately, the Guard Vermin snapped its head towards her voice, its eyes glowing malignantly, causing Compa to panic.
"RUN AWAY, NEP-NEP! YOU CAN'T FIGHT IT!" The pink haired girl shouted fearfully as the creature began slowly making its way towards the smaller girl.
Neptune frowned at those words as she lowered her head slightly. "No, I'm not going to run away and leave you behind!" She shouted back, causing Compa's eyes to widen. "I'm gonna stay here and beat this thing so we can both go home and eat some delicious pudding together, because…because…" She then raised her head, giving the pink haired girl a wide, teary eyed smile. "Because we're friends, aren't we?"
Compa was rendered speechless for a moment, unable to respond to the loli's heartfelt words as tears began to form in her eyes as well. "Nep-Nep…" She finally said in a low whisper.
Neptune continued to smile for a few more seconds, before she quickly wiped her tears away with the sleeve of her sweater, her expression hardening as she prepared to fight the Guard Vermin one final time.
[Are you ready, Neptune?]
Hearing those words, the loli nodded her head in confirmation. Ready and willing! She replied without hesitation or fear.
[Then there is no turning back.] The voice spoke, before taking a deep breath.
[Neptune, may your power arise-!]
A strange, blueish light began to surround Neptune as the voice spoke those words, before she felt a strange, yet familiar power flow through her body. As this was happening, digital Zeros and Ones began to randomly appear in the air all throughout the surrounding area.
Seeing such a spectacle, Compa was left completely awed. What's happening to Nep-Nep? She wondered as she kept her eyes glued on her friend.
Suddenly, a disc appeared before Neptune, causing her to blink at the sight in confusion. As she continued staring at it however, something clicked in her mind, and she reached out with her right hand to grab it. As soon as her fingers made contact, the loli was enveloped in a brief flash of bright light.
Compa quickly shielded her eyes as the light blinded her. Once it died down, she slowly lowered her arms and opened her eyes, only to let out a gasp.
"N-Nep-Nep?" The pinkette said in an unbelieving tone.
Where there was once a young girl who was just entering adolescence, there now stood a mature and beautiful woman at the peak of adulthood. Her short lilac hair had grown longer, now braided into long twin tails that fell down just below her knees. It wasn't just her body that changed however, as her clothing, too, had become different. Instead of an oversized white sweater, she now wore a black, skintight leotard with purple segments and silver pieces that hugged her new, curvy body. Black gloves tipped with sharp claws covered her hands, while her knee high socks had become long black stockings that had become part of a pair of black boots. There were also a few new additions, such as her D-pad hair clips changing into small black pods with glowing blue crosses, as well as several pieces of what appeared to be black and purple armor that hovered around her head, shoulders, waist and feet.
As if to finish off her transformation, a pair of butterfly-like wings made up of yellow and purple energy suddenly formed behind her, hovering a few inches from her back.
Slowly, Neptune's eyes fluttered opened, revealing electric blue irises that encircled a pair of vertical lines with half circles curving underneath each one. Bringing her hands up to her face, the woman's expression became awed as she looked over herself.
"This body...is this really me?" She said in a deeper and more mature tone, her voice no longer that of a young girl.
[It is.] The voice chimed in, sounding pleased. [This is who you truly are, Neptune.]
Upon hearing those words, a look of understanding flashed across Neptune's face, before it turned serious. She then outstretched her right hand, and with a mysterious force willed the broken remains of her wooden sword she had previously lost to return to her. As soon as the handle flew into her palm, it was briefly enveloped in a bright light before it faded to reveal a large and beautiful black katana. Wrapping her fingers around the handle, she rose the newly formed weapon and pointed it at the Guard Vermin.
"Prepare yourself, monster!"
At the woman's shout, the arachnoid growled as its eyes briefly flashed red with anger before it charged straight for her.
Neptune remained calm even as the creature approached, shifting into a stance as she gripped her weapon with both hands. She waited for a moment, before she suddenly kicked off the ground and shot forward at blinding speeds, taking the creature by surprise. The lilac haired woman let out a yell as she slashed at the Vermin's abdomen while passing by, her blade slicing clean through its armor with ease. Blue blood spurted from the newly formed wound as the monster roared in pain, before it quickly swiveled around to face the woman, swinging its own blade in a wide arc in an attempt to cut her down. The attack failed however, as Neptune gracefully flipped into the air before simply hovering in place.
