A few days of absolutely no progress made after the Avenir work and the skill change incident. Except something happening between Neptune and Noire as they went out one night, but that is all Shin knows. Hopefully the Doc Tear Popper thing was correct, or else it would come back to bite him.
"So, ready to take on Avenir again?" IF questioned everyone in the hotel room, after they have all woken up
"Yes. All ready. How about you Neptune?" Noire had an obvious mood change compared to the previous days.
"I'm all-righty, righty" Neptune cheers.
"Noire and Nep-Nep are so friendly now." Compa smiles at the duo.
"I'm not that much of a friend with Neptune, you know?" The Tsundere replies.
"Oh Noire you shy little you." Neptune teases as usual.
"So should we head to Chian's place?" Noire asks.
"Yeah, that seems like the best bet for now." IF agrees.
They all immediately left the hotel and proceeded towards Chian's cafeteria. However, on the way there Chian just happened to be outside on the streets.
"Oh it's you, good timing." Chian said "Sorry to be abrupt here, but can you test a weapon again for me?"
"Wait you already revised the weapon?" Neptune was honestly surprised at the speed of revision.
"That's mighty fast to finish it up in a couple days." IF voices Neptune's thoughts.
"Yeah. Your feedback kept me up all night. Pretty exciting data." "If you can do it on the side with Avenir's work, I'd appreciate it."
"Alright not a problem"
"Okay, here you go." Chian gave the test model to Neptune
Armas test model 1.01 received.
"Thank you." Neptune kindly says.
Shin temporarily left the party.
"Aw what?" Neptune was shocked.
"Why are you leaving the party Shin?" Compa asked having the same reaction as Neptune
"Don't trust."
"Huh?" Both Compa and Neptune have confused looks on their faces.
"Avenir."
"Well that's no reason to leave the party, trust and distrust stuff like that you know." Neptune tried to convince him not to leave, but ultimately failed.
"We don't have to force him to go you know. If he doesn't want to come, he doesn't have to come simple as that." IF talked Neptune down for about five minutes.
"Oh alright, he can leave." Neptune had her arms crossed pouting.
"Glad you understand." IF was smiling triumphantly.
"Not to be rude, but we don't want to be late for our job with Avenir right?" Noire informs the rest of the group rather impatiently.
"Oh right sorry." IF realizes.
"Bye Shin." Neptune losses her pout and walks off as if nothing happened.
"See ya later" IF follows quickly after Neptune.
"Bye." Noire follows as well.
"Bye bye Shin and Chian." Compa beams and waves and quickly realizing she's going to fall behind.
"Alright bye." Chian waves them off so does Shin.
"Guess I'll head back to the Cafeteria, are you gonna come along as well or no."
A simple nod was given. He would obviously not have anything to do. He really does not want to work for someone who would obviously use them.
XXXX
"So you really think, he doesn't want to come because of Avenir." Neptune had a rather dull look on her face.
They were heading towards the factory, Avenir told them where they would meet.
"Well he did say it, simple as that." Noire points out.
"I think it's something else." Neptune voices her thoughts.
"I know what's gonna happen, but indulge me?" IF felt like she was digging her own grave for asking.
"Well it's obvious" Neptune was smiling very mischievously
"What's obvious Nep-Nep?"
"It is oh so obvious I'm surprised you haven't figured it out."
"Stop beating around the bush and tell us." Noire was getting impatient.
"Very very obvious-"
"Nep!" IF interrupts
"Well then isn't it obvious, he want to spend lovey-lovey time with Chian."
Only blank stares would be given.
"Huh?" IF voiced everyone's thoughts.
"Iffy I am shocked that you didn't see it."
"I'm still lost."
Neptune then dramatically voices her reason "It was crack of dawn when he arrived at the cafeteria. Chian was just cleaning it for customers that would never come. She was surprised to see Shin very early in the morning so she asked what he was doing here. He grasped her hand gently and looked her in the eyes saying 'I shall cook for you my maiden'. And so he did it was so delicious that she asked if he could teach her how to cook. He taught her. She proclaimed her love for him and he returned the same feelings. The End."
"Oh I understand now Nep-Nep." Compa was beaming as she believed the story "My little cousin is in love, ohhhh I am so happy."
IF merely sighs at the ridiculous story and the fact that Compa even believed the story. "Okay first off he told us himself that he doesn't trust Avenir, second he just asked if he could could cook and even though he did teach her, there was no love confession, third seriously Compa?" IF correct the story and questioned Compa.
