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

Chapter 83

"You really aren't our CPU, are you?" A voice had Neptune turning to see the familiar-looking blue-haired waitress, who was standing in the doorway with the other people of the guild, all of whom were looking at Neptune curiously.

"No, I'm not." Neptune shook her head. "My name is Neptune, CPU of Planeptune from another dimension." She jerked in surprise as Histoire floated out above the group and to Neptune. "Um, Histy, how are you..?"

"I can still hear, Neptune." Histoire smiled at her. "And I have ways of sensing the world beyond just seeing things. I admit it took me a long time to get this good."

"But then you heard..." Neptune trailed off as Histoire nodded. "Then you should hide!"

Histoire shook her head. "I'm tired of hiding."

"Uh..." Neptune had a confused look on her face as she had her eyes mostly closed. "I don't think being locked in a bird cage counts as hiding when you're as mangled as you are."

Histoire let out a soft sigh. "In the end, Neptune," she gave Neptune as stern of a look as she was able to with her eyes being removed, "it doesn't matter if I'm there or not. If you fail and I am not there, then Purple Void will do whatever she can to hunt me down and deal with me that way." She gave Neptune a soft smile. "If I'm with you, at least I can spare others in Planeptune some suffering."

The next thing Histoire knew, Neptune was hugging her. "Histy..." Neptune whispered softly. "Will you stay safe?"

"I will be there to observe as best as I can." Histoire said as she gently hugged Neptune back. "Can I ask you something, Neptune?" Neptune nodded and released the hug to take a step back. "From our earlier conversation, you made it sound like there was a Histoire in your world."

Neptune nodded. "Uh huh. My Histy's someone I really treasure."

Histoire smiled at that. "You called her your mother. I know that I'm not her but... I can tell you, without a shred of doubt, that if I was her, that I would be so proud of you."

Neptune stared at her in shock. "...H-Histy?"

"You've suffered so much for the people of Gamworld," Histoire explained to her, "dealing with horrors of this world that no one should have to deal with. And you aren't even from this dimension. You have no obligation nor reason to help us, yet you have. You saved the CPU Candidates of Lowee, Leanbox, Lastation and brought them all to Planeptune with you."

Neptune found her cheeks turning pink and she chuckled, rubbing the back of her head. "Well, you're mostly right, Histy. Even if it's not my world, even if none of you are my people, I'd still try to help the CPU Candidates and the people of this world."

Histoire and the humans behind her all looked at Neptune in confusion. "What do you mean?" Histoire asked her. "There was no reason for you to help us, and I'm so grateful that you agreed to my selfish request."

"You're wrong, Histy." Neptune shook her head. "I didn't do it because you asked me to. I did it because people were suffering." She turned her head to look at Rom and Ram, who smiled at her, "because people needed help," Neptune turned to look at Peashy, who had a confused look on her face, "because there were people who cried out for help." She looked at Uni, who merely smirked at her. "And because, no matter what," Neptune turned back to Histoire and spread her arms out, "it's the right thing to do."

Histoire could only stare in a manner approaching awe, as could the other humans who looked at Neptune. "You..."

Neptune smiled at Histoire. "Even if I wasn't a CPU. Even if I couldn't transform. Even if I was level locked at one, I'd still try to help. My best friends were once my enemies. But I made them my friends, because I wanted to help them and end our fight."

"You..." The familiar-looking staff member spoke up. "What's your CPU name?"

"Purple Heart." Neptune answered her. "...And I need to know, who are you? You look so familiar to me!"

"Ah!" The girl smiled at her. "My name's NISA."

"Holy freeholas!" Neptune yelled, her eyes wide. "Now I remember! You're that Hero of Justice who helped my sister out a few years ago!"

"Hero of Justice?" NISA tilted her head before smiling wistfully, "yeah, I wanted to be one of those when I was younger."

"Well..." Neptune chuckled. "I guess I'll..."

"Go with the rest of us." Chrome interrupted and Neptune turned around to see Chrome standing there with an expectant look on her face. "One, I'm not letting you out of my sight if I can help it. Two, you heard Purple Void, she and her knights will be waiting for us. Do you really think you can handle more than one opponent in your current condition?" Chrome sighed softly and walked up to Neptune and hugged her. "And finally, I want to see this through to the end."

Neptune found herself blushing as her face was buried in Chrome's chest, but she hugged the other CPU back. "Thanks." She muttered softly. Chrome nodded and let go of the hug and Neptune looked at the CPU Candidates. "...I... You can go now, I won't..."

"Just stop." Uni shook her head. "We're going with you."

"That's right." Filyn told her while Rom, Ram and Peashy all nodded. "Don't even think about leaving us behind."

"But..." Neptune tried to protest only to sigh at the looks she was given. "...I feel like this is when Nep Jr. convinced me to take her with when we went to the Graveyard." That had turned out horrible and Neptune wondered if maybe she should have made her sister stay behind that time if it would have made a difference.

