Friends...

Family...

Innocence...

These were the cost of peace, the cost of freedom, the cost of power needed to slay the evil that haunted the world in the shadows. Was it worth it in the end? There was peace depending on who you asked.

'Did I make the right choice? Was there any other way?' She thought as she glanced down at her hands which were shaking a bit. Nepgear could not help but have these thoughts every day since she took down the Deity of Sin several years ago. Since then she had done her best to hold Gamindustri together. It did not help that three years later a group tried to get everyone to overthrow her saying they did not need CPUs anymore.

At first she tried to meet with them peacefully and explain the need for a CPU but they refused to listen to the danger the monster still held or how the protected CPUs gave the counties they over saw. Finally she had enough and had them arrested for treason despite how upset that made some of her friends. To make matters worse a few years later another CPU showed up and tried to wreck the place and ended up adding an eighth soul to her cursed blade.

What was worse, one by one her friends left her. The other Oracles since she killed their CPUs and Candidates, sure they would discuss business but that was it. Though Mina and Chika barely returned her calls usually forcing her to have to use Kei as a medium to get any work done with them. IF stopped dropping by about a year ago dedicating her time to the guild, as did Compa though it was to her nursing duties. Red stopped coming by two years before them, though to be honest She was not sure whether to be happy or sad about that one.

Falcom stopped after she found out the truth and Tekken remained her sparring partner for a bit but she too eventually left her. 5pb was almost constantly on tour now and did not seem to have time for her with Cave as her bodyguard. Broccoli utterly refused to even come near Planeptune and MAGES. just said she had to continue to search for Doc P.

Now the only one who will talk to her is Historie, but even that feels strained at times due to several of the decisions she had made. Coupled all this with the running of four countries and Nepgear was not feeling good, she had not been getting a full night's sleep in goddess knows how long. To make matters worse, uprisings started. At first it was just unrest at having all the nation's under her rule but everything seemed fine. But now it was an all out revolution against her and Planeptune. It started in the former Leanbox but had spread to Lowee and threatened to reach Lastation. This forced her to start imposing harsher regulations and laws to try and stop the insurgents and for now all has been quiet in Planeptune.

Nepgear found herself rubbing her eyes as she fought off sleep while looking over the days documents. 'Another request to end the anti-insurgent regulation' She thought as she lead through the report as her eyes kept trying to close before she shook her head and tried to focus on her work. 'The only reason we have peace from them is because of those laws.'

Suddenly the door to her office opened. A small fairy came floating in a book with two large piles of paperwork. "I am sorry Nepgear but these just came in for you." Historie said as she set the piles down on the desk

She just smiled at her Oracle and waved it off. "It's fine Historie, I should have expected work to increase due to the insurgents. I'do my best to have most of it done by this evening." She replied as she turned her attention back to her work, not realizing that Historie was still in the room.

"Nepgear, I think you should take a break this evening." She stated simply and plainly. "You have been pushing yourself a lot these past few days, not to mention the lack of sleep and quests you have been taking."

Nepgear paused her work and glanced up at one of her last remaining friends. "But if I don't get this done in time won't it be bad for the people of Gamindustri?" She countered.

"Not as bad as a CPU who can hardly remain awake. How many all nighters have you pulled the last few weeks?" Historie asked sternly.

Nepgear stared back at her for a bit before sighing. "Ok Historie you win, I will take a break tonight." She relented as she closed her eyes.

Historie nodded and turned around, making her way out of the office. Just as she was about to leave, Nepgear spoke up.

"Historie, thank you for looking out for me." She said with a smile before she turned her attention back to work.

Historie nodded "Any time Nepgear, just try to take better care of yourself." She said and left the room, she paused briefly outside the door and closed her eyes tightly before dashing off to finish her work.

That evening Nepgear kept her word and went to bed early. Her sleep however was not to last as loud noise and faint orange lights seeped in through her window.

Slowly she stood up and opened up her curtain to see what was going on outside, what she saw shocked her. Around the tower and in the city was what appeared to be an angry mob running rampant.

"W-w-what?! Why is this happening? Did the insurgents make it to Planeptune?" She thought as she quickly got dressed and grabbed Gehaburn before making her way to the living room on the way to the balcony. Just as she entered she felt several sharp pains in her arms, legs and chest before being thrown against the wall by a sound wave.

'Are they already in the Basillicom?' Nepgear thought as she looked up at her attackers only to gasp in shock at the group of people surrounding her. Her body trembled as she tried to comprehend the sight before her while she looked at the people attacking her.

"IF...Red...Tekken...MAGES...Cave...Kei..Mina...Chika...Broccoli...Falcom...Compa...CyberConnect2...5pb...MarvelousAQL..."

Seeing all of her friends and comrades attacking her l like this Nepgear could feel what little was left of her heart breaking. But nothing was worse than the last person she saw among the group. "...Historie... why?..." Nepgear said finally able to find her voice as tears fell down her face.

