Hyperdimension Neptunia is owned by Compile Heart, Idea Factory, Sega and whomever else worked on it.
Chapter 95
"H...Histy..." Neptune whimpered as she heard the voice. "Where are you? All I see is black ink around me... It's pulling me under it. Histy..."
"Don't give up, Neptune!" Histoire's voice was comforting, but Neptune could feel herself getting more and more exhausted with each passing moment, she hurt so much and she was so cold. "Please! We'll find a way to save you."
"Too..." Neptune grimaced as her head barely stayed above the cold, black ink. "Too much, Histy..." Tears fell from her eyes as she tried to keep her head above the darkness. "It's pulling me under."
"Don't give up!" Histoire's voice had Neptune gasping. "Even if you fall under, don't give up! I promise you! No matter what, Neptune, I won't let you die."
Neptune smiled. "Thanks, Histy..." She took one last gasp before sinking under the black inky liquid completely. 'But it's too late. I don't think I can come back a third time.'
(-)
IF watched in dismay as magic beams of light rained down upon Purple Nightmare, who seemed to be just shrugging it off while screaming in an ever-increasing distorted sound. "This is nuts..." The Void CPU was using that glowing sword to cut through energy constructs fired from Mina while using her tentacle limbs to keep B-Sha, Cave and RED away from her. The only one who could even get hits in on her was MAGES. and the magic user was only able to keep from being killed thanks to the blue ninja robot.
Compa bit her lower lip as she watched Purple Heart fighting off her friends. "This is wrong. We need to help Nep Nep."
"I know that!" IF snapped at her.
Warechu was about to say something to IF, but there was one thing that stopped him.
The look of pure anguish on IF's face, the repressed tears, the way she looked like she was doing all she could to not break down crying. "...IF? What's wrong?"
"Dammit!" IF cursed and balled her hands into fists. "Nep... She sacrificed so much for us. Suffered for all of us. And for what?!" She screamed and gestured to Purple Heart. "She's gone crazy and is attacking Chrome and the others and all we can do is watch!"
"If that's the case," a voice that filled IF's head had her gasping in surprise, "perhaps this might interest you?"
"Hey! You're that Histy person!" Linda spoke up, remembering the voice that had helped her fly through the tornado wall. "What's up?"
"Neptune is still in there. But she's rapidly losing to the Fearicite that's corrupted her. She needs Shares. If you put all of your faith in her, she might be able to survive."
"Shares..." IF muttered softly and looked at the scientist, who was watching Purple Nightmare fighting Mina and the others. "Hey! You! Old lady!" The woman turned to look at her.
"Yes?"
"I know that Purple Void used a communication array to contact everyone in Planeptune." The scientist nodded at her. "Do you know if it can contact other nations?"
"Iffy?" Compa looked at her friend. "What are you..?"
"It might be able to..." The scientist nodded. "What do you have in mind?"
"Heh heh," IF suddenly had a toothy grin on her face. "We're going to save Nep... And everyone's going to help us."
(-)
In Lowee...
Financier looked up as Artisan walked into the Basilicom office. "Back from Leanbox?"
Artisan nodded, sighing heavily. "How are things here?" The horned woman looked extremely worn out. "Before you answer, I'll say this... The amount of tentacle monsters in Leanbox is insane!" She had a look on her face that showed her complete disbelief. "I... I know that she was doing this for years, but my god... I never thought much about those creatures, even though Chrome told me horror stories of them, but now..." She shuddered in disgust. "I say we get everyone out of Leanbox and then we turn that nation into a glass monument or something."
"You know that Lowee can't take in too many people." Financier shot back. "Between the increasing earthquakes and the way the forest is growing even faster, I'm thinking that we may have to abandon Lowee in a year if Lady Neptune doesn't get back here soon."
"Miss Financier!" A security guard ran into the head office. Both Financier and Artisan looked at the guard. "Come outside! Quickly!"
"Huh?"
(-)
When they got outside, they were greeted by a large holographic image of IF in the center of the town square. Outside of discolorations from the reconstruction, there was no evidence of the fight between Purple Heart and White Void all those months ago.
"People of Gamworld," the holographic image spoke up, "my name is IF. Some of you know me, most of you don't."
"What's she doing?" Artisan asked, confused.
"But all of you know who CPU Purple Heart is."
(-)
In Leanbox...
"Did something happen to my darling Neptune?" Chika asked as she walked through the interior tunnels of Leanbox, having stopped when she saw IF's face show up on the monitors.
"I am currently in Planeptune where CPU Purple Heart is facing the final Void of Gamworld, Purple Void."
Chika gasped in delight. "I knew that my darling Neptune could do it." She jumped and clapped in happiness before pouting. "I just wish she'd call me. I miss her."
(-)
In Lastation...
Ganache and Chian both looked at the television screen in Chian's diner, as did everyone else in the diner, both of them glad that Neptune was still alive.
