The easiest way to recognise a planeptunian tourist? Just look for whoever is wearing a choker, chances are good they're from there.

-Unknown

The ten white pillars of judgement stood, majestically and unbroken since time immemorial. They overcame every trial ever imaginable, housing beings of uncomparable power and their eternal wisdom; none could ever see to match them in their sheer knowledge and power. The red marks below their rounded tops spoke of indiscriminate suffering for anyone who dared defile...

Something slammed into the pillars of judgement and blew them away.

IF blinked, wondering what in the world she had just fantasised together there. She cast a glance at the scoreboard up top, noting that yes, Noire had achieved yet another strike. The numbers were not particularly to her liking, and she knew the CPUs held back already.

Then again, she had hardly ever been bowling before; it was not much of a planeptunian activity and Compa was not the type to enjoy this. IF's hands were slick from oil ever since she first touched one of the balls and the unusual movements were at least decent for a small workout. She still did not get the right angle to hit the pins dead center, but she was getting better.

Not that it stopped her from coming in last; her opponents kept having more crosses than numbers behind their names, each one indicating a strike.

Over her musings, Nepgear downed another nine pins and quickly followed up with a second ball to get the last. She also smiled over her friend's faintly unhappy expression.

IF knew they were holding back. They probably had been planning to do so since the start. When their sole human companion turned out to be horrible at bowling however, their performance had dropped a little more. They tried their hardest to give her a chance to catch up without being obvious about it. IF learned, but she was aware she would not be able to close the gap before their time was used up.

It was cute in one way, but a little depressing in another. Not that IF minded too much; she spent all her time on getting good at fighting, so it made sense to be bad at this. Her fitness and combat practice did help get used to bowling in some ways, but she had never been a particularly fast learner.

Instead of contemplating herself any further however, IF took her turn and sent the ball rolling; eight pins dropped, with the outermost two still standing. She clicked her tongue and searched for another ball of her preferred weight, picking it off the stand in the same motion as she slipped her fingers into the holes. She took a step back, dashed forward, let go... and missed when the ball went off-course.

The young woman sighed and went back to her seat while Uni stood to take her turn. She quietly observed both Black siblings as she waited, not even paying much attention to the pins. Even though Uni remarked about never having beaten her older sister at this before, she was easily in second place.

Noire, in turn, had brought them here in the first place. She said it was to celebrate Uni's apotheosis and to see Nepgear and IF off properly, as they were leaving in the evening; none of them knew whether that was really all there was to it, but nobody questioned the elder CPU. Uni was happy to spend time with her sister and friends, Nepgear was happy to spend time with Uni, and IF was happy she was out of dangerous waters with the Lastationites.

The memory of light returned gently, reminding IF that there was more she was happy about; she got to see it a second time, which was more than anyone could ever ask for.

Nepgear quietly watched her fellow Candidate, unaware of the thoughts going through their human companion's mind. IF in turn was eyeing the bowling hall again; it was quite large, with no less than twenty tracks neatly arranged next to each other, a second hall connected to it, and a medium-sized restaurant built into the center. The walls were kept in a soothing navy blue, with ocean motifs all around. There were even lightshows in the evening, but Nepgear and her had to leave for Planeptune before that time.

Not to mention that Uni's transformation sickness might start to act up before then. They were making the best of the time they had until it began.

And so the matches continued, bringing IF in dead last every time except the last. Which was only because they formed teams there, her being paired with Noire and playing decently enough not to ruin the CPU's victory. Then their two hours were up and the four left their track; with regard to IF, Noire maneuvered them toward the restaurant for some burgers and fries. They could have ordered while playing, but doing so did not feel right.

Not to mention that IF had to focus on the game anyway. Now that they were done, the brunette curiously watched the Candidates tear into their food. Most of Uni's attempted manners and grace were gone, the raven-haired girl eating away without a care for appearing refined. Instead of being confused, annoyed, or unhappy however, Noire wore a visible smile over her sister's changed mannerisms.

That, IF decided, was weird. Granted, Uni was not in a professional setting and could thus allow herself to leave her manners behind for the moment; it still felt alienating to see someone happy that their sibling just stuffed her face.

Then again, CPUs did not even need to eat in the first place, they just did it for the novelty.

