Neptune and I have walked about half the way to the Basilicom already when I realize something:
"Uh, Neptune... One of my friends from my world is... well 'here'... and he ran off to escape the city..."
"Huh, so what? He's gonna come back, won't he?"
"That is, if he can orientate himself..."
"Come on, the Nep-Tower is visible from Leanbox. He will find back here."
"Oh, you don't know Jonny–"

I stop in the midst of my sentence as I see a figure stumbling out of the building...
That figure is Jonny with the still unconscious Histoire on his back.

Well, so much for that.

Jonny looks around and spots me. As he begins to walk, I motion him to stop.
Instead, we walk over to him.
"It took you this long to escape the building?" I question.
"Have you seen how tall this thing is?!" He responds panting.
"Have you seen the elevator."
"... Nope."

A collective facepalm ensues.
When Jonny lowers his hand, he realizes that another person is there.
"Who's that? Haven't seen her leave with you."
"I am Neptune, the most awesome protagonist you can imagine!"
Jonny responds with a confused look before actually introducing himself.
"Okay then... I am Jonny. Some dude who has no idea what is going on here."

Fairly accurate, I would say...

Histoire is shifting a little... Is she waking up?
"Urgh... What– NEPTUNE?!" Yep. She woke up.
"Histy! I missed ya, too!"
"You really returned! What a relief... Jonny, you may let go of me now."
"Uh, right..."

The tome then continues floating on her own.
Neptune enthusiastically speaks up. "Surely a lot of stuff has happened since I mysteriously disappeared! How 'bout we talk about that first and then I plan my epic reappearance?"
"Of course... Uh, actually, would you fill me in what happened while I was unconscious?" Histoire responds.
"Let's at least use the elevator and get back into the Basilicom..." I suggest, mocking my friends who pouts in response.

"Gotcha."
We just have finished our explanation and Neptune... understood everything?
"Guess I gotta tell ya my side of the story."
"Go ahead."

"What was the kidnappers name again?" I question once Neptune is done with her explanation.
She skipped all the names and it seemed a little too familiar to me.
"Uh... Eggman or something."
"Is the blue dude's name Sonic by chance?" Jonny asks.
"Yep, that was it."
"..." Jonny and I have nothing left to say.

The CPU and Histoire seem to be a little confused by both the fact that we guessed the name correctly and that we were now silent.
"What is it?" The Oracle worriedly asks.
"Basically the same thing reason because of which I was stumped when Neptune flew into my room." I explain.
"You know, now that you mention it... Didn't I play one of those games when I was stuck there?" Neptune realizes.

Yep, she did. TBW, Chapter 5. She played Sonic Lost Worlds.
I don't say that out loud though, instead I simply nod.

"She's not the brightest candle, is she?" My friend points out.
"Ouch, that was mean... Then again, you're probably right." The CPU deadpans.

Histoire clears her throat. "Anyhow... where is Nepgear? Shouldn't she have returned by now?"
"I highly doubt that something happened to her. It'd be real lame if somebody was kidnapped so quickly again." Neptune says calmly.

"I wouldn't. I mean, she's always with DP–"
I smack Jonny on the back on his head for that comment.
"It was a joke!" He complains.

*SLAM*

Speak of the devil.
After madly slamming the door open, Nepgear walks up to me, grab me by my arm and drags me off, not looking at anybody else as she does.
This whole situation seems weird to everybody, including me.

Before we turn the corner, I can make out that my sister, Nepgeo and Linda have also returned.
...And my sister does the same with Jonny as Nepgear with me...

What the hell is going on?

Anyways, she drags me all the way into her room and throws (yes, throws) me onto her bed.
Getting out of the uncomfortable position I landed in, I sit down on the edge of the bed.
"Nepgear, what is up? You don't seem... happy, I guess?"
The girl closes the door.
"Uh, sorry... I am just a little... *sigh*"
She sits down next to me and covers her face with her hands.
"I overreacted a little back there, huh?"
"By dragging me off, or by yelling at your sister?" I snicker.
"I meant the latter, though probably both cases." She sighs...
"I talked with your sister about it, she's fine. She even promised to do her work more diligently."
"Do you really think she's gonna change in that regard?"
"Honestly... No."

It it just then, that the door to the room slowly creaks open to reveal Neptune, not looking all too happy.
"Histy told me, I lost my title as the CPU of this nation while I was gone... And it's you now."
"It were almost three weeks, people thought you were dead and... honestly, I have done the work better than you did, right." Her sister reasons.
"Not to dishearten you but... she's right about that." I agree.
"Yeah, Histy told me. Like I said. I feel like it's probably better this way anyways."

The shorter girl stretches and shows a peace-sign.
"Enough with the moody talk, I am back in business!"
"If you're like that, ask Histy about the work that is left to be done." Nepgear suggests
"Got it!"
And off she goes...

"Was she abducted by aliens, too?" I deadpan.
"...You can talk well to people, you know that?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"You got Neptune, to do work. By talking to her."
I say nothing else in response.

*Meanwhile, in another Gamindustri, different from ours...*

A girl trots down the streets on rainy day, all alone. Her hood is barely enough to cover her from the rain, yet her tears are clearly visible.
People are sparse and don't seem to recognize the person walking among them.
"The evil is defeated... but it doesn't feel like I truly won..."

"You've met a terrible fate, haven't you?" An old guy suddenly talks to the girl.
She jumps a little before turning to face the man. "Well... yes, I did..."
"I feel like I could help you."
"You think so? I highly doubt it... There is more to it than I would tell anybody..."
"Oh, trust me, will ya? Tryin' won't hurt."

A/N

Not only short but also extremely delayed...
Why? I started work on a fan-game. I am gonna leave it at that as there are mostly just drafts yet.
Also, Mugen Souls. That game is freaking weird. And some MMORPG. And school.
Yeah, I am busy. Bare with it.