However a certain Tsundere had something else to question. "Wait a second, cousin? Little?"
"Yuppies Shin is my little cousin" Compa proudly proclaims with a smile.
"Never would've guessed."
"I'm surprised Noire didn't freak out about the love story." Neptune was getting into teasing mode. "Something that could've happened to her crush, she could at least freak out a bit"
The reaction she was hoping for never came, instead Noire calmly says "Didn't I tell you to drop that?"
"Who are you and what have you done with Noire?!" Neptune quickly pointed a finger at Noire not believing she would calmly reply.
"Yelling at you would solve nothing." She once again calmly replies inside though she was smirking smugly.
"Come on let's continue on." IF was finished with this line of dialogue.
Compa, Noire, and IF soon walked towards their destination leaving Neptune still in shock of Noire's calmness.
She got out of the shock though, when she saw her friends quickly leaving her behind. "Waaaaaaiiiiiit! You can't leave me behind!"
XXXX
The girls have arrived to their meeting location.
"And so, Nep and family, minus one, have arrived at a close factory for Avenir's work." Neptune narrates.
An audible sigh come from "Happy as usual, I see."
"Hey, when you don't have your memory, you can do whatever you want"
"Sometimes I admire your free nature." Noire compliments for once "In any case, what was the reason we were called to this kind of place."
"It's been a while folks. I'd like to have work done again from you." Ganache made his appearance vocal with a smile.
"Hiya there you must work a lot. Don't burn out though you hear." Neptune happily replies.
"Do I look that busy, I've been taking my breaks quite liberally."
"I wish I could take breaks when I want too." Compa adds her input.
"Well most of our work is handled by machines, so things are easy." Ganache informs the girls. "Now getting back to business. Let's get right down to business."
"As you could see, it has been years since this facility was in operation."
"So what are we doing here?" IF inputs.
"There is a certain item we have not recovered since the closure. We want you to find it and bring it back to us."
"Is that it? That's sounds even easier than before." Neptune was looking towards the bright side.
"It does, doesn't it? Well on the contrary, there are monsters there now."
"I see so you need us to go in and take care of that too." IF reaches the conclusion. "So what's this thing we need to recover? It sounds important."
"It is a certain ore. We call it Lastelite. Just one gram holds enough energy to power a game console for ten thousand years. The excavation of it is difficult, so we'd like to recover what we have."
"I've never heard of such an ore before." IF was getting skeptical.
"Lastelite... I've never heard of it either." Noire cleverly disguised adds.
"If it's that great, I would at least know about it."
"Well of course, we held monopoly of this ore." Ganache said "We did not disclose it for the sake of holding full control of it."
"Well if it's that super, mind giving us a small wee bit?" Neptune was falling for it.
"Hey, Nep no fooling around now." IF scolded the purple preteen.
"But Iffy, it can run game consoles for ten thousand years." Neptune whined. "It's like the magic power we gamers were looking for all our lives."
"Well if you would like some I could spare a small bit."
"Really?"
"Yes. We were able to work efficiently last time, because of your work last time. As long as you keep it a secret, I don't see the harm of sharing just a bit."
"Yay, I thought Avenir was kinda bleh, but Ganache saves the day."
"I'm happy to know that. Now we don't want to waste time here. Please take care of the order."
"Okay leave it to Captain Nep and her friendly crew (minus one)"
"Sure captain lead us to the depths of the ocean." IF snarks.
The girls head straight into the abandon factory, but as soon as everyone was in the large doors slammed shut.
"What?" Noire was surprised.
"Why did the entrance close behind us, Ganache what's going on?" IF questioned
On the other side of the door Ganache speaks "Oh my bad must've pressed something. Well that's not quite true. I shut it for my convenience."
"I'd like to ask you all to satisfy the hunger of the monsters here."
"What- What do you mean?" Compa was panicked for obvious reasons.
"What, wait I'm not gonna get your precious ore if you do this." Neptune still didn't realize
"I'm surprised you actually believed what I said. Of course there is no such thing as an ore that can house that much energy."
"You tricked us, but why?" Noire was shouting.
"I already know you are assisting Chian, of Passe. I assume you were trying to get information on our exhibition plans, no?"
"Iffy they knew all along." Neptune said.
"I can't believe they knew all along." IF was showing signs of distress.
"We would win regardless, but I'm the careful type you know? Now then I don't have much, so I need to go. Farewell." Ganache gave his goodbyes leaving the girls to their fate.
