Well, hello again!
A new chapter before one month mark, whaaaat!
Okay, I actually planned to put this out a lot quicker, but I seemed to have underestimated its length and overestimated my abilities...
Oopsies... Gomen...
But it's here now, and everything is okay!
7000 words... Again, apologies if you find any mistakes as this was revised twice.
Sooo.. Yeah!
Enjoy~
P.S: I'm not a sadist I swear.
=-HyperDimension Neptunia : Pursuing Perfection-=
=-Chapter 2: Empty Heart-=
"Mmh…"
Ugh… I feel so sore. Almost like I've slept on an iron bench.
Where… Am I?
"And here you see…"
Hmm…? That voice…
Could it be…?
I look up instantly, ignoring the left-overs of slumber on my body.
I'm greeted by an overwhelmingly bright setting. I instantly regret my hasty actions and squint until my eyes adapt to the lighting.
It takes nothing but mere seconds before the pixel-like picture sharpens, creating a much more distinguishable scenery…
I'm in my classroom.
I seem to have slept mid-class… Surprised as I was not scolded.
I look around: the students seem to be focused entirely on the lesson.
Still not fully awake, I creek my neck to face front. Before me was the science teacher, Mr. Sumika.
He possessed crimson red hair and a pair of kind, charming black eyes. Having his usual attire on, it was a blend of a white, buttoned shirt with its long sleeves rolled up to his elbow level, -that was one of his habits, even in cold, rainy days- with a simple red necktie.
Below all that was a pair of brown khakis pants followed by a duo of darker brown classic shoes.
Had I to summarize it, he looked official and strict.
Finally, I regain my full conscious.
I could use a stretch or two, but that would be far more satisfying once class ends.
Thump.
A loud clap perks my head up. Easily distinguishable, it was created by the wings of a book clashing together.
"I hope you had a good nap, Miss Puriolét." Mr. Sumika stares dead into my eyes, his sharp gaze provoking a shiver across my body, like an electrical shock just hit me…
I stiffen up and my back straightens. "S-Sorry!" I yell apologetically, a sweat drop forming on my forehead. "I-I stayed up all night yesterday doing homework, so I dozed off before realizing it…"
My ears pick up on muffled chuckling. Produced by my sarcastic class-mates… "I can't believe she slept mid-class."
I try my best to maintain an apologetic, honest look. But something was amiss… Mr. Sumika, he…
He wasn't even flinching! His predator-like stare locked with my uncertainty. "S-Sir?"
"Always with your pitiful excuses." His hands drop to his sides before fully turning to face me…
…Is anyone else seeing this?!
"It seems even such a simple task as sitting and focusing is too much for you, how utterly disappointing." Cold, cutting words escape his mouth. All I am able to do is crook an eyebrow and remain silent. Looking around would only grant me view of front-facing mannequins, almost… People didn't move!
"Unfortunately, that only makes us look ever dumber for entrusting you with our lives."
…Wait, what?
"Is that not right, class?" Just as he says that, everyone turned. Their necks snapped violently towards me, producing an almost mechanical sound.
Their gazes were multiplications of his: judging, piercing, unforgiving and grudging.
"H-Huh…?" I can feel my heart beats accelerate, my eyelids raise and my vision focuses on any minute thing. "W-What do you mean…?"
"How did it feel, Miss Puriolét? Enjoyed your slumber? Was it peaceful? A beautiful utopia? A safe haven? A shelter for you to hide at and forget about all your problems? Letting us all suffer?" He steps forward.
I shiver, the first thought that comes to mind is rocketing up and running, running to just anywhere, anywhere but here!
"We trusted you." Everyone nods up in military-like unison.
"We believed in you." Another synchronized acknowledgment.
It was then that I realized, the corners of my eyes were blurry, unclear and foggy…
Tears began forming and I was crippled. My hands stuck to my sides, my legs grew cold and numb. Breathing became hard and uncontrollable.
"You betrayed us, you failed us!"
A sudden, brutal, ear piercing smacking sound vibrates the room, causing me to flinch instantly.
That sounded like…
Trembling, I hesitantly let my lids part ways, only to be greeted with a horrifying scenery.
Everyone's necks were broken, their heads creating a perfect ninety degrees with their bodies.
But… Why were their gazes not wavering…?
Why… did they all look so hateful and despising…?
Without realizing, I let out a muffled weep and my gaze narrowed…
I… I'm scared!
Someone…
Please… Anybody…
M-Make it stop…!
"I believe Miss Puriolét deserves to experience a bit of our suffering, no?" Abruptly, the professor walks down his pedestal, stopping right in front of me. He ignored my suffering… No, he did not care about it in the slightest. He just stares at me, with the same blank eyes.