"However, CPU Purple Heart got badly hurt during her fight against the Void of Planeptune." IF said, looking troubled. "She put herself on the line, got so beaten up so many times, all to save us, whom she had no reason to save. Please, everyone... She needs our help. Put your faith in Purple Heart. Not because she saved us. Because she gave us hope for a better world."
Ganache and Chian looked at each other and nodded, each of them pulling out cell phones and making calls. "What are you all doing?!" Chian called out to her patrons. "You heard IF! Put all of your faith in Lady Purple Heart! She saved Lastation from that giant monster! We need to help her! Let's do it!"
"You heard right?" Ganache asked as he made his conference call to all of his business contacts. "Look, I don't care how it sounds, you either put faith in Purple Heart or I'll force all of your loans into default next week." He smirked as the people quickly agreed to it. "And make sure that your employees agree as well!"
(-)
In another part of Lastation...
"You heard her!" Brave yelled as he pointed his sword at the gangs that had gotten to the upper levels of Lastation and had been causing problems. "I won't kill you if you put your faith in Purple Heart. So if you want to live, you pray to your goddess right now!"
Every single punk immediately fell to their knees, threw their hands into the air and chanted Purple Heart's name over and over again.
(-)
Back in Lowee...
Financier didn't even have to ask anyone as everyone started to cheer and pray for Purple Heart. Some of them had even thrown their hands into the air.
Artisan was one of them as she held her left arm partially up. "What?"
"Why are you doing that?" Financier asked and Artisan shrugged.
"I dunno, it just... Feels right." The redhead chuckled as Financier shrugged and raised both hands into the air.
"For Lady Purple Heart!" Everyone started to cheer.
(-)
In Leanbox...
"You heard her!" Chika yelled as she got a portable communication device and put her face up on all the screens, her face was split next to IF's, "for my darling Neptune! All of you! Put all of your faith in her now!"
It didn't take long for everyone in Leanbox to give their faith to Purple Heart.
Even some of the tentacle monsters were raising their tentacles up as though they were giving Purple Heart their support. Though no one was there to see it.
(-)
In Planeptune...
The people of Planeptune stared at the image of the girl with the multi-colored skin and spoke to all of them.
"Please! People of Planeptune! Purple Heart can stop Purple Void! But she needs your help!"
The people looked at each other, unsure if they could believe this person.
"I know it might be hard to believe." IF continued. "But I've seen Purple Heart, I've been with her. She saved Lowee, Leanbox and Lastation. She wants to save you too. If nothing else, she's way better than a CPU who will kill you for laughing at her when she trips over a rock, isn't she?! And she doesn't have creepy robots and... Okay, lady, what the hell do you mean by pedophiles working for her? Yeah of course Purple Heart doesn't have any of them."
"PURPLE HEART! PURPLE HEART!" There was suddenly a loud cheer from the people of Planeptune over that last bit.
(-)
On the Basilicom grounds...
Purple Heart rushed in, her sword held up high, her body was covered in burns, cuts and scrapes, but she was still going strong as her eyes glowed brightly. "DIE!" She screamed as she got close to the person in front of her.
"NO!" Chrome Heart, who had been pushed away by several glowing blades, yelled in shock as she watched Purple Heart swing her sword at the one person that she never thought Purple Heart would ever hurt.
Darkness Sister Purple stared in horror as Purple Heart's katana got closer and closer. She cringed and screwed her eyes shut so that she wouldn't see the blade hitting her.
When no pain came, she opened her eyes and stared in shock as the blade was shaking a scant millimeter from her nose.
"N...ep...G...ear?" Purple Heart asked, tears falling from her eyes as the glowing in her eyes started to subside and Purple Heart's normal eyes were starting to be seen. "N...no..." Her katana disappeared. "I won't... I won't hurt my little sister ever again."
"Neptune..?" Darkness Sister Purple wanted to hug her sister, but she was hesitant to act.
The glow in her eyes completely faded away. "I...I'm alive?" She could feel the Fearicite was still there and was rushing back at her. "H...Help..."
Chrome Heart motioned for the others to stand down as she flew over to the sibling CPUs. "Neptune!" She grabbed Purple Heart's shoulders and made Purple Heart face her. "It's me, Chrome."
"Ch...Chrome..?" Purple Heart looked at her, smiling softly before gasping and letting out a pained cry. "...Kill me." She clutched her chest and doubled over in pain.
"What?" Chrome Heart gasped, as did Darkness Sister Purple.
"It..." Purple Heart shuddered in horror. "It's taking over. Please..." She looked up at Chrome Heart. "I..." She pulled her hands away from her chest and Chrome Heart could see to her horror that the hole in Purple Heart's chest was still there. "It's already too late."