Compa's eyes immediately went wide at the sight. Nep-Nep can fly?! She thought incredulously.
The Vermin was just as surprised as its captive, but it quickly shook it off as it resumed its attack, swinging wildly at the floating woman with renewed vigor.
A look of concentration formed on Neptune's face as she darted around the monster's attacks, trying to find an opening. As the creature over extended on one of its swings, she found her opportunity and flew in close, delivering a slash across its face. The creature howled in agony at the pain it felt, to the point that it flung the pink haired girl from its grasp to grab it's second face.
The pink haired girl let out a cry of surprise as she found herself flying quickly through the air. Seeing the ground rapidly approaching, she squeezed her eyes shut and waited for the inevitable impact. But instead of feeling the cold, hard ground like she was expecting to, she collided against something soft, yet firm, which was followed shortly by a pair of arms wrapping around her, holding her close.
"I've got you."
A mature voice spoke soothingly in the pinkette's ears, causing her to quickly open her eyes and look up to find Neptune's smiling face.
"Nep-Nep!" Compa shouted in a mix of surprise and relief as tears pooled in the corners of her eyes.
The woman's smile widened at those words, happy to see that her friend was okay. It quickly faded however, as a loud roar reminded her that the Guard Vermin still needed to be dealt with. Descending towards the ground, Neptune set the pink haired girl on her own feet before turning to face the beast.
"Stay put, Compa. I'm going to finish this." She told the ditzy girl.
Compa stared at the woman with concern for a moment, before it shifted into a serious frown. "Be careful, Nep-Nep."
Hearing those words, Neptune gave a reassuring nod before she suddenly blasted off towards the arachnid-like creature.
The Guard Vermin, noticing her approach, roared once more, its eyes glowing bright red as it charged straight for her, slashing away with reckless abandon. Each swing was strong enough to cut through stone, yet Neptune weaved around each attack with ease and grace, countering with her own attacks each time it left itself open. Wounds soon began to litter the monster's body as its vitality was steadily chipped away, and before long it found itself being pushed into a corner. Realizing it would soon be defeated, the Guard Vermin roared as it raised its blade with both hands and brought it down upon the lilac haired woman with all of its might.
Rather than dodging the incoming attack, Neptune merely braced herself as she blocked the attack with her own blade. Sparks flew as the two weapons pushed against each other, their respective wielders trying to overpower the other. For a moment, it appeared that neither side would give in, but it soon came to an end when the lilac haired woman let out a yell and, in a display of monstrous strength, parried the enormous blade. As the creature stumbled back in surprise, Neptune closed in for the kill.
"THIS IS THE END FOR YOU, MONSTER!" She shouted as she raised her blade over her head with both hands, her entire body glowing with a purple light before she brought the sword down across the creature's chest. Blood sprayed out from the fatal wound as the Vermin was sent skidding back from the attack, its body smashing through everything in its path until it finally crashed violently against the cave wall. Releasing its grip on its sword, the monster struggled vainly to keep itself standing, but after a few seconds its legs suddenly gave way and it slumped to the ground with a thud. After a moment, its eyes dimmed, signaling its defeat.
Neptune remained still, keeping her guard up as she carefully watched the monster's motionless body. Once she realized the creature was not going to get back up, she relaxed her stance. It's finally over. She thought to herself. Yet despite her victory over the Guard Vermin, a bitter feeling rose within her chest. She and Compa had lost someone they considered a friend. Natsu… Neptune tightened her grip on her weapon at the thought of the pink haired boy, feeling both sadness and guilt. Though her current, more mature mind told her it wasn't her fault, she still felt that she could have prevented his death. Had she transformed sooner, then maybe he would have still been standing alongside her and Compa.
Letting out another sigh, the lilac haired woman began to slowly descend towards the ground. Once her feet touched the cave floor, she turned around just in time to see Compa running up to her.
"That was amazing, Nep-Nep!" The pink haired girl cheered as she came up to the woman and threw her arms around her for a tight hug. "You really were able to beat that Guard Vermin. I'm...I'm glad you're okay." She said in a whisper, full of happiness and relief.
A look of surprise flashed across Neptune's face at the sudden action, though it was soon replaced with a small smile as she returned the hug. After a moment, the pink haired girl pulled back and began to stare, and needless to say it was beginning to make the lilac haired woman feel uncomfortable. "I-Is something wrong?" She asked awkwardly.
