Hello all! And finally... the finale! I will admit fully. This took so long because me an the client had some creative differences as to how the ending should play out. And so, this is my version of it. If you are curious, you can PM him, and I'm sure he would send his version. The crux of it was regarding the very end as you'll see, and a plan he had for a further extension of the story, that I will not be writing. Regardless of all that, I hope you all enjoy how this ends up!
-marketvalueneps
"Nepgear?" Uni gently asked, as she noticed how tense her girlfriend seemed, like she was one stiff breeze from collapsing.
"..." Yet she still had nothing to say, well in actuality she had a lot to say, but where on earth did she even start. How was she supposed to look the love of her life in the eyes and tell her that 'their' child was not theirs. It was someone else's, but it wasn't as though that made her any less hers…?
"Nepgear. This is really unlike you, are you ok? What's going on?" Uni desperately asked, something about this all had her feeling anxious, that something bad was going to happen,
"Uni…" Nepgear eventually began, taking a deep breath, before looking Uni in the face, "It's about Minerva."
"Minerva?" Uni asked, her heartbeat starting to increase rapidly, "Is she ok? Is something happening to her!?" Uni asked in a panic, as Nepgear sadly shook her head,
"She's fine. It's just that…" Nepgear started before pausing, not knowing where to start, "You see… Uni. I know this may seem impossible to believe but… I'm from the future" She dropped the first of her bombshells as Uni looked at her dumbfounded,
"What on earth?" Uni didn't know where any of this was going, "What do you mean? The future?"
"I'm from about 2 years, give or take, in the future. The truth is, all us candidates were stuck in stasis for 2 years, when we came to the world was different, and something called a rPhone dominated the market, we eventually came face to face with Maho, well… a Maho from the future herself, wherein her invention, the infinite share crystal, allowed for Arfoire to gather an immense amount of power, allowing her to destroy the whole world-"
"Wait wait, Arfoire?! Didn't you kill her all those years ago?!" Uni levied, her mind running a million miles an hour trying to make sense of what she was being told,
"She resurrected in the PC continent and took control of the body of their CPU, Gray Heart, who is, as far as I know, even in this timeline in a share lacking induced coma. The truth is that Gray Sister, whom we called the Ashen Goddess, went through hell. She tried so many times to save everyone, going back in time each time she failed. The timeline I'm from. We eventually beat Arfoire, but… it cost Maho her life. So… I used her time machine, and with this I caused a fusion of the timelines, bringing Maho back into existence. That's why I already knew Maho the day I met her." Nepgear finished her explanation of the events that led her to being here today. That just left…
"Why are you telling me this now? What's the point of all this? Do I even have to know this? I don't even remember any of it." Uni asked, still beyond confused, and trying to put all the pieces of Nepgear's story together.
"Well. I never planned on telling anyone truthfully, I figured it was pointless to tell everyone about a future they never lived but… My fusion of the timelines caused something… weird to happen…'' Nepgear presented as Uni's eyes began to widen, she…
"Minerva" Was all she said as Nepgear gravely nodded,
"The truth is… Minerva is… not your child. Uni… I-"
"What!?" Uni didn't even give Nepgear the chance to finish as she soon stood up yelling at her girlfriend who clenched her fists, looking down sadly as Uni soon continued "Nepgear! What are you saying? Huh?!" Uni couldn't believe this. All this time!
"Uni… please just listen to me. I don't like this any more than you do!" Nepgear tried to reason, but Uni's emotional state didn't allow for her to be in the listening mood,
"What the hell Nepgear!? What do you mean she's not my daughter? You mean to say Histoire was wrong?!" Uni yelled, as Nepgear flinched, still trying to remain calm,
"Please keep your voice down, Uni, Minerva is sleeping just down the hall" She tried to explain, but it appeared, to no avail, Uni already felt her emotions ready to explode,
"To hell with that! Explain yourself Nepgear!" Uni ordered,
"Like I said, I've been informed Minerva isn't your child I-" Yet, Uni didn't even let her finish as her emotions flared up, already beyond the point of rationality, and as she yelled, she wasn't even sure she believed the words that left her mouth,
"I bet it was fun right!? Playing with my emotions like that! Huh!? How long did you plan on letting me live a lie!? What else are you lying to me about!? Huh?! HUH!?" Uni yelled, completely livid at this point, as Nepgear tried her best to keep her composure, but she soon found herself starting to crack at the way Uni was talking to her,
"Uni! Listen to me!" She soon yelled back, desperately trying to explain everything and try and work through this with her, as she grabbed Uni by the shoulders, Uni did her best to shake out of her grip,
"Let go of me!" Uni screamed, yet she found herself unable to break out of the stronger woman's grip,
"Uni!" Nepgear yelled, as eventually, Uni took a few deep breaths as Nepgear began once more, "Like I said, Minerva is not your child, but she's technically not mine either!" Nepgear yelled as Uni was taken aback,
"Wha?" What on earth?