IF punched the sealed tight doors, only to receive a small pain in her hands and a still closed door. "Get back here Ganache! Wait!"
"Well looks like the way out is sealed tight." Noire angrily grits through her teeth.
"Iffy, what's gonna happen to us?" Compa was getting scared.
Only silence was given as she honestly had no idea what to do.
"I'm sorry, this is all my fault" Noire was blaming herself for this little incident. "If I didn't suggest taking Avenir's work, this wouldn't have..." She silenced herself. Tears were starting to form in Compa's eyes
"Oh, come on gals this isn't like us. What's the matter? This isn't like us. It's not like we can't get out, all we have to do is find another way." Neptune immediately was on the cheering up team.
"Neptune..."
"Nep is right, this is a large area, so there has to be a way out." IF was starting to grow confident again. "I'm not one to become monster food! Let's go!"
The troops were rallied and ready to fight.
XXXX
He had ended up taking a nap after arriving at the cafeteria. He did not sit down he just stood tall as he napped. Chian was amazed at the fact that he could just do that without falling down, but didn't dawdle as she went to work in the factory. And so he stood there just napping away, no dreams just darkness, but the darkness was interrupted by shaking. He was awoken and lost balance, one would appropriately say he landed flat on his ass.
Screams filled the air along with the sound of buildings being taken down in a destructive manner.
Chian came rushing in and said "Quickly get outside." Before heading back out. Shin followed quickly, the first things he saw,other than destruction, was a floating giant robot with two axes for hands. It was rather thin as it comprised of a spinal like cord, a small head, and two long skinny arms, for a robot anyway. You could clearly see the gears that held it together too. The appearance would suggest it is not ready yet, but it was completely ready.
Standing a few feet away from it was none other than Ganache, laughing rather calmly. "Go Killachine. Destroy this insect's factory"
Chian was obviously more than furious. "What are you doing!"
Ganache calmly looks in her direction still smiling. "Oh just removing the competition, we can't have you running around and foiling our plans."
"So this is what you resort to, destruction."
"Destruction is such a strong word, I would prefer a removal of an eyesore."
Chian was taken aback at Ganache's demeanor. "What about the people inside the buildings." She waved her arm and pointed to one of the destroyed buildings.
"Merely casualties."
"Casualties?" Chian is starting to realize what type of person Ganache is.
"In business, there will always be casualties, be the lost of cargo, or life. Don't sweat the small details. This is just business."
"You're a monster!" Chian finally yells.
"Come now, there is no need to blurt such words, that's the equivalent to name calling." Ganache was still in a calm demeanor. "Now Killachine destroy Passe's factory."
As soon as the man in charge gave the command the machine attacked the factory with all it's strength, all it took was one swing to cause the factory to collapse leaving only rubble.
Chian could only stare on in horror as her factory was destroyed before her eyes.
This however is when Shin slowly strolled towards the machine. "Ah no wonder I felt like someone was missing from your group." Ganache smugly said.
"So you're gonna try to take on Killachine." Ganache slightly laughs at the notion "This should be entertaining to watch, nothing can stop the Killachine."
Shin stopped in front of the Killachine and looked up at it, and the Killachine looked down upon him. A silent staring contest ensued. However it was interrupted when Ganache gave the order "Killachine attack:" The battle zone commences.
XXXX
Back at the factory the girls were breathing heavily
"There... there is" Compa stopped to take a breath "There is a lot more monsters here than usual."
"They just keep spawning like some kind of military game." Neptune was having trouble as well.
"Even if this was a monster's nest, there are way too many." IF surveyed the area, though there were no enemies around right now the amount they had to take down in one corridor was absurd.
Noire adopts a thinking expression "Could it be that Avenir gathered them her to finish us?"
"Even if that was the case, how? How can you herd so many monster here?"
"Well I guess so." Noire backed down.
Neptune however had her eyes moving around randomly until they landed on a certain out of place object. She rushed over to bent over and picked it up. "Hey, Iffy, look what I found!" She gathered everyone's attention "This isn't what I think it is, is it?" She presented the object in question.
IF's eyes widened in excitement "This is... an enemy disc! Where did you find it?"
"OH, I just found it on the ground over there, totally alone and isolated. Do I get a prize for finding it?" She began to scratch her chin "I'll take, I don't know, ten puddings!"
"Ummmmm. No."
"What are you two talking about? What's this about a disc?" Noire was out of the loop
"This looks like a normal disc, right? Well it's true nature serves as a monster generator."
"What? Seriously? If so, that's an amazing discovery!"
