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

Chapter 71

"So do you have any clue where we're going?" Chrome asked as she and Neptune aimlessly walked down the streets of Planeptune.

"Not really," Neptune shrugged as she looked at the people on the streets. Most of them gave her curious, though nervous looks when they saw her looking back at them. "...Do you think..."

"Your counterpart is probably the CPU of Planeptune." Chrome told her, sighing softly. "I really hope that you don't look exactly like her."

"Probably not." Neptune smiled at Chrome. "Blanc and Noire had different hair colors and Vert had a different hair style, so maybe I'll be lucky?"

"And..." Chrome stopped as she saw the saddened look on Neptune's face. "What's wrong?"

"I was... Kind of hoping it was Uzume that was the CPU here." Neptune sighed softly. "I mean, if I have to fight myself, what does that say about me as a main character?"

Chrome gave her an amused look. "One who does what all good main characters do and fights her evil mirror-verse self?" Her amusement increased as Neptune giggled at that. "So how about we..?"

"Please stop messing around." A voice that they both recognized, spoke up in their heads. "I see that you are in Planeptune now."

"That's right, Histy." Neptune smiled as she and Chrome continued to walk while talking to Histoire.

"You can talk in your mind, I'll hear it. But if you wish to get to me, it would be fastest if you took a transporter."

"So it'll drop us off right where you are?" Chrome asked softly.

"You won't get directly to me, but I will have you dropped off in a place not far from me."

The two looked at each other and shrugged before asking for directions for the nearest transporter. After all, it would be best if they could get to Histoire as soon as they could. Chrome wanted to meet the mysterious figure that she had heard about in the past and Neptune wanted to meet Histoire so she could set up a communication link with her Histoire and see her friends and family again.

(-)

In another part of Planeptune...

Sitting on an outdoor bench, Nepgear nodded as she listened to Uni and Steamax explain what was going on. "I see, so that's what you mean by another world." Her eyes had a look of awe in them as she thought about other dimensions, other versions of her sister or even just the thought of traveling to other Planeptunes filled her mind. "It must be really lovely to go to other dimensions."

"I dunno," Uni muttered as she rubbed the back of her head. "Seems like a big pain in the ass to me. I mean, getting uprooted and being away from those you love..." She sighed as she thought about her sister. "...Then again, I'm in the same boat, huh?"

"Huh?" Nepgear looked at Uni, who was looking sadder with each moment. "Are you from another world too?"

Uni shook her head. "I told you, I'm from Lastation, it's just..." Her eyes teared up, "my sister was murdered recently and I was there... When she died."

"Lady Uni..." Steamax put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's okay."

"I had a funeral for her and everything, Steamax!" Uni looked at him, tears falling out of her eyes. "It still hurts!"

"You really cared for her, huh?" Nepgear said softly and Uni turned to look at the other CPU Candidate. Smiling gently, she gently took Uni's hand into hers and squeezed it softly. "I think that your sister would be really happy to know that you love her so much."

Uni smiled at that. "Thanks." She rubbed the tears out of her eyes. "Darn it, I'm trying not to be a big crybaby but..."

"Lady Uni, what happened was only a few short months ago." Steamax pointed out to her. "It can take a normal person years to recover from such an experience. I'd say you're doing just fine."

Nepgear smiled and suddenly stood up. "I apologize, but I do need to get back to my sister." Both Uni and Steamax looked at her and she fidgeted. "She gets... Anxious if I'm gone for too long."

"...Anxious how?" Uni asked.

"Well..." Nepgear trailed off and looked up while tapping her chin. "The last time she got anxious, she tried her hand at chemistry."

"...What happened?" Uni asked, knowing that something odd had to have happened.

"Well, she created an explosive chemical that destroyed the room, turned plants into flying monsters and somehow made spaghetti and meatballs come to life and try to strangle half the population of Planeptune." Uni and Steamax both gawked at her. "That was just a few months ago." Nepgear giggled softly. "No one was hurt... Except those allergic to garlic."

Uni stared at Nepgear, her face showing her disbelief. "...How?"