"She was born in one of those failed rewrites of Maho's I mentioned… Apparently, in that timeline the 'me' there and her… well… that's where she came from. But-"
"WHAT!?" Uni yelled, wriggling her hand free enough to slap Nepgear with as much force as she could muster, sending Nepgear back a few feet, "You mean all this time! You! You! You've been with Maho on the side, and after everything you've told me. I can't believe I trusted you! I can't believe I said I loved you!" Uni felt her vision starting to blur, but even if she couldn't see it, she couldn't mistake the sound of it,
Nepgear sobbing.
Snapping out of it, Uni looked to the woman crumbled on the ground, as she huddled herself into the fetal position, slowly rocking herself,
"It wasn't me… It wasn't me… It wasn't me…" She slowly repeated to herself before looking up, Uni feeling her heart crack in two, "I love you. I promise, I love you, I'll do anything… I'll go back again! I promise, I'll do anything. I'll do anything, Uni. Please… I can't lose you… I love you… I love you, I promise…" Nepgear began uncontrollably sobbing as she begged and pleaded, Uni still felt something of a snarl on her face, yet before she could speak once more, she felt her throat instantly dry,
"Mommy? Momma?" A gentle voice asked from the entrance to the room, as both of the women looked on in slow recognition, before morphing into abject horror as Minerva stood there, a worried look plastering her face,
"Sweetie…" Nepgear slowly and gently spoke from her position on the floor, picking herself up, ignoring the pain on both her face and in her heart, she trudged herself over to her daughter, forcing her lips into a crooked smile, she gently placed her shaking hand on her head, rubbing it gently,
"Aren't you supposed to be sleeping, young lady?" She asked, as Minerva looked down, tears bubbling underneath her features,
"But… I heard yelling, and then… and then…" Minerva couldn't even explain it, even if she hadn't seen what transpired, she still…
"Don't worry about anything. Me and Mommy were just training. It's an important aspect of becoming a goddess, haven't you heard Histy lecture Auntie about it?" Nepgear lied, as Minerva still huddled herself into a ball.
"But… but…" Something about this all felt off.
Behind them, Uni could feel herself wanting to vomit. Nepgear was just going on. Acting strong. Even after everything that just happened, here she was nurturing her daughter… Uni felt sick.
"Mommy… I'm scared…" Minerva's voice was trembling. As Uni stared at her, she felt herself flashback to how her face looked when she had seen her right before her and Nepgear's… conversation.
She had looked so calm, at ease, gently smiling, without a fear in the world. Now? As her gentle face faded from her memory,
She looked so unsure, terrified of the world around her, like she wanted to break any second, even as Nepgear cooed to her, hiding her own trembling voice, with her broken heart and mind. She kept going as she cared for…
Their daughter.
That's right. Their daughter…Uni didn't care anymore. Alternate timelines? Maho?
What the fuck did any of that mean if it made her make her daughter look like that? Made her scared of the world. Made her hit her one love, made her cry on the ground, what did any of that mean if it made her abandon the life she has always dreamt of? Uni wouldn't. She wouldn't abandon any of it.
"It's ok Minerva, I promise" Uni sweetly reassured, as she joined the scene gently wrapping her arms around both her daughter, and the one and only love of her life.
She could figure everything else out later.
"Uni" Nepgear gasped, tears welling in her eyes once more, yet, this time, these were of the joyous variety.
"Come on kid, let's get you back to bed, me and Mommy promise to let you sleep this time, right?" Uni reassured, as she winked to the mentioned woman, who wiped a tear from her eyes,
"Of course. We're sorry, Minerva" Nepgear apologized,
"Yea I'm sorry sweetie" Uni echoed, apologizing for much more than the young lady could possibly understand,
Minerva once more could feel a smile work its way on her face, sending a joyous shock through Uni's system.
Yes. She could figure everything else out later. This was what was important. Of this, she had no doubt.
