Alt title: The Quantum Your Entanglement Could Spin Like

"Blanc–"

"I don't want to hear it, Vert."

No one had questioned the need to put distance between themselves and the hotel after the scuffle, although their departure from Harbor Oak had been thankfully uneventful. They had half-expected to be chased out of town by an angry crowd after news of the attack on Mr. Oak made its rounds. Of course, there was no telling what kind of rumor mill would be generated. Would a crotchety old man even admit that he'd nearly been killed by a girl?

"Uhgggg…my feet hurt. Can we take a break?"

Neptune held back her playful laugh. She already knew what the response would be – or so she thought. The combined glares of Blanc and Noire were enough to stun her back into silence. When had they become so scary?

Vert gave a timid chuckle as she exchanged a glance with Neptune. "Ah, but the weather is so nice this morning. Would it hurt to rest our weary feet for a moment?" A gentle breeze punctuated her words, causing a series of ripples to flow through the grass.

The fire in Noire's eyes was unmistakable, even still. "Chop chop, Vert! There's no time to waste! Gamindustri needs us as soon as it can get us!"

A sigh. "Very well. If you insist. I suppose the reception we will receive at Leanbox shall make up for my tired body, yes?"

Neptune added to her sentiment with a laugh. "Ooh – this sounds like a perfect opportunity for the obligatory bath scene!"

Vert's sly smile was something to behold. "Ah, but I will have you know that the bathhouses of Leanbox are without parallel – perfect for the bubbly, giggly fanservice that will no doubt begin the next chapter!"

A groan of disgust could be heard from one of the two persons in front, but no further words were spoken on the matter.

The party continued on for a time yet. While it was true that the morning was a pleasant one, none of them were accustomed to taking such long journeys on the open road. The sun beat down upon them as it ascended through the sky on its daily cycle, its heat being only partially mitigated by the light fog that had settled over the land. An occasional wind would blow through the dew-soaked plains, bringing with it a chill, along with an alien, salt-tinged scent. A glance over one's shoulder would reveal Harbor Oak and the forest it bordered, giving the sense that little progress had been made even after so much walking.

Every now and then, they would come across some sign of civilization – sometimes in a literal sense, in the form of an old wooden signpost confirming that this was the road to the capital. At other times, they would spot an abandoned farmhouse in the distance, its fields reclaimed by nature, or happen to see a set of picnic tables arranged around a weed-choked flower bed, with no indication of the last time anyone had ever enjoyed a day in the sun.

The silence was pierced by another sigh from Vert. "To think that a world could contain such a great expanse of emptiness…Not even the Leanbox I know has the luxury on display here."

Noire nodded. "We're lucky that we happened upon Harbor Oak when we did. I, for one, don't relish the idea of trying to camp out in the woods with the three of you."

A brilliant idea then struck Neptune. "Uh…you guys know that we're CPUs, right? We can just…fly…"

Vert made a nervous little laugh. "You…bring up a good point, Neptune."

Another epiphany came to Neptune. "I blame the writer for not remembering! Hah! Take that, fourth wall!"

Noire gave a chuckle of her own as she stopped in her tracks and turned to face the rest of the group. "Well, then. Shall we fly together?"

"No."

All eyes were on Blanc at this assertion. The word had been spoken quietly.

"Oh? It would certainly be kinder to our feet, wouldn't you agree?" remarked Vert.

"No," Blanc repeated. "We can't."

Noire took a step toward the Lowee CPU. "Wait – do you mean…"

"Why don't you try it for yourself and see?"

"Hmph. Maybe I will, then!"

A moment passed as Noire took a deep breath. Then, without warning, she was enveloped by a pillar of white light. By the time it receded, an entirely different person was in her place – she could be described as a white-haired angel, albeit one fitted with sufficiently advanced armor that served to defy physics. "Hah! Looks like it worked just fine."

Blanc's eyes were wide open, almost as if she had never witnessed this miracle countless times before. "It…looks like it did."

Black Heart raised a hand, flexing her metal-clad fingers with deliberate slowness. "Ah…I'd almost forgotten how good this form feels. It must really suck to be human." She floated over to Blanc, staring the earthbound girl down with a smirk. "Well? Do we have your permission to fly now?"

