Overture, Final Act: The Gamble
The four oracles finally found themselves in a chamber containing several white pillars. On a large, circular platform, there were four emblems, each probably representing the four nations. On top of that platform was a much smaller platform of similar shape. Upon that at last, was the pedestal where the gehaburn lay. The four took a moment to gaze at the blade before taking any more steps forward. They all probably wanted a good look at the cause of this great tragedy one last time before they got to work. Kei was the first to speak. "So, what do we do exactly Histoire?"
Histoire took a few more steps forward, stepping onto the first platform and towards the emblem with the large "P" on it. "Find your emblems," She ordered, "the discs will know what to do from there." She explained. Shortly afterwards, a small orb of purple light began to float around her.
Kei found herself standing on an emblem that was purple silver in color. It had the letter, "B" written into it. Soon enough, a white sphere of light began to float around her head. "I take this as a mission accomplished?" She asked.
Histoire nodded. Looking to the other two oracles, she said, "Come now, we must make haste." She urged.
Chika nodded, and found her way to her icon, an emblem with the letter, "G" engraved into it. Soon enough, a green sphere of energy found its way to her and began to orbit her body.
Finally, Mina took her place on the final icon with the letter, "W" engraved into it. Eventually, a sphere of blue energy began to float around her. The four were finally gathered.
At first it didn't seem like anything was happening. The oracles stood there for a moment. Chika crossed her arms, obviously vexed. "What's up with this? Nothing's happening!" She complained.
"Patience Chika, it's loading." Histoire replied.
"Tch, leave it to such an important operation to have long loading periods." Kei muttered.
Finally, the entire platform they stood on began to glow. The four lights quickly flew into the air, combined into a single, golden light and collided with the gehaburn. The blade was no sooner than a second later bathed in a golden aura. "Fellow oracles," Histoire began, "Do you agree to the contracts we have drawn? And do you accept the consequences for what we are about to do?" She asked. Mina nodded, again no words from her. Kei crossed her arms and nodded with Chika following suit. Histoire smiled. "Then, with permission from all four representatives of the four nations we request the release of our goddesses from the gehaburn!"
The room shook. It felt like a large earthquake, knocking everyone but the floating Histoire on to their bottoms. "Wh-What is this?" Kei asked aloud.
Suddenly a flash of blinding, golden light burst forth from the still quaking room. Everyone quickly reached to cover their eyes, but were a tad too slow for the speed of light. Finally, after having been shaken up, and easily having lost a portion of their sight, the oracles were met with their greatest reward: there stood the goddesses once again. Well, ghosts of them. They were as transparent as the holograms to that anime with the holographic monsters. Which were actually not that transparent judging by how they looked on the television.
"Yo Histy! How's it girl?" Neptune asked in her usual, bubbly voice.
Noire giggled, "We make our grand reappearance and you say something like that? Honestly Neptune, have you any class?" She complained half-heartedly.
"It's… Good to see everyone again." Blanc muttered from the side.
"Yes, it's wonderful to be free again. You wouldn't believe how terribly cramped it was in there!" Vert added.
"VERT! Lady Vert!" Chika couldn't contain herself, she ran towards the apparition, and in her attempt to embrace her fell to the ground as she ran through her. She quickly twirled around, looking up at Vert completely horrified.
Vert smiled at the girl sadly. "Yes, I am still dead Chika."
Tears came to Chika's eyes. "No, this can't be true! Tell me it's not true Vert!" She yelled. She pleaded. Her sobs were overwhelming, her body racked with sorrow. To never again be able to embrace her beloved Vert was a fate far worse than Hell for her.
Vert shook her head. "I'm afraid there's not much I can say to support you right now Chika." She admitted sadly.
After a few moments, the sisters made their appearance. Uni found her way to Noire, embracing her. "Don't ever do something like that again." Uni ordered. "It hurt so much." Uni forced out between sobs.
Noire nodded, closing her eyes. She gently ran a hand through Uni's hair as she attempted to soothe the young candidate. "I know, and I don't plan on leaving you like that ever again. I promise." Looking over to a paling Kei, she grinned. "Don't think I left you out of the reunion. I missed you too Kei." She said to the oracle. "Of course, it's not like I would've been disappointed if you weren't here to greet us." She added.
