So... It was pretty awkward. For the rest of that week we didn't even talk to each other as simply looking at each other turned the both of us into giant tomatoes. The first time I tried speaking to her, just a simple "Heya", resulted in her suddenly swinging her sword at me, nearly taking my head off if she hadn't managed to stop herself.
The same happened when I was doing a check on one of my pistols when she suddenly said "Hi!" Behind me which caused me to yelp in surprise and pull the trigger resulting in us both dancing around, trying to avoid the bullet as it bounced off the walls and floor.
The other girls noticed our rather timid behaviour with each other and tried their best to get us back to talking with each other without risking our lives and others. This form of help mainly appeared in shoving the two of us together and other stupid ways to get us close to each other that conversation sprung up.
Thankfully Linda was not involved in their shenanigans as she was busy helping Uni and Nepgeae with robot work and repairing Planeptune. Apparently the first meeting was rough as Uni didn't trust her and was on the verge of attacking her when Nepgear stepped in between them. Turns out Linda was quite good with robotics and mechanics and so was helping those two in clearing up Planeptune.
Plutia had left to go back to her dimension but she promised to return by the end of the month with the other girls from her dimension for a party to celebrate me arriving and staying here.
We have gone on quest after quest while she has been gone, building up cash and share energy and coming up to the end of the month we went out on a urgent mission given to us by the leaders of the Guild.
"I can see you've finally got that green paint onto your armour" Vert commented as Black Heart dropped me off at the start of the dungeon where the other girls were waiting before changing back to Noire.
"Hey I've been busy up till now" I chuckled spreading my arms to show off my new look "but I think I look pretty good"
I had changed all the red on my armour for a awesome forest green and, with the help of Noire, added some green markings onto my helmet; adding a power symbol over the telescope so the point I look through is in the middle of it.
"I'll admit I prefer you like that to your original colours" Blanc spoke up from beside the enterance of the dungeon.
"Definitely looks more you now" Neptune nodded, like she knew before how I would look in it.
"Well that's good you girls approve of it" I gave a fake bow "so would you be so kind to remind me why we are on this quest?"
"The people who alerted the guild about this dungeon a while ago reported sightings of a large monster moving in and out this place and causing insane amounts of damage wherever it goes" Noire spoke up behind me before walking up to the enterance "So we are going to go kill it"
"Ooh sounds serious" Neptune jumped off a small rock she had been sitting on.
"Very" Vert agreed gravely "we should move quickly, carefully and stay together"
Walking over to the edge of the enterance I could see three seperate pathways for us to take. "Yeah about that Vert, there are three pathways. Someone's gonna have to go by themselves"
There was an awkward pause as the girls looked between each other for someone to volenteer.
"Should we draw straws?" Neptune asked timidly
"No need I'll go by myself" I shrugged as the shouts of protest started.
"You can't!"
"You don't have share energy to protect you"
"You use ranged attacks while we all use close quarter attacks to fight so let one of us"
"Oh shut up!" I shouted causing them all to be quiet. "I'm going and that's final. If someone comes to a dead end go back to the start and mark the way you went and go down a different tunnel"
"Why?" Neptune asked making me facepalm
"Because I doubt all of the tunnels will lead to the boss room" I replied "and if I find it I will wait for you girls before going in. If you girls find it just go in, I'll eventually get there"
There was a moments pause before they all agreed and we entered the dungeon. The girls grouped up in the most predictable manner; Noire with Neptune and Vert with Blanc.
"Well happy hunting!" I called out as everyone entered their tunnels.
-ten minuets later-
"I have so many regrets right now!" I shouted over the gunfire and screaming monsters.
So in my tunnel I had apparently found a tomb in which I had inadvertently awoken some skeletons. And by some I mean enough skeletons to feed every dog in my world for at least three weeks if they are greedy.
Pulling my pistols out I started putting them down confidently when I noticed the amount of them rising from the grave.
