Author's Note
Hey guys, its been a while. As you can see, I haven't been updating if you haven't noticed. I am sorry about that. I haven't been on Ff. Net for a very long time, but hey, I'm back with a chapter!
So let me tell what I've been up too. Working to make money. Started classes for online because my college went remote. And I've also been writing, just nit for this story, sadly. I've also been reading a lot of webcomics. There are some good webcomics out there and I am addicted. I've also been reading some manwha too. I swear, manwha had become the new manga, koreans really know how to draw and tell a story.
Anyway, I'll stop bothering you all so you can read the chapter. I hope you all enjoy.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Hyperdimension Neptunia, it belongs to Idea Factory and Compile Heart.
Planeptune, Gamindustri
Place: Planeptune City
Date: August 30, 2019
Time: 4:13 P.M
Rei deflected numerous of Black Heart's and Green Heart's attacks. She even ricocheted Black Sister's shoots towards the other two goddesses. She moved around the two CPUs as if she was dancing an elegant ball. Both Black Heart and Green Heart struggled to land a direct hit on the enemy goddess.
Rei swung her staff down and lightning rain down once more. The three CPUs moved to avoid being struck down. Black Sister fired out multiple shots and one managed to hit Rei in the foot. The enemy goddess growled and turned towards the candidate. This gave Black Heart a chance to strike.
"Lacy Dance!" She twirled around as she slammed her sword against Rei's back, causing her grunt.
Green Heart then came down from the top and thrust her spear. "Rainy Ratnapura!"
Rei quickly crossed her arms as Green Heart rapidly stabbed her spear at her. The blue-haired goddess was thrust down to the ground with great force. She gasped when her back crashed against the concrete.
"Did you get her?" Black Heart asked.
"I should have. I went all out on that attack," answered Green Heart.
"No, she's still moving!" Black Sister corrected. She was looking through her scope to see the other CPU getting back up on her feet. "Look alive, guys! She's coming in hot!"
Rei launched off the ground and went straight for Black Heart. The other goddess was not ready and was not able to get away as Rei grabbed onto her ankle. Black Heart yelped as she was pulled by her left ankle and thrown towards Black Sister. The two Lastation siblings crashed into each other and dropped to the ground.
"Noire! Uni!" Green Heart called out.
"You should worry about yourself, jiggles."
Green Heart gasped painfully as Rei punched right in her gut. The green goddess doubled over in agony as she clenched her abdomen. Green Heart wasn't able to recover in time and was elbowed by Rei and then tornado kicked out of the air.
"Hyaaa!" Rei quickly shot down three streams of lightning at the green CPU.
Green Heart quickly regained control of herself and flew forward. She glanced back to see the streams of lightning following behind her. She gritted her teeth and zipped between buildings but the lightning followed. She won't be able to get away.
"I got you, Vert!" Luckily, Green Heart got a reliable sniper.
Three yellow shots came down on the three streams of lightning and exploded. Green Heart smiled as she looked up to see Black Sister taking aim again, but this time at Rei. She pulled the trigger and three more shots came out.
Rei fired down some more lighting bolts and use it to intervene with the bullets. Black Sister cursed under her breath. Rei was single-handedly facing against three goddess and she hasn't even been that injured. She doesn't even looked that tired. What's even worse was that the battle have moved deeper into the heart of Planeptune City.
"You three are so persistent!" Rei gathered the lightning from the clouds above her staff.
"That attack is coming again!" Green Heart warned.
"Why won't you CPUs disappear?!" Rei swung her staffed and threw the giant orb of crackling electricity towards the Lastation sisters.
Black Heart and Black Sister quickly separated as the attack flew right past them and crashed into Planeptune's basilicom. The black CPU cursed as she saw the attack rip a large hole out of the building. She was gonna have to fix that and apologize to Neptune. For now, she just begged that the basilicom was vacant of people.
"Damn you!" Rei swung her staff once more and used a different attack. "Light of Domination!"
A line of bright light formed and the three CPU screamed in pain as their body exploded along with the buildings behind them. The goddess dropped to the ground as smoke was emitted from them. Green Heart slowly sat up to feel her muscles ache. Her entire body was screaming for her to stop moving.