Still, she knew that it would be hard with just the evil version of herself and if it was a boss rush before the final fight, then it would be nearly impossible, even with Chrome's help.

Neptune sighed and nodded. "Okay, you can come with, but..."

"We know." Shockingly, it was Peashy who spoke up. "We know we could die, Neptuna." There was a look in her eyes that reminded Neptune of her daughter. "But Pea won't let you fight alone!"

"And we have unfinished business with MAGES.," Rom said, getting a nod from Ram.

"Uh huh. We'll show her we're not weak anymore."

Filyn just smiled and pulled out a spear. "Chromey, if you think..."

"You're welcome to come with." Chrome interrupted her and looked at Uni. "I assume you're going to avenge Steamax?"

"Of course." Uni nodded and clenched her hand into a fist. "I'll avenge him and then find where he is so I can fix him later."

"I wish there was something we could do." NISA said, looking somewhat depressed that she couldn't help in the slightest.

"There is," Chrome told her and pointed at Neptune. "Believe in her. Believe in Purple Heart. Doing so will help her get the strength needed to fight against Purple Void."

"Everyone." Histoire spoke up softly. "Let's go. Maybe we can get there early enough to set a trap or something?"

They nodded and Neptune grabbed Histoire and the group took off to the goodbyes of everyone at the guild.

"...Good luck." NISA said softly.

(-)

Meanwhile...

Purple Void closed her eyes as the transmission ended and was about to release her transformation when the doors to the room opened up and Nepgear ran in, looking worried.

"Big sis!" Nepgear ran forward to Purple Void. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" She stopped in front of Purple Void, got on her knees and bowed her head to the floor. "I met some people that were invading our country and I thought they were good people and..."

"Nepgear," Purple Void interrupted her, "enough, you had no clue that they were here to kill me and you're okay, correct?" Nepgear nodded while keeping her forehead pressed against the floor. "That's good," Purple Void let loose a sigh and reverted to her human form, "because I'd hate to have that pretty body of yours marred by someone." Neptune giggled and Nepgear took that as her cue to raise her head up slowly. When her head was up high enough, Neptune grabbed Nepgear's chin and stared at her for several moments. "You really are a sexy girl, Nepgear." She said softly. "When this is over, I'll have to give you some special attention."

Nepgear found herself blushing as Neptune let go of her chin and allowed her to stand up. "Um... Do you mean what I think you mean?"

"Of course," Neptune smiled at Nepgear. "I need to give you some loving once in awhile as well, Nepgear."

Nepgear blushed and Neptune turned away, a contemplative look on her face. 'I wonder if she'll survive the day today,' she thought to herself as she thought about Nepgear. 'Oh well, I guess I'll find out, won't I?'

There was a rapid pattering of feet that had both Neptune and Nepgear turning to the door as Mina ran into the room, panting. "M-Mistress..." Mina gasped as she put her hands on her legs. "I came running as soon as I saw the transmission, are you unharmed?!"

"Ah!" Neptune smiled and walked towards Mina. "Mina, such a good girl. Come here." She stopped as Mina rushed to her and she gave Mina a tug on her clothes and pulled her down to pat her on the head. "I'd give you more of a reward, but..." She trailed off as RED and B-Sha both ran into the room.

"AWWW!" Both of them yelled at the same time, looking disappointed. "I wanted a reward too!"

"You know the rules, girls." Neptune told them, "first to arrive is the first to get a reward."

"But that's not fair." B-Sha pouted. "I came as fast as I could too!"

"Tough." Neptune shrugged. She really did enjoy these three, they usually were lots of fun, but their squabbling and competition between each other to get her attention annoyed her tremendously. "I have a job for you three."

"Huh?"

Neptune looked at Nepgear and then to the trio. "I'm worried that, since there's so many invaders, that they might have some people sneak in while I'm busy. So I want you three to stay here and protect Nepgear for me."

"Neptune," Nepgear smiled at her sister, "thank you." She knew that Neptune did things she didn't like, but it was moments like this that proved her sister loved her.

"OH!" Neptune snapped her fingers and a necklace with a lion face pendant appeared in her hands. "Could you wear this for me, Nepgear?"

Nodding, Nepgear took the pendant and put it on. "What's this for?" It was pretty, but Nepgear knew there had to be something more to it than just looking pretty.

Neptune just smiled at her. "That's easy, silly! This pendant will let me know where you're at at all times, just in case the fight gets out of control, I don't want to launch an attack that would hit you."

Nepgear smiled when she heard that. 'See?' She thought to herself, 'I knew she cared.' There wasn't any doubt in her mind anymore. 'After all, why would she give me something like this if she didn't care?'