Kei nodded, smiling. "I'm happy to see you again as well, Lady Noire." Noting Uni's displeasure at being left out, she added, "And of course, you too Uni." She replied.
Uni grinned. "That was much better." She said in her usual impish tone of voice.
Blanc looked over to Mina, who seemed at a loss for words. "It's great to see you too, Mina." She said. Looking over to the twins, she urged them to her, who immediately ran to her and embraced her. "I'm sure they're happy to see you too." She added.
"I-I was so scared sis. Don't leave us like that again!" Ram yelled.
"I wanna go home… And eat Mina's cooking." Rom muttered.
Mina smiled, her eyes watering. "And I missed you three as well." She said weakly.
Finally, Nepgear came face to face with her sister. "You're not going to leave me again right?" She asked with a stiff voice.
Neptune smiled, shaking her head. "Bah, c'mon Nep. Jr, the fight's over! There's no need to be so stiff now!" She exclaimed. Nepgear refused to budge, causing Neptune to embrace her little sister and pat her head. "You've been strong long enough kiddo. It's okay now. It's all over and donesies!" And that was it. For three long years, Nepgear had longed to hear not even those words, but the lively voice of her beloved sister. The tears began to fall, and soon enough Nepgear was sobbing in Neptune's arms. Neptune giggled. "Alrighty, c'mon blubberbutt, everyone's watching y'know." She chastised.
Nepgear's body shook. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." She cried. "All I ever wanted was to see you again. During that time I made friends too, friends I really treasured more than anything else in the world. I just don't get it. I don't even know how it ended up like this!" She yelled through her sobs. It was a scene that was almost touching enough for the oracles to forget their grudge with the girl. Almost, but not entirely.
Neptune couldn't really joke around, it was an atmosphere Noire could tell she wasn't really used to. So, she decided to help out. "You did what you had to Nepgear. None of us blame you for what you've done." Noire told the taller purple-haired girl.
Uni nodded. "You were the one I trusted with protecting Gamindustri right? I'd have rather our reunion not involved you crying like a baby." She teased.
Nepgear sniffled. "Uni?" She asked fearfully. 'This must all be some kind of dream.' She thought to herself. 'They're gone, and they're never coming back.' Nepgear continued in her despair.
"Hey, quit your internal moaning and get over here! Isn't it enough to have me compliment you?" Honestly." Uni demanded. Nepgear looked up. Sure enough, Uni was still there.
Swifter than IF, Nepgear embraced Uni tightly. "Y-You have no idea, how much I missed you." She admitted.
Uni blushed. "A-Alright already! Geez! …I missed you too, Nepgear." Uni replied, returning the hug.
Noire snickered, her big sister urges kicking in. "Ah-ha! So this is what things were like with you two behind closed doors!" She exclaimed, obviously implying something lewd.
Uni flushed. "N-No! I just missed her! Is that so bad?" She retorted. "Sides," She began, grinning sadistically, "I'm surprised you haven't invited Neptune to come and hug you yet, seeing as she was apparently your swimsuit buddy-"
"Enough! I get it!" Noire quickly interjected. Noting where Neptune wasn't where she was standing earlier, she asked aloud, "Speaking of Neptune, where is-"BOING. Noire raised an eyebrow. Then, she felt a particular part of her chest bouncing. She flushed, her body shaking with annoyance. She knew who the culprit was. She had done something similar to this in the first game. "Neptune…" Noire muttered angrily.
Neptune snickered. "I figured if we were gonna start gettin' all silly that I'd have some fun. C'mon Noire, you know you like it~" She teased.
"Th-That is not the issue here!" Noire yelled. Realizing her mistake when Vert wryly smiled at her, she immediately added, "And I do not like it! That is, not to say that I hate it! Ugh! Neptune!"
"Alright, alright you big party pooper. You can be such a buzz kill sometimes pigtails." Neptune teased, releasing the twin-tailed girl.
Vert laughed to herself. "After being trapped in such a dark, cramped space, such a scene is very refreshing." She admitted.
Blanc snickered. "For once we agree." She muttered.
