Many things happened in my life, important things even. But thinking back, I feel that the time from sixteen to twenty was the most turbulent. Joining the Guild, becoming a Maker and getting used to the job, but also several outstanding events that feel so long ago. Of course there were hijinks with the other Makers, there always are, but those don't count. Those were trying times, but now that I'm retired and think back to them, they were also fun.

-Isabelle Fontaine

IF was not amused.

In front of her sat a large, creamy cake that almost collapsed under the amount of frosting on it. All around stood three CPUs, four Makers, and a bunch of beaming children congratulating her.

She knew something was up the moment Mari asked her to come over, as not one of her birthdays went without someone deciding to celebrate it. No matter how often she told them they did not need to, here they were with another cake. IF could not help but shake her head, though the fond smile could not be removed from her face.

"You guys, seriously." She took a seat at the table, followed by everyone else; Uni was outright laughing at her while Nepgear at least hid her grin behind a hand.

"Aww, we love you too!" Neptune answered with a cheer that drew laughter from various people.

RED and Falcom grinned openly, both having traveled from Lastation to join the occasion. Steamax stood to the side, his metal face unreadable; in turn, K-Sha's eyes were on the cake and she almost drooled at the sight of it. Knowing her prominent sweet tooth, IF could understand.

Once she sat comfortably, the young woman took a deep breath and made to blow out her candles. Then she frowned, breathed out, and instead snapped them all out with a quick surge of her Awakening. The presence of her aura momentarily quieted the chatter, but it returned even more excitedly just a moment later.

Except that a bunched up napkin bounced off her face a moment later. "Boo," RED called out from the side, "that was cheating! You cheated! Do it properly! Boo!"

Now even Nepgear cracked up while her older sister joined the booing. IF snorted as well, noting that Compa kept laughing in the background. At least people were having fun.

"But seriously, I'm not a kid anymore." She looked specifically at Mari as she said that, knowing exactly who the main culprit was. Her former caretaker merely offered a cheeky smile as she raised a cutting knife and IF rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, spare me. You say it every year."

The pinkette nodded in response. "Wonderful, I do not even need to repeat myself anymore." She always said that IF would never cease to be her little girl, cementing that they were about as close as mother and daughter.

Mari carefully began to cut the cake under the watchful eyes of all the children and K-Sha, everyone awaiting the moment they could have a slice. IF huffed and threw a glance to the happy couples watching the whole procedure with more focus on the people than the baked goods.

Compa and Hubert, RED and Falcom, Nepgear and Uni. She also noticed that some of the older boys and girls were well aware of the fact they were surrounded by attractive people, but she figured they would behave. Not like anyone except the first two would actually mind being looked at; the Makers and CPUs were quite used to it after all.

The presents followed soon after, a small load of them; many were handmade by cheerful kids and teens, as well as various kinds of knick-knacks from most of the rest. IF just rolled her eyes with most of them.

"It's pretty hard to get an idea what you'd want if all you do is work and train," RED told her sagely after a while, handing over a present of her own. "From Chris and me." It was larger than most things IF had gotten so far, big enough to barely fit into her arms.

"I do other things, I just don't like talking about my hobbies." IF carefully unwrapped the present, eyes on her work.

"Oh come on, what's it you do? Write smut on the internet? Because let me tell you I did that for a while and it was fun." Most of the teens around blushed, with the younger children being unaware what the word 'smut' actually meant. Falcom facepalmed while K-Sha started giggling.

IF herself merely offered a raised eyebrow and a flat "No". Then the box she had been working on was finally freed and she could take off the lid, revealing... a plush bear. White as loweean snow, big enough to rival a small child, and with beady black eyes that made it look more cute than it had any right to be.

She blinked down at the present, then looked back up to see RED beaming. Sighing, the brunette pulled the toy out of its confines, having to sling her hands below its arms to hold it properly. "Seriously?"

"Seriously."

Especially the younger children were interested in this one now, but giving it away, though tempting for a moment, felt unfair to RED. If she and her girlfriend picked it together, this was definitely not meant as a joke. IF turned the plush toy around and looked it over as she held it at arms length, then put it aside. "Just finding a place to put that one will take me a while, but thanks."

Next up was Compa, who gave her a white and blue watering can. That was actually useful because the one IF had was not in good shape. Her friend noticed while tending to the plants during the brunette's stay in Leanbox. Once she had thanked Compa however, RED was on her again.

"Aha!" was all she called, but it conveyed the redhead's intent well enough. IF just shook her head. and went on with it.

From Mari, she received another slightly larger package. It revealed to them a sundress in blue and silver, IF's favourite colours. She looked at it and then at Mari, who knew her taste in clothes and that she did not feel confident wearing anything except her usual outfit outside at this point.

IF only donned other clothes while at home or at the gym, the first of which most were unaware of.

"Methinks, oh sister of mine," Neptune began to stage-whisper, a wide grin displayed for all to see, "that we never see IF wearing anything different." The birthday girl's eyes narrowed immediately and she protectively clutched the dress against her chest. One by one, her fellow Makers began to mirror that same grin. Except for Steamax, who merely stayed out of the matter.

