"So how do we spend our time waiting for a job request from Avenir?" Noire starts off.

"I guess we just do stuff until then." IF replied rather bored.

Currently there were no job request to be made by Avenir, they have no idea when they would get one, but they would have patiently back in their hotel room...Well if patience existed in Neptune's book that is.

"I still say we march to their HQ and take down the big wigs." Neptune excitedly proclaimed.

"Nep there is a lot of things wrong with that I won't list them." IF sighed at the amnesiac leader.

"Besides you wouldn't even know where to look first." Noire also sighed at the amnesiac leader.

"I wouldn't know, but we would have to try. We could do something like hang out at the local hot spot and eavesdrop on some employees, who decided today was a day to discuss work, and for some reason say where the building exact location is at even though they both know, giving us the opportunity to march straight on in there." Neptune went into detail of the cliché

"It would be a good plan, but-" IF paused "There's a rumor of sort that says that there isn't much human employees and even if there was a few of them I doubt that they would openly discuss such matters."

"Awww Iffy why do you have to be such a party pooper." Neptune whined.

Compa raised her hand as if in a classroom. "ooh Iffy what do you mean there isn't much human employees, what else could work for them?"

"According to my sources, Avenir has machines work for them mostly." IF explained.

"What you can't have machine's working the whole company." Neptune said, "The only human workers must be lonely without much contact" However her statement was quickly misguided in the wrong direction.

"I think your missing the point Nep-Nep." Compa sighed

"Anyway we won't get much info on them. So we'll have to wait the next few days see what comes up." IF steered the conversation back on track.

"But that's boring." Neptune once again steered it off.

"I don't like it either, but we'll have to wait and see" Noire adds ending the conversation right there.

Shin meanwhile was just sleeping in his bed, slowly drifting into unconsciousness, before falling asleep completely.

IF and Compa decided to go for a short walk, see if there was anything needed to be done.

This left Neptune and Noire all alone, with a sleeping male, but all alone.

"So what's the deal with Shin." Noire whispers in Neptune's ear not trying to wake the male up.

"Oh my Noire crushing on the silent guy already. I didn't expect a thing." Neptune replied back with a teasing tone.

"I-what-no, I wasn't alluding to that, what gave you that idea?" Noire tried her best not to yell, blushing furiously at Neptune, which wasn't helping her defense.

"Calm down I was just joking." Neptune replies in a carefree manner.

"Still that's nothing to say out of the blue." Noire, calmed down a bit as her furious blush went away.

"Anyway what do you mean?" Neptune indulged a bit.

"You know like, why is silent,or why do his attacks drain H.P?" Noire asks

"I don't know for either." Neptune was surprisingly keeping the conversation on track.

"Huh you don't know?"

"Nope not a single clue."

"Well then why is he with you guys of all people" Noire made a fatal mistake

"Oh my are you Jealous that we got to meet him first." Neptune teased once again with a more mischievous face.

"Hn...D... What... What did I just tell you?" Noire was once again blushing furiously trying not to yell.

"All you have to do is wake him up and tell him how you feel I'll support you one hundred percent of the way." Neptune still kept teasing.

"Can I even hold one conversation with you!" Noire exploded, but quickly covered her mouth. It didn't wake Shin, but she felt embarrassed.

"Jeez, It's just a joke Noire get a hold of yourself." Neptune said very calmly.

"Forget this I'm getting out of here." Noire quickly tried to leave opening the door.

"Wait Noire can't you take a joke, seriously I was just-" The door was slammed close.

"Kidding. Man some people simply can't take a joke." Neptune sighed at the behavior of Noire.

XXXX

"Wait up Iffy." Compa tried to catch up with IF who was speed walking very quickly.

"Oh sorry Compa, I forgot you were behind me for a second." IF said.

"Why are we rushing?"

"I am going to try to get more information on Avenir." IF suddenly stopped.

Compa adopted a serious expression "Why did we stop?"

"I just felt Neptune arguing with Noire again." IF said.

"How did you know?"

"Let's just call it the Nep instinct." IF concludes. Unfortunately they couldn't find any information regarding Avenir the whole day.

XXX

It was the next day as Shin was the first one up. Having nothing to do, he decided to step out for a bit.

He would decide to visit Chian, though very early in the morning. He arrived to the cafeteria to see Chian cleaning the counters, she had a surprised look on her face as she saw Shin come in.

"Oh hello Shin, what are you doing here?" Chian asked.

A hand wave was given.

"Oh you just wanted to say Hi."

Chian was not prepared for what Shin was about to say.

"Can I cook?" Shin asked.

Chian took a small step away from the counter after hearing Shin say that obviously shocked

"Uh..Sure, go right on ahead." Chian still shocked replied.

Not long after Shin went into the kitchen, he came out with two bowls of beef stew with some vegetables thrown in. He gave one to Chian, and sat down at the bar.

"Oh uh thanks." Chian thanks as she took the seat next to Shin.

She eyed the stew, as it had a strange aroma to it, that was pleasant. She slowly brought the, spoon filled with some of the stew, to her mouth as she closed and began to chew.

A variety of pleasant tastes enter her mouth as she began to chew faster, and swallowed. She gave out a huff from the pleasant taste, before wolfing down the entire stew, quickly, but surely it was all gone.

"That was the best food I have ever tasted" Chian said with a little sparkle in her eye.

Chian quickly regained her composure "Has anyone ever told you, that you are a good cook?"