Compa merely shook her head. "No, nothing's wrong. I'm just surprised at how different you look now. It's like you grew up all of a sudden." She replied with a thoughtful look.
"I don't really understand it myself, to be honest." Neptune said as she brought her hand up to her face with a slight frown. "I heard a voice speak to me when I was hiding from that creature, and it helped me transform into…this."
A puzzled expression quickly formed on the pinkette's face. "A voice?" She questioned.
Before Neptune could sate the girl's curiosity, a noise suddenly drew their attention. Turning towards the origin of the sound, they saw that the Guard Vermin was struggling to stand up, its eyes flickering as it stubbornly clung to life.
"I-It's still alive?" Compa stuttered out shock.
Clicking her tongue, Neptune shifted back into battle mode. "Persistent beast. Just die already!" She shouted angrily. However, just before she could finish it off once and for all, the woman was abruptly enveloped in a bright light, which soon faded to reveal Neptune in her smaller form with a broken weapon in hand. "Hey, what gives?!" She cried out at the sudden inconvenience.
"Why'd you change back, Nep-Nep?!" The pink haired girl exclaimed in a panic.
"I didn't do it on purpose!" The loli retorted.
"Well, hurry up and change again!"
Neptune closed her eyes and concentrated, trying to recall the sensation she felt when she transformed previously. When nothing happened, she began to progressively sweat, until her eyes finally snapped open. "I-I can't! It's like I'm on a cooldown or something!" She exclaimed with frustration.
"Grrrrrrrrr…"
Both girls gulped as the Guard Vermin released a growl, its bloodied form slowly limping towards them. Fortunately, it was far too wounded to move properly, giving them an advantage.
"L-Let's get out of here, Nep-Nep!"
Neptune had no qualms with Compa's suggestion as they both prepared to high tail it out of the cave.
RUMBLE!
The two girls, along with the Guard Vermin, suddenly staggered as the ground shook briefly.
"Oh, what is it this time?!" The loli complained with annoyance.
Compa fidgeted slightly as she looked around in concern. "Please don't be another monster…" She mumbled quietly to herself. They already had to deal with one dangerous creature, they certainly didn't need another one rearing its ugly head. Before she could continue that train of thought however, she felt the surrounding temperature begin to slowly rise, much to her confusion. "Hey Nep-Nep?"
"Yea, Compa?" Neptune replied a she continued looking around cautiously.
"Is it just me…or is it getting warmer all of a sudden?"
Neptune paused for a moment before her brow furrowed in confusion as well. "…Now that you mention it, it is starting to feel a little stuffy all of a sudden." She said as sweat began to form on her face.
The Guard Vermin seemed to notice the change in temperature as well, as it was now looking about the area in a distressed manner.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake again, this time starting off slow before steadily growing more powerful with each passing moment. Cracks began to form in the ground between the two parties, and as the temperature reached its peak, the floor violently split apart as an enormous stream of fire escaped from within. The flames shot up towards the ceiling as a super-heated gust of wind swept through the area, buffeting everyone present.
I-It's so hot. The nurse in training thought as she and Neptune felt the immense heat wash over them.
"…Man, what a pain."
The two girls' eyes went wide as they heard a voice speak from within the fire, one that they were sure they would never hear again.
As the flames dissipated, a familiar figure suddenly jumped out of the hole in the ground and landed before the two girls in a low crouch. His clothes were in tatters, save for the white scarf wrapped loosely around his neck, and the bandages that once covered his upper body had been torn to shreds, revealing chiseled pectorals and abdominals marred by numerous cuts that were still in the process of healing.
Expressions of utter disbelief formed on the girls' faces as both they gawked, unable to believe what they were seeing.
Before them was none other than Natsu, who was alive and well.
The pink haired boy slowly rose from his crouch to his full height, a serious expression on his face. Once his obsidian orbs landed on Compa and Neptune however, it quickly shifted to surprise before he gave a closed eyed grin. "Yo!" He greeted casually with a small wave.
Seeing that it was indeed Natsu standing before her, Compa shakily brought her hands to her mouth as tears began to fall from her eyes. I-It's really him…Natsu…Natsu's alive! She thought with immense relief.