"Is it really that amazing?" Compa asks.
"Yes it's been three years since monster started to rapidly appear." Noire explains "Each land is trying to figure out the source, but none found one as of yet."
"So if we disclose this, then we could be famous?" Neptune had a small sparkle in her eyes. "Can you imagine all the paparazzi storming in for pictures and stuff?" Still excited "We'll be rich! I'll make a pool full of pudding!"
"Nep-Nep, you might want to wipe that drool from your mouth."
"Did you let Lastation's CPU, no the Basilicom know?" Noire questiones.
"We were trying to do that, but we were kicked out without a chance." IF informs her.
"I see."
"Iffy, what should we do with it? I can crush it in slow-mo if you'd like." Neptune suggested.
"This isn't a music video, or anything, just hurry up and break it."
Monsters then started to spawn "Oh, how cliché. Monsters appearing just when we were about to break it. See Iffy? What you said prior must've triggered a flag."
More started to spawn "This is going to be a pain dealing with all of them."
"Nep-Nep, now's the time to transform."
"Okay leave it to me! Tranform!" A glow of purple light appeared and Neptune transformed. "I'm going full force here"
"Nep-Nep feels one hundred percent more reliable in this form."
"Get ready everyone. Here they come!"
The battle commences
"This should be easy" Neptune taunted.
A servey of the monsters would show an R-4, a Poxvader, and two mini-4s. The R-4 being a weird looking one as it was a robot with Spike like things in the back, and a purple spikes on the mid body section, Poxvader was a reskined pixelvader, and the mini-4s were just spherical grey balls with a red eye in the middle.
"Demon flames." IF unleashed her hell fire of flames bringing all the monsters healths down to thirty percent.
"Huh, this is easy." Neptune comments as she does a cross combo on the Poxvader killing it.
The battle ended after turn two for IF as the other enemies were just easy to kill.
"Well that was anti-climatic." IF states.
"That was too easy, is it because of our levels?" Noire questions
"Easy or not, fighting them in this form is tiring." Neptune complains as she de-transforms "I'm beat"
"Good work, Nep-Nep. You were really great back there." Compa cheered the preteen on.
"Really?" Neptune giggles "Well, now I have another reason to transform.
"Compa, don't flatter her too much. It'll get out of hand." IF jokes.
"Oh, come on I was MVP back there, so go ahead, praise me, or pamper me if don't want to. I can take either, or both."
"You better stop while you're still ahead."
"Eeep"
"Joking aside, Nep, you did great. Thank you."
Neptune giggles once again "I got praised by Iffy."
"You're like a kid in the most strangest of places. Anyways, I'm surprised Lastation has a monster infested place like this."
"Well, maybe there is a Key Fragment here. Right Iffy?"
"It's possible."
"Key fragment? What's that?" Noire is once again out of the loop.
"That's right, we didn't tell you yet, Noire so sorry." Neptune realizes as she pulls out one of the fragments. "It looks like this, have you seen one like this before, Noire?
"Never have... Why are you collecting these?"
"Glad you asked! It's to revive Histy and save the world!"
A few silent moments pass by "Um. IF? Is she well Okay?"
IF sighs for the ump millionth time "A little late at birth, I suspect."
"How rude! Even docile me is angry now!" Neptune was angry.
"I'm just joking Nep. We need them to release a tome named Histoire"
"Who is this Histy? How does this person know more than me?" Noire was getting angry
"What's the matter, Noire? Got a bug in your mouth? Neptune questions the sudden anger.
"Just mumbling to myself. Don't let it bother you."
"Oh, I thought you went nutty in the head with all the pressure and stuff. If that happens, don't worry. I'm sure a psychiatrists can help."
"You're the one who needs help in the head!" Noire retorts before sighing "I can't believe how lax you're approaching all of this."
"You're so friendly with Nep-Nep, Noire."
"What? Me? Neptune? Of course not, you've got to be kidding!" The Tsundere strikes again.
"Shocker." Neptune said in a half serious, half sarcastic attitude. "I thought we were like war buddies and all. Friends above friends."
Neptune then started to smile again "Wait! Maybe your affection towards me is one notch higher...like love?" She started to blush a little bit "I, ah don't know what to say, but I appreciate the feeling, but you know, I'm a girl, you're a girl, you know what I mean. BUT, if you really really want me, I guess I can accept you."
The Tsundere appeared "Are you stupid? Love? I don't even like you!"
'There's my reactionary Tsundere' "Oh, come now. No need to be shy. You're so Tsundere after all."