Shin took a spoon out of his stew, before giving a nod of confirmation.

"Well that has to be an understatement, because I have never tasted anything so great." Chian continued with a smile.

Shin gives a shrug. He honestly has no idea why his cooking is so special, but he really does appreciate the compliments, even if his face doesn't show it. So a small thumbs up was given.

"Thanks." Chian said looking into Shin's eyes full of gratitude. "For what you and your friends are doing for me... No for Lastation. What you guys are doing really makes my week." Chian then holds up the empty small bowl that housed the stew. "But this however, really makes my month." She smiled once again

Shin once again nods in confirmation

Chian sighs "Come on you got a lady pouring her heart out to you at least think of something to say." Her tone was in a small joking manner.

Shin deciding to indulge a little bit "Maybe."

Chian just giggled a little bit "Man this really is making my month. I don't usually act like this"

"Sorry to still bother you, but mind if you cook some more food?" Chian asked hoping it wouldn't be a burden for him.

She got her answer in the form of Shin walking into the kitchen. He came out minutes later with two burgers.

Chian immediately took a bite out of the burger, but this time unlike the stew she decided to savor it.

"I take it back your the B-E-S-T cook ever."

Chian many minutes later finally finishes the burger, she tried her best to completely savor it, because she doesn't know when she could eat something like this ever again.

"So do you mind trying to teach me how to cook like that?" Chian asked out of the blue.

Shin gives a nod of approval.

"Alright, think we should start right now."

Shin gives another nod of approval.

"Thank you. If I get more customers, because of this I'll try to give you something special." Chian was very glad that Shin was doing this for her.

XXX

Meanwhile back in the apartment, things were progressing in a way someone would expect during the morning slow.

"Yahhah... ah" Neptune yawned as her eyes were continuing to droop down from waking up early. She clicked her tongue with the roof of her mouth multiple times as if it would help her wake up more. As one would probably expect she was the very last one to wake up.

Compa noticed her awakening and spoke "Wakey-Wakey, Nep-Nep, I got some morning pudding for you." Compa beamed holding pudding in her hand.

All of the sleepiness in Neptune dissipated as energy replaced it as her brain hungers for pudding. She immediately bolts out of her bed and snatches the pudding out of Compa's hand.

"Don't mind if I do." Neptune quickly eats the pudding as fast as she got out of bed.

Neptune quickly discards the pudding noticing a lack of three more heads. "Hey Compa, where are Iffy and everyone else."

"Iffy went to go see if any job opportunities from Avenir has showed up, Noire went with her as well, and Shin was gone before any of us woke up." Compa explained the details.

"Well since everyone else is doing their own thing, let's go do our own thing." Neptune said.

"What are we going to do Nep-Nep?"

"I don't know." Neptune said without any care in the world.

"Oh. Nep-Nep." Compa smiled as if revisiting an old memory.

"Wait I know." Neptune jumped up high. "We could rent, a Lastation console and a few games."

"That's a good idea Nep-Nep." Compa continued to beam.

XXX

IF sighed as there were still no job requests from Avenir. "Seriously how can you not have a request for a job."

"So what should we do now?" Noire asked

"I don't know we should probably-" IF stopped mid sentence as a sudden request from Avenir caught her eye.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" IF pumped her fist in the air as excitement left her body.

"What?"

"A new job request has appeared for Avenir. All it says is to meet them in two days at the coordinated meeting point."

"That's it no details." Noire was skeptical about this as the request is obviously vague.

"It might not have much details,but any job opportunity we find is a step closer to our goal." IF reassured Noire even if she herself was very skeptical of the vague request.

Neither of them would be wrong if they assumed something else was afoot though.

"Though truthfully if we didn't find anything, this was just a good excuse to get away from Nep for awhile." IF admitted

"You too?" Noire asked a bit surprised that they both had the same idea of getting away from Neptune

XXX

Many long and hard hours passed by in Passe, but not from the factory as one would expect from them, but in the cafeteria, no there were no customers, but there were two people cooking in the kitchen.

"Whoooo." Chian breathed a sigh of relief. "Never thought I would get a long day's hard work just from cooking. Though I guess I would never thought I would be taught silently either."

True to his nod... Shin taught a basic know how of what he does when he cooks anything really, but without a single peep out of him when he was teaching. The first few hours Chian was making little progress as her food kept getting better, as expected when being taught. Though it's the last stretches is when she really started to improve as she noticed her food getting tastier and tastier. In the final hour she made the tastiest food she could make, but still noticed it was less tasty than Shin's food from hours ago. Was it mentioned the food was tiny burgers?

"I think this is a good time to wrap things up for now." Chian declared as she looked outside a window to see the sun setting.

Chian's stomach caused a noticeable growl, she sheepishly held her stomach. "But I guess dinner wouldn't hurt. Mind cooking for me again?"

Shin gave a nod of approval, before pointing towards a table signaling her to sit down.

She would have to wait an hour later, but she didn't complain.

Shin came out with a steak, salad, and a small chocolate cake.

She thanked Shin after he set the plates down, but before she dived in she noticed something.

"Aren't you going to eat anything?" Chian asked.

He reentered the kitchen and came out with the excess tiny burgers Chian made trying to perfect her cooking.

"Are you sure? You could make something else."

Chian would no longer question as Shin immediately took a bite out of the burgers. Her questioning look was replaced with a smile as she watched him eat.