Neptune had a few tears in her eyes as well, her own face expressing joy at seeing the pink haired male again. Alright, Pinky! I knew he wouldn't bite the dust that easy! She cheered internally.
The slayer continued grinning at his two companions like an idiot, before a noise drew his attention towards the Guard Vermin. "Heh, that's right. I'm back you ugly bas-" He began, only to pause mid-sentence upon finally taking notice of the creature's wounded state. "Whoa, what the hell happened to you?" He questioned while scrunching his face in confusion.
The monster merely snarled at the boy in response.
Natsu raised an eyebrow. "Touchy. Well, I guess it doesn't matter in the end. Normally I wouldn't try fighting a wounded opponent, but…" The slayer trailed off, his expression suddenly becoming angry. "...You tried to hurt my friends." As soon as he finished those words, his right hand came alight with flames, shocking everyone present.
H-His hand's on fire?! Compa and Neptune thought simultaneously.
Bending his knees, Natsu launched himself at the Guard Vermin while rearing his flame-cloaked fist back. "I'M GOING TO TURN YOU INTO ASH!" He roared at the top of his lungs.
Watching as the pink haired boy approached, the Guard Vermin could do nothing but ready itself as best as it could against the incoming attack. Gathering what little strength it had left, it reared its own fist back to meet the boy's own.
Nearing his target, Natsu threw his fist as the creature quickly mirrored his action. When the two attacks collided however, the slayer's burning punch broke right through the Guard Vermin's armored hand, causing it howl in agony. Not stopping his attack, the pink haired boy pushed forward, breaking through the rest of the monster's arm before eventually making his way up to its shoulder, setting the rest of its body ablaze. The Guard Vermin's roars intensified as it stumbled around, flailing its remaining arm in a vain attempt to put out the fire was threatening to burn it alive.
Jumping back from the burning creature, Natsu landed on his feet and took a deep breath. "FIRE DRAGON'S…" He felt his magic swell within him as fire began filling his lungs, and upon reaching their capacity, he unleashed his signature spell. "ROAR!" The slayer exclaimed as he released large stream of fire from his maw, which quickly raced towards the Guard Vermin.
Unable to fight back, creature gave a final roar of defiance before the rushing flames washed over its body, ending its life for good.
The dragon slayer watched silently as his flames continued to burn for a few seconds before slowly dissipating into numerous embers, revealing only scorched ground where the Guard Vermin once stood. Satisfied with his handiwork, he turned back to Compa and Neptune, only to stumble back as a purple and white blur slammed into him. "T-The hell?!" He exclaimed, before looking down to find Neptune latching onto him while looking up at him with stars in her lilac colored eyes.
"That was awesome~!" The loli exclaimed in amazement. "The way you burst out of the ground all cool-like! You looked so badass! And that flaming punch, oh man, and then you literally breathed fire! It was soooooo cool~!"
The dragon slayer sweat dropped at Neptune's words. "Err, thanks?" He responded with uncertainty, not at all expecting to receive such praise from the loli. Usually she only gave him teasing or annoying remarks.
Neptune merely smiled widely before she pulled away from the boy, much to his relief. As he turned to regard Compa, he found the pink haired girl rooted in place while staring at him with wide, disbelieving eyes, causing him to frown slightly in concern.
"Uh, you okay there, Compa?" He called out to her.
The aforementioned girl blinked, her expression suddenly becoming strangely blank. For a moment she merely stared at him motionlessly, before her lower lip began to tremble and tears formed in her eyes.
"NATSU!"
Natsu's eyes widened as he found himself being tackled to the ground by the pink haired girl, causing him to yelp in surprise. "H-Hey, what's the big de-"
"Y-You're alive…!" The slayer froze when he heard Compa's trembling voice, her hands gripping the remains of his waistcoat tightly as she buried her face in his chest. "W-When you got h-hit by the Guard Vermin's attack…I thought...I-I thought you had died!" The pink haired girl cried.
Natsu's eyes widened once again at those words, before they softened as a small smile spread across his face. "It's okay Compa. I'm right here." He said gently as he wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back soothingly, the pink haired girl saying nothing in response as she continued to sob into the boy's chest.
"But how did you survive the Guard Vermin's attack?" Neptune questioned with a curious glance.