A nod. "Yes."

"Ah, good."

Neptune seemed more excited than ever. "Alright! Transform!"

The other goddesses followed suit with three more flashes of light, leaving behind their previous forms and becoming something far greater. They demonstrated their full glory as they took off from the ground in unison, a formation of heavenly beings soaring through the sky. Their conversation was limited, given the difficulty of hearing while moving at such speed, but they covered much more ground than would have been possible as humans.

Yet, even from this height, the massive sprawl of the land beneath them dwarfed their comprehension. Only a faint blue glow to the side revealed that there was any end to this plain. If one squinted, they could see that, yes, the outline of a metropolis with gleaming white towers was visible far ahead, but it took a great deal of patience to realize that, yes, it was in fact growing larger as they approached. Incredibly large, even. One could likely fit every capital of the world they knew inside this single city and have room to spare. How powerful, then, were the goddesses of this land, being granted the strength of the many people who must inhabit it?

The CPUs' flight ended as they landed some ways away from the entrance to the city and transformed back to their human selves, erring in favor of caution.

"It would seem that not all is the same here," said Vert, noting one particular skyscraper that covered part of the city like a giant table. "The Leanbox I know certainly does not have such an ugly structure lording over it."

The road they had landed near was a far cry from the dirt path that they had beat their feet upon before. This was a freeway wide enough to fit several lanes of traffic in both directions, but yet there was not a single vehicle in sight. Noire pointed this out, adding, "I'm starting to get a bad feeling about this."

Blanc immediately tensed up. "Don't you ever say that line!"

Neptune contributed with, "Yeah! You might trigger an event flag or something!"

Noire responded by becoming as defensive as usual. "Sheesh, sorry for voicing my thoughts."

As they approached, it became clear that the entrance to the city was far more reinforced than expected. While some of the cities of their own world were surrounded by walls, this took fortification to a whole new level. The area looked more akin to a military fort than anything, complete with tanks, turrets, and even a fearsomely tall mecha on standby.

"Okay!" called Noire. "Group meeting time! Let's huddle up and put our heads together!"

"You got it, coach!" replied Neptune.

Several minutes of observation and brainstorming passed. This city bore the name of Leanbox, but the similarities ended there. The buildings stretching high above the thick metal wall formed an impressive skyline of glittering glass and elevated highways with a sleek, modern design never found in the Leanbox they knew. If anything, it most closely resembled Planeptune, a place known for incorporating its love of technology into every aspect of its design and culture. Such excess was an eyesore to Vert, who had grown to love the quaint, romantic air of her homeland.

A more pressing concern was the fact that the party was completely in the open. From such a distance, the CPUs likely appeared as tiny dots on the horizon to any guards that may be posted, but there was still the question of whether they would be greeted with hostility or open arms. Could they dare to hope for a warm welcome when such a show of force was on display?

Their attention was drawn by a low rumble beneath their feet. At first, each one of them believed it to be their imagination, but as it increased in volume and power, it became impossible to ignore. They turned to see a crowd following the road in the distance. Slowly but surely, it drew closer…and the rumbling grew louder.

Then, Vert finally decided to broach the question. "Does anyone else hear…music?"

Indeed, the sounds of a cheery tune could be heard coming from the procession, carrying a sort of frolicking melody fit for dancing and merriment. It brought to mind tales and games of ages past, a time when the idea of traveling beyond one's hometown, let alone one's nation, was an unconscionable thought. Yet, underneath it all could be heard the ominous rumbling, creating a dissonant strain to clash against.

At the very front were several rows of knights in extravagant armor, adorned with tabards that matched the fluttering flags held high above in their hands. The emblem they bore was unknown to the goddesses, but it was unmistakably purple. A trio of words was present on each flag in an ancient script that Histoire had once forced each goddess to learn: Victorum, Unitas, Victoria.

Just behind these unarmed escorts was the main attraction of the festival – an enormous moving tower, wide enough to occupy every lane of the road it was slowly rolling down. The base beneath it was a vehicle, consisting of a platform with no less than twenty wheels, each tall enough to fit several people inside. The tower itself stretched far into the sky, rivaling those found within the city it now stared down. And, as with the emblems, its design was undoubtedly Planeptunian, looking as if it had been sculpted by the hands of an artist with an eye toward the stars.