"READ. MY. LIPS. I don't like you! In fact, I. THINK. I. HATE. YOU. NOW." Sighing once again "Why am I even arguing with you?! You two some help here?"
"Oh now, you really do like Nep-Nep after all." Compa was cheering the relationship on.
"It's almost as if you two were meant for each other. Yin and Yang." IF agreed. "Well, let's find a way out. You girls can do whatever at the hotel."
"Ho-Ho-Hotel?" Noire's eyes showed fear and shock.
Even Neptune was uncomfortable "Iffy?"
Compa just stared on in confusion.
"What's the matter" The realization hit IF like a truck "No. No no no no NO! Don't misunderstand me!" She took a quick breath "I didn't say do whatever at the hotel in any sense! Not at all. You both have your minds in the gutter!"
"Iffy. You're are so C-U-T-E, blushing and all." Neptune teased.
"Yes, you really are C-U-T-E" Noire joined in.
"Yes, C-U-T-E"
"Et, Tu, Compa? Stop teasing me already!"
"The disc is already borken.. I mean broken. Le-Let's go-go- goooo!"
"I didn't expect to see the cute bashful side of Iffy there." Neptune cheery. " I guess the plan worked fine, getting that side out. Nice work, Noire! Just one more to go."
"I didn't do it for you or anything you know?" Tsundere alert.
Neptune adopted a mischievous look "Oh? So that talk back there was Noire's true desire?"
"Stop that already. Stop joking and let's move on."
Neptune giggled... again "Sorry, You're just fun to tease."
"Nep-Nep and Noire are really great friends after all."
The group continued through the factory having numerous battles with the monsters. They finally get near the exit.
"Iffy are we there yet? My legs are like jelly." Neptune whined.
"I'm tired too." Compa agreed.
"This again? You girls really need to exercise or something." IF replied.
"Exercise? Well, I play games, so is pushing buttons exercise?" Neptune without a doubt said.
"Stop being stupid and try to be active like Noire."
The mentioned person however called them over to her location "Everyone can you come here for a bit?"
"That's unusual for Noire to be calling us. I wonder what's up." Neptune thought aloud.
A few couple steps towards her IF says "Kept you waiting there. What's up?"
She points towards the wall, which held a disc. "This on the wall. Isn't this the disc you showed me?"
"You've got to be kidding.. Two in the same location?"
"So that means even more are still around?" Neptune sighed. "Planeptune had one and Lastation has two. That's not fair?" The sentence went down in flames.
"No wonder the monsters don't go away." Compa points out.
"Well, no use in leaving it as it. Let's break it." IF reasoned.
However Neptune has the worst input time "Oh, oh, oh! Wait, Iffy! If we're going to break it, can I do it? I always wanted to break a disc, but I don't want to do that to my music CDs, but if it's this, then I can have fun breaking it."
"This isn't supposed to be fun you know."
"Yeah, but all work and no play makes Nep a dull girl. So c'mon, I can have fun breaking it right?"
"Sometimes I have to doubt your actions."
To the surprise of no one Monsters start to spawn
"Uh-oh monsters." IF dully said "Nep, Transform. Get rid of the monsters and the disc."
"Roger that." She transforms. "Listen to me Iffy."
"What's the matter?"
"I'll take care of the monsters, so break the disc before more come out."
"Wait you said you wanted to break it."
"The transformation cooled me down a bit, but I don't care about it anymore."
"Can you be anymore random?"
"Nep-Nep is so fun, even after she transforms."
"This is just too painful to watch." Noire comments.
Battle commences
A B4i-SOHO a bipedal looking tank., also blue.
IF went first as she slashed at the tank multiple times. Then it was Compa's turn, however Neptune got a different thought.
"You know what we're in a rush, let's not do the turn based combat."
"But, Nep-Nep it's the rules of battle, you can't just break them."
"And rules are meant to be broken."
"Wouldn't that be cheating?" Noire was skeptical.
However her plea was ignored as Neptune charged in. She slashed with her purple sword side to side, then upwards. Then proceeded to stab the tank multiple times causing it's guard to break. She however ignored it as she flew to the side of the tank and proceeded to wail on it confusing the sentient tank. She was just breaking the rules of battle.
"This is the end" Neptune yelled as she brought her sword upward causing the the monster to fly high in the sky, or roof. She proceeded to fly after it readying her sword as she did. She brought it down upon the still airborne tank passing through it as she cut it in half. As usual for an effect like this it also exploded without her looking back.