"Oh my god… our goddesses are being beaten…"
"I can't believe it…"
Green Heart glanced back to see a large crowd of people surrounding them. They have crashed down into the park. This was bad.
"Vert! Noire! Uni!"
Green Heart noticed IF pushing through the crowds to get to them with Histoire, Kei and Compa following behind her. The goddess wasn't sure if she was happy or not to see them. "Iffy…"
IF kneeled down beside her to check her injuries. "Compa, she has terrible burns!"
"S-So does Noire and Uni," Green Heart groaned out.
IF looked over to the other goddess to see Histoire and Kei taking care of them. The citizens were giving them panicked and scared eyes. If they don't get back up, the people's faith will pummel.
"Lady Noire!" Kei called out as she helped Black Heart up. "Are you alright?"
"D-Do I… Do I look alright?" Black Heart mumbled out.
"Sis!"
Black Heart turned over to Black Sister to see her transformation go out. "Uni?"
Uni looked at her hands with teary eyes. She doubled over and slammed her hands against the dirt ground and cried, "Damn it!" She could barely feel any shares in her.
Histoire pulled out two Share Crystals. They were both really dim. The small tome handed the Lastation Share Crystal to Kei and voiced, "The people are losing faith."
Black Heart stared at her crystal in disbelief. Never has she seen her Share crystal so dark and dull. If it got any darker, she won't be able to stay in HDD much longer. The situation couldn't get any worse, but it did.
Rei hovered above Central Park and laughed. "Hello, citizens of Gamindustri! How did you like the show?! How do you like the fact that I, a goddess, is destroying your very homes!?"
Black Heart could see that the people were quivering with fear. The children were crying and whimpering as others silently covered their eyes and ears in panic. The goddess didn't know what to do. What could she even say? All she did was sit there and grit her teeth as she listened to Rei.
"You think goddesses are good? Of course they're not good, just look at me! I once ruled a nation too, y'know. And then I burned it to the ground! Ahah ahaha! Your so-called goddesses could become a tyrant anytime they want!"
The people began to chat among themselves:
"She's right…"
"If goddesses never existed, maybe we wouldn't be in this situation…"
"I should've believed in the Citizens group…"
"What a fool we've been!"
IF couldn't stand it anymore. She stood up and turned to the crowd, shouting, "Hey! Shut up! Can't you see Lady Vert and Lady Noire are doing their best!? They are risking their lives to protect you!"
"But it's their fault that we're here now!" someone countered.
"Yeah! Lady Noire didn't even try to protect our home! She abandoned Lastation!"
Black Heart felt her chest sting. It was true that she abandoned Lastation, but the city could always be rebuilt. She evacuated everyone for their own safety… Could they not see that? Was all her decisions wrong?
"What good is a goddess if she can't even protect their own land!"
"Yeah! Just look at Planeptune! Why is Lady Vert and Lady Noire fighting when it should be Lady Neptune!?"
"Yeah! Where is Lady Neptune! She should be fighting!"
IF took a step back, unable to respond. "N-Neptune's… She's… she's busy…"
"Busy!? With what!?"
"What is more important than protecting her own nation!?"
IF clenched her hands as she looked down at her feet. She knew that Neptune was stuck in another dimension with no way back yet. Even if she told the people, they would think that she abandoned them to save her own hide.
"It's no use protecting Lady Neptune! She has forsaken us!"
"No! You're wrong!" IF yelled.
"Then where the hell is she!?"
Rei smirked as she watched the chaos form between the citizens and the goddesses. It was too good to be true. Looks like, the people's will be the death of the goddess. "I knew it was a good idea in rioting up the people. Much easier than getting my own hands dirty. Ahahahahaha!"
Histoire could see the Share Crystal turning black. "This is bad. If this continues…"
Kei nodded as she was watching the light disappearing from the crystal in her hands as well. "We have to stop this, and fast."
Black Heart stood up and shouted at the top of her lungs, "ENOUGH!"
Everyone quieted down as Black Heart's voice rang out through the park. All eyes were now on the black goddess that had her head down and was quivering with frustration.
"You damn shits have no idea what's going on in our lives," Black Heart growled.