The crowd trailing behind this must have numbered in the thousands, a train of revelers stretching to the horizon and beyond. How had they been overlooked during the goddess' flight? Those in the shadow of the tower looked to be bustling with excitement, many of them dancing and playing as they walked. Some entrepreneurial individuals were even selling refreshments as the procession moved ever forward.

Then, it stopped. A chain reaction occurred for miles down the road with the line coming to a sudden halt. The music faded away, as did the din of the crowd, leaving behind nothing but the wind. Moments passed, the knights solemn in their duty as they faced down an army of modern hardware with little more protection than a few inches of steel.

A voice called from above. "Victorum. Unitas. Victoria. These words you shall soon know well, denizens of Gamindustri."

The CPUs turned their attention to the speaker, their eyes settling upon a balcony jutting from the side of the tower. Beneath the blinding sun could be seen the silhouette of a wide-brimmed hat, akin to the sort that a classic depiction of a witch might wear.

"My heart hardened to mercy, I bear the onus of a new Union. Where four nations had once stood divided, now one nation must stand united. But before one can rise, one must fall. Of Leanbox, I ask: bend your knee, O Land of Green Pastures."

There was no response. Moments later, the march resumed with newfound haste. The tower rumbled forward with its horrible noise, appearing as if it intended to ram the city gate. No resistance was presented as it barreled straight through the middle of Leanbox's army. Any soldier, vehicle, or mecha in its path did its best to move aside, as if the tower's knights projected a field of force that no manmade invention could hope to stop.

As the knights drew closer, the gate to the city began to warp and bend, lifting away piece by piece as if picked apart by invisible hands, before vanishing into nothingness. The presence of matter was no obstacle to the strength of their belief – their march continued onward without even a hint of slowing down as they passed through what used to be an impenetrable barrier. Soon enough, the tower was inside the city, and its followers flowed in behind it much like an army storming a castle.

The goddesses had stood stunned as they watched this incredible display, but they were finally brought to their senses when Blanc exclaimed, "Now! This is our best chance to get inside!" They rushed over to join the crowd, managing to blend in with minimal fuss. Beneath the rumbling of the tower could be heard a variety of excitement.

"That was so cool! How much work did that trick take, I wonder?"

"I hope there's going to be food. I heard Leanbox likes its meals big and hearty!"

"All these youngsters disrespecting their Goddess with their rambling…"

"Who's that up on the Tower, anyway?"

This last question was also one among many for the goddesses. The voice of that speaker had been eerily familiar, but none of them could quite place it. Still, that was hardly the most pressing matter at hand when they could barely even understand what was taking place. Was this an invasion? A ceremony? An elaborate LARP event? All of the above?

And then, they stepped through the entrance. Lined up on either side of the road was another crowd in its own right, looking on with excitement and wonder in the shadows cast by the dense metropolis' constructions. Many of them even cheered as the tower rolled through. The city itself looked to have been built around this event – the road continued onward in a straight line, never being interrupted by a single building or any of the highways snaking overhead like the circuits of a massive motherboard. Truly, it was an achievement for municipal planning.

The parade entered a wide plaza minutes later. The road gave way to tiled stone, and the buildings gave way to LED-lined fountains and park benches on the outskirts of the clearing. That deafening rumbling ended as the tower came to a stop right in the middle. The knight escorts moved to encircle the tower, creating a ring of flags and steel. The members of the crowd moved to do much the same, leaving a wide berth between themselves and the knights.

After a great deal of shuffling about, the tower was again surrounded by eerie silence – not even the normal din expected of a city was present. The amount of people gathered in that plaza alone likely outnumbered the entire population of the Gamindustri the goddesses knew. A look up revealed even more citizens peering down from the glassy structures around the plaza, along with a variety of drones and blimps hovering overhead – cameras, perhaps?

A voice interrupted their thoughts, sweeping across the clearing with stark clarity. "The innocence of our world has been shattered. Our contract of peace, that which has guided our nations for countless generations, has been broken. Through Conquest, I render this godless land null.