"Never stood a chance" Neptune said as the battle ended.
"Um... What just happened?" Noire was confused to say the least.
"I defeated the monster." Neptune bluntly states.
"Yeah, but..." It would appear that Noire was at a loss for words.
"Nep-Nep you kinda cheated."
"Already established that yes." Neptune said before she detransformed.
"Breaking the rules... That's a low even for you Nep." IF was disappointing
"Alright just hear me out." Neptune began to explain over the course of five minutes.
"-and that's why combat should, change to realistic, kind of."
"I- huh?" IF clearly was confused.
"I just explained why."
"No you didn't. You just made random references then-" IF was promptly shushed by Neptune, who held her hand to her mouth.
"Details... Details Iffy, no need to go over them."
IF sighs once again "Fine, but if this gets us in trouble... Forget it right, now lets break the disc."
"Wait!"
"What is it now Nep."
"I wanted to break it!"
"You said that you wanted me to break it."
"But that was me transformed, different persona you know?"
"Not this again."
"Now that I'm back to my old self, I want to break it."
The swift sound of a disc being broken echoes.
"What?" Neptune turns around to find Noire and a broken disc on the ground.
"I broke it. No way I want to fight more of those things again." The disc assaulter confesses.
Neptune only gave a frown looking at Noire "What's with that look on your face."
"Wow, Noire way to break the mood and the disc there." Neptune continued to frown.
"Yeah that was not cool" IF joined in.
"Completely, not cool Noire." Compa added in as well
"What?!" Noire was flabbergasted. "I'm in the wrong now? You girls were the ones arguing!"
"Yeah, but still." IF started
"Still, that wasn't cool, Noire. Maybe that's why you don't have friends." Neptune fired away.
"I- I have friends. Lots of them okay! I'm Sorry. There satisfied?"
"Oh, Iffy your so terrible." Compa beamed.
"I kind of enjoy seeing them argue, so I just go with the flow." IF admits.
"Let's just get out of here!" Noire was at the end of her patients
"Fine, but you still have no friends." Guess who
"Grrrrrrr."
XXXX
Currently Shin was breathing heavily, due to the fact that he's been fighting this Killachine for quite a while. Just turn, after turn of hitting, being hit, healing with an item, and repeat. He's barely even taken down the robotic killing machine's health, just to eighty five percent. This will literately take all day if it has to.
"Oh your still going at it, Killachine? I thought you'd be done by now" Apparently Ganache left for a little while and came back holding a cup of coffee.
Even those who were screaming in terror before, now hold cups of coffee sitting on the sidelines watching the fight.
"I have to admit, I admire your tenacity, and the ability to go one on one with Killachine." Ganache's smug persona came back. "Though we're wasting precious time, Killachine eliminate him."
Luckily it was Shin's turn as the floating robot's eye's turn even redder. Thankfully he didn't use his health draining attacks, or he would've been dead an hour or so ago.
Time to continue on fighting.
Outside of the visible combat zone, the girls come across destroyed structures in their path.
"The city, it's in ruins." Compa said devastated at the destruction.
"Wow, this is way too hardcore for me." Neptune joked a bit.
"Ganache is going to pay for this!" Noire full anger shouted.
Upon hearing the familiar voices Chian exited out of the visible combat area and found the girls.
"You girls, you're safe."
"Chian are you okay?"
"Yeah, it's because Shin is holding off the giant robot."
"Giant Robot?" IF questioned
"It's the thing that caused all this destruction, the man in the brown suit called it, Killachine"
"Wait he's holding it off by himself?!" Compa fearfully asks.
Neptune however had a different response, amazement. "Wow, you think once we turn the corner we'll see him destroy it single handedly."
"I wouldn't count on it, he's been holding it off for quite awhile, only down to like eighty-five percent or something."
"It must be strong or something."
"It definitely is, but I don't think he can last longer he's got to be low on healing items now."
"Alright, we'll just head in there to defeat the giant robot, simple as that" Neptune summed what they are about to do.
"Yessey" Compa pulled out her giant syringe.
"Alright, while you're fighting it, I'll go ask Lady Black Heart for help."
Noire stepped in "No need to, we'll take care of Avenir and anything that gets in our way! Let's go!" She lead the charge into the combat zone.
"Oh come on Killachine, how hard is it to defeat one person?" Ganache's voice was heard when they were arriving on the scene. "With you're performance here, we won't be able to sell well with our client."