Unprecedentedly, my peripheral sight picks on a sudden orange illumination which I instinctively recoil from. I could easily feel my whole being vibrating from the strength of each heartbeat.
Everyone… Had fire roaring beneath them…
Everyone… But me.
It ate furiously at their flesh, but they still remained expressionless.
But even then, even when no one said a single thing…
I…
I could hear cries… Weeping… Bawling…
Kids sobbing…
Women screaming…
Men dying…
It's pressing on my mind…
It…
IT HURTS!
"You can't run from this, Miss Puriolét."
I hear the sound of marching, like an army had made a step…
The circle of burning humans grew closer.
T-There is no way out of this.
I'm completely surrounded!
I want to yell! I want to scream! I want to cry and bawl my eyes out!
But the very thought of doing that…
Burns my throat like hell was ignited in it!
"You have to suffer."
His voice like a command; each time he spoke… the pupil inched closer and closer…
"You have to pay for your incompetence!"
The ring of fire closed… I am left sheer from losing my mind. I stared at the circle of acquaintances and they pierced right into my soul…
The smell of their burning flesh irritates my senses.
The heat generated enough to vaporize the tears on my face, I no longer feel wetness on my features, but only sweating from the hell flame.
"BURN!"
GASP!
"HAH… HAH…!"
…
"HAH…"
I NEED AIR!
"HAH… H-Hah… I-I…"
"I'm… Alive?"
In the midst of my attempts to calm myself down, I am struck by an undeniable fact…
My hand, -which was against my chest-, crosses with my vision.
"I'm… Fine?"
A colossal wave of disbelief surges through my mind… No way…
Instinctively, my eyes dart towards a variety of directions: Left, right, up, down. Giving me a general idea of my whereabouts…
I was home…
No… I am home…
"Huff… Tsk…" Loudly, I sigh breaths of relief, followed by a bitter sound. "It… was all a nightmare…?"
I smile happily. Joy, content, a melody of alleviation courses my every being…
I have to supress laughter. It will seem rather insane for me to wake up and suddenly burst out in amusement.
"Hehe…~" Okay, maybe a chuckle won't hurt.
Golly, I'm so home!
My room, my fluffy pink bed and sheets, my kitty clock…!
Everything is here…
"7:30 AM… Aha, yes. I'm up rather early today…"
Hum, hum, hummm.~
Wait a moment…
"7:30 AM!? I'm late for school!"
I put my celebrative emotions aside and hop off the bed, I'm doomed!
Hastily, I put my blue school uniform on, and readied my bag. If I chew fast enough, I won't have to run with toast in my mouth!
Quickly, my legs trace the way through the hallways and into the kitchen.
Until suddenly…
"Well, someone's up early for a weekend, hmm?~"
…Huh…?
A most gentle and angelic voice pierces—No… It gently brushes over my ears, and makes its presence kindly known…
This voice…
This voice!
Finally, my gaze locks with the cyan haired woman standing behind the counter. She had her usual brown stripped sweater, her favourite black skirt, and most importantly… An angelic beam illuminated her kind features…
"Good morning, sweetie." She speaks again, each tone of her voice filling me with a complex mixture of emotions…
Fear, sadness, grief…
They were all replaced with joy, surprise, happiness.
"MOM!"
I don't dare hold back, and embrace her tightly…
"M-Mom… You're okay…!"
"W-Wow, what's gotten into you?"
Unable to answer, I immerse myself in her divine warmth. I could feel the corners of my eyes getting wet.
Finally, a caring touch is felt on my back…
"Well… Whatever it is, why wouldn't I be okay?" She moves her head closer to my ear, murmuring something. "I told you, I'll always be there for you."
Patting me twice, I take it as a sign to let go.
I really don't want to, but…
"Tell me, was it a nightmare?" She asked, giving a kitchen chair a pull before showing me to it.
I take a seat and fold my hands.
"Yeah, yeah…" As my mom turned back to her cooking, I begin to retail my story. "Where do I even start…"
Taking a breath, I start. "A single night's sleep felt like years upon years of detailed journey… I had moved on from witnessing the end of the world, the deaths of… you, Mia, and Jay… I witnessed Sable's flames devour the world into literal ashes, and right before I died, I was sucked to another world!"
The sound of sizzling meat storms the room and my sense are captivated by the hypnotizing aroma of cooking. "Mhm~, continue, continue."
"I was dragged through this weird, void-like portal that led to a world far different than ours! Even the general atmosphere felt… Lighter!" I pause moments before the grand finale. "I felt really weak then, so I couldn't notice much. All I could tell was that four gorgeous, divine looking ladies were looking down on me, and the dream ended there…"
Putting a glass of my favourite beverage before me, my parent flashes a smile before turning back. "My… I'd rather call that a nightmare more than a dream."