"Let's go" Uni gently spoke as she grabbed one of Minerva's small hands, leading her down the hall as Nepgear grabbed her other hand, shortly arriving at Minerva's room as she gently tucked her in, softly kissing her forehead as she wished her sweet dreams, Nepgear soon repeating the gesture,
"Sweet dreams sweetie" Nepgear gently cooed, as her and Uni left the room, looking at each other, telepathically communicating what they both knew had to be said, as they silently took off back to the main seating area, sitting down, a silence overcoming the couple,
"Uni…" Nepgear eventually started, "I…"
"It's ok. I've made up my mind" Uni gently looked her in the eyes as she declared, Nepgear shooting her an indifferent look,
"That being?" Nepgear gingerly asked,
"I'm choosing to believe you. That you love me. That you had nothing to do with the circumstances by which Minerva was born. Because… I love you… I love you so much… I… want to believe you. I want to raise Minerva, I want to make her… happy. I want… us to be happy. All of us…" Uni explained, gently gripping her heart, as Nepgear took the opportunity, gently wrapping her arms around her
"I promise, I love you, and no one else, I don't know how any version of me could ever get over you. I promise. Let's raise Minerva to be the best woman she could possibly be. She was given to us for a reason. I believe that. Just trust me." Nepgear reassured, as Uni soon responded,
"Trusting you is my choice. Breaking it is your's." Uni presented,
"I know. I won't break your trust. I love you. I love you so much" Suddenly no words were left to be spoken, as Nepgear gently leaned forward planting a kiss on her lover's mouth, as the world seemed to slow down, even if it was unorthodox, and even if it may have come close to disaster…
Their family was complete. Their world was complete.
Breaking apart, Nepgear leaned her head on Uni's shoulder. As Uni seemed to contemplate something, biting her lip, before she began, nerves written all over her face,
"Nepgear…?"
"Hmm? What is it?" Nepgear dreamily responded,
"I'm… sorry for slapping you… I- was just…" Uni apologized, her voice fading as she failed to find the words,
"It's ok. You were just confused, I was too. I still am. Part of me doesn't want to believe Maho at all. But… it's all we can do. We're doing all we can do. Let's just give her the best life she can possibly get." Nepgear offered, as Uni considered it, one final detail pricking in her mind,
"Hmmm… how do we tell her?" Uni eventually, as the tense atmosphere from earlier quickly enveloped the room once more,
"..." Nepgear never even considered that. How do they look their daughter in the eyes and tell her her mother was not actually her mother, and that she's actually a mistake from a rejected timeline? How could they possibly do that to her?
"Do we even have to?" Nepgear gently asked, unsure of the right answer.
"..doesn't she have a right to know?" Uni retorted, surely one's parentage was something someone had a right to complete knowledge of?
"What good does telling her do? Maho doesn't want to be in her life, and her knowing would only make her confused" Nepgear argued, as Uni furled her nose,
"So we lie to our daughter? Is that it?!" She hated the idea of actively and knowingly lying to her daughter,
"I don't like this any more than you do. Any of this, but I think telling her now would only do more harm than good. What good would it do?" Nepgear explained her side, as a conflicted look now covered Uni's features,
"Well… we can't keep it a secret forever!" Uni levied, as Nepgear was left in deep thought,
"Ok. When she's older. We can tell her. But for now? And as far as anyone else will ever be concerned. Minerva is your daughter, is that acceptable?" Nepgear explained the terms of her offer, as Uni nodded along,
"Seems fine to me." Uni relented, before leaning her head over on Nepgear's shoulder. Finally. After all that had happened… "Say, can I sleep here tonight" it was all over.
"Of course sweetie. I always sleep better with you next to me anyway~" She cooed. And Just like that,
All was right in the world.
…almost all
"Hic… Hic…" Gentle sobbing emanated from the room of the CPU candidate of the PC Continent
"How long has she been like that!?" An angry and worried voice ranted at the guard nearest, the door,
"Miss Anri, I told you, as soon as she returned, she immediately stormed into her room, and refused to let anyone in" The poor guard responded as Anri glared at him, before turning to the door,
"Maho!" She yelled into the room, as the sobs seemed to hitch for a moment, the pitiful noises stopping for a moment, as at the entrance to the room, the door flung itself open for but a moment, as the gray haired programmer was dragged into the room, the door immediately being slammed and locked behind her,
"Maho…?" Anri gently asked as she finally got a good look at the woman, and immediately, Anri wanted to hurl.
"..." She was disheveled, her hair in a mess, clearly by the doing of the pinkette herself. Her eyes were puffy, and her nose still leaking. She was clearly disheveled.
"Maho! What… what on earth happened!" Anri didn't even know where to begin, clearly what she had been told at the party was a lie. Yet, she didn't have any time to think as Maho soon gripped Anri to her as hard as she could, gripping the programmer to her as hard as she could, as if pressing her heart against her would make it stop hurting so bad… but…
"It hurts… it hurts… it hurts…" Maho cried, desperately pleading, "Anri… make it stop hurting! You're smart… right?! How… do I make it…. stop hurting!" She yelled, she didn't even know anything anymore,
Why did it hurt so bad?
She had already given up on Minerva… her Minny… so why did it hurt so fucking bad to see Uni get to raise her? To steal a life she never had in the first place? A life she had given up. Her very existence was returned by Nepgear in the first place…
Huh?
Why won't it stop hurting?
Why…
Why?
Why did it feel like her entire existence was just to suffer…? What did she ever do?
