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

Before I begin, I want to give a shout-out to Shiena, who recently posted a sequel to "Love in a Time of War". I know that a good chunk of my readers also read that story and the sequel was just posted. It's called "Love in Time of Heresy".

Chapter 10

The next morning in Lowee found Neptune wearing her normal clothes while sitting in a wheelchair as Rom and Ram pushed her around the Basilicom. "I can walk." She groused and looked at her leg, which was wrapped up in a cast to hold it still.

"Nah uh." Ram shook her head as she and Rom pushed Neptune around. "Compa told us that your legs were nearly torn off of you, so you need to take it easy for a couple of days. Plus your leg needs to heal."

"Um... Big sis Neptune..." Rom said, causing Neptune to look towards her left. "Thank you so much."

"Gee, you thanked me like five times this morning already." Neptune pointed out to her and giggled as the girl blushed. "It's okay. Anyway, you two wanna go on a raid?"

The two looked at her in confusion as Neptune gave them a grin.

(-)

A few minutes later...

"This is..." Rom looked at the room in shock. It hadn't been touched and she was expecting it to be completely destroyed.

"Blanc's room?" Ram asked Neptune, who grinned at them.

"Well..." Neptune suddenly pulled out a familiar looking magic staff from her inventory. "I never gave this back to you. I was thinking... Now that the monster's gone, you should destroy her room."

"We can..?" Ram asked as Rom took her staff back and Neptune nodded.

"Uh huh." Neptune smiled at her. "Go wild, destroy everything, just don't hit me with anything." She wondered what they would do if they had carte blanche to do what they wanted with Blanc's old room. "Besides, it's not like that monster will need it, she's gone now."

Three seconds later, the two were screaming as they smashed things in the room.

"BREAK MY RIBS WHEN I WAS BORN?!" Rom screamed as she cast an explosion spell at the bed and Neptune was moderately surprised that the bed wasn't blown into pieces from that. "Beat me so badly that I couldn't sit for a week!?" She cried and cast several fire spells on the bed, igniting it. "And... And... Making Ram shove my magic staff up my butt! HOW DARE YOU!?"

Neptune boggled and looked at Ram, hoping that she wasn't going to reveal something worse.

"This was for making me walk around Lowee naked!" Ram smashed a chair with several jet bursts of water. "And... And... And not treating Rom when she got bitten by that doggie!"

As they finished breaking things, both of them glared at a large portrait picture of Blanc that hung against the far wall. "AND THIS IS FOR CHOPPING COMPA'S ARMS OFF BECAUSE SHE HEALED US!" They screamed and unleashed a combination of lightning and water onto the portrait, shattering it and the wall behind it.

"Nep woah..." Neptune stared at the two of them. "Are you two..?" She trailed off as they looked at her smiling happily.

"Big sis..." Ram began and walked towards Neptune.

"Thank you." Rom finished as they got to Neptune and hugged her tightly.

Before Neptune could say anything a single piece of paper floated in the air in front of her. "Huh?" Grabbing it, Neptune realized that it was a photo. "What's this?" She asked and turned it over. Her eyes widened and she gasped loudly, causing Rom and Ram to stop hugging her and look what was on it.

What they saw shocked them. A small, adorable girl, clinging desperately to a massive teddy bear. She was wearing pajamas and behind her was a white haired woman that none of them recognized looking at the girl with a look of utter contempt and disgust. The small girl's eyes were closed and there were a expression of fear and despair on her lovely features. The little girl's eyes were shut and Neptune, Rom and Ram had no way to know what color they were, but the brown-colored hair on her head and the over-all facial features left no doubt in any of their minds.

It had to be Blanc, who would become CPU White Void, back before she became a CPU of Lowee. A small reminder of the times of innocence, when there was a cute and adorable angel, before her death and rebirth into a devil.

Neptune wondered why Blanc, despite becoming evil, kept this photograph. 'Maybe, deep down, she hated what she became and longed for the days when she wasn't a CPU.' Sure, it was no picnic to be a CPU Candidate in this world, but at least the CPU Candidates still had a heart and could feel emotions and love. 'I'm so sorry, Blanc... I wish I had gotten here before you became a CPU.'

"Is that..?" Ram began, getting a nod from Neptune.

"Yeah... That little girl is Blanc." Neptune said softly and looked at Rom. "...What do you..?" She tapered off as Rom took the picture and stared at it for awhile, no expression on her face.

