Author's Note

Hey, I'm back again! Chapter's on the short end this week, but I can promise that it will pack a punch!


Leanbox, Gamindustri

Place: Hospital

Date: August 31, 2019

Time: 11:09 A.M

Vert lightly touched Blanc's head and then ran her hand down her bandaged covered arms while being mindful of the wires that are connected to her. The White CPU was finally healing and Vert could finally see her face. Her body still needed time, so she still looked like a mummy. Vert sighed as she left the room to check next door. Just opening the door, she could hear Noire's painful gasps. It's been one night and Noire is still in a terrible condition.

"Vert…"

The green goddess turned around to see Histoire and Uni. The black candidate had a bouquet of lilies in her hands as she walked into the room.

"Vert, can I speak to you in the hallways?" Histoire voiced.

Vert nodded and closed the door behind her. Crossing her arms below her chest, she asked, "What is it?"

"You are the only CPU on Gamindustri this moment that can stop Rei Ryghts."

"I already know that," murmured Vert.

"While I understand you want to defeat her, I don't think it's good to risk your life like this. I know you have been researching on Uranus and the Shares," said the tome. "I beg you to stop. It already hurts me to see Blanc and Noire in pain. I don't want to see you hurt as well."

Vert sighed as she rubbed her head. She had a mild headache from staying up too late. Usually it would be from gaming, but this was an exception. "I understand you are worried, but I don't know what else to do. I won't be able to defeat Rei on my own. We barely survived Rei's attack yesterday, and that was when we had all five goddesses there… If Noire never went into Mode Uranus, I don't know how the situation would've played out…"

Histoire gave Vert sad eyes. "Vert… Don't underestimate yourself like this…"

Vert bit her lower lip as she glanced back to the door to Noire's room. "Two goddesses are already out of commission. Neptune isn't even part of this problem anymore… It's all on me now…"

"You can't shoulder this all on your own. Didn't Noire say that she didn't want to burden her friends with this problem?"

"It wasn't just her problem," voiced Vert. "It became my problem when Lowee's populace entered my nation with a mummified Blanc…" The Green goddess gritted her teeth as her eyes narrowed angrily. "I will do what I deem as right…"

Histoire groaned, "I didn't want to do this, but…"

Vert gave the fairy a puzzled look. "Do what?"

Histoire pulled her holographic screen and clicked a button. A soft ringing could be heard coming from the screen and Vert wondered who Histoire was calling.

"Helloooo!"

Vert blinked at the soft squeaky voice. Who's that?

"Plutia, please."

That sounded a lot like Histoire, but more… high-pitched?

"I apologize, other me."

Histoire smiled, "It is nothing. May I speak to Neptune?"

"Of course!"

After a few seconds, a familiar voice came on. "Whatsapp Histy!?"

Histoire sighed, seeing Neptune's happy-go-lucky face. It was kind of irritating when everything was going down hill on this side. "Neptune, please tell me you have collected enough shares to come back again…"

"Um, yeah see… We kind of got a problem going ooooon."

Histoire's left eye twitched, "Neptune, I don't care if you collected just enough for one of you to come back, I'm fine with that because I need you back, now!"

"Nep what!? Then what about Nep Jr.?"

Vert felt herself sweating from the growing anger in Histoire's eyes. Should I intervene?

"Nepgear can take care of herself, but currently I have two CPUs injured in bed and one being irrational!"

So I'm the one being irrational… Vert thought.

"The people's faith is waning, and if I don't do anything, I'll have all three CPUs here out of commission!"

"Whoa, Histy. Calm your tush. You're busting my eardrums."

Histoire turned red as a giant vien could be seen on her forehead. "How can you be so childish at this moment! Can't you see I'm in distress?! I am trying my hardest not to break down!"

Vert decided this was a good time to take over. She gently pushed Historie to the side so she could let the time cool down as she spoke with the purple goddess.

"Neptune, I see you are doing well."

"Vert!" Neptune smiled upon seeing her friend in good health. "What are you saying, Histy? Vert is perfectly in good condition!"

Vert sighed, "The ones injured in bed are Blanc and Noire. I'm the one that's irrational that Historie was talking about."

Neptune's smile dropped, "Wait what? But it's not that bad, right? I mean… Blanc and Noire are great fighters!"

Vert lifted an eyebrow as her eyes dulled slightly. "Oh? I think I can challenge you on that."

Vert walked over to the door to Blanc's room. The screen followed her as she opened the door and walked in. The blonde heard a soft gasp as Vert walked to the side of Blanc's bed.

"Blanc… Why is she wrapped up like a mummy?" Neptune softly asked.

"It was worse a few days ago. I couldn't even look at her without feeling nauseous. Her flesh was all charred and burnt. You could even see her bones. She just started healing…"

"Just started?!"