So she decided to dig in to the food she was given. She savored every bit of it's deliciousness. She stopped eating to once again thank Shin. "Thank you Shin."

XXX

IF and Noire arrived home, just to see cups of pudding all over the floor and Neptune and Compa playing on a Lastation console.

"Look out Nep-Nep a missile's heading straight for you." Compa warned Neptune it would appear they were playing some sort of Fighter Jet game as the screen would indicate.

"Don't worry I got this." Neptune said as she uses the controller to try roll the jet out of the way, but in doing so the jet turned in the direction of a mountain in which it crashed instantly showing a game over screen.

"Oops I forget this is a mountain level." Neptune acted like she was trying to justify why she crashed, but her tone would say she doesn't care.

"Nep-Nep we're never going to progress if you keep crashing into the mountains." Compa was having fun as well.

"Can't help it, how are you supposed to dodge a missile, fly up?" Neptune asked.

"That would be ideal yes." Compa beamed.

IF coughed in her hand to get the attention of the two girls. "So mind telling me why there is pudding all over the floor?" She was irritated.

"Oh hi Iffy, there won't be any explaining, because it's already picked up." Neptune cheerfully said.

"What do you- huh?" IF looked down onto the floor to see all the pudding cups have mysteriously vanished. "Where did all of it go?"

"I picked it up when you coughed in your hand." Neptune said.

"I did that a second ago, so how did you-" IF was going to continue, but Neptune stopped her.

"Shhhhhh Iffy details, details, they usually matter, but here it wont" Neptune was pressing her index finger against IF's lips

IF sighed as Neptune put her finger away from her lips. "So what have you two been doing all day?" IF had a small clue onto what they were doing, but asked anyway.

"We've been playing games all day Iffy." Compa said "We rented one from the receptionist's desk, and rented a few games as well. It's really fun." Compa beamed remembering the last seven hours of their lives.

"So what have you two been doing all day?" Neptune asked back.

"You're in luck, we found a request from Avenir says they'll discuss the details, at a designated location." IF informed the other two with pride.

Neptune instantly went into suspicion mode "I don't know seems pretty suspicious to me."

IF sighed once again "You're just saying that because they're Avenir."

"That is one of the reasons."

"One of them?" IF asked wondering what Neptune was thinking.

"Tell us the other Nep-Nep." Compa joined in.

"I have no idea." Neptune smiled causing Noire, Compa, and IF to just stare blankly.

"Maybe we should of told on the day of the meeting." Noire mumbles loudly.

"I agree." IF said voice filled with disappointment.

Couple of minutes later, when the conversation was all said and done Shin returned.

Compa was the first to greet him as he walked in. "Welcome back Shin."

A nod of recognition was given.

He was given what little details they got from the work they were set to do in two days.

He immediately settled down in his bed and fell asleep not thinking of anything else to do.

XXX

It was the next morning, but something was different about it. Shin looked around the room to find that only he and Neptune were there. That explains it he was the last one to wake up.

"Hey Shin wakey-wakey sleepy head." Neptune joked as she noticed Shin wake up.

Shin got himself out of bed, but he wasn't in any rush.

"Soooooooo want to play video games." Neptune immediately asked.

He didn't have any reason to decline so he just nods his head.

"Okay get ready to say goodbye to your next few hours." Neptune declared excitedly.

So the next few hours were wasted. If you define playing video games as wasting hours. The two played many hours of the co-op games that they currently had. Shin didn't play video games much, but he enjoyed it when he could. Though it does tend the question what did he do when not out adventuring? That question won't be answered, but it does make him try to remember.

"Whew here we are the final level of this game." Neptune said a loud as they've reached the final level of the game 'Pilgrim Scotty versus the world.' The basis is this teen falls in love with a girl at a party and for some reason they have to defeat the girl's seven evil ex's. It was also in this pixel style that made the game feel more enjoyable. So after so much fighting, through pretty much anything. Thugs, big dudes, fat dudes, fat big dudes, skaters, dogs, zombies, a chick, owls, flying pigs, dinosaurs, and other people and things.

They beat wave, after wave of thugs on an elevator descending down. The next area they beat wave after wave of thugs again this time through a corridor. The formula continues until they see the final boss rise up out of his chair, rip his shirt off and go from a thick glasses wearing man into a bulk, strong looking bad guy.

"This guy mean's business." Neptune comments on the situation.

They proceed to wail on him, it took a couple of minutes losing some lives, but they finally defeat him, but wait the screen goes dark as the two fighters fall down into the dark abyss. The duo land on a stray walkway. They run down the walkway only to stop to see a sword.

"Mine!" Neptune greedily says as the sword with the heart near the hilt is picked up by her.

They continue on doing a small puzzle that has some floating pieces of floor and some shocker things that are floating in the air. At the end of the long black emptiness they come across land that is completely out of place. A creature appears sporting the faces of all the bosses they have defeated.

Neptune immediately attacks with the heart sword, but it does no damage, but it did have some pink streaks appear out of it. Trying again it still did no damage as the boss laughed and tried to punch Neptune's character. After a few dodges it's heart appeared to be exposed and as all genre savvy players do Neptune attacked the weak point with the heart sword. This continued on for a couple of minutes, before it finally went down.

The world once again distorted the ground turned into a circular ring as red appeared in the background and some other unimportant features. The boss they fought earlier sat on a chair in midair, before stepping down and facing our heroes. The boss did some tricks and such, before going down. The world distorted once again to show a gray background indicating a hideout. The boss this time exhausted on the ground was huffing and puffing with the word FINISH over his head.