IF shimmied around on her bench until she sat a little more straight, taking another bite out of her meal while eyeing the Candidates; she did not feel like interrupting them, though. While they were busy, her mind returned to a curious matter of her own and she cast a glance toward Noire. "Um, mind if I ask you something?"

She kept her voice low and neither Uni nor Nepgear appeared to listen, though they might be doing it anyway. Noire's eyebrow rose almost imperceptibly before being lowered again, but the elder CPU motioned for her to go on immediately as she finished chewing. IF nodded in turn and asked, though somewhat slowly as she was still trying to array a useful string of words. "So, you said earlier that you, uh, grew up by asking others for help?" Noire nodded slowly. "So, I was wondering... what about the others?"

Now the Candidates did react noticeably; they did not interrupt their own quiet conversation, but IF saw Nepgear's head turning. She also saw the curious glimmer in her eyes, rolling her own over the realisation that she had been silly to assume they were not listening.

However, Noire merely leaned back in contemplation. Her red eyes remained on IF, who felt a little like being dissected for a moment. Then the ruler of Lastation shrugged. "Vert and Blanc you will learn about in time. You never met them, so I do not know if they are okay with you knowing." IF blinked at that, accepting the dismissal on White Heart and Green Heart with a nod. "As for Neptune... well, she grew up the day she realised she could not laze around all day. From what I heard, she used to just lie around and do nothing productive at all as a child."

IF's first thought was that sounded silly. Her second was that apotheosis could be triggered in weird ways.

Her third thought went on the line of this being utterly fitting for Neptune.

Going by their amused expressions, Nepgear and Uni thought similarly. IF mulled it over for a moment, but found nothing wrong with the idea. "Makes sense. I mean, I know Nep does her work, but she is so happy-go-lucky you wouldn't expect it just from watching her while out and about." To which Noire offered a sage nod.

Silence descended once again after that, though Uni soon broke it with a curious look toward IF. "Did you really never go bowling with your friends before?"

The brunette considered the question for a moment, trying to think back. The other girls had dragged her to various places over the years, and she did not outright say she never went bowling before. "I think I went once or twice with Compa and Nepgear."

However, Uni shook her head for some reason. "No, I meant with your other friends." There was honest curiousity there, which alienated IF all the more while Nepgear started to fidget.

"What... other friends?" She asked slowly, carefully, wondering why Uni assumed that she would have more than Compa and Nepgear. Her question appeared to surprise both Lastationite CPUs, seeing how they blinked at her.

Noire was the one to answer her, though Uni flushed over her blunder at the same time. "No one ever mentioned anything about your social activities. You appear like someone easy to talk to, so we both assumed you would know more people than you apparently do."

The admission made IF shrug; she never really cared much about the matter, though it was faintly amusing that these two of all people thought of her as someone easy to talk to. "Not really," she started thoughtfully, "my schoolmates were all weirded out by me or didn't get along with me, or something like that. The first time anyone actually talked to me was Compa when we started High School."

"What about the other children at your place?" Nepgear chimed in curiously. She had never asked before, though she probably had her own thoughts about the matter for a while.

IF shrugged in response. "Same thing. All the younger children see me as more of a surrogate big sister, so they don't count, either." For some reason, the other women at the table appeared increasingly uncomfortable with the topic. Even Noire, who had not shown any hints of being fazed by anything before. Amusedly, IF changed the subject a little. "Honestly, from the look of it, I have the feeling only oddballs gravitate to me for some reason."

As she gave the people surrounding her a demonstrative look, a round of smirks broke out. Uni appeared willing to argue for a moment, but forewent it in favour of a sage nod reminiscent of her sister. "And don't you forget it!"

IF snorted over that while Noire and Nepgear smiled. The brunette considered keeping up this line of conversation, but soon found something more interesting to talk about. Right in front of her, at that.

"By the way... looking at you, one could think you are a moment away from feeding each other."

The Candidates blinked at her and turned to look; only then did they realise that they sat basically shoulder to shoulder, having inched closer to each other without even noticing. Much to IF's amusement, both of them immediately shimmied away from the other and flushed a deep scarlet.