"It's been rough, Neptune," said Vert. "And it just keeps getting worse… Especially for Noire."

"W-Where is she? Can I see her?"

Vert looked at Neptune's saddened and worried face. "I don't think you would want to…"

"Please. I want to see her! I need to see her! Please, Vert. Show me Noire," begged the purple CPU.

Vert sighed and walked out of Blanc's room, gently closing the door behind her. She went to the room next door and opened the door, walking in. Noire was still breathing hard as the heart monitor recorded her rapid heartbeat. Standing next to Noire's bed was like standing next to an oven. The black CPU was burning so badly that she was emitting heat.

"Noire…"

Vert glanced over to the screen to see tears in Neptune's purple eyes. "It happened yesterday, when Noire was protecting Planeptune…"

Neptune listened to Noire's heavy breaths and it broke her heart to hear those weak whimpers being produced. She wanted so badly to touch her, to hug her, to reassure her that everything will be fine. She wanted so badly to be by Noire's side when she's in such a vulnerable state… But she can't.

"N-Neptune…" Noire murmured as she tossed her head from side to side.

Neptune gasped upon hearing her name. "Noire!"

"She's been calling your name. That's all she's been saying in this feverish state of hers," informed Vert.

"This is all my fault…" Neptune sniffled as tears fell from her eyes. "If I was there. If I was there to help…" Neptune gritted her teeth as guilt ate away at her. "Noire or Blanc wouldn't have been in this situation…"

"Neptune…" Vert couldn't look at the purple goddess. She had felt similar. She always wondered, if she was just stronger, could she have been able to help Blanc or Noire? Those thoughts have been plaguing her all night.

Noire suddenly turned her head to show half-opened eyes. "Neptune?"

Vert gasped, "Noire!"

Noire's vision was blurred. She could barely see anything, but she recognized the voice. "Vert…" She suddenly winced in pain as she clenched onto the bed sheets. She let out a soft groan as her head spun.

Neptune pressed herself against the screen, upon seeing Noire's pained expression. "Noire!"

"I-I'm fine…" Noire roughly huffed out.

"You clearly are not…" Histoire voiced as she flew in. "I'm glad to see you awake.

"It… hurts…" Noire whimpered as tears were now present in her hazy red eyes. "Dizzy… hot…"

"Don't worry, Noire. It's only a fever." Neptune hesitantly laughed, "And here I thought CPUs can't get sick…"

"It's not a fever," Historie corrected. "Noire was p… I mean it's a virus…"

Vert can tell that Histoire was avoiding the fact that Noire was poisoned by Neptune's shares. She probably doesn't want Neptune to feel any worse and she already does.

"You'll get better. I know you will," said Neptune. "You have to get better…"

Noire looked around. She could hear Neptune's voice, but she couldn't get a clear sight of her. Was Neptune here? Did she come to see her? "I want… I want to hold your hand, Neptune…" Noire slightly left her hand, hoping to feel smooth skin.

Neptune felt her heart break. "Noire…" Neptune bit her lower lip as her eyes stung with tears. "I-I can't…"

"Neptune's still in the Ultradimension," answered Historie.

"Ah…" Noire whimpered as her hand flopped down onto the bed. "I forgot…"

Neptune cried, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Noire… I'm so sorry I couldn't be there for you… I'm sorry. You're in this state because of me! I'm so sorry…"

Vert could feel her own eyes acting up. She looked over to see Histoire's eyes glazed over with tears. It was truly a sad sight.

"I-It's fine…" Noire assured. "You have important things to do…"

"No!" Neptune screamed. "It's not fine! I don't have anything important! While I'm here being lazy, you were working so hard to protect my nation. And in the end, you got hurt, you got hurt because of me!"

"Neptune…" Noire's tears fell from her eyes as she cried. "I want to see you, Neptune…"

Neptune sniffled as she whipped her eyes. "I'm right here! I'm right here! I'm not going anywhere, Noire!"

"I miss you…"

"I miss you too!" Neptune hiccupped as she sniffled. "I miss you so so much, Noire!"

Noire cried as she whispered, "Do you still love me?"

"Of course I do!" Neptune voiced. "I never stopped! I love you so much, Noire! So much! So don't worry. I'm gonna come back soon, okay?!"

Noire hiccuped as her throat closed up. "Nep…" She tried to breathe, but she suddenly couldn't. Her eyes widened as a sudden spike of pain ran down her spine. "AaaaaaaaghUuUaaRauagau!" She let out a loud ear screeching screen as her heart began to burn. She reached up to her throat and chest and began to claw at her own skin.

Vert panicked when she saw blood being drawn. She quickly grabbed Noire's arms and slammed them to the side. "Noire! Stop! You're hurting yourself!"