All the while Anri felt her eyes start cracking. In the months she had grown to know her nation's CPU candidate, she had already grown to be quite protective of her. And… she didn't even know why. It was like she already knew her the day they met… she couldn't describe it. The way they immediately just started to feel so close was beyond what she could describe. And ever since then, she found the feeling growing more and more, that she wanted nothing more than to protect her. To see her smile. To see her happy, bubbly personality. To the point where her only worries were to have to lecture her…
So seeing this…
"It hurts! Make it stop hurting… Anriiiii! Please… it hurts… so bad…" The usually, peppy, jolly, bundle of energy Anri found herself wanting more and more to protect, seeing her so… unraveled, completely broken broke her own heart,
"Maho. Maho. What happened to you?" Anri tried to gently peel back the layers, something in her knew; this had been building in her for a while, and something ripped the rug out from under her. She didn't know what happened at that party, but… she just needed to get to the bottom of it, before she could rebuild the woman she cared so much about. Yes. It was just like a line of bad code that needed to be debugged.
"..." Yet Maho only sobbed louder. She didn't know what to do. She… she couldn't tell anyone. She promised. She promised Nepgear… Even Anri… she couldn't even tell her… She had to suffer alone…
Again.
She was all alone again.
Even if she had protected everyone.
She was alone.
Alone… alone… alone. Alone. Alonealonealone
ALONE.
"WAAAHHHHH!" Maho was breaking. Her heart felt like it was squeezing itself to death.
Yet. Even as the feeling of complete aloneness numbed her even to her very core, even as the minutes passed to hours,
"Shh… It's ok… Maho. You can talk to me" Anri was still there, and even as her translucent dress was now far opaquer from the tears that now stained it, she was there.
"..." But Maho still had nothing to say. She couldn't tell her… she promised… if Anri learned who she was… what she had done to her parents… in so many timelines… she'd lose her too. Just like… how many times had she killed her parents without an inkling of regret?
"My minny…" She sobbed, her body starting to run out of tears to shed, her dried eyes painfully throbbing in her sockets, even then,
"Maho. Just talk to me. Please… Let me help you Maho… Don't you know how much I care? Do you know how much I just want to see you smile again? Why? Why do you hurt so bad?" Anri desperately pleaded, but Maho only viciously shook her head against her chest,
"Noooooo…. I can't…. If I told you… you'd hate me! I can't lose you! I can't have you hate me again! NO! Nonoonono… I can't fight you again… I doooooon't….. I don't waaaaant to! Just make it stop hurting, Anri!" Maho viciously yelled, her intermittent sobs slurring her speech,
"Maho. Maho… listen to me" Anri looked her in her puffy pink eyes, soft affection written on her features, even as her own heart wanted to collapse in on itself, she held firm, "I will never hate you. I don't want to hate you… as a matter of fact, I feel the opposite." Anri gently explained, before gripping Maho's head into her small chest, which, nevertheless, provided soothing comfort, as Maho dug herself deeper, wailing as her mind broke,
She didn't care anymore.
She just wanted it to stop.
She couldn't handle it anymore.
SHE JUST WANTED IT TO STOP.
"Anri… Listen…" Taking a deep through her sobs, Maho began… "I'm the worst person ever…" She began, as Anri felt her vein pop,
"Damnit Maho! I don't think so!" She lectured, as Maho shook her head,
"I am… I ruined the world… so many times…" Maho sadly explained as Anri looked on baffled,
"Maho… what does that even mean?" Anri asked, as Maho bit her lip, eventually, as her arms fell limp, finally releasing Anri's dress, she began,
"I… to save the PC continent… my sister… I invented something… called the Infinite Share crystal… the IS crystal I called it…" She explained,
"What do you mean!? We can save Grey Heart?!" Anri asked, on edge, as Maho shook her head sadly,
"No. We can't save anyone. That was the worst mistake of my miserable life. It caused something called the deity of sin to be resurrected… she had infinite power… She killed everyone… even you… even… Gearsy… But… you managed to invent a time machine named Ziri-"
"What!?" Anri didn't believe a single word out of her mouth, as if she could invent a time machine…
"It's the truth Anri… I went back in time so many times… I failed… so many times. My existence… only causes misery…" Maho's voice was barely above a whisper, yet, Anri only pulled her tighter,
"But Maho. We're here now… Doesn't that mean you succeeded?" Assuming Anri bought her story, that was the natural conclusion, right?