Natsu gave a derisive snort at the question. "I've been hit with worse." He replied. While the Guard Vermin's attack had hurt like hell, it was far from being powerful enough to kill him in comparison to some of the spells he had been hit with in the past. "Though it did manage to push me pretty deep into the ground and knock me out for a bit when it exploded. When I came to, I was buried under a ton of dirt and rocks, so I had to dig my way out. Wasn't exactly a fun experience."
The loli only gaped at the male pinkette with disbelieving eyes. An attack like that only knocked him out? Just what the heck is this guy made out of?! She thought in bewilderment. Even when she had transformed, she was still wary of the Guard Vermin's powerful attacks, knowing that if one had hit its mark, she would have suffered some degree of damage.
"But what the hell happened to that thing after I got hit by its attack?" The slayer questioned with a frown. Poor bastard looked like it had run into Erza after having her cake ruined.
At that question, a smug grin formed on Neptune's face. "That was all me!" She said cheerfully while gesturing to herself with her right thumb.
Now it was Natsu's turn to gape. "W-What?!" He exclaimed disbelievingly. He then looked down at the remains of the girl's weapon in her hand and frowned. "Like hell you did!"
"But it's true!" Neptune retorted with a cute expression, waving her arms childishly in an effort to look more convincing. "While you were busy napping in the dirt, Compa got taken captive and I had to fight for my life! Then I heard this mysterious voice, and it helped transform into a beautiful Goddess with the power to strike down that big bug! If it wasn't for that, Compa and I would've been goners!" She ranted.
The slayer merely furrowed his brow at the lilac haired girl's tall tale, but before he could refute her words, Compa spoke up.
"Nep-Nep's telling the truth." The pink haired girl said as she pulled back from the boy and wiped her tears away with her finger. "I saw everything. Nep-Nep was covered in a mysterious blue light, before she suddenly changed! She was all grown up and started beating up the Guard Vermin like it was nothing!"
A conflicted look formed on Natsu's face as he listened to his fellow pinkette's words, still unconvinced that the lilac haired girl had managed to wound the arachnid-like creature to such an extent. "…If you say so." He grumbled in response, simply accepting the explanation for the time being.
Neptune frowned at the boy's dubious expression. "Well, what about you, mister?" She questioned while placing her hands on her hips. "How do you explain all that fire business?"
Natsu didn't even hesitate to answer. "Oh, that? That was just my magic." He replied nonchalantly.
Compa and Neptune both blinked at that. "Magic?" They both repeated, to which the boy nodded in confirmation.
"So you're like a wizard or something?" The loli inquired with a curious expression.
Again, Natsu nodded. "A mage, actually." He corrected, though it wasn't that big of a deal to him really. Wizards, mages, sorcerers…they all used magic, and thus were all the same in his eyes.
At the boy's response, awed expressions formed on girls' faces.
"Wow...You're an alien who can use magic. That's incredible!" The nurse in training exclaimed with amazement.
"Geez Pinky, you're like a main character straight of a Shounen manga." The lilac haired girl added her own two cents in with a giggle.
The girls' respective responses caused Natsu to frown, before he let out a sigh. "...Whatever. Let's just get the hell out of this place." The slayer said as he stood up. He then offered a hand to Compa, who gratefully took it.
"I can't argue with that." Neptune readily agreed.
Compa nodded her head in agreement as well. "I wanna go home and take shower…" She replied with small whine. After running around the cave, and being covered in sweat and dirt, all she wanted was a hot shower to wash away the grime.
As the trio prepared to leave, Neptune noticed something gleaming out of the corner of her eye. Turning her head, she saw the purple crystal she had found earlier laying on the ground amongst some rubble. Oh, I completely forgot about that thing! The loli realized. It seemed she had dropped the crystalline object at some point during the Guard Vermin's attack and hadn't realized it. Even through the entire battle, it had somehow survived unscathed.
Not wanting to go empty handed after everything that had happened, Neptune quickly ran over to the crystal and grabbed it, making sure to stuff it into her sweater's right pocket.
"Let's go, Nep-Nep!"
"Coming~!" The loli yelled as she chased after the two pinkettes, unaware that the crystal had begun to glow faintly inside of her pocket.
·····Now Loading·····
The cave turned out to be a bigger pain to explore than the group had anticipated, with many twists and turns that looped back into previously explored areas or out outright dead ends. Despite this the trio persisted, unwilling to give up so easily, and they were eventually rewarded with a tunnel that led towards a random area in the Virtua Forest.
