"Come on, Nowa! Catch me if you caaaaan!"

"Hold…hold on, Neptune!" A sigh followed as Noire stopped in her tracks, allowing the hyperactive CPU of Planeptune to race ahead without her. "Good grief. It's not as if I'm here to play tag with her."

But yet, that was almost exactly why she was here in the midst of a merry crowd. Whether one sought a silly activity to enjoy with friends, a stomach-dropping ride sure to bring forth the adrenaline, or even just a relaxing soak in the lake, there was no end of potential entertainment in sight. And, of course, no celebration in the city of Leanbox would be complete without its world-renowned catering – creations made for those who sought to delight their taste buds with no heeding of the consequences that devouring these unhealthy treats could bring. Such delicacies were uncommon, if not outright banned, in many other places of the world, bringing forth many connoisseurs who wished to sate their desire for gluttony. All of this was held beneath the watchful gaze of the Tower, visible high above all else within the city.

Upon the suggestion of none other than Blanc, the CPUs had decided to take a much-needed break by revisiting the Festival that had previously denied them. Yet, entry to the wide open fairgrounds had been trivial now they were paying customers. Where Blanc had managed to acquire enough funds to cover all of their expenses, Noire had no idea. The regal goddess of Lastation was just glad that she wouldn't ever have to resort to dumpster diving – her mind instantly jumped away to something else whenever she went down that train of thought.

Already, several fruitless days – or rather, twenty-four-hour periods in an endless night – of hunting for a lead had managed to pass by. It turned out that solving a mystery where one was not even aware of what the mystery was did not lend itself to being wrapped up easily. All they knew was that trouble was brewing somewhere, somehow – and that the responsibility of handling it fell solely upon their tiny shoulders. Why had they come so unprepared? They hadn't even bothered to discuss a way to get home, had they? As always, they had leapt headfirst into danger without even thinking of a plan.

Why do we let Neptune drag us around?

The Neptune in question was already out of sight, having raced around the exterior of an indoor attraction that had caught their eye. Giving another sigh, Noire began to put one foot in front of another, certain that they'd bump into each other again by the decree of some goddess of fate who was no doubt having a good laugh. When Noire turned the corner, she was surprised to see that the entrance to the attraction was visible – almost every other place in the park was covered in long lines of people waiting for their turn to have fun. Neptune was nowhere to be found, likely already having entered. In fact, it seemed that Noire was the only person present as she stepped up to the doorway of the building, its walls covered in the same white, smooth metal as the Tower overlooking the city. The doors slid open to either side as she approached, allowing entry with little fuss.

And then they shut behind her, leaving her in total darkness.

Before Noire's eyes could attempt to adjust, a soft, violet-tinged hue faded into view. A moment of hesitation passed before Noire continued onward, noting the dim LEDs lining the corners of the hallway that seemed to endlessly stretch before her. Her arms flailed to either side when the floor suddenly began to move beneath her feet. When she managed to regain her balance, she realized that she was standing on some kind of conveyor belt, slowly carrying her forward of its own accord.

"I bid you welcome, denizen of Leanbox," came a female voice, echoing through the hallway.

Noire nearly jumped out of her skin as she searched for the source of the sound. Her panic only intensified when she realized that the entrance was no longer visible behind her, now being obscured by what may as well have been an empty abyss much like that in front. She had never thought of herself as claustrophobic, but the idea of those walls pressing in on either side was not a pleasant one.

"You have entered the Hall of the Goddess. Please relax and enjoy the ride. We sincerely hope that you will find it informative as a subject within the Goddess' domain. Your continued devotion is appreciated!"

The CPU pressed a hand to her chest and let out a breathy, nervous chuckle as she felt her pounding heart begin to slow to its normal pace. "Of course. It's just a prerecorded message."

Several seconds passed before an image became visible in the distance, slowly rendering into existence as if transitioning between slides in a digital presentation. The picture was large enough to fill the width and height of the hall ahead, but it was difficult to make out from such a distance.

"Long, long ago, the world was split into four lands – Planeptune, Lastation, Lowee, and Leanbox. Together, these lands were known simply as Gamindustri."

Now that Noire had drawn closer, she could discern that the picture was in fact a map of what must've been this dimension's Gamindustri, with each of the nations labelled and highlighted in their respective colors. Strangely, the depiction was flat, as if there was nothing beneath the surface of the ground.

Noire's frayed nerves finally managed to calm themselves as a slight smile formed on her face. Her fear was replaced with a warm sense of accomplishment. "Well. This is helpful. Maybe I can finally learn something worthwhile here."

The fuzzy, holographic image continued to draw closer, and Noire wondered if she would collide with it until it faded out of existence just as she came with arm's reach. Seconds later, a different image was projected in the distance in a manner similar to the first.

