Finally got round to continuing this story. And not too long since SVS came out. I'd love to have Excel meet Maho sometime. What do you guys think?
After recruiting Rom and Ram to their cause, Nepgear and the rest of her party stood outside the Lowee Basilicom, just as Nepgear received a phone call from Histoire.
"Histoire's calling." She said, before answering. "Hello? Nepgear speaking."
"Hey, Nepgear. We should let her know Rom and Ram are with us now and that it's awesome." Excel advised.
"Oh, right!" Nepgear agreed. "Listen to this, Histoire! Rom and Ram have decided to come with us and help out."
"How fortuitous." The voice of Kei, the oracle of Lastation replied. "I can scarecly imagine what it took for those kids to accept your proposal."
"Wait... But my caller ID said..." Nepgear replied before continuing the conversation. "Is this...Kei?"
"Correct." Kei answered. "It brings a professional smile to my face to know that you remember my voice."
"But, wait... Why are you calling from Histoire's phone...?" Nepgear asked. "I'm really confused right now."
"I had a few meetings to attend, so I've been staying in the Basilicom here in Planeptune." She answered. "But enough about me. There is an urgent matter regarding Uni that I must relay to you."
"Did something happen to her?" Nepgear asked, feeling a bit concerned. Excel looked concerned too as he listened in.
"In a sense. She's gone missing." Kei confirmed. "I asked her to oversee the nation during my absence, but it appears she got involved in some incident."
"That sounds serious..." Nepgear said sadly. "Do you know if Uni's okay?"
"Unfortunately, no." Kei replied. "I can assume with confidence that she is unharmed though. I cannot abandon my duties here, so I wanted to call and ask for your help in locating Uni."
"Okay. We'll head straight for Lastation." Nepgear said in a determined tone before ending the call and addressing the group. "That's the situation, everyone. We've got to find Uni!"
"Oooh, are we going to Lastation?" Excel asked excitedly.
"Yes, we are." Nepgear confirmed. "We need to make sure that Uni is safe."
"Awesome! I've never been there before either!" Excel cheered.
"I guess that's fine, but I'm pretty sure I warned you to stop agreeing to things before asking everyone." IF said.
"Huh? Oh... Goodness, you did, huh?" Nepgear replied nervously. "I got caught up in the flow of things again, hehe..."
"It's alright, Nepgear." Excel said in a reassuring manner. "It just goes to show how cool and brave and heroic you are, among other things."
"I-I guess so..." Nepgear replied sheepishly.
"Ge-Ge is starting to act more and more like Nep-Nep, huh?" Compa pointed out.
"Um... Let's go and find Uni! No time to waste!" Nepgear declared.
"Sure thing, boss!" Excel agreed as the party left Lowee and headed for Lastation, where a random guard greeted them at the entrance.
"Hey, I know you girls! Welcome back to Lastation!" The guard said, greeting the group.
"Um...who are you again?" Nepgear asked.
"Aww, forgot me already?" The guard replied. "I gave you the info when you were looking for Hematite."
"Oh, you're that old guy!" Red realised.
"Hema-what-y...?" Excel asked in a confused tone. Cave, who was standing next to him, shrugged her shoulders in response.
"I-I'm really quite young in non-anime years..." The guard claimed. "Anyway... I take it you are here about Lady Uni."
"Yeah. Word on the street is that she's gone missing. Is she okay? She's not hurt, is she?" Excel worried.
"Do you know where she is?" Nepgear added.
"I don't know and yes." The guard answered both CPU Candidates. "The Oracle asked me to find information, and I believe I've come across a solid lead."
"Wait, how are you and the Oracle on speaking terms?" IF asked.
"Uh...! Well, we have far more pressing matters at hand, so let's focus on those, shall we?" The guard replied, abruptly changing the subject.
"Excel has a point though. Do you know if Uni is safe? Where is she?" Nepgear asked.