"Oh fresh air, how I missed you~!" Neptune exclaimed happily as she threw her arms out and took in deep breath.
Compa on the other hand simply collapsed to the ground with a look of exhaustion. "I thought we would never get out of that place…" She groaned out pitifully.
Natsu chuckled at his fellow pinkette's words. "We still need to walk back to the city." He pointed out, eliciting another groan from the pink haired girl. "It's too bad that little trip to the park turned out to be a bust, though."
The pink haired girl let out a sigh at that. "Not only did Nep-Nep not remember anything, we ended up falling into a cave and ran into a big, mean monster."
Hearing the pinkettes' conversation, Neptune quickly spun around to face them. "I wouldn't say it was complete waste of time. Not only did I find out I could transform, but I also brought this with me!" She said with a smile as she reached into her pocket and presented the purple crystal to the two pinkettes. "Tada~!"
Compa went wide eyed at the sight of the gemstone. "You brought that with you?" The nurse in training questioned.
The loli winked in response. "I'd say it's a nice little reward for all the trouble we went through."
Natsu stared at the object with a curious look. "What the heck is that thing anyways?" He questioned with a frown.
Before either of the girls could come up with a response to the boy's query, another voice beat them to it.
[That object is called a Key Fragment.]
Everyone's eyes grew wide as they suddenly heard the same feminine voice within their heads.
"Who's there?!" Natsu shouted in a demanding tone as he looked around the area, his fists coming alight with fire as Compa quickly got to her feet and began to look around warily.
Neptune, however, was quick to recognize the voice. "Wait, that's the mysterious voice I heard from before!" She exclaimed towards the two pinkettes, causing them to turn to her with surprised looks.
[Please calm down, everyone.] The mysterious voice pleaded. [I simply wish to speak with you three for a moment.]
The slayer quickly frowned at those words. "And why should we listen to you?" He retorted with narrowed eyes.
There was a pause as the voice became silent, no doubt contemplating her response. Before she could speak, however, Neptune suddenly spoke up in her stead.
"I think we should give her a chance." The loli began, causing Natsu and Compa to turn to her again. "I mean, she did help me with that giant bug back in the underground cave after all. She can't be all bad."
Hearing that, Compa quickly nodded her head in agreement. "I agree with Nep-Nep!" She said with a smile.
With the nurse in training on board, Neptune turned to Natsu with a pleading look, who merely looked back with an impassive face. The two stared at one another for several long seconds, before the boy dismissed his flames and he released a grumble.
"…Fine."
Neptune's face immediately lit up as she threw herself at the male pinkette and hugged him, much to his annoyance. "Thanks, Pinky!"
"Yea, yea, I get it!" Natsu growled as he forcibly pried the small girl away from him, before addressing the mysterious voice. "We'll listen to what you have to say, but if you try anything funny, I'll make you regret it." He warned in a threatening tone.
[Then you have nothing to worry about.] The voice spoke in response, giving everyone the sensation that she was smiling. [Well, before I begin, I should first introduce myself. I am Histoire, a tome who watches over the world of Gameindustri. It is nice to meet all of you.]
The trio blinked at that. "A tome?" They repeated.
Histoire hummed in affirmation. [Think of me as someone who watches the happenings world and records everything.] She explained. [I know of all things that have happened in Gameindustri, from events to the names of all of its inhabitants.]
Compa blinked at that. "Even me?" She questioned while pointing at herself.
[Of course, Compa. I've known about you since the day you were born.] The tome answered, much to the girl's disbelief.
As the pink haired girl was left awe struck, a confused expression suddenly formed on Neptune's face. "Wait a minute...Histoire...tome...? Why does all that sound familiar?" She suddenly questioned aloud.
[That is because we have met once before, Neptune.] The tome revealed, causing the loli to blink in surprise. [I had contacted you telepathically while you were unconscious, but before I could fully explain everything, you had woken up.]
A look of confusion flashed across Neptune's face before it shifted to one of realization. "Huh, so that's what that was. I thought it was just some weird fever dream." She said with a chuckle.
[No, it was indeed real.] Histoire replied with an exasperated tone. [However, now that you're awake, I would like to ask you for a favor.]
At those words, Neptune blinked in surprise. "You want a favor from me?" She questioned while pointing at herself.