Noire fumed. "You two! Don't you two start making any weird assumptions! I just said it isn't like that!" She yelled.
Vert laughed at her. "Whatever you say, Lady Black Heart." She replied mockingly.
Blanc smiled tauntingly. "Whatchya gonna do about it if we say no? We're already frickin dead so your threats don't mean shit." She said.
Noire turned even redder, if that was possible but refused to say anymore.
"Noire's tsundere tendences aside," Blanc added, smirking when Noire gave her a dirty glare, "I assume there's a reason that you've all come together to extract us from the sword?" She asked.
Histoire nodded. "Yes, we are going to revive you." She explained.
Neptune cheered. "Alright! So does that mean we get to like, eat food again and stuff! This is so, awesome! Nep. Jr can finally make me pancakes again!" Neptune exclaimed, almost high on her happiness.
Histoire felt a drop of sweat roll down the back of her head. "N-No not exactly like that Neptune. We're going to put you back into the cycle of reincarnation." She explained further.
Noire, Blanc, Vert and the sisters froze. Neptune however, didn't quite seem to catch on. "Whatever, details, details. As long as I get to stuff some yummies into me I'm happy!~" She replied.
Histoire sighed. "What I'm saying Neptune is that the cycle of reincarnation is variable. You may not be born goddesses again if we do this." She said exasperated.
Neptune froze, dead in her tracks. "W-Wait what? But variable means that there are endless possibilities! For all we know Nep. Jr might not even be, well, my Nep. Jr anymore! And if that happens," Neptune fell to her knees, "No more pancakes!" She exclaimed in horror.
Noire sighed. "Neptune that's the least of our worries! You're a complete free loader. If you're born human you'll actually have to get a job!" She chimed.
Neptune felt her skin paling. 'Get a job' rung in her head like a funeral bell. "Well this is totally lame." Neptune complained. "This is like, the mega gamble or something! It's worse than that roulette ability in that game with the blue bomber dude that had real bad odds. Except, our odds are probably better." She added.
Noire face palmed and shook her head. She would have no more to say about this ordeal of Neptune's.
Vert on the other hand, was curious about other matters. "Well, I take it since you've gone this far. You're just prepping us for the inevitable. Am I correct?" She asked the oracles.
"Correct," Chika corroborated, "We have perhaps about two minutes left with you all until you're pulled back into the cycle." She explained.
Histoire nodded. "When you are reborn, odds are that you all won't remember much about your past lives, if anything at all. So hopefully if worse comes to worse, you find your ways to the basilicom. If you're reborn human we can take care of that then." She told them.
Nepgear raised an eyebrow. "How would you do that Histoire?" She asked curiously.
Histoire shook her head. "You'll see." She answered. "In the mean time, let's all pray that you're just born goddesses naturally." She suggested.
Everyone seemed to agree on that sentiment. This time, the platform above them began to glow, and pillars of white light began to shoot up around the goddesses.
"Wh-What the?" Blanc exclaimed.
Kei nodded to them. "This is your ticket out girls. We hope to see you soon." She said to them.
Noire nodded to her, and then to Uni. Uni smiled. "We'll see you soon then Kei. Try to keep that paperwork to a minimum by the time we get back y'hear?" She demanded.
Kei laughed. "I'll try but I won't make any guarantees. After all, that's beyond the scope of my duties." She replied.
Nepgear and Histoire's eyes met. Soon, Nepgear was aware that the eyes of all the oracles were on her. "I-I don't know how to thank you for this-" She began.
"Noire and Uni forgave you, and they will be back where they belong. I've no reason to spite you." Kei interjected.
"I guess Vert wouldn't want me to hold a grudge, fine, I forgive you too." Chika said to the purple haired girl.
Mina crossed her arms. "How you can thank us? Just don't screw up this time." She ordered.
Nepgear's face immediately went to an all business expression. "I can promise you that." She answered.
Mina smiled at her. "Good then, off you all go. See you soon." She replied.
Looking at Histoire, the young CPU candidate smiled. "See ya soon Histoire." Nepgear said sadly.
Histoire smiled. "It'll feel a lot better when you two are home again." She said back.