Both of my pistols kept roaring in the small cave I was in and I was so glad I was wearing a helmet as it was probably really loud. As they clicked empty I pushed them both back into their holsters and unslung my rifle, back peddling rapidly as the skeletons charged over their fallen brethren.
If the pistols sounded loud my rifle was deafening. Crack! As I squeezed the trigger the first bullet jumped away, going through multiple ske tons before finally coming to a stop in another ones head. Repeating this action I kept firing until the magazine clicked empty.
There was a brief moment when the only thing that moved were the skeletons, raising their ancient weaponry to cut me to pieces when I slung the rifle and started using my wrist gun to shoot into the horde. Thankfully the wrist gun did not need reloading so I could pull out my kunai in my left hand and I went to work slicing and shooting through the skeleton horde.
As the last few fell one managed to cut my hip with his sword. So in my pain and anger I stomped on his head for a while until I noticed that I had reduced it to dust.
"Guess I got the wrong way" I muttered before turning back down the pathway; reloading and wrapping some bandages around my side. "Hopefully that'll hold until I get some real medical attention"
After a short walk down the tunnel I arrived back at the enterance we all started off from. Seeing that Vert and Blanc left a small X above their tunnel it was safe to assume that they had gone down Noire's and Neptune's tunnel so I headed down the tunnel myself.
It was not long before I could hear the sounds of battle, mainly inhuman roars of what I could only assume were pain. Coming to another enterance way I got to watch a giant chimera fall down dead with all of the girls hovering over its corpse. It looked a lot like a traditional chimera; part lion, part goat and part scorpion thingy but it's fur was a grey colour while the rest were a sickly shade of yellow.
"Well looks like you girls didn't need my help with this" I chuckled drawing their attention over to me. There was a brief moment of silence as they all just looked at me in shock.
"What?" I looked around for the reason of their shock before I remembered the bandages. "Oh these? I got cut that's all"
Laughing and waving their concerns off I walked towards the monster giving it a little kick just to make sure it wasn't playing possum. "Well is that mission complete now?"
"No apparently the target us in the next room" White Heart closed a holographic display of a map of the dungeon.
"Through that door over there?" I asked pointing at an ominous looking door "looks scary enough for a mini boss"
"Well let's look and find out" Green Heart said floating down and walking up to the door quickly. I can only assume she had something to do or a game to play after this.
While White Heart floated towards her so they could both have a peek, Black Heart and Purple Heart came to me as I walked over to the door.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Black Heart asked, concern flaring in her eyes.
"That wound will hamper your movement" Purple Heart followed up. Once again proving my point that Neptune has one of the most badass personality flips in all of this world.
"Thanks for pointing out what I already knew" I replied "I was acting tough hoping you two could in turn concentrate on completing this quest"
"Fine but I'll take you to a doctor" Purple Heart replied to my surprise.
"I'll accompany you two" Black Heart followed up which Purple Heart simply nodded to.
"Aw I have to sweet an cute goddesses both willing to take me to the doctors and care for me" I couldn't help but laugh as they both blushed, stumbled and started denying it saying they were both just looking out for an ally. "You two are way too in sync"
Arriving at the door we all entered into a massive hall which had large stone pillars standing tall and proud while one lay on its side.
"Only something big and really strong could break these pillars down" I commented examining the pillars. They weren't thin rather the opposite and it looked like something had smashed through it not chipped away at the stone and mortar.
"The real question is; where is this big creature?" Blanc replied, making her axe appear.
And like it was handed a card telling it exactly when to appear it smashed through wall with a roar. Crimson scales reflecting what little light was given off by the torches around the room.
"A dragon. Really?" I slowly stood up as it turned its head to face us before snapping its jaws and spitting a large ball of fire at us. Thinking fast I ducked behind the stone pillar and I felt it rush past me, the sudden heat making my eyes water. The girls had flown off in various directions and had began their attack. Dashing backwards and forwards in erratic patterns; never staying still for one second to not allow the dragon the chance to hit them.