[I do, Neptune.] The tome stated in a serious tone. [Please, break me free from my seal!]
Upon hearing Histoire's plea, the trio became silent as their eyes widened with both surprise.
"You're sealed away?" Compa questioned after a moment, to which the tome responded with an affirmative hum. "But how come?"
[Long ago, I was sealed away by the first Goddess of Gameindustri, left to watch over this world until the time came that I would be needed once more.] Histoire explained. [And that time is now. But only through the collection of the Key Fragments can I be set free.]
At those words, a look of confusion flashed across the loli's face. "You mean this weird crystal thingy?" She asked curiously as she and the two pinkettes stared at the purple crystal in her hand.
[That is correct. The one you are currently holding is Planeptune's Key Fragment. There are three more remaining; one residing in Lastation, another in Leandbox, and the final one in Lowee. On top of that, each one is hidden away and guarded by powerful monsters.]
Neptune was quick to pale at those words. "That sounds pretty dangerous..." She said, suddenly feeling uneasy about the tome's request.
[It is.] The tome admitted. [However, if you can release me, then in turn I will be able to restore your forgotten memories.]
Now that got everyone's attention. "You can fix Nep-Nep's brain loss?" Compa questioned with a hopeful tone, not noticing the lilac haired girl sputtering at her error.
[Err, I believe it is called memory loss, but yes, it is well within my power to fix it.]
"Oh, well why didn't you just say so sooner? I'll search high and low for those fragment thingies!" The lilac haired girl said with a bright and determined expression.
Compa was quick to frown at those words. "Are you sure about this, Nep-Nep?" She questioned with concern.
The lilac haired responded with a nod. "Of course! Even though it sounds kinda scary, if it means I'll be able to regain my memories, then I'll risk it." She said resolutely. "And besides, I kinda owe her for giving me a hand with the Guard Vermin."
The nurse in training was taken by surprise from the loli's words, before her expression became serious. "I see. Well, if Nep-Nep is going on an adventure for these Key Fragments, then I'll join too!"
Now it was Neptune's turn to look surprise. "You wanna come along, too?" She questioned, to which the pink haired girl nodded. "But what about nursing school?"
Hearing that, Compa shook her head. "The school's been closed for a while due to increased monster activity, so I can pick up where I left off once it reopens." She explained, before giving an angelic, closed eyed smile. "Besides, we're friends, aren't we?"
The loli was now on the verge of tears. "C-Compa…" She said in a low tone as she smiled happily at her friend.
"…Plus, if I let you go off like how you are now, you'll probably end up getting yourself killed." The pink haired girl added while still smiling.
Neptune suddenly blanched and staggered back at the remark, feeling as though an arrow had pierced her chest.
Off to the side, Natsu watched the scene with some amusement. In truth, he wasn't entirely sure what to think of the whole situation, with this Histoire person suddenly asking for Neptune's help and claiming she could fix the girl's amnesia, so he simply chose to keep quiet. However, after witnessing Neptune's bright and determined expression, he couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic.
An adventure, huh? Natsu thought with a small smile, remembering his own adventures he had experienced with his guild mates.
"...Hey, Gameindustri to Pinky! Can you hear me?!"
The slayer was abruptly pulled from his thoughts by the sound of Neptune's obnoxious voice, and he looked down slightly to find the diminutive girl standing before him with an annoyed look on her face. "You say something?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow.
The loli puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms over her chest. "Geez, didn't you hear what I just said? I was asking if wanted to come with us, too." She explained.
Natsu raised his eyebrows in surprise at those words. "You want me to come along?" He questioned, receiving a nod from the lilac haired girl. "But why?"
For a moment, Neptune looked contemplative as she hummed thoughtfully, before giving a sheepish expression. "Well, I don't really know why, to be honest. It just feels right asking you, ya know?" She explained with a light shrug before giving a bright smile. "Besides, it'll be more fun if we're all together, don't ya think?"
For a moment, the image of Neptune was replaced with that of Lucy's, who was smiling brightly at him while holding a flier for a job in hand.
"Let's go on a mission, Natsu!"
Natsu's eyes went wide for a moment, before he suddenly began to chuckle, much to Neptune's chagrin.
"What's so funny?" The loli asked with annoyance.
"Nothing, I was just remembering something." The slayer replied as his chuckling died down, before a grin spread across his face. "Sure, I'll tag along with you and Compa."