"Gamindustri was not a happy world – far from it, in fact," continued the disembodied guide. "Each of the four lands was ruled by a false goddess. These Decadent Devils competed against one another, putting their own interests ahead of those of their followers. They led their nations to one war after another, causing countless tragedies."

A romanticized, bloodless depiction of a massive battle upon a field could be seen. The sky was darkened by ominous clouds, nearly obscuring the hundreds of arrows and boulders flying through the air. Noire's eyes went wide at the scale on display – the number of participants shown was likely enough to fill an entire city of her own world. She could hardly even begin to fathom what such an event must've been like. The weapons and tactics in use were so primitive as to be laughable – and alien. Swords and shields? Suits of gleaming metal armor? Catapults? Just how long ago was this?

"Years passed. Eventually, the world found itself on the brink, and yet the false goddesses, too lost in their vain and petty desires, continued to ignore the desperate pleas of their followers."

The second image had faded, being replaced by another ahead. This new picture showed some kind of protest or riot, an enormous crowd swarming around a tower that was suspiciously similar to the one now sitting in the middle of Leanbox City. At the top of tower was a dark cloud from which cartoonish bolts of lightning struck out at the humans below. The background was equally dire, showing a series of lifeless hills covered in blackened, war-torn dirt.

"And then, just when the world was facing its end…She was born."

Another image. This one was similar to the previous. Now, however, the dark cloud had vanished, and the tower seemed to have shrunk considerably. Filling much of the background was the pure white silhouette of a person.

"Our Goddess was birthed into being to answer the prayers that had been directed so wrongly at the false goddesses. But our Goddess was merciful, all the same. With Her divine power, She cast the sinful leaders of the world into oblivion so that they would never harm anyone ever again."

The next image was quite horrifying – four screaming, monstrous beings fell backward into a blank background. Their skin consisted of a mottled mix of scales and strange growths that may as well have been barnacles. Upon each of their heads sat a set of various horns that seemed to have formed completely at random. Their hands and feet ended in vicious claws, and their mouths were filled with an absurd number of needle-like teeth. Yet, despite their inhuman visages, it was clear that their faces were locked into pure terror.

Something was beginning to nag at Noire as she waited for the next slide. That voice was starting to sound more and more familiar…

Hmph! It's…it's not like I was doing it because you're my friend or anything!

Noire's brow raised at the oddness of her own thought – why had the voice of her sister Uni suddenly entered her mind?

"Our Goddess then set upon the difficult task of righting the wrongs that had been done to the world. But, of course, even that which seems impossible is not too much for our Goddess. That which had been destroyed, split asunder, and rendered ruined was created anew. And so the world rejoiced."

Wait…is that…

The realization dawning upon Noire matched the image ahead, which was showing a sunrise gleaming upon hills that were now verdant with life. The center of the sun was positioned to sit just at the apex of the tower, from which golden rays were spilling in a rather dramatic fashion.

"Our Goddess made only a single request in return for Her kindness – the love and devotion of those within Her domain, which encompasses our entire world. No false goddesses would be tolerated, and no pointless conflict would be abided. What purpose was there, then, in dividing the world with human concepts? Soon, the four disparate lands of Gamindustri were united into one – the Union of Gamindustri."

Another map was displayed, this one being revised to show Gamindustri as a singular land shaded in solid purple. Yet, Noire's eyes barely noticed, her thoughts turned elsewhere. "Where have I heard that voice?" She kept repeating the question in her own head, wracking her memory for any clue.

"And so the Goddess smiled."

The hallway was then filled with a sudden light, forcing Noire to squint. Through the glaring brightness, the CPU could make out the shape of a young, delicate woman in the distance. Upon her frame sat a flowing white dress, the voluminous sleeves covering her outstretched arms. Her hair was the color of lilac, her gentle eyes much the same. If one was to pose the question of what a goddess should look like, this depiction would answer it quickly and definitively.

Some time passed, but no other messages were given. That blinding image of the "Goddess" seemed to hang in the air ahead without growing any larger – either it was quite some distance away, or it was being moved backward at the same rate as the conveyor. Just as Noire's eyes were growing used to the light, she felt the floor beneath her stop, nearly causing her to fall. She stepped forward with unsteady legs, now feeling far more dazed and confused than she had at the entrance of the hallway.

It then occurred to her as she tentatively moved onward that she had crossed quite a distance. How was this building so large? She certainly hadn't seen a hall stretching across the fairgrounds earlier. And there was no exit in sight. How would she get out?

Neptune? Where did you go?

Noire closed her eyes momentarily to give them a break from staring at the glowing radiance of the Goddess ahead. She raised a hand to rub her forehead, which was beginning to ache with that all-too-familiar sensation of stress.

