Planeptune was once the mightiest nation. If not in strength, in spirit. Its people were always united as one, a force so great that the other nations had naught to do yet bow their heads in begrudging respect. Their love for their Goddess brought Purple Heart countless victories, and almost unending peace. Now? That worship was gone, as was their goddess. Now the object of Planeptune's worship was directed at the twin Orange Hearts. Two vastly more serious CPUs, far less whimsical and far more dangerous to the world than Purple Heart, yet adored just as much. The begrudging respect had turned to uneasy fear. Though they were cordial and polite to the other leaders, it was obvious that there was much more to them than they let on. Deep within the confines of Lastation's Basilicom, the two defeated Goddesses lay sleeping.

The Basilicom Infirmary, 8:32am

Noire's return to Lastation was... rough, to say the least. The weakened Goddess only managed to carry Neptune so far into Lastation's border before the two came crashing down to the world below. Luck was on their side, however, as the Lastation military was already on alert and quickly recovered them.

The methodical beeping audible from the right is what woke Noire from her long slumber. Beep... Beep... Beep... With each beep, the world around her became less of a blur and began to take shape.

Sterile white walls, chairs by the bed, two beds to her left, a vase of flowers by her bed too? Purple Chrysanthemums. Oh dear. Opposite her was... Neptune?

Neptune.

Noire ripped the EKG needle and IV drips from her arm, tossed off the covers, jumped out of bed, and violently came face to face with a squeaky clean white floor. She couldn't feel her legs at all, they'd simply become two long dead weights attached to her waist. A burning sensation overtook her arm as well. Evidently ripping out an EKG needle wasn't the best idea ever. Regardless, a light concussion, no legs and a sore arm wasn't going to stop Lady Black Heart, however. Using the end of Neptune's bed for support, Noire hoisted herself upright and tossed herself into the nearest chair. Movement was difficult, oh so difficult, but Noire's raw determination kept her going.

Neptune looked... different, somehow. Noire had witnessed Neptune sleep many a time, as the purple CPU often enjoyed crashing Noire's basilicom and napping on the couch (not to mention the sleepovers), and every time she stared at Neptune's sleeping face, her usual joy and serenity was written on her sleepy gaze. But not this time. Neptune looked... older, unhealthy. As if she'd suddenly gained 20 years of life in just a day.

In spite of that, she was still wonderful to behold. Even here, Neptune still filled Noire's heart with the same glee it always did. She raised a weak hand to the sleeping CPU's face, sighing happily as she ran her fingers down her soft chee-

"Oh goddess, someone fetch the oracle!"

A blinding light overtook Noire's vision, and her attempts to shield her eyes from it caused her to lean too far back on the chair. The crash was severe enough to send Noire back to the realms of unconsciousness.

Silence.

Basilicom Guest Room, 1:12pm

"Noire... Noire can you hear me?" came a gentle voice. But from where? Noire could see naught but blackness. All she could hear was the voice... and an all too familiar beeping.

Through force of will and determination, Noire managed to wrench her eyes open and fight against the clutches of sleep once more. With each blink, the world grew clearer. With each blink came the familiar shape of... Mina?

"M... Min..." Noire was still weak, and forming words was an arduous task. Upon hearing Noire (attempt to) speak, Mina rushed to her side and knelt down at her side.

"Noire?" Mina whispered. "Fetch a stimulant, she seems lucid enough" She commanded to one of the officers at the start.

The EKG monitor came out painlessly, and the needle after it went in just as swiftly. Within minutes Noire could feel herself returning to the world. She gazed silently at the room before her. A comfortable little room; fine beige wallpaper, a nice little lamp in the corner, a desk, a bookshelf, a deskchair and two lounge chairs, all crafted from fine wood... fine Lowee wood.

"Mina...? Mina, where am I?" Noire spoke, still uncomfortable with using her mouth.

"Noire, it's uh..." Mina looked nervously to the two officers behind her, and then nodded her head at the door, signalling them to leave. "I'll begin at the start, for clarity's sake."

Mina rose from her seat, walked over to the window, and folded her hands behind her back.

"After your battle with the Orange Hearts, you and Neptune attempted to retreat to Lastation. However, the injuries you both sustained had a serious impact on you, and you crash landed inside the border, we-"

Noire rose to life all of a sudden. "But wait, how did I get to Lowee?" she said, uncertainty in her words.

"I'll get to that. Both of you were taken to Lastation's Basilicom to be treated. There were... complications. The injuries that you and Neptune had received were of a nature that weren't so easily healed by Shares. As a result the decision was made, after much deliberation, to place you both into a coma. Eventually, though, another decision was made..." Mina sighed deeply, aware of the consequences of her following statement.

"Uni and Kei agreed that keeping you at Lastation was too dangerous. They contacted us in secret. They agreed to hand over the sword for research purposes in exchange for us harboring you here safely. They also faked your death, so that neither of the Orange Hearts would pursue."

Noire was unable to focus on anything Mina was saying, only vaguely processing it, as another thought was at the forefront of her mind.

"Neptune... what about Neptune?"

Outside of Noire's view, Mina's face drained of colour entirely.

"We haven't been in contact with Lastation for months. We don't know where she is."

Noire paused. Months? But... it didn't matter, only Neptune mattered right now.

"I woke up before and saw Neptune, though." Noire said, with all the will of an embarassed, weakened child.

"That was... before we put you under. A long time ago."

"Long time ago? How... how long have I been out?"

Mina froze. She knew fine well this question would come, but she was wholly unprepared for it regardless. She took a deep breath, and knelt down by Noire's bedside, taking her hand gently, like a concerned parent.

"Noire... I'm afraid it's been three years."

Silence, once again.