"That I agree with, oh sister of mine," Nepgear stage-whispered back. "Do you suppose we can, ah, implore her to change into this wonderful dress she has just been gifted?" Force. She meant force and everyone knew it. "What do you think, oh sister?"

Basically everyone had caught on by now and expectant looks were on IF; she remained still, unwilling to budge on the matter, but Uni gave her a sympathetic clap on the shoulder. "Just give in. Knowing those two, they'd strip you down themselves if need be."

"Guilty as charged," Neptune chirped with a V-sign, to some laughs.

IF sighed and got up. "Fine. Uni, you help me put this on." The lastationite Candidate did not complain, merely following her as she made her way to the bathroom. IF had little idea about dresses, but she knew they had to be fastened on the back.

The two left behind a giggling crowd, with some discussing whether IF would actually go through with it. Even the people who lived with her for years had rarely seen her in anything but her coat, the black set she wore underneath, a tracksuit, or her gym clothes. Even the sight of her in pyjamas was a rare one, with Compa having seen more of that one than anyone else due to their semi-regular sleepovers during their final year of school.

"It's nice to see how everyone gets along," Compa told her 'uncle' Steamax, who chuckled quietly and nodded at her.

"That it is. Who would have thought that your antisocial friend ends up like this?"

Hubert joined their conversation there, thoughtful but with a smile quite similar to his girlfriend: "She never struck me as antisocial, more like... hm. How to put it?"

He considered for a few moments but did not appear to find a fitting description. Steamax, understanding the problem, offered his own interpretation: "She likes the company but does not need it?"

"Exactly!" The young man excitedly pointed at the android, then sheepishly lowered his finger. "Sorry. That's basically exactly what I meant, though."

"In other words," K-Sha chimed in from the side, having heard their conversation, "you say she's a cat." This drew snickers from the two remaining CPUs. K-Sha herself turned to look toward where IF had went, her words playful. "Would she be a cute kitten or a lioness, though?"

Her question was more of a joke, but Compa answered her anyway: "I think it depends on the situation. IF is really sweet, especially with children."

"I'm not surprised." The Lastationite nodded toward the rather large group of children and teenagers celebrating IF's birthday with them. "Everyone here loves her, we can all see that. Speaking of seeing," she continued a moment later, being one of the first to spy the woman herself as she returned.

IF's hair was not long enough to run down her back, but it still put her completely pink face in a chocolate brown frame. Light cloth swished around her calves as she walked, rustling with each step she took in the sudden quiet. Due to the suspenders leaving her shoulders bare, one could see both the muscles coiling beneath her skin and the blush that likely covered her whole body.

The young Maker barely managed not to grimace, her face turning truly crimson only when RED started catcalling her loudly. Neptune joined the redhead a moment later, which did not help the situation. If anything, it made the ensuing laughter worse.

IF walked a few more steps, then slumped onto her previous seat while the mirth subsided. "I hate you all," she told the room at large with her arms crossed, which ignited snickering.

Uni simply rejoined Nepgear, having made it around the commotion without taking the spotlight from IF. Upon taking her place again however, Neptune immediately bumped her sister's hip to push the native Candidate closer to her partner. Both of them threw her unamused looks, but the older CPU merely grinned and gave Nepgear a thumbs up.

As IF returned to opening presents, Mari wandered over to the deities with barely visible trepidation and a curious expression. "Now, is this another happy couple I spy?" The pinkette eyed both Candidates curiously, to which they shrugged.

"Psst," Neptune stage-whispered to her sister, "I think she figured us out." Her sister sighed at that, having noticed the matter herself. Without waiting for a response, the purplette turned back to Mari. "And for the record, you're right on point. And below the curve, most only get an eye for this when they get older."

Mari only barely began to count as a middle-aged woman for a Planeptunian, slowly approaching her fifties as she was. A few first wrinkles could be found on her face and she found her body slowly beginning to degrade, but she was still good to go for another five decades at least. Neptune's words might have annoyed her a little if it had been anyone else, but she understood that the woman before her was ten times as old.

Moreover, the presence of three goddesses flustered her, even if she managed to hide it outwardly. She never really knew what to say since she realised Nepgear's identity, with the other two following soon after.

In a weird turn of events, it was Uni who saved Mari the trouble of finding the right words: "All the children here are so well behaved. I was a little surprised, knowing what Planeptunians are like." She indicated for Neptune, who pouted.

Mari flashed her a thankful smile while turning to look at everyone, them expectantly watching IF unwrapping more things. "I wouldn't say that, really. It's Isabelle, her being around makes them behave. I guess I'm a little too soft on the rascals, but they won't get away with their shenanigans when it's her. They can't outrun her, either," she added with a chuckle. The Candidates joined her in that.

"It's a bit of a shame," Neptune told them once they calmed down. "In another life, she might have been working here or in another place like this. I can imagine how much she'd love it."