"I already said that I'm not sure about her condition right now." The guard answered before explaining the situation. "But to answer your other question, she was trying to confiscate all the Arfoire chips that were spread throughout Lastation. Then, a few days ago, we got reports of an inhuman shadow arguing with Lady Uni. It was overheard that the two planned to settle their debate at a place called Mid Company. Lady Uni has been missing ever since."
"Then, that could mean..." Compa said.
"She lost the fight?" 5pb added.
"We have to go save her! She might be seriously hurt!" Nepgear stated.
"I'm with Nepgear on that one!" Excel obviously agreed.
"That's why I've been waiting here! I could never survive in that hostile area alone..." The guard replied.
"We understand. We're going, nyu." Broccoli said.
"Please be safe, Uni..." Nepgear added in a worried tone.
"I hope she is too." Excel agreed. "I've only met her once."
The group then set off to Mid Company to look for Uni. After a while of searching, Red noticed something peculiar.
"Someone's collapsed on the ground!" Shee pointed out, as she saw an unidentified figure lying motionless on the floor.
"Is that Uni!?" Nepgear asked.
"Yeah, it is! Oh no!" Excel answered, as he recognized the unconscious girl as Uni. "Uni's hurt! What do we do!? I don't know what to do! I suck at first aid!"
"Hey, are you okay?" Ram asked as she and Rom approached Uni's body.
"Did she really lose...?" Rom sadly added.
Soon after, Compa approached her and did an examination.
"She's unconscious, but her vital signs are stable." She explained. "It's time for Nurse Compa's healing magic!"
"Oh yeah, she is a nurse..." Excel remembered.
"Uni..." Nepgear sadly said as Compa delivered her "healing magic" and healed Uni of her injuries.
"Urrghh..." Uni groaned out as she slowly woke up, seeing a relieved Excel looking at her.
"Uni, you're alive!" Excel said in glee. "Holy crap, are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?"
"Ugghh... Wait.. You're the guy from the Leanbox concert... Vert's brother..." Uni weakily said as she recognised him.
"Yeah, it's Excel." He confirmed.
"What are you doing here...?" She asked.
"We came to look for you." He explained. "They said that you went missing and were holed up over here."
"We...?" Uni wondered, before Nepgear and the others approached her.
"Can you hear me, Uni? Where does it hurt?" Nepgear asked.
"Nepgear...? What're you doing here...?" Uni asked in return before groaning in pain. "Ow, ow, ow..."
"Please lie down. We have to take it one small step at a time..." Compa advised.
"N-No need., I'm just fine.." Uni refused. "This is...nothing... Owww..."
"Quit acting tough." IF replied. "Who were you fighting? It's hard to imagine someone taking you down..."
"Cause she's a total badass CPU who can kick all sorts of ass?" Excel asked.
"I was thinking more due to the fact that she has a lot of fighting experience and heavy artillery at her disposal." IF answered.
"T-Take me down? This is part of my feint strategy!" Uni claimed. "Seriously, I was only acting weak, that's all!"
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say." IF replied. "Who did you say you were fighting?"
"I didn't. Someone called CFW Brave." Uni answered.
"Wait, there's multiple CFW people?" Excel asked.
"Yeah. But for being a member of ASIC, he was actually pretty chivalrous." Uni explained.
"And here I thought that Trick guy was the only one." Excel replied. "Granted, he's the only one I've met so far."
"CFW Brave? Why does that sound familiar?" Red wondered.
"Didn't you hear what Excel just said?" Ram replied. "That CFW bit is the same as the dumb perv from Lowee."
"Oh, thanks, Ram!" Excel said happily.
"Don't mention it." Ram replied in a somewhat blunt tone.
"He's right though, it was CFW Trick." 5pb added. "I wonder why they use the same acronyms..."
"Must be an ASIC thing?" Excel shrugged.
"Did you beat that Trick person?" Uni asked Nepgear.
"Nope! Me and Rom did it!" Ram interjected. "We beat that big pervy dummy up all by ourselves! Didn't we, Rom?"
"Uh-huh..." Rom agreed.
"I see..." Uni said in response.
"It's a no-no to talk this much while you're recovering." Compa advised. "You should get lots of sleep."