"I only called that a dream because of what happened after."
"T-There is more?!" Audibly shocked, mother turns towards me, blinking twice.
"Y-Yeah…" Bringing the cup closer, I take a sip. The gentle, silky sweetness pleasures my taste buds and shoos away the drowsiness. The power of strawberry juice!
"Soon after, I had this nightmare where I woke up in school… It started normally, and everything seemed perfectly natural. Until suddenly the teacher started to say really… Awful things to me, and everyone—"
"What kind of stuff?" I was interrupted abruptly by mother's interrogative tone.
"Um… It was something about… Being a failure, and… I-Incompetent." I answer hesitantly. It was no secret that such sharp adjectives cut deep under my skin.
"…Mhm… All righty, please continue~." Returning to her old cheerful self, I followed my caretaker as she turned to the pan and flipped the cooking meat which resulted in another loud blazing sound to swarm the whole house.
"Well… After that, I found myself paralysed while the students kept staring at me blankly like mannequins! Alive, fleshy and actual living mannequins, it makes my hairs stand just thinking about it…" I pause, taking the opportunity to take another drink from my beverage. "To sum it up: everyone just caught on fire and slowly approached me before mercilessly dropping on me with their burning corpses…"
I look down.
Sure, everything was okay. I mean, everything was just a dream, yeah? But looking back at it I…
I was mildly hurt.
"And what do you think about it?" She asked again.
Though… How do I answer something like that?
"Of course I am freaked out! I mean… It only makes me a lot more scared to fail anyone in the future now!" I cross my arms, biting on my lip. "Not like I failed anyone…"
"Now, now, dear. What did I tell you about lying?"
…Pardon…?
I can feel the butterflies in my stomach…
"Um… L-Lying?" I faint idiocy, and question her statement with an awkward smile.
"Yeees, lying."
Everything comes to a dreadful silence.
"You did fail us, after all."
…
"There is no use misleading others, sweetie."
She turns…
Turns to face me…
With big crooked smile. Her eyes dripped with blood, creating a couple of crimson red trails on her face…
"Why the terrified mug, A #~0$E?"
Her voice distorts and glitches.
Are my ears playing tricks on me?
Have I gone mad?
The room feels hotter… Scorching even…
"A-Ahh…"
No, no, no, NO…!
The room is catching on fire…
NOT AGAIN…!
I-I can't… Breathe…
N-Not again… P…lease…
"Darling? ~ Are you going to run again?"
S-Stop… Stop using her voice!
"Darliiiing~… Are you going to let my sacrifice be in vain again?"
Suddenly, the same red liquid floods out of her mouth, beginning to create a temporary puddle before ultimately meeting its vaporized ending by the hellish heat….
The same aroma as before lingers again…
The smell, of burned flesh.
…
"Hey… Sweetie? ~" she approaches me. Her knees giving way every now and then, before standing right in front of me…
I can't move…
"I'm going to tell you a really nice secret… Mhmhm~" her hands slowly raise, fingers twitching…
They inch closer, and closer. I can only stare.
The fear within me could easily drive a gladiator into the depths of madness.
"I hate you." Just as she spits poison, my neck senses the hateful grip of her hands…
I… C-Can't…. B-Breathe….
"I hate you, so deeply, my undesired mistake. You have caused me nothing but grief, you have caused me nothing but pain, you have caused me nothing but loss…"
I-It hurts…
P-Please… S-Sto-
"Join me, darling~."
…
"I gave my life for you, so it's only fair that you do the same, hmm?~"
Ah…
Ahah…
"Or do you want to leave your poor mommy all alone in hell…?~" Her grip tightens. I could barely keep my eyes open anymore…
The scenery screams with fire, themed almost like hell. Any sort of air entering my lungs is a putrid mixture of ashes of burnt house proprieties and nauseating, leaking apartment gas.
But even then…
I can't help…
But smile.
"N-No…" I barely shake my hurting head. "I-I don't… want… to… l-leave you alone…"
She laughs menacingly and I giggle in return…
"Take me… with you… mom…"
I don't care…
Not anymore…
I couldn't help anyone back then…
And I can't help anyone now…
Not even myself.
I just…
"Good girl…~ Good girl…~"
Want to see you again…!
"Now… Die for me, sweetheart!~"
GASP!
Sudden awakening befalls a lone girl.
She violently arises from her slumber, almost like a person would after witnessing a mind breaking night terror.
Her hand slammed against her chest, pressing as hard as she could muster while clawing desperately for any atom of air to ease the pain on her void empty lungs.
She wheezed, her eyes reduced to nothing but dots surrounded with red, apparent veins. Cold, freezing sweat dripped from every ounce of her body…
This girl… Looked like she went head to head with death himself, and survived only by luck.