Nepgear smiled, a single tear rolling down her face. "Yeah," she replied. With that, the white light engulfed all eight of the goddesses and erupted into a brighter flash that lasted for several moments. When it dissipated, the eight were gone. All that remained was the sword and the four oracles.
Kei crossed her arms. "You said on estimate it'd be one hundred years right?" She asked.
Histoire nodded. "By my calculations, it should take all eight of them roughly seventy-seven to eighty years to be born, and then that extra twenty years for time to become the appropriate age." She confirmed.
Chika sighed. "All this waiting, it's killing me." She complained.
Mina readjusted her glasses. "Well this next century will feel even longer." She chimed.
Looking back at Histoire, Kei asked, "And you're utterly sure that what you said is true?" She asked.
Histoire nodded. "By performing this ritual as the oracles of the four nations, we have bound ourselves to a pact with ancient divine ones. So long as we remain guardians of our lands, and so long as the faith in the goddesses of Gamindustri remains strong and alive, we will live as well." Histoire explained.
Kei sighed, nodding her head. "I suppose it's fair. I just pray that it works as described. I'd rather not die before seeing the fruits of our deal Histoire." She replied.
Chika nodded. "And I do hope this doesn't involve aging. I'll never have a chance with Lady Vert again if I turn wrinkly and old." She said.
Mina giggled. "Well with everything we've gambled on so far, we've really no choice but to hope for the best now." She chimed.
Histoire nodded. "Our business here is done. Let's go back and prepare. The girls won't like it if they come back and their home's a mess." She suggested.
Kei nodded. "An excellent idea Histoire. I say we all head home. There are a lot of preparations to make." She agreed.
"Be sure to keep in touch everyone. I want the latest developments, twenty-four-seven." Chika ordered.
"Yes, let's go home, to our new home." Mina agreed. Yes, to their new home. A Gamindustri suspended in the sky, floating endlessly over a new continent in a brand new dimension.
And so the oracles left, but not without looking at the sword that began this new turn in the gears of fate. What would become of their decisions, and ultimately how would it affect not just the goddesses of the future, but the world? No one can truly say. All one can hope for is for a new beginning, brimming with hope in this hour of desperate measures.
[One Century Later, Goddess Era, Year 21XX Unspecified Moment in Time]
"Hey guys! Look at me! I'm queen of the world!" Neptune shouted from the top of a building in Planeptune. The drop could be worse with all the taller buildings in Planeptune, but it was a good twenty five feet high.
Histoire panicked as she fluttered 'round and 'round the tower in hopes of making it to the top before Neptune did something foolish. "Neptune! Please come down from there! It's dangerous!" She yelled.
Meanwhile, on the ground Noire, Vert, and Blanc watched with uninterested eyes. "Geez, she never learns does she? I feel bad that Histoire has to look after her so much. She's already nineteen for crying out loud!" Noire complained.
"But you like that about her don't you?" Vert teased.
"…You're such a tsundere." Blanc added.
Noire flushed. "Th-That is not it at all! You two are so-ugh!" She retorted.
Meanwhile, Nepgear, Uni, Rom and Ram were venturing through the catacombs within the dungeon known as LAN Castle. They were on a quest today. "I dunno about this guys. Histoire says to stay out of the castle. There could be really dangerous things in here." Nepgear advised. As they turned every corner, as they made their way deeper and deeper into the castle, Nepgear's head began to ache more and more.
As they ventured, they finally found themselves at the spot; that secret room, where that accursed sword once lay. "This is it," Nepgear began in a trance-like state.
Uni looked at her, her face obviously covered in confusion. "This is what Nepgear? There's nothing here. Let alone what we came here for." Uni replied.
Nepgear shook her head. "This is it… This… Is where it all began." She mumbled.
And this is where it shall begin anew…
Ultradimension Neptunia: Crimson Odyssey
Author's Notes:
Okay, so the cheese factor on the ending is wayyyyy over 9000 (in Neptune's words anyway), but I figured it was the best place to leave it. This is not where the story picks up. If this were a real game, this is the "cutscene" after the introduction prologue part of the game that depicts a scene later in the game that's very important to the game's story. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the Prologue, because we've finally made it to the actual story! See ya next update.
Next Time – Stage I: Destined Encounters