"What's going on?!" Neptune yelled.

Vert glanced at the heart monitor to see it spiking. It was going so fast that it became a concern. "Historie, call a doctor! A nurse! Anyone, hurry!"

"I'm going!" Histoire flew out of the room to see if she could get anyone, someone to come help.

Noire began to thrash on the bed as her body began to release steam. "Aaaaahaaa!"

Vert bit her lower lip to endure the burning sensation on her skin. It hurt so bad that she wanted to move away.

"Noire! Noire, what's wrong?!"

Vert glanced over to see the screen still open. She has to end the call. She felt like something was gonna happen that Neptune shouldn't see.

"Neptune, it's great seeing you, but end the call," ordered the green goddess.

"What?! No! You can't just block me out!"

"Neptune! This is for your own good! Close the screen!" Vert yelled.

Suddenly, Noire went limp and the heart monitor gave a long drowned out beep. The two CPUs stared at the girl on the bed that was no longer thrashing or screaming.

Vert's eyes slowly widened as she snapped her head to look at Neptune. The purple goddess turned pale as her eyes were large with contracted pupils.

"Noire…" Her purple eyes were trained on the unconscious goddess as her body shook. The noise fell on deaf ears as she tried to communicate with her loved one. "Noire? Hey… What's wrong? W-Why aren't you moving? Noire? C-Can… Can you hear me?" Her voice began to break as her heart pounded in her ears.

The door abruptly slammed open and multiple doctors and nurses swarmed around the bed, getting to work. Vert quickly moved out of the way.

Histoire returned to the room with rapid breathing. "I called them, but then they got an emergency signal from this room. What's going on?"

Neptune moved around trying to see the black CPU that was being blocked by multiple bodies. "Noire! Noire!? I can't see Noire!"

Vert stood in front of the screen with stern eyes. "We'll take care of Noire. You worry about getting back to our dimension."

"No!" Neptune screamed. "I'm not leaving until I know Noire's okay! She can't be dead! I refuse to believe she died! That heart monitor just ran out of batteries! That's all!"

Vert sighed, "Sorry, Neptune."

Neptune pressed onto the screen as she became desperate. "Vert! NO! I'm a part of this too! You can just exclude me from this! I was with you in this room!"

"No, Neptune," Vert shook her head. "You're in the Ultradimension. This isn't your problem."

"Vert! Stop!" begged the purple CPU

Vert didn't listen and hit the cancel button. The screen turned black. She huffed out a soft "Sorry" and closed the screen. "I don't want to see you hurt too, Neptune…" Vert dryly laughed, "Honestly, as my older sister, you should rely on me more…" Vert frowned. Even with a joke, the situation didn't get better. She wondered how Neptune could always make the situation less intense with just a single joke.

"Do another round! We can't let Lady Noire go!"

Vert turned around to see a doctor over Noire's bed with two electric pads trying to jumpstart her heartbeat again. He pressed the pads down on Noire's chest and an electric shock occurred before he quickly moved the pads away. He looked at the heart monitor waiting for just a second before looking at the time on the machine to see 11:35 P.M.

The doctor gritted his teeth as he refused to write Noire's death records. "Another round! We still have time! Do another round! Bring the current higher! Maybe it's different for goddesses!"

"Yes, doctor!"

Vert could feel fresh tears starting as she quickly left the room, closing the doors behind her. Blanc barely survived death's door and Noire was well on her way. She slid down the door as she hugged her knees. She prayed. She prayed to Uranus that Noire will survive. She prayed that she would heal. She prayed that Noire would awaken. She prayed and prayed and prayed.

Her voice hitched as tears ran down her reddened cheek. Everything was falling apart. Her vow to protect her loved ones are being shattered right before her very eyes. Was this her punishment…? Was taking her family and friends away her punishment for all the wrong doings she has done? If so, she would gladly turn back time to fix everything. She'd even sacrifice herself if it means keeping her loved ones close to her.

"Please… someone… save me… save Blanc… save Noire… Please. Someone, just save me from this nightmare."


Author's Note

Okay... So I know it looks bad, like really bad, but it's alright! Vert and Neptune are still in good shape!

...No? Not helping? Then lets talk about something else! I currently just finished my midterms, I am so stress, but thank the goddesses that it's over.
I thought I was gonna die like Noire here! Haha!

...

Too soon? Okay, I'll shut up now.

Oh, oh! Before I go, I also got into Genshin Impact. I must say that I am now addicted to that game. Did you guys know that the JP VA for Neptune also voices Lisa? Man, Rie Tanaka can really change her the tone of her voice! Well, it's expected since Neptune and Purple Heart already sounds so different (- lll)

Anyway, I'll see you all in the next chapter! Hope you all have a nice day!

-Shiena