"That's not exactly…" Maho tried to start, her voice hitching in her throat, she knew what she had to say next, but… she didn't want to…
"Maho. It's ok, go on" Anri sweetly reassured her, as Anri took a deep breath,
"Anri… I'm so sorry!" Maho yelled, her eyes attempting to produce fresh tears, "I… I… knowingly killed your parents… so many times…" She explained, before feeling a prick in her heart, pushing Arni off her as hard as she could, she turned her back to her, "You… became the warrior known as F2P… your only mission was to kill me… I had to fight you so many times… But Anri… I don't want to do that. I don't- I don't- No more…" Maho hiccuped, as Anri looked on in broken silence, so much culminating in her mind all at once, yet… only one thought came to the forefront, as she crawled forward, Maho's breath hitching as she felt the gloved hands work their way up her back, gently turning her around, as Anri brought her into her chest once more,
"Well. My parents are still alive." She explained, how was she supposed to be upset at her for something that never happened? "As far as I'm concerned. That never even happened. It's ok. It's ok, Maho." She cooed in her ear as Maho gripped to her,
"I will never forgive myself" She quietly protested, yet-
"I will. Forever." Anri retorted, as Maho finally felt a soft smile work its way on her face, before fading, as she knew the next part she had to explain,
"That's not all. In order to beat that deity of sin… I… sacrificed my life… or… a version of me did… I… fell into a time-space rift, I slept for 12,000 years before I slew the deity of sin…. Or maybe a version of me did… It cost me my memories. I don't really understand it all, but… I should be dead. Gearsy though… she used Ziri, and caused a fusion of the timelines. It's why you don't remember anything. It's why I'm here today" Maho explained, as Anri tried to wrap her mind around it,
"Ok… but-?" Anri tried to ask, but, Maho already knew the question,
"The fusion caused me to remember all the timelines… In… one of them" She hitched, gritting her teeth together as hard as they could be pressed together, "Anri. You can't tell another soul. About any of this. But… especially this… Ok?" Maho made Anri swear her secrecy,
"Ok. I promise Maho." Anri reassured, as Maho looked down, eyes covered in a shadow,
"In one of those timelines. Me and Gearsy… we were together. I loved her… I still wish I could. In that timeline…" Maho couldn't even explain, yet, somehow, the gears in the smart gray haired woman turned,
"No way… you mean…?" Anri gasped,
"Minerva. Gearsy and Uni's child… she's really me and Gearsy's child… she was brought back by a disturbance in the timeline…" Maho eventually explained the root cause of her fractured heart, "But Anri… It hurts… So bad… That's…. My Minny… But… I know I should let Uni raise her… but… WAAAAAAHHHHH!" Maho explained, before throwing herself around Anri once more, who could only look down in sadness and pity. Truly. There was no more undeserving person to suffer this fate than Maho. She… deserved to be happy. Anri… would make the world make her happy. Even if she had to bend the world around her thumb.
Of this. She had no doubt.
Across the world, as the next morning rolled around…
"Aaaaaa~" Nepgear let out a yawn as she stretched her limbs, noting quickly the lack of her cuddling partner from last night, "She always tended to wake up first~" She cooed, quickly getting dressed for the day, as she made her way down the hall only for-
"Bad Auntie!" Nepgear could not mistake the sound of her own daughter's voice yelling from inside the kitchen, rushing in she could not mistake the sight of Neptune juking her niece around the table, a piece of bacon spilling from her mouth, sighing Nepgear turned to the 'chef' of the morning,
"Mornin sweetie" She greeted hugging her from behind, as Uni gently smiled, still focusing on the pancakes she was cooking,
"Mornin" She responded, Nepgear soon looking behind her as a frustrated Minerva looked like she wanted to flip the table,
"What's the story there?" Nepgear asked, Uni softly chuckling,
"Minerva took one of Miss Neptune's 'morning puddings' and so she responded by taking some of her bacon" Uni explained, as Nepgear softly laughed,
"Come on you two, that's enough" She presented placing her hands in the air as she walked over, Neptune having put Minerva into some type of hold, as the frustrated child bit Neptune's arm,
"She stole a morning pudding! That's like, a top 5 pudding!" Neptune levied,
"Auntie! Pudding is a dessert!"
"Then why did ya take it ya lil-"
"That's enough. Come on, let's call it even" Nepgear explained again, as she dragged the two apart the two still attempting to bat at the other, even now,
"Pancakes are done!" Uni soon turned, Nepgear noting how cute she looked in her purple apron, and as if they had never heard the word 'pudding' in their lives, Minerva and Neptune both eagerly sat down at the table awaiting sweet fluffy goodness.