Neptune's character immediately struck. The boss died and dissipated. The two character on screen ran outside by themselves just to see the bad guy's main lair blow up. The two celebrated, then the credits rolled.

"Whew that took a long time to beat." Neptune comments as she put down the Lastation controller.

It really did as it was three P.M when they started, but now it's nine.

"That was really fun Shin." Neptune applauded Shin.

Shin gave a nod of agreement.

While they were playing they didn't notice Noire entering the room about ten minutes ago. She was standing in front of a mirror with red eyeglasses on her head as she was whispering to herself. Neptune decided it would be a fun idea to sneak up behind her.

"Noire let's go eat some pudding!" Neptune surprise yells as she finally sneaks on Noire.

The reaction if obvious as anyone surprised or scared. "Ahhh-" Noire screams.

"Whoops, did I surprise you? Sorry." Neptune didn't appear apologetic.

"You didn't hear what I was saying right?" Noire's eyes shift nervously side to side.

"Huh what do you mean?" Neptune didn't hear what she was saying, but want's to know.

"Oh, no never mind. I was just mumbling something embarrassing to myself."

"Oh, Now I want to know more!" Neptune cheerfully says. "What kind of embarrassing things could've Noire been saying?" Neptune was starting to get a mischievous look on her face. "Maybe she was sing a song she made. Wow, that would be embarrassing."

"What are you saying, who would do such a stupid thing like that?" Noire sighed with frustration. "Anyway you came here for something else right?"

"Oh yeah." Neptune paused as she pulled some pudding out of her jacket pocket. "Here you go." She said as she handed to Noire, who looked at it with confusion

"What is this?"

"Pudding! It's really good."

"That's obvious but-"

"Well I got some pudding from Chian, so I wanted to eat it with you." Neptune cheerfully said.

"No." Noire harshly said "Why don't you eat it yourself?"

"I want to eat it with N-O-I-R-E."

Sighing once again Noire brings her hand to her head. "I'm not nice enough to spend my precious time to be with you."

"Oh I understand now." Neptune said.

"Good cause I'm going to step ou-" Noire was going to say.

"You want to eat with your crush, well come here-" Neptune was going to call over Shin.

"I'M STEPPING OUT!" Noire quickly opened and slammed the door.

"Oh, The Tsundere is real in this one." Neptune mischievously said to herself before following in hot pursuit of Noire.

This left Shin left in the apartment all alone. Nothing new here.

An hour later Compa and IF came back.

"We're back." Compa calls out through the apartment.

"Let me guess Nep went out, along with Noire just to tease her?" IF correctly guessed.

A nod was given.

Honestly nothing else happened for at least fifteen minutes before the duo appeared.

"We're back" Neptune gives a triumphant yell throughout the apartment.

"Welcome back Nep-Nep." Compa replies happily.

IF immediately cuts to the chase. "Alright get to bed we have to be there early tomorrow."

"Awwww. Bedtime already." Neptune complains as if a little kid.

"No, buts bed." IF says again.

"Come on Iffy, just a little longer." Neptune kept complaining.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"Why are you resisting so much?" IF finally asks

"Yeah is it really that hard to get to bed." Noire joined in.

"Oh, no not really just trying to pad out the chapter length that's all." Neptune admits.

"huh?" Noire and IF say.

"I said bed time now!" Neptune ends the conversation as she hopes in her bed and falls asleep.

"I really don't get her at all." Noire sighs.

"Who does?" IF rhetorically asks.

XXX

The group of... misfits, yeah let's go with that, were heading outside Lastation Northeast of it in fact. The scene quickly changes from the smoke filled, factory setting into a serene and calm woodlands.

"Though it is quite unfortunate, let's start working for Avenir." Neptune dully said.

"Please don't say that out loud." IF sounded embarrassed.

"Nep-Nep really doesn't have a zipper for her mouth." Compa states.

"Sorry for the wait it took a while to get ready." Noire appears before the group as she was lagging behind, but there was something different about her.

"Huh?" Neptune questioningly looks at Noire "Noire, what's up with the eyeglasses?" Pointing out Noire's new red eyeglasses.

"Oh you mean these?" Noire seemed enraptured in what she was about to say.

"I bet you are enamored with yourself with those eyeglasses on."

"Of course not. Who would do such a shameful thing?" It would appear that beads of sweat were forming around her head.

"Okay, stop right there. You can continue after our work is done. Let's go." IF didn't have time for this comedy.

Just as IF said everyone stopped talking as they walked along the predestined path.

"I think that's them." IF says as she walks towards the two lone males dressed very professionally.

Both were tall, but dressed differently. One appeared to be young, while the other appeared to be seasoned. The younger one wore glasses, had brown hair, and a brown business suit with a green tie. The older one had black hair and had a red business suit with a tie. A noticeable difference was their expressions. The younger one had a professional looking one, while the older had a I don't have time to deal with this look.

The brown suited one waved as IF and the group approached "Nice to meet you. We've been waiting." He said putting on a false smile.

It was at that moment Shin immediately didn't trust him. He's seen this type before, a manipulative bastard. Even though he only knew one, he could immediately tell this man was one, due to his posture and demeanor

"Uhh did anyone else feel the atmosphere just change?" Noire whispers so the business men couldn't hear.

"Yeah, I felt it too." Compa adds.