Stepping back I pulled my rifle off my back and started shooting for the only vulnerable spot I could see ironically it was its eyes. The very thing it used to see.
After a few rounds I knew I had its attention. As it turned and sent the worlds most intimidating death glare my way before it started rushing towards me. Using my hook I mms aged to shoot it into a pillar and I swing around it to get out of the way. Luckily the stone could be pierced with my kunai so I continued swinging round before setting back down on the other side of the room, behind another pillar.
Soon after the dragon turned its sights back onto the girls allowing me to focus and fire more shots at it. This time though I managed to pierce its eye and it roared in pain and fury. With a grin I pulled the bolt back to load the next round only for it to jam.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me!" I shouted angrily pulling at the bolt to no avail. Looking up I saw a jet of fire being sent my way so without thinking I dropped the rifle, condemning it to the flames which reduced it to molten metal within seconds.
"Thomas be more careful!" Purple Heart shouted.
"Trying too!" I shouted back, reaching back to only find the the dragon fire must of been close enough to my pistols too, melting them onto the holsters. "I'm running out of weapons here!"
"What do you mean!?" White Heart shouted, slamming into the dragons side before darting off.
"I mean that mother fucker just melted both my rifle and pistols!" I shouted back before stepping out, firing my wrist gun at it.
With a roar it charged at me but I had hoped it would do that. Hooking onto another pillar I managed to pull myself over it and I fired a few rounds into one of it wings, ripping small holes into them and chasing blood to start to drop out.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed!?" Black Heart shouted in my ear as she landed beside me.
"I have no other way of attacking unless I do shit like that!" I shouted back before pulling her behind another pillar "I hate dragons.."
"Um Thomas?" I heard Black Heart ask and I turned to face her before seeing that I was still holding her close to me. With my hands on her hips. Oops.
"Ah crap sorry!" I let go of her quickly resulting in a wolf whistle from Green Heart.
"The couple are getting closer!" She called as she quickly jabbed the dragon three times before backing off.
"Hey not official yet!" I shouted back "anyway it'll break Neptune's heart if we did become a thing"
There was laughter as Purple Heart try to shout her denial but kept getting cut off by the dragon.
"Come on let's go!" I turned with a smirk to Black Heart but she shook her head.
"I cannot let you risk your life like this. You will get seriously hurt or die!" She grabbed my hand stopping me from going back out.
"They need us Noire now is not the time!" I tried pulling away but her grip was iron.
"No!" She pulled me away from the edge "I won't let you!"
"Fine you made me do this!" Within a few short moments I pulled my helmet and pressed my lips agains her cheek. This was one of the biggest leaps of faith in my life and it looked like it was a success. Black Heart's face froze up as she took in what I was doing.
Quickly tearing my hand out of her grip I shot my rope dart off and swung around a pillar, pulling my mask back down again. I heard Black Heart shouting in protest but I didn't listen her. Sticking to the wall I fired more shots into the dragons wing and it roared in pain before it whipped its tail up to where I was hanging faster than I could react.
It felt like I had been hit by a train and all I could do was scream in pain as it spat another fireball at me but this one hit me full on. The armour saved me from most of the damage but I felt all of the impact as I hit the wall, cracking it before I slid down onto the floor with a sickening crunch!
I could hear my heart beating slower and slower but all other sound was gone. I could vaguely see the girls attacking in an even more frenzied pattern from seeing me fall I would guess but my vision was going dark...
Darker...
Yet even when everything was completely black and I thought I was dead Black Heart came into my sight, the darkness not touching her. Her angelic snow-White hair hanging over her shoulders as she shook my shoulders. Her sky blue eyes were filled with worry and fear as she stared at me screaming something... I can't hear her... How stupid to die here without hearing her voice once more and seeing her cute smile once again...