All of a sudden, a gentle sensation invades her back, provoking an instinctive reflex to follow. The once-asleep teenager instantly led a hand behind her, successfully getting a firm grip on whatever caused said sensation.
"G-Goodness… Please calm down!" A soft, child-like voice exclaimed. It's origin visibly startled…
It took no longer than seconds before the hostile entity caught on to her unfriendly actions. She Was holding a young girl, probably in her fourteens or fifteens. She had long, swaying lilac hair with a glorious pair of sightseers of matching colour.
Retracting her hand as quickly as possible, apology dripped from the sorry lass' face. "U-Um…"
"Ouchies…" The lilac haired kid held onto her wrist, shaking it a little before turning her eyes to the concerned companion. "Oh, please don't worry! It doesn't hurt too much."
Gulping, the unknown stranger's worry showed no signs of dwindling. In fact, it was coupled with a bit of trembling.
Nepgear couldn't tell if the girl was cold, or simply that scared. 'It's best if I don't intrude on her private space too much.' She advised herself.
The two were left in a moment of awkwardness. One being too cautious and panicked to form proper words, while the other had to give in-depth thought before striking up a chat.
Finally, the CPU Candidate's lips parted. "You're safe." She straightened her back, beaming a gentle, reassuring smile. "Whatever it is you've been through, you are in safe hands now."
The level-headed teenager pauses. It was necessary to give the nameless girl space to breath and comprehend everything slowly but surely.
Thankfully, her expression softened… A little.
"I know you are probably really confused, but you don't have to rush anything. Please take all the time you need to calm down." Like a caring mother after their child survived a devastating accident, the bastard sword wielder kept her voice low and gentle.
"…" The addressed individual breaks eye-contact, leading her sight to her open palms.
It was then that she noticed… She no longer had her old outfit on. Instead, she had a simple Lilac pyjama of silky and comfortable material.
"S-S-Sorry…" she stuttered.
"Please don't apologize, it's fine!" The tech-genius flailed her hands left and right, almost as if trying to shoo away the stranger's worry.
Hardening her hands into fists, the apologetic figure looked at her companion again, eyes a lot less wary than before. "W-Where… am I…?"
Finally making a proper sentence, the CPU Candidate paid attention to how sore and fatigued the patient sounded. It seemed that the stuttering was mostly caused by a dry and injured throat.
Before answering, the interrogated person took a prepared bottle of water which stood on top of the bedside table, and poured the girl something to clench her critical thirst.
"Please drink this. It's just water, it'll make you feel better." Nepgear did not hand the cup over to the girl. It was left on top of the furniture as to not rush the confused female.
It took the summoned heroine a couple of seconds before she assessed the situation. Her green, emerald irises darted to the glass next to her before hesitantly reaching for it.
Even with her hesitant demeanour, she couldn't hold back on chugging the whole thing down as soon as her lips made contact with life's liquid.
"Thank… You…" She looked aside, her voice undergoing obvious improvements.
"No need to thank me, It's nothing, really." Planeptune's young goddess smiled. "You're in Gamindustri. You were summoned by my sister and the other world leaders."
"Ga…" The mysterious girl frowned, seemingly unable to spell her new world's name.
"Gam-industri." Taking a slower, gentler tone. The CPU's younger sister uttered the name again like a teacher would to a schoolkid.
"Gam… indstree…"The stranger blinked twice. -Unaware of her partial mistake- "W… What's your name… Miss?"
"Oh, my name is Nepgear."
"Nep… Gear." This name easier than the former, the recovering lass was secretly grateful not to embarrass herself again.
"Mhm~ You got it!" Beaming again, the caretaker held herself from patting the girl and giving her a cookie. "What about you? What is your name?"
"A… ah." Suddenly, the asked stranger shook her head. "Mollie… My name is… Mollie Puriolét."
"Golly, that's such a pretty name!" Nepgear nodded. "Okay, nice to meet you, Mollie."
Finally, Mollie put the cup she had been clutching all this time down before resting her back on the bed wall behind her. "So… Why… did your sister summon me?"
"Um…" An awkward set of expressions painted the sailor dress wearing goddess, mustering the best smile she could. "I really think you should rest more before we get to that…" Unexpectedly, that statement earned the sword-wielder a disappointed sigh.
"More work, then…" Young Puriolét frowned. Eyes fixated to the window to her right. "Just tell me… I'm fine…"
"Miss Mollie, please don't try to push yourself too hard…" Her lips pressed together, the angelic deity was awfully concerned and she did not try to hide that. "My sister asked me specifically to let you rest properly before calling everyone—"
Unfortunately, though… "Nepgear… I'm fine. I insist."