Nepgear shook her head. "My sister never told me how, I just know what happened later." She bowed to Uni. "Thanks for the talk, I'll see if I can get my sister to call her Knights off."

"Knights?" Uni asked, confusion on her face.

"Three people who my sister uses as her personal security force." Nepgear told her. "Excuse me." She walked off and both Uni and Steamax looked at each other.

"...Can you follow her without being seen?" Uni asked.

"Of course." Steamax nodded before standing up and walking off towards where Nepgear was. When he turned a corner, he seemingly vanished into thin air.

"So..." Uni muttered to herself. "We met the CPU Candidate, found out the CPU has personal security forces... What next?"

(-)

"WOW!" Peashy yelled as she looked around, her eyes sparkling in delight. "Lookie!"

Filyn scratched her head in confusion as she saw children climbing on some stuff while adults sat nearby and watched them. "It's just playground equipment. Monkey bars, slides and other stuff, so I'm not seeing... Peashy?" She looked at where Peashy was...

Or rather, had been, and saw nothing.

"Lookie!" Peashy yelled and Filyn turned to stare Peashy was sitting on a nearby swing-set, smiling. "...How does this work?"

Filyn sighed and walked over to give Peashy a push and explain how to make the swing work. When Peashy got the swing to work on her own, Filyn stepped away before looking at the open one next to Peashy's swing. "Well, just... Oh heck!" She got on the swing and started moving on her own.

"WHEE! I wanna go over the bar!" Peashy yelled in delight before yelping as the chain seemingly went slack and she dropped down a bit. "HUH?!" Her eyes were wide, though she didn't stop pumping the swing she was on.

"Yeah, that happens if you try to go over it." Filyn told her while moving on her swing. "You don't hurt yourself that way then."

"Oh." Peashy pouted as she had wanted to know what it was like to go over the top of a swing. "Okay!" She grinned as another idea came to her.

Before Filyn could ask what Peashy had in mind, the blonde girl, as soon as the swing was as far out as it would go, launched herself off of it and flew through the air with a cheer of joy before landing on her feet and stumbling forward into a soft pile of dirt on the ground. "Hahahahahahaha! That was fun!" Peashy, covered in dirt, looked at Filyn and waved her hands. "Come on! Jump! It's fun!"

Filyn had an uncertain look on her face, but she took a deep breath and did what Peashy asked of her. Sadly for Filyn, she mistimed when she should have jumped off and ended up only a foot away from the swing while tripping from the momentum and falling flat on her face with a loud splat.

"Ahahahahahahaha!" Peashy laughed as she got up and ran to Filyn. "You still can't see right!"

Filyn groaned in pain and gave Peashy a dirty look. "You could have asked if I was okay, you know?"

The laughter and joy from the other CPU Candidate quickly died off. "I'm sorry." Peashy looked ashamed of herself.

Filyn sighed and saw how Peashy looked like a cute, adorable puppy that she had accidentally kicked before getting up and giving her a hug. "It's okay, but don't laugh when someone falls on their face, okay?"

Peashy nodded and Filyn let go of the hug. "Okay..." She looked around and was confused as a crowd started forming not too far away from them. "What's going on?"

"I dunno, let's find out." Filyn said and the two ran towards the gathering crowds.

When they got close, they heard someone speaking up. "...And for your own safety, as well as the safety of your children, I must ask that all of you stay inside as much as possible for the next few days." A woman was speaking, though Filyn and Peashy couldn't see her.

"Lady Cave," a middle-aged woman spoke up, "all of the Knights?"

"Yes," Cave answered her, "I personally delivered the message to Sir Trick. So, please, make sure that all of you stay inside and out of sight for a few days. When things are clear, there will be a message sent out across Planeptune."

There was some grumbling and murmuring, but the crowd quickly started to break up, with children crying and people gathering their things and quickly leaving for their homes.

Cave sighed as the crowd broke up. "I'm really sorry." She whispered to herself, knowing that she ruined a few people's days with that information. "But this is all I can do."

"So why are you upset?" A familiar voice had Cave's eyes widening as she spun around to see MAGES. behind her, giving her an amused look. "You're the head of the security forces, aren't you? Part of your job is to keep the people safe. Even if it's from the moronic duo."