"Let's go back to the city, where the beds are cozy, nyu." Broccoli agreed.
Uni only looked at the party in sad silence as they proceeded to leave and headed back to Lastation.
"Uni seems really depressed..." Nepgear said sadly.
"She's got a lot of pride." IF replied. "The idea of losing must not sit well with her at all."
"Yeah, it's a pretty sucky situation she's in. But Uni's definitely got more pride than me." Excel chimed in. "And I'm not necessarily just saying that because I'm a big fan of hers..."
"What?" Nepgear asked, possibly wondering what he meant.
"Uh, never mind, let's just try and cheer Uni up." Excel abruptly responded.
"O-Okay... But in any case, I can relate..." Nepgear replied. "I felt the same way when I lost back then..."
"You mean back at the Gamindustri Graveyard?" Excel asked.
"Yes..." Nepgear solemnly said.
"What a stupid baby, crying just because she lost at something." Ram complained, referring to Uni.
"But...I'd be sad, too..." Rom pointed out.
"It's okay for you, Rom." Ram replied. "Besides, as long as we're together, you're not ever gonna lose."
"It'd be great if that childish optimism would rub on some other people here." IF suggested, before Red called out to the group.
"Hey! Amber alert, you guys!" She exclaimed.
"Uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh...!" Compa worried.
"What's going on, nyu?" Broccoli asked.
"Uni... She's gone!" Compa answered. "She took all my cute bandages off and vanished!"
"Why would she do that?" Nepgear asked.
"You don't think it has something to do with that CFW Brave guy, do you...?" Excel wondered.
"I'm unsure... She might have gone back to battle him again" Cave assumed.
"Man, what a handful." IF said. "Let's go find her. She couldn't have gone far with her wounds."
"Alright. Rom, Ram, Excel... Follow me!" Nepgear said. "The rest of you, stay here and see if she's anywhere in the city!"
The group then split up, as the four Candidates headed off to find Uni yet again, this time finding her at a place called the Endless Zone.
"What am I doing?" She thought to herself. "What have I been doing all this time? I couldn't beat that one opponent..."
After a while, the group found her.
"There's Uni!" Nepgear stated.
"Nepgear..." Uni said.
"We're all worried about you." Nepgear replied. "Please come back with us."
"I didn't ask you to worry about me. Just leave me alone." Uni refused.
"Uni, come with us! Please, you're gonna hurt yourself!" Excel pleaded.
"No. I can't help anyone out with their problems." Uni lamented.
"Don't be like that. How couldn't we be worried?" Nepgear added.
"It doesn't even matter if I'm here or not." Uni retorted. "Nobody would bat an eye if I vanished for good."
"What the goodness!? That's not true!" Nepgear argued. "I...I want you to help us, so..."
"Why? You don't need me." Uni said in response to that. While listening to Uni's lamentation, Excel had an equally solemn expression on his face for some reason. Rom and Ram noticed this and briefly spoke to him while Nepgear spoke with Uni.
"Um... Are you okay, Excel?" Rom shyly asked. "You look sad..."
"Who, me?" He asked.
"Yeah, you." Ram added. "Rom's right, you do look sad. What are you so gloomy about?"
"Uh, nothing!... I-I'm totally okay and junk." He nervously assured the twins. "I just feel bad for Uni is all..."
"Uni... What's gotten into you?" Nepgear asked.
"I lost." Uni solemnly answered. "I wanted to beat the enemy that took down my big sister... But I lost before I could even make it that far. All my effort has been for nothing... "
"That's because you're trying to fight all by yourself." Nepgear explained. "If we all work together, then maybe..."
"Yeah, you're right. I am all by myself, aren't I?" Uni agreed. "Unlike you, surrounded by so many friends... Without my sister, I've been all alone out here..."
"Uni..." Nepgear sadly said.
"I was an idiot to think I could fill my sister's shoes." Uni continued. "Isn't it kind of funny, and sad? I was trying my best at something that's simply out of my league."
"Th-That's not true!" Nepgear argued.