Neptune however was oblivious to the fact the atmosphere subtly or not so subtly changed. IF could feel it as well, but appears that the two business men didn't feel any discomfort.

"So you're the folks who will be handling our orders?" The business man goes on.

"Yes, and you're our client... uh Ganache?" IF remembered his name.

"Yes. My name is Ganache, and I work at the Avenir company" Ganache professionally states.

"This here is our representative President Singe." Ganache says.

The red clad business man only stares.

"It's rare to get work from your ranks. OR is it that we're just that important?" IF asked.

An obvious fake laugh come from Ganache causing the atmosphere to drop even more. "You're such a joker." Still not affected by the atmosphere.

"Stop the unnecessary prattle here. I don't have time to spare." Singe only says.

Strangely the atmosphere lifted only a little bit causing a sigh of relief for Noire and Compa. IF couldn't as they would question her.

"Oh, my I am so sorry. Very well then. Here is what we plan to order from you." Ganache professionally said

"Let's hear it." Neptune faked a bit of enthusiasm.

"We are going to construct a new plant in the area here, but we are having problems with a certain monster in the area"

"I see. So you need us to terminate this monster?" Noire asks.

"Exactly. We will be inspecting the area, so we need it cleared out."

"As long as the place is cleared, I could care less about what you do." Singe states.

"Is that it? That's a lot easier than I thought." Neptune was half faking the words. "I was thinking we were going to have to do office work and stuff." That however was true.

"I'm glad too, since I'm not very good with detailed work." Compa admits

"Yeah, you don't seem good with that, Compa." Neptune somewhat rudely agrees

"I used to work placing belladonna on food, but I was even bad with that"

"Yeah, I can relate... wait a sec. What kind of job is?"

"For the record, belladonna's are lethal. Those were probably edible orchids." IF informs

"Now, now. Let's get this done shall we? Please take care of this quick." Ganache informs the group.

"Right let's go Nep-Nep." Compa lead the group down the path of whatever.

XXXX

THELAD SANCTUARY is what the blue box above everyone's heads said.

"Hmmm. I guess it isn't that easy to find out what Avenir is gonna exhibit." Neptune starts.

"Forget about that what was with the atmosphere back there?" Noire changes the subject quickly

"Huh?" Neptune was honestly confused.

"I felt it too. I couldn't tell if it came from them, or us like distrust." IF said.

"I felt like I was going to die for a second." Compa includes.

"I didn't feel it." Neptune still was clueless.

"Of course you didn't" Noire sighs.

"Well back to my subject. There are some monsters here so let's fight one to see how good Noire is." Conveniently some monsters appeared before them.

"You underestimate me, but fine take a good look with those eyes of yours." Noire taunts.

"Hey to make things fun, why not bet our puddings? Winner takes all."

"You're on. Not much a bet though, since I'll win."

"I'm not planning to lose you know like Transform!" Neptune yells at the end transforming. "Time to get serious."

"What the? That's not fair! No transforming!" Noire calling cheats.

"Well then, why don't you transform too?"

"What?"

"Nep-Nep, a normal person can't transform like you." Compa reminds Neptune.

"Random as usual." IF sighs.

"Well a bet is a bet. I won't let you go easy." Neptune said.

"Nep-Nep gets so serious when pudding is on the line."

"Let's just sit this one out." IF says referring to her, Compa, and Shin.

One lengthy as heck battle later.

"Got any three's" Compa asks as they were waiting around bored of the fighting.

Shin and IF shake their heads as IF calls "Go fish."

"Hey their about done." Compa points towards the duo just finishing the fight.

It ends with both Noire and Neptune finishing a foe off together.

"About time." IF said as they cleaned up the card game.

"I won." Neptune said.

"What are you saying? I won first." Noire retorts.

"Okay, stop it. You both dealt the final blow at once." IF ends it with a tie.

"No way." Neptune denies.

"That's right there is no way that I could be even with Neptune!" Noire denies as well.

"You, two are so stubborn." IF sighs in annoyance.

"Yikes!" The two competitors take a step back.

"If the ref says it's a tie, it's a tie. If you don't like, me and Iffy will take the puddings away." Compa obviously had enough.

"Please, no." The two say once again.

"Well then, you have to be friends." Compa's beaming demeanor came back.

It was proceeded with a de-transformation and an awkward hug as the two just accepted it... somehow.

They proceed further into the forest place, before Neptune yells "Alright dungeon time." She pulled out her sword the Armas. "Let's go."

The first enemy they fight are three Tetres cube things. They were comprised of four purple blocks and a face.

"It's time to take your medicine." Compa taunts as she starts heading towards the enemy she did what she did best and slapped it till it's guard went away.

IF's turn as she attacks the one Compa attacked and kills it with her power strikes.

Shin's turn as he does what he does best and lunges. It instantly takes out the guard of the second Tetres thing.

Noire's turn as she does an attack and flips the enemy in the air, before finishing it off with two strikes from her sword.

"Critical Edge" Neptune yells out pointing the Armas towards the last monster. She slashes once causing the monster to go high in the sky, before Neptune follows suit slashing the monster in rapid succession killing the monster.

"I'll win again next time."

Outside of the battle zone. Neptune quickly looked at her menu. "Alright just a few more battles and Compa, Noire, and Shin will level up"

IF quickly added to the level up conversation "By the time they level up, we should be a little bit behind them Nep."

"Alright next few battles here we come." Neptune declared.

About seven battles later they finally leveled up the trio they needed to level up.