Mari did not hear, Uni merely assumed it to have been a trick of her mind, but Nepgear clearly noticed the somber tone her sister had there. She did not comment, long since aware that Neptune took each failure personally.

And again, it was Uni who salvaged the conversation with a shrug: "Eh, I think she's plenty happy where she is right now. And if it weren't for her, I probably would not be an adult or with Nepgear." The Lastationite took her girlfriend's hand for emphasis and the two shared a smile.

"The same for me," the younger purplette added.

Neptune knew exactly what they were doing, but she let them cheer her up. Then all the potentially uncomfortable thoughts were pushed away when Compa made a loud and surprised sound. "W-What? How? Why?! Who is that from?"

Their attention turned back to the present-laden table, where the peach-haired woman had her eyes glued on a small cover in her hands. All those who had not paid the unpacking any mind so far were tuning in again.

Meanwhile, IF read through a card that had been with this present. She openly smirked at her best human friend and snatched the cover out of her hands. "A good friend sent it from Leanbox."

One could almost feel the envy radiating off of Compa, a rare sight indeed. Mari blinked at them and turned a questioning look to the CPUs. Neptune interrupted her giggling to tell her: "5pb. sent that over a few days ago; her newest tracks, and they'll only hit the shelves in three weeks or so."

"What are you waiting for," Uni called over to the birthday girl, one hand pointed at the sound system people set up earlier, "put it in!"

Not much later, the first of twelve songs began to play; this record had been dedicated to the Makers, a song for each of the current heroes.

IF finished off the final few presents, among them a set of ribbons from Nepgear and a new pistol from Uni; the latter was custom-made and explained why she had gotten various questions from her lastationite friend over the previous month.

Despite the embarassment, she greatly enjoyed herself.

::

In the evening, once she made it back home and put away all the various things she got, the young Maker slumped down on her bed and stared at the ceiling for a long moment. Then she got back up and moved to water her plants.

She had six large clay pots neatly arrayed in her living room, placed where they would get most of the sunlight streaming in throughout the day. Several flowers had already grown out of the soil in each of them, a small start to figure out if she wanted to keep going. The new watering can did its job quite well.

That was when IF heard her phone going; she turned her head toward the device on the table, then put down the watering can to stroll over there. It was from Alexis.

None of her old teammates had had time to attend her party, she was told; they were all busy and IF did not mind, such was life. It did make her curious about what Alexis would want from her at half past nine in the evening, though.

Once she opened the message however, all the young woman could do was sigh.

Ever the conspiracy theorist, Alexis sent her and everyone else from the old team a reminder of the Heroine Theory and a news article about a baby dying in an accident. Just as according to that theory, the girl that died had been named Arfoire, allegedly after an old heroine the Deity of Sin abhorred and whose very name she never wished to see again.

"Arfoire, huh?"

IF muttered the name thoughtlessly, then shivered when she felt something inhuman and horrifying rest Her gaze on her. It passed as quickly as it appeared, leaving her be.

'Why do people keep naming their children like that if it gets them killed?', she could not help but respond. It made no sense to her, especially with something actually happening once one spoke the name.

It only took a few moments until, of course, Gabriel answered her: 'Because people are stupid. Welcome to life.'

She could not help but smile when she read that.

. .

. .

Another week passed quietly and with it did October. November had barely begun when IF found herself in Histoire's office for a meeting.

Their last conversation was not forgotten, but neither of the two brought it up; the Tome offered a friendly smile to IF, who returned it without much thought. "So, what did you need me for?"

A small stack of papers floated over to the young woman in response as Histoire explained: "I believe you know of LAN Castle?"

"The basics. Made all of Sharicite, maybe the place where the old goddess used to rule?" The last part became a question while IF eyed the tiny blonde, whose smile was remiss of both confirmation and denial. "Eh, worth a try. Why don't you actually say whether it was?"

Histoire made a vague motion toward a wall, encompassing an area much further. "A habit, really. If I started to confirm or deny matters so far back, someone might end up convincing me to give out more, and more, and more. So I remain quiet about the matter on principle." The papers finished arranging themselves in IF's hands and the Tome returned to the matter at hand. "Either way, the nations clean out monsters living within the place every ten years. A safety measure more than anything else, as the area's unique properties attract quite powerful creatures. No Cliones, at least not normally," she added after a moment of thought.

IF nodded in understanding and looked down at the papers she held. "So, on a guess, it is time again and you want me to help out?"

"Quite correct." Histoire absorbed the tome her avatar normally rode on into its wings and brought out a chair, making it more easy to sit properly. "This is an endeavour all four nations undertake together. As is customary, a Maker from each nation will be accompanying the respective Guild Branch's forces and army complements." She did not need to tell IF what their job there was, it was always the same thing.

"And you want me, the youngest of the bunch?"

The blonde actually chuckled at that before offering IF a mirthful smile. "Steamax already went twice and K-Sha does not feel herself a proper planeptunian representative. They both pointed to you in this case."

Because of course they did. IF just rolled her eyes and went with it. A chance to see LAN Castle in detail was well worth it either way.