"Of Leanbox, I asked: bend your knee, O Land of Green Pastures. To me, you answered with great pride: no. You were not willing to fall, so I have led you to fall. Through Conquest, I have bent your knee. At the mercy of a merciless Conqueror, you have reached your end.

"Yet, I forgive, not from mercy, but from need. In truth, our world has been shattered from its very inception – four nations, each separate, and each in pointless feud. We have now reached the inevitable conclusion of this struggle, one nation rising above all others. But even a strong nation can grow stronger.

"Of this land, I now ask: take my hand. This is the end of Leanbox, the nation. But it can also be the beginning of Leanbox, follower of the Goddess. With four nations joined as one, the dawn of a new golden age looms on the horizon. I ask: will you take my hand?"

A single person approached from the crowd, stepping out into the vast empty space between the knights and the onlookers. From where the goddesses stood, barely able to see over the shoulders of those around them, it was difficult to make out her appearance. At best, they could tell that she wore an ornate black and green dress, her face partly obscured by her flowing blonde hair.

Vert took in a sharp breath. "Is that…me?"

"Nahhhhh," replied Neptune. "She's not as large up…um…she's not as round around the…you know…"

"Would you like to complete that sentence, Neptune?"

Those words had been spoken with a smile, but the CPU of Planeptune knew from hard-won experience when to seal her lips.

The blonde stranger in the plaza crossed her arms, assuming a haughty posture. "Tell me, Oracle of the Goddess, who stands on high in her ivory Tower – what is Gamindustri to you, hm?"

One could practically feel the smirk on her face. A low murmur went through the crowd.

The Oracle didn't respond for a moment, leaning over to grasp the balcony's railing as if to get a better look at the source of this insolence. "Duchess of Leanbox, your land stands on the cusp of total destruction. A single whim from the Goddess would be enough to remove every trace of life upon this island. But such a whim will never come to pass, because Gamindustri would be no more – not a single hope would remain for healing this fractured world." The next words were spoken with a much more menacing edge. "Does this answer your question, Duchess?"

"No. I clearly asked what you believe Gamindustri to be. Instead, you have alluded to why your Goddess needs Leanbox. I applaud your ability to sidestep, though. You make an apt politician, yes?"

The muttering in the crowd was growing to an uncomfortable level.

"Very well." Just after that, one could barely hear, "We shall play your little game, Duchess of Leanbox. I am expecting this to be entertaining."

The silhouette on the balcony suddenly whipped off her hat with a flourish, tossing it aside like a Frisbee. It seemed to float down ever so slowly, traveling in increasingly wide circles around the tower as if caught in an inverted whirlpool.

"I got it! I got it!" Neptune shouted, forcing her way through the crowd. "I got—oof." Just before she would've jumped to catch the hat, she bumped right into someone who apparently had the same idea. Neptune gave a disappointed groan before motioning to pick herself up from the ground. A hand then appeared before her. She looked up to see that it belonged to the one who'd beaten her to the punch. "Yay. Lucky you," Neptune whined as she was helped to her feet.

Then, when she took another look at the red-headed stranger, the CPU exclaimed, "Nepu! Do I spy with my little eyes a person whose name begins with—" A finger was pressed to her lips, signaling silence. The maybe-stranger had a knowing smile on her face, which was the last thing Neptune saw of her before the woman vanished into the crowd, hat in tow.

Meanwhile, the Goddess' representative had perched herself atop the railing like an anti-hero ready to pounce on an unsuspecting thug. And pounce she did, overcoat billowing in the wind as she fell several stories down, the descent slowing just before she reached the ground to allow for a dramatic landing in front of the Duchess. Wasting no time, the Oracle stepped forward, speaking, "What is Gamindustri to me? It is but a world – one among countless others. And like so many others, it is a well of untapped potential. A vast array of possibilities stretch out in a weave with no certain end. Not even the heat death of the universe is an inevitable demise for a land capable of such change. After all, reality is a fragile concept when one's very perception can shape existence. Are you not in agreeance, Duchess of Leanbox?" She punctuated her words by reaching up to adjust her hat.