After awhile, the photograph burst into flames in Rom's hands. Turning, Rom walked to the door and stopped after taking a couple of steps. "...I want nothing to do with that monster, I want no memory of her ever existing. She's not my big sister."

Neptune bit her lower lip as she heard that. 'That's not good.' She knew that Rom and Ram needed to get over their trauma, but this felt like Rom was burying how she felt instead of dealing with it.

Before anyone could say anything, there was a flash of light and Purple Heart was sitting in the wheel chair. Before Rom could react, Purple Heart grabbed her and pulled her into a hug, letting the girl rest her head on Purple Heart's breasts. "Rom," Purple Heart began, her deeper and more sensual voice felt warm and almost motherly to Rom, who was tense, but slowly relaxing as she rested her head on Purple Heart's chest, "I've raised three girls, I have a younger sister back home, I have plenty of friends who have held stuff inside and let it fester."

"Um..." Ram was in front of Purple Heart and fidgeting slightly, when Purple Heart smiled and opened an arm, Ram was in her lap, causing Purple Heart to wince in slight pain, and Ram rested her head on Purple Heart's open breast, sighing happily as Purple Heart hugged them both.

"Rom, you must never hold in such negative emotions." Purple Heart said in a voice that soothed both CPU Candidates while rocking back and forth. "Please, Rom, talk to me. I want to help you. I'm your big sister, aren't I?"

Rom trembled and started sobbing, as did Ram, when they heard that. Between the soft and warm embrace that Purple Heart was giving them, the feeling of comfort from Purple Heart's breasts and those kind words, especially when they were tied to "big sister", were too much and the two girls couldn't help but cry.

Purple Heart smiled softly. She knew that they'd be crying a lot more in the future as more and more of their pain, anguish and suffering was let go, and she would do all that she could to help them. 'I'm not doing this for you, Histy. I'm doing this because I want to.'

She wondered just what the other CPU Candidates were going through. And she wondered if Leanbox even had a CPU Candidate. 'Boy, Vert's going to be pissed that an evil version of her got a sister and she still doesn't have one if that's the case.'

"Oh, there you are." A voice had Purple Heart looking up as she saw Linda standing at the doorway. "We got trouble." She jerked a thumb over her shoulder.

"Huh?" Purple Heart looked confused, as did Rom and Ram, as they looked at the green haired girl.

(-)

A few minutes later...

"Chrome?" Purple Heart asked as Linda wheeled her at high speeds towards the source of the commotion. "What's going on?"

Chrome sighed and opened the window and Purple Heart could hear chanting and cries for the death of Rom and Ram, both of whom cringed as they heard it.

Purple Heart sighed and put Rom and Ram down and got up out of the wheel chair despite her leg being in a cast, and she noted that the cast was still on her leg despite the transformation, she hobbled forward with help from Chrome. "People of Lowee!" She spoke to the crowd loudly but firmly, causing them to quiet down as they looked at the CPU who stood before them. "I understand your concerns about CPU Candidate Rom and CPU Candidate Ram, but please..."

"They're going to turn into monsters!"

"We need to kill them before they transform!"

"KILL!"

"KILL!"

"KILL!"

Purple Heart twitched and took a deep breath to calm herself down, she knew that they were upset at the way things were, but that didn't mean she had to like it. "ENOUGH!" She yelled and pounded her hands on the rail, causing the crowds to stop what they were doing. "What you are doing now will only cause them harm and will likely cause them to become the monsters you fear they might become!" She saw the looks of trepidation among the crowd and Purple Heart continued. "Please, I ask of you, leave them in my care." The crowd started to murmur in confusion and she could feel the confusion from Chrome, Rom and Ram. "It is one of the jobs of a CPU to guide a CPU Candidate." She smiled softly. "I, CPU Purple Heart, will do all that I can to ensure that neither CPU Candidate Rom nor CPU Candidate Ram will turn into Voids, but instead turn into Hearts that will guide and protect their people."

"Do..." Ram spoke up and Purple Heart turned to look at her as both she and Rom looked at Purple Heart in confusion, worry and hope. "Do you mean it?"

Purple Heart nodded to them and turned back to the crowd. "Do you want another Void to be born?! Or do you want a Heart?" She swung her arm to the side. "I am CPU Purple Heart and I ask, no," in a move that shocked everyone, Purple Heart lowered her head to the crowd, "I beg of you, citizens of Lowee. Please, grant me the chance to guide these two to become proper CPUs."

There was silence, even the air itself seemed to be still.