Neptune's eyes widened before her expression immediately did a one eighty, becoming one of delight. "Awesome! With the three of us together, nothing will stop us from collecting those Key Fragments!" She declared with a confident look while pumping her fist into the air.
Natsu chuckled at the loli's reaction while Compa let out a giggle.
[E-Everyone…] The tome trailed off with a trembling voice, grabbing everyone's attention. [...Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me.]
"Hey, save the tears for when we finally release you, Histy." Neptune remarked, causing Histoire to sputter abruptly.
[H-Histy?] She stuttered out at the nickname the loli had just given her.
Compa suddenly raised her hand. "Can I call you Histy, too?" She questioned innocently.
By now, the tome had become silent, before she finally released a sigh of what sounded like resignation. [...Fine. You may both call me that.] She said with reluctance, causing the two girls to cheer briefly. [At any rate, you should all rest up and prepare yourselves for this journey. It will be a long and perilous one, so please be sure to take care of yourselves.] Histoire advised, getting nods from the trio.
"You can count on us! Just hang tight and well free you in no time!" Neptune proclaimed with a confident smile, Natsu and Compa standing at either side her with their own confident expressions.
[Thank...you…] Histoire responded, though her voice suddenly became distorted, much to the confusion of the three present.
"Are you okay, Histy?" Compa questioned with concern.
[Using...Fragment...unicate…out…ti…m…e…..] Again, the tome's voice was heavily distorted as her words trailed off, making it difficult to understand what she was trying to say.
"Hey, Histy!" Neptune called out, only to receive no response. "Histy!" She called out again.
Silence.
"...Sounds like she's gone." Natsu said after a moment.
Neptune pouted at that. "Aw man, I wanted to talk with her some more." She mumbled out dejectedly.
"Don't worry, Nep-Nep." Compa said with an assuring tone. "Once we free her, I'm sure you'll be able to talk to her all you want!"
The loli immediately perked up at those words. "You're right, Compa!" She said, before suddenly breaking out into a full sprint towards Planeptune's main city. "Come on, slowpokes! Those Fragments aren't gonna collect themselves!" The loli yelled out.
"H-Hey, don't leave us behind, Nep-Nep!" Compa yelled as she began chasing after the smaller girl.
As the two girls ran off, Natsu merely sighed before taking off himself, but not before silently contemplating whether or not he had made the right choice in agreeing to join the two girls on this journey to free this mysterious Histoire individual.
Well, it sure as hell beat being confined to a small apartment while sitting around doing nothing. And who knows, maybe this little adventure would prove interesting after all.
"Pick up the pace, Pinky!"
That is if he doesn't strangle Neptune first.
"Shut it, you damn midget!"
·····Save Complete·····
So I tried to get this chapter out before the end of November or early December.
That clearly didn't happen.
At any rate, if you haven't seen the update I posted on my profile page, life happened and I couldn't find the time to work on ReBirth Dragon until the past two months. Thankfully, with the holidays over for the most part and work winding down, I'll be able to dedicate more time to the story. I've got a pretty good idea of where I want to go with the plot and what changes I want to introduce to it.
On a side note, I recently played the original Hyperdimension Neptunia (got all the endings) and I found myself enjoying the game quite a bit, despite the repetitive gameplay, annoying battle and healing system, and the rather bland soundtrack (Also, recruiting the other CPUs with only a level 50 Neptune was a PAIN.). The plot was a lot darker than I imagined, though I did find it a bit refreshing compared to the remake. The enemy roster was also very different, with some pretty interesting monster designs like the Leviathan and Centaur (also, some of them were MASSIVE compared to Nep and co.). Needless to say that some of these monsters will be making their way into the story, as I feel they'll be a nice contrast compared with their remake counterparts. Oh, and in case you're wondering, the beam attack that the Guard Vermin did in this chapter is from the original game as well, as there are several more of the things you have to fight later on the story and will use that particular attack at low health.
Also, I'm thinking of adding some of the characters from the original game into the story as well. I rather liked Nisa and 5bp, Gust was meh for the most part, and Red was…well, Red. Maybe have them make little cameos in some side events I'm thinking of doing without actually adding them to the main plot.
So yea, that's it for now. Until next time.
P.S. Though I'm a little late, Happy New Year's everyone!
[Updated 8/28/2018]