"Oooooh~! I have the best sister in law!" Neptune sweetly yelled before somehow managing to stuff a whole pancake in her mouth at once, as Nepgear sighed, gently cutting up Minerva's for her,
"How many times do I have to tell you sis… You have to use better manners in front of Minerva" She chastised as Neptune looked at her, still chewing on the mass,
"Whadddyaaa meaaaaaan? I'm like the best aunt ever! I'm her favoritest aunt! Righto Minervo?" Neptune defended, already forgotten about the 'morning pudding' incident,
"She might not be for long" Uni chuckled as she sat down next to Nepgear, as everyone looked at her curiously, "Noire texted me, she's coming over to take Minerva out for the day" Uni explained, as Minerva happily gassed,
"Second auntie is coming over?!" The young girl beamed, already adoring the so named black goddess from their limited conversations, as Uni softly smiled, putting her hand in Minerva's head,
"Yea. But you can just call her Noire, or Aunt Noire, I'm sure that's what she'd prefer" Uni explained, happy that her little girl was taking after her beloved sister,
"Auntie Noire!" She yelled, stuffing her face with pancakes, "Auntie Noire! I get to hang out with Auntie Noire!" She yelled, muffled with the food in her mouth,
"I'm glad you're excited sweetie, but please, do not talk with food in your mouth" Nepgear tried to calm her down, unable to wipe the smile off her own face,
"Aww… Can't I get a cute nickname? Auntie Neppy…?" Neptune pouted, as Minerva slowed to a halt, looking Neptune directly in the eyes she,
"Auntie Dummy" She calmly said, as Neptune gripped her heart, falling out of her chair in defeat,
"Urk… to think… the first thing Noire would ever beat me in… and it's the most important thing ever!" She whined, as Nepgear and Uni couldn't help but laugh,
"I'm surprised though, Noire would skip work just to see Minerva?" Nepgear asked, that certainly seemed out of character for the hard worker that was Noire, Uni soon snickering,
"That's cause she stayed up all night to get the work done so she could plan this" Uni explained, as Nepgear sighed,
"Jeez… that sounds more like her…" Nepgear nervously scratched her head,
"That's just like her! That's cheating! Using hacks to steal our niece's attention! I call for a recount!" Neptune soon sprung to her feet, boldly pointing her finger,
"How is that cheating?" Minerva gently asked,
"It just is! I know it!" Yet, before any more questions could be asked…
"I'm heeerreee!" An unbefittingly bubbly voice rang out,
"Speak of the devil…" Neptune crumbled, as Minerva soon shot to her feet,
"Auntie Noire!" She yelled as she ran up to her aunt to give her a hug,
"And how's my adorable little niece today?" She cooed, as Uni nearly snickered out of her skin seeing her usually uptight sister act like this,
"Hehe! I'm good! Well… after Aunty Dummy let me out of her chokehold" She explained, as Noire soon glared at the other CPU who looked like she would rather have been anywhere else.
"Neptune!" She snarled, as Neptune jumped back
"She took one of my morning puddings!" Neptune retorted, while looking away from the glare her co-aunt was giving her
"Whatever… Let's go Minerva~ I have soo many cute outfits I want to try on you!" Noire cooed, as Minerva obediently ran over, grabbing Noire's hand, as Neptune grumbled curses of some variety,
"I'm glad she likes her" Uni smiled, as Nepgear nodded,
"She really seems to be taking after her" Nepgear agreed, before putting her finger to her chin, "Don't you have to get back to Lastation soon?" She asked, as Uni shook her head, "Noire handled everything, so I'm free for today" She explained, as Nepgear smiled,
"Well… why don't we go out as well? Finally have time just to ourselves~" Nepgear cooed, gently grabbing Uni's hand, who melted as she grabbed Nepgear's hand back,
"That sounds great. There was this one place I wanted to check out, but we haven't had the time." Uni explained, as her and Nepgear shared a dreamy look, before Nepgear apologetically turned to Neptune,
"I'm sorry sis… can you…?" She tried to ask as Neptune gave her a reassuring smile,
"It's fine. I can handle the boring paperwork, I'll even handle Histy. You two lovebirds deserve a day off~" She reassured, as Nepgear smiled,
"Thank you sis, why don't we?" Nepgear then turned back to Uni, as the two head out, hand in hand,
Walking down the streets of Planeptune, Nepgear and Uni stopping to greet the citizens, make small talk here and there, and catch up with some familiar faces, including….