"L-Lady Noire, I don't think cursing…"
"Shut up, Kei!" Black Heart snapped.
"I've had enough of this! I tried my hardest in running two nations. TWO nations. And what do I get in return from these shitheads!? Nothing! I get nothing! I did what I could for Planeptune. I treasured it as if it were my own home. I understand that you miss Neptune, but what about me?! Don't I get any credit?! Haven't I done enough to get your acknowledgement?!"
"Noire…" Historie didn't know that the black goddess felt that way.
"I don't need your faith. Because you are Neptune's people, but don't I deserve some belief? Don't I deserve to be believed in? Making two nations successful isn't something that any goddess can do, and what do I get in return!? Betrayal by my own people! How am I supposed to fight when my own people don't even believe in me anymore!?"
Green Heart could see that Black Heart was about to explode. She stood up and tried to make her way over to her friend only to fall back down. "Noire…"
Black Heart snapped her head up and glared at the crowd with tear-filled eyes. "How am I supposed to go on when my girlfriend is stuck in someplace else and a psychotic goddess is destroying our nation!? I don't even know what I'm supposed to do anymore!"
Rei giggled, "Looks like she finally snapped."
Black Heart wiped her eyes, but more tears came. "I'm a goddess, yeah, but what is that to me!? It's just a damn title that we're stuck with because we were born with it! I'm no different than a regular human…" She sunk to her knees as she cover her eyes in dismay. "I'm just like any other person that's troubled, panicked and scared…" Black Heart slammed her hands against the ground as her tears fell. "So what the fuck am I supposed to do!? Tell me! TELL ME!"
The crowd turned the gaze away unable to respond to the crying goddess. They had never seen a CPU look so defeated in their life before and they have no idea how to respond. All they could do was look away.
Black Heart gritted her teeth. "Ah… I see…" She slowly stood back up.
Uni gave her sister a worried look, "Sis?"
Black Heart lightly chuckled, "I see… You all just complain and complain, but you don't know what to do either… heh… some people I'm protecting…"
"Sis…"
Black Heart sniffled and wiped her tears away before pulling up a strong front. "Then the more reason to believe in me! I won't deny that I'm not perfect. No one's perfect. Not even me. But I can promise you that I will protect you. Because I was made to protect you! I was created for that very purpose! Lastation or Planeptune. I don't care where you're from, but I swear to protect every one of you! Even if I'm not your goddess, I am still a CPU! So rely on me!"
The citizens looked at Black Heart with shocked eyes. They have been causing so much trouble for her. They lost their faith in her and she's still willing to protect them?
Black Heart turned to look at Rei and brandish her sword. "Faith or no faith, I will defeat you, Rei Ryghts! As Planeptune's substitute CPU, I won't let you destroy anymore of this beautiful nation!"
"Ugh!" Rei crosses her arms in disgust. "All of you are saying the same thing as White Heart. And she's already cooked meat."
Green Heart stood back up and walked next to Black Heart. "You don't understand what it means to be a goddess. As one that watches over Gamindustri, we are to cherish every being that lives on these lands and risk our lives to protect them. We, goddesses, are to work together with the people to bring a better future for everyone. A peaceful utopia that everyone dreams about. That's what it means to be a goddess," claimed the green goddess.
Uni chimed in as she stood on the other side of Black Heart. "And what do you dream for the future?"
"Huh?" Rei frowned as she looked down at the candidate.
"You dream of destruction," answered Uni. "A world without CPUs. But have you thought about what that would mean for the people? They would be left defenseless against dangerous monsters that they cannot beat."
Rei smirked and hummed. Then she laughed. "Hahaha! You three really are amusing! Do you really want to antagonize someone as mighty as me?!"
Black Heart smirked as she realized that this would be what Neptune would say if she was here. "In this story, you already are the antagonist."
Rei growled, "You all are a bunch of shits!" She swirled her staff around and gathered lighting bolts into a single area above her.
"Not on my watch!" Black Heart summoned her blue digital wings and launched off the ground towards the other goddess.
"Haaa!" Rei swung her staff down and the orb of electricity followed her movement as it was flung towards Black Heart.