"Hey, um..." Darkness Sister Pink suddenly spoke up. "I feel kind of..." Her eyes widened as her transformation suddenly wore off and she found herself falling to the ground as Ram. Thankfully her sister had flown down and grabbed her shortly before she hit the ground, only to find her own transformation had worn off.
"Everyone get to the ground!" Chrome Heart yelled at them as she grabbed Purple Heart and flew to the ground. "Neptune, I won't..."
Purple Heart smiled at her and hugged her tightly. "It's okay, Chrome, you tried..."
As soon as Chrome touched the ground, she, along with the other CPU Candidates and Vermilion Heart all transformed back into their human forms with Purple Heart returning to being Neptune a moment later.
Chrome let go of Neptune, who immediately collapsed. "Neptune!"
"Heh heh... I can't feel my legs anymore." Neptune giggled before crying out as she rolled onto her back. "I... Chrome... I fought it back, but it's coming back. I know it is."
"Don't you dare give up, Neptune!" Chrome told her as she lifted up Neptune's upper body. "I won't let you." Neptune just gave her a sad look. "Don't... I..." She shook her head. "I can't kill you! I care too much about you!" Chrome hugged Neptune tightly. "Don't make me do it."
"I'm sorry..." Neptune shivered softly. "It's coming back. I'll be forced to fight you all again." Tears fell from her eyes. "Chrome... Please... Kill me now. I don't..."
"Don't give up, Neptune." Histoire's voice was heard. "Not yet. Just hold on for a little bit longer. The feelings of the people of this world... They'll help you, I promise you that..."
Whatever Histoire was going to say was cut off as an utterly inhuman scream was heard from the other side of the Basilicom grounds. Everyone turned and stared at Purple Nightmare, who was glowing red and black while she gripped her head with her hands.
Purple Nightmare suddenly let out another scream and everyone stared in horror as her tentacle limbs not only regenerated, but another set of regular arms burst out of Purple Nightmare's sides in a bloody and gruesome manner, while the area around her hips suddenly burst open in a disgusting and gory manner, causing her legs to fall off as her lower body seemingly transformed into a lobster-like body. Everyone watched in disgust and horror as Purple Nightmare's head twisted and turned in such a way that Ram immediately threw up upon seeing the head turn and twist until it was upside down and staring at them.
"I'm gunna have nightmares about that when I'm dead in Hell." Neptune muttered, her face green. "But why did she suddenly become like this. None of the other Nightmares did."
"Because none of them were in their Nightmare form for very long." Chrome said as she realized it. "Maybe what we see is a restrained form and if they're in it for too long they lose what control they have and become... This?"
"You think so?" Neptune asked and Chrome shrugged helplessly. "Nep it... Between this and..." She trailed off, her pupils shrinking as she felt an absurd amount of Share energy start to flood her body. "It... It can't be."
She could feel the Fearicite in her being pushed back, driven to the furthest corners of her being and eradicated.
The next thing anyone knew, Purple Heart was in Chrome's arms and hovering there. What was completely shocking was the fact that the hole that had been there over her chest was seemingly gone, though if someone looked closely, they could see a dark mark where the hole had been and even her left eye had returned to its original color, though it was slightly darker than her other eye and her hair still had red and black streaks in her hair, though they were faded. "I see..." She said as she closed her eyes. "This is the hope of the whole world, huh?" She opened her eyes and looked at Chrome, smiling. "Chrome," she looked at Filyn, "Filyn," then she looked at the twins, "Rom, Ram," then she looked at Peashy, "P-Ko," she finally looked at Uni and Nepgear, "Uni and Nepgear... I ask all of you... Put all of your faith in me."
"What are you going to do?" Rom asked, "you're badly hurt, how can..?"
Purple Heart smiled at Rom. "As a CPU, you must do things that others can't, because you need to protect them so you have something to come home to." She looked at Purple Nightmare, who was screaming in rage, "and even if I'm badly injured and can barely move, I have enough left in me for one more attack. But I need all of you to put your faith in me."
"Only if you promise to come back alive." Chrome told her and Purple Heart nodded. "Then, take all the shares I can give you."
The others all nodded and Purple Heart smiled at them. "Thank you, everyone." She closed her eyes as her shares swelled to unimaginable heights. 'I don't know if the Fearicite is really gone or not, but if it's not, then I'll make sure to end this with my next attack.'
She opened her eyes and looked at Purple Nightmare. "I realize something, evil me." She said softly as she looked at the form her evil self had taken on. "The real reason I couldn't stand you... Is because you are what I could have become." A look of raw determination filled her eyes as the air started to crackle with power that no one had ever felt before. Even Purple Nightmare stopped screaming to look at her. "But no more. I won't become what you are. I swear upon the power of my Hyper Share Crystal!"
Everyone watched as Purple Heart's share crystal, glowing brightly, popped out of her chest as a screen formed in front of her. "Next Program... ACTIVATE!"
To be continued...
About freaking time!