The Oracle's smirk had not budged in the slightest. "Ah. So you do know at least one magic trick. Going to pull a bunny out of it next, hm?"

"No doubt your wit is of great use as a statesman of a subjugated land, whose greatest achievement to date is finally having her staff realize that her predecessor was replaced. But of course, a politician such as yourself would prefer to sidestep the argument presented. If only sidestepping had been enough to prevent the fall of Leanbox."

That was enough to draw a few sounds of protest from the crowd.

Vert's lips pursed as she thought something over. "How odd. They did not object to the idea of Leanbox being conquered earlier, did they?"

The Duchess' smirk had very much fallen now, being replaced by a scowl. She unfolded her arms and took a step forward to put the two women within reach of one another. It seemed as if she was going to give a reply, but instead she stood there with her mouth open for a moment before changing her mind.

Nearly a minute passed as the two representatives remained silent, seeming to stare one another down. A closer look would reveal that their mouths were moving, but their words were inaudible. By now, the crowd was becoming rowdy. No one seemed to understand just what was happening, least of all the party of goddesses, who were beginning to wonder if they would need to intervene.

One man stepped forward from the crowd – another man tried to stop him by grasping at his shirt, but he was shoved away.

"Hey! Idiots! This isn't amateur hour at the opera house, you know! You're supposed to follow the scri—whoa!"

The man was thrown back by an unseen force before getting halfway across the gap. He was left lying on his back near the edge of the crowd, dazed and winded. Several people hurried forward to see to him, while even more began to protest this abrupt violence.

Then, a shout cut through the din. "I ask once more, people of Leanbox: will you take my hand?"

"Yes. We will."

The representatives' hands met in formal fashion with an audible clap. The world seemed to grow still once again as the sound echoed across the plaza with unnatural clarity. A rumbling became apparent, building in intensity over a period of several minutes. Many of those in the crowd looked alarmed, but some had apparently been anticipating this moment, as they reassured the others that this part, at least, was normal.

A look up revealed that, at the very top of the tower, a pure white light was increasing in brightness, soon growing to rival the noon sun.

And then, the sun fell.

A collective gasp went through the crowd as day became night in a single instant. Yet, the plaza remained brightly lit by the power resting in the tower's zenith, an unearthly pallor being cast upon the onlookers.

"Then it is with great honor that I, on behalf of the Goddess, declare this former land of Leanbox to be an official nation-state within the Union of Gamindustri."

The city flared to life, the thousands of lights placed throughout the metropolis now functioning as if this was any normal night. Leanbox filled itself with a neon green glow, leaving no doubt in anyone's mind about where in Gamindustri they might be.

A cheer went through the crowd – weakly at first, but soon growing in volume to reach a deafening level. Their cries were joined by music, a jovial tune similar to that which had guided them to the city. A variety of civil servants belatedly jumped to action, directing the sections of the crowd to various other areas within the city to be provided with catering, entertainment, and lodging. Soon, the plaza was nearly empty – beyond a few stragglers, the only beings left behind were the knights, who had remained unmoving throughout the entire ceremony and had yet to cease in their duty, the group of goddesses, and the two representatives.

"That was…an interesting experience," remarked Vert.

"To put it lightly," Blanc added.

"Nepu!" Neptune exclaimed. "Am I the only one wondering if someone ate the sun?!"

Noire replied with a sigh. "I doubt it was something so ridiculous. Still, I have to wonder what kind of magic can do something like that."

"Hmm…" Blanc raised a hand to her chin. "Time magic could. But it would need to be powerful enough to affect a large area." She turned her gaze upward, squinting at the glare from above. "That must be a share crystal on the tower. Logic would dictate that it belongs to whoever this 'Goddess' is."

"Ah. In that case, she must be brave to parade her share crystal around the countryside," said Vert. "In most games, such a thing would prove to be the target in a very irritating escort mission. Better to place it behind three sets of fully upgraded walls, yes?"

"So…a goddess of time, hm?" Noire mused. "And a strong one at that. Strong enough that she isn't afraid of enemies attacking her weak point while it's out in the open…or maybe strong enough that there aren't any enemies left to do that." A slight smile appeared on her face. "She sounds like my kind of rival."