The human girl wondered once again how two CPUs could not see how obviously into each other they were. She did remember that she promised to Noire she would not push too much, though; that was a promise she intended to keep.

Considering the older deity's amused expression though, a little teasing was fine.

. .

. .

Unfortunately, the time of relaxation soon found an end. Noire had already excused herself and went back to work, so it was only Uni seeing IF and Nepgear off.

Red eyes flicked back and forth from human to CPU, a restless mind making sure both of them accounted for all of their things. Uni could not stop herself from leaving her eyes on Nepgear a little longer than IF each time. It was not intentional, but she knew at least one of the other two noticed.

Ever since that comment IF made earlier, she had been thinking, considering, and attempting to push past her own mind. Improper, a part of her called it. Too outgoing, another chimed in.

She needed time to get over this and make up her mind properly. Uni's attention was only half there when she fist-bumped IF as they said their goodbyes, offering her a half-pitying smile when she began to mutter about the jetlag and trying to sleep on the train.

There were many other people on the platform, seeing that it was a bit after four in the afternoon. Her friends would reach Nicos around noon of planeptunian time.

Friends. Now she had two of them, and so many other things to consider alongside this change. However, the reason she regarded the other people was entirely different.

"I'll see you soon, Uni," Nepgear's gentle words brought her back from her ruminations. She was still the tiniest bit taller than Uni herself and now it was forever, as neither of them would ever change in appearance again; yet Nepgear fidgeted a little, obviously also still remembering the barb IF threw at them earlier. "I will message you once we get back, okay?"

"Yeah, that's fine." Uni offered her a smile and, following an impulse, stepped forward to hug her tightly. Nepgear stiffened in surprise, but quickly relaxed into the embrace as the CN1368 rolled into the station.

Her mind was still in turmoil, but a plan began to form in her mind. Only IF was close enough to possibly notice anything that was not hidden by their hair, so she took her chance and acted. However, even with her mind pushing past all the embarassment and other internal barriers it threw at itself, she only managed to brush her lips over Nepgear's soft cheek for a moment.

With how she stilled, Nepgear had felt it well enough; Uni's hold on her increased in strength for a moment, unwilling to let go at all. "I, I need to do a lot of thinking still, so... please wait for me until I'm ready to say it properly?" Her words were barely more than a whisper, but she was right next to Nepgear's ear. There was no chance for her not to have heard. The faint shiver running through her only confirmed that.

Uni knew she liked Nepgear more than just a friend. Nepgear knew it as well. In turn, Nepgear knew she liked Uni the same way, and Uni knew this just as well. They had known for years.

Yet, one had been too busy trying to be someone she was not to put the proper thought into this, and the other was too timid to try pulling her out of it and speak up first. Even now, Uni still had to ask Nepgear to wait for her; she knew she wanted to be the one who said it first.

And knowing Nepgear...

"Sure."

...she would accept her selfishness with but a tight squeeze of her own.

Uni had no heart, at least not biologically. She had a Share Core that fulfilled a similar function, but this was definitely not the source of pleasant tightness in her chest at that moment. "Thank you," she whispered before letting go. A glance to the side told her that IF had been watching the approaching train, completely oblivious to their quiet conversation. She knew her face was scarlet, as was Nepgear's, but they both brought their skin under control by the time the arriving travelers had filed out.

A soft smile worked its way on Uni's face, remaining there as she waved her friends goodbye and watched the train roll out soon after. She remained on the platform until it was out of sight, like a few others who saw friends or family off.

Then she turned and left the station, smile still in place. In just two weeks, everything had turned around for the better. Things were looking more positive than they had in a long time.

In the privacy of her own mind, Uni cheered.

. .

. .

"People of Planeptune," the ruler's voice carried over the gathered people. "Today is a most wonderful day, doubtlessly for you and me alike. For today is the eighteenth anniversary of my cherished sister's birth." It was clearly audible to those present as well as everyone watching the proceedings on live television, the joy these words brought to Purple Heart.

It was but a few days after their departure from Lastation, the sixth of October. Birthday of Purple Sister. Purple Heart stood in front of the vast hall, smiling upon those of hers that had arrived in person. Camera-drones hovered all around her, catching the Lady from every perspective; this speech was transmitted to the entirety of the nation

"However," she continued gently, "today will not just be a day of celebration for the previous reasons. As the years passed on and my Purple Sister grew, many have been wondering when she will be ready to appear in public for the first time."