A wave of uneasiness brushed over the responsible kid. She knew very well that Mollie was feinting toughness, and that she was anything but what she claimed being. 'It doesn't seem like she will listen to me…'
Defeated, Nepgear got up from her seat, and headed to the door. "As you wish… I'll call them in, then." Wistful, the lilac-haired girl excused herself out.
Desolation Seeped into the room. Filtering through the walls and into the girl's heart. Alongside the many other unwell ideas that spiralled through her mind.
-An idle mind is the devil's workshop-, they say. And that couldn't be any closer to the truth for the pink haired orphan.
"Do you want to leave your poor mommy all alone…?~"
A memory echoed in her mind.
"Die for me, sweetheart!~"
A hand was led to her neck.
'Take me with you… Mom…'
A tight hold gripped on her tender neck.
And strong did it get.
Stronger,
stronger,
stronger—
Knock knock.
She jittered. Instinctively retracting her suicidal palm before realizing what she was mere seconds from doing…
Puriolét gulped down the uneasiness and terror, trying her best at looking normal while crossing fingers that her neck has no marks on it.
"All righty, we knocked and waited twenty seconds! It's barging time!" A childish voice could be heard behind the door. Before the room occupier could acknowledge it, the portal had already swooshed open.
And through it came a wild Neptune!
"The sleepyhead had her eyes on a divine being. The girl that just elegantly breezed through the door was beyond describing, her mere presence astonishing! 'This could only be one person!' the girl thought to herself. It's the protag of all protags! Ladies and gentlemen, my name is NEPTU- BLAH!"
Before her heroic entrance could be concluded, a scolding palm slammed against the tyke's head. "Idiot! She is already confused enough as is!"
The older sister-like figure was none other than the elegant Noire. To Mollie, she had her eyes on a comedic scene including a spiky haired child and her twin-tailed older sibling.
More footsteps could be heard behind the room's walls. Before long, a short, brown haired girl walks in. What grabbed young Puriolét's attention was the hat decorating her small head. "I told you to keep her on a leash until we all got in first." Her voice was neutral and expressionless, as always.
"Don't blame me! I firmly asked her to act like anything but herself!" The red eyed goddess huffed, crossing her arms unhappily.
"You could put a leash on my body, but you will never cage my awesomeness!" Still holding to her head, Planeptune's goddess made a final stand!
"My, I guess there goes our opportunity at looking like proper Goddesses for once." A fourth party joins the room. Vert being the last, she looked rather unsatisfied with her shorter companion's actions. "Well then, let us try not to scare our guest any further, shall we?"
The busty goddess quickly glided her astonishing blue orbs to the seated teenager, whose confusion shot through the roof and pierced the heavens.
"Good evening, young one." Vert greeted Mollie, tracing deeper into the room that grew crowded in less than a minute. "Are you feeling all right?"
Under the gentle, caring eyes of Leanbox's CPU. The checked upon orphan found herself lured in by the mature woman's beauty, finding an easier time coming up with words. "Y-Yes… I'm fine."
"That's good, you had us all at the edges of our seats." She smiled. The no-more Green Heart had no intention of making the girl feel scolded.
"Oh, Except for me, I wasn't sitting." Neptune sarcastically followed.
"You sound awfully happy for someone who spent the rest of the day snoring." Noire smirked, leaping opportunity to poke fun at the short girl's daily habits. "Anyways, I think it's about time we introduced ourselves properly."
The workaholic stepped forward, flicking one of her silky locks boastfully before leading her hand to her hip. "I'm Noire. The Goddess of this world's best nation, Lastation."
Her bragging statement was enough to get the white Goddess's icy blood boiling. The calm ocean was now littered with unstable waves and storms. "I'm Blanc. The Goddess of the real best nation in the world, Lowee."
The contrast rivals shot deathly stares at each other. Mollie could have sworn that an electrical current sparked between the two's line of sight.
"Hmmm… These two just never stop bickering, eh?" The shortest of the crew smiled awkwardly before tuning back her smug. "Like I said before getting ruuudely interrupted, I'm Neptune.~ Your cool and super beloved main character. The Goddess of Planeptune which is also the nation you are at in the day and time of now."
Suddenly, Neptune whipped out a large book with lilac cover. Fancy golden writings engraved its front cover, reading "RULES."
The girl placed it on her free hand before flipping onto the first page. She coughed and indexed over the first rule. "All righteroonies, I'll be telling you your rights so listen up!" She made a gesture. The same motion a person would do to fix up their glasses, only… She had none equipped. "YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SI—O-Oh, whoops… Eheh, wrong page." Awkwardly, Neptune excused herself before flipping over the correct leaf. "There we go! 1:1, if you lewd you get stewed! 1:2—"
Before the random mistress could spill anymore info from the suspicious tome, Vert stepped in. "I believe it would be awfully rude to cloud this poor girl's mind with nonsense this early, Neptune." Audibly unhappy, her eyes narrowed. "I'm Vert, the Goddess of Leanbox. You may call me however you please, dear."