"Tornado Sword!" The black CPU swung her weapon and stopped the progress of the attack. She gritted her teeth as the dense mass pushed against her blade. She won't let this giant ball of electricity pass her. "Grrrraaaah!"
"Nice try." Rei smirked and snapped her fingers.
Black Heart gasped as the ball of lightning shot out streams of lightning right past her. Her teal eyes widened as she glanced back to see many large lighting bolts raining down over the park. "Shit!"
"This is over for your precious people!" claimed the enemy.
Black Heart couldn't move from her position. If she left, the giant ball of lighting would crash down on the park and destroy everything, but if she doesn't move, then the lighting bolts would destroy the park instead. She has to think fast. She needs to act now!
"Ice shield! Double layer!"
Suddenly, the entire park was encased in a dome of ice. The bolts of lightning crashed against the layer of ice, causing it to crack and shatter. The second layer of ice stayed strong and took the brunt of the attack to the very last one before shattering. Black Heart let out a breath of relief at the sight of the citizens.
"You can leave the citizens to us!"
"We will keep them safe, Miss Noire!"
The White sisters landed down in the park with their staff in hand.
Uni was so happy to see the other candidates. "Rom! Ram!"
"I thought I told you watch over Blanc?" questioned Green Heart, though she was overjoyed by their presence.
"We couldn't sit still when our friends are in trouble," voiced the pink-haired candidate.
"Mina and Miss Chika are watching over your nation at the moment," said the older White Sister.
Green Heart smirked. She crossed her arms under breast, causing it to slightly jiggle. "You heard them, Noire! Leave the people to us! Focus on Rei!"
Black Heart grinned as she pushed hard against the dense mass with her sword. "I heard them loud and clear!"
Rei gritted her teeth in irritation. "You just won't give up will you!" She created another large orb of lightning and slammed it against the smaller ball of lightning.
Black Heart grunted as she was pushed back slightly. The force was much stronger now when she was pushing against two giant masses. "I won't give up…"
"Just disappear already! Light of Domination!"
Black Heart cried out as her body exploded in a blue light. She gasped out in pain, but she didn't stop. She gripped her sword as she pushed against the two large orbs. She refused to let up even if her body was screaming at her to stop.
"I won't give up!" Black Heart pushed harder and the blade dug into the ball of lightning, creating a small gash. "If I give up now, then I would be leaving Vert, Histoire, Kei, Uni… Neptune… I would be leaving my friends to protect Gamindustri alone! I refuse to be a burden to my friends!"
"You're stubborn as a mule!"
"Of not giving up makes me a mule, then so be it!" A black energy was being emitted from Black Heart's body. "As a substitute CPU of Planeptune, it is my duty to protect this nation until Neptune returns!"
"My goodness!" Histoire was shocked to see the Share Crystal growing so bright. "The people's faith… it's bursting!"
"Same here," voiced Kei as she held out the blighty lit crystal.
"Lastation, Planeptune, no. I will show the entire world just how stubborn I can be!" Black Heart shouted.
Suddenly, a painful jolt went through the black CPU's head. She cringed as a slight migraine came along. Not now. Not when I'm so close! I will save everyone!
For a Lastation CPU, you're not bad. I'll accept you.
Black Heart eyes widened from the sudden voice that ran in her head. Who…?!
"Something is happening!" exclaimed the green CPU.
The two Share Crystals began to pulse and shot a beam of light at Black Heart, causing the tome to gasp. "The Share Crystals are resonating with Black Heart!"
"But that's impossible," claimed Kei. "Lady Noire isn't a Planeptune CPU!"
Black Heart get out a battle cry as the energy burst from her body and sliced the two balls of electricity in half. Rei yelped as she was blown away by the shockwave that was emitted from Black Heart. Everyone in the proximity, covered their eyes as the light blinded them.
Planeptune, Gamindustri
Place: Planeptune City
Date: August 30, 2019
Time: 5:41 P.M
Black Heart blinked and found herself surrounded by white. Her body felt so light, but she couldn't move. That last attack must have used up all her energy. So this as far as I go then… Black Heart felt tears prickling on the side of her eyes. Sorry, Neptune… Doesn't look like I'll be seeing you home…
"Don't assume you are dead."