"MAGES., why are you here?" Cave asked, a look of resignation on her face as she waited for some insane reason.

"Can't I say hi to my oldest and bestest friend?" MAGES. asked, a genuinely hurt look on her face and in her voice that had Cave wincing. "Come on, Cave, we used to play together here all the time."

"Until you were taken in by the CPU because she saw your potential with magic." Cave reminded MAGES., "so why are you here?"

"Well," MAGES. began, "I was waiting for two cute girls, both with loads of magic in them, to show up so I can play with them." She giggled at Cave's grimace. "Oh, don't worry, I wouldn't use anything that would destroy the park. I figure they'll be here soon enough."

"I see," Cave nodded, "well, that's good, but I..."

"Cave, I..." MAGES. hesitated for a moment and nodded, "I want you to join the Knights." Cave jerked in surprise. "You're a really good worker and I know that you'll do well. Plus I'd rather have someone like you to deal with than just a crazed asshole and a sick freak."

"And I would be restricted to doing what I feel is right by the CPU, you know that." Cave told her. "When was the last time you were allowed to do what you wanted?"

"Technically, I'm allowed to do whatever I want." MAGES. pointed out to her while grinning and winking at her. "Though I am restricted on the use of my magic unless Lady Neptune says it's..." She trailed off and tilted her head to the side as she saw two people looking at her curiously. "Yes?"

"You know Neptuna?" The blonde girl asked in confusion. "But Neptuna never said she knew you."

"Um..." The girl with red hair in long twin-tails spoke up, "Peashy, I think these might be the evil Neptune's people."

"Oh." Peashy pouted. "Evil Neptuna is not nice!"

Cave sweat-dropped as she thought about something that she had gone through as punishment from the CPU. "Well, she can be kind of mean, huh? I didn't like being tied up and a bunch of ants dumped in my panties." The itchiness was simply unbearable, especially since she wasn't allowed to do anything for over ten minutes.

"The alternative was to dump tar and feathers all over you." MAGES. pointed out helpfully, getting a flat stare from Cave as a result. "Anyway, Neptuna?" MAGES. gave Peashy an amused look. "I'm sure that she'd love that kind of a nickname." Her eyes started to glow as she snapped her fingers. "I know!" She pointed at Cave. "Take them to see the CPU."

"...Are we being captured?" Filyn asked in confusion. "The last time that happened I tried to kill my big sister and got a cybernetic eye as a result."

"AHHH!" Peashy screamed and put her hands on her head. "Pea doesn't want a scary pokey to get her again!"

"Well..." MAGES. had an amused look on her face as she saw the antics of the blonde girl, "you could always go along willingly. Call Lady Neptune your cute nickname for her and I'm sure that she'll start cuddling you... Or torture you until you get her name right."

Cave sighed as the two girls suddenly tensed up. "Don't listen to her. Listen, if you go and just want to say hello she's generally pretty nice about that. ...Except for that one time she decided to read some poetry."

"To be fair," MAGES. had a look of disgust on her face as she recalled that incident, "that fucker had it coming."

"But why did the rest of us have to suffer as well?" Cave asked, shuddering in disgust. "If I ever find out who the Vogons are, I shall murder all of them for their horrible poetry."

"So..." Filyn spoke up, "are we free to go?"

"Sure," MAGES. smiled at them. "Though, if you leave, I can't guarantee that something bad won't happen to you."

"Judge is nearby, isn't he?" Cave asked, getting a nod from MAGES., which caused her to sigh and look at Peashy and Filyn seriously. "Listen, either you come with me or you'll have a psychotic murder bot who will destroy this entire place for fun while laughing and then everyone will be sad and I'll have a headache for days."

Filyn sighed and looked around before looking back at Cave. "...No brainwashing?"

Cave sighed heavily. "As far as I know, Lady Neptune doesn't do brainwashing and no one is crazy or stupid enough to try something like that around here."

"The last time someone tried to give her eggplants she made them run in a giant hamster wheel for three days straight."

"I don't think I want to meet the other Neptuna." Peashy commented and stepped away from the two. "She sounds bad."