Linda couldn't believe what she was seeing. 'THIS is a CPU?! But she's so... HUMBLE!' Everything that she knew about CPUs said that they were arrogant, prideful and would refuse to do anything like this.

Rom wanted to run to Purple Heart and hug her, but she couldn't move. 'Is this what it means to be a real CPU?'

'Do you have to listen to the people?' Ram asked herself, comparing how Blanc did things and how Purple Heart was currently acting.

Purple Heart actually hated what she was doing. 'To throw away my pride like this...' She knew it had to be done, but as a Goddess she had an image to uphold. She didn't care for "being above mortals" like some Divine Beings out there might, but acting like this was almost physically painful. 'After all, what kind of person would follow a worthless...'

Her thoughts were cut off as she heard some cheering. Raising her head, she saw the people and could feel the anger changing to adoration, respect and... Actual faith, causing Purple Heart's eyes to widen in surprise. 'You're kidding me...'

"Raise yourself and stand tall and proud," Chrome smiled at Purple Heart, "CPUs shouldn't grovel to the people after all."

"You're right." Purple Heart smirked softly and stood tall towards the people. "I thank you, citizens of Lowee, for giving me a chance to guide these two on a proper path. I ask of you to forget your past pain and walk forward to a new future with proper CPUs protecting you."

There was a cheer in the crowd and Purple Heart waved before nodding to Chrome, who helped her back to her wheel chair, where she sat down and was rolled inside before she turned back into her human form. "PHEW! That was hard." Neptune giggled softly. "I'm glad that none of them raised too much of a stink about a Goddess that can't walk."

"Um... Big sis Neptune..." Ram spoke up, causing Neptune to look at her. "Did you mean what you said?"

Neptune nodded and smiled at her. "Uh huh! I'll help you become a proper CPU that gathers shares from their people, not that icky fearicite stuff."

"...Speaking of which," Chrome spoke up, "we should check on the Fearicite." The others looked at her and she sighed. "I don't like that stuff either, but we should see what's going on and we can make a plan from there."

(-)

It didn't take long for the group to make it to the Fearicite chamber. Neptune was rather surprised that this room was so easy to find but just shrugged it off as a thing that was common across all dimensions. As they entered the room, Neptune, Rom and Ram all shivered and Neptune saw Chrome looking ahead but she also saw goosebumps across the elder woman's visible skin.

"That's Fearicite?" Linda, who had been pushing Neptune, stared at the glowing red and black rock in the center of the room. "So now what..?"

There was a sudden surge of power and everyone was pushed back against the walls before red energy tendrils erupted from the Fearicite, reached forward and grabbed Neptune, lifting her up and pulling her towards the Fearicite crystal.

"Nep-wha?!" Neptune yelled and gasped as the crystal pulled her in so fast that she couldn't react. There was a flash of light and Purple Heart transformed, her wings active as she held her sword, which was fully repaired, while glaring at the Fearicite crystal. "I see, you really are full of nasty surprises, huh? You want me to become a Void in White Void's place?" The red tendrils ran across Purple Heart's body and the CPU shivered in disgust at the way the energy was casually rubbing her legs, thighs, stomach, boobs, butt and other body parts. "Too bad!" She yelled as she started to glow. "I am CPU Purple HEART!" She yelled as her power forced the tendrils to get blown away. To everyone watching, they saw a Goddess, a true Goddess floating there proudly and glaring at the crystal. "And you will cause this world no more pain and suffering!" She swung her sword at the crystal. "Now vanish on my Dual Edge!"

Chrome watched as Purple Heart shattered the Fearicite crystal and looked at Rom and Ram to see if they were okay.

Part of her sighed in relief as they seemed unaffected by it.

Another part of her realized that they were just like every other CPU and CPU Candidate of Gamworld. 'That's actually somewhat reassuring, I guess.' She mentally shrugged, it wasn't too big of a deal at least.

"Chrome..." Purple Heart turned to look at Chrome. "We need to talk."

Chrome raised an eyebrow and nodded. "Linda, will you take Rom and Ram and head to the meeting room? IF, Compa, Warechu, Filyn, Gust, and Artisan should be there by now."

Linda nodded and herded the two kids out of the room, leaving Purple Heart and Chrome alone.

"You wanted to talk," Chrome said to her, "we're alone. What is it?"

Purple Heart gave her a sharp look. "...You're a CPU, aren't you?" She was expecting a look of surprise, of shock, or denials, laughter even.

When Chrome merely raised an eyebrow, Purple Heart wasn't sure how to respond. "What gave me away?"

