Noire was strong, that much was obvious, but she needed far more than raw strength to rebuild Lastation. While she did ensure the nation's survival, the damage done by Iris Heart was unparalleled. There was a silver lining, however. The opportunity to rebuild also brought with it the opportunity to reform. To make Lastation better, stronger. It was possible, but Noire needed more than just strength for reformation.

She needed insight. Multiple viewpoints to discuss and debate with. Noire needed a council, and as luck would have it, one was about to enter her grasp very shortly.

Rei Ryghts was the name of the woman who drove Tari into the abyss, and it was also the name one of the women that wished to meet with Noire. Was it actually her? It should be impossible, as the very few sources that exist from that time period stated that Cyan Heart died with her nation.
But this was a week of impossibilities, and one more wouldn't be surprising.

The other woman requestion Noire's attention, and also accompanying Rei Ryghts, was named Cave. She had shown herself during the battle of Lastation and had aided in recovery efforts, but her motives were unknown. She was once a security specialist in Leanbox, but completely vanished from the world around three years ago. No sources were able to trace her, illegal or otherwise, yet here she was requesting an audience alongside someone who may be a long lost CPU.

Noire gestured to Kei to let them in. Sitting at the head of the meeting table, Noire's presence dominated almost every prior meeting held in the room.

The woman in front was a relatively unassuming figure. With long cyan hair and a simple suit jacket that ended in a skirt, a nondescript pair of leggings covered by white knee-high boots, and a pair of fingerless fabric gloves, she didn't really look like a CPU. In fairness, neither did Neptune or Blanc.

The woman behind her, somewhat towering over her companion, was far more extravagant. A white undershirt and black corset, covered by a short sleeveless black overcoat with gold embroidery that only reached just slightly below her best. A long flowing black skirt with red and gold patterns on it, covering a set of knee high leather boots that made very audible clacks on the marble flooirng. Fine black gloves that ended at her elbows, and a little ribbon wrapped around her neck, almost as if she were a present waiting to be unwrapped.

The smaller girl approached Noire with a hint of confidence, bowing before her at the end of her walk.

"I am Rei Ryghts, it's an honour to meet you, CPU Black Heart." She turned her head to her companion. "This is my advisor, the beautiful Cave."

Cave curtsied to Noire, remaining silent.

Noire waved the two to their seats, with Ryghts being positioned just in front of Noire, and Cave being positioned opposite Kei.

Noire clasped her hands together.

"So, why is it you wanted an audience with me, Ms Ryghts? You share the same title as the CPU of Tari, or rather the former CPU of the former nation of Tari."

A small smile former of Ryghts' lips. She leaned back in her chair.

"I am indeed the former CPU of Tari. My mistakes brought suffering to this world, much like the actions of all CPUs. I hear that you wanted peace for this world, so I resurfaced." Ryghts leaned forward in her chair, resting her arms on the desk.

"I know you can kill CPUs with the sword. The period of time between Tari's fall and Lowee's rise was the most peaceful in Gamindustri history. Isn't that proof enough of the fact that CPUs aren't needed? I understand you may have some issues about killing your fellow CPUs, but I'm willing to provide what little remains of Tari's tech to aid you in your goal. Maybe even non-lethally. All I request is that you take me and my advisor Cave onboard as advisors to you. That is all."

This was a predicament. Ryghts did have a point; the records of conflict in Gamindustri's history mostly start around the era Lowee was formed, before that there's nothing. It could be coincidence, as no official scholars were around until Lowee was, but it's still something. Noire deep down didn't want to kill anyone either, so the idea of being able to depower them to achieve peace was also appealing. Asides, Noire had often considered embracing the frail limbs of mortality somehow.

But she was far too important to do that. Not right now, anyway. Until Gamindustri was at peace, Noire had to remain immortal.

"Alright, Ryghts, I'll accept your offer. I'll have some assistants set up a room for you and Cave. We can discuss things in more detail tomorrow. However, nothing is solidified until you actually get that Tari technology to our doorstep, understand?"

Rei nodded.

"Good. Cave, Kei? You two are dismissed. I want to talk to Ms. Ryghts first."

Cave and Kei excused themselves, leaving the room.

Noire rose from her seat, and approached the window. Folding her hands behind her back and trying her best to seem serious, Noire was suddenly much more intimidating.

"I want you to tell me about the fall of Tari. Spare no detail, no matter how gruesome."

Noire turned to face Rei, who had suddenly turned pale.

Rising from her chair, Rei began pacing back and forth throughout the room anxiously.

"I was born into this world and the voices said "Build us a nation! Bring us prosperity! Bring us peace!" So I built them a nation, I brought them prosperity, and I brought them peace. All was well. But then a rodent appeared, calling herself an oracle. I followed her words, her requests, her suggestions, her orders. We lost peace, war broke out. We lost prosperity, poverty infected the nation. The nation, and I, fell. Blinded by the influence of the oracle, I fell from grace and landed in the abyss of the ocean for many years. Tari fell, becoming a myth and a warning. I failed as a CPU, and I-"

"So you failed as a CPU..." Noire interjected "and blame it on everyone else? Seems a little immature."

Rei let out a defeated sigh. "I thought that at first. For the first few hundred years after my watery exile, I questioned whether my hatred of CPUs was worth it. But then the other nations rose. Lowee, Planeptune, Lastation and Lowee. We might bring peace, but the threat of war is eternal. Humans are weak, yes, but there were far less wars when they were left alone than was the case when we ruled."

Noire considered Rei's words. As she thought earlier, it WAS true that the gap between Tari and Lowee was incredibly peaceful. Before she could proceed however, Rei dropped another bombshell.

"One other thing, and I think you might consider this one important" Rei straightened herself and cleared her throat.

"Purple Heart was not the original CPU of Planeptune. It was a woman named Uranus Uzume, also known as CPU Orange Heart. Her citizens loved their nation, but not her rule. She was, in a sense, retconned by the world and replaced with Neptune."

Neptune... was a replacement? Noire had to talk to her about this.

"I see... I have one final question though. I want you to transform, even for five seconds." There was uncertainty in Noire's voice. If the difference between her forms was as great as Plutia, telling her to transform may have been a mistake.

Rei stared at the ground for a few minutes in silence. This would be the first time she transformed for many many millennia.

"Activate: CPU Cyan Heart."

With a ray of dark energy and a flash, Rei Ryghts was gone and in her place stood a tall CPU who emanated hate.

Without moving her gaze from the ground, Cyan Heart rambled towards Noire slowly.

Meeting her gaze, Cyan Heart saw straight into Noire's very essence.

"Now... why should I follow /you/, Black Heart?" Her eyes were waiting for a slipup. A flaw. A mistake. Anything she could capitalize on to have an excuse to tear Black Heart apart.

To her surprise, Noire responded by transforming and uttering three simple words.

"Because I've succeeded."

Cyan Heart paused for a moment, nodded, and reverted form. Leaving the room in silence, Noire was left to ponder what she said.

Had she really succeeded?