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

How about we take a quick peek back in the Hyperdimension?

Interlude: Hyperdimension

"GEAR!" IF yelled at Nepgear, who jumped in surprise as she hung up the phone. "What the hell?!"

"Um, well, Neptune said she was really busy, so I thought I'd let her take care of that and call her back later." Nepgear said, giggling nervously at the looks that both IF and Compa were giving her.

"Regardless of what Nepgear's intentions were, we do know that Neptune is still alive and even have the dimensional coordinates now." Histoire, a small blonde-haired, blue-eyed fairy-like being who floated over an open book while wearing small purple robes on her body, said as she floated over to them. "This will make it much easier to contact the me of that world."

"Um, considering that Neptune said that she wasn't near a Histoire, do you think it might be a good idea to wait for a bit?" Nepgear spoke up, slightly nervous, "Neptune did say that the share bridge wouldn't work right now."

"Hmm, I wonder why." Histoire was a bit curious. Even when Neptune and Nepgear had been trapped in the Zero Dimension, opening a share bridge to those dimensions was possible even with the CPU Shift period happening and shares being at extremely low levels, Histoire had been able to open not one but two share bridges to the Zero Dimension.

"Maybe Nep Nep's in a world where there's a bunch of bad guys and she doesn't want them getting in here?" Compa suggested, her eyes lit up as an idea hit her head. "Ooooh! Or maybe there's a bunch of space parasites and naughty tentacles and flying battleships? Or maybe there's people who are just as silly as she is and doesn't want to destroy the world from the combined silliness?"

"Considering that we could call Nep, I don't think that last one's a problem." IF muttered and shook her head. "Histoire, should we invoke the Dimension Lost Protocols?"

Histoire nodded at IF. "Yes, that might be a good idea, we have no idea how long Neptune will be gone or even if there is a time difference between the dimensions."

"Um... Dimension Lost Protocols?" Nepgear asked Histoire, who sighed softly.

"Considering how often Neptune gets lost in other dimensions for one reason or another, or even other planes of reality," Histoire still couldn't believe that Neptune ended up in more than one Netherworld in her life or that she would end up in Hell, "I devised a way to keep the country running should Neptune disappear unexpectedly."

"How come I didn't know?" Nepgear asked and looked from Histoire to IF and Compa. "Come on! No one told me!" Her eyes started to tear up and she hung her head. "Am I not a good CPU Candidate?"

"It's not that, Gear," IF said to keep Nepgear from getting too angsty, "it's that you get caught up almost as often as Nep does."

"And I don't tell Neptune because I don't want her to get her other self and go on a Dimension Vacation." Histoire told Nepgear, knowing that Neptune might do just that. "Anyway, we have several people who can run Planeptune in Neptune's stead at least..."

(-)

Several minutes later in Lastation...

"Huh?" Noire blinked as she looked at the communications screen. "Neptune's missing... AGAIN?!"

Blanc, who was also on the screen, just hung her head and sighed. "Dammit, can't she go just one month without ending up in some random crazy shit?"

Also on the screen was Vert, who shook her head and gave Histoire a look of almost pity. "So what will you do this time, Histoire?"

"I hate to ask this of you, but would you three be willing to help run Planeptune while Neptune's out? I know that Nepgear can handle most of it, but I would feel better knowing that she had some help."

"Plus you don't want her trying to build something to get Neptune back, right?" Noire smirked at Histoire. "Alright, fine, I'll help out, but Neptune's going to owe me for this."

"I apologize," Blanc shook her head. "Right now I'm dealing with some stuff in Lowee. However, if Neptune is still missing after a month, I'll be willing to help out then."

"I have to agree with Blanc," Vert said next, "I'm booked solid for a month with lots of stuff going on and I'll be busy for two months after that."

"It's fine." Histoire answered her. "I'll try to get a hold of Uzume and the other Neptune and get them back here sooner. And you don't need to do much, I'm just worried about Nepgear."

"Well..." Vert began, "I guess I can show up today for a few hours at least."

"Thank you." Histoire smiled at the Leanbox CPU.

As the screen turned off when the call ended, Noire shook her head. "Histoire played you, Vert." She didn't mind, it would mean that she didn't have to go over there to do everything. "Hmm, maybe Uni would rather go and hang out with Nepgear?"

Noire nodded and got up from her desk as she started to walk out of her office when she stopped as the door opened up and her little sister walked in. "Hey, Uni," she smiled as Uni looked at her curiously, "would you like to spend a week in Planeptune with Nepgear?"

Uni's eyes widened and her face turned red. "Wh-wh-wha-what brought this on so suddenly? You make it sound like I really miss her or something."

"Well..." Noire began and scratched her cheek while looking away slightly. "Neptune ended up getting lost in another world."

"Again?" Uni asked, her voice showing pure exasperation. "At this point, I almost feel like Nepgear runs Planeptune more than Neptune does."

Noire didn't argue it, sometimes it really did feel like Neptune was being a CPU for other worlds more than her own. "Well, Nepgear has to run Planeptune all by herself for awhile until Neptune gets back. I was thinking that Nepgear would feel pretty lonely without a friend over there for a little while."

Uni blushed and squirmed slightly. "Um... Are you suggesting that I spend a week with Nepgear... Alone?"

Noire nodded and fought the urge to smirk as Uni's blush increased tremendously. "You're a big girl, so I trust that you'll be fine. I'm sure that Nepgear will enjoy having you over too."

"Will you be fine?" Uni asked, concern in her voice and on her face. "You won't get so lonely that you'll make some strange friends and do weird or lewd things that you'll regret later, will you?"

Noire's eyes went white and blank in anger. "What's with that?! Have you been spending time with Neptune when I wasn't looking or something?! That's something she would say!"

"I'm sorry!" Uni yelled and turned to run while Noire chased after her. "But I worry about you, sis!"

"I'll show you!" Noire suddenly pounced on Uni, tackling her little sister to the ground. "Just for that... TICKLE TIME!"

"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Uni cried out as Noire's fingers found all of her ticklish spots instantly. "I'm sorry! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"No quarter given to little sisters who think their big sister would do something naughty!" Noire proudly declared and smiled as she tickled Uni, who was squirming and thrashing to avoid the sensations. After a minute Noire stopped and got off of Uni, who was laying on her side and panting hard as she tried to calm down.

"Mouu..." Uni pouted after she recovered and stood up with Noire's help. "That wasn't fair, Noire." She pouted and blushed as Noire ruffled her hair.

"I'm not always fair, Uni." Noire smiled softly, "besides, I just felt like it."

"Now who's been spending too much time with Neptune?" Uni grinned back at her. "But, um..." Uni took a step forward and hugged Noire. "Thanks, sis. Will you be fine?"

"Yeah." Noire hugged Uni back. It was so nice to actually be close with her sister like this. 'Why were we ever distant to each other in the past?' It just felt so stupid and silly, like they had wasted time when they could have spent it in better ways.

After they broke apart, Noire nodded to Uni, who ran off, leaving Noire alone. "Hmm... A week at home alone?" She suddenly giggled and turned to run to her room.

Now she could work on those more racy and naughty cosplays and not worry about anyone walking into her room.

End Interlude

That was both funnier and more heartwarming than I had originally intended. XD

Oh well, just a final breather episode. Next chapter they're off to Leanbox!