"Nothing, I took a stab in the dark." Purple Heart smirked as Chrome face-faulted. "Well, besides the whole carrying an axe that no normal person could lift if they wanted to, not to mention that you swung it around with ease. Plus you knew that a CPU shouldn't beg and grovel. And your reaction to the Fearicite was pretty similar to mine, Rom and Ram's."

"That's it?" Chrome raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm surprised you aren't commenting on how I knew that people's faith in you was what powered you instead of fear." She sighed at the amused look on Purple Heart's face. "Yes. I'm a former CPU of Gamworld. My name is Chrome Heart and Filyn is my CPU Candidate."

Purple Heart motioned for her to continue with the story.

"...The whole situation happened over sixty years ago." Chrome sighed and sat down on the floor to tell Purple Heart. "It was just after Filyn was born, a month after she had came into this world. I knew of problems in some of the other nations, that some of the CPUs were less than savory, but all five nations basically kept to themselves. So long as the problems weren't in our nations, we ignored the others."

"...Five?" Purple Heart asked, confused. "What nation were you?"

"Eden," Chrome answered her, "we specialized in 2-D games like platformers, fighters and shooters." Purple Heart nodded at her. "I'm asking you not to tell Filyn about any of this. Right after she was born, the world changed into what you see now and..." Chrome sighed and looked down, a clearly disturbed look on her face, "Filyn and I were in the Sharicite room when the crystal stopped glowing and fell to the ground, shattering into pieces. The warm green glow in the room suddenly turned red and cold and a new crystal took its place."

"Fearicite." Purple Heart said, getting a nod from Chrome.

"Yes. Afterwords a new CPU formed in front of us." Chrome shook her head. "She batted me away with ease and held Filyn by the side of her head and destroyed my sister's eye." Her eyes shimmered as though she wanted to cry, but nothing came out. "I was helpless to help her then. The CPU threw Filyn to me and told me that she was feeling generous and would allow me to live if I left Eden."

"You ran, huh?"

Chrome nodded and trembled at the memory of that time. "I fled to Lowee, it was the closest nation, but I found that the CPU there had been killed by a new type of CPU, a Void. I panicked and fled with Filyn to the South of Lowee and set up an encampment there and helped people flee the CPU. I kept Filyn a secret from everyone for decades. She was in a coma the whole time, so it was easy."

"She woke up..." Purple Heart said, getting a nod from Chrome.

"About five years ago. I made up a story that I found her while going for a walk and she had no memory, so I was going to act as her big sister." Chrome sighed heavily. "I don't know what happened in the other nations, all the lands changed drastically after the Voids took over." She looked down and leaned forward, her hands on the ground as she lowered her head, her hair acting as a curtain to cover her face as she tried to cry, but the tears that she could produce had long since dried up over the decades of hiding in isolation.

Chrome looked up as she felt a hand on her shoulders. Raising her head, her hair parted and she saw the kind eyes of Purple Heart looking at her, not holding any judgement, but with kindness and understanding.

"There are times, Chrome, that no matter how strong we are, we cannot do things on our own." Purple Heart told her as Chrome got to one knee while looking up at Purple Heart. "I've been beaten, captured, tentacled, brainwashed, fought against my sister more than once, fought my own brainwashed daughter for ten years, and through it all, I had help. You had no help and you had to do this on your own."

Chrome smiled at her. "Thank you. But please," her smile changed to an expression of worry, "don't tell the others. They aren't ready to know the truth just yet."

"Of course." Purple Heart smiled and sat back, transforming back into Neptune. "Now, we need to get to that meeting room, I got a BIG announcement to make!"

Chrome raised an eyebrow and got behind the wheel chair and pushed it. "Well, whatever it is, I'll support you."

(-)

It took them all of five minutes to get to the meeting room.

"So, everyone's here." Chrome said as she pushed Neptune into the room. "Neptune has a big announcement, I guess."

Neptune nodded, but her typical smile wasn't on her face as she looked at the room. On her left was Rom, Ram, Gust, Financier and Compa, on her right was IF, Linda, Warechu, Artisan and Chrome. "Listen up, everyone. I've decided... I'm going to the other nations."

To be continued...

That whole bit with "death and rebirth as a CPU", well... As a Candidate, they're not horrible people, but then they get consumed by the Fearicite and transform into Voids, forever changing who they are. You know, like how Obi-Wan said that Vader killed Anakin? Same thing.

And yes, some of you already guessed that Chrome was a CPU.