After finishing off a plum-et and a tomeki sister Compa did her victory pose, which involved jumping and falling on her butt, showing her panties. "Yay another monster defeated."

"Level up" Compa said as she leveled up, no new skills, but her health and agility increased.

"Alright level up." Noire states, no new skills, defense and attack go up.

Shin leveled up next, he didn't say anything as usual, Health and Defense increased. Skill learned COUNTER.

That wasn't it however as some new text appeared in front of Shin "Something is about to change in lunge. Let is continue?" The box was very, very familiar. It was a more of a risk it, or lose it type of deal, but that's a story for another time.

A nod was given.

A few seconds of waiting later another text box appeared "Lunge changed into Berserk." The text box disperses and so does the level up screen.

"Well that was new" IF comments

"Yeah." Compa says.

"Let's see Berserk." Neptune checked her menu. "Same effect as lunge, but hit's multiple times randomly on enemies."

"Oh that's pretty cool, this should make encounters more easier." Compa was the first to see the upside.

"Yeah, I guess, but it still takes away some of his H.P." Noire immediately tells the downsides.

"True, but we are kinda already used to it." IF dismisses the conversation.

"Counter." Neptune reads aloud "Random chance of attacking the enemy, when being attacked by said enemy."

"So exactly what it's named." IF said.

"Why does he get this awesome skill, I'm the main heroin." Neptune childishly complains, but no one was listening.

"This could be effective on bosses." IF starts talking about the upsides.

"Yeah, and encounters as well." Compa joins in.

"Sure just ignore me." Neptune mumbles a bit.

"Say something Nep-Nep?"

"Anyway, mind saving Berserk on the boss, I want to see what it does to it instead of an encounter?" IF requested.

XXX

"By the way, what is this monster we are supposed to beat?" Neptune asks.

"It looks like a large sized monster." IF vaguely tells.

"Anything else?" Noire asks.

"Nothing. That was pretty much what all dungeons usually have, so I assumed the pattern follows the same here."

"Not saying anything bad to you, but that's quite lacking in information, and assuming is usually unhelpful." Noire was complaining a bit.

"Well, we can ask someone when we need more information." Compa was hoping it would cheer her up.

"Not like there's someone who would know this kind of information, you know." Apparently Noire knew what she knows.

A new voice enters the fray "My, my to see known faces here."

Everyone turns around to meet the new voice. A woman with a hat of some sorts, that has gears on it, Blue hair, indigo eyes, white overcoat with brown details, and a brown dress with a red tie. She was also carrying a staff with a curve at the top.

"My name, you ask? Yes of course. You can call me MAGES." The woman introduced herself in a somewhat strange manner.

"Mages?" Neptune asks.

"That's 'MAGES.' with a period." MAGES. Corrects

"I don't think that makes verbal sense, but uh... okay. MAGES. It is." Neptune of all people said to MAGES.

"Hmmmm... You said something similar the last time too." MAGES. States out of the blue.

"Huh? Wait are you someone I know?" Hope was appearing in Neptune's eyes.

"This is great, Nep-Nep. You finally meet someone who knows you." Compa cheered.

"From the way it sounds, it looks like Neptune lost her memory." MAGES. Concluded.

"Exactly. How'd you know?" Neptune said.

"With my expertise, I can extract the truth from mere words." MAGES. Congratulated herself. "Unfortunatly though, I may not be of much help to you."

"What do you mean." Compa frowns.

"To put it simple, I came from another dimension." MAGES. Out right states.

"As such, the Neptune I know is not the Neptune in front of me." MAGES. Explains the Neps.

"What do you mean? I'm starting to get confused." Compa was confused.

"So, MAGES. Came from another world and not here right?" IF concludes, or makes sense so everyone else could understand it.

"I see. As sharp as usual IF."

"Aside from you knowing Nep, I want to ask you something."

"We're looking for a certain monster here, but do you know anything" IF continued.

"I do, but it is in exchange for another Information."

"Okay, but I don't have info on how you can return to your dimension."

"No, not that. I want to know where I can buy Doc. P" MAGES. Needed information.

"Ew...that sounds bleh." IF spits a bit. "Uh, Compa do you know what it is?"

"I've never heard of it before. Nep-Nep?" Compa diverts to Neptune.

"You're asking someone who lost her memory. How 'bout you, Noire?" So on.

"First time for me, too. Hmmm. Shin?" Noire diverts to Shin.

The only drink that he could think of was a soda of some kind. It was pretty common in his old world one of the many leading drinks right next to 'Hee-Ho-Cola' and 'Peb extra.'plus many others, but there is no way that could be it could it?

So he slowly said what was on his mind "Doc Tear Popper?"

MAGES. Quickly gasps before rushing towards Shin "You know of the drink of chosen?" she was up in his face as he nodded unfazed.

MAGES. Pulls out a phone and dials someone it must've been a quick pickup, because she immediately talked to the receiving end "Hello this is MAGES. I might have a lead on the location of Doc P."

She put her phone down and looked at Shin "Do you know where I could buy some?"

"Vending Machines?" Shin had a questioning tone honestly, he doesn't know if they were in there.

MAGES. Quickly tells herself "Of course why didn't we think of that." "Hello it could be in vending Machines, however continue searching there. I bid you luck. Loochs Tneve emag Noitamina Cisum."

MAGES. Continued. "Thank you, now I know there's some hope for Doc. P."

