Hyperdimension Neptunia is owned by Sega, Idea Factory and Compile Heart and whomever else worked on it.

I'm not going to cover every single detail from Neptunia VII, because that would make this 1 million words long, but I'll focus on Neptune more than anything else. I'll still work on Echoes of the Life though. Just thought I should do something else since that one shot idea was so good I couldn't help myself.

Chapter 1

After saying their goodbyes to Uzume, Umio and the other version of Neptune, who had run off after Croire, the two CPUs walked through the portal that Histoire had set up.

"Well, it's about..." IF trailed off, staring in shock as she saw not only Nepgear but someone she hadn't seen in over three years. "Nep? Is that you?"

"Yeah." Neptune nodded as she looked at IF and felt a rush of emotions that she wasn't prepared to handle. "...Iffy, I'm going to embarrass you now."

"Huh?" IF barely had time to ask that question when Neptune was hugging her and bawling her eyes out. "WAGH!" She yelled as she crashed to the ground with Neptune on top of her. "NEP?! What are..?" She trailed off as she listened to what Neptune was sobbing out.

"You're alive! You're so young! You're alive! I missed you so much!"

"Wow, Iffy!" A new voice spoke up and Neptune lifted her head, tears falling from her eyes freely as she looked at the blurry, due to the tears in her eyes, image in front of her.

"C-Compa?" Neptune asked and the girl nodded, only to find herself tackled to the ground while Neptune hugged her tightly, sobbing about how it was good to see her and how she missed her so much.

"Goodness, I'm not sure if I'm jealous of you two or not." Nepgear said before she was tackled to the ground by a purple blur.

Histoire watched the events unfold with a mixture of amusement and worry. She decided that she could allow Neptune to get this out of her system before saying anything, so long as it didn't drag on too long.

After all, she was certain that Neptune had quite the story to tell them.

(-)

Three hours later...

"Gosh," Neptune said as she sat at the table and rubbed the tears on her face off, "I'm sorry, everyone. It's just been so long since I saw all of you that I completely lost myself. If I was back in the other world, I know that they'd never let me live it down."

Hell, Vert still brought up the time Neptune had almost unleashed an apocalypse involving spaghetti, turtles and Blanc's hat.

"It's okay, Nep Nep." Compa smiled at her friend. "We're just glad you're back."

"So why don't you catch me up on what's been going on since I was gone?" Neptune asked and smiled at Nepgear. "I bet you've had some real adventures since being made the full-time CPU, huh?"

For some reason, Nepgear flinched. "Well, about that..."

"Huh?" Neptune blinked a few times. "Oh! Lemme guess! You haven't had any big adventures since becoming the CPU?" She shrugged. "That's fine, I'm sure that you've done fine running Planeptune."

"Speaking of which..." Histoire began. "It's good that you're back, Neptune, but things are going to get pretty hectic pretty quickly."

Neptune blinked a few times before her eyes widened. "Oh! That's right! It's only been a few years for you, hasn't it?" She stuck her tongue out and lightly rapped her head with her knuckles. "That's right! Silly me! I bet you're worried that I'm going to try and take everything back." She shook her head. "Nah, I'm sure that things'll be fine with Nepgear running the nation as the CPU."

Again, Nepgear flinched and Neptune was starting to think something was wrong. "About that, sis..."

"What? Do the people not see you as the CPU or something?" Neptune frowned at the thought. "But you're probably an awesome CPU, huh?"

IF sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Nep, could you calm down? I get that you're happy to be back, but you should let Gear explain things."

"Huh?" Neptune tilted her head in confusion. "What's to explain? Oh no!" Neptune gasped and her eyes widened in shock. "Nepgear turned herself into a cyborg, didn't she?"

"Ge Ge's a cyborg?!" Compa gasped, her eyes going white and blank. "When did that happen?"

"I did?!" Nepgear gasped in shock. "Histoire! Help! I turned myself into a cyborg somehow!"

Both IF and Histoire sighed with IF palming her forehead in annoyance. "Not even back for a day and you're giving me a headache, Nep." She took a deep breath. "I was going to tell you calmly, but..."

"But what?" Neptune looked at IF in confusion. "I've been gone for so long that I'm sure that Planeptune moved on already."