"Huh?"
"I'm the same way." Nepgear explained. "I know that I can't fill my sister's shoes. But I'm trying to do all I can. No, I have to do all I can, and accomplish what she couldn't! I have to save my sister!"
"Save your sister, huh...?" Uni asked.
"But I can't do it alone." Nepgear added. "That's why I'm asking for everyone to help me out. IF, Compa, Rom, Ram, Excel, you, and all my other friends... If we work together, we can pull it off. I know we can! We have to believe in ourselves!"
"You called me...your friend..." Uni realised.
"Of course I did." Nepgear confirmed. "We're both CPU Candidates, so it's only natural that we become friends."
"Nepgear..." Uni said, smiling.
"And yet, that wish shall never come to fruition." A mysterious voice said.
"Huh? Who's there?" Nepgear called out.
Just then, an enormous figure wearing a suit of armor and wielding a giant sword appeared to confront the group. This was CFW Brave.
"Hey Uni, who's that?" Excel asked.
"It's you...CFW Brave!" Uni said.
"The one that defeated you..." Nepgear realised.
"This big knight-looking dude is CFW Brave? Holy crap, that guy's huge..." Excel commented.
"He looks scary..." Rom timidly added.
"He better not be a big pervert like that dummy, Trick." Ram hoped.
"Fortune smiles upon me, finding all five CPU Candidates in one fell swoop here." Brave said, addressing the Candidates. "I take no joy in senseless killing. Cease your actions against ASIC and you may all leave here alive."
"Well, at least he's modest." Excel said.
"I told you before he was chivalrous." Uni replied.
"We will not cease anything!" Nepgear angrily retorted at Brave. "We're going to fight ASIC and rescue our sisters!"
"Oh, right." Excel remembered. "Yeah, you're in big trouble now, buddy! It's only the frickin' Five Musketeers! These four will totally kick your ass!"
"Is that so?" Brave replied. "I believe that the outcome of our duel had already been decided. You know well my strength."
"W-Well..." Uni stuttered.
"Don't let him get to you, Uni! We're here with you." Nepgear reassured her. "If we fight together, we can defeat him!"
"Together... Hmph! You sure do like to make things sound more dramatic than necessary." Uni noticed. "But...you're right. "I...no, we can't lose. "We'll never lose to someone like you ever again!"
"Yeah, you tell him!" Ram cheered.
"Uh-huh." Rom agreed.
"Go, Uni! Kick this knight-looking guy's ass with your cool goddess powers!" Excel added.
"I applaud your bravado! However..." Brave stated. "I will teach you that actions, not words, carry the strength to shape one's desires!"
Brave then proceeded to engage Uni in a second fight. But Uni, now with newfound confidence thanks to Nepgear and the others, managed to defeat CFW Brave.
"Fascinating. Such a boom in power with so few allies." Brave said after his defeat. "Perhaps something caused their hearts to resonate?"
"I knew you could do it! Yay!" Nepgear cheered.
"Yay!" Rom and Ram cheered together.
"That was so awesome, Uni!" Excel squeed. "You totally kicked that dude's ass! You're so cool!"
"I won... I really did it..." Uni said in disbelief.
"No... WE did it!" Nepgear replied.
"Hahaha! What a delightful match!" Brave laughed. "Very well. To honor your efforts, I will leave here in peace."
"Uh, alright then, thank you very much! Bye-bye!" Excel replied.
"But when we next meet, do not expect such leniency." Brave added. "Prepare both your strength and will!"
"What about skill?" Excel wondered. But Brave left before he could get a response.
"You're so awesome, Uni!" Nepgear cheered.
"Don't say that, Nepgear! You're in danger of turning into Excel!" Ram said.
"Well, she is awesome! And so are you and Rom and Nepgear! You're all awesome!" Excel replied.
"Y-Yeah, thanks..." Uni said, mostly referring to Nepgear. "It's...because of you, so..."
"Aw, stop being a downer already." Nepgear said. "Excel's right though. You were super tough and cool! We won because of you."