By herself, IF could not help but smile over the proceedings. Her team was right next to her, hanging on the CPU's lips while people began to whisper excitedly at the implications of what was said.

Alexis was the first to join, shaking her head in disappointment. "For real? Goodness gracious, why can't Nepgear be here?" The question almost made IF snort in mirth, but she managed to suppress it. Their lilac-haired friend had brought them tickets for the first row that IF knew she just reserved earlier instead of buying them. Not that it mattered much; only the first six rows for the CPUs' public events were available in form of tickets, the rest was first come first served.

It made sense, seeing that the people wanted to see their Lady in person; arguably, those most willing to arrive early should be the ones to be allowed in.

Meanwhile, IF shrugged in response to Alexis' question; André gave her a suspicious glance, but did not say anything. Gabriel was busy watching Purple Heart in awe, his ears slightly red; the latter spoke more of the pull deities could have than of his orientation, seeing that previous conversations had made it rather clear he liked men.

Granted, many more than just Gabriel were positively entranced by the goddess on stage; even IF had trouble not to stare at times, though she managed to keep her mind on other things. Then again, she reasoned, Neptune might have been going for this reaction when she chose to wear an eloquent black dress with purple trims.

"I, too, was wondering," Purple Heart finally continued with a warm smile; her words made the crowd shut up in moments, easily reaching even the furthest corner of the hall without any need to shout or use a microphone. Part of it was the clever architecture leading sound, part of it IF knew to be some kind of magical effect. "But there is no more need to ask without receiving a response."

And then they all felt it from behind them, a second aura. Weaker than the Lady's, but unmistakably divine. Heads turned and people gasped at the sight; which included her own companions when they beheld Purple Sister for the first time, pink hair cascading down her back as she walked down the central aisle with measured steps. The hem of a white dress gently rustled around her calves, it having blue trims that made the getup appear even more reminiscent of her older sister's. In fact, the two dresses were basically identical if not for the difference in colour and proportions.

"As during this year," Purple Heart noted, this being the first time since her appearance that not all eyes were on her, "my beloved sister has entered adulthood and will officially serve as Planeptune's CPU Candidate from now on." IF could not help but smile over her friends' dumbfounded expressions. Nepgear continued her stride toward the room's front while everyone else applauded. With all attention on the now revealed Candidate, nobody noticed the few who failed to join in, their eyes wide as saucers.

"Unbelievable," André muttered to himself while Gabriel's "Seriously?" was almost inaudible. Alexis merely stared, unable or unwilling to form any words.

IF slowly joined the roaring applause and cheering, though she held back on it; not that it stopped the others from giving her looks, which she averted her gaze from. It was rather clear she had known, and they knew as well.

If only she had Compa around, but her friend was down with a severe cold and fever.

Thankfully, Nepgear soon took the attention from her as she strode past them. A quick glance was sent their way, which found IF smiling at her friend. The young CPU did not react to it, though her eyes quickly returned to the stage she stood in front of. Then she took off the ground, hovering upward fluidly. One and a half metres it was to reach the higher ground; Nepgear landed softly, her continuous practice paying off in this very moment.

She exchanged a nod with her smiling sister and turned around to overlook her people, a gaze filled with confidence and love. "There is still much to learn and a lot to do, but I am confident I can live up to everyones' expectations," she began with a wide motion of her hands. "Now that I can finally lend my power to my nation, I promise I will do as much as I can to protect our people from the monsters that plague us so."

She paused for a moment, eyes wandering over the crowd. Her gaze flicked to some of the arrayed cameras as she folded her hands, arms still straight. "And, as this is my first chance to do so, I want to thank you, all of you. From the Green Hill up north to the Droidan Sea in the south, I am so very grateful to every one of you." She had begun to outright beam at the people while IF raised an eyebrow. With Nepgear's next words, she understood: "Were it not for your faith in my sister, I would not be here today. Thank you."

Silence reigned for a long moment as the people comprehended Purple Sister's words. Then the applause began anew, even louder than before. IF joined without hesitation and so did the rest of their team.

She was glad how well this went for her friend.