The young flower, drowned in a mixture of confusion and fatigue, blinked twice. 'These are… Goddesses?!' sudden realization struck her.
The girl took no more than mere seconds before nodding to herself. "Lady Neptune. Lady Noire. Lady Blanc and… Lady Vert." she smiled faintly. "I'm… Honoured to be in your presence…"
"Dear, there is no need for formalities. You do not have to be so uptight." The gamer retorted gently.
"Well? What about you?" Noire asked, maintaining a neutral eye contact with the pink flower.
"O-Oh… I am Mollie. Mollie Puriolét." Young Puriolét bowed down. Though, it looked almost uncomfortable, since she was seated.
"Ooh, fancy stuff!" Neptune commented with a hint of amazement.
"Um… I come from Tsuki no Hanna, also known as The Moon's Flower."
"The Moon's Flower…?" Blanc's interest was piqued.
"Y-Yes… It's the world that I lived at. A world protected by the blessing of the Pink Moon, before…" Suddenly, she paused. The four could distinguish instability in the teenager's breathing.
"Before… What?" The workaholic asked, half-heartedly hoping her suspicions wouldn't prove as facts.
It was simple for all the four to guess, really: The aura they felt upon opening the dimensional gate, the eerie feeling of vagueness and emptiness, and the beyond critical state young Puriolét was at, at the time of summoning…
All four gulped down anxious.
"…Before it ended." The stranger looked aside before deadpanning.
The four world leaders all recoiled. One half consisting of black and white winced, before looking down with no sufficient consolations to come to mind. While the other fifty percent had their eyes jarred wide open. Disbelief all over them.
"Heavens…! You mean to be the sole survivor of your world?!" Vert asked, not shying away from the concern riding her voice.
Mollie had to supress tears, so she only nodded.
Quietude casted upon the meeting. No one dared say a word.
Nothing could be told.
The CPUs know that their main duty was to protect their nations, their lands, their homes.
But a sudden realization gave them all cold feet… What if, say, they failed to do that…? What if they had to witness the deaths of those dear to them? Their sisters, their oracles, their friends…?
Each CPU could see herself in this poor girl's shoes. Each CPU realized that they wouldn't end up any differently. Each CPU felt that this broken soul could have very well been like them, a cheerful flower raised carefully, blooming with happiness before all of it ended…
"…So, do you… Have any more questions…?" The same hollow sound that brought everyone grief was the one bring life back to the chatter.
The holy quartet threw concerned glances at one another. Moments after, Blanc folded her hands. "What are your powers, if I may ask?" Intelligent as always, the bookworm quickly evaded the tense topic.
Remaining cool and collected, the young flower slid her feet off the bed and sat up on its edge, attempting to stand up. "I… Can show you."
Mollie gave her eyes a shut. She looked to be focusing on something unknown to the others before an unforeseen glimmer illuminated her being. Starting with her hair and swirling delicately around her body. As soon as the light reached her feet, it brightened stronger.
The quartet could sense a faint hint of wind generating from the performer. Before long her hair began floating and her clothes were getting blown by the breeze she emitted. The girl, upon parting her lids open, tried standing up.
Only to fall.
Her abrupt descent was followed by a groan of aching and a dimming in her glow.
Quick, was the reaction of each CPU. Wasting no time before tending to the broken flower benevolently.
"Is everything all right?" Noire promptly questioned, concern her adopted tone.
"I…" Being seated again, young Puriolét dared not look the Goddesses in the eyes. Gaze glued to her thighs. "I can't… Use my powers right now… I'm so sorry."
"Hey, dude, come on, it's not hot in here so don't sweat it!" The pudding lover chirped. "You can use your mouth and we can use our ears so… Use dem words girl!"
Gulping, the foreign girl nodded. "C-Certainly. M-My power is… Mind powers control."
The twin tailed beauty cupped her chin. "Mind powers like… Telekinesis?" she curiously hummed afterwards.
"Oh snep!" The parka rocker drew everyone's attention in. "So you can get the remote control without having to stand up!" She puts her hands on her hips before looking up proudly. "Toldja having magic would be super handy and dandy!"
"Y-Yeah… That's the gist of it…" The young flower continued. "I can use my powers to enhance my bodily powers… I also can read minds and… if focused enough, could control wind and things telekinetically."
With that information, everyone's sights dropped to the ground. Thinking poses intact, they began forming plans. Thinking over possibilities and composing choices.
In the midst of their brain storming, the CPUs failed to notice their guest's hesitance. 'I really should ask why I'm here…' she meekly thought.
