Hyperdimension Neptunia - A Time Soldier's Final Mission.

Written by Shadicgon and Archaeologist of Humanity.

Chapter 2 - Introductions Part II

In the cafe the mood slightly changed as Molly leaned back. The weather outside seemed to have changed to a more calmer and nicer than before - A Sun encrusted sky with some clouds, not many, but some.

Molly chuckled slightly, "Sometimes I wonder how many monsters and ASIC goons I killed... But other times?" She looked more melancholy to Purple, all of a sudden - Something was wrong with this soldier... Was it the PTSD? Was it something else? "...I'm glad we live in relative peace now."

Purple seemed uneasy of the change in topic so she tried to move it on, "Yeah...but, let's not talk of that right now..." She looked down, "Sides, I have headaches when I remember the time CFW Brave came to Planeptune specifically looking for me..."

It was the worst day of her life, the chase had lasted about three hours and they even went into her house and gave her another three hours chase. All the way up and around it, it had been a literal nightmare for her.

Molly seemed to chuckle which had Purple confused. "Trust me, young one, I get it. I remember being hassled by..." She lowers her voice to a whisper, not wanting to upset the other patrons. "Arfoire. I managed to get her to the Graveyard where the CPU's handled her, but if I hadn't... Ho boy, I wouldn't want to be apart of the resulting mess!"

Purple nodded. "Arfoire...yeah, that sounds like-"

Molly puts a finger to her lip, which somehow silenced Purple.

"Best not to mention it. I know a LOT of people who are still fragile from A-S-I-C days. That's why I didn't say her name outloud. Not even-" She was going to mention the Deity of Sin but thanks to Purple's acknowledgement of what she had said - She didn't have to.

Purple nods her head, "Good Point, and man, I enjoyed those three years of peace...Before Rei Ryghts came and my life hardened again!"

Molly hummed as she nodded. "I know." Molly looks out of the window and smiles as she sees children playing by the shops and cafe's, including the one she was in. "I, did, think about settling down awhile back. Just after the whole situation with Ryghts, but... I don't think I ever will." She sighed heavily.

Purple opened her mouth faster than she could think, "Why not?"

"If you don't mind me saying, you seem tired and, like, if you could collapse if you don't stop." Purple's voice seemingly increasingly worried of the girl in front of her.

Molly's expression changed to one that was half hardened and half sad, it was almost like a Mr Jeckal and Mr Hide effect in a way. After a few minutes of suspense she sighed. "My first love was killed in the first war I was in. I'm not going to stop now... Not, ever, My duty as a "Time" soldier comes first." She couldn't help but see Purple's eyes light up slowly, so Molly blinked. "...I shouldn't have said that."

"Time Soldier? You mean, like, a kind of- Time Traveler?"

Her eyes sparkled a bit, before returning back to normal.

Purple put a hand behind her head and chuckled slightly. "S-Sorry, got a bit...excited there..."

Molly's lips curled into a partial smile. Making Purple slightly happy on the inside. 'She's FINALLY smiling! YES!' Purple thought happily but concerntrated on what Molly was about to say.

"I don't blame you. Most people would say that. Let's just say that fighting in the wars I have, you learn to become stronger, but, you also get wounded along the way... Hence why, as you say, I look "tired"."

Purple nodded her head as her eyes looked full of genuine concern. "Yes...and gosh do you need a break, come on, at least take one!"

"If you're not planning to settle down at least...rest, there's no war right now, and I kinda doubt one will happen in the next ten decades!"

Molly raises an eyebrow with a tiny smile, reminiscent of a parent looking at a child as though they don't quite believe them. "That's what they said about the *Console* war, and then what happens? ASIC rises very quickly."

Purple leans back in her chair. "That's...a very fair point..."

She paused before saying the next thing on her mind, "Still, take a day off, one you're not planning to spend wasting yourself?"

Purple looked down, "Take it from me/or Trust me, those are better...and yes, I know for experience...don't ask how I got my hands on those drinks." She giggled slightly, "Okay, you can ask...maybe..."

Molly chuckled also.

"To be fair, you look a lot like the CPU of Planeptune, so, there's no real problem with you getting drinks, I have no problem with not knowing." She saw Purple's downcast expression so she sighed. "Although, it may be fun to know..."

Molly nods.

"Alright, how do you get your hands on alcohol if you look under 15?"

Purple looked up at her and had a slight smile on her face. "Well, as you said, I look like the CPU...some people tend to think I'm her...and I can easily say yes- and, since she can drink...I was curious of the taste...and...well...stuff happened."

She grimaced. "I regret it, it wasn't worth it..."