"Well, I can't say that I didn't warn..." MAGES. began as another voice interrupted her.

"There she is!" Rom yelled out as she spotted MAGES., "and... Filyn?! Peashy?!"

"What are you doing here?" Ram asked, confused and she looked around as Filyn pointed at the swings. "...Oh." She giggled and rubbed the back of her head. "Swings are lots of fun."

"I know!" Filyn, Peashy and MAGES. all said at the same time. The kids looked at the blue-haired woman, who merely winked at them.

"They're trying to make us go see the bad Neptuna!" Peashy pointed to MAGES. and Cave, both of whom gave her a flat stare.

"Well, looks like we might have to do this the hard way after all." MAGES. said. "Oh, and Cave, I lied about Judge. I left him tied up."

(-)

Elsewhere...

"THAT BITCH!" Judge screamed as he was pinned to the ground with magic energy ropes all over his body. He struggled to get off the ground and found it wasn't possible. "I swear, I'll kill her when I get out of here!"

(-)

"I... See..." Cave said, wondering why MAGES. would do that, but shrugged it off as she looked at the four girls. "Do we really need to do this the hard way?"

MAGES. shrugged at her. "No, but I'm not risking getting the CPU mad at me because I didn't bring her some of the intruders." The blue-haired girl suddenly started sulking and pouting. "When Lady Nepgear didn't get home on time and I was supposed to bring her home, I got punished for it."

"...How?" Ram asked, curious as to what MAGES. had gone through.

"She snuck into my room when I was sleeping and put my hand in a bowl of water." MAGES. cried in dismay. "Do you know what happens to someone when they have their hand in a bowl of water when they're sleeping?!" The four kids shook their heads and MAGES. face turned red. "I'm not telling you!"

"That childish prank?" Cave asked in amusement as MAGES. looked away in a huff while crossing her arms over her chest.

MAGES. suddenly snapped her fingers. "Okay, I changed my mind!" She grinned and looked at Rom and Ram. "You two! Let's have some fun."

"Oh brother." Cave rubbed her eyes and turned to walk away. "Just don't blow up the equipment this time, okay?" She sighed heavily as MAGES.'s eyes and hair started to glow while power built up all around her.

"Aren't you going to stop her?" Filyn asked and Cave gave her a look that suggested the redhead was stupid.

"Nope." Cave said while walking away. "I'm not suicidal."

Peashy frowned as she looked at MAGES. and she ran at the blue-haired girl. "Pea doesn't want to, huh?" Her eyes widened as MAGES. disappeared before reappearing in front of her. Her eyes bugged out as she was kicked in the stomach so hard that her arms and legs were extended outwards and her mouth opened from the pain and shock while her tongue stuck out and she went flying away from MAGES. and crashed into a nearby slide. However, her momentum was so intense that she slid upwards on the slide before flying to the top of a roof over picnic benches.

"Peashy?!" Filyn yelled and ran to where the blonde girl was. "Hold on!"

Lowering her leg, MAGES. shook her head. "I do so hate to use physical force. It's so... Dull." She started to grin at Rom and Ram. "So, now that the distractions are out of the way, it's time to play. Come!" Putting a hand to her face, her rings started to glow. "Allow the Madness of Darkness herself to teach you some fun lessons!"

"DARN YOU!" Rom screamed as lightning crackled around her and she snapped her hands forward, sending several bolts of lightning at MAGES., who merely smirked and held up her left hand while the ring on her pinky finger glowed with power.

Rom and Ram both watched in shock as the attack crashed into a barrier and was seemingly sucked into the ring that MAGES. had on. "Then..." Ram held out her hand. "Inferno twister!"