When she opened her eyes, she gave a double-take. And then a triple-take. Gone was the space-defying hallway. She found herself standing just inside a cavernous room of gray stone, complete with such extravagant decorations that there was no mistaking the importance of this place. Yet, her vision was focused not on the two sets of unoccupied pews lining the floor ahead, nor the glittering chandelier of glass hanging from high above. Her eyes were guided by the royal purple carpet running through the center of the room, meeting a set of stairs that led to an empty throne much like that a CPU would address her subjects from. On either side of the throne sat a pair of pewter candelabras, their candles breathing a heady scent into the air of the room that served to cleanse the mind of imperfect thoughts. Following the wisps of smoking incense upward, one's attention would be captured by the incandescence flowing through the window at the back of the room. There, depicted in a beautiful stained glass display, was the larger-than-life image of that being known as the Goddess. Her warm smile was all that was needed to remove the chill that should be present in such a vast chamber.

But just who would sit upon this throne under the watchful eye of their Goddess?

"Oh, hiya Nowa! Isn't this place the coolest?! It's like it's all set up just to tell people how awesome my little sis is!"

"Nepgear," Noire muttered to herself. "How long have you had this world all to yourself, I wonder?"

A whiny groan came from the side. "Aw, come on, Nowaru! Are you really gonna just give me the cold shoulder like that?"

Noire continued to stare at the visage of the Goddess ahead before finally blinking, her eyes having begun to water. She slowly turned her head to face Neptune. "Do you think she's lonely?"

"Huh?" Neptune's brows curved in obvious confusion.

Noire gave a quiet sigh, closing her eyes for a moment. "Nevermind."

"Okeydokey! If you say so, Noire."

"My, my," came a soft voice. "How rare it is to have two visitors at once."

The CPUs both jumped at the same time when a figure seemed to materialize from just out of their sight to stand right next to them.

Noire took a step away, her hand instinctively moving to her side as if to grip a sword that wasn't there. She corrected her foible by instead planting her hand on her hip, narrowing her eyes to complete the ensemble. The CPU's vision scrambled to assess this new potential threat, making out the shape of a woman whose form was completely covered by a featureless gray robe. Her face was obscured by the garment's hood, but the stooping arch in her back made her age readily apparent. "Who are you?"

The woman lifted her head, revealing a face that was so stunningly smooth and perfect as to seem unnatural. Her smile appeared genuine, though the dullness of her colorless eyes did little to put one at ease. The strands of hair spilling from the edge of her hood were equally lacking in saturation. "I am but a humble keeper for this most holy Hall. It is my sacred duty to guide those lacking in knowledge of the Goddess' will so that they may learn of Her kindness." She gave a slight bow. "Please, if you have any questions, do feel free to ask."

Part of Noire's mind was giving a sly smile while muttering "Jackpot," but every other fiber of her being was on edge. Of course, before she could form her first question (of which she had at least several hundred), she was interrupted by Neptune, who said rather loudly, "So where is ol' Gear, anyway? I wanna find her and give her a biiiiig hug for putting all of this together while her big sis is away!"

The keeper's smile fell, seemingly plunging the temperature of the room several degrees. "You will not speak of our Goddess in such close terms. No blasphemy of any sort will be abided within the Goddess' domain." Her eyes narrowed when she gave a quick glance downward. "But perhaps you are in more need of guidance than first thought." A deflating sigh came from her as she shook her head in an obvious sign of disapproval. "My, my. Surely you realize that to wear indecent garments invites indecent thoughts? And to do so in this sacred place…" She shook her head again. "Shameful. Shameful, indeed."

"'Indecent garments?'" Noire echoed. Her nose creased for a moment as she rose her arms to cross them. The urge to argue against that slight on her appearance was difficult to resist, but the smarter side of her decided that to start an argument would run counter to her goals.

Perhaps the CPU of Lastation should begin with the most important question before her fuse grows any shorter, hm?

Noire breathed out through her nose to let the indignation flow away. "So…who is this 'Goddess,' anyway?"

Their impromptu tour guide seemed to freeze up, and for a moment, Noire wondered if she had committed a terrible offense. Then, the keeper's lips curved into a smile. "Such a question cannot be answered in mere words."

"Ohhhh?" Neptune began with a raised brow. "Can it be answered in sign language? Maybe with an interpretive dance? Oh! I know!" She made a little excited hop. "It's told in smell-o-vision!"

The keeper's smile remained as she gave a muted chuckle. "The enthusiasm in your heart shall serve you well, but I am afraid that impatience will undoubtedly have the opposite effect. Setting upon the path to knowledge is a life-long journey, you see." She waited for Neptune's bounciness to fade before continuing. "You have both already taken the first step by setting foot within this Hall. Perhaps I can best guide you further along the path by asking a question of my own?"

The corners of Noire's mouth remained set into a slight frown as she nodded. "Go ahead. But I can't promise that every question you could ask will be answered."

"And neither I nor the Goddess Herself would expect as much, seducer of Lastation." The keeper must've noticed the obvious surprise on the CPUs' faces as she posed her question: "Why have you now returned to the Goddess' domain?"