Neptune smirked softly and looked at the door. "Now where is MAGES. and Cave?"

"Um..." B-Sha raised her hand. "I saw them as I was rushing over here. They seemed to be heading to get your other knights."

"Oh, good." Neptune smiled, "that means..."

"GET BACK HERE, YOU BITCH!" Judge screamed as MAGES. ran into the room, followed by a large, angry, black robot with a halberd weapon. "I'LL TURN YOUR BONES INTO DUST!"

There was a loud clang as Judge slammed into a large sword that appeared out of nowhere. Thankfully for Judge, it was the flat of the blade instead of the sharp edge that he slammed into.

"No fighting." Neptune told Judge and then looked at MAGES., "what did you do to him?"

"I didn't do any damage to him if that's what you're wondering." MAGES. had an impish smile on her face. "Though I maaaay have tied him up and forgot to undo the spell and now he's a wee bit mad at me." She giggled while holding her hands behind her back and tugging on her long braid.

"...I see..." Neptune turned to look at Judge as she dissipated the blade. "Are you okay?"

"GRR!" Judge growled as he got up. "I'll be fine!"

Neptune nodded. "Good, then I'll ignore you." She ignored his cry of outrage as a loud thumping sound was heard. A few moments later, Cave walked in, followed by her final Knight. "Ah! Trick! It's time to get to work."

"So long as I can get little cuties, I don't care." Trick giggled and licked his lips while his tongue drooled. "Ooooh! Some new cuties I can play with! I can't wait to taste them and make them experience the joys of adult fun!"

The others, even Judge, all looked visibly disturbed by the thought of Trick playing with anyone.

"And then you'll eat them." Neptune said, the only one in the room who wasn't visibly disturbed by his announcement.

"When I'm done tasting their sweet, sweet nectar and other body fluids and having some fun with them, perhaps." Trick giggled as his tongue rolled out of his mouth and he started to pant and bounce around.

Neptune just shook her head. 'Oh well, that's what I get for having a fat, yellow, pedophile robot working for me.' It was easy enough to ignore. After all, she ignored all the kids that went missing all the time since she knew who was taking them. "I don't care if you kill them by making them orgasm so much that they die in climax, lick the flesh from their skin or eat them, just deal with them."

"YAY!" Trick cried out in glee and bounced around. "Oooooh! I'm going to have fun with some cuties!"

"Um, sis..." Nepgear had a disturbed look on her face, as did the others, "was that really needed?"

Neptune gave her a serious look. "Pray you never become the CPU and have to find out, Nepgear." Turning, she walked out of the room. "Enough! Knights, with me." She stopped and pointed to Cave. "That includes you too!"

Cave sighed softly. "This is going to end poorly, isn't it?" Still, she couldn't go against the CPU. 'After all,' she thought to herself as she followed after Neptune and glanced back at the three with Nepgear, 'we all pledged our loyalty to the CPU of Planeptune, to Neptune.'

Taking one last look at Nepgear, Cave quickly moved to go after Neptune and the Knights as they left the room.

(-)

Meanwhile...

"So this is the central square, huh?" Chrome asked as she looked around. It was, true to its name, a large square area with grass, trees and small streams. "It looks like a large park."

"No swings, slides or anything fun!" Neptune protested, getting nods from Rom, Ram and Peashy. "Not much of a park!"

"You like playing with kids in the park, huh?" Chrome asked with an amused look on her face. "Nothing wrong with that, but I'm surprised that you take the time to do that."

"What?" Neptune had a confused look on her face. "I enjoy playing with the kids and knowing how their day went. I like helping old people cross the street and I like just making everyone smile."

Chrome said nothing, but the gentle smile on her face was quite telling.

"Nep Nep!" A familiar voice yelled out and Neptune turned to see Compa, Warechu, Gust, IF and Linda running her way. "We came as soon as we heard the announcement."

"The security guys didn't want us to come." Linda groused in annoyance. "When I mentioned your name they all had no problem letting us through."

"I wonder why." IF muttered and looked at everyone. "So this is the final showdown?"

"Yeah," Neptune nodded. "Histy," she looked at the book fairy, who was standing still. "Histy, what are..?"

"Look!" Rom pointed in a direction and everyone turned to see a group heading their way.

"I don't believe it..." Linda muttered. "It's like I'm seeing double."

The other Neptune just grinned as she was surrounded by Judge, Trick, MAGES. and Cave. "Well, now it makes sense..." She laughed suddenly. "The only one who could kill the other CPUs of Gamworld..." Her eyes seemingly glowed as her grin increased in size. "Would have to be me."

Neptune looked at the other version of her and fought the urge to gulp in fear. It was time to face herself and end everything.

To be continued...

What? You thought we'd be fighting right now? No, this is the "everyone's gathered, let's gear up, look bad-ass, and slow walk to the final battle" scene in the movies.