"Um… Why did you summon me?" The moonflower suddenly spoke. 'Ah! My mouth moved on its own…!'
"Oh yeah, we did kind of rush into everything without really telling you why you're here in the first place." Noire snapped out of her thinking bubble, eyeing the girl.
"Our apologies, Mollie." The blonde followed. "Long story short. We kindly request of you to retrieve our powers."
Great shock hits the girl like a freight train. Her gaze shoots up, meeting with the speaker's sapphire gems. "You see, we as Goddesses, have multiple forms. The one you see us in right now is our human version. The form we use in our daily lives to conserve energy and also enjoy human-like emotions and activities. It's almost like… A way to relate with humans to some level, if you may." Leanbox's CPU smiled, noticing that her explanation was easy for the stranger to digest. "And then you got our true forms, also known as Hard Drive Divinity or HDD for short. They are also our true selves where we retain our true powers, looks and personalities. Sometimes, the latter change can be drastic, while in other cases it's minute."
The mature woman approached the girl elegantly, seating herself on the bed before folding her gloved hands together and facing the CPUs. "Our dilemma is that… Right now as you are seeing us, we do not posses that true form within us anymore… Our HDDs were separated from us in a rather… Unforeseeable turn of events."
Mollie caught on, that realization struck her as a lightning bolt. She knew where the conversation was headed, and she could only gulp and secretly hope it isn't as she thinks…
"And you see, we expect that, if we do not do something about it soon enough…" The gamer's eyes narrow, her tone taking a serious manner. "Then our HDDs may as well rebel on us, and demand control over the nations that they protected for years on end."
'…No, not again…!' Mollie's mind screamed. 'Is this… Going to be another situation where everyone depends on me…?'
"And that is where you come into play." Vert turned slowly to locked sights with the addressed heroine. "Would you be ever so kind as to help us retain our divine forms, Mollie?" the statement was concluded with a motherly smile.
Unfortunately, though, the asked child clutched her bedtime clothes tightly before shaking her head. "No… I can't…"
In unison, everyone let out a loud 'HUH?!' sound. Surprise an underestimating word to describe their faces. "N-No… You must have summoned the wrong person, I'm sure…!"
"The powers of shares cannot make mistakes." Blanc worryingly retorted, eyebrows furrowed. "It summoned you of all people for a reason."
"Maybe this power made a mistake now! I-I don't know!" Were panic a staining matter, it would dirty all of telekinesis user's being now. "I-I can't fight Goddesses! There… There is no way, I'm not strong enough! I can't even stand up!"
Suddenly, a calming palm lands on the paranoid girl's back, she flinches. "Calm down, Mollie." The seated goddess comforted. "We can clearly see that you are in a rather critical state now and we fully understand that." Like a parent trying to calm their child down, Vert gently rubbed the worried teenager's back. "We also are not tyrants or some merciless deities to send you into a suicidal mission without letting you have a say in the matter."
"You can… Take some days to rest and sort everything out." Noire intervened. Her gaze swayed to the side mid-way her speech. "We also have a lot that needs mulling over, so you shouldn't rush or panic."
"…You're making a mistake…" Meekly, the unconfident figure uttered before frowning.
"You know, maybe all you need is some good food, bad laughs and even worse sleep! Everyone is jittery at first before finding a really heroic quality in the end and realizing they are the choooosen one!" The 4th wall breaker did what she did best!... That is… Breaking the fourth wall…
"Huh…?!"
"Neptune!" The friendless CPU shouted, like a school teacher scolding their misbehaving student. "She is already confused enough, quit it with your fourth wall breaks now!"
"You're being too loud now." Blanc deadpanned. "You're going to cause her even more head pains."
"I agree with Blanc." Finally, the busty pervert stood up after patting the troubled girl caringly. "We shouldn't over stay our welcome. Let us return to our duties and give Mollie the space she needs for now."
The sane suggestion convinced all the CPUs. One after another did they start approaching the door and excusing themselves out politely. Noire wished Mollie to recover quickly, Blanc simply saw herself out and Neptune cheered the girl on and hoped to get to know each other better in the future. The last to remain in was Vert, who, after everyone was no longer in sight, bent down next to Mollie and whispered her something. Something that caused the pink hair's eyes to widen in surprise. "And Mollie… Please don't give up to suicidal thoughts." She calmly inhaled, the sharp Goddess' breaths almost like an ASMR. "You may speak to me whenever you feel unwell and depressed. It would be a great shame if someone as kind and beautiful as you, was to take out their own life."
All the injured lass could do is stare blankly as the level-headed lady excused herself out. 'She… Noticed the marks on my neck….?' She honestly wondered. But then came another realization. She realized how at ease her mind and soul were while the blonde lady comforted her. She realized that those night terrors and her brain, for now, ceased to whisper and inject sanity shattering words.