"Huh?" Black Heart blinked and looked around. "Who…"
"So you're the girl that's dating my successor… You certainly are a lot better looking than your predecessor."
"Your successor? So you're…"
"Yes, I was Planeptune's CPU before Neptune. As well as the True Goddess that helped created you."
The black CPU's eyes widened in shock. "If I'm meeting you now… doesn't that mean I'm dead?"
The old CPU chuckled. Black Heart doesn't understand, but her voice calmed her significantly. "I can assure you. You are not dead. In fact, it is I that reached out to you. Your strong desire to protect your people, our people, have awakened me."
"You reached out to me?"
"Yes. I have been watching you. Observing. Seeing if you were worthy. And from what just happened, I have accepted you as a Planeptune CPU, only as a substitute of course."
Black Heart finally understood. "You were the one in Neptune's office. You're the presence I've been feeling!"
She giggled, "I must say, even my own sisters didn't notice my presence when I watched them."
Black Heart's face showed confusion. "But… what does that mean?"
"It means I'm willing to lend you my strength. You do accept it?"
"Will I be able to protect everyone?" Black Heart voiced.
"It will hurt…"
"Will I be able to protect everyone?"
"You might die…"
"Will I be able to protect everyone?" she sternly repeated.
"Yes."
"Then lend me your strength. I don't care what comes of me, but let me fight for the people I care about!"
The True Goddess chuckled, "You really are stubborn as a mule. Alright, take my Shares…"
Black Heart closed her eyes as the white around became too bright for her own eyes. She suddenly felt warm, very warm. As if she was being embraced.
"Let's show that goddess-wanna-be just how stubborn you can really be."
Planeptune, Gamindustri
Place: Planeptune City
Date: August 30, 2019
Time: 5:42 P.M
The light died down and Green Heart can finally see again. She looked around to see everyone blinking rapidly to refocus their eyes again. She then heard a gasp and looked at Histoire to see her staring up in the air.
Green Heart followed her eyes and felt her own eyes widening. "N-Noire!"
Black Heart was floating in the air and a purple magic circle formed above her head. The circle moved down her body and changed her appearance. Her white hair turned orange as it fluttered closely and was tied into a low ponytail by a D-pad clip. The end of her orange strands were tinted purple as the magic circle expanded down her shoulders.
Following, her processor unit stayed black, but any white or silver designs on it turned to a vibrant purple. Then her sword shattered and reformed itself into a large weapon similar to Black Sister's. It looked to be a black and purple double-barreled railgun. Once the purple circle ended at the bottom of her feet, it shattered and flew to her back, giving her two pairs of large purple wings that looked similar to Purple Heart's.
Black Heart opened her eyes to show the color of deep blue instead of her usual teal. She brandished her new weapon and pointed the double barrel at Rei. Her lips moved as if she had said these words before. "Black Heart: Mode Uranus."
Green Heart was in awe of the new form. Everyone else seems to feel the same. The green goddess glanced towards Histoire to see eyes of nostalgia. The tome's eyes watered as her past memories played in her head. An image of an old friend shadowed over Black Heart that caused the fairy to shed tears.
"Uranus…?"
Author's Note
So yes, I left it off with a cliffhanger, sorry. I'll try to get the next chapter out, hopefully not after 2 months again. I honestly thought I'd finish this story by the summer of 2020, but guess what? It's still going. Just to be clear, I don't plan not dropping this story because I love HDN. I'm just not in the mood to write fanfiction, sadly. I'm sure many authors feel this way and want to work on other projects, which I've been doing. I've been on Webnovel, Tapas. io and other sites doing original work. I'm not sure when I'll get in the mood for fanfiction again, I'll just have to wait and see.
I also want to thank all the loyal and patient readers that have read LITOH. I'm so sorry for making you all wait so long. You all are the best and I promise that this story will have an ending. That, I can promise. Now, when? That is the one thing where I can't answer. Once again, thank you for being patient with me. I'm sure there are many of you that are upset, but I love all of you.
Thank you for reading. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Please stay safe because COVID is still a thing. Wear your masks when going out and keep your hands clean. With that said, I'll see you all in the next chapter... Whenever thats gonna come out.
-Shiena.