Molly laughs lightly at her. "Stuff? You mean you've been "playing"?" She shook her head even though she had just teased the girl she had met less than five minutes ago. "It's fine. You don't have to explain yourself."

Purple mumbled, "My wallet died that day. She said she just wanted to help and I didn't know those jobs existed. I blame my ignorance...and myself on the process."

Molly hummed to herself. "You know, you can't blame yourself for "everything" that happens to you. I know I do - But I have a reason. I'm allowed to, Since I've been serving Gamindustri since I got here. But, you, you can't blame yourself." She reached into her denim jacket coat pockets. "I have something I was going to give someone... But I never got the chance, here-"

She pulls out a Gold coin and throws it at Purple.

"-Call that a welcome to my friendship circle. If you want it, Purple."

Purple caught it in moments but then looked at the golden coin, unsure of what to say. Until, "...I'll take it, but if one day you want it back, you tell me, kay?"

Molly chuckles and waves her hand.

"Don't worry your little pretty head about it. I was planning on giving that one away, so you're lucky that we were here, in this instance."
Molly goes to stand up but falls on her backside again, hiccuping, and swearing at the same time.

Purple, noticing this, stands up in panic and goes to her side of the table just before the seat. "Molly, you fine!?" She asked her new friend, deeply concerned.

Molly nodded her head as she tried to stand up again, but hiccuped, felt light headed and sat back down. "It's nothing..." A hiccup. "Just the alcohol... Ugh..."

The waitress from earlier walks over and places the orders on the table. Tilting her head at Molly and Purple and concern starting to show. "I saw what happened - Shall I get a doctor? "

Molly groaned as she held her head. "Shut it..."

Purple on the other hand shook her head as she made a definite decision in her head. "No, I'll...take her to her home-" She pulls out a bag filled with credits and places it on the table.

Purple smiled. "Keep the change."

The waitress had an uneasy smile. "I'm sorry, Miss, your friend. She... She paid already. She had a tab that's been paid... Already?"

Molly chuckled in her drunken stupor.

Molly felt her head start to swim. " You have a lot of money for someone so small..."

Purple sighed and took the bag and placed it in her hammerspace.

"I do a lot of quests - I need to pay my bills, so..."

Molly nodded her head even though she felt sick. "I see."

Purple helped Molly as she stood up and placed her arm around her neck to help her. "Alright, I'll get you home, okay? Because it's obvious you need to sleep and relax in something that's not alcohol...If you want my opinion."

Molly nodded yet again but this time groaned. "Ugh... Okay. Just promise me you'll help clean the lights, Miss Aubergine."

The Waitress looked worried at the two.

"I think she lives just down the street, number 6683? She's been coming here week after week... Almost daily."

Purple looked at Molly with full concern as she tried to process it, "Thank you..."

Purple looked a bit nervous. Reason being? Molly had come here almost daily and that today was the first time she encountered her... Maybe it was time issues or just a bad timing in both cases?

Either way, she helped Molly out of the restaurant, her own stomach growling a bit from not eating anything.

Purple thought to herself, 'Shut it, I can eat later. Priority is to get Molly safe and sound!'

Almost magically, the stomach stopped growling. Something had refilled it... But who-

Molly's left hand glows slightly and it felt like Purple had eaten a huge amount. Talk about power...

Molly offers a small smile.

"That any better?"

Purple blinked, "Yes...thanks."

"No problem. You look like you needed it..."

Molly stumbles forwards, almost out of Purple's grasp as her one bedroom house comes into view. It was a rather big looking house with a few extentions that looked like they needed finishing. It was almost like an Edwardian/Victorian-style building from Planet Earth's history or just a really ancient-looking place according to the Gamindustri archives.

Purple pointed at it with her free hand, "Is that your place?"

Purple asked after tightening her hold on Molly to make sure she wouldn't fall.

Molly nods her head. "Mhmm... It's a bit small but hey, it does me just fine."

Purple hummed, "I think it's bigger than my place...or about the same size?" She seemed to second question herself.

Molly nodded her head. "I needed somewhere that was small... Not necessarily big. Just enough for me."

The "Aubergine" girl nodded, "Yeah...welp, let's get you home!"

"Sounds like a plan."

Molly walks semi-normally to her front door, with Purple's help of course. Then she puts her finger on the scanner by the door, it looked like one out of a science-fiction film. What one, Purple couldn't be sure, thus the front door opened.

"You can have a seat or you can go, its your choice Purple. I don't want to hold you up."

To Be Continued In Chapter 3!

I hope you're liking this so far, yes you reader :P Please let me know what you think and I'll continue as long as the RP is going I'll carry on this story. But like I said in chapter 1 - I have a LOT of work to cover... The list is as long as my room! XD