To her credit Historie did at least seem sad at the situation. "I am sorry Nepgear... but this is for the sake of Gamindustri and yourself." She said in a tone that betrayed how upset she was. "I know you and Neptune could not find another way but the fact cannot be denied that you killed your fellow CPUs and Candidates and it has been affecting your role as Goddess and the citizens in a negative way. The laws and regulations you have been passing have been doing more harm than good... I am very sorry... I hope you can forgive me for this but it is time for you to rest." She said and lowered her head slightly. "I hope you can forgive me."

Nepgear's former friends and allies readied their weapons, though 5pb and Compa closed their eyes unable to watch.

'Why?! After all I have done for them?!.. All I have sacrificed for them?!' Nepgear thought as things seemed to slow down around her, anger and rage boiling up inside of her like a volcano about to explode. 'WhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhyWHY!?' In a flash of light Nepgear entered her HHD form and blasted a hole in the wall behind her and, as her former allies were blinded by the light and dust, she flew off. However soon she had to land as her power ran out faster than expected and she had to run on foot as raised voices around her shouted at her along with the sound of gunfire and some sharp pain as she felt several small objects rip through her body.

'Don't stop... keep going...' She thought as she kept pushing her body forward using her remaining power to heal herself as she ran from numerous attackers.

Nepgear did not know how long she walked. Hours..days..weeks? Her mind was too out of focus still trying to comprehend what had just happened to her. "My friends just tried to kill me... my nation no longer wants me as their CPU...I have nothing left..." she thought out loud as she wandered aimlessly

But when her mind finally came back into focus she glanced in shock, The Gamindustri Graveyard. She had ended up back in this accused place.

"Sooo the mighty Goddess struck down by her followers, returns to the land of the dead." An unknown voice said in a playful manner.

Nepgear glanced around her as she drew Gehaburn out to defend herself. "Where are you? Show yourself!" She called out.

Several feet in front of her the air cracked as if it were glass before shattering, revealing a man dressed in what could only be described as classic stage magician attire with a cane in one hand and a large purple gem in the other.

His skin was pale white like a vampires and his eyes were cyan blue. His top hat covered what seemed to be combed back brown hair. The man just smiled at her and took a deep bow before standing up.

"You may call me Caster, the former monster and magic specialist of ASIC. Though we parted ways a year or so into your captivity." The man said introducing himself.

Nepgear took a step back. 'Just my luck, I just had to run into the remnants of ASIC.' She thought as she kept an eye on Caster. "What are you doing here?" She asked hoping to bide some time in her weakened state.

Caster just smiled at her and started twirling his cane. "Oh, I have been away awhile and just got back, figured I would gather a few things I had to leave behind when I left. Plus with all the negativity towards you going on I ran into a mutual friend who started reviving ahead of schedule." He replied holding up the glowing gem.

Nepgear's eyes widen in shock and terror. "Arfoire?!" She asked her voice barely a whisper as she stared at the object.

Caster nodded as he glanced at the gem. "Though not at full power yet she will be soon if nothing is done. But I have slowed that down by putting her in this, while it will let her body fully form it will also delay her return and give us, or rather you time to decide."

Nepgear blinked at him in confusion. "To decide what exactly! I don't want her to return and destroy everything!" She yelled back as she readied her blade.

"Then you have a choice before you Lady Nepgear. Find a way to spend the rest of your days fighting Arfoire and nothing else to stop her returning every time faith in the CPUs is lost." He replied and waited a moment to let the weight of that fate sink in.

Nepgear's eyes widened and she lowered her blade. 'If I had Shares then I could do it but if everyone turned against me, I could die in a month or two.' She thought before she turned her attention back to Caster. "What's the second option?"

Caster smiled at her as he held up an odd looking long sword, its hilt had several wires going into the base of the blade with a variety runes etched into the side blade as well. "Fuse this blade with Gehaburn to absorb her and become the Deity of Sin yourself." He answered with a smile. "This blade can absorb the power of a monster but nowhere near The Deity Of Sin's level, however Gehaburn can. But it is only meant to absorb CPUs, combine the two and you will become the new Deity Of Sin."

Nepgear looked at him in shock and terror. "B-but won't I be possessed then try to destroy Gamindustri!" She replied.

Caster just shook his head. "That's not how your new blade will work. Plus The Deity Of Sin while a being of destruction, above all else is a being of desire. Its power will be driven by your desire be it for good or ill." He answered her calmly to alleviate her fear. "In the end the choice is yours to make, do you save them permanently or temporarily?"

Nepgear closed her eyes and took several deep breaths as she thought through both options before finally speaking up. "I'll do it, after all with what's been sacrificed for Gamindustri already I can't just let it be destroyed." She answered. 'Plus what's one more sacrifice on my part, I can consider this my last act as a CPU at least.'

Caster nodded and slowly walked toward her holding the blade out chanting something. Soon both it and Gehaburn started to glow and as both of them met there was a flash of light. Once the light vanished, Nepgear looked at the sword in her hands along Gehaburn's blade were several glowing Runes while the guard had turned metallic gold.