"I don't know who you were speaking to, but can you answer our question next?" Noire pops in.

"Yes, I suppose, what would you like to know?" MAGES. Indulges.

"Do you know the whereabouts of any large sized monster here?"

"Is that it? I actually saw one just a while ago."

"Really?" Compa was getting excited

"It is easily identifiable with its visual difference from the others" MAGES. Vaguely states.

"Thank you that helps a lot." Noire said without sarcasm.

"I assume you will now be hunting the monster down? I would like to help, but I have an urgent matter to attend to."

"Don't worry. We're fine with just the information."

"I see. I bid you farewell then." MAGES. walks away in an urgent manner.

"Sound like the monster is nearby, lets hurry before it gets away." Noire urgently tells the group.

XXXX

A few monster fights later they spot their main monster. A blue giant wolf thing.

"Iffy is that our monster." Neptune asks.

"It's a lot bigger than the others." Compa comments possibly creating an innuendo.

"Yep. That's it I think we've go this let's go everyone." IF leads the charges.

"We'll finish you off quickly." IF taunts the mundanely named Slash Dog.

Shin was first.

"Alright show it what you got Shin use berserk." Neptune pointed as if commanding him like a pet.

He did just that as he did the exact same thing as his lunge attack, but instead of hitting once it hits about six times immediately breaking it's guard.

"Alright guard is already broken wail on him." Neptune's turn was next as she powered hit it multiple times. "Jumping arts" Neptune then slashes up, then down, then kicks downward.

"Time for your medicine." Compa taunts as she fires her compressed liquid and stabs it quickly "Desu, Desu, Desu." Compa shouts as she does a weird dance that brings her fist upward slowly, it does some damage.

Noire's turn as she slashes at it multiple times. No after attack.

IF's turn "Seventy percent health left, we must be over leveled or something."

"It's not a bad thing." Neptune tells IF.

IF quickly attacks with her Qatars "Soul combination" She swipes left, right, and does a flip sideways finishing the attack."

The Dog had two turns for some reason and just slashed Shin twice, probably because it was pissed. The first strike did medium damage, but it brought his H.P to halfway, swiped again and it brought it to ten percent. However on the second strike Shin's counter move kicked in as he punched the monster taking away some of it's refilled G.P and a some H.P as well.

Compa used her turn to heal Shin "Let me heal you."

Noire Slashes once breaking it's guard, she continued to wail on it.

Shins turn as he delivered some heavy punches using most his body attack, not very effective when movement is key, but for heavy punches it does the job.

IF repeats what she did the first time.

The Boss gives out a howl as smaller versions of it appear and it hides behind them, it begins to heal a bit.

"Aw what no fair." Neptune complains.

It took at least a few turns just to kill all the littler Dogs as the monster healed to eighty percent with a full G.P bar.

"Show me your stuff." Neptune buffs herself.

Shin does berserk once again taking out it's G.P , but unfortunately he didn't get healed last time fighting the littler wolves.

The Dog attacked Shin once getting a critical

"ENDURE" A text box appears, saving a revival and healing item and bringing his health down to one.

Shin silently thanked the skill.

"Heal time" Compa chose to heal instead of attack.

IF swiped at the monster several times, finishing with a soul combination it broke the guard.

"Next" Noire charges once again doing a combination of kicks in the air, before slashing twice. It's health was back down to sixty five percent.

"Neptune Break." Neptune had enough of the boss fight, but it didn't kill it as it had at least ten percent left to go.

A few punches from Shin and it is literately at an atom of a health left.

It howled again, but luckily nothing came, but it still had a turn so it took a swipe at Compa

"Ouchie." Compa squeaked a bit.

Compa took revenge as she stabbed it once and it was dead.

"That was a lot harder than others." She ended her quote taking a crouch.

"Well" Neptune took a deep breath. "That was a bit tedious, but it worked out in the end. Noire was pretty strong, too." She compliments.

"What did you expect? You're not that bad yourself." Noire compliments back.

Neptune giggled a little "I got praised by Nowa."

"What? Nowa? Why'd you shorten my name? No wait, I wasn't praising you" Noire's Tsundere was showing

"Looks like those two are getting along a lot better now." IF comments smiling.

Enemies one day, friends the next." Compa Beams.

"Well we got the weapon data that Chian needed, so let's head on back."

XXX

"I'm home. Chian we're done testing the weapon testing." Neptune yells throughout the cafeteria.

"Hm? That was mighty quick." Chian comments as she takes the sword.

"About that, it didn't work out as planned." Noire informs "What we do know is that Avenir is making a new plant."

"Another one?" Chian questions

"What's the matter? Is it that much a surprise that another plant is to be made?" IF questions.

"You may not know, but all those plants are ruining the nature around them."

"We've lost countless forest, because of them." Chian finishes.

"That will probably make it harder to live in Lastation." Compa adds.

"Well if that's the case, let's go back to Avenir." IF concludes.

"Yes. Even if it didn't work this time, we have the next." Noire agrees.

"Aaand, we can do some sleuthing too." Neptune adds on.

"Hey, hey. Nothing over the top." Chian chuckles a bit at the idea.

"Hey as a thanks, how about some food." Chian declares.

"Add some pudding." Neptune quickly adds.

"Sure" Chian says 'Time to put my training to the test.'

About half an hour later Chian comes out with burgers and pudding for Neptune.

"Wow Noire, these are tastier than last time." Neptune comments.