Blanc turned her attention back to the CPUs around her, giving Noire a cautioning look. "She sounds dangerous."

"She sounds exactly like the kind of goddess who might take over Gamindustri by force," said Vert. "How uncouth."

"She sounds exactly like the kind of goddess who might need a hero that can solve things in half a minute!" Neptune shouted, arms raised over her head.

Vert placed a finger on her lips. "Sh sh sh! Your enthusiasm for gaming references is always appreciated, but, please, not so loud, Neptune!" She cleared her throat and lowered her hand. "Perhaps it would be wise to discuss our next move? It is safe to assume that this 'Goddess' would see us as competition, yes? And we have an inkling of what she does to competition, yes?"

Blanc nodded. "Vert has the right idea. We can't afford to attract attention." A moment passed while she eyed the remnants of the crowd in the plaza. "We should lay low for now until we can learn more about—" She was interrupted by a deep growl coming from her stomach. Some part of her was glad that her blush wasn't visible in the contrasting lighting.

A giggle came from Vert. "Ah. But perhaps our plans could wait until after joining in some festivities?"

"It wouldn't hurt."

"And off they now go, to wherever fate may take them."

"Who? Those girls, you mean?"

The Oracle nodded. "Of course. Who else would I be speaking of?"

"Oh, I don't know – maybe the thousands of other people gathered here, not to mention the thousands of people who were watching on national television?"

"Hm. I again must question your intent to, as they say, 'go off-script.' Ah – but perhaps your memory is simply failing you once again? In such an event, I must commend your ability to improvise."

"I remembered it perfectly well, thank you."

"So it was by one's own decision, then? You are well aware that the thousands of those who view this event must be harvested efficiently. The Goddess will not be pleased to find her share from Leanbox to be less than the expected amount."

The Duchess waved a hand dismissively. "Pssh. If the Goddess has a problem, she can come down here and say it to my face for once. I tire of receiving text messages with veiled threats. She keeps me up at night, she does." She raised a finger, a thoughtful expression appearing on her face. "That was not innuendo. No need to add 'blasphemy' to the list of offenses, yes?"

A tiny smirk formed on the Oracle's lips. "It is never ceasing to amuse me how alike you are to your predecessor. It was by no small miracle that you were appointed the title of Duchess."

"As you've said many, many times, yes, yes." The Duchess shook her head, allowing her irritated tone to cool away. "Bad enough that everyone keeps calling me 'Hakozaki' by accident. I barely even met the woman before she was carted off, you know! It's not like she rubbed off on me or anything!" A pause. "And, again, that was not innuendo!"

"No one was implying anything of the sort." The Oracle's smirk fell. "But we digress, as our conversations are always wont to do."

"You are implying that it is my fault, yes?"

The Oracle stared at her companion for a moment before turning her attention to a quartet of silhouettes in the distance. "You will be meeting them soon enough."

"The girls?"

Another stare.

The Duchess forced down a swallow, suddenly feeling as if her throat was uncomfortably tight. "Right. Of course. Shall I have them fetched to the Basilicom?"

"No. Their fates may be of looser weave than many, but they must converge at preordained points. It is inevitable."

The Duchess felt a hundred questions spring to mind, but her lips remained sealed. She knew better than to pester this woman about "fate" by now. The answers always just created more questions, anyway. Her talks with the Oracle tended to remind her of that time she'd stayed up an entire night browsing the archives' collection of works on quantum entanglement, only to end up with a blistering headache.

She looked to the Oracle to follow her gaze, but whatever she had been eying seemed to be gone. So should I be preparing a feast or a defense grid? She turned back to the Oracle, only to find that the woman had vanished without a trace. A sigh escaped the Duchess' lips as she began the walk home, paying little mind to the suited shadows that followed her movements. And they wonder what drives me so insane.

Acknowledging the illness is the first step to curing it.

She stopped in her tracks, giving a few surprised blinks. A quick look around revealed nothing out of the ordinary in the green-on-white glow of the streetlights. She chuckled to herself before continuing on. Maybe there'll be two leaders of Leanbox in the loony bin soon…