"Oh hey! Isn't that B-sha?" Nepgear yelled out, looking down the streets to see a stand set up,
"Ohh that's the shop I brought up!" Uni reupped, as they soon ran up to one of Planeptune's newest stores,
"Oh! Heya! Nepgear, Uni! You two on a date?" B-sha amicably greeted, as the candidates soon nodded, "That's sweet, say! Take this!" B-sha soon rummaged through her pile of wears, soon presenting a very high quality robotic mecha toy, "On the house, you can give it to Minerva as a sort of way to say hi" B-sha proudly presented, as Nepgear and Uni stared at her dumbfounded as if asking 'who is this person, and what has she done with B-sha, "Hey…! I'm not always like that…" She mumbled as Nepgear soon smiled,
"We know. We'll be sure to give it to her, I'm sure she'll love it!" Nepgear thanked the blonde, who soon seemed dodgy in her mannerisms and words,
"S-say… Uh… I-is Nep-Nep i-in…? S-she sound like s-she wants to see me?" She embarrassedly asked, as Nepgear brightly smiled, knowing what the young woman needed to hear at the moment,
"I'm sure Neptune would love to see you, especially today, she's generously doing all the work for us today, she's been talking about wanting to see you recently, you should go over" Nepgear pleasantly responded, as B-sha nervously nodded, wishing the two well as they continued their walk, biting her thumb as she looked towards the center of the city, before making her decision,
"You see how she..?" Uni asked, as Nepgear snickered,
"I'm sure she'll figure it out eventually" She chuckled, Uni soon spotting something of interest down the road,
"Ooo! Let's check that out!" She yelled, spotting one of Planeptune's nicer armories,
"Hmm I don't see why not" Nepgear responded, as the two made their way into the weapon emporium, Uni immediately went starry eyed, as she ran up to each and every display, yelling something about it to Nepgear, who patiently allowed her to ramble as much as she wanted,
"Oooo! Look at this one! Its a super easy pistol to handle, and it has little recoil! It's perfect for begin-" She started, only to get cut off by none other than…
"Oh! Funny seeing you here, Uni" the wind walker of Gamindustri,
"Oh, hello IF, what brings you here?" Nepgear amicably asked, as IF simply presented the ammo she was purchasing,
"Also say, that pistol there, that's a great one for starters, hell it was even my first gun. Why not give one to Minerva? See how she likes it" IF presented as Nepgear seemed anxious at the thought,
"Do we really want her to have a gun…?" She was way too young! Plus Nepgear kind of wanted to build her some beam sabers….
"Well, what's the worst that can happen? She's a goddess, it's not like she can hurt herself" IF presented, as Uni nodded along, trying to hold back,
"That's fair, I think it's a good idea, plus I can teach her all the proper safety aspects" Uni explained as Nepgear eventually relented, the two buying the firearm, before departing, and after a stop at a lovely cafe, the two found themselves back in Planeptune's iconic landmark. Going up the elevator, and eventually stepping out, they noticed a few things,
First, there seemed to be some sort of giggling emanating from the office, Nepgear sending out a silent apology to Histoire, and, more importantly,
Second….
"Hehehe…" And absolutely kiddy laughter from the main area, the two soon found it to be…
"And how do I look in this one!" Minerva proudly presented another one of the outfits Noire had bought for her, this one being a combination of a black tank top with frilly shorts matching her hair,
"I like this one" Noire responded, as Nepgear and Uni could only softly look on, only speaking when,
"Mommy! Momma! Don't I look so cute!?" Minerva gleefully asked, as both Nepgear and Uni crouched to her level,
"The cutest!"
"Of course you do sweety, hey! Check these out!" Uni soon added, her and Nepgear presenting their gifts for the young girl who squealed,
"Thank you, Mommy! Momma!" She beamed, grabbing her mech, running around the room, as Uni placed the firearm in a safe place, soon starting up a conversation with her sister, as Nepgear left to start dinner, the rest of the night a blur, as once more, Nepgear and Uni found themselves standing at the foot of Minerva's small bed, Uni kissing her forehead as she made her way out, grabbing Nepgear's hands, as she looked her in the eyes,
"I have to get going…" She relented as Nepgear smiled, gently placing a kiss on her lips,
"I know. Have a safe flight, and…" Nepgear looked into Uni's eyes with the dreamiest look in her eyes, "I love you."
"I love you too" Uni gently responded as she turned to leave, a beaming smile on her face as the smiling faces of the two most wonderful women in the whole wide world appearing in her mind, as Uni couldn't help but smile ear to ear. After all, how couldn't she?
She had the loveliest family that ever was.
Years would pass, and as they did. No matter what happened, Uni would wake up with a smile. Even if she knew the day would be nothing but work. She could always look forward to flying over to Planeptune after it all, seeing her daughter's gentle sleeping face, her wife's beautiful face. Everything was perfect. And today…?
"Is everything set up?" She asked, as she turned to the only woman she would say 'I do' to, who cupped her chin,
"I think so" She explained, looking at all the decorations set up around the basilicom, "I can't believe it's been 2 years" She conveniently to the plot explained for some reason,
"I know right? Our little girl is 2? Goddess how the time passes" Uni, equally conveniently responded, as they heard a ding at the elevator, turning, Nepgear gasped,
"Hey Gearsy" Maho pleasantly greeted,
"Maho…" Nepgear felt tears in her eyes, as she rushed over and threw her arms around the CPU candidate. Sure, they texted one another frequently, but… this was the first time Nepgear had seen Maho since… that day. The day that shaped their lives forever.