"That's not what I was..." Uni whined before stopping herself. "Ugh, forget it."
"We should probably get outta here now. What do you think, boss?" Excel asked Nepgear.
"Oh, right..." Nepgear agreed. "Uni, are you coming?"
"Y-Yeah, but Nepgear... W-Would you mind if I come with you...?" Uni requested. "To help save our sisters, I mean..."
"Huh? Wow, really? You mean it?" Nepgear reacted in surprise. "Yay! Of course you can come!"
"YES! I'm actually going on an adventure with all the other CPU Candidates!" Excel cheered.
"S-Stop acting so happy about it..." Uni grumbled in true tsundere fashion. "Seeing you makes me realise how stupid I was acting before... Let's just go!"
As the five CPU Candidates proceeded to leave, Uni stopped them to say something.
"Oh, before I forget... Don't you dare tell anyone about what happened here!" She demanded.
"Wait, what did happen here?" Nepgear wondered.
"Y-You know... Seeing me all depressed and pouty and stuff..." Uni answered.
"Oh? The self-deprecation and all the whining, right?" Nepgear remembered. "No worries, your secret's safe with me."
"And me! I would never snitch on one of my heroes!" Excel agreed. "Besides, mama don't like tattletales."
"I'll keep your secret too..." Rom added.
"I dunno, I thought it was pretty funny..." Ram admitted.
"Ram, don't be a meanie..." Rom sadly replied.
"Ugh... Alright, fine!" Ram relented.
"S-Self-deprecation and whining!? Come on! I wasn't THAT pathetic!" Uni said embarrassed.
"Meh! You kinda were!" Ram admitted.
"I can kinda relate..." Excel quietly said to himself.
"Huh?" Rom and Ram asked in unison.
"Nothing. Let's just get outta here." Excel replied.
"Excel's right. We should hurry back, okay?" Nepgear agreed. "Everyone else is still looking for you."
The other four candidates began walking away, much to Uni's annoyance.
"Are you sure you understand what I was saying!? Hey, get back here!" She yelled before following them out.
Back in Lastation, Nepgear and the others regrouped with their other friends.
"She's actually coming along, right?" IF asked.
"It looks like you desperately need my help, so yeah." Uni answered. "I mean, who knows when you'd save my sister otherwise?"
"I'm surprised you were able to convince such a hard-shelled tsundere." IF joked.
"Ge-Ge is like a friend magnet!" Compa replied.
"Hehe, aw, stop flattering me..." Nepgear sheepishly replied.
"But that's why you're so cool and brave. You're my hero, you always have been." Excel said, causing Nepgear to giggle nervously.
"Yeah, but still... I mean..." IF said.
"Anyway! It's fine if you wanna help us, but don't be a jerk, okay?" Ram interjected.
"Hi... Can we be friends, Uni...?" Rom sheepishly asked.
"I just wanna say what an honor it is to be working with you, Uni." Excel added. "Can I get an autograph when this is over?"
"Look at all these wifey candidates!" Red cheered. "Man, it's sensory overload!"
"It's been a while since they were gathered together at the concert." 5pb added. "It's a great sight..."
"A winning team, nyu." Broccoli agreed.
"It's sure gotten crowded..." IF noticed.
"It was just Iffy and me at first, but look at all of Ge-Ge's friends now!" Compa added.
"How many of us are there now anyway?" Excel asked Cave.
"I believe that with the addition of Uni, there are now eleven of us in this group." Cave answered.
"Dang..." Excel reacted in surprise, before turning to Nepgear. "So, are we all set, Nepgear? We're really doing this?"
"Yes. And this time, I'm sure..." Nepgear answered. "I promise we'll save our sisters!"
Everyone cheered as they proceeded to leave Lastation, and ventured back to Planeptune, hoping to finally reunite with their big sisters.
That concludes another chapter. Next chapter will be a bit more serious than usual. I plan on having Excel and Nepgear's friendship become more established as well. And no, I'm not shipping him with Nepgear or Uni or Maho or anyone else.