"Dammit, Nep..." IF groaned in annoyance. "Will you stop interrupting and..."

"Ge Ge's not the CPU!" Compa finally cut in, causing Neptune to slowly blink as the information settled in.

"...What?" Neptune asked and looked at her sister. "Nep Jr... What's this about you not being the CPU?"

Nepgear had a nervous look on her face. "Well... See... I knew you were just sealed away, not dead, and..." She poked her fingers together. "I couldn't take over Planeptune as the CPU." She flinched at the flat look Neptune gave her. "Please understand, I..."

"You know that you should have become the CPU." Neptune told her, her voice soft, yet surprisingly firm and for some reason Nepgear, Histoire, IF and Compa were unable to say anything while they listened. "If not for the Histy in Ultra Dimension finding you guys opening a portal between Hyper Dimension and whatever dimension that was, I would have been gone forever."

Nepgear flinched under the disappointed look Neptune had on her face. "But..."

Neptune continued on, "I'm happy that you kept my spot, Nepgear, but you should have taken it." She closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh. "Phew!" Neptune suddenly smiled brightly. "It's been awhile since I had to do that to someone."

"Um, Nep?" IF spoke up, sweating softly. "What was that? It was like you were in HDD and putting out a "bow before me, mortals" aura around you."

"Was I?" Neptune asked, a smile on her face as she had her eyes slightly open. The others nodded and she rubbed the back of her head. "Sorry, I've had to deal with lots of stuff. Plutie and P-Ko could be really demanding some days." Among other things, but Neptune didn't think her friends and sister could handle knowing all of the more interesting things that she had done over the centuries.

Histoire coughed to clear her throat. "Neptune, I'm glad you're back. If you'd like, I'll give you the run down of what's going on right now."

Neptune sat up more and focused on Histoire. "Lay it on me."

As she listened about the CPU Shift Period and what it meant, Neptune nodded. "I see... So no matter what we do, bad rumors are going to pop up, huh?"

Histoire mentally winced and prepared for the worst. "...Yes."

"Hmm..." Neptune tapped her chin. "Ah! I got it!" She stood up and grinned. "I've got a great plan!"

"...Why am I suddenly worried?" IF asked while Compa and Nepgear both giggled nervously. "So what's your plan, Nep?"

"Simple!" Neptune smiled at her. "I'm gunna go out quick."

"Huh?" IF, Compa and Nepgear all gawked at her.

"Histy!" Neptune smiled at the fairy. "Just wait, you'll see what I got planned." She ran to the door before stopping and turning to the others. "Oh! Before I forget! Histy! Nep Jr.! Iffy! Compa! I'm back!" She then ran off before they could answer her.

"I worry now more than ever." Histoire sighed and hung her head. "Nepgear, IF, Compa, could you three make sure that Neptune doesn't do anything... Extreme?"

"Of course." The three nodded and followed after Neptune.

Histoire sighed softly and smiled. "Welcome home, Neptune."

(-)

In Ultra Dimension...

Plutia sighed, looking at the table sadly.

"You need to eat." Histoire told her.

"I can't die from starving..." Plutia answered her and slowly kicked her legs back and forth. She looked up as she heard a shuffling of feet. "Peashy, what are..."

"Let's get Neptuna back!" Peashy yelled and slammed her hands on the table, frowning at Histoire. "It's been two months! I want Neptuna back!"

Histoire shook her head. "No, you know that it won't be possible. Our dimensions are sealed from each other, there's no way to get her. I know that you both love her, the people of Planeptune love her too, and..." Histoire smiled softly. "I miss her too, but she waited for a thousand years to go home, we should respect her wishes."

"It's not fair!" Peashy pouted. "I want Neptuna back! I want her back now!" Her eyes watered up. "I want my mommy back!"

"Really?" A new voice spoke up and all three of them stiffened in shock and turned to see the new person. "A child of a CPU? Interesting. Yes, you two are CPUs as well, huh?"

"Who are you?" Plutia asked the newcomer.

Said person smiled at them. "I'm just someone who can help you get your precious Nepsy back."

Both Plutia and Peashy stared in shock at the proclamation.

Uh oh! Mysterious new person making... We all know who it is.