"It is done, once you are ready to stab the crystal and it should be over. Though I do not know for sure what will happen afterwards besides from you becoming the new Deity Of Sin." He explained as he set the gem down.

She nodded and took a deep breath before stabbing her blade through the gem, the mist inside was sucked in Gehaburn and she could feel a massive amount of energy pour into her before she blacked out.

When she came to, she found herself staring up at a blank ceiling. Glancing around she found herself laying on a small cot in what seemed to be a sparcly decorated bed room of sorts. On one side of the room was a plain door. On another a desk with a computer and the final wall a dresser and stand up mirror

As she moved to sit up she realized her body ached and her limbs felt incredibly stiff. Slowly but surely she stood up. Noticing something in the mirror she started to make her way over to it. As she got near she felt for sure something was off about her appearance but it wasn't until she was right in front of it that she realized what it was. While she looked mostly the same her hair was more lavender then pink and her skin a little paler than it used to be. Her eyes were still purple but they seemed to be a brighter shade of purple now, almost glowing now that she thought about it. Other than that she was still wearing the same clothes she had been when she passed out.

"I guess this is one of those after effects." She muttered and looked around the room. She noticed Gehaburn resting next to the bed and went to pick it up. As she touched it she noticed a difference. "It feels like it did when we first found it, empty..." She muttered and then her eyes widened and she put her hand over her heart.

"They're in me now aren't they?" She muttered with a said smile as some tears formed in her eyes. "When I absorbed Arfoire I absorbed them as well."

"Indeed that does seem to be the case, I probably should have expected that but I figured they would have been fully ingrained in sword at this point." The voice of Caster called out.

Nepgear turned to her left and saw the door in the room was now open with Caster standing there carrying two tray of food." Plus side, you now have the power of Nine CPUs and the Deity Of Sin, also your friends are always with you I suppose, in a truer sense now." He added as he walked over to the bed and set the tray down. "I would eat, you were unconscious for almost two weeks."

Nepgear's eyes widened but she nodded and made her way over to the tray and slowly started to eat the food. "How did you know I was up?" She asked after a few moments.

Caster smiled at her. "I didn't, it's morning, and I would eat in here just in case you woke up and were hungry." He answered plainly. "Same with lunch and dinner but when you don't wake up after twenty or so minutes I just go ahead and eat on my own."

Nepgear just nodded and ate in relative silence, taking a brief moment to drink some water that he had also brought.

"I suppose I should tell you now, as of a few days ago there are four new CPUs." Caster said as watched her reaction.

Nepgear leaned back on the bed and looked down, closing her eyes. "I suppose that makes sense, I am technically not a CPU anymore so they would need ones." She replied her eyes started to water. 'Just another indication that I cannot return home.'

Caster nodded and leaned back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling. "Well then from how I see it you have three options you could take." He said as he waved his hand and three numbered boxes appeared.

"The first option is to just live your life on the outskirts, maybe start a farm, slay monsters, just hang out or something, try to interact with as few people as possible." He offered his first suggestion.

Nepgear nodded at his suggestion indicating her interest. "I guess that could work but it seems kinda lonely and boring, what are the other two?" She asked.

"Option two. You leave this dimension for another one, maybe take up a new identity, maybe not, maybe settle down or maybe just hop around and have some fun." He replied with a mischievous smile on his face.

Nepgear's eyes widened at this, that could be a fun idea. "That sounds interesting, what's the final option?" She inquired as she took a bite of toast.

"Final option: you raise an army and retake Gamindustri and take your revenge on your former friends." Caster answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Nepgear just gasped, her eyes widened and she did not say anything. 'Take revenge, sure they attacked and betrayed me b-but they were just doing what they thought was right. Just like Neptune and I did.' She thought to herself though part of her found the idea very appealing.

Caster just sat there smiling at her."I will not help or hinder you. The decision is yours in the end, Lady Nepgear." He said with a slight bow.

Nepgear's mind was a maelstrom of thoughts and emotions, to stay, to leave or to have revenge? She did not know how long she sat there thinking before she nodded. "I have made my decision" she said as she reached out for one of the floating numbers...

Sooo ya another story... in my defense the idea popped in my head and I could not get ride of it so I decided to at least write it down and post one chapter and see what the response is.

Also I have only just played through Re;birth 1 and 2 and I am currently playing though 3 so sorry for any mistakes in knowledge or terminology.

As for the ending while I do know the preferred path I want to take the story which path do you guys want this Nepgear to take.

1. Stay and live out her days alone, obviously the Normal/Good ending route (The story end.)

2. Head to another Dimension (Its obvious which one)

3. Take revenge.(Bad ending but the Fic will go on)

Also to head this off, Yes Caster is a OC but he is not super OP nor is he is combat specialist. In a one on one fight any of the CPU candidates could beat him in the second game due to his fighting style I will not say what his powers are yet only that in a party he would be a far backliner in party position.