"Oh ho?" MAGES. had an amused expression on her face and in her voice as the ring on her right thumb glowed red while the ring on her middle left finger glowed green and the twins could only watch in dismay as the attack fizzled into nothingness before it got to the blue-haired woman. "You two are interesting." She had a serene smile on her face. "So much potential, but..." Her face became serious while the rings that she had used before continued to glow, "you need some serious practice." A quick flex of her fingers had lightning pop out of her ring and take the form of a large cat while the fire swirled and formed into a bat-like creature and finally green energy spun around and took the form of a large bear. "See?" MAGES. smiled at them. "Electric kitty, windy bear and a flame bat, it's easy to do if you know what you're doing." She snapped her fingers and the ground between Rom and Ram suddenly erupted upwards, creating a wall between them. "Kitty, bear, bat, go play with that one," she pointed at Ram, "I've got a date with the other little girl."

Shockingly, since those creatures were energy constructs and not real, they let out cries and rushed after Ram while MAGES. walked towards Rom.

Rom was on her knees and glaring at MAGES., "grrr... Fine!"

MAGES. raised an eyebrow as the air itself seemed to get charged with static electricity. "Interesting, it's almost like you're..." She trailed off as lightning started to crash around her. "Yep, figured." MAGES. took a step back as Rom held a hand out, her eyes glowing white as the air started to get filled with snow and ice started to form all around her. "I see..." She narrowed her eyes. "Okay, this needs to stop." She ran straight at Rom, seemingly unaffected by the ice and snow coming her way.

Rom's eyes widened as MAGES. was right in front of her. "What are, OWW!" She cried out as MAGES. flicked her forehead with her middle finger. "What was that for?!" She rubbed her forehead even as the snow and ice attack stopped.

"You're being an idiot." MAGES. told her and jumped over a retaliatory lightning blast as she reached out with her hands to do a hand-stand on Rom's head while doing the splits with her legs in mid-air. "Powering your magic with your anger?" MAGES. asked rhetorically and pushed herself off just as Rom tried to send a surge of electrical power through the blue-haired woman. "Such a foolish idea." She said while softly landing on her feet behind Rom.

Rom spun around and MAGES. gave her a look of disappointment. "What would you know?! You didn't have to put up with the stuff I did in my life!"

"Everyone's life is unique and different." MAGES. pointed out and one of her rings glowed brown before Rom found herself buried into the ground up to her shoulders.

"HEY!" Rom screamed while struggling to move and discovering that she could only move her head. "Let me go!"

MAGES. walked over to Rom and knelt down to look at her. "Now maybe you'll listen to me?" Rom gave her a look of absolute fury and MAGES. sighed. "That's what I'm talking about. While using your anger to power your attacks works in the short run, it's hindering your ability to use your magic fully." She sighed and stood up. "I've seen what happens to people who get consumed by their anger..." Her eyes were full of sadness and she shook her head. "It's not fun."

The dirt wall near them broke apart to reveal Ram on her butt and trembling while the bear stood above her, growling. "Enough!" MAGES. snapped her fingers and all of the constructs disappeared instantly. Looking at Ram, who had tears in her eyes, she shook her head. "And that girl has the opposite problem... She's too passive and shy." She walked over to Ram and, with a sudden smirk on her face, reached down and snaked her hand under the waist-band of Ram's pants and grabbed her underwear, pulling up and giving the girl a massive wedgie.

"AAAAIIIIEEE!" Ram screamed as it felt like her underwear was being forced into her crotch. "LEMME GO! LEMME GO!" She grabbed MAGES. arm but found the older woman was really strong and didn't budge even as she felt her underwear start to strain and tear slightly.

"You're too passive." MAGES. told Ram. "You and your sister have a lot of power and potential." She let go of Ram, who immediately tried to fix her underwear and make it more comfortable and her ring glowed brown again, allowing Rom out of the ground, "but you're too passive and meek to use your full power. You need to have some confidence in yourself." She looked at Rom, who was glowering at her. "And you need to check your temper before you destroy those you care about." She waved and jumped onto the slide that Peashy had been kicked onto before jumping away.

"My..." Cave shook her head in amazement. "She went easy on you." She turned and started to walk away while swaying her hips and waving her hand. "If you want to have a rematch against her, I recommend getting better. She is the strongest of the Knights after all." She stopped at the edge of the park and turned her head. "We'll be at the Basilicom. Oh, and I don't recommend being here for too long, unless you want Sir Trick to find you."

To be continued...

...Since when do Maker characters beat CPUs?