And as she laid back on her bed, she realized…
That she forgot something.
Meanwhile, the troubled yonin found their way back to their tactically advanced headquarters!
Neptune's room!
The first to shove the door open was Noire, who stormed in with heavy steps. Said room seemed to already be occupied by none other than Nepgear, who was awfully worried about something.
Not minding the company, the twin-tailed CPU hammered her fist against a wall agitatedly, following with a bitter groan.
"G-Goodness!" The young candidate yelped in surprise.
"Whoa! Watch it girl! These walls aren't Tsundere-proof!" Neptune popped into the room. Her eyes white, outlined with black. Eyebrows furrowed. She adopted the tone of a scolding boss.
"Then would you rather take the hit for your precious walls instead?!" The workaholic put her fist up for the tyke to see. She did not seem to be in a mood for any swings are her pride. She eyed her fellow CPUs with rage.
"Calm yourself, Noire." The green CPU stepped in right after Blanc, who had an unamused mug. "I truly see no reason for you to be so upset. We did all we could. Waiting is inevitable now."
"Hmph! Of course you would say that!" The addressed CPU was dejected. "Of all people we could have summoned, why did it have to be even more problems!"
"Umm… Nowa, you're being super mean right now…" Neptune awkwardly pointed out.
"Heavens, Noire." And Vert's reaction was indifferent. "You saw how awfully troubled that girl is!"
"Uh, yeah. But we already have enough on our plates!" the enraged hard worker stomped the ground below her, earning a flinch from Nepgear. "Why must things always have to take an even worse turn! Now we have to help her, too!"
"I agree." The quietest of the bunch spoke up, her harsh answer like a bullet to the lilac sisters and Vert's conscious. "I'm not denying that Mollie's situation is severely dire, but this is no time for her to appear…"
A sudden gasp followed. Its tone disappointed yet surprised. "Blanc! Noire!" It was Neptune. "Now you really are grinding my gears! You sound nothing like yourselves! What the Nep has gotten into you?" She shifted between the two seriously. Her expression dripping with anger. "Are you forgetting that being a CPU means helping those in need? No matter what?!"
"Not only that." Letting an arm below her bust, the expert spear wielder adopted the same mug as her short friend. "But she is also undergoing the same as we are… No, she is undergoing worse. She saw her entire world being devoured by whoever. If anything, she has all the reasons not to help us."
"STOP IT!" abruptly, the ignored fifth member shouted before standing up firmly. "Your arguing isn't going to help anyone! And it's only going to create more conflict!" she clutched her dress. "I… I was there! I sat next to her when she was asleep, and I heard her talking in her sleep…!"
With everyone's finally calming down and listening, the CPU Candidate looked down with eyes of sadness. "Miss Mollie… I don't know what she was seeing, but she kept muttering things about wanting forgiveness, and that she is very, very scared… But what got me really concerned is…"
Pausing, Nepgear tore her gaze from the floor, and eyed the four. "When she said how badly she wants to die, and join her dead mother…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
The young Goddess' words were like a soul reaper, leaving behind them nothing but traces of shock, fear and quietude
Heavy, crushing guilt dropped on the shoulders of the contrast CPUs. While the others could feel their heart rise to their throats…
No one dared to say a word…
They just couldn't…
It was impossible to.
All that moved was Nepgear, who let out a meek breath before excusing herself out. "I'm going to check on Miss Mollie and keep her company…"
And with that person gone, the world around its leaders halted with heavy, gloomy atmosphere. All that the deities desired was to not lock gazes with each other for as long as it takes for the tension to lift…
"Looky looky, what do we have here?"
"…U-Um…?"
"Ahahaha! You still pack your lunch in a lunchbox? With rabbits in it?! What else? Did your mommy give you a kiss before going school too?"
"H-Hey! That's my lunch!"
"Strawberry jam? What a little kid!"
"G-Give it back!"
"Or what? Huh? What are you going to do, miss goodie two shoes?"
"HEY! Leave her alone you freak!"
"Oh crap… it's that stalker again!"
"Call me that one more time! I dare you, squeaker!"
"D-Dude, let go!"
"Hmph! As I thought, all you do is bully the innocent ones, when you can't even stand up for yourself!"
"Y-You'll pay next time!"
"…"
"Are you okay, Compa?"
"Y-Yeah… I'm fine…"
"You really shouldn't let others have their way with you… Stand up for yourself! Those morons only pick on those that they know won't fight back!"
"I-I know… But fighting is dangerous!"
Sigh… "You never change, do you?"
"…"
"Ah well… Guess I'll always be there to protect you, then!"
…
Yeah…
You always did protect me…
You always were by my side…
And you never…
Showed weakness.
=-Chapter 2: END-=
To be continued.