Noire stopped when the combat zone was visible, the Killachine in full view, and Ganache on nearby ruins at an elevated height. "Stop! I won't let you get away with this."
"Oh my" Ganache stopped and counted the group that just arrived. "Looks like you got out alive"
"Oh hey, Shin, you alright?" Neptune yelled interrupting the flow of conversation
A nod was given
"Ignoring them, did you really think that you could beat us?"
"Of course not, but it did buy some time." Ganache thought it over for a second "Well, before this boy decided it was a good idea to fight the Killachine, possibly showing it's combat performance needs a little tweaking." Ganache didn't realize he balled his fist up, but released when he subtly realized.
"You- You fiend!"
"Fiend?" Ganache was once again starting to lose his cool "The only fiend here, is the boy down there, fighting off Killachine"
'Technically Demi-Fiend.' Shin randomly thought
"Anyway, even if it is so, what are you going to do about it? You lost you're power to Avenir. You're weak now" The composure was back.
"That's not true." Noire denied
"Oh, but you're well aware of you're lack of power, don't you? You were away for far too long. If anything you should blame yourself."
"Hardly anyone reveres you in Lastation anymore. Oh, but I do appreciate you. You've made it easier to take over the land."
Noire takes a deep anger filled breath.
"Hm... Nothing to say against my logic?" A sudden feeling of dread filled his thoughts.
"So what?" A now confident Noire responds
"What?!" Ganache was honestly surprised at the confidence Noire suddenly gained
"Who cares about power and control? If you think I'm here just to mete vengeance, then you're wrong, dead wrong"
Ganache takes a step back to reanalyze the situation
"I'm here for the people who believe in me!"
"Iffy, can I speak? I really don't like the seriousness going on right now." Neptune had brilliant input time
"Just be patient and let them finish what they are saying." IF quietly retorted.
"But, I'm at my limit already, I need to breath you know?"
"Nep-Nep, If you don't be quiet, you won't get your pudding snack." Compa delightfully threatened.
"No! I'll do my best to be quiet, promise."
"I can hear everything you know, It defeats the purpose if you're making noise on the subject of quiet." Noire heard everything
"And now the moods gone, thanks to you."
"Nep-Nep's pudding scores a double whammy. Gone!" Compa was all too eager at the thought of Neptune losing her pudding.
"My pudding. Noooooooooooooooo!"
"We're at the climax of this arc, so be quiet!"
An impatient Ganache, who was for some reason waiting patiently for their talk, interrupted "Are you done talking to you're friends, I'm pretty busy you know?"
"Hey, extra bits, don't harm no one when they pad out chapter length." Neptune breaks a metaphysical wall.
"Let me save you time, by sending that heap of metal to the junkyard!" Noire taunts ignoring the wall breaker.
"Nep-Nep transform!" Compa commanded.
"Transform!" Neptune pretended to lift something up disappearing in a pillar of light and coming out transformed.
"Ganache, you went too far, feel the pain Ganache and her people endured!" Like a hero she blurted.
"What... That form, why are you here!?" Ganache knew who exactly this transformed Neptune was, but no one caught it.
"You're supposed to be her enemy, but why?" Ganache pointed towards Noire.
"For those who believe in me, I'll do anything for them. ANYTHING!" After Noire yelled out a pillar of light came out, and out came her transformed, into a very familiar lady, they've fought before. White hair, blue eyes with power buttons, and a black one piece that exposed 'places'.
"Noire that form?" Neptune also suspected, or knew exactly
"Details later, first let's get rid of this contraption!"
"Alright, Shin take five we'll handle this."
A nod was given before Shin backed out of the battle, being replaced by the girls.
"Alright you know what to do!" Neptune reminded.
"Are you sure about this Nep-Nep? What if we get in trouble?"
"We'll worry about that later, just fight."
"I hope you know what you're doing Nep."
The boss was still in it's turn based mind, so it would naturally wait it's turn, but...
"Charge!" All the girls charged at the monster robot.
Compa fired her compressed liquid at it and IF summoned some flames. This confused the robot as the two attacked at the same time, but assumed it was a combination attack at first. Neptune slashed with her swords in multiple directions quickly.
While it was distracted with Neptune, Noire charges from the back kicking what she assumed was the head.
When the onslaught continued it was then the robot kinda realized, that they were not playing by the rules of battle, however it was too late as it had twenty percent of it's H.P left.
"Noire now!"
"Right Neptune!"