"Mmmm. Deliciousness is in my mouth it doesn't want to go away." Compa was beaming

"Delicious" was all Noire said.

"This is defiantly better than last time that's for sure. What's your secret?" IF wanted to know.

"I was taught by Shin." Chian states.

The rest of the girls stopped what they were doing and stared at Shin.

"What?" was his dull reply.

XXX

This was fun chapter to do. I had so many ideas on what to do with character interactions. Honestly the first Draft was literately skip to Avenir work and have MAGES. comment on Shin being someone that other Neptune didn't know and rest of the chapter goes normal.

Here some extras

Original joke for Doc. P.

Shin said what he was thinking "Doctor Pepper?"

MAGES. Replies rather disappointed. "I don't need a Doctor sorry."

"There's a Dr. named after a spice?" Neptune questions.

"First I've heard of him too." Compa adds.

Monster Conversation/Negotiation

They were currently against a spider and Shin was up first

"This should be quick." IF says.

Instead of attacking the monster Shin calmly waves his arms in front of him.

"Um... what is he doing?" Noire asks what's on everyone's minds.

"I don't know." IF replies.

The monster surprisingly answers back giving a signal for life force.

Shin nods as soon as that happens his H.P decreased and the monster ate the red swirls that was taken from Shin.

"What is happening?" Neptune was confused.

"I don't know." IF answers.

It appeared to be satisfied as it gave a small 'kk' of approval. Then it asked for something else.

Shin gave the monster some money.

"Why is he giving money to Mr. Monster." Compa was going hysterical.

"I don't know." IF was starting to lose it.

The monster then looked at Shin wondering what he wanted, he just pointed to himself. The monster gave a nod. A giant Text Box appeared. "Spider of the arachnid clan. Joined your party."

"WHAT?" IF gave before passing out from the craziness.

"I-Uh... huh." Noire passed out from Shock.

"What?" Compa just stared.

"Awesome!" Neptune cheered.

Random quotes Neptune might say

"Getter Beam ready to fire."

"Quick Shin, use the Shining Finger."

"Nep setter! TekkaNep Blade!"

"Nep Busters."

"It's a Gundam" (Referring to those Mecha looking enemies)

"Wait..…...Just...One...More...Nep..."

"I am NEPTUNE! The sword the NEPS EVIIIIIIILLLLLLLLL"

"Hope it's not a radioactive spider."

"MAGES. The mage."

"My Nep senses are tingling."

"Super Electro Nepatic Yo-Yo"

"Perhaps a Dungeon Siege"

"NEP + NEP = FUN"

"Neptune OVERLOAD!"

"Maybe it takes money just to cross the river."

"This isn't even my final form."

"That Spoony Bard."

"Nep knows everything."

"Dying is a bother cause it takes forever just to reload the save."

"If I hate you I love you, if I love you I still love you"

"How about No that takes forever."

"I wonder if Vaults will ever be used to experiment on people."

"Kyojiiiiiiiiii! Wait I mean Arfoireeeeeeeeeeeee"

"Take this my love, my anger, and all of my Neps."

"Nep Punch."

"How about some Nep aid."

"Zombies?! Boring."

"With great Nep, comes great responsibility, and pudding."

Red vs Nep (Literately just the red team in the Neptunia verse. Script format)

Sarge: Alright Sarge out.

IF: Alright their fine let-

Sarge: Donut and Lopez are dead, and Simmons and Grif have been captured.

IF, Compa, and Neptune :WHAT?

IF: How'd you figure that out.

Sarge: Come on it was obvious. Grif called me Sir and Simmons said Hi.

IF: Neptune?

Neptune:Even I can't explain this.

SKIP

Sarge uses the butt of his shotgun to make Neptune transform.

Neptune:What the? How did you?

Sarge: Back of the spine.

Neptune: I am confused.

Skip

Sarge: The best course of action is to kill Grif

Grif: Not again.

Sarge shoots Grif.

Grif: ooooooouch: Rolling on the ground

IF: How does that help stop Arfoire.

Sarge:Stop who now?

One more. Possible Freeman's Mind quotes if he lands in the Neptunia verse

"These landmasses shouldn't theatrically exists. Nothing holds up these masses of land, but I could be making a paradox where I find out and doom everyone as the landmasses fall down."

"What sort of Name is IF, what the fuck were your parents smoking when they called you that. I want some"

"Oh come on I can do a better evil laugh than that. Muhhaha 'Cough' Nevermind"

"Judging by these monsters, the next thing we'll see is an anthropomorphic frog that lives in the sewers."

"What the hell female flowers. Man I bet people with a flower fetish are jealous right now."

"Yeah fuck you dragon. You shouldn't be able to fly, due to your wing to body weight ratio."

"I'm up to kill the employees at Avenir, I mean they only have machines working for them right. I just need to kill the top brass and I win.

"I can probably capture one of these monsters, and sell it alive to scientific study, I'd be loaded by then."

"I strangely feel two dimensional."

"Yeah your glasses are as effective, as a cockroach against a tank."

"A giant robot death machine... Fuck it I fought worse."

"We can probably reprogram this to kill everyone at Avenir... Just me okay."

"Dammit this reminds me of the time, where I was at my cousin's friend's sister's boyfriend's party and the cake was poisoned. I had to spend a day in Jail, because I was the one who gave him the cake. It was not a fun day."

"Can I bash his skull in now."

"Fuck this I'm blowing this place up."

Merry Christmas have a happy new year, see you next Chapter