"Hey. I'm here too" Anri smugly added, as Nepgear wiped her eyes, giving her a quick hug as well,
"Yes, of course, it's great to see you too, Anri" Nepgear soon thereafter bowed before her, her low eye line giving her a view of… "Oh! You're engaged, Anri?!" Nepgear soon shot up as she grabbed Anri's right hand, bearing an elegant ring on its ring finger,
"Oh!?" Uni soon rushed over, next to Nepgear as she saw Maho reach her hand out to reveal,
"We're engaged!" Maho declared, a bright smile on her face,
"Oh my goodness! Congratulations, you two!" Nepgear jovially hugged both of them together, as Maho felt a warm smile on her face, before feeling her breath hitch, her eyes tearing,
"Mommy? Why are you yelling?" Minerva gently asked appearing on the scene,
"Oh, sweetie…" Nepgear didn't know what to do. Minerva had never met who was technically her other mother,
"Maho…" Anri felt a sadness in the pit of her stomach, the many days it took to get Maho out of her room… "It's ok." She reassured, as she gently gripped her hand,
Uni slowly glance over, the gears in her mind turning.
"Anri" She gently spoke, as the programmer looked at her, "What do you know?" She asked, no particular tone in her voice, as Nepgear's eyes widened slowly turning to the pair, as Anri's eyes traced the floor, Maho biting her lip as she dejectedly explained,
"Everything. I… Gearsy… I'm so sorry…" She explained to her BFF, who…
"..." Had nothing to say. Sensing the tone, Anri soon stood forward, placing her hand on Maho, she stood as if to protect her,
"Have you no heart?! Do you know how hard it was for her?!" Anri fiercely declared, looking the couple in front of her fiercely in the eyes, "I won't tell anyone, so what does it matter if I know? Did you expect her to just suffer alone forever!?" She yelled, as Nepgear and Uni looked down, both relenting,
"No. You're right, I'm sorry… Maho" Nepgear apologized, as Uni simply held her head, nothing to say,
"Mommy? Momma?" Minerva gently tugged on Nepgear's skirt,
"Oh…! Uh… don't worry about it. That was just… a problem from years ago.' She explained as she soon presented Maho, "This is Maho, my BFF!" she introduced the woman who bit her lip, her hand receiving another gentle squeeze as she introduced herself,
"Hey there Minny- Minerva" Maho introduced herself, as Minerva smiled,
"Any friend of Mommy is a friend of mine, Miss Maho!" Minerva brightly smiled, Maho biting her lip. No longer was she Momma. She was now Miss Maho. Yet…
"And say hi to my lovely fiancé, Anri!" It was ok. As long as she had Anri. It would be ok…
"A pleasure" The so named woman bowed, as Minerva smiled once more,
"Nice to meet ya!" She smiled, before running off, "I'm gonna go play, k!?" She asked, rhetorically, leaving behind the women, as Uni had a thought sting her mind,
"Say… Miss Anri…?" She gently asked, not knowing how she wanted to phrase it, or if the topic was sensitive, but…
"Hmm? What is it, Uni?" she was already too far down,
"You're… human… right?" She asked, biting her lip, as Anri gasped, understanding the implications of the question, yet, she didn't have time to explain, as,
"Oh, don't worry about that junk!" Maho brightly explained, "And if you're worried about the fact I'd outlive her, do you really think the brilliant and gorgeous CPU candidate of the PC continent didn't figure that out?! It was easy, we gave Anri a lil share shot. Kinda like those weird CPU mammaries you mentioned Gearsy" Maho explained as Nepgear's eyes widened,
"Wait!? You're a CPU, Anri!?" She asked, baffled, as Anri simply shook her head,
"No, not quite. At least, I don't have a HDD. I simply have the benefits of not aging."
"Yep! None of that crummy aging junk! I can be with Anri forever!" Maho fiercely yelled, grabbing Anri's hand. No. She would never be alone again.
Never again.
She would never be alone again.
She could start again.
Start her family once again.
Maybe she had to leave her family behind, but…
As the day went on, and everyone showered Minerva with gifts, and would only refer to Uni as her mother. It was funny…
It didn't hurt anymore. Turning to Anri…
"I love you"
"I know you dummy."
"Anri?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you." Was all she said as she buried her face in her chest. If it wasn't for her…?
She would still be alone. Crying over the Schrodinger's family she had lost. Not loving the family she could make with her.
I hope you all enjoyed! Now. As for the reviews,
end5- Thank you! Well... Uni almost lost herself there. But everything worked out in the end!
Tony Anderson- Hmmmm I wonder :3 I hope the ending was sweet enough for you
Georgius Fidelis- Thank you so much. And thank you for your comm. I hope you enjoyed you're version of it, and I hope this version is something you can find interesting. Thank you again, my friend.