Noire and Neptune got on the opposite side of each other facing the robot, Noire facing front, and Neptune in the back. A simultaneous yell occurred as they charged at the robot head on and from the back, both did a stab. The two transformers after stabbing it proceeded to lift their swords at a pace that sent the robot flying high in the sky.
They weren't finished yet as they proceeded to fly after it. Instead of immediately attacking it when they got close they flew above it.
"Time for the finisher!" Neptune's voice boomed throughout the sky.
The duo stopped flying and quickly descended sticking their swords out, exactly where the Killachine was. Letting gravity do the work and a little manual arm strength the swords pierce the Killachine on two different angles, going down the slanted angles and finally meeting at an end point. Pulling their swords out. The duo land gracefully on the ground, not looking back as the, swords caused a visible Purple V symbol, before the Killachine just explodes, ending the battle.
"With the two of us, this was easy." Noire taunted at the body less Machine "Where's Ganache?"
"It seems like he got away."
"Well no matter. He'll get what he deserves either way."
"Speaking of Noire that form of yours" Neptune addressed the issue.
"You look like Nep-Nep transformed."
"You mean this form, of course. I'm the CPU of Lastation." Noire finally admits.
"What?" Neptune was the first to ask.
"I had my reasons, but fist off I'm sorry for hiding my identity. That said thanks for your help. I couldn't have won without you."
"I didn't expect Noire to be Lastation's CPU."
"I'm just as surprised when Nep-Nep transforms."
IF smirked "Not me, I knew all along"
Shin raises his hand to agree as well, but no one was paying attention to him. They were just paying attention to IF slightly not believing her.
Noire's eye's widened "No way!"
"Seriously was that your best, hiding your identity?"
"Great all this hiding my identity was for nothing then."
Neptune quickly added her two cents "That's right! You know who I am right? Can you please tell me?"
Noire contemplated in a rather sinister way. "What to do? What to do?"
"Come on, I'm serious here!"
"It's not much of a secret, might as well say it."
"Iffy, you know who Nep-Nep is?"
"Yes." IF simple stated "When I first saw Noire transform."
Compa put a finger on her chin "That means-" Her eyes widen "That can't be, you mean Nep-Nep is really?-" She just stops
"Huh? Compa knows as well? Really Compa? Just say all ready?"
"Alright." Noire gave in "Neptune you really are" Dramatic pause. "The CPU of Planeptune Purple Heart!"
Only a blank stare from Neptune appeared "Seriously?"
"Nep-Nep's in shock over her own self."
"Iffy? What should I do? I mean me, Planeptune, a CPU , etc?"
"Why don't you just change back first."
"Okay, I can't show my expressions in this form anyway." Neptune quickly un- transforms
"Okay, but uh... Is me? Being me really okay with everyone."
"Who would've expected you to be the CPU of Planeptune?"
"What's going all though, all I saw was Nep-Nep fall out of the sky!" Compa seemed to be losing it.
"Did you finally notice? Everything around Nep isn't humanly possible."
"Falling from the sky isn't normal, even for a goddess" Noire added.
"Just to be sure. Are you absolutely positively S.U.R.E I'm okay as a goddess."
"Not I'm okay, You are a goddess." Noire assured the Preteen goddess "But don't worry, I won't fight you know. I got to rebuild Lastation." Noire literately just straight off, wanders off.
Nothing else of Note was happening anyway so Shin thought now was a good time to leave, but-
"Hgggh. I thought I wasn't gonna see you again." A sudden hug from Compa, lifting him up as a result.
"I thought, I was gonna be trapped in that factory forever, but Nep-Nep saved our skins." Compa did not let go.
"Hey that looks fun, I wanna join in too." Neptune joined in on the hugging as well, climbing onto his back.
Shin only looked blankly towards IF "Eh... You missed a lot of things... when we were trapped by Avenir."
Only a raised brow was given "Basically, We were tricked by Ganache, he trapped us in a factory, but it was just to distract us, while he used Killachine to destroy the Passe, possibly some more. Also changing ...Combat I guess? Neptune thought of it."
"Though luckily you, were here to impede it's progress, so good job" A thumbs up from IF
"Alright you can stop now." IF wanted to quickly get rested up, today was just exhausting.
Compa let go, but Neptune was less than reasonable "How about you carry me, Shin, It turns out my legs are tired."
IF brought her palm to her face, and sighed.
XXXX
Short Chapter. So nothing much to say, other than the lazily written transition from Turn based to Realistic-ish combat. Happy New Year.
This chapter honestly feels Lackluster for me, must be my mood or something.
Bye.
